ab ['ab] -n

  1. an abdominal muscle usu. used in pl.
  2. about

Ab ['äb, 'äv, 'ȯv] -n

  1. the 11th month of the civil year or the 5th month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar

AB ['ā-'bē] -n

  1. the one of the four ABO blood groups characterized by the presence of antigens designated by the letters A and B and by the absence of antibodies against these antigens
  2. able seaman; able-bodied seaman
  3. airborne
  4. airman basic
  5. Alberta
  6. bachelor of arts

ab- -prefix

  1. from : away : off
    • ab axial

aba [ə-'bä, a-, 'ä-bə] -n

  1. a loose sleeveless outer garment worn as traditional dress by men in the Middle East
  2. a fabric woven from the hair of camels or goats

ABA -abbr

  1. Amateur Boxing Association
  2. American Bankers Association
  3. American Bar Association
  4. American Booksellers Association

ab·a·ca [,a-bə-'kä, 'a-bə-,] -n

  1. a strong fiber obtained from the leafstalk of a banana ( Musa textilis) native to the Philippines called also Manila hemp
  2. the plant that yields abaca

aback [ə-'bak] -adv

  1. backward, back
  2. in a position to catch the wind upon the forward surface (as of a sail)
  3. by surprise : unawares
    • was taken aback by her sharp retort

abac·te·ri·al [,ā-(,)bak-'tir-ē-əl] -adj

  1. not caused by or characterized by the presence of bacteria
    • abacterial prostatitis

aba·cus ['a-bə-kəs, ə-'ba-] -n

  1. an instrument for performing calculations by sliding counters along rods or in grooves
  2. a slab that forms the uppermost member or division of the capital of a column

abaft -adv

  1. toward or at the stern : aft
  2. to the rear of
  3. toward the stern from

ab·a·lo·ne [,a-bə-'lō-nē, 'a-bə-,] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Haliotis) of edible rock-clinging gastropod mollusks that have a flattened shell slightly spiral in form, lined with mother-of-pearl, and with a row of apertures along its outer edge

aban·don [ə-'ban-dən] -vt, n

  1. to give up to the control or influence of another person or agent
  2. to give up with the intent of never again claiming a right or interest in
    • abandon property
  3. to withdraw from often in the face of danger or encroachment
    • abandon ship
  4. to withdraw protection, support, or help from
    • he abandon ed his family
  5. to give (oneself) over unrestrainedly
  6. to cease from maintaining, practicing, or using
    • abandon ed their native language
  7. to cease intending or attempting to perform
    • abandon ed the escape

abandon -n

  1. a thorough yielding to natural impulses
  2. enthusiasm, exuberance
    • with reckless abandon

aban·doned [ə-'ban-dənd] -adj

  1. wholly free from restraint
  2. given up : forsaken

abase [ə-'bās] -vt, n

  1. to lower physically
  2. to lower in rank, office, prestige, or esteem

abash [ə-'bash] -vt, n

  1. to destroy the self-possession or self-confidence of : disconcert

abate [ə-'bāt] -vb, n

  1. to put an end to
    • abate a nuisance
  2. nullify
    • abate a writ
  3. to reduce in degree or intensity : moderate
    • may abate their rancor to win peace
  4. to reduce in value or amount : make less esp. by way of relief
    • abate a tax
  5. deduct, omit
    • abate part of the price
  6. to beat down or cut away so as to leave a figure in relief
  7. blunt
  8. deprive
  9. to decrease in force or intensity
  10. to become defeated or become null or void
  11. to decrease in amount or value

abate·ment [ə-'bāt-mənt] -n

  1. the act or process of abating : the state of being abated
  2. an amount abated
  3. a deduction from the full amount of a tax

ab·a·tis ['a-bə-,tē, 'a-bə-təs] -n

  1. a defensive obstacle formed by felled trees with sharpened branches facing the enemy

ab·at·toir ['a-bə-,twär, -,twȯr, -,tȯr] -n

  1. slaughterhouse

ab·ax·i·al [(,)a-'bak-sē-əl] -adj

  1. situated out of or directed away from the axis
    • the abaxial or lower surface of a leaf

aba·ya [ə-'bī-ə] -n

  1. a loose-fitting full-length robe worn by some Muslim women

ab·ba·cy ['a-bə-sē] -n

  1. the office, dignity, jurisdiction, or tenure of an abbot

Ab·bas·id [ə-'ba-səd, 'a-bə-səd] -n

  1. a member of a dynasty of caliphs (7501258) ruling the Islamic empire esp. from their capital Baghdad and claiming descent from Abbas the uncle of Muhammad

ab·ba·tial [ə-'bā-shəl, a-] -adj

  1. of or relating to an abbot, abbess, or abbey

ab·be [a-'bā, 'a-,bā] -n

  1. a member of the French secular clergy in major or minor orders used as a title

ab·bess ['a-bəs] -n

  1. a woman who is the superior of a convent of nuns

Abbe·vil·li·an [,ab-'vi-lē-ən, ,a-bə-] -adj

  1. of or relating to an early Lower Paleolithic culture of Europe characterized by bifacial stone hand axes

ab·bey ['a-bē] -n

  1. a monastery ruled by an abbot
  2. a convent ruled by an abbess
  3. an abbey church

ab·bot ['a-bət] -n

  1. the superior of a monastery for men

abbr -abbr

  1. abbreviation

ab·bre·vi·ate [ə-'brē-vē-,āt] -vt, n

  1. to make briefer
  2. to reduce to a shorter form intended to stand for the whole

ab·bre·vi·a·tion [ə-,brē-vē-'ā-shən] -n

  1. the act or result of abbreviating : abridgment
  2. a shortened form of a written word or phrase used in place of the whole
    • amt is an abbreviation for amount

