an [ən, (')an] -indefinite article
- a
- a
- and
- if
- year
AN -abbr
- airman (Navy)
ana ['a-nə] -adv
- of each an equal quantity
- a collection of the memorable sayings of a person
- a collection of anecdotes or interesting information about a person or a place
ANA -abbr
- American Nurses Association
ana- -prefix
- up : upward
- back : backward
ana·bap·tism [,a-nə-'bap-,ti-zəm] -n
- the doctrine or practices of the Anabaptists
- the Anabaptist movement
- the baptism of one previously baptized
Ana·bap·tist [-'bap-tist] -n, adj
- a Protestant sectarian of a radical movement arising in the 16th century and advocating the baptism and church membership of adult believers only, nonresistance, and the separation of church and state
anab·a·sis [ə-'na-bə-səs] -n
- a going or marching up : advance
- a military advance
- a difficult and dangerous military retreat
an·a·bat·ic [,a-nə-'ba-tik] -adj
- moving upward : rising
anabolic steroid -n
- any of a group of usu. synthetic hormones that are derivatives of testosterone, are used medically esp. to promote tissue growth, and are sometimes abused by athletes to increase the size and strength of their muscles and improve endurance
anab·o·lism [ə-'na-bə-,li-zəm] -n, adj
- the constructive part of metabolism concerned esp. with macromolecular synthesis
anach·ro·nism [ə-'na-krə-,ni-zəm] -n, adj, adv
- an error in chronology
- a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other
- a person or a thing that is chronologically out of place
- one from a former age that is incongruous in the present
- the state or condition of being chronologically out of place
an·a·clit·ic [,a-nə-'kli-tik] -adj
- of, relating to, or characterized by the direction of love toward an object (as the mother) that satisfies nonsexual needs (as hunger)
an·a·co·lu·thon [,a-nə-kə-'lü-,thän] -n, adj, adv
- syntactical inconsistency or incoherence within a sentence
- a shift in an unfinished sentence from one syntactic construction to another (as in you really ought-well, do it your own way)
an·a·con·da [,a-nə-'kän-də] -n
- a large semiaquatic constricting snake ( Eunectes murinus) of the boa family of tropical So. America that may reach a length of 30 feet (9.1 meters)
- any of the large constricting snakes
anac·re·on·tic [ə-,na-krē-'än-tik] -n
- a poem in the manner of Anacreon
- a drinking song or light lyric
Anacreontic -adj
- of, relating to, or resembling the poetry of Anacreon
- convivial or amatory in tone or theme
an·a·cru·sis [,a-nə-'krü-səs] -n
- one or more syllables at the beginning of a line of poetry that are regarded as preliminary to and not a part of the metrical pattern
- upbeat
- one or more notes or tones preceding the first downbeat of a musical phrase
an·a·dama bread [,a-nə-'da-mə-] -n
- a leavened bread made with flour, cornmeal, and molasses
an·a·dem ['a-nə-,dem] -n
- a wreath for the head : garland
ana·di·plo·sis [,a-nə-də-'plō-səs, ,a-nə-(,)dī-'plō-] -n
- repetition of a prominent and usu. the last word in one phrase or clause at the beginning of the next (as in rely on his honor-honor such as his?)
anad·ro·mous [ə-'na-drə-məs] -adj
- ascending rivers from the sea for breeding
anae·mia [ə-'nē-mē-ə] -n
(variant of anemia)
- a condition in which the blood is deficient in red blood cells, in hemoglobin, or in total volume
- ischemia
- lack of vitality
an·aer·obe ['a-nə-,rōb; (,)an-'er-,ōb] -n
- an anaerobic organism
an·aer·o·bic [,a-nə-'rō-bik; ,an-,er-'ō-] -adj, adv
- living, active, occurring, or existing in the absence of free oxygen
- of, relating to, or being activity in which the body incurs an oxygen debt
- relating to or induced by anaerobes
an·aero·bi·o·sis [,a-nə-rō-(,)bī-'ō-səs, -bē-; ,an-,er-ō-] -n
- life in the absence of air or free oxygen
an·aes·the·sia [,a-nəs-'thē-zhə] -n
(variant of anesthesia)
- loss of sensation with or without loss of consciousness
ana·gen·e·sis [,a-nə-'je-nə-səs] -n
- evolutionary change producing a single lineage in which one taxon replaces another without branching
ana·glyph ['a-nə-,glif] -n, adj
- a sculptured, chased, or embossed ornament worked in low relief
- a stereoscopic motion or still picture in which the right component of a composite image usu. red in color is superposed on the left component in a contrasting color to produce a three-dimensional effect when viewed through correspondingly colored filters in the form of spectacles
an·ag·no·ri·sis [,a-,nag-'nȯr-ə-səs] -n
- the point in the plot esp. of a tragedy at which the protagonist recognizes his or her or some other character's true identity or discovers the true nature of his or her own situation
an·a·go·ge ['a-nə-,gō-jē] -n, adj, adv
- interpretation of a word, passage, or text (as of Scripture or poetry) that finds beyond the literal, allegorical, and moral senses a fourth and ultimate spiritual or mystical sense
an·a·gram ['a-nə-,gram] -n, adj, adv
- a word or phrase made by transposing the letters of another word or phrase
- a game in which words are formed by rearranging the letters of other words or by arranging letters taken (as from a stock of cards or blocks) at random
anagram -vt
- anagrammatize
- to rearrange (the letters of a text) in order to discover a hidden message
an·a·gram·ma·tize [,a-nə-'gra-mə-,tīz] -vt, n
- to transpose (as letters in a word) so as to form an anagram
An·a·heim ['a-nə-,hīm] -n
- a long tapered green usu. mild chili pepper
anal ['ā-nᵊl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, situated near, or involving the anus
- of, relating to, characterized by, or being the stage of psychosexual development in psychoanalytic theory which follows the oral stage and during which the child is concerned esp. with its feces
- of, relating to, characterized by, or being personality traits (as parsimony, meticulousness, and ill humor) considered typical of fixation at the anal stage of development
- analogy
- analysis; analytic
anal·cime [ə-'nal-,sēm] -n
- a white or slightly colored mineral that consists of hydrated silicate of sodium and aluminum and occurs in various igneous rocks in massive form or in crystals
an·a·lects ['a-nə-,lek(t)s] -n pl
- selected miscellaneous written passages
an·a·lem·ma [,a-nə-'le-mə] -n, adj
- a plot or graph of the position of the sun in the sky at a certain time of day (as noon) at one locale measured throughout the year that has the shape of a figure 8
- a scale (as on a globe or sundial) based on such a plot that shows the sun's position for each day of the year or that allows local mean time to be determined
an·a·lep·tic [,a-nə-'lep-tik] -n, adj
- a drug that stimulates the central nervous system
an·al·ge·sia [,a-nᵊl-'jē-zh(ē-)ə, -zē-ə] -n
- insensibility to pain without loss of consciousness
an·al·ge·sic [,a-nᵊl-'jē-zik, -sik] -n, adj
- an agent for producing analgesia
anal·i·ty [ā-'na-lə-tē] -n
- the psychological state or quality of being anal
an·a·log ['a-nə-,lȯg, -,läg] -adj
- of, relating to, or being an analogue
- of, relating to, or being a mechanism in which data is represented by continuously variable physical quantities
- of or relating to an analog computer
- being a timepiece having hour and minute hands
analog computer -n
- a computer that operates with numbers represented by directly measurable quantities (as voltages or rotations)
an·a·log·i·cal [,a-nə-'lä-ji-kəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or based on analogy
- expressing or implying analogy
anal·o·gist [ə-'na-lə-jist] -n
- one who searches for or reasons from analogies
anal·o·gize [-,jīz] -vb
- to use or exhibit analogy
- to compare by analogy
anal·o·gous [ə-'na-lə-gəs] -adj, adv, n
- showing an analogy or a likeness that permits one to draw an analogy
- being or related to as an analogue
an·a·logue ['a-nə-,lȯg, -,läg] -n
- something that is analogous or similar to something else
- an organ or part similar in function to an organ or part of another animal or plant but different in structure and origin
- a chemical compound that is structurally similar to another but differs slightly in composition (as in the replacement of one atom by an atom of a different element or in the presence of a particular functional group)
- a food product made by combining a less expensive food (as soybeans or whitefish) with additives to give the appearance and taste of a more expensive food (as beef or crab)
an·a·logue ['a-nə-,lȯg, -,läg] -adj
(variant of analog)
- of, relating to, or being an analogue
- of, relating to, or being a mechanism in which data is represented by continuously variable physical quantities
- of or relating to an analog computer
- being a timepiece having hour and minute hands
anal·o·gy [ə-'na-lə-jē] -n
- inference that if two or more things agree with one another in some respects they will prob. agree in others
- resemblance in some particulars between things otherwise unlike : similarity
- comparison based on such resemblance
- correspondence between the members of pairs or sets of linguistic forms that serves as a basis for the creation of another form
- correspondence in function between anatomical parts of different structure and origin
an·al·pha·bet [(,)an-'al-fə-,bet, -bət] -n, adj or n
- a person who cannot read : illiterate
analre·ten·tive ['ā-nᵊl-ri-'ten-tiv] -adj, n
- exhibiting or typifying personality traits (as frugality and obstinacy) held to be psychological consequences of toilet training
anal·y·sand [ə-'na-lə-,sand] -n
- a person who is undergoing psychoanalysis
an·a·lyse ['a-nə-,līz] -vt, n, adj
(variant of analyze)
- to study or determine the nature and relationship of the parts of by analysis
- to subject to scientific or grammatical analysis
- psychoanalyze
anal·y·sis [ə-'na-lə-səs] -n
- separation of a whole into its component parts
- the identification or separation of ingredients of a substance
- a statement of the constituents of a mixture
- proof of a mathematical proposition by assuming the result and deducing a valid statement by a series of reversible steps
- a branch of mathematics concerned mainly with limits, continuity, and infinite series
- calculus
- an examination of a complex, its elements, and their relations
- a statement of such an analysis
- a method in philosophy of resolving complex expressions into simpler or more basic ones
- clarification of an expression by an elucidation of its use in discourse
- the use of function words instead of inflectional forms as a characteristic device of a language
- psychoanalysis
analysis of variance
- analysis of variation in an experimental outcome and esp. of a statistical variance in order to determine the contributions of given factors or variables to the variance
analysis si·tus [-'sī-təs, -'sē-, -,tüs] -n
- topology
an·a·lyst ['a-nə-ləst] -n
- a person who analyzes or who is skilled in analysis
- psychoanalyst
an·a·lyte ['a-nə-,līt] -n
- a chemical substance that is the subject of chemical analysis
an·a·lyt·ic [,a-nə-'li-tik] -adj, adv, n
- of or relating to analysis or analytics
- separating something into component parts or constituent elements
- being a proposition (as no bachelor is married) whose truth is evident from the meaning of the words it contains
- skilled in or using analysis esp. in thinking or reasoning
- characterized by analysis rather than inflection
- psychoanalytic
- treated or treatable by or using the methods of algebra and calculus
- capable of being expanded in a Taylor's series in powers of x hin some neighborhood of the point h
- differentiable at every point in some neighborhood of a given point
analytic geometry -n
- the study of geometric properties by means of algebraic operations upon symbols defined in terms of a coordinate system called also coordinate geometry
analytic philosophy -n
- a philosophical movement that seeks the solution of philosophical problems in the analysis of propositions or sentences called also philosophical analysis
an·a·lyt·ics [,a-nə-'li-tiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- the method of logical analysis
an·a·ly·za·tion [,a-nə-lə-'zā-shən] -n
- analysis
an·a·lyze ['a-nə-,līz] -vt, n, adj
- to study or determine the nature and relationship of the parts of by analysis
- to subject to scientific or grammatical analysis
- psychoanalyze
an·am·ne·sis [,a-,nam-'nē-səs] -n
- a recalling to mind : reminiscence
- a preliminary case history of a medical or psychiatric patient
an·am·nes·tic [-'nes-tik] -adj
- of or relating to an anamnesis
- of or relating to a secondary response to an immunogenic substance after serum antibodies can no longer be detected in the blood
ana·mor·phic [,a-nə-'mȯr-fik] -adj
- producing, relating to, or marked by intentional distortion (as by unequal magnification along perpendicular axes) of an image
anan·da·mide [ə-'nan-də-,mīd] -n
- a derivative of arachidonic acid that occurs naturally in the brain and in some foods (as chocolate) and that binds to the same brain receptors as the cannabinoids (as THC)
An·a·ni·as [,a-nə-'nī-əs] -n
- an early Christian struck dead for lying
- liar
an·a·pest ['a-nə-,pest] -n, adj or n
- a metrical foot consisting of two short syllables followed by one long syllable or of two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable (as unaware)
ana·phase ['a-nə-,fāz] -n, adj
- the stage of mitosis and meiosis in which the chromosomes move toward the poles of the spindle
ana·phor ['a-nə-,fȯr] -n
- a word or phrase with an anaphoric function
anaph·o·ra [ə-'na-f(ə-)rə] -n
- repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses esp. for rhetorical or poetic effect
- Lincoln's we cannot dedicate-we cannot consecrate-we cannot hallow-this ground is an example of anaphora
- use of a grammatical substitute (as a pronoun or a pro-verb) to refer to the denotation of a preceding word or group of words
- the relation between a grammatical substitute and its antecedent
an·a·phor·ic [,a-nə-'fȯr-ik, -'fär-] -adj, adv
- of or relating to anaphora
- being a word or phrase that takes its reference from another word or phrase and esp. from a preceding word or phrase
an·aph·ro·di·si·ac [,a-,na-frə-'dē-zē-,ak, -zhē-, -'di-zē-] -adj, n
- inhibiting or discouraging sexual desire
ana·phy·lac·tic [,a-nə-fə-'lak-tik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, affected by, or causing anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock
anaphylactic shock -n
- an often severe and sometimes fatal systemic reaction in a susceptible individual upon exposure to a specific antigen (as wasp venom or penicillin) after previous sensitization that is characterized esp. by respiratory symptoms, fainting, itching, and hives
ana·phy·lax·is [-'lak-səs] -n
- hypersensitivity (as to foreign proteins or drugs) resulting from sensitization following prior contact with the causative agent
