do ['dü] -vb, adj

  1. to bring to pass : carry out
    • do another's wishes
  2. put used chiefly in do to death
  3. perform, execute
    • do some work
    • did his duty
  4. commit
    • crimes done deliberately
  5. bring about, effect
    • trying to do good
    • do violence
  6. to give freely : pay
    • do honor to her memory
  7. to bring to an end : finish used in the past participle
    • the job is finally done
  8. to put forth : exert
    • did her best to win the race
  9. to wear out esp. by physical exertion : exhaust
    • at the end of the race they were pretty well done
  10. to attack physically : beat
  11. kill
  12. to bring into existence : produce
    • do a biography on the general
  13. used as a substitute verb esp. to avoid repetition
    • if you must make such a racket, do it somewhere else
  14. to play the role or character of
  15. mimic
  16. to behave like
    • do a Houdini and disappear
  17. to perform in or serve as producer of
    • do a play
  18. to treat unfairly
  19. cheat
    • did him out of his inheritance
  20. : to treat or deal with in any way typically with the sense of preparation or with that of care or attention:
  21. to put in order : clean
    • was do ing the kitchen
  22. wash
    • did the dishes after supper
  23. to prepare for use or consumption
  24. cook
    • like my steak done rare
  25. set, arrange
    • had her hair done
  26. to apply cosmetics to
    • wanted to do her face before the party
  27. decorate, furnish
    • did the living room in Early American
    • do over the kitchen
  28. to be engaged in the study or practice of
    • do science
  29. to work at as a vocation
    • what to do after college
  30. to pass over (as distance) : traverse
    • did 20 miles yesterday
  31. to travel at a speed of
    • do ing 55 on the turnpike
  32. tour
    • do ing 12 countries in 30 days
  33. to spend (time) in prison
    • has been do ing time in a federal penitentiary
  34. to serve out (a period of imprisonment)
    • did ten years for armed robbery
  35. to serve the needs of : suit, suffice
    • worms will do us for bait
  36. to approve esp. by custom, opinion, or propriety
    • you oughtn't to say a thing like that...it's not done -- Dorothy Sayers
  37. to treat with respect to physical comforts
    • did themselves well
  38. use
    • doesn't do drugs
  39. to have sexual intercourse with
  40. to partake of
    • let's do lunch
  41. act, behave
    • do as I say
  42. get along, fare
    • do well in school
  43. to carry on business or affairs : manage
    • we can do without your help
  44. to take place : happen
    • what's do ing across the street
  45. to come to or make an end : finish used in the past participle
  46. to be active or busy
    • let us then be up and do ing -- H. W. Longfellow
  47. to be adequate or sufficient : serve
    • half of that will do
  48. to be fitting : conform to custom or propriety
    • won't do to be late
  49. used as a substitute verb to avoid repetition
    • wanted to run and play as children do
    used esp. in British English following a modal auxiliary or perfective have
    • a great many people had died, or would do -- Bruce Chatwin
  50. used in the imperative after an imperative to add emphasis
    • be quiet do
  51. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in legal and parliamentary language
    • do hereby bequeath
    and in poetry
    • give what she did crave -- Shak.
  52. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in declarative sentences with inverted word order
    • fervently do we pray -- Abraham Lincoln
    , in interrogative sentences
    • did you hear that?
    , and in negative sentences
    • we don't know
    • don't go
  53. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses expressing emphasis
    • I do say
    • do be careful
  54. fuss, ado
  55. deed, duty
  56. a festive get-together : affair, party
  57. battle
  58. a command or entreaty to do something
    • a list of do s and don'ts
  59. cheat, swindle
  60. hairdo
  61. the first tone of the diatonic scale in solmization
  62. ditto
  63. double occupancy

DO -abbr

  1. defense order
  2. doctor of osteopathy

DOA -abbr

  1. dead on arrival

DOB -abbr

  1. date of birth

dob·bin ['dä-bᵊn] -n

  1. a farm horse
  2. a quiet plodding horse

dob·by ['dä-bē] -n

  1. a loom attachment for weaving small figures
  2. a fabric or figured weave made with a dobby

Dobe ['dōb] -n

  1. doberman pinscher

Do·ber·man pin·scher [,dō-bər-mən-'pin-chər] -n

  1. any of a breed of short-haired medium-sized dogs of German origin called also Doberman

Do·bro ['dō-(,)brō] -trademark

  1. used for an acoustic guitar having a metal resonator

dob·son·fly ['däb-sən-,flī] -n

  1. a winged insect (family Corydalidae) that has very long slender mandibles in the male and a large carnivorous aquatic larva and that is now usu. considered a neuropteran

doc ['däk] -n

  1. doctor
  2. document

do·cent ['dō-sᵊnt, dō(t)-'sent] -n

  1. a college or university teacher or lecturer
  2. a person who leads guided tours esp. through a museum or art gallery

do·ce·tic [dō-'sē-tik, -'se-] -adj

  1. of or relating to Docetism or the Docetists

Do·ce·tism [dō-'sē-,ti-zəm, 'dō-sə-] -n

  1. a belief opposed as heresy in early Christianity that Christ only seemed to have a human body and to suffer and die on the cross

dochandor·ris [,däk̲-ən-'dȯr-əs] -n

  1. a parting drink : stirrup cup

doc·ile ['dä-səl also -,sī(-ə)l, esp Brit 'dō-,sī(-ə)l] -adj, adv, n

  1. easily taught
  2. easily led or managed

dock ['däk] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Rumex) of coarse weedy plants of the buckwheat family having long taproots and sometimes used as potherbs
  2. any of several usu. broad-leaved weedy plants (as of the genus Silphium)
  3. the solid part of an animal's tail as distinguished from the hair
  4. the part of an animal's tail left after it has been shortened
  5. to cut off the end of a body part of
  6. to remove part of the tail of
  7. to cut (as ears or a tail) short
  8. to take away a part of : abridge
  9. to subject (as wages) to a deduction
  10. to penalize by depriving of a benefit ordinarily due
  11. to fine by a deduction of wages
    • dock ed him for tardiness
  12. a usu. artificial basin or enclosure for the reception of ships that is equipped with means for controlling the water height
  13. slip
  14. a place (as a wharf or platform) for the loading or unloading of materials
  15. a usu. wooden pier used as a landing place or moorage for boats
  16. to haul or guide into or alongside a dock
  17. to join (as two spacecraft) mechanically while in space
  18. to come into or alongside a dock
  19. to become docked
  20. the place in a criminal court where a prisoner stands or sits during trial

dock·age ['dä-kij] -n

  1. a charge for the use of a dock
  2. the docking of ships
  3. docking facilities

dock·er ['dä-kər] -n

  1. one that docks the tails of animals

docker -n

  1. one connected with docks
  2. longshoreman

dock·et ['dä-kət] -n

  1. a brief written summary of a document : abstract
  2. a formal abridged record of the proceedings in a legal action
  3. a register of such records
  4. a list of legal causes to be tried
  5. the caseload of a court or judge
  6. a calendar of business matters to be acted on : agenda
  7. an identifying statement about a document placed on its outer surface or cover

docket -vt

  1. to place on the docket for legal action
  2. to make a brief abstract of (as a legal matter) and inscribe it in a list
  3. to inscribe (as a document) with an identifying statement

dock·hand ['däk-,hand] -n

  1. longshoreman

dock·land [-,land] -n

  1. the part of a port occupied by docks
  2. a residential section adjacent to docks

dock·mas·ter ['däk-,mas-tər] -n

  1. a person in charge of a dock or marina or of the docking of ships

dock·side [-,sīd] -n

  1. the shore or area adjacent to a dock

dock·work·er [-,wər-kər] -n

  1. longshoreman

dock·yard [-,yärd] -n

  1. shipyard
  2. navy yard

do·co·sa·hex·a·e·no·ic acid [,dō-kō-sə-,hek-sə-,ē-'nō-ik-] -n

  1. an omega-3 fatty acid C 22H 32O 2found esp. in fish of cold waters

doc·tor ['däk-tər] -n, adj

  1. an eminent theologian declared a sound expounder of doctrine by the Roman Catholic Church called also doctor of the church
  2. a learned or authoritative teacher
  3. a person who has earned one of the highest academic degrees (as a PhD) conferred by a university
  4. a person awarded an honorary doctorate (as an LLD or Litt D) by a college or university
  5. a person skilled or specializing in healing arts
  6. one (as a physician, dentist, or veterinarian) who holds an advanced degree and is licensed to practice
  7. medicine man
  8. material added (as to food) to produce a desired effect
  9. a blade (as of metal) for spreading a coating or scraping a surface
  10. a person who restores, repairs, or fine-tunes things

doctor [-t(ə-)riŋ] -vb

  1. to give medical treatment to
  2. to restore to good condition : repair
    • doctor an old clock
  3. to adapt or modify for a desired end by alteration or special treatment
    • doctor ed the play to suit the audience
    • the drink was doctor ed
  4. to alter deceptively
    • accused of doctor ing the election returns
  5. to practice medicine
  6. to take medicine

doc·tor·ate ['däk-t(ə-)rət] -n

  1. the degree, title, or rank of a doctor

doc·tri·naire [,däk-trə-'ner] -n

  1. one who attempts to put into effect an abstract doctrine or theory with little or no regard for practical difficulties

doctrinaire [-'ner-,i-zəm] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a doctrinaire : dogmatic

doc·trin·al ['däk-trə-nᵊl, esp Brit däk-'trī-] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or preoccupied with doctrine

doc·trine ['däk-trən] -n

  1. teaching, instruction
  2. something that is taught
  3. a principle or position or the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief : dogma
  4. a principle of law established through past decisions
  5. a statement of fundamental government policy esp. in international relations
  6. a military principle or set of strategies

docu·dra·ma ['dä-kyə-,drä-mə, -,dra-, -kyü-] -n

  1. a drama (as for television) dealing freely with historical events esp. of a recent and controversial nature

doc·u·ment ['dä-kyə-mənt, -kyü-] -n, adj

  1. proof, evidence
  2. an original or official paper relied on as the basis, proof, or support of something
  3. something (as a photograph or a recording) that serves as evidence or proof
  4. a writing conveying information
  5. a material substance (as a coin or stone) having on it a representation of thoughts by means of some conventional mark or symbol
  6. documentary
  7. a computer file containing information input by a computer user and usu. created with an application (as a word processor)
  8. to furnish documentary evidence of
  9. to furnish with documents
  10. to provide with factual or substantial support for statements made or a hypothesis proposed
  11. to equip with exact references to authoritative supporting information
  12. to construct or produce (as a movie or novel) with authentic situations or events
  13. to portray realistically
  14. to furnish (a ship) with ship's papers

doc·u·men·tal·ist [,dä-kyə-'men-tᵊl-ist, -kyü-] -n

  1. a specialist in documentation

doc·u·men·tar·i·an [-mən-'ter-ē-ən, -,men-] -n

  1. one who makes a documentary

doc·u·men·ta·rist [-'men-tə-rist] -n

  1. documentarian

doc·u·men·ta·ry [-'men-tə-rē, -'men-trē] -adj, adv

  1. being or consisting of documents : contained or certified in writing
    • documentary evidence
  2. of, relating to, or employing documentation in literature or art
  3. factual, objective
    • a documentary film of the war

documentary -n

  1. a documentary presentation (as a film or novel)

doc·u·men·ta·tion [-mən-'tā-shən, -,men-] -n, adj

  1. the act or an instance of furnishing or authenticating with documents
  2. the provision of documents in substantiation
  3. documentary evidence
  4. the use of historical documents
  5. conformity to historical or objective facts
  6. the provision of footnotes, appendices, or addenda referring to or containing documentary evidence
  7. information science
  8. the usu. printed instructions, comments, and information for using a particular piece or system of computer software or hardware

doc·u·se·ries ['dä-kyə-,sir-(,)ēz, -kyü-] -n

  1. a documentary that is telecast in a series of programs

doc·u·soap ['dä-kyə-,sōp] -n

  1. a TV series in which the real-life activities of a group of people are presented in soap-opera style

DOD -abbr

  1. Department of Defense

dod·der ['dä-dər] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Cuscuta) of wiry twining vines of the morning-glory family that are highly deficient in chlorophyll, are parasitic on other plants, and have tiny scales instead of leaves

dodder ['dä-d(ə-)riŋ] -vi, n

  1. to tremble or shake from weakness or age
  2. to progress feebly and unsteadily
    • was dodder ing down the walk

dod·dered ['dä-dərd] -adj

  1. deprived of branches through age or decay
    • a doddered oak
  2. infirm, enfeebled

dod·der·ing ['dä-d(ə-)riŋ] -adj

  1. feeble, senile

dod·dery [-d(ə-)rē] -adj

  1. doddered
  2. doddering

dodeca- -comb form

  1. twelve
    • dodeca phonic

do·deca·gon [dō-'de-kə-,gän] -n

  1. a polygon of 12 angles and 12 sides

do·deca·he·dron [(,)dō-,de-kə-'hē-drən] -n, adj

  1. a solid having 12 plane faces

do·deca·phon·ic [(,)dō-,de-kə-'fä-nik] -adj, adv, n

  1. twelve-tone

dodge ['däj] -n

  1. an act of evading by sudden bodily movement
  2. an artful device to evade, deceive, or trick
  3. expedient
  4. to move to and fro or from place to place usu. in an irregular course
    • dodged through the crowd
  5. to make a sudden movement in a new direction (as to evade a blow)
    • dodged behind the door
  6. to evade a responsibility or duty esp. by trickery or deceit
  7. to evade by a sudden or repeated shift of position
    • dodge tacklers
  8. to avoid an encounter with
    • celebrities dodging the media
  9. to evade (as a duty) usu. indirectly or by trickery
    • dodged the draft by leaving the country
    • dodged questions

dodge·ball ['däj-,bȯl] -n

  1. a game in which players stand in a circle and try to hit opponents within the circle with a large inflated ball

dodg·em ['dä-jəm] -n

  1. bumper car called also dodgem car

dodg·er ['dä-jər] -n

  1. one that dodges
  2. one who uses tricky devices
  3. a small leaflet : circular
  4. corn dodger
  5. a usu. canvas screen on a boat or ship that provides protection from spray

dodg·ery ['dä-jə-rē] -n

  1. evasion, trickery

dodgy ['dä-jē] -adj, n

  1. evasive, tricky
  2. not sound, good, or reliable
  3. questionable, suspicious
  4. requiring skill or care in handling or coping with

do·do ['dō-(,)dō] -n

  1. an extinct heavy flightless bird ( Raphus cucullatussyn. Didus ineptusof the family Raphidae) of the island of Mauritius that was larger than a turkey and was related to the pigeon
  2. an extinct flightless bird ( Raphus solitarius) of the island of Reunion similar to and closely related to the dodo
  3. one hopelessly behind the times
  4. a stupid person

do down -vt

  1. to get the better of (as by trickery)

doe ['dō] -n

  1. the adult female of various mammals (as a deer, rabbit, or kangaroo) of which the male is called buck

DOE -abbr

  1. Department of Energy
  2. depends on experience

doeeyed ['dō-,īd] -adj

  1. having large innocent-looking eyes

do·er ['dü-ər] -n

  1. one that takes an active part
    • a thinker or a doer

does ['dü] -vb, adj

(variant of do)