ABC [,ā-(,)bē-'sē] -n

  1. alphabet usu. used in pl.
  2. the rudiments of reading, writing, and spelling usu. used in pl.
  3. the rudiments of a subject usu. used in pl.
  4. American Bowling Congress
  5. American Broadcasting Companies
  6. Australian Broadcasting Corporation

ABCD -abbr

  1. accelerated business collection and delivery

abd -abbr

  1. abdomen; abdominal

ABD [,ā-(,)bē-'dē] -n

  1. a doctoral candidate who has completed required courses and examinations but not a dissertation

Ab·di·as [ab-'dī-əs] -n

  1. obadiah

ab·di·cate ['ab-di-,kāt] -vb, adj, n

  1. to cast off : discard
  2. to relinquish (as sovereign power) formally
  3. to renounce a throne, high office, dignity, or function

ab·do·men ['ab-də-mən, -,dō-; əb-'dō-mən, ab-] -n, adj, adv

  1. the part of the body between the thorax and the pelvis
  2. the cavity of this part of the trunk containing the chief viscera
  3. the posterior section of the body behind the thorax in an arthropod

ab·du·cens nerve [ab-'dü-,senz-, -'dyü-] -n

  1. either of the sixth pair of cranial nerves that are motor nerves supplying the rectus on the outer and lateral side of each eye called also abducens

ab·du·cent nerve [ab-'dü-sᵊnt-, -'dyü-] -n

  1. abducens nerve

ab·duct [ab-'dəkt, əb-; 2 also 'ab-,] -vt, n

  1. to seize and take away (as a person) by force
  2. to draw or spread away (as a limb or the fingers) from a position near or parallel to the median axis of the body or from the axis of a limb

ab·duct·ee [,ab-,dək-'tē] -n

  1. a person who has been abducted

ab·duc·tion [ab-'dək-shən, əb-] -n

  1. the action of abducting : the condition of being abducted
  2. the unlawful carrying away of a woman for marriage or intercourse

abeam [ə-'bēm] -adv or adj

  1. off to the side of a ship or plane esp. at a right angle to the middle of the ship or plane's length

abe·ce·dar·i·an [,ā-bē-(,)sē-'der-ē-ən] -n

  1. one learning the rudiments of something (as the alphabet)

abecedarian -adj

  1. of or relating to the alphabet
  2. alphabetically arranged
  3. rudimentary

abed [ə-'bed] -adv or adj

  1. in bed

Abel ['ā-bəl] -n

  1. a son of Adam and Eve killed by his brother Cain

abe·lia [ə-'bēl-yə] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Abelia) of Asian or Mexican shrubs of the honeysuckle family having opposite leaves and white, red, or pink flowers

abe·li·an [ə-'bē-lē-ən] -adj

  1. commutative
    • abelian group
    • abelian ring

Abe·na·ki [,a-bə-'nä-kē] -n

  1. a member of a group of American Indian peoples of northern New England and adjoining parts of Quebec
  2. either of the two Algonquian languages spoken by the Abenaki peoples

Ab·er·deen An·gus ['a-bər-,dēn-'aŋ-gəs] -n

  1. angus

ab·er·rant [a-'ber-ənt, ə-, -'be-rənt; 'a-bə-rənt, -,ber-ənt, -,be-rənt] -adj, n, adv

  1. straying from the right or normal way
  2. deviating from the usual or natural type : atypical

aberrant -n

  1. an aberrant group, individual, or structure
  2. a person whose behavior departs substantially from the standard

ab·er·rat·ed ['a-bə-,rā-təd] -adj

  1. aberrant

ab·er·ra·tion [,a-bə-'rā-shən] -n, adj

  1. the fact or an instance of being aberrant esp. from a moral standard or normal state
  2. failure of a mirror, refracting surface, or lens to produce exact point-to-point correspondence between an object and its image
  3. unsoundness or disorder of the mind
  4. a small periodic change of apparent position in celestial bodies due to the combined effect of the motion of light and the motion of the observer
  5. an aberrant individual

abet [ə-'bet] -vt, n

  1. to actively second and encourage (as an activity or plan)
  2. to assist or support in the achievement of a purpose

abey·ance [ə-'bā-ən(t)s] -n, adj

  1. a lapse in succession during which there is no person in whom a title is vested
  2. temporary inactivity : suspension

ab·hor [əb-'hȯr, ab-] -vt, n

  1. to regard with extreme repugnance : loathe

ab·hor·rence [əb-'hȯr-ən(t)s, -'här-] -n

  1. the act or state of abhorring
  2. the feeling of one who abhors
  3. one that is abhorred

ab·hor·rent [-ənt] -adj, adv

  1. strongly opposed
  2. feeling or showing abhorrence
  3. not agreeable : contrary
    • a notion abhorrent to their philosophy
  4. being so repugnant as to stir up positive antagonism
    • acts abhorrent to every right-minded person

