ag ['ag] -adj

  1. of or relating to agriculture
    • ag schools

Ag -symbol

  1. silver

AG -abbr

  1. adjutant general
  2. joint stock company
  3. attorney general

again [ə-'gen, -'gin, -'gān] -adv

  1. in return : back
    • swore he would pay him again when he was able -- Shak.
  2. another time : once more : anew
    • I shall not look upon his like again -- Shak.
  3. on the other hand
    • he might go, and again he might not
  4. in addition : besides
    • again, there is another matter to consider

again and again -adv

  1. at frequent intervals : often, repeatedly

against [ə-'gen(t)st, -'gin(t)st, -'gān(t)st] -prep

  1. in opposition or hostility to
    • spoke against his enemies
  2. contrary to
    • against the law
  3. in competition with
    • racing against each other
  4. as a basis for disapproval of
    • had nothing against him
  5. directly opposite : facing
    • she sat down just over against me -- Daniel Defoe
  6. exposed to
  7. compared or contrasted with
    • profits are up against last year
  8. in preparation or provision for
    • saving against an uncertain future
  9. as a defense or protection from
    • a shelter against the cold
  10. in the direction of and into contact with
    • knocked against the ropes
  11. in contact with
    • leaning against the wall
  12. in a direction opposite to the motion or course of : counter to
    • sail against the wind
  13. as a counterbalance to
    • weighing risk against profit
  14. in exchange for
    • a lower rate against the dollar
  15. as a charge on
    • charged against her account
  16. before the background of
    • viewed against the sky
  17. in preparation for the time when
    • throw on another log of wood against father comes home -- Charles Dickens

Ag·a·mem·non [,a-gə-'mem-,nän, -nən] -n

  1. a king of Mycenae and leader of the Greeks in the Trojan War

agam·ic [(,)ā-'ga-mik] -adj

  1. asexual, parthenogenetic

agam·ma·glob·u·lin·emia [,ā-,ga-mə-,glä-byə-lə-'nē-mē-ə] -n, adj

  1. a condition in which the body forms few or no gamma globulins or antibodies

aga·mo·sper·my [(,)ā-'ga-mə-,spər-mē, 'a-gə-mō-,spər-] -n

  1. apogamy
  2. apogamy in which sexual union is not completed and the embryo is produced from the innermost layer of the integument of the female gametophyte

ag·a·pan·thus [,a-gə-'pan(t)-thəs] -n

  1. any of several African plants (genus Agapanthus) of the lily family cultivated for their umbels of showy blue, purple, or white flowers

aga·pe [ä-'gä-(,)pā, 'ä-gə-,pā] -n

  1. love feast
  2. love

agape [ə-'gāp also -'gap] -adj or adv

  1. wide open : gaping
    • with mouth agape
  2. being in a state of wonder
    • tourists agape at the scenery

agar ['ä-gər] -n

  1. a gelatinous colloidal extractive of a red alga (as of the genera Gelidium, Gracilaria,and Eucheuma) used esp. in culture media or as a gelling and stabilizing agent in foods
  2. a culture medium containing agar

agaragar [,ä-gər-'ä-gər] -n

  1. agar

aga·ric ['a-gər-ik, ə-'ger-ik, -'ga-rik] -n

  1. the dried fruiting body of a fungus ( Fomes officinalissyn. Polyporus officinalis) formerly used in medicine
  2. any of a family (Agaricaceae) of fungi with the sporophore usu. resembling an umbrella and with numerous gills on the underside of the cap

aga·rose ['a-gə-,rōs, 'ä-, -,rōz] -n

  1. a polysaccharide obtained from agar and used esp. as a supporting medium in gel electrophoresis

ag·ate ['a-gət] -n

  1. a fine-grained variegated chalcedony having its colors arranged in stripes, blended in clouds, or showing mosslike forms
  2. : something made of or fitted with agate: as
  3. a drawplate used by gold-wire drawers
  4. a playing marble of agate
  5. a size of type approximately 5 point
  6. condensed information (as advertisements or box scores) set esp. in agate type

agate line -n

  1. a space one column wide and inch deep used as a unit of measurement in classified advertising

agate ware -n

  1. pottery veined and mottled to resemble agate
  2. an enameled iron or steel ware for household utensils

aga·ve [ə-'gä-vē] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Agaveof the family Agavaceae, the agave family) of plants having spiny-margined leaves and flowers in tall spreading panicles and including some cultivated for their fiber or sap or for ornament

