cu -abbr
- cubic
- cumulative
Cu -abbr
- cumulus
- copper
CU -abbr
- close-up
cua·dri·lla [kwä-'drē-yə, -'drēl-] -n
- the team assisting the matador in the bullring
cub ['kəb] -n
- a young carnivorous mammal (as a bear, fox, or lion)
- a young shark
- a young person
- apprentice
- an inexperienced newspaper reporter
cub·age ['kyü-bij] -n
- cubic content, volume, or displacement
Cu·ba li·bre [,kyü-bə-'lē-brə] -n
- a cocktail made with rum, lime juice, and cola
Cu·ban heel ['kyü-bən-] -n
- a broad medium-high heel with a moderately curved back
Cuban sandwich -n
- a usu. grilled and pressed sandwich in Cuban-American cuisine served on a long split roll and typically containing roasted meats, cheese, and pickles
- submarine
cub·by ['kə-bē] -n
- cubbyhole
cub·by·hole ['kə-bē-,hōl] -n
- a small snug place (as for hiding or storage)
- a cramped space
cube ['kyüb] -n
- the regular solid of six equal square sides
- something shaped like a cube
- cubicle
- the product of a number multiplied by itself twice
- raised to the third power
- to raise to the third power
- to form into a cube
- to cut partly through (a steak) in a checkered pattern to increase tenderness by breaking the fibers
cu·be ['kyü-,bā, kyü-'] -n
- any of several tropical American plants (genus Lonchocarpus) furnishing rotenone
cu·beb ['kyü-,beb] -n
- the dried unripe berry of a tropical shrub ( Piper cubeba) of the pepper family that is used as a spice
cube root -n
- a number whose cube is a given number
cube steak -n
- a thin slice of beef that has been cubed
cu·bic ['kyü-bik] -adj
- having the form of a cube : cubical
- relating to the cube considered as a crystal form
- isometric
- three-dimensional
- being the volume of a cube whose edge is a specified unit
- of third degree, order, or power
cubic -n
- a cubic curve, equation, or polynomial
cu·bi·cal ['kyü-bi-kəl] -adj, adv
- cubic
- shaped like a cube
- relating to volume
cubic equation -n
- a polynomial equation in which the highest sum of exponents of variables in any term is three
cu·bi·cle ['kyü-bi-kəl] -n
- a sleeping compartment partitioned off from a large room
- a small partitioned space
- one with a desk used for work in a business office
- carrel
cubic measure -n
- a unit (as cubic inch or cubic centimeter) for measuring volume
cubic zirconia -n
- a synthetic gemstone of zirconia resembling a diamond
cub·ism ['kyü-,bi-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj
- a style of art that stresses abstract structure at the expense of other pictorial elements esp. by displaying several aspects of the same object simultaneously and by fragmenting the form of depicted objects
cu·bit ['kyü-bət] -n
- any of various ancient units of length based on the length of the forearm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger and usu. equal to about 18 inches (46 centimeters)
cu·boid ['kyü-,bȯid] -adj
- approximately cubical in shape
- relating to or being the cuboid
cuboid -n
- the outermost bone in the distal row of tarsal bones of many higher vertebrates
cu·boi·dal [kyü-'bȯi-dᵊl] -adj
- somewhat cubical
- composed of nearly cubical elements
Cub Scout -n
- a member of the scouting program of the Boy Scouts for boys in the first through fifth grades in school
cuck·ing stool ['kə-kiŋ-] -n
- a chair formerly used for punishing offenders (as dishonest tradesmen) by public exposure or ducking in water
cuck·old ['kə-kəld, -(,)kōld] -n, vt
- a man whose wife is unfaithful
cuck·old·ry [-kəl-drē] -n
- the practice of making cuckolds
- the state of being a cuckold
cuck·oo ['kü-(,)kü, 'ku̇-] -n
- a largely grayish-brown European bird ( Cuculus canorus) that is a parasite given to laying its eggs in the nests of other birds which hatch them and rear the offspring
- any of a large family (Cuculidae of the order Cuculiformes) to which this bird belongs
- the call of the cuckoo
- a silly or slightly crackbrained person
cuckoo -vt
- to repeat monotonously as a cuckoo does its call
- of, relating to, or resembling the cuckoo
- deficient in sense or intelligence : silly
cuckoo clock -n
- a wall or shelf clock that announces the hours by sounds resembling a cuckoo's call
cuck·oo·flow·er ['kü-(,)kü-,flau̇(-ə)r, 'ku̇-] -n
- a bitter cress ( Cardamine pratensis) of Eurasia and No. America
- ragged robin
cuck·oo·pint [-,pint] -n
- a European arum ( Arum maculatum) with erect spathe and short purple spadix
cuckoo spit -n
- a frothy secretion exuded on plants by the nymphs of spittle insects
- spittlebug
cu·cul·late ['kyü-kə-,lāt, kyü-'kə-lət] -adj
- having the shape of a hood
cu·cum·ber ['kyü-(,)kəm-bər] -n
- the fruit of a vine ( Cucumis sativus) of the gourd family cultivated as a garden vegetable
- this vine
cucumber mosaic -n
- a plant disease esp. of cucumbers that is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus (species Cucumber mosaic virusof the genus Cucumovirus,family Bromoviridae) and is transmitted chiefly by an aphid and produces mottled foliage and often pale warty fruits
cucumber tree -n
- a magnolia ( Magnolia acuminata) of the eastern U.S. having fruit resembling a small cucumber
cu·cur·bit [kyü-'kər-bət] -n
- a vessel or flask for distillation used with or forming part of an alembic
- a plant of the gourd family
cud ['kəd, chiefly Southern 'ku̇d or 'küd] -n
- food brought up into the mouth by a ruminating animal from its first stomach to be chewed again
- quid
cud·bear ['kəd-,ber] -n
- a reddish coloring matter from lichens
cud·dle ['kə-dᵊl] -vb, n
- to hold close for warmth or comfort or in affection
- to lie close or snug : nestle, snuggle
cuddle -n
- a close embrace
cud·dle·some ['kə-dᵊl-səm] -adj
- cuddly
cud·dly ['kəd-lē, 'kə-dᵊl-ē] -adj
- fit for or inviting cuddling
cud·dy ['kə-dē] -n
- a usu. small cabin or shelter (as on a sailboat)
- a small room or cupboard
- donkey
- blockhead
cud·gel ['kə-jəl] -n
- a short heavy club
cudgel ['kəj-liŋ, 'kə-jə-] -vt
- to beat with or as if with a cudgel
cud·weed ['kəd-,wēd, chiefly Southern 'ku̇d- or 'küd-] -n
- any of several composite plants (as of the genus Gnaphalium) with silky or woolly foliage
cue ['kyü] -n
- the letter q
- a signal (as a word, phrase, or bit of stage business) to a performer to begin a specific speech or action
- something serving a comparable purpose : hint
- a feature indicating the nature of something perceived
- the part one has to perform in or as if in a play
- mood, humor
- to give a cue to : prompt
- to insert into a continuous performance
- a leather-tipped tapering rod for striking the cue ball (as in billiards and pool)
- a long-handled instrument with a concave head for shoving disks in shuffleboard
- queue
- queue
- to strike with a cue
- queue
- to use a cue
cue ball -n
- the ball a player strikes with the cue in billiards and pool
cues·ta ['kwes-tə] -n
- a hill or ridge with a steep face on one side and a gentle slope on the other
cuff ['kəf] -n, adj
- something (as a part of a sleeve or glove) encircling the wrist
- the turned-back hem of a trouser leg
- handcuff usu. used in pl.