Abib [ä-'vēv] -n

  1. the first month of the ancient Hebrew calendar corresponding to Nisan

abid·ance [ə-'bī-dᵊn(t)s] -n

  1. an act or state of abiding : continuance
  2. compliance
    • abidance by the rules

abide [ə-'bīd] -vb, n

  1. to wait for : await
  2. to endure without yielding : withstand
  3. to bear patiently : tolerate
    • cannot abide such bigots
  4. to accept without objection
    • will abide your decision
  5. to remain stable or fixed in a state
  6. to continue in a place : sojourn

abid·ing [ə-'bī-diŋ] -adj, adv

  1. enduring, continuing
    • an abiding interest in nature

ab·i·gail ['a-bə-,gāl] -n

  1. a lady's personal maid

abil·i·ty [ə-'bi-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being able
    • ability of the soil to hold water
  2. physical, mental, or legal power to perform
  3. competence in doing : skill
  4. natural aptitude or acquired proficiency
    • children whose abilities warrant higher education

ab in·i·tio [,ab-ə-'ni-shē-,ō] -adv

  1. from the beginning

abio·gen·e·sis [,ā-,bī-ō-'je-nə-səs] -n

  1. the supposed spontaneous origination of living organisms directly from lifeless matter

abio·gen·ic [,ā-,bī-ō-'je-nik] -adj, adv

  1. not produced by the action of living organisms

abi·o·log·i·cal [,ā-,bī-ə-'lä-ji-kəl] -adj

  1. not biological
  2. not involving or produced by organisms
    • abiological synthesis of amino acids

abi·ot·ic [,ā-(,)bī-'ä-tik] -adj, adv

  1. not biotic : abiological
    • the abiotic environment

ab·ject ['ab-,jekt] -adj, adv, n

  1. sunk to or existing in a low state or condition
    • to lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fallen -- John Milton
  2. cast down in spirit : servile, spiritless
    • a man made abject by suffering
  3. showing hopelessness or resignation
    • abject surrender
  4. expressing or offered in a humble and often ingratiating spirit
    • abject flattery
    • an abject apology

ab·jec·tion [ab-'jek-shən] -n

  1. a low or downcast state : degradation
  2. the act of making abject : humbling, rejection
    • I protest...this vile abjection of youth to age -- G. B. Shaw

ab·ju·ra·tion [,ab-jə-'rā-shən] -n

  1. the act or process of abjuring
  2. an oath of abjuring

ab·jure [ab-'ju̇r] -vt, n

  1. to renounce upon oath
  2. to reject solemnly
  3. to abstain from : avoid
    • abjure extravagance

abl -abbr

  1. ablative

ab·late [a-'blāt] -vb

  1. to remove or destroy esp. by cutting, abrading, or evaporating
  2. to become ablated
  3. vaporize

ab·la·tion [a-'blā-shən] -n

  1. : the process of ablating: as
  2. surgical removal
  3. loss of a part (as ice from a glacier or the outside of a nose cone) by melting or vaporization

ab·la·tive ['a-blə-tiv] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a grammatical case expressing typically the relations of separation and source and also frequently such relations as cause or instrument
  2. of or relating to ablation
  3. tending to ablate
    • ablative material on a nose cone

ablative absolute -n

  1. a construction in Latin in which a noun or pronoun and its adjunct both in the ablative case form together an adverbial phrase expressing generally the time, cause, or an attendant circumstance of an action

ab·laut ['ä-blau̇t, 'a-; 'äp-,lau̇t] -n

  1. a systematic variation of vowels in the same root or affix or in related roots or affixes esp. in the Indo-European languages that is usu. paralleled by differences in use or meaning (as in sing, sang, sung, song)

ablaze [ə-'blāz] -adj or adv

  1. being on fire
  2. radiant with light or emotion
    • his face all ablaze with excitement -- Bram Stoker

able ['ā-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. having sufficient power, skill, or resources to accomplish an object
  2. susceptible to action or treatment
  3. marked by intelligence, knowledge, skill, or competence

ablebod·ied [,ā-bəl-'bä-dēd] -adj

  1. having a sound strong body

ablebodied seaman -n

  1. able seaman

abled ['ā-bəld] -adj

  1. capable of unimpaired function
    • the design is physically helpful for the less abled -- Royal Ford

able·ism ['ā-bə-,li-zəm] -n, adj

  1. discrimination or prejudice against individuals with disabilities

able seaman -n

  1. an experienced deck-department seaman qualified to perform routine duties at sea

abloom [ə-'blüm] -adj

  1. abounding with blooms : blooming
    • parks abloom with roses

ab·lut·ed [ə-'blü-təd, a-] -adj

  1. washed clean

ab·lu·tion [ə-'blü-shən, a-] -n, adj

  1. the washing of one's body or part of it (as in a religious rite)
  2. the act or action of bathing
  3. a building housing bathing and toilet facilities on a military base

ABM [,ā-(,)bē-'em] -n

  1. antiballistic missile

abn -abbr

  1. airborne

ab·ne·gate ['ab-ni-,gāt] -vt, n

  1. deny, renounce
    • abnegated their God
  2. surrender, relinquish
    • abnegated her powers

ab·ne·ga·tion [,ab-ni-'gā-shən] -n

  1. denial
  2. self-denial

ab·nor·mal [(,)ab-'nȯr-məl, əb-] -adj, adv

  1. deviating from the normal or average : unusual, exceptional
    • abnormal behavior

abnormal -n

  1. an abnormal person

ab·nor·mal·i·ty [,ab-nər-'ma-lə-tē, -(,)nȯr-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being abnormal
  2. something abnormal

abnormal psychology -n

  1. a branch of psychology concerned with mental and emotional disorders (as neuroses, psychoses, and mental retardation) and with certain incompletely understood normal phenomena (as dreams and hypnosis)

abo ['a-(,)bō] -n

  1. aborigine

aboard [ə-'bȯrd] -adv or adj

  1. alongside
  2. on, onto, or within a vehicle (as a car or ship)
  3. in or into a group, association, or organization
    • her second promotion since coming aboard
  4. on base
  5. on, onto, within
    • go aboard ship
    • aboard a plane