agaze [ə-'gāz] -adj

  1. engaged in the act of gazing

AGC -abbr

  1. advanced graduate certificate

agcy -abbr

  1. agency

age ['āj] -n

  1. the time of life at which some particular qualification, power, or capacity arises or rests
    • the voting age is 18
  2. majority
  3. one of the stages of life
  4. the length of an existence extending from the beginning to any given time
    • a boy 10 years of age
  5. lifetime
  6. an advanced stage of life
  7. : a period of time dominated by a central figure or prominent feature
    • the age of Pericles
    : as
  8. a period in history or human progress
    • the age of reptiles
    • the age of exploration
  9. a cultural period marked by the prominence of a particular item
    • entering the atomic age
  10. a division of geologic time that is usu. shorter than an epoch
  11. the period contemporary with a person's lifetime or with his or her active life
  12. a long time usu. used in pl.
    • haven't seen him in age s
  13. generation
  14. an individual's development measured in terms of the years requisite for like development of an average individual
  15. to become old : show the effects or the characteristics of increasing age
  16. to acquire a desirable quality (as mellowness or ripeness) by standing undisturbed for some time
    • letting cheese age
  17. to cause to become old
  18. to bring to a state fit for use or to maturity

aged ['ā-jəd, 'ājd; 'ājd for 1b] -adj, n

  1. : grown old: as
  2. of an advanced age
    • an aged man
  3. having attained a specified age
    • a man aged 40 years
  4. typical of old age

agegroup ['āj-,grüp] -n

  1. a segment of a population that is of approximately the same age or is within a specified range of ages

age·ism ['ā-(,)ji-zəm] -n, adj

  1. prejudice or discrimination against a particular age-group and esp. the elderly

age·less ['āj-ləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. not growing old or showing the effects of age
  2. timeless, eternal
    • ageless truths

age·long ['āj-,lȯŋ] -adj

  1. lasting for an age : everlasting

agemate [-,māt] -n

  1. one who is of about the same age as another

agen·cy ['ā-jən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the office or function of an agent
  2. the relationship between a principal and that person's agent
  3. the capacity, condition, or state of acting or of exerting power : operation
  4. a person or thing through which power is exerted or an end is achieved : instrumentality
    • communicated through the agency of the ambassador
  5. an establishment engaged in doing business for another
    • an advertising agency
  6. an administrative division (as of a government)
    • the agency for consumer protection

agency shop -n

  1. an establishment in which the union serves as the agent for and receives dues and assessments from all employees in the bargaining unit regardless of union membership

agen·da [ə-'jen-də] -n, adj

  1. a list or outline of things to be considered or done
    • agenda s of faculty meetings
  2. an underlying often ideological plan or program
    • a political agenda

agen·dum [-dəm] -n

  1. agenda
  2. an item on an agenda

agen·e·sis [(,)ā-'je-nə-səs] -n

  1. lack or failure of development (as of a body part)

agent ['ā-jənt] -n

  1. one that acts or exerts power
  2. something that produces or is capable of producing an effect : an active or efficient cause
  3. a chemically, physically, or biologically active principle
  4. a means or instrument by which a guiding intelligence achieves a result
  5. : one who is authorized to act for or in the place of another: as
  6. a representative, emissary, or official of a government
    • crown agent
    • federal agent
  7. one engaged in undercover activities (as espionage) : spy
    • secret agent
  8. a business representative (as of an athlete or entertainer)
    • a theatrical agent
  9. a computer application designed to automate certain tasks (as gathering information online)

agentgeneral -n

  1. a chief agent
  2. the representative in England of a British dominion

agent·ing ['ā-jən-tiŋ] -n

  1. the business or activities of an agent

Agent Orange -n

  1. an herbicide widely used as a defoliant in the Vietnam War that is composed of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T and contains dioxin as a contaminant

agent pro·vo·ca·teur ['ä-,zhäⁿ-prō-,vä-kə-'tər, 'ā-jənt-] -n

  1. one employed to associate with suspected persons and by pretending sympathy with their aims to incite them to some incriminating action

agent·ry ['ā-jən-trē] -n

  1. the office, duties, or activities of an agent

age of consent

  1. the age at which one is legally competent to give consent esp. to marriage or to sexual intercourse

age of reason

  1. the time of life when one begins to be able to distinguish right from wrong
  2. a period characterized by a prevailing belief in the use of reason
  3. the 18th century in England and France

ageold ['āj-'ōld] -adj

  1. having existed for ages : ancient

ag·er·a·tum [,a-jə-'rā-təm] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Ageratum) of annual tropical American composite herbs often cultivated for their small showy heads of usu. blue or white flowers
  2. a related blue-flowered perennial ( Eupatorium coelestinum)

age spots -n pl

  1. benign flat spots of dark pigmentation on the skin (as from exposure to the sun) occurring esp. among older people called also liver spots