- anaphylactic shock
an·a·pla·sia [,a-nə-'plā-zh(ē-)ə] -n, adj
- reversion of cells to a more primitive or undifferentiated form
an·a·plas·mo·sis [,a-nə-,plaz-'mō-səs] -n
- a tick-borne disease of cattle and sheep caused by a bacterium ( Anaplasma marginale) and characterized esp. by anemia and by jaundice
an·arch ['a-,närk] -n
- a leader or advocate of revolt or anarchy
an·ar·chic [a-'när-kik, ə-] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or advocating anarchy
- likely to bring about anarchy
- lacking order, regularity, or definiteness
an·ar·chism ['a-nər-,ki-zəm, -,när-] -n
- a political theory holding all forms of governmental authority to be unnecessary and undesirable and advocating a society based on voluntary cooperation and free association of individuals and groups
- the advocacy or practice of anarchistic principles
an·ar·chist ['a-nər-kist, -,när-] -n, adj
- a person who rebels against any authority, established order, or ruling power
- a person who believes in, advocates, or promotes anarchism or anarchy
- one who uses violent means to overthrow the established order
an·ar·chosyn·di·cal·ism [a-,när-kō-'sin-di-kə-,li-zəm, ,a-nər-kō-] -n, n or adj
- syndicalism
an·ar·chy ['a-nər-kē, -,när-] -n
- absence of government
- a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority
- a utopian society of individuals who enjoy complete freedom without government
- absence or denial of any authority or established order
- absence of order : disorder
- not manicured plots but a wild anarchy of nature -- Israel Shenker
- anarchism
ana·sar·ca [,a-nə-'sär-kə] -n, adj
- generalized edema with accumulation of serum in the connective tissue
An·a·sa·zi [,ä-nə-'sä-zē] -n
- a prehistoric American Indian inhabitant of the canyons of northern Arizona and New Mexico and southwestern Colorado
an·as·tig·mat [a-'nas-tig-,mat, ,a-nə-'stig-] -n
- an anastigmatic lens
an·a·stig·mat·ic [,a-nə-(,)stig-'ma-tik, ,a-,nas-tig-] -adj
- not astigmatic used esp. of lenses that are able to form approximately point images of object points
anas·to·mose [ə-'nas-tə-,mōz, -,mōs] -vb
- to connect or join by anastomosis
- to communicate or be joined by anastomosis
anas·to·mo·sis [ə-,nas-tə-'mō-səs] -n, adj
- the union of parts or branches (as of streams, blood vessels, or leaf veins) so as to intercommunicate or interconnect
- a product of anastomosis : network
anas·tro·phe [ə-'nas-trə-(,)fē] -n
- inversion of the usual syntactical order of words for rhetorical effect
anat -abbr
- anatomical; anatomy
an·a·tase ['a-nə-,tās, -,tāz] -n
- a tetragonal mineral consisting of titanium dioxide and used esp. as a white pigment
anath·e·ma [ə-'na-thə-mə] -n
- one that is cursed by ecclesiastical authority
- someone or something intensely disliked or loathed usu. used as a predicate nominative
- this notion was anathema to most of his countrymen -- S. J. Gould
- a ban or curse solemnly pronounced by ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication
- the denunciation of something as accursed
- a vigorous denunciation : curse
anath·e·ma·tize [-,tīz] -vt
- to pronounce an anathema upon
An·a·to·lian [,a-nə-'tō-lē-ən, -'tōl-yən] -n, adj
- a native or inhabitant of Anatolia and specif. of the western plateau lands of Turkey in Asia
- a branch of the Indo-European language family that includes a group of extinct languages of ancient Anatolia
Anatolian shepherd -n
- any of a breed of large rugged working dogs of Turkish origin
anat·o·mise [-,mīz] -vt
(variant of anatomize)
- to cut in pieces in order to display or examine the structure and use of the parts : dissect
- analyze
anat·o·mist [ə-'na-tə-mist] -n
- a specialist in anatomy
- one who analyzes minutely and critically
- an anatomist of urban society
anat·o·mize [-,mīz] -vt
- to cut in pieces in order to display or examine the structure and use of the parts : dissect
- analyze
anat·o·my [ə-'na-tə-mē] -n, adj, adv
- a branch of morphology that deals with the structure of organisms
- a treatise on anatomical science or art
- the art of separating the parts of an organism in order to ascertain their position, relations, structure, and function : dissection
- a body dissected or to be dissected
- structural makeup esp. of an organism or any of its parts
- a separating or dividing into parts for detailed examination : analysis
- skeleton
- mummy
- the human body
anat·ro·pous [ə-'na-trə-pəs] -adj
- having or being a plant ovule inverted so that the micropyle is bent down to the funiculus to which the body of the ovule is united
anc -abbr
- ancient
ANC -abbr
- African National Congress
an·ces·tor ['an-,ses-tər also -səs-] -n
- one from whom a person is descended and who is usu. more remote in the line of descent than a grandparent
- forefather
- forerunner, prototype
- a progenitor of a more recent or existing species or group
ancestor worship -n
- the custom of venerating deceased ancestors who are considered still a part of the family and whose spirits are believed to have the power to intervene in the affairs of the living
an·ces·tral [an-'ses-trəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or inherited from an ancestor
an·ces·tress ['an-,ses-trəs] -n
- a female ancestor
an·ces·try ['an-,ses-trē] -n
- line of descent : lineage
- honorable, noble, or aristocratic descent
- persons initiating or comprising a line of descent : ancestors
An·chi·ses [an-'kī-(,)sēz, aŋ-] -n
- the father of Aeneas rescued by his son from the burning city of Troy
an·cho ['än-chō] -n
- a poblano chili pepper esp. when mature and dried to a reddish black
an·chor ['aŋ-kər] -n, adj
- a device usu. of metal attached to a ship or boat by a cable and cast overboard to hold it in a particular place by means of a fluke that digs into the bottom
- a reliable or principal support : mainstay
- something that serves to hold an object firmly
- an object shaped like a ship's anchor
- an anchorman or anchorwoman
- the member of a team (as a relay team) that competes last
- a large business (as a department store) that attracts customers and other businesses to a shopping center or mall
- a fixed object (as a tree or a piton) to which a climber's rope is secured
anchor [-k(ə-)riŋ] -vb
- to hold in place in the water by an anchor
- to secure firmly : fix
- anchor a post in concrete
- to act or serve as an anchor for
- it is she who is anchor ing the rebuilding campaign -- G. D. Boone
- anchor ing the evening news
- to cast anchor
- to become fixed
an·chor·age ['aŋ-k(ə-)rij] -n
- a place where vessels anchor : a place suitable for anchoring
- the act of anchoring : the condition of being anchored
- a means of securing : a source of reassurance
- this anchorage of Christian hope -- T. O. Wedel
- something that provides a secure hold
an·cho·ress ['aŋ-k(ə-)rəs] -n
- a woman who is an anchorite
an·cho·rite ['aŋ-kə-,rīt] -n, adj, adv
- a person who lives in seclusion usu. for religious reasons
an·chor·man ['aŋ-kər-,man] -n
- : a person who is last: as
- the member of a team who competes last
- the anchorman on a relay team
- the student who has the lowest scholastic standing in a graduating class
- a broadcaster (as on a news program) who introduces reports by other broadcasters and usu. reads the news
- moderator
an·chor·peo·ple [-,pē-pəl] -n pl
- anchorpersons
an·chor·per·son [-,pər-sᵊn] -n
- an anchorman or anchorwoman
an·chor·wom·an [-,wu̇-mən] -n
- a woman who anchors a broadcast
an·cho·veta [,an-chō-'ve-tə] -n
- a small anchovy ( Cetengraulis mysticetus) of the Pacific coast of America from southern California to Peru
an·cho·vy ['an-,chō-vē, an-'] -n
- any of a family (Engraulidae) of small fishes resembling herrings that includes several (as Engraulis encrasicholus) that are important food fishes used esp. in appetizers, as a garnish, and for making sauces and relishes
an·cien re·gime [äⁿs-yaⁿ-rā-'zhēm] -n
- the political and social system of France before the Revolution of 1789
- a system or mode no longer prevailing
an·cient ['ān(t)-shənt, 'āŋ(k)-shənt] -adj, n
- having had an existence of many years
- of or relating to a remote period, to a time early in history, or to those living in such a period or time
- of or relating to the historical period beginning with the earliest known civilizations and extending to the fall of the western Roman Empire in a.d.476
- : having the qualities of age or long existence: as
- venerable
- old-fashioned, antique
ancient -n
- an aged living being
- : a person who lived in ancient times:
- the civilized people of antiquity
- those of the classical nations
- one of the classical authors
- Plutarch and other ancient s
- an ancient coin
- ensign, standard, flag
- the bearer of an ensign
ancient history -n
- the history of ancient times
- knowledge or information that is widespread and has lost its initial freshness or importance : common knowledge
an·cient·ly -adv
- in ancient times : long ago
an·cient·ry [-shən-trē] -n
- antiquity, ancientness
an·cil·la [an-'si-lə] -n
- an aid to achieving or mastering something difficult
an·cil·lary ['an(t)-sə-,ler-ē, -,le-rē, esp Brit an-'si-lə-rē] -adj, n
- subordinate, subsidiary
- the main factory and its ancillary plants
- auxiliary, supplementary
- the need for ancillary evidence
an·cy·lo·sto·mi·a·sis [,aŋ-ki-,lō-stə-'mī-ə-səs, ,an(t)-sə-] -n
- hookworm
and [ən(d), (')an(d), usu ᵊn(d) after t, d, s or z, often ᵊm after p or b, sometimes ᵊŋ after k or g] -conj
- used as a function word to indicate connection or addition esp. of items within the same class or type used to join sentence elements of the same grammatical rank or function
- used as a function word to express logical modification, consequence, antithesis, or supplementary explanation
- used as a function word to join one finite verb (as go, come, try ) to another so that together they are logically equivalent to an infinitive of purpose
- if
- used in logic to form a conjunction
AND ['and] -n
- a logical operator that requires both of two inputs to be present or two conditions to be met for an output to be made or a statement to be executed
An·da·lu·sian [,an-də-'lü-zhən] -n
- any of a breed of horses of Spanish origin that have a high-stepping gait
an·da·lu·site [,an-də-'lü-,sīt] -n
- a mineral consisting of a silicate of aluminum usu. in thick orthorhombic prisms of various colors
an·dan·te [än-'dän-(,)tā, -'dän-tē; an-'dan-tē] -adv or adj
- moderately slow usu. used as a direction in music
andante -n
- a musical composition or movement in andante tempo
an·dan·ti·no [,än-,dän-'tē-(,)nō] -adv or adj
- slightly faster than andante used as a direction in music
andantino -n
- a musical composition or movement in andantino tempo
An·de·an condor ['an-(,)dē-ən-, an-'] -n
- condor
an·des·ite ['an-di-,zīt] -n, adj
- an extrusive usu. dark grayish rock consisting essentially of oligoclase or feldspar
and how -adv
- used to emphasize the preceding idea
- having a great time- and how
and·iron ['and-,ī(-ə)rn] -n
- either of a pair of metal supports for firewood used on a hearth and made of a horizontal bar mounted on short legs with usu. a vertical shaft surmounting the front end
and/or ['and-'ȯr] -conj
- used as a function word to indicate that two words or expressions are to be taken together or individually
- language comprehension and/or production -- David Crystal
an·dou·ille [än-'dü-ē, 'än-dü-ē] -n
- a highly spiced smoked pork sausage
an·douill·ette [,än-dü-'yet] -n
- a fresh pork sausage made with tripe or chitterlings
andr- -comb form
- male human being
- male
an·dra·dite [an-'drä-,dīt, 'an-drə-,dīt] -n
- a calcium-iron garnet occurring in various colors ranging from yellow and green to brown and black
an·dro ['an-drō] -n
- androstenedione
an·dro·cen·tric [,an-drə-'sen-trik] -adj, n
- dominated by or emphasizing masculine interests or a masculine point of view
An·dro·cles ['an-drə-,klēz] -n
- a fabled Roman slave spared in the arena by a lion from whose foot he had years before extracted a thorn
an·droe·ci·um [an-'drē-shē-əm, -sē-əm] -n
- the aggregate of stamens in the flower of a seed plant
an·dro·gen ['an-drə-jən] -n, adj
- a male sex hormone (as testosterone)
an·dro·gen·e·sis [,an-drō-'je-nə-səs] -n, adj
- development of an embryo containing only paternal chromosomes due to failure of the egg to participate in fertilization
an·dro·gyne ['an-drə-,jīn] -n
- one that is androgynous
an·drog·y·nous [an-'drä-jə-nəs] -adj, adv, n
- having the characteristics or nature of both male and female
- neither specifically feminine nor masculine
- the androgynous pronoun them
- suitable to or for either sex
- having traditional male and female roles obscured or reversed
an·droid ['an-,drȯid] -n
- a mobile robot usu. with a human form
an·drol·ogy [an-'drä-lə-jē] -n
- a branch of medicine concerned with male diseases and esp. with those affecting the male reproductive system
An·drom·a·che [an-'drä-mə-(,)kē] -n
- the wife of Hector
an·drom·eda [an-'drä-mə-də] -n
- any of several evergreen shrubs (genera Pierisand Andromeda) of the heath family
- japanese andromeda
An·drom·e·da [an-'drä-mə-də] -n
- an Ethiopian princess of Greek mythology rescued from a monster by her future husband Perseus
- a northern constellation directly south of Cassiopeia between Pegasus and Perseus
an·dro·pause ['an-drə-,pȯz] -n
- a gradual and highly variable decline in the production of androgenic hormones and esp. testosterone in the human male together with its associated effects that is held to occur during and after middle age called also climacteric male menopause
an·dro·stene·di·one [,an-drə-,stēn-'dī-ōn, -'stēn-dē-,ōn] -n
- a steroid sex hormone C 19H 26O 2that is secreted by the testes, ovaries, and adrenal cortex and is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of testosterone and estrogen
an·dros·ter·one [an-'dräs-tə-,rōn] -n
- an androgenic hormone that is a hydroxy ketone C 19H 30O 2found esp. in male urine
ane ['ān] -adj or n or pron
- one
an·ec·dot·age ['a-nik-,dō-tij] -n
- the telling of anecdotes
- anecdotes
- garrulous old age
an·ec·dot·al [,a-nik-'dō-tᵊl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or consisting of anecdotes
- anecdotic
- based on or consisting of reports or observations of usu. unscientific observers
- of, relating to, or being the depiction of a scene suggesting a story
an·ec·dot·al·ist [,a-nik-'dō-tᵊl-ist] -n
- a person who is given to or is skilled in telling anecdotes
an·ec·dote ['a-nik-,dōt] -n
- a usu. short narrative of an interesting, amusing, or biographical incident
an·ec·dot·ic [,a-nik-'dä-tik] -adj, adv
- anecdotal
- given to or skilled in telling anecdotes
an·echo·ic [,a-ni-'kō-ik] -adj
- free from echoes and reverberations
an·elas·tic [,a-nə-'las-tik] -adj, n