ABO blood group [,ā-(,)bē-'ō-] -n

  1. any of the four blood groups A, B, AB, and O comprising the ABO system

abode [ə-'bōd] -n

  1. wait, delay
  2. a temporary stay : sojourn
  3. the place where one abides : home

aboil [ə-'bȯi(-ə)l] -adj or adv

  1. being at the boiling point : boiling
  2. intensely excited or stirred up
    • the meeting was aboil with controversy

abol·ish [ə-'bä-lish] -vt, adj, n

  1. to end the observance or effect of : annul
    • abolish a law
    • abolish slavery
  2. destroy

ab·o·li·tion [,a-bə-'li-shᵊn] -n, adj

  1. the act of abolishing : the state of being abolished
  2. the abolishing of slavery

ab·o·li·tion·ism [-'li-shᵊn-,i-zəm] -n, n or adj

  1. principles or measures fostering abolition esp. of slavery

ab·oma·sum [,a-bō-'mā-səm] -n, adj

  1. the fourth compartment of the ruminant stomach that follows the omasum and has a true digestive function

Abomb ['ā-,bäm] -n

  1. atomic bomb

abom·i·na·ble [ə-'bäm-nə-bəl, -'bä-mə-] -adj, adv

  1. worthy of or causing disgust or hatred : detestable
    • the abominable treatment of the poor
  2. quite disagreeable or unpleasant
    • abominable weather

abominable snow·man [-'snō-mən, -,man] -n

  1. a mysterious creature with human or apelike characteristics reported to exist in the high Himalayas called also yeti

abom·i·nate [ə-'bä-mə-,nāt] -vt, n

  1. to hate or loathe intensely : abhor

abom·i·na·tion [ə-,bä-mə-'nā-shən] -n

  1. something abominable
  2. extreme disgust and hatred : loathing

ab·oral [(,)a-'bȯr-əl] -adj, adv

  1. situated opposite to or away from the mouth
    • a sea urchin's aboral surface

ab·orig·i·nal [,a-bə-'rij-nəl, -'ri-jə-nᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. being the first or earliest known of its kind present in a region
    • aboriginal forests
    • aboriginal rocks
  2. of or relating to aborigines
  3. of or relating to the indigenous peoples of Australia

aboriginal -n

  1. aborigine
  2. aborigine

ab·orig·i·ne [,a-bə-'rij-(,)nē, -'ri-jə-] -n

  1. an aboriginal inhabitant esp. as contrasted with an invading or colonizing people
  2. a member of any of the indigenous peoples of Australia

aborn·ing [ə-'bȯr-niŋ] -adv

  1. while being born or produced
    • a resolution that died aborning

aborning -adj

  1. being born or produced
    • the aborning fiasco

abort [ə-'bȯrt] -vb, n

  1. to bring forth stillborn, nonviable, or premature offspring
  2. to become checked in development so as to degenerate or remain rudimentary
  3. to terminate a procedure prematurely
    • the pilot decided to abort due to mechanical difficulties
  4. to induce the abortion of or give birth to prematurely
  5. to terminate the pregnancy of before term
  6. to terminate prematurely : cancel
    • abort a project
    • abort a spaceflight
  7. to stop in the early stages
    • abort a disease
  8. the premature termination of a flight (as of an aircraft or spacecraft), a mission, or an action or procedure relating to a flight
    • a launch abort

abor·ti·fa·cient [ə-,bȯr-tə-'fā-shənt] -n, adj

  1. an agent (as a drug) that induces abortion

abor·tion [ə-'bȯr-shən] -n

  1. : the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus: as
  2. spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus during the first 12 weeks of gestation
  3. induced expulsion of a human fetus
  4. expulsion of a fetus by a domestic animal often due to infection at any time before completion of pregnancy
  5. monstrosity
  6. arrest of development (as of a part or process) resulting in imperfection
  7. a result of such arrest

abor·tion·ist [-sh(ə-)nist] -n

  1. one who induces abortions

abortion pill -n

  1. a drug taken orally to induce abortion esp. early in pregnancy
  2. RU-486

abor·tive [ə-'bȯr-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. prematurely born
  2. fruitless, unsuccessful
  3. imperfectly formed or developed
  4. tending to cut short

ABO system [,ā-(,)bē-'ō-] -n

  1. the basic system of antigens of human blood behaving in heredity as an allelic unit to produce any of the ABO blood groups

abound [ə-'bau̇nd] -vi

  1. to be present in large numbers or in great quantity : be prevalent
  2. to be copiously supplied used with in or with
    • life abound ed in mysteries -- Norman Mailer
    • institutions abound with evidence of his success -- Johns Hopkins Mag.

