ki ['kē] -n

  1. chi

KIA -abbr

  1. killed in action

ki·ang [kē-'äŋ] -n

  1. an Asian wild ass ( Equus kiangsyn. E. hemionus kiang) usu. with reddish back and sides and white underparts, muzzle, and legs

kiaugh ['kyäk̲] -n

  1. trouble, anxiety

kib·be ['ki-bē] -n

  1. a Near Eastern dish of ground lamb and bulgur that is eaten cooked or raw

kib·ble ['ki-bəl] -vt

  1. to grind coarsely
    • kibbled dog biscuit
    • kibbled grain

kibble -n

  1. coarsely ground meal or grain (as for animal feed)

kib·butz [ki-'bu̇ts, -'büts] -n

  1. a communal farm or settlement in Israel

kib·butz·nik [-'bu̇t-snik, -'büt-] -n

  1. a member of a kibbutz

kibe ['kīb] -n

  1. an ulcerated chilblain esp. on the heel
  2. heel

ki·bitz ['ki-bəts, kə-'bits] -vb

  1. to act as a kibitzer
  2. to exchange comments : chat
  3. to observe as a kibitzer
  4. to be a kibitzer at
    • kibitz a card game

ki·bitz·er ['ki-bət-sər, kə-'bit-] -n

  1. one who looks on and often offers unwanted advice or comment
    • a kibitzer at a card game
  2. one who offers opinions

ki·bosh ['kī-,bäsh, kī-'; ki-'bäsh] -n, vt

  1. something that serves as a check or stop
    • put the kibosh on that

kick ['kik] -vb, adj

  1. to strike out with the foot or feet
  2. to make a kick in football
  3. to show opposition : resist, rebel
  4. to protest strenuously or urgently : express grave discontent
  5. complain
  6. to function with vitality and energy
    • alive and kick ing
  7. to recoil when fired
  8. to go from one place to another as circumstance or whim dictates
  9. to run at a faster speed during the last part of a race
  10. to strike, thrust, or hit with the foot
  11. to strike suddenly and forcefully as if with the foot
  12. to remove by a kicking motion
    • kick ed off her shoes
  13. to remove from a position or status
    • kick ed him off the team
  14. to score by kicking a ball
  15. to heap reproaches upon (oneself)
    • kick ed themselves for not going
  16. to free oneself of (as a drug habit)
  17. a blow or sudden forceful thrust with the foot
  18. a sudden propelling of a ball with the foot
  19. the power to kick
  20. a rhythmic motion of the legs used in swimming
  21. a burst of speed in racing
  22. a sudden forceful jolt or thrust suggesting a kick
  23. the recoil of a gun
  24. pocket, wallet
  25. a feeling or expression of opposition or objection
    • a kick against the administration
  26. the grounds for objection
  27. an effect suggestive of a kick
    • chili with a kick
  28. a stimulating or pleasurable effect or experience
    • got a big kick out of meeting him
  29. pursuit of an absorbing or obsessive new interest
    • a skiing kick
  30. kicker

kick around -vi

  1. to wander or pass time aimlessly
  2. to lie about mostly unnoticed or forgotten
  3. to undergo consideration usu. intermittently over a period of time
    • ideas that have been kicking around for years
  4. to treat in an inconsiderate or high-handed fashion
  5. to consider, examine, or discuss from various angles

kickass ['kik-,as] -adj

  1. strikingly or overwhelmingly tough, aggressive, powerful, or effective

kick·back ['kik-,bak] -n

  1. a sharp violent reaction
  2. a return of a part of a sum received often because of confidential agreement or coercion
    • every city contract had been let with a ten percent kickback to city officials -- D. K. Shipler

kick back -vi

  1. to assume a relaxed position or attitude
  2. to spend time relaxing : take it easy
    • spent the weekend just kicking back

kick·board [-,bȯrd] -n

  1. a buoyant rectangular board held by a swimmer while developing kicking techniques

kick·box·ing [-,bäk-siŋ] -n, vi

  1. boxing in which boxers are permitted to kick with bare feet as in karate

kick·er ['ki-kər] -n

  1. one that kicks or kicks something
  2. an unexpected and surprising remark, revelation, or set of circumstances

kick in -vt

  1. contribute
  2. die
  3. to make a contribution
  4. to begin operating or having an effect : get started
    • waiting for the heater to kick in

kick·off ['kik-,ȯf] -n

  1. a kick that puts the ball into play in a football or soccer game
  2. commencement
    • the campaign kickoff

