re ['rā] -n

  1. the second tone of the diatonic scale in solmization
  2. with regard to : in re

Re -symbol

  1. rhenium

re- -prefix

  1. again : anew
    • re tell
  2. back : backward
    • re call

REA -abbr

  1. Rural Electrification Administration

re·ab·sorb [,rē-əb-'sȯrb, -'zȯrb] -vt

  1. to take up (something previously secreted or emitted)
    • sugars reabsorb ed in the kidney
  2. resorb

reach ['rēch] -vb, adj, n

  1. to stretch out : extend
  2. thrust
  3. to touch or grasp by extending a part of the body (as a hand) or an object
    • couldn't reach the apple
  4. to pick up and draw toward one : take
  5. to extend to
    • the shadow reach ed the wall
  6. to get up to or as far as : come to
    • your letter reach ed me yesterday
    • his voice reach ed the last rows
    • they hoped to reach an agreement
  7. encompass
  8. to make an impression on
  9. to communicate with
  10. to hand over : pass
  11. to make a stretch with or as if with one's hand
  12. to strain after something
  13. project, extend
    • his land reach es to the river
  14. to arrive at or come to something
    • as far as the eye could reach
  15. to sail on a reach
  16. a continuous stretch or expanse
  17. a straight portion of a stream or river
  18. the action or an act of reaching
  19. an individual part of a progression or journey
  20. a reachable distance
    • within reach
  21. ability to reach
    • had a long reach
  22. an extent or range esp. of knowledge or comprehension
  23. a bearing shaft or coupling pole
  24. the rod joining the hind axle to the forward bolster of a wagon
  25. the tack sailed by a ship with the wind coming just forward of the beam or with the wind directly abeam or abaft the beam
  26. echelon, level usu. used in pl.
    • the upper reach es of academia

reachmedown ['rēch-mē-,dau̇n] -adj or n

  1. hand-me-down

re·act [rē-'akt] -vb

  1. to exert a reciprocal or counteracting force or influence often used with on or upon
  2. to change in response to a stimulus
  3. to act in opposition to a force or influence usu. used with against
  4. to move or tend in a reverse direction
  5. to undergo chemical reaction
  6. to cause to react

re·ac·tance [rē-'ak-tən(t)s] -n

  1. the part of the impedance of an alternating-current circuit that is due to capacitance or inductance or both and that is expressed in ohms

re·ac·tant [-tənt] -n

  1. a substance that enters into and is altered in the course of a chemical reaction

re·ac·tion [rē-'ak-shən] -n

  1. the act or process or an instance of reacting
  2. resistance or opposition to a force, influence, or movement
  3. tendency toward a former and usu. outmoded political or social order or policy
  4. a response to some treatment, situation, or stimulus
    • her stunned reaction to the news
  5. such a response expressed verbally
    • critical reaction to the play
  6. : bodily response to or activity aroused by a stimulus:
  7. an action induced by vital resistance to another action
  8. the response of tissues to a foreign substance (as an antigen or infective agent)
  9. depression or exhaustion due to excessive exertion or stimulation
  10. heightened activity and overaction succeeding depression or shock
  11. a mental or emotional disorder forming an individual's response to his or her life situation
  12. the force that a body subjected to the action of a force from another body exerts in the opposite direction
  13. chemical transformation or change : the interaction of chemical entities
  14. the state resulting from such a reaction
  15. a process involving change in atomic nuclei

re·ac·tion·ary [rē-'ak-shə-,ner-ē] -adj, n

  1. relating to, marked by, or favoring reaction
  2. ultraconservative in politics

re·ac·tive [rē-'ak-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. of, relating to, or marked by reaction or reactance
  2. readily responsive to a stimulus
  3. occurring as a result of stress or emotional upset
    • reactive depression

re·ac·tor [rē-'ak-tər] -n

  1. one that reacts
  2. a device (as a coil, winding, or conductor of small resistance) used to introduce reactance into an alternating-current circuit
  3. a vat for an industrial chemical reaction
  4. a device for the controlled release of nuclear energy (as for producing heat)

read ['rēd] -vb

  1. to receive or take in the sense of (as letters or symbols) esp. by sight or touch
  2. to study the movements of (as lips) with mental formulation of the communication expressed
  3. to utter aloud the printed or written words of
    • read them a story
  4. to learn from what one has seen or found in writing or printing
  5. to deliver aloud by or as if by reading
  6. to utter interpretively
  7. to become acquainted with or look over the contents of (as a book)
  8. to make a study of
    • read law
  9. to read the works of
  10. to check (as copy or proof) for errors
  11. to receive and understand (a voice message) by radio
  12. understand, comprehend
  13. to interpret the meaning or significance of
    • read palms
  14. foretell, predict
    • able to read his fortune
  15. : to recognize or interpret as if by reading: as
  16. to learn the nature of by observing outward expression or signs
    • read s him like a book
  17. to note the action or characteristics of in order to anticipate what will happen
    • a good canoeist read s the rapids
    • a golfer read ing a green
  18. to predict the movement of (a putt) by reading a green
  19. to anticipate by observation of an opponent's position or movement
    • read a blitz
  20. to attribute a meaning to (as something read) : interpret
    • how do you read this passage
  21. to attribute (a meaning) to something read or considered
    • read a nonexistent meaning into her words
  22. to use as a substitute for or in preference to another word or phrase in a particular passage, text, or version
    • read hurry for harry
    often used to introduce a clarifying substitute for a euphemistic or misleading word or phrase
    • a friendly, read nosy, coworker
  23. indicate
    • the thermometer read s zero
  24. to interpret (a musical work) in performance
  25. to acquire (information) from storage
  26. to sense the meaning of (data) in recorded and coded form used of a computer or data processor
  27. to read the coded information on (as a floppy disk)
  28. to perform the act of reading words : read something
  29. to learn something by reading
  30. to pursue a course of study
  31. to yield a particular meaning or impression when read
  32. to be readable or read in a particular manner or to a particular degree
    • this book read s smoothly
  33. to consist of specific words, phrases, or other similar elements
    • a passage that read s differently in older versions
  34. instructed by or informed through reading
  35. a period of reading
    • it was a night...for a read and a long sleep -- William Sansom
  36. something (as a book) that is read
    • a novel that's a good read
  37. the action or an instance of reading

read·able ['rē-də-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. : able to be read easily: as
  2. legible
  3. interesting to read
    • a highly readable novel

read·er ['rē-dər] -n

  1. one that reads
  2. : one appointed to read to others: as
  3. lector
  4. one chosen to read aloud selected material in a Christian Science church or society
  5. proofreader
  6. one who evaluates manuscripts
  7. one who reads periodical literature to discover items of special interest or value
  8. an employee who reads and records the indications of meters
  9. a teacher's assistant who reads and marks student papers
  10. one who reads lectures or expounds subjects to students
  11. a device for projecting a readable image of a transparency
  12. a unit that scans material recorded (as on punch cards) for storage or computation
  13. a book for instruction and practice esp. in reading
  14. anthology

read·er·ly [-lē] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or typical of a reader

read·er·ship [-,ship] -n

  1. the office or position of a reader
  2. the quality or state of being a reader
  3. the mass or a particular group of readers
    • a magazine's readership

read·i·ly ['re-də-lē] -adv

  1. : in a ready manner: as
  2. without hesitating : willingly
    • readily accepted advice
  3. without much difficulty : easily
    • for reasons that anyone could readily understand

reading -n

  1. the act of reading
  2. material read or for reading
  3. extent of material read
  4. a particular version
  5. data indicated by an instrument
  6. a particular interpretation of something (as a law)
  7. a particular performance of something (as a musical work)
  8. an indication of a certain state of affairs
    • a study to get some reading of shoppers' preferences

reading desk -n

  1. lectern

reading frame -n

  1. a sequence of nucleotide triplets that is potentially translatable into a polypeptide and that is determined by the placement of a codon that initiates translation

readonly memory -n

  1. ROM

read·out ['rēd-,au̇t] -n

  1. the process of reading
  2. the process of removing information from an automatic device (as an electronic computer) and displaying it in an understandable form
  3. the information removed from such a device and displayed or recorded (as by magnetic tape or printing device)
  4. an electronic device that presents information in visual form
  5. the radio transmission of data or pictures from a space vehicle

read out -vt

  1. to read aloud
  2. to produce a readout of
  3. to expel from an organization or group

ready ['re-dē] -adj, n

  1. prepared mentally or physically for some experience or action
  2. prepared for immediate use
    • dinner is ready
  3. willingly disposed : inclined
    • ready to agree to his proposal
  4. likely to do something indicated
    • a house that looks ready to collapse
  5. displayed readily and spontaneously
    • a ready wit
  6. immediately available
    • had ready cash
  7. to make ready

ready box -n

  1. a box placed near a gun (as on a ship) to hold ammunition kept ready for immediate use

readymade [,re-dē-'mād] -adj

  1. made beforehand esp. for general sale
    • readymade suits
  2. lacking originality or individuality
  3. readily available
    • her illness provided a readymade excuse
  4. something (as a garment) that is ready-made
  5. a commonplace artifact (as a comb or ice tongs) selected and shown as a work of art

ready room -n

  1. a room in which pilots or astronauts are briefed and await orders

readytowear -adj, n

  1. ready-made
  2. dealing in ready-made clothes
    • readytowear stores

readywit·ted [,re-dē-'wi-təd] -adj

  1. quick-witted

re·af·for·es·ta·tion [,rē-ə-,fȯr-ə-'stā-shən, -,fär-] -n, vt

  1. reforestation

re·agent [rē-'ā-jənt] -n

  1. a substance used (as in detecting or measuring a component, in preparing a product, or in developing photographs) because of its chemical or biological activity

re·ag·gre·gate [(,)rē-'a-gri-,gāt] -vt, n

  1. to cause to re-form into an aggregate or a whole

re·agin [rē-'ā-jən, -gən] -n, adj

  1. a substance in the blood of persons with syphilis responsible for positive serological reactions for syphilis
  2. an antibody (as IgE in humans) that mediates hypersensitive allergic reactions of rapid onset

re·al ['rē(-ə)l] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to fixed, permanent, or immovable things (as lands or tenements)
  2. not artificial, fraudulent, or illusory : genuine
    • real gold
  3. being precisely what the name implies
    • a real professional
  4. occurring or existing in actuality
    • saw a real live celebrity
    • a story of real life
  5. of or relating to practical or everyday concerns or activities
    • left school to live in the real world
  6. existing as a physical entity and having properties that deviate from an ideal, law, or standard
    • a real gas
  7. having objective independent existence
    • unable to believe that what he saw was real
  8. fundamental, essential
  9. belonging to or having elements or components that belong to the set of real numbers
    • the real roots of an equation
    • a real matrix
  10. concerned with or containing real numbers
    • real analysis
  11. real-valued
    • real variable
  12. measured by purchasing power
    • real income
    • real dollars
  13. complete, utter
    • a real fiasco
  14. capable of being detected

real -n

  1. a real thing
  2. a mathematically real quantity
  3. very
    • he was real cool -- H. M. McLuhan

re·al [rā-'äl] -n

  1. a former monetary unit and coin of Spain and its possessions
  2. a former monetary unit and coin of Portugal

real estate -n

  1. property in buildings and land
  2. space, capacity
    • desktop real estate
    • the limited real estate on hard drives -- Leonard Wiener

real focus -n

  1. a point at which rays (as of light) converge or from which they diverge

re·al·gar [rē-'al-,gär, -gər] -n

  1. an orange-red mineral consisting of arsenic sulfide and having a resinous luster

re·a·lia [rē-'a-lē-ə, -'ā-] -n pl

  1. objects or activities used to relate classroom teaching to the real life esp. of peoples studied

re·align [,rē-ə-'līn] -vt, n

  1. to align again
  2. to reorganize or make new groupings of

real image -n

  1. an optical image formed of real foci

re·al·i·sa·tion [,rē-ə-lə-'zā-shən] -n

(variant of realization)

  1. the action of realizing : the state of being realized
  2. something realized

re·al·ism ['rē-ə-,li-zəm] -n, adj or n, adj, adv

  1. concern for fact or reality and rejection of the impractical and visionary
  2. a doctrine that universals exist outside the mind
  3. the conception that an abstract term names an independent and unitary reality
  4. a theory that objects of sense perception or cognition exist independently of the mind
  5. the theory or practice of fidelity in art and literature to nature or to real life and to accurate representation without idealization

re·al·i·ty [rē-'a-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being real
  2. a real event, entity, or state of affairs
    • his dream became a reality
  3. the totality of real things and events
    • trying to escape from reality
  4. something that is neither derivative nor dependent but exists necessarily
  5. television programming that features videos of actual occurrences (as a police chase, stunt, or natural disaster) often used attributively
    • reality TV

reality check -n

  1. something that clarifies or serves as a reminder of reality often by correcting a misconception

re·al·i·za·tion [,rē-ə-lə-'zā-shən] -n

  1. the action of realizing : the state of being realized
  2. something realized

re·al·ize ['rē-ə-,līz] -vt, adj, n

  1. to bring into concrete existence : accomplish
    • finally realized her goal
  2. to cause to seem real : make appear real
    • a book in which the characters are carefully realized
  3. to convert into actual money
    • realized assets
  4. to bring or get by sale, investment, or effort : gain
    • realized a large profit
  5. to conceive vividly as real : be fully aware of
    • did not realize the risk she was taking

reallife -adj

  1. existing or occurring in reality : drawn from or drawing on actual events or situations
    • reallife problems
    • reallife drama

re·al·ly ['rē-(ə-)lē] -adv

  1. in reality : actually
    • things as they really are
    • there was nothing peculiar about her doing this, really -- Peter Taylor
  2. truly, unquestionably used as an intensifier
    • a really beautiful day
  3. very
    • look really close
    • he runs really fast
  4. used to emphasize an assertion
    • you really should read Yeats
    • really, you're being ridiculous

realm ['relm] -n

  1. kingdom
  2. sphere, domain
    • within the realm of possibility
  3. a primary marine or terrestrial biogeographic division of the earth's surface

real number -n

  1. a number that has no imaginary part
    • the set of all real numbers comprises the rationals and the irrationals

real part -n

  1. the term in a complex number (as 2 in 2 3 i) that does not contain the imaginary unit as a factor

re·al·po·li·tik [rā-'äl-,pō-li-,tēk] -n

  1. politics based on practical and material factors rather than on theoretical or ethical objectives

real presence -n

  1. the doctrine that Christ is actually present in the Eucharist

real time -n, adj

  1. the actual time during which something takes place
    • the computer may partly analyze the data in real time (as it comes in) -- R. H. March
    • chatted online in real time

Re·al·tor ['rē(-ə)l-tər, -,tȯr, ÷'rē-lə-tər also rē-'al-tər] -collective mark

  1. used for a real estate agent who is a member of the National Association of Realtors

re·al·ty ['rē(-ə)l-tē] -n

  1. real estate

realvalued -adj

  1. taking on only real numbers for values

realworld -adj

  1. real-life
    • a realworld example

ream ['rēm] -n

  1. a quantity of paper being 20 quires or variously 480, 500, or 516 sheets
  2. a great amount usu. used in pl.
    • ream s of information
  3. to widen the opening of (a hole) : countersink
  4. to enlarge, shape, or smooth out (a hole) with a reamer
  5. to enlarge the bore of (as a gun) in this way
  6. to remove by reaming
  7. to press out with a reamer
  8. to press out the juice of (as an orange) with a reamer
  9. cheat, victimize
  10. reprimand often used with out
    • ream s out his players so severely -- Alexander Wolff

ream·er ['rē-mər] -n

  1. : one that reams: as
  2. a rotating finishing tool with cutting edges used to enlarge or shape a hole
  3. a fruit juice extractor with a ridged and pointed center rising from a shallow dish

reap ['rēp] -vb

  1. to cut with a sickle, scythe, or reaping machine
  2. to clear of a crop by reaping
  3. to gather by reaping : harvest
  4. obtain, win
  5. to reap something

reap·er ['rē-pər] -n

  1. one that reaps
  2. any of various machines for reaping grain

reap·hook ['rēp-,hu̇k] -n

  1. a hand implement with a hook-shaped blade used in reaping

re·ap·por·tion [,rē-ə-'pȯr-shən] -vt, n

  1. to apportion (as a house of representatives) anew
  2. to make a new apportionment

rear ['rir, vt4 & vi2 are also 'rer] -vb, n

  1. to erect by building : construct
  2. to raise upright
  3. to breed and raise (an animal) for use or market
  4. to bring to maturity or self-sufficiency usu. through nurturing care
    • rear ed five children
    • birds rear ing their young
  5. to cause (as plants) to grow
  6. to cause (a horse) to rise up on the hind legs
  7. to rise high
  8. to rise up on the hind legs
  9. : the back part of something: as
  10. the unit (as of an army) or area farthest from the enemy
  11. the part of something located opposite its front
    • the rear of a house
  12. buttocks
  13. the space or position at the back
    • moved to the rear
  14. being at the back
    • the rear entrance
  15. toward or from the rear usu. used in combination
    • a rear -driven car

rear admiral -n

  1. : a commissioned officer in the navy or coast guard having either of two ranks:
  2. one who ranks above a captain called also rear admiral (lower half)
  3. one who ranks above a rear admiral (lower half) and below a vice admiral called also rear admiral (upper half)

rear echelon -n

  1. an element of a military headquarters or unit located at a considerable distance from the front and concerned esp. with administrative and supply duties

rearend ['rir-'end, -,end] -vt

  1. to crash into the back of (as an automobile)

rear end -n

  1. buttocks

rear·guard ['rir-,gärd] -adj

  1. of or relating to resistance esp. to sweeping social forces
    • fought a rearguard action against automation

rear guard [-'gärd, -,gärd] -n

  1. a military detachment detailed to bring up and protect the rear of a main body or force

re·arm [(,)rē-'ärm] -vt, n

  1. to arm (as a nation or a military force) again with new or better weapons
  2. to become armed again

rear·most ['rir-,mōst] -adj

  1. farthest in the rear : last

rear·view mirror ['rir-,vyü-] -n

  1. a mirror (as in an automobile) that gives a view of the area behind a vehicle

rear·ward ['rir-,wȯrd] -n

  1. rear
  2. the rear division (as of an army)
  3. located at, near, or toward the rear
  4. directed toward the rear
    • a rearward glance
  5. at, near, or toward the rear : backward
    • looking rearward

reas -abbr

  1. reasonable

rea·son ['rē-zᵊn] -n

  1. a statement offered in explanation or justification
    • gave reason s that were quite satisfactory
  2. a rational ground or motive
    • a good reason to act soon
  3. a sufficient ground of explanation or of logical defense
  4. something (as a principle or law) that supports a conclusion or explains a fact
    • the reason s behind her client's action
  5. the thing that makes some fact intelligible : cause
    • the reason for earthquakes
    • the real reason why he wanted me to stay -- Graham Greene
  6. the power of comprehending, inferring, or thinking esp. in orderly rational ways : intelligence
  7. proper exercise of the mind
  8. sanity
  9. the sum of the intellectual powers
  10. treatment that affords satisfaction

reason ['rēz-niŋ, 'rē-zᵊn-iŋ] -vb, n

  1. to take part in conversation, discussion, or argument
  2. to talk with another so as to influence actions or opinions
    • can't reason with them
  3. to use the faculty of reason so as to arrive at conclusions
  4. to justify or support with reasons
  5. to persuade or influence by the use of reason
  6. to discover, formulate, or conclude by the use of reason
    • a carefully reason ed analysis

rea·son·able ['rēz-nə-bəl, 'rē-zᵊn-ə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. being in accordance with reason
    • a reasonable theory
  2. not extreme or excessive
    • reasonable requests
  3. moderate, fair
    • a reasonable chance
    • a reasonable price
  4. inexpensive
  5. having the faculty of reason
  6. possessing sound judgment
    • a reasonable man

reasoning -n

  1. the use of reason
  2. the drawing of inferences or conclusions through the use of reason
  3. an instance of the use of reason : argument

rea·son·less ['rē-zᵊn-ləs] -adj, adv

  1. not having the faculty of reason
    • a reasonless brute
  2. not reasoned : senseless
    • reasonless hostility
  3. not based on or supported by reasons
    • a reasonless accusation

re·as·sur·ance [,rē-ə-'shu̇r-ən(t)s] -n

  1. the action of reassuring : the state of being reassured
  2. reinsurance

re·as·sure [,rē-ə-'shu̇r] -vt, adv

  1. to assure anew
    • reassured him that the work was on schedule
  2. to restore to confidence
    • felt reassured by their earnest promise to do better
  3. reinsure

re·ata [rē-'a-tə, -'ä-] -n

  1. lariat

Re·au·mur [,rā-ō-'myu̇r, 'rā-ō-,] -adj

  1. relating to or conforming to a thermometric scale on which the boiling point of water is at 80 above the zero of the scale and the freezing point is at zero

reave ['rēv] -vb, n

  1. plunder, rob
  2. rob, despoil
  3. to deprive one of
  4. seize
  5. to carry or tear away

reb ['reb] -n

  1. johnny reb

Reb ['reb] -n

  1. rabbi, mister used as a title

re·bar ['rē-,bär] -n

  1. a steel rod with ridges for use in reinforced concrete

re·bar·ba·tive [ri-'bär-bə-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. repellent, irritating

re·bate ['rē-,bāt, ri-'] -vb, n

  1. to reduce the force or activity of : diminish
  2. to reduce the sharpness of : blunt
  3. to make a rebate of
  4. to give a rebate to
  5. to give rebates
  6. a return of a part of a payment

re·bate ['ra-bət] -n

(variant of rabbet)

  1. a channel, groove, or recess cut out of the edge or face of a surface
  2. one intended to receive another member (as a panel)

re·ba·to [ri-'bä-(,)tō] -n

  1. a wide lace-edged collar of the early 17th century often stiffened to stand high at the back

reb·be ['re-bə] -n

  1. a Jewish spiritual leader or teacher : rabbi

re·bec ['rē-,bek, 're-(,)bek] -n

  1. an ancient bowed usu. 3-stringed musical instrument with a pear-shaped body and slender neck

Re·bek·ah [ri-'be-kə] -n

  1. the wife of Isaac

reb·el ['re-bəl] -adj

  1. opposing or taking arms against a government or ruler
  2. of or relating to rebels
    • the rebel camp
  3. disobedient, rebellious

rebel -n

  1. one who rebels or participates in a rebellion

re·bel [ri-'bel] -vi

  1. to oppose or disobey one in authority or control
  2. to renounce and resist by force the authority of one's government
  3. to act in or show opposition or disobedience
    • rebelled against the conventions of polite society
  4. to feel or exhibit anger or revulsion
    • rebelled at the injustice of life

re·bel·lion [ri-'bel-yən] -n

  1. opposition to one in authority or dominance
  2. open, armed, and usu. unsuccessful defiance of or resistance to an established government
  3. an instance of such defiance or resistance

re·bel·lious [-yəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. given to or engaged in rebellion
    • rebellious troops
  2. of, relating to, or characteristic of a rebel or rebellion
    • a rebellious speech
  3. resisting treatment or management : refractory

rebel yell -n

  1. a prolonged high-pitched yell often uttered by Confederate soldiers in the American Civil War

re·birth [(,)rē-'bərth, 'rē-,] -n

  1. a new or second birth : metempsychosis
  2. spiritual regeneration
  3. renaissance, revival
    • a rebirth of nationalism

Re·blo·chon [rə-blȯ-'shōⁿ] -n

  1. a semisoft creamy mild-flavored French cheese

reb·o·ant ['re-bə-wənt] -adj

  1. marked by reverberation

re·born [(,)rē-'bȯrn] -adj

  1. born again : regenerated, revived

re·bound ['rē-,bau̇nd, ri-'] -vb, n

  1. to spring back on or as if on collision or impact with another body
  2. to recover from setback or frustration
  3. reecho
  4. to gain possession of a rebound in basketball
  5. to cause to rebound
  6. the action of rebounding : recoil
  7. an upward leap or movement : recovery
    • a sharp rebound in prices
  8. a basketball or hockey puck that rebounds
  9. the act or an instance of gaining possession of a basketball rebound
    • leads the league in rebound s
  10. a reaction to setback, frustration, or crisis
    • on the rebound from an unhappy love affair

re·bo·zo [ri-'bō-(,)zō, -(,)sō] -n

  1. a long scarf worn chiefly by Mexican women

re·branch [(,)rē-'branch] -vi

  1. to form secondary branches

re·broad·cast [(,)rē-'brȯd-,kast] -vt, n

  1. to broadcast again (a radio or television program being simultaneously received from another source)
  2. to repeat (a broadcast) at a later time

re·buff [ri-'bəf] -vt, n

  1. to reject or criticize sharply : snub

re·build [(,)rē-'bild] -vb

  1. to make extensive repairs to : reconstruct
    • rebuild a war-torn city
  2. to restore to a previous state
    • rebuild inventories
  3. to make extensive changes in : remodel
    • rebuild society
  4. to build again
    • planned to rebuild after the fire

re·buke [ri-'byük] -vt, n

  1. to criticize sharply : reprimand
  2. to serve as a rebuke to
  3. to turn back or keep down : check

rebuke -n

  1. an expression of strong disapproval : reprimand

re·bus ['rē-bəs] -n

  1. a representation of words or syllables by pictures of objects or by symbols whose names resemble the intended words or syllables in sound
  2. a riddle made up of such pictures or symbols

re·but [ri-'bət] -vb, adj

  1. to drive or beat back : repel
  2. to contradict or oppose by formal legal argument, plea, or countervailing proof
  3. to expose the falsity of : refute
  4. to make or furnish an answer or counter proof

re·but·tal [ri-'bə-tᵊl] -n

  1. the act of rebutting esp. in a legal suit
  2. argument or proof that rebuts

re·but·ter [-'bə-tər] -n

  1. the answer of a defendant in matter of fact to a plaintiff's surrejoinder

rebutter -n

  1. one that rebuts

rec -abbr

  1. received
  2. receipt
  3. record; recording
  4. recreation; recreational

re·cal·ci·trance [ri-'kal-sə-trən(t)s] -n

  1. the state of being recalcitrant

re·cal·ci·tran·cy [-trən(t)-sē] -n

  1. recalcitrance

re·cal·ci·trant [-trənt] -adj, n

  1. obstinately defiant of authority or restraint
  2. difficult to manage or operate
  3. not responsive to treatment
  4. resistant
    • this subject is recalcitrant both to observation and to experiment -- G. G. Simpson

re·call [ri-'kȯl] -vt, n, adj

  1. cancel, revoke
  2. to call back
    • was recall ed to active duty
    • a pitcher recall ed from the minors
  3. to bring back to mind
    • recall ed seeing her somewhere before
  4. to remind one of : resemble
    • a playwright who recall s the Elizabethan dramatists
  5. restore, revive
  6. a call to return
    • a recall of workers after a layoff
  7. the right or procedure by which an official may be removed by vote of the people
  8. remembrance of what has been learned or experienced
  9. the act of revoking
  10. a public call by a manufacturer for the return of a product that may be defective or contaminated

re·ca·mier [,rā-käm-'yā] -n

  1. a sometimes backless couch with a high curved headrest and low footrest

re·can·a·li·za·tion [(,)rē-,ka-nə-lə-'zā-shən] -n, vt

  1. the process of restoring flow to or reuniting an interrupted channel of a bodily tube (as a blood vessel or vas deferens)

re·cant [ri-'kant] -vb, n

  1. to withdraw or repudiate (a statement or belief) formally and publicly : renounce
  2. revoke
  3. to make an open confession of error

re·cap ['rē-,kap] -n

  1. recapitulation
  2. recapitulate
  3. retread
  4. retread

re·cap·i·tal·i·za·tion [(,)rē-,ka-pə-tə-lə-'zā-shən, -,kap-tə-] -n

  1. a revision of the capital structure of a corporation

re·cap·i·tal·ize [(,)rē-'ka-pə-tə-,līz, -'kap-tə-] -vt

  1. to change the capital structure of

re·ca·pit·u·late [,rē-kə-'pi-chə-,lāt] -vb

  1. to restate briefly : summarize
  2. to give new form or expression to
  3. to repeat the principal stages or phases of
    • the view that ontogeny recapitulate s phylogeny
  4. sum up

re·ca·pit·u·la·tion [-,pi-chə-'lā-shən] -n

  1. a concise summary
  2. the hypothetical occurrence in an individual organism's development of successive stages resembling the series of ancestral types from which it has descended so that the ontogeny of the individual retraces the phylogeny of its group
  3. the third section of a sonata form

re·cap·ture [(,)rē-'kap-chər] -n

  1. the act of retaking
  2. an instance of being retaken
  3. the retaking of a prize or goods under international law
  4. a government seizure under law of earnings or profits beyond a fixed amount

recapture -vt

  1. to capture again
  2. to experience again
    • by no effort of the imagination could she recapture the ecstasy -- Ellen Glasgow
  3. to take (as a portion of earnings or profits above a fixed amount) by law or through negotiations under law

re·cast [(,)rē-'kast] -vt, n

  1. to cast again
    • recast a gun
    • recast a play
  2. remodel, refashion
    • recast s his political image to fit the times

rec·ce ['re-kē] -n

  1. reconnaissance

rec'd -abbr

  1. received

re·cede [ri-'sēd] -vi

  1. to move back or away : withdraw
    • a receding hairline
  2. to slant backward
  3. to grow less or smaller : diminish, decrease
    • a receding deficit
  4. to cede back to a former possessor

re·ceipt [ri-'sēt] -n

  1. recipe
  2. receptacle
  3. a revenue office
  4. the act or process of receiving
  5. something received usu. used in pl.
  6. a writing acknowledging the receiving of goods or money

receipt -vt

  1. to give a receipt for or acknowledge the receipt of
  2. to mark as paid

re·ceiv·able [ri-'sē-və-bəl] -adj

  1. capable of being received
  2. subject to call for payment
    • notes receivable

re·ceiv·ables [-bəlz] -n pl

  1. amounts of money receivable

re·ceive [ri-'sēv] -vb

  1. to come into possession of : acquire
    • receive a gift
  2. to act as a receptacle or container for
    • the cistern receive s water from the roof
  3. to assimilate through the mind or senses
    • receive new ideas
  4. to permit to enter : admit
  5. welcome, greet
  6. to react to in a specified manner
  7. to accept as authoritative, true, or accurate : believe
  8. to support the weight or pressure of : bear
  9. to take (a mark or impression) from the weight of something
    • some clay receive s clear impressions
  10. acquire, experience
    • received his early schooling at home
  11. to suffer the hurt or injury of
    • received a broken nose
  12. to be a recipient
  13. to be at home to visitors
    • receive s on Tuesdays
  14. to convert incoming radio waves into perceptible signals
  15. to prepare to take possession of the ball from a kick in football

received -adj

  1. generally accepted : common
    • a healthy skepticism about received explanations -- B. K. Lewalski

Received Pronunciation -n

  1. the pronunciation of Received Standard

Received Standard -n

  1. a traditionally prestigious form of English spoken at the English public schools, at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and by many educated British people elsewhere

re·ceiv·er [ri-'sē-vər] -n

  1. : one that receives: as
  2. treasurer
  3. a person appointed to hold in trust and administer property under litigation
  4. a person appointed to settle the affairs of a business involving a public interest or to manage a corporation during reorganization
  5. one that receives stolen goods : fence
  6. : a device for converting signals (as electromagnetic waves) into audio or visual form: as
  7. a device in a telephone for converting electric impulses or varying current into sound
  8. a radio receiver with a tuner and amplifier on one chassis
  9. catcher
  10. a member of the offensive team in football eligible to catch a forward pass

receiver general -n

  1. a public officer in charge of the treasury (as of Massachusetts)

re·ceiv·er·ship [ri-'sē-vər-,ship] -n

  1. the office or function of a receiver
  2. the state of being in the hands of a receiver

receiving blanket -n

  1. a small lightweight blanket used to wrap an infant (as after bathing)

receiving end -n

  1. the position of being a recipient or esp. a victim usu. used in the phrase on the receiving end

receiving line -n

  1. a group of people who stand in a line and individually welcome guests (as at a wedding reception)

re·cen·cy ['rē-sᵊn(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being recent

re·cen·sion [ri-'sen(t)-shən] -n

  1. a critical revision of a text
  2. a text established by critical revision

re·cent ['rē-sᵊnt] -adj, n

  1. having lately come into existence : new, fresh
  2. of or relating to a time not long past
  3. holocene

re·cent·ly -adv

  1. during a recent period of time : lately

re·cep·ta·cle [ri-'sep-ti-kəl] -n

  1. one that receives and contains something : container
  2. the end of the flower stalk upon which the floral organs are borne
  3. a structure or tissue (as of a fungus or fern) bearing spores or sporangia
  4. a mounted female electrical fitting that contains the live parts of the circuit

re·cep·tion [ri-'sep-shən] -n

  1. : the act or action or an instance of receiving: as
  2. receipt
    • the reception and distribution of funds
  3. admission
    • reception into the church
  4. response, reaction
    • the play met with a mixed reception
  5. the receiving of a radio or television broadcast
  6. the catching of a forward pass by a receiver
  7. a social gathering often for the purpose of extending a formal welcome

re·cep·tion·ist [-sh(ə-)nist] -n

  1. a person employed to greet telephone callers, visitors, patients, or clients

re·cep·tive [ri-'sep-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. able or inclined to receive
  2. open and responsive to ideas, impressions, or suggestions
  3. fit to receive and transmit stimuli
  4. sensory
  5. willing to copulate with a male
    • a receptive mare

re·cep·tor [ri-'sep-tər] -n

  1. : receiver: as
  2. a cell or group of cells that receives stimuli : sense organ
  3. a chemical group or molecule (as a protein) on the cell surface or in the cell interior that has an affinity for a specific chemical group, molecule, or virus

re·cess ['rē-,ses, ri-'] -n

  1. the action of receding : recession
  2. a hidden, secret, or secluded place or part
  3. indentation, cleft
    • a deep recess in the hill
  4. alcove
    • a recess lined with books
  5. a suspension of business or procedure often for rest or relaxation
    • children playing at recess

recess -vt

  1. to put into a recess
    • recess ed lighting
  2. to make a recess in
  3. to interrupt for a recess
  4. to take a recess

re·ces·sion [ri-'se-shən] -n, adj

  1. the act or action of receding : withdrawal
  2. a departing procession (as of clergy and choir at the end of a church service)
  3. a period of reduced economic activity
  4. the act of ceding back to a former possessor

re·ces·sion·al [ri-'sesh-nəl, -'se-shə-nᵊl] -adj

  1. of or relating to a withdrawal

recessional -n

  1. a hymn or musical piece at the conclusion of a service or program
  2. recession

re·ces·sive [ri-'se-siv] -adj, adv, n

  1. tending to recede
  2. withdrawn
  3. producing little or no phenotypic effect when occurring in heterozygous condition with a contrasting allele
    • recessive genes
  4. expressed only when the determining gene is in the homozygous condition
    • recessive traits
    • a recessive disease

recessive -n

  1. an organism possessing one or more recessive characters
  2. a recessive character or gene

re·charge [(,)rē-'chärj] -vi, n, adj

  1. to make a new attack
  2. to regain energy or spirit
  3. to charge again
  4. to restore anew the active materials in (a storage battery)
  5. to inspire or invigorate afresh : renew

re·chauf·fe [,rā-shō-'fā, -'shō-,] -n

  1. rehash
  2. a warmed-over dish of food

re·cheat [ri-'chēt] -n

  1. a hunting call sounded on a horn to assemble the hounds

re·cher·che [rə-,sher-'shā, -'sher-,] -adj

  1. exquisite, choice
  2. exotic, rare
  3. excessively refined : affected
  4. pretentious, overblown

re·cid·i·vism [ri-'si-də-,vi-zəm] -n

  1. a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or mode of behavior
  2. relapse into criminal behavior

re·cid·i·vist [-vist] -n, adj

  1. one who relapses
  2. a habitual criminal

rec·i·pe ['re-sə-(,)pē] -n

  1. prescription
  2. a set of instructions for making something from various ingredients
  3. a formula or procedure for doing or attaining something
    • a recipe for success

re·cip·i·ent [ri-'si-pē-ənt] -n, adj

  1. one that receives : receiver

re·cip·ro·cal [ri-'si-prə-kəl] -adj, adv

  1. inversely related : opposite
  2. of, constituting, or resulting from paired crosses in which the kind that supplies the male parent of the first cross supplies the female parent of the second cross and vice versa
  3. shared, felt, or shown by both sides
  4. serving to reciprocate : consisting of or functioning as a return in kind
    • the reciprocal devastation of nuclear war
  5. mutually corresponding
    • agreed to extend reciprocal privileges to each other's citizens
  6. marked by or based on reciprocity
    • reciprocal trade agreements

reciprocal -n

  1. something in a reciprocal relationship to another
  2. either of a pair of numbers (as and or 9 and ) whose product is one
  3. multiplicative inverse

reciprocal pronoun -n

  1. a pronoun (as each other) used when its referents are predicated to bear the same relationship to one another

re·cip·ro·cate [ri-'si-prə-,kāt] -vb, n

  1. to give and take mutually
  2. to return in kind or degree
    • reciprocate a compliment gracefully
  3. to make a return for something
    • we hope to reciprocate for your kindness
  4. to move forward and backward alternately
    • a reciprocating valve

reciprocating engine -n

  1. an engine in which the to-and-fro motion of one or more pistons is transformed into the rotary motion of a crankshaft

re·cip·ro·ca·tion [ri-,si-prə-'kā-shən] -n, adj

  1. a mutual exchange
  2. a return in kind or of like value
  3. an alternating motion

rec·i·proc·i·ty [,re-sə-'prä-s(ə-)tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being reciprocal : mutual dependence, action, or influence
  2. a mutual exchange of privileges
  3. a recognition by one of two countries or institutions of the validity of licenses or privileges granted by the other

re·ci·sion [ri-'si-zhən] -n

  1. an act of rescinding : cancellation

re·cit·al [ri-'sī-tᵊl] -n

  1. a detailed account : enumeration
    • a recital of names and dates
  2. the act or process or an instance of reciting
  3. discourse, narration
    • a colorful recital of a night on the town
  4. a concert given by an individual musician or dancer or by a dance troupe
  5. a public exhibition of skill given by music or dance pupils

rec·i·ta·tion [,re-sə-'tā-shən] -n

  1. the act of enumerating
    • a recitation of relevant details
  2. the act or an instance of reading or repeating aloud esp. publicly
  3. a student's oral reply to questions
  4. a class period esp. in association with and for review of a lecture

rec·i·ta·tive [,re-sə-tə-'tēv, ,res-tə-] -n, adj

  1. a rhythmically free vocal style that imitates the natural inflections of speech and that is used for dialogue and narrative in operas and oratorios
  2. a passage to be delivered in this style
  3. recitation

rec·i·ta·ti·vo [-'tē-(,)vō] -n

  1. recitative

re·cite [ri-'sīt] -vb, n

  1. to repeat from memory or read aloud publicly
  2. to relate in full
    • recite s dull anecdotes
  3. to give a recital of : detail
    • recited a catalog of offenses
  4. to repeat or answer questions about (a lesson)
  5. to repeat or read aloud something memorized or prepared
  6. to reply to a teacher's question on a lesson

reck ['rek] -vb

  1. worry, care
  2. to be of account or interest : matter
  3. to care for : regard
  4. to matter to : concern

reck·less ['re-kləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by lack of proper caution : careless of consequences
  2. irresponsible
    • reckless charges

reck·on ['re-kən] -vb

  1. count
    • reckon the days till Christmas
  2. estimate, compute
    • reckon the height of a building
  3. to determine by reference to a fixed basis
    • the existence of the U.S. is reckon ed from the Declaration of Independence
  4. to regard or think of as : consider
  5. think, suppose
    • I reckon I've outlived my time -- Ellen Glasgow
  6. to settle accounts
  7. to make a calculation
  8. judge
  9. suppose, think
  10. to accept something as certain : place reliance
    • I reckon on your promise to help

reckoning -n

  1. : the act or an instance of reckoning: as
  2. account, bill
  3. computation
  4. calculation of a ship's position
  5. a settling of accounts
    • day of reckoning
  6. a summing up

re·claim [ri-'klām] -vt, adj

  1. to recall from wrong or improper conduct : reform
  2. tame, subdue
  3. to rescue from an undesirable state
  4. to restore to a previous natural state
    • reclaim mining sites
  5. to make available for human use by changing natural conditions
    • reclaim swampland
  6. to obtain from a waste product or by-product : recover
    • reclaim ed plastic
  7. to demand or obtain the return of
  8. to regain possession of

rec·la·ma·tion [,re-klə-'mā-shən] -n

  1. : the act or process of reclaiming: as
  2. reformation, rehabilitation
  3. restoration to use : recovery

re·clame [rā-'kläm] -n

  1. a gift for dramatization or publicity : showmanship
  2. public acclaim
    • the play won critical reclame

re·cline [ri-'klīn] -vb

  1. to cause or permit to incline backwards
  2. to lean or incline backwards
  3. repose, lie

re·clin·er [-'klī-nər] -n

  1. a chair with an adjustable back and footrest

re·clos·able [(,)rē-'klō-zə-bəl] -adj

  1. capable of being tightly closed again after opening
    • reclosable packages of bacon

re·cluse ['re-,klüs, ri-'klüs, 're-,klüz] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by withdrawal from society : solitary

recluse -n

  1. a person who leads a secluded or solitary life

re·clu·sion [ri-'klü-zhən] -n

  1. the state of being recluse

rec·og·nise ['re-kig-,nīz, -kəg-] -vt, n, adj, adv

(variant of recognize)