about [ə-'bau̇t] -adv

  1. reasonably close to
    • about a year ago
  2. almost
    • about starved
  3. on the verge of usu. used with be and a following infinitive
    • is about to join the army
    used with a negative to express intention or determination
    • not about to quit
  4. on all sides : around
  5. in rotation
  6. around the outside
  7. here and there
  8. in the vicinity : near
  9. in the opposite direction
    • face about
    • the other way about
  10. in a circle around : on every side of : around
  11. in the immediate neighborhood of : near
  12. on or near the person of
  13. in the makeup of
    • a mature wisdom about him
  14. at the command of
    • has his wits about him
  15. engaged in
    • act as if they know what they're about -- T. S. Matthews
  16. with regard to : concerning
    • spoke about his past
  17. concerned with
  18. fundamentally concerned with or directed toward
    • poker is about money -- David Mamet
  19. over or in different parts of
  20. moving from place to place
  21. being out of bed
  22. around

aboutface [ə-'bau̇t-'fās] -n, vi

  1. a 180 turn to the right from the position of attention
  2. a reversal of direction
  3. a reversal of attitude, behavior, or point of view

aboutturn [-'tərn] -n

  1. about-face

above [ə-'bəv] -adv

  1. in the sky : overhead
    • the clouds above
  2. in or to heaven
  3. in or to a higher place
  4. higher on the same page or on a preceding page
  5. upstairs
  6. above zero
    • 10 degrees above
  7. in or to a higher rank or number
    • 30 and above
  8. in addition : besides
  9. upstage
  10. in or to a higher place than : over
  11. upriver of
  12. superior to (as in rank, quality, or degree)
  13. out of reach of
    • above suspicion
  14. in preference to
  15. too proud or honorable to stoop to
    • not above taking undue credit
  16. exceeding in number, quantity, or size : more than
    • men above 50 years old
  17. as distinct from and in addition to
    • heard the whistle above the roar of the crowd
  18. something that is above
  19. a person whose name is written above
  20. a higher authority
  21. heaven
  22. written or discussed higher on the same page or on a preceding page

above all -adv

  1. before every other consideration : especially

above·board [ə-'bəv-,bȯrd] -adv

  1. in a straightforward manner : openly

aboveboard -adj

  1. free from all traces of deceit or duplicity

above·ground [ə-'bəv-,grau̇nd] -adj, adv

  1. located or occurring on or above the surface of the ground
  2. existing, produced, or published by or within the establishment
    • aboveground movies

ab ovo [ab-'ō-(,)vō] -adv

  1. from the beginning

abp -abbr

  1. archbishop

abr -abbr

  1. abridged; abridgment

ab·ra·ca·dab·ra [,a-brə-kə-'da-brə] -n

  1. a magical charm or incantation
  2. unintelligible language

abrade [ə-'brād] -vb, adj, n

  1. to rub or wear away esp. by friction : erode
  2. to irritate or roughen by rubbing
  3. to wear down in spirit : irritate, weary
  4. to undergo abrasion

Abra·ham ['ā-brə-,ham] -n

  1. an Old Testament patriarch regarded by Jews as the founder of the Hebrew people through his son Isaac and by Muslims as the founder of the Arab peoples through his son Ishmael

abra·sion [ə-'brā-zhən] -n

  1. a wearing, grinding, or rubbing away by friction
  2. irritation
  3. an abraded area of the skin or mucous membrane

abra·sive [ə-'brā-siv, -ziv] -adj, adv, n

  1. tending to abrade
  2. causing irritation
    • abrasive manners

abrasive -n

  1. a substance (as emery or pumice) used for abrading, smoothing, or polishing

ab·re·ac·tion [,a-brē-'ak-shən] -n, vb

  1. the expression and emotional discharge of unconscious material (as a repressed idea or emotion) by verbalization esp. in the presence of a therapist

abreast [ə-'brest] -adv or adj

  1. beside one another with bodies in line
    • columns of men five abreast
  2. up to a particular standard or level esp. of knowledge of recent developments
    • keeps abreast of the news

abridge [ə-'brij] -vt, n

  1. deprive
  2. to reduce in scope : diminish
    • attempts to abridge the right of free speech
  3. to shorten in duration or extent
    • modern transportation that abridge s distance
  4. to shorten by omission of words without sacrifice of sense : condense

abridg·ment [ə-'brij-mənt] -n

  1. the action of abridging : the state of being abridged
  2. a shortened form of a work retaining the general sense and unity of the original

abroach [ə-'brōch] -adv or adj

  1. in a condition for letting out a liquid (as wine)
  2. in action or agitation : astir
    • mischiefs that I set abroach -- Shak.

abroad [ə-'brȯd] -adv or adj

  1. over a wide area : widely
  2. away from one's home
  3. beyond the boundaries of one's country
  4. in wide circulation : about
  5. wide of the mark : astray

ab·ro·gate ['a-brə-,gāt] -vt, n

  1. to abolish by authoritative action : annul
  2. to treat as nonexistent
    • abrogating their responsibilities

abrupt [ə-'brəpt] -adj, adv, n

  1. characterized by or involving action or change without preparation or warning : unexpected
    • came to an abrupt stop
    • an abrupt turn
    • an abrupt decision to retire
  2. unceremoniously curt
    • an abrupt manner
  3. lacking smoothness or continuity
    • an abrupt transition
  4. giving the impression of being cut or broken off
  5. involving a sudden steep rise or drop
    • abrupt hills
    • a high abrupt bank bounded the stream

abrup·tion [ə-'brəp-shən] -n

  1. a sudden breaking off or away

abs -abbr

  1. absolute
  2. abstract

ABS [,ā-(,)bē-'es] -n

  1. a tough rigid plastic used esp. for automobile parts and building materials
  2. American Bible Society
  3. antilock braking system

ab·scess ['ab-,ses] -n, adj

  1. a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue

ab·scise [ab-'sīz] -vb

  1. to separate (as a flower from a stem) by abscission
  2. to separate by abscission