kick off -vi

  1. to start or resume play in football by a placekick
  2. to initiate proceedings
  3. to start out : begin
    • the movie kicks off with a bank robbery
  4. die
  5. to mark the beginning of
    • kick off the campaign

kick out -vt

  1. to dismiss or eject forcefully or summarily

kick over -vi

  1. to begin to fire used of an internal combustion engine
  2. turn over

kick pleat -n

  1. a short inverted pleat (as at the bottom of a skirt) used to give breadth

kick·shaw ['kik-,shȯ] -n

  1. a fancy dish : delicacy
  2. trinket, gewgaw

kick·stand ['kik-,stand] -n

  1. a swiveling metal bar or rod attached to a 2-wheeled vehicle (as a bicycle) and used to prop up the vehicle when it is not in use

kickstart ['kik-,stärt] -vt, n

  1. to start (as a motorcycle) by means of a kick-starter
  2. jump-start

kickstart·er ['kik-,stär-tər] -n

  1. a motor starter (as on a motorcycle) that is activated by a thrust of the foot

kick turn -n

  1. a standing half turn in skiing made by swinging one ski high with a jerk and planting it in the desired direction and then lifting the other ski into a parallel position

kick·up ['kik-,əp] -n

  1. a noisy quarrel : row

kick up -vt

  1. to cause to rise upward
    • clouds of dust kicked up by passing cars
  2. to stir up : provoke
    • kick up a fuss
  3. to give evidence of disorder

kicky ['ki-kē] -adj

  1. providing a kick or thrill : exciting
  2. excitingly fashionable

kid ['kid] -n, adj

  1. a young goat
  2. a young individual of various animals related to the goat
  3. the flesh, fur, or skin of a kid
  4. something made of kid
  5. a young person
  6. child often used as a generalized reference to one esp. younger or less experienced
    • the kid on the pro golf tour
    • poor kid
  7. to bring forth young used of a goat or an antelope
  8. younger
    • my kid brother
  9. to deceive as a joke
    • it's the truth; I wouldn't kid you
  10. to fail to admit the truth to
    • they're kidding themselves
  11. to make fun of
  12. to engage in good-humored fooling or horseplay often used with around

Kid·der·min·ster ['ki-dər-,min(t)-stər] -n

  1. an ingrain carpet called also Kidderminster carpet

kid·die ['ki-dē] -n

  1. a small child
    • a kiddie pool
    • kiddie rides

kid·do ['ki-(,)dō] -n

  1. used as a familiar form of address
    • you'll be okay, kiddo
  2. child, kid

kid·dush ['ki-dəsh, -dish; ki-'düsh] -n

  1. a ceremonial blessing pronounced over wine or bread in a Jewish home or synagogue on a holy day (as the Sabbath)

kidglove ['kid-'gləv] -adj

  1. marked by extreme care or deference
    • kidglove treatment

kid glove ['kid-'gləvd] -n, adj

  1. a dress glove made of kid leather

kid leather -n

  1. a soft pliable leather made from kidskin
  2. a glove leather made from lambskin or goatskin

kid·nap ['kid-,nap] -vt, n

  1. to seize and detain or carry away by unlawful force or fraud and often with a demand for ransom

kid·ney ['kid-nē] -n

  1. one of a pair of vertebrate organs situated in the body cavity near the spinal column that excrete waste products of metabolism, in humans are bean-shaped organs about 4 inches (11 centimeters) long lying behind the peritoneum in a mass of fatty tissue, and consist chiefly of nephrons by which urine is secreted, collected, and discharged into a main cavity whence it is conveyed by the ureter to the bladder
  2. any of various excretory organs of invertebrate animals
  3. the kidney of an animal eaten as food
  4. sort or kind esp. with regard to temperament
    • a nice helpful guy, of a different kidney entirely from the...Secret Police -- Paula Lecler

kidney bean -n

  1. an edible and nutritious usu. kidney-shaped seed of any of various cultivated beans of the common species ( Phaseolus vulgaris)
  2. a large dark red kidney bean
  3. a plant bearing kidney beans

kidney stone -n

  1. a calculus (as of calcium salts) in the kidney

kid·skin ['kid-,skin] -n

  1. the skin of a young or sometimes a mature goat
  2. kid leather

kid stuff -n

  1. something befitting or appropriate only to children
  2. something extremely simple or easy

kiel·ba·sa [kēl-'bä-sə, kil- also ki-'bä-sə] -n

  1. a smoked sausage of Polish origin

kie·sel·guhr ['kē-zəl-,gu̇r] -n

  1. loose or porous diatomite

kie·ser·ite ['kē-zə-,rīt] -n

  1. a mineral that is a white hydrous magnesium sulfate

kif ['kēf, 'kef, 'kāf] -n

(variant of kef)