- a usu. wide metal band worn as a bracelet
- an inflatable band that is wrapped around an extremity to control the flow of blood through the part when recording blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer
- to furnish with a cuff
- handcuff
- to strike esp. with or as if with the palm of the hand : buffet
- fight, scuffle
- a blow with the hand esp. when open : slap
cuff link -n
- a usu. ornamental device consisting of two parts joined by a shank, chain, or bar for passing through buttonholes to fasten shirt cuffs usu. used in pl.
cui bo·no ['kwē-'bō-(,)nō] -n
- a principle that probable responsibility for an act or event lies with one having something to gain
- usefulness or utility as a principle in estimating the value of an act or policy
cui·rass [kwi-'ras, kyu̇-] -n, adj
- a piece of armor covering the body from neck to waist
- the breastplate of such a piece
- something (as bony plates covering an animal) resembling a cuirass
cui·ras·sier [,kwir-ə-'sir, ,kyu̇r-] -n
- a mounted soldier wearing a cuirass
Cui·se·naire rod [,kwē-zə-'ner-] -n
- any of a set of colored rods usu. of 1 centimeter cross section and of 10 lengths from 1 to 10 centimeters that are used for teaching number concepts and the basic operations of arithmetic
cui·sine [kwi-'zēn, kwē-] -n
- manner of preparing food : style of cooking
- the food prepared
cuisse ['kwis] -n
- a piece of plate armor for the front of the thigh
cuke ['kyük] -n
- cucumber
culdesac ['kəl-di-,sak, 'ku̇l-; ,kəl-di-', ,ku̇l-] -n
- a blind diverticulum or pouch
- a street or passage closed at one end
- blind alley
cu·let ['kyü-lət, 'kə-lət] -n
- the small flat facet at the bottom of a brilliant parallel to the table
- plate armor covering the buttocks
cu·lex ['kyü-,leks] -n
- any of a large cosmopolitan genus ( Culex) of mosquitoes that includes the common house mosquito ( C. pipiens) of Europe and No. America and vectors of the viruses causing Saint Louis encephalitis and West Nile fever
cu·li·nar·i·an [,kə-lə-'ner-ē-ən, 'kyü-, ,kü-] -n
- cook, chef
cu·li·nary ['kə-lə-,ner-ē, 'kyü-, ,kü-] -adj, adv
- of or relating to the kitchen or cookery
cull ['kəl] -vt, n
- to select from a group : choose
- cull ed the best passages from the poet's work
- to reduce or control the size of (as a herd) by removal (as by hunting) of esp. weaker animals
- to hunt or kill (animals) as a means of population control
- something rejected esp. as being inferior or worthless
- how to separate good-looking pecans from cull s -- Washington Post
cul·len·der ['kä-lən-dər, 'kə-] -n
(variant of colander)
- a perforated utensil for washing or draining food
cul·let ['kə-lət] -n
- broken or refuse glass usu. added to new material to facilitate melting in making glass
cul·lion ['kəl-yən] -n
- a mean or base fellow
cul·ly ['kə-lē] -n
- one easily tricked or imposed on : dupe
cully -vt
- cheat, deceive
culm ['kəlm] -n
- refuse coal screenings : slack
- a monocotyledonous stem (as of a grass or sedge)
cul·mi·nant ['kəl-mə-nənt] -adj
- being at greatest altitude or on the meridian
- fully developed
cul·mi·nate ['kəl-mə-,nāt] -vb
- to reach its highest altitude
- to be directly overhead
- to rise to or form a summit
- to reach the highest or a climactic or decisive point
- to bring to a head or to the highest point
cul·mi·na·tion [,kəl-mə-'nā-shən] -n
- the action of culminating
- culminating position : climax
cu·lotte ['kü-,lät, 'kyü-; kü-'lät, kyü-'] -n
- a divided skirt
- a garment having a divided skirt often used in pl.
cul·pa·ble ['kəl-pə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- guilty, criminal
- meriting condemnation or blame esp. as wrong or harmful
cul·prit ['kəl-prət, -,prit] -n
- one accused of or charged with a crime
- one guilty of a crime or a fault
- the source or cause of a problem
cult ['kəlt] -n, adj, adv
- formal religious veneration : worship
- a system of religious beliefs and ritual
- its body of adherents
- a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious
- its body of adherents
- a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator
- great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book)
- such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad
- the object of such devotion
- a usu. small group of people characterized by such devotion
cultch ['kəlch] -n
- material (as oyster shells) laid down on oyster grounds to furnish points of attachment for the spat
- clutter, trash
cul·ti·gen ['kəl-tə-jən] -n
- a cultivated or domestic organism (as the kidney bean Phaseolus vulgaris,the dog Canis familiaris,or corn Zea mays) which has diverged enough while in domestication or cultivation from its ancestors or closest wild relatives to be classified as a species, subspecies, or major variety
cul·ti·va·ble ['kəl-tə-və-bəl] -adj, n
- capable of being cultivated
cul·ti·var ['kəl-tə-,vär, -,ver] -n
- an organism and esp. one of an agricultural or horticultural variety or strain originating and persistent under cultivation
cul·ti·vate ['kəl-tə-,vāt] -vt, adj
- to prepare or prepare and use for the raising of crops
- to loosen or break up the soil about (growing plants)
- to foster the growth of
- culture
- to improve by labor, care, or study : refine
- further, encourage
- to seek the society of : make friends with
cultivated -adj
- refined, educated
cul·ti·va·tion [,kəl-tə-'vā-shən] -n
- culture, refinement
- the act or art of cultivating or tilling
cul·ti·va·tor ['kəl-tə-,vā-tər] -n
- one that cultivates
- an implement for loosening the soil while crops are growing
cul·tur·al ['kəlch-rəl, 'kəl-chə-] -adj, adv
- of or relating to culture or culturing
- concerned with the fostering of plant or animal growth
cultural anthropology -n
- anthropology that deals with human culture esp. with respect to social structure, language, law, politics, religion, magic, art, and technology
cul·tur·a·ti [,kəl-chə-'rä-(,)tē] -n pl
- people intensely interested in cultural affairs
cul·ture ['kəl-chər] -n
- cultivation, tillage
- the act of developing the intellectual and moral faculties esp. by education
- expert care and training
- enlightenment and excellence of taste acquired by intellectual and aesthetic training
- acquaintance with and taste in fine arts, humanities, and broad aspects of science as distinguished from vocational and technical skills
- the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations
- the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group
- the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life} shared by people in a place or time
- the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization
- a corporate culture focused on the bottom line
- the set of values, conventions, or social practices associated with a particular field, activity, or societal characteristic
- studying the effect of computers on print culture
- changing the culture of materialism will take time -- Peggy O'Mara
- the act or process of cultivating living material (as bacteria or viruses) in prepared nutrient media
- a product of such cultivation
culture ['kəlch-riŋ, 'kəl-chə-] -vt
- cultivate
- to grow in a prepared medium
- to start a culture from
cultured -adj
- cultivated
- produced under artificial conditions
culture shock -n
- a sense of confusion and uncertainty sometimes with feelings of anxiety that may affect people exposed to an alien culture or environment without adequate preparation