ab·scis·ic acid [,ab-'si-zik-, -sik-] -n

  1. a plant hormone C 15H 20O 4that is a sesquiterpene widespread in nature and that typically promotes leaf abscission and dormancy and has an inhibitory effect on cell elongation

ab·sci·sin ['ab-sə-sən, ab-'si-sᵊn] -n

  1. abscisic acid

ab·scis·sa [ab-'si-sə] -n

  1. the horizontal coordinate of a point in a plane Cartesian coordinate system obtained by measuring parallel to the x-axis

ab·scis·sion [ab-'si-zhən] -n

  1. the act or process of cutting off : removal
  2. the natural separation of flowers, fruit, or leaves from plants at a special separation layer

ab·scond [ab-'skänd, əb-] -vi, n

  1. to depart secretly and hide oneself

ab·seil ['ab-,sāl, -,sī(-ə)l] -vi, n

  1. rappel

ab·sence ['ab-sən(t)s] -n

  1. the state of being absent
  2. the period of time that one is absent
  3. want, lack
    • an absence of detail
  4. inattention to present surroundings or occurrences
    • absence of mind

ab·sent ['ab-sənt] -adj, adv

  1. not present or attending : missing
  2. not existing : lacking
    • danger in a situation where power is absent -- M. H. Trytten
  3. lost in thought : not attentive
  4. to keep (oneself) away
  5. in the absence of : without

ab·sen·tee [,ab-sən-'tē] -n, adj

  1. : one that is absent: as
  2. a proprietor that lives away from his or her estate or business
  3. one missing from work or school

absentee ballot -n

  1. a ballot submitted (as by mail) in advance of an election by a voter who is unable to be present at the polls

ab·sen·tee·ism [,ab-sən-'tē-,i-zəm] -n

  1. prolonged absence of an owner from his or her property
  2. chronic absence (as from work or school)
  3. the rate of such absence

ab·sent·mind·ed [,ab-sənt-'mīn-dəd] -adj, adv, n

  1. lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions : preoccupied
  2. given to absence of mind
  3. indicative of or resulting from preoccupation or absence of mind

absent without leave -adj

  1. absent without authority from one's place of duty in the armed forces

ab·sinthe ['ab-(,)sin(t)th] -n

  1. wormwood
  2. a green liqueur which is flavored with wormwood, anise, and other aromatic herbs and commercial production of which is banned in many countries for health concerns
  3. a liqueur resembling absinthe

ab·so·lute ['ab-sə-,lüt, ,ab-sə-'] -adj, n

  1. free from imperfection : perfect
    • it is a most absolute and excellent horse -- Shak.
  2. free or relatively free from mixture : pure
    • absolute alcohol
  3. outright, unmitigated
    • an absolute lie
  4. being, governed by, or characteristic of a ruler or authority completely free from constitutional or other restraint
    • absolute power
  5. standing apart from a normal or usual syntactical relation with other words or sentence elements
    • the absolute construction this being the case in the sentence this being the case, let us go
  6. standing alone without a modified substantive
    • blind in help the blind and ours in your work and ours are absolute
  7. having no object in the particular construction under consideration though normally transitive
    • kill in if looks could kill is an absolute verb
  8. having no restriction, exception, or qualification
    • an absolute requirement
    • absolute freedom
  9. positive, unquestionable
    • absolute proof
  10. independent of arbitrary standards of measurement
  11. relating to or derived in the simplest manner from the fundamental units of length, mass, and time
    • absolute electric units
  12. relating to, measured on, or being a temperature scale based on absolute zero
    • absolute temperature
  13. kelvin
    • 10 absolute
  14. fundamental, ultimate
    • absolute knowledge
  15. perfectly embodying the nature of a thing
    • absolute justice
  16. being self-sufficient and free of external references or relationships
    • an absolute term in logic
    • absolute music
  17. being the true distance from an aircraft to the earth's surface
    • absolute altitude

absolute ceiling -n

  1. the maximum height above sea level at which a particular airplane can maintain horizontal flight under standard air conditions called also ceiling

absolute convergence -n

  1. convergence of a mathematical series when the absolute values of the terms are taken

absolute humidity -n

  1. the amount of water vapor present in a unit volume of air

ab·so·lute·ly ['ab-sə-,lüt-lē, ,ab-sə-'] -adv

  1. in an absolute manner or condition often used as an intensive
    • absolutely brilliant
  2. with respect to absolute values
    • an absolutely convergent series

absolute magnitude -n

  1. a measure of the intrinsic luminosity of a celestial body (as a star) expressed as the apparent magnitude the body would have if viewed from a distance of 10 parsecs

absolute pitch -n

  1. the position of a tone in a standard scale independently determined by its rate of vibration
  2. the ability to recognize or sing a given isolated note called also perfect pitch

absolute space -n

  1. space

absolute value -n

  1. a nonnegative number equal in numerical value to a given real number
  2. the positive square root of the sum of the squares of the real and imaginary parts of a complex number

absolute zero -n

  1. a theoretical temperature characterized by complete absence of heat and motion and equivalent to exactly 273.15C or 459.67F

ab·so·lu·tion [,ab-sə-'lü-shən] -n

  1. the act of absolving
  2. a remission of sins pronounced by a priest (as in the sacrament of reconciliation)

ab·so·lut·ism ['ab-sə-,lü-,ti-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj

