UN -abbr

  1. United Nations

un- [,ən, often 'ən before '-stressed syllable] -prefix

  1. not : in-, non- in adjectives formed from adjectives
    • un ambitious
    • un skilled
    or participles
    • un dressed
    , in nouns formed from nouns
    • un availability
    , and rarely in verbs formed from verbs
    • un be
    sometimes in words that have a meaning that merely negates that of the base word and are thereby distinguished from words that prefix in- or a variant of it (as im- ) to the same base word and have a meaning positively opposite to that of the base word
    • un artistic
    • un moral
  2. opposite of : contrary to in adjectives formed from adjectives
    • un constitutional
    • un graceful
    • un mannered
    or participles
    • un believing
    and in nouns formed from nouns
    • un rest
  3. do the opposite of : reverse (a specified action) : de- , dis- in verbs formed from verbs
    • un bend
    • un dress
    • un fold
  4. deprive of : remove (a specified thing) from : remove in verbs formed from nouns
    • un frock
    • un sex
  5. release from : free from in verbs formed from nouns
    • un hand
  6. remove from : extract from : bring out of in verbs formed from nouns
    • un bosom
  7. cause to cease to be in verbs formed from nouns
    • un man
  8. completely
    • un loose

un·abashed [,ən-ə-'basht] -adj, adv

  1. not abashed : undisguised, unapologetic

un·abat·ed [,ən-ə-'bā-təd] -adj, adv

  1. not abated : being at full strength or force

un·able [,ən-'ā-bəl] -adj

  1. : not able : incapable: as
  2. unqualified, incompetent
  3. impotent, helpless

un·abridged [,ən-ə-'brijd] -adj

  1. not abridged : complete
    • an unabridged reprint of a novel
  2. being the most complete of its class : not based on one larger
    • an unabridged dictionary

un·ac·cept·able [,ən-ik-'sep-tə-bəl, -ak-] -adj, n, adv

  1. not acceptable : not pleasing or welcome

un·ac·com·pa·nied [,ən-ə-'kəmp-nēd, -'kämp-; -'kəm-pə-, -'käm-] -adj

  1. not accompanied
  2. being without instrumental accompaniment

un·ac·count·able [,ən-ə-'kau̇n-tə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. not to be accounted for : inexplicable, strange
  2. not to be called to account : not responsible

un·ac·count·ably [-'kau̇n-tə-blē] -adv

  1. in an unaccountable manner
    • looking unaccountably upset
    • heat was unaccountably disappearing
  2. for reasons that are hard to understand
    • unaccountably, he stayed right there

un·ac·count·ed [-'kau̇n-təd] -adj

  1. not accounted : unexplained often used with for

un·ac·cus·tomed [,ən-ə-'kəs-təmd] -adj, adv

  1. not customary : not usual or common
  2. not habituated usu. used with to

una cor·da [,ü-nə-'kȯr-də, -(,)dä] -adv or adj

  1. with soft pedal depressed used as a direction in piano music

un·adorned [,ən-ə-'dȯrnd] -adj

  1. not adorned : lacking embellishment or decoration : plain, simple

un·adul·ter·at·ed [,ən-ə-'dəl-tə-,rā-təd] -adj, adv

  1. not adulterated : pure
    • unadulterated food
  2. complete, unqualified
    • an unadulterated fool

un·ad·vised [,ən-əd-'vīzd] -adj, adv

  1. done without due consideration : rash
    • unadvised and dangerous dealings with the terrorists
  2. not prudent : ill-advised
    • done with unadvised haste

un·af·fect·ed [,ən-ə-'fek-təd] -adj, adv, n

  1. not influenced or changed mentally, physically, or chemically
  2. free from affectation : genuine

un·ag·ing [,ən-'ā-jiŋ] -adj

  1. ageless

una·kite ['yü-nə-,kīt] -n

  1. an altered igneous rock that is usu. opaque with green, black, pink, and white flecks and is usu. used as a gemstone

un·alien·able [,ən-'āl-yə-nə-bəl, -'ā-lē-ə-] -adj

  1. inalienable

un·aligned [,ən-ə-'līnd] -adj

  1. nonaligned

un·al·loyed [,ən-ə-'lȯid] -adj

  1. not alloyed : unmixed, unqualified, pure
    • unalloyed metals
    • unalloyed happiness

un·al·ter·able [,ən-'ȯl-t(ə-)rə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not capable of being altered or changed
    • an unalterable resolve
    • unalterable hatred

un·am·big·u·ous [,ən-am-'bi-gyə-wəs] -adj, adv

  1. not ambiguous : clear, precise
    • unambiguous evidence

un·am·biv·a·lent [-'bi-və-lənt] -adj, adv

  1. not ambivalent : clear-cut, definite

unAmer·i·can [,ən-ə-'mer-ə-kən] -adj

  1. not American : not characteristic of or consistent with American customs, principles, or traditions

un·an·chored [,ən-'aŋ-kərd] -adj

  1. not anchored : not at anchor
  2. not having a firm basis or foundation

un·aneled [,ən-ə-'nēld] -adj

  1. not having received extreme unction

una·nim·i·ty [,yü-nə-'ni-mə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being unanimous

unan·i·mous [yu̇-'na-nə-məs] -adj, adv

  1. being of one mind : agreeing
  2. formed with or indicating unanimity : having the agreement and consent of all

un·an·swer·able [,ən-'an(t)s-rə-bəl, -'an(t)-sə-] -adj, n, adv

  1. not capable of being answered
  2. irrefutable

un·an·swered [,ən-'an(t)-sərd] -adj

  1. not answered
    • unanswered letters
  2. scored in succession during a period in which an opponent fails to score
    • scored 20 unanswered points in the last quarter

un·an·tic·i·pat·ed [,ən-an-'ti-sə-,pā-təd] -adj, adv

  1. not anticipated : unexpected, unforeseen

un·apol·o·get·ic [,ən-ə-,pä-lə-'je-tik] -adj, adv

  1. not apologetic : offered, put forward, or being such without apology or qualification
    • an unapologetic liberal

un·ap·peal·able [,ən-ə-'pē-lə-bəl] -adj

  1. not appealable : not subject to appeal

un·ap·peal·ing [-'pē-liŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not appealing : unattractive

un·ap·peas·able [-'pē-zə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. not to be appeased : implacable

un·ap·pe·tiz·ing [,ən-'a-pə-,tī-ziŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not appetizing : insipid, unattractive

un·ap·pre·ci·a·tion [,ən-ə-,prē-shē-'ā-shən] -n

  1. failure to appreciate something

un·ap·proach·able [,ən-ə-'prō-chə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not approachable : physically inaccessible
  2. discouraging intimacies : reserved

un·apt [,ən-'apt] -adj, adv, n

  1. inappropriate, unsuitable
    • an unapt quote
  2. not accustomed and not likely
    • a teacher unapt to tolerate carelessness
  3. dull, backward
    • unapt scholars

un·ar·gu·able [,ən-'är-gyə-wə-bəl] -adj

  1. not arguable

un·ar·gu·ably [-blē] -adv

  1. it cannot be argued : unquestionably

un·arm [,ən-'ärm] -vt

  1. disarm

un·armed [-'ärmd] -adj

  1. not armed or armored
    • unarmed civilians
  2. not using or involving a weapon
    • unarmed robbery
  3. having no hard and sharp projections (as spines, spurs, or claws)

un·ar·tic·u·lat·ed [,ən-är-'ti-kyə-,lā-təd] -adj

  1. not articulated
  2. not carefully reasoned or analyzed

una·ry ['yü-nə-rē] -adj

  1. having, consisting of, or acting on a single element, item, or component : monadic

un·ashamed [,ən-ə-'shāmd] -adj, adv

  1. not ashamed : being without guilt, self-consciousness, or doubt

un·asked [,ən-'as(k)t] -adj

  1. not being asked : uninvited
  2. not asked
    • unasked questions
  3. not asked for
    • unasked advice

un·as·sail·able [,ən-ə-'sā-lə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not assailable : not liable to doubt, attack, or question
    • an unassailable argument
    • an unassailable alibi

un·as·ser·tive [,ən-ə-'sər-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. not assertive : modest, shy

un·as·sist·ed [,ən-ə-'sis-təd] -adj

  1. not assisted : lacking help
  2. made or performed without an assist
    • an unassisted double play

un·as·suage·able [,ən-ə-'swā-jə-bəl] -adj

  1. not capable of being assuaged

un·as·sum·ing [,ən-ə-'sü-miŋ] -adj, n

  1. not assuming : modest
    • an unassuming librarian
    • an unassuming manner
    • an unassuming neighborhood

un·at·tached [,ən-ə-'tacht] -adj

  1. not assigned or committed (as to a particular task, organization, or person)
  2. not married or engaged
  3. not seized as security for a legal judgment
  4. not joined or united
    • unattached buildings

un·at·trac·tive [-'trak-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. not attractive : plain, dull

un·avail·ing [-'vā-liŋ] -adj, adv, n

  1. not availing : futile, useless

un·avoid·able [,ən-ə-'vȯi-də-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. not avoidable : inevitable
    • the accident was unavoidable

un·aware [-ə-'wer] -adv

  1. unawares

unaware -adj, adv, n

  1. not aware : ignorant
    • unaware of the problem

un·awares [-'werz] -adv

  1. without design, attention, preparation, or premeditation
  2. without warning : suddenly, unexpectedly

un·backed [,ən-'bakt] -adj

  1. lacking support or aid

un·bal·ance [-'ba-lən(t)s] -vt

  1. to put out of balance

unbalance -n

  1. lack of balance : imbalance

un·bal·anced [-lən(t)st] -adj

  1. : not balanced: as
  2. not in equilibrium
  3. mentally disordered or deranged
  4. not adjusted so as to make credits equal to debits
    • an unbalanced account

un·bal·last·ed [-'ba-lə-stəd] -adj

  1. not furnished with or steadied by ballast : unsteady

un·ban·dage [-'ban-dij] -vt

  1. to remove a bandage from

un·bar [,ən-'bär] -vt

  1. to remove a bar from : unbolt, open

un·bar·bered [-'bär-bərd] -adj

  1. having long and esp. unkempt hair

un·barred [-'bärd] -adj

  1. not secured by a bar : unlocked
  2. not marked with bars

un·bat·ed [-'bā-təd] -adj

  1. unabated
  2. not blunted

un·be [-'bē] -vi

  1. to lack or cease to have being

un·bear·able [,ən-'ber-ə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. not bearable : unendurable
    • unbearable pain

un·beat·able [-'bē-tə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. not capable of being defeated
  2. possessing unsurpassable qualities

un·beat·en [-'bē-tᵊn] -adj

  1. not pounded or beaten : not whipped
  2. not traversed : untrodden
  3. not defeated

un·beau·ti·ful [-'byü-ti-fəl] -adj, adv

  1. not beautiful : unattractive

un·be·com·ing [,ən-bi-'kə-miŋ] -adj, adv, n

  1. not becoming
    • an unbecoming dress
  2. not according with the standards appropriate to one's position or condition of life
    • unbecoming conduct

un·be·knownst [,ən-bi-'nōn(t)st] -adj

  1. happening or existing without the knowledge of someone specified usu. used with to
    • unbeknownst to us rumors were flying
  2. unknown

un·be·lief [,ən-bə-'lēf] -n

  1. incredulity or skepticism esp. in matters of religious faith

un·be·liev·able [-'lē-və-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. too improbable for belief
    • the plot is unreal and unbelievable
  2. of such a superlative degree as to be hard to believe
    • the destruction was unbelievable
    • made an unbelievable catch in center field

un·be·liev·er [-'lē-vər] -n

  1. one that does not believe in a particular religious faith
  2. one that does not believe : an incredulous person : doubter, skeptic

un·be·liev·ing [-'lē-viŋ] -adj, adv

  1. marked by unbelief : incredulous, skeptical

un·belt·ed [,ən-'bel-təd] -adj

  1. not furnished with a belt

un·bend [-'bend] -vb

  1. to free from flexure : make or allow to become straight
    • unbend a bow
  2. to cause (as the mind) to relax
  3. to unfasten (as a sail) from a spar or stay
  4. to cast loose (as a rope) : untie
  5. to relax one's severity, stiffness, or austerity
  6. to cease to be bent : become straight

un·bend·able [-'ben-də-bəl] -adj

  1. single-minded, firm

un·bend·ing [-'ben-diŋ] -adj

  1. not bending : unyielding, inflexible
    • an unbending will
  2. aloof or unsocial in manner : reserved

un·be·seem·ing [,ən-bi-'sē-miŋ] -adj

  1. not befitting : unbecoming

un·bi·ased [,ən-'bī-əst] -adj, n

  1. free from bias
  2. free from all prejudice and favoritism : eminently fair
    • an unbiased opinion
  3. having an expected value equal to a population parameter being estimated
    • an unbiased estimate of the population mean

un·bib·li·cal [,ən-'bi-bli-kəl] -adj

  1. contrary to or unsanctioned by the Bible

un·bid·den [-'bi-dᵊn] -adj

  1. not bidden : unasked, uninvited
    • barged in unbidden

un·bind [-'bīnd] -vt

  1. to remove a band from : free from fastenings : untie, unfasten
  2. to set free : release

un·bit·ted [-'bi-təd] -adj

  1. unbridled, uncontrolled
    • our unbitted lusts -- Shak.

un·blenched [-'blencht] -adj

  1. not disconcerted : undaunted

un·blessed [,ən-'blest] -adj

  1. evil, accursed
  2. not blessed
    • an unblessed marriage

un·blind·ed [-'blīn-dəd] -adj

  1. not blinded
  2. free from illusion

un·blink·ing [-'bliŋ-kiŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not blinking
  2. not showing signs of emotion, doubt, or confusion
    • unblinking frankness

un·block [-'bläk] -vt

  1. to free from being blocked

un·blush·ing [-'blə-shiŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not blushing
  2. shameless, unabashed
    • unblushing greed

un·bod·ied [-'bä-dēd] -adj

  1. having no body : incorporeal
  2. freed from the body
    • unbodied souls
  3. formless

un·bolt [,ən-'bōlt] -vt

  1. to open or unfasten by withdrawing a bolt

un·bolt·ed [-'bōl-təd] -adj

  1. not fastened by bolts

unbolted -adj

  1. not sifted
    • unbolted flour

un·bon·net·ed [,ən-'bä-nə-təd] -adj

  1. bareheaded

un·born [-'bȯrn] -adj

  1. not born : not brought into life
  2. still to appear : future
  3. existing without birth

un·bos·om [-'bu̇-zəm also -'bü-] -vt

  1. to give expression to : disclose, reveal
  2. to disclose the thoughts or feelings of (oneself)
  3. to unbosom oneself

un·bound [-'bau̇nd] -adj

  1. : not bound: as
  2. not fastened
  3. not confined
  4. not having the leaves fastened together
    • an unbound book
  5. not bound together with other issues
    • unbound periodicals
  6. not held in chemical or physical combination

un·bound·ed [-'bau̇n-dəd] -adj, n

  1. having no limit
    • unbounded joy
  2. unrestrained, uncontrolled

un·bowed [,ən-'bau̇d] -adj

  1. not bowed down
  2. not subdued
    • bloodied but unbowed

un·box [-'bäks] -vt

  1. to remove from a box

un·brace [-'brās] -vt

  1. to free or detach by or as if by untying or removing a brace or bond
  2. enfeeble, weaken

un·braid [-'brād] -vt

  1. to separate the strands of : unravel

un·branched [-'brancht] -adj

  1. having no branches
    • a straight unbranched trunk
  2. not divided into branches
    • a leaf with unbranched veins

un·brand·ed [-'bran-dəd] -adj

  1. not marked with the owner's name or mark
    • unbranded cattle
  2. not sold under a brand name

un·breath·able [-'brē-thə-bəl] -adj

  1. not fit for being breathed

un·bred [-'bred] -adj

  1. ill-bred
  2. not taught : untrained
  3. not bred : never having been bred
    • an unbred heifer

un·bri·dle [,ən-'brī-dᵊl] -vt

  1. to free or loose from a bridle
  2. to set loose : free from restraint

un·bri·dled [-'brī-dᵊld] -adj

  1. unrestrained
    • unbridled enthusiasm
  2. not confined by a bridle

un·broke [-'brōk] -adj

  1. unbroken

un·bro·ken [-'brō-kən] -adj

  1. : not broken: as
  2. not violated
  3. whole, intact
  4. not subdued : untamed
  5. not trained for service or use
    • unbroken colts
  6. continuous
    • miles of unbroken forest
  7. not plowed
  8. not disorganized
    • advanced in unbroken ranks

un·buck·le [-'bə-kəl] -vt

  1. to loose the buckle of : unfasten
  2. to loosen buckles
  3. relax

un·budge·able [-'bə-jə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. not able to be budged or changed : inflexible
    • an unbudgeable optimist

un·budg·ing [-'bə-jiŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not budging : resisting movement or change

un·build [,ən-'bild] -vb

  1. to pull down : demolish, raze
  2. to destroy something

un·built [-'bilt] -adj

  1. not built : not yet constructed
  2. not built on
    • an unbuilt plot

un·bun·dle [-'bən-dᵊl] -vi

  1. to give separate prices for equipment and supporting services
  2. to price separately

un·bur·den [-'bər-dᵊn] -vt

  1. to free or relieve from a burden
  2. to relieve oneself of (as cares, fears, or worries) : cast off

un·bur·dened [-'bər-dᵊnd] -adj

  1. not burdened : having no weight or load
    • unburdened by the expectations of others

un·but·ton [-'bə-tᵊn] -vt

  1. to loose the buttons of
  2. to open by or as if by loosing buttons
  3. to undo buttons

un·but·toned [-tᵊnd] -adj

  1. not buttoned
  2. not provided with buttons
  3. not under constraint : free and unrestricted in action and expression
    • the musicians' unbuttoned energy

Unc -abbr

  1. uncirculated

un·cage [,ən-'kāj] -vt

  1. to release from or as if from a cage : free from restraint

un·cal·cu·lat·ed [-'kal-kyə-,lā-təd] -adj

  1. not planned or thought out beforehand : spontaneous
    • uncalculated confrontations

un·cal·cu·lat·ing [-,lā-tiŋ] -adj

  1. not based on or marked by calculation
    • uncalculating love
    • uncalculating gallantry

un·calledfor [,ən-'kȯl(d)-,fȯr] -adj

  1. not called for or needed : unnecessary
  2. being or offered without provocation or justification
    • an uncalledfor display of temper
    • uncalledfor insults

un·can·ny [-'ka-nē] -adj, adv, n

  1. seeming to have a supernatural character or origin : eerie, mysterious
  2. being beyond what is normal or expected : suggesting superhuman or supernatural powers
    • an uncanny sense of direction
  3. severe, punishing

un·caused [-'kȯzd] -adj

  1. having no antecedent cause

un·ceas·ing [-'sē-siŋ] -adj, adv

  1. never ceasing : continuous, incessant
    • unceasing efforts
    • unceasing vigilance

un·cel·e·brat·ed [-'se-lə-,brā-təd] -adj

  1. not formally honored or commemorated
  2. not famous : obscure
    • solid but uncelebrated players

un·cer·e·mo·ni·ous [,ən-,ser-ə-'mō-nē-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. not ceremonious : informal
  2. abrupt, rude
    • an unceremonious dismissal

un·cer·tain [,ən-'sər-tᵊn] -adj, adv, n

  1. indefinite, indeterminate
    • the time of departure is uncertain
  2. not certain to occur : problematical
    • his success was uncertain
  3. not reliable : untrustworthy
    • an uncertain ally
  4. not known beyond doubt : dubious
    • an uncertain claim
  5. not having certain knowledge : doubtful
    • remains uncertain about her plans
  6. not clearly identified or defined
    • a fire of uncertain origin
  7. not constant : variable, fitful
    • an uncertain breeze

un·cer·tain·ty [-tᵊn-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being uncertain : doubt
  2. something that is uncertain

uncertainty principle -n

  1. a principle in quantum mechanics: it is impossible to discern simultaneously and with high accuracy both the position and the momentum of a particle (as an electron) called also Heisenberg uncertainty principle