cul·tus ['kəl-təs] -n
- cult
cul·ver ['kəl-vər, 'ku̇l-] -n
- pigeon
cul·ver·in ['kəl-və-rən] -n
- : an early firearm:
- a rude musket
- a long cannon (as an 18-pounder) of the 16th and 17th centuries
cul·vert ['kəl-vərt] -n
- a transverse drain
- a conduit for a culvert
- a bridge over a culvert
cum ['ku̇m, 'kəm] -conj
- along with being : and used to form usu. hyphenated phrases
- a credible mining camp elder- cum -publican -- G. B. Shaw
- Christian and Christian- cum -voodoo churches -- David Binder
- cumulative
Cumb -abbr
- Cumbria
cum·ber ['kəm-bər] -vt
- trouble, harass
- to hinder or encumber by being in the way
- cumber ed with heavy clothing
- to clutter up
- rocks cumber ing the yard
cumber -n
- something that cumbers
- hindrance
cum·ber·some ['kəm-bər-səm] -adj, adv, n
- burdensome, troublesome
- unwieldy because of heaviness and bulk
- slow-moving : ponderous
cum·brous ['kəm-b(ə-)rəs] -adj, adv, n
- cumbersome
cum·in ['kə-mən, 'kyü-, 'kü-] -n
- a small annual herb ( Cuminum cyminum) of the carrot family cultivated for its aromatic fruits
- the seedlike fruit of cumin used as a spice
cum lau·de [ku̇m-'lau̇-də, -dē; ,kəm-'lȯ-dē] -adv or adj
- with distinction
cum·mer·bund ['kə-mər-,bənd, 'kəm-bər-] -n
- a broad waistband usu. worn in place of a vest with men's dress clothes and adapted in various styles of women's clothes
cum·shaw ['kəm-,shȯ] -n
- present, gratuity
- bribe, payoff
cumul- -comb form
- cumulus and
cu·mu·late ['kyü-myə-,lāt] -vb, adj, n
- to gather or pile in a heap
- to combine into one
- to build up by addition of new material
- to become massed
cu·mu·la·tive ['kyü-myə-lə-tiv, -,lā-] -adj, adv, n
- made up of accumulated parts
- increasing by successive additions
- tending to prove the same point
- taking effect upon completion of another penal sentence
- increasing in severity with repetition of the offense
- formed by the addition of new material of the same kind
- summing or integrating overall data or values of a random variable less than or less than or equal to a specified value
- cumulative normal distribution
- cumulative frequency distribution
cumulative distribution function -n
- a function that gives the probability that a random variable is less than or equal to the independent variable of the function
cu·mu·li·form ['kyü-myə-lə-,fȯrm] -adj
- of the form of a cumulus
cu·mu·lo·nim·bus [-'nim-bəs] -n
- cumulus cloud having a low base and often spread out in the shape of an anvil extending to great heights
cu·mu·lous ['kyü-myə-ləs] -adj
- resembling cumulus
cu·mu·lus [-ləs] -n
- heap, accumulation
- a dense puffy cloud form having a flat base and rounded outlines often piled up like a mountain
cunc·ta·tion [,kəŋ(k)-'tā-shən] -n, adj
- delay
cu·ne·ate ['kyü-nē-,āt, -ət] -adj
- narrowly triangular with the acute angle toward the base
cu·ne·i·form [kyü-'nē-ə-,fȯrm, 'kyü-n(ē-)ə-] -adj
- having the shape of a wedge
- composed of or written in wedge-shaped characters
cuneiform -n
- a cuneiform part
- a cuneiform bone or cartilage
- cuneiform writing
cun·ner ['kə-nər] -n
- : either of two wrasses:
- a European wrasse ( Crenilabrus melops)
- a wrasse ( Tautogolabrus adspersus) common along the northeastern U.S. and adjacent Canadian coast
cun·ni·lin·gus [,kə-ni-'liŋ-gəs] -n
- oral stimulation of the vulva or clitoris
cun·ning ['kə-niŋ] -adj, adv, n
- dexterous or crafty in the use of special resources (as skill or knowledge) or in attaining an end
- displaying keen insight
- characterized by wiliness and trickery
- prettily appealing : cute
cunning -n
- knowledge, learning
- magic art
- dexterous skill and subtlety (as in inventing, devising, or executing)
- high-ribbed vault...with perfect cunning framed -- William Wordsworth
- craft, slyness
cunt ['kənt] -n
- the female genital organs
- sexual intercourse with a woman
- woman
cup ['kəp] -n, adj
- an open usu. bowl-shaped drinking vessel
- a drinking vessel and its contents
- the consecrated wine of the Communion
- something that falls to one's lot
- an ornamental cup offered as a prize (as in a championship)
- : something resembling a cup: as
- a cup-shaped plant organ
- an athletic supporter reinforced usu. with plastic to provide extra protection to the wearer
- either of two parts of a brassiere that are shaped like and fit over the breasts
- the metal case inside a hole in golf
- the hole itself
- a usu. iced beverage resembling punch but served from a pitcher rather than a bowl
- a half pint : eight fluid ounces
- a food served in a cup-shaped usu. footed vessel
- the symbol indicating the union of two sets
- to treat by cupping
- to curve into the shape of a cup
- cupped his hands around his mouth
- to place in or as if in a cup
cup·bear·er ['kəp-,ber-ər] -n
- one who has the duty of filling and handing around the cups in which wine is served
cup·board ['kə-bərd] -n
- a closet with shelves where dishes, utensils, or food is kept
- a small closet
cup·cake ['kəp-,kāk] -n
- a small cake baked in a cuplike mold
cu·pel [kyü-'pel, 'kyü-pəl] -n
- a small shallow porous cup esp. of bone ash used in assaying to separate precious metals from lead
cupel -vt, n
- to refine by means of a cupel
cu·pel·la·tion [,kyü-pə-'lā-shən, -,pe-] -n
- refinement (as of gold or silver) in a cupel by exposure to high temperature in a blast of air by which the unwanted metals are oxidized
cup·ful ['kəp-,fu̇l] -n
- as much as a cup will hold
- cup
cup fungus -n
- any of an order (Pezizales) of mostly saprophytic ascomycetous fungi with a fleshy or horny apothecium that is often colored and typically shaped like a cup, saucer, or disk
Cu·pid ['kyü-pəd] -n
- the Roman god of erotic love
- a figure that represents Cupid as a naked usu. winged boy often holding a bow and arrow
cu·pid·i·ty [kyu̇-'pi-də-tē] -n
- inordinate desire for wealth : avarice, greed
- strong desire : lust
Cupid's bow -n
- a bow that consists of two convex curves usu. with recurved ends
cup of tea
- something one likes or excels in
- I see already that storytelling isn't my cup of tea -- John Barth
- a person suited to one's taste
- a thing to be reckoned with : matter
- poltergeists are a different cup of tea -- D. B. W. Lewis
cu·po·la ['kyü-pə-lə, ÷-,lō] -n, adj
- a rounded vault resting on a usu. circular base and forming a roof or a ceiling
- a small structure built on top of a roof
- a vertical cylindrical furnace for melting iron in the foundry that has tuyeres and tapping spouts near the bottom
- a raised observation post in the roof of a railroad caboose
cup·pa ['kə-pə] -n
- a cup of tea
cup·ping -n
- an operation of drawing blood to the surface of the body by use of a glass vessel evacuated by heat
cup·py ['kə-pē] -adj
- resembling a cup
- full of small depressions
cupr- -comb form
- copper
- copper and
cu·pric ['kyü-prik, 'kü-] -adj
- of, relating to, or containing copper with a valence of two
cu·prif·er·ous [kyü-'pri-f(ə-)rəs, kü-] -adj
- containing copper
cu·prite ['kyü-,prīt, 'kü-] -n
- a red mineral consisting of copper oxide that is a minor ore of copper
cu·pro·nick·el [,kyü-prō-'ni-kəl, ,kü-] -n
- an alloy of copper and nickel
- one containing about 70 percent copper and 30 percent nickel
cu·prous ['kyü-prəs, 'kü-] -adj
- of, relating to, or containing copper with a valence of one
cu·pu·late ['kyü-pyə-,lāt, -lət] -adj
- shaped like, having, or bearing a cupule
cu·pule ['kyü-(,)pyül] -n
- : a cup-shaped anatomical structure: as