  1. : to acknowledge formally: as
  2. to admit as being lord or sovereign
  3. to admit as being of a particular status
  4. to admit as being one entitled to be heard : give the floor to
  5. to acknowledge the de facto existence or the independence of
  6. : to acknowledge or take notice of in some definite way: as
  7. to acknowledge with a show of appreciation
    • recognize an act of bravery with the award of a medal
  8. to acknowledge acquaintance with
    • recognize a neighbor with a nod
  9. to perceive to be something or someone previously known
    • recognized the word
  10. to perceive clearly : realize

rec·og·ni·tion [,re-kig-'ni-shən, -kəg-] -n

  1. : the action of recognizing : the state of being recognized: as
  2. acknowledgment
  3. formal acknowledgment of the political existence of a government or nation
  4. knowledge or feeling that someone or something present has been encountered before
  5. special notice or attention
  6. the sensing and encoding of printed or written data by a machine
    • optical character recognition
    • magnetic ink character recognition

re·cog·ni·zance [ri-'käg-nə-zən(t)s, -'kä-nə-] -n

  1. an obligation of record entered into before a court or magistrate requiring the performance of an act (as appearance in court) usu. under penalty of a money forfeiture
    • released on his own recognizance
  2. the sum liable to forfeiture upon such an obligation
  3. token, pledge

rec·og·nize ['re-kig-,nīz, -kəg-] -vt, n, adj, adv

  1. : to acknowledge formally: as
  2. to admit as being lord or sovereign
  3. to admit as being of a particular status
  4. to admit as being one entitled to be heard : give the floor to
  5. to acknowledge the de facto existence or the independence of
  6. : to acknowledge or take notice of in some definite way: as
  7. to acknowledge with a show of appreciation
    • recognize an act of bravery with the award of a medal
  8. to acknowledge acquaintance with
    • recognize a neighbor with a nod
  9. to perceive to be something or someone previously known
    • recognized the word
  10. to perceive clearly : realize

re·coil [ri-'kȯi(-ə)l] -vi

  1. to fall back under pressure
  2. to shrink back physically or emotionally
  3. to spring back to or as if to a starting point : rebound
  4. degenerate
  5. the act or action of recoiling
  6. the kickback of a gun upon firing
  7. reaction
    • the recoil from the rigors of Calvinism -- Edmund Wilson

re·coil·less [-,kȯi(-ə)l-ləs, -'kȯi(-ə)l-] -adj

  1. venting expanding propellant gas before recoil is produced
    • recoilless rifle
    • recoilless airgun

recoiloperated -adj

  1. utilizing the movement of parts in recoil to operate the action

re·coin [(,)rē-'kȯin] -vt, n

  1. to coin again or anew
  2. remint

rec·ol·lect [,re-kə-'lekt] -vb

  1. to bring back to the level of conscious awareness : remember
    • trying to recollect the name
  2. to remind (oneself) of something temporarily forgotten
  3. to call something to mind

recol·lect [,rē-kə-'lekt] -vt

  1. to collect again
  2. rally, recover

re·col·lect·ed [,rē-kə-'lek-təd] -adj

  1. composed, calm

rec·ol·lec·tion [,re-kə-'lek-shən] -n

  1. tranquillity of mind
  2. religious contemplation
  3. the action or power of recalling to mind
  4. something recalled to the mind

re·com·bi·nant [(,)rē-'käm-bə-nənt] -adj, n

  1. relating to or exhibiting genetic recombination
    • recombinant progeny
  2. relating to or containing genetically engineered DNA
  3. produced by genetic engineering
    • recombinant bovine growth hormone

recombinant DNA -n

  1. genetically engineered DNA usu. incorporating DNA from more than one species of organism

re·com·bi·na·tion [,rē-,käm-bə-'nā-shən] -n, adj

  1. the formation by the processes of crossing-over and independent assortment of new combinations of genes in progeny that did not occur in the parents

re·com·bine [,rē-kəm-'bīn] -vt

  1. to combine again or anew
  2. to cause to undergo recombination
  3. to undergo recombination

rec·om·mend [,re-kə-'mend] -vt, adj, n

  1. to present as worthy of acceptance or trial
    • recommend ed the medicine
  2. to endorse as fit, worthy, or competent
    • recommend s her for the position
  3. entrust, commit
    • recommend ed his soul to God
  4. to make acceptable
    • has other points to recommend it
  5. advise
    • recommend that the matter be dropped

rec·om·men·da·tion [,re-kə-mən-'dā-shən, -,men-] -n

  1. the act of recommending
  2. something (as a procedure) recommended
  3. something that recommends or expresses commendation

re·com·mit [,rē-kə-'mit] -vt, n

  1. to refer (as a bill) back to a committee
  2. to entrust or consign again

rec·om·pense ['re-kəm-,pen(t)s] -vt

  1. to give something to by way of compensation (as for a service rendered or damage incurred)
  2. to pay for
  3. to return in kind : requite

recompense -n

  1. an equivalent or a return for something done, suffered, or given : compensation
    • offered in recompense for injuries

re·com·pose [,rē-kəm-'pōz] -vt, n

  1. to compose again : rearrange
  2. to restore to composure

re·con [ri-'kän, 'rē-,kän] -n

  1. reconnaissance

rec·on·cile ['re-kən-,sī(-ə)l] -vb, n, adj

  1. to restore to friendship or harmony
    • reconciled the factions
  2. settle, resolve
    • reconcile differences
  3. to make consistent or congruous
    • reconcile an ideal with reality
  4. to cause to submit to or accept something unpleasant
    • was reconciled to hardship
  5. to check (a financial account) against another for accuracy
  6. to account for
  7. to become reconciled

rec·on·cil·i·a·tion [,re-kən-,si-lē-'ā-shən] -n, adj

  1. the action of reconciling : the state of being reconciled
  2. the Roman Catholic sacrament of penance

re·con·dite ['re-kən-,dīt, ri-'kän-] -adj, adv, n

  1. hidden from sight : concealed
  2. difficult or impossible for one of ordinary understanding or knowledge to comprehend : deep
    • a recondite subject
  3. of, relating to, or dealing with something little known or obscure
    • recondite fact about the origin of the holiday -- Floyd Dell

re·con·di·tion [,rē-kən-'di-shən] -vt

  1. to restore to good condition (as by replacing parts)
  2. to condition (as a person or a person's attitudes) anew
  3. to reinstate (a response) in an organism

re·con·firm [,rē-kən-'fərm] -vt, n

  1. to confirm again
  2. to establish more strongly

re·con·nais·sance [ri-'kä-nə-zən(t)s, -sən(t)s] -n

  1. a preliminary survey to gain information
  2. an exploratory military survey of enemy territory

re·con·noi·ter [,rē-kə-'nȯi-tər, ,re-kə-] -vb

  1. to make a reconnaissance of
  2. to engage in reconnaissance

re·con·sid·er [,rē-kən-'si-dər] -vt, n

  1. to consider again esp. with a view to changing or reversing
  2. to consider something again

re·con·sti·tute [(,)rē-'kän(t)-stə-,tüt, -,tyüt] -vt, n

  1. to constitute again or anew
  2. to restore to a former condition by adding water

re·con·struct [,rē-kən-'strəkt] -vt, adj, n

  1. : to construct again: as
  2. to establish or assemble again
  3. to subject (an organ or part) to surgery to re-form its structure or correct a defect
  4. to build up mentally : recreate
    • reconstruct ing a lost civilization

re·con·struc·tion [,rē-kən-'strək-shən] -n

  1. the action of reconstructing : the state of being reconstructed
  2. the reorganization and reestablishment of the seceded states in the Union after the American Civil War
  3. something reconstructed

re·con·struc·tion·ism [-shə-,ni-zəm] -n, adj or n

  1. a movement in 20th century American Judaism that advocates a creative adjustment to contemporary conditions through the cultivation of traditions and folkways shared by all Jews
  2. advocacy of post-Civil War reconstruction

reconstructive surgery -n

  1. surgery to restore function or normal appearance by reconstructing defective organs or parts

re·con·tex·tu·al·ize [,rē-kən-'teks-chə-wə-,līz, -chə-,līz] -vt

  1. to place (as a literary or artistic work) in a different context

re·con·vey [,rē-kən-'vā] -vt, n

  1. to convey back to a previous position or owner

re·cord [ri-'kȯrd] -vb, adj

  1. to set down in writing : furnish written evidence of
  2. to deposit an authentic official copy of
    • record a deed
  3. to state for or as if for the record
    • voted in favor but record ed certain reservations
  4. to register permanently by mechanical means
    • earthquake shocks record ed by a seismograph
  5. indicate, read
    • the thermometer record ed 90
  6. to give evidence of
  7. to cause (as sound, visual images, or data) to be registered on something (as a disc or magnetic tape) in reproducible form
  8. to record something

rec·ord ['re-kərd also -,kȯrd] -n

  1. the state or fact of being recorded
  2. : something that records: as
  3. something that recalls or relates past events
  4. an official document that records the acts of a public body or officer
  5. an authentic official copy of a document deposited with a legally designated officer
  6. the official copy of the papers used in a law case
  7. a body of known or recorded facts about something or someone esp. with reference to a particular sphere of activity that often forms a discernible pattern
    • a good academic record
    • a liberal voting record
  8. a collection of related items of information (as in a database) treated as a unit
  9. an attested top performance
  10. an unsurpassed statistic
  11. something on which sound or visual images have been recorded
  12. a disc with a spiral groove carrying recorded sound for phonograph reproduction

record [same as ²] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being one that is extraordinary among or surpasses others of its kind

re·cord [ri-'kȯrd] -n

  1. a function of an electronic device that causes it to record

re·cor·da·tion [,re-,kȯr-'dā-shən; ,rē-, ri-] -n

  1. the action or process of recording

re·cord·er [ri-'kȯr-dər] -n

  1. the chief judicial magistrate of some British cities and boroughs
  2. a municipal judge with criminal jurisdiction of first instance and sometimes limited civil jurisdiction
  3. one that records
  4. any of a group of wind instruments ranging from soprano to bass that are characterized by a conical tube, a whistle mouthpiece, and eight finger holes

re·cord·ing [ri-'kȯr-diŋ] -n

  1. record

re·cord·ist [ri-'kȯr-dist] -n

  1. one who records sound (as on magnetic tape)

re·count [ri-'kau̇nt] -vt, n

  1. to relate in detail : narrate
  2. to count again
  3. a second or fresh count

re·coup [ri-'küp] -vb, adj, n

  1. to get an equivalent for (as losses) : make up for
  2. reimburse, compensate
    • recoup a person for losses
  3. regain
    • an attempt to recoup his fortune
  4. to make good or make up for something lost
  5. recuperate

re·course ['rē-,kȯrs, ri-'] -n

  1. a turning to someone or something for help or protection
    • settled the matter without recourse to law
  2. a source of help or strength : resort
    • had no recourse left
  3. the right to demand payment from the maker or endorser of a negotiable instrument (as a check)

re·cov·er [ri-'kə-vər] -vb, n, adj

  1. to get back : regain
  2. to bring back to normal position or condition
    • stumbled, then recover ed himself
  3. rescue
  4. to make up for
    • recover increased costs through higher prices
  5. to gain by legal process
  6. reach
  7. to find or identify again
    • recover a comet
  8. to obtain from an ore, a waste product, or a by-product
  9. to save from loss and restore to usefulness : reclaim
  10. to regain a normal position or condition (as of health)
    • recover ing from a cold
  11. to obtain a final legal judgment in one's favor

recov·er [(,)rē-'kə-vər] -vt

  1. to cover again or anew

recovered memory -n

  1. a memory of a traumatic event (as sexual abuse) experienced typically during childhood that is forgotten and then recalled many years later that is sometimes held to be an invalid or false remembrance generated by outside influence

recovering -adj

  1. being in the process of overcoming a disorder or shortcoming
    • a recovering alcoholic
    • a still-bookish recovering academic with a tendency to live in his head -- Jon Spayde

re·cov·ery [ri-'kə-və-rē, -'kəv-rē] -n

  1. the act, process, or an instance of recovering
  2. an economic upturn (as after a depression)
  3. the process of combating a disorder (as alcoholism) or a real or perceived problem

recovery room -n

  1. a hospital room equipped for meeting postoperative emergencies

rec·re·ant ['re-krē-ənt] -adj

  1. crying for mercy : cowardly
  2. unfaithful to duty or allegiance

recreant -n

  1. coward
  2. apostate, deserter

rec·re·ate ['re-krē-,āt] -vb, adj

  1. to give new life or freshness to : refresh
  2. to take recreation

recre·ate [,rē-krē-'āt] -vt, adj, n

  1. to create again
  2. to form anew in the imagination

rec·re·a·tion [,re-krē-'ā-shən] -n

  1. refreshment of strength and spirits after work
  2. a means of refreshment or diversion : hobby

rec·re·a·tion·al [,re-krē-'ā-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of recreation
  2. of or relating to recreational drugs or their use

recreational drug -n

  1. a drug (as cocaine, marijuana, or methamphetamine) used without medical justification for its psychoactive effects often in the belief that occasional use of such a substance is not habit-forming or addictive

recreational vehicle -n

  1. a vehicle designed for recreational use (as in camping)
  2. motor home

rec·re·a·tion·ist [-sh(ə-)nist] -n

  1. a person who seeks recreation esp. in the outdoors

recreation room -n

  1. a room (as a rumpus room) used for recreation and relaxation called also rec room
  2. a public room (as in a hospital) for recreation and social activities

re·crim·i·na·tion [ri-,kri-mə-'nā-shən] -n, vi, adj

  1. a retaliatory accusation
  2. the making of such accusations
    • endless recrimination

re·cru·desce [,rē-krü-'des] -vi

  1. to break out or become active again

re·cru·des·cence [-'de-sᵊn(t)s] -n

  1. a new outbreak after a period of abatement or inactivity : renewal
    • a recrudescence of the symptoms
    • a recrudescence of guerrilla warfare

re·cru·des·cent [-sᵊnt] -adj

  1. breaking out again : renewing

re·cruit [ri-'krüt] -vt, n

  1. to fill up the number of (as an army) with new members : reinforce
  2. to enlist as a member of an armed service
  3. to increase or maintain the number of
    • America recruit ed her population from Europe
  4. to secure the services of : engage, hire
  5. to seek to enroll
    • recruit prospective students
  6. replenish
  7. to restore or increase the health, vigor, or intensity of
  8. to enlist new members

recruit -n

  1. a newcomer to a field or activity
  2. a newly enlisted or drafted member of the armed forces
  3. a fresh or additional supply
  4. a former enlisted man of the lowest rank in the army

re·cruit·ment [ri-'krüt-mənt] -n

  1. the action or process of recruiting
  2. the process of adding new individuals to a population or subpopulation (as of breeding or legally catchable individuals) by growth, reproduction, immigration, and stocking
  3. a measure (as in numbers or biomass) of recruitment

re·crys·tal·lize [(,)rē-'kris-tə-,līz] -vb, n

  1. to crystallize again or repeatedly

rec·tal ['rek-tᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. relating to, affecting, or being near the rectum
    • rectal walls
    • rectal cancer

rect·an·gle ['rek-,taŋ-gəl] -n

  1. a parallelogram all of whose angles are right angles
  2. one with adjacent sides of unequal length

rect·an·gu·lar [rek-'taŋ-gyə-lər] -adj, n, adv

  1. shaped like a rectangle
    • a rectangular area
  2. crossing, lying, or meeting at a right angle
    • rectangular axes
  3. having edges, surfaces, or faces that meet at right angles : having faces or surfaces shaped like rectangles
    • rectangular parallelepipeds
    • a rectangular solid

rectangular coordinate -n

  1. a Cartesian coordinate of a Cartesian coordinate system whose straight-line axes or coordinate planes are perpendicular

rec·ti·fi·able ['rek-tə-,fī-ə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. having finite length
    • a rectifiable curve

rec·ti·fi·er ['rek-tə-,fī(-ə)r] -n

  1. one that rectifies
  2. a device for converting alternating current into direct current

rec·ti·fy ['rek-tə-,fī] -vt, n

  1. to set right : remedy
  2. to purify (as alcohol) esp. by repeated or fractional distillation
  3. to correct by removing errors : adjust
    • rectify the calendar
  4. to make (an alternating current) unidirectional

rec·ti·lin·e·ar [,rek-tə-'li-nē-ər] -adj, n, adv

  1. moving in or forming a straight line
    • rectilinear motion
  2. characterized by straight lines
    • the rectilinear skyline of a modern city
  3. perpendicular

rec·ti·tude ['rek-tə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n

  1. the quality or state of being straight
  2. moral integrity : righteousness
  3. the quality or state of being correct in judgment or procedure

rec·ti·tu·di·nous [,rek-tə-'tüd-nəs, -'tyüd-; -'tü-də-nəs, -'tyü-] -adj

  1. characterized by rectitude
  2. piously self-righteous

rec·to ['rek-(,)tō] -n

  1. the side of a leaf (as of a manuscript) that is to be read first
  2. a right-hand page

rec·tor ['rek-tər] -n, adj

  1. one that directs : leader
  2. a member of the clergy (as of the Protestant Episcopal Church) in charge of a parish
  3. an incumbent of a Church of England benefice in full possession of its rights
  4. a Roman Catholic priest directing a church with no pastor or one whose pastor has other duties
  5. the head of a university or school

rec·to·ry ['rek-t(ə-)rē] -n

  1. a benefice held by a rector
  2. a residence of a rector or a parish priest

rec·trix ['rek-triks] -n

  1. any of the quill feathers of a bird's tail that are important in controlling flight direction

rec·tum ['rek-təm] -n

  1. the terminal part of the intestine from the sigmoid colon to the anus

rec·tus ['rek-təs] -n

  1. any of several straight muscles (as of the abdomen)

re·cum·ben·cy [ri-'kəm-bən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the state of leaning, resting, or reclining : repose
  2. a recumbent position

re·cum·bent [-bənt] -adj

  1. suggestive of repose : leaning, resting
  2. lying down
  3. representing a person lying down
    • a recumbent statue

re·cu·per·ate [ri-'kü-pə-,rāt, -'kyü-] -vb, n

  1. to get back : regain
  2. to bring back into use or currency : revive
    • recuperate old traditions
  3. to regain a former state or condition
  4. to recover health or strength

re·cu·per·a·tive [-'kü-pə-,rā-tiv, -'kyü-, -p(ə-)rə-tiv] -adj

  1. of or relating to recuperation
    • recuperative powers
  2. aiding in recuperation : restorative

re·cur [ri-'kər] -vi, n

  1. to have recourse : resort
  2. to go back in thought or discourse
    • on recurring to my letters of that date -- Thomas Jefferson
  3. to come up again for consideration
  4. to come again to mind
  5. to occur again after an interval : occur time after time
    • the cancer recurred

re·cur·rent [-'kər-ənt, -'kə-rənt] -adj, adv

  1. running or turning back in a direction opposite to a former course used of various nerves and branches of vessels in the arms and legs
  2. returning or happening time after time
    • recurrent complaints

recurring decimal -n

  1. repeating decimal

re·cur·sion [ri-'kər-zhən] -n

  1. return
  2. the determination of a succession of elements (as numbers or functions) by operation on one or more preceding elements according to a rule or formula involving a finite number of steps
  3. a computer programming technique involving the use of a procedure, subroutine, function, or algorithm that calls itself one or more times until a specified condition is met at which time the rest of each repetition is processed from the last one called to the first

re·cur·sive [ri-'kər-siv] -adj, adv, n

  1. of, relating to, or involving recursion
    • a recursive function in a computer program
  2. of, relating to, or constituting a procedure that can repeat itself indefinitely
    • a recursive rule in a grammar

re·curve ['rē-,kərv] -n

  1. an archery bow whose tips are curved toward the back

re·curved [(,)rē-'kərvd] -adj

  1. curved backward or inward
    • recurved claws
    • recurved petals

re·cu·san·cy ['re-kyə-zən(t)-sē, ri-'kyü-] -n

  1. the act or state of being a recusant

re·cu·sant [-zənt] -n, adj

  1. an English Roman Catholic of the time from about 1570 to 1791 who refused to attend services of the Church of England and thereby committed a statutory offense
  2. one who refuses to accept or obey established authority

re·cuse [ri-'kyüz] -vt, n

  1. to disqualify (oneself) as judge in a particular case
  2. to remove (oneself) from participation to avoid a conflict of interest

re·cut [(,)rē-'kət, 'rē-,] -vt

  1. to cut again
  2. to edit (as a film) anew

re·cy·cle [(,)rē-'sī-kəl] -vt, n, adj or n

  1. : to pass again through a series of changes or treatments: as
  2. to process (as liquid body waste, glass, or cans) in order to regain material for human use
  3. recover
  4. to reuse or make (a substance) available for reuse for biological activities through natural processes of biochemical degradation or modification
    • green plants recycling the residue of forest fires
    • recycle ADP back to ATP
  5. to adapt to a new use : alter
  6. to bring back : reuse
    • recycle s a number of good anecdotes -- Larry McMurtry
  7. to make ready for reuse
    • a plan to recycle vacant tenements
  8. to return to an earlier point in a countdown
  9. to return to an original condition so that operation can begin again used of an electronic device

recycle -n

  1. the process of recycling

red ['red] -adj

  1. of the color red
  2. having red as a distinguishing color
  3. flushed esp. with anger or embarrassment
  4. ruddy, florid
  5. being or having skin of a coppery hue
  6. bloodshot
    • eyes red from crying
  7. being in the color range between a moderate orange and russet or bay
  8. tinged with red : reddish
  9. heated to redness : glowing
  10. inciting or endorsing radical social or political change esp. by force
  11. communist
  12. of or relating to a communist country and esp. to the U.S.S.R.
  13. tending to support Republicans in a general election
    • red states
  14. a color whose hue resembles that of blood or of the ruby or is that of the long-wave extreme of the visible spectrum
  15. red clothing
    • the lady in red
  16. : one that is of a red or reddish color: as
  17. red wine
  18. an animal with a red or reddish coat
  19. a pigment or dye that colors red
  20. a shade or tint of red
  21. one who advocates the violent overthrow of an existing social or political order
  22. communist
  23. the condition of showing a loss usu. used with the
    • in the red
  24. reduce; reduction

re·dact [ri-'dakt] -vt

  1. to put in writing : frame
  2. to select or adapt (as by obscuring or removing sensitive information) for publication or release
  3. edit
  4. to obscure or remove (text) from a document prior to publication or release

re·dac·tion [-'dak-shən] -n, adj

  1. an act or instance of redacting something
  2. a work that has been redacted : edition, version

re·dac·tor [-'dak-tər] -n

  1. one who redacts a work
  2. editor

red admiral -n

  1. a nymphalid butterfly ( Vanessa atalanta) that is common in both Europe and America, has broad orange-red bands on the forewings, and feeds chiefly on nettles in the larval stage

red alert -n

  1. the final stage of alert in which enemy attack appears imminent
  2. a state of alert brought on by impending danger

red alga -n

  1. any of a division (Rhodophyta) of chiefly marine algae that have predominantly red pigmentation

red ant -n

  1. any of various reddish ants (as the pharaoh ant)

red·ar·gue [ri-'där-(,)gyü] -vt

  1. confute, disprove

re·date [(,)rē-'dāt] -vt

  1. to date again or anew
  2. to change the date of : give a different date to

redbait ['red-,bāt] -vb, n

  1. to subject (as a person or group) to red-baiting
  2. to engage in red-baiting

redbait·ing -n

  1. the act of attacking or persecuting as a Communist or as communistic

red bay -n

  1. a southern U.S. tree ( Persea borbonia) of the laurel family having aromatic evergreen leaves and dark red heartwood

red bean -n

  1. a red kidney bean and esp. one that is small and round
  2. a small dark red seed of the adzuki bean that is often combined with sugar to produce a sweet paste used in cooking

red·bel·ly dace ['red-'be-lē-] -n

  1. either of two small brightly marked No. American cyprinid fishes ( Phoxinus eosand P. erythrogaster) called also red-bel*lied dace -led-

red·bird ['red-,bərd] -n

  1. any of several birds (as a cardinal or scarlet tanager) with predominantly red plumage

red blood cell -n

  1. any of the hemoglobin-containing cells that carry oxygen to the tissues and are responsible for the red color of vertebrate blood called also erythrocyte red blood corpuscle red cell red corpuscle

redblood·ed ['red-'blə-dəd] -adj

  1. vigorous, lusty

red·bone ['red-,bōn] -n

  1. any of a breed of agile speedy coonhounds of U.S. origin having a usu. solid dark red coat

red·breast ['red-,brest] -n

  1. a bird (as a robin) with a reddish breast
  2. a reddish-bellied sunfish ( Lepomis auritus) of the eastern U.S. called also red-breasted bream

red·brick [-,brik] -adj

  1. built of red brick
  2. of, relating to, or being the British universities founded in the 19th or early 20th century

red·bud [-,bəd] -n

  1. any of several deciduous shrubs or trees (genus Cercis) of the legume family with usu. pale rosy-pink flowers

red bug -n

  1. chigger

red·cap ['red-,kap] -n

  1. a baggage porter (as at a railroad station)

redcarpet -adj

  1. marked by ceremonial courtesy
    • redcarpet treatment

red carpet -n

  1. a greeting or reception marked by ceremonial courtesy usu. used in the phrase roll out the red carpet

red cedar -n

  1. a common juniper ( Juniperus virginiana) chiefly of the eastern U.S. that has dark green closely imbricated scalelike leaves
  2. a related tree ( J. silicicola) of the southeastern U.S.
  3. western red cedar
  4. the red or reddish-brown wood of a red cedar

red cent -n

  1. penny used for emphasis in negative constructions

red clover -n

  1. a European clover ( Trifolium pratense) that has globose heads of reddish-purple flowers, is widely cultivated as a hay, forage, and cover crop, and is naturalized in the U.S.

red·coat ['red-,kōt] -n

  1. a British soldier esp. in America during the Revolutionary War

redcockaded woodpecker -n

  1. an endangered chiefly black-and-white woodpecker ( Picoides borealis) of the southeastern U.S. having a barred back, white cheek patches, and in the male a small tuft of red feathers on each side of the head

red coral -n

  1. a gorgonian ( Corallium rubrum) of the Mediterranean and adjacent parts of the Atlantic having a hard stony skeleton of a delicate red or pink color used for ornaments and jewelry

Red Cross -n

  1. a red Greek cross on a white background used as the emblem of the International Red Cross

red currant -n

  1. either of two Old World currants ( Ribes sativumand R. rubrum) often cultivated for their fruit
  2. the fruit

redd ['red] -vb

  1. to set in order usu. used with up or out
  2. to make things tidy usu. used with up
  3. the spawning ground or nest of various fishes

red deer -n

  1. elk used for one of the Old World

Red Delicious -n

  1. a usu. large apple with sweet crisp juicy flesh and dark red skin

red·den ['re-dᵊn] -vb

  1. to make red or reddish
  2. to become red
  3. blush

red·dish ['re-dish] -adj, n

  1. tinged with red

red dog -n, vb

  1. blitz

red drum -n

  1. a large coppery drum ( Sciaenops ocellatus) chiefly of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic coast of No. America that has a black spot at the base of the tail and is an important game and food fish called also channel bass redfish

red dwarf -n

  1. a star having substantially lower surface temperature, intrinsic luminosity, mass, and size than the sun

rede ['rēd] -vt

  1. to give counsel to : advise
  2. interpret, explain
  3. counsel, advice
  4. account, story

red·ear ['red-,ir] -n

  1. a common sunfish ( Lepomis microlophus) of the southern and eastern U.S. that resembles the bluegill but has the back part of the operculum bright orange red and that feeds esp. on snails called also shellcracker

re·dec·o·rate [(,)rē-'de-kə-,rāt] -vt, n

  1. to freshen or change in appearance : refurbish
  2. to freshen or change a decorative scheme

re·deem [ri-'dēm] -vt, adj

  1. to buy back : repurchase
  2. to get or win back
  3. : to free from what distresses or harms: as
  4. to free from captivity by payment of ransom
  5. to extricate from or help to overcome something detrimental
  6. to release from blame or debt : clear
  7. to free from the consequences of sin
  8. to change for the better : reform
  9. repair, restore
  10. to free from a lien by payment of an amount secured thereby
  11. to remove the obligation of by payment
    • the U.S. Treasury redeem s savings bonds on demand
  12. to exchange for something of value
    • redeem trading stamps
  13. to make good : fulfill
  14. to atone for : expiate
    • redeem an error
  15. to offset the bad effect of
  16. to make worthwhile : retrieve

re·deem·er [-'dē-mər] -n

  1. a person who redeems
  2. jesus

re·deem·ing [-'dē-miŋ] -adj

  1. serving to offset or compensate for a defect
    • her performance is the film's redeeming feature

re·de·fine [,rē-di-'fīn] -vt, n

  1. to define (as a concept) again : reformulate
    • had to redefine their terms
  2. to reexamine or reevaluate esp. with a view to change
  3. transform

re·demp·tion [ri-'dem(p)-shən] -n

  1. the act, process, or an instance of redeeming

re·demp·tion·er [-sh(ə-)nər] -n

  1. an immigrant to America in the 18th and 19th centuries who obtained passage by becoming an indentured servant

re·demp·tive [-'dem(p)-tiv] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or bringing about redemption
    • redemptive suffering

Re·demp·tor·ist [ri-'dem(p)-t(ə-)rist] -n

  1. a member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer founded by St. Alphonsus Liguori in Scala, Italy, in 1732 and devoted to preaching

re·demp·to·ry [ri-'dem(p)-t(ə-)rē] -adj

  1. serving to redeem

re·de·ploy [,rē-di-'plȯi] -vt, n

  1. to transfer from one area or activity to another
  2. to relocate men or equipment

re·de·scribe [,rē-di-'skrīb] -vt

  1. to describe anew or again
  2. to give a new and more complete description to (a biological taxon)

re·de·scrip·tion [-'skrip-shən] -n

  1. a new and more complete description esp. of a biological taxon

re·de·sign [,rē-di-'zīn] -vt, n

  1. to revise in appearance, function, or content

re·de·vel·op [,rē-di-'ve-ləp] -vt, n

  1. to develop again
  2. redesign, rebuild

re·de·vel·op·ment [-mənt] -n

  1. the act or process of redeveloping
  2. renovation of a blighted area
    • urban redevelopment

redeye ['red-,ī] -n

  1. cheap whiskey
  2. the phenomenon of a subject's eyes appearing red in a color photograph taken with a flash
  3. a late night or overnight flight

redeyed vireo -n

  1. a No. American vireo ( Vireo olivaceus) having an olive-green back, white underparts, and red irises

red·eye gravy ['red-,ī-] -n

  1. gravy made from the juices of ham and often flavored with coffee

red fescue -n

  1. a perennial pasture and turf fescue ( Festuca rubra) of Eurasia and No. America that has creeping rootstocks and reddish lemmas and sheaths

red·fish ['red-,fish] -n

  1. : any of various reddish fishes: as
  2. a marine scorpaenid food fish ( Sebastes marinus) of the northern Atlantic coasts of Europe and No. America that is usu. bright rose red or orange red when mature called also rosefish
  3. a fish ( Sebastes mentella) related to the redfish
  4. red drum

red flag -n

  1. a warning signal
  2. something that attracts usu. irritated attention

red flannel hash -n

  1. hash made esp. from beef, potatoes, and beets

red fox -n

  1. a usu. orange-red to reddish-brown Holarctic fox ( Vulpes vulpes) that has a white-tipped tail

red giant -n

  1. a star that has low surface temperature and a diameter that is large relative to the sun

redgreen blindness -n

  1. deficiency of color vision ranging from imperfect perception of red and green to an ability to see only tones of yellow, blue, and gray called also red-green color blindness

Red Guard -n

  1. a member of a paramilitary youth organization in China in the 1960s

red gum -n

  1. any of several Australian eucalyptus trees including one ( Eucalyptus camaldulensis) naturalized esp. in California
  2. the reddish-brown gum of a eucalyptus
  3. sweet gum

redhand·ed ['red-'han-dəd] -adv or adj

  1. in the act of committing a crime or misdeed
    • caught redhanded

red·head ['red-,hed] -n

  1. a person having red hair
  2. a No. American duck ( Aythya americana) resembling the related canvasback but having a shorter bill with a black tip and in the male a brighter reddish head

red·head·ed [-,he-dəd] -adj

  1. having red hair or a red head

red heat -n

  1. the state of being red-hot
  2. the temperature at which a substance is red-hot

red herring -n

  1. a herring cured by salting and slow smoking to a dark brown color
  2. something that distracts attention from the real issue

red·horse ['red-,hȯrs] -n

  1. any of various large suckers (genus Moxostoma) of No. American rivers and lakes with the males having red tail fins esp. in the breeding season

redhot ['red-'hät] -adj

  1. : extremely hot: as
  2. glowing with heat
  3. exhibiting or marked by intense emotion, enthusiasm, or violence
    • a redhot campaign
  4. fresh, new
    • redhot news
  5. extremely popular

red hot -n

  1. one who shows intense emotion or partisanship
  2. hot dog
  3. a small red candy strongly flavored with cinnamon

redhot poker -n

  1. a south African herb ( Kniphofia uvaria) of the lily family having long linear leaves and tall spikes of bright red, orange-red, or yellow flowers

re·dia ['rē-dē-ə] -n, adj

  1. a larva produced within the sporocyst of many trematodes that produces another generation of rediae or develops into a cercaria

re·dial ['rē-,dī(-ə)l, rē-'] -n, vb

  1. a function on a telephone that automatically repeats the dialing of the last number called
  2. a button that invokes this function