  1. a state of dreamy tranquillity
  2. a smoking material (as marijuana) that produces kef

kike ['kīk] -n

  1. jew

Ki·kon·go [kē-'käŋ-(,)gō] -n

  1. kongo

Ki·ku·yu [kē-'kü-(,)yü] -n

  1. a member of a Bantu-speaking people of Kenya
  2. the Bantu language of the Kikuyu people

kil·der·kin ['kil-dər-kən] -n

  1. an English unit of capacity equal to barrel
  2. cask

ki·lim [kē-'lēm] -n

  1. a pileless handwoven reversible rug or covering made in Turkey, Kurdistan, the Caucasus, Iran, and western Turkestan

kill ['kil] -vb

  1. to deprive of life : cause the death of
  2. to slaughter (as a hog) for food
  3. to convert a food animal into (a kind of meat) by slaughtering
  4. to put an end to
    • kill competition
  5. defeat, veto
    • kill ed the amendment
  6. to mark for omission
  7. delete
  8. annihilate, destroy
    • kill an enemy
  9. to destroy the vital or essential quality of
    • kill ed the pain with drugs
  10. to cause to stop
    • kill the motor
  11. to check the flow of current through
  12. to make a markedly favorable impression on
    • she kill ed the audience
  13. to get through uneventfully
    • kill time
  14. to get through (the time of a penalty) without being scored on
    • kill a penalty
  15. to cause extreme pain to
  16. to tire almost to the point of collapse
  17. to hit (a shot) so hard in various games that a return is impossible
  18. to consume (as a drink) totally
  19. to deprive one of life
  20. to make a markedly favorable impression
    • was dressed to kill
  21. an act or instance of killing
  22. a decisive act that conclusively secures something (as a deal or win)
  23. : something killed: as
  24. an animal shot in a hunt
  25. animals killed in a hunt, season, or particular period of time
  26. an enemy unit (as an airplane or ship) destroyed by military action
  27. a return shot in any of various games (as badminton, handball, or table tennis) that is too hard for an opponent to handle
  28. channel, creek used chiefly in place names in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York

kill·deer ['kil-,dir] -n

  1. an American plover ( Charadrius vociferus) characterized by two black breast bands and a plaintive penetrating cry

killed ['kild] -adj

  1. being or containing a virus that has been inactivated (as by chemicals) so that it is no longer infectious
    • killed vaccines

kill·er ['ki-lər] -n

  1. one that kills
  2. killer whale
  3. one that has a forceful, violent, or striking impact
  4. one that is extremely difficult to deal with

killer -adj

  1. strikingly impressive or effective
    • a killer smile
    • a killer resume
  2. extremely difficult to deal with
    • a killer fastball
  3. causing death or devastation
    • a killer tornado

killer app -n

  1. a computer application of such great value or popularity that it assures the success of the technology with which it is associated
  2. a feature or component that in itself makes something worth having or using

killer bee -n

  1. africanized bee

killer cell -n

  1. a lymphocyte (as a killer T cell or a natural killer cell) with cytotoxic activity

killer instinct -n

  1. an aggressive tenacious urge for domination in a struggle to attain a set goal

killer T cell -n

  1. a T cell that functions in cell-mediated immunity by destroying a cell (as one infected with a virus) having specific antigenic molecules on its surface called also cytotoxic T cell

killer whale -n

  1. a small gregarious toothed whale ( Orcinus orcaof the family Delphinidae) that is black with a white ventral side and white oval-shaped patches behind the eyes and attains a length of 20 to 30 feet (6.1 to 9.1 meters) called also orca

kil·li·fish ['ki-li-,fish] -n

  1. any of a family (Cyprinodontidae) of numerous small oviparous fishes much used as bait and in mosquito control
  2. any of various live-bearers (family Poeciliidae)

kill·ing ['ki-liŋ] -n

  1. the act of one that kills
  2. kill
  3. a sudden notable gain or profit
    • made a killing in the stock market

killing [-lē] -adj, adv

  1. that kills or relates to killing
  2. highly amusing
  3. extremely difficult to deal with
    • the suspense is killing
  4. calling for great strength, stamina, or endurance
    • a killing schedule

