r ['är] -n
- the 18th letter of the English alphabet
- a graphic representation of this letter
- a speech counterpart of orthographic r
- a graphic device for reproducing the letter r
- one designated resp. as the 18th in order or class
- something shaped like the letter R
- radius
- rain
- range
- rare
- real
- recto
- red
- repeat
- rerun
- resistance
- right
- roentgen
- rook
- rough
- run
R -abbr
- rabbi
- radial
- radical used esp. of a monovalent hydrocarbon radical
- Rankine
- Reaumur
- recipe
- registered trademark often enclosed in a circle
- regular
- Republican
- river
- R-value
- used to certify that a motion picture is of such a nature that admission is restricted to persons over a specified age (as 17) unless accompanied by a parent or guardian
ra -abbr
- range
Ra ['rä] -n
- the Egyptian sun god and chief deity
- radium
RA -abbr
- regular army
- right ascension
- Royal Academician; Royal Academy
- residence assistant; resident assistant
- research assistant
RAAF -abbr
- Royal Australian Air Force
rab·bet ['ra-bət] -n
- a channel, groove, or recess cut out of the edge or face of a surface
- one intended to receive another member (as a panel)
rabbet -vt
- to unite the edges of in a rabbet joint
- to cut a rabbet in
- to become joined by a rabbet
rabbet joint -n
- a joint formed by fitting together rabbeted boards or timbers
rab·bi ['ra-,bī] -n
- master, teacher used by Jews as a term of address
- a Jew qualified to expound and apply the halacha and other Jewish law
- a Jew trained and ordained for professional religious leadership
- the official leader of a Jewish congregation
rab·bin ['ra-bən] -n
- rabbi
rab·bin·ate ['ra-bə-nət, -,nāt] -n
- the office or tenure of a rabbi
- the whole body of rabbis
rab·bin·ic [rə-'bi-nik, ra-] -adj, adv
- of or relating to rabbis or their writings
- of or preparing for the rabbinate
- comprising or belonging to any of several sets of Hebrew characters simpler than the square Hebrew letters
Rabbinic Hebrew -n
- the Hebrew used esp. by medieval rabbis
rab·bin·ism ['ra-bə-,ni-zəm] -n
- rabbinic teachings and traditions
rab·bit ['ra-bət] -n, adj
- : any of a family (Leporidae) of long-eared short-tailed lagomorph mammals with long hind legs:
- any of various lagomorphs that are born furless, blind, and helpless, that are sometimes gregarious, and that include esp. the cottontails of the New World and a small Old World mammal ( Oryctolagus cuniculus) that is the source of various domestic breeds
- hare
- the pelt of a rabbit
- welsh rabbit
- a figure of a rabbit sped mechanically along the edge of a dog track as an object of pursuit
- a runner in a long-distance race who sets a fast pace for the field in the first part of the race
rabbit -vi, n
- to hunt rabbits
rab·bit·brush ['ra-bət-,brəsh] -n
- any of several low branching composite shrubs (genus Chrysothamnusand esp. C. nauseosus) of the alkali plains of western No. America that are characterized by linear entire leaves and clusters of golden-yellow or white flowers
rabbiteared bandicoot -n
- bilby
rabbit ears -n pl
- an indoor dipole television antenna consisting of two usu. extensible rods connected to a base to form a V shape
rabbit fever -n
- tularemia
rabbit hole -n
- a bizarre or difficult state or situation usu. used in the phrase down the rabbit hole
rabbit punch -n, vt
- a short chopping blow delivered to the back of the neck or the base of the skull
rab·bit·ry ['ra-bə-trē] -n
- a place where domestic rabbits are kept
- a rabbit-raising enterprise
rabbit warren -n
- warren
- warren
rab·ble ['ra-bəl] -n
- a disorganized or confused collection of things
- a disorganized or disorderly crowd of people : mob
- the lowest class of people
rabble [-b(ə-)liŋ] -vt
- to insult or assault by or as a mob
rab·ble·ment ['ra-bəl-mənt] -n
- rabble
- disturbance
rab·blerous·er ['ra-bəl-,rau̇-zər] -n, n or adj
- one that stirs up (as to hatred or violence) the masses of the people : demagogue
Ra·be·lai·sian [,ra-bə-'lā-zhən, -zē-ən] -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of Rabelais or his works
- marked by gross robust humor, extravagance of caricature, or bold naturalism
Ra·bi ['rə-bē] -n
- : either of two months of the Islamic year:
- rabi al-awwal
- rabi al-thani
Ra·bi alAw·wal ['rə-bē-äl-ə-'wäl] -n
- the third month of the Islamic year
Ra·bi alTha·ni [-äl-tä-'nē] -n
- the fourth month of the Islamic year
ra·bic ['rā-bik] -adj
- of or relating to rabies
ra·bid ['ra-bəd also 'rā-] -adj, n, adv
- extremely violent : furious
- going to extreme lengths in expressing or pursuing a feeling, interest, or opinion
- affected with rabies
ra·bies ['rā-bēz] -n
- an acute virus disease of the nervous system of mammals that is caused by a rhabdovirus (species Rabies virusof the genus Lyssavirus) usu. transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal and that is characterized typically by increased salivation, abnormal behavior, and eventual paralysis and death when untreated
rac·coon [ra-'kün also rə-] -n
- a small nocturnal carnivore ( Procyon lotor) of No. America that is chiefly gray, has a black mask and bushy ringed tail, lives chiefly in trees, and has a varied diet including small animals, fruits, and nuts
- the pelt of this animal
- any of several animals resembling or related to the raccoon
raccoon dog -n
- a small omnivorous canid ( Nyctereutes procyonoides) of eastern Asia having a long yellowish-brown coat and facial markings resembling that of a raccoon called also tanuki
race ['rās] -n
- the act of running
- a strong or rapid current of water flowing through a narrow channel
- a watercourse used industrially
- the current flowing in such a course
- a set course or duration of time
- the course of life
- a contest of speed
- a meeting in which several races (as for horses) are run
- a contest or rivalry involving progress toward a goal
- a track or channel in which something rolls or slides
- a groove (as for the balls) in a bearing
- to compete in a race
- to go, move, or function at top speed or out of control
- struggled to sleep as his mind raced
- to revolve too fast under a diminished load
- to engage in a race with
- to enter in a race
- to drive or ride at high speed
- to transport or propel at maximum speed
- to speed (as an engine) without a working load or with the transmission disengaged
- a breeding stock of animals
- a family, tribe, people, or nation belonging to the same stock
- a class or kind of people unified by shared interests, habits, or characteristics
- an actually or potentially interbreeding group within a species
- a taxonomic category (as a subspecies) representing such a group
- breed
- a category of humankind that shares certain distinctive physical traits
- inherited temperament or disposition
- distinctive flavor, taste, or strength
racebait·ing ['rās-,bā-tiŋ] -n
- the making of verbal attacks against members of a racial group
race·course ['rās-,kȯrs] -n
- a course for racing
- raceway
race·horse [-,hȯrs] -n
- a horse bred or kept for racing
ra·ce·mate [rā-'sē-,māt, rə-; 'ra-sə-] -n
- a racemic compound or mixture
ra·ceme [rā-'sēm, rə-] -n
- a simple inflorescence (as in the lily of the valley) in which the flowers are borne on short stalks of about equal length at equal distances along an elongated axis and open in succession toward the apex
ra·ce·mic [-'sē-mik] -adj
- of, relating to, or constituting a compound or mixture that is composed of equal amounts of dextrorotatory and levorotatory forms of the same compound and is not optically active
ra·ce·mi·za·tion [rā-,sē-mə-'zā-shən, rə-; ,ra-sə-mə-] -n, vb
- the action or process of changing from an optically active compound into a racemic compound or mixture
ra·ce·mose ['ra-sə-,mōs; rā-'sē-, rə-] -adj
- having or growing in the form of a raceme
rac·er ['rā-sər] -n
- one that races or is used for racing
- : any of various active American colubrid snakes (genus Coluberand Mastigophis): as
- black racer
- blue racer
race riot -n
- a riot caused by racial dissensions or hatreds
race runner -n
- a swift No. American lizard ( Cnemidophorus sexlineatus) that has six narrow stripes down the back
race·track ['rās-,trak] -n
- a usu. oval course for racing
race·track·er [-,tra-kər] -n
- one who frequents a racetrack
race·walk·ing [-,wȯ-kiŋ] -n, vi
- the competitive sport of racing at a fast walk while maintaining continuous foot contact with the ground and keeping the supporting leg straight
race·way [-,wā] -n
- a canal for a current of water
- a channel for loosely holding electrical wires in buildings
- race
- a course for racing
Ra·chel ['rā-chəl] -n
- a wife of Jacob and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin
rachet ['ra-chət] -n
(variant of ratchet)
- a mechanism that consists of a bar or wheel having inclined teeth into which a pawl drops so that motion can be imparted to the wheel or bar, governed, or prevented and that is used in a hand tool (as a wrench or screwdriver) to allow effective motion in one direction only
- a pawl or detent for holding or propelling a toothed wheel
ra·chis ['rā-kəs, 'ra-] -n
- : an axial structure: as
- the elongated axis of an inflorescence
- an extension of the petiole of a compound leaf that bears the leaflets
- the distal part of the shaft of a feather that bears the web
- spinal column
ra·chit·ic [rə-'ki-tik] -adj
- rickety
ra·cial ['rā-shəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or based on a race
- existing or occurring between races
ra·cial·ism ['rā-shə-,li-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj
- a theory that race determines human traits and capacities
- racism
ra·cial·ize ['rā-shə-,līz] -vt
- to give a racial character to
racing -n
- the sport or profession of engaging in or holding races
racing form -n
- an information sheet giving details of past performance (as for racehorses) for use by bettors
ra·ci·no [rə-'sē-(,)nō] -n
- a racetrack at which slot machines are available for gamblers
rac·ism ['rā-,si-zəm also -,shi-] -n, n or adj
- a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
- racial prejudice or discrimination
rack ['rak] -n
- a wind-driven mass of high often broken clouds
- to fly or scud in high wind
- a framework for holding fodder for livestock
- an instrument of torture on which a body is stretched
- a cause of anguish or pain
- acute suffering
- the action of straining or wrenching
- a framework, stand, or grating on or in which articles are placed
- a bar with teeth on one face for gearing with a pinion or worm gear to transform rotary motion to linear motion or vice versa (as in an automobile steering mechanism)
- a notched bar used as a ratchet to engage with a pawl, click, or detent
- a pair of antlers
- a triangular frame used to set up the balls in a pool game
- the balls as set up
- bed, sack
- to torture on the rack
- to cause to suffer torture, pain, anguish, or ruin
- to stretch or strain violently
- to raise (rents) oppressively
- to harass or oppress with high rents or extortions
- to work or treat (material) on a rack
- to work by a rack and pinion or worm so as to extend or contract
- to seize (as parallel ropes of a tackle) together
- to place (as pool balls) in a rack
- to become forced out of shape or out of plumb
- to draw off (as wine) from the lees
- to go at a rack
- : either of two gaits of a horse:
- pace
- a fast showy 4-beat gait
- the neck and spine of a forequarter of veal, pork, or esp. mutton
- the rib section of a lamb's forequarters used for chops or as a roast
- destruction
rack·et ['ra-kət] -n
- a lightweight implement that consists of a netting (as of nylon) stretched in a usu. oval open frame with a handle attached and that is used for striking the ball or shuttlecock in various games (as tennis, racquets, or badminton)
- a game for two or four players with ball and racket on a 4-walled court
racket -n
- confused clattering noise : clamor
- social whirl or excitement
- the strain of exciting or trying experiences
- a fraudulent scheme, enterprise, or activity
- a usu. illegitimate enterprise made workable by bribery or intimidation
- an easy and lucrative means of livelihood
- occupation, business
- to engage in active social life
- to move with or make a racket
rack·e·teer [,ra-kə-'tir] -n
- one who obtains money by an illegal enterprise usu. involving intimidation
racketeer -vi
- to carry on a racket
- to extort money from
rack·ety ['ra-kə-tē] -adj
- noisy
- rowdy
- rickety
rack·le ['ra-kəl] -adj
- impetuous
rack railway -n
- a railway having between its rails a rack that meshes with a gear wheel or pinion of the locomotive for traction on steep grades