UNCF -abbr

  1. United Negro College Fund

un·chain [,ən-'chān] -vt

  1. to free by or as if by removing a chain : set loose
    • unchain workers from their desks

un·chancy [-'chan(t)-sē] -adj

  1. ill-fated
  2. dangerous

un·change·able [-'chān-jə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not changing or to be changed : immutable
    • unchangeable documents
    • unchangeable facts

un·chang·ing [-'chān-jiŋ] -adj, adv, n

  1. constant, invariable
    • unchanging beliefs

un·char·ac·ter·is·tic [,ən-,ka-rik-tə-'ris-tik] -adj, adv

  1. not characteristic : not typical or distinctive
    • uncharacteristic outbursts of temper

un·charge [,ən-'chärj] -vt

  1. acquit

un·charged [-'chärjd] -adj

  1. not charged
  2. having no electric charge

un·char·i·ta·ble [-'cha-rə-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. lacking in charity : severe in judging : harsh
    • uncharitable comments

un·chart·ed [-'chär-təd] -adj

  1. not recorded or plotted on a map, chart, or plan
    • an uncharted island
  2. unknown
    • a discussion moving into uncharted territory

un·chaste [-'chāst] -adj, adv, n

  1. not chaste : lacking in chastity

un·chas·ti·ty [-'chas-tə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being unchaste

un·chiv·al·rous [-'shi-vəl-rəs] -adj, adv

  1. not chivalrous : lacking in chivalry
    • an unchivalrous rivalry

un·choke [-'chōk] -vt

  1. to clear of obstruction

un·chris·tian [-'kris-chən, -'krish-] -adj

  1. not of the Christian faith
  2. contrary to the Christian spirit or character
  3. uncivilized, barbarous

un·church [-'chərch] -vt

  1. to expel from a church : excommunicate
  2. to deprive of a church or of status as a church

un·churched [-'chərcht] -adj

  1. not belonging to or connected with a church

unci ['əŋ-kəs] -n

(variant of uncus)

  1. a hooked anatomical part or process

un·cial ['ən(t)-shəl, -sē-əl] -adj, adv

  1. written in the style or size of uncials

uncial -n

  1. a handwriting used esp. in Greek and Latin manuscripts of the fourth to the eighth centuries a.d.and made with somewhat rounded separated majuscules but having cursive forms for some letters
  2. an uncial letter
  3. a manuscript written in uncial

un·ci·form ['ən(t)-sə-,fȯrm] -adj

  1. hook-shaped : uncinate

un·ci·na·ri·a·sis [,ən-,si-nə-'rī-ə-səs] -n

  1. hookworm

un·ci·nate ['ən(t)-sə-,nāt] -adj

  1. bent at the tip like a hook : hooked
    • an uncinate achene

un·cir·cu·lat·ed [,ən-'sər-kyə-,lā-təd] -adj

  1. issued for use as money but kept out of circulation (as for preservation in a collection)

un·cir·cum·cised [,ən-'sər-kəm-,sīzd] -adj, n

  1. not circumcised
  2. spiritually impure : heathen

un·civ·il [,ən-'si-vəl] -adj, adv

  1. not civilized : barbarous
  2. lacking in courtesy : ill-mannered, impolite
    • uncivil remarks
  3. not conducive to civic harmony and welfare

un·civ·i·lized [-'si-və-,līzd] -adj

  1. not civilized : barbarous
  2. remote from settled areas : wild

un·clamp [-'klamp] -vt

  1. to loosen the clamp of : to free from a clamp

un·clar·i·ty [-'kla-rə-tē] -n

  1. lack of clarity : ambiguity, obscurity

un·clasp [-'klasp] -vt

  1. to open the clasp of
  2. to open or cause to be opened (as a clenched hand)
  3. to loosen a hold

un·clas·si·cal [-'kla-si-kəl] -adj

  1. not classical
  2. unconcerned with the classics

un·clas·si·fied [-'kla-sə-,fīd] -adj

  1. not placed or belonging in a class
  2. not subject to a security classification
    • unclassified information

un·cle ['əŋ-kəl] -n

  1. the brother of one's father or mother
  2. the husband of one's aunt
  3. one who helps, advises, or encourages
  4. used as a cry of surrender
    • was forced to cry uncle
  5. uncle sam

un·clean [,ən-'klēn] -adj, n

  1. morally or spiritually impure
  2. infected with a harmful supernatural contagion
  3. prohibited by ritual law for use or contact
  4. dirty, filthy
  5. lacking in clarity and precision of conception or execution

un·clean·ly [-'klen-lē] -adj, n

  1. morally or physically unclean
  2. in an unclean manner

un·clench [-'klench] -vt

  1. to open from a clenched position
  2. to release from a grip
  3. to become unclasped or relaxed

Un·cle Sam [,əŋ-kəl-'sam] -n

  1. the U.S. government
  2. the American nation or people

Uncle Tom [-'täm] -n

  1. a black who is overeager to win the approval of whites (as by obsequious behavior or uncritical acceptance of white values and goals)
  2. a member of a low-status group who is overly subservient to or cooperative with authority
    • the worst floor managers and supervisors by far are women...Some of them are regular Uncle Toms -- Jane Fonda
  3. to behave like an Uncle Tom

un·climb·able [,ən-'klī-mə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. not able to be climbed

un·clinch [,ən-'klinch] -vt

  1. unclench

un·cloak [-'klōk] -vt

  1. to remove a cloak or cover from
  2. reveal, unmask
    • uncloak an impostor
  3. to take off a cloak

un·clog [-'kläg] -vt

  1. to free from a difficulty or obstruction

un·close [-'klōz] -vt

  1. open
  2. disclose, reveal
  3. to become opened

un·closed [-'klōzd] -adj

  1. not closed or settled : not concluded

un·clothe [-'klōth] -vt

  1. to strip of clothes
  2. divest, uncover
    • the hardest thing to unclothe is still our fears -- Joe Williams

un·clothed [-'klōthd] -adj

  1. not clothed

un·cloud·ed [-'klau̇-dəd] -adj, adv

  1. not covered by clouds : not darkened or obscured : clear

un·club·ba·ble [,ən-'klə-bə-bəl] -adj

  1. unsociable

un·clut·ter [-'klə-tər] -vt

  1. to remove clutter from : make neat and orderly
    • unclutter the garage

un·clut·tered [-tərd] -adj

  1. not cluttered
    • an uncluttered desk

un·co ['əŋ-(,)kō, -kə] -adj

  1. strange, unknown
  2. uncanny, weird
  3. extraordinary

unco -adv

  1. extremely, remarkably, uncommonly
    • you keep your room unco hot -- R. L. Stevenson
  2. news, tidings
  3. stranger

un·cock [,ən-'käk] -vt

  1. to remove the hammer of (a firearm) from a cocked position

un·cof·fin [-'kȯ-fən] -vt

  1. to remove from or as if from a coffin

un·cof·fined [-fənd] -adj

  1. not placed in a coffin

un·coil [,ən-'kȯi(-ə)l] -vt

  1. to release from a coiled state : unwind
  2. to become uncoiled

un·coiled [-'kȯi(-ə)ld] -adj

  1. not coiled

un·coined [-'kȯind] -adj

  1. not minted
    • uncoined metal
  2. not fabricated : natural
    • plain and uncoined constancy -- Shak.

un·com·fort·able [,ən-'kəm(p)(f)-tə(r)-bəl, -'kəm(p)-fə(r)-tə-bəl, -'kəm-fə(r)-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. causing discomfort or annoyance
    • an uncomfortable chair
    • an uncomfortable performance
  2. feeling discomfort : uneasy
    • was uncomfortable with them

un·com·mer·cial [,ən-kə-'mər-shəl] -adj

  1. not engaged in or related to commerce
  2. not based on commercial principles
  3. not likely to result in financial success
    • an uncommercial book

un·com·mit·ted [,ən-kə-'mi-təd] -adj

  1. not committed
  2. not pledged to a particular belief, allegiance, or program
    • uncommitted voters

un·com·mon [,ən-'kä-mən] -adj, adv, n

  1. not ordinarily encountered : unusual
    • an uncommon plant
  2. remarkable, exceptional
    • a soldier of uncommon courage

un·com·mu·ni·ca·ble [,ən-kə-'myü-ni-kə-bəl] -adj

  1. incommunicable
    • uncommunicable grief

un·com·mu·ni·ca·tive [-'myü-nə-,kā-tiv, -ni-kə-tiv] -adj

  1. not disposed to talk or impart information : reserved

un·com·pet·i·tive [-'pe-tə-tiv] -adj, n

  1. not competitive : unable to compete

un·com·plain·ing [-'plā-niŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not complaining : patient
    • uncomplaining acceptance

un·com·pli·cat·ed [,ən-'käm-plə-,kā-təd] -adj

  1. not complicated by something outside itself
  2. not involving medical complications
    • an uncomplicated peptic ulcer
  3. not complex : simple
    • uncomplicated machinery

un·com·pli·men·ta·ry [,ən-,käm-plə-'men-tə-rē, -'men-trē] -adj

  1. not complimentary : derogatory
    • uncomplimentary remarks

un·com·pre·hend·ing [-pri-'hen-diŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not comprehending : lacking understanding

un·com·pro·mis·able [,ən-'käm-prə-,mī-zə-bəl] -adj

  1. not able to be compromised
    • uncompromisable ideals

un·com·pro·mis·ing [-,mī-ziŋ] -adj, adv, n

  1. not making or accepting a compromise : making no concessions : inflexible, unyielding

un·con·ceiv·able [,ən-kən-'sē-və-bəl] -adj

  1. inconceivable

un·con·cern [,ən-kən-'sərn] -n

  1. lack of care or interest : indifference
    • his unconcern for personal gain
  2. freedom from excessive concern or anxiety

un·con·cerned [-'sərnd] -adj, adv, n

  1. not involved : not having any part or interest
  2. not anxious or upset : free of worry

un·con·di·tion·al [,ən-kən-'dish-nəl, -'di-shə-nᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. not conditional or limited : absolute, unqualified
    • unconditional surrender
    • unconditional love
  2. unconditioned

un·con·di·tioned [-'di-shənd] -adj

  1. not subject to conditions or limitations
  2. not dependent on or subjected to conditioning or learning : natural
    • unconditioned responses
  3. producing an unconditioned response
    • unconditioned stimuli

un·con·form·able [-'fȯr-mə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. not conforming
  2. exhibiting geological unconformity

un·con·for·mi·ty [-'fȯr-mə-tē] -n

  1. lack of conformity
  2. lack of continuity in deposition between rock strata in contact corresponding to a period of nondeposition, weathering, or erosion
  3. the surface of contact between unconformable strata

un·con·ge·nial [-'jē-nyəl, -nē-əl] -adj, n

  1. not sympathetic or compatible
    • uncongenial roommates
  2. not fitted : unsuitable
    • a soil uncongenial to most crops
  3. not to one's taste : disagreeable
    • an uncongenial task

un·con·quer·able [,ən-'käŋ-k(ə-)rə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. incapable of being conquered : indomitable
    • an unconquerable will
  2. incapable of being surmounted
    • unconquerable difficulties

un·con·scio·na·ble [-'kän(t)-sh(ə-)nə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not guided or controlled by conscience : unscrupulous
    • an unconscionable villain
  2. excessive, unreasonable
    • found an unconscionable number of defects in the car
  3. shockingly unfair or unjust
    • unconscionable sales practices

un·con·scious [,ən-'kän(t)-shəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. not knowing or perceiving : not aware
  2. free from self-awareness
  3. not possessing mind or consciousness
    • unconscious matter
  4. not marked by conscious thought, sensation, or feeling
    • unconscious motivation
  5. of or relating to the unconscious
  6. having lost consciousness
    • was unconscious for three days
  7. not consciously held or deliberately planned or carried out
    • an unconscious bias

unconscious -n

  1. the part of mental life that does not ordinarily enter the individual's awareness yet may influence behavior and perception or be revealed (as in slips of the tongue or in dreams)

un·con·sid·ered [,ən-kən-'si-dərd] -adj

  1. not considered or worth consideration
  2. not resulting from consideration
    • unconsidered remarks

un·con·sol·i·dat·ed [-'sä-lə-,dā-təd] -adj

  1. loosely arranged
    • unconsolidated subsidiaries
  2. not stratified
    • unconsolidated soil

un·con·sti·tu·tion·al [,ən-,kän(t)-stə-'tü-shnəl, -'tyü-, -shə-nᵊl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not according or consistent with the constitution of a body politic (as a nation)
    • an unconstitutional infringement on rights

un·con·straint [,ən-kən-'strānt] -n

  1. freedom from constraint : ease
    • played the game with creative unconstraint -- E. M. Swift

un·con·struct·ed [-'strək-təd] -adj

  1. manufactured without added material for padding, stiffening, or shape retention

un·con·trol·la·ble [-'trō-lə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. free from control by a superior power : absolute
  2. incapable of being controlled : ungovernable
    • a rush of uncontrollable emotions

un·con·ven·tion·al [-'vench-nəl, -'ven(t)-shə-nᵊl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not conventional : not bound by or in accordance with convention : being out of the ordinary
    • an unconventional outfit
    • an unconventional thinker

un·con·vinc·ing [-'vin(t)-siŋ] -adj, adv, n

  1. not convincing : implausible
    • an unconvincing argument

un·cool [,ən-'kül] -adj

  1. lacking in assurance, sophistication, or self-control
  2. failing to accord with the values or styles (as of dress or behavior) of a particular group : not accepted or admired as cool or proper
    • driving an uncool car
    • an uncool remark

un·cork [,ən-'kȯrk] -vt

  1. to draw a cork from
    • uncork a bottle
  2. to release from a sealed or pent-up state
    • uncork a surprise
  3. to let go : release
    • uncork a wild pitch

un·corked [-'kȯrkt] -adj

  1. not provided with a cork

un·cor·set·ed [-'kȯr-sə-təd] -adj

  1. not wearing a corset
  2. not controlled or inhibited
    • uncorseted freedom

un·count·ed [-'kau̇n-təd] -adj

  1. not counted
  2. innumerable

un·cou·ple [-'kə-pəl] -vt, n

  1. to release (dogs) from a pair of joined collars
  2. detach, disconnect
    • uncouple railroad cars

un·couth [ən-'küth] -adj, adv, n

  1. not known or not familiar to one : seldom experienced : uncommon, rare
  2. mysterious, uncanny
  3. strange or clumsy in shape or appearance : outlandish
  4. lacking in polish and grace : rugged
    • uncouth verse
  5. awkward and uncultivated in appearance, manner, or behavior : rude

un·cov·er [-'kə-vər] -vt

  1. to make known : bring to light : disclose, reveal
    • uncover the truth
  2. to expose to view by removing some covering
  3. to take the cover from
  4. to remove the hat from
    • uncover ed his head
  5. to deprive of protection
  6. to remove a cover or covering
  7. to take off the hat as a token of respect

un·cov·ered [-vərd] -adj

  1. : not covered: as
  2. not supplied with a covering
  3. not covered by insurance or included in a social insurance or welfare program
  4. not covered by collateral
    • an uncovered note

un·cre·at·ed [,ən-krē-'ā-təd] -adj

  1. not existing by creation : eternal, self-existent
  2. not yet created

un·crit·i·cal [,ən-'kri-ti-kəl] -adj, adv

  1. not critical : lacking in discrimination
  2. showing lack or improper use of critical standards or procedures

un·cross [-'krȯs] -vt

  1. to change from a crossed position

un·crown [-'krau̇n] -vt

  1. to take the crown from : dethrone

un·crum·ple [-'krəm-pəl] -vt

  1. to restore to an original smooth condition

unc·tion ['əŋ(k)-shən] -n

  1. the act of anointing as a rite of consecration or healing
  2. something used for anointing : ointment, unguent
  3. religious or spiritual fervor or the expression of such fervor
  4. exaggerated, assumed, or superficial earnestness of language or manner : unctuousness

unc·tu·ous ['əŋ(k)-chə-wəs, -chəs, -shwəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. fatty, oily
  2. smooth and greasy in texture or appearance
  3. plastic
    • fine unctuous clay
  4. full of unction
  5. revealing or marked by a smug, ingratiating, and false earnestness or spirituality

un·curl [,ən-'kər(-ə)l] -vi

  1. to become straightened out from a curled or coiled position
  2. to straighten the curls of : unroll

un·cus ['əŋ-kəs] -n

  1. a hooked anatomical part or process

un·cut [,ən-'kət] -adj

  1. not cut down or cut into
  2. not shaped by cutting
    • an uncut diamond
  3. not having the folds of the leaves slit
  4. not abridged, curtailed, or expurgated
    • the film's uncut version
  5. not diluted or adulterated
    • uncut gin
    • uncut heroin

un·daunt·able [,ən-'dȯn-tə-bəl, -'dän-] -adj

  1. undaunted

un·daunt·ed [,ən-'dȯn-təd, -'dän-] -adj, adv

  1. courageously resolute esp. in the face of danger or difficulty : not discouraged

un·dead [,ən-'ded] -n

  1. vampire
  2. zombie

un·de·bat·able [,ən-di-'bā-tə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. not subject to debate : indisputable

un·de·ceive [,ən-di-'sēv] -vt

  1. to free from deception, illusion, or error

un·dec·y·le·nic acid [,ən-,de-sə-'le-nik-, -'lē-] -n

  1. a fatty acid C 11H 20O 2found in perspiration, obtained commercially from castor oil, and used esp. in the treatment of fungal infections (as ringworm) of the skin

un·dem·o·crat·ic [,ən-,de-mə-'kra-tik] -adj, adv

  1. not democratic : not agreeing with democratic practice or ideals

un·de·mon·stra·tive [,ən-di-'män(t)-strə-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. restrained in expression of feeling : reserved

un·de·ni·able [,ən-di-'nī-ə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. plainly true : incontestable
    • an undeniable fact
  2. unquestionably excellent or genuine
    • an applicant with undeniable references

un·der ['ən-dər] -adv

  1. in or into a position below or beneath something
  2. below or short of some quantity, level, or limit
    • 10 or under
    often used in combination
    • under staffed
  3. in or into a condition of subjection, subordination, or unconsciousness
    • put the patient under for surgery
  4. down to defeat, ruin, or death
    • weaker competitors will be forced under
  5. so as to be covered
    • buried under by the avalanche

under -prep

  1. below or beneath so as to be overhung, surmounted, covered, protected, or concealed by
    • under sunny skies
    • a soft heart under a stern exterior
    • under cover of darkness
  2. subject to the authority, control, guidance, or instruction of
    • served under the general
    • under the terms of the contract
    • a program that runs under any operating system
  3. receiving or undergoing the action or effect of
    • under pressure
    • courage under fire
    • under the influence of alcohol
    • the image of a point under a mapping
    • under oath
  4. within the group or designation of
    • under this heading
  5. having as name or title
    • traveling under an alias
  6. less or lower than (as in size, amount, or rank)
  7. falling short of a standard or required degree
    • under the legal age
    • under par
  8. lying or placed below, beneath, or on the ventral side often used in combination
    • under lip
  9. facing or protruding downward
  10. lower in rank or authority : subordinate
  11. lower than usual, proper, or desired in amount, quality, or degree often used in combination
    • an under -dose of medicine

un·der·achiev·er [,ən-dər-ə-'chē-vər] -n, vi

  1. one (as a student) that fails to attain a predicted level of achievement or does not do as well as expected

un·der·act [,ən-dər-'akt] -vt

  1. to perform (a dramatic part) with restraint for effect : underplay
  2. to perform feebly or with restraint

un·der·ac·tive [-'ak-tiv] -adj, n

  1. characterized by an abnormally low level of activity
    • an underactive thyroid gland

un·der·age [,ən-dər-'āj] -adj

  1. of less than mature or legal age
  2. done by or involving underage persons
    • underage drinking

un·der·ap·pre·ci·at·ed [,ən-dər-ə-'prē-shē-,ā-təd] -adj

  1. not duly appreciated

un·der·arm ['ən-dər-'ärm] -adj

  1. underhand
  2. placed under or on the underside of the arm
    • underarm seams
  3. underhand
  4. armpit
  5. the part of a garment that covers the underside of the arm

un·der·bel·ly ['ən-dər-,be-lē] -n

  1. a vulnerable area
  2. a corrupt or sordid part
    • probing the underbelly of the entertainment industry
  3. the underside of a body or mass

un·der·bid [,ən-dər-'bid] -vb, n

  1. to bid less than (a competing bidder)
  2. to bid (a hand of cards) at less than the strength of the hand warrants
  3. to bid too low

un·der·body ['ən-dər-,bä-dē] -n

  1. : the lower part of something: as
  2. the lower part of an animal's body : underparts
  3. the lower parts of the body of a vehicle

un·der·boss ['ən-dər-,bȯs] -n

  1. a boss ranking next below the head of a branch of a crime syndicate

un·der·bred [,ən-dər-'bred] -adj

  1. marked by lack of good breeding : ill-bred
    • a degree of underbred pride -- Emily Bronte

un·der·brim ['ən-dər-,brim] -n

  1. a facing on the underside of a hat brim

un·der·brush ['ən-dər-,brəsh] -n

  1. shrubs, bushes, or small trees growing beneath large trees in a wood or forest : brush
  2. a tangled, obstructing, or impeding mass