Red Indian -n

  1. american indian

red·in·gote ['re-diŋ-,gōt] -n

  1. : a fitted outer garment: as
  2. a double-breasted coat with wide flat cuffs and collar worn by men in the 18th century
  3. a woman's lightweight coat open at the front
  4. a dress with a front gore of contrasting material

red ink -n

  1. a business loss : deficit
  2. the condition of showing a business loss

red·in·te·grate [ri-'din-tə-,grāt, re-] -vt

  1. to restore to a former and esp. sound state

red·in·te·gra·tion [ri-,din-tə-'grā-shən, re-] -n, adj

  1. restoration to a former state
  2. revival of the whole of a previous mental state when a phase of it recurs
  3. arousal of any response by a part of the complex of stimuli that originally aroused that response

re·di·rect [,rē-də-'rekt, ,rē-(,)dī-] -vt, n

  1. to change the course or direction of

re·dis·count [(,)rē-'dis-,kau̇nt, ,rē-dis-'] -vt, adj

  1. to discount again (as commercial paper)
  2. the act or process of rediscounting
  3. negotiable paper that is rediscounted

re·dis·trib·ute [,rē-də-'stri-,byüt also -byət] -vt, n, adj

  1. to alter the distribution of : reallocate
  2. to spread to other areas

re·dis·tri·bu·tion·ist [(,)rē-,dis-trə-'byü-sh(ə-)nist] -n, adj

  1. one who believes in or advocates a welfare state

re·dis·trict [(,)rē-'dis-(,)trikt] -vt

  1. to divide anew into districts
  2. to revise the legislative districts of
  3. to revise legislative districts

red·i·vi·vus [,re-də-'vī-vəs, -'vē-] -adj

  1. brought back to life : reborn used postpositively

red kangaroo -n

  1. a large kangaroo ( Macropus rufus) of the dry plains of inland Australia with the male having a reddish-brown coat

red lead -n

  1. an orange-red to brick-red lead oxide Pb 3O 4used in storage-battery plates, in glass and ceramics, and as a paint pigment

red leaf -n

  1. any of several plant diseases characterized by reddening of the foliage

red·leg ['red-,leg, -,lāg] -n

  1. artilleryman

redlegged grasshopper -n

  1. a widely distributed and sometimes highly destructive small No. American grasshopper ( Melanoplus femur-rubrum) with red hind legs called also red-legged locust

redlet·ter ['red-,le-tər] -adj

  1. of special significance

redlight -adj

  1. having numerous houses of prostitution
    • a redlight district

red light -n

  1. a warning signal
  2. a red traffic signal

red·line ['red-'līn] -n

  1. a recommended safety limit : the fastest, farthest, or highest point or degree considered safe
  2. the red line which marks this point on a gauge
  3. to withhold home-loan funds or insurance from neighborhoods considered poor economic risks
  4. to discriminate against in housing or insurance

red·ly ['red-lē] -adv

  1. in a red manner : with red color

red man -n

  1. american indian
  2. a member of a major benevolent and fraternal order

red maple -n

  1. a common tree ( Acer rubrum) of eastern and central No. America that grows chiefly in moist soils, has reddish twigs and flowers, and yields a lighter and softer wood than the sugar maple

red marrow -n

  1. bone marrow

red mass -n

  1. a votive mass of the Holy Spirit celebrated in red vestments esp. at the opening of courts and congresses

red meat -n

  1. meat (as beef) that is red when raw
  2. something substantial that can satisfy a basic need or appetite
    • hungry for the red meat of passionate partisanship -- William Safire

red mite -n

  1. : any of several mites having a red color: as
  2. european red mite
  3. citrus red mite

red mulberry -n

  1. a mulberry ( Morus rubra) of No. American forests with toothed leaves and soft durable wood
  2. its edible usu. purple fruit

red mullet -n

  1. goatfish
  2. either of two red or reddish food fishes ( Mullus surmuletusand M. barbatus) of the Mediterranean Sea and the warmer Atlantic coasts of Europe and northern Africa that are noted for their ability to change color

red·neck ['red-,nek] -n, adj

  1. a white member of the Southern rural laboring class
  2. a person whose behavior and opinions are similar to those attributed to rednecks

red·ness [-nəs] -n

  1. the quality or state of being red or red-hot

re·do [(,)rē-'dü] -vt, n

  1. to do over or again
  2. redecorate

red oak -n

  1. any of various No. American oaks (as Quercus rubraand Quercus falcata) that have acorns with the inner surface of the shell lined with woolly hairs, the acorn cap covered with thin scales, and leaf veins that usu. run beyond the margin of the leaf to form bristles
  2. the wood of a red oak

red ocher -n

  1. a red earthy hematite used as a pigment

red·o·lence ['re-də-lən(t)s] -n

  1. an often pungent or agreeable odor
  2. the quality or state of being redolent

red·o·lent [-lənt] -adj, adv

  1. exuding fragrance : aromatic
  2. full of a specified fragrance : scented
    • air redolent of seaweed
  3. evocative, suggestive
    • a city redolent of antiquity

red osier -n

  1. a common shrubby No. American dogwood ( Cornus stoloniferasyn. C. sericea) with reddish-purple twigs, small white flowers, and globose blue or whitish fruit

re·dou·ble [(,)rē-'də-bəl] -vt, n

  1. to make twice as great in size or amount
  2. intensify, strengthen
  3. to echo back
  4. repeat
  5. to become redoubled
  6. resound
  7. to double an opponent's double in bridge

re·doubt [ri-'dau̇t] -n

  1. a small usu. temporary enclosed defensive work
  2. a defended position : protective barrier
  3. a secure retreat : stronghold

re·doubt·able [ri-'dau̇-tə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. causing fear or alarm : formidable
  2. illustrious, eminent
  3. worthy of respect

re·dound [ri-'dau̇nd] -vi

  1. to become swollen : overflow
  2. to have an effect for good or ill
    • new power alignments which may or may not redound to the faculty's benefit -- G. W. Bonham
  3. to become transferred or added : accrue
  4. rebound, reflect

red·out ['red-,au̇t] -n

  1. a condition in which centripetal acceleration (as that created when an aircraft abruptly enters a dive) drives blood to the head and causes reddening of the visual field and headache

re·dox ['rē-,däks] -adj

  1. of or relating to oxidation-reduction

red panda -n

  1. a long-tailed largely herbivorous mammal ( Ailurus fulgens) that is related to and resembles the American raccoon, has long rusty or chestnut fur, and is found from the Himalayas to China called also lesser panda

redpen·cil ['red-,pen(t)-səl] -vt

  1. censor
  2. correct, revise

red pepper -n

  1. a mature red capsicum fruit (as a sweet pepper or hot pepper)
  2. cayenne pepper

red pine -n

  1. a No. American pine ( Pinus resinosa) that has reddish bark and two long needles in each cluster
  2. the relatively hard wood of the red pine that consists chiefly of sapwood

red·poll ['red-,pōl] -n

  1. either of two small finches (genus Carduelissyn. Acanthisof the family Fringillidae) having brownish streaked plumage and a red or rosy crown
  2. one ( C. flammea) found in northern regions of both the New and Old World

red poll -n

  1. any of a breed of large hornless red beef cattle of English origin

re·dress [ri-'dres] -vt, n

  1. to set right : remedy
    • looked to charity, not to legislation, to redress social wrongs -- W. R. Inge
  2. to make up for : compensate
  3. to remove the cause of (a grievance or complaint)
  4. to exact reparation for : avenge
  5. to requite (a person) for a wrong or loss
  6. heal
  7. relief from distress
  8. means or possibility of seeking a remedy
    • without redress
  9. compensation for wrong or loss : reparation
  10. an act or instance of redressing
  11. retribution, correction

red ribbon -n

  1. a red ribbon usu. with appropriate words or markings awarded the second-place winner in a competition

red·root ['red-,rüt, -,ru̇t] -n

  1. a perennial herb ( Lachnanthes carolinianasyn. L. tinctoria) of the eastern U.S. whose red root is the source of a dye
  2. new jersey tea
  3. bloodroot
  4. a pigweed ( Amaranthus retroflexus) that bears greenish flowers in dense spikes with bracts almost twice as long as the sepals

red rust -n

  1. the uredinial stage of a rust
  2. the diseased condition produced by red rust

red salmon -n

  1. sockeye salmon

redshaft·ed flicker ['red-'shaf-təd-] -n

  1. a flicker of western No. America with light red on the underside of the tail and wings, a gray nape with no red, and in the male red on each cheek

red·shank ['red-,shaŋk] -n

  1. a common Old World sandpiper ( Tringa totanus) with pale red legs and feet

red·shift ['red-'shift] -n, adj

  1. a displacement of the spectrum of a celestial body toward longer wavelengths that is a consequence of the Doppler effect or the gravitational field of the source
  2. a measurement of a celestial body's redshift equal to the ratio of the displacement of a spectral line to its known unshifted wavelength and used esp. to calculate the body's distance from earth

red·shirt ['red-,shərt] -n, vb

  1. a college athlete who is kept out of varsity competition for a year in order to extend eligibility

redshoul·dered hawk [-,shōl-dərd-] -n

  1. a common No. American hawk ( Buteo lineatus) that has a banded tail and a light spot on the underside of the wings toward the tips

red sin·dhi [-'sin-dē] -n

  1. any of a breed of humped rather small red dairy cattle developed in southwestern Asia and extensively used for crossbreeding with European stock in tropical areas

red siskin -n

  1. a finch ( Carduelis cucullataof the family Fringillidae) of northern So. America that is scarlet with black head, wings, and tail

red·skin ['red-,skin] -n

  1. american indian

red snapper -n

  1. any of various reddish fishes (as of the genera Lutjanusand Sebastes) including several food fishes

red snow -n

  1. snow colored by various airborne dusts or by a growth of algae (as of the genus Chlamydomonas) that contain red pigment and live in the upper layer of snow
  2. an alga causing red snow

red soil -n

  1. any of a group of zonal soils that develop in a warm temperate moist climate under deciduous or mixed forests and that have thin organic and organic-mineral layers overlying a yellowish-brown leached layer resting on a red horizon marked by illuviation called also red podzolic soil

red spider -n

  1. spider mite
  2. two-spotted spider mite

red spruce -n

  1. a spruce ( Picea rubens) of the eastern U.S. and Canada that has pubescent twigs and yellowish-green needles and is an important source of lumber and pulpwood

red squill -n

  1. a squill having a bulb with red outer scales
  2. squill
  3. a rat poison derived from the bulb of red squill

red squirrel -n

  1. a common and widely distributed No. American squirrel ( Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) that has reddish upper parts and is smaller than the gray squirrel

red star -n

  1. a star having a very low surface temperature and a red color

red·start ['red-,stärt] -n

  1. a small Old World songbird ( Phoenicurus phoenicurusof the family Turdidae) with the male having a white brow, black throat, and chestnut breast and tail
  2. an American warbler ( Setophaga ruticillaof the family Parulidae) with a black and orange male

redtailed hawk ['red-,tāld-] -n

  1. a widely distributed chiefly rodent-eating New World hawk ( Buteo jamaicensis) that is usu. mottled dusky above and white streaked dusky and tinged with buff below and has a rather short typically reddish tail called also redtail

red tape -n

  1. official routine or procedure marked by excessive complexity which results in delay or inaction

red tide -n

  1. seawater discolored by the presence of large numbers of dinoflagellates (esp. of the genera Gonyaulaxand Gymnodinium) which produce a toxin poisonous esp. to many forms of marine vertebrate life and to humans who consume contaminated shellfish

red·top ['red-,täp] -n

  1. any of several grasses (genus Agrostis) with usu. reddish panicles
  2. a Eurasian grass ( A. albasyn. A. gigantea) grown in eastern No. America as forage and lawn grass

re·duce [ri-'düs, -'dyüs] -vb, n, adj, adv

  1. to draw together or cause to converge : consolidate
    • reduce all the questions to one
  2. to diminish in size, amount, extent, or number
    • reduce taxes
    • reduce the likelihood of war
  3. to decrease the volume and concentrate the flavor of by boiling
    • add the wine and reduce the sauce for two minutes
  4. to narrow down : restrict
    • the Indians were reduced to small reservations
  5. to make shorter : abridge
  6. to restore to righteousness : save
  7. to bring to a specified state or condition
    • the impact of the movie reduced them to tears
  8. to force to capitulate
  9. force, compel
  10. to bring to a systematic form or character
    • reduce natural events to laws
  11. to put down in written or printed form
    • reduce an agreement to writing
  12. to correct (as a fracture) by bringing displaced or broken parts back into their normal positions
  13. to lower in grade or rank : demote
  14. to lower in condition or status : downgrade
  15. to diminish in strength or density
  16. to diminish in value
  17. to change the denominations or form of without changing the value
  18. to construct a geometrical figure similar to but smaller than (a given figure)
  19. to transpose from one form into another : convert
  20. to change (an expression) to an equivalent but more fundamental expression
    • reduce a fraction
  21. to break down (as by crushing or grinding) : pulverize
  22. to bring to the metallic state by removal of nonmetallic elements
    • reduce an ore by heat
  23. deoxidize
  24. to combine with or subject to the action of hydrogen
  25. to change (an element or ion) from a higher to a lower oxidation state
  26. to add one or more electrons to (an atom or ion or molecule)
  27. to change (a stressed vowel) to an unstressed vowel
  28. to become diminished or lessened
  29. to lose weight by dieting
  30. to become reduced
    • ferric iron reduce s to ferrous iron
  31. to become concentrated or consolidated
  32. to undergo meiosis
  33. to become converted or equated

reducing agent -n

  1. a substance that reduces a chemical compound usu. by donating electrons

re·duc·tant [ri-'dək-tənt] -n

  1. reducing agent

re·duc·tase [-,tās, -,tāz] -n

  1. an enzyme that catalyzes reduction

re·duc·tio ad ab·sur·dum [ri-'dək-tē-,ō-,ad-əb-'sər-dəm, -'dək-sē-ō-, -shē-, -'zər-] -n

  1. disproof of a proposition by showing an absurdity to which it leads when carried to its logical conclusion
  2. the carrying of something to an absurd extreme

re·duc·tion [ri-'dək-shən] -n, adj

  1. the act or process of reducing : the state of being reduced
  2. something made by reducing
  3. the amount by which something is reduced
  4. a So. American Indian settlement directed by Jesuit missionaries
  5. meiosis
  6. production of the gametic chromosome number in the first meiotic division

reduction division -n

  1. the usu. first division of meiosis in which chromosome reduction occurs
  2. meiosis

reduction gear -n

  1. a combination of gears used to reduce the input speed (as of a marine turbine) to a lower output speed (as of a ship's propeller)

re·duc·tion·ism [ri-'dək-shə-,ni-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj

  1. explanation of complex life-science processes and phenomena in terms of the laws of physics and chemistry
  2. a theory or doctrine that complete reductionism is possible
  3. a procedure or theory that reduces complex data and phenomena to simple terms

re·duc·tive [ri-'dək-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. of, relating to, causing, or involving reduction
  2. of or relating to reductionism : reductionistic

re·dun·dan·cy [ri-'dən-dən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being redundant : superfluity
  2. the use of redundant components
  3. such components
  4. dismissal from a job esp. by layoff
  5. profusion, abundance
  6. superfluous repetition : prolixity
  7. an act or instance of needless repetition
  8. the part of a message that can be eliminated without loss of essential information

re·dun·dant [-dənt] -adj, adv

  1. exceeding what is necessary or normal : superfluous
  2. characterized by or containing an excess
  3. using more words than necessary
  4. characterized by similarity or repetition
    • a group of particularly redundant brick buildings
  5. no longer needed for a job and hence laid off
  6. profuse, lavish
  7. serving as a duplicate for preventing failure of an entire system (as a spacecraft) upon failure of a single component

re·du·pli·cate [ri-'dü-pli-,kāt, 'rē-, -'dyü-] -vt, adj

  1. to make or perform again : copy, repeat
  2. to form (a word) by reduplication

re·du·pli·ca·tion [ri-,dü-pli-'kā-shən, ,rē-, -'dyü-] -n, adj, adv

  1. an act or instance of doubling or reiterating
  2. an often grammatically functional repetition of a radical element or a part of it occurring usu. at the beginning of a word and often accompanied by change of the radical vowel
  3. a word or form produced by reduplication
  4. the repeated element in such a word or form
  5. anadiplosis

re·du·vi·id [ri-'dü-vē-əd, -'dyü-] -n, adj

  1. assassin bug

re·dux [(,)rē-'dəks, 'rē-,] -adj

  1. brought back used postpositively

red·ware ['red-,wer] -n

  1. earthenware pottery made of clay containing considerable iron oxide

red water -n

  1. any of several cattle diseases (as Texas fever) characterized by hematuria

red wheat -n

  1. a wheat that has red grains

red wine -n

  1. a wine with a predominantly red color derived during fermentation from the natural pigment in the skins of dark-colored grapes

red·wing ['red-,wiŋ] -n

  1. a European thrush ( Turdus iliacussyn. T. musicus) having the underwing coverts red
  2. red-winged blackbird

redwinged blackbird ['red-,wiŋd-] -n

  1. a No. American blackbird ( Agelaius phoeniceus) of which the adult male is black with a patch of bright scarlet at the bend of the wings bordered behind with yellow or buff called also redwing blackbird

red wolf -n

  1. a wolf ( Canis rufussyn. C. niger) orig. of the southeastern U.S. that has been extirpated from most of its natural range

red·wood ['red-,wu̇d] -n

  1. any of various woods (as brazilwood) yielding a red dye
  2. a tree that yields a red dyewood or produces red or reddish wood
  3. a very tall coniferous tree ( Sequoia sempervirens) of the bald cypress family that grows chiefly in coastal California, sometimes reaches a height of 360 feet (110 meters), and is a commercially important timber tree called also coast redwood
  4. its brownish-red durable wood

red worm -n

  1. bloodworm

red zone -n

  1. the area of a football field inside an opponent's 20-yard line

re·echo [(,)rē-'e-(,)kō] -vi

  1. to repeat or return an echo : echo again or repeatedly : reverberate
  2. to echo back : repeat

reed ['rēd] -n, adj

  1. any of various tall grasses with slender often prominently jointed stems that grow esp. in wet areas
  2. a stem of a reed
  3. a person or thing too weak to rely on : one easily swayed or overcome
  4. a growth or mass of reeds
  5. reeds for thatching
  6. arrow
  7. a wind instrument made from the hollow joint of a plant
  8. an ancient Hebrew unit of length equal to six cubits
  9. a thin elastic tongue (as of cane, wood, metal, or plastic) fastened at one end over an air opening in a wind instrument (as a clarinet, organ pipe, or accordion) and set in vibration by an air current
  10. a woodwind instrument that produces sound by the vibrating of a reed against the mouthpiece
    • the reed s of an orchestra
  11. a device on a loom resembling a comb and used to space warp yarns evenly
  12. reeding
  13. mill

reed·buck ['rēd-,bək] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Redunca) of fawn-colored African antelopes in which the males have curved and ridged horns

reed·ed ['rē-dəd] -adj

  1. decorated with reeds or reeding
    • a bed with reeded posts

re·ed·i·fy [(,)rē-'e-də-,fī] -vt

  1. rebuild

reed·ing ['rē-diŋ] -n

  1. a small convex molding
  2. decoration by series of reedings
  3. milling

re·edit [(,)rē-'e-dət] -vt, n

  1. to edit again : make a new edition of

reed·man ['rēd-,man] -n

  1. one who plays a reed instrument

reed organ -n

  1. a keyboard wind instrument in which the wind acts on a set of free reeds

reed pipe -n

  1. a pipe-organ pipe producing its tone by vibration of a beating reed in a current of air

re·ed·u·cate [(,)rē-'e-jə-,kāt] -vt, n, adj

  1. to train again
  2. to rehabilitate through education

reedy ['rē-dē] -adj, n

  1. abounding in or covered with reeds
  2. made of or resembling reeds
  3. slender, frail
  4. having the tone quality of a reed instrument

reef ['rēf] -n

  1. a part of a sail taken in or let out in regulating size
  2. reduction in sail area by reefing
  3. to reduce the area of (a sail) by rolling or folding a portion
  4. to lower or bring inboard (a spar) wholly or partially
  5. to reduce a sail by taking in a reef
  6. a chain of rocks or coral or a ridge of sand at or near the surface of water
  7. a hazardous obstruction
  8. lode, vein

reef·er ['rē-fər] -n

  1. one that reefs
  2. a close-fitting usu. double-breasted jacket or coat of thick cloth

ree·fer ['rē-fər] -n

  1. refrigerator
  2. a refrigerator car, truck, trailer, or ship
  3. marijuana
  4. a marijuana cigarette

reef knot -n

  1. a square knot used in reefing a sail

reek ['rēk] -n

  1. smoke
  2. vapor, fog
  3. a strong or disagreeable fume or odor
  4. to emit smoke or vapor
  5. to give off or become permeated with a strong or offensive odor
    • a room reek ing of incense
  6. to give a strong impression of some constituent quality or feature
    • a neighborhood that reek s of poverty
  7. emanate
  8. to subject to the action of smoke or vapor
  9. exude, give off
    • a politician who reek s charm

reel ['rēl] -n

  1. : a revolvable device on which something flexible is wound: as
  2. a small windlass at the butt of a fishing rod for the line
  3. a spool or bobbin for sewing thread
  4. a flanged spool for photographic film
  5. one for motion pictures
  6. a quantity of something wound on a reel
  7. to wind on or as if on a reel
  8. to draw by reeling a line
    • reel a fish in
  9. to turn a reel
  10. to turn or move round and round
  11. to be in a whirl
  12. to behave in a violent disorderly manner
  13. to waver or fall back (as from a blow)
  14. to walk or move unsteadily
  15. to cause to reel
  16. a reeling motion
  17. a lively Scottish-Highland dance
  18. the music for this dance
  19. virginia reel

re·elect [,rē-ə-'lekt] -vt, n

  1. to elect for another term in office

reel·er ['rē-lər] -n

  1. one that reels
  2. a motion picture having a specified number of reels
    • a two- reeler

reel off -vt

  1. to tell or recite readily and usu. at length
    • reel off a few jokes to break the ice
  2. to chalk up usu. as a series

reeltoreel -adj

  1. of, relating to, or utilizing magnetic tape that requires threading on a take-up reel
    • a reeltoreel tape recorder

re·em·broi·der [,rē-əm-'brȯi-dər] -vt

  1. to outline a design (as on lace) with embroidery stitching

re·en·act [,rē-ə-'nakt] -vt, n

  1. to enact (as a law) again
  2. to act or perform again
  3. to repeat the actions of (an earlier event or incident)

re·en·act·or [,rē-ə-'nak-tər] -n

  1. a person who participates in reenactments of historical events

reenforce [,rē-ən-'fȯrs] -vb, adj

(variant of reinforce)

  1. to strengthen by additional assistance, material, or support : make stronger or more pronounced
    • reinforce levees
    • reinforce the elbows of a jacket
    • reinforce ideas
  2. to strengthen or increase by fresh additions
    • reinforce our troops
    • were reinforcing their pitching staff
  3. to stimulate (as an experimental animal or a student) with a reinforcer
  4. to encourage (a response) with a reinforcer
  5. to seek or get reinforcements

re·en·gi·neer [(,)rē-,en-jə-'nir] -vt

  1. to engineer again or anew : redesign
    • reengineer ed the chassis
  2. to reorganize the operations of (an organization) so as to improve efficiency

re·en·ter [(,)rē-'en-tər] -vt

  1. to enter (something) again
  2. to return to and enter
  3. to enter again

re·en·trance [(,)rē-'en-trən(t)s] -n

  1. reentry

re·en·trant [-trənt] -adj

  1. directed inward

reentrant -n

  1. one that reenters
  2. one that is reentrant
  3. an indentation in a landform

re·en·try [(,)rē-'en-trē] -n

  1. a retaking possession
  2. entry by a lessor on leased premises on the tenant's failure to perform the conditions of the lease
  3. a second or new entry
  4. a playing card that will enable a player to regain the lead
  5. the action of reentering the earth's atmosphere after travel in space

reest ['rēst] -vi

  1. balk

reeve ['rēv] -n

  1. a local administrative agent of an Anglo-Saxon king
  2. a medieval English manor officer responsible chiefly for overseeing the discharge of feudal obligations
  3. the council president in some Canadian municipalities
  4. a local official charged with enforcement of specific regulations
    • deer reeve
  5. to pass (as a rope) through a hole or opening
  6. to fasten by passing through a hole or around something
  7. to pass a rope through
  8. to pass through a block or similar device
  9. the female of the ruff (sandpiper)

ref ['ref] -n

  1. a referee in a game or sport
  2. reference
  3. refunding

re·fash·ion [(,)rē-'fa-shən] -vt

  1. remake, alter

re·fect [ri-'fekt] -vt

  1. to refresh with food or drink

re·fec·tion [ri-'fek-shən] -n

  1. refreshment of mind, spirit, or body
  2. nourishment
  3. the taking of refreshment
  4. food and drink together : repast

re·fec·to·ry [ri-'fek-t(ə-)rē] -n

  1. a dining hall (as in a monastery or college)

refectory table -n

  1. a long table with heavy legs

re·fel [ri-'fel] -vt

  1. reject, repulse

re·fer [ri-'fər] -vb, adj, n

  1. to think of, regard, or classify within a general category or group
  2. to explain in terms of a general cause
  3. to allot to a particular place, stage, or period
  4. to regard as coming from or located in a specific area
  5. to send or direct for treatment, aid, information, or decision
    • refer a patient to a specialist
    • refer a bill back to a committee
  6. to direct for testimony or guaranty as to character or ability
  7. to have relation or connection : relate
  8. to direct attention usu. by clear and specific mention
    • no one referred to yesterday's quarrel
  9. to have recourse : glance briefly
    • referred frequently to his notes while speaking

ref·er·ee [,re-fə-'rē] -n

  1. : one to whom a thing is referred: as
  2. a person to whom a legal matter is referred for investigation and report or for settlement
  3. a person who reviews a paper and esp. a technical paper and recommends that it should or should not be published
  4. reference
  5. a sports official usu. having final authority in administering a game

referee -vb

  1. to conduct (as a match or game) as referee
  2. to arbitrate (as a legal matter) as a judge or third party
  3. to review (as a technical paper) before publication
  4. to act as a referee

ref·er·ence ['re-fərn(t)s, 're-f(ə-)rən(t)s] -n

  1. the act of referring or consulting
  2. a bearing on a matter : relation
    • in reference to your recent letter
  3. : something that refers: as
  4. allusion, mention
  5. something (as a sign or indication) that refers a reader or consulter to another source of information (as a book or passage)
  6. consultation of sources of information
  7. : one referred to or consulted: as
  8. a person to whom inquiries as to character or ability can be made
  9. a statement of the qualifications of a person seeking employment or appointment given by someone familiar with the person
  10. a source of information (as a book or passage) to which a reader or consulter is referred
  11. a work (as a dictionary or encyclopedia) containing useful facts or information
  12. denotation, meaning

reference -adj

  1. used or usable for reference
  2. constituting a standard for measuring or constructing
  3. to supply with references
  4. to cite in or as a reference
  5. to put in a form (as a table) adapted to easy reference

reference mark -n

  1. a conventional mark (as , , or ) placed in written or printed text to direct the reader's attention esp. to a footnote

ref·er·en·dum [,re-fə-'ren-dəm] -n

  1. the principle or practice of submitting to popular vote a measure passed on or proposed by a legislative body or by popular initiative
  2. a vote on a measure so submitted
  3. a diplomatic agent's note asking for government instructions

ref·er·ent ['re-f(ə-)rənt] -n, adj

  1. one that refers or is referred to
  2. the thing that a symbol (as a word or sign) stands for

ref·er·en·tial [,re-fə-'ren(t)-shəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. of, containing, or constituting a reference
  2. pointing to or involving a referent
    • referential language
    • referential meaning

re·fer·ral [ri-'fər-əl] -n

  1. the act, action, or an instance of referring
    • gave the patient a referral to a specialist
  2. one that is referred

re·fig·ure [(,)rē-'fi-gyər] -vt

  1. to figure again or anew
  2. to give new meaning or use to
    • refigure classic texts

re·fill [(,)rē-'fil] -vt, adj

  1. to fill again : replenish
  2. to become filled again
  3. a product or a container and a product used to refill the exhausted supply of a device
  4. something provided again
  5. a second or later filling of a medical prescription

re·fi·nance [,rē-fə-'nan(t)s, (,)rē-'fī-,, ,rē-(,)fī-'] -vt

  1. to renew or reorganize the financing of
  2. to finance something anew

re·fine [ri-'fīn] -vb, n

  1. to free (as metal, sugar, or oil) from impurities or unwanted material
  2. to free from moral imperfection : elevate
  3. to improve or perfect by pruning or polishing
    • refine a poetic style
  4. to reduce in vigor or intensity
  5. to free from what is coarse, vulgar, or uncouth
  6. to become pure or perfected
  7. to make improvement by introducing subtleties or distinctions

refined -adj

  1. free from impurities
  2. fastidious, cultivated
  3. precise, exact
    • a refined test for radioactivity

re·fine·ment [ri-'fīn-mənt] -n

  1. the action or process of refining
  2. the quality or state of being refined : cultivation
  3. a refined feature or method
  4. a highly refined distinction : subtlety
  5. a contrivance or device intended to improve or perfect

re·fin·ery [ri-'fī-nə-rē, -'fīn-rē] -n

  1. a building and equipment for refining or processing (as oil or sugar)

re·fin·ish [(,)rē-'fi-nish] -vt, n

  1. to give (as furniture) a new surface
  2. to refinish furniture

re·fit [(,)rē-'fit] -vt

  1. to fit out or supply again
  2. to obtain repairs or fresh supplies or equipment
  3. the action of refitting
  4. a refitting and renovating of a ship

re·fla·tion [(,)rē-'flā-shən] -n, vb, adj

  1. restoration of deflated prices to a desirable level

re·flect [ri-'flekt] -vb

  1. to turn into or away from a course : deflect
  2. to prevent passage of and cause to change direction
    • a mirror reflect s light
  3. to bend or fold back
  4. to give back or exhibit as an image, likeness, or outline : mirror
    • the clouds were reflect ed in the water
  5. to bring or cast as a result
    • his attitude reflect s little credit on his judgment
  6. to make manifest or apparent : show
    • the painting reflect s his artistic vision
    • the pulse reflect s the condition of the heart
  7. realize, consider
  8. to throw back light or sound
  9. to think quietly and calmly
  10. to express a thought or opinion resulting from reflection
  11. to tend to bring reproach or discredit
    • an investigation that reflect s on all the members of the department
  12. to bring about a specified appearance or characterization
    • an act which reflect s well on her
  13. to have a bearing or influence

re·flec·tance [ri-'flek-tən(t)s] -n

  1. the fraction of the total radiant flux incident upon a surface that is reflected and that varies according to the wavelength distribution of the incident radiation called also re*flec*tiv*i*ty re-flek-ti-v-te, ri-

reflecting telescope -n

  1. reflector

re·flec·tion [ri-'flek-shən] -n, adj

  1. an instance of reflecting
  2. the return of light or sound waves from a surface
  3. the production of an image by or as if by a mirror
  4. the action of bending or folding back
  5. a reflected part : fold
  6. : something produced by reflecting: as
  7. an image given back by a reflecting surface
  8. an effect produced by an influence
    • the high crime rate is a reflection of our violent society
  9. an often obscure or indirect criticism : reproach
    • a reflection on his character
  10. a thought, idea, or opinion formed or a remark made as a result of meditation
  11. consideration of some subject matter, idea, or purpose
  12. turning back : return
  13. a transformation of a figure in which each point is replaced by a point symmetric with respect to a line or plane
  14. a transformation that involves reflection in more than one axis of a rectangular coordinate system

re·flec·tive [ri-'flek-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. capable of reflecting light, images, or sound waves
  2. marked by reflection : thoughtful, deliberative
  3. of, relating to, or caused by reflection
    • reflective glare
  4. reflexive
  5. reflecting something : indicative
    • how fashion is reflective of society -- Glenda Bailey

re·flec·tom·e·ter [,rē-,flek-'tä-mə-tər, ri-] -n

  1. a device for measuring reflectance

re·flec·tor [ri-'flek-tər] -n

  1. one that reflects
  2. a polished surface for reflecting light or other radiation
  3. a telescope in which the principal focusing element is a mirror

re·flec·tor·ize [-tə-,rīz] -vt

  1. to make reflecting
  2. to provide with reflectors

re·flex ['rē-,fleks] -n

  1. reflected heat, light, or color
  2. a mirrored image
  3. a copy exact in essential or peculiar features
  4. an automatic and often inborn response to a stimulus that involves a nerve impulse passing inward from a receptor to a nerve center and thence outward to an effector (as a muscle or gland) without reaching the level of consciousness
  5. the process that culminates in a reflex and comprises reception, transmission, and reaction called also reflex action
  6. the power of acting or responding with adequate speed
  7. a way of thinking or behaving
  8. a linguistic element (as a word or sound) or system (as writing) that is derived from a prior and esp. an older element or system
    • boat is the reflex of Old English bat

reflex -adj, adv

  1. directed back on the mind or its operations : introspective
  2. reflexed
  3. produced or carried out in reaction, resistance, or return
  4. being between 180 and 360
  5. of, relating to, or produced by a reflex without intervention of consciousness

reflex arc -n

  1. the complete nervous path involved in a reflex

re·flexed ['rē-,flekst, ri-'] -adj

  1. bent or curved backward or downward
    • reflexed petals
    • reflexed leaves

re·flex·ion [ri-'flek-shən] -n, adj

(variant of reflection)

  1. an instance of reflecting
  2. the return of light or sound waves from a surface
  3. the production of an image by or as if by a mirror
  4. the action of bending or folding back
  5. a reflected part : fold
  6. : something produced by reflecting: as
  7. an image given back by a reflecting surface
  8. an effect produced by an influence
    • the high crime rate is a reflection of our violent society
  9. an often obscure or indirect criticism : reproach
    • a reflection on his character
  10. a thought, idea, or opinion formed or a remark made as a result of meditation
  11. consideration of some subject matter, idea, or purpose
  12. turning back : return
  13. a transformation of a figure in which each point is replaced by a point symmetric with respect to a line or plane
  14. a transformation that involves reflection in more than one axis of a rectangular coordinate system

re·flex·ive [ri-'flek-siv] -adj, adv, n

  1. directed or turned back on itself
  2. overtly and usu. ironically reflecting conventions of genre or form
    • a reflexive novel
  3. marked by or capable of reflection : reflective
  4. of, relating to, characterized by, or being a relation that exists between an entity and itself
    • the relation is equal to is reflexive but the relation is the father of is not
  5. of, relating to, or constituting an action (as in he perjured himself) directed back on the agent or the grammatical subject
  6. characterized by habitual and unthinking behavior

reflexive -n

  1. reflexive pronoun

reflexive pronoun -n

  1. a pronoun referring to the subject of the sentence, clause, or verbal phrase in which it stands
  2. a personal pronoun compounded with -self

re·flex·ol·o·gy [,rē-,flek-'sä-lə-jē] -n

  1. the study and interpretation of behavior in terms of simple and complex reflexes
  2. massage of the hands or feet based on the belief that pressure applied to specific points on these extremities benefits other parts of the body

re·flow [(,)rē-'flō] -vi, n

  1. to flow back : ebb
  2. to flow in again

ref·lu·ence ['re-,flü-ən(t)s, re-'flü-] -n

  1. reflux

re·flu·ent [-ənt] -adj

  1. flowing back

re·flux ['rē-,fləks] -n

  1. a flowing back
  2. gastroesophageal reflux
  3. a process of refluxing or condition of being refluxed
  4. to cause to flow back or return
  5. to heat such that the vapors formed condense and return to be heated again
  6. to flow back

re·fo·cus [(,)rē-'fō-kəs] -vt

  1. to focus again
  2. to change the emphasis or direction of
    • had refocus ed his life
  3. to focus something again
  4. to change emphasis or direction

re·for·es·ta·tion [(,)rē-,fȯr-ə-'stā-shən, -,fär-] -n, vt

  1. the action of renewing forest cover (as by natural seeding or by the artificial planting of seeds or young trees)

re·form [ri-'fȯrm] -vb, n, adj

  1. to put or change into an improved form or condition
  2. to amend or improve by change of form or removal of faults or abuses
  3. to put an end to (an evil) by enforcing or introducing a better method or course of action
  4. to induce or cause to abandon evil ways
    • reform a drunkard
  5. to subject (hydrocarbons) to cracking
  6. to produce (as gasoline or gas) by cracking
  7. to become changed for the better

reform -n

  1. amendment of what is defective, vicious, corrupt, or depraved
  2. a removal or correction of an abuse, a wrong, or errors
  3. reform judaism
  4. relating to or favoring reform
  5. to form again
  6. to take form again
    • the ice reform ed on the lake

re·for·mate [ri-'fȯr-,māt, -mət] -n

  1. a product of hydrocarbon reforming

ref·or·ma·tion [,re-fər-'mā-shən] -n, adj

  1. the act of reforming : the state of being reformed
  2. a 16th century religious movement marked ultimately by rejection or modification of some Roman Catholic doctrine and practice and establishment of the Protestant churches

re·for·ma·tive [ri-'fȯr-mə-tiv] -adj

  1. intended or tending to reform

re·for·ma·to·ry [ri-'fȯr-mə-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. reformative

reformatory -n

  1. a penal institution to which esp. young or first offenders are committed for training and reformation

re·formed [ri-'fȯrmd] -adj

  1. changed for the better
  2. protestant
  3. of or relating to the chiefly Calvinist Protestant churches formed in various continental European countries

reformed spelling -n

  1. any of several methods of spelling English words that use letters with more phonetic consistency than conventional spelling and that usu. discard some silent letters (as in pedagogfor pedagogue)

re·form·er [ri-'fȯr-mər] -n

  1. one that works for or urges reform
  2. a leader of the Protestant Reformation
  3. an apparatus for cracking oils or gases to form specialized products

re·form·ism [ri-'fȯr-,mi-zəm] -n, n or adj

  1. a doctrine, policy, or movement of reform

Reform Judaism -n

  1. Judaism marked by a liberal approach in nonobservance of much legal tradition regarded as irrelevant to the present and in shortening and simplification of traditional ritual

reform school -n

  1. a reformatory for boys or girls

refr -abbr

  1. refraction

re·fract [ri-'frakt] -vt

  1. to subject (as a ray of light) to refraction
  2. to alter or distort as if by refraction
    • to refract that familiar world through the mind and heart of a romantic...woman -- Anton Myrer
  3. to determine the refracting power of

re·frac·tile [-'frak-tᵊl, -,tī(-ə)l] -adj

  1. capable of refracting : refractive

refracting telescope -n

  1. refractor

re·frac·tion [ri-'frak-shən] -n

  1. deflection from a straight path undergone by a light ray or energy wave in passing obliquely from one medium (as air) into another (as glass) in which its velocity is different
  2. the change in the apparent position of a celestial body due to bending of the light rays emanating from it as they pass through the atmosphere
  3. the correction to be applied to the apparent position of a body because of this bending
  4. the action of distorting an image by viewing through a medium
  5. an instance of this

re·frac·tive [ri-'frak-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. having power to refract
  2. relating or due to refraction

refractive index -n

  1. the ratio of the speed of radiation (as light) in one medium (as air, glass, or a vacuum) to that in another medium

re·frac·tom·e·ter [,rē-,frak-'tä-mə-tər, ri-] -n, adj

  1. an instrument for measuring refractive indices (as for identification or the determination of sugar content)

re·frac·tor [ri-'frak-tər] -n

  1. a telescope whose principal focusing element is a lens

re·frac·to·ry [ri-'frak-t(ə-)rē] -adj, adv, n

  1. resisting control or authority : stubborn, unmanageable
  2. resistant to treatment or cure
    • a refractory lesion
  3. unresponsive to stimulus
  4. immune, insusceptible
    • after recovery they were refractory to infection
  5. difficult to fuse, corrode, or draw out
  6. capable of enduring high temperature

refractory -n

  1. a refractory person or thing
  2. a heat-resisting ceramic material

refractory period -n

  1. the brief period immediately following the response esp. of a muscle or nerve before it recovers the capacity to make a second response called also refractory phase

re·frain [ri-'frān] -vb, n

  1. curb, restrain
  2. to keep oneself from doing, feeling, or indulging in something and esp. from following a passing impulse
    • refrain ed from having dessert

refrain -n

  1. a regularly recurring phrase or verse esp. at the end of each stanza or division of a poem or song : chorus
  2. the musical setting of a refrain

re·fran·gi·ble [ri-'fran-jə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. capable of being refracted

re·fresh [ri-'fresh] -vb, n

  1. to restore strength and animation to : revive
  2. to freshen up : renovate
  3. to restore or maintain by renewing supply : replenish
  4. arouse, stimulate
    • let me refresh your memory
  5. to run water over or restore water to
  6. to update or renew (as an image, a display screen, or the contents of a computer memory) esp. by sending a new signal
  7. to become refreshed
  8. to take refreshment
  9. to lay in fresh provisions

re·fresh·en [ri-'fre-shən, ,rē-] -vt

  1. refresh

re·fresh·er [ri-'fre-shər] -n

  1. something (as a drink) that refreshes
  2. reminder
  3. review or instruction designed esp. to keep one abreast of professional developments
    • refresher course

re·fresh·ing [-shiŋ] -adj, adv

  1. serving to refresh
  2. agreeably stimulating because of freshness or newness
    • a refreshing change of pace

re·fresh·ment [ri-'fresh-mənt] -n

  1. the act of refreshing : the state of being refreshed
  2. something (as food or drink) that refreshes
  3. a light meal
  4. assorted light foods

re·fried beans ['rē-,frīd-] -n pl

  1. beans cooked with seasonings, fried, then mashed and fried again

refrig -abbr

  1. refrigerator

re·frig·er·ant [ri-'fri-jə-rənt, -'frij-rənt] -adj

  1. allaying heat or fever

refrigerant -n

  1. : a refrigerant agent or agency: as
  2. a medication for reducing body heat
  3. a substance used in refrigeration

re·frig·er·ate [ri-'fri-jə-,rāt] -vt, n

  1. to make or keep cold or cool
  2. to freeze or chill (as food) for preservation

re·frig·er·a·tor [ri-'fri-jə-,rā-tər] -n

  1. something that refrigerates
  2. a room or appliance for keeping food or other items cool

reft ['rēv] -vb, n

(variant of reave)

  1. plunder, rob
  2. rob, despoil
  3. to deprive one of
  4. seize
  5. to carry or tear away

re·fu·el [(,)rē-'fyü(-ə)l] -vt

  1. to provide with additional fuel
  2. to take on additional fuel

ref·uge ['re-(,)fyüj also -(,)fyüzh] -n

  1. shelter or protection from danger or distress
  2. a place that provides shelter or protection
  3. something to which one has recourse in difficulty

refuge -vb

  1. to give refuge to
  2. to seek or take refuge

ref·u·gee [,re-fyu̇-'jē, 're-fyu̇-,] -n

  1. one that flees
  2. a person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution

re·fu·gi·um [ri-'fyü-jē-əm] -n

  1. an area of relatively unaltered climate that is inhabited by plants and animals during a period of continental climatic change (as a glaciation) and remains as a center of relict forms from which a new dispersion and speciation may take place after climatic readjustment

re·ful·gence [ri-'fu̇l-jən(t)s, -'fəl-] -n, adj

  1. a radiant or resplendent quality or state : brilliance

re·fund [ri-'fənd, 'rē-,] -vt, n, adj

  1. to give or put back
  2. to return (money) in restitution, repayment, or balancing of accounts
  3. the act of refunding
  4. a sum refunded
  5. to fund again

re·fur·bish [ri-'fər-bish] -vt, n

  1. to brighten or freshen up : renovate

re·fus·al [ri-'fyü-zəl] -n

  1. the act of refusing or denying
  2. the opportunity or right of refusing or taking before others

re·fuse [ri-'fyüz] -vb, n

  1. to express oneself as unwilling to accept
    • refuse a gift
    • refuse a promotion
  2. to show or express unwillingness to do or comply with
    • refused to answer the question
  3. deny
    • they were refused admittance to the game
  4. give up, renounce
    • deny thy father and refuse thy name -- Shak.
  5. to decline to jump or leap over
  6. to withhold acceptance, compliance, or permission

ref·use ['re-,fyüs, -,fyüz] -n

  1. the worthless or useless part of something : leavings
  2. trash, garbage
  3. thrown aside or left as worthless

re·fuse·nik [ri-'fyüz-(,)nik] -n

  1. a Soviet citizen and esp. a Jew refused permission to emigrate
  2. a person who refuses or declines something

ref·u·ta·tion [,re-fyu̇-'tā-shən] -n

  1. the act or process of refuting

re·fute [ri-'fyüt] -vt, adj, adv, n

  1. to prove wrong by argument or evidence : show to be false or erroneous
  2. to deny the truth or accuracy of
    • refuted the allegations

reg ['reg] -n

  1. regulation
    • federal reg s
  2. region
  3. register; registered; registration
  4. regular

re·gal ['rē-gəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. of, relating to, or suitable for a king
  2. of notable excellence or magnificence : splendid

re·gale [ri-'gāl] -vb

  1. to entertain sumptuously : feast with delicacies
  2. to give pleasure or amusement to
    • regaled us with tall tales
  3. to feast oneself : feed

regale -n

  1. a sumptuous feast
  2. a choice piece esp. of food

re·ga·lia [ri-'gāl-yə] -n pl

  1. royal rights or prerogatives
  2. the emblems, symbols, or paraphernalia indicative of royalty
  3. decorations or insignia indicative of an office or membership
  4. special dress
  5. finery

re·gard [ri-'gärd] -n

  1. appearance
  2. attention, consideration
    • due regard should be given to all facets of the question
  3. a protective interest : care
    • has no regard for her health
  4. look, gaze
  5. the worth or estimation in which something or someone is held
    • a man of small regard
  6. a feeling of respect and affection : esteem
    • she soon won the regard of her colleagues
  7. friendly greetings implying such feeling
    • give him my regard s
  8. a basis of action or opinion : motive
  9. an aspect to be taken into consideration : respect
    • is a small school, and is fortunate in this regard
  10. intention

regard -vb

  1. to consider and appraise usu. from a particular point of view
    • is highly regard ed as a mechanic
  2. to pay attention to : take into consideration or account
  3. to show respect or consideration for
  4. to hold in high esteem
  5. to look at
  6. to relate to
  7. to look attentively : gaze
  8. to pay attention : heed

re·gar·dant [ri-'gär-dᵊnt] -adj

  1. looking backward over the shoulder used of a heraldic animal

re·gard·ful [ri-'gärd-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. heedful, observant
  2. full or expressive of regard or respect : respectful

re·gard·ing -prep

  1. with respect to : concerning

re·gard·less [ri-'gärd-ləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. heedless, careless

regardless -adv

  1. despite everything
    • went ahead with their plans regardless

regardless of -prep

  1. without taking into account
    • accepts all regardless of age
  2. in spite of
    • regardless of our mistakes

re·gat·ta [ri-'gä-tə, -'ga-] -n

  1. a rowing, speedboat, or sailing race or a series of such races

re·gen·cy ['rē-jən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the office, jurisdiction, or government of a regent or body of regents
  2. a body of regents
  3. the period of rule of a regent or body of regents