Ag·ga·dah [ə-'gä-də, -'gȯ-] -n, pl

  1. ancient Jewish lore forming esp. the nonlegal part of the Talmud

Ag·ge·us [a-'gē-əs] -n

  1. haggai

ag·gie ['a-gē] -n

  1. an agricultural school or college
  2. a student at such an institution

aggie -n

  1. a playing marble
  2. agate

ag·gior·na·men·to [ə-,jȯr-nə-'men-(,)tō] -n

  1. a bringing up to date : modernization
    • dedicated to the aggiornamento of the church

ag·glom·er·ate [ə-'glä-mə-,rāt] -vt

  1. to gather into a ball, mass, or cluster
  2. gathered into a ball, mass, or cluster
  3. clustered or growing together but not coherent
    • an agglomerate flower head
  4. a rock composed of volcanic fragments of various sizes and degrees of angularity
  5. a jumbled mass or collection : agglomeration

ag·glom·er·a·tion [ə-,glä-mə-'rā-shən] -n, adj

  1. the action or process of collecting in a mass
  2. a heap or cluster of usu. disparate elements
    • urban agglomeration s knit together by the new railways -- Times Lit. Supp.

ag·glu·ti·na·bil·i·ty [ə-,glü-tᵊn-ə-'bi-lə-tē] -n, adj

  1. capacity (as of red blood cells) to be agglutinated

ag·glu·ti·nate [ə-'glü-tᵊn-,āt] -vb

  1. to cause to adhere : fasten
  2. to combine into a compound : attach to a base as an affix
  3. to cause to undergo agglutination
  4. to unite or combine into a group or mass
  5. to form words by agglutination
  6. a clump of agglutinated material (as blood cells or mineral particles in soil)

ag·glu·ti·na·tion [ə-,glü-tᵊn-'ā-shən] -n

  1. the action or process of agglutinating
  2. a mass or group formed by the union of separate elements
  3. the formation of derivational or inflectional words by putting together constituents of which each expresses a single definite meaning
  4. a reaction in which particles (as red blood cells or bacteria) suspended in a liquid collect into clumps and which occurs esp. as a serologic response to a specific antibody

ag·glu·ti·na·tive [ə-'glü-tᵊn-,ā-tiv, -ə-tiv] -adj

  1. adhesive
  2. characterized by linguistic agglutination

ag·glu·ti·nin [ə-'glü-tᵊn-ən] -n

  1. a substance (as an antibody) producing agglutination

ag·glu·ti·no·gen [ə-'glü-tᵊn-ə-jən] -n, adj

  1. an antigen whose presence results in the formation of an agglutinin

ag·gra·da·tion [,a-grə-'dā-shən] -n, adj

  1. a modification of the earth's surface in the direction of uniformity of grade by deposition

ag·gran·dise [ə-'gran-,dīz also 'a-grən-] -vt, n

(variant of aggrandize)

  1. to make great or greater : increase, enlarge
    • aggrandize an estate
  2. to make appear great or greater : praise highly
  3. to enhance the power, wealth, position, or reputation of
    • exploited the situation to aggrandize himself

ag·gran·dize [ə-'gran-,dīz also 'a-grən-] -vt, n

  1. to make great or greater : increase, enlarge
    • aggrandize an estate
  2. to make appear great or greater : praise highly
  3. to enhance the power, wealth, position, or reputation of
    • exploited the situation to aggrandize himself

ag·gra·vate ['a-grə-,vāt] -vt

  1. to make heavy : burden
  2. increase
  3. to make worse, more serious, or more severe : intensify unpleasantly
    • problems have been aggravated by neglect
  4. to rouse to displeasure or anger by usu. persistent and often petty goading
  5. to produce inflammation in

aggravated assault -n

  1. : an assault that is more serious than a common assault: as
  2. an assault combined with an intent to commit a crime
  3. any of various assaults so defined by statute