un·der·bud·get·ed [,ən-dər-'bə-jə-təd] -adj

  1. provided with an inadequate budget

un·der·cap·i·tal·ized [-'ka-pə-tə-,līzd, -'kap-tə-] -adj

  1. having too little capital for efficient operation
    • an undercapitalized business

un·der·card ['ən-dər-,kärd] -n

  1. a program (as of boxing matches) supporting the featured match

un·der·car·riage ['ən-dər-,ka-rij] -n

  1. a supporting framework or underside (as of an automobile)
  2. the landing gear of an airplane

un·der·charge [,ən-dər-'chärj] -vt, n

  1. to charge (as a person) too little

un·der·class ['ən-dər-,klas] -n

  1. the lowest social stratum usu. made up of disadvantaged minority groups

un·der·class·man [,ən-dər-'klas-mən] -n

  1. a member of the freshman or sophomore class in a school or college

un·der·clothes ['ən-dər-,klō(th)z] -n pl

  1. underwear

un·der·cloth·ing [-,klō-th] -n

  1. underwear

un·der·coat [-,kōt] -n

  1. a coat or jacket worn under another
  2. a growth of short hair or fur partly concealed by the longer and usu. coarser guard hairs of a mammal
  3. a coat (as of paint) applied as a base for another coat
  4. undercoating
  5. petticoat

un·der·coat·ing [-,kō-tiŋ] -n

  1. a usu. asphalt-based waterproof coating applied to the underside of a vehicle

un·der·cool [,ən-dər-'kül] -vt

  1. supercool

un·der·count [-'kau̇nt] -vt, n

  1. to count fewer than the actual number of

un·der·cov·er [-'kə-vər] -adj, adv

  1. acting or executed in secret
  2. employed or engaged in spying or secret investigation
    • an undercover agent

undercover -n

  1. a person engaged in undercover activity : spy

un·der·croft ['ən-dər-,krȯft] -n

  1. a subterranean room
  2. a vaulted chamber under a church

un·der·cur·rent [-,kər-ənt, -,kə-rənt] -n, adj

  1. a current below the upper currents or surface
  2. a hidden opinion, feeling, or tendency often contrary to the one publicly shown

un·der·cut [,ən-dər-'kət] -vb

  1. to cut away the underpart of
    • undercut a vein of ore
  2. to cut away material from the underside of (an object) so as to leave an overhanging portion in relief
  3. to offer to sell at lower prices than or to work for lower wages than (a competitor)
  4. to cut obliquely into (a tree) below the main cut and on the side toward which the tree will fall
  5. to strike (a ball) with a downward glancing blow so as to give a backspin or elevation to the shot
  6. to undermine or destroy the force, value, or effectiveness of
    • inflation undercut s consumer buying power
  7. to perform the action of cutting away beneath
  8. tenderloin
  9. the action or result of cutting away from the underside or lower part of something
  10. a notch cut in the base of a tree before felling to determine the direction of falling and to prevent splitting

un·der·de·vel·oped [,ən-dər-di-'ve-ləpt] -adj, n

  1. not normally or adequately developed
    • underdeveloped muscles
    • underdeveloped film
  2. having a relatively low economic level of industrial production and standard of living (as from lack of capital)
    • underdeveloped nations

un·der·di·ag·nose [,ən-dər-'dī-ig-,nōs, -,nōz; -,dī-ig-', -əg-] -vt, n

  1. to diagnose (a condition or disease) less often than it is actually present

un·der·dog ['ən-dər-,dȯg] -n

  1. a loser or predicted loser in a struggle or contest
  2. a victim of injustice or persecution

un·der·done [,ən-dər-'dən] -adj

  1. not thoroughly cooked : rare

un·der·draw·ers ['ən-dər-,drȯ(-ə)rz] -n pl

  1. an article of underwear for the lower body

un·der·draw·ing ['ən-dər-,drȯ-iŋ] -n

  1. a preliminary sketch made on a surface (as a canvas or panel) prior to painting

un·der·dress [,ən-dər-'dres] -vi

  1. to dress in overly or inappropriately simple or informal clothing
  2. to dress (as oneself) more simply or informally than is appropriate

un·der·ed·u·cat·ed [,ən-dər-'e-jə-,kā-təd] -adj

  1. poorly educated

un·der·em·pha·sis [,ən-dər-'em(p)-fə-səs] -n

  1. less emphasis than is possible or desirable

un·der·em·pha·size [-,sīz] -vt

  1. to fail to emphasize adequately

un·der·em·ployed [,ən-dər-im-'plȯid] -adj

  1. having less than full-time, regular, or adequate employment

un·der·em·ploy·ment [-'plȯi-mənt] -n

  1. the condition in which people in a labor force are employed at less than full-time or regular jobs or at jobs inadequate with respect to their training or economic needs
  2. the condition of being underemployed

un·der·es·ti·mate [,ən-dər-'es-tə-,māt] -vt, n

  1. to estimate as being less than the actual size, quantity, or number
  2. to place too low a value on : underrate

un·der·ex·ploit·ed [,ən-dər-ik-'splȯi-təd] -adj

  1. not fully or sufficiently utilized
    • an underexploited food source

un·der·ex·pose [,ən-dər-ik-'spōz] -vt, n

  1. to expose insufficiently
  2. to expose (as film) to insufficient radiation (as light)

un·der·feed [,ən-dər-'fēd] -vt

  1. to feed with too little food

un·der·fi·nanced [-fə-'nan(t)st, -'fī-,, -fī-'] -adj

  1. inadequately financed

un·der·foot [-'fu̇t] -adv

  1. under the foot esp. against the ground
    • trampled the flowers underfoot
  2. below, at, or before one's feet
    • warm sand underfoot
  3. in the way
    • children always getting underfoot

un·der·fund [-'fənd] -vt

  1. to provide insufficient funds for

un·der·fur ['ən-dər-,fər] -n

  1. an undercoat of fur esp. when thick and soft

un·der·gar·ment [-,gär-mənt] -n

  1. a garment to be worn under another

un·der·gird [,ən-dər-'gərd] -vt

  1. to make secure underneath
    • took measures to undergird the ship -- Acts 27:17(RSV)
  2. to form the basis or foundation of : strengthen, support
    • facts and statistics subtly undergird his commentary -- Susan Q. Stranahan

un·der·glaze ['ən-dər-,glāz] -adj, n

  1. applied or suitable for applying before the glaze is put on
    • underglaze decorations
    • underglaze colors

un·der·go [,ən-dər-'gō] -vt

  1. to submit to : endure
  2. to go through : experience
    • undergo a transformation
  3. undertake
  4. to partake of

un·der·grad ['ən-dər-,grad] -n

  1. undergraduate

un·der·grad·u·ate [,ən-dər-'gra-jə-wət, -,wāt; -'graj-wət] -n, adj

  1. a student at a college or university who has not received a first and esp. a bachelor's degree

un·der·ground [,ən-dər-'grau̇nd] -adv

  1. beneath the surface of the earth
  2. in or into hiding or secret operation

underground ['ən-dər-,grau̇nd] -n

  1. a subterranean space or channel
  2. an underground city railway system
  3. a movement or group organized in strict secrecy among citizens esp. in an occupied country for maintaining communications, popular solidarity, and concerted resistive action pending liberation
  4. a clandestine conspiratorial organization set up for revolutionary or other disruptive purposes esp. against a civil order
  5. an unofficial, unsanctioned, or illegal but informal movement or group
  6. a usu. avant-garde group or movement that functions outside the establishment

un·der·ground ['ən-dər-,grau̇nd] -adj

  1. being, growing, operating, or situated below the surface of the ground
  2. conducted by secret means
  3. existing outside the establishment
    • an underground literary reputation
  4. existing outside the purview of tax collectors or statisticians
    • the underground economy
  5. produced or published outside the establishment esp. by the avant-garde
    • underground movies
    • underground newspapers
  6. of or relating to the avant-garde underground
    • an underground moviemaker
    • an underground theater

un·der·ground·er ['ən-dər-,grau̇n-dər] -n

  1. a member of the underground

Underground Railroad -n

  1. a system of cooperation among active antislavery people in the U.S. before 1863 by which fugitive slaves were secretly helped to reach the North or Canada called also Underground Railway

un·der·growth ['ən-dər-,grōth] -n

  1. low growth on the floor of a forest including seedlings and saplings, shrubs, and herbs

un·der·hand ['ən-dər-,hand] -adv

  1. in a clandestine manner
  2. in a quiet or unobtrusive manner
  3. with an underhand motion
    • bowl underhand
    • pitch underhand

underhand -adj

  1. underhanded
  2. done so as to evade notice
  3. made with the hand brought forward and up from below the shoulder level
    • an underhand serve

un·der·hand·ed [,ən-dər-'han-dəd] -adv

  1. underhand

underhanded -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by secrecy, chicanery, and deception : not honest and aboveboard : sly
    • an underhanded attempt to gain power

un·der·in·flat·ed [,ən-dər-in-'flā-təd] -adj, n

  1. not sufficiently inflated
    • underinflated tires

un·der·in·sured [-'shu̇rd] -adj

  1. not sufficiently insured

un·der·in·vest·ment [,ən-dər-in-'ves(t)-mənt] -n

  1. an insufficient amount of investment

un·der·laid [,ən-dər-'lād] -adj

  1. laid or placed underneath
  2. having something laid or lying underneath

un·der·lay [-'lā] -vt

  1. to cover, line, or traverse the bottom of : give support to on the underside or below
  2. to raise or support by something laid under
  3. something that is or is designed to be laid under

un·der·lay·ment [,ən-dər-'lā-mənt] -n

  1. underlay

un·der·let [,ən-dər-'let] -vt

  1. to let below the real value
  2. sublet

un·der·lie [-'lī] -vt

  1. to be subject or amenable to
  2. to lie or be situated under
  3. to be at the basis of : form the foundation of : support
    • ideas underlying the revolution
  4. to exist as a claim or security superior and prior to (another)

un·der·line ['ən-dər-,līn, ,ən-dər-'] -vt

  1. to mark (as a word) with a line underneath
  2. to put emphasis on : stress
  3. to show clearly or emphatically
  4. the outline of a quadruped's underbody
  5. the ventral surface of a quadruped's body
  6. a horizontal line placed underneath something

un·der·ling ['ən-dər-liŋ] -n

  1. one who is under the orders of another : subordinate, inferior

un·der·lip [,ən-dər-'lip] -n

  1. the lower lip

un·der·ly·ing [,ən-dər-'lī-iŋ] -adj

  1. lying beneath or below
    • the underlying rock is shale
  2. basic, fundamental
    • an investigation of the underlying issues
  3. evident only on close inspection : implicit
  4. anterior and prior in claim
    • underlying mortgage
  5. of or being present in deep structure
    • underlying word order

un·der·ly·ing·ly [-'lī-iŋ-lē] -adv

  1. in deep structure

un·der·manned [,ən-dər-'mand] -adj

  1. inadequately staffed

un·der·mine [,ən-dər-'mīn] -vt

  1. to excavate the earth beneath : form a mine under : sap
  2. to wash away supporting material from under
  3. to subvert or weaken insidiously or secretly
    • trying to undermine his political rivals
  4. to weaken or ruin by degrees

un·der·most ['ən-dər-,mōst] -adj, adv

  1. lowest in relative position

un·der·neath [,ən-dər-'nēth] -prep

  1. directly beneath
    • write the date underneath the address
  2. close under esp. so as to be hidden
    • treachery lying underneath a mask of friendliness
    • wore a swimsuit underneath his slacks
  3. under subjection to

underneath -adv, adj

  1. under or below an object or a surface : beneath
  2. on the lower side

un·der·nour·ished [,ən-dər-'nər-isht, -'nə-risht] -adj, n

  1. supplied with less than the minimum amount of the foods essential for sound health and growth
  2. poorly supplied with vital elements or qualities
    • undernourished independent libraries

un·der·nu·tri·tion [-nu̇-'tri-shən, -nyu̇-] -n

  1. deficient bodily nutrition due to inadequate food intake or faulty assimilation

un·der·paint·ing ['ən-dər-,pān-tiŋ] -n

  1. preliminary painting
  2. such painting done on a canvas or panel and covered completely or partially by the final layers of paint

un·der·pants ['ən-dər-,pan(t)s] -n pl

  1. a usu. short undergarment for the lower torso : drawers

un·der·part [-,pärt] -n

  1. a part lying on the lower side (as of a bird or mammal)
  2. a subordinate or auxiliary part or role

un·der·pass [-,pas] -n

  1. a crossing of a highway and another way (as a road or railroad) at different levels
  2. the lower level of such a crossing

un·der·pay [,ən-dər-'pā] -vt, n

  1. to pay less than what is normal or required
    • underpay taxes

un·der·per·form [,ən-dər-pə(r)-'fȯrm] -vt, n

  1. to do worse than
  2. to fail to do as well as expected

un·der·pin [-'pin] -vt

  1. support, substantiate
    • underpin a thesis with evidence
  2. to form part of, strengthen, or replace the foundation of
    • underpin a structure
    • underpin a sagging building

un·der·pin·ning ['ən-dər-,pi-niŋ] -n

  1. the material and construction (as a foundation) used for support of a structure
  2. something that serves as a foundation : basis, support often used in pl.
    • the philosophical underpinning s of educational methods
  3. underwear usu. used in pl.
  4. a person's legs usu. used in pl.

un·der·plant [,ən-dər-'plant] -vt

  1. to fill around, under, or among with lower-growing plants
    • underplant a tree with pansies

un·der·play [,ən-dər-'plā] -vi

  1. to play a role with subdued force
  2. to act or present (as a role or a scene) with restraint : play down
  3. to play a card lower than (a held high card)

un·der·plot ['ən-dər-,plät] -n

  1. subplot

un·der·pop·u·lat·ed [,ən-dər-'pä-pyə-,lā-təd] -adj

  1. having a lower density of population than is normal or desirable

un·der·pow·ered [-'pau̇(-ə)rd] -adj

  1. driven by an engine of insufficient power
  2. having or supplied with insufficient power

un·der·pre·pared [-prə-'perd] -adj

  1. inadequately prepared

un·der·price [-'prīs] -vt

  1. to price below what is normal or below the real value
  2. to undercut (a competitor) in prices

un·der·priv·i·leged [-'priv-lijd, -'pri-və-] -adj

  1. deprived through social or economic condition of some of the fundamental rights of all members of a civilized society
  2. of or relating to underprivileged people
    • underprivileged areas of the city

un·der·pro·duc·tion [-prə-'dək-shən] -n

  1. the production of less than enough to satisfy the demand or of less than the usual amount

un·der·pub·li·cized [-'pə-blə-,sīzd] -adj

  1. insufficiently publicized

un·der·rate [,ən-də(r)-'rāt] -vt

  1. to rate too low : undervalue

un·der·re·act [-rē-'akt] -vi

  1. to react with less than appropriate force or intensity

un·der·re·port [-ri-'pȯrt] -vt

  1. to report to be less than is actually the case : understate
    • underreport s his income

un·der·rep·re·sent·ed [-,re-pri-'zen-təd] -adj, n

  1. inadequately represented

un·der·run [-'rən] -vt

  1. to pass along under in order to examine (a cable)
  2. to pass or extend under
  3. the amount by which something produced (as a cut of lumber) falls below an estimate

un·der·sat·u·rat·ed [,ən-dər-'sa-chə-,rā-təd] -adj

  1. less than normally or adequately saturated

un·der·score ['ən-dər-,skȯr] -vt

  1. to draw a line under : underline
  2. to make evident : emphasize, stress
    • arrived early to underscore the importance of the occasion
  3. to provide (action on film) with accompanying music

underscore -n

  1. a line drawn under a word or line esp. for emphasis or to indicate intent to italicize
  2. music accompanying the action and dialogue of a film

un·der·sea [,ən-dər-'sē] -adj

  1. being or carried on under the sea or under the surface of the sea
    • undersea oil deposits
    • undersea fighting
  2. designed for use under the surface of the sea
    • an undersea fleet

undersea [-'sēz] -adv

  1. under the sea : beneath the surface of the sea
    • photographs taken undersea

un·der·sec·re·tary [,ən-dər-'se-krə-,ter-ē, -'se-kə-] -n

  1. a secretary immediately subordinate to a principal secretary
    • undersecretary of health

un·der·sell [,ən-dər-'sel] -vt

  1. to sell articles cheaper than
    • undersell a competitor
    • we will not be undersold
  2. to sell cheaper than
    • imported cars that undersell domestic ones

un·der·served [-'sərvd] -adj

  1. provided with inadequate service

un·der·sexed [-'sekst] -adj

  1. deficient in sexual desire

un·der·shirt ['ən-dər-,shərt] -n, adj

  1. a collarless undergarment with or without sleeves

un·der·shoot [,ən-dər-'shüt] -vt

  1. to shoot short of or below (a target)
  2. to fall short of (a runway) in landing an airplane

un·der·shorts ['ən-dər-,shȯrts] -n pl

  1. underpants for men or boys

un·der·shot ['ən-dər-,shät] -adj

  1. moved by water passing beneath
    • an undershot wheel
  2. having the lower incisor teeth or lower jaw projecting beyond the upper when the mouth is closed

un·der·shrub ['ən-dər-,shrəb, esp Southern -,srəb] -n

  1. subshrub

un·der·side ['ən-dər-,sīd, ,ən-dər-'] -n

  1. the side or surface lying underneath
  2. a side usu. hidden from sight
  3. the more unpleasant or reprehensible side
    • the underside of politics

un·der·signed ['ən-dər-,sīnd] -n

  1. one whose name is signed at the end of a document
    • the undersigned all agree

un·der·sized [,ən-dər-'sīzd] -adj

  1. of a size less than is common, proper, normal, or average
    • undersized trout

un·der·skirt ['ən-dər-,skərt] -n

  1. a skirt worn under an outer skirt
  2. petticoat

un·der·slung [,ən-dər-'sləŋ] -adj

  1. suspended below the axles
  2. having a low center of gravity

un·der·spin ['ən-dər-,spin] -n

  1. backspin

un·der·staffed [,ən-dər-'staft] -adj, n

  1. inadequately staffed

un·der·stand [,ən-dər-'stand] -vb, n, adj

  1. to grasp the meaning of
    • understand Russian
  2. to grasp the reasonableness of
    • his behavior is hard to understand
  3. to have thorough or technical acquaintance with or expertness in the practice of
    • understand finance
  4. to be thoroughly familiar with the character and propensities of
    • understand s children
  5. to accept as a fact or truth or regard as plausible without utter certainty
    • we understand that he is returning from abroad
  6. to interpret in one of a number of possible ways
  7. to supply in thought as though expressed
    • to be married is commonly understood after the word engaged
  8. to have understanding : have the power of comprehension
  9. to achieve a grasp of the nature, significance, or explanation of something
  10. to believe or infer something to be the case
  11. to show a sympathetic or tolerant attitude toward something

un·der·stand·ably [,ən-dər-'stan-də-blē] -adv

  1. as can be easily understood : for understandable reasons
    • is understandably nervous

un·der·stand·ing [,ən-dər-'stan-diŋ] -n

  1. a mental grasp : comprehension
  2. the power of comprehending
  3. the capacity to apprehend general relations of particulars
  4. the power to make experience intelligible by applying concepts and categories
  5. friendly or harmonious relationship
  6. an agreement of opinion or feeling : adjustment of differences
  7. a mutual agreement not formally entered into but in some degree binding on each side
  8. explanation, interpretation
  9. sympathy

understanding [-'stan-diŋ-lē] -adj, adv

  1. knowing, intelligent
  2. endowed with understanding : tolerant, sympathetic
    • an understanding supervisor

un·der·state [,ən-dər-'stāt] -vt, n

  1. to represent as less than is the case
    • understate taxable income
  2. to state or present with restraint esp. for effect

un·der·stat·ed [-'stā-təd] -adj, adv

  1. avoiding obvious emphasis or embellishment
    • a powerful understated performance

un·der·steer ['ən-dər-,stir] -n, vi

  1. the tendency of an automobile to turn less sharply than the driver intends

un·der·stood [,ən-dər-'stu̇d] -adj

  1. fully apprehended
  2. agreed upon
  3. implicit

un·der·sto·ry ['ən-dər-,stȯr-ē] -n

  1. an underlying layer of vegetation
  2. the vegetative layer and esp. the trees and shrubs between the forest canopy and the ground cover
  3. the plants that form the understory