  1. a political theory that absolute power should be vested in one or more rulers
  2. government by an absolute ruler or authority : despotism
  3. advocacy of a rule by absolute standards or principles
  4. an absolute standard or principle

ab·so·lu·tive [,ab-sə-'lü-tiv] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being an inflectional morpheme that typically marks the subject of an intransitive verb or the direct object of a transitive verb in an ergative language

ab·so·lut·ize ['ab-sə-,lü-,tīz] -vt

  1. to make absolute : convert into an absolute

ab·solve [əb-'zälv, -'sälv, -'zȯlv, -'sȯlv also without l] -vt, n

  1. to set free from an obligation or the consequences of guilt
  2. to remit (a sin) by absolution

ab·sorb [əb-'sȯrb, -'zȯrb] -vt, n, adj

  1. to take in and make part of an existent whole
    • the capacity of China to absorb invaders
  2. to suck up or take up
    • a sponge absorb s water
    • charcoal absorb s gas
    • plant roots absorb water
  3. to take in : acquire, learn
    • convictions absorb ed in youth -- M. R. Cohen
  4. use up, consume
    • the fever absorb ed her strength
  5. to engage or engross wholly
    • absorb ed in thought
  6. to receive without recoil or echo
    • provided with a sound- absorbing surface
  7. endure, sustain
    • absorb ing hardships
  8. assume, bear
    • the expenses were absorb ed by the company
  9. to transform (radiant energy) into a different form esp. with a resulting rise in temperature
    • the earth absorb s the sun's rays

ab·sor·bance [əb-'sȯr-bən(t)s, -'zȯr-] -n

  1. the ability of a layer of a substance to absorb radiation expressed mathematically as the negative common logarithm of transmittance

ab·sor·ben·cy [əb-'sȯr-bən(t)-sē, -'zȯr-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being absorbent
  2. absorbance

ab·sor·bent [-bənt] -adj, n

  1. able to absorb
    • as absorbent as a sponge

ab·sorb·ing [-biŋ-lē] -adj, adv

  1. fully taking one's attention : engrossing
    • an absorbing novel

ab·sorp·tance [əb-'sȯrp-tən(t)s, -'zȯrp-] -n

  1. the ratio of the radiant energy absorbed by a body to that incident upon it

ab·sorp·ti·om·e·try [əb-,sȯrp-shē-'ä-mə-trē, -,zȯrp-] -n

  1. measurement of the amount of radiation absorbed (as by living tissue) esp. to determine density

ab·sorp·tion [əb-'sȯrp-shən, -'zȯrp-] -n, adj

  1. the process of absorbing or of being absorbed
  2. interception of radiant energy or sound waves
  3. entire occupation of the mind
    • absorption in his work

absorption band -n

  1. a dark band in an absorption spectrum
  2. absorption line

absorption line -n

  1. a dark line in an absorption spectrum

absorption spectrum -n

  1. an electromagnetic spectrum in which a decrease in intensity of radiation at specific wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths characteristic of an absorbing substance is manifested esp. as a pattern of dark lines or bands

ab·sorp·tiv·i·ty [əb-,sȯrp-'ti-və-tē, -,zȯrp-] -n

  1. the property of a body that determines the fraction of incident radiation absorbed by the body

ab·stain [əb-'stān, ab-] -vi, n

  1. to refrain deliberately and often with an effort of self-denial from an action or practice
    • abstain from drinking

ab·ste·mi·ous [ab-'stē-mē-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by restraint esp. in the consumption of food or alcohol
  2. reflecting such restraint
    • an abstemious diet

ab·sten·tion [əb-'sten(t)-shən, ab-] -n, adj

  1. the act or practice of abstaining

ab·sti·nence ['ab-stə-nən(t)s] -n, adj, adv

  1. voluntary forbearance esp. from indulgence of an appetite or craving or from eating some foods
  2. habitual abstaining from intoxicating beverages
  3. abstention from sexual intercourse

abstr -abbr

  1. abstract

ab·stract [ab-'strakt, 'ab-,] -adj, adv, n

  1. disassociated from any specific instance
    • an abstract entity
  2. difficult to understand : abstruse
    • abstract problems
  3. insufficiently factual : formal
    • possessed only an abstract right
  4. expressing a quality apart from an object
    • the word poem is concrete, poetry is abstract
  5. dealing with a subject in its abstract aspects : theoretical
    • abstract science
  6. impersonal, detached
    • the abstract compassion of a surgeon -- Time
  7. having only intrinsic form with little or no attempt at pictorial representation or narrative content
    • abstract painting
  8. a summary of points (as of a writing) usu. presented in skeletal form
  9. something that summarizes or concentrates the essentials of a larger thing or several things
  10. an abstract thing or state
  11. abstraction
  12. remove, separate
  13. to consider apart from application to or association with a particular instance
  14. to make an abstract of : summarize
  15. to draw away the attention of
  16. steal, purloin
  17. to make an abstraction

ab·stract·ed [ab-'strak-təd, 'ab-,] -adj, adv, n

  1. withdrawn in mind : inattentive to one's surroundings
    • said hello but seemed abstracted
  2. abstract
    • abstracted geometric shapes

abstract expressionism -n, n or adj

  1. an artistic movement of the mid-20th century comprising diverse styles and techniques and emphasizing esp. an artist's liberty to convey attitudes and emotions through nontraditional and usu. nonrepresentational means

ab·strac·tion [ab-'strak-shən, əb-] -n, adj

  1. the act or process of abstracting : the state of being abstracted
  2. an abstract idea or term
  3. absence of mind or preoccupation
  4. abstract quality or character
  5. an abstract composition or creation in art
  6. abstractionism