killing field -n

  1. a scene of mass killing (as from a battle or massacre)

kill·joy ['kil-,jȯi] -n

  1. one who spoils the pleasure of others

kill off -vt

  1. to destroy in large numbers or totally

kiln ['kiln, 'kil] -n, vt

  1. an oven, furnace, or heated enclosure used for processing a substance by burning, firing, or drying

ki·lo ['kē-(,)lō also 'ki-] -n

  1. kilogram

Kilo

  1. a communications code word for the letter k

kilo- -comb form

  1. thousand
    • kilo ton

ki·lo·bar ['kē-lə-,bär, 'ki-lə-] -n

  1. a unit of pressure equal to 1000 bars

ki·lo·base [-,bās] -n

  1. a unit of measure of the length of a nucleic-acid chain that equals one thousand base pairs

ki·lo·bit [-,bit] -n

  1. 1000 bits
  2. 1024 bits

ki·lo·byte [-,bīt] -n

  1. 1024 bytes

ki·lo·cal·o·rie [-,ka-lə-rē, -'kal-rē] -n

  1. calorie
  2. calorie

kilo·cy·cle ['ki-lə-,sī-kəl] -n

  1. 1000 cycles
  2. kilohertz

ki·lo·gauss ['kē-lə-,gau̇s, 'ki-lə-] -n

  1. 1000 gauss

ki·lo·gram [-,gram] -n

  1. the base unit of mass in the International System of Units that is equal to the mass of a prototype agreed upon by international convention and that is nearly equal to the mass of 1000 cubic centimeters of water at the temperature of its maximum density
  2. a unit of force or weight equal to the weight of a kilogram mass under a gravitational attraction equal to that of the earth

kilogrammeter -n

  1. the meter-kilogram-second gravitational unit of work and energy equal to the work done by a kilogram force acting through a distance of one meter in the direction of the force : about 7.235 foot-pounds

ki·lo·hertz ['ki-lə-,hərts, 'kē-lə-, -,herts] -n

  1. 1000 hertz

ki·lo·joule [-,jül] -n

  1. 1000 joules
  2. a unit in nutrition equivalent to 0.239 calorie

ki·lo·me·ter [kə-'lä-mə-tər, ki-; 'ki-lə-,mē-tər] -n

  1. a metric unit or length equal to 1000 meters

ki·lo·par·sec ['ki-lə-,pär-,sek, 'kē-lə-] -n

  1. 1000 parsecs

ki·lo·pas·cal [,ki-lə-,pas-'kal] -n

  1. 1000 pascals

ki·lo·rad ['ki-lə-,rad] -n

  1. 1000 rads

ki·lo·ton [-,tən also -,tän] -n

  1. 1000 tons
  2. an explosive force equivalent to that of 1000 tons of TNT

ki·lo·volt [-,vōlt] -n

  1. a unit of potential difference equal to 1000 volts

kilo·watt ['ki-lə-,wät] -n

  1. 1000 watts

kilowatthour -n

  1. a unit of work or energy equal to that expended by one kilowatt in one hour or to 3.6 million joules

kilt ['kilt] -vb

  1. to tuck up (as a skirt)
  2. to equip with a kilt
  3. to move nimbly
  4. a knee-length pleated skirt usu. of tartan worn by men in Scotland and by Scottish regiments in the British armies
  5. a garment that resembles a Scottish kilt

kil·ter ['kil-tər] -n

  1. proper or usual state or condition : order
    • out of kilter

kilt·ie ['kil-tē] -n

  1. one who wears a kilt
  2. a shoe with a long slashed tongue that folds over the instep
  3. such a tongue

kim·ber·lite ['kim-bər-,līt] -n

  1. an agglomerate biotite-peridotite that occurs in pipes esp. in southern Africa and that often contains diamonds