un·der·strap·per [-,stra-pər] -n

  1. a petty agent or subordinate : underling

un·der·strength [,ən-dər-'streŋ(k)th] -adj

  1. deficient in strength
  2. lacking sufficient or prescribed personnel

un·der·study ['ən-dər-,stə-dē, ,ən-dər-'] -vi

  1. to study another actor's part in order to substitute in an emergency
  2. to prepare (as a part) as understudy
  3. to prepare as understudy to (as an actor)
  4. one who is prepared to act another's part or take over another's duties

un·der·sup·ply [,ən-dər-sə-'plī] -n

  1. an inadequate supply or amount

un·der·sur·face ['ən-dər-,sər-fəs] -n

  1. underside
  2. existing or moving below the surface

un·der·take [,ən-dər-'tāk] -vb

  1. to take upon oneself : set about : attempt
    • undertake a task
    • undertake to learn to swim
  2. to put oneself under obligation to perform
  3. to accept as a charge or responsibility
    • the lawyer who undertook the case
  4. guarantee, promise
    • readily undertook that the letter should be securely conveyed -- Sir Walter Scott
  5. to give surety or assume responsibility

un·der·tak·er [,ən-dər-'tā-kər, 2 is 'ən-dər-,] -n

  1. one that undertakes : one that takes the risk and management of business : entrepreneur
  2. one whose business is to prepare the dead for burial and to arrange and manage funerals
  3. an Englishman taking over forfeited lands in Ireland in the 16th and 17th centuries

un·der·tak·ing ['ən-dər-,tā-kiŋ, ,ən-dər-'; 1b is 'ən-dər-, only] -n

  1. the act of one who undertakes or engages in a project or business
  2. the business of an undertaker
  3. something undertaken : enterprise
  4. pledge, guarantee

un·der·ten·ant ['ən-dər-,te-nənt] -n

  1. one who holds lands or tenements by a sublease

underthecounter -adj

  1. surreptitious and usu. irregular or illicit
    • underthecounter liquor sales

underthetable -adj

  1. covert and usu. unlawful
    • underthetable payoffs

un·der·throw ['ən-dər-,thrō] -vt

  1. to throw (a ball or pass) short of the intended receiver in football
  2. to throw a pass short of
    • underthrow a receiver

un·der·thrust [,ən-dər-'thrəst] -vt

  1. to insert (a faulted rock mass) into position under a passive rock mass

un·der·tone ['ən-dər-,tōn] -n

  1. a low or subdued utterance or accompanying sound
  2. a quality (as of emotion) underlying the surface of an utterance or action
  3. a subdued color
  4. a color seen through and modifying another color

un·der·tow [-,tō] -n

  1. the current beneath the surface that sets seaward or along the beach when waves are breaking upon the shore
  2. an underlying current, force, or tendency that is in opposition to what is apparent

un·der·treat [,ən-dər-'trēt] -vt

  1. to treat inadequately
    • undertreat a disease

un·der·trick [-,trik] -n

  1. any of the tricks by which a declarer in bridge falls short of making the contract

un·der·used [,ən-dər-'yüzd] -adj

  1. not fully used : having more potential than is currently being realized or utilized
    • underused land
    • an underused actress

un·der·uti·lize [,ən-dər-'yü-tə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to utilize less than fully or below the potential use

un·der·val·u·a·tion [,ən-dər-,val-yə-'wā-shən] -n

  1. the act of undervaluing
  2. a value below the real worth

un·der·val·ue [-'val-(,)yü] -vt

  1. to value, rate, or estimate below the real worth
    • undervalue stock
  2. to treat as having little value
    • was undervalued as a poet

un·der·wa·ter [,ən-dər-'wȯ-tər, -'wä-] -adj, adv

  1. lying, growing, worn, performed, or operating below the surface of the water
    • underwater plants
  2. being below the waterline of a ship

un·der·way [,ən-dər-'wā] -adj

  1. occurring, performed, or used while traveling or in motion
    • underway replenishment of fuel

under way -adv

  1. in motion : not at anchor or aground
  2. into motion from a standstill
  3. in progress : afoot
    • preparations were under way
    • the season got under way with a bang

un·der·wear ['ən-dər-,wer] -n

  1. clothing or an article of clothing worn next to the skin and under other clothing

under weigh -adv

  1. under way

un·der·weight [,ən-dər-'wāt] -n

  1. weight below normal, average, or requisite weight

underweight -adj

  1. weighing less than the normal or requisite amount

un·der·whelm [-'hwelm, -'welm] -vt

  1. to fail to impress or stimulate
    • the movie underwhelm ed most reviewers

un·der·wing ['ən-dər-,wiŋ] -n

  1. one of the posterior wings of an insect
  2. any of various noctuid moths (esp. genus Catocala) that have the hind wings banded with contrasting colors (as red and black) called also underwing moth
  3. the underside of a bird's wing

underwing -adj

  1. placed or growing underneath the wing
    • underwing rockets

un·der·wire ['ən-dər-,wī(-ə)r] -n

  1. a wire running through the bottom edge of a brassiere to aid in support

un·der·wood ['ən-dər-,wu̇d] -n

  1. undergrowth, underbrush

un·der·wool [-,wu̇l] -n

  1. short woolly underfur

un·der·world [-,wərld] -n

  1. the place of departed souls : hades
  2. earth
  3. the side of the earth opposite to one : antipodes
  4. a social sphere below the level of ordinary life
    • the town's seedy underworld
  5. the world of organized crime

un·der·write ['ən-də(r)-,rīt, ,ən-də(r)-'] -vb

  1. to write under or at the end of something else
  2. to set one's name to (an insurance policy) for the purpose of thereby becoming answerable for a designated loss or damage on consideration of receiving a premium percent : insure on life or property
  3. to assume liability for (a sum or risk) as an insurer
  4. to subscribe to : agree to
  5. to agree to purchase (as security issue) usu. on a fixed date at a fixed price with a view to public distribution
  6. to guarantee financial support of
    • underwrite a project
  7. to work as an underwriter

un·der·writ·er ['ən-də(r)-,rī-tər] -n

  1. one that underwrites : guarantor
  2. one that underwrites a policy of insurance : insurer
  3. one who selects risks to be solicited or rates the acceptability of risks solicited
  4. one that underwrites a security issue

un·de·scend·ed [,ən-di-'sen-dəd] -adj

  1. retained within the inguinal region rather than descending into the scrotum
    • an undescended testis

un·de·sign·ing [,ən-di-'zī-niŋ] -adj

  1. having no ulterior or fraudulent purpose : sincere
    • a child's undesigning honesty

un·de·sir·able [-'zī-rə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not desirable : unwanted
    • undesirable side effects

undesirable -n

  1. one that is undesirable

un·de·vi·at·ing [,ən-'dē-vē-,ā-tiŋ] -adj, adv

  1. keeping a true course : unswerving
    • served their country with undeviating loyalty and devotion

un·dies ['ən-dēz] -n pl

  1. underwear
  2. women's underwear

un·dine [,ən-'dēn, 'ən-,] -n

  1. an elemental being in the theory of Paracelsus inhabiting water : water nymph

un·dip·lo·mat·ic [,ən-,di-plə-'ma-tik] -adj, adv

  1. not diplomatic
  2. tactless

un·di·rect·ed [,ən-də-'rek-təd, -dī-] -adj

  1. not directed : not planned or guided
    • undirected efforts

un·dis·guised [,ən-dis-'gīzd] -adj, adv

  1. not disguised or concealed
    • undisguised impatience

un·dis·so·ci·at·ed [,ən-di-'sō-shē-,ā-təd, -sē-] -adj

  1. not electrolytically dissociated

un·do [,ən-'dü, 'ən-] -vb, n

  1. to open or loose by releasing a fastening
  2. to make of no effect or as if not done : make null : reverse
  3. to ruin the worldly means, reputation, or hopes of
    • a politician undone by scandal
  4. to disturb the composure of : upset
    • she's come undone
  5. seduce
  6. to come open or apart

un·dock [-'däk] -vi

  1. to move away from a dock (as at sailing time)
  2. uncouple
    • undock the shuttle from the space station

un·doc·u·ment·ed [ən-'dä-kyə-,men-təd] -adj

  1. : not documented: as
  2. not supported by documentary evidence
    • undocumented expenditures
  3. lacking documents required for legal immigration or residence
    • undocumented workers

un·dog·mat·ic [,ən-dȯg-'ma-tik, -däg-] -adj, adv

  1. not dogmatic : not committed to dogma

un·do·ing [-'dü-iŋ] -n

  1. an act of loosening : unfastening
  2. ruin
  3. a cause of ruin
    • greed was to prove his undoing
  4. annulment, reversal

un·done [-'dən] -adj

  1. not done : not performed or finished

un·dou·ble [,ən-'də-bəl] -vb

  1. unfold, unclench

un·dou·bled [-'də-bəld] -adj

  1. not doubled

un·doubt·ed [-'dau̇-təd] -adj, adv

  1. not doubted : genuine, undisputed
    • the undoubted truth
    • an undoubted friend

un·dra·mat·ic [,ən-drə-'ma-tik] -adj, adv

  1. lacking dramatic force or quality : unspectacular

un·drape [,ən-'drāp] -vt

  1. to strip of drapery : unveil

un·draw [-'drȯ] -vt

  1. to draw aside (as a curtain) : open

un·dreamed [-'drem(p)t, -'drēmd] -adj

  1. not dreamed : not thought of : unimagined
    • technical advances undreamed of a few years ago

un·dress [ən-'dres] -vt

  1. to remove the clothes or covering of : divest, strip
  2. expose, reveal
  3. to take off one's clothes : disrobe

undress -n

  1. : informal dress: as
  2. a loose robe or dressing gown
  3. ordinary dress
  4. the state of being undressed

un·dressed [,ən-'drest] -adj

  1. : not dressed: as
  2. partially, improperly, or informally clothed
  3. not fully processed or finished
    • undressed hides
  4. not cared for or tended
    • an undressed wound
    • undressed fields

un·drink·able [,ən-'driŋ-kə-bəl] -adj

  1. unsuitable or unpleasant to drink

un·drunk [-'drəŋk] -adj

  1. not swallowed

un·due [-'dü, -'dyü] -adj

  1. not due : not yet payable
  2. exceeding or violating propriety or fitness : excessive
    • undue force

un·du·lant ['ən-jə-lənt, 'ən-dyə-, 'ən-də-] -adj

  1. rising and falling in waves
  2. having a wavy form, outline, or surface
    • played her approach shot onto the undulant green

undulant fever -n

  1. a persistent human brucellosis marked esp. by remittent fever, weakness, headache, chills, and weight loss and contracted by contact with infected domestic animals or consumption of their products

un·du·late ['ən-jə-lət, 'ən-dyə-, 'ən-də-, -,lāt] -adj

  1. having a wavy surface, edge, or markings
    • the undulate margin of a leaf
  2. to form or move in waves : fluctuate
  3. to rise and fall in volume, pitch, or cadence
  4. to present a wavy appearance
  5. to cause to move in a wavy, sinuous, or flowing manner

un·du·la·tion [,ən-jə-'lā-shən, ,ən-dyə-, ,ən-də-] -n

  1. a rising and falling in waves
  2. a wavelike motion to and fro in a fluid or elastic medium propagated continuously among its particles but with little or no permanent translation of the particles in the direction of the propagation : vibration
  3. the pulsation caused by the vibrating together of two tones not quite in unison
  4. a wavy appearance, outline, or form : waviness

un·du·la·to·ry ['ən-jə-lə-,tȯr-ē, 'ən-dyə-, 'ən-də-] -adj

  1. of or relating to undulation : moving in or resembling waves : undulating

undulatory theory -n

  1. wave theory

un·du·ly [,ən-'dü-lē, -'dyü-] -adv

  1. in an undue manner : excessively
    • an unduly harsh punishment
    • unduly sensitive

un·du·ti·ful [-'dü-ti-fəl, -'dyü-] -adj, adv, n

  1. not dutiful

un·dy·ing [-'dī-iŋ] -adj

  1. not dying : immortal, perpetual

un·earned [-'ərnd] -adj

  1. not gained by labor, service, or skill
    • unearned income
  2. scored as a result of an error by the opposing team
    • an unearned run

unearned increment -n

  1. an increase in the value of property (as land) that is due to no labor or expenditure of the owner but to causes (as the increase of population) that create an increased demand for it

un·earth [,ən-'ərth] -vt

  1. to dig up out of or as if out of the earth : exhume
    • unearth treasure
    • unearth an old photo album
  2. to make known or public : bring to light
    • unearth a scandal

un·earth·ly [-lē] -adj, n

  1. : not earthly: as
  2. not mundane : ideal
    • unearthly love
  3. not terrestrial
    • unearthly radio sources
  4. preternatural, supernatural
    • an unearthly light
  5. weird, eerie
    • unearthly howls
  6. absurd, ungodly
    • gets up at an unearthly hour

un·ease [,ən-'ēz] -n

  1. : mental or spiritual discomfort: as
  2. vague dissatisfaction : misgiving
  3. anxiety, disquiet
  4. lack of ease (as in social relations) : embarrassment

un·eas·i·ly [-'ē-zə-lē] -adv

  1. in an uneasy manner

un·easy [-'ē-zē] -adj, n

  1. causing physical or mental discomfort
    • uneasy news of captures and killings -- Marjory S. Douglas
  2. not easy : difficult
  3. marked by lack of ease : awkward, embarrassed
    • gave an uneasy laugh
  4. apprehensive, worried
    • uneasy about the weather
  5. restless, unquiet
    • an uneasy night
  6. precarious, unstable
    • an uneasy truce

uneasy -adv

  1. uneasily

un·eco·nom·ic [,ən-,e-kə-'nä-mik, -,ē-kə-] -adj

  1. not economically practicable
    • uneconomic transportation routes
  2. costly, wasteful
    • an uneconomic nuclear technology

un·ed·it·ed [,ən-'e-də-təd] -adj

  1. : not edited: as
  2. left unrevised
  3. not yet edited
    • unedited books
    • unedited films

un·emo·tion·al [,ən-i-'mō-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. : not emotional: as
  2. not easily aroused or excited : cold
  3. involving a minimum of emotion : intellectual
    • an unemotional assessment

un·em·ploy·able [,ən-im-'plȯi-ə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. not acceptable for employment

un·em·ployed [-'plȯid] -adj, n

  1. : not employed:
  2. not being used
  3. not engaged in a gainful occupation
  4. not invested

un·em·ploy·ment [-'plȯi-mənt] -n

  1. the state of being unemployed : involuntary idleness of workers
  2. the rate of such unemployment
  3. unemployment compensation

unemployment compensation -n

  1. compensation paid at regular intervals (as by a government agency) to an unemployed worker and esp. one who has been laid off called also unemployment benefit

unemployment insurance -n

  1. social insurance against involuntary unemployment that provides unemployment compensation for a limited period to unemployed workers
  2. unemployment compensation

un·en·cum·bered [,ən-in-'kəm-bərd] -adj

  1. free of encumbrance

un·end·ing [,ən-'en-diŋ] -adj, adv

  1. never ending : endless

unEn·glish [,ən-'iŋ-glish also -'iŋ-lish] -adj

  1. not characteristically English
  2. not agreeing with standard or generally accepted usage of the English language

un·equal [,ən-'ē-kwəl] -adj, adv

  1. not of the same measurement, quantity, or number as another
  2. not like or not the same as another in degree, worth, or status
  3. not uniform : variable, uneven
  4. badly balanced or matched
    • an unequal contest
  5. contracted between unequals
    • unequal marriages
  6. not equable
  7. not equitable : unjust
  8. inadequate, insufficient
    • unequal to the task

unequal -n

  1. one that is not equal to another
  2. in an unequal manner
    • unequal match'd -- Shak.

un·equaled [-kwəld] -adj

  1. not equaled : unparalleled
    • an artist of unequaled talent

un·equiv·o·ca·bly [,ən-i-'kwi-və-kə-blē] -adv

  1. unequivocally

un·equiv·o·cal [,ən-i-'kwi-və-kəl] -adj

  1. leaving no doubt : clear, unambiguous
  2. unquestionable
    • production of unequivocal masterpieces -- Carole Cook

un·equiv·o·cal·ly [-kə-lē, -klē] -adv

  1. in an unequivocal manner

un·err·ing [,ən-'er-iŋ, ,ən-'ər-] -adj, adv

  1. committing no error : faultless, unfailing
    • unerring accuracy

UNESCO -abbr

  1. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

un·es·sen·tial [,ən-ə-'sen(t)-shəl] -adj

  1. not essential : dispensable, unimportant
  2. void of essence : insubstantial

unEu·ro·pe·an [,ən-,yu̇r-ə-'pē-ən] -adj

  1. not characteristically European

un·even [,ən-'ē-vən] -adj, adv, n

  1. unequal
  2. odd
  3. not even : not level or smooth : rugged, ragged
    • large uneven teeth
    • uneven handwriting
  4. varying from the straight or parallel
  5. not uniform : irregular
    • uneven combustion
  6. varying in quality
    • an uneven performance
  7. unequal
    • an uneven confrontation

un·event·ful [,ən-i-'vent-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by no noteworthy or untoward incidents : placid
    • an uneventful weekend

un·evolved [,ən-i-'välvd, -'vȯlvd] -adj

  1. : not evolved: as
  2. not fully developed
    • an unevolved wine
  3. lacking cultural refinement : unenlightened

un·ex·am·pled [,ən-ig-'zam-pəld] -adj

  1. having no example or parallel : unprecedented
    • his ardent attachment and...unexampled passion -- Jane Austen

un·ex·cep·tion·able [,ən-ik-'sep-sh(ə-)nə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not open to objection or criticism : beyond reproach : unimpeachable
    • unexceptionable integrity

un·ex·cep·tion·al [-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -adj

  1. not out of the ordinary : commonplace

un·ex·er·cised [,ən-'ek-sər-,sīzd] -adj

  1. having terms that are not implemented
    • unexercised options
  2. not subjected to exercise
    • unexercised muscles

un·ex·pect·ed [,ən-ik-'spek-təd] -adj, adv, n

  1. not expected : unforeseen

un·ex·ploit·ed [,ən-ik-'splȯi-təd] -adj

  1. not exploited or developed : not taken advantage of
    • unexploited resources

un·ex·pres·sive [,ən-ik-'spre-siv] -adj

  1. ineffable
  2. not expressive : failing to convey the feeling or meaning intended

un·fad·ing [,ən-'fā-diŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not losing color or freshness
  2. not losing value or effectiveness

un·fail·ing [,ən-'fā-liŋ] -adj, adv

  1. : not failing or liable to fail:
  2. constant, unflagging
    • unfailing courtesy
  3. everlasting, inexhaustible
    • a subject of unfailing interest
  4. infallible, sure
    • an unfailing test

un·fair [,ən-'fer] -adj, n

  1. marked by injustice, partiality, or deception : unjust
  2. not equitable in business dealings

un·fair·ly -adv

  1. in an unfair manner

un·faith [,ən-'fāth, 'ən-,] -n

  1. absence of faith : disbelief

un·faith·ful [,ən-'fāth-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. : not faithful:
  2. not adhering to vows, allegiance, or duty : disloyal
    • an unfaithful friend
  3. not faithful to marriage vows
    • suspected her husband of being unfaithful
  4. inaccurate, untrustworthy
    • an unfaithful copy of a document

un·fall·en [,ən-'fȯ-lən] -adj

  1. not morally fallen : innocent

un·fal·si·fi·able [,ən-,fȯl-sə-'fī-ə-bəl] -adj

  1. not capable of being proved false
    • unfalsifiable hypotheses

un·fal·ter·ing [,ən-'fȯl-t(ə-)riŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not wavering or weakening : firm
    • unfaltering loyalty

un·fa·mil·iar [,ən-fə-'mil-yər] -adj, n, adv

  1. : not familiar:
  2. not well-known : strange
    • an unfamiliar place
  3. not well acquainted
    • unfamiliar with the subject

un·fash·ion·able [-'fa-sh(ə-)nə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not in keeping with the current fashion
    • unfashionable clothes
  2. not favored socially
    • unfashionable neighborhoods

un·fas·ten [-'fa-sᵊn] -vt

  1. : to make loose: as
  2. unpin, unbuckle
  3. undo
    • unfasten a button
  4. detach
    • unfasten a boat from its moorings

un·fa·thered [-'fä-thərd] -adj

  1. having no father : illegitimate, bastard
  2. having no known origin
    • unfathered slanders

un·fath·om·able [-'fa-thə-mə-bəl] -adj

  1. : not capable of being fathomed:
  2. immeasurable
  3. impossible to comprehend

un·fa·vor·able [,ən-'fā-v(ə-)rə-bəl, -'fā-vər-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. opposed, contrary
  2. expressing disapproval : negative
    • unfavorable reviews
  3. not propitious : disadvantageous
    • an unfavorable business climate
  4. not pleasing
    • an unfavorable feature of the plan