- an involucre characteristic of the oak in which the bracts are indurated and coherent
- an outer integument partially enclosing the seed of some seed ferns
cur ['kər] -n
- a mongrel or inferior dog
- a surly or cowardly fellow
- currency
- current
cur·able ['kyu̇r-ə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- capable of being cured
cu·ra·ao ['kyu̇r-ə-,sō, -,sau̇, 'ku̇r-; ,k(y)u̇r-ə-'] -n
- a liqueur flavored with the dried peel of the sour orange
cu·ra·cy ['kyu̇r-ə-sē] -n
- the office or term of office of a curate
cu·ra·re [kyu̇-'rär-ē, ku̇-] -n
- a dried aqueous extract esp. of a vine (as Strychnos toxiferaof the family Loganiaceae or Chondodendron tomentosumof the family Menispermaceae) used by So. American Indians to poison arrow tips and in medicine to produce muscular relaxation
cu·ra·rize [-'rär-,īz] -vt, n
- to treat with curare
cu·ras·sow ['kyu̇r-ə-,sō, 'ku̇r-] -n
- any of several large arboreal gallinaceous game birds (family Cracidae, esp. genus Crax) of So. and Central America
cu·rate ['kyu̇r-ət also 'kyu̇r-,āt] -n
- a clergyman in charge of a parish
- a clergyman serving as assistant (as to a rector) in a parish
- to act as curator of
- an exhibit curated by the museum's director
curate's egg -n
- something with both good and bad parts or qualities
cu·ra·tive ['kyu̇r-ə-tiv] -adj, n, adv
- relating to or used in the cure of diseases : tending to cure
cu·ra·tor ['kyu̇r-,ā-tər, kyu̇-'rā-, 'kyu̇r-ə-] -n, adj
- one who has the care and superintendence of something
- one in charge of a museum, zoo, or other place of exhibit
curb ['kərb] -n
- a bit that exerts severe pressure on a horse's jaws
- the chain or strap attached to it
- an enclosing frame, border, or edging
- check, restraint
- a raised edge or margin to strengthen or confine
- an edging (as of concrete) built along a street to form part of a gutter
- a market for trading in securities not listed on a stock exchange
- to furnish with a curb
- to check or control with or as if with a curb
- trying to curb her curiosity
- to lead (a dog) to a suitable place (as a gutter) for defecation
curb appeal -n
- the visual attractiveness of a house as seen from the street
curb·ing ['kər-biŋ] -n
- the material for a curb
- curb
curb service -n
- service extended (as by a restaurant) to persons sitting in parked automobiles
curb·side ['kərb-,sīd] -n
- the side of a pavement bordered by a curb
- sidewalk
curb·stone [-,stōn] -n
- a stone or edging of concrete forming a curb
curbstone -adj
- operating on the street without maintaining an office
- not having the benefit of training or experience
curb weight -n
- the weight of an automobile with standard equipment and fuel, oil, and coolant
curch ['kərch] -n
- kerchief
cur·cu·lio [(,)kər-'kyü-lē-,ō] -n
- any of various weevils
- one that injures fruit
cur·cu·min ['kər-kyə-mən] -n
- an orange-yellow crystalline compound C 21H 20O 6that constitutes the chief coloring principle of turmeric
curd ['kərd] -n, adj
- the thick casein-rich part of coagulated milk
- something suggesting the curd of milk
- coagulate, curdle
cur·dle ['kər-dᵊl] -vb
- to form curds
- to congeal as if by forming curds
- a scream curdled in her throat
- to go bad or wrong : spoil
- to cause curds to form in
- spoil, sour
cure ['kyu̇r] -n, adj
- spiritual charge : care
- pastoral charge of a parish
- recovery or relief from a disease
- something (as a drug or treatment) that cures a disease
- a course or period of treatment
- take the cure for alcoholism
- spa
- a complete or permanent solution or remedy
- seeking a cure for unemployment
- a process or method of curing
- to restore to health, soundness, or normality
- to bring about recovery from
- to deal with in a way that eliminates or rectifies
- his small size, which time would cure for him -- William Faulkner
- to free from something objectionable or harmful
- trying to cure him of a bad habit
- to prepare or alter esp. by chemical or physical processing for keeping or use
- to undergo a curing process
- set
- to effect a cure
cu·re [kyu̇-'rā, 'kyu̇r-,ā] -n
- a parish priest
cureall ['kyu̇r-,ȯl] -n
- a remedy for all ills : panacea
cu·ret·tage [,kyu̇r-ə-'täzh] -n
- a surgical scraping or cleaning by means of a curette
cu·rette [kyu̇-'ret] -n
- a surgical instrument that has a scoop, ring, or loop at the tip and is used in performing curettage
curette [kyu̇-'ret-mənt] -vt, n
- to perform curettage on
cur·few ['kər-(,)fyü] -n
- the sounding of a bell at evening
- a regulation enjoining the withdrawal of usu. specified persons (as juveniles or military personnel) from the streets or the closing of business establishments or places of assembly at a stated hour
- a signal to announce the beginning of a curfew
- the hour at which a curfew becomes effective
- the period during which a curfew is in effect
cu·ria ['kyu̇r-ē-ə, 'ku̇r-] -n, adj
- a division of the ancient Roman people comprising several gentes of a tribe
- the place of assembly of one of these divisions
- the court of a medieval king
- a court of justice
- the body of congregations, tribunals, and offices through which the pope governs the Roman Catholic Church
cu·rie ['kyu̇r-(,)ē, kyu̇-'rē] -n
- a unit quantity of any radioactive nuclide in which 3.7 10 10disintegrations occur per second
- a unit of radioactivity equal to 3.7 10 10disintegrations per second
Curie point -n
- the temperature at which there is a transition between the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases
- a temperature at which the anomalies that characterize a ferroelectric substance disappear called also Curie temperature
cu·rio ['kyu̇r-ē-,ō] -n
- something (as a decorative object) considered novel, rare, or bizarre : curiosity
- an unusual or bizarre person
cu·ri·o·sa [,kyu̇r-ē-'ō-sə, -'ō-zə] -n pl
- curiosities, rarities
- unusual or erotic books
cu·ri·os·i·ty [,kyu̇r-ē-'ä-s(ə-)tē] -n
- : desire to know:
- inquisitive interest in others' concerns : nosiness
- interest leading to inquiry
- undue nicety or fastidiousness
- one that arouses interest esp. for uncommon or exotic characteristics
- an unusual knickknack : curio
- a curious trait or aspect
cu·ri·ous ['kyu̇r-ē-əs] -adj, n
- made carefully
- abstruse
- precisely accurate
- marked by desire to investigate and learn
- marked by inquisitive interest in others' concerns : nosy
- exciting attention as strange, novel, or unexpected : odd
cu·ri·ous·ly [-lē] -adv
- in a curious manner
- as is curious
- curiously, he continues to win reelection
cu·ri·um ['kyu̇r-ē-əm] -n
- a metallic radioactive element produced artificially
curl ['kər(-ə)l] -vb
- to form (as the hair) into coils or ringlets
- to form into a curved shape : twist
- curl ed his lip in a sneer
- to furnish with curls
- to grow in coils or spirals
- to form ripples or crinkles
- to move or progress in curves or spirals : wind
- the path curl ed along the mountainside
- twist, contort
- to play the game of curling
- a lock of hair that coils : ringlet
- something having a spiral or winding form : coil
- the action of curling : the state of being curled
- a curved or spiral marking in the grain of wood
- a hollow arch of water formed when the crest of a breaking wave spills forward
- a usu. short pass pattern in football in which a receiver runs downfield and then curves back toward the line of scrimmage
- a body-building exercise in which a weight held with the palms facing up is raised and lowered by flexing only the wrists or elbows