Kim·bun·du [kim-'bu̇n-(,)dü] -n

  1. a Bantu language of northern Angola

kim·chi ['kim-chē] -n

  1. a vegetable pickle seasoned with garlic, red pepper, and ginger that is the national dish of Korea

ki·mo·no [kə-'mō-(,)nō, -nə] -n, adj

  1. a long robe with wide sleeves traditionally worn with a broad sash as an outer garment by the Japanese
  2. a loose dressing gown or jacket

kin ['kin] -n

  1. a group of persons of common ancestry : clan
  2. one's relatives : kindred
  3. kinsman
    • he wasn't any kin to you -- Jean Stafford
  4. kinship
  5. kindred, related

ki·na·ra [kē-'nä-rə] -n

  1. a candelabra with seven candlesticks used in celebrating Kwanzaa

ki·nase ['kī-,nās, -,nāz] -n

  1. any of various enzymes that catalyze the transfer of phosphate groups from a high-energy phosphate-containing molecule (as ATP) to a substrate

kind ['kīnd] -n

  1. nature
  2. family, lineage
  3. manner
  4. fundamental nature or quality : essence
  5. a group united by common traits or interests : category
  6. a specific or recognized variety
    • what kind of car do you drive
  7. a doubtful or barely admissible member of a category
    • a kind of gray
  8. goods or commodities as distinguished from money
    • payment in kind
  9. the equivalent of what has been offered or received
  10. affectionate, loving
  11. of a sympathetic or helpful nature
  12. of a forbearing nature : gentle
  13. arising from or characterized by sympathy or forbearance
    • a kind act
  14. of a kind to give pleasure or relief

kin·der·gar·ten ['kin-də(r)-,gär-tᵊn, -dᵊn] -n

  1. a school or class for children usu. from four to six years old

kin·der·gart·ner [-,gärt-nər, -,gärd-] -n

  1. a teacher at a kindergarten
  2. a child attending or of an age to attend kindergarten

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

  1. having or showing a sympathetic nature

kin·dle ['kin-dᵊl] -vb, n

  1. to start (a fire) burning : light
  2. to stir up : arouse
    • kindle interest
  3. to bring into being : start
  4. to cause to glow : illuminate
  5. to catch fire
  6. to flare up
  7. to become animated
  8. to become illuminated

kindle -vb

  1. bear used esp. of a rabbit
  2. to bring forth young used esp. of a rabbit

kind·less ['kīn(d)-ləs] -adj, adv

  1. inhuman
  2. disagreeable, uncongenial

kind·li·ness ['kīn(d)-lē-nəs] -n

  1. the quality or state of being kindly
  2. a kindly deed

kin·dling ['kin(d)-liŋ, 'kin-lən] -n

  1. easily combustible material for starting a fire

kind·ly ['kīn(d)-lē] -adj

  1. natural
  2. lawful
  3. of an agreeable or beneficial nature : pleasant
    • a kindly climate
  4. of a sympathetic or generous nature

kindly -adv

  1. in the normal way : naturally
    • old wounds which had healed kindly -- Amer. Mercury
  2. readily
    • did not take kindly to suggestions
  3. in a kind manner : sympathetically
  4. as a gesture of goodwill
    • would take it kindly if you would put in a good word
  5. in a gracious manner : courteously
    • they kindly invited us along
  6. as a matter of courtesy : please
    • would you kindly order me a cab
  7. somewhat, kind of
    • it's kindly embarrassing -- Walter Davis

kind·ness ['kīn(d)-nəs] -n

  1. a kind deed : favor
  2. the quality or state of being kind
  3. affection

kind of -adv

  1. to a moderate degree : somewhat
    • it's kind of late to begin
  2. in a way that approximates : more or less
    • kind of sneaked up on us

kin·dred ['kin-drəd] -n

  1. a group of related individuals
  2. one's relatives
  3. family relationship : kinship

kindred -adj

  1. of a similar nature or character : like
    • a kindred spirit
  2. of the same ancestry

kine ['kau̇] -n, adj

(variant of cow)

  1. the mature female of cattle (genus Bos)
  2. the mature female of various usu. large animals (as an elephant, whale, or moose)
  3. a domestic bovine animal regardless of sex or age
  4. to destroy the resolve or courage of
  5. to bring to a state or an action by intimidation used with into
    • like too many Asian armies, adept at cow ing a population into feeding them -- Edward Lansdale

kin·e·ma ['si-nə-mə, Brit also -,mä] -n

(variant of cinema)