aggravating -adj

  1. arousing displeasure, impatience, or anger
    • an aggravating habit

ag·gra·va·tion [,a-grə-'vā-shən] -n

  1. an act or circumstance that intensifies or makes worse
  2. the act, action, or result of aggravating
  3. an increasing in seriousness or severity
    • aggravation of an injury
  4. irritation, provocation

ag·gre·gate ['a-gri-gət] -adj, adv, n

  1. : formed by the collection of units or particles into a body, mass, or amount : collective: as
  2. clustered in a dense mass or head
    • an aggregate flower
  3. formed from several separate ovaries of a single flower
    • aggregate fruit
  4. composed of mineral crystals of one or more kinds or of mineral rock fragments
  5. taking all units as a whole
    • aggregate sales
  6. to collect or gather into a mass or whole
  7. to amount in the aggregate to : total
  8. a mass or body of units or parts somewhat loosely associated with one another
  9. the whole sum or amount : sum total
  10. an aggregate rock
  11. any of several hard inert materials (as sand, gravel, or slag) used for mixing with a cementing material to form concrete, mortar, or plaster
  12. a clustered mass of individual soil particles varied in shape, ranging in size from a microscopic granule to a small crumb, and considered the basic structural unit of soil
  13. set
  14. monetary aggregate

ag·gre·ga·tion [,a-gri-'gā-shən] -n, adj

  1. a group, body, or mass composed of many distinct parts or individuals
  2. the collecting of units or parts into a mass or whole
  3. the condition of being so collected

ag·gre·ga·tive ['a-gri-,gā-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to an aggregate
  2. tending to aggregate

ag·gress [ə-'gres] -vi

  1. to commit aggression : act aggressively

ag·gres·sion [ə-'gre-shən] -n

  1. a forceful action or procedure (as an unprovoked attack) esp. when intended to dominate or master
  2. the practice of making attacks or encroachments
  3. unprovoked violation by one country of the territorial integrity of another
  4. hostile, injurious, or destructive behavior or outlook esp. when caused by frustration

ag·gres·sive [ə-'gre-siv] -adj, adv, n

  1. tending toward or exhibiting aggression
    • aggressive behavior
  2. marked by combative readiness
    • an aggressive fighter
  3. marked by obtrusive energy
  4. marked by driving forceful energy or initiative : enterprising
    • an aggressive salesman
  5. strong or emphatic in effect or intent
    • aggressive colors
    • aggressive flavors
  6. growing, developing, or spreading rapidly
    • aggressive bone tumors
  7. more severe, intensive, or comprehensive than usual esp. in dosage or extent
    • aggressive chemotherapy

ag·gres·sor [ə-'gre-sər] -n

  1. one that commits or practices aggression

ag·grieve [ə-'grēv] -vt

  1. to give pain or trouble to : distress
  2. to inflict injury on

ag·grieved [ə-'grēvd] -adj, adv

  1. troubled or distressed in spirit
  2. suffering from an infringement or denial of legal rights
    • aggrieved minority groups
  3. showing or expressing grief, injury, or offense
    • an aggrieved plea

ag·grieve·ment [ə-'grēv-mənt] -n

  1. the quality or state of being aggrieved

ag·gro ['a-(,)grō] -n

  1. deliberately aggressive, provoking, or violent behavior
  2. exasperation, irritation

aggro -adj

  1. aggressive or aggressively daring in style or manner

aghast [ə-'gast] -adj

  1. struck with terror, amazement, or horror : shocked

ag·ile ['a-jəl, -,jī(-ə)l] -adj, adv

  1. marked by ready ability to move with quick easy grace
    • an agile dancer
  2. having a quick resourceful and adaptable character
    • an agile mind

agil·i·ty [ə-'ji-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being agile : nimbleness, dexterity
    • played with increasing agility

agin [ə-'gen(t)st, -'gin(t)st, -'gān(t)st] -prep

(variant of against)