curl·er ['kər-lər] -n
- a player of curling
- one that curls
- a device on which hair is wound for curling
cur·lew ['kər-(,)lü, 'kərl-(,)yü] -n
- any of various largely brownish chiefly migratory birds (esp. genus Numenius) having long legs and a long slender down-curved bill and related to the sandpipers and snipes
cur·li·cue ['kər-lē-,kyü, -li-] -n
- a fancifully curved or spiral figure : flourish
curlicue -vb
- to form curlicues
- to embellish with curlicues
curl·ing ['kər-liŋ] -n
- a game in which two teams of four players each slide curling stones over a stretch of ice toward a target circle
curling iron -n
- a rod-shaped usu. metal instrument which is heated and around which a lock of hair to be curled or waved is wound
curling stone -n
- an ellipsoid stone or occas. piece of iron with a gooseneck handle used in the game of curling
curl·pa·per ['kər(-ə)l-,pā-pər] -n
- a strip or piece of paper around which a lock of hair is wound for curling
curl up -vi
- to arrange oneself in or as if in a ball or curl
curly ['kər-lē] -adj, n
- tending to curl
- having curls
- having the grain composed of fibers that undulate without crossing and that often form alternating light and dark lines
curlycoat·ed retriever ['kər-lē-'kō-təd-] -n
- any of a breed of sporting dogs with a short curly black or liver-colored coat
curly endive -n
- frisee
curly top -n
- a destructive plant disease of beets caused by a single-stranded DNA virus (species Beet curly top virusof the genus Curtovirus,family Geminiviridae) that kills young plants and causes curling and puckering of the leaves in older plants
cur·mud·geon [(,)kər-'mə-jən] -n, adj
- miser
- a crusty, ill-tempered, and usu. old man
curr ['kər] -vi
- to make a murmuring sound (as of doves)
cur·ragh ['kə-rə, -rək̲] -n
- a usu. large coracle used esp. on the west coast of Ireland
cur·rant ['kər-ənt, 'kə-rənt] -n
- a small seedless raisin grown chiefly in the Levant
- the acid edible fruit of various shrubs (genus Ribes) placed in either the saxifrage or gooseberry family
- a plant bearing currants
cur·ren·cy ['kər-ən(t)-sē, 'kə-rən(t)-] -n
- circulation as a medium of exchange
- general use, acceptance, or prevalence
- the quality or state of being current : currentness
- something (as coins, treasury notes, and banknotes) that is in circulation as a medium of exchange
- paper money in circulation
- a common article for bartering
- a medium of verbal or intellectual expression
cur·rent ['kər-ənt, 'kə-rənt] -adj, adv, n
- running, flowing
- presently elapsing
- occurring in or existing at the present time
- most recent
- the magazine's current issue
- used as a medium of exchange
- generally accepted, used, practiced, or prevalent at the moment
current -n
- the part of a fluid body (as air or water) moving continuously in a certain direction
- the swiftest part of a stream
- a tidal or nontidal movement of lake or ocean water
- flow marked by force or strength
- a tendency or course of events that is usu. the result of an interplay of forces
- current s of public opinion
- a prevailing mood : strain
- a flow of electric charge
- the rate of such flow
current assets -n pl
- assets of a short-term nature that are readily convertible to cash
cur·ri·cle ['kər-i-kəl, 'kə-ri-] -n
- a 2-wheeled chaise usu. drawn by two horses
cur·ric·u·lar [kə-'ri-kyə-lər] -adj
- of or relating to a curriculum
cur·ric·u·lum [-ləm] -n
- the courses offered by an educational institution
- a set of courses constituting an area of specialization
cur·ric·u·lum vi·tae [kə-'ri-kyə-ləm-'vē-,tī, -kə-ləm-, -'wē-,tī, -'vī-,tē] -n
- a short account of one's career and qualifications prepared typically by an applicant for a position
cur·ri·ery ['kər-ē-ə-rē, 'kə-rē-] -n
- the trade of a currier of leather
- a place where currying is done
cur·rish ['kər-ish] -adj, adv
- ignoble
- resembling a cur : mongrel
cur·ry ['kər-ē, 'kə-rē] -vt, n
- to clean the coat of (as a horse) with a currycomb
- to treat (tanned leather) esp. by incorporating oil or grease
- beat, thrash
- a food, dish, or sauce in Indian cuisine seasoned with a mixture of pungent spices
- a food or dish seasoned with curry powder
- curry powder
curry -vt
- to flavor or cook with curry powder or a curry sauce
cur·ry·comb [-,kōm] -n, vt
- a comb made of rows of metallic teeth or serrated ridges and used esp. to curry horses
curry powder -n
- a condiment consisting of several pungent ground spices (as cayenne pepper, fenugreek, and turmeric)
curse ['kərs] -n
- a prayer or invocation for harm or injury to come upon one : imprecation
- something that is cursed or accursed
- evil or misfortune that comes as if in response to imprecation or as retribution
- a cause of great harm or misfortune : torment
- menstruation used with the
- to use profanely insolent language against : blaspheme
- curse God and die -- Job 2:9(REB)
- to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon
- was cursed and fears he will die
- to execrate in fervent and often profane terms
- cursed by future generations unless we act now
- to bring great evil upon : afflict
- a land cursed with famine
- to utter imprecations : swear
cursed ['kər-səd, 'kərst] -adj, adv, n
- being under or deserving a curse
cur·sive ['kər-siv] -adj, adv, n
- : running, coursing: as
- flowing often with the strokes of successive characters joined and the angles rounded
- having a flowing, easy, impromptu character
cursive -n
- a manuscript written in cursive writing
- cursive writing
- a style of printed letter resembling handwriting
cur·sor ['kər-sər, -,sȯr] -n
- : a movable item used to mark a position: as
- a transparent slide with a line attached to a slide rule
- a visual cue (as a flashing rectangle) on a video display that indicates position (as for data entry)
cur·so·ri·al [,kər-'sȯr-ē-əl] -adj
- adapted to or involving running
cur·so·ry ['kərs-rē, 'kər-sə-] -adj, adv, n
- rapidly and often superficially performed or produced : hasty
curt ['kərt] -adj, adv, n
- sparing of words : terse
- wrote curt precise sentences
- marked by rude or peremptory shortness : brusque
- shortened in linear dimension
cur·tail [(,)kər-'tāl] -vt, n
- to make less by or as if by cutting off or away some part
- curtail the power of the executive branch
cur·tail·ment [-'tāl-mənt] -n
- the act of curtailing : the state of being curtailed
cur·tain ['kər-tᵊn] -n, adj
- a hanging screen usu. capable of being drawn back or up
- window drapery
- a device or agency that conceals or acts as a barrier
- the part of a bastioned front that connects two neighboring bastions
- a similar stretch of plain wall
- a nonbearing exterior wall
- the movable screen separating the stage from the auditorium of a theater
- the ascent or opening (as at the beginning of a play) of a stage curtain
- its descent or closing (as at the end of an act)
- the final situation, line, or scene of an act or play
- the time at which a theatrical performance begins
- end
- death
- it will be curtain s for us if we're caught
curtain ['kərt-niŋ, -'kər-tᵊn-iŋ] -vt
- to furnish with or as if with curtains
- to veil or shut off with or as if with a curtain
curtain call -n
- an appearance by a performer (as after the final curtain of a play) in response to the applause of the audience
curtain lecture -n
- a private lecture by a wife to her husband
cur·tainrais·er ['kər-tᵊn-,rā-zər] -n