Regency -adj

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the styles of George IV's regency as Prince of Wales during the period 181120

re·gen·er·a·cy [ri-'je-nə-rə-sē, -'jen-rə-] -n

  1. the state of being regenerated

re·gen·er·ate [-rət] -adj, adv, n

  1. formed or created again
  2. spiritually reborn or converted
  3. restored to a better, higher, or more worthy state
  4. to become formed again
  5. to become regenerate : reform
  6. to undergo regeneration
  7. to subject to spiritual regeneration
  8. to change radically and for the better
  9. to generate or produce anew
  10. to replace (a body part) by a new growth of tissue
  11. to produce again chemically sometimes in a physically changed form
  12. to restore to original strength or properties
  13. : one that is regenerated: as
  14. an individual who is spiritually reborn
  15. an organism that has undergone regeneration
  16. a regenerated body part

regenerated cellulose -n

  1. cellulose obtained in a changed form by chemical treatment (as of a cellulose solution or derivative)

re·gen·er·a·tion [ri-,je-nə-'rā-shən, ,rē-] -n

  1. an act or the process of regenerating : the state of being regenerated
  2. spiritual renewal or revival
  3. renewal or restoration of a body, bodily part, or biological system (as a forest) after injury or as a normal process
  4. utilization by special devices of heat or other products that would ordinarily be lost

re·gen·er·a·tive [ri-'je-nə-,rā-tiv, -'je-nə-rə-, -'jen-rə-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or marked by regeneration
  2. tending to regenerate

re·gen·er·a·tor [ri-'je-nə-,rā-tər] -n

  1. one that regenerates
  2. a device used esp. with hot-air engines or gas furnaces in which incoming air or gas is heated by contact with masses (as of brick) previously heated by outgoing hot air or gas

re·gent ['rē-jənt] -n, adj

  1. a person who governs a kingdom in the minority, absence, or disability of the sovereign
  2. a person who rules or reigns : governor
  3. a member of a governing board (as of a state university)

reg·gae ['re-(,)gā, 'rā-] -n

  1. popular music of Jamaican origin that combines native styles with elements of rock and soul music and is performed at moderate tempos with the accent on the offbeat

reg·gae·ton [,re-gā-'tōn, ,rā-] -n

  1. popular music of Puerto Rican origin that combines rap with Caribbean rhythms

reg·i·cide ['re-jə-,sīd] -n, adj

  1. a person who kills a king
  2. the killing of a king

re·gift [(,)rē-'gift] -vi, n

  1. to give someone a gift that was previously received from someone else
  2. to give (a previously received gift) to someone else

re·gime [rā-'zhēm, ri- also ri-'jēm] -n

  1. regimen
  2. a regular pattern of occurrence or action (as of seasonal rainfall)
  3. the characteristic behavior or orderly procedure of a natural phenomenon or process
  4. mode of rule or management
  5. a form of government
    • a socialist regime
  6. a government in power
  7. a period of rule

reg·i·men ['re-jə-mən also 're-zhə-] -n

  1. a systematic plan (as of diet, therapy, or medication) esp. when designed to improve and maintain the health of a patient
  2. a regular course of action and esp. of strenuous training
    • the daily regimen of athletes
  3. government, rule
  4. regime

reg·i·ment ['re-jə-mənt, 'rej-mənt] -n

  1. governmental rule
  2. a military unit consisting usu. of a number of battalions
  3. to form into or assign to a regiment
  4. to organize rigidly esp. for the sake of regulation or control
    • regiment an entire country
  5. to subject to order or uniformity

reg·i·men·tal [,re-jə-'men-tᵊl] -adj

  1. of or relating to a regiment
  2. authoritative, dictatorial

reg·i·men·tals [-tᵊlz] -n pl

  1. a regimental uniform
  2. military dress

re·gion ['rē-jən] -n

  1. an administrative area, division, or district
  2. the basic administrative unit for local government in Scotland
  3. an indefinite area of the world or universe
  4. a broad geographic area distinguished by similar features
  5. a major world area that supports a characteristic fauna
  6. an area characterized by the prevalence of one or more vegetational climax types
  7. any of the major subdivisions into which the body or one of its parts is divisible
  8. an indefinite area surrounding a specified body part
    • a pain in the region of the heart
  9. a sphere of activity or interest : field
  10. any of the zones into which the atmosphere is divided according to height or the sea according to depth
  11. an open connected set together with none, some, or all of the points on its boundary
    • a simple closed curve divides a plane into two region s

re·gion·al ['rēj-nəl, 'rē-jə-nᵊl] -adj

  1. affecting a particular region : localized
  2. of, relating to, characteristic of, or serving a region
    • a regional high school
  3. marked by regionalism
    • regional art

regional -n

  1. something (as a branch of an organization or an edition of a magazine) that serves a region

re·gion·al·ism ['rēj-nə-,li-zəm, 'rē-jə-nə-,li-] -n, n or adj, adj

  1. consciousness of and loyalty to a distinct region with a homogeneous population
  2. development of a political or social system based on one or more such areas
  3. emphasis on regional locale and characteristics in art or literature
  4. a characteristic feature (as of speech) of a geographic area

re·gion·al·ize ['rēj-nə-,līz, 'rē-jə-nə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to divide into regions or administrative districts : arrange regionally

re·gion·al·ly ['rēj-nə-lē, 'rē-jə-nᵊl-ē] -adv

  1. on a regional basis

re·gis·seur [,rā-zhi-'sər] -n

  1. a director responsible for staging a theatrical work (as a ballet)

reg·is·ter ['re-jə-stər] -n

  1. a written record containing regular entries of items or details
  2. a book or system of public records
  3. a roster of qualified or available individuals
    • a civil service register
  4. an entry in a register
  5. a set of organ pipes of like quality : stop
  6. the range of a human voice or a musical instrument
  7. a portion of such a range similarly produced or of the same quality
  8. any of the varieties of a language that a speaker uses in a particular social context
  9. a grille often with shutters for admitting heated air or for ventilation
  10. registration, registry
  11. an automatic device registering a number or a quantity
  12. a number or quantity so registered
  13. cash register
  14. a condition of correct alignment or proper relative position
  15. a device (as in a computer) for storing small amounts of data
  16. one in which data can be both stored and operated on

register [-st(ə-)riŋ] -vb

  1. to make or secure official entry of in a register
  2. to enroll formally esp. as a voter or student
  3. to record automatically : indicate
  4. to make a record of : note
  5. perceive
  6. comprehend
  7. to make or adjust so as to correspond exactly
  8. to secure special protection for (a piece of mail) by prepayment of a fee
  9. to convey an impression of : express
  10. achieve
    • register ed an impressive victory
  11. to enroll one's name in a register
    • register ed at the hotel
  12. to enroll one's name officially as a prerequisite for voting
  13. to enroll formally as a student
  14. to correspond exactly
  15. to be in correct alignment or register
  16. to make or convey an impression
  17. registrar

registered -adj

  1. having the owner's name entered in a register
    • registered security
  2. recorded as the owner of a security
  3. recorded on the basis of pedigree or breed characteristics in the studbook of a breed association
  4. qualified formally or officially

registered mail -n

  1. mail recorded in the post office of mailing and at each successive point of transmission and guaranteed special care in delivery

registered nurse -n

  1. a graduate trained nurse who has been licensed by a state authority after qualifying for registration

register ton -n

  1. ton

reg·is·tra·ble ['re-jə-strə-bəl] -adj

  1. capable of being registered

reg·is·trant ['re-jə-strənt] -n

  1. one that registers or is registered

reg·is·trar ['re-jə-,strär] -n

  1. : an official recorder or keeper of records: as
  2. an officer of an educational institution responsible for registering students, keeping academic records, and corresponding with applicants and evaluating their credentials
  3. an admitting officer at a hospital
  4. resident

reg·is·tra·tion [,re-jə-'strā-shən] -n

  1. the act of registering
  2. an entry in a register
  3. the number of individuals registered : enrollment
  4. the art or act of selecting and adjusting pipe organ stops
  5. the combination of stops selected for performing a particular organ work
  6. a document certifying an act of registering

reg·is·try ['re-jə-strē] -n

  1. registration, enrollment
  2. the nationality of a ship according to its entry in a register : flag
  3. a place of registration
  4. an official record book
  5. an entry in a registry

re·gius professor ['rē-j(ē-)əs-] -n

  1. a holder of a professorship founded by royal subsidy at a British university

reg·let ['re-glət] -n

  1. a flat narrow architectural molding
  2. a strip of wood used like a lead between lines of type

reg·nal ['reg-nᵊl] -adj

  1. of or relating to a king or his reign
  2. calculated from a monarch's accession to the throne
    • in his eighth regnal year

reg·nant ['reg-nənt] -adj

  1. exercising rule : reigning
  2. having the chief power : dominant
  3. of common or widespread occurrence

reg·num ['reg-nəm] -n

  1. kingdom

reg·o·lith ['re-gə-,lith] -n

  1. unconsolidated residual or transported material that overlies the solid rock on the earth, moon, or a planet

reg·o·sol ['re-gə-,säl, -,sȯl] -n

  1. any of a group of azonal soils consisting chiefly of imperfectly consolidated material and having no clear-cut and specific morphology

re·greet [(,)rē-'grēt] -vt

  1. to greet in return

regreets -n pl

  1. greetings

re·gress ['rē-,gres] -n

  1. an act or the privilege of going or coming back
  2. reentry
  3. movement backward to a previous and esp. worse or more primitive state or condition
  4. the act of reasoning backward
  5. to make or undergo regress : retrograde
  6. to be subject to or exhibit regression
  7. to tend to approach or revert to a mean
  8. to induce a state of psychological regression in

re·gres·sion [ri-'gre-shən] -n

  1. the act or an instance of regressing
  2. : a trend or shift toward a lower or less perfect state: as
  3. progressive decline of a manifestation of disease
  4. gradual loss of differentiation and function by a body part esp. as a physiological change accompanying aging
  5. gradual loss of memories and acquired skills
  6. reversion to an earlier mental or behavioral level
  7. a functional relationship between two or more correlated variables that is often empirically determined from data and is used esp. to predict values of one variable when given values of the others
    • the regression of y on x is linear
  8. a function that yields the mean value of a random variable under the condition that one or more independent variables have specified values
  9. retrograde motion

re·gres·sive [ri-'gre-siv] -adj, adv, n

  1. tending to regress or produce regression
  2. being, characterized by, or developing in the course of an evolutionary process involving increasing simplification of bodily structure
  3. decreasing in rate as the base increases
    • a regressive tax

re·gret [ri-'gret] -vb, n

  1. to mourn the loss or death of
  2. to miss very much
  3. to be very sorry for
    • regret s his mistakes
  4. to experience regret

regret [-'gret-fəl] -n, adj

  1. sorrow aroused by circumstances beyond one's control or power to repair
  2. an expression of distressing emotion (as sorrow)
  3. a note politely declining an invitation

re·gret·ful·ly [ri-'gret-fə-lē] -adv

  1. with regret
  2. it is to be regretted

re·gret·ta·ble [ri-'gre-tə-bəl] -adj

  1. deserving regret

re·gret·ta·bly [-blē] -adv

  1. to a regrettable extent
    • a regrettably steep decline in wages
  2. it is to be regretted
    • regrettably, they could not attend

re·group [(,)rē-'grüp] -vt

  1. to form into a new grouping
    • regroup military forces
  2. to reorganize (as after a setback) for renewed activity
  3. to alter the tactical formation of a military force

re·grow [(,)rē-'grō] -vb

  1. to grow (as a missing part) anew
  2. to continue growth after interruption or injury

regt -abbr

  1. regiment

reg·u·lar ['re-gyə-lər, 're-g(ə-)lər also 'rā-] -adj

  1. belonging to a religious order
  2. formed, built, arranged, or ordered according to some established rule, law, principle, or type
  3. both equilateral and equiangular
    • a regular polygon
  4. having faces that are congruent regular polygons and all the polyhedral angles congruent
    • a regular polyhedron
  5. having the arrangement of floral parts exhibiting radial symmetry with members of the same whorl similar in form
  6. orderly, methodical
    • regular habits
  7. recurring, attending, or functioning at fixed, uniform, or normal intervals
    • a regular income
    • a regular churchgoer
    • regular bowel movements
  8. constituted, conducted, scheduled, or done in conformity with established or prescribed usages, rules, or discipline
  9. : normal, standard: as
  10. absolute, complete
    • a regular fool
    • the office seemed like a regular madhouse
  11. thinking or behaving in an acceptable, normal, or agreeable manner
    • was a regular guy
  12. conforming to the normal or usual manner of inflection
  13. weak
  14. issued in large numbers over a long period for general use in prepayment of postage
  15. of, relating to, or constituting the permanent standing military force of a state
    • the regular army
    • regular soldiers

regular -n

  1. : one who is regular: as
  2. one of the regular clergy
  3. a soldier in a regular army
  4. one who can be trusted or depended on
    • a party regular
  5. a player on an athletic team who usu. starts every game
  6. one who is usu. present or participating
  7. a long-standing regular customer
  8. something of average or medium size
  9. a clothing size designed to fit a person of average height

reg·u·lar·i·ty [,re-gyə-'la-rə-tē also ,rā-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being regular
  2. something that is regular

reg·u·lar·ize ['re-gyə-lə-,rīz also 'rā-] -vt, n

  1. to make regular by conformance to law, rules, or custom

reg·u·lar·ly ['re-gyə-lər-lē, 're-gyə(r)-lē also 'rā-] -adv

  1. in a regular manner
  2. on a regular basis : at regular intervals

regular solid -n

  1. any of the five possible regular polyhedrons that include the regular forms of the tetrahedron, hexahedron, octahedron, dodecahedron, and icosahedron

reg·u·late ['re-gyə-,lāt also 'rā-] -vt, adj

  1. to govern or direct according to rule
  2. to bring under the control of law or constituted authority
  3. to make regulations for or concerning
    • regulate the industries of a country
  4. to bring order, method, or uniformity to
    • regulate one's habits
  5. to fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of
    • regulate the pressure of a tire

reg·u·la·tion [,re-gyə-'lā-shən, ,re-gə- also ,rā-] -n

  1. the act of regulating : the state of being regulated
  2. an authoritative rule dealing with details or procedure
    • safety regulation s
  3. a rule or order issued by an executive authority or regulatory agency of a government and having the force of law
  4. the process of redistributing material (as in an embryo) to restore a damaged or lost part independent of new tissue growth
  5. the mechanism by which an early embryo maintains normal development

regulation -adj

  1. conforming to regulations : official

reg·u·la·tor ['re-gyə-,lā-tər also 'rā-] -n

  1. one that regulates
  2. regulatory gene

regulatory gene -n

  1. a gene that regulates the expression of one or more structural genes by controlling the production of a protein (as a genetic repressor) which regulates their rate of transcription

reg·u·lus ['re-gyə-ləs] -n

  1. a first-magnitude star in the constellation Leo
  2. the more or less impure mass of metal formed beneath the slag in smelting and reducing ores

re·gur·gi·tate [(,)rē-'gər-jə-,tāt] -vb

  1. to become thrown or poured back
  2. to throw or pour back or out from or as if from a cavity
    • regurgitate food
    • memorized facts to regurgitate on the exam

re·gur·gi·ta·tion [(,)rē-,gər-jə-'tā-shən] -n

  1. : an act of regurgitating: as
  2. the casting up of incompletely digested food (as by some birds in feeding their young)
  3. the backward flow of blood through a defective heart valve

re·hab ['rē-,hab] -n, vb

  1. the action or process of rehabilitating : rehabilitation
  2. a program for rehabilitating esp. drug or alcohol abusers
  3. a rehabilitated building or dwelling

re·ha·bil·i·tant [,rē-ə-'bi-lə-tənt, ,rē-hə-] -n

  1. a disabled person undergoing rehabilitation

re·ha·bil·i·tate [,rē-ə-'bi-lə-,tāt, ,rē-hə-] -vt, n, adj

  1. to restore to a former capacity : reinstate
  2. to restore to good repute : reestablish the good name of
  3. to restore to a former state (as of efficiency, good management, or solvency)
    • rehabilitate slum areas
  4. to restore or bring to a condition of health or useful and constructive activity

re·hash [(,)rē-'hash] -vt

  1. to talk over or discuss again
  2. to present or use again in another form without substantial change or improvement
  3. something that is rehashed
  4. the action or process of rehashing

re·hear [(,)rē-'hir] -vt

  1. to hear again or anew esp. judicially

rehearing -n

  1. a second or new hearing by the same tribunal

re·hears·al [ri-'hər-səl] -n

  1. something recounted or told again : recital
  2. a private performance or practice session preparatory to a public appearance
  3. a practice exercise : trial

re·hearse [ri-'hərs] -vb, n

  1. to say again : repeat
  2. to recite aloud in a formal manner
  3. to present an account of : relate
    • rehearse a familiar story
  4. to recount in order : enumerate
    • rehearsed their demands
  5. to give a rehearsal of
  6. to train or make proficient by rehearsal
  7. to perform or practice as if in a rehearsal
  8. to engage in a rehearsal

re·house [(,)rē-'hau̇z] -vt

  1. to house again or anew
  2. to establish in a new or different housing unit of a better quality

re·hy·drate [(,)rē-'hī-,drāt] -vt, adj, n

  1. to restore fluid to (something dehydrated)

reichs·mark ['rīks-,märk] -n

  1. the German mark from 1925 to 1948

re·ifi·ca·tion [,rā-ə-fə-'kā-shən, ,rē-] -n

  1. the process or result of reifying

re·ify ['rā-ə-,fī, 'rē-] -vt

  1. to regard (something abstract) as a material or concrete thing

reign ['rān] -n

  1. royal authority : sovereignty
    • under the reign of the Stuart kings
  2. the dominion, sway, or influence of one resembling a monarch
    • the reign of the Puritan ministers
  3. the time during which one (as a sovereign) reigns
  4. to possess or exercise sovereign power : rule
  5. to hold office as chief of state although possessing little governing power
    • in England the sovereign reign s but does not rule
  6. to exercise authority in the manner of a monarch
  7. to be predominant or prevalent
    • chaos reign ed in the classroom

reign of terror

  1. a state or a period of time marked by violence often committed by those in power that produces widespread terror

Rei·ki ['rā-,kē] -n

  1. a system of touching with the hands based on the belief that such touching by an experienced practitioner produces beneficial effects by strengthening and normalizing certain vital energy fields held to exist within the body

re·imag·ine [,rē-i-'ma-jən] -vt

  1. to imagine again or anew
  2. to form a new conception of : re-create

re·im·burse [,rē-əm-'bərs] -vt, adj, n

  1. to pay back to someone : repay
    • reimburse travel expenses
  2. to make restoration or payment of an equivalent to
    • reimburse him for his traveling expenses

re·im·pres·sion [,rē-əm-'pre-shən] -n

  1. reprint

rein ['rān] -n

  1. a strap fastened to a bit by which a rider or driver controls an animal usu. used in pl.
  2. a restraining influence : check
    • kept a tight rein on the proceedings
  3. controlling or guiding power usu. used in pl.
    • the rein s of government
  4. opportunity for unhampered activity or use
    • gave full rein to her imagination
  5. to control or direct with or as if with reins
  6. to check or stop by or as if by a pull at the reins
    • rein ed in her horse
    • couldn't rein his impatience
  7. to submit to the use of reins
  8. to stop or slow up one's horse or oneself by or as if by pulling the reins

re·in·car·nate [,rē-ən-'kär-,nāt, (,)rē-'in-,] -vt

  1. to incarnate again

re·in·car·na·tion [,rē-(,)in-(,)kär-'nā-shən] -n

  1. the action of reincarnating : the state of being reincarnated
  2. rebirth in new bodies or forms of life
  3. a rebirth of a soul in a new human body
  4. a fresh embodiment

rein·deer ['rān-,dir] -n

  1. caribou used esp. for one of the Old World

reindeer moss -n

  1. a gray, erect, tufted, and much-branched lichen ( Cladonia rangiferina) that forms extensive patches in arctic and north-temperate regions, constitutes a large part of the food of caribou, and is sometimes eaten by humans called also reindeer lichen

re·in·dus·tri·al·i·za·tion [,rē-in-,dəs-trē-ə-lə-'zā-shən] -n, vb

  1. a policy of stimulating economic growth esp. through government aid to revitalize and modernize aging industries and encourage growth of new ones

re·in·fec·tion [,rē-ən-'fek-shən] -n

  1. infection following recovery from or superimposed on infection of the same type

re·in·force [,rē-ən-'fȯrs] -vb, adj

  1. to strengthen by additional assistance, material, or support : make stronger or more pronounced
    • reinforce levees
    • reinforce the elbows of a jacket
    • reinforce ideas
  2. to strengthen or increase by fresh additions
    • reinforce our troops
    • were reinforcing their pitching staff
  3. to stimulate (as an experimental animal or a student) with a reinforcer
  4. to encourage (a response) with a reinforcer
  5. to seek or get reinforcements

reinforced concrete -n

  1. concrete in which metal (as steel) is embedded so that the two materials act together in resisting forces

re·in·force·ment [,rē-ən-'fȯrs-mənt] -n

  1. the action of reinforcing : the state of being reinforced
  2. something that reinforces

re·in·forc·er [-'fȯr-sər] -n

  1. a stimulus (as a reward or the removal of an electric shock) that increases the probability of a desired response in operant conditioning by being applied or effected following the desired response

re·in·fuse [,rē-in-'fyüz] -vt, n

  1. to return (as blood or lymphocytes) to the body by infusion after previous withdrawal

reins ['rānz] -n pl

  1. kidneys
  2. the region of the kidneys : loins
  3. the seat of the feelings or passions

re·in·scribe [,rē-ən-'skrīb] -vt

  1. to reestablish or rename in a new and esp. stronger form or context
    • how do contemporary writers reimagine or reinscribe the culturally laden figure of the aging woman? -- Ruth O. Saxton

reins·man ['rānz-mən] -n

  1. a skilled driver or rider of horses

re·in·state [,rē-ən-'stāt] -vt, n

  1. to place again (as in possession or in a former position)
  2. to restore to a previous effective state

re·in·sur·ance [,rē-ən-'shu̇r-ən(t)s also (,)rē-'in-,] -n

  1. insurance by another insurer of all or a part of a risk previously assumed by an insurance company

re·in·sure [,rē-ən-'shu̇r] -vt, n

  1. to insure again by transferring to another insurance company all or a part of a liability assumed
  2. to insure again by assuming all or a part of the liability of an insurance company already covering a risk
  3. to provide increased insurance

re·in·te·grate [(,)rē-'in-tə-,grāt] -vt, n, adj

  1. to integrate again into an entity : restore to unity

re·in·ter·pret [,rē-ən-'tər-prət, -pət] -vt, n

  1. to interpret again
  2. to give a new or different interpretation to

re·in·vent [,rē-ən-'vent] -vt, n

  1. to make as if for the first time something already invented
    • reinvent the wheel
  2. to remake or redo completely
  3. to bring into use again

re·in·vest [,rē-ən-'vest] -vt

  1. to invest again or anew
  2. to invest (as income from investments) in additional securities
  3. to invest (as earnings) in a business rather than distribute as dividends or profits

re·in·vest·ment [-'ves(t)-mənt] -n

  1. the action of reinvesting : the state of being reinvested
  2. a second or repeated investment

reis ['rē(-ə)l] -adj, n

(variant of real)

  1. of or relating to fixed, permanent, or immovable things (as lands or tenements)
  2. not artificial, fraudulent, or illusory : genuine
    • real gold
  3. being precisely what the name implies
    • a real professional
  4. occurring or existing in actuality
    • saw a real live celebrity
    • a story of real life
  5. of or relating to practical or everyday concerns or activities
    • left school to live in the real world
  6. existing as a physical entity and having properties that deviate from an ideal, law, or standard
    • a real gas
  7. having objective independent existence
    • unable to believe that what he saw was real
  8. fundamental, essential
  9. belonging to or having elements or components that belong to the set of real numbers
    • the real roots of an equation
    • a real matrix
  10. concerned with or containing real numbers
    • real analysis
  11. real-valued
    • real variable
  12. measured by purchasing power
    • real income
    • real dollars
  13. complete, utter
    • a real fiasco
  14. capable of being detected

re·is·sue [(,)rē-'i-(,)shü, chiefly Brit -'is-(,)yü] -vi, n

  1. to come forth again
  2. to issue again
  3. to cause to become available again

REIT -abbr

  1. real estate investment trust

re·it·er·ate [rē-'i-tə-,rāt] -vt, n, adj, adv

  1. to state or do over again or repeatedly sometimes with wearying effect

Rei·ter's syndrome ['rī-tərz-] -n

  1. a disease that is usu. initiated by infection in genetically predisposed individuals and is characterized usu. by recurrence of arthritis, conjunctivitis, and urethritis called also Reiter's disease

reive ['rēv] -vb, n

  1. raid

re·ject [ri-'jekt] -vt, n, adv, adj

  1. to refuse to accept, consider, submit to, take for some purpose, or use
    • reject ed the suggestion
    • reject a manuscript
  2. to refuse to hear, receive, or admit : rebuff, repel
    • parents who reject their children
  3. to refuse as lover or spouse
  4. to cast off
  5. throw back, repulse
  6. to spew out
  7. to subject to immunological rejection
  8. a rejected person or thing
  9. one rejected as not wanted, unsatisfactory, or not fulfilling requirements

re·ject·ee [ri-,jek-'tē, ,rē-] -n

  1. one that is rejected
  2. a person rejected as unfit for military service

re·jec·tion [ri-'jek-shən] -n

  1. the action of rejecting : the state of being rejected
  2. an immune response in which foreign tissue (as of a skin graft or transplanted organ) is attacked by immune system components of the recipient organism
  3. something rejected

rejection slip -n

  1. a printed slip enclosed with a rejected manuscript returned by an editor to an author

re·jig [(,)rē-'jig] -vt

  1. rejigger

re·jig·ger [(,)rē-'ji-gər] -vt

  1. alter, rearrange

re·joice [ri-'jȯis] -vb, n, adv

  1. to give joy to : gladden
  2. to feel joy or great delight

rejoicing -n

  1. the action of one that rejoices
  2. an instance, occasion, or expression of joy : festivity

re·join [ri-'jȯin, vt 1 is (,)rē-] -vb

  1. to answer the replication of the plaintiff
  2. to join again
  3. to say often sharply or critically in response esp. as a reply to a reply

re·join·der [ri-'jȯin-dər] -n

  1. the defendant's answer to the plaintiff's replication
  2. reply
  3. an answer to a reply

re·ju·ve·nate [ri-'jü-və-,nāt] -vb, n

  1. to make young or youthful again : give new vigor to
  2. to restore to an original or new state
    • rejuvenate old cars
  3. to stimulate (a stream) to renewed erosive activity esp. by uplift
  4. to develop youthful features of topography in
  5. to cause or undergo rejuvenescence

re·ju·ve·nes·cence [ri-,jü-və-'ne-sən(t)s, ,rē-] -n, adj

  1. a renewal of youthfulness or vigor : rejuvenation

rel -abbr

  1. released
  2. religion; religious

re·lapse [ri-'laps, 'rē-,] -n

  1. the act or an instance of backsliding, worsening, or subsiding
  2. a recurrence of symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement
  3. to slip or fall back into a former worse state
  4. sink, subside
    • relapse into deep thought

relapsing fever -n

  1. a variable acute epidemic disease that is marked by recurring high fever usu. lasting three to seven days and is caused by a spirochete (genus Borrelia) transmitted by the bites of lice and ticks

re·late [ri-'lāt] -vb, adj, n

  1. to give an account of : tell
  2. to show or establish logical or causal connection between
    • seeks to relate crime to poverty
  3. to apply or take effect retroactively usu. used with back
    • the law relate s back to the initial date of decision
  4. to have relationship or connection
    • the readings relate to his lectures
  5. to have or establish a relationship : interact
    • the way a child relate s to a teacher
  6. to respond esp. favorably
    • can't relate to that kind of music

related -adj, adv, n

  1. connected by reason of an established or discoverable relation
  2. connected by common ancestry or sometimes by marriage
  3. having close harmonic connection used of tones, chords, or tonalities

re·la·tion [ri-'lā-shən] -n

  1. the act of telling or recounting : account
  2. an aspect or quality (as resemblance) that connects two or more things or parts as being or belonging or working together or as being of the same kind
    • the relation of time and space
  3. a property (as one expressed by is equal to, is less than,or is the brother of) that holds between an ordered pair of objects
  4. the referring by a legal fiction of an act to a prior date as the time of its taking effect usu. used with back
  5. a person connected by consanguinity or affinity : relative
  6. a person legally entitled to a share of the property of an intestate
  7. relationship by consanguinity or affinity : kinship
  8. reference, respect
    • in relation to
  9. the attitude or stance which two or more persons or groups assume toward one another
    • race relation s
  10. the state of being mutually or reciprocally interested (as in social or commercial matters)
  11. dealings, intercourse
    • foreign relation s
  12. sexual intercourse

re·la·tion·al [-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to kinship
  2. characterized or constituted by relations
  3. having the function chiefly of indicating a relation of syntax
    • has is notional in he has luck, relational in he has gone
  4. relating to, using, or being a method of organizing data in a database so that it is perceived by the user as a set of tables

relational grammar -n

  1. a grammar based on a theory in which grammatical relations (as subject or object) are primitives in terms of which syntactic operations are defined

re·la·tion·ship [-shən-,ship] -n

  1. the state of being related or interrelated
    • studied the relationship between the variables
  2. : the relation connecting or binding participants in a relationship: as
  3. kinship
  4. a specific instance or type of kinship
  5. a state of affairs existing between those having relations or dealings
    • had a good relationship with his family
  6. a romantic or passionate attachment

rel·a·tive ['re-lə-tiv] -n

  1. a word referring grammatically to an antecedent
  2. a thing having a relation to or connection with or necessary dependence on another thing
  3. a person connected with another by blood or affinity
  4. an animal or plant related to another by common descent
  5. a relative term

relative -adj

  1. introducing a subordinate clause qualifying an expressed or implied antecedent
    • a relative pronoun
  2. introduced by such a connective
    • a relative clause
  3. relevant, pertinent
    • matters relative to world peace
  4. not absolute or independent : comparative
    • the relative isolation of life in the country
  5. having the same key signature used of major and minor keys and scales
  6. expressed as the ratio of the specified quantity (as an error in measuring) to the total magnitude (as the value of a measured quantity) or to the mean of all the quantities involved

relative humidity -n

  1. the ratio of the amount of water vapor actually present in the air to the greatest amount possible at the same temperature

rel·a·tive·ly -adv

  1. to a relative degree or extent : somewhat

relatively prime -adj

  1. having no common factors except 1
    • 12 and 25 are relatively prime

relative to -prep

  1. with regard to : in connection with

relative wind -n

  1. the motion of the air relative to a body in it

rel·a·tiv·ism ['re-lə-ti-,vi-zəm] -n

  1. a theory that knowledge is relative to the limited nature of the mind and the conditions of knowing
  2. a view that ethical truths depend on the individuals and groups holding them
  3. relativity

rel·a·tiv·is·tic [,re-lə-ti-'vis-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or characterized by relativity or relativism
  2. moving at a velocity such that there is a significant change in properties (as mass) in accordance with the theory of relativity
    • a relativistic electron

rel·a·tiv·i·ty [,re-lə-'ti-və-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being relative
  2. something that is relative
  3. the state of being dependent for existence on or determined in nature, value, or quality by relation to something else
  4. a theory which is based on the two postulates (1) that the speed of light in a vacuum is constant and independent of the source or observer and (2) that the mathematical forms of the laws of physics are invariant in all inertial systems and which leads to the assertion of the equivalence of mass and energy and of change in mass, dimension, and time with increased velocity called also special relativity special theory of relativity
  5. an extension of the theory to include gravitation and related acceleration phenomena called also general relativity general theory of relativity
  6. relativism

rel·a·tiv·ize ['re-lə-tə-,vīz] -vt

  1. to treat or describe as relative

re·lax [ri-'laks] -vb, n

  1. to make less tense or rigid : slacken
    • relax ed his grip
  2. to make less severe or stringent : modify
    • relax immigration laws
  3. to deprive of energy, zeal, or strength of purpose
  4. to relieve from nervous tension
  5. to treat (hair) chemically in order to relax curls
  6. to become lax, weak, or loose : rest
  7. to become less intense or severe
    • hoped the committee would relax in its opposition
  8. to become inactive and lengthen
  9. to cast off social restraint, nervous tension, or anxiety
    • couldn't relax in crowds
  10. to seek rest or recreation
    • relax at the seashore
  11. to relieve constipation
  12. to attain equilibrium following the abrupt removal of some influence (as light, high temperature, or stress)

re·lax·ant [ri-'lak-sənt] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or producing relaxation
    • an anesthetic and relaxant agent

relaxant -n

  1. a substance (as a drug) that relaxes
  2. one that relieves muscular tension

re·lax·a·tion [,rē-,lak-'sā-shən, ri-,lak-, esp Brit ,re-lək-] -n

  1. the act of relaxing or state of being relaxed
  2. a relaxing or recreative state, activity, or pastime : diversion
  3. the lengthening that characterizes inactive muscle fibers or muscles

re·laxed [ri-'lakst] -adj, adv, n

  1. freed from or lacking in precision or stringency
  2. set or being at rest or at ease
  3. easy of manner : informal
  4. somewhat loose-fitting and usu. casual in style
    • relaxed jeans

re·lax·in [ri-'lak-sən] -n

  1. a sex hormone of the corpus luteum that facilitates birth by causing relaxation of the pelvic ligaments

re·lay ['rē-,lā] -n

  1. a supply (as of horses) arranged beforehand for successive relief
  2. a number of persons who relieve others in some work
    • worked in relay s around the clock
  3. a race between teams in which each team member successively covers a specified portion of the course
  4. one of the divisions of a relay
  5. an electromagnetic device for remote or automatic control that is actuated by variation in conditions of an electric circuit and that operates in turn other devices (as switches) in the same or a different circuit
  6. servomotor
  7. the act of passing along (as a message or ball) by stages
  8. one of such stages
  9. to place or dispose in relays
  10. to provide with relays
  11. to pass along by relays
    • news was relay ed to distant points
  12. to control or operate by a relay
  13. to lay again
    • relay track

re·lease [ri-'lēs] -vb, adj

  1. to set free from restraint, confinement, or servitude
    • release hostages
    • release pent-up emotions
    • release the brakes
  2. to let go : dismiss
    • released from her job
  3. to relieve from something that confines, burdens, or oppresses
    • was released from her promise
  4. to give up in favor of another : relinquish
    • release a claim to property
  5. to give permission for publication, performance, exhibition, or sale of
  6. to make available to the public
    • the commission released its findings
    • release a new movie
  7. to move from one's normal position (as in football or basketball) in order to assume another position or to perform a second assignment

release -n

  1. relief or deliverance from sorrow, suffering, or trouble
  2. discharge from obligation or responsibility
  3. relinquishment of a right or claim
  4. an act by which a legal right is discharged
  5. a conveyance of a right in lands or tenements to another having an estate in possession
  6. the act or an instance of liberating or freeing (as from restraint)
  7. the act or manner of concluding a musical tone or phrase
  8. the act or manner of ending a sound : the movement of one or more vocal organs in quitting the position for a speech sound
  9. the action or manner of throwing a ball
    • has a quick release
  10. an instrument effecting a legal release
  11. the state of being freed
  12. a device adapted to hold or release a mechanism as required
  13. the act of permitting performance or publication
  14. performance, publication
    • became a best seller on its release
  15. the matter released
  16. a statement prepared for the press
  17. to lease again

released time -n

  1. time off from regularly scheduled activities (as school) given to take part in some other specified activity

release print -n

  1. a motion-picture film released for public showing

re·leas·er [ri-'lē-sər] -n

  1. one that releases
  2. a stimulus that serves as the initiator of complex reflex behavior

rel·e·gate ['re-lə-,gāt] -vt, n

  1. to send into exile : banish
  2. : assign: as
  3. to assign to a place of insignificance or of oblivion : put out of sight or mind
  4. to assign to an appropriate place or situation on the basis of classification or appraisal
  5. to submit to someone or something for appropriate action : delegate
  6. to transfer (a sports team) to a lower ranking division

re·lent [ri-'lent] -vb

  1. to become less severe, harsh, or strict usu. from reasons of humanity
  2. to cease resistance : give in
  3. let up, slacken
  4. soften, mollify

re·lent·less [-ləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. showing or promising no abatement of severity, intensity, strength, or pace : unrelenting
    • relentless pressure
    • a relentless campaign

rel·e·vance ['re-lə-vən(t)s] -n

  1. relation to the matter at hand
  2. practical and esp. social applicability : pertinence
    • giving relevance to college courses
  3. the ability (as of an information retrieval system) to retrieve material that satisfies the needs of the user

rel·e·van·cy [-vən(t)-sē] -n

  1. relevance
  2. something relevant

rel·e·vant ['re-lə-vənt] -adj, adv

  1. having significant and demonstrable bearing on the matter at hand
  2. affording evidence tending to prove or disprove the matter at issue or under discussion
    • relevant testimony
  3. having social relevance
  4. proportional, relative

re·li·abil·i·ty [ri-,lī-ə-'bi-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being reliable
  2. the extent to which an experiment, test, or measuring procedure yields the same results on repeated trials

re·li·able [ri-'lī-ə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. suitable or fit to be relied on : dependable
  2. giving the same result on successive trials

reliable -n

  1. one that is reliable

re·li·ance [ri-'lī-ən(t)s] -n

  1. the act of relying : the state of being reliant
  2. something or someone relied on

re·li·ant [-ənt] -adj, adv

  1. having reliance on something or someone : dependent

rel·ic ['re-lik] -n

  1. an object esteemed and venerated because of association with a saint or martyr
  2. souvenir, memento
  3. remains, corpse
  4. a survivor or remnant left after decay, disintegration, or disappearance
  5. a trace of some past or outmoded practice, custom, or belief

rel·ict ['re-likt] -n

  1. widow
  2. a surviving species of an otherwise extinct group of organisms
  3. a remnant of a formerly widespread species that persists in an isolated area
  4. a relief feature or rock remaining after other parts have disappeared
  5. something left unchanged

relict -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being a relict
    • relict populations

re·lic·tion [ri-'lik-shən] -n

  1. the gradual recession of water leaving land permanently uncovered
  2. land uncovered by reliction

re·lief [ri-'lēf] -n

  1. a payment made by a male feudal tenant to his lord on succeeding to an inherited estate
  2. removal or lightening of something oppressive, painful, or distressing
  3. welfare
  4. military assistance to an endangered post or force
  5. means of breaking or avoiding monotony or boredom : diversion
  6. release from a post or from the performance of duty
  7. one that takes the place of another on duty
  8. legal remedy or redress
  9. a mode of sculpture in which forms and figures are distinguished from a surrounding plane surface
  10. sculpture or a sculptural form executed in this mode
  11. projecting detail, ornament, or figures
  12. sharpness of outline due to contrast
    • a roof in bold relief against the sky
  13. the state of being distinguished by contrast
    • throws the two opinions into bold relief
  14. the elevations or inequalities of a land surface
  15. the pitching done by a relief pitcher
    • two innings of hitless relief

relief -adj

  1. providing relief
  2. characterized by surface inequalities
  3. of or used in letterpress

relief map -n

  1. a map representing topographic relief

relief pitcher -n

  1. a baseball pitcher who takes over for another during a game

relief printing -n

  1. letterpress

re·lieve [ri-'lēv] -vb, adj

  1. to free from a burden : give aid or help to
  2. to set free from an obligation, condition, or restriction
  3. to ease of a burden, wrong, or oppression by judicial or legislative interposition
  4. to bring about the removal or alleviation of : mitigate
    • helps relieve stress
  5. rob, deprive
    • relieved us of our belongings
  6. to release from a post, station, or duty
  7. to take the place of
    • will relieve the starting pitcher
  8. to remove or lessen the monotony of
    • a park relieve s the urban landscape
  9. to set off by contrast
  10. to raise in relief
  11. to discharge the bladder or bowels of (oneself)
  12. to bring or give relief
  13. to stand out in relief
  14. to serve as a relief pitcher

relieved [-'lē-vəd-lē] -adj, adv

  1. experiencing or showing relief esp. from anxiety or pent-up emotions

re·liev·er [ri-'lē-vər] -n

  1. one that relieves
  2. relief pitcher

re·lie·vo [ri-'lē-(,)vō, rēl-'yā-(,)vō] -n

  1. relief

relig -abbr

  1. religion

re·li·gio- [ri-'li-j(ē-)ō] -comb form

  1. religion and
    • religio- political

re·li·gion [ri-'li-jən] -n, adj

  1. the state of a religious
    • a nun in her 20th year of religion
  2. the service and worship of God or the supernatural
  3. commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
  4. a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
  5. scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness
  6. a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith

re·li·gion·ist [-'li-jə-nist, -'lij-nist] -n

  1. a person adhering to a religion
  2. a religious zealot

re·li·gi·ose [ri-'li-jē-,ōs] -adj, n

  1. religious
  2. excessively, obtrusively, or sentimentally religious

re·li·gious [ri-'li-jəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity
    • a religious person
    • religious attitudes
  2. of, relating to, or devoted to religious beliefs or observances
    • joined a religious order
  3. scrupulously and conscientiously faithful
  4. fervent, zealous

religious -n

  1. a member of a religious order under monastic vows

re·line [(,)rē-'līn] -vt

  1. to put new lines on or a new lining in

re·lin·quish [ri-'liŋ-kwish, -'lin-] -vt, n

  1. to withdraw or retreat from : leave behind
  2. give up
    • relinquish a title
  3. to stop holding physically : release
    • slowly relinquish ed his grip on the bar
  4. to give over possession or control of : yield
    • few leaders willingly relinquish power

rel·i·quary ['re-lə-,kwer-ē] -n

  1. a container or shrine in which sacred relics are kept

re·lique ['re-lik] -n

(variant of relic)