- relating to the property of a substance in which there is no definite relation between stress and strain
anem- -comb form
- wind
ane·mia [ə-'nē-mē-ə] -n
- a condition in which the blood is deficient in red blood cells, in hemoglobin, or in total volume
- ischemia
- lack of vitality
ane·mic [ə-'nē-mik] -adj, adv
- relating to or affected with anemia
- lacking force, vitality, or spirit
- an anemic rendition of the song
- anemic efforts at enforcement
- lacking interest or savor : insipid
- lacking in substance or quantity
- anemic returns on an investment
anemo·graph [ə-'ne-mə-,graf] -n
- a recording anemometer
an·e·mom·e·ter [,a-nə-'mä-mə-tər] -n
- an instrument for measuring and indicating the force or speed of the wind
an·e·mom·e·try [,a-nə-'mä-mə-trē] -n
- the process of ascertaining the force, speed, and direction of wind or an airflow
anem·o·ne [ə-'ne-mə-nē] -n
- any of a large genus ( Anemone) of perennial herbs of the buttercup family having lobed or divided leaves and showy flowers without petals but with conspicuous often colored sepals called also windflower
- sea anemone
an·e·moph·i·lous [,a-nə-'mä-fə-ləs] -adj
- pollinated by wind
an·en·ceph·a·ly [,an-(,)en-'se-fə-lē] -n, adj
- congenital absence of all or a major part of the brain
anent [ə-'nent] -prep
- about, concerning
an·er·gy ['a-(,)nər-jē] -n
- a condition in which the body fails to react to an antigen
an·er·oid ['a-nə-,rȯid] -adj
- using no liquid
- operating by the effect of outside air pressure on a diaphragm forming one wall of an evacuated container
an·es·the·sia [,a-nəs-'thē-zhə] -n
- loss of sensation with or without loss of consciousness
an·es·the·si·ol·o·gist [-,thē-zē-'ä-lə-jist] -n
- anesthetist
- a physician specializing in anesthesiology
an·es·the·si·ol·o·gy [-jē] -n
- a branch of medical science dealing with anesthesia and anesthetics
an·es·thet·ic [,a-nəs-'the-tik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or capable of producing anesthesia
- lacking awareness or sensitivity
- was anesthetic to their feelings
anesthetic -n
- a substance that produces anesthesia
- something that brings relief : palliative
anes·the·tist [ə-'nes-thə-tist, Brit -'nēs-] -n
- one who administers anesthetics
anes·the·tize [-thə-,tīz] -vt
- to subject to anesthesia
an·es·trous [(,)an-'es-trəs] -adj
- not exhibiting estrus
- of or relating to anestrus
an·es·trus [-trəs] -n
- the period of sexual quiescence between two periods of sexual activity in cyclically breeding mammals
an·eu·ploid ['an-yu̇-,ploid] -adj, n
- having or being a chromosome number that is not an exact multiple of the usu. haploid number
an·eu·rysm ['an-yə-,ri-zəm] -n, adj
- an abnormal blood-filled bulge of a blood vessel and esp. an artery resulting from weakening (as from disease) of the vessel wall
anew [ə-'nü, -'nyü] -adv
- for an additional time : again
- in a new or different form
- a story told anew on film
an·frac·tu·os·i·ty [(,)an-,frak-chə-'wä-sə-tē, -shə-; -chü-'ä-, -shü-] -n
- the quality or state of being anfractuous
- a winding channel or course
- an intricate path or process (as of the mind)
an·frac·tu·ous [an-'frak-chə-wəs, -shə-; -chü-əs, -shü-] -adj
- full of windings and intricate turnings : tortuous
an·gel ['ān-jəl] -n, adj, adv
- a spiritual being superior to humans in power and intelligence
- one in the lowest rank in the celestial hierarchy
- an order of angels
- an attendant spirit or guardian
- a usu. white-robed winged figure of human form in fine art
- messenger, harbinger
- a person like an angel (as in looks or behavior)
- inspiration from God
- one (as a backer of a theatrical venture) who aids or supports with money or influence
- angelfish
angel dust -n
- phencyclidine
An·ge·le·no [,an-jə-'lē-(,)nō] -n
- a native or resident of Los Angeles, Calif.
an·gel·fish ['ān-jəl-,fish] -n
- any of several laterally compressed brightly colored bony fishes (family Pomacanthidae) of warm seas
- a black and silver laterally compressed So. American cichlid fish ( Pterophyllum scalare) popular in aquariums called also scalare
angel food cake -n
- a usu. white sponge cake made of flour, sugar, and whites of eggs
angelhair pasta ['ān-jəl-,her-] -n
- pasta made in long thin strings smaller in diameter than vermicelli
an·gel·i·ca [an-'je-li-kə] -n
- any of a genus ( Angelica) of herbs of the carrot family
- a Eurasian biennial or perennial ( A. archangelica) whose roots and seeds yield a flavoring oil and whose young stems are often candied
- a confection prepared from angelica
- a sweet fortified wine produced in California
angelica tree -n
- hercules'-club
an·gel·ol·o·gy [,ān-jə-'lä-lə-jē] -n
- the theological doctrine of angels or its study
An·ge·lus ['an-jə-ləs] -n
- a devotion of the Western church that commemorates the Incarnation and is said in the morning, at noon, and in the evening
- a bell announcing the time for the Angelus
an·ger ['aŋ-gər] -vb
- to make angry
- he was anger ed by the decision
- to become angry
anger [-ləs] -n, adj
- a strong feeling of displeasure and usu. of antagonism
- rage
An·ge·vin ['an-jə-vən] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or characteristic of Anjou or the Plantagenets
angi- -comb form
- blood or lymph vessel : blood vessels and
- pericarp
an·gi·na [an-'jī-nə, 'an-jə-] -n, adj
- : a disease marked by spasmodic attacks of intense suffocative pain: as
- a severe inflammatory or ulcerated condition of the mouth or throat
- angina pectoris
angina pec·to·ris [-'pek-t(ə-)rəs] -n
- a disease marked by brief paroxysmal attacks of chest pain precipitated by deficient oxygenation of the heart muscles
an·gio·car·di·og·ra·phy ['an-jē-ō-,kär-dē-'ä-grə-fē] -n, adj
- the radiographic visualization of the heart and its blood vessels after injection of a radiopaque substance
an·gio·gen·e·sis [,an-jē-ō-'je-nə-səs] -n, adj
- the formation and differentiation of blood vessels
an·gio·gram ['an-jē-ə-,gram] -n
- a radiograph made by angiography
- angiography
an·gi·og·ra·phy [,an-jē-'ä-grə-fē] -n, adj, adv
- the radiographic visualization of the blood vessels after injection of a radiopaque substance
an·gi·o·ma [,an-jē-'ō-mə] -n, adj
- a tumor composed chiefly of blood vessels or lymph vessels
an·gio·plas·ty ['an-jē-ə-,plas-tē] -n
- surgical repair or recanalization of a blood vessel
- balloon angioplasty
an·gio·sperm ['an-jē-ə-,spərm] -n, adj
- any of a class (Angiospermae) or division (Magnoliophyta) of vascular plants (as magnolias, grasses, oaks, roses, and daisies) that have the ovules and seeds enclosed in an ovary, form the embryo and endosperm by double fertilization, and typically have each flower surrounded by a perianth composed of two sets of floral envelopes comprising the calyx and corolla called also flowering plant
an·gio·ten·sin [,an-jē-ō-'ten(t)-sən] -n
- either of two forms of a kinin of which one has marked vasoconstrictive action
- a synthetic amide derivative of the physiologically active form used to treat some forms of hypotension
angiotensin converting enzyme -n
- a proteolytic enzyme that converts the physiologically inactive form of angiotensin to the active vasoconstrictive form
Angl -abbr
- Anglican
an·gle ['aŋ-gəl] -n, adj
- a corner whether constituting a projecting part or a partially enclosed space
- they sheltered in an angle of the building
- the figure formed by two lines extending from the same point
- dihedral angle
- a measure of an angle or of the amount of turning necessary to bring one line or plane into coincidence with or parallel to another
- the precise viewpoint from which something is observed or considered
- consider the question from all angle s
- the aspect seen from such an angle
- discuss all angle s of the question
- a special approach, point of attack, or technique for accomplishing an objective
- an often improper or illicit method of obtaining advantage
- a salesman always looking for an angle
- a sharply divergent course
- the road went off at an angle
- a position to the side of an opponent in football from which a player may block his opponent more effectively or without penalty usu. used in the phrases get an angle or have an angle
angle [-g(ə-)liŋ] -vb
- to turn or proceed at an angle
- to turn, move, or direct at an angle
- to present (as a news story) from a particular or prejudiced point of view : slant
- to fish with a hook
- to use artful means to attain an objective
An·gle ['aŋ-gəl] -n
- a member of a Germanic people that invaded England along with the Saxons and Jutes in the fifth century a.d.and merged with them to form the Anglo-Saxon peoples
angle bracket -n
- bracket
angle iron -n
- an iron cleat for joining parts of a structure at an angle
- a piece of structural steel rolled with an L-shaped section
angle of attack
- the acute angle between the direction of the relative wind and the chord of an airfoil
angle of depression
- the angle formed by the line of sight and the horizontal plane for an object below the horizontal
angle of elevation
- the angle formed by the line of sight and the horizontal plane for an object above the horizontal
angle of incidence
- the angle that a line (as a ray of light) falling on a surface or interface makes with the normal drawn at the point of incidence
angle of reflection
- the angle between a reflected ray and the normal drawn at the point of incidence to a reflecting surface
angle of refraction
- the angle between a refracted ray and the normal drawn at the point of incidence to the interface at which refraction occurs
an·gler ['aŋ-glər] -n
- one that angles
- anglerfish
ang·ler·fish [-,fish] -n
- any of several pediculate fishes (as the goosefishes)
- monkfish
angle shot -n
- a picture taken with the camera pointed at an angle from the horizontal
an·gle·site ['aŋ-gəl-,sīt, -glə-] -n
- a mineral consisting of lead sulfate formed by the oxidation of galena
an·gle·worm ['aŋ-gəl-,wərm] -n
- earthworm
An·gli·an ['aŋ-glē-ən] -n, adj
- a member of the Angles
- the Old English dialects of Mercia and Northumbria
An·gli·can ['aŋ-gli-kən] -adj, n
- of or relating to the established episcopal Church of England and churches of similar faith and order in communion with it
- of or relating to England or the English nation
an·gli·ce ['aŋ-glə-(,)sē] -adv
- in English
- in readily understood English
- the city of Napoli, anglice Naples
an·gli·cise ['aŋ-glə-,sīz] -vt, n
(variant of anglicize)
- to make English in quality or characteristics
- : to adapt (a foreign word, name, or phrase) to English usage: as
- to alter to a characteristic English form, sound, or spelling
- to convert (a name) to its English equivalent
an·gli·cism ['aŋ-glə-,si-zəm] -n
- a characteristic feature of English occurring in another language
- adherence or attachment to English customs or ideas
An·gli·cist ['aŋ-glə-sist] -n
- a specialist in English linguistics
an·gli·cize ['aŋ-glə-,sīz] -vt, n
- to make English in quality or characteristics
- : to adapt (a foreign word, name, or phrase) to English usage: as
- to alter to a characteristic English form, sound, or spelling
- to convert (a name) to its English equivalent
an·gling ['aŋ-gliŋ] -n
- the action of one who angles
- the action or sport of fishing with hook and line
An·glist ['aŋ-glist] -n
- anglicist
An·glo ['aŋ-(,)glō] -n, adj
- anglo-american
- a white inhabitant of the U.S. of non-Hispanic descent
An·glo- -comb form
- English
- English and
An·gloAmer·i·can [,aŋ-glō-ə-'mer-ə-kən] -n, adj
- an inhabitant of the U.S. of English origin or descent
- a North American whose native language is English and esp. whose culture or ethnic background is of European origin
An·gloCath·o·lic [-'kath-lik, -'ka-thə-] -adj, n
- of or relating to a High Church movement in Anglicanism emphasizing its continuity with historic Catholicism and fostering Catholic dogmatic and liturgical traditions
An·glo·cen·tric [-'sen-trik] -adj
- centered on or giving priority to England or things English
- an Anglocentric view of history
An·gloFrench [-'french] -n
- the French language used in medieval England
An·glo·ma·nia [-'mā-nē-ə, -nyə] -n
- an absorbing or pervasive interest in England or things English
An·gloNor·man [-'nȯr-mən] -n, adj
- any of the Normans living in England after the Norman conquest of 1066
- the form of Anglo-French used by Anglo-Normans
An·glo·phile ['aŋ-glə-,fī(-ə)l] -n, adj
- a person who greatly admires or favors England and things English
An·glo·phil·ia [,aŋ-glə-'fi-lē-ə] -n, adj
- unusual admiration or partiality for England, English ways, or things English
An·glo·phobe ['aŋ-glə-,fōb] -n, adj
- a person who is averse to or dislikes England and things English
an·glo·phone ['aŋ-glə-,fōn] -adj, n
- consisting of or belonging to an English-speaking population esp. in a country where two or more languages are spoken
An·gloSax·on [,aŋ-glō-'sak-sən] -n, adj
- a member of the Germanic peoples conquering England in the fifth century a.d.and forming the ruling class until the Norman conquest
- englishman
- a person descended from the Anglo-Saxons
- a white gentile of an English-speaking nation
- old english
- direct plain English
- English using words considered crude or vulgar
An·glo·sphere ['aŋ-glə-,sfir] -n
- the countries of the world in which the English language and cultural values predominate
an·go·ra [aŋ-'gȯr-ə, an-] -n
- the hair of the Angora rabbit or Angora goat called also angora wool
- a yarn of Angora rabbit hair used esp. for knitting
- angora cat
- angora goat
- angora rabbit
Angora cat -n
- any of a breed of cats having a long graceful body and silky medium-length hair with no undercoat
- a long-haired domestic cat
Angora goat -n
- any of a breed of domestic goats raised for their long silky hair which is the true mohair
Angora rabbit -n
- any of several breeds of long-haired rabbits raised for their abundant fine wool
- any of a breed having usu. white wool and red eyes
an·gry ['aŋ-grē] -adj, adv, n
- feeling or showing anger
- indicative of or proceeding from anger
- seeming to show anger or to threaten in an angry manner
- painfully inflamed
angry young man -n
- an outspoken critic of or protester against an economic condition or social injustice
- one of a group of mid-20th century British authors whose works express the bitterness of the lower classes toward the established sociopolitical system and toward the mediocrity and hypocrisy of the middle and upper classes
angst ['äŋ(k)st, 'aŋ(k)st] -n
- a feeling of anxiety, apprehension, or insecurity
ang·strom ['aŋ-strəm also 'ȯŋ-] -n
- a unit of length equal to one ten-billionth of a meter
an·guish ['aŋ-gwish] -n
- extreme pain, distress, or anxiety
anguish -vi
- to suffer anguish
- to cause to suffer anguish
an·guished -adj
- suffering anguish : tormented
- expressing anguish : agonized
an·gu·lar ['aŋ-gyə-lər] -adj, adv
- forming an angle : sharp-cornered