  1. in opposition or hostility to
    • spoke against his enemies
  2. contrary to
    • against the law
  3. in competition with
    • racing against each other
  4. as a basis for disapproval of
    • had nothing against him
  5. directly opposite : facing
    • she sat down just over against me -- Daniel Defoe
  6. exposed to
  7. compared or contrasted with
    • profits are up against last year
  8. in preparation or provision for
    • saving against an uncertain future
  9. as a defense or protection from
    • a shelter against the cold
  10. in the direction of and into contact with
    • knocked against the ropes
  11. in contact with
    • leaning against the wall
  12. in a direction opposite to the motion or course of : counter to
    • sail against the wind
  13. as a counterbalance to
    • weighing risk against profit
  14. in exchange for
    • a lower rate against the dollar
  15. as a charge on
    • charged against her account
  16. before the background of
    • viewed against the sky
  17. in preparation for the time when
    • throw on another log of wood against father comes home -- Charles Dickens

aging ['āj] -n

(variant of age)

  1. the time of life at which some particular qualification, power, or capacity arises or rests
    • the voting age is 18
  2. majority
  3. one of the stages of life
  4. the length of an existence extending from the beginning to any given time
    • a boy 10 years of age
  5. lifetime
  6. an advanced stage of life
  7. : a period of time dominated by a central figure or prominent feature
    • the age of Pericles
    : as
  8. a period in history or human progress
    • the age of reptiles
    • the age of exploration
  9. a cultural period marked by the prominence of a particular item
    • entering the atomic age
  10. a division of geologic time that is usu. shorter than an epoch
  11. the period contemporary with a person's lifetime or with his or her active life
  12. a long time usu. used in pl.
    • haven't seen him in age s
  13. generation
  14. an individual's development measured in terms of the years requisite for like development of an average individual
  15. to become old : show the effects or the characteristics of increasing age
  16. to acquire a desirable quality (as mellowness or ripeness) by standing undisturbed for some time
    • letting cheese age
  17. to cause to become old
  18. to bring to a state fit for use or to maturity

agism ['ā-(,)ji-zəm] -n, adj

(variant of ageism)

  1. prejudice or discrimination against a particular age-group and esp. the elderly

ag·i·ta ['a-jə-tə] -n

  1. a feeling of agitation or anxiety

ag·i·tate ['a-jə-,tāt] -vb, adv, n, adj

  1. to give motion to
  2. to move with an irregular, rapid, or violent action
    • the storm agitated the sea
  3. to excite and often trouble the mind or feelings of : disturb
  4. to discuss excitedly and earnestly
  5. to stir up public discussion of
  6. to attempt to arouse public feeling
    • agitated for better schools

ag·i·ta·tive ['a-jə-,tā-tiv] -adj

  1. causing agitation

ag·i·ta·to [,a-jə-'tä-(,)tō] -adv or adj

  1. in a restless and agitated manner used as a direction in music

ag·i·ta·tor ['a-jə-,tā-tər] -n

  1. one that agitates: as
  2. one who stirs up public feeling on controversial issues
    • political agitator s
  3. a device or an apparatus for stirring or shaking

ag·it·prop ['a-jət-,präp] -n, adj

  1. propaganda
  2. political propaganda promulgated chiefly in literature, drama, music, or art

AGL -abbr

  1. above ground level

Aglaia [ə-'glī-ə, -'glā-ə] -n

  1. one of the three Graces

aglare [ə-'gler] -adj

  1. glaring
    • his eyes aglare with fury

agleam [ə-'glēm] -adj

  1. gleaming esp. with reflected light

ag·let ['a-glət] -n

  1. the plain or ornamental tag covering the ends of a lace or point
  2. any of various ornamental studs, cords, or pins worn on clothing

agley [ə-'glā, -'glē, -'glī] -adv

  1. awry, wrong
    • the best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley -- Robert Burns

aglit·ter [ə-'gli-tər] -adj

  1. glittering esp. with reflected light

aglow [ə-'glō] -adj

  1. glowing esp. with warmth or excitement

agly·cone [a-'glī-,kōn] -n

  1. an organic compound (as a phenol or alcohol) combined with the sugar portion of a glycoside

AGN -abbr

  1. active galactic nucleus; active galactic nuclei

ag·nate ['ag-,nāt] -n

  1. a relative whose kinship is traceable exclusively through males
  2. a paternal kinsman

agnate [ag-'na-tik] -adj

  1. allied, akin
  2. related through male descent or on the father's side

Ag·ne·an ['äg-nē-ən] -n

  1. tocharian a

ag·nize [ag-'nīz] -vt

  1. recognize, acknowledge

ag·no·lot·ti [,än-yə-'lä-tē, -'lȯ-] -n

  1. pasta in the form of semicircular cases containing a filling (as of meat, cheese, or vegetables)

ag·no·men [ag-'nō-mən] -n

  1. an additional cognomen given to a person by the ancient Romans (as in honor of some achievement)

ag·no·sia [ag-'nō-zhə, -shə] -n

  1. loss or diminution of the ability to recognize familiar objects or stimuli usu. as a result of brain damage

ag·nos·tic [ag-'näs-tik, əg-] -n

  1. a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and prob. unknowable
  2. one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god
  3. a person unwilling to commit to an opinion about something
    • political agnostic s

agnostic -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being an agnostic or the beliefs of agnostics
  2. noncommittal, undogmatic