  1. an object esteemed and venerated because of association with a saint or martyr
  2. souvenir, memento
  3. remains, corpse
  4. a survivor or remnant left after decay, disintegration, or disappearance
  5. a trace of some past or outmoded practice, custom, or belief

re·liq·ui·ae [ri-'li-kwē-,ī, -kwē-,ē] -n pl

  1. remains of the dead : relics

rel·ish ['re-lish] -n

  1. characteristic flavor
  2. pleasing or zestful flavor
  3. a quantity just sufficient to flavor or characterize : trace
  4. enjoyment of or delight in something that satisfies one's tastes, inclinations, or desires
    • eat with great relish
  5. a strong liking : inclination
    • has little relish for sports
  6. something adding a zestful flavor
  7. a condiment (as of pickles or green tomatoes) eaten with other food to add flavor
  8. appetizer, hors d'oeuvre

relish ['re-li-shə-bəl] -vt, adj

  1. to add relish to
  2. to be pleased or gratified by : enjoy
  3. to eat or drink with pleasure
  4. to appreciate with taste and discernment
  5. to have a characteristic or pleasing taste

re·live [(,)rē-'liv] -vi

  1. to live again
  2. to live over again
  3. to experience again in the imagination

re·lo·cate [(,)rē-'lō-,kāt, ,rē-lō-'] -vt, adj, n

  1. to locate again : establish or lay out in a new place
  2. to move to a new location

re·lo·cat·ee [,rē-lə-,kā-'tē, ,rē-,lō-kə-'tē] -n

  1. one who moves to a new location : one that is relocated

re·lu·cent [ri-'lü-sᵊnt] -adj

  1. reflecting light : shining

re·luct [ri-'ləkt] -vi

  1. to show reluctance

re·luc·tance [ri-'lək-tən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being reluctant
  2. the opposition offered in a magnetic circuit to magnetic flux
  3. the ratio of the magnetic potential difference to the corresponding flux

re·luc·tan·cy [-tən(t)-sē] -n

  1. reluctance

re·luc·tant [ri-'lək-tənt] -adj, adv

  1. feeling or showing aversion, hesitation, or unwillingness
    • reluctant to get involved
  2. having or assuming a specified role unwillingly
    • a reluctant hero

re·lume [(,)rē-'lüm] -vt

  1. to light or light up again : rekindle

re·ly [ri-'lī] -vi, n

  1. to be dependent
    • the system on which we rely for water
  2. to have confidence based on experience
    • someone you can rely on

rem ['rem] -n

  1. the dosage of an ionizing radiation that will cause the same biological effect as one roentgen of X-ray or gamma-ray exposure

REM ['rem] -n

  1. rapid eye movement

re·main [ri-'mān] -vi

  1. to be a part not destroyed, taken, or used up
    • only a few ruins remain
  2. to be something yet to be shown, done, or treated
    • it remain s to be seen
  3. to stay in the same place or with the same person or group
  4. to stay behind
  5. to continue unchanged
    • the fact remain s that we can't go

remain -n

  1. stay
  2. a remaining part or trace usu. used in pl.
  3. a dead body

re·main·der [ri-'mān-dər] -n

  1. an interest or estate in property that follows and is dependent on the termination of a prior intervening possessory estate created at the same time by the same instrument
  2. a remaining group, part, or trace
  3. the number left after a subtraction
  4. the final undivided part after division that is less or of lower degree than the divisor
  5. a book sold at a reduced price by the publisher after sales have slowed

remainder -adj

  1. leftover, remaining
  2. to dispose of as remainders

remainder theorem -n

  1. a theorem in algebra: if f( x) is a polynomial in xthen the remainder on dividing f( x) by x ais f( a)

re·make [(,)rē-'māk] -vt, n

  1. to make anew or in a different form
  2. one that is remade
  3. a new version of a motion picture

re·man [(,)rē-'man] -vt

  1. to man again or anew
  2. to imbue with courage again

re·mand [ri-'mand] -vt, n

  1. : to order back: as
  2. to send back (a case) to another court or agency for further action
  3. to return to custody pending trial or for further detention

rem·a·nence ['re-mə-nən(t)s, ri-'mā-] -n

  1. the magnetic induction remaining in a magnetized substance no longer under external magnetic influence

rem·a·nent [-nənt] -adj

  1. residual, remaining
  2. of, relating to, or characterized by remanence

re·man·u·fac·ture [(,)rē-,ma-nyə-'fak-chər, -,ma-nə-] -vt, n

  1. to manufacture into a new product

re·map [(,)rē-'map] -vt

  1. to map again
  2. to lay out in a new pattern

re·mark [ri-'märk] -n

  1. the act of remarking : notice
  2. an expression of opinion or judgment
  3. mention of that which deserves attention or notice

remark -vt

  1. to take notice of : observe
  2. to express as an observation or comment : say
  3. to notice something and comment thereon used with on or upon

re·mark·able [ri-'mär-kə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. worthy of being or likely to be noticed esp. as being uncommon or extraordinary

re·mark·ably [-blē] -adv

  1. in a remarkable manner
    • remarkably talented
  2. as is remarkable
    • remarkably, no one was hurt

re·marque [ri-'märk] -n

  1. a drawn, etched, or incised scribble or sketch done on the margin of a plate or stone and removed before the regular printing
  2. a proof taken before remarques have been removed

re·mas·ter [(,)rē-'mas-tər] -vt

  1. to create a new master of esp. by altering or enhancing the sound quality of an older recording

re·match ['rē-,mach, (,)rē-'] -n

  1. a second match between the same contestants or teams

re·me·di·a·ble [ri-'mē-dē-ə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. capable of being remedied

re·me·di·al [ri-'mē-dē-əl] -adj, adv

  1. intended as a remedy
  2. concerned with the correction of faulty study habits and the raising of a pupil's general competence
    • remedial reading courses
  3. receiving or requiring remedial instruction
    • remedial students

re·me·di·ate [ri-'mē-dē-ət] -adj

  1. remedial

re·me·di·a·tion [ri-,mē-dē-'ā-shən] -n, vt

  1. the act or process of remedying
    • remediation of reading problems

rem·e·dy ['re-mə-dē] -n, adj

  1. a medicine, application, or treatment that relieves or cures a disease
  2. something that corrects or counteracts
  3. the legal means to recover a right or to prevent or obtain redress for a wrong

remedy -vt

  1. to provide or serve as a remedy for : relieve
    • remedy a social evil

re·mem·ber [ri-'mem-bər] -vb, n, adj

  1. to bring to mind or think of again
    • remember s the old days
  2. bethink
  3. remind
  4. to keep in mind for attention or consideration
    • remember s friends at Christmas
  5. reward
    • was remember ed in the will
  6. to retain in the memory
    • remember the facts until the test is over
  7. to convey greetings from
    • remember me to her
  8. record, commemorate
  9. to exercise or have the power of memory
  10. to have a recollection or remembrance

re·mem·brance [ri-'mem-brən(t)s also -bə-rən(t)s] -n

  1. the state of bearing in mind
  2. the ability to remember : memory
  3. the period over which one's memory extends
  4. an act of recalling to mind
  5. a memory of a person, thing, or event
  6. something that serves to keep in or bring to mind : reminder
  7. commemoration, memorial
  8. a greeting or gift recalling or expressing friendship or affection

Remembrance Day -n

  1. November 11 set aside in commemoration of the end of hostilities in 1918 and 1945 and observed as a legal holiday in Canada
  2. remembrance sunday

re·mem·branc·er [ri-'mem-brən(t)-sər] -n

  1. any of several English officials
  2. one that reminds

Remembrance Sunday -n

  1. a Sunday that is usu. closest to November 11 and that in Great Britain is set aside in commemoration of the end of hostilities in 1918 and 1945

re·mind [ri-'mīnd] -vt, n

  1. to put in mind of something : cause to remember

re·mind·ful [-'mīn(d)-fəl] -adj

  1. mindful
  2. tending to remind : suggestive, evocative

rem·i·nisce [,re-mə-'nis] -vi, n

  1. to indulge in reminiscence

rem·i·nis·cence [-'ni-sᵊn(t)s] -n

  1. apprehension of a Platonic idea as if it had been known in a previous existence
  2. recall to mind of a long-forgotten experience or fact
  3. the process or practice of thinking or telling about past experiences
  4. a remembered experience
  5. an account of a memorable experience often used in pl.
  6. something so like another as to be regarded as an unconscious repetition, imitation, or survival

rem·i·nis·cent [-sᵊnt] -adj, adv

  1. of the character of or relating to reminiscence
  2. marked by or given to reminiscence
  3. tending to remind : suggestive

rem·i·nis·cen·tial [,re-mə-(,)ni-'sen(t)-shəl] -adj

  1. reminiscent

re·mint [(,)rē-'mint] -vt

  1. to melt down (old or worn coin) and make into new coin

re·mise [ri-'mīz] -vt

  1. to give, grant, or release a claim to : deed

re·miss [ri-'mis] -adj, adv, n

  1. negligent in the performance of work or duty : careless
  2. showing neglect or inattention : lax

re·mis·si·ble [ri-'mi-sə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. capable of being forgiven
    • remissible sins

re·mis·sion [ri-'mi-shən] -n

  1. the act or process of remitting
  2. a state or period during which something is remitted

re·mit [ri-'mit] -vb, n, adj

  1. to lay aside (a mood or disposition) partly or wholly
  2. to desist from (an activity)
  3. to let (as attention or diligence) slacken : relax
  4. to release from the guilt or penalty of
    • remit sins
  5. to refrain from exacting
    • remit a tax
  6. to cancel or refrain from inflicting
    • remit the penalty
  7. to give relief from (suffering)
  8. to submit or refer for consideration, judgment, decision, or action
  9. remand
  10. to restore or consign to a former status or condition
  11. postpone, defer
  12. to send (money) to a person or place esp. in payment of a demand, account, or draft
  13. to abate in force or intensity : moderate
  14. to abate symptoms (as of a disease) for a period
  15. to send money (as in payment)
  16. an act of remitting
  17. something remitted to another person or authority

re·mit·tal [ri-'mi-tᵊl] -n

  1. remission

re·mit·tance [ri-'mi-tᵊn(t)s] -n

  1. a sum of money remitted
  2. an instrument by which money is remitted
  3. transmittal of money (as to a distant place)

remittance man -n

  1. one living abroad on remittances from home

re·mit·tent [ri-'mi-tᵊnt] -adj

  1. marked by alternating periods of abatement and increase of symptoms
    • remittent fever

re·mix [(')rē-'miks] -vt

  1. to mix again
  2. a variant of an original recording (as of a song) made by rearranging or adding to the original

rem·nant ['rem-nənt] -n

  1. a usu. small part, member, or trace remaining
  2. a small surviving group often used in pl.
  3. an unsold or unused end of piece goods

remnant -adj

  1. still remaining

re·mod·el [(,)rē-'mä-dᵊl] -vt

  1. to alter the structure of : remake

re·mon·strance [ri-'män(t)-strən(t)s] -n

  1. an earnest presentation of reasons for opposition or grievance
  2. a document formally stating such points
  3. an act or instance of remonstrating

re·mon·strant [-strənt] -adj, n, adv

  1. vigorously objecting or opposing

re·mon·strate ['re-mən-,strāt, ri-'män-] -vb, n, adj, adv

  1. to present and urge reasons in opposition : expostulate usu. used with with
  2. to say or plead in protest, reproof, or opposition

rem·o·ra [ri-'mȯr-ə also 're-mə-rə] -n

  1. any of a family (Echeneidae) of marine bony fishes that have the anterior dorsal fin modified into a suctorial disk on the head by means of which they adhere esp. to other fishes
  2. hindrance, drag

re·morse [ri-'mȯrs] -n

  1. a gnawing distress arising from a sense of guilt for past wrongs : self-reproach
  2. compassion

re·morse·ful [-'mȯrs-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. motivated or marked by remorse

re·morse·less [-ləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. having no remorse : merciless
  2. relentless

re·mote [ri-'mōt] -adj, adv, n

  1. separated by an interval or space greater than usual
    • an involucre remote from the flower
  2. far removed in space, time, or relation : divergent
    • the remote past
    • comments remote from the truth
  3. out-of-the-way, secluded
    • a remote cabin in the hills
  4. acting, acted on, or controlled indirectly or from a distance
    • remote computer operation
  5. relating to the acquisition of information about a distant object (as by radar or photography) without coming into physical contact with it
    • remote sensing
  6. not arising from a primary or proximate action
  7. small in degree : slight
    • a remote possibility
    • hadn't the remotest idea of what was going on
  8. distant in manner : aloof

remote -n

  1. a radio or television program or a portion of a program originating outside the studio
  2. remote control

remote control -n

  1. control (as by radio signal) of operation from a point at some distance removed
  2. a device or mechanism for controlling something from a distance

re·mo·tion [ri-'mō-shən] -n

  1. the quality or state of being remote
  2. the act of removing : removal
  3. departure

re·mou·lade [,rā-mə-'läd, -mü-] -n

  1. a pungent sauce or dressing resembling mayonnaise and usu. including savory herbs and condiments

re·mount [(,)rē-'mau̇nt] -vb

  1. to mount (something) again
    • remount a picture
  2. to furnish remounts to
  3. to mount again
  4. revert
  5. a fresh horse to replace one no longer available

re·mov·al [ri-'mü-vəl] -n

  1. the act or process of removing : the fact of being removed

re·move [ri-'müv] -vb, n, adj, adv

  1. to change the location, position, station, or residence of
    • remove soldiers to the front
  2. to transfer (a legal proceeding) from one court to another
  3. to move by lifting, pushing aside, or taking away or off
    • remove your hat
  4. to dismiss from office
  5. to get rid of : eliminate
    • remove a tumor surgically
  6. to change location, station, or residence
    • removing from the city to the suburbs
  7. to go away
  8. to be capable of being removed

remove -n

  1. removal
  2. move
  3. a distance or interval separating one person or thing from another
  4. a degree or stage of separation

removed -adj

  1. distant in degree of relationship
  2. of a younger or older generation
    • a second cousin's child is a second cousin once removed
  3. separate or remote in space, time, or character

REM sleep -n

  1. a state of sleep that recurs cyclically several times during a normal period of sleep and that is characterized esp. by increased neuronal activity of the forebrain and midbrain, depressed muscle tone, dreaming, and rapid eye movements called also paradoxical sleep rapid eye movement sleep

re·mu·da [ri-'mü-də, -'myü-] -n

  1. the herd of horses from which those to be used for the day are chosen

re·mu·ner·ate [ri-'myü-nə-,rāt] -vt, n, adj

  1. to pay an equivalent for
    • their services were generously remunerated
  2. to pay an equivalent to for a service, loss, or expense : recompense

re·mu·ner·a·tion [ri-,myü-nə-'rā-shən] -n

  1. something that remunerates : recompense, pay
  2. an act or fact of remunerating

re·mu·ner·a·tive [ri-'myü-nə-rə-tiv, -,rā-] -adj, adv, n

  1. serving to remunerate
  2. providing remuneration : profitable

Re·mus ['rē-məs] -n

  1. a son of Mars slain by his twin brother Romulus

re·nais·sance [,re-nə-'sän(t)s, -'zän(t)s, -'säⁿs, -'zäⁿs, 're-nə-,, chiefly Brit ri-'nā-sᵊn(t)s] -n

  1. the transitional movement in Europe between medieval and modern times beginning in the 14th century in Italy, lasting into the 17th century, and marked by a humanistic revival of classical influence expressed in a flowering of the arts and literature and by the beginnings of modern science
  2. the period of the Renaissance
  3. the neoclassic style of architecture prevailing during the Renaissance
  4. a movement or period of vigorous artistic and intellectual activity
  5. rebirth, revival

Renaissance man -n

  1. a person who has wide interests and is expert in several areas

re·nal ['rē-nᵊl] -adj

  1. relating to, involving, or located in the region of the kidneys : nephritic
    • renal disease
    • renal failure

renal clearance -n

  1. clearance

re·na·scence [ri-'na-sᵊn(t)s, -'nā-] -n

  1. renaissance

re·na·scent [-sᵊnt] -adj

  1. rising again into being or vigor

re·na·ture [(,)rē-'nā-chər] -vt, n

  1. to restore (as a denatured protein) to an original or normal condition

ren·con·tre [räⁿ-'kōⁿtrᵊ, ren-'kän-tər] -n

  1. a hostile meeting or a contest between forces or individuals : combat
  2. a casual meeting

ren·coun·ter [ren-'kau̇n-tər] -vt

  1. to meet casually

rend ['rend] -vb

  1. to remove from place by violence : wrest
  2. to split or tear apart or in pieces by violence
  3. to tear (the hair or clothing) as a sign of anger, grief, or despair
  4. to lacerate mentally or emotionally
  5. to pierce with sound
  6. to divide (as a nation) into contesting factions
  7. to perform an act of tearing or splitting
  8. to become torn or split

ren·der ['ren-dər] -vb, adj, n

  1. to melt down
    • render suet
  2. to extract by melting
    • render lard
  3. to treat so as to convert into industrial fats and oils or fertilizer
  4. to transmit to another : deliver
  5. give up, yield
  6. : to furnish for consideration, approval, or information: as
  7. to hand down (a legal judgment)
  8. to agree on and report (a verdict)
  9. to give in return or retribution
  10. give back, restore
  11. reflect, echo
  12. to give in acknowledgment of dependence or obligation : pay
  13. to do (a service) for another
  14. to cause to be or become : make
    • enough rainfall...to render irrigation unnecessary -- P. E. James
    • render ed him helpless
  15. impart
  16. to reproduce or represent by artistic or verbal means : depict
  17. to give a performance of
  18. to produce a copy or version of
    • the documents are render ed in the original French
  19. to execute the motions of
    • render a salute
  20. translate
  21. to direct the execution of : administer
    • render justice
  22. to apply a coat of plaster or cement directly to
  23. to give recompense

render -n

  1. a return esp. in goods or services due from a feudal tenant to his lord

ren·dez·vous ['rän-di-,vü, -dā-] -n

  1. a place appointed for assembling or meeting
  2. a place of popular resort : haunt
  3. a meeting at an appointed place and time
  4. the process of bringing two spacecraft together

rendezvous [-,vüd] -vb

  1. to come together at a rendezvous
  2. to bring together at a rendezvous
  3. to meet at a rendezvous

ren·di·tion [ren-'di-shən] -n

  1. : the act or result of rendering: as
  2. surrender
  3. translation
  4. performance, interpretation

ren·dzi·na [ren-'jē-nə] -n

  1. any of a group of dark grayish-brown intrazonal soils developed in grassy regions of high to moderate humidity from soft calcareous marl or chalk

ren·e·gade ['re-ni-,gād] -n

  1. a deserter from one faith, cause, or allegiance to another
  2. an individual who rejects lawful or conventional behavior

renegade -vi

  1. to become a renegade
  2. having deserted a faith, cause, or religion for a hostile one
  3. having rejected tradition : unconventional

re·nege [ri-'neg also -'nāg, -'nig; rē-] -vb, n

  1. deny, renounce
  2. to make a denial
  3. revoke
  4. to go back on a promise or commitment

re·ne·go·tia·ble [,rē-ni-'gō-sh(ē-)ə-bəl] -adj

  1. subject to renegotiation
    • renegotiable mortgages
    • renegotiable rates

re·ne·go·ti·ate [,rē-ni-'gō-shē-,āt] -vt, n

  1. to negotiate again (as to adjust interest rates or repayments or to get more money)
    • renegotiate a loan
    • renegotiate a contract

re·new [ri-'nü, -'nyü] -vt, n

  1. to make like new : restore to freshness, vigor, or perfection
    • as we renew our strength in sleep
  2. to make new spiritually : regenerate
  3. to restore to existence : revive
  4. to make extensive changes in : rebuild
  5. to do again : repeat
  6. to begin again : resume
  7. replace, replenish
    • renew water in a tank
  8. to grant or obtain an extension of or on
    • renew a license
  9. to grant or obtain an extension on the loan of
    • renew a library book
  10. to become new or as new
  11. to begin again : resume
  12. to make a renewal (as of a lease)

re·new·able [-'nü-ə-bəl, -'nyü-] -adj, n, adv

  1. capable of being renewed
    • renewable contracts
  2. capable of being replaced by natural ecological cycles or sound management practices
    • renewable resources

re·new·al [ri-'nü-əl, -'nyü-] -n

  1. the act or process of renewing : repetition
  2. the quality or state of being renewed
  3. something (as a subscription to a magazine) renewed
  4. something used for renewing
  5. an expenditure that betters existing fixed assets
  6. the rebuilding of a large area (as of a city) by a public authority

reni- -comb form

  1. kidney
    • reni form

re·ni·form ['rē-nə-,fȯrm, 're-] -adj

  1. suggesting a kidney in outline
    • a reniform nucleus of a cell

re·nin ['rē-nən, 're-] -n

  1. a proteolytic enzyme of the kidney that plays a major role in the release of angiotensin

re·ni·ten·cy ['re-nə-tən(t)-sē, ri-'nī-tᵊn(t)-] -n

  1. resistance, opposition

re·ni·tent ['re-nə-tənt, ri-'nī-tᵊnt] -adj

  1. resisting physical pressure
  2. resisting constraint or compulsion : recalcitrant

ren·min·bi ['ren-'min-'bē] -n pl

  1. the currency of the People's Republic of China consisting of yuan

ren·net ['re-nət] -n

  1. the contents of the stomach of an unweaned animal and esp. a calf
  2. the lining membrane of a stomach or one of its compartments (as the fourth of a ruminant) used for curdling milk
  3. a preparation of the stomach of animals used for this purpose
  4. rennin
  5. a substitute for rennin

ren·nin ['re-nən] -n

  1. an enzyme that coagulates milk and is used in making cheese and junkets
  2. one from the mucous membrane of the stomach of a calf

re·no·gram ['rē-nə-,gram] -n, adj

  1. a photographic depiction of the course of renal excretion of a radiolabeled substance

re·nom·i·nate [(,)rē-'nä-mə-,nāt] -vt, n

  1. to nominate again esp. for a succeeding term

re·nounce [ri-'nau̇n(t)s] -vb, n

  1. to give up, refuse, or resign usu. by formal declaration
    • renounce his errors
  2. to refuse to follow, obey, or recognize any further : repudiate
    • renounce the authority of the church
  3. to make a renunciation
  4. to fail to follow suit in a card game

re·no·vas·cu·lar [,rē-nō-'vas-kyə-lər] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or involving the blood vessels of the kidneys
    • renovascular hypertension

ren·o·vate ['re-nə-,vāt] -vt, n, adj

  1. to restore to a former better state (as by cleaning, repairing, or rebuilding)
  2. to restore to life, vigor, or activity : revive
    • the church was renovated by a new ecumenical spirit

re·nown [ri-'nau̇n] -n

  1. a state of being widely acclaimed and highly honored : fame
  2. report, rumor

renown -vt

  1. to give renown to

re·nowned [-'nau̇nd] -adj

  1. having renown : celebrated

rent ['rent] -n

  1. property (as a house) rented or for rent
  2. a usu. fixed periodical return made by a tenant or occupant of property to the owner for the possession and use thereof
  3. an agreed sum paid at fixed intervals by a tenant to the landlord
  4. the amount paid by a hirer of personal property to the owner for the use thereof
  5. the portion of the income of an economy (as of a nation) attributable to land as a factor of production in addition to capital and labor
  6. economic rent
  7. to grant the possession and enjoyment of in exchange for rent
  8. to take and hold under an agreement to pay rent
  9. to be for rent
  10. to obtain the possession and use of a place or article in exchange for rent
  11. to allow the possession and use of property in exchange for rent

rent ['rend] -vb

(variant of rend)

  1. to remove from place by violence : wrest
  2. to split or tear apart or in pieces by violence
  3. to tear (the hair or clothing) as a sign of anger, grief, or despair
  4. to lacerate mentally or emotionally
  5. to pierce with sound
  6. to divide (as a nation) into contesting factions
  7. to perform an act of tearing or splitting
  8. to become torn or split

rentacar ['rent-ə-,kär] -n

  1. a rented car

rentacop -n

  1. a security worker (as a guard) who is not a police officer

rent·al ['ren-tᵊl] -n

  1. an amount paid or collected as rent
  2. something that is rented
  3. an act of renting
  4. a business that rents something

rental -adj

  1. of or relating to rent
  2. available for rent
  3. dealing in rental property
    • a rental agency

rental library -n

  1. a commercially operated library (as in a store) that lends books at a fixed charge per book per day called also lending library

rent control -n, adj

  1. government regulation of the amount charged as rent for housing and often also of eviction

rente ['räⁿ(n)t] -n

  1. a government security (as in France) paying interest
  2. the interest paid

rent·er ['ren-tər] -n

  1. one that rents
  2. the lessee or tenant of property

ren·tier [räⁿ-'tyā] -n

  1. a person who lives on income from property or securities

rent strike -n

  1. a refusal by a group of tenants to pay rent (as in protest against high rates)

re·nun·ci·a·tion [ri-,nən(t)-sē-'ā-shən] -n, adj

  1. the act or practice of renouncing : repudiation
  2. ascetic self-denial

re·of·fer [(,)rē-'ȯ-fər, -'ä-] -vt

  1. to offer (a security issue) for public sale

re·open [(,)rē-'ō-pən, -'ō-pᵊm] -vt

  1. to open again
  2. to take up again : resume
    • reopen discussion
  3. to resume discussion or consideration of
    • reopen a contract
  4. to begin again
  5. to open again
    • school reopen s in September

re·or·der [(,)rē-'ȯr-dər] -vt

  1. to arrange in a different way
  2. to give a reorder for
  3. to place a reorder

reorder -n

  1. an order like a previous order placed with the same supplier

re·or·ga·ni·za·tion [(,)rē-,ȯr-gə-nə-'zā-shən, -,ȯrg-nə-] -n, adj

  1. the act or process of reorganizing : the state of being reorganized
  2. the financial reconstruction of a business concern

re·or·ga·nize [(,)rē-'ȯr-gə-,nīz] -vt, n

  1. to organize again or anew
  2. to reorganize something

reo·vi·rus [,rē-ō-'vī-rəs] -n

  1. any of a family ( Reoviridae) of double-stranded RNA viruses that have a virion with icosahedral structural symmetry but may appear spherical, that have a capsid with one to three concentric protein layers, and that include many plant or animal pathogens (as the rotaviruses and the causative agent of bluetongue)

rep ['rep] -n

  1. reputation
  2. status in a group (as a gang)
  3. representative
    • sales rep s
  4. a plain-weave fabric with prominent rounded crosswise ribs
  5. repertory
  6. repertory
  7. represent
  8. the dosage of an ionizing radiation that will develop the same amount of energy upon absorption in human tissue as one roentgen of X-ray or gamma-ray exposure
  9. repetition
  10. repair
  11. repeat
  12. report; reporter
  13. republic

Rep -abbr

  1. Republican

re·pack·age [(,)rē-'pa-kij] -vt, n

  1. to package again or anew
  2. to put into a more efficient or attractive form

re·pair [ri-'per] -vi

  1. to betake oneself : go
    • repair ed to the judge's chambers
  2. to come together : rally
  3. return

repair -n

  1. the act of repairing : resort
  2. a popular gathering place
  3. to restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken : fix
    • repair a shoe
  4. to restore to a sound or healthy state : renew
    • repair his strength
  5. to make good : compensate for : remedy
    • repair a gap in my reading
  6. to make repairs
  7. an instance or result of repairing
  8. the act or process of repairing
  9. the replacement of destroyed cells or tissues by new formations
  10. relative condition with respect to soundness or need of repairing
  11. the state of being in good or sound condition

re·pair·man [ri-'per-,man, -mən] -n

  1. one who repairs
  2. one whose occupation is to make repairs in a mechanism

re·pand [ri-'pand] -adj

  1. having a slightly undulating margin
    • a repand leaf
    • a repand colony of bacteria

rep·a·ra·ble ['re-p(ə-)rə-bəl] -adj

  1. capable of being repaired

rep·a·ra·tion [,re-pə-'rā-shən] -n

  1. a repairing or keeping in repair
  2. repairs
  3. the act of making amends, offering expiation, or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury
  4. something done or given as amends or satisfaction
  5. the payment of damages : indemnification
  6. compensation in money or materials payable by a defeated nation for damages to or expenditures sustained by another nation as a result of hostilities with the defeated nation usu. used in pl.

re·par·a·tive [ri-'pa-rə-tiv] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or effecting repair
  2. serving to make amends

rep·ar·tee [,re-pər-'tē, -,pär-, -'tā] -n

  1. a quick and witty reply
  2. a succession or interchange of clever retorts : amusing and usu. light sparring with words
  3. adroitness and cleverness in reply : skill in repartee

re·par·ti·tion [,re-,pär-'ti-shən, ,rē-] -n

  1. distribution
  2. a second or additional dividing or distribution

re·pass [(,)rē-'pas] -vb, n

  1. to pass again esp. in the opposite direction : return
  2. to pass through, over, or by again
    • repass the house
  3. to cause to pass again
  4. to adopt again
    • repass ed the resolution

re·past [ri-'past, 'rē-,] -n

  1. something taken as food : meal
  2. the act or time of taking food
  3. feed
  4. to take food : feast

re·pa·tri·ate [(,)rē-'pā-trē-,āt, -'pa-] -vt, n

  1. to restore or return to the country of origin, allegiance, or citizenship
    • repatriate prisoners of war

re·pay [(,)rē-'pā] -vb, adj, n

  1. to pay back
    • repay a loan
  2. to give or inflict in return or requital
    • repay evil for evil
  3. to make a return payment to : compensate, requite
  4. to make requital for : recompense
    • the success that repay s hard work
  5. to make return payment or requital

re·peal [ri-'pēl] -vt, n, adj

  1. to rescind or annul by authoritative act
  2. to revoke or abrogate by legislative enactment
  3. abandon, renounce
  4. to summon to return : recall

re·peal·er [ri-'pē-lər] -n

  1. one that repeals
  2. a legislative act that abrogates an earlier act

re·peat [ri-'pēt] -vb, n, adj

  1. to say or state again
  2. to say over from memory : recite
  3. to say after another
  4. to make, do, or perform again
    • repeat an experiment
  5. to make appear again
    • the curtains repeat the wallpaper pattern
    • will repeat the program tomorrow
  6. to go through or experience again
    • had to repeat third grade
  7. to express or present (oneself) again in the same words, terms, or form
  8. to say, do, or accomplish something again
  9. to win (as a sports championship) another time in succession
  10. something repeated : repetition
  11. a musical passage to be repeated in performance
  12. a sign placed before and after such a passage
  13. a usu. transcribed repetition of a radio or television program
  14. a duplication of genetic material (as a sequence of nucleotides) in which the duplicated parts are adjacent to each other along the chromosome
  15. the act of repeating
  16. of, relating to, or being one that repeats an offense, achievement, or action
    • a repeat burglar
    • a repeat customer

re·peat·ed [ri-'pē-təd] -adj

  1. renewed or recurring again and again
    • repeated changes of plan
  2. said, done, or presented again

re·peat·ed·ly -adv

  1. again and again

re·peat·er [ri-'pē-tər] -n

  1. : one that repeats: as
  2. one who relates or recites
  3. a watch or clock with a striking mechanism that upon pressure of a spring will indicate the time in hours or quarters and sometimes minutes
  4. a firearm having a magazine that holds a number of cartridges loaded one at a time into the chamber by the action of the piece
  5. a habitual violator of the laws
  6. one who votes illegally by casting more than one ballot in an election
  7. a student enrolled in a class or course for a second or subsequent time
  8. a device for receiving communication signals and delivering corresponding amplified ones

re·peat·ing [ri-'pē-tiŋ] -adj

  1. designed to load cartridges from a magazine

repeating decimal -n

  1. a decimal in which after a certain point a particular digit or sequence of digits repeats itself indefinitely

re·pe·chage [,re-pə-'shäzh, 're-pə-,] -n

  1. a trial heat (as in rowing) in which first-round losers are given another chance to qualify for the semifinals

re·pel [ri-'pel] -vb, n

  1. to drive back : repulse
  2. to fight against : resist
  3. turn away, reject
    • repelled the insinuation
  4. to drive away : discourage
    • foul words and frowns must not repel a lover -- Shak.
  5. to be incapable of adhering to, mixing with, taking up, or holding
  6. to force away or apart or tend to do so by mutual action at a distance
  7. to cause aversion in : disgust
  8. to cause aversion

re·pel·len·cy [ri-'pe-lən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality or capacity of repelling

re·pel·lent [ri-'pe-lənt] -adj, adv

  1. serving or tending to drive away or ward off often used in combination
    • a mosquito- repellent spray
  2. arousing aversion or disgust : repulsive

repellent -n

  1. something that repels
  2. a substance that repels insects

re·pent [ri-'pent] -vb, n

  1. to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life
  2. to feel regret or contrition
  3. to change one's mind
  4. to cause to feel regret or contrition
  5. to feel sorrow, regret, or contrition for
  6. creeping, prostrate
    • repent stems

re·pen·tance [ri-'pen-tᵊn(t)s] -n

  1. the action or process of repenting esp. for misdeeds or moral shortcomings

re·pen·tant [-tᵊnt] -adj, adv

  1. experiencing repentance : penitent
  2. expressive of repentance

re·per·cus·sion [,rē-pər-'kə-shən, ,re-] -n, adj

  1. reflection, reverberation
  2. an action or effect given or exerted in return : a reciprocal action or effect
  3. a widespread, indirect, or unforeseen effect of an act, action, or event usu. used in pl.