- a short play usu. of one scene that is presented before the main full-length drama
- a usu. short preliminary to a main event
curtain wall -n
- a nonbearing exterior wall between columns or piers
cur·tal ['kər-tᵊl] -adj
- having a docked tail
- brief, curtailed
- wearing a short frock
cur·tal ax ['kər-tᵊl-] -n
- cutlass
cur·te·sy ['kər-tə-sē] -n
- a husband's interest upon the death of his wife in the real property of an estate that she either solely owned or inherited provided they bore a child capable of inheriting the estate
cur·ti·lage ['kər-tə-lij] -n
- a piece of ground (as a yard or courtyard) within the fence surrounding a house
curt·sy -n
- an act of civility, respect, or reverence made mainly by women and consisting of a slight lowering of the body with bending of the knees
curtsy ['kərt-sē] -vi
- to make a curtsy
cu·rule ['kyu̇r-,ül] -adj
- relating to or being a high-ranking dignitary of ancient Rome entitled to occupy a special chair
- of, relating to, or being a chair or seat reserved for Romans of high rank that resembles a backless stool with curved legs
- of, relating to, or being a 19th century seat with legs of a similar style
cur·va·ceous [,kər-'vā-shəs] -adj
- having or suggesting the curves of a well-proportioned feminine figure
- having a smoothly curving shape
cur·va·ture ['kər-və-,chu̇r, -chər, -,tyu̇r, -,tu̇r] -n
- the act of curving : the state of being curved
- a measure or amount of curving
- the rate of change of the angle through which the tangent to a curve turns in moving along the curve and which for a circle is equal to the reciprocal of the radius
- an abnormal curving (as of the spine)
- a curved surface of an organ
curve ['kərv] -adj
- bent or formed into a curve
- to have or take a turn, change, or deviation from a straight line or plane surface without sharp breaks or angularity
- to cause to curve
- to throw a curveball to (a batter)
- to grade (as an examination) on a curve
- : a line esp. when curved: as
- the path of a moving point
- a line defined by an equation so that the coordinates of its points are functions of a single independent variable or parameter
- the graph of a variable
- : something curved: as
- a curving line of the human body
- parenthesis
- curveball
- trick, deception
- a distribution indicating the relative performance of individuals measured against each other that is used esp. in assigning good, medium, or poor grades to usu. predetermined proportions of students rather than in assigning grades based on predetermined standards of achievement
- trend
- a growth curve in advertising revenues
- a prevalent trend or rate of progress often used in the phrases ahead of the curve and behind the curve
- companies that are behind the curve in adopting new technologies
curve·ball ['kərv-,bȯl] -n, vb
- a slow or moderately fast baseball pitch thrown with spin to make it swerve downward and usu. to the left when thrown from the right hand or to the right when thrown from the left hand
curve fitting -n
- the empirical determination of a curve or function that approximates a set of data
cur·vet [(,)kər-'vet] -n
- a prancing leap of a horse in which the hind legs are raised just before the forelegs touch the ground
curvet -vi
- to make a curvet
- prance, caper
cur·vi·lin·ear [,kər-və-'li-nē-ər] -adj, n
- consisting of or bounded by curved lines : represented by a curved line
- marked by flowing tracery
cush·at ['kə-shət] -n
- wood pigeon
cu·shaw [ku̇-'shȯ, 'kü-,] -n
- a squash of any of several cultivars of winter squash ( Cucurbita argyrospermasyn. C. mixtaand C. moschata)
Cush·ing's disease ['ku̇-shiŋz-] -n
- Cushing's syndrome esp. when caused by excessive production of ACTH by the pituitary gland
Cushing's syndrome -n
- an abnormal bodily condition that is caused by excess corticosteroids and esp. cortisol usu. from adrenal or pituitary hyperfunction and is characterized esp. by obesity, hypertension, muscular weakness, and easy bruising
cush·ion ['ku̇-shən] -n, adj
- a soft pillow or pad usu. used for sitting, reclining, or kneeling
- a bodily part resembling a pad
- : something resembling a cushion: as
- pillow
- rat
- a pad of springy rubber along the inside of the rim of a billiard table
- a padded insert in a shoe
- an elastic body for reducing shock
- a mat laid under a large rug to ease the effect of wear
- something (as an economic factor or a medical procedure) serving to mitigate the effects of disturbances or disorders
- a reserve supply (as of money)
- a comfortable lead
- a 40 cushion in the ninth inning
cushion ['ku̇-sh(ə-)niŋ] -vt
- to seat or place on a cushion
- to suppress by ignoring
- to furnish with a cushion
- to mitigate the effects of
- trying to cushion the blow
- to protect against force or shock
- to check gradually so as to minimize shock of moving parts
Cush·it·ic [kə-'shi-tik, ku̇-] -n, adj
- a subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic language family comprising various languages spoken in eastern Africa and esp. in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, and Kenya
cushy ['ku̇-shē] -adj, adv
- entailing little hardship or difficulty
- a cushy job with a high salary
cusk ['kəsk] -n
- a large edible No. Atlantic fish ( Brosme brosme) of the cod family
- burbot
cusp ['kəsp] -n, adj
- : point, apex: as
- a point of transition (as from one historical period to the next) : turning point
- edge, verge
- either horn of a crescent moon
- a fixed point on a mathematical curve at which a point tracing the curve would exactly reverse its direction of motion
- an ornamental pointed projection formed by or arising from the intersection of two arcs or foils
- a point on the grinding surface of a tooth
- a fold or flap of a cardiac valve
cus·pid ['kəs-pəd] -n
- canine
cus·pi·date ['kəs-pə-,dāt] -adj
- having a cusp : terminating in a point
cus·pi·da·tion [,kəs-pə-'dā-shən] -n
- decoration with cusps
cus·pi·dor ['kəs-pə-,dȯr] -n
- spittoon
cuss ['kəs] -n
- curse
- curse
- fellow
- curse often used with out
- got cuss ed out by his boss
- curse
cuss·ed ['kə-səd] -adj, adv, n
- cursed
- obstinate, cantankerous
cuss·word ['kəs-,wərd] -n
- swearword
- a term of abuse : a derogatory term
cus·tard ['kəs-tərd] -n, adj
- a pudding-like usu. sweetened mixture made with eggs and milk
custard apple -n
- any of several chiefly tropical American soft-fleshed edible fruits
- any of a genus ( Annonaof the family Annonaceae, the custard-apple family) of trees or shrubs bearing this fruit
- a small West Indian tree ( A. reticulata)
- pawpaw
cus·to·di·al [,kəs-'tō-dē-əl] -adj
- relating to guardianship
- relating to, providing, or being protective care or services for basic needs
- nursing and custodial care
- having sole or primary custody of a child
cus·to·di·an [,kəs-'tō-dē-ən] -n
- one that guards and protects or maintains
- one entrusted with guarding and keeping property or records or with custody or guardianship of prisoners or inmates
cus·to·dy ['kəs-tə-dē] -n
- immediate charge and control (as over a ward or a suspect) exercised by a person or an authority
- safekeeping
cus·tom ['kəs-təm] -n
- a usage or practice common to many or to a particular place or class or habitual with an individual
- long-established practice considered as unwritten law
- repeated practice
- the whole body of usages, practices, or conventions that regulate social life