  1. to bring to pass : carry out
    • do another's wishes
  2. put used chiefly in do to death
  3. perform, execute
    • do some work
    • did his duty
  4. commit
    • crimes done deliberately
  5. bring about, effect
    • trying to do good
    • do violence
  6. to give freely : pay
    • do honor to her memory
  7. to bring to an end : finish used in the past participle
    • the job is finally done
  8. to put forth : exert
    • did her best to win the race
  9. to wear out esp. by physical exertion : exhaust
    • at the end of the race they were pretty well done
  10. to attack physically : beat
  11. kill
  12. to bring into existence : produce
    • do a biography on the general
  13. used as a substitute verb esp. to avoid repetition
    • if you must make such a racket, do it somewhere else
  14. to play the role or character of
  15. mimic
  16. to behave like
    • do a Houdini and disappear
  17. to perform in or serve as producer of
    • do a play
  18. to treat unfairly
  19. cheat
    • did him out of his inheritance
  20. : to treat or deal with in any way typically with the sense of preparation or with that of care or attention:
  21. to put in order : clean
    • was do ing the kitchen
  22. wash
    • did the dishes after supper
  23. to prepare for use or consumption
  24. cook
    • like my steak done rare
  25. set, arrange
    • had her hair done
  26. to apply cosmetics to
    • wanted to do her face before the party
  27. decorate, furnish
    • did the living room in Early American
    • do over the kitchen
  28. to be engaged in the study or practice of
    • do science
  29. to work at as a vocation
    • what to do after college
  30. to pass over (as distance) : traverse
    • did 20 miles yesterday
  31. to travel at a speed of
    • do ing 55 on the turnpike
  32. tour
    • do ing 12 countries in 30 days
  33. to spend (time) in prison
    • has been do ing time in a federal penitentiary
  34. to serve out (a period of imprisonment)
    • did ten years for armed robbery
  35. to serve the needs of : suit, suffice
    • worms will do us for bait
  36. to approve esp. by custom, opinion, or propriety
    • you oughtn't to say a thing like that...it's not done -- Dorothy Sayers
  37. to treat with respect to physical comforts
    • did themselves well
  38. use
    • doesn't do drugs
  39. to have sexual intercourse with
  40. to partake of
    • let's do lunch
  41. act, behave
    • do as I say
  42. get along, fare
    • do well in school
  43. to carry on business or affairs : manage
    • we can do without your help
  44. to take place : happen
    • what's do ing across the street
  45. to come to or make an end : finish used in the past participle
  46. to be active or busy
    • let us then be up and do ing -- H. W. Longfellow
  47. to be adequate or sufficient : serve
    • half of that will do
  48. to be fitting : conform to custom or propriety
    • won't do to be late
  49. used as a substitute verb to avoid repetition
    • wanted to run and play as children do
    used esp. in British English following a modal auxiliary or perfective have
    • a great many people had died, or would do -- Bruce Chatwin
  50. used in the imperative after an imperative to add emphasis
    • be quiet do
  51. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in legal and parliamentary language
    • do hereby bequeath
    and in poetry
    • give what she did crave -- Shak.
  52. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in declarative sentences with inverted word order
    • fervently do we pray -- Abraham Lincoln
    , in interrogative sentences
    • did you hear that?
    , and in negative sentences
    • we don't know
    • don't go
  53. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses expressing emphasis
    • I do say
    • do be careful
  54. fuss, ado
  55. deed, duty
  56. a festive get-together : affair, party
  57. battle
  58. a command or entreaty to do something
    • a list of do s and don'ts
  59. cheat, swindle
  60. hairdo
  61. the first tone of the diatonic scale in solmization
  62. ditto
  63. double occupancy

doe·skin ['dō-,skin] -n

  1. the skin of does or leather made of it
  2. soft leather from sheep- or lambskins
  3. a compact coating and sportswear fabric napped and felted for a smooth surface

doesn't ['də-zᵊnt]

  1. does not

do·est ['dü] -vb, adj

(variant of do)

  1. to bring to pass : carry out
    • do another's wishes
  2. put used chiefly in do to death
  3. perform, execute
    • do some work
    • did his duty
  4. commit
    • crimes done deliberately
  5. bring about, effect
    • trying to do good
    • do violence
  6. to give freely : pay
    • do honor to her memory
  7. to bring to an end : finish used in the past participle
    • the job is finally done
  8. to put forth : exert
    • did her best to win the race
  9. to wear out esp. by physical exertion : exhaust
    • at the end of the race they were pretty well done
  10. to attack physically : beat
  11. kill
  12. to bring into existence : produce
    • do a biography on the general
  13. used as a substitute verb esp. to avoid repetition
    • if you must make such a racket, do it somewhere else
  14. to play the role or character of
  15. mimic
  16. to behave like
    • do a Houdini and disappear
  17. to perform in or serve as producer of
    • do a play
  18. to treat unfairly
  19. cheat
    • did him out of his inheritance
  20. : to treat or deal with in any way typically with the sense of preparation or with that of care or attention:
  21. to put in order : clean
    • was do ing the kitchen
  22. wash
    • did the dishes after supper
  23. to prepare for use or consumption
  24. cook
    • like my steak done rare
  25. set, arrange
    • had her hair done
  26. to apply cosmetics to
    • wanted to do her face before the party
  27. decorate, furnish
    • did the living room in Early American
    • do over the kitchen
  28. to be engaged in the study or practice of
    • do science
  29. to work at as a vocation
    • what to do after college
  30. to pass over (as distance) : traverse
    • did 20 miles yesterday
  31. to travel at a speed of
    • do ing 55 on the turnpike
  32. tour
    • do ing 12 countries in 30 days
  33. to spend (time) in prison
    • has been do ing time in a federal penitentiary
  34. to serve out (a period of imprisonment)
    • did ten years for armed robbery
  35. to serve the needs of : suit, suffice
    • worms will do us for bait
  36. to approve esp. by custom, opinion, or propriety
    • you oughtn't to say a thing like that...it's not done -- Dorothy Sayers
  37. to treat with respect to physical comforts
    • did themselves well
  38. use
    • doesn't do drugs
  39. to have sexual intercourse with
  40. to partake of
    • let's do lunch
  41. act, behave
    • do as I say
  42. get along, fare
    • do well in school
  43. to carry on business or affairs : manage
    • we can do without your help
  44. to take place : happen
    • what's do ing across the street
  45. to come to or make an end : finish used in the past participle
  46. to be active or busy
    • let us then be up and do ing -- H. W. Longfellow
  47. to be adequate or sufficient : serve
    • half of that will do
  48. to be fitting : conform to custom or propriety
    • won't do to be late
  49. used as a substitute verb to avoid repetition
    • wanted to run and play as children do
    used esp. in British English following a modal auxiliary or perfective have
    • a great many people had died, or would do -- Bruce Chatwin
  50. used in the imperative after an imperative to add emphasis
    • be quiet do
  51. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in legal and parliamentary language
    • do hereby bequeath
    and in poetry
    • give what she did crave -- Shak.
  52. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in declarative sentences with inverted word order
    • fervently do we pray -- Abraham Lincoln
    , in interrogative sentences
    • did you hear that?
    , and in negative sentences
    • we don't know
    • don't go
  53. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses expressing emphasis
    • I do say
    • do be careful
  54. fuss, ado
  55. deed, duty
  56. a festive get-together : affair, party
  57. battle
  58. a command or entreaty to do something
    • a list of do s and don'ts
  59. cheat, swindle
  60. hairdo
  61. the first tone of the diatonic scale in solmization
  62. ditto
  63. double occupancy

do·eth ['dü] -vb, adj

(variant of do)

  1. to bring to pass : carry out
    • do another's wishes
  2. put used chiefly in do to death
  3. perform, execute
    • do some work
    • did his duty
  4. commit
    • crimes done deliberately
  5. bring about, effect
    • trying to do good
    • do violence
  6. to give freely : pay
    • do honor to her memory
  7. to bring to an end : finish used in the past participle
    • the job is finally done
  8. to put forth : exert
    • did her best to win the race
  9. to wear out esp. by physical exertion : exhaust
    • at the end of the race they were pretty well done
  10. to attack physically : beat
  11. kill
  12. to bring into existence : produce
    • do a biography on the general
  13. used as a substitute verb esp. to avoid repetition
    • if you must make such a racket, do it somewhere else
  14. to play the role or character of
  15. mimic
  16. to behave like
    • do a Houdini and disappear
  17. to perform in or serve as producer of
    • do a play
  18. to treat unfairly
  19. cheat
    • did him out of his inheritance
  20. : to treat or deal with in any way typically with the sense of preparation or with that of care or attention:
  21. to put in order : clean
    • was do ing the kitchen
  22. wash
    • did the dishes after supper
  23. to prepare for use or consumption
  24. cook
    • like my steak done rare
  25. set, arrange
    • had her hair done
  26. to apply cosmetics to
    • wanted to do her face before the party
  27. decorate, furnish
    • did the living room in Early American
    • do over the kitchen
  28. to be engaged in the study or practice of
    • do science
  29. to work at as a vocation
    • what to do after college
  30. to pass over (as distance) : traverse
    • did 20 miles yesterday
  31. to travel at a speed of
    • do ing 55 on the turnpike
  32. tour
    • do ing 12 countries in 30 days
  33. to spend (time) in prison
    • has been do ing time in a federal penitentiary
  34. to serve out (a period of imprisonment)
    • did ten years for armed robbery
  35. to serve the needs of : suit, suffice
    • worms will do us for bait
  36. to approve esp. by custom, opinion, or propriety
    • you oughtn't to say a thing like that...it's not done -- Dorothy Sayers
  37. to treat with respect to physical comforts
    • did themselves well
  38. use
    • doesn't do drugs
  39. to have sexual intercourse with
  40. to partake of
    • let's do lunch
  41. act, behave
    • do as I say
  42. get along, fare
    • do well in school
  43. to carry on business or affairs : manage
    • we can do without your help
  44. to take place : happen
    • what's do ing across the street
  45. to come to or make an end : finish used in the past participle
  46. to be active or busy
    • let us then be up and do ing -- H. W. Longfellow
  47. to be adequate or sufficient : serve
    • half of that will do
  48. to be fitting : conform to custom or propriety
    • won't do to be late
  49. used as a substitute verb to avoid repetition
    • wanted to run and play as children do
    used esp. in British English following a modal auxiliary or perfective have
    • a great many people had died, or would do -- Bruce Chatwin
  50. used in the imperative after an imperative to add emphasis
    • be quiet do
  51. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in legal and parliamentary language
    • do hereby bequeath
    and in poetry
    • give what she did crave -- Shak.
  52. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in declarative sentences with inverted word order
    • fervently do we pray -- Abraham Lincoln
    , in interrogative sentences
    • did you hear that?
    , and in negative sentences
    • we don't know
    • don't go
  53. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses expressing emphasis
    • I do say
    • do be careful
  54. fuss, ado
  55. deed, duty
  56. a festive get-together : affair, party
  57. battle
  58. a command or entreaty to do something
    • a list of do s and don'ts
  59. cheat, swindle
  60. hairdo
  61. the first tone of the diatonic scale in solmization
  62. ditto
  63. double occupancy

doff ['däf, 'dȯf] -vt

  1. to remove (an article of wear) from the body
  2. to take off (the hat) in greeting or as a sign of respect
  3. to rid oneself of : put aside

dog ['dȯg, 'däg] -n, adj

  1. canid
  2. a highly variable domestic mammal ( Canis familiaris) closely related to the gray wolf
  3. a male dog
  4. a male usu. carnivorous mammal
  5. a worthless or contemptible person
  6. fellow, chap
    • a lazy dog
    • you lucky dog
  7. any of various usu. simple mechanical devices for holding, gripping, or fastening that consist of a spike, bar, or hook
  8. andiron
  9. uncharacteristic or affected stylishness or dignity
    • put on the dog
  10. either of the constellations Canis Major or Canis Minor
  11. feet
  12. ruin
    • going to the dog s
  13. : one inferior of its kind
    • the movie was a dog
    : as
  14. an investment not worth its price
  15. an undesirable piece of merchandise
  16. an unattractive person
  17. an unattractive girl or woman
  18. hot dog
  19. canine
  20. spurious
  21. unlike that used by native speakers or writers
    • dog Latin
    • dog French
  22. to hunt, track, or follow like a hound
    • dogged her every move
  23. to worry as if by pursuit with dogs : plague
    • dogged by his past failures
  24. to bother or pester persistently
    • dogged him about his grades
  25. to fasten with a dog
  26. extremely, utterly
    • dog -tired

dog and pony show -n

  1. an often elaborate public relations or sales presentation
  2. an elaborate or overblown affair or event

dog·bane ['dȯg-,bān] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Apocynumof the family Apocynaceae, the dogbane family) of often poisonous plants chiefly of temperate-zone regions with milky juice and fibrous bark

dog biscuit -n

  1. a hard dry cracker for dogs

dog·cart ['dȯg-,kärt] -n

  1. a cart drawn by a dog
  2. a light two-wheeled carriage with two transverse seats set back to back

dog·catch·er [-,ka-chər, -,ke-] -n

  1. a community official assigned to catch and dispose of stray dogs

dog collar -n

  1. a collar for a dog
  2. clerical collar
  3. a wide flexible snug-fitting necklace

dog days -n pl

  1. the period between early July and early September when the hot sultry weather of summer usu. occurs in the northern hemisphere
  2. a period of stagnation or inactivity

dog·dom ['dȯg-dəm] -n

  1. the world of dogs or of dog fanciers

doge ['dōj] -n

  1. the chief magistrate in the republics of Venice and Genoa

dogear ['dȯg-,ir] -n, vt

  1. the turned-down corner of a page esp. of a book

dogeared ['dȯg-,ird] -adj

  1. having dog-ears
    • a dogeared book
  2. shabby, timeworn
    • a dogeared resort
    • dogeared myths

dogeatdog [,dȯg-,ē(t)-'dȯg] -adj

  1. marked by ruthless self-interest
    • dogeatdog competition

dog·face ['dȯg-,fās] -n

  1. soldier
  2. infantryman

dog fennel -n

  1. an ill-scented Eurasian chamomile ( Anthemis cotula) naturalized as a weed in the U.S.
  2. a usu. annual composite weed ( Eupatorium capillifolium) chiefly of the southern U.S.