- having one or more angles
- measured by an angle
- stiff in character or manner : lacking smoothness or grace
- lean and having prominent bone structure
angular acceleration -n
- the rate of change per unit time of angular velocity
an·gu·lar·i·ty [,aŋ-gyə-'ler-ə-tē, -'la-rə-] -n
- the quality of being angular
- angular outlines or characteristics
angular momentum -n
- a vector quantity that is a measure of the rotational momentum of a rotating body or system, that is equal in classical physics to the product of the angular velocity of the body or system and its moment of inertia with respect to the rotation axis, and that is directed along the rotation axis
angular velocity -n
- the rate of rotation around an axis usu. expressed in radians or revolutions per second or per minute
an·gu·la·tion [,aŋ-gyə-'lā-shən] -n
- the action of making angular
- an angular position, formation, or shape
An·gus ['aŋ-gəs] -n
- any of a breed of usu. black hornless beef cattle originating in Scotland
an·he·do·nia [,an-(,)hē-'dō-nē-ə, -nyə] -n, adj
- a psychological condition characterized by inability to experience pleasure in normally pleasurable acts
an·hin·ga [an-'hiŋ-gə] -n
- any of a genus ( Anhinga) of fish-eating birds related to the cormorants but distinguished by a longer neck and sharply pointed rather than hooked bill
- one ( A. anhinga) occurring from the southern U.S. to Argentina
anhyd -abbr
- anhydrous
an·hy·dride [(,)an-'hī-,drīd] -n
- a compound derived from another (as an acid) by removal of the elements of water
an·hy·drite [-,drīt] -n
- a mineral consisting of an anhydrous calcium sulfate that is usu. massive and white or slightly colored
an·hy·drous [-drəs] -adj
- free from water and esp. water of crystallization
ani [ä-'nē, 'ä-nē] -n
- any of a genus ( Crotophaga) of black cuckoos of the warmer parts of America
anile ['a-,nī(-ə)l, 'ā-] -adj, n
- of or resembling a doddering old woman
- senile
an·i·line ['a-nᵊl-ən] -n
- an oily liquid poisonous amine C 6H 5NH 2obtained esp. by the reduction of nitrobenzene and used chiefly in organic synthesis (as of dyes)
aniline dye -n
- a dye made by the use of aniline or one chemically related to such a dye
- a synthetic organic dye
ani·lin·gus [,ā-ni-'liŋ-gəs] -n
- erotic stimulation achieved by contact between mouth and anus
an·i·ma ['a-nə-mə] -n
- an individual's true inner self that in the analytic psychology of C. G. Jung reflects archetypal ideals of conduct
- an inner feminine part of the male personality
an·i·mad·ver·sion [,a-nə-,mad-'vər-zhən, -məd-, -'vər-shən] -n
- a critical and usu. censorious remark often used with on
- adverse criticism
an·i·mad·vert [-'vərt] -vb
- notice, observe
- to make an animadversion
an·i·mal ['a-nə-məl] -n, adj
- any of a kingdom (Animalia) of living things including many-celled organisms and often many of the single-celled ones (as protozoans) that typically differ from plants in having cells without cellulose walls, in lacking chlorophyll and the capacity for photosynthesis, in requiring more complex food materials (as proteins), in being organized to a greater degree of complexity, and in having the capacity for spontaneous movement and rapid motor responses to stimulation
- one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings
- mammal
- vertebrate
- a human being considered chiefly as physical or nonrational
- this nature
- a person with a particular interest or aptitude
- matter, thing
- the theater...is an entirely different animal -- Arthur Miller
- creature
animal [-mə-lē] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, resembling, or derived from animals
- of or relating to the physical or sentient as contrasted with the intellectual or rational
- sensual, fleshly
- of or relating to the animal pole of an egg or to the part from which ectoderm normally develops
animal control -n
- an office or department responsible for enforcing ordinances relating to the control, impoundment, and disposition of animals
animal cracker -n
- a small cookie in the shape of an animal
an·i·mal·cule [,a-nə-'mal-(,)kyü(ə)l] -n
- a minute usu. microscopic organism
animal heat -n
- heat produced in the body of a living animal by functional chemical and physical activities
animal husbandry -n
- a branch of agriculture concerned with the production and care of domestic animals
an·i·mal·ier [,a-nə-mə-'lir] -n
- a sculptor or painter of animal subjects
an·i·mal·ism ['a-nə-mə-,li-zəm] -n, adj
- animality
an·i·mal·i·ty [,a-nə-'ma-lə-tē] -n
- : a quality or nature associated with animals:
- vitality
- a natural unrestrained unreasoned response to physical drives or stimuli
- the animal nature of human beings
an·i·mal·ize ['a-nə-mə-,līz] -vt, n
- to represent in animal form
- to cause to be or act like an animal
animal kingdom -n
- a basic group of natural objects that includes all living and extinct animals
animal magnetism -n
- a mysterious force claimed by Mesmer to enable him to hypnotize patients
- a magnetic charm or appeal
- sex appeal
animal model -n
- an animal sufficiently like humans in its anatomy, physiology, or response to a pathogen to be used in medical research in order to obtain results that can be extrapolated to human medicine
- a pathological or physiological condition that occurs in such an animal and is similar to one occurring in humans
animal pole -n
- the point on the surface of an egg that is diametrically opposite to the vegetal pole and usu. marks the most active part of the protoplasm or the part containing least yolk
animal rights [-'rī-tist] -n pl, n
- rights (as to fair and humane treatment) regarded as belonging fundamentally to all animals
animal spirits -n pl
- the nervous energy that is the source of physical sensation and movement
- vivacity arising from physical health and energy
- a willingness to take esp. economic risks
animal starch -n
- glycogen
an·i·mate ['a-nə-mət] -adj, adv, n
- possessing or characterized by life : alive
- full of life : animated
- of or relating to animal life as opposed to plant life
- referring to a living thing
- to give spirit and support to : encourage
- to give life to
- to give vigor and zest to
- to move to action
- a criminal animated by greed
- to make or design in such a way as to create apparently spontaneous lifelike movement
- to produce in the form of an animated cartoon
an·i·mat·ed [-,mā-təd] -adj, adv
- endowed with life or the qualities of life : alive
- full of movement and activity
- full of vigor and spirit : lively
- having the appearance of something alive
- an unusually animated piece of sculpture
- made in the form of an animated cartoon
animated cartoon -n
- a motion picture that is made from a series of drawings, computer graphics, or photographs of inanimate objects (as puppets) and that simulates movement by slight progressive changes in each frame
an·i·ma·tion [,a-nə-'mā-shən] -n
- the act of animating : the state of being animate or animated
- animated cartoon
- the preparation of animated cartoons
an·i·ma·to [,ä-nə-'mä-(,)tō, ,a-] -adv or adj
- with animation used as a direction in music
an·i·ma·tor ['a-nə-,mā-tər] -n
- one that animates
- prime animator of the movement
- an artist who creates drawings for an animated cartoon
an·i·ma·tron·ic [,a-nə-mə-'trä-nik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or being a puppet or similar figure that is animated by means of electromechanical devices
an·i·ma·tron·ics [-'trä-niks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- technology dealing with animatronic animation
an·i·me ['a-nə-,mā, 'ä-nē-] -n
- a style of animation originating in Japan that is characterized by stark colorful graphics depicting vibrant characters in action-filled plots often with fantastic or futuristic themes
an·i·mism ['a-nə-,mi-zəm] -n, adj
- a doctrine that the vital principle of organic development is immaterial spirit
- attribution of conscious life to objects in and phenomena of nature or to inanimate objects
- belief in the existence of spirits separable from bodies
an·i·mos·i·ty [,a-nə-'mä-sə-tē] -n
- ill will or resentment tending toward active hostility : an antagonistic attitude
an·i·mus ['a-nə-məs] -n
- basic attitude or governing spirit : disposition, intention
- a usu. prejudiced and often spiteful or malevolent ill will
- an inner masculine part of the female personality in the analytic psychology of C. G. Jung
an·ion ['a-,nī-ən] -n
- the ion in an electrolyzed solution that migrates to the anode
- a negatively charged ion
an·ion·ic [,a-(,)nī-'ä-nik] -adj
- of or relating to anions
- characterized by an active and esp. surface-active anion
anis- -comb form
- unequal
an·ise ['a-nəs] -n
- a Eurasian annual herb ( Pimpinella anisum) of the carrot family having carminative and aromatic seeds
- aniseed
ani·seed ['a-nə(s)-,sēd] -n
- the seed of anise often used as a flavoring in liqueurs and in cooking
an·is·ei·ko·nia [,a-,nī-,sī-'kō-nē-ə] -n, adj
- a defect of binocular vision in which the two retinal images of an object differ in size
an·is·ette [,a-nə-'set, -'zet] -n
- a usu. colorless sweet liqueur flavored with aniseed
Anish·i·na·be [ä-ni-shi-'nȯ-bā] -n
- ojibwa
an·isog·a·mous [,a-(,)nī-'sä-gə-məs] -adj, n
- characterized by fusion of heterogamous gametes or of individuals that usu. differ chiefly in size
an·iso·me·tro·pia [,a-,nī-sə-mə-'trō-pē-ə] -n, adj
- unequal refractive power in the two eyes
an·iso·trop·ic [,a-,nī-sə-'trä-pik] -adj, adv, n
- exhibiting properties with different values when measured in different directions
An·jou ['an-jü, -zhü] -n
- a large sweet ovoid pear having a usu. yellowish-green skin
an·ker·ite ['aŋ-kə-,rīt] -n
- a yellowish to brown mineral consisting of a carbonate of calcium and iron
ankh ['äŋk] -n
- a cross having a loop for its upper vertical arm and serving esp. in ancient Egypt as an emblem of life
an·kle ['aŋ-kəl] -n
- the joint between the foot and the leg
- the region of this joint
- the joint between the cannon bone and pastern (as in the horse)
an·kle·bone ['aŋ-kəl-,bōn, ,aŋ-kəl-'] -n
- talus
an·klet ['aŋ-klət] -n
- something (as an ornament) worn around the ankle
- a short sock reaching slightly above the ankle
an·ky·lo·saur ['aŋ-kə-lō-,sȯr] -n
- any of a suborder (Ankylosauria) of herbivorous Cretaceous ornithiscian dinosaurs having a long low-lying thickset body covered dorsally with bony plates
an·ky·lo·sau·rus [,aŋ-kə-lō-'sȯr-əs] -n
- any of a No. American genus ( Ankylosaurus) of large ankylosaurs having a bony club at the end of the tail
an·ky·lose ['aŋ-ki-,lōs, -,lōz] -vb
- to unite or stiffen by ankylosis
- to undergo ankylosis
an·ky·lo·sis [,aŋ-ki-'lō-səs] -n, adj
- stiffness or fixation of a joint by disease or surgery
- union of separate bones or hard parts to form a single bone or part
ankylostomiasis [,aŋ-ki-,lō-stə-'mī-ə-səs, ,an(t)-sə-] -n
(variant of ancylostomiasis)
- hookworm
an·la·ge ['än-,lä-gə] -n
- the foundation of a subsequent development
- primordium
ann -abbr
- annals
- annual
an·na ['ä-nə] -n
- a former monetary unit of Burma, India, and Pakistan equal to rupee
- a coin representing one anna
an·nal·ist ['a-nᵊl-ist] -n, adj
- a writer of annals : chronicler
an·nals ['a-nᵊlz] -n pl
- a record of events arranged in yearly sequence
- historical records : chronicles
- records of the activities of an organization
An·nam·ese [,a-nə-'mēz, -'mēs] -n, adj
- a native or inhabitant of Annam
- vietnamese
an·nat·to [ə-'nä-(,)tō] -n
- a yellowish-red dyestuff made from the pulp around the seeds of a tropical American tree ( Bixa orellana)
- the tree from which annatto is derived
- its dried seed used to color and flavor food
an·neal [ə-'nēl] -vb
- to heat and then cool (as steel or glass) usu. for softening and making less brittle
- to cool slowly usu. in a furnace
- to heat and then cool (double-stranded nucleic acid) in order to separate strands and induce combination at lower temperature with complementary strands
- strengthen, toughen
- to be capable of combining with complementary nucleic acid by a process of heating and cooling
an·ne·lid ['a-nə-,lid] -n, adj, adj or n
- any of a phylum (Annelida) of usu. elongated segmented coelomate invertebrates (as earthworms and leeches)
an·nex [ə-'neks, 'a-,neks] -vt, n, adj
- to attach as a quality, consequence, or condition
- to join together materially : unite
- to add to something earlier, larger, or more important
- to incorporate (a country or other territory) within the domain of a state
- to obtain or take for oneself
- : something annexed as an expansion or supplement: as
- an added stipulation or statement : appendix
- a subsidiary or supplementary building or structure : wing
an·nexe [ə-'neks, 'a-,neks] -vt, n, adj
(variant of annex)
- to attach as a quality, consequence, or condition
- to join together materially : unite
- to add to something earlier, larger, or more important
- to incorporate (a country or other territory) within the domain of a state
- to obtain or take for oneself
- : something annexed as an expansion or supplement: as
- an added stipulation or statement : appendix
- a subsidiary or supplementary building or structure : wing
An·nie Oak·ley [,a-nē-'ō-klē] -n
- a free ticket
an·ni·hi·late [ə-'nī-ə-,lāt] -vb, n, adj
- to cause to be of no effect : nullify
- to destroy the substance or force of
- to regard as of no consequence
- to cause to cease to exist
- kill
- to destroy a considerable part of
- bombs annihilated the city
- to vanquish completely : rout
- annihilated the visitors 560
- to cause (a particle and its antiparticle) to vanish by annihilating
- to vanish or cease to exist by coming together and changing into other forms of energy (as photons)
an·ni·ver·sa·ry [,a-nə-'vərs-rē, -'vər-sə-] -n
- the annual recurrence of a date marking a notable event
- a date that follows such an event by a specified period of time measured in units other than years
- the 6-month anniversary of the accident
- the celebration of an anniversary
an·no Do·mi·ni [,a-(,)nō-'dä-mə-nē, -'dō-, -,nī] -adv
- used to indicate that a time division falls within the Christian era
an·no he·gi·rae [-hi-'jī-(,)rē, -'he-jə-,rē] -adv
- used to indicate that a time division falls within the Islamic era
an·no·tate ['a-nə-,tāt] -vb, adj, n
- to make or furnish critical or explanatory notes or comment
- to make or furnish annotations for (as a literary work or subject)
an·no·ta·tion [,a-nə-'tā-shən] -n
- a note added by way of comment or explanation
- the act of annotating
an·nounce [ə-'nau̇n(t)s] -vb
- to make known publicly : proclaim
- announced the appointment
- to give notice of the arrival, presence, or readiness of
- to indicate beforehand : foretell
- to serve as an announcer of
- to serve as an announcer
- to declare one's candidacy
- to declare oneself politically