- duties, tolls, or imposts imposed by the sovereign law of a country on imports or exports
- the agency, establishment, or procedure for collecting such customs
- business patronage
- usu. habitual patrons : customers
custom -adj
- made or performed according to personal order
- specializing in custom work or operation
cus·tom·ary ['kəs-tə-,mer-ē, -,me-rē] -adj, adv, n
- based on or established by custom
- commonly practiced, used, or observed
cus·tombuilt ['kəs-təm-'bilt] -adj
- built to individual specifications
cus·tom·er ['kəs-tə-mər] -n
- one that purchases a commodity or service
- an individual usu. having some specified distinctive trait
cus·tom·house ['kəs-təm-,hau̇s] -n
- a building where customs and duties are paid or collected and where vessels are entered and cleared
cus·tom·ise ['kəs-tə-,mīz] -vt, adj, n
(variant of customize)
- to build, fit, or alter according to individual specifications
cus·tom·ize ['kəs-tə-,mīz] -vt, adj, n
- to build, fit, or alter according to individual specifications
cus·tommade ['kəs-tə(m)-'mād] -adj
- made to individual specifications
cus·tomtai·lor [-'tā-lər] -vt
- to alter, plan, or build according to individual specifications or needs
cut ['kət] -vb
- to penetrate with or as if with an edged instrument
- to hurt the feelings of
- to strike sharply with a cutting effect
- to strike (a ball) with a glancing blow that imparts a reverse spin
- to experience the growth of (a tooth) through the gum
- trim, pare
- to shorten by omissions
- dilute, adulterate
- cut the whiskey with water
- to reduce in amount
- mow, reap
- to divide into parts with an edged tool
- fell, hew
- to separate or discharge from an organization
- to single out and isolate
- cut a calf out from the herd
- to turn (as a steering wheel) sharply
- the driver cut the wheel hard
- to go or pass around or about : bypass
- to divide into segments
- intersect, cross
- break, interrupt
- to divide (a deck of cards) into two portions
- to draw (a card) from the deck
- to divide into shares : split
- analyze, break down
- any way you cut it, we won
- : to make by or as if by cutting: as
- carve
- to shape by grinding
- engrave
- to shear or hollow out
- to sing, play, or act for the recording of
- to sing or play (as a song or a track) for a studio recording
- to type on a stencil
- edit
- stop, cease
- to refuse to recognize (an acquaintance)
- they cut her dead at the party
- to absent oneself from (as a class)
- to stop (a motor) by opening a switch
- to stop the filming of (a motion-picture scene)
- to engage in (a frolicsome or mischievous action)
- on summer nights strange capers are cut under the thin guise of a Christian festival -- D. C. Peattie
- to give the appearance or impression of
- to be able to manage or handle usu. used in negative constructions
- can't cut that kind of work anymore
- to yield or accord to another : give
- to fill out and sign (a check)
- to function as or as if as an edged tool
- to undergo incision or severance
- to perform the operation of dividing, severing, incising, or intersecting
- to make a stroke with a whip, sword, or other weapon
- to wound feelings or sensibilities
- to cause constriction or chafing
- to be of effect, influence, or significance
- an analysis that cut s deep
- to divide a pack of cards esp. in order to decide the deal or settle a bet
- to draw a card from the pack
- to divide spoils : split
- to proceed obliquely from a straight course
- to move swiftly
- a yacht cutting through the water
- to describe an oblique or diagonal line
- to change sharply in direction : swerve
- to make an abrupt transition from one sound or image to another in motion pictures, radio, or television
- to make a sudden transition or imaginative leap
- to stop photographing motion pictures
- to advance by skipping or bypassing another
- cut to the front of the line
- : a product of cutting: as
- an opening made with an edged instrument
- a wound made by something sharp : gash
- a creek, channel, or inlet made by excavation or worn by natural action
- a surface or outline left by cutting
- a passage cut as a roadway
- a grade or step esp. in a social scale
- a subset of a set such that when it is subtracted from the set the remainder is not connected
- a pictorial illustration
- track
- : the act or an instance of cutting: as
- a gesture or expression that hurts the feelings
- a straight passage or course
- a stroke or blow with the edge of a knife or other edged tool
- a lash with or as if with a whip
- the act of reducing or removing a part
- an act or turn of cutting cards
- the result of cutting
- the elimination of part of a large field from further participation, consideration, or competition (as in a golf tournament) often used with miss or make to denote respectively being or not being among those eliminated
- played well and made the cut
- : something that is cut or cut off: as
- a length of cloth varying from 40 to 100 yards (36.6 to 91.4 meters)
- the yield of products cut esp. during one harvest
- a segment or section of a meat carcass or a part of one
- a group of animals selected from a herd
- share
- took his cut of the profits
- a voluntary absence from a class
- a stroke that cuts a ball
- the spin imparted by such a stroke
- a swing by a batter at a pitched baseball
- an exchange of captures in checkers
- : a result of editing: as
- an abrupt transition from one sound or image to another in motion pictures, radio, or television
- an edited version of a film
- the shape and style in which a thing is cut, formed, or made
- clothes of the latest cut
- pattern, type
- haircut
- marked by a well-developed and highly defined musculature
cut·abil·i·ty [,kə-tə-'bi-lə-tē] -n
- the proportion of lean salable meat yielded by a carcass
cutanddried [,kət-ᵊn-'drīd] -adj
- being or done according to a plan, set procedure, or formula : routine
- a cutanddried presentation
cutandpaste [-'pāst] -adj
- pieced together by excerpting and combining fragments from multiple sources
- the book was a cutandpaste job
cutandtry [-'trī] -adj
- marked by trial and error
cu·ta·ne·ous [kyü-'tā-nē-əs] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or affecting the skin
cut·away ['kət-ə-,wā] -adj
- having or showing parts cut away
cutaway -n
- a coat with skirts tapering from the front waistline to form tails at the back
- a cutaway picture or representation
- a shot that interrupts the main action of a film or television program to take up a related subject or to depict action supposed to be going on at the same time as the main action
- a back dive in which the head is lowered toward the board after the takeoff
cut·back ['kət-,bak] -n
- something cut back
- reduction
cut back -vt
- to shorten by cutting : prune
- to interrupt the sequence of a plot (as of a movie) by introducing events prior to those last presented
- cut down
cutch ['kəch] -n
- catechu
cut down -vt
- to strike down and kill or incapacitate
- knock down
- to remodel by removing extras or unwanted furnishings and fittings
- to remake in a smaller size
- to reduce or curtail volume or activity
cute ['kyüt] -adj, adv, n
- clever or shrewd often in an underhanded manner
- impertinent, smart-alecky
- attractive or pretty esp. in a childish, youthful, or delicate way
- obviously straining for effect
- the quality or state of being cute or cutesy
- an instance of cuteness or cutesiness usu. used in pl.