rackrent -vt
- to subject to rack rent
rack rent -n
- an excessive or unreasonably high rent
- the highest rent that can be earned on a property
rackrent·er ['rak-,ren-tər] -n
- one that pays or exacts rack rent
rack up -vt
- achieve, gain
- racked up their 10th victory
ra·clette [ra-'klet, rä-] -n
- a Swiss dish consisting of cheese melted over a fire and then scraped onto bread or boiled potatoes
- the cheese used in this dish
ra·con ['rā-,kän] -n
- radar beacon
ra·con·teur [,ra-,kän-'tər, -kən-] -n
- a person who excels in telling anecdotes
racoon [ra-'kün also rə-] -n
(variant of raccoon)
- a small nocturnal carnivore ( Procyon lotor) of No. America that is chiefly gray, has a black mask and bushy ringed tail, lives chiefly in trees, and has a varied diet including small animals, fruits, and nuts
- the pelt of this animal
- any of several animals resembling or related to the raccoon
rac·quet·ball ['ra-kət-,bȯl] -n
- a game similar to handball that is played on a 4-walled court with a short-handled racket and a larger ball
- the ball used in this game
racy ['rā-sē] -adj, adv, n
- full of zest or vigor
- having a strongly marked quality : piquant
- risque, suggestive
- having the distinctive quality of something in its original or most characteristic form
- having a body fitted for racing : long-bodied and lean
rad ['rad] -n
- a unit of absorbed dose of ionizing radiation equal to an energy of 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material
- cool , radical
- radian
- radius
- radix
ra·dar ['rā-,där] -n
- a device or system consisting usu. of a synchronized radio transmitter and receiver that emits radio waves and processes their reflections for display and is used esp. for detecting and locating objects (as aircraft) or surface features (as of a planet)
- range of notice
- fell off the radar after losing their first three games
radar astronomy -n
- astronomy in which celestial bodies in the solar system are studied by analyzing the return of radio waves directed at them
radar beacon -n
- a radar transmitter that upon receiving a radar signal emits a signal which reinforces the normal reflected signal or which introduces a code into the reflected signal esp. for identification purposes
radar gun -n
- a handheld device that uses radar to measure the speed of a moving object
ra·dar·scope ['rā-,där-,skōp] -n
- the oscilloscope or screen serving as the visual indicator in a radar receiver
rad·dle ['ra-dᵊl] -n
- red ocher
raddle ['rad-liŋ, 'ra-dᵊl-iŋ] -vt
- to mark or paint with raddle
- to twist together : interweave
raddled -adj
- being in a state of confusion : lacking composure
- broken-down, worn
radi- -comb form
- radiant energy : radiation
- radioactive
- radium : X-rays
- radioactive isotopes esp. as produced artificially
- radio
- radius bone
ra·di·al ['rā-dē-əl] -adj, adv
- arranged or having parts arranged like rays
- relating to, placed like, or moving along a radius
- characterized by divergence from a center
- of, relating to, or adjacent to a bodily radius
- developing uniformly around a central axis
radial -n
- a radial part
- ray
- a body part (as an artery) lying near or following the course of the radius
- a pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the beads are laid at approximately 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread called also radial-ply tire radial tire
radial cleavage -n
- holoblastic cleavage that is typical of deuterostomes and that is characterized by arrangement of the blastomeres of each upper tier directly over those of the next lower tier resulting in radial symmetry around the pole to pole axis of the embryo
radial engine -n
- a usu. internal combustion engine with cylinders arranged radially like the spokes of a wheel
radial ker·a·tot·o·my [-,ker-ə-'tä-tə-mē] -n
- a surgical operation on the cornea for the correction of myopia that involves flattening it by making a series of incisions in a radial pattern resembling the spokes of a wheel
radial symmetry -n, adj
- the condition of having similar parts regularly arranged around a central axis
ra·di·an ['rā-dē-ən] -n
- a unit of plane angular measurement that is equal to the angle at the center of a circle subtended by an arc whose length equals the radius or approximately 57.3 degrees
ra·di·ance ['rā-dē-ən(t)s] -n
- the quality or state of being radiant
- a deep pink
- the flux density of radiant energy per unit solid angle and per unit projected area of radiating surface
ra·di·an·cy [-ən(t)-sē] -n
- radiance
ra·di·ant ['rā-dē-ənt] -adj, adv
- radiating rays or reflecting beams of light
- vividly bright and shining : glowing
- marked by or expressive of love, confidence, or happiness
- emitted or transmitted by radiation
- emitting or relating to radiant heat
radiant -n
- : something that radiates: as
- a point in the heavens at which the visible paths of meteors appear to meet when traced backward
- the part of a gas or electric heater that becomes incandescent
radiant energy -n
- energy traveling as electromagnetic waves
radiant flux -n
- the rate of emission or transmission of radiant energy
radiant heat -n
- heat transmitted by radiation as contrasted with that transmitted by conduction or convection
ra·di·ate ['rā-dē-,āt] -vb
- to proceed in a direct line from or toward a center
- to send out rays : shine brightly
- to issue in or as if in rays
- to evolve by adaptive radiation
- to send out in or as if in rays
- irradiate, illuminate
- to spread abroad or around as if from a center
- : having rays or radial parts: as
- having ray flowers
- characterized by radial symmetry : radially symmetrical
ra·di·a·tion [,rā-dē-'ā-shən] -n, adj
- the action or process of radiating
- the process of emitting radiant energy in the form of waves or particles
- the combined processes of emission, transmission, and absorption of radiant energy
- the transfer of heat by radiation
- something that is radiated
- energy radiated in the form of waves or particles
- radial arrangement
- adaptive radiation
- radiator
radiation sickness -n
- sickness that results from exposure to radiation and is commonly marked by fatigue, nausea, vomiting, loss of teeth and hair, and in more severe cases by damage to blood-forming tissue with decrease in red and white blood cells and with bleeding
radiation therapy -n
- radiotherapy
ra·di·a·tor ['rā-dē-,ā-tər, dial 'ra-] -n
- : one that radiates: as
- any of various devices (as a series of pipes or tubes) for transferring heat from a fluid within to an area or object outside
- a transmitting antenna
rad·i·cal ['ra-di-kəl] -adj, n
- : of, relating to, or proceeding from a root: as
- of or growing from the root of a plant
- growing from the base of a stem, from a rootlike stem, or from a stem that does not rise above the ground
- of, relating to, or constituting a linguistic root
- of or relating to a mathematical root
- designed to remove the root of a disease or all diseased and potentially diseased tissue
- of or relating to the origin : fundamental
- marked by a considerable departure from the usual or traditional : extreme
- tending or disposed to make extreme changes in existing views, habits, conditions, or institutions
- of, relating to, or constituting a political group associated with views, practices, and policies of extreme change
- advocating extreme measures to retain or restore a political state of affairs
- excellent, cool
radical -n
- a root part
- a basic principle : foundation
- root
- a sound or letter belonging to a radical
- one who is radical
- free radical
- a group of atoms bonded together that is considered an entity in various kinds of reactions or as a subunit of a larger molecule
- a mathematical expression indicating a root by means of a radical sign
- radical sign
radical chic -n
- a fashionable practice among socially prominent people of associating with radicals or members of minority groups
rad·i·cal·ise [-kə-,līz] -vt, n
(variant of radicalize)
- to make radical esp. in politics
rad·i·cal·ism ['ra-di-kə-,li-zəm] -n
- the quality or state of being radical
- the doctrines or principles of radicals
rad·i·cal·ize [-kə-,līz] -vt, n
- to make radical esp. in politics
rad·i·cal·ly ['ra-di-k(ə-)lē] -adv
- in origin or essence
- in a radical or extreme manner
radical sign -n
- the sign or placed before an expression to denote that the square root is to be extracted or that the root marked by an index (as in or for the cube root) is to be extracted
rad·i·cand [,ra-də-'kand] -n
- the quantity under a radical sign
ra·dic·chio [ra-'di-kē-ō] -n
- a chicory of a red variety with variegated leaves that is used as a salad green
radices ['rā-diks] -n
(variant of radix)
- the base of a number system or of logarithms
- the primary source
rad·i·cle ['ra-di-kəl] -n
- : the lower part of the axis of a plant embryo or seedling:
- the embryonic root of a seedling
- hypocotyl
- the hypocotyl and the root together
- radical
ra·dic·u·lar [rə-'di-kyə-lər, ra-] -adj
- of or relating to a plant radicle
- of, relating to, or involving a nerve root
radii ['rā-dē-əs] -n
(variant of radius)
- a line segment extending from the center of a circle or sphere to the circumference or bounding surface
- the bone on the thumb side of the human forearm
- a corresponding part of vertebrates above fishes
- the third and usu. largest vein of an insect's wing
- the length of a radius
- a truck with a short turning radius
- the circular area defined by a stated radius
- a bounded or circumscribed area
- a radial part
- the distance from a center line or point to an axis of rotation
ra·dio ['rā-dē-,ō] -adj
- of, relating to, or operated by radiant energy
- of or relating to electric currents or phenomena (as electromagnetic radiation) of frequencies between about 3000 hertz and 300 gigahertz
- of, relating to, or used in radio or a radio set
- specializing in radio or associated with the radio industry
- transmitted by radio
- making or participating in radio broadcasts
- controlled or directed by radio
radio -n
- the wireless transmission and reception of electric impulses or signals by means of electromagnetic waves
- the use of these waves for the wireless transmission of electric impulses into which sound is converted
- a radio message
- a radio receiving set
- a radio transmitting station
- a radio broadcasting organization
- the radio broadcasting industry
- communication by radio
- to send or communicate by radio
- to send a radio message to
- to send or communicate something by radio
ra·dio·ac·tive [,rā-dē-ō-'ak-tiv] -adj, adv
- of, caused by, or exhibiting radioactivity
ra·dio·ac·tiv·i·ty [-ak-'ti-və-tē] -n
- the property possessed by some elements (as uranium) or isotopes (as carbon 14) of spontaneously emitting energetic particles (as electrons or alpha particles) by the disintegration of their atomic nuclei
- the rays emitted
ra·dio·al·ler·go·sor·bent [,rā-dē-ō-ə-,lər-gō-'sȯr-bənt] -adj
- relating to or being a blood analysis that tests for allergen-specific antibodies of the immunoglobulin class IgE and is used to detect allergic reactions
radio astronomy -n, adj
- astronomy dealing with radio waves received from outside the earth's atmosphere
ra·dio·au·to·graph [,rā-dē-ō-'ȯ-tə-,graf] -n, adj
- autoradiograph
radio beacon -n
- a radio transmitting station that transmits special radio signals for use (as on a landing field) in determining the direction or position of those receiving them
ra·dio·bi·ol·o·gy [,rā-dē-ō-bī-'ä-lə-jē] -n, adj, adv
- a branch of biology dealing with the effects of radiation or radioactive materials on biological systems
radio car -n
- an automobile equipped with radio communication
ra·dio·car·bon [,rā-dē-ō-'kär-bən] -n
- radioactive carbon
- carbon 14
radiocarbon dating [-'dāt] -n, vt
- carbon dating
ra·dio·chem·is·try [,rā-dē-ō-'ke-mə-strē] -n, adj, adv
- a branch of chemistry dealing with radioactive substances and phenomena including tracer studies
ra·dio·chro·mato·gram [-krō-'ma-tə-,gram, -krə-] -n
- a chromatogram revealing one or more radioactive substances
radio collar -n, vt
- a collar with an attached radio transmitter that is put on an animal so that its movements in its natural habitat can be remotely monitored
radio compass -n
- a direction finder used in navigation
ra·dio·ecol·o·gy [,rā-dē-ō-i-'kä-lə-jē] -n
- the study of the effects of radiation and radioactive substances on ecological communities
ra·dio·el·e·ment [-'e-lə-mənt] -n
- a radioactive element
radio frequency -n