  1. motion picture usu. used attributively
  2. a motion-picture theater
  3. movies
  4. the film industry
  5. the art or technique of making motion pictures

ki·ne·mat·ics [,ki-nə-'ma-tiks also ,kī-] -n pl but sing in constr, adj, adv

  1. a branch of dynamics that deals with aspects of motion apart from considerations of mass and force

ki·ne·scope ['ki-nə-,skōp also 'kī-] -n

  1. picture tube
  2. a motion picture made from an image on a picture tube

kinescope -vt

  1. to make a kinescope of

ki·ne·sics [kə-'nē-siks, kī-, -ziks] -n pl but sing in constr

  1. a systematic study of the relationship between nonlinguistic body motions (as blushes, shrugs, or eye movement) and communication

ki·ne·si·ol·o·gy [kə-,nē-sē-'ä-lə-jē, kī-, -zē-] -n

  1. the study of the principles of mechanics and anatomy in relation to human movement

ki·ne·sis [kə-'nē-səs, kī-] -n

  1. a movement that lacks directional orientation and depends upon the intensity of stimulation

kin·es·the·sia [,ki-nəs-'thē-zh(ē-)ə, ,kī-] -n, adj, adv

  1. a sense mediated by receptors located in muscles, tendons, and joints and stimulated by bodily movements and tensions
  2. sensory experience derived from this sense

kinet- -comb form

  1. movement : motion
    • kineto some

ki·net·ic [kə-'ne-tik also kī-] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to the motion of material bodies and the forces and energy associated therewith
  2. active, lively
  3. dynamic, energizing
    • a kinetic performer
  4. of or relating to kinetic art

kinetic art -n

  1. art (as sculpture or assemblage) having mechanical parts which can be set in motion

kinetic energy -n

  1. energy associated with motion

ki·net·i·cist [kə-'ne-tə-sist also kī-] -n

  1. a specialist in kinetics
  2. a person who works in kinetic art : kinetic artist

ki·net·ics [kə-'ne-tiks also kī-] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. a branch of science that deals with the effects of forces upon the motions of material bodies or with changes in a physical or chemical system
  2. the rate of change in such a system
  3. the mechanism by which a physical or chemical change is effected

kinetic theory -n

  1. : either of two theories in physics based on the fact that the minute particles of a substance are in vigorous motion:
  2. a theory that the temperature of a substance increases with an increase in either the average kinetic energy of the particles or the average potential energy of separation (as in fusion) of the particles or in both when heat is added called also kinetic theory of heat
  3. a theory that the particles of a gas move in straight lines with high average velocity, continually encounter one another and thus change their individual velocities and directions, and cause pressure by their impact against the walls of a container called also kinetic theory of gases

ki·ne·tin ['kī-nə-tən] -n

  1. a cytokinin C 10H 9N 5O used esp. to stimulate cell division in plant tissue culture

ki·net·o·chore [kə-'ne-tə-,kȯr, kī-] -n

  1. centromere
  2. a specialized structure on the centromere to which the microtubular spindle fibers attach during mitosis and meiosis

ki·net·o·plast [kə-'ne-tə-,plast, kī-] -n

  1. a DNA-containing organelle esp. of trypanosomes usu. found in an elongated mitochondrian located adjacent to the basal body

ki·net·o·scope [kə-'ne-tə-,skōp, kī-] -n

  1. a device for viewing through a magnifying lens a sequence of pictures on an endless band of film moved continuously over a light source and a rapidly rotating shutter that creates an illusion of motion

ki·net·o·some [-,sōm] -n

  1. basal body

kin·folk ['kin-,fōk] -n pl

  1. relatives

king ['kiŋ] -n

  1. a male monarch of a major territorial unit
  2. one whose position is hereditary and who rules for life
  3. a paramount chief
  4. god, christ
  5. one that holds a preeminent position
  6. a chief among competitors
  7. the principal piece of each color in chess having the power to move ordinarily one square in any direction and to capture opposing pieces but being obliged never to enter or remain in check
  8. a playing card marked with a stylized figure of a king
  9. a checker that has been crowned
  10. chinook salmon

king·bird [-,bərd] -n

  1. any of various American tyrant flycatchers (genus Tyrannus) that are gray above and white, gray, or yellow below

king·bolt [-,bōlt] -n

  1. a vertical bolt by which the forward axle and wheels of a vehicle or the trucks of a railroad car are connected with the other parts

King Charles spaniel [-'chär(-ə)lz-] -n

  1. English toy spaniel
  2. cavalier King Charles spaniel not used technically

king cobra -n

  1. a large cobra ( Ophiophagus hannahsyn. Naja hannah) of southeastern Asia and the Philippines that may attain a length of 18 feet (5.5 meters)

king crab -n

  1. horseshoe crab
  2. any of several very large crabs
  3. one ( Paralithoides camtschaticus) of the No. Pacific caught commercially for food