- announce against a nominee
an·nounce·ment [ə-'nau̇n(t)-smənt] -n
- the act of announcing or of being announced
- a public notification or declaration
- a piece of formal stationery designed for a social or business announcement
an·nounc·er [ə-'nau̇n(t)-sər] -n
- : one who announces: as
- a person who introduces television or radio programs, makes commercial announcements, or gives station identification
- a person who describes and comments on the action in a broadcast sports event
an·noy [ə-'nȯi] -vb, n
- to disturb or irritate esp. by repeated acts
- to harass esp. by quick brief attacks
- to cause annoyance
an·noy·ance [ə-'nȯi-ən(t)s] -n
- the act of annoying or of being annoyed
- the state or feeling of being annoyed : vexation
- a source of vexation or irritation : nuisance
- the delay was a minor annoyance
an·noy·ing [-iŋ] -adj, adv
- causing vexation : irritating
an·nu·al ['an-yə(-wə)l, -yü-əl] -adj, adv
- covering the period of a year
- occurring or happening every year or once a year : yearly
- completing the life cycle in one growing season or single year
annual -n
- an event that occurs yearly
- a publication appearing yearly
- something that lasts one year or season
- a plant that completes its life cycle in one growing season
an·nu·al·ize ['an-yə(-wə)-,līz, -yü-ə-] -vt
- to calculate or adjust to reflect a rate based on a full year
- quarterly returns yielding at an annualized rate of seven percent
annual report -n
- a usu. lengthy report issued yearly by an organization giving an account of its internal workings and esp. its finances
annual ring -n
- the layer of wood produced by a single year's growth of a woody plant
an·nu·itant [ə-'nü-ə-tənt, -'nyü-] -n
- a beneficiary of an annuity
an·nu·ity [ə-'nü-ə-tē, -'nyü-] -n
- a sum of money payable yearly or at other regular intervals
- the right to receive an annuity
- a contract or agreement providing for the payment of an annuity
an·nul [ə-'nəl] -vt
- to reduce to nothing : obliterate
- to make ineffective or inoperative : neutralize
- to declare or make legally invalid or void
- wants the marriage annulled
an·nu·lar ['an-yə-lər] -adj
- of, relating to, or forming a ring
annular eclipse -n
- an eclipse in which a thin outer ring of the sun's disk is not covered by the smaller dark disk of the moon
an·nu·late ['an-yə-lət, -,lāt] -adj
- furnished with or composed of rings : ringed
an·nu·la·tion [,an-yə-'lā-shən] -n
- a ringlike anatomical structure
an·nu·let ['an-yə-lət] -n
- a little ring
- a small architectural molding or ridge forming a ring
an·nul·ment [ə-'nəl-mənt] -n
- the act of annulling : the state of being annulled
- a judicial or ecclesiastical pronouncement declaring a marriage invalid
an·nu·lus ['an-yə-ləs] -n
- ring
- : a part, structure, or marking resembling a ring: as
- a line of cells around a fern sporangium that ruptures the sporangium by contracting
- a growth ring (as on the scale of a fish) that is used in estimating age
an·nun·ci·ate [ə-'nən(t)-sē-,āt] -vt
- announce
an·nun·ci·a·tion [ə-,nən(t)-sē-'ā-shən] -n
- March 25 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the announcement of the Incarnation to the Virgin Mary
- the act of announcing or of being announced : announcement
an·nun·ci·a·tor [ə-'nən(t)-sē-,ā-tər] -n, adj
- one that annunciates
- a usu. electrically controlled signal board or indicator
an·nus hor·ri·bi·lis [,a-nəs-hȯr-'i-bə-ləs, ,ä-]
- a disastrous or unfortunate year
an·nus mi·ra·bi·lis [,a-nəs-mə-'rä-bə-ləs, ,ä-] -n
- a remarkable or notable year
an·ode ['a-,nōd] -n, adj, adv
- : the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs: as
- the positive terminal of an electrolytic cell
- the negative terminal of a galvanic cell
- the electron-collecting electrode of an electron tube
- the positive electrode of a diode
an·od·ize ['a-nə-,dīz] -vt, n
- to subject (a metal) to electrolytic action as the anode of a cell in order to coat with a protective or decorative film
an·o·dyne ['a-nə-,dīn] -adj
- serving to alleviate pain
- not likely to offend or arouse tensions : innocuous
anodyne -n
- something that soothes, calms, or comforts
- the anodyne of bridge, a comfortable book, or sport -- Harrison Smith
- a drug that allays pain
anoint [ə-'nȯint] -vt, n
- to smear or rub with oil or an oily substance
- to apply oil to as a sacred rite esp. for consecration
- to choose by or as if by divine election
- to designate as if by a ritual anointment
- critics anoint ed the author as the bright new talent
anointing of the sick
- extreme unction
ano·le [ə-'nō-lē] -n
- any of a genus ( Anolis) of arboreal American lizards (as the American chameleon) of the iguana family that have a brightly colored dewlap and the ability to change color
anom·a·lous [ə-'nä-mə-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- inconsistent with or deviating from what is usual, normal, or expected : irregular, unusual
- of uncertain nature or classification
- marked by incongruity or contradiction : paradoxical
anom·a·ly [ə-'nä-mə-lē] -n
- the angular distance of a planet from its perihelion as seen from the sun
- deviation from the common rule : irregularity
- something anomalous : something different, abnormal, peculiar, or not easily classified
an·o·mie ['a-nə-mē] -n, adj
- social instability resulting from a breakdown of standards and values
- personal unrest, alienation, and uncertainty that comes from a lack of purpose or ideals
anon [ə-'nän] -adv
- at once : immediately
- soon, presently
- tomorrow will be here anon -- Nathaniel Hawthorne
- after a while : later
- anonymous; anonymously
an·o·nym ['a-nə-,nim] -n
- an anonymous person
- pseudonym
an·o·nym·i·ty [,a-nə-'ni-mə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being anonymous
- one that is anonymous
anon·y·mous [ə-'nä-nə-məs] -adj, adv, n
- not named or identified
- they wish to remain anonymous
- of unknown authorship or origin
- lacking individuality, distinction, or recognizability
- the anonymous faces in the crowd
- the gray anonymous streets -- William Styron
anoph·e·les [ə-'nä-fə-,lēz] -n, adj or n
- any of a genus ( Anopheles) of mosquitoes that includes all mosquitoes which transmit malaria to humans
an·o·rak ['a-nə-,rak] -n
- a usu. pullover hooded jacket long enough to cover the hips
an·o·rec·tic [,a-nə-'rek-tik] -adj
- lacking appetite
- anorexic
- causing loss of appetite
anorectic -n
- an anorectic agent
- anorexic
an·orex·ia [,a-nə-'rek-sē-ə, -'rek-shə] -n
- loss of appetite esp. when prolonged
- anorexia nervosa
anorexia ner·vo·sa [-(,)nər-'vō-sə, -zə] -n
- a serious disorder in eating behavior primarily of young women in their teens and early twenties that is characterized esp. by a pathological fear of weight gain leading to faulty eating patterns, malnutrition, and usu. excessive weight loss
an·orex·ic [,a-nə-'rek-sik] -adj
- anorectic
- relating to, characteristic of, or affected with anorexia nervosa
- seemingly affected with anorexia nervosa as by being excessively skinny
anorexic -n
- a person affected with or as if with anorexia nervosa
an·orex·i·gen·ic [,a-nə-,rek-sə-'ge-nik] -adj
- anorectic
an·or·thite [ə-'nȯr-,thīt] -n, adj
- a white, grayish, or reddish feldspar occurring in many igneous rocks
an·or·tho·site [ə-'nȯr-thə-,sīt] -n, adj
- a granular plutonic igneous rock composed almost exclusively of a soda-lime feldspar (as labradorite)
an·os·mia [a-'näz-mē-ə] -n, adj
- loss or impairment of the sense of smell
an·oth·er [ə-'nə-thər also a- or ā-] -adj
- different or distinct from the one first considered
- the same scene viewed from another angle
- some other
- being one more in addition to one or more of the same kind
- have another piece of pie
another -pron
- an additional one of the same kind : one more
- one that is different from the first or present one
- one of a group of unspecified or indefinite things
anoth·erguess [ə-'nə-thər-,ges] -adj
- of another sort
ANOVA -abbr
- analysis of variance
an·ovu·la·to·ry [(,)an-'äv-yə-lə-,tōr-ē, -'ōv-, -,tȯr-] -adj
- not involving or accompanied by ovulation
- suppressing ovulation
an·ox·emia [,a-,näk-'sē-mē-ə] -n, adj
- a condition of subnormal oxygenation of the arterial blood
an·ox·ia [a-'näk-sē-ə] -n
- hypoxia esp. of such severity as to result in permanent damage
an·ox·ic [(,)a-'näk-sik] -adj
- of, relating to, or affected with anoxia
- greatly deficient in oxygen : oxygenless
ans -abbr
- answer
ANSI -abbr
- American National Standards Institute
an·swer ['an(t)-sər] -n
- something spoken or written in reply to a question
- a correct response
- a reply to a legal charge or suit : plea
- defense
- something done in response or reaction
- his only answer was to walk out
- a solution of a problem
- more money is not the answer
- one that imitates, matches, or corresponds to another
- television's answer to the news magazines
answer ['an(t)s-riŋ, 'an(t)-sə-] -vb, n
- to speak or write in reply
- to be or make oneself responsible or accountable
- to make amends : atone
- must answer for his crimes
- to be in conformity or correspondence
- answer ed to the description
- to act in response to an action performed elsewhere or by another
- the home team scored first but the visitors answer ed quickly
- to be adequate : serve
- an old bucket answer ed for a sink
- to speak or write in reply to
- to say or write by way of reply
- to reply to in rebuttal, justification, or explanation
- to correspond to
- to be adequate or usable for : fulfill
- to atone for
- to act in response to
- answer ed the call to arms
- to offer a solution for
- solve
an·swer·able ['an(t)-s(ə-)-rə-bəl] -adj, n
- suitable, adequate
- liable to be called to account : responsible
- corresponding, similar
- capable of being refuted
answering machine -n
- a machine that receives telephone calls by playing a recorded message and usu. by recording messages from callers
answering service -n
- a commercial service that answers telephone calls for its clients
ant ['ant] -n
- any of a family (Formicidae) of colonial hymenopterous insects with a complex social organization and various castes performing special duties
- antenna
- antonym
Ant -abbr
- Antarctica
an·ta ['an-tə] -n
- a pier produced by thickening a wall at its termination
ant·ac·id [(,)ant-'a-səd, 'ant-,a-] -n, adj
- an agent that counteracts or neutralizes acidity
An·tae·an [an-'tē-ən] -adj
- mammoth
- having superhuman strength
an·tag·o·nism [an-'ta-gə-,ni-zəm] -n
- opposition of a conflicting force, tendency, or principle
- the antagonism of democracy to dictatorship
- actively expressed opposition or hostility
- antagonism between factions
- opposition in physiological action
- interaction of two or more substances such that the action of any one of them on living cells or tissues is lessened
an·tag·o·nist [-nist] -n
- one that contends with or opposes another : adversary, opponent
- : an agent of physiological antagonism: as
- a muscle that contracts with and limits the action of an agonist with which it is paired called also antagonistic muscle
- a chemical that acts within the body to reduce the physiological activity of another chemical substance (as an opiate)
- one that opposes the action on the nervous system of a drug or a substance occurring naturally in the body by combining with and blocking its nervous receptor
an·tag·o·nis·tic [(,)an-,ta-gə-'nis-tik] -adj, adv
- marked by or resulting from antagonism
an·tag·o·nize [an-'ta-gə-,nīz] -vt
- to act in opposition to : counteract
- to incur or provoke the hostility of
- his criticism antagonized his friends
ant·arc·tic [(,)ant-'ärk-tik, -'är-tik] -adj
- of or relating to the south pole or to the region near it
antarctic circle -n
- the parallel of latitude that is approximately 66 degrees south of the equator and that circumscribes the southern frigid zone
An·tar·es [an-'ter-(,)ēz] -n
- a giant red star of very low density that is the brightest star in Scorpio
ant·bear ['ant-,ber] -n
- aardvark
ant cow -n
- an aphid from which ants obtain honeydew
an·te ['an-tē] -n
- a poker stake usu. put up before the deal to build the pot
- the dealer called for a dollar ante
- cost, price
- these improvements would raise the ante
- risk, stakes
- the new law ups the ante on tax cheats
- a level (as of achievement or intensity) regarded esp. as a goal or standard
- the film ups the ante on special effects
ante -vb
- to put up (an ante)
- pay, produce often used with up
- pay up often used with up
ante- -prefix
- prior : earlier
- anterior : forward
- prior to : earlier than
ant·eat·er ['ant-,ē-tər] -n
- : any of several mammals that feed largely or entirely on ants or termites: as
- any of a family (Myrmecophagidae) of New World edentates with a long narrow snout, a long tongue, and large salivary glands that includes the giant anteater and tamandua
- pangolin
- echidna
- aardvark
an·te·bel·lum [,an-ti-'be-ləm] -adj
- existing before a war
- existing before the American Civil War
an·te·cede [,an-tə-'sēd] -vt
- precede
an·te·ced·ence [-'sē-dᵊn(t)s] -n
- priority, precedence
an·te·ced·ent [,an-tə-'sē-dᵊnt] -n
- a substantive word, phrase, or clause whose denotation is referred to by a pronoun (as Johnin Mary saw John and called to him)
- a word or phrase replaced by a substitute
- the conditional element in a proposition (as if Ain if A, then B)
- the first term of a mathematical ratio
- a preceding event, condition, or cause
- the significant events, conditions, and traits of one's earlier life
- predecessor
- a model or stimulus for later developments
- ancestors, parents
antecedent -adj, adv
- prior
an·te·ces·sor [,an-ti-'se-sər] -n
- one that goes before : predecessor
an·te·cham·ber ['an-ti-,chām-bər] -n
- anteroom
an·te·chap·el [-,cha-pəl] -n
- a vestibule or anteroom to a chapel or church
an·te·date ['an-ti-,dāt] -n
- a date assigned to an event or document earlier than the actual date of the event or document
- to date as of a time prior to that of execution
- to assign to a date prior to that of actual occurrence
- anticipate
- to precede in time
an·te·di·lu·vi·an [,an-ti-də-'lü-vē-ən, -(,)dī-] -adj, n
- of or relating to the period before the flood described in the Bible
- made, evolved, or developed a long time ago
- an antediluvian automobile
- extremely primitive or outmoded
- an antediluvian prejudice
an·te·fix ['an-ti-,fiks] -n
- an ornament at the eaves of a classical building concealing the ends of the joint tiles of the roof
an·te·lope ['an-tə-,lōp] -n
- any of various ruminant deerlike mammals (family Bovidae) chiefly of Africa and southwest Asia that have a slender lean build and usu. horns directed upward and backward
- pronghorn
- leather from antelope hide
an·te me·ri·di·em [,an-ti-mə-'ri-dē-əm, -dē-,em] -adj
- being before noon abbr. a.m.