ab·strac·tion·ism [ab-'strak-shə-,ni-zəm, əb-] -n, adj or n

  1. the principles or practice of creating abstract art

abstract of title

  1. a summary statement of the successive conveyances and other facts on which a title to a piece of land rests

ab·struse [əb-'strüs, ab-] -adj, adv, n

  1. difficult to comprehend : recondite
    • the abstruse calculations of mathematicians

ab·stru·si·ty [-'strü-sə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being abstruse : abstruseness
  2. something that is abstruse

ab·surd [əb-'sərd, -'zərd] -adj, adv, n

  1. ridiculously unreasonable, unsound, or incongruous
    • an absurd argument
  2. having no rational or orderly relationship to human life : meaningless
    • an absurd universe
  3. lacking order or value
    • an absurd existence
  4. dealing with the absurd or with absurdism
    • absurd theater

absurd -n

  1. the state or condition in which human beings exist in an irrational and meaningless universe and in which human life has no ultimate meaning usu. used with the

ab·surd·ism [əb-'sər-,di-zəm, -'zər-] -n

  1. a philosophy based on the belief that the universe is irrational and meaningless and that the search for order brings the individual into conflict with the universe

ab·surd·ist [-dist] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or characterized by the absurd or by absurdism : absurd
    • absurdist literature
    • an absurdist sense of humor

ab·sur·di·ty [əb-'sər-də-tē, -'zər-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being absurd : absurdness
  2. something that is absurd

abub·ble [ə-'bə-bəl] -adj

  1. being in the process of bubbling
  2. being in a state of agitated activity or motion : astir

abuild·ing [ə-'bil-diŋ] -adj

  1. being in the process of building or of being built

abu·lia [ā-'bü-lē-ə, -'byü-, ə-] -n, adj

  1. abnormal lack of ability to act or to make decisions

abun·dance [ə-'bən-dən(t)s] -n

  1. an ample quantity : profusion
  2. affluence, wealth
  3. relative degree of plentifulness
    • low abundance s of uranium and thorium -- H. C. Urey

abun·dant [-dənt] -adj, adv

  1. marked by great plenty (as of resources)
    • a fair and abundant land
  2. amply supplied : abounding
    • an area abundant with bird life
  3. occurring in abundance : ample
    • abundant rainfall

abuse [ə-'byüs] -n

  1. a corrupt practice or custom
  2. improper or excessive use or treatment : misuse
    • drug abuse
  3. a deceitful act : deception
  4. language that condemns or vilifies usu. unjustly, intemperately, and angrily
  5. physical maltreatment
  6. to put to a wrong or improper use
    • abuse a privilege
  7. to use excessively
    • abuse alcohol
  8. to use without medical justification
    • abusing painkillers
  9. deceive
  10. to use so as to injure or damage : maltreat
  11. to attack in words : revile

abu·sive [ə-'byü-siv also -ziv] -adj, adv, n

  1. characterized by wrong or improper use or action
  2. corrupt
    • abusive financial practices
  3. using harsh insulting language
    • an angry and abusive crowd
  4. characterized by or serving for abuse
    • abusive language
  5. physically injurious
    • abusive behavior

abut [ə-'bət] -vb

  1. to touch along a border or with a projecting part
    • land abut s on the road
  2. to terminate at a point of contact
  3. to lean for support
  4. to border on
    • their property abut s our land
  5. to cause to abut

abu·ti·lon [ə-'byü-tᵊl-,än, -tᵊl-ən] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Abutilon) of plants of the mallow family often having lobed leaves and solitary bell-shaped flowers

abut·ment [ə-'bət-mənt] -n

  1. the place at which abutting occurs
  2. the part of a structure (as an arch or a bridge) that directly receives thrust or pressure

abut·tals [ə-'bə-tᵊlz] -n pl

  1. the boundaries of lands with respect to adjacent lands

abut·ter [ə-'bə-tər] -n

  1. one that abuts
  2. the owner of a contiguous property

abutting -adj

  1. that abuts or serves as an abutment : adjoining, bordering

abuzz [ə-'bəz] -adj

  1. filled or resounding with or as if with a buzzing sound
    • a lake abuzz with outboards
  2. filled with talk or excitement
    • an office abuzz with rumors
    • a town abuzz with anticipation of the big game

aby [ə-'bī] -vt

  1. to suffer a penalty for

abysm [ə-'bi-zəm] -n

  1. abyss
    • the dark backward and abysm of time -- Shak.

abys·mal [ə-'biz-məl, a-] -adj, adv

  1. having immense or fathomless extension downward, backward, or inward
    • an abysmal cliff
  2. immeasurably great : profound
    • abysmal ignorance
  3. immeasurably low or wretched
    • abysmal living conditions of the poor
  4. abyssal

abyss [ə-'bis, a- also 'a-(,)bis] -n

  1. the bottomless gulf, pit, or chaos of the old cosmogonies
  2. an immeasurably deep gulf or great space
  3. intellectual or moral depths

abys·sal [ə-'bi-səl] -adj

  1. unfathomable
  2. of or relating to the bottom waters of the ocean depths

abyssal plain -n

  1. any of the great flat sediment-covered areas of ocean floor

Ab·ys·sin·i·an [,a-bə-'si-nē-ən, -'sin-yən] -n

  1. any of a breed of medium-sized slender domestic cats of African origin with short usu. brownish hair ticked with bands of darker color