king·craft ['kiŋ-,kraft] -n

  1. the art of governing as a king

king·cup [-,kəp] -n

  1. any of several plants of the buttercup family
  2. marsh marigold

king·dom ['kiŋ-dəm] -n

  1. kingship
  2. a politically organized community or major territorial unit having a monarchical form of government headed by a king or queen
  3. the eternal kingship of God
  4. the realm in which God's will is fulfilled
  5. a realm or region in which something is dominant
  6. an area or sphere in which one holds a preeminent position
  7. one of the three primary divisions into which natural objects are commonly classified
  8. a major category (as Plantae or Protista) in biological taxonomy that ranks above the phylum and below the domain

kingdom come -n

  1. the next world : heaven

king·fish ['kiŋ-,fish] -n

  1. any of several marine croakers (family Sciaenidae)
  2. any of three fishes ( Menticirrhus americanus, M. littoralis,and M. saxatilis) of shallow coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean
  3. a small silvery food and sport fish ( Genyonemus lineatus) of inshore waters esp. of California called also white croaker
  4. king mackerel
  5. an undisputed master in an area or group

king·fish·er [-,fi-shər] -n

  1. any of numerous nonpasserine birds (family Alcedinidae) that are usu. crested and bright-colored with a short tail and a long stout sharp bill

King James Version [-'jāmz-] -n

  1. authorized version

king·let ['kiŋ-lət] -n

  1. a weak or petty king
  2. any of several small birds (genus Regulus) that are related to the gnatcatchers

king·ly ['kiŋ-lē] -adj, n, adv

  1. having royal rank
  2. of, relating to, or befitting a king
  3. monarchical

king mackerel -n

  1. a mackerel ( Scomberomorus cavalla) of the western Atlantic Ocean that is noted esp. as a fighting sport fish

king·mak·er ['kiŋ-,mā-kər] -n

  1. one having great influence over the choice of candidates for political office

king of arms

  1. an officer of arms of the highest rank

king penguin -n

  1. a large penguin ( Aptenodytes patagonicus) chiefly of subantarctic areas with a yellow patch on the upper breast

king·pin ['kiŋ-,pin] -n

  1. : any of several bowling pins: as
  2. headpin
  3. the pin that stands in the middle of a triangular arrangement of bowling pins
  4. the chief person in a group or undertaking
  5. kingbolt
  6. a pin connecting the two parts of a knuckle joint (as in an automobile steering linkage)

king post -n

  1. a vertical member connecting the apex of a triangular truss (as of a roof) with the base

Kings ['kiŋz] -n pl but sing in constr

  1. either of two narrative and historical books of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture
  2. any of four narrative and historical books in the former Roman Catholic canon of the Old Testament

king salmon -n

  1. chinook salmon

King's Bench -n

  1. a division in the English superior courts system that hears civil and criminal cases

King's Counsel -n

  1. a barrister selected to serve as counsel to the British crown

King's English -n

  1. standard, pure, or correct English speech or usage

king's evil -n

  1. scrofula

king·ship ['kiŋ-,ship] -n

  1. the position, office, or dignity of a king
  2. the personality of a king
  3. government by a king

king·side [-,sīd] -n

  1. the side of a chessboard containing the file on which the king sits at the beginning of the game

kingsize [-,sīz] -adj

  1. longer than the regular or standard size
    • a kingsize cigarette
  2. unusually large
  3. having dimensions of approximately 76 by 80 inches (about 1.9 by 2.0 meters) used of a bed
  4. of a size that fits a king-size bed
    • kingsize sheets

king snake -n

  1. any of numerous brightly marked colubrid snakes (genus Lampropeltis) chiefly of No. and Central America

king's ransom -n

  1. a very large sum of money

king·wood [-,wu̇d] -n

  1. the wood of any of several tropical American leguminous trees (esp. genus Dalbergia)
  2. the wood of a Brazilian tree ( D. cearensis) used esp. for furniture

ki·nin ['kī-nən] -n

  1. any of various polypeptide hormones that are formed locally in the tissues and cause dilation of blood vessels and contraction of smooth muscle
  2. cytokinin

kink ['kiŋk] -n

  1. a short tight twist or curl caused by a doubling or winding of something upon itself
  2. a mental or physical peculiarity : eccentricity, quirk
  3. whim
  4. a clever unusual way of doing something
  5. a cramp in some part of the body
  6. an imperfection likely to cause difficulties in the operation of something
  7. unconventional sexual taste or behavior
  8. to form a kink
  9. to make a kink in

kin·ka·jou ['kiŋ-kə-,jü] -n

  1. a nocturnal arboreal omnivorous mammal ( Potos flavus) found from Mexico to So. America that is related to the raccoon and has a long prehensile tail, large eyes, and yellowish brown fur