- any of the electromagnetic wave frequencies that lie in the range extending from below 3 kilohertz to about 300 gigahertz and that include the frequencies used for communications signals (as for radio and television broadcasting and cell-phone and satellite transmissions) or radar signals
radio galaxy -n
- a galaxy that is a powerful source of radio waves
ra·dio·gen·ic [,rā-dē-ō-'je-nik] -adj
- produced by or determined from radioactivity
ra·dio·gram ['rā-dē-ō-,gram] -n
- radiograph
- a message transmitted by radiotelegraphy
- a combined radio receiver and record player
ra·dio·graph [-,graf] -n, adj, adv
- a picture produced on a sensitive surface by a form of radiation other than visible light
- an X-ray or gamma ray photograph
radiograph [,rā-dē-'ä-grə-fər] -vt, n
- to make a radiograph of
ra·di·og·ra·phy [,rā-dē-'ä-grə-fē] -n
- the art, act, or process of making radiographs
ra·dio·im·mu·no·as·say [,rā-dē-,ō-i-myə-nō-'a-,sā, -i-,myü-, -a-'sā] -n, adj
- immunoassay of a substance that has been radioactively labeled
ra·dio·iso·tope [,rā-dē-ō-'ī-sə-,tōp] -n, adj, adv
- a radioactive isotope
ra·dio·la·bel [-'lā-bəl] -vt
- to label with a radioactive atom or substance
ra·di·o·lar·ia [,rā-dē-ō-'ler-ē-ə] -n pl
- protozoans that are radiolarians
ra·di·o·lar·i·an [,rā-dē-ō-'ler-ē-ən] -n, adj
- any of three classes (Acantharia, Polycystina, and Phaeodaria) of usu. spherical chiefly planktonic marine protozoans having radiating threadlike pseudopodia and often a siliceous skeleton of spicules
ra·dio·log·i·cal [,rā-dē-ə-'lä-ji-kəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to radiology
- of or relating to nuclear radiation
ra·di·ol·o·gist [,rā-dē-'ä-lə-jist] -n
- a physician specializing in medical radiology
ra·di·ol·o·gy [-jē] -n
- a branch of medicine concerned with the use of radiant energy (as X-rays) or radioactive material in the diagnosis and treatment of disease
- the science of radioactive substances and high-energy radiations
ra·dio·lu·cent [,rā-dē-ō-'lü-sᵊnt] -adj, n
- partly or wholly permeable to radiation
ra·di·ol·y·sis [,rā-dē-'ä-lə-səs] -n, adj
- chemical decomposition by the action of radiation
ra·dio·man ['rā-dē-ō-,man] -n
- a radio operator or technician
ra·di·om·e·ter [,rā-dē-'ä-mə-tər] -n
- an instrument for detecting and usu. for measuring the intensity of radiant energy
ra·dio·met·ric [,rā-dē-ō-'me-trik] -adj, adv
- relating to, using, or measured by a radiometer
- of or relating to the measurement of geologic time by means of the rate of disintegration of radioactive elements
ra·dio·mi·met·ic [-mə-'me-tik, -mī-] -adj
- producing effects similar to those of radiation
- a radiomimetic antibiotic
ra·dio·nu·clide [,rā-dē-ō-'nü-,klīd, -'nyü-] -n
- a radioactive nuclide
ra·di·opaque [,rā-dē-ō-'pāk] -adj
- being opaque to various forms of radiation (as X-rays)
ra·dio·phar·ma·ceu·ti·cal [,rā-dē-ō-,fär-mə-'sü-ti-kəl] -n, adj
- a radioactive drug used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes
ra·dio·phone ['rā-dē-ə-,fōn] -n
- radiotelephone
ra·dio·pho·to [,rā-dē-ō-'fō-(,)tō] -n
- a picture transmitted by radio
ra·dio·pro·tec·tive [-prə-'tek-tiv] -adj, n
- serving to protect or aiding in protecting against the injurious effect of radiations
radio range -n
- a radio facility for aircraft navigation
ra·dio·sen·si·tive [,rā-dē-ō-'sen(t)-sə-tiv, -'sen(t)-stiv] -adj, n
- sensitive to the effects of radiant energy
- radiosensitive cancer cells
ra·dio·sonde ['rā-dē-ō-,sänd] -n
- a miniature radio transmitter that is carried aloft (as by an unmanned balloon) with instruments for sensing and broadcasting atmospheric conditions
radio spectrum -n
- the region of the electromagnetic spectrum spanning the radio frequency range
radio star -n
- a cosmic radio source
- a point source of radio emissions
ra·dio·sur·gery [,rā-dē-ō-'sərj-rē, -'sər-jə-rē] -n
- surgery using precisely targeted radiation to destroy tissue without cutting
ra·diotag ['rā-dē-ō-,tag] -vt
- to attach a radio transmitter to (an animal)
- tracked the movements of a radio-tagged owl
ra·dio·tele·graph [,rā-dē-ō-'te-lə-,graf] -n
- wireless telegraphy
ra·dio·te·lem·e·try [-tə-'le-mə-trē] -n, adj
- telemetry
- biotelemetry
ra·dio·tele·phone [-'te-lə-,fōn] -n
- an apparatus for carrying on wireless telephony by radio waves
radio telescope -n
- a radio receiver-antenna combination used for observation in radio astronomy
ra·dio·ther·a·py [,rā-dē-ō-'ther-ə-pē] -n
- the treatment of disease with radiation (as X-rays)
ra·dio·tho·ri·um [-'thȯr-ē-əm] -n
- a radioactive isotope of thorium with the mass number 228
ra·dio·trac·er ['rā-dē-ō-,trā-sər] -n
- a radioactive tracer
ra·dioul·na [,rā-dē-ō-'əl-nə] -n
- a single bone in the forelimb of an amphibian (as a frog) that represents fusion of the separate radius and ulna of higher vertebrate forms
radio wave -n
- an electromagnetic wave with radio frequency
rad·ish ['ra-dish also 're-] -n
- the pungent usu. crisp root of a widely cultivated Eurasian plant ( Raphanus sativus) of the mustard family usu. eaten raw
- a plant that produces radishes
ra·di·um ['rā-dē-əm] -n
- an intensely radioactive brilliant white metallic element that resembles barium chemically, occurs in combination in minute quantities in minerals (as pitchblende or carnotite), emits alpha particles and gamma rays to form radon, and is used chiefly in luminous materials and in the treatment of cancer
radium therapy -n
- radiotherapy
ra·di·us ['rā-dē-əs] -n
- a line segment extending from the center of a circle or sphere to the circumference or bounding surface
- the bone on the thumb side of the human forearm
- a corresponding part of vertebrates above fishes
- the third and usu. largest vein of an insect's wing
- the length of a radius
- a truck with a short turning radius
- the circular area defined by a stated radius
- a bounded or circumscribed area
- a radial part
- the distance from a center line or point to an axis of rotation
radius of curvature
- the reciprocal of the curvature of a curve
radius vector -n
- the line segment or its length from a fixed point to a variable point
- the linear polar coordinate of a variable point
- a straight line joining the center of an attracting body (as the sun) with that of a body (as a planet) in orbit around it
ra·dix ['rā-diks] -n
- the base of a number system or of logarithms
- the primary source
RADM -abbr
- rear admiral
ra·dome ['rā-,dōm] -n
- a plastic housing sheltering the antenna assembly of a radar set esp. on an airplane
ra·don ['rā-,dän] -n
- a heavy radioactive gaseous element formed by the decay of radium
rad·u·la ['ra-jə-lə] -n, adj
- a horny band or ribbon in mollusks other than bivalves that bears minute chitinous teeth on its dorsal surface and scrapes or tears off food and draws it into the mouth
rad·waste ['rad-,wāst] -n
- radioactive waste
RAF -abbr
- Royal Air Force
raff ['raf] -n
- riffraff
raf·fia ['ra-fē-ə] -n
- the fiber of the raffia palm used esp. as cord for tying and weaving
raffia palm -n
- a large pinnate-leaved palm ( Raphia fariniferasyn. R. ruffia) of Madagascar and tropical Africa valued for the fiber obtained from its petiole
raf·fi·nose ['ra-fə-,nōs, -,nōz] -n
- a crystalline slightly sweet sugar C 18H 32O 16obtained commercially from cottonseed meal and present in many plant products
raff·ish ['ra-fish] -adj, adv, n
- marked by or suggestive of flashy vulgarity or crudeness
- marked by a careless unconventionality : rakish
raf·fle ['ra-fəl] -vb
- to engage in a raffle
- to dispose of by means of a raffle
raffle -n
- a lottery in which the prize is won by one of numerous persons buying chances
- rubbish
- a jumble or tangle of nautical equipment
raf·fle·sia [rə-'flē-zh(ē-)ə, ra-] -n
- any of a genus ( Rafflesiaof the family Rafflesiaceae) of Malaysian dicotyledonous plants that are parasitic in other plants and have fleshy usu. foul-smelling apetalous flowers emerging from the host, imbricated scales in place of leaves, and no stems
raft ['raft] -n
- a collection of logs or timber fastened together for conveyance by water
- a flat structure for support or transportation on water
- a floating cohesive mass
- an aggregation of animals (as waterfowl) resting on the water
- to transport in the form of or by means of a raft
- to convey (as pebbles) in floating ice or masses of organic material
- to make into a raft
- to travel by raft
- a large collection or number
raf·ter ['raf-tər] -n, adj
- any of the parallel beams that support a roof
raft·er ['raf-tər] -n
- one who maneuvers logs into position and binds them into rafts
- one who travels by raft
rafts·man ['raf(t)s-mən] -n
- a man engaged in rafting
rag ['rag] -n
- a waste piece of cloth
- clothes usu. in poor or ragged condition
- clothing
- something resembling a rag
- newspaper
- a sleazy newspaper
- any of various hard rocks
- a large roofing slate that is rough on one side
- to rail at : scold
- torment, tease
- an outburst of boisterous fun
- prank
- a composition in ragtime
ra·ga ['rä-gə] -n
- one of the ancient traditional melodic patterns or modes in Indian music
- an improvisation based on a traditional raga
rag·a·muf·fin ['ra-gə-,mə-fən] -n
- a ragged often disreputable person
- a poorly clothed often dirty child
rag·bag ['rag-,bag] -n
- a bag for scraps
- a miscellaneous collection
rag doll -n
- a stuffed usu. painted cloth doll
rage ['rāj] -n
- violent and uncontrolled anger
- a fit of violent wrath
- insanity
- violent action (as of wind or sea)
- an intense feeling : passion
- a fad pursued with intense enthusiasm
- to be in a rage
- to be in tumult
- to prevail uncontrollably
rag·ged ['ra-gəd] -adj, adv, n
- roughly unkempt
- having an irregular edge or outline
- torn or worn to tatters
- worn-out from stress and strain
- wearing tattered clothes
- straggly
- executed in an irregular or uneven manner
- harsh, dissonant
ragged robin -n
- a perennial herb ( Lychnis flos-cuculi) of the pink family cultivated for its pink flowers with narrow-lobed petals
rag·gedy ['ra-gə-dē] -adj
- ragged
rag·gletag·gle ['ra-gəl-,ta-gəl] -adj
- motley
ra·gi ['ra-gē, 'rä-] -n
- an Old World cereal grass ( Eleusine coracana) yielding a staple food crop esp. in India and Africa
- the seeds of ragi used for food
raging -adj
- causing great pain or distress
- violent, wild
- extraordinary, tremendous
rag·lan ['ra-glən] -n
- a loose overcoat with raglan sleeves
raglan sleeve -n
- a sleeve that extends to the neckline with slanted seams from the underarm to the neck
rag·man ['rag-,man] -n
- a man who collects or deals in rags
Rag·na·rok ['rag-nə-,räk, -rək] -n
- the final destruction of the world in the conflict between the Aesir and the powers of Hel led by Loki called also Twilight of the Gods
ra·gout [ra-'gü] -n
- well-seasoned meat and vegetables cooked in a thick sauce
- mixture, melange
rag·pick·er ['rag-,pi-kər] -n
- one who collects rags and refuse for a livelihood
rag·tag ['rag-,tag] -adj
- ragged, unkempt
- motley
- a ragtag bunch of misfits
ragtag and bobtail -n
- rabble
rag·time ['rag-,tīm] -n
- rhythm characterized by strong syncopation in the melody with a regularly accented accompaniment in stride-piano style
- music having ragtime rhythm
rag·top [-,täp] -n
- a convertible automobile
rag·weed [-,wēd] -n
- any of various chiefly No. American weedy composite herbs (genus Ambrosia) that produce highly allergenic pollen
rag·wort [-,wərt, -,wȯrt] -n
- any of several senecios
- tansy ragwort
rah ['rä, 'rȯ] -interj
- hooray used esp. to cheer on a team
rahrah ['rä-(,)rä, 'rȯ-(,)rȯ] -adj
- marked by the enthusiastic expression of college spirit
raid ['rād] -n
- a hostile or predatory incursion
- a surprise attack by a small force
- a brief foray outside one's usual sphere
- a sudden invasion by officers of the law
- a daring operation against a competitor
- the recruiting of personnel (as faculty, executives, or athletes) from competing organizations
- the act of mulcting public money
- an attempt by professional operators to depress stock prices by concerted selling
- to conduct or take part in a raid
- to make a raid on
raid·er ['rā-dər] -n
- : one that raids: as
- a fast lightly armed ship operating against merchant shipping
- a soldier specially trained for close-range fighting
- one that attempts a usu. hostile takeover of a business corporation
rail ['rāl] -n
- a bar extending from one post or support to another and serving as a guard or barrier
- a structural member or support
- railing
- a light structure serving as a guard at the outer edge of a ship's deck
- a fence bounding a racetrack
- a bar of rolled steel forming a track for wheeled vehicles
- track
- railroad
- to provide with a railing : fence