an·te·mor·tem [-'mȯr-təm] -adj
- preceding death
an·te·na·tal [-'nā-tᵊl] -adj, adv
- prenatal
- antenatal diagnosis of birth defects
an·ten·na [an-'te-nə] -n, adj
- one of a pair of slender movable segmented sensory organs on the head of insects, myriapods, and crustaceans
- a usu. metallic device (as a rod or wire) for radiating or receiving radio waves
- a special sensitivity or receptiveness
- his political antennae proved to be shrewder than ever -- Erich Segal
an·ten·nule [an-'ten-(,)yül] -n, adj
- a small antenna or similar appendage
an·te·nup·tial [,an-ti-'nəp-shəl, -chəl; ÷-shə-wəl, ÷-chə-] -adj
- prenuptial
an·te·pen·di·um [,an-ti-'pen-dē-əm] -n
- a hanging for the front of an altar, pulpit, or lectern
an·te·pe·nult [,an-ti-'pē-,nəlt, -pi-'] -n, adj or n
- the third syllable of a word counting from the end (as cuin accumulate)
an·tepost ['an-ti-,pōst] -adj
- relating to or being wagers on a horse race made esp. before the day of the race
an·te·ri·or [an-'tir-ē-ər] -adj, adv
- situated before or toward the front
- situated near or toward the head or part most nearly corresponding to a head
- coming before in time or development
anterior cruciate ligament -n
- a cruciate ligament of each knee that attaches the front of the tibia with the back of the femur and functions esp. to prevent hyperextension of the knee and is subject to injury esp. by tearing called also ACL
an·ter·o·grade ['an-tə-(,)rō-,grād] -adj
- occurring or performed in the normal or forward direction of conduction or flow
- anterograde axonal transport
- affecting memories of a period immediately following a shock or seizure
an·te·room ['an-ti-,rüm, -,ru̇m] -n
- an outer room that leads to another room and that is often used as a waiting room
an·thel·min·tic [,ant-,hel-'min-tik, ,an-,thel-] -adj, n
- expelling or destroying parasitic worms esp. of the intestine
an·them ['an(t)-thəm] -n, adj
- a psalm or hymn sung antiphonally or responsively
- a sacred vocal composition with words usu. from the Scriptures
- a song or hymn of praise or gladness
- a usu. rousing popular song that typifies or is identified with a particular subculture, movement, or point of view
- anthem s of teenage angst
an·the·mi·on [an-'thē-mē-ən] -n
- a flat ornament of floral form (as in relief sculpture or in painting)
an·ther ['an(t)-thər] -n, adj
- the part of a stamen that produces and contains pollen and is usu. borne on a stalk
an·ther·id·i·um [,an(t)-thə-'ri-dē-əm] -n, adj
- the male reproductive organ of some cryptogamous plants
an·the·sis [an-'thē-səs] -n
- the action or period of opening of a flower
ant·hill ['ant-,hil] -n
- a mound of debris thrown up by ants or termites in digging their nest
an·tho·cy·a·nin [,an(t)-thə-'sī-ə-nən] -n
- any of various soluble glycoside pigments producing blue to red coloring in flowers and plants
an·thol·o·gist [an-'thä-lə-jist] -n
- a compiler of an anthology
an·thol·o·gize [-,jīz] -vt, n
- to compile, publish, or include in an anthology
an·thol·o·gy [an-'thä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- a collection of selected literary pieces or passages or works of art or music
- assortment
- an anthology of threadbare cliches of...bistro cuisine -- Jay Jacobs
an·thoph·i·lous [an-'thä-fə-ləs] -adj
- feeding upon or living among flowers
an·tho·phyl·lite [,an(t)-thə-'fi-,līt, (,)an-'thä-fə-] -n
- an orthorhombic mineral of the amphibole group that is essentially a silicate of magnesium and iron and is usu. lamellar or fibrous and when fibrous is one of the less common forms of asbestos
an·tho·zo·an [,an(t)-thə-'zō-ən] -n, adj
- any of a class (Anthozoa) of marine coelenterates (as the corals and sea anemones) having polyps with radial partitions
an·thra·cene ['an(t)-thrə-,sēn] -n
- a crystalline tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbon C 14H 10obtained from coal-tar distillation
an·thra·cite ['an(t)-thrə-,sīt] -n, adj
- a hard natural coal of high luster differing from bituminous coal in containing little volatile matter and in burning very cleanly called also hard coal
an·thrac·nose [an-'thrak-,nōs] -n
- any of numerous destructive plant diseases caused by imperfect fungi and characterized esp. by necrotic lesions
an·thra·ni·late [an-'thra-nə-,lāt, ,an-thrə-'ni-,lāt] -n
- a salt or ester of anthranilic acid
an·thra·nil·ic acid [,an(t)-thrə-'ni-lik-] -n
- a crystalline acid NH 2C 6H 4COOH used as an intermediate in the manufacture of dyes (as indigo), pharmaceuticals, and perfumes
an·thra·qui·none [,an(t)-thrə-kwi-'nōn, -'kwi-,nōn] -n
- a yellow crystalline ketone C 14H 8O 2often derived from anthracene and used esp. in the manufacture of dyes
an·thrax ['an-,thraks] -n
- an infectious disease of warm-blooded animals (as cattle and sheep) caused by a spore-forming bacterium ( Bacillus anthracis), transmissible to humans esp. by the handling of infected products (as wool), and characterized by cutaneous ulcerating nodules or by often fatal lesions in the lungs
- the bacterium causing anthrax
anthrop -abbr
- anthropological; anthropology
anthrop- -comb form
- human being
an·throp·ic [an-'thrä-pik] -adj
- of or relating to human beings or the period of their existence on earth
anthropic principle -n
- : either of two principles in cosmology:
- conditions that are observed in the universe must allow the observer to exist called also weak anthropic principle
- the universe must have properties that make inevitable the existence of intelligent life called also strong anthropic principle
an·thro·po·cen·tric [,an(t)-thrə-pə-'sen-trik] -adj, adv, n
- considering human beings as the most significant entity of the universe
- interpreting or regarding the world in terms of human values and experiences
an·thro·po·gen·ic [-pə-'je-nik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature
an·thro·poid ['an(t)-thrə-,pȯid] -n, adj
- any of a suborder (Anthropoidea) of higher primates (as macaques and marmosets)
- ape
- a person resembling an ape
- the howling anthropoid s of the Hookworm Belt -- H. L. Mencken
anthropoid ape -n
- ape
an·thro·pol·o·gy [,an(t)-thrə-'pä-lə-jē] -n, adj, adv
- the science of human beings
- the study of human beings and their ancestors through time and space and in relation to physical character, environmental and social relations, and culture
- theology dealing with the origin, nature, and destiny of human beings
an·thro·pom·e·try [,an(t)-thrə-'pä-mə-trē] -n, adj
- the study of human body measurements esp. on a comparative basis
an·thro·po·morph ['an(t)-thrə-pə-,mȯrf] -n
- a stylized human figure (as in prehistoric art)
an·thro·po·mor·phic [,an(t)-thrə-pə-'mȯr-fik] -adj, adv
- described or thought of as having a human form or human attributes
- ascribing human characteristics to nonhuman things
- anthropomorphic supernaturalism
an·thro·po·mor·phism [-,fi-zəm] -n
- an interpretation of what is not human or personal in terms of human or personal characteristics : humanization
an·thro·po·mor·phize [-,fīz] -vb, n
- to attribute human form or personality to
- to attribute human form or personality to things not human
an·thro·po·pa·thism [,an(t)-thrə-'pä-pə-,thi-zəm, -pō-'pa-,thi-] -n
- the ascription of human feelings to something not human
an·thro·poph·a·gous [,an(t)-thrə-'pä-fə-gəs] -adj, n
- feeding on human flesh
an·thro·poph·a·gus [-fə-gəs] -n
- man-eater, cannibal
an·thro·pos·o·phy [,an(t)-thrə-'pä-sə-fē] -n
- a 20th century religious system growing out of theosophy and centering on human development
an·thur·ium [an-'thu̇r-ē-əm, -'thyu̇r-] -n
- any of a genus ( Anthurium) of tropical American plants of the arum family with large often brightly colored leaves, a cylindrical spadix, and a colored spathe
an·ti ['an-,tī, 'an-tē] -n
- one that is opposed
anti -adj
- opposed
- opposed to : against
anti- [,an-,tī, ,an-tē also ,an-ti before consonsants] -prefix
- of the same kind but situated opposite, exerting energy in the opposite direction, or pursuing an opposite policy
- one that is opposite in kind to
- opposing or hostile to in opinion, sympathy, or practice
- opposing in effect or activity
- serving to prevent, cure, or alleviate
- combating or defending against
an·ti·abor·tion [,an-tē-ə-'bȯr-shən, ,an-,tī-] -adj, n
- opposed to abortion and esp. to the legalization of abortion
an·ti·air [,an-tē-'er, -,tī-] -adj
- antiaircraft
an·ti·air·craft [-'er-,kraft] -adj
- designed for or concerned with defense against air attack
antiaircraft -n
- antiaircraft guns or their fire
an·tiAmer·i·can [-ə-'mer-ə-kən, -'mər-, -'me-rə-] -adj, n
- opposed or hostile to the people or the government policies of the U.S.