re·per·fu·sion [,rē-pər-'fyü-zhən] -n

  1. restoration of the flow of blood to a previously ischemic tissue or organ

rep·er·toire ['re-pə(r)-,twär] -n

  1. a list or supply of dramas, operas, pieces, or parts that a company or person is prepared to perform
  2. a supply of skills, devices, or expedients
    • part of the repertoire of a quarterback
  3. amount, supply
    • an endless repertoire of summer clothes
  4. a list or supply of capabilities
    • the instruction repertoire of a computer
  5. the complete list or supply of dramas, operas, or musical works available for performance
    • our modern orchestral repertoire
  6. the complete list or supply of skills, devices, or ingredients used in a particular field, occupation, or practice
    • the repertoire of literary criticism

rep·er·to·ry ['re-pə(r)-,tȯr-ē] -n

  1. a place where something may be found : repository
  2. repertoire
  3. a company that presents several different plays, operas, or pieces usu. alternately in the course of a season at one theater
  4. a theater housing such a company
  5. the production and presentation of plays by a repertory company
    • acting in repertory

rep·e·tend ['re-pə-,tend] -n

  1. a repeated sound, word, or phrase
  2. refrain

rep·e·ti·tion [,re-pə-'ti-shən] -n, adj

  1. the act or an instance of repeating or being repeated
  2. a motion or exercise (as a push-up) that is repeated and usu. counted
  3. mention, recital

rep·e·ti·tious [-'ti-shəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. characterized or marked by repetition
  2. tediously repeating

re·pet·i·tive [ri-'pe-tə-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. repetitious
  2. containing repetition

repetitive strain injury -n

  1. any of various painful musculoskeletal disorders (as carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis) caused by cumulative damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, or joints (as of the hand or shoulder) from highly repetitive movements called also repetitive stress injury

re·pine [ri-'pīn] -vi, n

  1. to feel or express dejection or discontent : complain
  2. to long for something

repl -abbr

  1. replace; replacement; replacing

re·place [ri-'plās] -vt, adj, n

  1. to restore to a former place or position
    • replace cards in a file
  2. to take the place of esp. as a substitute or successor
  3. to put something new in the place of
    • replace a worn carpet

re·place·ment [ri-'plās-mənt] -n

  1. the action or process of replacing : the state of being replaced
  2. one that replaces another esp. in a job or function

replacement set -n

  1. a set of elements any one of which may be used to replace a given variable or placeholder in a mathematical sentence or expression (as an equation)

replacement therapy -n

  1. therapy involving the supply of a substance (as a hormone or nutrient) lacking in or lost from the body

re·plant [(,)rē-'plant] -vt

  1. to plant again or anew
  2. to provide with new plants
  3. to subject to replantation

re·plan·ta·tion [,rē-(,)plan-'tā-shən] -n

  1. reattachment or reinsertion of a bodily part (as a limb or tooth) after separation from the body

re·play [(,)rē-'plā] -vt

  1. to play again or over
  2. an act or instance of replaying
  3. the playing of a tape (as a videotape)
  4. repetition, reenactment
    • don't want a replay of our old mistakes

re·plead·er [(,)rē-'plē-dər] -n

  1. a second legal pleading
  2. the right of pleading again granted usu. when the issue raised is immaterial or insufficient

re·plen·ish [ri-'ple-nish] -vb, adj, n

  1. to fill with persons or animals : stock
  2. to supply fully : perfect
  3. to fill with inspiration or power : nourish
  4. to fill or build up again
    • replenish ed his glass
  5. to make good : replace
  6. to become full : fill up again

re·plete [ri-'plēt] -adj, n

  1. fully or abundantly provided or filled
    • a book replete with...delicious details -- William Safire
  2. abundantly fed
  3. fat, stout
  4. complete

re·ple·tion [ri-'plē-shən] -n

  1. the act of eating to excess : the state of being fed to excess : surfeit
  2. the condition of being filled up or overcrowded
  3. fulfillment of a need or desire : satisfaction

re·plev·in [ri-'ple-vən] -n

  1. the recovery by a person of goods or chattels claimed to be wrongfully taken or detained upon the person's giving security to try the matter in court and return the goods if defeated in the action
  2. the writ or the common-law action whereby goods and chattels are replevied

replevin -vt

  1. replevy

re·plevy [ri-'ple-vē] -n

  1. replevin

replevy [-vē-ə-bəl] -vt, adj

  1. to take or get back by a writ for replevin

rep·li·ca ['re-pli-kə] -n

  1. an exact reproduction (as of a painting) executed by the original artist
    • a replica of this was painted...this year -- Constance Strachey
  2. a copy exact in all details
    • DNA makes a replica of itself
    • sailed a replica of the Viking ship
  3. copy
    • this faithful, pathetic replica of a Midwestern suburb -- G. F. Kennan

rep·li·ca·ble ['re-plə-kə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. capable of replication
    • replicable experimental results

rep·li·case ['re-pli-,kās, -,kāz] -n

  1. a polymerase of viruses that promotes synthesis of a particular RNA in the presence of a template of RNA

rep·li·cate ['re-plə-,kāt] -vb

  1. duplicate, repeat
    • replicate a statistical experiment
    • replicated his mentor's writing style
  2. to undergo replication : produce a replica of itself
    • virus particles replicating in cells
  3. manifold, repeated
  4. one of several identical experiments, procedures, or samples

rep·li·ca·tion [,re-plə-'kā-shən] -n

  1. answer, reply
  2. an answer to a reply : rejoinder
  3. a plaintiff's reply to a defendant's plea, answer, or counterclaim
  4. echo, reverberation
  5. copy, reproduction
  6. the action or process of reproducing or duplicating
    • replication of DNA
    • viral replication
  7. performance of an experiment or procedure more than once

rep·li·ca·tive ['re-pli-,kā-tiv] -adj

  1. of, relating to, involved in, or characterized by replication
    • the replicative form of tobacco mosaic virus

rep·li·con ['re-pli-,kän] -n

  1. a linear or circular section of DNA or RNA which replicates sequentially as a unit

re·ply [ri-'plī] -vb, n

  1. to respond in words or writing
  2. echo, resound
  3. to make a legal replication
  4. to do something in response
  5. to return gunfire or an attack
  6. to give as an answer

reply -n

  1. something said, written, or done in answer or response
  2. replication

re·po ['rē-,pō] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being in the business of repossessing property (as a car) from buyers who have defaulted on payments
    • a repo company

repo -n

  1. repurchase agreement

re·po·lar·i·za·tion [,rē-,pō-lə-rə-'zā-shən] -n, vb

  1. restoration of the difference in charge between the inside and outside of the cell membrane following depolarization

re·port [ri-'pȯrt] -n

  1. common talk or an account spread by common talk : rumor
  2. quality of reputation
    • a witness of good report
  3. a usu. detailed account or statement
    • a news report
  4. an account or statement of a judicial opinion or decision
  5. a usu. formal record of the proceedings of a meeting or session
  6. an explosive noise

report -vt

  1. to give an account of : relate
  2. to describe as being in a specified state
    • report ed him much improved
  3. to serve as carrier of (a message)
  4. to relate the words or sense of (something said)
  5. to make a written record or summary of
  6. to watch for and write about the newsworthy aspects or developments of : cover
  7. to prepare or present an account of for broadcast
  8. to give a formal or official account or statement of
    • the treasurer report ed a balance of ten dollars
  9. to return or present (a matter referred for consideration) with conclusions or recommendations
  10. to announce or relate as the result of investigation
    • report ed no sign of disease
  11. to announce the presence, arrival, or sighting of
  12. to make known to the proper authorities
    • report a fire
  13. to make a charge of misconduct against
  14. to give an account : tell
  15. to present oneself
    • report ed to the front desk
  16. to account for oneself
    • report ed sick on Friday
  17. to work as a subordinate
    • report s to the vice president
  18. to make, issue, or submit a report
  19. to act in the capacity of a reporter

re·port·able [ri-'pȯr-tə-bəl] -adj

  1. worth reporting
    • reportable news
  2. required by law to be reported
    • reportable income
    • reportable diseases

re·port·age [ri-'pȯr-tij, esp for 2 ,re-pər-'täzh, ,re-,pȯr-'] -n

  1. the act or process of reporting news
  2. something (as news) that is reported
  3. writing intended to give an account of observed or documented events

report card -n

  1. a report on a student that is periodically submitted by a school to the student's parents or guardian
  2. an evaluation of performance

re·port·ed·ly [ri-'pȯr-təd-lē] -adv

  1. according to report

re·port·er [ri-'pȯr-tər] -n, adj, adv

  1. : one that reports: as
  2. a person who makes authorized statements of law decisions or legislative proceedings
  3. a person who makes a shorthand record of a speech or proceeding
  4. a person employed by a newspaper, magazine, or television company to gather and report news
  5. a person who broadcasts news

report out -vt

  1. to return after consideration and often with revisions to a legislative body for action
    • after much debate the committee reported the bill out

report stage -n

  1. the stage in the British legislative process preceding the third reading and concerned esp. with amendments and details

re·pos·al [ri-'pō-zəl] -n

  1. the act of reposing

re·pose [ri-'pōz] -vb

  1. to lay at rest
  2. to lie at rest
  3. to lie dead
    • reposing in state
  4. to remain still or concealed
  5. to take a rest
  6. rely
  7. to rest for support : lie

repose -n

  1. a state of resting after exertion or strain
  2. rest in sleep
  3. eternal or heavenly rest
    • pray for the repose of a soul
  4. a place of rest
  5. peace, tranquillity
    • the repose of the bayous
  6. a harmony in the arrangement of parts and colors that is restful to the eye
  7. lack of activity : quiescence
  8. cessation or absence of activity, movement, or animation
    • the face in repose is grave and thoughtful
  9. composure of manner : poise

re·pose -vt

  1. to put away or set down : deposit
  2. to place (as confidence or trust) in someone or something
  3. to place for control, management, or use

re·pose·ful [ri-'pōz-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. of a kind to induce ease and relaxation

re·pos·it [-'pä-zə-təd, -'päz-təd] -vt

  1. deposit, store
  2. to put back in place : replace

re·po·si·tion [,rē-pə-'zi-shən, ,re-] -n

  1. the act of repositing : the state of being reposited
  2. to change the position of
  3. to revise the marketing strategy for (a product or a company) so as to increase sales

re·pos·i·to·ry [ri-'pä-zə-,tȯr-ē] -n

  1. a place, room, or container where something is deposited or stored : depository
  2. a side altar in a Roman Catholic church where the consecrated Host is reserved from Maundy Thursday until Good Friday
  3. one that contains or stores something nonmaterial
    • considered the book a repository of knowledge
  4. a place or region richly supplied with a natural resource
  5. a person to whom something is confided or entrusted

repository -adj

  1. designed to act over a prolonged period
    • repository penicillin

re·pos·sess [,rē-pə-'zes also -'ses] -vt, n

  1. to regain possession of
  2. to take possession of (something bought) from a buyer in default of the payment of installments due
  3. to restore to possession

re·pous·se [rə-,pü-'sā, -'pü-,] -adj

  1. shaped or ornamented with patterns in relief made by hammering or pressing on the reverse side used esp. of metal
  2. formed in relief

repousse -n

  1. repousse work
  2. repousse decoration

re·pow·er [(,)rē-'pau̇(-ə)r] -vt

  1. to provide again or anew with power
  2. to provide (as a boat) with a new engine

repp ['rep] -n

(variant of rep)

  1. reputation
  2. status in a group (as a gang)
  3. representative
    • sales rep s
  4. a plain-weave fabric with prominent rounded crosswise ribs
  5. repertory
  6. repertory
  7. represent
  8. the dosage of an ionizing radiation that will develop the same amount of energy upon absorption in human tissue as one roentgen of X-ray or gamma-ray exposure
  9. repetition
  10. repair
  11. repeat
  12. report; reporter
  13. republic

repped ['rep] -n

(variant of rep)

  1. reputation
  2. status in a group (as a gang)
  3. representative
    • sales rep s
  4. a plain-weave fabric with prominent rounded crosswise ribs
  5. repertory
  6. repertory
  7. represent
  8. the dosage of an ionizing radiation that will develop the same amount of energy upon absorption in human tissue as one roentgen of X-ray or gamma-ray exposure
  9. repetition
  10. repair
  11. repeat
  12. report; reporter
  13. republic

repping ['rep] -n

(variant of rep)

  1. reputation
  2. status in a group (as a gang)
  3. representative
    • sales rep s
  4. a plain-weave fabric with prominent rounded crosswise ribs
  5. repertory
  6. repertory
  7. represent
  8. the dosage of an ionizing radiation that will develop the same amount of energy upon absorption in human tissue as one roentgen of X-ray or gamma-ray exposure
  9. repetition
  10. repair
  11. repeat
  12. report; reporter
  13. republic

rep·re·hend [,re-pri-'hend] -vt

  1. to voice disapproval of : censure

rep·re·hen·si·ble [,re-pri-'hen(t)-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. worthy of or deserving reprehension : culpable

rep·re·hen·sion [-'hen(t)-shən] -n

  1. the act of reprehending : censure

rep·re·hen·sive [-'hen(t)-siv] -adj

  1. serving to reprehend : conveying reprehension or reproof

rep·re·sent [,re-pri-'zent] -vb, adj, n

  1. to bring clearly before the mind : present
    • a book which represent s the character of early America
  2. to serve as a sign or symbol of
    • the flag represent s our country
  3. to portray or exhibit in art : depict
  4. to serve as the counterpart or image of : typify
    • a movie hero who represent s the ideals of the culture
  5. to produce on the stage
  6. to act the part or role of
  7. to take the place of in some respect
  8. to act in the place of or for usu. by legal right
  9. to manage the legal and business affairs of
    • athletes represent ed by top lawyers and agents
  10. to serve esp. in a legislative body by delegated authority usu. resulting from election
  11. to describe as having a specified character or quality
    • represent s himself as a friend
  12. to give one's impression and judgment of : state in a manner intended to affect action or judgment
  13. to point out in protest or remonstrance
  14. to serve as a specimen, example, or instance of
  15. to form an image or representation of in the mind
  16. to apprehend (an object) by means of an idea
  17. to recall in memory
  18. to correspond to in essence : constitute
  19. to make representations against something : protest
  20. to perform a task or duty admirably : serve as an outstanding example

repre·sent [,rē-pri-'zent] -vt, n

  1. to present again or anew

rep·re·sen·ta·tion [,re-pri-,zen-'tā-shən, -zən-] -n, adj, adv

  1. : one that represents: as
  2. an artistic likeness or image
  3. a statement or account made to influence opinion or action
  4. an incidental or collateral statement of fact on the faith of which a contract is entered into
  5. a dramatic production or performance
  6. a usu. formal statement made against something or to effect a change
  7. a usu. formal protest
  8. : the act or action of representing : the state of being represented: as
  9. representationalism
  10. the action or fact of one person standing for another so as to have the rights and obligations of the person represented
  11. the substitution of an individual or class in place of a person (as a child for a deceased parent)
  12. the action of representing or the fact of being represented esp. in a legislative body
  13. the body of persons representing a constituency

rep·re·sen·ta·tion·al·ism [-shnə-,li-zəm, -shə-nᵊl-,i-] -n

  1. the doctrine that the immediate object of knowledge is an idea in the mind distinct from the external object which is the occasion of perception
  2. the theory or practice of realistic representation in art

rep·re·sen·ta·tive [,re-pri-'zen-tə-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. serving to represent
  2. standing or acting for another esp. through delegated authority
  3. of, based on, or constituting a government in which the many are represented by persons chosen from among them usu. by election
  4. serving as a typical or characteristic example
    • a representative moviegoer
  5. of or relating to representation or representationalism

representative -n

  1. : one that represents another or others: as
  2. one that represents a constituency as a member of a legislative body
  3. a member of the house of representatives of the U.S. Congress or a state legislature
  4. one that represents another as agent, deputy, substitute, or delegate usu. being invested with the authority of the principal
  5. one that represents a business organization
  6. one that represents another as successor or heir
  7. a typical example of a group, class, or quality : specimen

re·press [ri-'pres] -vb, n, adj, adv

  1. to check by or as if by pressure : curb
    • injustice was repress ed
  2. to put down by force : subdue
    • repress a disturbance
  3. to hold in by self-control
    • repress ed a laugh
  4. to prevent the natural or normal expression, activity, or development of
    • repress ed her anger
  5. to exclude from consciousness
    • repress ed the memory of abuse
  6. to inactivate (a gene or formation of a gene product) by allosteric combination at a DNA binding site
  7. to take repressive action

repress [(,)rē-'pres] -vt

  1. to press again
    • repress a record

re·pressed [ri-'prest] -adj

  1. subjected to or marked by repression
  2. characterized by restraint

re·pres·sion [ri-'pre-shən] -n, adj

  1. the action or process of repressing : the state of being repressed
    • repression of unpopular opinions
  2. an instance of repressing
    • racial repression s
  3. a mental process by which distressing thoughts, memories, or impulses that may give rise to anxiety are excluded from consciousness and left to operate in the unconscious
  4. an item so excluded

re·pres·sor [ri-'pre-sər] -n

  1. one that represses
  2. a protein that is determined by a regulatory gene, binds to a genetic operator, and inhibits the initiation of transcription of messenger RNA

re·priev·al [ri-'prē-vəl] -n

  1. reprieve

re·prieve [ri-'prēv] -vt

  1. to delay the punishment of (as a condemned prisoner)
  2. to give relief or deliverance to for a time

reprieve -n

  1. the act of reprieving : the state of being reprieved
  2. a formal temporary suspension of the execution of a sentence esp. of death
  3. an order or warrant for a reprieve
  4. a temporary respite (as from pain or trouble)

rep·ri·mand ['re-prə-,mand] -n

  1. a severe or formal reproof

reprimand -vt

  1. to reprove sharply or censure formally usu. from a position of authority

re·print [(,)rē-'print] -vt

  1. to print again : make a reprint of
  2. : a reproduction of printed matter: as
  3. a subsequent printing of a book already published that preserves the identical text of the previous printing
  4. offprint
  5. matter (as an article) that has appeared in print before

re·print·er [(,)rē-'prin-tər] -n

  1. one that publishes a reprint

re·pri·sal [ri-'prī-zəl] -n

  1. the act or practice in international law of resorting to force short of war in retaliation for damage or loss suffered
  2. an instance of such action
  3. prize
  4. the regaining of something (as by recapture)
  5. something (as a sum of money) given or paid in restitution usu. used in pl.
  6. a retaliatory act

re·prise [ri-'prēz, 1 is also -'prīz] -n

  1. a deduction or charge made yearly out of a manor or estate usu. used in pl.
  2. a recurrence, renewal, or resumption of an action
  3. : a musical repetition:
  4. the repetition of the exposition preceding the development
  5. recapitulation
  6. a repeated performance : repetition
  7. take back
  8. to recover by force
  9. compensate
  10. to repeat the performance of
  11. to repeat the principal points or stages of : recapitulate

re·pris·ti·nate [(,)rē-'pris-tə-,nāt] -vt, n

  1. to restore to an original state or condition

re·pro ['rē-(,)prō] -n

  1. a clear sharp proof made esp. from a letterpress printing surface to serve as photographic copy for a printing plate
  2. reproduction

re·proach [ri-'prōch] -n, adj, adv

  1. an expression of rebuke or disapproval
  2. the act or action of reproaching or disapproving
    • was beyond reproach
  3. a cause or occasion of blame, discredit, or disgrace
  4. discredit, disgrace
  5. one subjected to censure or scorn

reproach [-'prō-chə-bəl] -vt, adj, n, adv

  1. to express disappointment in or displeasure with (a person) for conduct that is blameworthy or in need of amendment
  2. to make (something) a matter of reproach
  3. to bring into discredit

rep·ro·bance ['re-prə-bən(t)s] -n

  1. reprobation

rep·ro·bate ['re-prə-,bāt] -vt, adj

  1. to condemn strongly as unworthy, unacceptable, or evil
    • reprobating the laxity of the age
  2. to foreordain to damnation
  3. to refuse to accept : reject

reprobate -adj

  1. rejected as worthless or not standing a test : condemned
  2. foreordained to damnation
  3. morally corrupt : depraved
  4. expressing or involving reprobation
  5. of, relating to, or characteristic of a reprobate
  6. a reprobate person

rep·ro·ba·tion [,re-prə-'bā-shən] -n

  1. the act of reprobating : the state of being reprobated

re·pro·cess [(,)rē-'prä-,ses, -'prō-, -səs] -vt

  1. to subject to a special process or treatment in preparation for reuse
  2. to extract uranium and plutonium from (the spent fuel rods of a nuclear reactor) for use again as fuel

re·pro·duce [,rē-prə-'düs, -'dyüs] -vt, n, adj or n, adv

  1. : to produce again: as
  2. to produce (new individuals of the same kind) by a sexual or asexual process
  3. to cause to exist again or anew
    • reproduce water from steam
  4. to imitate closely
    • sound-effects can reproduce the sound of thunder
  5. to present again
  6. to make a representation (as an image or copy) of
    • reproduce a face on canvas
  7. to revive mentally : recall
  8. to translate (a recording) into sound
  9. to undergo reproduction
  10. to produce offspring

re·pro·duc·tion [,rē-prə-'dək-shən] -n

  1. the act or process of reproducing
  2. the process by which plants and animals give rise to offspring and which fundamentally consists of the segregation of a portion of the parental body by a sexual or an asexual process and its subsequent growth and differentiation into a new individual
  3. something reproduced : copy
  4. young seedling trees in a forest

reproduction proof -n

  1. repro

re·pro·duc·tive [,rē-prə-'dək-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or capable of reproduction
    • highly reproductive wild geese

reproductive -n

  1. an actual or potential parent
  2. a sexually functional social insect

reproductive isolation -n

  1. the inability of a species to breed successfully with related species due to geographical, behavioral, physiological, or genetic barriers or differences

re·pro·gram [(,)rē-'prō-,gram, -grəm] -vt, adj

  1. to program anew
  2. to revise or write a new program for (as a computer)
  3. to rewrite or revise a program esp. of a computer

re·prog·ra·phy [ri-'prä-grə-fē] -n, adj, n pl

  1. facsimile reproduction (as by photocopying) of graphic matter

re·proof [ri-'prüf] -n

  1. criticism for a fault : rebuke

re·prove [ri-'prüv] -vb, n, adv

  1. to scold or correct usu. gently or with kindly intent
  2. to express disapproval of : censure
    • it is not for me to reprove popular taste -- D. W. Brogan
  3. disprove, refute
  4. convince, convict
  5. to express rebuke or reproof

rept -abbr

  1. report

rep·tile ['rep-,tī(-ə)l, -tᵊl] -n

  1. an animal that crawls or moves on its belly (as a snake) or on small short legs (as a lizard)
  2. any of a class (Reptilia) of air-breathing vertebrates that include the alligators and crocodiles, lizards, snakes, turtles, and extinct related forms (as dinosaurs and pterosaurs) and are characterized by a completely ossified skeleton with a single occipital condyle, a distinct quadrate bone usu. immovably articulated with the skull, ribs attached to the sternum, and a body usu. covered with scales or bony plates
  3. a groveling or despised person

reptile -adj

  1. characteristic of a reptile : reptilian

rep·til·ian [rep-'ti-lē-ən, -'til-yən] -adj

  1. resembling or having the characteristics of the reptiles
  2. of or relating to the reptiles
  3. cold-bloodedly treacherous
    • a reptilian villain -- Theodore Dreiser

reptilian -n

  1. reptile

re·pub·lic [ri-'pə-blik] -n

  1. a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and who in modern times is usu. a president
  2. a political unit (as a nation) having such a form of government
  3. a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law
  4. a political unit (as a nation) having such a form of government
  5. a usu. specified republican government of a political unit
    • the French Fourth Republic
  6. a body of persons freely engaged in a specified activity
    • the republic of letters
  7. a constituent political and territorial unit of the former nations of Czechoslovakia, the U.S.S.R., or Yugoslavia

re·pub·li·can [ri-'pə-bli-kən] -n

  1. one that favors or supports a republican form of government
  2. a member of a political party advocating republicanism
  3. a member of the Democratic-Republican party or of the Republican party of the U.S.

republican -adj

  1. of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a republic
  2. favoring, supporting, or advocating a republic
  3. belonging or appropriate to one living in or supporting a republic
    • republican simplicity
  4. democratic-republican
  5. of, relating to, or constituting the one of the two major political parties evolving in the U.S. in the mid-19th century that is usu. primarily associated with business, financial, and some agricultural interests and is held to favor a restricted governmental role in economic life

re·pub·li·can·ism [ri-'pə-bli-kə-,ni-zəm] -n

  1. adherence to or sympathy for a republican form of government
  2. the principles or theory of republican government
  3. the principles, policy, or practices of the Republican party of the U.S.
  4. the Republican party or its members

re·pub·li·can·ize [-kə-,nīz] -vt

  1. to make republican in character, form, or principle

re·pub·li·ca·tion [(,)rē-,pə-blə-'kā-shən] -n

  1. the act or action of republishing : the state of being republished
  2. something that has been republished

re·pub·lish [(,)rē-'pə-blish] -vt, n

  1. to publish again or anew
  2. to execute (a will) anew

re·pu·di·ate [ri-'pyü-dē-,āt] -vt, n

  1. to divorce or separate formally from (a woman)
  2. to refuse to have anything to do with : disown
  3. to refuse to accept
  4. to reject as unauthorized or as having no binding force
    • repudiate a contract
  5. to reject as untrue or unjust
    • repudiate a charge
  6. to refuse to acknowledge or pay
    • repudiate a debt

re·pu·di·a·tion [ri-,pyü-dē-'ā-shən] -n

  1. the act of repudiating : the state of being repudiated
  2. the refusal of public authorities to acknowledge or pay a debt

re·pugn [ri-'pyün] -vb

  1. to offer opposition, objection, or resistance
  2. to contend against : oppose

re·pug·nance [ri-'pəg-nən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or fact of being contradictory or inconsistent
  2. an instance of such contradiction or inconsistency
  3. strong dislike, distaste, or antagonism

re·pug·nan·cy [-nən(t)-sē] -n

  1. repugnance

re·pug·nant [-nənt] -adj, adv

  1. incompatible, inconsistent
  2. hostile
  3. exciting distaste or aversion
    • repugnant language
    • a morally repugnant practice

re·pulse [ri-'pəls] -vt

  1. to drive or beat back : repel
  2. to repel by discourtesy, coldness, or denial
  3. to cause repulsion in

repulse -n

  1. rebuff, rejection
  2. the action of repelling an attacker : the fact of being repelled

re·pul·sion [ri-'pəl-shən] -n

  1. the action of repulsing : the state of being repulsed
  2. the action of repelling : the force with which bodies, particles, or like forces repel one another
  3. a feeling of aversion : repugnance

re·pul·sive [-siv] -adj, adv, n

  1. serving or able to repulse
    • repulsive force
  2. tending to repel or reject : cold, forbidding
  3. arousing aversion or disgust
    • repulsive crimes

re·pur·chase agreement [(,)rē-'pər-chəs-] -n

  1. a contract giving the seller of securities (as treasury bills) the right to repurchase after a stated period and the buyer the right to retain interest earnings

re·pur·pose [(,)rē-'pər-pəs] -vt

  1. to give a new purpose or use to
    • repurpose the company's Web site
    • repurpose the archived material

rep·u·ta·ble ['re-pyə-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. enjoying good repute : held in esteem
  2. employed widely or sanctioned by good writers

rep·u·ta·tion [,re-pyə-'tā-shən] -n, adj

  1. overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general
  2. recognition by other people of some characteristic or ability
    • has the reputation of being clever
  3. a place in public esteem or regard : good name
    • trying to protect his reputation

re·pute [ri-'pyüt] -vt

  1. believe, consider

repute -n

  1. the character or status commonly ascribed to one : reputation
  2. the state of being favorably known, spoken of, or esteemed

reputed -adj

  1. having a good repute : reputable
  2. being such according to reputation or general belief
    • a reputed mobster

re·put·ed·ly -adv

  1. according to reputation or general belief

req -abbr

  1. request
  2. require; required
  3. requistion

reqd -abbr

  1. required

re·quest [ri-'kwest] -n

  1. the act or an instance of asking for something
  2. something asked for
    • granted her request
  3. the condition or fact of being requested
    • available on request
  4. the state of being sought after : demand

request [-'kwes-tər] -vt, n

  1. to make a request to or of
    • request ed her to write a paper
  2. to ask as a favor or privilege
    • request s to be excused
  3. to ask (a person) to come or go to a thing or place
  4. to ask for
    • request ed a brief delay

re·qui·em ['re-kwē-əm also 'rā- or 'rē-] -n

  1. a mass for the dead
  2. a solemn chant (as a dirge) for the repose of the dead
  3. something that resembles such a solemn chant
  4. a musical setting of the mass for the dead
  5. a musical composition in honor of the dead

requiem shark -n

  1. any of a family (Carcharhinidae) of sharks (as the tiger shark) that includes some dangerous to humans

re·qui·es·cat [,re-kwē-'es-,kät, -,kat; ,rā-kwē-'es-,kät] -n

  1. a prayer for the repose of a dead person

re·quire [ri-'kwī(-ə)r] -vb

  1. to claim or ask for by right and authority
  2. request
  3. to call for as suitable or appropriate
    • the occasion require s formal dress
  4. to demand as necessary or essential : have a compelling need for
    • all living beings require food
  5. to impose a compulsion or command on : compel
  6. to feel or be obliged used with a following infinitive
    • one does not require to be a specialist -- Elizabeth Bowen
  7. ask

re·quire·ment [-'kwī(-ə)r-mənt] -n

  1. : something required:
  2. something wanted or needed : necessity
    • production was not sufficient to satisfy military requirement s
  3. something essential to the existence or occurrence of something else : condition
    • failed to meet the school's requirement s for graduation

req·ui·site ['re-kwə-zət] -adj, n

  1. essential, necessary

req·ui·si·tion [,re-kwə-'zi-shən] -n, vt

  1. the act of formally requiring or calling upon someone to perform an action
  2. a formal demand made by one nation upon another for the surrender or extradition of a fugitive from justice
  3. the act of requiring something to be furnished
  4. : a demand or application made usu. with authority: as
  5. a demand made by military authorities upon civilians for supplies or other needs
  6. a written request for something authorized but not made available automatically
  7. the state of being in demand or use

re·quit·al [ri-'kwī-tᵊl] -n

  1. something given in return, compensation, or retaliation
  2. the act or action of requiting : the state of being requited

re·quite [ri-'kwīt] -vt, n

  1. to make return for : repay
  2. to make retaliation for : avenge
  3. to make suitable return to for a benefit or service or for an injury

re·ra·di·ate [(,)rē-'rā-dē-,āt] -vt, n

  1. to radiate again or anew
  2. to emit (energy) in the form of radiation after absorbing incident radiation

rere·dos ['rer-ə-,däs also 'rir-ə-,däs or 'rir-,däs] -n

  1. a usu. ornamental wood or stone screen or partition wall behind an altar

rere·ward -n

  1. rear guard

re·run [(,)rē-'rən] -vt

  1. to run again or anew
  2. the act or action or an instance of rerunning : repetition
  3. a movie or television show that is rerun

res ['rās, 'rēz] -n

  1. a particular thing : matter used esp. in legal phrases
  2. research
  3. reservation
  4. reserve
  5. reservoir
  6. residence; resident
  7. resolution

res ad·ju·di·ca·ta ['rēz-ə-,jü-di-'kä-tə] -n

  1. res judicata

re·sal·able [(,)rē-'sā-lə-bəl] -adj

  1. fit for resale

re·sale ['rē-,sāl, (,)rē-'sāl] -n

  1. the act of selling again usu. to a new party
  2. a secondhand sale
  3. an additional sale to the same buyer

re·scale [(,)rē-'skāl] -vt

  1. to plan, establish, or formulate on a new and usu. smaller scale

re·sched·ule [(,)rē-'ske-(,)jül, -jəl, Canad also -'she-, Brit usu -'she-(,)dyül] -vt

  1. to schedule or plan again according to a different timetable
  2. to defer required payment of (a debt or loan)

re·scind [ri-'sind] -vt, n

  1. to take away : remove
  2. take back, cancel
    • refused to rescind the order
  3. to abrogate (a contract) and restore the parties to the positions they would have occupied had there been no contract
  4. to make void (as an act) by action of the enacting authority or a superior authority : repeal

re·scis·sion [ri-'si-zhən] -n

  1. an act of rescinding

re·scis·so·ry [-'si-zə-rē, -'si-sə-] -adj

  1. relating to, tending to, or having the effect of rescission

re·script ['rē-,skript] -n

  1. a written answer of a Roman emperor or of a pope to a legal inquiry or petition
  2. an official or authoritative order, decree, edict, or announcement
  3. an act or instance of rewriting

res·cue ['res-(,)kyü] -vt, adj, n

  1. : to free from confinement, danger, or evil : save, deliver: as
  2. to take (as a prisoner) forcibly from custody
  3. to recover (as a prize) by force
  4. to deliver (as a place under siege) by armed force

rescue mission -n

  1. a city religious mission seeking to convert and rehabilitate the down-and-out

re·search [ri-'sərch, 'rē-,] -n

  1. careful or diligent search
  2. studious inquiry or examination
  3. investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws
  4. the collecting of information about a particular subject

research [ri-'sər-chə-bəl, 'rē-,] -vt, adj, n

  1. to search or investigate exhaustively
    • research a problem
  2. to do research for
    • research a book
  3. to engage in research

re·search·ist [ri-'sər-chist, 'rē-,sər-] -n

  1. one engaged in research

re·seau [rā-'zō, ri-] -n

  1. a net ground or foundation in lace
  2. a grid photographed by a separate exposure onto a plate containing star images to facilitate astronomical measurements

re·sect [ri-'sekt] -vt, n, adj

  1. to perform resection on

re·sec·tion [ri-'sek-shən] -n

  1. the surgical removal of part of an organ or structure

re·se·da ['rā-zə-,dä] -n

  1. a grayish-green color

re·seed [(,)rē-'sēd] -vt

  1. to sow seed on again or anew
  2. to maintain (itself) by self-sown seed
  3. to maintain itself by self-sown seed

re·sem·blance [ri-'zem-blən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of resembling
  2. correspondence in appearance or superficial qualities
  3. a point of likeness : similarity
  4. representation, image
  5. characteristic appearance
  6. probability

re·sem·blant [-blənt] -adj

  1. marked by or showing resemblance

re·sem·ble [ri-'zem-bəl] -vt

  1. to be like or similar to
    • he resemble s his father
  2. to represent as like

re·send [(')rē-'send] -vt

  1. to send again or back

re·sent [ri-'zent] -vt

  1. to feel or express annoyance or ill will at
    • resent ed the implication

re·sent·ful [-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. full of resentment : inclined to resent
    • felt resentful of her success
  2. caused or marked by resentment
    • resentful anger

re·sent·ment [ri-'zent-mənt] -n

  1. a feeling of indignant displeasure or persistent ill will at something regarded as a wrong, insult, or injury

re·ser·pine [ri-'sər-,pēn, -pən] -n

  1. an alkaloid C 33H 40N 2O 9extracted esp. from the root of rauwolfias and used as a tranquilizer esp. in psychotic states (as schizophrenia) and as an antihypertensive

res·er·va·tion [,re-zər-'vā-shən] -n

  1. : an act of reserving something: as
  2. the act or fact of a grantor's reserving some newly created thing out of the thing granted
  3. the right or interest so reserved
  4. the setting of limiting conditions or withholding from complete exposition
    • answered without reservation
  5. an arrangement to have something (as a hotel room) held for one's use
  6. a promise, guarantee, or record of such engagement
  7. a limiting condition
    • agreed, but with reservation s
  8. doubt, misgiving
    • had serious reservation s about marriage
  9. : something reserved: as
  10. a tract of public land set aside (as for use by American Indians)
  11. an area in which hunting is not permitted
  12. one set aside as a secure breeding place

re·serve [ri-'zərv] -vt, adj

  1. to hold in reserve : keep back
    • reserve grain for seed
  2. to set aside (part of the consecrated elements) at the Eucharist for future use
  3. to retain or hold over to a future time or place : defer
    • reserve one's judgment on a plan
  4. to make legal reservation of
  5. to set or have set aside or apart
    • reserve a hotel room

reserve -n

  1. : something reserved or set aside for a particular purpose, use, or reason: as
  2. a military force withheld from action for later decisive use usu. used in pl.
  3. forces not in the field but available
  4. the military forces of a country not part of the regular services
  5. reservist
  6. a tract (as of public land) set apart : reservation
  7. something stored or kept available for future use or need : stock
  8. an act of reserving : qualification
  9. restraint, closeness, or caution in one's words and actions
  10. forbearance from making a full explanation, complete disclosure, or free expression of one's mind
  11. secret
  12. money or its equivalent kept in hand or set apart usu. to meet liabilities
  13. the liquid resources of a nation for meeting international payments
  14. substitute
  15. reserve price
  16. a wine made from select grapes, bottled on the maker's premises, and aged differently from the maker's other wines of the same vintage

reserve bank -n

  1. a central bank holding reserves of other banks

reserve clause -n

  1. a clause formerly placed in a professional athlete's contract that reserved for the club the exclusive right automatically to renew the contract and that bound the athlete to the club until retirement or until the athlete was traded or released

re·served [ri-'zərvd] -adj, adv, n

  1. restrained in words and actions
  2. kept or set apart or aside for future or special use

reserved power -n

  1. a political power reserved by a constitution to the exclusive jurisdiction of a specified political authority

reserve price -n

  1. a price announced at an auction as the lowest that will be considered

re·serv·ist [ri-'zər-vist] -n

  1. a member of a military reserve

res·er·voir ['re-zə-,vwär, -zər-, -,vwȯr also -,vȯi] -n

  1. : a place where something is kept in store: as
  2. an artificial lake where water is collected and kept in quantity for use
  3. a part of an apparatus in which a liquid is held
  4. supply, store
    • a large reservoir of educated people
  5. an extra supply : reserve
  6. an organism in which a parasite that is pathogenic for some other species lives and multiplies usu. without damaging its host

re·set [(,)rē-'set] -vt, n, adj

  1. to set again or anew
    • reset type
    • reset a diamond
    • reset a circuit breaker
  2. to change the reading of often to zero
    • reset an odometer

res ges·tae ['rās-'ges-,tī, 'rēz-'jes-(,)tē] -n pl

  1. things done
  2. the facts that form the environment of a litigated issue and are admissible in evidence

resh ['rāsh] -n

  1. the 20th letter of the Hebrew alphabet

re·shape [(,)rē-'shāp] -vt, n

  1. to give a new form or orientation to : reorganize

re·shuf·fle [(,)rē-'shə-fəl] -vt, n

  1. to shuffle (as cards) again
  2. to reorganize usu. by the redistribution of existing elements
    • the cabinet was reshuffled by the prime minister

re·sid [ri-'zid] -n

  1. residual oil

re·side [ri-'zīd] -vi, n

  1. to be in residence as the incumbent of a benefice or office
  2. to dwell permanently or continuously : occupy a place as one's legal domicile
  3. to be present as an element or quality
  4. to be vested as a right

res·i·dence ['re-zə-dən(t)s, 'rez-dən(t)s, 're-zə-,den(t)s] -n

  1. the act or fact of dwelling in a place for some time
  2. the act or fact of living or regularly staying at or in some place for the discharge of a duty or the enjoyment of a benefit
  3. the place where one actually lives as distinguished from one's domicile or a place of temporary sojourn
  4. domicile
  5. the place where a corporation is actually or officially established
  6. the status of a legal resident
  7. a building used as a home : dwelling
  8. housing or a unit of housing provided for students
  9. the period or duration of abode in a place
  10. a period of active and esp. full-time study, research, or teaching at a college or university

residence time -n

  1. the duration of persistence of a mass or substance in a medium or place (as the atmosphere)

res·i·den·cy ['re-zə-dən(t)-sē, 'rez-dən(t)-, 're-zə-,den(t)-] -n

  1. a usu. official place of residence
  2. a state or period of residence
    • a 20-year residency in the city
  3. residence
  4. a territory in a protected state in which the powers of the protecting state are executed by a resident agent
  5. a period of advanced training in a medical specialty that normally follows graduation from medical school and licensing to practice medicine
  6. residence
  7. a period as an artist in residence

res·i·dent ['re-zə-dənt, 'rez-dənt, 're-zə-,dent] -adj

  1. living in a place for some length of time : residing
  2. serving in a regular or full-time capacity
    • the resident engineer for a highway department
  3. being in residence
  4. present, inherent
  5. not migratory
    • resident species

resident -n

  1. one who resides in a place
  2. a diplomatic agent residing at a foreign court or seat of government
  3. one exercising authority in a protected state as representative of the protecting power
  4. a physician serving a residency

resident commissioner -n

  1. a nonvoting representative of a dependency in the U.S. House of Representatives
  2. a resident administrator in a British colony or possession

res·i·den·tial [,re-zə-'den(t)-shəl, ,rez-'den(t)-] -adj, adv

  1. used as a residence or by residents
  2. providing living accommodations for students
    • a residential prep school
  3. restricted to or occupied by residences
    • a residential neighborhood
  4. of or relating to residence or residences
  5. provided to patients residing in a facility
    • residential drug treatment
  6. being a facility providing such treatment
    • a residential treatment center

residential college -n

  1. college

re·sid·u·al [ri-'zi-jə-wəl, -jəl; -'zij-wəl] -n

  1. : remainder, residuum: as
  2. the difference between results obtained by observation and by computation from a formula or between the mean of several observations and any one of them
  3. a residual product or substance
  4. an internal aftereffect of experience or activity that influences later behavior
  5. a disability remaining from a disease or operation
  6. a payment (as to an actor or writer) for each rerun after an initial showing (as of a TV show)

residual -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a residue
  2. leaving a residue that remains effective for some time
    • a residual pesticide

residual oil -n

  1. fuel oil that remains after the removal of valuable distillates (as gasoline) from petroleum and that is used esp. by industry called also resid

residual power -n

  1. power held to remain at the disposal of a governmental authority after an enumeration or delegation of specified powers to other authorities

re·sid·u·ary [ri-'zi-jə-,wer-ē] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a residue
    • residuary estate

res·i·due ['re-zə-,dü, -,dyü] -n

  1. : something that remains after a part is taken, separated, or designated or after the completion of a process : remnant, remainder: as
  2. the part of a testator's estate remaining after the satisfaction of all debts, charges, allowances, and previous devises and bequests
  3. the remainder after subtracting a multiple of a modulus from an integer or a power of the integer that can appear as the second of the two terms in an appropriate congruence
    • 2 and 7 are residue s of 12 modulo 5
  4. a constituent structural unit (as a group or monomer) of a usu. complex molecule
    • amino acid residue s from hydrolysis of protein

residue class -n

  1. the set of elements (as integers) that leave the same remainder when divided by a given modulus

re·sid·u·um [ri-'zi-jə-wəm] -n

  1. : something residual: as
  2. residue
  3. a residual product (as from the distillation of petroleum)

re·sign [ri-'zīn] -vb, adv, n

  1. relegate, consign
  2. to give (oneself) over without resistance
    • resign ed herself to her fate
  3. to give up deliberately
  4. to renounce (as a right or position) by a formal act
  5. to give up one's office or position : quit
  6. to accept something as inevitable : submit

resign [(,)rē-'sīn] -vt

  1. to sign again
  2. to rehire (as an athlete) by means of a signed contract
  3. to sign up again

res·ig·na·tion [,re-zig-'nā-shən] -n

  1. an act or instance of resigning something : surrender
  2. a formal notification of resigning
  3. the quality or state of being resigned : submissiveness