Ag·nus Dei [,äg-,nu̇s-'dā(-,ē), -,nüs-; ,än-yu̇s-; ,ag-nəs-] -n

  1. a liturgical prayer addressed to Christ as Savior
  2. an image of a lamb often with a halo and a banner and cross used as a symbol of Christ

ago [ə-'gō] -adj or adv

  1. earlier than the present time
    • 10 years ago

agog [ə-'gäg] -adj

  1. full of intense interest or excitement : eager
    • kids all agog over new toys

agogo [ä-'gō-(,)gō, ə-] -n

  1. a nightclub for dancing to popular music : disco
  2. go-go
  3. being in a whirl of motion
  4. being up-to-date often used postpositively

agon ['ä-,gän, 'a-, ä-'gōn] -n

  1. conflict
  2. the dramatic conflict between the chief characters in a literary work

ag·o·nal ['a-gə-nᵊl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or associated with agony and esp. the death agony

agone [ə-'gȯn also -'gän] -adj or adv

  1. ago

ag·o·nise ['a-gə-,nīz] -vb

(variant of agonize)

  1. to cause to suffer agony : torture
  2. to suffer agony, torture, or anguish
    • agonize s over every decision
  3. struggle

ag·o·nist ['a-gə-nist] -n

  1. one that is engaged in a struggle
  2. a muscle that is controlled by the action of an antagonist with which it is paired
  3. a chemical substance capable of combining with a specific receptor on a cell and initiating the same reaction or activity typically produced by the binding endogenous substance
    • dopaminergic agonist s

ag·o·nis·tic [,a-gə-'nis-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to the athletic contests of ancient Greece
  2. argumentative
  3. striving for effect : strained
  4. of, relating to, or being aggressive or defensive social interaction (as fighting, fleeing, or submitting) between individuals usu. of the same species

ag·o·nize ['a-gə-,nīz] -vb

  1. to cause to suffer agony : torture
  2. to suffer agony, torture, or anguish
    • agonize s over every decision
  3. struggle

agonized -adj

  1. characterized by, suffering, or expressing agony

agonizing -adj, adv

  1. causing agony

ag·o·ny ['a-gə-nē] -n

  1. intense pain of mind or body : anguish, torture
  2. the struggle that precedes death
  3. a violent struggle or contest
  4. a strong sudden display (as of joy or delight) : outburst

agony aunt -n

  1. one who writes an agony column

agony column -n

  1. a newspaper column of personal advertisements relating esp. to missing relatives or friends
  2. a newspaper column that includes letters from readers seeking personal advice and the columnist's replies

ag·o·ra ['a-gə-rə] -n

  1. a gathering place
  2. the marketplace in ancient Greece

ago·ra [,ä-gə-'rä] -n

  1. see shekel at

ag·o·ra·pho·bia [,a-g(ə-)rə-'fō-bē-ə] -n, adj or n

  1. abnormal fear of being helpless in an embarrassing or unescapable situation that is characterized esp. by the avoidance of open or public places

agou·ti [ə-'gü-tē] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Dasyprocta) of tropical American rodents about the size of a rabbit
  2. a grizzled color of fur resulting from the barring of each hair in several alternate dark and light bands

agr -abbr

  1. agricultural; agriculture

agrafe [ə-'graf] -n

  1. a hook-and-loop fastening
  2. an ornamental clasp used on armor or costumes

agran·u·lo·cyte [(,)ā-'gran-yə-lō-,sīt] -n

  1. a white blood cell without cytoplasmic granules

agran·u·lo·cy·to·sis [,ā-,gran-yə-lō-,sī-'tō-səs] -n

  1. an acute febrile condition marked by severe decrease in blood granulocytes and often associated with the use of certain drugs

ag·ra·pha ['a-grə-fə] -n pl

  1. sayings of Jesus not in the canonical gospels but found in other New Testament or early Christian writings