un·fa·vor·ite [-'fā-v(ə-)rət, -'fā-vərt] -adj

  1. not being a favorite
  2. being regarded with special disfavor or dislike

un·fazed [,ən-'fāzd] -adj

  1. not fazed : undaunted

un·feel·ing [-'fē-liŋ] -adj, adv, n

  1. devoid of feeling : insensate
    • an unfeeling corpse
  2. devoid of kindness or sympathy : hardhearted, cruel
    • an unfeeling brute

un·feigned [-'fānd] -adj, adv

  1. not feigned or hypocritical : genuine

un·fet·ter [-'fe-tər] -vt

  1. to free from fetters
    • unfetter a prisoner
  2. emancipate, liberate
    • unfetter the mind from prejudice

un·fet·tered [-tərd] -adj

  1. free, unrestrained
    • unfettered access

un·fil·ial [,ən-'fi-lē-əl, -'fil-yəl] -adj, adv

  1. not observing the obligations of a child to a parent : undutiful

un·fil·tered [,ən-'fil-tərd] -adj

  1. not filtered
    • unfiltered wine
  2. not modified, processed, or refined
    • unfiltered commercial publicity material -- Paul Grimes
  3. lacking a filter
    • an unfiltered cigarette

un·find·able [,ən-'fīn-də-bəl] -adj

  1. not capable of being found

un·fin·ished [-'fi-nisht] -adj

  1. : not finished:
  2. not brought to an end or to the desired final state
  3. being in a rough state : unpolished
  4. subjected to no other processes (as bleaching or dyeing) after coming from the loom

un·fit [-'fit] -adj, adv, n

  1. : not fit:
  2. not adapted to a purpose : unsuitable
  3. not qualified : incapable, incompetent
  4. physically or mentally unsound

unfit -vt

  1. to make unfit : disable, disqualify

un·fit·ted [,ən-'fi-təd] -adj

  1. not adapted : unqualified

un·fit·ting [-'fi-tiŋ] -adj

  1. not fitting : unsuitable

un·fix [-'fiks] -vt

  1. to loosen from a fastening : detach, disengage
  2. to make unstable : unsettle

un·flag·ging [-'fla-giŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not flagging : tireless
    • unflagging enthusiasm
  2. unrelenting

un·flap·pa·ble [-'fla-pə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. marked by assurance and self-control

un·flat·ter·ing [-'fla-tə-riŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not flattering
    • an unflattering portrait
  2. unfavorable
    • unflattering remarks

un·fledged [,ən-'flejd] -adj

  1. not feathered : not ready for flight
  2. not fully developed : immature
    • an unfledged writer

un·flinch·ing [-'flin-chiŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not flinching or shrinking : steadfast, uncompromising
    • unflinching determination

un·fo·cused [-'fō-kəst] -adj

  1. not adjusted to a focus
  2. not concentrated on one point or objective
    • unfocused rage

un·fold [-'fōld] -vt, n

  1. to open the folds of : spread or straighten out : expand
    • unfold ed the map
  2. to remove (as a package) from the folds : unwrap
  3. to open to the view : reveal
  4. to make clear by gradual disclosure and often by recital
  5. to open from a folded state : open out : expand
  6. blossom
  7. develop, evolve
    • as the story unfold s
  8. to open out gradually to the view or understanding : become known
    • a panorama unfold s before their eyes

un·fold·ed [-'fōl-dəd] -adj

  1. not folded

un·for·get·ta·ble [,ən-fər-'ge-tə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. incapable of being forgotten : memorable

un·for·giv·ing [,ən-fər-'gi-viŋ] -adj, n

  1. unwilling or unable to forgive
  2. having or making no allowance for error or weakness
    • an unforgiving environment where false moves can prove fatal -- Jaclyn Fierman

un·formed [-'fȯrmd] -adj

  1. not arranged in regular shape, order, or relations
  2. immature, undeveloped

un·for·tu·nate [-'fȯrch-nət, -'fȯr-chə-] -adj

  1. not favored by fortune : unsuccessful, unlucky
    • an unfortunate young man
  2. marked or accompanied by or resulting in misfortune
    • an unfortunate decision
  3. infelicitous, unsuitable
    • an unfortunate choice of words
  4. deplorable, regrettable
    • an unfortunate lack of taste

unfortunate -n

  1. an unfortunate person

un·for·tu·nate·ly [-lē] -adv

  1. in an unfortunate manner
    • the marriage turned out unfortunately
  2. it is unfortunate
    • unfortunately for him your letter has let the cat out of the bag -- G. B. Shaw

un·found·ed [,ən-'fau̇n-dəd] -adj

  1. lacking a sound basis : groundless, unwarranted
    • an unfounded accusation

un·freeze [-'frēz] -vt

  1. to cause to thaw
  2. to remove from a freeze
    • unfreeze wages

un·fre·quent·ed [,ən-frē-'kwen-təd; ,ən-'frē-kwən-] -adj

  1. not often visited or traveled over

un·friend·ed [,ən-'fren-dəd] -adj

  1. having no friends : not befriended

un·friend·li·ness [-'fren(d)-lē-nəs] -n

  1. the quality or state of being unfriendly : hostility

un·friend·ly [-'fren(d)-lē] -adj

  1. : not friendly: as
  2. hostile, unsympathetic
    • an unfriendly nation
  3. inhospitable, unfavorable
    • conditions unfriendly to new businesses

un·frock [-'fräk] -vt

  1. defrock

un·froz·en [-'frō-zᵊn] -adj

  1. not frozen
    • unfrozen ground

un·fruit·ful [-'früt-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. : not fruitful: as
  2. not producing offspring : barren
  3. yielding no valuable result : unprofitable
    • an unfruitful conference

un·fund·ed [-'fən-dəd] -adj

  1. not funded : floating
    • an unfunded debt
  2. not provided with funds
    • unfunded schools

un·furl [-'fər(-ə)l] -vt

  1. to release from a furled state
  2. to open out from or as if from a furled state : unfold

un·fussy [-'fə-sē] -adj, adv

  1. : not fussy: as
  2. not particular : unconcerned
  3. not cluttered with pretentious or nonessential matters : uncomplicated
    • unfussy designs

un·gain·ly [-'gān-lē] -adj, n

  1. lacking in smoothness or dexterity : clumsy
    • ungainly movements
  2. hard to handle : unwieldy
    • an ungainly contraption
  3. having an awkward appearance
    • a large ungainly bird

un·gen·er·os·i·ty [,ən-,je-nə-'rä-sə-tē, -'räs-tē] -n

  1. lack of generosity

un·gen·er·ous [,ən-'jen-rəs, -'je-nə-] -adj, adv

  1. : not generous:
  2. petty, mean
    • ungenerous criticisms
  3. deficient in liberality : stingy
    • an ungenerous offer

un·gird [-'gərd] -vt

  1. to divest of a restraining band or girdle : unbind

un·girt [-'gərt] -adj

  1. having the belt or girdle off or loose
  2. lacking in discipline or compactness : loose, slack

un·glue [-'glü] -vt

  1. to separate by or as if by dissolving an adhesive

un·glued [-'glüd] -adj

  1. upset, disordered usu. used with come
    • chief executives came unglued at the thought of a strike -- H. E. Meyer

un·god·li·ness [,ən-'gäd-lē-nəs also -'gȯd-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being ungodly

un·god·ly [-lē] -adj

  1. denying or disobeying God : impious, irreligious
  2. contrary to moral law : sinful, wicked
  3. outrageous
    • gets up at an ungodly hour

un·got·ten [-'gä-tᵊn] -adj

  1. not begotten
  2. not obtained

un·gov·ern·able [-'gə-vər-nə-bəl] -adj

  1. not capable of being governed, guided, or restrained

un·gra·cious [-'grā-shəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. wicked
  2. not courteous : rude
    • ungracious treatment
  3. not pleasing : disagreeable
    • an ungracious task

un·gram·mat·i·cal [,ən-grə-'ma-ti-kəl] -adj, n

  1. not following rules of grammar

un·grate·ful [,ən-'grāt-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. showing no gratitude : making a poor return
    • an ungrateful child
  2. disagreeable
  3. thankless

un·grudg·ing [-'grə-jiŋ] -adj, adv

  1. being without envy or reluctance
    • ungrudging efforts

un·gual ['əŋ-gwəl, 'ən-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or resembling a nail, claw, or hoof

un·guard [,ən-'gärd] -vt

  1. to leave unprotected

un·guard·ed [-'gär-dəd] -adj, adv, n

  1. vulnerable to attack : unprotected
  2. free from guile or wariness : direct, incautious
    • unguarded remarks

un·guent ['əŋ-gwənt, 'ən-; 'ən-jənt] -n

  1. a soothing or healing salve : ointment

un·gu·late ['əŋ-gyə-lət, 'ən-, -,lāt] -adj

  1. having hooves
  2. of or relating to the ungulates

ungulate -n

  1. a hoofed typically herbivorous quadruped mammal (as an artiodactyl or a perissodactyl) of a group formerly considered a major mammalian taxon (Ungulata)

un·hair [,ən-'her] -vt

  1. to deprive of hair

un·hal·low [-'ha-(,)lō] -vt

  1. to make profane

un·hal·lowed [-(,)lōd] -adj

  1. not blessed : unconsecrated, unholy
    • unhallowed ground
  2. unsanctioned by or showing lack of reverence for religion : impious, profane
  3. contrary to accepted standards : immoral

un·hand [,ən-'hand] -vt

  1. to remove the hand from : let go

un·hand·some [-'han(t)-səm] -adj, adv

  1. : not handsome: as
  2. not beautiful : homely
  3. unbecoming, unseemly
  4. lacking in courtesy or taste : rude

un·handy [-'han-dē] -adj, adv, n

  1. hard to handle : inconvenient
  2. lacking in skill or dexterity : awkward

un·hap·pi·ly [,ən-'ha-pə-lē] -adv

  1. unfortunately
    • unhappily, medicine has not yet found a cure -- Diana Trilling
  2. in an unhappy manner : without pleasure
    • practiced law unhappily for a few years

un·hap·py [-'ha-pē] -adj, n

  1. not fortunate : unlucky
    • an unhappy coincidence
  2. not cheerful or glad : sad, wretched
  3. causing or subject to misfortune : inauspicious
  4. infelicitous, inappropriate
    • an unhappy choice

un·har·ness [-'här-nəs] -vt

  1. to remove a harness from
    • unharness a horse

un·healthy [-'hel-thē] -adj, adv, n

  1. not conducive to health
    • an unhealthy climate
  2. not in good health : sickly, diseased
  3. dangerous, risky
  4. bad, injurious
  5. morally contaminated : corrupt, unwholesome
    • an unhealthy imagination

un·heard [-'hərd] -adj

  1. not perceived by the ear
  2. not given a hearing
  3. unheard-of

un·heardof [-,əv, -,äv] -adj

  1. previously unknown
  2. unprecedented
    • moving at unheardof speeds

un·hes·i·tat·ing [-'he-zə-,tā-tiŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not hesitating : not checked or qualified

un·hinge [-'hinj] -vt

  1. to make unstable : unsettle, disrupt
    • unhinge the balance of world peace
    • pressure that would unhinge a less experienced person
  2. to remove (as a door) from the hinges

un·hinged [-'hinjd] -adj

  1. upset, unglued
  2. mentally deranged
    • attacked by an unhinged extremist

un·hitch [-'hich] -vt

  1. to free from or as if from being hitched

un·ho·ly [,ən-'hō-lē] -adj, n

  1. showing disregard for what is holy : wicked
  2. deserving of censure
    • an unholy alliance
  3. very unpleasant : god-awful
    • an unholy mess

un·hood [-'hu̇d] -vt

  1. to remove a hood or covering from

un·hook [-'hu̇k] -vt

  1. to remove from a hook
  2. to unfasten by disengaging a hook
  3. to free from a habit or dependency

un·hoped [-'hōpt] -adj

  1. not hoped for or expected

un·horse [-'hȯrs] -vt

  1. to dislodge from or as if from a horse

un·hou·seled [-'hau̇-zəld] -adj

  1. not having received the Eucharist esp. shortly before death

un·hur·ried [-'hər-ēd, -'hə-rēd] -adj, adv

  1. not hurried : leisurely
    • an unhurried pace

uni- -prefix

  1. one : single
    • uni cellular

uni·al·gal [,yü-nē-'al-gəl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or derived from a single algal individual or cell
    • a unialgal culture

Uni·ate ['yü-nē-,at, 'ü-] -n, adj

  1. a Christian of a church adhering to an Eastern rite and discipline but submitting to papal authority

uni·ax·i·al [,yü-nē-'ak-sē-əl] -adj

  1. having only one axis
  2. of or relating to only one axis

uni·brow ['yü-nə-,brau̇] -n

  1. a single continuous brow resulting from the growing together of eyebrows

uni·cam·er·al [,yü-ni-'kam-rəl, -'ka-mə-] -adj, adv

  1. having or consisting of a single legislative chamber

UNICEF -abbr

  1. United Nations Children's Fund

uni·cel·lu·lar [,yü-ni-'sel-yə-lər] -adj

  1. having or consisting of a single cell
    • unicellular microorganisms

uni·corn ['yü-nə-,kȯrn] -n

  1. a mythical animal generally depicted with the body and head of a horse, the hind legs of a stag, the tail of a lion, and a single horn in the middle of the forehead

unicorn plant -n

  1. devil's claw

uni·cy·cle ['yü-ni-,sī-kəl] -n

  1. a vehicle that has a single wheel and is usu. propelled by pedals

uni·di·men·sion·al [,yü-ni-də-'mench-nəl, -'men(t)-sh(ə-)nᵊl also -,dī-] -adj, n

  1. one-dimensional

uni·di·rec·tion·al [,yü-ni-də-'rek-shnəl, -dī-, -shə-nᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. involving, functioning, moving, or responsive in a single direction
    • a unidirectional microphone
  2. not subject to change or reversal of direction

unidirectional current -n

  1. direct current

uni·fi·ca·tion [,yü-nə-fə-'kā-shən] -n

  1. the act, process, or result of unifying : the state of being unified

uni·fo·li·ate [-'fō-lē-ət] -adj

  1. having only one leaf
  2. unifoliolate

uni·fo·li·o·late [-'fō-lē-ə-,lāt] -adj

  1. compound but having only a single leaflet and distinguishable from a simple leaf by the basal joint

uni·form ['yü-nə-,fȯrm] -adj, adv, n

  1. having always the same form, manner, or degree : not varying or variable
    • uniform procedures
  2. consistent in conduct or opinion
    • uniform interpretation of laws
  3. of the same form with others : conforming to one rule or mode : consonant
  4. presenting an unvaried appearance of surface, pattern, or color
    • uniform red brick houses
  5. relating to or being convergence of a series whose terms are functions in such manner that the absolute value of the difference between the sum of the first nterms of the series and the sum of all terms can be made arbitrarily small for all values of the domain of the functions by choosing the nth term sufficiently far along in the series

uniform -vt

  1. to bring into uniformity
  2. to clothe with a uniform
  3. dress of a distinctive design or fashion worn by members of a particular group and serving as a means of identification
  4. distinctive or characteristic clothing

Uniform

  1. a communications code word for the letter u

uni·for·mi·tar·i·an [,yü-nə-,fȯr-mə-'ter-ē-ən] -n, adj

  1. an adherent of the doctrine of uniformitarianism
  2. an advocate of uniformity

uni·for·mi·tar·i·an·ism [-ē-ə-,ni-zəm] -n

  1. a geological doctrine that processes acting in the same manner as at present and over long spans of time are sufficient to account for all current geological features and all past geological changes

uni·for·mi·ty [,yü-nə-'fȯr-mə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being uniform
  2. an instance of uniformity

uniform resource locator -n

  1. url

uni·fy ['yü-nə-,fī] -vt, adj, n

  1. to make into a unit or a coherent whole : unite

uni·lat·er·al [,yü-ni-'la-tə-rəl, -'la-trəl] -adj, adv

  1. done or undertaken by one person or party
  2. of, relating to, or affecting one side of a subject : one-sided
  3. constituting or relating to a contract or engagement by which an express obligation to do or forbear is imposed on only one party
  4. having parts arranged on one side
    • a unilateral raceme
  5. occurring on, performed on, or affecting one side of the body or one of its parts
    • unilateral exophthalmos
  6. unilineal
  7. having only one side

uni·lat·er·al·ism [,yü-ni-'la-t(ə-)rə-,li-zəm] -n, n or adj

  1. a policy of taking unilateral action (as in international affairs) regardless of outside support or reciprocity
  2. advocacy of such a policy

uni·lin·e·al [-'li-nē-əl] -adj

  1. tracing descent through either the maternal or paternal line only

uni·lin·e·ar [,yü-ni-'li-nē-ər] -adj

  1. developing in or involving a series of stages usu. from the primitive to the more advanced

uni·lin·gual [,yü-ni-'liŋ-gwəl, -gyə-wəl] -adj

  1. composed in or using one language only

un·il·lu·sioned [,ən-i-'lü-zhənd] -adj

  1. free from illusion

uni·loc·u·lar [,yü-ni-'lä-kyə-lər] -adj

  1. containing a single cavity

un·imag·in·able [,ən-ə-'maj-nə-bəl, -'ma-jə-] -adj, adv

  1. not imaginable or comprehensible
    • unimaginable horror

un·im·peach·able [,ən-im-'pē-chə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. : not impeachable: as
  2. reliable beyond a doubt
    • unimpeachable evidence
    • an unimpeachable source
  3. not liable to accusation : irreproachable
    • an unimpeachable reputation

un·im·proved [-'prüvd] -adj

  1. not reproved or admonished

unimproved -adj

  1. : not improved: as
  2. not tilled, built on, or otherwise improved for use
    • unimproved land
  3. not used or employed advantageously
    • unimproved opportunities
  4. not selectively bred for better quality or productiveness

un·in·hib·it·ed [,ən-in-'hi-bə-təd] -adj, adv, n

  1. free from inhibition
    • uninhibited exuberance
  2. boisterously informal
    • a festive uninhibited party

un·ini·tiate [,ən-ə-'ni-sh(ē-)ət] -adj, n

  1. not initiated : inexperienced

un·in·stall [,ən-in-'stȯl] -vt

  1. to remove (software) from a computer system esp. by using a specially designed program

un·in·ter·est [,ən-'in-trəst; -'in-tə-rəst, -tə-,rest, -tərst; -'in-,trest] -n

  1. lack of interest

uninterested -adj

  1. not interested : not having the mind or feelings engaged

uni·nu·cle·ate [,yü-ni-'nü-klē-ət, -'nyü-] -adj

  1. having a single nucleus
    • a uninucleate yeast cell

union ['yün-yən] -n

  1. : an act or instance of uniting or joining two or more things into one: as
  2. the formation of a single political unit from two or more separate and independent units
  3. a uniting in marriage
  4. sexual intercourse
  5. the growing together of severed parts
  6. a unified condition : combination, junction
    • a gracious union of excellence and strength
  7. : something that is made one : something formed by a combining or coalition of parts or members: as
  8. a confederation of independent individuals (as nations or persons) for some common purpose
  9. a political unit constituting an organic whole formed usu. from units which were previously governed separately (as England and Scotland in 1707) and which have surrendered or delegated their principal powers to the government of the whole or to a newly created government (as the U.S. in 1789)
  10. the federal union of states during the period of the American Civil War
  11. an organization on a college or university campus providing recreational, social, cultural, and sometimes dining facilities
  12. the building housing such an organization
  13. the set of all elements belonging to one or more of a given collection of two or more sets called also join sum
  14. labor union
  15. a device emblematic of the union of two or more sovereignties borne on a national flag typically in the upper inner corner or constituting the whole design of the flag
  16. the upper inner corner of a flag
  17. any of various devices for connecting parts (as of a machine)
  18. a coupling for pipes or pipes and fittings
  19. of, relating to, dealing with, or constituting a union
  20. of, relating to, or being the side favoring the Union in the American Civil War
    • Union troops

union card -n

  1. a card certifying personal membership in good standing in a labor union
  2. something that resembles a union card esp. in being necessary for employment or in providing evidence of in-group status

union church -n

  1. a local church uniting members of diverse denominational backgrounds in an interdenominational congregation

un·ion·i·sa·tion [,yün-yə-nə-'zā-shən] -n

(variant of unionization)