- any of numerous wading birds (family Rallidae, the rail family) that are of small or medium size and have short rounded wings, a short tail, and usu. very long toes which enable them to run on the soft mud of marshes
- to revile or scold in harsh, insolent, or abusive language
rail·bird ['rāl-,bərd] -n
- a racing enthusiast who sits on or near the track rail to watch a race or workout
rail·bus [-,bəs] -n
- a passenger car with an automotive engine for operation on rails
rail·car [-,kär] -n
- a railroad car
- a self-propelled railroad car
rail·head ['rāl-,hed] -n
- a point on a railroad at which traffic may originate or terminate
rail·ing ['rā-liŋ] -n
- a barrier consisting of a rail and supports
- rails
- material for making rails
rail·lery ['rā-lə-rē] -n
- good-natured ridicule : banter
- jest
rail·road ['rāl-,rōd, 'rel-; 're-,rōd] -n
- a permanent road having a line of rails fixed to ties and laid on a roadbed and providing a track for cars or equipment drawn by locomotives or propelled by self-contained motors
- such a road and its assets constituting a single property
railroad -vt, n
- to convict with undue haste and by means of false charges or insufficient evidence
- to push through hastily or without due consideration
- to transport by railroad
- to work for a railroad company
railroad flat -n
- an apartment having a series of narrow rooms arranged in line
rail·road·ing ['rāl-,rō-diŋ] -n
- construction or operation of a railroad
railroad worm -n
- apple maggot
- the larva or wingless female of any of several So. American beetles (genus Phrixothrixof the family Cantharidae)
railsplit·ter ['rāl-,spli-tər] -n
- one that makes logs into fence rails
rail·way [-,wā] -n
- railroad
- a railroad operating with light equipment or within a small area
rai·ment ['rā-mənt] -n
- clothing, garments
rain ['rān] -n
- water falling in drops condensed from vapor in the atmosphere
- the descent of this water
- water that has fallen as rain : rainwater
- a fall of rain : rainstorm
- the rainy season
- rainy weather
- a heavy fall
- to send down rain
- to fall as water in drops from the clouds
- to fall like rain
- soot and ash rain ed down
- to pour down
- to give or administer abundantly
- rain ed blows on his head
rain·bird ['rān-,bərd] -n
- any of various birds (esp. of the family Cuculidae) whose cries are popularly believed to forecast rain
rain·bow [-,bō] -n, adj
- an arc or circle that exhibits in concentric bands the colors of the spectrum and that is formed opposite the sun by the refraction and reflection of the sun's rays in raindrops, spray, or mist
- a multicolored array
- a wide assortment or range
- an illusory goal or hope
- rainbow trout
rainbow -adj
- having many colors
- of, relating to, or being people of different races or cultural backgrounds
rainbow fish -n
- any of numerous brilliantly colored fishes (as a wrasse, parrot fish, or guppy)
rainbow runner -n
- a large brilliantly colored carangid food and sport fish ( Elagatis bipinnulata) that is common in warm seas and is blue or dark green above and yellowish white below
rainbow trout -n
- a large stout-bodied salmonid fish ( Oncorhynchus mykisssyn. Salmo gairdneri) of western No. America that is related to the Pacific salmon and is typically greenish above and white on the belly with a pink, red, or lavender stripe along each side of the body and with profuse black dots
rain check -n
- a ticket stub good for a later performance when the scheduled one is rained out
- an assurance of a deferred extension of an offer
- a document assuring that a customer can take advantage of a sale later if the item or service offered is not available (as by being sold out)
rain·coat ['rān-,kōt] -n
- a waterproof or water-resistant coat
rain date -n
- an alternative date set aside for use if a scheduled event must be postponed due to rain
rain·drop [-,dräp] -n
- a drop of rain
rain·fall [-,fȯl] -n
- the amount of precipitation usu. measured by the depth in inches
- rain
rain forest -n
- a tropical woodland with an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches (254 centimeters) and marked by lofty broad-leaved evergreen trees forming a continuous canopy called also tropical rain forest
- temperate rain forest
rain gauge -n
- an instrument for measuring the quantity of precipitation
rain·mak·er ['rān-,mā-kər] -n
- a person who produces or attempts to produce rain by artificial means
- a person (as a partner in a law firm) who brings in new business
- a person whose influence can initiate progress or ensure success
rain out ['rān-,au̇t] -vt, n
- to interrupt or prevent (as a sports event) by rain
rain·proof ['rān-,prüf] -adj
- impervious to rain
rain shadow -n
- a region of reduced rainfall on the lee side of high mountains
rain·spout [-,spau̇t] -n
- gutter
- downspout
rain·squall [-,skwȯl] -n
- a squall accompanied by rain
rain·storm [-,stȯrm] -n
- a storm of or with rain
rain tree -n
- monkeypod
rain·wash ['rān-,wȯsh, -,wäsh] -n
- the washing away of material by rain
- the material so washed away
rain·wa·ter [-,wȯ-tər, -,wä-] -n
- water fallen as rain that has not collected soluble matter from the soil and is therefore soft
rain·wear [-,wer] -n
- waterproof or water-resistant clothing called also rain gear
rainy ['rā-nē] -adj
- marked by, abounding with, or bringing rain
rainy day -n, adj
- a period of want or need
raise ['rāz] -vb, n
- to cause or help to rise to a standing position
- awaken, arouse
- to stir up : incite
- to flush (game) from cover
- to recall from or as if from death
- to set upright by lifting or building
- to lift up
- to place higher in rank or dignity : elevate
- heighten, invigorate
- to end or suspend the operation or validity of
- to get together for a purpose : collect
- grow, cultivate
- to bring to maturity : rear
- to breed and bring (an animal) to maturity
- to give rise to : provoke
- to give voice to
- to bring up for consideration or debate
- to increase the strength, intensity, or pitch of
- to increase the degree of
- to cause to rise in level or amount
- to increase the amount of (a poker bet)
- to bet more than (a previous bettor)
- to make a higher bridge bid in (a partner's suit)
- to increase the bid of (one's partner)
- to make light and porous
- to cause to ascend
- to multiply (a quantity) by itself a specified number of times
- raise two to the fourth power
- to bring in sight on the horizon by approaching
- to bring up the nap of (cloth)
- to cause (as a blister) to form on the skin
- to increase the nominal value of fraudulently
- to articulate (a sound) with the tongue in a higher position
- to establish radio communication with
- rise
- to increase a bet or bid
- an act of raising or lifting
- a rising stretch of road : an upward grade : rise
- : an increase in amount: as
- an increase of a bet or bid
- an increase in wages or salary
- a vertical or inclined opening or passageway connecting one mine working area with another at a higher level
raised -adj
- done in relief
- having a nap
- leavened with yeast rather than with baking powder or baking soda
raised ranch -n
- bi-level
rai·sin ['rā-zᵊn] -n
- a grape of any of several varieties that has been dried in the sun or by artificial heat
rai·son d'etre [,rā-,zōⁿ-'detrᵊ] -n
- reason or justification for existence
raj ['räj] -n
- rule
- the former British rule of the Indian subcontinent
- the period of British rule in India
ra·ja ['rä-jə, -(,)jä, -zhə, -(,)zhä] -n
- an Indian or Malay prince or chief
- the bearer of a title of nobility among the Hindus
Ra·jab [rə-'jab] -n
- the seventh month of the Islamic year
Ra·jas·tha·ni [,rä-jə-'stä-nē, ,rä-zhə-] -n
- the Indo-Aryan dialects of Rajasthan
Raj·put ['räj-,pu̇t, 'räzh-] -n
- a member of a dominant military caste of northern India
rake ['rāk] -n
- an implement equipped with projecting prongs to gather material (as leaves) or for loosening or smoothing the surface of the ground
- a machine for gathering hay
- an implement like a rake
- to gather, loosen, or smooth with or as if with a rake
- to gain rapidly or in abundance usu. used with in
- to touch in passing over lightly
- scratch, scrape
- to censure severely
- to search through : ransack
- to sweep the length of esp. with gunfire : enfilade
- to glance over rapidly
- inclination from the perpendicular
- the overhang of a ship's bow or stern
- inclination from the horizontal : slope
- the angle between the top cutting surface of a tool and a plane perpendicular to the surface of the work
- to incline from the perpendicular
- a dissolute person : libertine
rake·hell ['rāk-,hel] -n, adj
- libertine
rakeoff ['rāk-,ȯf] -n
- a percentage or cut taken (as by an operator)
rake up -vt
- to make known or public : uncover
ra·ki [rə-'kē; 'ra-kē, 'rä-] -n
- a Turkish liqueur flavored with aniseed
rak·ish ['rā-kish] -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of a rake : dissolute
rakish -adj
- having a trim or streamlined appearance suggestive of speed
- dashingly or carelessly unconventional : jaunty
rak·ish·ly -adv
- in a rakish manner
rak·ish·ness -n
- the quality or state of being rakish
ra·ku ['rä-(,)kü] -n
- Japanese hand-modeled pottery that is fired at a low temperature and rapidly cooled
- a process by which pottery is fired at a relatively low temperature and then moved while hot to a closed container with combustible materials (as paper or sawdust) that ignite and cause a reaction creating colors and patterns in the pottery's surface
- pottery produced using this process
rale ['ral, 'räl] -n
- an abnormal sound heard accompanying the normal respiratory sounds on auscultation of the chest
ral·len·tan·do [,rä-lən-'tän-(,)dō] -adv or adj
- ritardando
ral·ly ['ra-lē] -vb
- to muster for a common purpose
- to recall to order
- to arouse for action
- to rouse from depression or weakness
- to come together again to renew an effort
- to join in a common cause
- recover, rebound
- rallied briefly from his illness
- to engage in a rally
rally -n
- a mustering of scattered forces to renew an effort
- a summoning up of strength or courage after weakness or dejection
- a recovery of price after a decline
- a renewed offensive
- a mass meeting intended to arouse group enthusiasm
- a series of shots interchanged between players (as in tennis) before a point is won
- an automobile competition using public roads and ordinary traffic rules with the object of maintaining a specified average speed between checkpoints over a route unknown to the participants until the start of the event
- to attack with raillery : banter
rallying -n
- the sport of driving in automobile rallies
rallying cry -n
- war cry
ral·ox·i·fene [,ra-'läk-sə-,fēn] -n
- a drug used orally in the form of its hydrochloride C 28H 27NO 4SHCl as prophylaxis against osteoporosis after menopause
ram ['ram] -n
- a male sheep
- aries
- battering ram
- a warship with a heavy beak at the prow for piercing an enemy ship
- : any of various guided pieces for exerting pressure or for driving or forcing something by impact: as
- the plunger of a hydrostatic press or force pump
- the weight that strikes the blow in a pile driver
- to strike with violence : crash
- to move with extreme rapidity
- to force in by or as if by driving
- to make compact (as by pounding)
- cram, crowd
- to force passage or acceptance of
- to strike against violently
RAM ['ram] -n
- a computer memory on which data can be both read and written and on which the location of data does not affect the speed of its retrieval
- RAM that acts as the main storage available to the user for programs and data called also random-access memory
Ra·ma ['rä-mə] -n
- a deity or deified hero of later Hinduism worshipped as an avatar of Vishnu
ra·ma·da [rə-'mä-də] -n
- a roofed shelter with usu. open sides
Ram·a·dan ['rä-mə-,dän, ,rä-mə-'] -n
- the ninth month of the Islamic year observed as sacred with fasting practiced daily from dawn to sunset
ra·mate ['rā-,māt] -adj
- ramose
ram·ble ['ram-bəl] -vb, adv
- to move aimlessly from place to place
- to explore idly
- to talk or write in a desultory or long-winded wandering fashion
- to grow or extend irregularly
- to wander over : roam
ramble -n
- a leisurely excursion for pleasure
- an aimless walk
- a rambling story or discussion
ram·bler ['ram-blər] -n
- one that rambles
- any of various climbing roses with long flexible canes and rather small often double flowers in large clusters
- ranch house
ram·bouil·let [,ram-bə-'lā, -bü-'yā] -n
- any of a breed of large sturdy sheep developed in France
ram·bunc·tious [ram-'bəŋk-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- marked by uncontrollable exuberance : unruly