an·ti·anx·i·ety [-(,)aŋ-'zī-ə-tē] -adj
- tending to prevent or relieve anxiety
an·ti·ar·rhyth·mic [,an-tē-(,)ā-'rith-mik, ,an-,tī-] -adj
- tending to prevent or relieve cardiac arrhythmia
an·tiart [-'ärt] -n
- art based on premises antithetical to traditional or popular art forms
- dada
an·ti·bal·lis·tic missile [,an-tē-bə-'lis-tik-, ,an-,tī-] -n
- a missile for intercepting and destroying ballistic missiles
an·ti·bi·o·sis [-bī-'ō-səs, -bē-] -n
- antagonistic association between organisms to the detriment of one of them or between one organism and a metabolic product of another
an·ti·bi·ot·ic [,an-tē-bī-'ä-tik, -,tī-; -bē-'ä-] -adj, adv
- tending to prevent, inhibit, or destroy life
- of or relating to antibiotics or to antibiosis
antibiotic -n
- a substance produced by or a semisynthetic substance derived from a microorganism and able in dilute solution to inhibit or kill another microorganism
an·ti·black [-'blak] -adj
- opposed or hostile to black people
an·ti·body ['an-ti-,bä-dē] -n
- any of a large number of proteins of high molecular weight that are produced normally by specialized B cells after stimulation by an antigen and act specifically against the antigen in an immune response, that are produced abnormally by some cancer cells, and that typically consist of four subunits including two heavy chains and two light chains called also immunoglobulin
an·ti·bond·ing [,an-tē-'bän-diŋ] -adj
- tending to inhibit bonding between atoms
an·ti·busi·ness [,an-tē-'biz-nəs, ,an-tī-, -nəz] -adj
- antagonistic toward business and esp. big business
an·ti·bus·ing [-'bə-siŋ] -adj
- opposed to the busing of schoolchildren
an·tic ['an-tik] -n
- an attention-drawing often wildly playful or funny act or action : caper
- a performer of a grotesque or ludicrous part : buffoon
antic [-ti-k(ə-)lē] -adj, adv
- grotesque, bizarre
- characterized by clownish extravagance or absurdity
- whimsically gay : frolicsome
an·ti·can·cer [,an-,tī-'kan(t)-sər, ,an-tē-] -adj
- used against or tending to arrest or prevent cancer
an·ti·choice [,an-tē-'chȯis, ,an-,tī-] -adj, n
- antiabortion
an·ti·cho·lin·er·gic [-,kō-lə-'nər-jik] -adj, n
- opposing or blocking the physiologic action of acetylcholine
an·ti·cho·lin·es·ter·ase [-'nes-tə-,rās, -,rāz] -n
- a substance (as neostigmine) that inhibits a cholinesterase by combination with it
An·ti·christ ['an-tē-,krīst, -,tī-] -n
- one who denies or opposes Christ
- a great antagonist expected to fill the world with wickedness but to be conquered forever by Christ at his second coming
- a false Christ
an·tic·i·pant [an-'ti-sə-pənt] -adj, n
- expectant, anticipating usu. used with of
an·tic·i·pate [an-'ti-sə-,pāt] -vb, adj, n
- to give advance thought, discussion, or treatment to
- to meet (an obligation) before a due date
- to foresee and deal with in advance : forestall
- to use or expend in advance of actual possession
- to act before (another) often so as to check or counter
- to look forward to as certain : expect
- to speak or write in knowledge or expectation of later matter
an·tic·i·pa·tion [(,)an-,ti-sə-'pā-shən] -n
- a prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later action
- the act of looking forward
- pleasurable expectation
- the use of money before it is available
- visualization of a future event or state
- an object or form that anticipates a later type
- the early sounding of one or more tones of a succeeding chord to form a temporary dissonance
an·tic·i·pa·to·ry [an-'ti-sə-pə-,tȯr-ē] -adj
- characterized by anticipation : anticipating
- took anticipatory measures to prevent floods
an·ti·cler·i·cal [,an-tē -'kler-i-kəl, ,an-,tī-] -adj, n
- opposed to clericalism or to the interference or influence of the clergy in secular affairs
an·ti·cli·mac·tic [-klī-'mak-tik, -klə-] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or marked by anticlimax
an·ti·cli·max [-'klī-,maks] -n
- the usu. sudden transition in discourse from a significant idea to a trivial or ludicrous idea
- an instance of this transition
- an event, period, or outcome that is strikingly less important or dramatic than expected
an·ti·cli·nal [,an-ti-'klī-nᵊl] -adj
- occurring at right angles to the surface or circumference of a plant organ
- an anticlinal pattern of cell walls
an·ti·cline ['an-ti-,klīn] -n
- an arch of stratified rock in which the layers bend downward in opposite directions from the crest
an·ti·clock·wise [,an-tē-'kläk-,wīz, ,an-,tī-] -adj or adv
- counterclockwise
an·ti·co·ag·u·lant [-kō-'a-gyə-lənt] -n, adj
- a substance that hinders the clotting of blood : blood thinner
an·ti·co·don [-'kō-,dän] -n
- a triplet of nucleotide bases in transfer RNA that identifies the amino acid carried and binds to a complementary codon in messenger RNA during protein synthesis at a ribosome
an·ti·com·pet·i·tive [-kəm-'pe-tə-tiv] -adj
- tending to reduce or discourage competition
an·ti·con·vul·sant [-kən-'vəl-sənt] -adj, n
- used or tending to control or to prevent convulsions (as in epilepsy)
an·ti·cy·clone [,an-ti-'sī-,klōn] -n, adj
- a system of winds that rotates about a center of high atmospheric pressure clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern, that usu. advances at 20 to 30 miles (about 30 to 50 kilometers) per hour, and that usu. has a diameter of 1500 to 2500 miles (2400 to 4000 kilometers)
- high
an·ti·dem·o·crat·ic [,an-tē-,de-mə-'kra-tik, ,an-,tī-] -adj
- opposed or hostile to the theories or policies of democracy
an·ti·de·pres·sant [-di-'pre-sᵊnt] -adj
- used or tending to relieve or prevent psychic depression
antidepressant -n
- an antidepressant drug
an·ti·de·riv·a·tive [-di-'ri-və-tiv] -n
- indefinite integral
an·ti·di·uret·ic hormone [,an-ti-,dī-yu̇-'re-tik-] -n
- vasopressin
an·ti·dot·al [,an-ti-'dō-tᵊl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or acting as an antidote
an·ti·dote ['an-ti-,dōt] -n, vt
- a remedy to counteract the effects of poison
- something that relieves, prevents, or counteracts
- an antidote to the mechanization of our society
an·ti·drom·ic [,an-ti-'drä-mik] -adj, adv
- proceeding or conducting in a direction opposite to the usual one used esp. of a nerve impulse or fiber
an·ti·drug ['an-,tī-,drəg, ,an-tī-'] -adj
- acting against or opposing illicit drugs or their use
an·ti·dump·ing [,an-tē-'dəm-piŋ, ,an-,tī-] -adj
- designed to discourage the importation and sale of foreign goods at prices well below domestic prices
an·ti·elec·tron [,an-tē-ə-'lek-,trän, ,an-,tī-] -n
- positron
an·tifed·er·al·ist [,an-tē-'fe-d(ə-)rə-list, ,an-,tī-] -n
- a member of the group that opposed the adoption of the U.S. Constitution
an·ti·fer·ro·mag·net·ic [-,fer-ō-mag-'ne-tik] -adj, n, adv
- ferrimagnetic
an·ti·fer·til·i·ty [-fər-'ti-lə-tē] -adj
- capable of or tending to reduce or destroy fertility : contraceptive
an·ti·flu·o·ri·da·tion·ist [-,flu̇r-ə-'dā-sh(ə-)nist, -,flȯr-] -n
- a person opposed to the fluoridation of public water supplies
an·ti·foul·ing [-'fau̇-liŋ] -adj
- intended to prevent fouling of underwater structures (as the bottoms of ships)
an·ti·freeze ['an-ti-,frēz] -n
- a substance added to a liquid (as the water in an automobile engine) to lower its freezing point
- any of various substances (as proteins or alcohols) that are found in some living organisms (as certain fish and insects) and serve to lower the freezing point of body fluids esp. by limiting ice crystal growth
an·ti·fun·gal [,an-tē-'fəŋ-gəl, ,an-,tī-] -adj, n
- destroying fungi or inhibiting their growth : fungicidal, fungistatic
an·ti·gen ['an-ti-jən, -,jen] -n, adj, adv
- any substance (as an immunogen or a hapten) foreign to the body that evokes an immune response either alone or after forming a complex with a larger molecule (as a protein) and that is capable of binding with a product (as an antibody or T cell) of the immune response
antigenic determinant -n
- epitope
an·ti·genpre·sent·ing cell ['an-ti-jən-pri-'zen-tiŋ-, -,jen-] -n
- any of various cells (as a macrophage or a B cell) that take up an antigen and process it into a form recognized by and serving to activate a specific helper T cell
an·ti·glob·u·lin [,an-tē-'glä-byə-lən, ,an-,tī-] -n
- an antibody that combines with and precipitates globulin
An·tig·o·ne [an-'ti-gə-(,)nē] -n
- a daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta who buries her brother Polynices' body against the order of her uncle Creon
an·ti·grav·i·ty [,an-tē-'gra-və-tē, ,an-,tī-] -adj
- reducing, canceling, or protecting against the effect of gravity
antigravity -n
- a hypothetical effect resulting from cancellation or reduction of a gravitational field
an·ti·he·mo·phil·ic factor [-,hē-mə-'fi-lik-] -n
- factor viii
an·ti·he·ro ['an-tē-,hē-(,)rō, 'an-,tī-, -,hir-(,)ō] -n, adj
- a protagonist or notable figure who is conspicuously lacking in heroic qualities
- baseball's antihero inspiring awe and boos
an·ti·her·o·ine [,an-tē-'her-ə-wən, ,an-,tī-] -n
- a female antihero
an·ti·his·ta·mine [-'his-tə-,mēn, -mən] -n, adj, adj or n
- any of various compounds that counteract histamine in the body and that are used for treating allergic reactions (as hay fever) and cold symptoms
an·ti·hor·mone [-'hȯr-,mōn] -n
- a substance (as tamoxifen) that blocks the action or inhibits the production of a hormone
an·ti·hu·man [-'hyü-mən, -'yü-] -adj
- acting or being against humanity
- reacting strongly with human antigens
an·ti·hy·per·ten·sive [-,hī-pər-'ten(t)-siv] -n, adj
- a substance that is effective against high blood pressure
an·tiid·io·type [,an-tē-'i-dē-ə-,tīp, ,an-tī-] -n, adj
- an antibody that binds to the antigen-combining site of another antibody either suppressing or enhancing the immune response
an·tiin·flam·ma·to·ry [-in-'fla-mə-,tȯr-ē] -adj, n
- counteracting inflammation
an·tiin·tel·lec·tu·al [-,in-tə-'lek-ch(ə-w)əl, -'lek-shwəl] -adj, n
- opposing or hostile to intellectuals or to an intellectual view or approach
an·ti·leu·ke·mic [-lü-'kē-mik] -adj
- counteracting the effects of leukemia
an·ti·life [-'līf] -adj
- antagonistic or antithetical to life or to normal human values
an·ti·lock ['an-,tē-,läk, 'an-tē-] -adj
- being a braking system for a motor vehicle designed to keep the wheels from locking by electronically controlled pulsed application of the brake for each wheel
an·ti·log ['an-tē-,lȯg, 'an-,tī-, -,läg] -n
- antilogarithm
an·ti·log·a·rithm [,an-ti-'lȯ-gə-,ri-thəm, ,an-,tī-, -'lä-] -n
- the number corresponding to a given logarithm
an·ti·ma·cas·sar [,an-ti-mə-'ka-sər] -n
- a cover to protect the back or arms of furniture
an·ti·mag·net·ic [,an-tē-mag-'ne-tik, ,an-,tī-] -adj
- having a balance unit composed of alloys that will not remain magnetized
an·ti·ma·lar·i·al [-mə-'ler-ē-əl] -adj, n
- serving to prevent, control, or cure malaria
an·ti·mat·ter ['an-tē-,ma-tər, 'an-,tī-] -n
- matter composed of antiparticles
an·ti·me·tab·o·lite [,an-tē-mə-'ta-bə-,līt, ,an-,tī-] -n
- a substance that replaces or inhibits an organism's utilization of a metabolite
an·ti·mi·cro·bi·al [,an-ti-mī-'krō-bē-əl] -adj, n
- destroying or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms and esp. pathogenic microorganisms
an·ti·mi·tot·ic [,an-tē-mī-'tä-tik, ,an-,tī-] -adj, n
- inhibiting or disrupting mitosis
an·ti·mo·ni·al [,an-tə-'mō-nē-əl] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or containing antimony
an·ti·mo·nide ['an-ti-mə-,nīd] -n
- a binary compound of antimony with a more electropositive element
an·ti·mo·ny ['an-tə-,mō-nē] -n
- stibnite
- a trivalent and pentavalent metalloid element that is commonly metallic silvery white, crystalline, and brittle and that is used esp. in alloys, semiconductors, and flame-retardant substances
an·ti·my·cin A [,an-ti-'mī-sᵊn-'ā] -n
- a crystalline antibiotic C 28H 40N 2O 9used esp. as a fungicide, insecticide, and miticide called also antimycin
an·ti·neo·plas·tic [,an-tē-,nē-ə-'plas-tik, ,an-,tī-] -adj
- inhibiting or preventing the growth and spread of neoplasms or malignant cells
an·ti·neu·tri·no [-nü-'trē-(,)nō, -nyü-] -n
- the antiparticle of the neutrino
an·ti·neu·tron [-'nü-,trän, -'nyü-] -n
- the antiparticle of the neutron
ant·ing ['an-tiŋ] -n
- bird behavior in which ants are rubbed on the feathers to obtain chemicals (as formic acid) from the ants
an·ti·node ['an-tē-,nōd, 'an-,tī-] -n, adj
- a region of maximum amplitude situated between adjacent nodes in a vibrating body
an·ti·no·mi·an [,an-ti-'nō-mē-ən] -n, adj
- one who holds that under the gospel dispensation of grace the moral law is of no use or obligation because faith alone is necessary to salvation
- one who rejects a socially established morality
an·tin·o·my [an-'ti-nə-mē] -n, adj
- a contradiction between two apparently equally valid principles or between inferences correctly drawn from such principles
- a fundamental and apparently unresolvable conflict or contradiction
- antinomies of beauty and evil, freedom and slavery -- Stephen Holden
an·ti·nov·el ['an-tē-,nä-vəl, 'an-,tī-] -n
- a work of fiction that lacks most or all of the traditional features of the novel
an·ti·nu·cle·ar [,an-tē-'nü-klē-ər, ,an-,tī-, -'nyü-, ÷-kyə-lər] -adj
- tending to react with cell nuclei or their components (as DNA)
- opposing the use or production of nuclear power
an·ti·nu·cle·on [-'n(y)ü-klē-,än] -n
- the antiparticle of a nucleon
an·ti·nuke [-'nük, -'nyük] -adj
- antinuclear
an·ti·ox·i·dant [,an-tē-'äk-sə-dənt, ,an-,tī-] -n, adj
- a substance (as beta-carotene or vitamin C) that inhibits oxidation or reactions promoted by oxygen, peroxides, or free radicals
an·ti·ozon·ant [-'ō-(,)zō-nənt] -n
- a substance that opposes ozonization or protects against it
an·ti·par·al·lel [,an-tē-'per-ə-,lel, ,an-,tī-, -ləl] -adj
- parallel but oppositely directed or oriented
- antiparallel electron spins
- two antiparallel chains of nucleotides comprise DNA
an·ti·par·ti·cle ['an-tē-,pär-ti-kəl, 'an-,tī-] -n
- a subatomic particle identical to another subatomic particle in mass but opposite to it in electric and magnetic properties (as sign of charge) that when brought together with its counterpart produces mutual annihilation
- a subatomic particle not found in ordinary matter
an·ti·pas·to [,an-tē-'pas-(,)tō, ,än-tē-, -'päs-] -n
- any of various typically Italian hors d'oeuvres
- a plate of these served esp. as the first course of a meal