  1. the quality or state of being unionized
  2. the action of unionizing

union·ism ['yün-yə-,ni-zəm] -n

  1. : the principle or policy of forming or adhering to a union: as
  2. adherence to the policy of a firm federal union between the states of the United States esp. during the Civil War period
  3. the principles, theory, advocacy, or system of trade unions

union·ist [-nist] -n

  1. an advocate or supporter of union or unionism

union·i·za·tion [,yün-yə-nə-'zā-shən] -n

  1. the quality or state of being unionized
  2. the action of unionizing

union·ize ['yün-yə-,nīz] -vb

  1. to organize into a labor union
  2. to form or join a labor union

unionized -adj

  1. characterized by the presence of labor unions

union jack -n

  1. a jack consisting of the union of a national ensign
  2. the state flag of the United Kingdom consisting of the union of the British national ensign

union shop -n

  1. an establishment in which the employer by agreement is free to hire nonmembers as well as members of the union but retains nonmembers on the payroll only on condition of their becoming members of the union within a specified time

union suit -n

  1. an undergarment with shirt and drawers in one piece

union territory -n

  1. a centrally administered subdivision of India

uni·pa·ren·tal [,yü-ni-pə-'ren-tᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. having, involving, or derived from a single parent
  2. involving or being inheritance in which all or part of an offspring's genotype (as both members of a pair of homologous chromosomes) is derived from a single parent

uni·po·lar [,yü-ni-'pō-lər] -adj

  1. relating to, affected with, or being a manic-depressive disorder in which there is only a depressive phase
    • unipolar depression

unique [yu̇-'nēk] -adj, adv, n

  1. being the only one : sole
    • his unique concern was his own comfort
    • I can't walk away with a unique copy. Suppose I lost it? -- Kingsley Amis
    • the unique factorization of a number into prime factors
  2. being without a like or equal : unequaled
    • could stare at the flames, each one new, violent, unique -- Robert Coover
  3. distinctively characteristic : peculiar
    • this is not a condition unique to California -- Ronald Reagan
  4. unusual
    • a very unique ball-point pen
    • we were fairly unique, the sixty of us, in that there wasn't one good mixer in the bunch -- J. D. Salinger

uni·sex ['yü-nə-,seks] -n

  1. the state or condition of not being distinguishable (as by hair or clothing) as to sex

unisex -adj

  1. not distinguishable as male or female
    • a unisex face
  2. suitable or designed for both males and females
    • unisex clothes

uni·sex·u·al [,yü-nə-'sek-sh(ə-)wəl, -shəl] -adj, n

  1. : of, relating to, or restricted to one sex:
  2. male or female but not hermaphroditic
  3. diclinous
    • a unisexual flower
  4. unisex

uni·son ['yü-nə-sən, -nə-zən] -n, adj

  1. identity in musical pitch
  2. the interval of a perfect prime
  3. the state of being so tuned or sounded
  4. the writing, playing, or singing of parts in a musical passage at the same pitch or in octaves
  5. a harmonious agreement or union : concord

unit ['yü-nət] -n

  1. the first and least natural number : one
  2. a single quantity regarded as a whole in calculation
  3. : a determinate quantity (as of length, time, heat, or value) adopted as a standard of measurement: as
  4. an amount of work used in education in calculating student credits
  5. an amount of a biologically active agent (as a drug or antigen) required to produce a specific result
  6. a single thing, person, or group that is a constituent of a whole
  7. a part of a military establishment that has a prescribed organization (as of personnel and materiel)
  8. a piece or complex of apparatus serving to perform one particular function
  9. a part of a school course focusing on a central theme
  10. a local congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses
  11. a small molecule esp. when combined in a larger molecule
    • repeating unit s of a polymer
  12. an area in a medical facility and esp. a hospital that is specially staffed and equipped to provide a particular type of care
    • an intensive care unit
  13. being, relating to, or measuring one unit

unit·age ['yü-nə-tij] -n

  1. specifications of the amount constituting a unit
  2. amount in units

uni·tard ['yü-nə-,tärd] -n

  1. a close-fitting one-piece garment for the torso and legs and often for the arms and feet

uni·tar·i·an [,yü-nə-'ter-ē-ən] -n, adj

  1. one who believes that the deity exists only in one person
  2. a member of a denomination that stresses individual freedom of belief, the free use of reason in religion, a united world community, and liberal social action
  3. an advocate of unity or a unitary system

uni·tary ['yü-nə-,ter-ē] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to a unit
  2. based on or characterized by unity or units
  3. having the character of a unit : undivided, whole

unit cell -n

  1. the simplest polyhedron that embodies all the structural characteristics of and by indefinite repetition makes up the lattice of a crystal

unit character -n

  1. a natural character inherited on an all-or-none basis
  2. one dependent on the presence or absence of a single gene

unit circle -n

  1. a circle having a radius of 1

unite [yu̇-'nīt] -vb, n

  1. to put together to form a single unit
  2. to cause to adhere
  3. to link by a legal or moral bond
  4. to possess (as qualities) in combination
  5. to become one or as if one
  6. to become combined by or as if by adhesion or mixture
  7. to act in concert
  8. an old British gold 20-shilling piece issued first by James I in 1604 for the newly united England and Scotland called also Jacobus

united -adj, adv

  1. made one : combined
  2. relating to or produced by joint action
    • a united effort
  3. being in agreement : harmonious
    • a united family

United Nations Day -n

  1. October 24 observed in commemoration of the founding of the United Nations

Unit·ed States [yu̇-'nī-təd-, esp Southern 'yü-,] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. a federation of states esp. when forming a nation in a usu. specified territory
    • advocating a United States of Europe

uni·tive ['yü-nə-tiv, yu̇-'nī-] -adj

  1. characterized by or tending to produce union

unit·ize ['yü-nə-,tīz] -vt, n

  1. to form or convert into a unit
  2. to divide into units
    • the added cost of unitizing bulk products

unit membrane -n

  1. the limiting membrane of cells and various organelles viewed formerly as a 3-layered structure with an inner lipid layer and two outer protein layers and currently as a fluid phospholipid bilayer with intercalating proteins

unit rule -n

  1. a rule under which a delegation to a national political convention casts its entire vote as a unit as determined by a majority vote

uni·trust ['yü-ni-,trəst] -n

  1. a trust from which the beneficiary receives annually a fixed percentage of the fair market value of its assets

units place -n

  1. the place just to the left of the decimal point in a number expressed in the Arabic system of writing numbers

unit train -n

  1. a railway train that transports a single commodity directly from producer to consumer

unit trust -n

  1. mutual fund
  2. an investment company whose portfolio consists of long-term bonds that are held to maturity

uni·ty ['yü-nə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of not being multiple : oneness
  2. a definite amount taken as one or for which 1 is made to stand in calculation
    • in a table of natural sines the radius of the circle is regarded as unity
  3. identity element
  4. a condition of harmony : accord
  5. continuity without deviation or change (as in purpose or action)
  6. the quality or state of being made one : unification
  7. a combination or ordering of parts in a literary or artistic production that constitutes a whole or promotes an undivided total effect
  8. the resulting singleness of effect or symmetry and consistency of style and character
  9. a totality of related parts : an entity that is a complex or systematic whole
  10. any of three principles of dramatic structure derived by French classicists from Aristotle's Poeticsand requiring a play to have a single action represented as occurring in one place and within one day
  11. a 20th century American religious movement that emphasizes spiritual sources of health and prosperity

univ -abbr

  1. university

uni·va·lent [,yü-ni-'vā-lənt] -adj

  1. monovalent
  2. being a chromosomal univalent

univalent -n

  1. a chromosome that lacks a synaptic mate

uni·valve ['yü-ni-,valv] -n, adj

  1. a mollusk with a shell consisting of one valve
  2. gastropod
  3. the shell of a univalve

uni·var·i·ate [,yü-ni-'ver-ē-ət] -adj

  1. characterized by or depending on only one random variable
    • a univariate linear model

uni·ver·sal [,yü-nə-'vər-səl] -adj, adv, n

  1. including or covering all or a whole collectively or distributively without limit or exception
  2. available equitably to all members of a society
    • universal health coverage
  3. present or occurring everywhere
  4. existent or operative everywhere or under all conditions
    • universal cultural patterns
  5. embracing a major part or the greatest portion (as of humankind)
    • a universal state
    • universal practices
  6. comprehensively broad and versatile
    • a universal genius
  7. affirming or denying something of all members of a class or of all values of a variable
  8. denoting every member of a class
    • a universal term
  9. adapted or adjustable to meet varied requirements (as of use, shape, or size)
    • a universal gear cutter
    • a universal remote control

universal -n

  1. : one that is universal: as
  2. a universal proposition in logic
  3. a predicable of traditional logic
  4. a general concept or term or something in reality to which it corresponds : essence
  5. a behavior pattern or institution (as the family) existing in all cultures
  6. a culture trait characteristic of all normal adult members of a particular society

universal donor -n

  1. a person with blood group O blood which can be donated to any recipient
  2. the blood of such a person

universal grammar -n

  1. the study of general principles believed to underlie the grammatical phenomena of all languages
  2. such principles viewed as part of an innate human capacity for learning a language

uni·ver·sal·ism [,yü-nə-'vər-sə-,li-zəm] -n, n or adj

  1. a theological doctrine that all human beings will eventually be saved
  2. the principles and practices of a liberal Christian denomination founded in the 18th century orig. to uphold belief in universal salvation and now united with Unitarianism
  3. something that is universal in scope
  4. the state of being universal : universality

uni·ver·sal·is·tic [-,vər-sə-'lis-tik] -adj

  1. of or relating to the whole : universal in scope or nature

uni·ver·sal·i·ty [-(,)vər-'sa-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being universal
  2. universal comprehensiveness in range

uni·ver·sal·ize [-'vər-sə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to make universal : generalize

universal joint -n

  1. a shaft coupling capable of transmitting rotation from one shaft to another not collinear with it called also universal coupling

universal motor -n

  1. an electric motor that can be used on either an alternating or a direct current supply

Universal Product Code -n

  1. a combination of a bar code and numbers by which a scanner can identify a product and usu. assign a price

universal recipient -n

  1. a person with blood group AB blood who can receive blood from any donor

universal resource locator -n

  1. url

Universal Serial Bus -n

  1. USB

Universal time -n

  1. greenwich mean time

uni·verse ['yü-nə-,vərs] -n

  1. : the whole body of things and phenomena observed or postulated : cosmos: as
  2. a systematic whole held to arise by and persist through the direct intervention of divine power
  3. the world of human experience
  4. the entire celestial cosmos
  5. milky way galaxy
  6. an aggregate of stars comparable to the Milky Way galaxy
  7. a distinct field or province of thought or reality that forms a closed system or self-inclusive and independent organization
  8. population
  9. a set that contains all elements relevant to a particular discussion or problem
  10. a great number or quantity
    • a large enough universe of stocks...to choose from -- G. B. Clairmont

universe of discourse

  1. an inclusive class of entities that is tacitly implied or explicitly delineated as the subject of a statement, discourse, or theory

uni·ver·si·ty [,yü-nə-'vər-sə-tē, -'vər-stē] -n

  1. an institution of higher learning providing facilities for teaching and research and authorized to grant academic degrees
  2. one made up of an undergraduate division which confers bachelor's degrees and a graduate division which comprises a graduate school and professional schools each of which may confer master's degrees and doctorates
  3. the physical plant of a university

univ·o·cal [yü-'ni-və-kəl] -adj, adv

  1. having one meaning only
  2. unambiguous
    • in search of a morally univocal answer

un·just [,ən-'jəst] -adj, adv, n

  1. characterized by injustice : unfair
  2. dishonest, faithless

un·kempt [-'kem(p)t] -adj

  1. not combed
    • unkempt hair
  2. deficient in order or neatness
    • unkempt individuals
    • unkempt hotel rooms
  3. rough, unpolished
    • unkempt prose

un·kenned [-'kend] -adj

  1. unknown, strange

un·ken·nel [-'ke-nᵊl] -vt

  1. to drive (as a fox) from a hiding place or den
  2. to free (dogs) from a kennel
  3. to bring out into the open : uncover

un·kind [-'kīnd] -adj, n

  1. not pleasing or mild : inclement
    • an unkind climate
  2. lacking in kindness or sympathy : harsh, cruel

un·kind·ly [-'kīn(d)-lē] -adj, n

  1. not kindly

unkindly -adv

  1. in an unkind manner
    • dwells unkindly long on his final decline -- A. H. Johnston

un·kink [,ən-'kiŋk] -vt

  1. to free from kinks : straighten
  2. to become lax or loose : relax

un·knit [-'nit] -vb

  1. undo, unravel

un·know·able [,ən-'nō-ə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. not knowable
  2. lying beyond the limits of human experience or understanding

un·know·ing [-'nō-iŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not knowing

unknowing -n

  1. ignorance

un·known [-'nōn] -adj

  1. not known or not well-known
  2. having an unknown value
    • an unknown quantity

unknown -n

  1. one that is not known or not well-known
  2. a person who is little known (as to the public)
  3. : something that requires discovery, identification, or clarification: as
  4. a symbol (as x, y,or z) in a mathematical equation representing an unknown quantity
  5. a specimen (as of bacteria or mixed chemicals) required to be identified as an exercise in appropriate laboratory techniques

Unknown Soldier -n

  1. an unidentified soldier whose body is selected to receive national honors as a representative of all of the same nation who died in a war and esp. in one of the world wars

un·lace [,ən-'lās] -vt

  1. to loose by undoing a lacing
  2. undo, disgrace

un·lade [-'lād] -vb

  1. to take the load or cargo from
  2. discharge, unload
  3. to discharge cargo

un·lash [-'lash] -vt

  1. to untie the lashing of

un·latch [-'lach] -vt

  1. to open or loose by lifting the latch
  2. to become loosed or opened

un·law·ful [,ən-'lȯ-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. not lawful : illegal
  2. not morally right or conventional

un·lay [-'lā] -vb

  1. to untwist the strands of (as a rope)
  2. untwist

un·lead·ed [-'le-dəd] -adj

  1. not having leads between the lines in printing
  2. not treated or mixed with lead or lead compounds
    • unleaded fuels

un·learn [-'lərn] -vt

  1. to put out of one's knowledge or memory
  2. to undo the effect of : discard the habit of

un·learned [-'lər-nəd for 1, 2, -'lərnd for 3] -adj

  1. possessing inadequate learning or education
  2. deficient in scholarly attainments
  3. characterized by or revealing ignorance
  4. not gained by study or training

un·leash [-'lēsh] -vt

  1. to free from or as if from a leash : let loose
    • unleash the dogs
    • unleash ing his anger
  2. to throw, shoot, or set in motion forcefully
    • unleash ed a superb shot...to earn his side a point -- N.Y. Times

un·less [ən-'les, 'ən-,] -conj

  1. except on the condition that : under any other circumstance than
  2. without the accompanying circumstance or condition that : but that : but

unless -prep

  1. except possibly : except

un·let·tered [,ən-'le-tərd] -adj

  1. lacking facility in reading and writing and ignorant of the knowledge to be gained from books
  2. illiterate
  3. not marked with letters

un·licked [-'likt] -adj

  1. lacking proper form or shape
  2. not licked dry

un·like [-'līk] -adj, n

  1. : not like: as
  2. marked by lack of resemblance : different
    • the two books are quite unlike
  3. marked by inequality : unequal
    • contributed unlike amounts

unlike -prep

  1. : not like: as
  2. different from
    • a landscape unlike any other
  3. not characteristic of
    • it was unlike him to be late
  4. in a different manner from
    • spoke clearly, unlike the others
  5. in a manner that is different than : not as

un·like·li·hood [,ən-'lī-klē-,hu̇d] -n

  1. improbability
  2. something unlikely

un·like·li·ness [-nəs] -n

  1. improbability

un·like·ly [-'lī-klē] -adj

  1. not likely : improbable
    • an unlikely outcome
  2. likely to fail : unpromising

un·lim·ber [,ən-'lim-bər] -vt

  1. to detach the limber from and so make ready
    • unlimber a gun for action
  2. to prepare for operation or performance
    • unlimber ed his banjo and began to play
  3. to prepare something for action

un·lim·it·ed [-'li-mə-təd] -adj, adv

  1. lacking any controls : unrestricted
    • unlimited access
  2. boundless, infinite
    • unlimited possibilities
  3. not bounded by exceptions : undefined
    • the unlimited and unconditional surrender of the enemy -- Sir Winston Churchill

un·link [-'liŋk] -vt

  1. to unfasten the links of : separate, disconnect
  2. to become detached

un·linked [-'liŋ(k)t] -adj

  1. not belonging to the same genetic linkage group
    • unlinked genes

un·list·ed [-'lis-təd] -adj

  1. not appearing on a list
  2. not appearing in a telephone book
    • unlisted numbers
  3. being or involving a security not listed formally on an organized exchange : over-the-counter

un·live [-'liv] -vt

  1. annul, reverse

un·load [,ən-'lōd] -vt, n

  1. to take off : deliver
  2. to take the cargo from
    • unload the truck
  3. to give outlet to : pour forth
    • unload ed her bitter feelings
  4. to relieve of something burdensome, unwanted, or oppressive
    • unload ed the pack animals
    • unload ed himself to his friend
  5. to draw the charge from
    • unload ed the gun
  6. to sell or dispose of esp. in large quantities : dump
  7. to hit or propel with a great release of power
    • unload ed his ninth homer
  8. to perform the act of unloading
  9. to release or deliver something esp. with power
    • unload ed on the ball
  10. to give forth a usu. sudden angry outburst
    • the coach unload ed on his players

un·lock [-'läk] -vt

  1. to unfasten the lock of
  2. open, undo
  3. to free from restraints or restrictions
    • the shock unlock ed a flood of tears
  4. to furnish a key to : disclose
  5. to become unfastened or freed from restraints

un·lookedfor [-'lu̇kt-,fȯr] -adj

  1. not foreseen : unexpected

un·loose [,ən-'lüs] -vt

  1. to relax the strain of
    • unloose a grip
  2. to release from or as if from restraints : set free
  3. to loosen the ties of
    • unloose traditional social bonds

un·loos·en [-'lü-sᵊn] -vt

  1. unloose

un·love·ly [-'ləv-lē] -adj, n

  1. not likable : disagreeable, unpleasant

un·luck·i·ly [,ən-'lə-kə-lē] -adv

  1. unfortunately
    • unluckily, it has a nasty way of turning to rain -- Ambrose Bierce
    • his ascent being unluckily a little out of the perpendicular -- T. L. Peacock

un·lucky [-'lə-kē] -adj, n

  1. marked by adversity or failure
    • an unlucky year
  2. likely to bring misfortune : inauspicious
    • an unlucky number
  3. having or meeting with misfortune
    • unlucky people
  4. producing dissatisfaction : regrettable

un·made [,ən-'mād] -adj

  1. not made
    • an unmade bed

un·make [-'māk] -vt

  1. to cause to disappear : destroy
  2. to deprive of rank or office : depose
  3. to deprive of essential characteristics : change the nature of

un·man [,ən-'man] -vt

  1. to deprive of manly vigor, fortitude, or spirit
  2. castrate, emasculate

un·man·ly [-'man-lē] -adj, n

  1. : not manly: as
  2. being of weak character : cowardly
  3. effeminate

un·manned [-'mand] -adj

  1. not manned
    • an unmanned spaceflight
  2. not trained

un·man·nered [-'ma-nərd] -adj, adv

  1. marked by a lack of good manners : rude
  2. characterized by an absence of artificiality : unaffected

un·man·ner·ly [-'ma-nər-lē] -adv

  1. in an unmannerly fashion

unmannerly [-lē-nəs] -adj, n

  1. not mannerly : discourteous

un·mar·ried [-'ma-rēd] -adj, n

  1. : not married:
  2. not now or previously married
  3. being divorced or widowed

un·mask [,ən-'mask] -vt

  1. to reveal the true nature of : expose
  2. to remove a mask from
  3. to remove one's mask

un·mean·ing [-'mē-niŋ] -adj

  1. lacking intelligence : vapid
  2. having no meaning : senseless

un·me·di·at·ed [,ən-'mē-dē-,ā-təd] -adj

  1. not mediated : not communicated or transformed by an intervening agency
    • experience unmediated by artifice

un·meet [-'mēt] -adj

  1. not meet : unsuitable, improper

un·men·tion·able [-'men(t)-sh(ə-)nə-bəl] -adj

  1. not fit or allowed to be mentioned or discussed : unspeakable
    • an unmentionable topic

unmentionable -n

  1. : one that is not to be mentioned or discussed: as
  2. pant
  3. underwear

un·mer·ci·ful [,ən-'mər-si-fəl] -adj, adv

  1. not merciful : merciless
  2. excessive, extreme
    • chatted for an unmerciful length of time

un·mind·ful [-'mīn(d)-fəl] -adj

  1. not conscientiously aware, attentive, or heedful : inattentive, careless
    • went shirtless, unmindful of the sun's punishing rays