ram·bu·tan [ram-'bü-tᵊn] -n
- a bright red spiny Malayan fruit closely related to the lychee
- a tree ( Nephelium lappaceum) of the soapberry family that bears this fruit
ram·e·kin ['ram-kən, 'ra-mi-] -n
- a preparation of cheese esp. with bread crumbs or eggs baked in a mold or shell
- an individual baking dish
ra·men ['rä-mən] -n
- quick-cooking egg noodles usu. served in a broth with bits of meat and vegetables
ra·met ['rā-,met] -n
- an independent member of a clone
ra·mie ['rā-mē, 'ra-] -n
- an Asian perennial plant ( Boehmeria nivea) of the nettle family
- the strong lustrous bast fiber of ramie capable of being spun or woven
- fabric made of ramie often resembling linen or silk
ram·i·fi·ca·tion [,ra-mə-fə-'kā-shən] -n
- branch, offshoot
- a branched structure
- the act or process of branching
- arrangement of branches (as on a plant)
- consequence, outgrowth
- the ramification s of the decision
ram·i·fy ['ra-mə-,fī] -vb
- to split up into branches or constituent parts
- to send forth branches or extensions
- to cause to branch
- to separate into divisions
Ra·mism ['rā-,mi-zəm] -n, n or adj
- the doctrines of Ramus based on opposition to Aristotelianism and advocacy of a new logic blended with rhetoric
ram·jet ['ram-,jet] -n
- a jet engine that consists essentially of a hollow tube without mechanical components and depends on the aircraft's speed of flight to compress the air which is supplied to a burner from which hot gases are discharged rearward
ra·mose ['rā-,mōs] -adj
- consisting of or having branches
ramp ['ramp] -vb
- to stand or advance menacingly with forelegs or with arms raised
- to move or act furiously
- to creep up used esp. of plants
- to speed up, expand, or increase esp. quickly or at a constant rate used with up
- ramp ing up to full speed
- to increase, expand, or decrease esp. quickly or at a constant rate usu. used with up or down
- the act or an instance of ramping
- any of various alliums used for food
- : a sloping way or plane: as
- a sloping floor, walk, or roadway leading from one level to another
- a slope for launching boats
- apron
ram·page ['ram-,pāj, (,)ram-'] -vi
- to rush wildly about
- a course of violent, riotous, or reckless action or behavior
ram·pan·cy ['ram-pən(t)-sē] -n
- the quality or state of being rampant
ram·pant ['ram-pənt also -,pant] -adj, adv
- rearing upon the hind legs with forelegs extended
- standing on one hind foot with one foreleg raised above the other and the head in profile used of a heraldic animal
- marked by a menacing wildness, extravagance, or absence of restraint
- profusely widespread
ram·part ['ram-,pärt, -pərt] -n
- a protective barrier : bulwark
- a broad embankment raised as a fortification and usu. surmounted by a parapet
- a wall-like ridge (as of rock fragments, earth, or debris)
ram·pike [-,pīk] -n
- an erect broken or dead tree
rampup ['ramp-,əp] -n
- buildup, increase
ram·rod ['ram-,räd] -n
- a rod for ramming home the charge in a muzzle-loading firearm
- a cleaning rod for small arms
- boss, overseer
ramrod -adj
- marked by rigidity, severity, or stiffness
- to direct, supervise, and control
- in a fully upright position : rigidly
ram·shack·le ['ram-,sha-kəl] -adj
- appearing ready to collapse : rickety
- carelessly or loosely constructed
rams·horn ['ramz-,hȯrn] -n
- any of various snails (as genera Planorbis, Helisoma,and Planorbarius) often used as aquarium scavengers
ra·mus ['rā-məs] -n
- : a projecting part, elongated process, or branch: as
- the posterior more or less vertical part on each side of the lower jaw that articulates with the skull
- a branch of a nerve
ran ['rən] -vb
(variant of run)
- to go faster than a walk
- to go steadily by springing steps so that both feet leave the ground for an instant in each step
- to move at a fast gallop
- flee, retreat, escape
- to utilize a running play on offense used of a football team
- to go without restraint : move freely about at will
- to keep company : consort
- ran with a wild crowd when he was young
- to sail before the wind in distinction from reaching or sailing close-hauled
- roam, rove
- running about with no overcoat
- to go rapidly or hurriedly : hasten
- to go in urgency or distress : resort
- run s to mother at every little difficulty
- to make a quick, easy, or casual trip or visit
- ran over to borrow some sugar
- to contend in a race
- to enter into an election contest
- to move on or as if on wheels : glide
- file drawers running on ball bearings
- to roll forward rapidly or freely
- to pass or slide freely
- a rope run s through the pulley
- to ravel lengthwise
- stockings guaranteed not to run
- to sing or play a musical passage quickly
- to go back and forth : ply
- the train run s between New York and Washington
- to migrate or move in considerable numbers
- to move up or down a river to spawn
- turn, rotate
- a swiftly running grindstone
- function, operate
- the engine run s on gasoline
- software that run s on her computer
- to continue in force, operation, or production
- the contract has two more years to run
- the play ran for six months
- to have a specified duration, extent, or length
- the manuscript run s nearly 500 pages
- to accompany as a valid obligation or right
- a right-of-way that run s with the land
- to continue to accrue or become payable
- interest on the loan run s from July 1
- to pass from one state to another
- to flow rapidly or under pressure
- melt, fuse
- spread, dissolve
- colors guaranteed not to run
- to discharge liquid (as pus or serum)
- to develop rapidly in some specific direction
- to throw out an elongated shoot of growth
- to tend to produce or develop a specified quality or feature
- they run to big noses in that family
- to lie in or take a certain direction
- the boundary line run s east
- to lie or extend in relation to something
- to go back : reach
- to be in a certain form or expression
- the letter run s as follows
- to be in a certain order of succession
- to occur persistently
- musical talent run s in the family
- to remain of a specified size, amount, character, or quality
- profits were running high
- to have or maintain a relative position or condition (as in a race)
- to exist or occur in a continuous range of variation
- shades run from white to dark gray
- to spread or pass quickly from point to point
- to be current : circulate
- to cause (an animal) to go rapidly : ride or drive fast
- to bring to a specified condition by or as if by running
- to go in pursuit of : hunt, chase
- to follow the trail of backward : trace
- ran the rumor to its source
- to enter, register, or enroll as a contestant in a race
- to put forward as a candidate for office
- to carry (the football) on a running play
- to drive (livestock) esp. to a grazing place
- to provide pasturage for (livestock)
- to keep or maintain (livestock) on or as if on pasturage
- to pass over or traverse with speed
- to run on or over in athletic competition
- to accomplish or perform by or as if by running
- to slip or go through or past
- to travel on (as a river) in a boat
- to cause to penetrate or enter : thrust
- ran a splinter into her toe
- stitch
- to cause to pass : lead
- run a wire in from the antenna
- to cause to collide
- smuggle
- to cause to pass lightly or quickly over, along, or into something
- ran her eye down the list
- to cause or allow (as a vehicle or a vessel) to go in a specified manner or direction
- operate
- to direct the business or activities of : manage, conduct
- to employ or supervise in espionage
- to be full of or drenched with
- contain, assay
- to cause to move or flow in a specified way or into a specified position
- to cause to produce a flow (as of water)
- to prepare by running a faucet
- to melt and cast in a mold
- treat, process, refine
- run a problem through a computer
- to make oneself liable to : incur
- ran the risk of discovery
- to mark out : draw
- run a contour line on a map
- to permit (as charges) to accumulate before settling often used with up
- ran up a large phone bill
- cost
- rooms that run 50 a night
- to produce by or as if by printing usu. used with off
- ran off 10,000 copies of the first edition
- to carry in a printed medium : print
- every newspaper ran the story
- to make (a series of counts) without a miss
- run 19 in an inning in billiards
- to lead winning cards of (a suit) successively
- to alter by addition
- ran his record to six wins and four losses
- to make (a golf ball) roll forward after alighting
- an act or the action of running : continued rapid movement
- a quickened gallop
- a migration of fish (as up or down a river) esp. to spawn
- such fish in the process of migration
- a running race
- a score made in baseball by a runner reaching home plate safely
- strength or ability to run
- a gain of a usu. specified distance made on a running play in football
- a running play
- a sustained usu. aggressive effort (as to win or obtain something)
- making a run at the championship
- creek
- something that flows in the course of an operation or during a particular time
- the first run of sap in sugar maples
- the stern of the underwater body of a ship from where it begins to curve or slope upward and inward
- the direction in which a vein of ore lies
- a direction of secondary or minor cleavage : grain
- the run of a mass of granite
- a horizontal distance (as that covered by a flight of steps)
- general tendency or direction
- : a continuous period or series esp. of things of identical or similar sort: as
- a rapid passage up or down a scale in vocal or instrumental music
- a number of rapid small dance steps executed in even tempo
- the act of making successively a number of successful shots or strokes
- the score thus made
- an unbroken course of performances or showings
- a set of consecutive measurements, readings, or observations
- persistent and heavy demands from depositors, creditors, or customers
- sequence
- the quantity of work turned out in a continuous operation
- a press run of 10,000 copies
- the usual or normal kind, character, type, or group
- the average run of students
- the distance covered in a period of continuous traveling or sailing
- a course or trip esp. if mapped out and traveled with regularity
- a news reporter's regular territory : beat
- freedom of movement in or access to a place or area
- the period during which a machine or plant is in continuous operation
- the use of machinery for a single set of processing procedures
- a way, track, or path frequented by animals
- an enclosure for domestic animals where they may feed or exercise
- a large area of land used for grazing
- ranch, station
- an inclined passageway
- an inclined course (as for skiing or bobsledding)
- a support (as a track, pipe, or trough) on which something runs
- a ravel in a knitted fabric (as in hosiery) caused by the breaking of stitches
- a paint defect caused by excessive flow
- diarrhea used with the
- being in a melted state
- made from molten material : cast in a mold
- having made a migration or spawning run
- exhausted or winded from running
ranch ['ranch] -n
- a large farm for raising horses, beef cattle, or sheep
- a farm or area devoted to a particular specialty
- ranch house
- to live or work on a ranch
- to work as a rancher on
- to raise on a ranch
ranch dressing -n
- a creamy salad dressing usu. containing milk or buttermilk and mayonnaise
ranch·er ['ran-chər] -n
- one who owns or works on a ranch
ran·che·ro [ran-'cher-(,)ō, rän-] -n
- rancher
- ranch
ranch house -n
- the main dwelling house on a ranch
- a one-story house typically with a low-pitched roof and an open plan
ranch·man ['ranch-mən] -n
- rancher
ran·cho ['ran-(,)chō, 'rän-] -n
- ranch
ran·cid ['ran(t)-səd] -adj, n
- having a rank smell or taste
- offensive
ran·cor ['raŋ-kər, -,kȯr] -n
- bitter deep-seated ill will
ran·cor·ous ['raŋ-k(ə-)rəs] -adj, adv
- marked by rancor : deeply malevolent
ran·cour ['raŋ-kər, -,kȯr] -n
(variant of rancor)
- bitter deep-seated ill will
rand ['rand, 'ränd, 'ränt] -n
- a former monetary unit of Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland
ran·dom ['ran-dəm] -n
- a haphazard course
random -adj, adv, n
- lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
- made, done, or chosen at random
- read random passages from the book
- relating to, having, or being elements or events with definite probability of occurrence
- being or relating to a set or to an element of a set each of whose elements has equal probability of occurrence
- characterized by procedures designed to obtain such sets or elements