an·ti·pa·thet·ic [,an-ti-pə-'the-tik, (,)an-,ti-pə-] -adj, adv
- having a natural aversion
- not sympathetic : hostile
- a government antipathetic to democracy
- arousing antipathy
- an antipathetic experience with an insurance company -- G. F. McCann
an·tip·a·thy [an-'ti-pə-thē] -n
- opposition in feeling
- settled aversion or dislike : distaste
- his well-known antipathy to taxes
- an object of aversion
an·ti·per·son·nel [,an-tē-,pər-sə-'nel, ,an-,tī-] -adj
- designed for use against military personnel
an·ti·per·spi·rant [-'pər-sp(ə-)rənt] -n
- a preparation used to reduce perspiration
an·ti·phlo·gis·tic [-flə-'jis-tik] -adj
- anti-inflammatory
an·ti·phon ['an-tə-fən, -,fän] -n
- a psalm, anthem, or verse sung responsively
- a verse usu. from Scripture said or sung before and after a canticle, psalm, or psalm verse as part of the liturgy
an·tiph·o·nal [an-'ti-fə-nᵊl] -n
- antiphonary
antiphonal [-nᵊl-ē] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or suggesting an antiphon or antiphony
an·tiph·o·nary [an-'ti-fə-,ner-ē] -n
- a book containing a collection of antiphons
- a book containing the choral parts of the Divine Office
an·tiph·o·ny [an-'ti-fə-nē] -n
- responsive alternation between two groups esp. of singers
an·tiph·ra·sis [an-'ti-frə-səs] -n
- the usu. ironic or humorous use of words in senses opposite to the generally accepted meanings (as in this giant of 3 feet 4 inches)
an·tip·o·dal [an-'ti-pə-dᵊl] -adj
- of or relating to the antipodes
- situated at the opposite side of the earth or moon
- diametrically opposite
- an antipodal point on a sphere
- entirely opposed
- a system antipodal to democracy
antipodal -n
- any of three haploid cells in most angiosperms that are grouped at the end of the embryo sac farthest from the micropyle called also antipodal cell
an·ti·pode ['an-tə-,pōd] -n, adj or n
- the parts of the earth diametrically opposite usu. used in pl. often used of Australia and New Zealandas contrasted to the western hemisphere
- the exact opposite or contrary
an·ti·po·et·ic [,an-tē-pō-'e-tik, ,an-,tī-] -adj
- of, relating to, or characterized by opposition to traditional poetic technique or style
an·ti·pol·lu·tion [-pə-'lü-shən] -adj, n
- designed to prevent, reduce, or eliminate pollution
an·ti·pope ['an-ti-,pōp] -n
- one elected or claiming to be pope in opposition to the pope canonically chosen
an·ti·pro·ton [,an-tē-'prō-,tän, ,an-,tī-] -n
- the antiparticle of the proton
an·ti·psy·chot·ic [,an-tē-sī-'kä-tik] -n, adj
- any of the powerful tranquilizers (as the phenothiazines and butyrophenones) used esp. to treat psychosis and believed to act by blocking dopamine nervous receptors called also neuroleptic
an·ti·py·ret·ic [-pī-'re-tik] -n, adj
- an agent that reduces fever
an·ti·py·rine [-'pī-,rēn] -n
- an analgesic and antipyretic C 11H 12N 2O formerly widely used but now largely replaced in oral use by less toxic substances (as aspirin)
antiq -abbr
- antiquarian; antiquary
an·ti·quar·i·an [,an-tə-'kwer-ē-ən] -n
- one who collects or studies antiquities
antiquarian [-ē-ə-,ni-zəm] -adj, n
- of or relating to antiquarians or antiquities
- dealing in old or rare books
an·ti·quark ['an-tē-,kwärk, 'an-,tī-] -n
- the antiparticle of the quark
an·ti·quary ['an-tə-,kwer-ē] -n
- antiquarian
an·ti·quate ['an-tə-,kwāt] -vt, n
- to make old or obsolete
an·ti·quat·ed -adj
- obsolete
- outmoded or discredited by reason of age : being out of style or fashion
- antiquated methods of farming
- advanced in age
an·tique [(,)an-'tēk] -n
- a relic or object of ancient times
- a work of art, piece of furniture, or decorative object made at an earlier period and according to various customs laws at least 100 years ago
- a manufactured product (as an automobile) from an earlier period
- existing since or belonging to earlier times : ancient
- antique trade routes to the Orient
- being in the style or fashion of former times
- antique manners and graces
- made in or representative of the work of an earlier period
- being an antique
- selling or exhibiting antiques
- to finish or refinish in antique style : give an appearance of age to
- to shop around for antiques
an·tiq·ui·ty [an-'ti-kwə-tē] -n
- ancient times
- those before the Middle Ages
- the quality of being ancient
- relics or monuments (as coins, statues, or buildings) of ancient times
- matters relating to the life or culture of ancient times
- the people of ancient times
an·ti·re·jec·tion [,an-tē-ri-'jek-shən, ,an-,tī-] -adj
- used or tending to prevent organ or tissue transplant rejection
an·ti·re·tro·vi·ral [-'re-trō-,vī-rəl] -adj, n
- acting, used, or effective against retroviruses
an·ti·rheu·mat·ic [-ru̇-'ma-tik] -adj, n
- alleviating or preventing rheumatism
an·tiroll bar ['an-,tī-,rōl-] -n
- sway bar
an·tir·rhi·num [,an-tə-'rī-nəm] -n
- snapdragon
antis ['an-,tī, 'an-tē] -n
(variant of anti)
- one that is opposed
an·ti·scor·bu·tic [,an-tē-skȯr-'byü-tik, ,an-,tī-] -adj, n
- counteracting scurvy
- the antiscorbutic vitamin is vitamin C
an·tiSem·i·tism [,an-tē-'se-mə-,ti-zəm, ,an-,tī-] -n, adj
- hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group
an·ti·sense ['an-,tī-,sen(t)s, 'an-tē-] -adj
- having a sequence complementary to a segment of genetic material
- of, being, relating to, or possessing a sequence of DNA or RNA that is complementary to and pairs with a specific messenger RNA blocking it from being translated into protein and serving to inhibit gene function
an·ti·sep·sis [,an-tə-'sep-səs] -n
- the inhibiting of the growth and multiplication of microorganisms by antiseptic means
an·ti·sep·tic [,an-tə-'sep-tik] -adj, adv
- opposing sepsis, putrefaction, or decay
- preventing or arresting the growth of microorganisms (as on living tissue)
- acting or protecting like an antiseptic
- relating to or characterized by the use of antiseptics
- scrupulously clean : aseptic
- extremely neat or orderly
- neat to the point of being bare or uninteresting
- free from what is held to be contaminating
- coldly impersonal
- of, relating to, or being warfare conducted with cold precision from a safe distance with few or no casualties on one's side
antiseptic -n
- a substance that inhibits the growth or action of microorganisms esp. in or on living tissue
- germicide
an·ti·se·rum ['an-tē-,sir-əm, 'an-,tī-, -,ser-] -n
- a serum containing antibodies
an·ti·so·cial [,an-tē-'sō-shəl, ,an-,tī-] -adj, adv
- averse to the society of others : unsociable
- hostile or harmful to organized society
- being or marked by behavior deviating sharply from the social norm
antisocial personality disorder -n
- a personality disorder that is characterized by antisocial behavior exhibiting pervasive disregard for and violation of the rights, feelings, and safety of others starting in childhood or the early teenage years and continuing into adulthood called also psychopathic personality disorder
an·ti·so·lar [-'sō-lər] -adj
- being or having a direction away from the sun
an·ti·spas·mod·ic [-spaz-'mä-dik] -adj, n
- capable of preventing or relieving spasms or convulsions
an·ti·stat·ic [-'sta-tik] -adj
- reducing, removing, or preventing the buildup of static electricity
an·tis·tro·phe [an-'tis-trə-(,)fē] -n, adj, adv
- the repetition of words in reversed order
- the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses
- a returning movement in Greek choral dance exactly answering to a previous strophe
- the part of a choral song delivered during the antistrophe
an·ti·style ['an-tē-,stī(-ə)l, 'an-,tī-] -n
- a style (as of dress) based on the rejection of current or established styles
an·ti·sym·met·ric [,an-tē-sə-'me-trik, ,an-,tī-] -adj
- relating to or being a relation (as is a subset of) that implies equality of any two quantities for which it holds in both directions
- the relation R is antisymmetric if aRb and bRa implies a b
an·tith·e·sis [an-'ti-thə-səs] -n
- the rhetorical contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangements of words, clauses, or sentences (as in action, not words or they promised freedom and provided slavery)
- opposition, contrast
- the antithesis of prose and verse
- the second of two opposing constituents of an antithesis
- the direct opposite
- her temperament is the very antithesis of mine
- the second stage of a dialectic process
an·ti·thet·i·cal [,an-tə-'the-ti-kəl] -adj, adv
- constituting or marked by antithesis
- being in direct and unequivocal opposition
an·ti·throm·bin [,an-tē-'thräm-bən, ,an-,tī-] -n
- any of a group of substances that inhibit blood clotting by inactivating thrombin
an·ti·thy·roid [,an-ti-'thī-,rȯid] -adj
- able to counteract excessive thyroid activity
an·ti·tox·ic [-'täk-sik] -adj
- counteracting toxins
- being or containing antitoxins
an·ti·tox·in [,an-ti-'täk-sən] -n
- an antibody that is capable of neutralizing the specific toxin (as a specific causative agent of disease) that stimulated its production in the body and is produced in animals for medical purposes by injection of a toxin or toxoid with the resulting serum being used to counteract the toxin in other individuals
- an antiserum containing antitoxins
an·ti·trust [,an-tē-'trəst, ,an-,tī-] -adj
- of, relating to, or being legislation against or opposition to trusts or combinations
- consisting of laws to protect trade and commerce from unlawful restraints and monopolies or unfair business practices
an·ti·trust·er [-'trəs-tər] -n
- one who advocates or enforces antitrust provisions of the law
an·ti·tus·sive [-'tə-siv] -n, adj
- a cough suppressant
an·tiuto·pia [,an-tē-yü-'tō-pē-ə, ,an-,tī-] -n, adj or n
- dystopia
- a work describing an anti-utopia
an·ti·ven·in [,an-tē-'ve-nən, ,an-,tī-] -n
- an antitoxin to a venom
- an antiserum containing such antitoxin
an·ti·ven·om [-'ve-nəm] -n
- antivenin
an·ti·vi·ta·min ['an-ti-,vī-tə-mən, Brit usu -,vi-] -n
- a substance that makes a vitamin metabolically ineffective
an·ti·white [,an-tē-'hwīt, ,an-,tī-, -'wīt] -adj
- opposed or hostile to white people
ant·ler ['ant-lər] -n, adj
- one of the paired deciduous solid bony processes that arise from the frontal bone on the head of an animal of the deer family
- a branch of an antler
ant lion -n
- any of various neuropterous insects (as of the genus Myrmeleon) having long-jawed larvae that feed on insects (as ants) and including some that dig conical pits to capture prey
An·to·ni·an [an-'tō-nē-ən] -n
- a member of one of several monastic communities (as the Armenian Antonians) that follow a rule devised by St. Anthony
an·ton·o·ma·sia [,an-tə-nō-'mā-zh(ē-)ə, (,)an-,tä-nə-] -n
- the use of a proper name to designate a member of a class (as a Solomonfor a wise ruler)
- the use of an epithet or title in place of a proper name (as the Bardfor Shakespeare)
an·to·nym ['an-tə-,nim] -n, adj
- a word of opposite meaning
- the usual antonym of good is bad
an·tre ['an-tər] -n
- cave
an·trum ['an-trəm] -n, adj
- an anatomical cavity within a bone (as the maxilla) or hollow organ (as the stomach)
ant·sy ['ant-sē] -adj
- restless, fidgety
- impatient, eager
- antsy for a new challenge
- nervous, apprehensive
Anu·bis [ə-'nü-bəs, -'nyü-] -n
- a jackal-headed god in Egyptian mythology who leads the dead to judgment
an·uran [ə-'nyu̇r-ən, a-, -'nu̇r-] -n, adj
- any of an order (Anura) of amphibians comprising the frogs, toads, and tree frogs all of which lack a tail in the adult stage and have long hind limbs often suited to leaping and swimming
an·uria [ə-'nyu̇r-ē-ə, a-, -'nu̇r-] -n, adj
- absence or defective excretion of urine
anus ['ā-nəs] -n
- the posterior opening of the alimentary canal
an·vil ['an-vəl] -n
- a heavy usu. steel-faced iron block on which metal is shaped (as by hand hammering)
- incus
- the anvilshaped top of a cumulonimbus
anx·i·ety [aŋ-'zī-ə-tē] -n
- painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind usu. over an impending or anticipated ill
- fearful concern or interest
- a cause of anxiety
- an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs (as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it
an·xi·o·lyt·ic [,aŋ-zē-ō-'li-tik, ,aŋ(k)-sē-] -n, adj
- a drug that relieves anxiety
anx·ious ['aŋ(k)-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- characterized by extreme uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency : worried
- characterized by, resulting from, or causing anxiety : worrying
- ardently or earnestly wishing
any ['e-nē] -adj
- : one or some indiscriminately of whatever kind:
- one or another taken at random
- every used to indicate one selected without restriction
- any child would know that
- : one, some, or all indiscriminately of whatever quantity:
- one or more used to indicate an undetermined number or amount
- all used to indicate a maximum or whole
- needs any help he can get
- a or some without reference to quantity or extent
- grateful for any favor at all
- unmeasured or unlimited in amount, number, or extent
- appreciably large or extended
- could not endure it any length of time
- any person or persons : anyone
- any thing or things
- any part, quantity, or number
- to any extent or degree : at all
- no, it doesn't help me any
any·body [-,bä-dē, -bə-] -pron
- any person : anyone
any·how [-,hau̇] -adv
- in any manner whatever
- in a haphazard manner
- at any rate
- in any event
any·more [,e-nē-'mȯr] -adv
- any longer
- I was not moving anymore with my feet -- Anais Nin
- at the present time : now
- hardly a day passes without rain anymore
any·one ['e-nē-(,)wən] -pron
- any person at all
any·place [-,plās] -adv
- in any place : anywhere
any·thing [-,thiŋ] -pron
- any thing whatever : any such thing
anything -adv
- at all
any·time ['e-nē-,tīm] -adv
- at any time whatever
any·way [-,wā] -adv
- anywise
- in any case : anyhow
any·ways [-,wāz] -adv
- anywise
- to any degree at all
- anyhow, anyway
any·where [-,(h)wer, -(h)wər] -adv
- at, in, or to any place or point
- to any extent : at all
- we're not anywhere near to being finished
- used as a function word to indicate limits of variation
- anywhere from 40 to 60 students
anywhere -n
- any place
any·wheres [-,(h)werz, -(h)wərz] -adv
- anywhere
any·wise ['e-nē-,wīz] -adv
- in any way whatever : at all
An·zac ['an-,zak] -n
- a soldier from Australia or New Zealand