dog·fight ['dȯg-,fīt] -n, vi

  1. a fight between dogs
  2. a fiercely disputed contest
  3. a fight between two or more fighter planes usu. at close quarters

dog·fish [-,fish] -n

  1. any of various usu. small bottom-dwelling sharks (as of the families Squalidae, Carcharhinidae, and Scyliorhinidae) that often appear in schools near shore, prey chiefly on fish and invertebrates, and are a valuable food source

dog·ged ['dȯ-gəd] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by stubborn determination
    • a dogged competitor
    • dogged devotion

dog·ger·el ['dȯ-g(ə-)rəl, 'dä-] -adj

  1. loosely styled and irregular in measure esp. for burlesque or comic effect
  2. marked by triviality or inferiority

doggerel -n

  1. doggerel verse

dog·gery ['dȯ-gə-rē] -n

  1. a cheap saloon : dive

dog·gie bag ['dȯ-gē-] -n

  1. a container for leftover food to be carried home from a meal eaten at a restaurant

dog·gish ['dȯ-gish] -adj, adv, n

  1. canine
  2. stylish in a showy way

dog·go ['dȯ-(,)gō] -adv

  1. in hiding used chiefly in the phrase to lie doggo

dog·gone ['däg-'gän, 'dȯg-'gȯn] -vb

  1. damn
  2. damned

doggone -n

  1. damn

dog·gy ['dȯ-gē] -n

  1. a usu. small dog
  2. concerned with or fond of dogs
  3. resembling or suggestive of a dog
    • doggy odor
  4. stylish, showy
  5. not worthy or profitable : inferior
    • doggy stocks

dog·house ['dȯg-,hau̇s] -n

  1. a shelter for a dog
  2. a state of disfavor often usedin the phrase in the doghouse

do·gie ['dō-gē] -n

  1. a motherless calf in a range herd

dog in the manger

  1. a person who selfishly withholds from others something useless to himself

dog·leg ['dȯg-,leg, -,lāg] -adj

  1. crooked or bent like a dog's hind leg
    • a sharp dogleg bend in the fairway

dogleg -n

  1. something having an abrupt angle
  2. a sharp bend (as in a road)
  3. a golf hole having an angled fairway
  4. to proceed along a dogleg course
    • the single narrow street that dogleg s through town -- Russ Leadabrand

dog·ma ['dȯg-mə, 'däg-] -n

  1. something held as an established opinion
  2. a definite authoritative tenet
  3. a code of such tenets
    • pedagogical dogma
  4. a point of view or tenet put forth as authoritative without adequate grounds
  5. a doctrine or body of doctrines concerning faith or morals formally stated and authoritatively proclaimed by a church

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

  1. characterized by or given to the expression of opinions very strongly or positively as if they were facts
    • a dogmatic critic
  2. of or relating to dogma

dog·mat·ics [-tiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. a branch of theology that seeks to interpret the dogmas of a religious faith

dogmatic theology -n

  1. dogmatics

dog·ma·tism ['dȯg-mə-,ti-zəm, 'däg-] -n

  1. positiveness in assertion of opinion esp. when unwarranted or arrogant
  2. a viewpoint or system of ideas based on insufficiently examined premises

dog·ma·tist [-mə-tist] -n

  1. one who dogmatizes

dog·ma·tize ['dȯg-mə-,tīz, 'däg-] -vb, n

  1. to speak or write dogmatically
  2. to state as a dogma or in a dogmatic manner

dog·nap ['dȯg-,nap] -vt, n

  1. to steal (a dog) esp. to obtain a reward for its return or to sell to a scientific laboratory

Do·gon ['dō-,gän] -n

  1. a member of a people of Mali noted for their sculpture
  2. the language of the Dogon

dogood ['dü-,gu̇d] -adj, n

  1. designed or disposed sometimes impracticably and too zealously toward bettering the conditions under which others live

dogood·er [-,gu̇-dər] -n, n or adj

  1. an earnest often naive humanitarian or reformer

dog paddle -n, vi

  1. an elementary swimming stroke in which the arms paddle in the water and the legs maintain a kicking motion

dog rose -n

  1. a chiefly European wild rose ( Rosa canina)

dogs·body ['dȯgz-,bä-dē] -n

  1. drudge

dog's breakfast -n

  1. a confused mess or mixture

dog's chance -n

  1. a bare chance in one's favor

dog·sled ['dȯg-,sled] -n, vi

  1. a sled drawn by dogs

Dog Star -n

  1. sirius

dog tag -n

  1. an identification tag (as for military personnel or pets)

dog tick -n

  1. american dog tick

dog·tooth ['dȯg-,tüth] -n

  1. canine , eyetooth
  2. an architectural ornament common in early English Gothic consisting usu. of four leaves radiating from a raised point at the center
  3. houndstooth

dogtooth violet -n

  1. any of a genus ( Erythronium) of small spring-flowering bulbous herbs of the lily family

dog·trot ['dȯg-,trät] -n

  1. a quick easy gait suggesting that of a dog
  2. a roofed passage similar to a breezeway
  3. one connecting two parts of a cabin

dogtrot -vi

  1. to move or progress at a dogtrot

dog·watch ['dȯg-,wäch] -n

  1. either of two watches of two hours on shipboard that extend from 4 to 6 and 6 to 8 p.m.
  2. any of various night shifts
  3. the last shift

dog·wood ['dȯg-,wu̇d] -n

  1. any of various trees and shrubs (genus Cornusof the family Cornaceae, the dogwood family) with clusters of small flowers and often large white, pink, or red involucral bracts

doi·ly ['dȯi-lē] -n

  1. a small napkin
  2. a small often decorative mat

do in -vt

  1. to bring about the defeat or destruction of
    • a businessman done in by greed
  2. kill
  3. exhaust, wear out
  4. cheat

do·ing ['dü-iŋ] -n

  1. the act of performing or executing : action
    • that will take a great deal of doing
  2. things that are done or that occur : goings-on
    • everyday doing s
  3. social activities

doit ['dȯit] -n

  1. an old Dutch coin equal to about stiver
  2. trifle

doityourself -n

  1. the activity of doing or making something (as in woodworking or home repair) without professional training or assistance
  2. an activity in which one does something oneself or on one's own initiative

do·jo ['dō-(,)jō] -n

  1. a school for training in various arts of self-defense (as judo or karate)

Dol·by ['dȯl-bē, 'dōl-] -trademark

  1. used for an electronic device that eliminates noise from recorded or broadcast sound

dol·ce ['dōl-(,)chā] -adj or adv

  1. soft, smooth used as a direction in music

dol·ce far nien·te ['dōl-chē-,fär-nē-'en-tē] -n

  1. pleasant relaxation in carefree idleness

dol·cet·to [dōl-'che-tō] -n

  1. a light fruity red wine from the Piedmont region of Italy

dol·ce vi·ta [,dōl-chā-'vē-(,)tä] -n

  1. a life of indolence and self-indulgence called also la dolce vita

dol·drums ['dōl-drəmz, 'däl-, 'dȯl-] -n pl

  1. a spell of listlessness or despondency
  2. a part of the ocean near the equator abounding in calms, squalls, and light shifting winds
  3. a state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or slump

dole ['dōl] -n

  1. one's allotted share, portion, or destiny
  2. a giving or distribution of food, money, or clothing to the needy
  3. a grant of government funds to the unemployed
  4. something distributed at intervals to the needy
  5. handout
  6. something portioned out bit by bit
  7. to give or distribute as a charity usu. used with out
  8. grief, sorrow

dole·ful ['dōl-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. causing grief or affliction
    • a doleful loss
  2. full of grief : cheerless
    • a doleful face
  3. expressing grief : sad
    • a doleful melody

dole out -vt

  1. to give or deliver in small portions
  2. dish out

dol·er·ite ['dä-lə-,rīt] -n, adj

  1. any of various coarse basalts
  2. diabase

dole·some ['dōl-səm] -adj

  1. doleful

dol·i·cho·ce·phal·ic [,dä-li-kō-sə-'fa-lik] -adj, n

  1. having a relatively long head with cephalic index of less than 75

doll ['däl, 'dȯl] -n, adj, adv

  1. a small-scale figure of a human being used esp. as a child's plaything
  2. a pretty but often empty-headed young woman
  3. woman
  4. darling, sweetheart
  5. an attractive person

dol·lar ['dä-lər] -n

  1. taler
  2. any of numerous coins patterned after the taler (as a Spanish peso)
  3. any of various basic monetary units (as in the U.S. and Canada)
  4. a coin, note, or token representing one dollar
  5. ringgit
  6. money obtained from a specific source
    • the tourism dollar

dollarayear -adj

  1. compensated by a token salary usu. for government service
    • a dollarayear man

dollar cost averaging -n

  1. investment in a security at regular intervals of a uniform sum regardless of the price level in order to obtain an overall reduction in cost per unit called also dollar averaging

dollar day -n

  1. a day on which special low prices are offered

dollar diplomacy -n

  1. diplomacy used by a country to promote its financial or commercial interests abroad
  2. diplomacy that seeks to strengthen the power of a country or effect its purposes in foreign relations by the use of its financial resources

dol·lar·i·za·tion [,dä-lə-rə-'zā-shən] -n, vb

  1. the adoption of the U.S. dollar as a country's official national currency

dollarsandcents -adj

  1. dealing with or expressed in terms of money, sales, or profits

dollar sign -n

  1. a mark placed before a number to indicate that it stands for dollars called also dollar mark

doll·house ['däl-,hau̇s, 'dȯl-] -n

  1. a child's small-scale toy house
  2. a dwelling so small as to suggest a house for dolls

dol·lop ['dä-ləp] -n

  1. an indefinite often large quantity esp. of something liquid
  2. a lump or glob of something soft or mushy
    • top it with a dollop of jam
  3. an amount given, spooned, or ladled out : portion
    • hold out their mess tins for a dollop of gruel -- Robert Craft
  4. a small lump, portion, or amount
    • want just a dollop of ketchup
  5. something added or served as if in dollops
    • a delicious dollop of gossip -- Leon Harris

dollop -vt

  1. to serve or dispense in dollops

doll up -vt

  1. to dress elegantly or extravagantly
  2. to make more attractive (as by decorating)
  3. to get dolled up

dol·ly ['dä-lē, 'dȯ-lē] -n

  1. doll
  2. a wooden-pronged instrument for beating and stirring clothes in the process of washing them in a tub
  3. a compact narrow-gauge railroad locomotive for moving construction trains and for switching
  4. a platform on a roller or on wheels or casters for moving heavy objects
  5. a wheeled platform for a television or motion-picture camera

dolly -vb

  1. to treat with a dolly
  2. to move or convey on a dolly
  3. to move a motion-picture or television camera about on a dolly while shooting a scene
  4. to be moved on a dolly

dol·ly bird ['dä-lē-,bərd, 'dȯ-lē-] -n

  1. a pretty young woman

dolly shot -n

  1. tracking shot

Dol·ly Var·den [,dä-lē-'vär-dᵊn-] -n

  1. a large anadromous or freshwater char ( Salvelinus malma) widespread in streams of northwestern No. America and eastern Asia called also Dolly Varden trout

dol·ma [,dōl-'mä, 'dȯl-mə, 'däl-] -n

  1. a stuffed grape leaf or vegetable shell

dol·man sleeve ['dōl-mən-, 'dȯl-, 'däl-] -n

  1. a sleeve very wide at the armhole and tight at the wrist often cut in one piece with the bodice

dol·men ['dōl-mən, 'dȯl-, 'däl-] -n

  1. a prehistoric monument of two or more upright stones supporting a horizontal stone slab found esp. in Britain and France and thought to be a tomb

do·lo·mite ['dō-lə-,mīt, 'dä-] -n, adj

  1. a mineral CaMg(CO 3) 2consisting of a calcium magnesium carbonate found in crystals and in extensive beds as a compact limestone
  2. a limestone or marble rich in magnesium carbonate

do·lo·mi·ti·za·tion [,dȯ-lə-mə-tə-'zā-shən, ,dä-, -,mī-] -n, vt

  1. the process of converting into dolomite

do·lor ['dō-lər also 'dä-] -n

  1. mental suffering or anguish : grief

do·lor·ous ['dō-lə-rəs also 'dä-] -adj, adv, n

  1. causing, marked by, or expressing misery or grief

do·lour ['dō-lər also 'dä-] -n

(variant of dolor)

  1. mental suffering or anguish : grief

dol·phin ['däl-fən, 'dȯl-] -n

  1. any of various small marine toothed whales (family Delphinidae) with the snout more or less elongated into a beak and the neck vertebrae partially fused
  2. any of several related chiefly freshwater toothed whales (as of the family Platanistidae)
  3. porpoise
  4. dolphinfish
  5. delphinus
  6. a spar or buoy for mooring boats
  7. a cluster of closely driven piles used as a fender for a dock or as a mooring or guide for boats

dol·phin·fish ['däl-fən-,fish, 'dȯl-] -n

  1. either of two active pelagic bony food fishes ( Coryphaena equiselisand C. hippurusof the family Coryphaenidae) of tropical and temperate seas called also dolphin

dolphin striker -n

  1. a vertical spar under the end of the bowsprit of a sailboat to extend and support the martingale

dolt ['dōlt] -n, adj, adv

  1. a stupid person

Dom

  1. used as a title for some monks and canons regular
  2. used as a title prefixed to the Christian name of a Portuguese or Brazilian man of rank

dom -abbr

  1. domestic
  2. dominant
  3. dominion

do·main [dō-'mān, də-] -n

  1. complete and absolute ownership of land
  2. land so owned
  3. a territory over which dominion is exercised
  4. a region distinctively marked by some physical feature
    • the domain of rushing streams, tall trees, and lakes
  5. a sphere of knowledge, influence, or activity
    • the domain of art
  6. the set of elements to which a mathematical or logical variable is limited
  7. the set on which a function is defined
  8. any of the small randomly oriented regions of uniform magnetization in a ferromagnetic substance
  9. integral domain
  10. the highest taxonomic category in biological classification ranking above the kingdom
  11. any of the three-dimensional subunits of a protein that are formed by the folding of its linear peptide chain and that together make up its tertiary structure
  12. a subdivision of the Internet consisting of computers or sites usu. with a common purpose (as providing commercial information) and denoted in Internet addresses by a unique abbreviation (as comor gov)
  13. domain name

do·maine [dō-'mān, -'men] -n

  1. a vineyard esp. in Burgundy that makes and bottles wine from its own grapes

domain name -n

  1. a sequence of usu. alphanumeric characters (as Merriam-Webster.com) that specifies a group of online resources (as of a particular company or person) and that forms part of the corresponding Internet addresses

dome ['dōm] -n, adj

  1. a stately building : mansion
  2. a large hemispherical roof or ceiling
  3. a natural formation or structure that resembles the dome or cupola of a building
  4. a form of crystal composed of planes parallel to a lateral axis that meet above in a horizontal edge like a roof
  5. an upward fold in rock whose sides dip uniformly in all directions
  6. a roofed sports stadium
  7. a person's head
  8. to cover with a dome
  9. to form into a dome
  10. to swell upward or outward like a dome

Domes·day Book ['dümz-,dā-, 'dōmz-] -n

  1. a record of a survey of English lands and landholdings made by order of William the Conqueror about 1086

do·mes·tic [də-'mes-tik] -adj, adv

  1. living near or about human habitations
  2. tame, domesticated
    • the domestic cat
  3. of, relating to, or originating within a country and esp. one's own country
    • domestic politics
    • domestic wines
  4. of or relating to the household or the family
    • domestic chores
    • domestic happiness
  5. devoted to home duties and pleasures
    • leading a quietly domestic life
  6. indigenous

domestic -n

  1. a household servant
  2. an article of domestic manufacture usu. used in pl.