- in a random manner
randomaccess -adj
- permitting access to stored data in any order the user desires
randomaccess memory -n
- ram
ran·dom·ize ['ran-də-,mīz] -vt, n
- to select, assign, or arrange in a random way
randomized block -n
- an experimental design (as in horticulture) in which different treatments are distributed in random order in a block or plot called also randomized block design
random variable -n
- a variable that is itself a function of the result of a statistical experiment in which each outcome has a definite probability of occurrence called also variate
random walk -n
- a process (as Brownian motion or genetic drift) consisting of a sequence of steps (as movements or changes in gene frequency) each of whose characteristics (as magnitude and direction) is determined by chance
randy ['ran-dē] -adj, n
- having a coarse manner
- lustful, lecherous
- a scolding or dissolute woman
rang ['riŋ] -n, adj
(variant of ring)
- a circular band for holding, connecting, hanging, pulling, packing, or sealing
- a circlet usu. of precious metal worn esp. on the finger
- a circular line, figure, or object
- an encircling arrangement
- a circular or spiral course often used figuratively in pl. in the phrase run rings around to describe surpassing an opponent decisively
- an often circular space esp. for exhibitions or competitions
- such a space at a circus
- a structure containing such a ring
- a square enclosure in which a fighting contest (as a boxing or wrestling match) takes place
- a band of small objects revolving around a planet (as Saturn) and composed of dust and icy or rocky fragments
- annual ring
- an exclusive combination of persons for a selfish and often corrupt purpose (as to control a market)
- gang
- the field of a political contest : race
- food in the shape of a circle
- an arrangement of atoms represented in formulas or models in a cyclic manner called also cycle
- a set of mathematical elements that is closed under two binary operations of which the first forms a commutative group with the set and the second is associative over the set and is distributive with respect to the first operation
- a pair of usu. rubber-covered metal rings suspended from a ceiling or crossbar to a height of approximately eight feet above the floor and used for hanging, swinging, and balancing feats in gymnastics
- an event in gymnastics competition in which the rings are used
- boxing
- to provide with a ring
- to place or form a ring around : encircle
- police ring ed the building
- girdle
- to throw a ringer over (the peg) in a game (as horseshoes or quoits)
- to move in a ring
- to rise in the air spirally
- to form or take the shape of a ring
- to sound resonantly or sonorously
- to be filled with a reverberating sound : resound
- the halls rang with laughter
- to have the sensation of being filled with a humming sound
- to cause something to ring
- to be filled with talk or report
- the whole land rang with her fame
- to have great renown
- to sound repetitiously
- their praise rang in his ears
- to have a sound or character expressive of some quality
- to make a telephone call usu. used with up
- to cause to sound esp. by striking
- to make (a sound) by or as if by ringing a bell
- to announce by or as if by ringing
- to repeat often, loudly, or earnestly
- to summon esp. by bell
- telephone usu. used with up
- a set of bells
- a clear resonant sound made by or resembling that made by vibrating metal
- resonant tone : sonority
- a loud sound continued, repeated, or reverberated
- a sound or character expressive of some particular quality
- the story had a familiar ring
- the act or an instance of ringing
- a telephone call
range ['rānj] -n
- a series of things in a line : row
- a series of mountains
- one of the north-south rows of townships in a U.S. public-land survey that are numbered east and west from the principal meridian of the survey
- an aggregate of individuals in one order
- a direction line
- a cooking stove that has an oven and a flat top with burners or heating elements
- a place that may be ranged over
- an open region over which animals (as livestock) may roam and feed
- the region throughout which a kind of organism or ecological community naturally lives or occurs
- the act of ranging about
- the horizontal distance to which a projectile can be propelled
- the horizontal distance between a weapon and target
- the maximum distance a vehicle or craft can travel without refueling
- a place where shooting is practiced
- driving range
- the space or extent included, covered, or used : scope
- the extent of pitch covered by a melody or lying within the capacity of a voice or instrument
- a sequence, series, or scale between limits
- the limits of a series : the distance or extent between possible extremes
- the difference between the least and greatest values of an attribute or of the variable of a frequency distribution
- the set of values a function may take on
- the class of admissible values of a variable
- line
- to set in a row or in the proper order
- to place among others in a position or situation
- to assign to a category : classify
- to rove over or through
- to sail or pass along
- to arrange (an anchor cable) on deck
- to graze (livestock) on a range
- to roam at large or freely
- to move over an area so as to explore it
- to take a position
- to correspond in direction or line : align
- to extend in a particular direction
- to have range
- to change or differ within limits
- to live or occur in or be native to a region
range finder -n
- an instrument used in gunnery to determine the distance of a target
- a surveying instrument (as a transit) for determining quickly the distances, bearings, and elevations of distant objects
- a usu. built-in adjustable optical device for focusing a camera that automatically indicates the correct focus (as when two parts of a split image are brought together)
range·land ['rānj-,land] -n
- land used or suitable for range
rang·er ['rān-jər] -n
- the keeper of a British royal park or forest
- forest ranger
- one that ranges
- one of a body of organized armed men who range over a region esp. to enforce the law
- a soldier specially trained in close-range fighting and in raiding tactics
rangy ['rān-jē] -adj, n
- able to range for considerable distances
- long-limbed and long-bodied
- tall and slender
- having room for ranging
- having great scope
ra·ni [rä-'nē, 'rä-,nē] -n
- a Hindu queen : a rajah's wife
ra·nid ['ra-nəd, 'rā-] -n
- any of a large family (Ranidae) of long-legged frogs distinguished by extensively webbed hind feet, horizontal pupils, and a bony sternum
ra·nit·i·dine [ra-'ni-tə-,dēn] -n
- a histamine blocker C 13H 22N 4O 3S that is administered in the form of its hydrochloride to inhibit gastric acid secretion
rank ['raŋk] -adj, adv, n
- luxuriantly or excessively vigorous in growth
- offensively gross or coarse : foul
- grown too large
- shockingly conspicuous
- must lecture him on his rank disloyalty -- David Walden
- outright used as an intensive
- lustful, ruttish
- offensive in odor or flavor
- rancid
- putrid, festering
- high in amount or degree : fraught
- row, series
- a row of people
- a line of soldiers ranged side by side in close order
- armed forces
- the body of enlisted personnel
- any of the rows of squares that extend across a chessboard perpendicular to the files
- stand
- relative standing or position
- a degree or position of dignity, eminence, or excellence : distinction
- soon took rank as a leading attorney -- J. D. Hicks
- high social position
- a grade of official standing in a hierarchy
- an orderly arrangement : formation
- an aggregate of individuals classed together usu. used in pl.
- the order according to some statistical characteristic (as the score on a test)
- any of a series of classes of coal based on increasing alteration of the parent vegetable matter, increasing carbon content, and increasing fuel value
- the number of linearly independent rows or columns in a matrix
- to arrange in lines or in a regular formation
- to determine the relative position of : rate
- a highly rank ed prospect
- to take precedence of
- to form or move in ranks
- to take or have a position in relation to others
- rank s first in her class
rank and file [,raŋk-ᵊn-'fī(-ə)l] -n, adj
- the enlisted personnel of an armed force
- the individuals who constitute the body of an organization, society, or nation as distinguished from the leaders
rank correlation -n
- a measure of correlation depending on rank
rank·er ['raŋ-kər] -n
- one who serves or has served in the ranks
- a commissioned officer promoted from the ranks
Ran·kine ['raŋ-kən] -adj
- being, according to, or relating to an absolute-temperature scale on which the unit of measurement equals a Fahrenheit degree and on which the freezing point of water is 491.67 and the boiling point 671.67
rank·ing ['raŋ-kiŋ] -adj
- : having a high position: as
- of the highest rank
- being next to the chairman in seniority
ran·kle ['raŋ-kəl] -vb
- to cause anger, irritation, or deep bitterness
- to feel anger and irritation
- to cause irritation or bitterness in
ran·sack ['ran-,sak, (,)ran-'] -vt, n
- to search thoroughly
- to examine closely and carefully
- to search through to commit robbery : plunder
ran·som ['ran(t)-səm] -n
- a consideration paid or demanded for the release of someone or something from captivity
- the act of ransoming
ransom -vt, n
- to deliver esp. from sin or its penalty
- to free from captivity or punishment by paying a price
rant ['rant] -vb, n, adv
- to talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner
- to scold vehemently
- to utter in a bombastic declamatory fashion
- a bombastic extravagant speech
- bombastic extravagant language
- a rousing good time
ran·u·la ['ran-yə-lə] -n
- a cyst formed under the tongue by obstruction of a gland duct
ra·nun·cu·lus [rə-'nəŋ-kyə-ləs] -n
- buttercup
rap ['rap] -n
- a sharp blow or knock
- a sharp rebuke or criticism
- a negative and often undeserved reputation or charge often used with bum or bad
- given a bum rap by the press
- the responsibility for or adverse consequences of an action
- a criminal charge
- a prison sentence
- to strike with a sharp blow
- to utter suddenly and forcibly
- to cause to be or come by raps
- to criticize sharply
- to strike a quick sharp blow
- to make a short sharp sound
- to snatch away or upward
- enrapture
- a minimum amount or degree (as of care or consideration) : the least bit
- to talk freely and frankly
- to perform rap music
- talk, conversation
- a line of talk : patter
- a rhythmic chanting often in unison of usu. rhymed couplets to a musical accompaniment
- a piece so performed
ra·pa·cious [rə-'pā-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- excessively grasping or covetous
- living on prey
- ravenous
ra·pac·i·ty [rə-'pa-sə-tē] -n
- the quality of being rapacious
rape ['rāp] -n
- an Old World herb ( Brassica napus) of the mustard family grown as a forage crop and for its seeds which yield rapeseed oil and are a bird food
- to seize and take away by force
- despoil
- to commit rape on
- an act or instance of robbing or despoiling or carrying away a person by force
- unlawful sexual activity and usu. sexual intercourse carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against the will usu. of a female or with a person who is beneath a certain age or incapable of valid consent
- an outrageous violation
- grape pomace
rape·seed ['rāp-,sēd] -n
- the seed of the rape plant
- rape
rapeseed oil -n
- a nondrying or semidrying oil obtained from rapeseed and turnip seed and used chiefly as a lubricant, illuminant, and food called also rape oil
Ra·pha·el ['ra-fē-əl, 'rā-, -,el] -n
- one of the four archangels named in Hebrew tradition
ra·phe ['rā-(,)fē] -n
- the seamlike union of the two lateral halves of a part or organ (as the tongue) having externally a ridge or furrow
- the part of the stalk of an anatropous ovary that is united in growth to the outside covering and forms a ridge along the body of the ovule
- the median line or slit of the valve of certain diatoms
ra·phia ['rā-fē-ə, 'ra-] -n
- raffia
raph·ide ['ra-,fīd] -n
- any of the needle-shaped crystals usu. of calcium oxalate that develop as metabolic by-products in plant cells
rap·id ['ra-pəd] -adj, adv, n
- marked by a fast rate of motion, activity, succession, or occurrence
rapid -n
- a part of a river where the current is fast and the surface is usu. broken by obstructions usu. used in pl. but sing. or pl. in constr.