re·sile [ri-'zī(-ə)l] -vi

  1. recoil, retract
  2. to return to a prior position
    • resile from an agreement

re·sil·ience [ri-'zil-yən(t)s] -n

  1. the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused esp. by compressive stress
  2. an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change

re·sil·ien·cy [-yən(t)-sē] -n

  1. resilience

re·sil·ient [-yənt] -adj, adv

  1. : characterized or marked by resilience: as
  2. capable of withstanding shock without permanent deformation or rupture
  3. tending to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change

res·in ['re-zᵊn] -n, adj

  1. any of various solid or semisolid amorphous fusible flammable natural organic substances that are usu. transparent or translucent and yellowish to brown, are formed esp. in plant secretions, are soluble in organic solvents (as ether) but not in water, are electrical nonconductors, and are used chiefly in varnishes, printing inks, plastics, and sizes and in medicine
  2. rosin
  3. any of a large class of synthetic products that have some of the physical properties of natural resins but are different chemically and are used chiefly in plastics
  4. any of various products made from a natural resin or a natural polymer

resin ['re-zᵊn-iŋ, 'rez-niŋ] -vt

  1. to treat with resin

res·in·ate ['re-zᵊn-,āt] -vt

  1. to impregnate or flavor with resin

resin canal -n

  1. a tubular intercellular space in gymnosperms and some angiosperms that is lined with epithelial cells which secrete resin called also resin duct

res·in·oid ['re-zᵊn-,ȯid] -n

  1. gum resin

re·sist [ri-'zist] -vb

  1. to exert force in opposition
  2. to exert oneself so as to counteract or defeat
    • he resist ed temptation
  3. to withstand the force or effect of
    • material that resist s heat

resist -n

  1. something (as a coating) that protects against a chemical, electrical, or physical action

re·sis·tance [ri-'zis-tən(t)s] -n

  1. an act or instance of resisting : opposition
  2. a means of resisting
  3. : the power or capacity to resist: as
  4. the inherent ability of an organism to resist harmful influences (as disease, toxic agents, or infection)
  5. the capacity of a species or strain of microorganism to survive exposure to a toxic agent (as a drug) formerly effective against it
  6. an opposing or retarding force
  7. the opposition offered by a body or substance to the passage through it of a steady electric current
  8. a source of resistance
  9. a psychological defense mechanism wherein a patient rejects, denies, or otherwise opposes the therapeutic efforts of a psychotherapist
  10. an underground organization of a conquered or nearly conquered country engaging in sabotage and secret operations against occupation forces and collaborators

resistance -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being exercise involving pushing against a source of resistance (as a weight) to increase strength
    • resistance training

re·sis·tant [-tənt] -adj

  1. giving, capable of, or exhibiting resistance often used in combination
    • wrinkle- resistant clothes
    • a drug- resistant strain of virus

resistant -n

  1. one that resists : resister

re·sist·er [ri-'zis-tər] -n

  1. one that resists
  2. one who actively opposes the policies of a government

re·sist·ibil·i·ty [ri-,zis-tə-'bi-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being resistible
  2. ability to resist

re·sist·ible [ri-'zis-tə-bəl] -adj

  1. capable of being resisted

re·sis·tive [ri-'zis-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by resistance often used in combination
    • fire- resistive material

re·sis·tiv·i·ty [ri-,zis-'ti-və-tē, ,rē-] -n

  1. the longitudinal electrical resistance of a uniform rod of unit length and unit cross-sectional area : the reciprocal of conductivity
  2. capacity for resisting : resistance

re·sist·less [ri-'zist-ləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. too strong to be resisted
    • a resistless power
  2. offering no resistance
    • resistless prey

re·sis·tor [ri-'zis-tər] -n

  1. a device that has electrical resistance and that is used in an electric circuit for protection, operation, or current control

re·sit·ting [(,)rē-'si-tiŋ] -n

  1. a sitting (as of a legislature) for a second time : another sitting

res ju·di·ca·ta ['rēz-,jü-di-'kä-tə] -n

  1. a matter finally decided on its merits by a court having competent jurisdiction and not subject to litigation again between the same parties

res·meth·rin [(,)rez-'meth-rin, -'mēth-] -n

  1. a nonpersistent synthetic insecticide C 22H 26O 3that is a derivative of pyrethrin and is used in aerosols

re·sol·u·ble [ri-'zäl-yə-bəl] -adj

  1. capable of being resolved
    • a difficult but resoluble problem

res·o·lute ['re-zə-,lüt, -lət] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by firm determination : resolved
    • a resolute character
  2. bold, steady
    • a resolute gaze

resolute -n

  1. a resolute person

res·o·lu·tion [,re-zə-'lü-shən] -n

  1. : the act or process of resolving: as
  2. the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones
  3. the act of answering : solving
  4. the act of determining
  5. the passing of a voice part from a dissonant to a consonant tone or the progression of a chord from dissonance to consonance
  6. the separating of a chemical compound or mixture into its constituents
  7. the division of a prosodic element into its component parts
  8. the substitution in Greek or Latin prosody of two short syllables for a long syllable
  9. the analysis of a vector into two or more vectors of which it is the sum
  10. the subsidence of a pathological state (as inflammation)
  11. something that is resolved
    • made a resolution to mend my ways
  12. firmness of resolve
  13. a formal expression of opinion, will, or intent voted by an official body or assembled group
  14. the point in a literary work at which the chief dramatic complication is worked out
  15. the process or capability of making distinguishable the individual parts of an object, closely adjacent optical images, or sources of light
  16. a measure of the sharpness of an image or of the fineness with which a device (as a video display, printer, or scanner) can produce or record such an image usu. expressed as the total number or density of pixels in the image
    • a resolution of 1200 dots per inch

re·solve [ri-'zälv, -'zȯlv also -'zäv or -'zȯv] -vb, adj, n

  1. dissolve, melt
  2. break up, separate
    • the prism resolved the light into a play of color
  3. to change by disintegration
  4. to reduce by analysis
    • resolve the problem into simple elements
  5. to distinguish between or make independently visible adjacent parts of
  6. to separate (a racemic compound or mixture) into the two components
  7. to cause resolution of (a pathological state)
  8. to deal with successfully : clear up
    • resolve doubts
    • resolve a dispute
  9. to find an answer to
  10. to make clear or understandable
  11. to find a mathematical solution of
  12. to split up (as a vector) into two or more components esp. in assigned directions
  13. to reach a firm decision about
    • resolve to get more sleep
    • resolve disputed points in a text
  14. to declare or decide by a formal resolution and vote
  15. to change by resolution or formal vote
    • the house resolved itself into a committee
  16. to make (as voice parts) progress from dissonance to consonance
  17. to work out the resolution of (as a play)
  18. to become separated into component parts
  19. to become reduced by dissolving or analysis
  20. to form a resolution : determine
  21. consult, deliberate
  22. to progress from dissonance to consonance

resolve -n

  1. fixity of purpose : resoluteness
  2. something that is resolved
  3. a legal or official determination
  4. a formal resolution

re·sol·vent [ri-'zäl-vənt, -'zȯl-] -n, adj

  1. a means of solving something (as an equation)

resolving power -n

  1. the ability of an optical system to form distinguishable images of objects separated by small angular distances
  2. the ability of a photographic film or plate to reproduce the fine detail of an optical image

res·o·nance ['re-zə-nən(t)s, 'rez-nən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being resonant
  2. a vibration of large amplitude in a mechanical or electrical system caused by a relatively small periodic stimulus of the same or nearly the same period as the natural vibration period of the system
  3. the state of adjustment that produces resonance in a mechanical or electrical system
  4. the intensification and enriching of a musical tone by supplementary vibration
  5. a quality imparted to voiced sounds by vibration in anatomical resonating chambers or cavities (as the mouth or the nasal cavity)
  6. a quality of richness or variety
  7. a quality of evoking response
    • how much resonance the scandal seems to be having -- U.S. News World Report
  8. the sound elicited on percussion of the chest
  9. the conceptual alternation of a chemical species (as a molecule or ion) between two or more equivalent allowed structural representations differing only in the placement of electrons that aids in understanding the actual state of the species as an amalgamation of its possible structures and the usu. higher-than-expected stability of the species
  10. the enhancement of an atomic, nuclear, or particle reaction or a scattering event by excitation of internal motion in the system
  11. magnetic resonance
  12. an extremely short-lived elementary particle
  13. a synchronous gravitational relationship of two celestial bodies (as moons) that orbit a third (as a planet) which can be expressed as a simple ratio of their orbital periods

res·o·nant ['re-zə-nənt, 'rez-nənt] -adj, n, adv

  1. continuing to sound : echoing
  2. capable of inducing resonance
  3. relating to or exhibiting resonance
  4. intensified and enriched by or as if by resonance
    • a resonant voice
  5. marked by grandiloquence

res·o·nate ['re-zə-,nāt] -vb

  1. to produce or exhibit resonance
  2. to respond as if by resonance
    • resonate to the music
  3. to have a repetitive pattern that resembles resonance
  4. to relate harmoniously : strike a chord
    • a message that resonate s with voters
  5. to subject to resonating

res·o·na·tor [-,nā-tər] -n

  1. : something that resounds or resonates: as
  2. a hollow metallic container for producing microwaves or a piezoelectric crystal put into oscillation by the oscillations of an outside source
  3. a device for increasing the resonance of a musical instrument

re·sorb [(,)rē-'sȯrb, -'zȯrb] -vb

  1. to swallow or suck in again
  2. to break down and assimilate the components of (as bone)
  3. to undergo resorption

res·or·cin [rə-'zȯr-sᵊn] -n

  1. resorcinol

res·or·cin·ol [rə-'zȯr-sə-,nȯl, -,nōl] -n

  1. a crystalline phenol C 6H 6O 2obtained from various resins or artificially and used esp. in making dyes, pharmaceuticals, and resins

re·sorp·tion [(,)rē-'sȯrp-shən, -'zȯrp-] -n, adj

  1. the action or process of resorbing something

re·sort [ri-'zȯrt] -n

  1. one that affords aid or refuge : resource
    • went to them as a last resort
  2. recourse
    • have resort to outside help
  3. frequent, habitual, or general visiting
    • a place of popular resort
  4. persons who frequent a place : throng
  5. a frequently visited place : haunt
  6. a place providing recreation and entertainment esp. to vacationers

resort -vi

  1. to go esp. frequently or habitually : repair
  2. to have recourse
    • resort to force
  3. to sort again

re·sort·er [ri-'zȯr-tər] -n

  1. a frequenter of resorts

re·sound [ri-'zau̇nd also -'sau̇nd] -vb

  1. to become filled with sound : reverberate
  2. to sound loudly
    • the gunshot resound ed
  3. to produce a sonorous or echoing sound
  4. to become renowned
  5. to extol loudly or widely : celebrate
  6. echo, reverberate
  7. to sound or utter in full resonant tones

re·sound·ing [-'zau̇n-diŋ also -'sau̇n-] -adj, adv

  1. producing or characterized by resonant sound : resonating
  2. impressively sonorous
  3. emphatic, unequivocal
    • a resounding success

re·source ['rē-,sȯrs, -,zȯrs, ri-'] -n

  1. a source of supply or support : an available means usu. used in pl.
  2. a natural source of wealth or revenue often used in pl.
  3. a natural feature or phenomenon that enhances the quality of human life
  4. computable wealth usu. used in pl.
  5. a source of information or expertise
  6. something to which one has recourse in difficulty : expedient
  7. a possibility of relief or recovery
  8. a means of spending one's leisure time
  9. an ability to meet and handle a situation : resourcefulness

re·source·ful [ri-'sȯrs-fəl, -'zȯrs-] -adj, adv, n

  1. able to meet situations : capable of devising ways and means
    • a resourceful leader

re·spect [ri-'spekt] -n

  1. a relation or reference to a particular thing or situation
    • remarks having respect to an earlier plan
  2. an act of giving particular attention : consideration
  3. high or special regard : esteem
  4. the quality or state of being esteemed
  5. expressions of respect or deference
    • paid our respect s
  6. particular, detail
    • a good plan in some respect s

respect -vt, n

  1. to consider worthy of high regard : esteem
  2. to refrain from interfering with
    • please respect their privacy
  3. to have reference to : concern

re·spect·able [ri-'spek-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. worthy of respect : estimable
  2. decent or correct in character or behavior : proper
  3. fair in size or quantity
    • a respectable amount
  4. moderately good : tolerable
  5. fit to be seen : presentable
    • respectable clothes

respectable -n

  1. a respectable person

re·spect·ful [ri-'spekt-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by or showing respect or deference

re·spect·ing -prep

  1. in view of : considering
  2. with respect to : concerning

re·spec·tive [ri-'spek-tiv] -adj, n

  1. partial, discriminative
  2. particular, separate
    • their respective homes

re·spec·tive·ly -adv

  1. in particular : separately
    • could not recognize the solutions as salty or sour, respectively
  2. in the order given
    • Mary and Anne were respectively 12 and 16 years old

re·spell [(,)rē-'spel] -vt, n

  1. to spell again or in another way
  2. to spell out according to a phonetic system

re·spi·ra·ble ['res-p(ə-)rə-bəl, ri-'spī-rə-] -adj

  1. fit for breathing
  2. capable of being taken in by breathing
    • respirable particles of ash

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

  1. the placing of air or dissolved gases in intimate contact with the circulating medium of a multicellular organism (as by breathing)
  2. a single complete act of breathing
  3. the physical and chemical processes by which an organism supplies its cells and tissues with the oxygen needed for metabolism and relieves them of the carbon dioxide formed in energy-producing reactions
  4. any of various energy-yielding oxidative reactions in living matter

res·pi·ra·tor ['res-pə-,rā-tər] -n

  1. a device worn over the mouth and nose to protect the respiratory tract by filtering out dangerous substances (as dusts or fumes) from inhaled air
  2. a device for maintaining artificial respiration

respiratory distress syndrome -n

  1. a respiratory disorder chiefly of newborn premature infants that is characterized by deficiency of the surfactant coating the inner surface of the lungs resulting in labored breathing, lung collapse, and hypoxemia

respiratory pigment -n

  1. any of various permanently or intermittently colored conjugated proteins and esp. hemoglobin that function in the transfer of oxygen in cellular respiration

respiratory quotient -n

  1. a ratio indicating the relation of the volume of carbon dioxide given off in respiration to that of the oxygen consumed

respiratory syncytial virus -n

  1. a paramyxovirus (species Human respiratory syncytial virusof the genus Pneumovirus) that is responsible for severe respiratory diseases (as bronchopneumonia and bronchiolitis) in children and esp. in infants abbr. RSV

respiratory system -n

  1. a system of organs functioning in respiration and in humans consisting esp. of the nose, nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs

re·spire [ri-'spī(-ə)r] -vb

  1. breathe
  2. to inhale and exhale air successively
  3. to take up oxygen and produce carbon dioxide through oxidation
  4. breathe

res·pi·rom·e·ter [,res-pə-'rä-mə-tər] -n, adj

  1. an instrument for studying the character and extent of respiration

re·spite ['res-pət also ri-'spīt, Brit usu 'res-,pīt] -n

  1. a period of temporary delay
  2. an interval of rest or relief

respite -vt

  1. to grant a respite to
  2. put off, delay
  3. providing or being temporary care in relief of a primary caregiver
    • respite care
    • a respite worker

re·splen·dence [ri-'splen-dən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being resplendent : splendor

re·splen·den·cy [-dən(t)-sē] -n

  1. resplendence

re·splen·dent [-dənt] -adj, adv

  1. shining brilliantly : characterized by a glowing splendor
    • meadows resplendent with wildflowers -- Outdoor World

re·spond [ri-'spänd] -n

  1. an engaged pillar supporting an arch or closing a colonnade or arcade

respond [-'spän-dər] -vb, n

  1. to say something in return : make an answer
    • respond to criticism
  2. to react in response
    • respond ed to a call for help
  3. to show favorable reaction
    • respond to surgery
  4. to be answerable
    • respond in damages
  5. reply

re·spon·dent [ri-'spän-dənt] -n

  1. : one who responds: as
  2. one who maintains a thesis in reply
  3. one who answers in various legal proceedings (as in equity cases)
  4. the prevailing party in the lower court
  5. a person who responds to a poll
  6. a reflex that occurs in response to a specific external stimulus

respondent -adj

  1. making response : responsive
  2. being a respondent at law
  3. relating to or being behavior or responses to a stimulus that are followed by a reward
    • respondent conditioning

re·sponse [ri-'spän(t)s] -n

  1. an act of responding
  2. : something constituting a reply or a reaction: as
  3. a verse, phrase, or word sung or said by the people or choir after or in reply to the officiant in a liturgical service
  4. the activity or inhibition of previous activity of an organism or any of its parts resulting from stimulation
  5. the output of a transducer or detecting device resulting from a given input

re·spon·si·bil·i·ty [ri-,spän(t)-sə-'bi-lə-tē] -n

  1. : the quality or state of being responsible: as
  2. moral, legal, or mental accountability
  3. reliability, trustworthiness
  4. something for which one is responsible : burden
    • has neglected his responsibilities

re·spon·si·ble [ri-'spän(t)-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. liable to be called on to answer
  2. liable to be called to account as the primary cause, motive, or agent
    • a committee responsible for the job
  3. being the cause or explanation
    • mechanical defects were responsible for the accident
  4. liable to legal review or in case of fault to penalties
  5. able to answer for one's conduct and obligations : trustworthy
  6. able to choose for oneself between right and wrong
  7. marked by or involving responsibility or accountability
    • responsible financial policies
    • a responsible job
  8. politically answerable
  9. required to submit to the electorate if defeated by the legislature used esp. of the British cabinet

re·spon·sions [ri-'spän(t)-shənz] -n pl

  1. an examination formerly required for matriculation as an undergraduate at Oxford

re·spon·sive [ri-'spän(t)-siv] -adj, adv, n

  1. giving response : constituting a response : answering
    • a responsive glance
    • responsive aggression
  2. quick to respond or react appropriately or sympathetically : sensitive
  3. using responses
    • a responsive liturgy

re·spon·so·ry [-'spän(t)s-(ə-)rē] -n

  1. a set of versicles and responses sung or said after or during a lection

re·spon·sum [ri-'spän(t)-səm] -n

  1. a written decision from a rabbinic authority in response to a submitted question or problem

res pu·bli·ca ['rās-'pü-bli-,kä] -n

  1. commonwealth, state, republic
  2. commonweal

res·sen·ti·ment [rə-,säⁿ-tē-'mäⁿ] -n

  1. deep-seated resentment, frustration, and hostility accompanied by a sense of being powerless to express these feelings directly

rest ['rest] -n

  1. repose, sleep
  2. a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities
  3. freedom from activity or labor
  4. a state of motionlessness or inactivity
  5. the repose of death
  6. a place for resting or lodging
  7. peace of mind or spirit
  8. a rhythmic silence in music
  9. a character representing such a silence
  10. a brief pause in reading
  11. something used for support
  12. to get rest by lying down
  13. sleep
  14. to lie dead
  15. to cease from action or motion : refrain from labor or exertion
  16. to be free from anxiety or disturbance
  17. to sit or lie fixed or supported
    • a column rest s on its pedestal
  18. to remain confident : trust
    • cannot rest on that assumption
  19. to be based or founded
    • the verdict rest ed on several sound precedents
  20. to remain for action or accomplishment
    • the answer rest s with you
  21. to remain idle or uncropped
  22. to bring to an end voluntarily the introduction of evidence in a law case
  23. to give rest to
  24. to set at rest
  25. to place on or against a support
  26. to cause to be firmly fixed
    • rest ed all hope in his child
  27. to desist voluntarily from presenting evidence pertinent to (a case at law)
  28. a projection or attachment on the side of the breastplate of medieval armor for supporting the butt of a lance
  29. something that remains over : remainder
    • ate the rest of the candy

rest area -n

  1. an area adjacent to a highway at which restrooms and refreshments are usu. available

re·start [(,)rē-'stärt] -vt, n, adj

  1. to start anew
  2. to resume (as an activity) after interruption
  3. to resume operation

re·state [(,)rē-'stāt] -vt

  1. to state again or in another way

re·state·ment [-mənt] -n

  1. something that is restated
  2. the act of restating

res·tau·rant ['res-t(ə-)ränt also -t(ə-)rənt, -tərnt] -n

  1. a business establishment where meals or refreshments may be purchased

res·tau·ra·teur [,res-tə-rə-'tər] -n

  1. the operator or proprietor of a restaurant

rest·ed ['res-təd] -adj

  1. having had sufficient rest or sleep

re·ste·no·sis [,res-tə-'nō-səs, ,rē-stə-] -n

  1. the reoccurrence of stenosis in a blood vessel or heart valve after it has been treated with apparent success

rest·ful ['rest-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by, affording, or suggesting rest and repose
    • a restful color scheme
  2. being at rest : quiet

rest home -n

  1. an establishment that provides housing and general care for the aged or the convalescent

rest house -n

  1. a building used for shelter by travelers

rest·ing ['res-tiŋ] -adj

  1. being or characterized by dormancy : quiescent
    • a resting spore
    • bulbs in the resting state
  2. not undergoing or marked by division : vegetative
    • a resting nucleus

res·ti·tute ['res-tə-,tüt, -,tyüt] -vb

  1. to restore to a former state or position
  2. give back
  3. refund
  4. to undergo restitution

res·ti·tu·tion [,res-tə-'tü-shən, -'tyü-] -n

  1. : an act of restoring or a condition of being restored: as
  2. a restoration of something to its rightful owner
  3. a making good of or giving an equivalent for some injury
  4. a legal action serving to cause restoration of a previous state

res·tive ['res-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. stubbornly resisting control : balky
  2. marked by impatience or uneasiness : fidgety

rest·less ['rest-ləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. lacking or denying rest : uneasy
    • a restless night
  2. continuously moving : unquiet
    • the restless sea
  3. characterized by or manifesting unrest esp. of mind
    • restless pacing
  4. changeful, discontented

restless legs syndrome -n

  1. a nervous disorder characterized by aching, crawling, or creeping sensations of the legs that occur esp. at night usu. when lying down (as before sleep) and cause a compelling urge to move the legs called also restless legs restless leg syndrome

rest mass -n

  1. the mass of a body exclusive of additional mass the body acquires by its motion according to the theory of relativity

re·stor·able [ri-'stȯr-ə-bəl] -adj

  1. fit for restoring or reclaiming

re·stor·al [-əl] -n

  1. restoration

res·to·ra·tion [,res-tə-'rā-shən] -n

  1. : an act of restoring or the condition of being restored: as
  2. a bringing back to a former position or condition : reinstatement
    • the restoration of peace
  3. restitution
  4. a restoring to an unimpaired or improved condition
    • the restoration of a painting
  5. the replacing of missing teeth or crowns
  6. something that is restored
  7. a representation or reconstruction of the original form (as of a fossil or a building)
  8. the reestablishing of the monarchy in England in 1660 under Charles II
  9. the period in English history usu. held to coincide with the reign of Charles II but sometimes to extend through the reign of James II

re·stor·ative [ri-'stȯr-ə-tiv] -adj

  1. of or relating to restoration
  2. having power to restore
    • restorative sleep

restorative -n

  1. something that serves to restore to consciousness, vigor, or health

re·store [ri-'stȯr] -vt, n

  1. give back, return
  2. to put or bring back into existence or use
  3. to bring back to or put back into a former or original state : renew
  4. to put again in possession of something

re·strain [ri-'strān] -vt, adj, n

  1. to prevent from doing, exhibiting, or expressing something
    • restrain ed the child from jumping
  2. to limit, restrict, or keep under control
    • try to restrain your anger
  3. to moderate or limit the force, effect, development, or full exercise of
    • restrain trade
  4. to deprive of liberty
  5. to place under arrest or restraint

re·strained [ri-'strānd] -adj, adv

  1. marked by restraint : not excessive or extravagant

restraining order -n

  1. a preliminary legal order sometimes issued to keep a situation unchanged pending decision upon an application for an injunction
  2. a legal order issued against an individual to restrict or prohibit access or proximity to another specified individual

re·straint [ri-'strānt] -n

  1. an act of restraining : the state of being restrained
  2. a means of restraining : a restraining force or influence
  3. a device that restricts movement
    • a restraint for children riding in cars
  4. a control over the expression of one's emotions or thoughts

re·strict [ri-'strikt] -vt

  1. to confine within bounds : restrain
  2. to place under restrictions as to use or distribution

re·strict·ed [ri-'strik-təd] -adj, adv

  1. : subject or subjected to restriction: as
  2. not general : limited
    • the decision had a restricted effect
  3. available to the use of particular groups or specif. excluding others
    • a restricted country club
  4. not intended for general circulation or release
    • a restricted document

re·stric·tion [ri-'strik-shən] -n

  1. : something that restricts: as
  2. a regulation that restricts or restrains
    • restriction s for hunters
  3. a limitation on the use or enjoyment of property or a facility
  4. an act of restricting : the condition of being restricted

restriction enzyme -n

  1. any of various enzymes that cleave DNA into fragments at specific sites in the interior of the molecule called also restriction endonuclease

restriction fragment length polymorphism -n

  1. variation in the length of a DNA fragment produced by a specific restriction enzyme acting on DNA from different individuals that usu. results from a genetic mutation and that may be used as a genetic marker

re·stric·tion·ism [ri-'strik-shə-,ni-zəm] -n, adj or n

  1. a policy or philosophy favoring restriction (as of trade or immigration)

re·stric·tive [ri-'strik-tiv] -adj, n, adv

  1. of or relating to restriction
  2. serving or tending to restrict
    • restrictive regulations
  3. limiting the reference of a modified word or phrase
  4. prohibiting further negotiation

restrictive clause -n

  1. a descriptive clause that is essential to the definiteness of the word it modifies (as that you orderedin the book that you ordered is out of print)

re·strike [(,)rē-'strīk, 'rē-,] -n

  1. a coin or medal struck from an original die at some time after the original issue

rest·room ['rest-,rüm, -,ru̇m] -n

  1. a room or suite of rooms providing toilets and lavatories

re·struc·ture [(,)rē-'strək-chər] -vt

  1. to change the makeup, organization, or pattern of
  2. to restructure something

re·sult [ri-'zəlt] -vi

  1. to proceed or arise as a consequence, effect, or conclusion
    • death result ed from the disease
  2. to have an issue or result
    • the disease result ed in death
  3. revert

result [-fəl] -n, adj

  1. something that results as a consequence, issue, or conclusion
  2. beneficial or tangible effect : fruit
  3. something obtained by calculation or investigation

re·sul·tant [ri-'zəl-tᵊnt] -adj, adv

  1. derived from or resulting from something else

resultant -n

  1. something that results : outcome
  2. the single vector that is the sum of a given set of vectors

re·sume [ri-'züm] -vb

  1. to assume or take again : reoccupy
    • resumed his seat by the fire -- Thomas Hardy
  2. to return to or begin again after interruption
    • resumed her work
  3. to take back to oneself
  4. to pick up again
  5. reiterate, summarize
  6. to begin again something interrupted

re·su·me ['re-zə-,mā, ,re-zə-' also 'rā- or ,rā-] -n

  1. summary
  2. curriculum vitae
  3. a set of accomplishments
    • a musical resume

re·sump·tion [ri-'zəm(p)-shən] -n

  1. an act or instance of resuming : recommencement
  2. a return to payment in specie

re·su·pi·nate [ri-'sü-pə-,nāt] -adj

  1. inverted in position
    • resupinate orchid flowers
  2. having or being a fruiting body lying flat on the substrate with the hymenium at the periphery or over the whole surface
    • resupinate fungi
    • resupinate sporophores

re·sur·face [(,)rē-'sər-fəs] -vt, n

  1. to provide with a new or fresh surface
    • resurface skin by dermabrasion
  2. to come again to the surface (as of the water)
  3. reappear

re·surge [ri-'sərj] -vi

  1. to undergo a resurgence

re·sur·gence [ri-'sər-jən(t)s] -n

  1. a rising again into life, activity, or prominence
    • a resurgence of interest

re·sur·gent [-jənt] -adj

  1. undergoing or tending to produce resurgence

res·ur·rect [,re-zə-'rekt] -vt

  1. to raise from the dead
  2. to bring to view, attention, or use again

res·ur·rec·tion [,re-zə-'rek-shən] -n, adj

  1. the rising of Christ from the dead
  2. the rising again to life of all the human dead before the final judgment
  3. the state of one risen from the dead
  4. resurgence, revival
  5. a spiritualization of thought : material belief that yields to spiritual understanding

res·ur·rec·tion·ist [-sh(ə-)nist] -n

  1. body snatcher
  2. one who resurrects

re·sus·ci·tate [ri-'sə-sə-,tāt] -vb, n, adj

  1. to revive from apparent death or from unconsciousness
  2. revitalize
  3. come to, revive

re·sus·ci·ta·tor [ri-'sə-sə-,tā-tər] -n

  1. one that resuscitates
  2. an apparatus used to restore respiration (as to a partially asphyxiated person)

res·ver·a·trol [rez-'vir-ə-,trȯl, -,träl, -,trōl] -n

  1. a trihydroxy stilbene derivative C 10H 12O 3that is found in some plants, fruits, seeds, and grape-derived products (as red wine) and has been linked to a reduced risk of coronary disease and cancer

ret ['ret] -vb

  1. to soak (as flax) to loosen the fiber from the woody tissue
  2. to become retted
  3. retired

re·ta·ble ['rē-,tā-bəl, rē-'] -n

  1. a raised shelf above an altar for the altar cross, lights, and flowers

re·tail ['rē-,tāl, esp for 2 also ri-'tāl] -vt, n

  1. to sell in small quantities directly to the ultimate consumer
  2. tell, retell
  3. to sell at retail
  4. the sale of commodities or goods in small quantities to ultimate consumers
  5. the industry of such selling
  6. of, relating to, or engaged in the sale of commodities at retail
    • retail trade
  7. in small quantities : from a retailer

re·tail·ing ['rē-,tā-liŋ] -n

  1. the activities involved in the selling of goods to ultimate consumers for personal or household consumption

re·tain [ri-'tān] -vt

  1. to keep in possession or use
  2. to keep in one's pay or service
  3. to employ by paying a retainer
  4. to keep in mind or memory : remember
  5. to hold secure or intact

retained object -n

  1. an object of a verb in the predicate of a passive construction (as mein a book was given me and bookin I was given a book)

re·tain·er [ri-'tā-nər] -n

  1. a person attached or owing service to a household
  2. servant
  3. employee
  4. one that retains
  5. : a device or structure that holds something in place: as
  6. the part of a dental replacement (as a bridge) by which it is made fast to adjacent natural teeth
  7. a dental appliance used to hold teeth in correct position esp. following orthodontic treatment

retainer -n

  1. the act of a client by which the services of a lawyer, counselor, or adviser are engaged
  2. a fee paid to a lawyer or professional adviser for advice or services or for a claim on services when needed

re·take [(,)rē-'tāk] -vt

  1. to take or receive again
  2. recapture
  3. to photograph again
  4. a subsequent filming, photographing, or recording undertaken to improve upon the first
  5. an instance of this

re·tal·i·ate [ri-'ta-lē-,āt] -vb, n, adj

  1. to repay (as an injury) in kind
  2. to return like for like
  3. to get revenge

re·tard [ri-'tärd] -vb, n

  1. to slow up esp. by preventing or hindering advance or accomplishment : impede
  2. to delay academic progress by failure to promote
  3. to undergo retardation
  4. a holding back or slowing down : retardation
  5. a retarded person
  6. a person held to resemble a retarded person in behavior

re·tar·dant [ri-'tär-dᵊnt] -adj, n

  1. serving or tending to retard
    • a growth- retardant substance

re·tar·date [-'tär-,dāt, -dət] -n

  1. a mentally retarded person

re·tar·da·tion [,rē-,tär-'dā-shən, ri-] -n

  1. an act or instance of retarding
  2. the extent to which something is retarded
  3. a musical suspension
  4. one that resolves upward
  5. an abnormal slowness of thought or action
  6. mental retardation
  7. slowness in development or progress

re·tard·ed [ri-'tär-dəd] -adj

  1. slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress

retch ['rech, esp Brit 'rēch] -vb, n

  1. vomit
  2. to make an effort to vomit
  3. vomit

retd -abbr

  1. retired
  2. returned

re·te ['rē-tē, 'rā-] -n

  1. a network esp. of blood vessels or nerves : plexus
  2. an anatomical part resembling or including a network

re·tell [(,)rē-'tel] -vt

  1. to tell again or in another form
  2. to count again

retelling -n

  1. a new version of a story
    • a retelling of a Greek legend

re·ten·tion [ri-'ten(t)-shən] -n

  1. the act of retaining : the state of being retained
  2. abnormal retaining of a fluid or secretion in a body cavity
  3. power of retaining : retentiveness
  4. an ability to retain things in mind
  5. a preservation of the aftereffects of experience and learning that makes recall or recognition possible
  6. something retained

re·ten·tive [-'ten-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. having the power, property, or capacity of retaining
    • soils retentive of moisture
  2. retaining knowledge easily
    • a retentive memory

re·ten·tiv·i·ty [,rē-,ten-'ti-və-tē, ri-] -n

  1. the power of retaining
  2. the capacity for retaining magnetism after the action of the magnetizing force has ceased

re·think [(,)rē-'thiŋk] -vb, n

  1. to think about again : reconsider
  2. to engage in reconsideration

ret·i·cence ['re-tə-sən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being reticent : reserve, restraint
  2. an instance of being reticent
  3. reluctance

ret·i·cen·cy [-sən(t)-sē] -n

  1. reticence

ret·i·cent [-sənt] -adj, adv

  1. inclined to be silent or uncommunicative in speech : reserved
  2. restrained in expression, presentation, or appearance
    • the room has an aspect of reticent dignity -- A. N. Whitehead
  3. reluctant

ret·i·cle ['re-ti-kəl] -n

  1. a scale on transparent material (as in an optical instrument) used esp. for measuring or aiming

re·tic·u·lar [ri-'ti-kyə-lər] -adj

  1. reticulate
    • reticular connective tissue containing collagen fibers
  2. intricate

reticular formation -n

  1. a mass of nerve cells and fibers situated primarily in the brain stem and functioning upon stimulation esp. in arousal of the organism

re·tic·u·late [ri-'ti-kyə-lət, -,lāt] -adj, adv

  1. resembling a net or network
  2. having veins, fibers, or lines crossing
    • a reticulate leaf
  3. being or involving evolutionary change dependent on genetic recombination involving diverse interbreeding populations
  4. to divide, mark, or construct so as to form a network
    • municipalities that reticulate electricity to consumers
  5. to become reticulated

reticulated giraffe -n

  1. a giraffe of a subspecies ( Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) found in northeast Africa, Somalia, and northern Kenya that has a deep chestnut-colored coat divided by a network of fine white lines into large geometric patches

re·tic·u·la·tion [ri-,ti-kyə-'lā-shən] -n

  1. a reticulated formation : network
  2. something reticulated

ret·i·cule ['re-ti-,kyül] -n

  1. reticle
  2. a woman's drawstring bag used esp. as a carryall

re·tic·u·lo·cyte [ri-'ti-kyə-lō-,sīt] -n

  1. an immature red blood cell that appears esp. during regeneration of lost blood, lacks a nucleus, and has a fine basophilic reticulum formed of ribosomal remains

re·tic·u·lo·en·do·the·li·al [ri-,ti-kyə-lō-,en-də-'thē-lē-əl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being the reticuloendothelial system

reticuloendothelial system -n

  1. mononuclear phagocyte system
  2. the mononuclear phagocyte system plus certain other cells now known to be pinocytic or only weakly phagocytic

re·tic·u·lum [ri-'ti-kyə-ləm] -n

  1. the second compartment of the stomach of a ruminant in which folds of the mucous membrane form hexagonal cells
  2. a reticulate structure : network

retin- -comb form

  1. retina
    • retin itis
    • retino scopy
  2. retinol
    • retin oid

ret·i·na ['re-tə-nə, 'ret-nə] -n

  1. the sensory membrane that lines the eye, is composed of several layers including one containing the rods and cones, and functions as the immediate instrument of vision by receiving the image formed by the lens and converting it into chemical and nervous signals which reach the brain by way of the optic nerve

ret·i·nac·u·lum [,re-tə-'na-kyə-ləm] -n

  1. any of several fibrous bands of fascia that pass over or under tendons (as at or near the ankle or wrist) and help to keep them in place

ret·i·nal ['re-tə-nəl, 'ret-nəl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, involving, or being a retina
  2. a yellowish to orange aldehyde C 20H 28O derived from vitamin A that in combination with proteins forms the visual pigments of the retinal rods and cones

ret·i·nene ['re-tə-,nēn] -n

  1. retinal

ret·i·ni·tis [,re-tə-'nī-təs] -n

  1. inflammation of the retina

retinitis pig·men·to·sa [-,pig-mən-'tō-sə, -(,)men-, -zə] -n

  1. any of several hereditary progressive degenerative diseases of the eye marked by night blindness in the early stages, atrophy and pigment changes in the retina, constriction of the visual field, and eventual blindness

ret·i·no·blas·to·ma [,re-tə-nō-,blas-'tō-mə] -n

  1. a malignant tumor of the retina that develops during childhood, is derived from retinal germ cells, and is associated with a chromosomal abnormality

ret·i·no·ic acid [,re-tə-'nō-ik-] -n

  1. : either of two isomers of an acid C 20H 28O 2derived from vitamin A and used in the treatment of acne:
  2. tretinoin
  3. isotretinoin

ret·i·noid ['re-tə-,nȯid] -n

  1. any of various synthetic or naturally occurring analogs of vitamin A

ret·i·nol ['re-tə-,nȯl, -,nōl] -n

  1. the chief and typical vitamin A C 20H 29OH that is a highly unsaturated alicyclic alcohol used in various forms in medicine and nutrition

ret·i·nop·a·thy [,re-tə-'nä-pə-thē] -n

  1. any of various noninflammatory disorders of the retina including some that cause blindness

ret·i·nos·co·py [,re-tə-'näs-kə-pē] -n

  1. observation of the retina of the eye esp. to determine the state of refraction

ret·i·no·tec·tal [,re-tə-nō-'tek-təl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being the nerve fibers connecting the retina and the tectum of the midbrain
    • retinotectal pathways

ret·i·nue ['re-tə-,nü, -,nyü] -n

  1. a group of retainers or attendants

re·tin·u·la [re-'tin-yə-lə] -n, adj

  1. the neural receptor of a single facet of an arthropod compound eye

re·tire [ri-'tī(-ə)r] -vb

  1. to withdraw from action or danger : retreat
  2. to withdraw esp. for privacy
    • retired to her room
  3. to move back : recede
  4. to withdraw from one's position or occupation : conclude one's working or professional career
  5. to go to bed
  6. : withdraw: as
  7. to march (a military force) away from the enemy
  8. to withdraw from circulation or from the market : recall
    • retire a bond
  9. to withdraw from usual use or service
  10. to cause to retire from one's position or occupation
  11. to put out (a batter or batsman) in baseball or cricket
  12. to cause (a side) to end a turn at bat in baseball
  13. to win permanent possession of (as a trophy)
  14. to pay in full : settle
    • retire a debt

retired [-'tī-rəd-lē, -'tī(-ə)rd-] -adj, adv, n

  1. secluded
    • a retired village
  2. withdrawn from one's position or occupation : having concluded one's working or professional career
  3. received by or due to one in retirement

re·tir·ee [ri-,tī-'rē] -n

  1. a person who has retired from a working or professional career

re·tire·ment [ri-'tī(-ə)r-mənt] -n

  1. an act of retiring : the state of being retired
  2. withdrawal from one's position or occupation or from active working life
  3. the age at which one normally retires
    • reaches retirement in May
  4. a place of seclusion or privacy

retirement -adj

  1. of, relating to, or designed for retired persons

retiring [-iŋ-lē] -adj, adv, n

  1. reserved, shy

re·tool [(,)rē-'tül] -vt

  1. to reequip with tools
  2. reorganize
  3. revise, modify
  4. to make esp. minor changes or improvements
    • retool for the future

re·tort [ri-'tȯrt] -vb

  1. to pay or hurl back : return
    • retort an insult
  2. to make a reply to
  3. to say in reply
  4. to answer (as an argument) by a counter argument
  5. to answer back usu. sharply
  6. to return an argument or charge
  7. retaliate