domestic animal -n

  1. any of various animals (as the horse or sheep) domesticated so as to live and breed in a tame condition

do·mes·ti·cate [də-'mes-ti-,kāt] -vt, n

  1. to bring into domestic use : adopt
  2. to adapt (an animal or plant) to life in intimate association with and to the advantage of humans
  3. to make domestic : fit for domestic life
  4. to bring to the level of ordinary people
  5. a domesticated animal or plant

do·mes·tic·i·ty [,dō-,mes-'ti-sə-tē, -məs-; ,dä-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being domestic or domesticated
  2. domestic activities or life
  3. domestic affairs

domestic partner -n

  1. a company esp. in a developing country that joins in a commercial venture with an international company
  2. either one of an unmarried heterosexual or homosexual cohabiting couple esp. when considered as to eligibility for spousal benefits

domestic prelate -n

  1. a priest having permanent honorary membership in the papal household

domestic relations court -n

  1. court of domestic relations

domestic science -n

  1. home economics

domestic shorthair -n

  1. american shorthair
  2. a short-haired domestic cat esp. of unknown pedigree

domestic violence -n

  1. the inflicting of physical injury by one family or household member on another
  2. a repeated or habitual pattern of such behavior

dom·i·cal ['dō-mi-kəl, 'dä-] -adj

  1. relating to, shaped like, or having a dome

do·mi·cile ['dä-mə-,sī(-ə)l, 'dō-; 'dä-mə-sil] -n

  1. a dwelling place : place of residence : home
  2. a person's fixed, permanent, and principal home for legal purposes
  3. residence

domicile -vt

  1. to establish in or provide with a domicile

do·mi·cil·i·ary [,dä-mə-'si-lē-,er-ē, ,dō-] -adj

  1. : of, relating to, or constituting a domicile: as
  2. provided or taking place in the home
  3. providing care and living space (as for disabled veterans)

do·mi·cil·i·ate [,dä-mə-'si-lē-,āt, ,dō-] -vb, n

  1. domicile
  2. reside

dom·i·nance ['dä-mə-nən(t)s, 'däm-nən(t)s] -n

  1. : the fact or state of being dominant: as
  2. dominant position esp. in a social hierarchy
  3. the property of one of a pair of alleles or traits that suppresses expression of the other in the heterozygous condition
  4. the influence or control over ecological communities exerted by a dominant
  5. functional asymmetry between a pair of bodily structures (as the right and left hands)

dom·i·nant [-nənt] -adj, adv

  1. commanding, controlling, or prevailing over all others
    • the dominant culture
  2. very important, powerful, or successful
    • a dominant theme
    • a dominant industry
  3. overlooking and commanding from a superior position
    • a dominant hill
  4. of, relating to, or exerting ecological or genetic dominance
  5. being the one of a pair of bodily structures that is the more effective or predominant in action
    • dominant eye

dominant -n

  1. the fifth tone of a major or minor scale
  2. a dominant genetic character or factor
  3. any of one or more kinds of organism (as a species) in an ecological community that exerts a controlling influence on the environment and thereby largely determines what other kinds of organisms are present
  4. a dominant individual in a social hierarchy

dom·i·nate ['dä-mə-,nāt] -vb, adj, n

  1. rule, control
    • an empire that dominated the world
  2. to exert the supreme determining or guiding influence on
    • the ambition that has dominated his life
  3. to overlook from a superior elevation or command because of superior height or position
    • a hill that dominate s the town
  4. to be predominant in
    • sugar maples dominate the forest
  5. to have a commanding or preeminent place or position in
    • name brands dominate the market
  6. to have or exert mastery, control, or preeminence
  7. to occupy a more elevated or superior position

dom·i·na·tion [,dä-mə-'nā-shən] -n

  1. supremacy or preeminence over another
  2. exercise of mastery or ruling power
  3. exercise of preponderant, governing, or controlling influence
  4. dominion

do·mi·na·trix [,dä-mi-'nā-triks] -n

  1. a woman who physically or psychologically dominates her partner in a sadomasochistic encounter
  2. a dominating woman

dom·i·neer [,dä-mə-'nir] -vb

  1. to exercise arbitrary or overbearing control
  2. to tyrannize over

dom·i·neer·ing [-'nir-iŋ] -adj, adv, n

  1. inclined to exercise arbitrary and overbearing control over others

do·min·i·cal [də-'mi-ni-kəl] -adj

  1. of or relating to Jesus Christ as Lord
  2. of or relating to the Lord's day

Do·min·i·can [də-'mi-ni-kən] -n, adj

  1. a member of a mendicant order of friars founded by St. Dominic in 1215 and dedicated esp. to preaching

dom·i·nick·er ['dä-mə-,ne-kər, -,ni-] -n

  1. dominique

do·mi·nie [1 usu 'dä-mə-nē, 2 usu 'dō-] -n

  1. schoolmaster
  2. clergyman

do·min·ion [də-'mi-nyən] -n

  1. domain
  2. supreme authority : sovereignty
  3. an order of angels
  4. a self-governing nation of the Commonwealth of Nations other than the United Kingdom that acknowledges the British monarch as chief of state
  5. absolute ownership

Dominion Day -n

  1. canada day

dom·i·nique ['dä-mə-,nēk] -n

  1. any of a U.S. breed of domestic chickens with a rose comb, yellow legs, and barred plumage

dom·i·no ['dä-mə-,nō] -n

  1. a long loose hooded cloak usu. worn with a half mask as a masquerade costume
  2. a half mask worn over the eyes with a masquerade costume
  3. a person wearing a domino
  4. a flat rectangular block (as of wood or plastic) whose face is divided into two equal parts that are blank or bear usu. from one to six dots arranged as on dice faces
  5. any of several games played with a set of usu. 28 dominoes
  6. a member of a group (as of nations) expected to behave in accordance with the domino theory

domino effect -n

  1. a cumulative effect produced when one event initiates a succession of similar events

domino theory -n

  1. a theory that if one nation becomes Communist-controlled the neighboring nations will also become Communist-controlled
  2. the theory that if one act or event is allowed to take place a series of similar acts or events will follow

do·mo·ic acid [də-'mō-ik-] -n

  1. a neurotoxin C 15H 21NO 6that is produced by some diatoms (esp. genus Pseudo-nitzschia) and has caused poisoning in vertebrates (as sea lions, birds, and humans) that have consumed diatom-contaminated fish or shellfish

don ['dän] -vt

  1. to put on (an article of clothing)
  2. to wrap oneself in : take on
  3. a Spanish nobleman or gentleman used as a title prefixed to the Christian name
  4. a person of consequence : grandee
  5. a head, tutor, or fellow in a college of Oxford or Cambridge University
  6. a college or university professor
  7. a powerful Mafia leader

DON -abbr

  1. director of nursing

do·na ['dō-nə] -n

  1. a Portuguese or Brazilian woman of rank used as a title prefixed to the Christian name

do·a ['dō-nyə] -n

  1. a Spanish woman of rank used as a title prefixed to the Christian name

do·nate ['dō-,nāt, dō-'] -vb

  1. to make a gift of
  2. to contribute to a public or charitable cause
  3. to transfer (as electrons) to another atom or molecule
  4. to make a donation

do·na·tion [dō-'nā-shən] -n

  1. : the act or an instance of donating: as
  2. the making of a gift esp. to a charity or public institution
  3. a free contribution : gift

Do·na·tism ['dō-nə-,ti-zəm, 'dä-] -n

  1. the doctrines of a Christian sect arising in No. Africa in 311 and holding that sanctity is essential for the administration of sacraments and church membership

do·na·tive ['dō-nə-tiv, 'dä-] -n

  1. a special gift or donation
  2. of or relating to donation

do·na·tor ['dō-,nā-tər, dō-'] -n

  1. donor

done ['dü] -vb, adj

(variant of do)

  1. to bring to pass : carry out
    • do another's wishes
  2. put used chiefly in do to death
  3. perform, execute
    • do some work
    • did his duty
  4. commit
    • crimes done deliberately
  5. bring about, effect
    • trying to do good
    • do violence
  6. to give freely : pay
    • do honor to her memory
  7. to bring to an end : finish used in the past participle
    • the job is finally done
  8. to put forth : exert
    • did her best to win the race
  9. to wear out esp. by physical exertion : exhaust
    • at the end of the race they were pretty well done
  10. to attack physically : beat
  11. kill
  12. to bring into existence : produce
    • do a biography on the general
  13. used as a substitute verb esp. to avoid repetition
    • if you must make such a racket, do it somewhere else
  14. to play the role or character of
  15. mimic
  16. to behave like
    • do a Houdini and disappear
  17. to perform in or serve as producer of
    • do a play
  18. to treat unfairly
  19. cheat
    • did him out of his inheritance
  20. : to treat or deal with in any way typically with the sense of preparation or with that of care or attention:
  21. to put in order : clean
    • was do ing the kitchen
  22. wash
    • did the dishes after supper
  23. to prepare for use or consumption
  24. cook
    • like my steak done rare
  25. set, arrange
    • had her hair done
  26. to apply cosmetics to
    • wanted to do her face before the party
  27. decorate, furnish
    • did the living room in Early American
    • do over the kitchen
  28. to be engaged in the study or practice of
    • do science
  29. to work at as a vocation
    • what to do after college
  30. to pass over (as distance) : traverse
    • did 20 miles yesterday
  31. to travel at a speed of
    • do ing 55 on the turnpike
  32. tour
    • do ing 12 countries in 30 days
  33. to spend (time) in prison
    • has been do ing time in a federal penitentiary
  34. to serve out (a period of imprisonment)
    • did ten years for armed robbery
  35. to serve the needs of : suit, suffice
    • worms will do us for bait
  36. to approve esp. by custom, opinion, or propriety
    • you oughtn't to say a thing like that...it's not done -- Dorothy Sayers
  37. to treat with respect to physical comforts
    • did themselves well
  38. use
    • doesn't do drugs
  39. to have sexual intercourse with
  40. to partake of
    • let's do lunch
  41. act, behave
    • do as I say
  42. get along, fare
    • do well in school
  43. to carry on business or affairs : manage
    • we can do without your help
  44. to take place : happen
    • what's do ing across the street
  45. to come to or make an end : finish used in the past participle
  46. to be active or busy
    • let us then be up and do ing -- H. W. Longfellow
  47. to be adequate or sufficient : serve
    • half of that will do
  48. to be fitting : conform to custom or propriety
    • won't do to be late
  49. used as a substitute verb to avoid repetition
    • wanted to run and play as children do
    used esp. in British English following a modal auxiliary or perfective have
    • a great many people had died, or would do -- Bruce Chatwin
  50. used in the imperative after an imperative to add emphasis
    • be quiet do
  51. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in legal and parliamentary language
    • do hereby bequeath
    and in poetry
    • give what she did crave -- Shak.
  52. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in declarative sentences with inverted word order
    • fervently do we pray -- Abraham Lincoln
    , in interrogative sentences
    • did you hear that?
    , and in negative sentences
    • we don't know
    • don't go
  53. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses expressing emphasis
    • I do say
    • do be careful
  54. fuss, ado
  55. deed, duty
  56. a festive get-together : affair, party
  57. battle
  58. a command or entreaty to do something
    • a list of do s and don'ts
  59. cheat, swindle
  60. hairdo
  61. the first tone of the diatonic scale in solmization
  62. ditto
  63. double occupancy

done deal -n

  1. fait accompli
    • thought the trade was a done deal

do·nee [,dō-'nē] -n

  1. a recipient of a gift

done for ['dən-,fȯr] -adj

  1. sunk in defeat : beaten
  2. mortally stricken : doomed

done·ness ['dən-nəs] -n

  1. the condition of being cooked to the desired degree

dong ['dȯŋ, 'däŋ] -n

  1. penis

don·gle ['däŋ-gəl, 'dȯŋ-] -n

  1. a small device that plugs into a computer and serves as an adapter or as a security measure to enable the use of certain software

dong quai ['däŋ-'kwī, 'dȯŋ-] -n

  1. the root of an Asian angelica ( Angelica sinensis) used esp. in traditional Chinese medicine as a tonic, analgesic, antispasmodic, and laxative
  2. an extract or preparation of dong quai

don·jon ['dän-jən, 'dən-] -n

  1. a massive inner tower in a medieval castle

Don Juan ['dän-'(h)wän, chiefly Brit & in poetry dän-'jü-ən] -n

  1. a legendary Spaniard proverbial for his seduction of women
  2. a captivating man known as a great lover or seducer of women

don·key ['däŋ-kē, 'dəŋ-, 'dȯŋ-] -n

  1. the domestic ass ( Equus asinus)
  2. a stupid or obstinate person

donkey engine -n

  1. a small usu. portable auxiliary engine
  2. a small locomotive used in switching

donkey jacket -n

  1. a jacket of heavy material worn esp. by laborers

donkey's years -n pl

  1. a very long time

don·key·work ['däŋ-kē-,wərk, 'dəŋ-, 'dȯŋ-] -n

  1. monotonous and routine work : drudgery

don·na [,dä-nə, ,dȯ-] -n

  1. an Italian woman esp. of rank used as a title prefixed to the given name

don·nee [dȯ-'nā, (,)də-] -n

  1. the set of assumptions on which a work of fiction or drama proceeds

don·nick·er ['dä-ni-kər] -n

  1. toilet

don·nish ['dä-nish] -adj, adv, n

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a university don

don·ny·brook ['dä-nē-,bru̇k] -n

  1. free-for-all, brawl
  2. a usu. public quarrel or dispute

do·nor ['dō-nər, -,nȯr] -n

  1. one that gives, donates, or presents something
  2. one used as a source of biological material (as blood or an organ)
  3. a compound capable of giving up a part (as an atom, chemical group, or subatomic particle) for combination with an acceptor
  4. an impurity added to a semiconductor to increase the number of mobile electrons

donoth·ing ['dü-,nə-thiŋ] -n

  1. a shiftless or lazy person

donothing [-,i-zəm] -adj, n

  1. marked by inactivity or failure to make positive progress

Don Qui·xote [,dän-kē-'(h)ō-tē, ,däŋ-; chiefly Brit dän-'kwik-sət] -n

  1. an impractical idealist

don·sie ['dän(t)-sē] -adj

  1. unlucky
  2. restive
  3. saucy
  4. slightly ill

don't ['dōnt]

  1. do not
  2. does not
  3. a command or entreaty not to do something
    • a list of dos and don't s

donut [-(,)nət] -n, adj

(variant of doughnut)