rapid eye movement -n
- a rapid conjugate movement of the eyes associated esp. with REM sleep
rapid eye movement sleep -n
- rem sleep
rap·idfire [,ra-pəd-'fī(-ə)r] -adj
- firing or adapted for firing shots in rapid succession
- marked by rapidity, liveliness, or sharpness
- a comedian with a rapidfire delivery
ra·pid·i·ty [rə-'pi-də-tē, ra-] -n
- the quality or state of being rapid
rapid transit -n
- fast passenger transportation (as by subway) in urban areas
ra·pi·er ['rā-pē-ər] -n
- a straight 2-edged sword with a narrow pointed blade
rapier -adj
- extremely sharp or keen
rap·ine ['ra-pən, -,pīn] -n
- pillage, plunder
ra·pi·ni [ra-'pē-nē] -n
- broccoli rabe
rap·pa·ree [,ra-pə-'rē] -n
- an Irish irregular soldier or bandit
- vagabond, plunderer
rap·pee [ra-'pā] -n
- a pungent snuff made from dark tobacco leaves
rap·pel [rə-'pel, ra-] -vi, n
- to descend (as from a cliff) by sliding down a rope passed under one thigh, across the body, and over the opposite shoulder or through a special friction device
rap·pen ['rä-pən] -n
- the centime of Switzerland
rap·per ['ra-pər] -n
- : one that raps or is used for rapping: as
- a door knocker
- a performer of rap music
rap·port [ra-'pȯr, rə-] -n
- relation
- relation marked by harmony, conformity, accord, or affinity
rap·por·teur [,ra-,pȯr-'tər] -n
- a person who gives reports (as at a meeting of a learned society)
rap·proche·ment [,ra-,prōsh-'mäⁿ, -,prȯsh-; ra-'prōsh-,] -n
- establishment of or state of having cordial relations
rap·scal·lion [rap-'skal-yən] -n
- rascal, ne'er-do-well
rap sheet -n
- a police arrest record esp. for an individual
rapt ['rapt] -adj, adv, n
- lifted up and carried away
- transported with emotion : enraptured
- wholly absorbed : engrossed
rap·tor ['rap-tər, -,tȯr] -n
- bird of prey
- a usu. small-to-medium-sized predatory dinosaur (as a velociraptor or deinonychus)
rap·to·ri·al [rap-'tȯr-ē-əl] -adj
- predaceous
- adapted to seize prey
- of, relating to, or being a bird of prey
rap·ture ['rap-chər] -n, adj, adv
- an expression or manifestation of ecstasy or passion
- a state or experience of being carried away by overwhelming emotion
- a mystical experience in which the spirit is exalted to a knowledge of divine things
- the final assumption of Christians into heaven during the end-time according to Christian theology
rapture -vt
- enrapture
rapture of the deep
- nitrogen narcosis
ra·ra avis [,rer-ə-'ā-vəs, ,rär-ə-'ä-wəs] -n
- rarity
rare ['rer] -adj, n
- marked by wide separation of component particles : thin
- marked by unusual quality, merit, or appeal : distinctive
- superlative or extreme of its kind
- seldom occurring or found : uncommon
- cooked so that the inside is still red
rare bird -n
- rarity , rara avis
rare·bit ['rer-bət] -n
- welsh rabbit
rare earth -n
- any of a group of similar oxides of metals or a mixture of such oxides occurring together in widely distributed but relatively scarce minerals
- rare earth element
rare earth element -n
- any of a series of metallic elements of which the oxides are classed as rare earths and which include the elements of the lanthanide series and sometimes yttrium and scandium called also rare earth metal
rar·eeshow ['rer-ē-,shō] -n
- a small display or scene viewed in a box : peep show
- an unusual or amazing show or spectacle
rar·e·fac·tion [,rer-ə-'fak-shən] -n, adj
- the action or process of rarefying
- the quality or state of being rarefied
- a state or region of minimum pressure in a medium traversed by compressional waves (as sound waves)
rarefied -adj
- being less dense
- of, relating to, or interesting to a select group : esoteric
- very high
rar·e·fy ['rer-ə-,fī] -vb
- to make rare, thin, porous, or less dense : to expand without the addition of matter
- to make more spiritual, refined, or abstruse
- to become less dense
rare·ly ['rer-lē] -adv
- not often : seldom
- with rare skill : excellently
- in an extreme or exceptional manner
rare·ripe ['rer-,rīp] -n
- an early ripening fruit or vegetable
- green onion
rar·ing ['rer-ən, -iŋ] -adj
- full of enthusiasm or eagerness
rar·i·ty ['rer-ə-tē] -n
- the quality, state, or fact of being rare
- one that is rare
ras ['ras] -n
- any of a family of genes that undergo mutation to oncogenes and esp. to some commonly linked to human cancers (as of the colon, lung, and pancreas)
ras·bo·ra [raz-'bȯr-ə] -n
- any of a genus ( Rasbora) of tiny brilliantly colored cyprinid freshwater fishes often kept in tropical aquariums
ras·cal ['ras-kəl] -n, adj
- a mean, unprincipled, or dishonest person
- a mischievous person or animal
ras·cal·i·ty [ra-'ska-lə-tē] -n
- rabble
- the character or actions of a rascal : knavery
- a rascally act
ras·cal·ly ['ras-kə-lē] -adj, adv
- of or characteristic of a rascal
rase ['rāz] -vt
- erase
- raze
rash ['rash] -adv
- in a rash manner
- marked by or proceeding from undue haste or lack of deliberation or caution
- quickly effective
- an eruption on the body
- a large number of instances in a short period
rash·er ['ra-shər] -n
- a thin slice of bacon or ham broiled or fried
- a portion consisting of several such slices
rasp ['rasp] -vb, n, adv
- to rub with something rough
- to abrade with a rasp
- to grate upon : irritate
- to utter in a raspy tone
- scrape
- to produce a grating sound
- a coarse file with cutting points instead of lines
- something used for rasping
- an act of rasping
- a rasping sound, sensation, or effect
rasp·ber·ry ['raz-,ber-ē, -b(ə-)rē] -n
- any of various usu. black or red edible berries that are aggregate fruits consisting of numerous small drupes on a fleshy receptacle and that are usu. rounder and smaller than the closely related blackberries
- a perennial plant (genus Rubus) of the rose family that bears raspberries
- a sound of contempt made by protruding the tongue between the lips and expelling air forcibly to produce a vibration
- an expression of disapproval or contempt
raspy ['ras-pē] -adj
- harsh, grating
- irritable
ras·sle ['ra-səl] -vi
- wrestle
Ras·ta ['ras-tə, 'räs-] -n, adj
- rastafarian
Ras·ta·far·i·an [,ras-tə-'fer-ē-ən, ,räs-tə-'fär-] -n, adj
- an adherent of Rastafarianism
Ras·ta·far·i·an·ism [-ē-ə-,ni-zəm] -n
- a religious movement among black Jamaicans that teaches the eventual redemption of blacks and their return to Africa, employs the ritualistic use of marijuana, forbids the cutting of hair, and venerates Haile Selassie as a god
ras·ter ['ras-tər] -n
- a scan pattern (as of the electron beam in a cathode-ray tube) in which an area is scanned from side to side in lines from top to bottom
- a pattern of closely spaced rows of dots that form an image (as on the cathode-ray tube of a television or computer display)
ra·sure ['rā-shər, -zhər] -n
- erasure, obliteration
rat ['rat] -n, adj
- any of numerous rodents ( Rattusand related genera) differing from the related mice esp. by considerably larger size
- any of various similar rodents
- : a contemptible person: as
- one who betrays or deserts friends or associates
- scab
- informer
- a pad over which a woman's hair is arranged
- a person who spends much time in a specified place
- to betray, desert, or inform on one's associates usu. used with on
- to catch or hunt rats
- to work as a scab
- to give (hair) the effect of greater quantity (as by use of a rat)
- to inform on : turn in usu. used with out
- ratted out his accomplice
rat·able ['rā-tə-bəl] -adj, adv
- capable of being rated, estimated, or apportioned
rat·a·fia [,ra-tə-'fē-ə] -n
- a liqueur made from an infusion of macerated fruit or fruit juice in a liquor (as brandy) and often flavored with almonds
- a sweet biscuit made of almond paste
rat·a·plan ['ra-tə-,plan] -n
- the iterative sound of beating
- a rolling rataplan of drums -- Time
ratatat ['ra-tə-,tat] -n
- a rapid succession of knocking, tapping, or cracking sounds
ra·ta·tou·ille [,ra-,ta-'twē, ,rä-,tä-, -'tü-ē] -n
- a seasoned stew made of eggplant, tomatoes, green peppers, squash, and sometimes meat
rat·bag ['rat-,bag] -n
- a stupid, eccentric, or disagreeable person
ratbite fever -n
- either of two febrile bacterial diseases of humans usu. transmitted by the bite of a rat
rat cheese -n
- cheddar
ratch·et ['ra-chət] -n
- a mechanism that consists of a bar or wheel having inclined teeth into which a pawl drops so that motion can be imparted to the wheel or bar, governed, or prevented and that is used in a hand tool (as a wrench or screwdriver) to allow effective motion in one direction only
- a pawl or detent for holding or propelling a toothed wheel
ratchet -vt
- to cause to move by steps or degrees usu. used with up or down
- tried to ratchet down the debt
- to proceed by steps or degrees
rate ['rāt] -vb
- to rebuke angrily or violently
- to drive away by scolding
- to voice angry reprimands
- reckoned value : valuation
- estimation
- a fixed quantity
- a fixed ratio between two things
- : a charge, payment, or price fixed according to a ratio, scale, or standard: as
- a charge per unit of a public-service commodity
- a charge per unit of freight or passenger service
- a unit charge or ratio used in assessing property taxes
- a local tax
- a quantity, amount, or degree of something measured per unit of something else
- her typing rate was 80 words per minute
- an amount of payment or charge based on another amount
- the amount of premium per unit of insurance
- relative condition or quality : class
- allot
- to set an estimate on : value, esteem
- black is rated very high this season
- to determine or assign the relative rank or class of : grade
- to estimate the normal capacity or power of
- consider, regard
- was rated an excellent pianist
- to fix the amount of premium to be charged per unit of insurance on
- to have a right to : deserve
- she rated special privileges
- to enjoy a status of special privilege
- really rate s with the boss
ra·tel ['rä-tᵊl, 'rā-] -n
- an African or Asian nocturnal omnivorous mammal ( Mellivora capensis) of the weasel family that resembles a badger
rate·me·ter ['rāt-,mē-tər] -n
- an instrument that indicates the counting rate of an electronic counter
rate of change
- a value that results from dividing the change in a function of a variable by the change in the variable
- velocity is the rate of change in distance with respect to time
rate of exchange
- the amount of one currency that will buy a given amount of another
rate·pay·er ['rāt-,pā-ər] -n
- taxpayer
- one who pays for a utility service and esp. electricity according to established rates
rat·er ['rā-tər] -n
- one that rates
- a person who estimates or determines a rating
- one having a specified rating or class usu. used in combination
rat fink -n
- fink, informer
rat·fish ['rat-,fish] -n
- chimaera
- a silvery iridescent white-spotted chimaera ( Hydrolagus colliei) of cold deep waters of the Pacific coast of No. America
rathe ['rāth, 'rath] -adj
- early
- bring the rathe primrose that forsaken dies -- John Milton
rath·er ['ra-thər, 'rä-, 'rə- also 're-; interjectionally 'ra-'thər, 'rä-, 'rə-] -adv
- with better reason or more propriety : more properly
- this you should pity rather than despise -- Shak.
- more readily or willingly : preferably
- would rather read than watch television
often used interjectionally to express affirmation - more correctly speaking
- my father, or rather my stepfather
- to the contrary : instead
- was no better but rather grew worse -- Mk 5:26 (RSV)
- in some degree : somewhat often used as a mild intensive
- spent rather a lot of money
rather than -conj
- used with the infinitive form of a verb to indicate negation as a contrary choice or wish
- rather than continue the argument, he walked away
- chose to sing rather than play violin
- and not
- obscures rather than resolves the problem
- why do one thing rather than another?
- instead of
- rather than being pleased, she was angry
raths·kel·ler ['rät-,ske-lər, 'rat-, 'rath-] -n
- a usu. basement tavern or restaurant
rat·i·cide ['ra-tə-,sīd] -n
- a substance for killing rats
rat·i·fy ['ra-tə-,fī] -vt, n
- to approve and sanction formally : confirm
ra·ti·ne [,ra-tə-'nā] -n
- a rough bulky fabric usu. woven loosely in plain weave from ratine yarns
- a nubby ply yarn of various fibers made by twisting under tension a thick and a thin yarn
rating -n
- a classification according to grade
- a military or naval specialist classification
- a naval enlisted man
- relative estimate or evaluation : standing
- the school has a good academic rating
- an estimate of an individual's or business's credit and responsibility
- an estimate of the percentage of the public listening to or viewing a particular radio or television program
- a stated operating limit of a machine expressible in power units (as kilowatts of a direct-current generator) or in characteristics (as voltage)
ra·tio ['rā-(,)shō, -shē-,ō] -n
- the indicated quotient of two mathematical expressions
- the relationship in quantity, amount, or size between two or more things : proportion
- the expression of the relative values of gold and silver as determined by a country's currency laws
ra·ti·o·ci·nate [,ra-tē-'ō-sə-,nāt, ,ra-shē-, -'ä-] -vi, n
- reason
ra·ti·o·ci·na·tion [-,ō-sə-'nā-shən, -,nä-] -n, adj
- the process of exact thinking : reasoning
- a reasoned train of thought
ra·tion ['ra-shən, 'rā-] -n
- a food allowance for one day
- food, provisions
- a share esp. as determined by supply
ration ['ra-sh(ə-)niŋ, 'rā-] -vt
- to supply with or put on rations
- to distribute as rations often used with out
- to distribute equitably
- to use sparingly
ra·tio·nal ['rash-nəl, 'ra-shə-nᵊl] -adj, adv, n
- having reason or understanding
- relating to, based on, or agreeable to reason : reasonable
- involving only multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction and only a finite number of times
- relating to, consisting of, or being one or more rational numbers
- a rational root of an equation
rational -n
- something rational
- rational number
ra·tio·nale [,ra-shə-'nal] -n
- an explanation of controlling principles of opinion, belief, practice, or phenomena
- an underlying reason : basis
rational function -n
- a function that is the quotient of two polynomials
- polynomial
ra·tio·nal·ise ['rash-nə-,līz, 'ra-shə-nə-,līz] -vb, adj, n
(variant of rationalize)
- : to bring into accord with reason or cause something to seem reasonable: as
- to substitute a natural for a supernatural explanation of
- to attribute (one's actions) to rational and creditable motives without analysis of true and esp. unconscious motives
- rationalized his dislike of his brother
- to create an excuse or more attractive explanation for
- to free (a mathematical expression) from irrational parts
- rationalize a denominator
- to apply the principles of scientific management to (as an industry or its operations) for a desired result (as increased efficiency)
- to provide plausible but untrue reasons for conduct
ra·tio·nal·ism ['rash-nə-,li-zəm, 'ra-shə-nə-,li-] -n, adj, adv
- reliance on reason as the basis for establishment of religious truth
- a theory that reason is in itself a source of knowledge superior to and independent of sense perceptions
- a view that reason and experience rather than the nonrational are the fundamental criteria in the solution of problems
- functionalism
ra·tio·nal·i·ty [,ra-shə-'na-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being rational
- the quality or state of being agreeable to reason : reasonableness
- a rational opinion, belief, or practice usu. used in pl.