un·mis·tak·able [,ən-mə-'stā-kə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. not capable of being mistaken or misunderstood : clear

un·mit·i·gat·ed [,ən-'mi-tə-,gā-təd] -adj, adv, n

  1. not lessened : unrelieved
    • sufferings unmitigated by any hope of early relief
  2. being so definitely what is stated as to offer little chance of change or relief
    • an unmitigated disaster

un·mold [,ən-'mōld] -vt

  1. to remove from a mold

un·moor [-'mu̇r] -vt

  1. to loosen from or as if from moorings
  2. to cast off moorings

un·mor·al [-'mȯr-əl, -'mär-] -adj, n

  1. having no moral perception or quality
  2. not influenced or guided by moral considerations
  3. lying outside the bounds of morals or ethics : amoral

un·muf·fle [,ən-'mə-fəl] -vt

  1. to free from something that muffles

un·muz·zle [-'mə-zəl] -vt

  1. to free from or as if from a muzzle

un·my·elin·at·ed [-'mī-ə-lə-,nā-təd] -adj

  1. lacking a myelin sheath
    • unmyelinated axons

un·nail [,ən-'nāl] -vt

  1. to unfasten by removing nails

un·nat·u·ral [,ən-'na-chə-rəl, -'nach-rəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. not being in accordance with nature or consistent with a normal course of events
  2. not being in accordance with normal human feelings or behavior : perverse
  3. lacking ease and naturalness : contrived
    • her manner was forced and unnatural
  4. inconsistent with what is reasonable or expected
    • an unnatural alliance

un·nec·es·sar·i·ly [,ən-,ne-sə-'ser-ə-lē] -adv

  1. not by necessity : to an unnecessary degree
    • unnecessarily harsh criticism

un·nec·es·sary [,ən-'ne-sə-,ser-ē] -adj

  1. not necessary

un·nerve [-'nərv] -vt, adv

  1. to deprive of courage, strength, or steadiness
  2. to cause to become nervous : upset

un·nil·hex·i·um [,yü-nᵊl-'hek-sē-əm] -n

  1. seaborgium

un·nil·pen·ti·um [-'pen-tē-əm] -n

  1. dubnium

un·nil·qua·di·um [-'kwä-dē-əm] -n

  1. rutherfordium

un·num·bered [,ən-'nəm-bərd] -adj

  1. innumerable
  2. not having an identifying number
    • unnumbered pages

un·ob·tru·sive [,ən-əb-'trü-siv, -ziv] -adj, adv, n

  1. not obtrusive : not blatant, arresting, or aggressive : inconspicuous

un·oc·cu·pied [,ən-'ä-kyə-,pīd] -adj

  1. : not occupied: as
  2. not busy : unemployed
  3. not lived in : empty

un·or·ga·nized [-'ȯr-gə-,nīzd] -adj

  1. : not organized: as
  2. not brought into a coherent or well-ordered whole
  3. not belonging to a labor union
  4. not having the characteristics of a living organism

un·or·tho·dox [-'ȯr-thə-,däks] -adj, adv

  1. not orthodox

un·or·tho·doxy [-,däk-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being unorthodox
  2. something (as an opinion or doctrine) that is unorthodox

un·pack [,ən-'pak] -vt, n

  1. to remove the contents of
    • unpack a suitcase
  2. unburden, reveal
    • must...unpack my heart with words -- Shak.
  3. to remove or undo from packing or a container
    • unpack ed his gear
  4. to analyze the nature of by examining in detail : explicate
    • unpack a concept
  5. to engage in unpacking a container

un·paged [-'pājd] -adj

  1. having no page numbers

un·paid [-'pād] -adj

  1. not paid
    • an unpaid volunteer
  2. not paying a salary
    • an unpaid position

un·paired [-'perd] -adj

  1. : not paired: as
  2. not matched or mated
  3. being an electron that doesn't share its orbital with another electron

un·pal·at·able [-'pa-lə-tə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. not palatable : distasteful
    • unpalatable wines
  2. unpleasant, disagreeable
    • raising income tax rates is politically unpalatable -- Mary Rowland

un·par·al·leled [,ən-'pa-rə-,leld, -ləld] -adj

  1. having no parallel
  2. having no equal or match : unique in kind or quality

un·par·lia·men·ta·ry [,ən-,pär-lə-'men-tə-rē, -,pärl-yə-, -'men-trē] -adj

  1. contrary to the practice of parliamentary bodies

un·peg [,ən-'peg] -vt

  1. to remove a peg from
  2. to unfasten by or as if by removing a peg

un·peo·ple [-'pē-pəl] -vt

  1. depopulate

un·peo·pled [,ən-'pē-pəld] -adj

  1. not filled with or occupied by people
    • an unpeopled wilderness

un·per·fect [-'pər-fikt] -adj

  1. imperfect

un·per·son ['ən-'pər-sᵊn, -,pər-] -n

  1. an individual who usu. for political or ideological reasons is removed completely from recognition or consideration

un·pick [,ən-'pik] -vt

  1. to undo (as sewing) by taking out stitches

un·pile [-'pī(-ə)l] -vt

  1. to take or disentangle from a pile

un·pin [-'pin] -vt

  1. to remove a pin from
  2. to loosen, free, or unfasten by or as if by removing a pin

un·placed [,ən-'plāst] -adj

  1. not placed : not having a definite or assigned place
    • taxonomically unplaced organisms
  2. not finishing in one of the first three places in a horse race

un·pleas·ant [-'ple-zᵊnt] -adj, adv

  1. not pleasant : not amiable or agreeable : displeasing
    • unpleasant odors

un·pleas·ant·ness -n

  1. the quality or state of being unpleasant
  2. an unpleasant situation, experience, or event

un·plug [,ən-'pləg] -vt

  1. to take a plug out of
  2. to remove an obstruction from
  3. to remove (as an electric plug) from a socket or receptacle
  4. to disconnect from an electric circuit by removing a plug
    • unplug the refrigerator

un·plugged [-'pləgd] -adj

  1. acoustic
    • an unplugged performance

un·plumbed [-'pləmd] -adj

  1. not tested with a plumb line
  2. not measured with a plumb
  3. not thoroughly explored

un·po·lar·ized [-'pō-lə-,rīzd] -adj

  1. not polarized
  2. having a random pattern of vibrations

un·po·lit·i·cal [,ən-pə-'li-ti-kəl] -adj

  1. apolitical

un·pop·u·lar [,ən-'pä-pyə-lər] -adj, n, adv

  1. not popular : viewed or received unfavorably by the public

un·prec·e·dent·ed [,ən-'pre-sə-,den-təd] -adj, adv

  1. having no precedent : novel, unexampled

un·preg·nant [,ən-'preg-nənt] -adj

  1. inept

un·pre·tend·ing [,ən-pri-'ten-diŋ] -adj

  1. unpretentious

un·pre·ten·tious [-'ten(t)-shəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. free from ostentation, elegance, or affectation : modest
    • unpretentious homes
    • an unpretentious celebrity

un·prin·ci·pled [,ən-'prin(t)-s(ə-)pəld, -sə-bəld] -adj, n

  1. lacking moral principles : unscrupulous

un·print·able [-'prin-tə-bəl] -adj

  1. unfit to be printed
  2. too obscene or offensive to be shown in print
    • unprintable epithets

un·pro·fessed [,ən-prə-'fest] -adj

  1. not professed
    • an unprofessed aim

un·prof·it·able [,ən-'prä-fə-tə-bəl, -'präf-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not profitable : producing no gain, good, or result
    • an unprofitable venture

un·prom·is·ing [-'prä-mə-siŋ] -adj, adv

  1. appearing unlikely to prove worthwhile or result favorably
    • an unpromising beginning

un·pro·nounced [,ən-prə-'nau̇n(t)st] -adj

  1. not pronounced
  2. mute

un·pro·tect·ed [-prə-'tek-təd] -adj

  1. lacking protection or defense
    • unprotected troops
    • skin unprotected from the sun's rays
  2. performed without the use of birth control to prevent pregnancy
  3. performed without the use of a condom to prevent spread of sexually transmitted disease
    • unprotected sex

un·pub·lish·able [-'pə-bli-shə-bəl] -adj

  1. unprintable

un·put·down·able [,ən-,pu̇t-'dȧun-ə-bəl] -adj

  1. unable to be set aside : riveting
    • an unputdownable book

un·qual·i·fied [,ən-'kwä-lə-,fīd] -adj, adv

  1. not fit : not having requisite qualifications
  2. not modified or restricted by reservations : complete
    • an unqualified denial

un·ques·tion·able [-'kwes-chə-nə-bəl, -'kwesh-] -adj, adv

  1. not questionable : indisputable
    • unquestionable evidence
    • unquestionable integrity

un·ques·tion·ing [-'kwes-chə-niŋ, -'kwesh-] -adj, adv

  1. not questioning : not expressing or marked by doubt or hesitation
    • unquestioning obedience
    • unquestioning loyalty

un·qui·et [-'kwī-ət] -adj, adv, n

  1. not quiet : agitated, turbulent
  2. physically, emotionally, or mentally restless : uneasy

un·quote ['ən-,kwōt also -,kōt] -n

  1. used orally to indicate the end of a direct quotation

un·rav·el [,ən-'ra-vəl] -vt

  1. to disengage or separate the threads of : disentangle
  2. to cause to come apart by or as if by separating the threads of
  3. to resolve the intricacy, complexity, or obscurity of : clear up
    • unravel a mystery
  4. to become unraveled

un·read [-'red] -adj

  1. not read : left unexamined
  2. lacking the experience or the benefits of reading
    • unread in political science

un·re·al [-'rē(-ə)l] -adj

  1. lacking in reality, substance, or genuineness : artificial, illusory
  2. incredible, fantastic

un·re·al·is·tic [,ən-,rē-ə-'lis-tik] -adj, adv

  1. not realistic : inappropriate to reality or fact

un·re·al·i·ty [,ən-rē-'a-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being unreal : lack of substance or validity
  2. something unreal, insubstantial, or visionary : figment
  3. ineptitude in dealing with reality

un·rea·son [,ən-'rē-zᵊn, 'ən-,] -n

  1. the absence of reason or sanity : irrationality, madness

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

  1. not governed by or acting according to reason
    • unreasonable people
  2. not conformable to reason : absurd
    • unreasonable beliefs
  3. exceeding the bounds of reason or moderation
    • working under unreasonable pressure

un·rea·soned [-'rē-zᵊnd] -adj

  1. not founded on reason or reasoning
    • unreasoned fears
    • an unreasoned decision

un·rea·son·ing [-'rēz-niŋ, -'rē-zᵊn-iŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not reasoning
  2. not moderated or controlled by reason
    • unreasoning fear

un·re·con·struct·ed [,ən-,rē-kən-'strək-təd] -adj

  1. not reconciled to some political, economic, or social change
    • an unreconstructed rebel
  2. holding stubbornly to a particular belief, view, place, or style
    • an unreconstructed hard-liner

un·reel [,ən-'rēl] -vt

  1. to unwind from a reel
  2. to perform successfully
    • unreel ed a 66-yard pass play
  3. reel off
    • unreel ed five birdies in a row
  4. to become unwound
  5. to be presented
    • the dress rehearsal unreel ed flawlessly

un·reeve [-'rēv] -vt

  1. to withdraw (a rope) from an opening (as a ship's block or thimble)

un·re·gen·er·ate [,ən-ri-'je-nə-rət, -'jen-rət] -adj, adv

  1. not regenerate
    • the unregenerate condition of humanity
    • unregenerate pagans
  2. not reformed : unreconstructed
    • unregenerate liberals
    • unregenerate Confederates
  3. obstinate, stubborn
    • struggling against unregenerate impulses
    • his unregenerate competitiveness

un·re·lent·ing [-'len-tiŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not softening or yielding in determination : hard, stern
    • an unrelenting leader
  2. not letting up or weakening in vigor or pace : constant
    • the unrelenting struggle

un·re·marked [-'märkt] -adj

  1. not remarked : unnoticed

un·re·mit·ting [-'mi-tiŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not remitting : constant, incessant
    • unremitting pain

un·re·quit·ed [,ən-ri-'kwī-təd] -adj

  1. not requited : not reciprocated or returned in kind
    • unrequited love

un·re·serve [-'zərv] -n

  1. absence of reserve : frankness

un·re·served [-'zərvd] -adj, adv, n

  1. not limited or partial : entire, unqualified
    • unreserved enthusiasm
  2. not cautious or reticent : frank, open
  3. not set aside for special use

un·rest [,ən-'rest] -n

  1. a disturbed or uneasy state : turmoil

un·re·strained [,ən-ri-'strānd] -adj, adv, n

  1. not restrained : immoderate, uncontrolled
    • unrestrained proliferation of technology
  2. free of constraint : spontaneous
    • felt happy and unrestrained

un·re·straint [-'strānt] -n

  1. freedom from or lack of restraint

un·re·tire [,ən-ri-'tī(-ə)r] -vi

  1. to leave retirement : rejoin the workforce

un·rid·dle [,ən-'ri-dᵊl] -vt

  1. to find the explanation of : figure out, solve
    • unriddle a puzzle
    • no trouble unriddling three-part syllogisms -- New Yorker
  2. to make understandable : explain
    • just trying to unriddle the man -- Helen Dudar

un·rig [-'rig] -vt

  1. to strip of rigging
    • unrig a ship

un·righ·teous [-'rī-chəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. not righteous : sinful, wicked
  2. unjust, unmerited
    • intolerable and unrighteous interference in their lives -- W. W. Wagar

un·ripe [-'rīp] -adj, n

  1. not ripe : immature
    • unripe fruit
  2. not ready : unprepared
    • unripe plans

un·ri·valed [,ən-'rī-vəld] -adj

  1. having no rival : incomparable, supreme
    • unrivaled greatness

un·roll [-'rōl] -vt

  1. to unwind a roll of : open out : uncoil
  2. to spread out like a scroll for reading or inspection : unfold, reveal
  3. to be unrolled : unwind

un·roof [-'rüf, -'ru̇f] -vt

  1. to strip off the roof or covering of

un·round [,ən-'rau̇nd] -vt

  1. to pronounce (a sound) without lip rounding or with decreased lip rounding
  2. to spread (the lips) laterally
    • necessary to unround the lips in pronouncing e

unround -adj

  1. pronounced with the lips not rounded

un·ruf·fled [,ən-'rə-fəld] -adj

  1. poised and serene esp. in the face of setbacks or confusion
  2. not ruffled : smooth
    • unruffled water

un·ruly [-'rü-lē] -adj, n

  1. not readily ruled, disciplined, or managed
    • an unruly crowd
    • a mane of unruly hair

UNRWA -abbr

  1. United Nations Relief and Works Agency

un·sad·dle [,ən-'sa-dᵊl] -vt

  1. to take the saddle from
  2. to throw from the saddle
  3. to remove the saddle from a horse

un·said [-'sed] -adj

  1. not said
  2. not spoken aloud

un·sat·is·fac·to·ry [-,sa-təs-'fak-t(ə-)rē] -adj, adv, n

  1. not satisfactory

un·sat·u·rate [-'sa-chə-rət, -'sach-rət] -n

  1. an unsaturated chemical compound

un·sat·u·rat·ed [-'sa-chə-,rā-təd] -adj

  1. : not saturated: as
  2. capable of absorbing or dissolving more of something
    • an unsaturated solution
  3. able to form products by chemical addition
  4. containing double or triple bonds between carbon atoms
    • unsaturated fats

un·saved [,ən-'sāvd] -adj

  1. not saved
  2. not absolved from eternal punishment : not regenerate

un·sa·vory [-'sā-və-rē, -'sāv-rē] -adj

  1. insipid, tasteless
  2. unpleasant to taste or smell
  3. disagreeable, distasteful
    • an unsavory assignment
  4. morally offensive
    • unsavory business practices

un·say [-'sā, Southern also -'se] -vt

  1. to make as if not said : recant, retract

un·say·able [-'sā-ə-bəl] -adj

  1. not sayable : not easily expressed or related
  2. not allowed to be said

un·scathed [-'skāthd] -adj

  1. wholly unharmed : not injured

un·schooled [-'sküld] -adj

  1. not schooled : untaught, untrained
    • an unschooled woodsman
  2. not artificial : natural
    • unschooled talent

un·sci·en·tif·ic [,ən-,sī-ən-'ti-fik] -adj, adv

  1. : not scientific: as
  2. not used in scientific work
  3. not being in accord with the principles and methods of science
    • unscientific management of woodlands
    • an unscientific survey
  4. not showing scientific knowledge or familiarity with scientific methods

un·scram·ble [,ən-'skram-bəl] -vt, n

  1. to separate (as a conglomeration or tangle) into original components : resolve, clarify
  2. to restore (scrambled communication) to intelligible form

un·screw [-'skrü] -vt

  1. to draw the screws from
  2. to loosen or withdraw by turning
  3. to become or admit of being unscrewed

un·script·ed [-'skrip-təd] -adj

  1. not following a prepared script

un·scru·pu·lous [-'skrü-pyə-ləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. not scrupulous : unprincipled

un·seal [-'sēl] -vt

  1. to break or remove the seal of : open

un·sealed [-'sēld] -adj

  1. not sealed

un·seam [,ən-'sēm] -vt

  1. to open the seams of

un·search·able [-'sər-chə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. not capable of being searched or explored : inscrutable

un·sea·son·able [-'sēz-nə-bəl, -'sē-zᵊn-ə-] -adj, n, adv

  1. occurring at other than the proper time : untimely
  2. not being in season
  3. not normal for the season of the year
    • unseasonable weather
  4. marked by unseasonable weather
    • an unseasonable summer

un·seat [-'sēt] -vt

  1. to dislodge from one's seat esp. on horseback
  2. to remove from a place or position
  3. to remove from political office

un·seem·ly [-'sēm-lē] -adj, n

  1. : not seemly: as
  2. not according with established standards of good form or taste
    • unseemly bickering
  3. not suitable for time or place : inappropriate, unseasonable

unseemly -adv

  1. in an unseemly manner

un·seen [,ən-'sēn] -adj

  1. not seen or perceived
  2. sight
    • an unseen translation

un·seg·re·gat·ed [-'se-gri-,gā-təd] -adj

  1. not segregated
  2. free from racial segregation

un·se·lect·ed [,ən-sə-'lek-təd] -adj

  1. not selected
    • will be held at a still unselected location
  2. chosen at random
    • unselected samples

un·se·lec·tive [-'lek-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. not marked by selection : random, indiscriminate

un·self·ish [,ən-'sel-fish] -adj, adv, n

  1. not selfish : generous

un·sell [-'sel] -vt

  1. to dissuade from a belief in the truth, value, or desirability of something
    • ads that unsell the public on energy consumption
  2. to discourage a belief in the truth, value, or desirability of
    • I unsold the coat he wanted and sold him another

un·set [-'set] -adj

  1. : not set: as
  2. not fixed in a setting : unmounted
    • unset diamonds
  3. not firmed or solidified
    • unset concrete

un·set·tle [,ən-'se-tᵊl] -vt

  1. to loosen or move from a settled state or condition : make unstable : disorder
  2. to perturb or agitate mentally or emotionally : discompose
  3. to become unsettled

un·set·tled [-'se-tᵊld] -adj, n

  1. : not settled: as
  2. not calm or tranquil : disturbed
    • unsettled political conditions
  3. likely to vary widely esp. in the near future : variable
    • unsettled weather
  4. not settled down
    • unsettled dust
  5. not decided or determined : doubtful
    • an unsettled state of mind
  6. not resolved or worked out : undecided
    • an unsettled question
  7. characterized by irregularity
    • an unsettled life
  8. not inhabited or populated
    • unsettled land
  9. mentally unbalanced
  10. not disposed of according to law
    • an unsettled estate
  11. not paid or discharged
    • unsettled debts

un·set·tling [,ən-'set-liŋ, -'se-tᵊl-iŋ] -adj, adv

  1. having the effect of upsetting, disturbing, or discomposing
    • unsettling images of the war

un·set·tle·ment [-tᵊl-mənt] -n

  1. an act, process, or instance of unsettling
  2. the quality or state of being unsettled

un·sew [,ən-'sō] -vt

  1. to undo the sewing of

un·sex [-'seks] -vt

  1. to deprive of sex or sexual power
  2. to deprive of the qualities typical of one's sex

un·shack·le [-'sha-kəl] -vt

  1. to free from shackles

un·shaped [-'shāpt] -adj

  1. : not shaped: as
  2. not dressed or finished to final form
    • an unshaped timber
  3. imperfect in form or formulation
    • unshaped ideas