  1. a small usu. ring-shaped cake fried in fat
  2. something (as a mathematical torus) that resembles a doughnut esp. in shape

doo·bie ['dü-bē] -n

  1. a marijuana cigarette
  2. joint

doo·dad ['dü-,dad] -n

  1. an ornamental attachment or decoration
  2. an often small article whose common name is unknown or forgotten : gadget

doo·dle ['dü-dᵊl] -vb, n

  1. to make a doodle
  2. dawdle, trifle
  3. to produce by doodling

doodle -n

  1. an aimless or casual scribble, design, or sketch
  2. a minor work

doo·dle·bug ['dü-dᵊl-,bəg] -n

  1. the larva of an ant lion
  2. any of several other insects
  3. a device (as a divining rod) used in attempting to locate underground gas, water, oil, or ores
  4. buzz bomb

doodleysquat ['dü-dᵊl-ē-,skwät] -n

  1. diddly-squat

doodoo ['dü-(,)dü] -n

  1. feces

doo·fus ['dü-fəs, -fis] -n

  1. a stupid, incompetent, or foolish person

doo·hick·ey ['dü-,hi-kē] -n

  1. doodad

doom ['düm] -n

  1. a law or ordinance esp. in Anglo-Saxon England
  2. judgment, decision
  3. a judicial condemnation or sentence
  4. judgment
  5. judgment day
  6. destiny
  7. unhappy destiny
  8. death, ruin
  9. to give judgment against : condemn
  10. to fix the fate of : destine
    • felt he was doom ed to a life of loneliness
  11. to make certain the failure or destruction of
    • the scandal doom ed her chances for election

doom·ful ['düm-fəl] -adj, adv

  1. presaging doom : ominous
    • doomful predictions

doom·say·er ['düm-,sā-ər] -n

  1. one given to forebodings and predictions of impending calamity

dooms·day ['dümz-,dā] -n

  1. a day of final judgment
  2. a time of catastrophic destruction and death

dooms·day·er [-,dā-ər, -,der] -n

  1. doomsayer

doom·ster ['düm(p)-stər] -n

  1. judge
  2. doomsayer

doomy ['dü-mē] -adj, adv

  1. suggestive of doom : doomful

door ['dȯr] -n, adj

  1. a usu. swinging or sliding barrier by which an entry is closed and opened
  2. a similar part of a piece of furniture
  3. doorway
  4. a means of access or participation : opportunity
    • opens new door s
    • door to success

door·bell ['dȯr-,bel] -n

  1. a bell or set of chimes to be rung usu. by a push button at an outer door

doordie ['dü-ər-'dī, -ȯr-] -adj

  1. doggedly determined to reach one's objective : indomitable
  2. presenting as the only alternatives complete success or complete ruin
    • a doordie situation

door·jamb ['dȯr-,jam] -n

  1. an upright piece forming the side of a door opening

door·keep·er [-,kē-pər] -n

  1. a person who tends a door

door·knob [-,näb] -n

  1. a knob that releases a door latch

door·man [-,man, -mən] -n

  1. a usu. uniformed attendant at the door of a building (as a hotel or apartment building)

door·mat [-,mat] -n

  1. a mat placed before or inside a door for wiping dirt from the shoes
  2. one that submits without protest to abuse or indignities
  3. a team that regularly finishes last

door·nail [-,nāl, -'nāl] -n

  1. a large-headed nail used chiefly in the phrase dead as a doornail

door·plate [-,plāt] -n

  1. a nameplate on a door

door·post [-,pōst] -n

  1. doorjamb

door prize -n

  1. a prize awarded to the holder of a winning ticket passed out at the entrance to an entertainment or function

door·sill ['dȯr-,sil] -n

  1. sill

door·step [-,step] -n

  1. a step before an outer door

door·stop [-,stäp] -n

  1. a usu. rubber-tipped device attached to a wall or floor to prevent damaging contact between an opened door and the wall
  2. a device (as a wedge or weight) for holding a door open

doortodoor [,dȯr-tə-'dȯr] -adj, adv

  1. going or made by going to each house in a neighborhood
    • doortodoor salespeople
    • a doortodoor canvass

door·way ['dȯr-,wā] -n

  1. the opening that a door closes
  2. an entrance into a building or room
  3. door

door·yard [-,yärd] -n

  1. a yard next to the door of a house

doowop ['dü-,wäp] -n

  1. a vocal style of rock and roll characterized by the a cappella singing of nonsense syllables in rhythmical support of the melody

doo·zy ['dü-zē] -n

  1. an extraordinary one of its kind

do·pa ['dō-pə, -(,)pä] -n

  1. a phenolic amino acid C 9H 11NO 4occurring naturally (as in broad beans) or prepared synthetically (as from tyrosine)

do·pa·mine ['dō-pə-,mēn] -n

  1. a monoamine C 8H 11NO 2that is a decarboxylated form of dopa and that occurs esp. as a neurotransmitter in the brain

do·pa·mi·ner·gic [,dō-pə-,mē-'nər-jik] -adj

  1. liberating, activated by, or involving dopamine or related substances

dop·ant ['dō-pənt] -n

  1. an impurity added usu. in minute amounts to a pure substance to alter its properties (as conductivity)

dope ['dōp] -n

  1. a thick liquid or pasty preparation
  2. a preparation for giving a desired quality to a substance or surface
  3. absorbent or adsorbent material used in various manufacturing processes (as the making of dynamite)
  4. an illicit, habit-forming, or narcotic drug
  5. marijuana
  6. a preparation given to a racehorse to help or hinder its performance
  7. a cola drink
  8. a stupid person
  9. information esp. from a reliable source
    • the inside dope
  10. to treat or affect with dope
  11. to give a narcotic to
  12. figure out usu. used with out
  13. to treat with a dopant
  14. to take dope
  15. excellent used as a generalized term of approval

dope·head ['dōp-,hed] -n

  1. a drug addict

dope·ster ['dōp-stər] -n

  1. a forecaster of the outcome of future events (as sports contests or elections)

dop·ey ['dō-pē] -adj, adv, n

  1. dulled by alcohol or a narcotic
  2. sluggish, stupefied
  3. stupid, fatuous
    • dopey sitcoms

doping -n

  1. the use of a substance (as an anabolic steroid or erythropoietin) or technique (as blood doping) to illegally improve athletic performance

dop·pel·gang·er ['dä-pəl-,gaŋ-ər, -,geŋ-, ,dä-pəl-'] -n

  1. a ghostly counterpart of a living person
  2. double
  3. alter ego
  4. a person who has the same name as another

Dopp·ler ['dä-plər] -adj

  1. of, relating to, being, or utilizing a shift in frequency in accordance with the Doppler effect
  2. of or relating to Doppler radar

Doppler effect -n

  1. a change in the frequency with which waves (as of sound or light) from a given source reach an observer when the source and the observer are in motion with respect to each other so that the frequency increases or decreases according to the speed at which the distance is decreasing or increasing

Doppler radar -n

  1. a radar system that utilizes the Doppler effect for measuring velocity

do·ra·do [də-'rä-(,)dō] -n

  1. mahimahi

dorag ['dü-,rag] -n

  1. a kerchief worn esp. to cover the hair

Dor·cas ['dȯr-kəs] -n

  1. a Christian woman of New Testament times who made clothing for the poor

Do·ri·an ['dȯr-ē-ən] -n, adj

  1. a member of an ancient Hellenic race that completed the overthrow of Mycenaean civilization and settled esp. in the Peloponnisos and Crete

Dor·ic ['dȯr-ik, 'där-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Dorians
  2. belonging to the oldest and simplest Greek architectural order
  3. of, relating to, or constituting Doric

Doric -n

  1. a dialect of ancient Greek spoken esp. in the Peloponnisos, Crete, Sicily, and southern Italy

dork ['dȯrk] -n

  1. nerd
  2. jerk

dorky ['dȯr-kē] -adj, n

  1. foolishly stupid : clueless

dorm ['dȯrm] -n

  1. dormitory

dor·man·cy ['dȯr-mən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being dormant

dor·mant ['dȯr-mənt] -adj

  1. represented on a coat of arms in a lying position with the head on the forepaws
  2. : marked by a suspension of activity: as
  3. temporarily devoid of external activity
    • a dormant volcano
  4. temporarily in abeyance yet capable of being activated
  5. asleep, inactive
  6. having the faculties suspended : sluggish
  7. : having biological activity suspended: as
  8. being in a state of suspended animation
  9. not actively growing but protected (as by bud scales) from the environment used of plant parts
  10. associated with, carried out, or applied during a period of dormancy
    • dormant grafting

dor·mer ['dȯr-mər] -n, adj

  1. a window set vertically in a structure projecting through a sloping roof
  2. the roofed structure containing such a window

dor·mie ['dȯr-mē] -adj

  1. being ahead by as many holes in golf as remain to be played in match play

dor·mi·to·ry ['dȯr-mə-,tȯr-ē] -n

  1. a room for sleeping
  2. a large room containing numerous beds
  3. a residence hall providing rooms for individuals or for groups usu. without private baths
  4. a residential community inhabited chiefly by commuters

dor·mouse ['dȯr-,mau̇s] -n

  1. any of numerous small Old World rodents (esp. family Myoxidae) that are intermediate in form and behavior between mice and squirrels

dor·nick ['dȯr-nik, 'dä-nik] -n

  1. a stone small enough to throw
  2. a large piece of rock

do·ron·i·cum [də-'rä-ni-kəm] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Doronicum) of Eurasian perennial composite herbs including several cultivated for their showy yellow flower heads

dorp ['dȯrp] -n

  1. village

dors- -comb form

  1. back
    • dors ad
  2. dorsal and
    • dorso lateral

dor·sad ['dȯr-,sad] -adv

  1. toward the back : dorsally

dorsal ['dä-səl] -n

(variant of dossal)

  1. an ornamental cloth hung behind and above an altar

dor·sal ['dȯr-səl] -adj, adv

  1. relating to or situated near or on the back esp. of an animal or of one of its parts
  2. abaxial

dorsal -n

  1. a dorsally located part
  2. a thoracic vertebra

dorsal lip -n

  1. the margin of the fold of blastula wall that delineates the dorsal limit of the blastopore, constitutes the primary organizer, and forms the point of origin of chordamesoderm

dorsal root -n

  1. the one of the two roots of a spinal nerve that passes dorsally to the spinal cord and consists of sensory fibers

Dor·set ['dȯr-sət] -n

  1. any of a breed of domestic white-faced sheep orig. developed in Dorset, England

dor·si·ven·tral [,dȯr-si-'ven-trəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. having distinct dorsal and ventral surfaces
  2. dorsoventral

dor·so·lat·er·al [,dȯr-sō-'la-tə-rəl, -'la-trəl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or involving both the back and the sides

dor·so·ven·tral [-'ven-trəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. relating to, involving, or extending along the axis joining the dorsal and ventral sides
  2. dorsiventral

dor·sum ['dȯr-səm] -n

  1. the upper surface of an appendage or part
  2. back
  3. the entire dorsal surface of an animal

do·ry ['dȯr-ē] -n

  1. a flat-bottomed boat with high flaring sides, sharp bow, and deep V-shaped transom

dos ['dü] -vb, adj

(variant of do)

  1. to bring to pass : carry out
    • do another's wishes
  2. put used chiefly in do to death
  3. perform, execute
    • do some work
    • did his duty
  4. commit
    • crimes done deliberately
  5. bring about, effect
    • trying to do good
    • do violence
  6. to give freely : pay
    • do honor to her memory
  7. to bring to an end : finish used in the past participle
    • the job is finally done
  8. to put forth : exert
    • did her best to win the race
  9. to wear out esp. by physical exertion : exhaust
    • at the end of the race they were pretty well done
  10. to attack physically : beat
  11. kill
  12. to bring into existence : produce
    • do a biography on the general
  13. used as a substitute verb esp. to avoid repetition
    • if you must make such a racket, do it somewhere else
  14. to play the role or character of
  15. mimic
  16. to behave like
    • do a Houdini and disappear
  17. to perform in or serve as producer of
    • do a play
  18. to treat unfairly
  19. cheat
    • did him out of his inheritance
  20. : to treat or deal with in any way typically with the sense of preparation or with that of care or attention:
  21. to put in order : clean
    • was do ing the kitchen
  22. wash
    • did the dishes after supper
  23. to prepare for use or consumption
  24. cook
    • like my steak done rare
  25. set, arrange
    • had her hair done
  26. to apply cosmetics to
    • wanted to do her face before the party
  27. decorate, furnish
    • did the living room in Early American
    • do over the kitchen
  28. to be engaged in the study or practice of
    • do science
  29. to work at as a vocation
    • what to do after college
  30. to pass over (as distance) : traverse
    • did 20 miles yesterday
  31. to travel at a speed of
    • do ing 55 on the turnpike
  32. tour
    • do ing 12 countries in 30 days
  33. to spend (time) in prison
    • has been do ing time in a federal penitentiary
  34. to serve out (a period of imprisonment)
    • did ten years for armed robbery
  35. to serve the needs of : suit, suffice
    • worms will do us for bait
  36. to approve esp. by custom, opinion, or propriety
    • you oughtn't to say a thing like that...it's not done -- Dorothy Sayers
  37. to treat with respect to physical comforts
    • did themselves well
  38. use
    • doesn't do drugs
  39. to have sexual intercourse with
  40. to partake of
    • let's do lunch
  41. act, behave
    • do as I say
  42. get along, fare
    • do well in school
  43. to carry on business or affairs : manage
    • we can do without your help
  44. to take place : happen
    • what's do ing across the street
  45. to come to or make an end : finish used in the past participle
  46. to be active or busy
    • let us then be up and do ing -- H. W. Longfellow
  47. to be adequate or sufficient : serve
    • half of that will do
  48. to be fitting : conform to custom or propriety
    • won't do to be late
  49. used as a substitute verb to avoid repetition
    • wanted to run and play as children do
    used esp. in British English following a modal auxiliary or perfective have
    • a great many people had died, or would do -- Bruce Chatwin
  50. used in the imperative after an imperative to add emphasis
    • be quiet do
  51. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in legal and parliamentary language
    • do hereby bequeath
    and in poetry
    • give what she did crave -- Shak.
  52. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in declarative sentences with inverted word order
    • fervently do we pray -- Abraham Lincoln
    , in interrogative sentences
    • did you hear that?
    , and in negative sentences
    • we don't know
    • don't go
  53. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses expressing emphasis
    • I do say
    • do be careful
  54. fuss, ado
  55. deed, duty
  56. a festive get-together : affair, party
  57. battle
  58. a command or entreaty to do something
    • a list of do s and don'ts
  59. cheat, swindle
  60. hairdo
  61. the first tone of the diatonic scale in solmization
  62. ditto
  63. double occupancy

DOS -abbr

  1. disk operating system

dos·age ['dō-sij] -n

  1. the addition of an ingredient or the application of an agent in a measured dose
  2. the presence and relative representation or strength of a factor or agent
  3. dose
  4. the giving of a dose
  5. regulation or determination of doses
  6. an exposure to some experience in or as if in measured portions

dose ['dōs] -n

  1. the measured quantity of a therapeutic agent to be taken at one time
  2. the quantity of radiation administered or absorbed
  3. a portion of a substance added during a process
  4. an amount of something likened to a prescribed or measured quantity of medicine
    • a daily dose of hard work
    • a dose of scandal
  5. a gonorrheal infection
  6. to give a dose to
  7. to give medicine to
  8. to divide (as a medicine) into doses
  9. to treat with an application or agent

dosido [,dō-(,)sē-'dō] -n

  1. : a square-dance figure:
  2. a figure in which the dancers pass each other right shoulder to right shoulder and circle each other back to back
  3. a figure in which the woman moves in a figure circling first her partner and then the man on her right

do·sim·e·ter [dō-'si-mə-tər] -n, adj

  1. a device for measuring doses of radiations (as X-rays)

doss ['dȯs, 'däs] -vi

  1. to sleep or bed down in a convenient place usu. used with down
  2. a crude or makeshift bed

dos·sal ['dä-səl] -n

  1. an ornamental cloth hung behind and above an altar

dosshouse ['dȯs-,hau̇s, 'däs-] -n

  1. a cheap rooming house or hotel

dos·sier ['dȯs-,yā, 'däs-; 'dȯ-sē-,ā, 'dä-] -n

  1. a file containing detailed records on a particular person or subject

dost ['dü] -vb, adj

(variant of do)