agraph·ia [(,)ā-'gra-fē-ə] -n

  1. the pathologic loss of the ability to write

agrar·i·an [ə-'grer-ē-ən] -adj

  1. of or relating to fields or lands or their tenure
  2. of, relating to, or characteristic of farmers or their way of life
    • agrarian values
  3. organized or designed to promote agricultural interests

agrarian -n

  1. a member of an agrarian party or movement

agrar·i·an·ism [-ē-ə-,ni-zəm] -n

  1. a social or political movement designed to bring about land reforms or to improve the economic status of the farmer

agree [ə-'grē] -vb

  1. to concur in (as an opinion) : admit, concede
    • agree s that he is right
  2. to consent to as a course of action
    • agreed to sell him the house
  3. to settle on by common consent : arrange
    • I agreed rental terms with him -- Eric Bennett
  4. to accept or concede something (as the views or wishes of another)
    • agree to a plan
  5. to achieve or be in harmony (as of opinion, feeling, or purpose)
    • we agree in our taste in music
  6. to get along together
  7. to come to terms
    • agree on a fair division of profits
  8. to be similar : correspond
    • both copies agree
  9. to be consistent
    • the story agree s with the facts
  10. to be fitting, pleasing, or healthful : suit
    • this climate agree s with him
  11. to have an inflectional form denoting identity or other regular correspondence in a grammatical category (as gender, number, case, or person)

agree·able [ə-'grē-ə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. pleasing to the mind or senses esp. as according well with one's tastes or needs
    • an agreeable companion
    • an agreeable change
  2. ready or willing to agree or consent
  3. being in harmony : consonant

agree·ment [ə-'grē-mənt] -n

  1. the act or fact of agreeing
  2. harmony of opinion, action, or character : concord
  3. an arrangement as to a course of action
  4. compact, treaty
  5. a contract duly executed and legally binding
  6. the language or instrument embodying such a contract

ag·ri·busi·ness ['a-grə-,biz-nəs, -nəz] -n

  1. an industry engaged in the producing operations of a farm, the manufacture and distribution of farm equipment and supplies, and the processing, storage, and distribution of farm commodities

ag·ri·busi·ness·man [,a-grə-'biz-nəs-,man, -mən, -nəz-] -n

  1. a person who works in or manages an agribusiness

ag·ri·cul·tur·al [,a-gri-'kəl-ch(ə-)rəl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, used in, or concerned with agriculture

ag·ri·cul·ture ['a-gri-,kəl-chər] -n

  1. the science, art, or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock and in varying degrees the preparation and marketing of the resulting products : farming

ag·ri·mo·ny ['a-grə-,mō-nē] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Agrimoniaand esp. A. eupatoria) of herbs of the rose family having compound leaves, slender spikes of small yellow flowers, and fruits like burs

ag·ri·tour·ism [,a-gri-'tu̇r-,i-zəm] -n

  1. the practice of touring agricultural areas to see farms and often to participate in farm activities

agro- -comb form

  1. of or belonging to fields or soil : agricultural
    • agro chemical
  2. agricultural and
    • agro industrial

ag·ro·chem·i·cal [,a-grō-'ke-mi-kəl] -n

  1. an agricultural chemical (as an herbicide or an insecticide)

ag·ro·ecol·o·gy [,a-grō-ē-'kä-lə-jē, -i-'kä-, -e-'kä-] -n, adj

  1. an ecological approach to agriculture that views agricultural areas as ecosystems and is concerned with the ecological impact of agricultural practices

ag·ro·for·est·ry [,a-grō-'fȯr-ə-strē, -'fär-] -n

  1. land management involving the growing of trees in association with food crops or pastures

ag·roin·dus·tri·al [,a-grō-in-'dəs-trē-əl] -adj

  1. of or relating to production (as of power for industry and water for irrigation) for both industrial and agricultural purposes

agron·o·my [ə-'grä-nə-mē] -n, adj, adv

  1. a branch of agriculture dealing with field-crop production and soil management

aground [ə-'grau̇nd] -adv or adj

  1. on the ground
    • planes aloft and aground
  2. on or onto the shore or the bottom of a body of water
    • a ship run aground

agt -abbr

  1. agent

ague ['ā-(,)gyü] -n, adj

  1. a fever (as malaria) marked by paroxysms of chills, fever, and sweating that recur at regular intervals
  2. a fit of shivering