un·shap·en [-'shā-pən] -adj

  1. unshaped

un·sheathe [,ən-'shēth] -vt

  1. to draw from or as if from a sheath or scabbard
    • unsheathed his sword

un·ship [-'ship] -vt

  1. to take out of a ship : discharge, unload
  2. to remove (as an oar or tiller) from position : detach
  3. to become or admit of being detached or removed

un·shod [,ən-'shäd] -adj

  1. not wearing or provided with shoes

un·sight [-'sīt] -vt

  1. to prevent from seeing

unsight -adj

  1. not sighted or examined

un·sight·ly [,ən-'sīt-lē] -adj, n

  1. not pleasing to the sight : not comely
    • an unsightly mess

un·skilled [-'skild] -adj

  1. not skilled in a branch of work : lacking technical training
    • an unskilled worker
  2. not requiring skill
    • unskilled jobs
  3. marked by lack of skill
    • produced unskilled poems

un·skill·ful [-'skil-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. not skillful : lacking in skill or proficiency

un·slak·able [,ən-'slā-kə-bəl] -adj

  1. unable to be slaked : unquenchable
    • an unslakable thirst
    • an unslakable desire for excellence

un·sling [-'sliŋ] -vt

  1. to remove from being slung
    • unslung the carbine

un·snap [-'snap] -vt

  1. to loosen or free by or as if by undoing a snap

un·snarl [-'snär(-ə)l] -vt

  1. to disentangle a snarl in

un·so·cia·ble [,ən-'sō-shə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. having or showing a disinclination for social activity : solitary, reserved
  2. not conducive to sociability

un·so·cial [-'sō-shəl] -adj, adv

  1. lacking a taste or desire for society or close association
  2. marked by or arising from such a lack
    • an unsocial disposition

un·sold [-'sōld] -adj

  1. not sold

un·so·phis·ti·cat·ed [,ən-sə-'fis-tə-,kā-təd] -adj

  1. : not sophisticated: as
  2. not changed or corrupted : genuine
  3. not worldly-wise : lacking social or economic sophistication
  4. lacking complexity of structure : simple, straightforward
    • an unsophisticated analysis
    • unsophisticated rhythms

un·so·phis·ti·ca·tion [-,fis-tə-'kā-shən] -n

  1. lack of or freedom from sophistication

un·sought [,ən-'sȯt] -adj

  1. not searched for or sought out
    • unsought compliments

un·sound [-'sau̇nd] -adj, adv

  1. : not sound: as
  2. not healthy or whole
    • an unsound horse
  3. not mentally normal : not wholly sane
    • of unsound mind
  4. not firmly made, placed, or fixed
    • structurally unsound
  5. not valid or true : invalid, specious
    • unsound beliefs

un·sound·ness [-'sau̇n(d)-nəs] -n

  1. the quality or state of being unsound
  2. something (as a disease, injury, or defect) that causes one to be unsound

un·spar·ing [-'sper-iŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not merciful or forbearing : hard, ruthless
    • an unsparing satire
    • an unsparing critic
  2. not frugal : liberal, profuse
    • unsparing generosity

un·speak [-'spēk] -vt

  1. unsay

un·speak·able [-'spē-kə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. incapable of being expressed in words : unutterable
  2. inexpressibly bad : horrendous
    • unspeakable living conditions
    • unspeakable evil
  3. that may not or cannot be spoken
    • the bawdy thoughts that come into one's head - the unspeakable words -- L. P. Smith
    • unspeakable collections of consonants -- Rosemary Jellis

un·spool [,ən-'spül] -vt

  1. to unwind from a spool
    • unspool the cable
  2. to execute or present artfully or gracefully
    • unspool ed a jump shot
    • unspool ing an intricate tale
  3. to be presented or revealed on or as if on a motion-picture screen

un·sports·man·like [-'spȯrts-mən-,līk] -adj

  1. not characteristic of or exhibiting good sportsmanship
  2. not sportsmanlike

un·spot·ted [-'spä-təd] -adj

  1. not spotted : free from spot or stain
  2. free from moral stain
    • an unspotted reputation

un·sprung [-'sprəŋ] -adj

  1. not sprung
  2. not equipped with springs

un·sta·ble [-'stā-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. : not stable : not firm or fixed : not constant: as
  2. not steady in action or movement : irregular
    • an unstable pulse
  3. wavering in purpose or intent : vacillating
  4. lacking steadiness : apt to move, sway, or fall
    • an unstable tower
  5. liable to change or alteration
    • an unstable economy
    • unstable weather
  6. readily changing (as by decomposing) in chemical or physical composition or in biological activity
  7. characterized by lack of emotional control

unstable angina -n

  1. angina pectoris characterized by sudden changes (as an increase in the severity or length of anginal attacks or a decrease in the exertion required to precipitate an attack) esp. when symptoms were previously stable

un·steady [,ən-'ste-dē] -vt

  1. to make unsteady

unsteady [-'ste-də-lē] -adj, adv, n

  1. : not steady: as
  2. not firm or solid : not fixed in position : unstable
  3. marked by change or fluctuation : changeable
  4. not uniform or even : irregular
    • an unsteady pulse

un·step [,ən-'step] -vt

  1. to remove (a mast) from a step

un·stick [-'stik] -vt

  1. to release from a state of adhesion

un·stint·ing [-'stin-tiŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not restricting or holding back : giving or being given freely or generously
    • an unstinting volunteer
    • unstinting praise

un·stop [-'stäp] -vt

  1. to free from an obstruction : open
    • unstop a drain
  2. to remove a stopper from
    • unstop a flask

un·stop·pa·ble [-'stä-pə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. incapable of being stopped
    • an unstoppable army
    • an unstoppable rise to power

un·strap [-'strap] -vt

  1. to remove or loose a strap from

un·stressed [,ən-'strest] -adj

  1. not bearing a stress or accent
    • unstressed syllables
  2. not subjected to stress
    • unstressed wires

un·string [-'striŋ] -vt

  1. to loosen or remove the strings of
  2. to remove from a string
  3. to make weak, disordered, or unstable
    • was unstrung by the news

un·struc·tured [-'strək-chərd] -adj

  1. : lacking structure or organization: as
  2. not formally organized in a set or conventional pattern
    • an unstructured question
    • feel insecure in an unstructured situation
  3. not having a system or hierarchy typical of an organized society

un·stuck [,ən-'stək] -adj

  1. brought into a state of disarray, discomposure, or incoherence
    • the deal came unstuck

un·stud·ied [-'stə-dēd] -adj

  1. : not studied: as
  2. not acquired by study
  3. not forced : not done or planned for effect

un·sub·stan·tial [,ən-səb-'stan(t)-shəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not substantial : lacking substance, firmness, or strength
    • unsubstantial shadows

un·suc·cess·ful [-fəl] -adj, adv

  1. not successful : not meeting with or producing success

un·sul·fured [,ən-'səl-fərd] -adj

  1. not treated or preserved with sulfur
    • unsulfured molasses

un·sung [,ən-'səŋ] -adj

  1. not sung
  2. not celebrated or praised (as in song or verse)
    • an unsung hero

un·sur·pris·ing [,ən-sə(r)-'prī-ziŋ] -adj

  1. not surprising or unexpected

un·sur·pris·ing·ly [-ziŋ-lē] -adv

  1. as is not surprising
    • matters complicate, unsurprisingly -- Stanley Kauffmann
  2. in an unsurprising manner
    • the story ended unsurprisingly

un·swathe [-'swäth, -'swȯth, -'swāth] -vt

  1. to free from something that swathes

un·swear [-'swer] -vb

  1. to unsay or retract something sworn
  2. to recant or recall (as an oath) esp. by a second oath

un·swerv·ing [-'swər-viŋ] -adj

  1. not swerving or turning aside
  2. steady, unfaltering
    • unswerving loyalty

un·sym·met·ri·cal [,ən-sə-'me-tri-kəl] -adj, adv

  1. asymmetric

un·tan·gle [,ən-'taŋ-gəl] -vt

  1. to loose from tangles or entanglement : straighten out
    • untangle a knot
    • untangle a mystery

un·tapped [-'tapt] -adj

  1. not subjected to tapping
    • an untapped keg
  2. not drawn upon or utilized
    • as yet untapped markets

un·taught [-'tȯt] -adj

  1. not instructed or trained : ignorant
  2. natural, spontaneous
    • untaught kindness

un·teach [-'tēch] -vt

  1. to cause to unlearn something
  2. to teach the contrary of
    • unteach bad habits

un·ten·a·ble [-'te-nə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. not able to be defended
    • an untenable position
  2. not able to be occupied
    • untenable apartments

un·tent·ed [-'ten-təd] -adj

  1. not probed or dressed
    • the untented woundings of a father's curse -- Shak.

un·teth·er [-'te-thər] -vt

  1. to free from or as if from a tether

un·think [-'thiŋk] -vt

  1. to put out of mind

un·think·able [-'thiŋ-kə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. not capable of being grasped by the mind
  2. being contrary to what is reasonable, desirable, or probable : being out of the question

un·think·ing [,ən-'thiŋ-kiŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not taking thought : heedless, unmindful
    • the unthinking onlookers
  2. not indicating thought or reflection
    • an unthinking decision
  3. not having the power of thought

un·thought [-'thȯt] -adj

  1. not anticipated : unexpected often used with of
    • an unthought -of development

un·thread [,ən-'thred] -vt

  1. to draw or take out a thread from
    • unthread a needle
  2. to loosen the threads or connections of
  3. to make one's way through
    • unthread a maze

un·throne [-'thrōn] -vt

  1. to remove from or as if from a throne

un·ti·dy [-'tī-dē] -adj, adv, n

  1. not neat : slovenly
    • their untidy kitchen
  2. not neat or orderly in habits or procedure
    • an untidy mind
  3. not neatly organized or carried out
    • an untidy manuscript
  4. conducive to a lack of neatness
    • untidy tasks like bathing the baby -- New Yorker

un·tie [-'tī] -vb

  1. to free from something that ties, fastens, or restrains : unbind
    • untied our hands
  2. to disengage the knotted parts of
    • untie a shoe
  3. disentangle, resolve
    • untie a traffic jam
  4. to become loosened or unbound

un·til [ən-'til, -'tel; 'ən-,, -tᵊl] -prep

  1. to
  2. used as a function word to indicate continuance (as of an action or condition) to a specified time
    • stayed until morning
  3. before
    • not available until tomorrow
    • we don't open until ten

until -conj

  1. up to the time that : up to such time as
    • play continued until it got dark
    • never able to relax until he took up fishing
    • ran until she was breathless

un·time·ly [,ən-'tīm-lē] -adv

  1. at an inopportune time : unseasonably
  2. before the due, natural, or proper time : prematurely
    • went untimely to the grave

untimely -adj, n

  1. inopportune, unseasonable
    • an untimely joke
    • untimely frost
  2. occurring or done before the due, natural, or proper time : too early : premature
    • an untimely death

un·time·ous [-'tī-məs] -adj

  1. untimely

un·tir·ing [-'tī-riŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not becoming tired : indefatigable
    • an untiring worker

un·ti·tled [-'tī-tᵊld] -adj

  1. having no title or right to rule
  2. not named
    • an untitled novel
  3. not called by a title
    • untitled nobility

un·to ['ən-(,)tü] -prep

  1. to
  2. used as a function word to indicate reference or concern
    • they became a world unto themselves -- Anne T. Fleming

un·told [,ən-'tōld] -adj

  1. not told or related
  2. kept secret
  3. too great or numerous to count : incalculable, vast

un·touch·abil·i·ty [,ən-,tə-chə-'bi-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being untouchable
  2. the state of being an untouchable

un·touch·able [,ən-'tə-chə-bəl] -adj

  1. forbidden to the touch : not to be handled
  2. exempt from criticism or control
  3. lying beyond reach
  4. disagreeable or defiling to the touch

untouchable -n

  1. one that is untouchable
  2. a member of a large formerly segregated hereditary group in India having in traditional Hindu belief the quality of defiling by contact a member of a higher caste

un·touched [,ən-'təcht] -adj

  1. not subjected to touching : not handled
  2. not described or dealt with
  3. not tasted
  4. being in the first or a primeval state or condition
    • an untouched wilderness
  5. not influenced : unaffected

un·to·ward [,ən-'tō-ərd, -'tȯ(-ə)rd; ,ən-tə-'wȯrd] -adj, adv, n

  1. difficult to guide, manage, or work with : unruly, intractable
  2. marked by trouble or unhappiness : unlucky
  3. not favorable : adverse, unpropitious
    • untoward side effects
  4. improper, indecorous

un·track [,ən-'trak] -vt

  1. to cause to escape from a slump
    • couldn't get untrack ed and played poorly throughout the game

un·tread [,ən-'tred] -vt

  1. to tread back : retrace

un·tried [-'trīd] -adj

  1. not tested or proved by experience or trial
    • a recruit untried in combat
  2. not tried in court

un·trod·den [-'trä-dᵊn] -adj

  1. not trod : untraversed

un·trou·bled [-'trə-bəld] -adj

  1. not given trouble : not made uneasy
    • untroubled by the age difference
  2. calm, tranquil

un·true [-'trü] -adj, adv

  1. not faithful : disloyal
  2. not according with a standard of correctness : not level or exact
  3. not according with the facts : false

un·truss [-'trəs] -vt

  1. untie, unfasten used in the phrase untruss one's points
  2. undress
  3. to unfasten or take off one's clothes and esp. one's breeches

un·truth [,ən-'trüth, 'ən-,] -n

  1. disloyalty
  2. lack of truthfulness : falsity
  3. something that is untrue : falsehood

un·truth·ful [-'trüth-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. not containing or telling the truth : false, inaccurate
    • an untruthful report

un·tune [-'tün, -'tyün] -vt

  1. to put out of tune
  2. disarrange, discompose

un·tu·tored [-'tü-tərd, -'tyü-] -adj

  1. having no formal learning or training
  2. naive, unsophisticated
  3. not produced or developed by instruction : native
    • untutored shrewdness

un·twine [-'twīn] -vt

  1. to unwind the twisted or tangled parts of : disentangle
  2. to remove by unwinding
  3. to become disentangled or unwound

un·twist [,ən-'twist] -vt

  1. to separate the twisted parts of : untwine
  2. to become untwined

un·twist·ed [-'twis-təd] -adj

  1. not twisted

un·used [-'yüzd, in the phrase “unused to” usu -'yüs(t)] -adj

  1. not habituated : unaccustomed
    • unused to crowds
  2. : not used: as
  3. fresh, new
    • set an unused canvas on the easel
  4. not put to use : idle
    • unused land
  5. not consumed : accrued
    • unused sick leave

un·usu·al [-'yü-zhə-wəl, -zhəl; -'yüzh-wəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. not usual : uncommon, rare

un·ut·ter·able [,ən-'ə-tə-rə-bəl] -adj, adv

  1. being beyond the powers of description : inexpressible
    • an unutterable tragedy

un·val·ued [-'val-(,)yüd, -yəd] -adj

  1. invaluable
  2. not important or prized : disregarded
  3. not appraised

un·var·nished [-'vär-nisht] -adj

  1. not adorned or glossed : plain, straightforward
    • told the unvarnished truth
  2. artless, frank
    • the unvarnished candor of old people and children -- Janet Flanner
  3. not coated with or as if with varnish : crude, unfinished

un·veil [,ən-'vāl] -vt

  1. to remove a veil or covering from
  2. to make public : divulge, reveal
    • a good time to unveil their plans
  3. to throw off a veil or protective cloak

un·veiled [-'vāld] -adj

  1. not veiled : open, revealed

un·vo·cal [,ən-'vō-kəl] -adj

  1. not eloquent or outspoken : inarticulate
  2. not musical : discordant

un·voice [-'vȯis] -vt

  1. devoice

un·voiced [-'vȯist] -adj

  1. not verbally expressed
    • unvoiced fears
  2. voiceless
    • unvoiced consonants

un·war·rant·able [-'wȯr-ən-tə-bəl, -'wär-] -adj, adv

  1. not justifiable : inexcusable

un·wary [,ən-'wer-ē] -adj, adv, n

  1. not alert : easily fooled or surprised : heedless, gullible
    • cheats unwary tourists

un·washed [-'wȯsht, -'wäsht] -adj, n

  1. not cleaned with or as if with soap and water
  2. ignorant, plebeian
    • the unwashed masses

unwashed -n

  1. an ignorant or underprivileged group : rabble usu. used with great
    • the great unwashed

un·watch·able [,ən-'wä-chə-bəl, -'wȯ-] -adj

  1. not suitable or fit for watching : tending to discourage watching
    • unwatchable TV shows

un·wea·ried [-'wir-ēd] -adj, adv

  1. not tired or jaded : fresh
    • unwearied travelers

un·weave [-'wēv] -vt

  1. disentangle, unravel

un·weet·ing [-'wē-tiŋ] -adj, adv

  1. unwitting

un·weight [-'wāt] -vt

  1. to reduce momentarily the force exerted by (as a ski) upon a surface by shifting the weight or position of one's body
  2. to unweight something by shifting the weight or position of one's body

un·well [,ən-'wel] -adj

  1. being in poor health : ailing, sick
  2. undergoing menstruation

un·whole·some [-'hōl-səm] -adj, adv

  1. detrimental to physical, mental, or moral well-being : unhealthy
    • unwholesome food
    • unwholesome pastimes
  2. corrupt, unsound
    • shady unwholesome dealings
  3. offensive to the senses : loathsome
    • the unwholesome stench

un·wieldy [-'wēl-dē] -adj, adv, n

  1. not easily managed, handled, or used (as because of bulk, weight, complexity, or awkwardness) : cumbersome

un·will·ing [-'wi-liŋ] -adj, adv, n

  1. : not willing:
  2. loath, reluctant
    • was unwilling to learn
  3. done or given reluctantly
    • unwilling approval
  4. offering opposition : obstinate
    • an unwilling student

un·wind [-'wīnd] -vb

  1. to cause to uncoil : wind off : unroll
  2. to free from or as if from a binding or wrapping
  3. to release from tension : relax
  4. to trace to the end
    • unwind ing the labryinth and bringing the hero out -- Laurence Sterne
  5. to undo (a financial arrangement or position) through the necessary legal or financial steps
    • unwound most of its natural gas hedges -- N.Y. Times
  6. to become uncoiled or disentangled : unfold
  7. to become released from tension
    • take a bath to unwind

un·wis·dom [,ən-'wiz-dəm] -n

  1. lack of wisdom : foolishness, folly

un·wise [-'wīz] -adj, adv

  1. lacking wisdom or good sense : foolish, imprudent

un·wish [-'wish] -vt

  1. to wish away

un·wit·ting [-'wi-tiŋ] -adj, adv

  1. not knowing : unaware
    • kept the truth from their unwitting friends
  2. not intended : inadvertent
    • an unwitting mistake

un·wont·ed [-'wȯn-təd, -'wōn- also -'wən- or -'wän-] -adj, adv, n

  1. being out of the ordinary : rare, unusual
  2. not accustomed by experience

un·world·ly [-'wər(-ə)l-dlē, -'wərl-lē] -adj, n

  1. not of this world : unearthly
  2. spiritual
  3. not wise in the ways of the world : naive
  4. not swayed by mundane considerations

un·worn [-'wȯrn] -adj

  1. not impaired by use : not worn away
  2. not worn : new
  3. not jaded : fresh, original

un·wor·thy [,ən-'wər-thē] -adj, adv, n

  1. lacking in excellence or value : poor, worthless
  2. base, dishonorable
  3. not meritorious : undeserving
    • unworthy of attention
  4. not deserved : unmerited
    • unworthy treatment
  5. inappropriate to one's condition or station
    • actions unworthy of a gentleman

un·wrap [-'rap] -vt

  1. to remove the wrapping from : disclose
    • unwrap a package
    • unwrap evidence in a criminal case

un·wreathe [-'rēth] -vt

  1. uncoil, untwist

un·writ·ten [-'ri-tᵊn] -adj

  1. not expressed in writing : oral, traditional
    • an unwritten rule
  2. containing no writing : blank

unwritten constitution -n

  1. a constitution not embodied in a single document but based chiefly on custom and precedent as expressed in statutes and judicial decisions

unwritten law -n

  1. law based chiefly on custom rather than legislative enactments

un·yield·ing [,ən-'yēl-diŋ] -adj, adv

  1. characterized by firmness or obduracy
  2. characterized by lack of softness or flexibility

un·yoke [-'yōk] -vt

  1. to free from a yoke or harness
  2. to take apart : disjoin
  3. to unharness a draft animal
  4. to cease from work

un·zip [-'zip] -vt

  1. to zip open
  2. to open by or as if by means of a zipper