  1. to bring to pass : carry out
    • do another's wishes
  2. put used chiefly in do to death
  3. perform, execute
    • do some work
    • did his duty
  4. commit
    • crimes done deliberately
  5. bring about, effect
    • trying to do good
    • do violence
  6. to give freely : pay
    • do honor to her memory
  7. to bring to an end : finish used in the past participle
    • the job is finally done
  8. to put forth : exert
    • did her best to win the race
  9. to wear out esp. by physical exertion : exhaust
    • at the end of the race they were pretty well done
  10. to attack physically : beat
  11. kill
  12. to bring into existence : produce
    • do a biography on the general
  13. used as a substitute verb esp. to avoid repetition
    • if you must make such a racket, do it somewhere else
  14. to play the role or character of
  15. mimic
  16. to behave like
    • do a Houdini and disappear
  17. to perform in or serve as producer of
    • do a play
  18. to treat unfairly
  19. cheat
    • did him out of his inheritance
  20. : to treat or deal with in any way typically with the sense of preparation or with that of care or attention:
  21. to put in order : clean
    • was do ing the kitchen
  22. wash
    • did the dishes after supper
  23. to prepare for use or consumption
  24. cook
    • like my steak done rare
  25. set, arrange
    • had her hair done
  26. to apply cosmetics to
    • wanted to do her face before the party
  27. decorate, furnish
    • did the living room in Early American
    • do over the kitchen
  28. to be engaged in the study or practice of
    • do science
  29. to work at as a vocation
    • what to do after college
  30. to pass over (as distance) : traverse
    • did 20 miles yesterday
  31. to travel at a speed of
    • do ing 55 on the turnpike
  32. tour
    • do ing 12 countries in 30 days
  33. to spend (time) in prison
    • has been do ing time in a federal penitentiary
  34. to serve out (a period of imprisonment)
    • did ten years for armed robbery
  35. to serve the needs of : suit, suffice
    • worms will do us for bait
  36. to approve esp. by custom, opinion, or propriety
    • you oughtn't to say a thing like that...it's not done -- Dorothy Sayers
  37. to treat with respect to physical comforts
    • did themselves well
  38. use
    • doesn't do drugs
  39. to have sexual intercourse with
  40. to partake of
    • let's do lunch
  41. act, behave
    • do as I say
  42. get along, fare
    • do well in school
  43. to carry on business or affairs : manage
    • we can do without your help
  44. to take place : happen
    • what's do ing across the street
  45. to come to or make an end : finish used in the past participle
  46. to be active or busy
    • let us then be up and do ing -- H. W. Longfellow
  47. to be adequate or sufficient : serve
    • half of that will do
  48. to be fitting : conform to custom or propriety
    • won't do to be late
  49. used as a substitute verb to avoid repetition
    • wanted to run and play as children do
    used esp. in British English following a modal auxiliary or perfective have
    • a great many people had died, or would do -- Bruce Chatwin
  50. used in the imperative after an imperative to add emphasis
    • be quiet do
  51. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in legal and parliamentary language
    • do hereby bequeath
    and in poetry
    • give what she did crave -- Shak.
  52. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in declarative sentences with inverted word order
    • fervently do we pray -- Abraham Lincoln
    , in interrogative sentences
    • did you hear that?
    , and in negative sentences
    • we don't know
    • don't go
  53. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses expressing emphasis
    • I do say
    • do be careful
  54. fuss, ado
  55. deed, duty
  56. a festive get-together : affair, party
  57. battle
  58. a command or entreaty to do something
    • a list of do s and don'ts
  59. cheat, swindle
  60. hairdo
  61. the first tone of the diatonic scale in solmization
  62. ditto
  63. double occupancy

dot ['dät] -n

  1. a small spot : speck
  2. : a small round mark: as
  3. a small point made with a pointed instrument
    • a dot on the chart marked the ship's position
  4. a small round mark used in orthography or punctuation
    • put a dot over the i
  5. a centered point used as a multiplication sign (as in 6 5 30)
  6. a point after a note or rest in music indicating augmentation of the time value by one half
  7. a point over or under a note indicating that it is to be played staccato
  8. a precise point esp. in time
    • arrived at six on the dot
  9. a short click or buzz forming a letter or part of a letter (as in the Morse code)
  10. a point used to separate components of an address on the Internet
  11. to mark with a dot
  12. to intersperse with dots or objects scattered at random
    • boats dotting the lake
  13. to make a dot
  14. dowry

DOT -abbr

  1. Department of Transportation

dot·age ['dō-tij] -n

  1. a state or period of senile decay marked by decline of mental poise and alertness

do·tal ['dō-tᵊl] -adj

  1. of or relating to a woman's marriage dowry

dot·ard ['dō-tərd] -n

  1. a person in his or her dotage

dotcom ['dät-,käm] -n

  1. a company that markets its products or services usu. exclusively online via a Web site

dotcom·mer [-,kä-mər] -n

  1. a person who owns or works for a dot-com

dote ['dōt] -vi, n, adv

  1. to exhibit mental decline of or like that of old age : be in one's dotage
  2. to be lavish or excessive in one's attention, fondness, or affection usu. used with on
    • doted on her only grandchild

doth ['dü] -vb, adj

(variant of do)

  1. to bring to pass : carry out
    • do another's wishes
  2. put used chiefly in do to death
  3. perform, execute
    • do some work
    • did his duty
  4. commit
    • crimes done deliberately
  5. bring about, effect
    • trying to do good
    • do violence
  6. to give freely : pay
    • do honor to her memory
  7. to bring to an end : finish used in the past participle
    • the job is finally done
  8. to put forth : exert
    • did her best to win the race
  9. to wear out esp. by physical exertion : exhaust
    • at the end of the race they were pretty well done
  10. to attack physically : beat
  11. kill
  12. to bring into existence : produce
    • do a biography on the general
  13. used as a substitute verb esp. to avoid repetition
    • if you must make such a racket, do it somewhere else
  14. to play the role or character of
  15. mimic
  16. to behave like
    • do a Houdini and disappear
  17. to perform in or serve as producer of
    • do a play
  18. to treat unfairly
  19. cheat
    • did him out of his inheritance
  20. : to treat or deal with in any way typically with the sense of preparation or with that of care or attention:
  21. to put in order : clean
    • was do ing the kitchen
  22. wash
    • did the dishes after supper
  23. to prepare for use or consumption
  24. cook
    • like my steak done rare
  25. set, arrange
    • had her hair done
  26. to apply cosmetics to
    • wanted to do her face before the party
  27. decorate, furnish
    • did the living room in Early American
    • do over the kitchen
  28. to be engaged in the study or practice of
    • do science
  29. to work at as a vocation
    • what to do after college
  30. to pass over (as distance) : traverse
    • did 20 miles yesterday
  31. to travel at a speed of
    • do ing 55 on the turnpike
  32. tour
    • do ing 12 countries in 30 days
  33. to spend (time) in prison
    • has been do ing time in a federal penitentiary
  34. to serve out (a period of imprisonment)
    • did ten years for armed robbery
  35. to serve the needs of : suit, suffice
    • worms will do us for bait
  36. to approve esp. by custom, opinion, or propriety
    • you oughtn't to say a thing like that...it's not done -- Dorothy Sayers
  37. to treat with respect to physical comforts
    • did themselves well
  38. use
    • doesn't do drugs
  39. to have sexual intercourse with
  40. to partake of
    • let's do lunch
  41. act, behave
    • do as I say
  42. get along, fare
    • do well in school
  43. to carry on business or affairs : manage
    • we can do without your help
  44. to take place : happen
    • what's do ing across the street
  45. to come to or make an end : finish used in the past participle
  46. to be active or busy
    • let us then be up and do ing -- H. W. Longfellow
  47. to be adequate or sufficient : serve
    • half of that will do
  48. to be fitting : conform to custom or propriety
    • won't do to be late
  49. used as a substitute verb to avoid repetition
    • wanted to run and play as children do
    used esp. in British English following a modal auxiliary or perfective have
    • a great many people had died, or would do -- Bruce Chatwin
  50. used in the imperative after an imperative to add emphasis
    • be quiet do
  51. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in legal and parliamentary language
    • do hereby bequeath
    and in poetry
    • give what she did crave -- Shak.
  52. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in declarative sentences with inverted word order
    • fervently do we pray -- Abraham Lincoln
    , in interrogative sentences
    • did you hear that?
    , and in negative sentences
    • we don't know
    • don't go
  53. used with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses expressing emphasis
    • I do say
    • do be careful
  54. fuss, ado
  55. deed, duty
  56. a festive get-together : affair, party
  57. battle
  58. a command or entreaty to do something
    • a list of do s and don'ts
  59. cheat, swindle
  60. hairdo
  61. the first tone of the diatonic scale in solmization
  62. ditto
  63. double occupancy

dot matrix -n

  1. a pattern of dots in a grid from which alphanumeric characters can be formed
    • a dot matrix printer

dot product -n

  1. scalar product

dotted swiss -n

  1. a sheer light muslin ornamented with evenly spaced raised dots

dot·ter·el ['dä-tə-rəl, 'dä-trəl] -n

  1. a Eurasian plover ( Eudromias morinellus) formerly common in England
  2. any of various related plovers chiefly of eastern Asia, Australia, and So. America

dot·tle ['dä-tᵊl, 'dȯ-] -n

  1. unburned and partially burned tobacco in the bowl of a pipe

dot·ty ['dä-tē] -adj, adv, n

  1. mentally unbalanced : crazy
  2. amiably eccentric
    • a dotty old relative
  3. being obsessed or infatuated
    • dotty fans
  4. amusingly absurd : ridiculous
    • dotty traditions

dotty -adj

  1. composed of or marked by dots

Dou·ay Version [dü-'ā-] -n

  1. an English translation of the Vulgate used by Roman Catholics

dou·ble ['də-bəl] -adj, n

  1. having a twofold relation or character : dual
  2. consisting of two usu. combined members or parts
    • an egg with a double yolk
  3. being twice as great or as many
    • double the number of expected applicants
  4. worth two of the specified amount
    • a double eagle
    • a double crown
  5. marked by duplicity : deceitful
  6. folded in two
  7. of extra size, strength, or value
    • a double martini
  8. having more than the normal number of floral leaves often at the expense of the sporophylls
  9. involving correspondence of two syllables (as in excitingand inviting)
  10. designed for the use of two persons
    • a double room
    • a double bed

double ['də-b(ə-)liŋ] -vb, n

  1. : to make twice as great or as many: as
  2. to increase by adding an equal amount
  3. to amount to twice the number of
  4. to make a call in bridge that increases the value of odd tricks or undertricks at (an opponent's bid)
  5. to bend or fold (as a sheet of paper) usu. in the middle so that one part lies directly against the other part
  6. clench
    • doubled his fist
  7. to cause to stoop
  8. to avoid by doubling : elude
  9. to replace in a dramatic role
  10. to play (dramatic roles) by doubling
  11. to advance or score (a base runner) by a double
  12. to bring about the scoring of (a run) by a double
  13. to put out (a base runner) in completing a double play
  14. to become twice as much or as many
  15. to double a bid (as in bridge)
  16. to turn sharply and suddenly
  17. to turn back on one's course
    • the rabbit doubled back on its tracks
  18. to follow a circuitous course
  19. to become bent or folded usu. in the middle usu. used with up
    • she doubled up in pain
  20. to serve an additional purpose or perform an additional duty
  21. to play a dramatic role as a double
  22. to make a double in baseball
  23. to twice the extent or amount
  24. two together
    • some people sleep better double and some single -- Morris Fishbein
  25. downward and forward from the usual position
    • he was bent double with pain
  26. : something twice the usual size, strength, speed, quantity, or value: as
  27. a double amount
  28. a base hit that enables the batter to reach second base
  29. : one that is the counterpart of another : duplicate: as
  30. a living person that closely resembles another living person
  31. wraith
  32. understudy
  33. one who resembles an actor and takes his or her place esp. in scenes calling for special skills
  34. an actor who plays more than one role in a production
  35. a sharp turn (as in running) : reversal
  36. an evasive shift
  37. : something consisting of two paired members: as
  38. fold
  39. a combined bet placed on two different contests
  40. two consecutive strikes in bowling
  41. a game between two pairs of players
  42. an act of doubling in a card game
  43. a room (as in a hotel) for two guests

double agent -n

  1. a spy pretending to serve one government while actually serving another

double bar -n

  1. two adjacent vertical lines or a heavy single line separating principal sections of a musical composition

dou·blebar·rel [,də-bəl-'ba-rəl] -n

  1. a double-barreled gun

dou·blebar·reled [-rəld] -adj

  1. having two barrels mounted side by side or one beneath the other
  2. twofold
  3. having a double purpose
    • asked a doublebarreled question

double bass [-'bā-sist] -n

  1. the largest and lowest-pitched of the stringed instruments tuned in fourths

double bassoon -n

  1. contrabassoon

double bill -n

  1. a bill (as at a theater) offering two principal features

double bind -n

  1. a psychological predicament in which a person receives from a single source conflicting messages that allow no appropriate response to be made
  2. dilemma

dou·bleblind [,də-bəl-'blīnd] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being an experimental procedure in which neither the subjects nor the experimenters know which subjects are in the test and control groups during the actual course of the experiments

double bogey -n, vt

  1. a golf score of two strokes over par on a hole

double boiler -n

  1. a cooking utensil consisting of two saucepans fitting together so that the contents of the upper can be cooked or heated by boiling water in the lower

double bond -n

  1. a chemical bond in which two pairs of electrons are shared by two atoms in a molecule

dou·blebreast·ed [,də-bəl-'bres-təd] -adj

  1. having one half of the front lapped over the other and usu. a double row of buttons and a single row of buttonholes
    • a doublebreasted coat
  2. having a double-breasted coat
    • a doublebreasted suit

doublecheck [,də-bəl-'chek, 'də-bəl-,] -vt

  1. to subject to a double check
    • an article doublecheck ed for accuracy
  2. to make a double check

double check -n

  1. a careful checking to determine accuracy, condition, or progress esp. of something already checked

dou·bleclutch [,də-bəl-'kləch] -vi

  1. to shift gears in an automotive vehicle by shifting into neutral and pumping the clutch before shifting to another gear

dou·blecrest·ed cormorant [-'kres-təd-] -n

  1. a No. American cormorant ( Phalacrocorax auritus) of which the breeding adults have a tuft of feathers on each side of the head

dou·blecrop [,də-bəl-'kräp] -vi

  1. to grow two or more crops on the same land in the same season or at the same time
  2. to grow (a crop) by double-cropping
    • doublecrop soybeans with wheat

dou·blecross [,də-bəl-'krȯs] -vt, n

  1. to deceive by double-dealing : betray

double cross -n

  1. an act of winning or trying to win a fight or match after agreeing to lose it
  2. an act of betraying or cheating an associate
  3. a cross between first-generation hybrids of four separate inbred lines (as in the production of hybrid seed corn)

double dagger -n

  1. the character used as a reference mark called also diesis

double date -n, vi

  1. a date participated in by two couples

dou·bledeal·ing [,də-bəl-'dē-liŋ] -n

  1. action contradictory to a professed attitude : duplicity

doubledealing -adj

  1. given to or marked by duplicity

dou·bledeck [,də-bəl-,dek] -adj

  1. having two decks, levels, or layers
    • a doubledeck bus
    • a doubledeck sandwich

dou·bledeck·er [-'de-kər] -n

  1. something that is double-deck
    • a doubledecker bus

dou·bledig·it [,də-bəl-'di-jət] -adj

  1. amounting to 10 percent or more
    • doubledigit inflation
    • doubledigit price increases

dou·bledip·per [-'di-pər] -n

  1. a person who collects both a government pension and a government salary

dou·bledome ['də-bəl-,dōm] -n

  1. intellectual

double door -n

  1. an opening with two vertical doors that meet in the middle of the opening when closed

dou·bledou·ble [-'də-bəl] -n

  1. an instance of a player's accumulating a total of 10 or more in two statistical categories (as points and rebounds) in one basketball game