retort -n

  1. a quick, witty, or cutting reply
  2. one that turns back or counters the first speaker's words

re·tort [ri-'tȯrt, 'rē-,] -n

  1. a vessel or chamber in which substances are distilled or decomposed by heat
  2. to treat (as oil shale) by heating in a retort

re·tort pouch [ri-'tȯrt-, 'rē-,] -n

  1. a flexible package in which prepared food is hermetically sealed for long-term unrefrigerated storage

re·touch [(,)rē-'təch] -vb, n

  1. to rework in order to improve : touch up
  2. to alter (as a photographic negative) to produce a more desirable appearance
  3. to color (new growth of hair) to match previously dyed, tinted, or bleached hair
  4. to make or give retouches
  5. the act or process or an instance of retouching
  6. the retouching of a new growth of hair

re·tract [ri-'trakt] -vb, adj

  1. to draw back or in
    • cats retract their claws
  2. take back, withdraw
    • retract a confession
  3. disavow
  4. to draw or pull back
  5. to recant or disavow something

re·trac·tile [ri-'trak-tᵊl, -,tī(-ə)l] -adj, n

  1. capable of being drawn back or in
    • retractile claws

re·trac·tion [ri-'trak-shən] -n

  1. an act of recanting
  2. a statement made by one retracting
  3. an act of retracting : the state of being retracted
  4. the ability to retract

re·trac·tor [ri-'trak-tər] -n

  1. : one that retracts: as
  2. a surgical instrument for holding open the edges of a wound
  3. a muscle that draws in an organ or part

re·train [(,)rē-'trān] -vt, adj

  1. to train again or anew
  2. to become trained again

re·trans·late [,rē-tran(t)s-'lāt, -tranz-] -vt, n

  1. to translate (a translation) into another language
  2. to give a new form to
  3. to retranslate something

re·tread [(,)rē-'tred] -vt

  1. to bond or vulcanize a new tread to the prepared surface of (a worn tire)
  2. to make over as if new
    • retread an old plot
  3. a retreaded tire
  4. something made or done again esp. in slightly altered form : remake
  5. one (as a retired person) who is recalled or retrained for work
  6. one (as an athlete) who has previously held the same or a similar position

retread [(,)rē-'tred] -vt

  1. to tread again

re·treat [ri-'trēt] -n

  1. an act or process of withdrawing esp. from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable
  2. the process of receding from a position or state attained
    • the retreat of a glacier
  3. the usu. forced withdrawal of troops from an enemy or from an advanced position
  4. a signal for retreating
  5. a signal given by bugle at the beginning of a military flag-lowering ceremony
  6. a military flag-lowering ceremony
  7. a place of privacy or safety : refuge
  8. a period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, study, or instruction under a director

retreat -vi, n

  1. to make a retreat : withdraw
  2. to slope backward
  3. to draw or lead back : remove
  4. to move (a piece) back in chess

re·treat·ant [-'trē-tᵊnt] -n

  1. a person on a religious retreat

re·trench [ri-'trench] -vb

  1. cut down, reduce
  2. to cut out : excise
  3. to pare away : remove
  4. to make retrenchments
  5. economize

re·trench·ment [-mənt] -n

  1. reduction, curtailment
  2. a cutting of expenses

re·tri·al [(,)rē-'trī(-ə)l] -n

  1. a second trial, experiment, or test
  2. a second judicial trial

re·trib·al·i·za·tion [(,)rē-,trī-bə-lə-'zā-shən] -n

  1. the act of forming or returning to a tribal group or division

ret·ri·bu·tion [,re-trə-'byü-shən] -n

  1. recompense, reward
  2. the dispensing or receiving of reward or punishment esp. in the hereafter
  3. something given or exacted in recompense
  4. punishment

re·trib·u·tive [ri-'tri-byə-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or marked by retribution

re·trib·u·to·ry [-byə-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. retributive

re·triev·al [ri-'trē-vəl] -n

  1. an act or process of retrieving
  2. possibility of being retrieved or of recovering
    • beyond retrieval

re·trieve [ri-'trēv] -vb, n, adj

  1. to locate and bring in (killed or wounded game)
  2. to call to mind again
  3. to get back again : regain
  4. rescue, salvage
  5. to return (as a ball or shuttlecock that is difficult to reach) successfully
  6. restore, revive
    • his writing retrieve s the past
  7. to remedy the evil consequences of : correct
  8. to get and bring back
  9. to recover (as information) from storage
  10. to bring in game
    • a dog that retrieve s well
  11. to bring back an object thrown by a person

retrieve -n

  1. retrieval
  2. the successful return of a ball that is difficult to reach or control (as in tennis)

re·triev·er [ri-'trē-vər] -n

  1. one that retrieves
  2. a dog of any of several breeds having a heavy water-resistant coat and used esp. for retrieving game

ret·ro ['re-(,)trō] -adj, n

  1. relating to, reviving, or being the styles and esp. the fashions of the past : fashionably nostalgic or old-fashioned
    • a retro look

retro- -prefix

  1. backward : back
    • retro- rocket
  2. situated behind
    • retro peritoneal

ret·ro·ac·tion [,re-trō-'ak-shən] -n

  1. retroactive operation (as of a law or tax)
  2. a reciprocal action : reaction

ret·ro·ac·tive [-'ak-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. extending in scope or effect to a prior time or to conditions that existed or originated in the past
  2. made effective as of a date prior to enactment, promulgation, or imposition
    • retroactive tax

ret·ro·cede [,re-trō-'sēd] -vb, n

  1. to go back : recede
  2. to cede back (as a territory)

ret·ro·dict [,re-trə-'dikt] -vt, n, adj

  1. to utilize present information or ideas to infer or explain (a past event or state of affairs)

ret·ro·fire [-,fī(-ə)r] -vt, n

  1. to cause (a retro-rocket) to become ignited
  2. to become ignited

ret·ro·fit ['re-trō-,fit, ,re-trō-'fit] -vt, n

  1. to furnish (as a computer, airplane, or building) with new or modified parts or equipment not available or considered necessary at the time of manufacture
  2. to install (new or modified parts or equipment) in something previously manufactured or constructed
  3. to adapt to a new purpose or need : modify
    • retrofit the story for a new audience

ret·ro·flex ['re-trə-,fleks] -adj

  1. turned or bent abruptly backward
  2. articulated with the tongue tip turned up or curled back just under the hard palate
    • retroflex vowel

ret·ro·flex·ion [,re-trə-'flek-shən] -n

  1. the state of being bent back
  2. the bending back of an organ (as a uterus) upon itself
  3. the act or process of bending back
  4. retroflex articulation

ret·ro·gra·da·tion [,re-trō-grā-'dā-shən, -grə-] -n

  1. the action or process of retrograding

ret·ro·grade ['re-trə-,grād] -adj, adv

  1. having or being motion in a direction contrary to that of the general motion of similar bodies and esp. east to west among the stars
    • Saturn is retrograde for another week
  2. having or being a direction of rotation or revolution that is clockwise as viewed from the north pole of the sky or a planet
    • a retrograde orbit
  3. moving, occurring, or performed in a backward direction
  4. occurring or performed in a direction opposite to the normal or forward direction of conduction or flow
  5. contrary to the normal order : inverse
  6. tending toward or resulting in a worse or previous state
  7. contradictory, opposed
  8. characterized by retrogression
  9. affecting memories of a period prior to a shock or seizure
    • retrograde amnesia
  10. retro
    • retrograde fashion

retrograde -adv

  1. backward, reversely
  2. to turn back : reverse
  3. to go back : retreat
  4. to go back over or recapitulate something
  5. to decline to a worse condition

ret·ro·gress [,re-trə-'gres] -vi

  1. to move backward : revert

ret·ro·gres·sion [-'gre-shən] -n

  1. regression
  2. return to a former and less complex level of development or organization

ret·ro·gres·sive [-'gre-siv] -adj, adv

  1. : characterized by retrogression: as
  2. going or directed backward
  3. declining from a better to a worse state
  4. passing from a higher to a lower level of organization
    • retrogressive evolution

ret·ro·nym ['re-trō-,nim] -n

  1. a term consisting of a noun and a modifier which specifies the original meaning of the noun
    • film camera is a retronym

ret·ro·pack ['re-trō-,pak] -n

  1. a system of retro-rockets on a spacecraft

ret·ro·per·i·to·ne·al [,re-trō-,per-ə-tə-'nē-əl] -adj, adv

  1. situated behind the peritoneum

ret·ro·re·flec·tion [,re-trō-ri-'flek-shən] -n, adj

  1. the action or use of a retroreflector

ret·ro·re·flec·tor [-'flek-tər] -n

  1. a device that reflects radiation (as light) so that the paths of the reflected rays are parallel to those of the incident rays

ret·rorock·et ['re-trō-,rä-kət] -n

  1. an auxiliary rocket engine (as on a spacecraft) used in decelerating

re·trorse ['rē-,trȯrs] -adj

  1. bent backward or downward

ret·ro·spect ['re-trə-,spekt] -n

  1. reference to or regard of a precedent or authority
  2. a review of or meditation on past events

retrospect -adj

  1. retrospective
  2. to engage in retrospection
  3. to refer back : reflect
  4. to go back over in thought

ret·ro·spec·tion [,re-trə-'spek-shən] -n

  1. the act or process or an instance of surveying the past

ret·ro·spec·tive [-'spek-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or given to retrospection
  2. based on memory
    • a retrospective report
  3. being a retrospective
    • a retrospective exhibition
  4. affecting things past : retroactive
    • retrospective laws
  5. relating to or being a study (as of a disease) that starts with the present condition of a population of individuals and collects data about their past history to explain their present condition

retrospective -n

  1. a generally comprehensive exhibition, compilation, or performance of the work of an artist over a span of years
  2. review
    • a retrospective of 20th century haute couture

re·trous·se [rə-,trü-'sā, rə-'trü-,, ,re-tru̇-'] -adj

  1. turned up
    • retrousse nose

ret·ro·ver·sion [,re-trō-'vər-zhən also -shən] -n

  1. the bending backward of the uterus and cervix
  2. the act or process of turning back or regressing

ret·ro·vi·rol·o·gy [,re-trō-vī-'rä-lə-jē] -n

  1. virology concerned with the study of retroviruses

ret·ro·vi·rus ['re-trō-,vī-rəs] -n, adj

  1. any of a family ( Retroviridae) of single-stranded RNA viruses that produce reverse transcriptase by means of which DNA is produced using their RNA as a template and incorporated into the genome of infected cells, that are often tumorigenic, and that include the lentiviruses (as the HIVs) and the causative agent of Rous sarcoma

ret·si·na [ret-'sē-nə] -n

  1. a resin-flavored Greek wine

re·turn [ri-'tərn] -vb, n

  1. to go back or come back again
    • return home
  2. to go back in thought, practice, or condition : revert
  3. to pass back to an earlier possessor
  4. reply, retort
  5. to give (as an official account) to a superior
  6. to elect (a candidate) as attested by official report or returns
  7. to bring back (as a writ or verdict) to an office or tribunal
  8. to bring, send, or put back to a former or proper place
  9. to restore to a former or to a normal state
  10. to send back : visit usu. used with on or upon
  11. retort
  12. to bring in (as profit) : yield
  13. to give or perform in return : repay
    • return a compliment
  14. to respond to in kind
    • return ed his calls
  15. to give back to the owner
  16. reflect
    • return an echo
  17. to cause (as a wall) to continue in a different direction (as at a right angle)
  18. to lead (a specified suit or specified card of a suit) in response to a partner's earlier lead
  19. to hit back (a ball or shuttlecock)
  20. to run with (a football) after a change of possession (as by a punt or a fumble)

return -n

  1. the act of coming back to or from a place or condition
  2. a regular or frequent returning : recurrence
  3. the delivery of a legal order (as a writ) to the proper officer or court
  4. an endorsed certificate stating an official's action in the execution of such an order
  5. the sending back of a commission with the certificate of the commissioners
  6. an account or formal report
  7. a report of the results of balloting usu. used in pl.
    • election return s
  8. an official declaration of the election of a candidate
  9. election
  10. a formal statement on a required legal form showing taxable income, allowable deductions and exemptions, and the computation of the tax due
  11. a list of taxable property
  12. the continuation usu. at a right angle of the face or of a member of a building or of a molding or group of moldings
  13. a means for conveying something (as water) back to its starting point
  14. a quantity of goods, consignment, or cargo coming back in exchange for goods sent out as a mercantile venture
  15. the value of or profit from such venture
  16. the profit from labor, investment, or business : yield
  17. results
  18. the rate of profit in a process of production per unit of cost
  19. the act of returning something to a former place, condition, or ownership : restitution
    • the return of stolen goods
  20. something returned
  21. unsold publications returned to the publisher for cash or credit
  22. something given in repayment or reciprocation
    • a return on their years of hard work
  23. answer, retort
  24. : an answering play: as
  25. a lead in a suit previously led by one's partner in a card game
  26. the action or an instance of returning a ball (as in football or tennis)
  27. round-trip
  28. having or formed by a change of direction
    • a return facade
  29. doubled on itself
    • a return flue
  30. played, delivered, or given in return
    • return fire from the enemy
  31. taking place for the second time
    • a return meeting for the two champions
  32. used or taken on returning
    • the return road
  33. returning or permitting return
    • a return valve
  34. of, relating to, or causing a return to a place or condition
    • use the prestamped return envelope

re·turn·able [ri-'tər-nə-bəl] -adj

  1. legally required to be returned, delivered, or argued at a specified time or place
    • a writ returnable on the date indicated
  2. capable of returning or of being returned (as for reuse)
    • returnable beer bottles
  3. permitted to be returned
    • sale items are not returnable

returnable -n

  1. something designed to be returned (as for recycling)
  2. a returnable beverage container

re·turn·ee [ri-,tər-'nē] -n

  1. one who returns
  2. one returning to the U.S. after military service overseas

re·tuse [ri-'tüs, -'tyüs] -adj

  1. having the apex rounded or obtuse with a slight notch

Reu·ben ['rü-bən] -n

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

Reuben -n

  1. a grilled sandwich of corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut usu. on rye bread
  2. a statuette awarded annually by a professional organization for notable achievement in cartoon artistry

re·union [(,)rē-'yün-yən] -n

  1. an act of reuniting : the state of being reunited
  2. a reuniting of persons after separation

re·union·ist [-yə-nist] -n, adj

  1. an advocate of reunion (as of sects or parties)

re·unite [,rē-yu̇-'nīt] -vb

  1. to bring together again
  2. to come together again : rejoin

reup [(,)rē-'əp] -vi

  1. to sign on again
    • re-upped with the team for three more years
  2. to enlist again

re·up·take [(')rē-'əp-,tāk] -n

  1. the reabsorption by a neuron of a neurotransmitter following the transmission of a nerve impulse across a synapse

re·us·able [(,)rē-'yü-zə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. capable of being used again or repeatedly

re·use [(,)rē-'yüz] -vt

  1. to use again esp. in a different way or after reclaiming or reprocessing
    • the need to reuse scarce resources
    • reuse packing material as insulation

reuse [-'yüs] -n

  1. further, different, or repeated use

rev ['rev] -n

  1. a revolution of a motor
  2. revolution per minute usu. used in pl.
  3. to step up the number of revolutions per minute of often used with up
    • rev up the engine
  4. increase used with up
    • rev up production
  5. to drive or operate esp. at high speed often used with up
  6. to make more active or effective used with up
    • revving up the economy
  7. to stir up : excite usu. used with up
    • revved up the kids before bedtime
  8. to operate at an increased speed of revolution usu. used with up
  9. to increase in amount or activity usu. used with up
    • the campaign revved up
  10. to become more excited esp. in anticipation usu. used with up
    • the partygoers were revving up
  11. revenue
  12. reverse
  13. review; reviewed
  14. revised; revision
  15. revolution

Rev -abbr

  1. Revelation
  2. reverend

re·val·u·ate [(,)rē-'val-yə-,wāt] -vt, n

  1. revalue
  2. to increase the value of (as currency)

re·val·ue [(,)rē-'val-(,)yü] -vt

  1. to value (as currency) anew
  2. to make a new valuation of : reappraise

re·vamp [(,)rē-'vamp] -vt, n

  1. remake, revise
  2. renovate, reconstruct

re·vanche [rə-'väⁿsh] -n

  1. revenge
  2. a usu. political policy designed to recover lost territory or status

re·vanch·ist [-'väⁿ-shist] -n

  1. one who advocates a policy of revanche

revanchist -adj

  1. of or relating to a policy of revanche

re·vas·cu·lar·i·za·tion [,rē-,vas-kyə-lə-rə-'zā-shən] -n

  1. a surgical procedure for the provision of a new, additional, or augmented blood supply to a body part or organ

Revd -abbr

  1. reverend

re·veal [ri-'vēl] -vt, adj, n

  1. to make known through divine inspiration
  2. to make (something secret or hidden) publicly or generally known
    • reveal a secret
  3. to open up to view : display
    • the uncurtained window reveal ed a cluttered room

reveal -n

  1. the side of an opening (as for a window) between a frame and the outer surface of a wall
  2. jamb

re·veal·ing [-'vē-liŋ] -adj, adv

  1. allowing a look at or an understanding of something inner or hidden
    • a revealing confession
  2. tending to expose more typically hidden parts of the body
    • a revealing halter top

re·veal·ment [ri-'vēl-mənt] -n

  1. an act of revealing

re·veg·e·tate [(,)rē-'ve-jə-,tāt] -vt, n

  1. to provide (barren or denuded land) with a new vegetative cover

rev·eil·le ['re-və-lē, Brit ri-'va-li or -'ve-] -n

  1. a signal to get up mornings
  2. a bugle call at about sunrise signaling the first military formation of the day
  3. the formation so signaled

rev·el ['re-vəl] -vi

  1. to take part in a revel : carouse
  2. to take intense pleasure or satisfaction
    • revel ed in the quiet after everyone had gone

revel -n

  1. a usu. wild party or celebration

rev·e·la·tion [,re-və-'lā-shən] -n

  1. an act of revealing or communicating divine truth
  2. something that is revealed by God to humans
  3. an act of revealing to view or making known
  4. something that is revealed
  5. an enlightening or astonishing disclosure
    • shocking revelation s
  6. a pleasant often enlightening surprise
    • her talent was a revelation
  7. an apocalyptic writing addressed to early Christians of Asia Minor and included as a book in the New Testament called also Apocalypse

Rev·e·la·tions [-shənz] -n pl but sing in constr

  1. revelation

rev·e·la·tor ['re-və-,lā-tər] -n

  1. one that reveals
  2. one that reveals the will of God

re·ve·la·to·ry ['re-və-lə-,tȯr-ē, ri-'ve-lə-] -adj

  1. of or relating to revelation : serving to reveal something

rev·el·er ['re-və-lər, 'rev-lər] -n

  1. one who engages in revelry

rev·el·ry ['re-vəl-rē] -n

  1. noisy partying or merrymaking

rev·e·nant ['re-və-,näⁿ, -nənt] -n, adj

  1. one that returns after death or a long absence

re·venge [ri-'venj] -vt, n

  1. to avenge (as oneself) usu. by retaliating in kind or degree
  2. to inflict injury in return for
    • revenge an insult

revenge -n

  1. a desire for revenge
    • motivated by revenge
  2. an act or instance of retaliating in order to get even
    • plotted her revenge
  3. an opportunity for getting satisfaction
    • sought revenge through a rematch

re·venge·ful [ri-'venj-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. full of or prone to revenge : determined to get even

rev·e·nue ['re-və-,nü, -,nyü] -n

  1. the total income produced by a given source
    • a property expected to yield a large annual revenue
  2. the gross income returned by an investment
  3. the yield of sources of income (as taxes) that a political unit (as a nation or state) collects and receives into the treasury for public use
  4. a government department concerned with the collection of the national revenue

revenue bond -n

  1. a bond issued by a public agency authorized to build, acquire, or improve a revenue-producing property (as a toll road) and payable out of revenue derived from such property

revenue cutter -n

  1. an armed government vessel employed esp. to enforce revenue laws

rev·e·nu·er ['re-və-,nü-ər, -,nyü-] -n

  1. a revenue department officer

revenue stamp -n

  1. a stamp (as on a cigar box) for use as evidence of payment of a tax

revenue tariff -n

  1. a tariff intended wholly or primarily to produce public revenue

re·verb [ri-'vərb, 'rē-,] -n

  1. an electronically produced echo effect in recorded music
  2. a device for producing reverb

re·ver·ber·ant [ri-'vər-b(ə-)rənt] -adj, adv

  1. tending to reverberate
  2. marked by reverberation : resonant

re·ver·ber·ate [-bə-,rāt] -vb

  1. reflect
  2. repel
  3. echo
  4. to become driven back
  5. to become reflected
  6. to continue in or as if in a series of echoes : resound
    • an historic event that still reverberate s today
  7. reverberant

re·ver·ber·a·tion [ri-,vər-bə-'rā-shən] -n

  1. an act of reverberating : the state of being reverberated
  2. something that is reverberated
  3. an effect or impact that resembles an echo

re·ver·ber·a·tive [ri-'vər-bə-,rā-tiv, -b(ə-)rə-] -adj

  1. constituting reverberation
  2. tending to reverberate : reverberant

re·ver·ber·a·to·ry [ri-'vər-b(ə-)rə-,tȯr-ē, -bə-,tȯr-] -adj

  1. acting by reverberation

reverberatory furnace -n

  1. a furnace in which heat is radiated from the roof onto the material treated

re·vere [ri-'vir] -vt

  1. to show devoted deferential honor to : regard as worthy of great honor
    • revere the aged
    • revere tradition

revere -n

  1. revers

rev·er·ence ['rev-rən(t)s, 're-və-; 're-vərn(t)s] -n

  1. honor or respect felt or shown : deference
  2. profound adoring awed respect
  3. a gesture of respect (as a bow)
  4. the state of being revered
  5. one held in reverence used as a title for a clergyman

reverence -vt, n

  1. to regard or treat with reverence

rev·er·end ['rev-rənd, 're-və-; 're-vərnd] -adj

  1. worthy of reverence : revered
  2. of or relating to the clergy
  3. being a member of the clergy used as a title
    • the Reverend Mr. Doe
    • the Reverend John Doe
    • the Reverend Mrs. Jane Doe

reverend -n

  1. a member of the clergy sometimes used in pl. as a title

rev·er·ent ['rev-rənt, 're-və-; 're-vərnt] -adj, adv

  1. expressing or characterized by reverence : worshipful

rev·er·en·tial [,re-və-'ren(t)-shəl] -adj, adv

  1. expressing or having a quality of reverence
    • reverential awe
  2. inspiring reverence

rev·er·ie ['re-və-rē, 'rev-rē] -n

  1. daydream
  2. the condition of being lost in thought

re·vers [ri-'vir, -'ver] -n

  1. a lapel esp. on a woman's garment

re·ver·sal [ri-'vər-səl] -n

  1. an act or the process of reversing
  2. a conversion of a photographic positive into a negative or vice versa
  3. a change (as of fortune) often for the worse

re·verse [ri-'vərs] -adj, adv

  1. opposite or contrary to a previous or normal condition
    • reverse order
  2. having the back presented to the observer or opponent
  3. made with one's back to the basketball net
    • a reverse layup
  4. coming from the rear of a military force
  5. acting, operating, or arranged in a manner contrary to the usual
  6. effecting reverse movement
    • reverse gear
  7. so made that the part which normally prints in color appears white against a colored background

reverse -vb, n

  1. to turn completely about in position or direction
  2. to turn upside down : invert
  3. to cause to take an opposite point of view
    • reversed herself on the issue
  4. : negate, undo: as
  5. to overthrow, set aside, or make void (a legal decision) by a contrary decision
  6. to change to the contrary
    • reverse a policy
  7. to undo or negate the effect of (as a condition or surgical operation)
    • had his vasectomy reversed
  8. to cause to go in the opposite direction
  9. to cause (as an engine) to perform its action in the opposite direction
  10. to turn or move in the opposite direction
    • the count's waltzing...consisted...of reversing at top speed -- Agatha Christie
  11. to put a mechanism (as an engine) in reverse
  12. something directly contrary to something else : opposite
  13. an act or instance of reversing
  14. defeat, setback
    • suffered financial reverse s
  15. the back part of something
  16. the side of a coin or currency note that is opposite the obverse
  17. a gear that reverses something
  18. the whole mechanism brought into play when such a gear is used
  19. movement in reverse
  20. an offensive play in football in which a back moving in one direction gives the ball to a player moving in the opposite direction

reverse discrimination -n

  1. discrimination against whites or males (as in employment or education)

reverse engineer -vt, n

  1. to disassemble and examine or analyze in detail (as a product or device) to discover the concepts involved in manufacture usu. in order to produce something similar

reverse mortgage -n

  1. a mortgage that allows esp. an elderly person to convert home equity into available funds through a line of credit, cash advance, or periodic disbursements to be repaid with interest usu. when the borrower dies, moves, or sells the home

reverse osmosis -n

  1. the movement of freshwater through a semipermeable membrane when pressure is applied to a solution (as seawater) on one side of it

reverse Polish notation -n

  1. a system of representing mathematical and logical operations in which the operands precede the operator and which does not require the use of parentheses
    • (3 + 5) (2 + 1) in reverse Polish notation is expressed as 3 5 + 2 1 +
    called also postfix notation

reverse tran·scrip·tase [-,tran-'skrip-(,)tās, -(,)tāz] -n

  1. a polymerase esp. of retroviruses that catalyzes the formation of DNA using RNA as a template

reverse transcription -n

  1. the process of synthesizing DNA using RNA as a template and reverse transcriptase as a catalyst

re·vers·ible [ri-'vər-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. : capable of being reversed or of reversing: as
  2. capable of going through a series of actions (as changes) either backward or forward
    • a reversible chemical reaction
  3. having two finished usable sides
    • reversible fabric
  4. wearable with either side out
    • a reversible coat

reversible -n

  1. a reversible cloth or article of clothing

re·ver·sion [ri-'vər-zhən, -shən] -n

  1. the part of a simple estate remaining in the control of its owner after the owner has granted therefrom a lesser particular estate
  2. a future interest in property left in the control of a grantor or the grantor's successor
  3. the right of succession or future possession or enjoyment
  4. an act or the process of returning (as to a former condition)
  5. a return toward an ancestral type or condition : reappearance of an ancestral character
  6. an act or instance of turning the opposite way : the state of being so turned
  7. a product of reversion
  8. an organism with an atavistic character : throwback

re·ver·sion·al [-'vərzh-nəl, -'vərsh-; -'vər-zhə-nᵊl, -shə-] -adj

  1. reversionary

re·ver·sion·ary [-'vər-zhə-,ner-ē, -shə-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, constituting, or involving esp. a legal reversion

re·ver·sion·er [-'vərzh-nər, -'vərsh-; -'vər-zhə-nər, -shə-] -n

  1. one that has or is entitled to a reversion
  2. one having a vested right to a future estate

re·vert [ri-'vərt] -vi, n, adj

  1. to come or go back (as to a former condition, period, or subject)
  2. to return to the proprietor or his or her heirs at the end of a reversion
  3. to return to an ancestral type

re·ver·tant [ri-'vər-tᵊnt] -n, adj

  1. a mutant gene, individual, or strain that regains a former capability (as the production of a particular protein) by undergoing further mutation
    • yeast revertant s

re·vest [(,)rē-'vest] -vt

  1. reinstate, reinvest

re·vet [ri-'vet] -vt

  1. to face (as an embankment) with a revetment

re·vet·ment [-'vet-mənt] -n

  1. a facing (as of stone or concrete) to sustain an embankment
  2. embankment
  3. a barricade to provide shelter (as against bomb fragments or strafing)

re·view [ri-'vyü] -n

  1. a formal military inspection
  2. a military ceremony honoring a person or an event
  3. revision
  4. a general survey (as of the events of a period)
  5. an act or the process of reviewing
  6. judicial reexamination (as of the proceedings of a lower tribunal by a higher)
  7. a critical evaluation (as of a book or play)
  8. a magazine devoted chiefly to reviews and essays
  9. a retrospective view or survey (as of one's life)
  10. renewed study of material previously studied
  11. an exercise facilitating such study
  12. revue
  13. to view or see again
  14. to examine or study again
  15. to reexamine judicially
  16. to look back on : take a retrospective view of
    • review the past
  17. to go over or examine critically or deliberately
    • review ed the results of the study
  18. to give a critical evaluation of
    • review a novel
  19. to hold a review of
    • review troops
  20. to study material again : make a review
    • review for a test
  21. to write reviews

re·view·er [ri-'vyü-ər] -n

  1. one that reviews
  2. a writer of critical reviews

re·vile [ri-'vī(-ə)l] -vb, n

  1. to subject to verbal abuse : vituperate
  2. to use abusive language : rail

re·vis·al [ri-'vī-zəl] -n

  1. an act of revising : revision

re·vise ['rē-,vīz, ri-'] -n

  1. an act of revising : revision
  2. a printing proof that incorporates changes marked in a previous proof
  3. to look over again in order to correct or improve
    • revise a manuscript
  4. to study again : review
  5. to make a new, amended, improved, or up-to-date version of
    • revise a dictionary
  6. to provide with a new taxonomic arrangement
    • revising the alpine ferns
  7. review

Revised Standard Version -n

  1. a revision of the American Standard Version of the Bible published in 1946 and 1952

Revised Version -n

  1. a British revision of the Authorized Version of the Bible published in 1881 and 1885

re·vi·sion [ri-'vi-zhən] -n, adj

  1. an act of revising
  2. a result of revising : alteration
  3. a revised version

re·vi·sion·ism [ri-'vi-zhə-,ni-zəm] -n, n or adj

  1. a movement in revolutionary Marxian socialism favoring an evolutionary rather than a revolutionary spirit
  2. advocacy of revision (as of a doctrine or policy or in historical analysis)

re·vis·it [(,)rē-'vi-zət] -vt

  1. to visit again : return to
    • revisit the old neighborhood
  2. to consider or take up again
    • reluctant to revisit past disputes

revisit -n

  1. a second or subsequent visit

re·vi·so·ry [ri-'vī-zə-rē, -'vīz-rē] -adj

  1. having the power or purpose to revise
    • a revisory committee
    • a revisory function

re·vi·tal·ise [(,)rē-'vī-tə-,līz] -vt, n

(variant of revitalize)

  1. to give new life or vigor to

re·vi·tal·ize [(,)rē-'vī-tə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to give new life or vigor to

re·viv·al [ri-'vī-vəl] -n

  1. : an act or instance of reviving : the state of being revived: as
  2. renewed attention to or interest in something
  3. a new presentation or publication of something old
  4. a period of renewed religious interest
  5. an often highly emotional evangelistic meeting or series of meetings
  6. restoration of force, validity, or effect (as to a contract)

re·viv·al·ism [-'vī-və-,li-zəm] -n

  1. the spirit or methods characteristic of religious revivals
  2. a tendency or desire to revive or restore

re·viv·al·ist [-'vī-və-list, -'vīv-list] -n, adj

  1. one who conducts religious revivals
  2. a member of the clergy who travels about to conduct revivals
  3. one who revives or restores something disused

re·vive [ri-'vīv] -vb, adj, n

  1. to return to consciousness or life : become active or flourishing again
  2. to restore to consciousness or life
  3. to restore from a depressed, inactive, or unused state : bring back
  4. to renew in the mind or memory

re·viv·i·fy [rē-'vi-və-,fī] -vt, n

  1. to give new life to : revive

re·vi·vis·cence [,rē-,vī-'vi-sᵊn(t)s, ri-] -n, adj

  1. an act of reviving : the state of being revived

rev·o·ca·ble ['re-və-kə-bəl also ri-'vō-] -adj

  1. capable of being revoked
    • a revocable privilege

rev·o·ca·tion [,re-və-'kā-shən; ri-,vō-, ,rē-] -n

  1. an act or instance of revoking

re·voke [ri-'vōk] -vb, n

  1. to annul by recalling or taking back : rescind
    • revoke a will
  2. to bring or call back
  3. to fail to follow suit when able in a card game in violation of the rules

revoke -n

  1. an act or instance of revoking in a card game

re·volt [ri-'vōlt also -'vȯlt] -vb, n

  1. to renounce allegiance or subjection (as to a government) : rebel
  2. to experience disgust or shock
  3. to turn away with disgust
  4. to cause to turn away or shrink with disgust or abhorrence

revolt -n

  1. a renouncing of allegiance (as to a government or party)
  2. a determined armed uprising
  3. a movement or expression of vigorous dissent

re·volt·ing [ri-'vōl-tiŋ also -'vȯl-] -adj, adv

  1. extremely offensive
    • revolting behavior
    • a revolting odor

rev·o·lute ['re-və-,lüt] -adj

  1. rolled backward or downward
    • a leaf with revolute margins

rev·o·lu·tion [,re-və-'lü-shən] -n

  1. the action by a celestial body of going round in an orbit or elliptical course
  2. apparent movement of such a body round the earth
  3. the time taken by a celestial body to make a complete round in its orbit
  4. the rotation of a celestial body on its axis
  5. completion of a course (as of years)
  6. the period made by the regular succession of a measure of time or by a succession of similar events
  7. a progressive motion of a body around an axis so that any line of the body parallel to the axis returns to its initial position while remaining parallel to the axis in transit and usu. at a constant distance from it
  8. motion of any figure about a center or axis
    • revolution of a right triangle about one of its legs generates a cone
  9. rotation
  10. a sudden, radical, or complete change
  11. a fundamental change in political organization
  12. the overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the substitution of another by the governed
  13. activity or movement designed to effect fundamental changes in the socioeconomic situation
  14. a fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something : a change of paradigm
    • the Copernican revolution
  15. a changeover in use or preference esp. in technology
    • the computer revolution
    • the foreign car revolution

rev·o·lu·tion·ary [-shə-,ner-ē] -adj, adv, n

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a revolution
    • revolutionary war
  2. tending to or promoting revolution
  3. constituting or bringing about a major or fundamental change
    • a revolutionary new product
  4. of or relating to the American Revolution or to the period in which it occurred

revolutionary -n

  1. one engaged in a revolution
  2. an advocate or adherent of revolutionary doctrines

rev·o·lu·tion·ise [-shə-,nīz] -vb, n

(variant of revolutionize)

  1. to overthrow the established government of
  2. to imbue with revolutionary doctrines
  3. to change fundamentally or completely
    • revolutionize an industry
  4. to engage in revolution

rev·o·lu·tion·ist [,re-və-'lü-sh(ə-)nist] -n, adj

  1. revolutionary

rev·o·lu·tion·ize [-shə-,nīz] -vb, n

  1. to overthrow the established government of
  2. to imbue with revolutionary doctrines
  3. to change fundamentally or completely
    • revolutionize an industry
  4. to engage in revolution

re·volve [ri-'välv, -'vȯlv also -'väv or -'vȯv] -vb, adj

  1. to turn over at length in the mind : ponder
    • revolve a scheme
  2. to cause to go round in an orbit
  3. rotate
  4. recur
  5. to ponder something
  6. to remain under consideration
    • ideas revolved in his mind
  7. to move in a curved path round a center or axis
  8. to turn or roll round on an axis
  9. to have or come to a specified focus : center usu. used with around
    • the dispute revolved around wages

re·volv·er [ri-'väl-vər, -'vȯl- also -'vä-vər or -'vȯ-vər] -n

  1. one that revolves
  2. a handgun with a cylinder of several chambers brought successively into line with the barrel and discharged with the same hammer

revolving -adj

  1. tending to revolve or recur
  2. recurrently available
  3. of, relating to, or being credit that may be used repeatedly up to the specified limit and is usu. repaid in regular proportional installments
  4. turning around on or as if on an axis
    • a revolving platform

revolvingdoor -adj

  1. characterized by a frequent succession (as of personnel) or a cycle of leaving and returning
    • revolvingdoor governments

revolving door -n

  1. a revolving-door system or process

revolving fund -n

  1. a fund set up for specified purposes with the proviso that repayments to the fund may be used again for these purposes

re·vue [ri-'vyü] -n

  1. a theatrical production consisting typically of brief loosely connected often satirical skits, songs, and dances

re·vulsed [ri-'vəlst] -adj

  1. affected with or having undergone revulsion

re·vul·sion [ri-'vəl-shən] -n, adj

  1. a strong pulling or drawing away : withdrawal
  2. a sudden or strong reaction or change
  3. a sense of utter distaste or repugnance

revved ['rev] -n

(variant of rev)

  1. a revolution of a motor
  2. revolution per minute usu. used in pl.
  3. to step up the number of revolutions per minute of often used with up
    • rev up the engine
  4. increase used with up
    • rev up production
  5. to drive or operate esp. at high speed often used with up
  6. to make more active or effective used with up
    • revving up the economy
  7. to stir up : excite usu. used with up
    • revved up the kids before bedtime
  8. to operate at an increased speed of revolution usu. used with up
  9. to increase in amount or activity usu. used with up
    • the campaign revved up
  10. to become more excited esp. in anticipation usu. used with up
    • the partygoers were revving up
  11. revenue
  12. reverse
  13. review; reviewed
  14. revised; revision
  15. revolution

revving ['rev] -n

(variant of rev)

  1. a revolution of a motor
  2. revolution per minute usu. used in pl.
  3. to step up the number of revolutions per minute of often used with up
    • rev up the engine
  4. increase used with up
    • rev up production
  5. to drive or operate esp. at high speed often used with up
  6. to make more active or effective used with up
    • revving up the economy
  7. to stir up : excite usu. used with up
    • revved up the kids before bedtime
  8. to operate at an increased speed of revolution usu. used with up
  9. to increase in amount or activity usu. used with up
    • the campaign revved up
  10. to become more excited esp. in anticipation usu. used with up
    • the partygoers were revving up
  11. revenue
  12. reverse
  13. review; reviewed
  14. revised; revision
  15. revolution

re·wake [(,)rē-'wāk] -vb

  1. to waken again or anew
  2. to become awake again

re·wak·en [(,)rē-'wā-kən] -vb

  1. rewake

re·ward [ri-'wȯrd] -vt, adj, n

  1. to give a reward to or for
  2. recompense

reward -n

  1. something that is given in return for good or evil done or received or that is offered or given for some service or attainment
    • the police offered a reward for his capture
  2. a stimulus administered to an organism following a correct or desired response that increases the probability of occurrence of the response

re·ward·ing [-'wȯr-diŋ] -adj, adv

  1. yielding or likely to yield a reward : valuable, satisfying
    • a rewarding experience
  2. serving as a reward
    • a rewarding smile of thanks

re·wind [(,)rē-'wīnd] -vt

  1. to wind again
  2. to reverse the winding of (as film)
  3. something that rewinds or is rewound
  4. an act of rewinding
  5. a function of an electronic device that reverses a recording to a previous portion

re·word [(,)rē-'wərd] -vt

  1. to repeat in the same words
  2. to alter the wording of
  3. to restate in other words

re·work [(,)rē-'wərk] -vt

  1. : to work again or anew: as
  2. revise
  3. to reprocess (as used material) for further use

re·write [(,)rē-'rīt] -vb, n

  1. to write in reply
  2. : to make a revision of (as a story) : cause to be revised: as
  3. to put (contributed material) into form for publication
  4. to alter (previously published material) for use in another publication
  5. to revise something previously written
  6. a piece of writing (as a news story) constructed by rewriting
  7. an act or instance of rewriting

re·write man ['rē-,rīt-,man] -n

  1. a newspaperman who specializes in rewriting

re·write rule ['rē-,rīt-] -n

  1. a rule in a grammar which specifies the constituents of a single symbol

rex ['reks] -n

  1. an animal (as a domestic rabbit or cat) showing a genetic recessive variation in which the guard hairs are very short, sparse, or entirely lacking

rex sole -n

  1. a flounder ( Errex zachirussyn. Glyptocephalus zachirus) with both eyes on the right side that is an important food fish occurring from the Bering Sea to Baja California

Reye's syndrome ['rīz-, 'rāz-] -n

  1. an often fatal encephalopathy esp. of childhood characterized by fever, vomiting, fatty infiltration of the liver, and swelling of the kidneys and brain called also Reye syndrome

rey·nard ['rā-nərd, 're-, -,när(d)] -n

  1. fox

Rey·nolds number ['re-nᵊldz-] -n

  1. a number characteristic of the flow of a fluid in a pipe or past an obstruction