- a movie suffering from a case of the cute s
cute·sy ['kyüt-sē] -adj, n
- self-consciously or excessively cute
cut glass -n
- glass ornamented with patterns cut into its surface by an abrasive wheel and polished
cutgrass ['kət-,gras] -n
- a grass (esp. genus Leersia) with minute hooked bristles along the edges of the leaf blade
cu·ti·cle ['kyü-ti-kəl] -n, adj
- : an outer covering layer: as
- an external envelope (as of an insect) secreted usu. by epidermal cells
- the outermost layer of animal integument composed of epidermis
- a thin continuous fatty or waxy film on the external surface of many higher plants that consists chiefly of cutin
- the outermost membranous layer of a hair consisting of overlapping scales of epithelial cells
- dead or horny epidermis
cut·ie ['kyü-tē] -n
- an attractive person
- a pretty girl
cutiepie [-,pī] -n
- a cute person : sweetheart
cu·tin ['kyü-tᵊn] -n
- an insoluble mixture containing waxes, fatty acids, soaps, and resinous material that forms a continuous layer on the outer epidermal wall of a plant
cutin ['kət-,in] -n, adj
- something cut in
cut in -vi
- to thrust oneself into a position between others or belonging to another
- to join in something suddenly
- cut in on the conversation
- to interrupt a dancing couple and take one as one's partner
- to become automatically connected or started in operation
- waiting for the auxiliary motor to cut in
- to mix with cutting motions
- after sifting the flour into a mixing bowl, cut the lard in
- to introduce into a number, group, or sequence
- to connect into an electrical circuit to a mechanical apparatus so as to permit operation
- to include esp. among those benefiting or favored
- cut them in on the profits
cu·tin·ized ['kyü-tᵊn-,īzd] -adj
- infiltrated with cutin
cu·tis ['kyü-təs] -n
- dermis
cut·lass ['kət-ləs] -n
- a short curving sword formerly used by sailors on warships
- machete
cut·ler ['kət-lər] -n
- one who makes, deals in, or repairs cutlery
cut·lery ['kət-lə-rē] -n
- the business of a cutler
- edged or cutting tools
- implements for cutting and eating food
cut·let ['kət-lət] -n
- a small slice of meat
- a flat croquette of chopped meat or fish
cut·line ['kət-,līn] -n
- caption, legend
cut·off ['kət-,ȯf] -n, adj
- the act or action of cutting off
- the new and relatively short channel formed when a stream cuts through the neck of an oxbow
- shortcut
- a channel made to straighten a stream
- a device for cutting off
- something cut off
- shorts orig. made from jeans with the legs cut off at the knees or higher
- the point, date, or period for a cutoff
cut off -vt
- to bring to an untimely end
- to stop the passage of
- shut off, bar
- the river cut off their retreat
- discontinue, terminate
- separate, isolate
- cut herself off from her family
- disinherit
- threatened to cut him off without a penny
- to stop the operation of : turn off
- to stop or interrupt while in communication
- to cease operating
cutoff man -n
- a player in baseball who relays a ball from an outfielder to the infield
cut·out ['kət-,au̇t] -n, adj
- something cut out or off from something else
- the space or hole left after cutting
- one that cuts out
- an intermediary in a clandestine operation
- a record album no longer in production that is sold at a discount
cut out -vt
- to form by erosion
- to determine or assign through necessity
- you've got your work cut out for you
- to take the place of : supplant
- to put an end to : desist from
- cut out wasteful spending
- deprive, defraud
- to remove from a series or circuit : disconnect
- cut out a car from a train
- to make inoperative
- to depart in haste
- to cease operating
- to swerve out of a traffic line
- naturally fitted or suited
cut·over ['kət-'ō-vər] -adj
- having most of the salable timber cut down
cutprice [-'prīs] -adj
- cut-rate
cut·purse ['kət-,pərs] -n
- pickpocket
cutrate ['kət-'rāt] -adj
- marked by, offering, or making use of a reduced rate or price
- second-rate, cheap
cut·ta·ble ['kə-tə-bəl] -adj
- capable of being cut : ready for cutting
cut·ter ['kə-tər] -n
- : one that cuts:
- one whose work is cutting or involves cutting
- an instrument, machine, machine part, or tool that cuts
- a device for vibrating a cutting stylus in disc recording
- the stylus or its point
- a ship's boat for carrying stores or passengers
- a single-masted fore-and-aft rigged sailing vessel
- a small armed vessel in government service
- a light sleigh
cut·throat ['kət-,thrōt] -n
- killer, murderer
- a cruel unprincipled person
cutthroat -adj
- murderous, cruel
- marked by unprincipled practices : ruthless
- characterized by each player playing independently rather than having a permanent partner used esp. of partnership games adapted for three players
cutthroat contract -n
- contract bridge in which partnerships are determined by the bidding
cutthroat trout -n
- a large spotted trout ( Oncorhynchus clarkisyn. Salmo clarki) chiefly of northwestern No. America that has reddish streaks on the integument of the lower jaw called also cutthroat
cut time -n
- duple or quadruple time with the beat represented by a half note
cut·ting ['kə-tiŋ] -n
- : something cut or cut off or out: as
- a plant section originating from stem, leaf, or root and capable of developing into a new plant
- harvest
- something made by cutting
- record
cutting [-tiŋ-lē] -adj, adv
- given to or designed for cutting
- sharp, edged
- marked by sharp piercing cold
- inclined or likely to wound the feelings of others esp. because of a ruthless incisiveness
- intense, piercing
cutting board -n
- a board on which something (as food or cloth) is placed for cutting
cutting edge -n, adj
- a sharp effect or quality
- the foremost part or place : vanguard
cutting horse -n
- an agile saddle horse trained to separate individual animals from a cattle herd
cutting room -n
- a room where film or videotape is edited often used attributively in cutting-room floor to describe something removed or discarded in or as if in editing a film
cut·tle·bone ['kə-tᵊl-,bōn] -n
- the shell of a cuttlefish that is sometimes used for polishing powder or for supplying cage birds with lime and salts
cut·tle·fish [-,fish] -n
- any of various marine cephalopod mollusks (order Sepioidea, esp. genus Sepia) having eight short arms and two usu. longer tentacles and differing from the related squid in having a calcified internal shell
cut·ty sark ['kə-tē-'särk] -n
- a short garment
- a woman's short undergarment
cutty stool -n
- a low stool
- a seat in a Scottish church where offenders formerly sat for public rebuke
cut·up ['kət-,əp] -n
- a person who clowns or acts boisterously
cut up -vt
- to cut into parts or pieces
- to injure or damage by or as if by cutting : gash, slash
- to subject to hostile criticism : censure
- to undergo being cut up
- to behave in a comic, boisterous, or unruly manner : clown
cut·wa·ter ['kət-,wȯ-tər, -,wä-] -n
- the forepart of a ship's stem
cut·work [-,wərk] -n
- embroidery usu. on linen in which a design is outlined in buttonhole stitch and the enclosed material cut away
cut·worm [-,wərm] -n
- any of various smooth-bodied chiefly nocturnal noctuid moth caterpillars which often feed on young plant stems near ground level
cu·vee [kü-'vā, kyü-; kᵫ-vā] -n
- bulk wine
- wine in casks or vats so blended as to ensure uniformity and marketability
- a blend of still wines used in the production of champagne
cu·vette [kyü-'vet] -n
- a small often transparent laboratory vessel (as a tube)