double dribble -n

  1. an illegal action in basketball made when a player dribbles the ball with two hands simultaneously or continues to dribble after allowing the ball to come to rest in one or both hands

double Dutch -n

  1. unintelligible language
  2. the jumping of two jump ropes rotating in opposite directions simultaneously

double eagle -n, vt

  1. a golf score of three strokes less than par on a hole

dou·bleedged [,də-bəl-'ejd] -adj

  1. having two cutting edges
    • a doubleedged knife
  2. having two components or aspects
    • a spy with a doubleedged mission
  3. capable of being taken in two ways
    • a doubleedged remark

doubleedged sword -n

  1. something that has or can have both favorable and unfavorable consequences
    • freedom of expression...can be a double-edged sword -- Linda Connors

dou·bleend·ed [,də-bəl-'en-dəd] -adj

  1. similar at both ends
    • a doubleended bolt

dou·bleend·er [-dər] -n

  1. a ship or boat with bow and stern of similar shape

dou·ble en·ten·dre ['düb-ᵊl-äⁿ-'täⁿd(-rᵊ); 'də-bəl-än-'tänd(-rə)] -n

  1. ambiguity of meaning arising from language that lends itself to more than one interpretation
  2. a word or expression capable of two interpretations with one usu. risque

double entry -n

  1. a method of bookkeeping that recognizes both sides of a business transaction by debiting the amount of the transaction to one account and crediting it to another account so the total debits equal the total credits

dou·blefaced [,də-bəl-'fāst] -adj

  1. hypocritical, two-faced
  2. having two faces or sides designed for use
    • a doublefaced bookshelf
  3. finished on both sides : reversible used of fabric

double fault [,də-bəl-'fȯlt] -n, vi

  1. two consecutive serving faults in tennis that result in the loss of a point

double feature -n

  1. a movie program with two main films

double fertilization -n

  1. fertilization characteristic of seed plants in which one sperm nucleus fuses with the egg nucleus to form an embryo and another fuses with polar nuclei to form endosperm

double genitive -n

  1. a syntactic construction in English in which possession is marked both by the preposition ofand a noun or pronoun in the possessive case (as in A friend of Bob's is a friend of mine) called also double possessive

double glazing -n

  1. two layers of glass set in a window to reduce heat flow in either direction

Double Glouces·ter [-'gläs-tər, -,glȯs-] -n

  1. a firm mild orange-colored English cheese similar to cheddar

dou·ble·hand·ed ['də-bəl-'han-dəd] -adj

  1. having, requiring, or suitable for two sailors
    • a doublehanded dinghy
  2. involving boats each manned by two sailors
    • a doublehanded race

dou·ble·head·er [,də-bəl-'he-dər] -n

  1. a train pulled by two locomotives
  2. two games, contests, or events held consecutively on the same program

double helix [-'he-li-kəl, -'hē-] -n, adj

  1. a helix or spiral consisting of two strands in the surface of a cylinder that coil around its axis
  2. the structural arrangement of DNA in space that consists of paired polynucleotide strands stabilized by cross-links between purine and pyrimidine bases

doublehung [,də-bəl-'həŋ] -adj

  1. having an upper and a lower sash that can slide vertically past each other

double hyphen -n

  1. a punctuation mark used in place of a hyphen at the end of a line to indicate that the word so divided is normally hyphenated

double indemnity -n

  1. a provision in a life-insurance or accident policy whereby the company agrees to pay twice the face of the contract in case of accidental death

double jeopardy -n

  1. the putting of a person on trial for an offense for which he or she has previously been put on trial under a valid charge : two adjudications for one offense
  2. considerable danger or trouble from two sources

dou·blejoint·ed [,də-bəl-'jȯin-təd] -adj

  1. having a joint that permits an exceptional degree of freedom of motion of the parts joined

double knit -n

  1. a knitted fabric (as wool) made with a double set of needles to produce a double thickness of fabric with each thickness joined by interlocking stitches
  2. an article of clothing made of such fabric

double negative -n

  1. a now nonstandard syntactic construction containing two negatives and having a negative meaning
    • I didn't hear nothing is a double negative

dou·blepark [,də-bəl-'pärk] -vt

  1. to park (a vehicle) beside a row of vehicles already parked parallel to the curb
  2. to double-park a vehicle

double play -n

  1. a play in baseball by which two players are put out

double pneumonia -n

  1. pneumonia affecting both lungs

double prime -n

  1. the symbol used to distinguish arbitrary characters (as a, a,and a), to indicate a specific unit (as inches), or to indicate the second derivative of a function (as por f(x))

dou·blequick ['də-bəl-,kwik] -n, adj or adv

  1. double time
  2. a rapid pace

double reed -n

  1. two reeds bound together with a slight separation between them so that air passing through them causes them to beat against one another and that are used as a sound-producing device in certain woodwind instruments (as members of the oboe family)

double refraction -n

  1. birefringence

dou·blering ['də-bəl-,riŋ] -adj

  1. of or relating to a wedding ceremony in which each partner ceremonially gives the other a wedding ring while reciting vows

double salt -n

  1. a salt (as an alum) yielding on hydrolysis two different cations or anions

dou·blespace [,də-bəl-'spās] -vt

  1. to type (text) leaving alternate lines blank
  2. to type on every other line

dou·ble·speak ['də-bəl-,spēk] -n

  1. language used to deceive usu. through concealment or misrepresentation of truth
  2. gobbledygook

double standard -n

  1. bimetallism
  2. a set of principles that applies differently and usu. more rigorously to one group of people or circumstances than to another
  3. a code of morals that applies more severe standards of sexual behavior to women than to men

double star -n

  1. binary star
  2. two stars in very nearly the same line of sight but actually physically separate

dou·blestop [,də-bəl-'stäp] -vt, n

  1. to produce two or more tones simultaneously on (as a violin)

double sugar -n

  1. disaccharide

dou·blet ['dəb-lət] -n

  1. a man's close-fitting jacket worn in Europe esp. during the Renaissance
  2. : something consisting of two identical or similar parts: as
  3. a lens consisting of two components
  4. a handheld magnifier consisting of two lenses in a metal cylinder
  5. a spectrum line having two close components
  6. a domino with the same number of spots on each end
  7. : a set of two identical or similar things: as
  8. two thrown dice with the same number of spots on the upper face
  9. one of nine pairs of microtubules found in cilia and flagella
  10. one of a pair
  11. one of two or more words (as guardand ward) in the same language derived by different routes of transmission from the same source

dou·ble take ['də-bəl-,tāk] -n

  1. a delayed reaction to a surprising or significant situation after an initial failure to notice anything unusual usu. used in the phrase do a double take

dou·bletalk [-,tȯk] -n, vi

  1. language that appears to be earnest and meaningful but in fact is a mixture of sense and nonsense
  2. inflated, involved, and often deliberately ambiguous language

dou·bleteam [-,tēm] -vt, n

  1. to block or guard (an opponent) with two players at one time

Double Ten -n

  1. October 10 observed by the Republic of China in commemoration of the revolution of 1911

dou·ble·think ['də-bəl-,thiŋk] -n

  1. a simultaneous belief in two contradictory ideas

dou·bletime ['də-bəl-,tīm] -vi

  1. to move at double time

double time -n

  1. a marching cadence of 180 30-inch steps per minute
  2. payment of a worker at twice the regular wage rate

dou·ble·ton ['də-bəl-tən] -n

  1. two cards that are the only ones of their suit orig. dealt to a player

dou·bletongue [,də-bəl-'təŋ] -vi

  1. to cause the tongue to alternate rapidly between the positions for tand kso as to produce a fast succession of detached notes on a wind instrument

dou·bleu [as at w] -n

  1. the letter w

double up -vi

  1. to share accommodations designed for one

double vision -n

  1. diplopia

double whammy -n

  1. a combination of two usu. adverse forces, circumstances, or effects

doublewide [,də-bəl-'wīd] -n

  1. a mobile home consisting of two units that have been fastened together along their length

dou·bloon [,də-'blün] -n

  1. an old gold coin of Spain and Spanish America

dou·bly ['də-b(ə-)lē] -adv

  1. in a twofold manner
  2. to twice the degree
    • doubly glad
    • doubly frustrating

doubt ['dau̇t] -vb, adj, n, adv

  1. fear
  2. suspect
  3. to be in doubt about
    • he doubt s everyone's word
  4. to lack confidence in : distrust
    • find myself doubt ing him even when I know that he is honest -- H. L. Mencken
  5. to consider unlikely
    • I doubt if I can go
  6. to be uncertain
  7. uncertainty of belief or opinion that often interferes with decision-making
  8. a deliberate suspension of judgment
  9. a state of affairs giving rise to uncertainty, hesitation, or suspense
    • the outcome is still in doubt
  10. a lack of confidence : distrust
    • has doubt s about his abilities
  11. an inclination not to believe or accept
    • a claim met with doubt

doubt·ful ['dau̇t-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. giving rise to doubt : open to question
    • it is doubtful that they ever knew what happened
  2. lacking a definite opinion, conviction, or determination
    • they were doubtful about the advantages of the new system
  3. uncertain in outcome : undecided
    • the outcome of the election remains doubtful
  4. marked by qualities that raise doubts about worth, honesty, or validity
    • of doubtful repute

doubting Thom·as [-'tä-məs] -n

  1. an incredulous or habitually doubtful person

doubt·less ['dau̇t-ləs] -adv

  1. without doubt
  2. probably

doubtless -adj, adv, n

  1. free from doubt : certain

douce ['düs] -adj, adv

  1. sober, sedate
    • the douce faces of the mourners -- L. J. A. Bell

dou·ceur [dü-'sər] -n

  1. a conciliatory gift

douche ['düsh] -n, vb

  1. a jet or current of liquid (as a cleansing solution) directed against or into a bodily part or cavity (as the vagina)
  2. an act of cleansing with a douche
  3. a device for giving douches
  4. an abrupt often chastening shock to the nerves, emotions, or awareness
    • the icy douche (what he said about my work) -- John Fowles

douche bag -n

  1. an unattractive or offensive person

dough ['dō] -n, adj

  1. a mixture that consists essentially of flour or meal and a liquid (as milk or water) and is stiff enough to knead or roll
  2. something resembling dough esp. in consistency
  3. money
  4. doughboy

dough box -n

  1. a rectangular wooden box mounted on legs that is used as a worktable and storage space

dough·boy [-,bȯi] -n

  1. an American infantryman esp. in World War I

dough·face [-,fās] -n, adj

  1. a Northern congressman not opposed to slavery in the South before or during the American Civil War
  2. a Northerner sympathetic to the South during the same period

dough·nut [-(,)nət] -n, adj

  1. a small usu. ring-shaped cake fried in fat
  2. something (as a mathematical torus) that resembles a doughnut esp. in shape

dough·ty ['dau̇-tē] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by fearless resolution : valiant
    • a doughty warrior

doughy ['dō-ē] -adj

  1. : resembling dough: as
  2. not thoroughly baked
    • doughy bread
  3. unhealthily pale : pasty
    • a doughy face

Doug·las fir [,də-gləs-] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Pseudotsuga) of tall evergreen timber trees of the pine family having thick bark, pitchy wood, and pendulous cones
  2. one ( P. menziesiisyn. P. taxifolia) chiefly of the western U.S.

Dou·kho·bor ['dü-kə-,bȯr] -n

  1. a member of a Christian sect of 18th century Russian origin emphasizing the duty of obeying the inner light and rejecting church or civil authority

dou·la ['dü-lə] -n

  1. a woman experienced in childbirth who provides advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and just after childbirth

do up -vt

  1. to prepare (as by cleaning or repairing) for wear or use
    • do up a shirt
  2. to wrap up
    • do up a package
  3. put up, can
  4. to deck out : clothe
  5. to furnish with something ornamental : decorate
  6. exhaust, wear out
  7. fasten

dour ['du̇r, 'dau̇(-ə)r] -adj, adv, n

  1. stern, harsh
  2. obstinate, unyielding
  3. gloomy, sullen

dou·rou·cou·li [,du̇r-ə-'kü-lē] -n

  1. owl monkey

douse ['dau̇s also 'dau̇z] -vb, n

  1. to plunge into water
  2. to throw a liquid on : drench
  3. slosh
  4. extinguish
    • douse the lights
  5. to fall or become plunged into water
  6. a heavy drenching
  7. blow, stroke
  8. to take in : lower, strike
    • douse a sail
  9. slacken
    • douse a rope
  10. take off, doff

doux ['dü] -adj

  1. very sweet

dove ['dəv] -n, adj

  1. any of numerous pigeons
  2. a small wild pigeon
  3. a gentle woman or child
  4. one who takes a conciliatory attitude and advocates negotiations and compromise
  5. an opponent of war

dove ['dīv] -vb

(variant of dive)

  1. to plunge into water intentionally and esp. headfirst
  2. to execute a dive
  3. submerge
    • the submarine dived
  4. to come or drop down precipitously : plunge
    • the temperature is diving
  5. to plunge one's hand into something
  6. to descend in a dive
  7. to plunge into some matter or activity
    • she dove into her studies
  8. to plunge or dash for some place
    • diving for cover
  9. to lunge esp. in order to seize something
    • dove for the ball
  10. to thrust into something
  11. to cause to dive
    • dive a submarine
  12. : the act or an instance of diving: as
  13. a plunge into water executed in a prescribed manner
  14. a submerging of a submarine
  15. a steep descent of an airplane at greater than the maximum horizontal speed
  16. a sharp decline
  17. a shabby and disreputable establishment (as a bar or nightclub)
  18. a faked knockout usu. used in the phrase take a dive
  19. an offensive play in football in which the ballcarrier plunges into the line for short yardage

dove·cote ['dəv-,kōt, -,kät] -n

  1. a small compartmented raised house or box for domestic pigeons
  2. a settled or harmonious group or organization

dove·kie ['dəv-kē] -n

  1. a small short-billed auk ( Alle alle) breeding on arctic coasts and ranging south in winter

doven ['dä-vən, 'dȯ-] -vi

(variant of daven)

  1. to recite the prescribed prayers in a Jewish liturgy

Dover sole -n

  1. a common European sole ( Solea solea) esteemed as a food fish
  2. a flatfish ( Microstomus pacificusof the family Ploeronectidae) of the Pacific coast of No. America that is a commercially important food fish

Do·ver's powder [,dō-vərz-] -n

  1. a powder of ipecac and opium formerly used as a pain reliever and diaphoretic

dove·tail ['dəv-,tāl] -n

  1. something resembling a dove's tail
  2. a flaring tenon and a mortise into which it fits tightly making an interlocking joint between two pieces (as of wood)

dovetail -vt

  1. to join by means of dovetails
  2. to cut to a dovetail
  3. to fit skillfully to form a whole
  4. to fit together with
  5. to fit together into a whole

dow ['dau̇] -vi

  1. to be able or capable

Dow ['dau̇] -n

  1. dow jones average

dow·a·ger ['dau̇-i-jər] -n

  1. a widow holding property or a title from her deceased husband
  2. a dignified elderly woman

dowager's hump -n

  1. an abnormal outward curvature of the upper back with round shoulders and stooped posture caused esp. by bone loss and anterior compression of the vertebrae in osteoporosis

dowdy ['dau̇-dē] -n

  1. a dowdy woman
  2. not neat or becoming in appearance : shabby
    • a dowdy old hat
  3. lacking smartness or taste
    • a dowdy room
  4. old-fashioned
    • a dowdy institution
  5. pandowdy

dow·el ['dau̇(-ə)l] -n

  1. a pin fitting into a hole in an abutting piece to prevent motion or slipping
  2. a round rod or stick used esp. for cutting up into dowels
  3. a piece of wood driven into a wall so that other pieces can be nailed to it

dowel -vt

  1. to fasten by or furnish with dowels

dow·er ['dau̇(-ə)r] -n

  1. the part of or interest in the real estate of a deceased husband given by law to his widow during her life
  2. dowry
  3. dowry

dower -vt

  1. to supply with a dower or dowry : endow

dow·itch·er ['dau̇-i-chər] -n

  1. any of several long-billed wading birds (esp. Limnodromus griseusand L. scolopaceusof the family Scolopacidae) related to the sandpipers