ra·tio·nal·ize ['rash-nə-,līz, 'ra-shə-nə-,līz] -vb, adj, n
- : to bring into accord with reason or cause something to seem reasonable: as
- to substitute a natural for a supernatural explanation of
- to attribute (one's actions) to rational and creditable motives without analysis of true and esp. unconscious motives
- rationalized his dislike of his brother
- to create an excuse or more attractive explanation for
- to free (a mathematical expression) from irrational parts
- rationalize a denominator
- to apply the principles of scientific management to (as an industry or its operations) for a desired result (as increased efficiency)
- to provide plausible but untrue reasons for conduct
rational number -n
- a number that can be expressed as an integer or the quotient of an integer divided by a nonzero integer
rat·ite ['ra-,tīt] -n, adj
- a bird with a flat breastbone
- any of various mostly flightless birds (as an ostrich, rhea, emu, moa, or kiwi) with small or rudimentary wings and no keel on the sternum that are prob. of polyphyletic origin and are assigned to a number of different orders
rat·line ['rat-lən] -n
- any of the small transverse ropes attached to the shrouds of a ship so as to form the steps of a rope ladder usu. used in pl.
ra·toon [ra-'tün] -n
- a shoot of a perennial plant (as sugarcane)
- a crop (as of bananas) produced on ratoons
ratoon -vi
- to sprout or spring up from the root
- to grow or produce (a crop) from or on ratoons
rat race -n
- strenuous, wearisome, and usu. competitive activity or rush
rats ['rats] -interj
- used to express disappointment, frustration, or disgust
rat snake -n
- any of various large harmless chiefly rat-eating colubrid snakes (esp. genus Elaphe) called also chicken snake
rat·tail ['rat-,tāl] -n
- a horse's tail with little or no hair
- grenadier
rattail cactus -n
- a commonly cultivated tropical American cactus ( Aporocactus flagelliformis) with showy crimson flowers
rattail file -n
- a round slender tapered file
rat·tan [ra-'tan, rə-] -n
- a rattan cane or switch
- a climbing palm (esp. of the genera Calamusand Daemonorops) with very long tough stems
- a part of the jointed stem of a rattan used esp. for furniture, wickerwork, and walking sticks
rat·teen [ra-'tēn] -n
- a coarse woolen fabric
rat·ter ['ra-tər] -n
- one that catches rats
- a rat-catching dog or cat
rat·tle ['ra-tᵊl] -vb
- to make a rapid succession of short sharp noises
- the windows rattled in the wind
- to chatter incessantly and aimlessly
- to move with a clatter or rattle
- to be or move about in a place or station too large or grand
- rattled around the big old house
- to say, perform, or affect in a brisk lively fashion
- rattled off four magnificent backhands -- Kim Chapin
- to cause to make a rattling sound
- rouse
- to beat (a cover) for game
- to upset esp. to the point of loss of poise and composure : disturb
rattle -n
- a device that produces a rattle
- a case containing pellets used as a baby's toy
- the sound-producing organ on a rattlesnake's tail
- a rapid succession of sharp clattering sounds
- noise, racket
- death rattle
- to furnish with ratlines
rat·tle·brain ['ra-tᵊl-,brān] -n, adj
- a flighty or thoughtless person
rat·tler ['rat-lər, 'ra-tᵊl-ər] -n
- one that rattles
- rattlesnake
rat·tle·snake ['ra-tᵊl-,snāk] -n
- any of several American pit vipers (genera Crotalusand Sistrurus) that have horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when shaken
rattlesnake master -n
- button snakeroot
rattlesnake plantain -n
- any of a genus ( Goodyera) of orchids with variegated leaves and small flowers in a twisted spike
rattlesnake root -n
- : any of various plants formerly believed to be distasteful to rattlesnakes or effective against their venom: as
- any of a genus ( Prenanthes,esp. P. altissima) of composite plants with small heads of drooping ligulate flowers
- seneca snakeroot
rattlesnake weed -n
- a hawkweed ( Hieracium venosum) of eastern No. America with purple-veined leaves
rat·tle·trap ['ra-tᵊl-,trap] -n, adj
- something rattly or rickety
- an old car
rat·tling ['rat-liŋ] -adj, adv
- lively, brisk
- extraordinarily good : splendid
rattling -adv
- to an extreme degree : very
rat·tly ['rat-lē, 'ra-tᵊl-ē] -adj
- likely to rattle : making a rattle
rat·ton ['ra-tᵊn, 'rä-] -n
- rat
rat·trap ['ra(t)-,trap] -n
- a trap for rats
- a dirty dilapidated structure
- a hopeless situation
rat trap cheese -n
- cheddar
rat·ty ['ra-tē] -adj
- infested with rats
- of, relating to, or suggestive of a rat
- shabby, unkempt
- a ratty brown overcoat -- John Lardner
- despicable, treacherous
- irritable
- feeling ratty as hell -- Richard Bissell
rau·cous ['rȯ-kəs] -adj, adv, n
- disagreeably harsh or strident : hoarse
- boisterously disorderly
- a...raucous frontier town -- Truman Capote
raunch ['rȯnch, 'ränch] -n
- vulgarity, lewdness
raun·chy ['rȯn-chē, 'rän-] -adj, adv, n
- slovenly, dirty
- very smelly
- obscene, smutty
rau·wol·fia [rau̇-'wu̇l-fē-ə, rȯ-] -n
- any of a genus ( Rauvolfiasyn. Rauwolfia) of pantropical trees and shrubs of the dogbane family that yield medicinal alkaloids (as reserpine)
- the dried root or an extract from the root of a rauwolfia (esp. Rauvolfia serpentinaof Asia) used chiefly in the treatment of hypertension
rav·age ['ra-vij] -n
- an act or practice of ravaging
- damage resulting from ravaging : violently destructive effect
ravage [-vij-mənt] -vb, n
- to wreak havoc on : affect destructively
- to commit destructive actions
rave ['rāv] -vb
- to talk irrationally in or as if in delirium
- to speak out wildly
- to talk with extreme enthusiasm
- to move or advance violently : storm
- the iced gusts still rave and beat -- John Keats
- to utter in madness or frenzy
- an act or instance of raving
- an extravagantly favorable criticism
- the play received the critics' rave s
- a large overnight dance party featuring techno music and usu. involving the taking of mind-altering drugs
rav·el ['ra-vəl] -vb, n
- to separate or undo the texture of : unravel
- to undo the intricacies of : disentangle
- entangle, confuse
- to become entangled or confused
- to become unwoven, untwisted, or unwound : fray
- break up, crumble
ravel -n
- : an act or result of raveling: as
- something tangled
- something raveled out
- a loose thread
raveling -n
- ravel
ra·ven ['rā-vən] -n
- a large glossy black corvine bird ( Corvus corax) of Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and America
raven -adj
- shiny and black like a raven's feathers
rav·en ['ra-vən] -vb, n
- to feed greedily
- to prowl for food : prey
- plunder
- to devour greedily
- despoil
- men...raven the earth, destroying its resources -- New Yorker
rav·en·ous ['ra-və-nəs, 'rav-nəs] -adj, adv, n
- rapacious
- very eager or greedy for food, satisfaction, or gratification
rav·er ['rā-vər] -n
- one that raves
- a person who frequents raves
rav·in ['ra-vən] -n
- plunder, pillage
- an act or habit of preying
- something seized as prey
ra·vine [rə-'vēn] -n
- a small narrow steep-sided valley that is larger than a gully and smaller than a canyon and that is usu. worn by running water
rav·ined ['ra-vənd] -adj
- rapacious, ravenous
raving -n
- irrational, incoherent, wild, or extravagant utterance or declamation usu. used in pl.
- talking wildly or irrationally
- ravishing
rav·i·o·li [,ra-vē-'ō-lē, ,rä-] -n
- pasta in the form of little cases of dough containing a savory filling (as of meat or cheese)
rav·ish ['ra-vish] -vt, n
- to seize and take away by violence
- to overcome with emotion (as joy or delight)
- ravish ed by the scenic beauty
- rape
- plunder, rob
rav·ish·ing ['ra-vi-shiŋ] -adj, adv
- unusually attractive, pleasing, or striking
raw ['rȯ] -adj, adv, n
- not cooked
- being in or nearly in the natural state : not processed or purified
- not diluted or blended
- unprepared or imperfectly prepared for use
- not being in polished, finished, or processed form
- having the surface abraded or chafed
- very irritated
- lacking covering : naked
- not protected : susceptible to hurt
- lacking experience or understanding : green
- marked by absence of refinements
- vulgar, coarse
- not tempered : unbridled
- disagreeably damp or cold
- a raw place or state
raw bar -n
- a counter (as in a restaurant) that serves raw shellfish
raw·boned ['rȯ-,bōnd] -adj
- relatively thin with prominent bone structure
- heavy-framed and rugged but not attractively built
raw deal -n
- an instance of unfair treatment
raw·hide ['rȯ-,hīd] -n
- a whip of untanned hide
- untanned cattle skin
rawhide -vt
- to whip or drive with or as if with a rawhide
- chastise
ra·win·sonde ['rā-wən-,sänd] -n
- a radiosonde tracked by a radio direction-finding device to determine the velocity of winds aloft
raw material -n
- crude or processed material that can be converted by manufacture, processing, or combination into a new and useful product
- wheat...is raw material for the flour mill -- C. A. Koepke
- something with a potential for improvement, development, or elaboration
- perplexities are often the raw material of discoveries -- Agnes M. Clerke
raw score -n
- an individual's actual achievement score (as on a test) before being adjusted for relative position in the test group
rax ['raks] -vb
- stretch
ray ['rā] -n
- any of an order (Rajiformes) of usu. marine cartilaginous fishes (as stingrays and skates) having the body flattened dorsoventrally, the eyes on the upper surface, and enlarged pectoral fins fused with the head
- any of the lines of light that appear to radiate from a bright object
- a beam of radiant energy (as light) of small cross section
- a stream of material particles traveling in the same line (as in radioactive phenomena)
- a single particle of such a stream
- light cast by rays : radiance
- a moral or intellectual light
- : a thin line suggesting a ray: as
- any of a group of lines diverging from a common center
- half line
- one of the bony rods that extend and support the membrane in the fin of a fish
- one of the radiating divisions of the body of a radiate animal (as a starfish)
- a branch or flower stalk of an umbel
- medullary ray
- vascular ray
- ray flower
- particle, trace
- to shine in or as if in rays
- to issue as rays
- to extend like the radii of a circle : radiate
- to emit in rays
- to furnish or mark with rays
ray flower -n
- one of the marginal flowers of the head in a composite plant (as the aster) that also has disk flowers
- the entire head in a plant (as chicory) that lacks disk flowers
Ray·leigh scattering ['rā-lē-] -n
- scattering of light by particles small enough to render the effect selective so that different colors are deflected through different angles
ray·less ['rā-ləs] -adj, n
- having, admitting, or emitting no rays
- dark
rayless goldenrod -n
- a shrubby to herbaceous composite plant ( Haplopappus heterophyllussyn. Isocoma wrightii) esp. of open saline ground from Texas to Arizona and northern Mexico that lacks ray flowers and causes trembles in cattle
ray·on ['rā-,än] -n
- any of a group of smooth textile fibers made from regenerated cellulose by extrusion through minute holes
- a rayon yarn, thread, or fabric
raze ['rāz] -vt, n
- erase
- to scrape, cut, or shave off
- to destroy to the ground : demolish
ra·zee [rā-'zē] -n
- a wooden warship with the upper deck cut away
ra·zor ['rā-zər] -n
- a keen-edged cutting instrument for shaving or cutting hair
ra·zor·back ['rā-zər-,bak] -n
- a thin-bodied long-legged feral hog chiefly of the southeastern U.S.
ra·zorbacked [-,bakt] -adj
- having a sharp narrow back
ra·zor·bill [-,bil] -n
- a No. Atlantic auk ( Alca torda) with the plumage black above and white below and a compressed sharp-edged bill called also razor-billed auk
razor clam -n
- any of a family (Solenidae) of marine lamellibranch mollusks having a long narrow thin shell
razor wire -n
- coiled wire fitted with sharp razor edges and used as an obstacle or barrier
- concertina wire
razz ['raz] -n
- raspberry
- heckle, deride
- the fans razz ed the visiting players
razz·a·ma·tazz [,raz-mə-'taz] -n
(variant of razzmatazz)
- razzle-dazzle
- double-talk
- vim, zing
raz·zledaz·zle [,ra-zəl-'da-zəl] -n, adj
- a state of confusion or hilarity
- a complex maneuver (as in sports) designed to confuse an opponent
- a confusing or colorful often gaudy action or display
razz·ma·tazz [,raz-mə-'taz] -n
- razzle-dazzle
- double-talk
- vim, zing