Dow Jones average [,dau̇-'jōnz-] -n

  1. an index of the relative price of securities

down ['dau̇n] -adv

  1. toward or in a lower physical position
  2. to a lying or sitting position
  3. toward or to the ground, floor, or bottom
  4. as a down payment
    • paid 10 down
  5. on paper
    • put down what he says
  6. : in a direction that is the opposite of up: as
  7. southward
  8. to or toward a point away from the speaker or the speaker's point of reference
  9. in or into the stomach
    • can't keep food down
  10. to a lesser degree, level, or rate
    • cool down tensions
  11. to or toward a lower position in a series
  12. to or in a lower or worse condition or status
  13. used to indicate thoroughness or completion
    • dusted down the house
    • described him down to his haircut
  14. from a past time
    • stories passed down by word of mouth
  15. to or in a state of less activity or prominence
  16. to a concentrated state
    • got the report down to three pages
  17. into defeat
    • voted the motion down
  18. down along, around, through, toward, in, into, or on
    • fell down the stairs
    • down the years
  19. : to cause to go or come down: as
  20. bring down
    • down ed the enemy helicopter
  21. consume
    • down ing slices of pizza
  22. to cause (a football) to be out of play
  23. defeat
    • down a proposal
  24. to go down
  25. occupying a low position
  26. lying on the ground
    • down timber
  27. directed or going downward
    • attendance is down
  28. lower in price
  29. not being in play in football because of wholly stopped progress or because the officials stop the play
    • the ball was down
  30. defeated or trailing an opponent (as in points scored)
    • down by two runs
  31. out
    • two down in the top of the third inning
  32. reduced or low in activity, frequency, or intensity
    • a down economy
  33. not operating or able to function
    • the computer is down
  34. depressed, dejected
    • feeling a bit down
  35. depressing
    • a down movie
  36. sick
    • down with flu
  37. done, finished
    • eight down and two to go
  38. completely mastered
    • had her lines down
    often used with pat
    • got the answers down pat
  39. cool
  40. understanding or supportive of something or someone usu. used with with
    • trying to prove that they were down with hip-hop culture -- J. E. White
  41. being on record
    • you're down for two tickets
  42. descent, depression
  43. an instance of putting down
  44. a complete play to advance the ball in football
  45. one of a series of four attempts in American football or three attempts in Canadian football to advance the ball 10 yards
  46. dislike, grudge
  47. downer
  48. a fundamental quark that has an electric charge of - and that is one of the constituents of a nucleon
  49. an undulating usu. treeless upland with sparse soil usu. used in pl.
  50. a sheep of any breed originating in the downs of southern England
  51. a covering of soft fluffy feathers
  52. these feathers
  53. something soft and fluffy like down

Down -n

  1. down syndrome usu. used attributively
    • a Down baby

down and dirty -adj or adv

  1. unvarnished
    • the down and dirty truth
  2. made or done hastily : not revised or polished
    • a down and dirty solution
  3. marked by or given to fierce often unscrupulous competition
    • down and dirty campaigning
  4. bawdy
    • down and dirty sexuality
  5. seedy
    • a down and dirty neighborhood
  6. relating to or involved with what is crudely basic and practical
    • down and dirty details

downandout -adj, n

  1. destitute, impoverished
  2. physically weakened or incapacitated

downattheheels -adj

  1. shabby

down·beat ['dau̇n-,bēt] -n

  1. the downward stroke of a conductor indicating the principally accented note of a measure of music
  2. the first beat of a measure
  3. a decline in activity or prosperity

downbeat -adj

  1. pessimistic, gloomy
    • a downbeat assessment

downbow ['dau̇n-,bō] -n

  1. a stroke in playing a bowed instrument (as a violin) in which the bow is drawn across the strings from the frog to the tip

down·burst [-,bərst] -n

  1. a powerful downdraft usu. associated with a thunderstorm that strikes the ground and deflects in all directions
  2. microburst

down·cast ['dau̇n-,kast] -adj

  1. low in spirit : dejected
  2. directed downward
    • with downcast eyes

down·court [-'kȯrt] -adv or adj

  1. in or into the opposite end of the court (as in basketball)

down·draft [-,draft] -n

  1. a downward current of gas (as air during a thunderstorm)
  2. decline
    • an economic downdraft

down east -adv, adj

  1. in or into the northeast coastal section of the U.S. and parts of the Maritime Provinces of Canada
  2. in or into coastal Maine

downeast·er [dau̇n-'ē-stər] -n

  1. one born or living down east

down·er ['dau̇-nər] -n

  1. a weak, sick, or crippled animal in shipment that is down and cannot get up often used attributively
    • a downer cow
  2. a depressant drug
  3. barbiturate
  4. someone or something depressing, disagreeable, or unsatisfactory

down·fall ['dau̇n-,fȯl] -n, adj

  1. a sudden fall (as from power)
  2. a fall (as of snow or rain) esp. when sudden or heavy
  3. something that causes a downfall (as of a person)
    • gambling was his downfall

down·field [-'fēld] -adv or adj

  1. in or into the part of the field toward which the offensive team is headed

down·force [-,fȯrs] -n

  1. a downward aerodynamic force generated esp. by an airfoil (as a spoiler on a race car)

down·grade ['dau̇n-,grād] -n

  1. a downward grade (as of a road)
  2. a descent toward an inferior state
    • a career on the downgrade

downgrade -vt

  1. to lower in quality, value, status, or extent
  2. minimize, depreciate

down·haul ['dau̇n-,hȯl] -n

  1. a rope or line for hauling down or holding down a sail or spar

down·heart·ed [-'här-təd] -adj, adv, n

  1. downcast, dejected

down·hill [,dau̇n-'hil] -adv

  1. toward the bottom of a hill
  2. toward a worsened or inferior state or level used esp. in the phrase go downhill
  3. a descending slope
  4. the sport of skiing on downhill trails often used attributively
  5. a skiing race against time down a trail
    • finished second in the downhill
  6. not difficult : easy
    • after that problem the rest was downhill
  7. sloping downhill
  8. closer to the bottom of an incline
    • your downhill ski
  9. progressively worse

down·hill·er [-hi-lər] -n

  1. a downhill skier

downhome ['dau̇n-,hōm] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or having qualities (as informality and simplicity) associated with rural or small-town people esp. of the Southern U.S.
    • downhome country cooking
  2. simple, unpretentious

down in the mouth -adj

  1. dejected

down·land ['dau̇n-,land] -n

  1. down

down·light [-,līt] -n

  1. a small spotlight set in a ceiling and directed downward

down·link ['dau̇n-,liŋk] -n

  1. a communications channel for receiving transmissions from a spacecraft
  2. such transmissions

downlink -vt

  1. to transmit (as data) from a spacecraft or satellite to a receiver on earth

down·load ['dau̇n-,lōd] -n

  1. an act or instance of downloading something
  2. the item downloaded

download [-,lō-də-bəl] -vt, adj

  1. to transfer (as data or files) from a usu. large computer to the memory of another device (as a smaller computer)

downmarket ['dau̇n-,mär-kət] -adj

  1. relating or appealing to lower-income consumers
    • a downmarket tabloid

down payment -n

  1. a part of the full price paid at the time of purchase or delivery with the balance to be paid later
  2. the first step in a process

down·pipe ['dau̇n-,pīp] -n

  1. downspout

down·play ['dau̇n-,plā] -vt

  1. play down, de-emphasize

down·pour [-,pȯr] -n

  1. a pouring or streaming downward
  2. a heavy rain

down·range [-'rānj] -adv

  1. away from a launching site

down·right [-,rīt] -adv

  1. straight down
  2. absolutely
    • downright handsome
    • downright mean
  3. forthright

downright -adj, adv, n

  1. directed vertically downward
  2. outright, thorough
    • a downright lie
  3. plain, blunt
    • stories he had heard of her downright tongue -- Angus Wilson

down·riv·er ['dau̇n-'ri-vər] -adv or adj

  1. toward or at a point nearer the mouth of a river

Down's ['dau̇nz] -n

  1. down syndrome
    • a Down's patient

down·scale ['dau̇n-,skāl] -vt

  1. to cut back in size or scope
    • the recession forced us to downscale vacation plans

downscale -adj

  1. lower in class, income, or quality

down·shift [-,shift] -vi, n

  1. to shift an automotive vehicle into a lower gear
  2. to move or shift to a lower level (as of speed, activity, or intensity)

down·side ['dau̇n-,sīd] -n

  1. a downward trend (as of prices)
  2. a negative aspect
    • the downside of fame

down·size ['dau̇n-,sīz] -vt

  1. to reduce in size
  2. to design or produce in smaller size
  3. to fire (employees) for the purpose of downsizing a business
  4. to undergo a reduction in size

down·slide ['dau̇n-,slīd] -n

  1. a downward movement

down·slope ['dau̇n-,slōp] -adj or adv

  1. toward the bottom of a slope

down·spout ['dau̇n-,spau̇t] -n

  1. a vertical pipe used to drain rainwater from a roof

down·stage ['dau̇n-'stāj] -adv or adj

  1. toward or at the front of a theatrical stage
  2. toward a motion-picture or television camera
  3. the part of a stage that is nearest the audience or camera

down·stairs ['dau̇n-'sterz] -adv

  1. down the stairs : on or to a lower floor
  2. situated on the main, lower, or ground floor of a building
  3. the lower floor of a building

down·state [-,stāt] -n, adj or adv

  1. the chiefly southerly sections of a state
  2. the chiefly rural part of a state when the major metropolitan area is to the north

down·stream ['dau̇n-'strēm] -adv or adj

  1. in the direction of or nearer to the mouth of a stream
  2. in or toward the latter stages of a usu. industrial process or the stages (as marketing) after manufacture

down·stroke [-,strōk] -n

  1. a downward stroke

down·swing [-,swiŋ] -n

  1. a downward swing
  2. downturn

Down syndrome -n

  1. a congenital condition characterized by moderate to severe mental retardation, slanting eyes, a broad short skull, broad hands with short fingers, and trisomy of the human chromosome numbered 21 called also Down's syndrome

downtheline -adj

  1. complete
    • a downtheline union supporter

down·time ['dau̇n-,tīm] -n

  1. time during which production is stopped esp. during setup for an operation or when making repairs
  2. inactive time (as between periods of work)
    • napping during our downtime
    • an injured athlete facing months of downtime

downtoearth -adj, n

  1. practical
    • downtoearth traveling tips
  2. unpretentious
    • surprised to find the movie star so downtoearth

downtothewire -adj

  1. full of suspense
  2. unsettled until the very end

down·town [,dau̇n-'tau̇n] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or located in the lower part or business center of a city
  2. hip, trendy
    • downtown music
  3. the lower part of a city
  4. the main business district

down·trend ['dau̇n-,trend] -n

  1. downturn

down·trod·den ['dau̇n-'trä-dᵊn] -adj

  1. suffering oppression

down·turn [-,tərn] -n

  1. a downward turn esp. toward a decline in business and economic activity

down under -adv or adj

  1. to or in Australia or New Zealand

down·ward ['dau̇n-wərd] -adv

  1. from a higher to a lower place
  2. toward a direction that is the opposite of up
  3. from a higher to a lower condition
  4. from an earlier time
  5. from an ancestor or predecessor

downward -adj, adv, n

  1. moving or extending downward
  2. descending from a head, origin, or source

down·wash ['dau̇n-,wȯsh, -,wäsh] -n

  1. an airstream directed downward (as by an airfoil)

down·wind ['dau̇n-'wind] -adv or adj

  1. in the direction that the wind is blowing

downy ['dau̇-nē] -adj

  1. resembling a bird's down
  2. covered with down
  3. made of down
  4. soft, soothing

downy mildew -n

  1. any of various parasitic lower fungi (family Peronosporaceae) that produce whitish masses of sporangiophores or conidiophores on the undersurface of the leaves of the host
  2. a plant disease caused by a downy mildew

downy woodpecker -n

  1. a small black-and-white woodpecker ( Picoides pubescens) of No. America that has a white back and is smaller than the hairy woodpecker

down·zone ['dau̇n-,zōn] -vt

  1. to reduce or limit development or the number of buildings permitted on
    • the county downzoned rural land to allow only one home per ten acres

dow·ry ['dau̇(-ə)-rē] -n

  1. dower
  2. the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to her husband in marriage
  3. a gift of money or property by a man to or for his bride
  4. a natural talent

dowsabel -n

  1. sweetheart

dowse ['dau̇s also 'dau̇z] -vb, n

(variant of douse)

  1. to plunge into water
  2. to throw a liquid on : drench
  3. slosh
  4. extinguish
    • douse the lights
  5. to fall or become plunged into water
  6. a heavy drenching
  7. blow, stroke
  8. to take in : lower, strike
    • douse a sail
  9. slacken
    • douse a rope
  10. take off, doff

dows·er ['dau̇-zər] -n

  1. divining rod
  2. a person who uses it

dowsing rod -n

  1. divining rod

dox·ol·o·gy [däk-'sä-lə-jē] -n

  1. a usu. liturgical expression of praise to God

doxo·ru·bi·cin [,däk-sə-'rü-bə-sən] -n

  1. an antibiotic with broad antineoplastic activity that is obtained from a bacterium ( Streptomyces peucetius) and is administered in the form of its hydrochloride C 27H 29NO 11HCl

doxy ['däk-sē] -n

  1. floozy, prostitute
  2. mistress

doxy·cy·cline [,däk-sə-'sī-,klēn] -n

  1. a broad-spectrum tetracycline antibiotic C 22H 24N 2O 8with potent antibacterial activity that is often taken by travelers to prevent diarrhea

doy·en ['dȯi-ən, -,(y)en; 'dwä-,yaⁿ(n)] -n

  1. the senior member of a body or group
  2. a person considered to be knowledgeable or uniquely skilled as a result of long experience in some field of endeavor
  3. the oldest example of a category

doy·enne [dȯi-'(y)en, dwä-'yen] -n

  1. a woman who is a doyen

doy·ley ['dȯi-lē] -n

(variant of doily)

  1. a small napkin
  2. a small often decorative mat

doz -abbr

  1. dozen

doze ['dōz] -vb, n

  1. to sleep lightly
  2. to fall into a light sleep usu. used with off
  3. to be in a dull or stupefied condition
  4. to pass (as time) drowsily
  5. bulldoze

doz·en ['də-zᵊn] -n, adj

  1. a group of 12
  2. an indefinitely large number
    • dozen s of times
  3. a ritualized word game that consists of exchanging insults usu. about the members of the opponent's family used with the

doz·er ['dō-zər] -n

  1. bulldozer

dozy ['dō-zē] -adj, adv, n

  1. drowsy, sleepy