kinky ['kiŋ-kē] -adj, adv, n

  1. closely twisted or curled
  2. relating to, having, or appealing to unconventional tastes esp. in sex
  3. sexually deviant
  4. outlandish, far-out

kin·ni·kin·nick [,ki-ni-kə-'nik, 'ki-ni-kə-,] -n

  1. a mixture of dried leaves and bark and sometimes tobacco smoked by the Indians and pioneers esp. in the Ohio valley
  2. a plant (as a sumac or dogwood) used in kinnikinnick
  3. bearberry

kin selection -n

  1. a theory of natural selection which states that a usu. altruistic behavior or attribute that lowers the fitness of a particular individual is selected for if it increases the probability of survival and reproduction of related kin who possess some or all of the same genes as the altruistic individual

kins·folk ['kinz-,fōk] -n pl

  1. relatives

kin·ship ['kin-,ship] -n

  1. the quality or state of being kin : relationship

kins·man ['kinz-mən] -n

  1. relative
  2. a male relative

kins·wom·an [-,wu̇-mən] -n

  1. a female relative

ki·osk ['kē-,äsk] -n

  1. an open summerhouse or pavilion
  2. a small structure with one or more open sides that is used to vend merchandise (as newspapers) or services (as film developing)
  3. a small stand-alone device providing information and services on a computer screen
    • a museum with interactive kiosk s

Ki·o·wa ['kī-ə-,wȯ, -,wä, -,wā] -n

  1. a member of an American Indian people of what are now Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas
  2. the language of the Kiowa people

kip ['kip] -n

  1. a bundle of undressed hides of young or small animals
  2. one of the hides
  3. bed
    • ready for the kip after this screwball day -- K. M. Dodson
  4. sleep, nap
    • roused the...family from their kip -- Sylvia Margolis
  5. sleep sometimes used with down
    • kip down on a spare bed -- Alice Glenday
  6. a unit of weight equal to 1000 pounds (454 kilograms) used to express deadweight load

kip·per ['ki-pər] -n

  1. a male salmon or sea trout during or after the spawning season
  2. a kippered herring or salmon

kipper [-p(ə-)riŋ] -vt, n

  1. to cure (split dressed fish) by salting and smoking

kirk ['kirk, 'kərk] -n

  1. church
  2. the national church of Scotland as distinguished from the Church of England or the Episcopal Church in Scotland

Kir·li·an photography ['kir-lē-ən-] -n

  1. a process in which an image is obtained by application of a high-frequency electric field to an object so that it radiates a characteristic pattern of luminescence that is recorded on photographic film

Kir·man [kər-'män, kir-] -n

  1. a Persian carpet or rug characterized by elaborate fluid designs and soft colors

kirsch ['kirsh] -n

  1. a dry colorless brandy distilled from the fermented juice of the black morello cherry

Kirt·land's warbler ['kərt-lən(d)z-] -n

  1. a rare warbler ( Dendroica kirtlandii) of northeastern No. America that breeds in Michigan and winters in the Bahamas

kir·tle ['kər-tᵊl] -n

  1. a tunic or coat worn by men esp. in the Middle Ages
  2. a long gown or dress worn by women

kish·ke ['kish-kə] -n

  1. beef or fowl casing stuffed (as with meat, flour, and spices) and cooked

Kis·lev ['kis-ləf] -n

  1. the third month of the civil year or the ninth month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar

kis·met ['kiz-,met, -mət] -n

  1. fate
  2. fate

kiss ['kis] -vb, adj

  1. to touch with the lips esp. as a mark of affection or greeting
    • kiss ed his wife good-bye
  2. to touch gently or lightly
    • wind gently kiss ing the trees
  3. to salute or caress one another with the lips
  4. to come in gentle contact
  5. a caress with the lips
    • a range of kiss es from a passionate embrace to a friendly peck
  6. a gentle touch or contact
  7. a small drop cookie made of meringue
  8. a bite-size piece of candy often wrapped in paper or foil
  9. an expression of affection
    • sent him kiss es in her letter

kissandtell ['kis-ᵊn(d)-'tel] -adj

  1. telling details of private matters
    • kissandtell autobiographies

kiss·er ['ki-sər] -n

  1. one that kisses
  2. mouth
  3. face

kissing bug -n

  1. any of various large bloodsucking bugs and esp. some assassin bugs (genus Triatoma) including some capable of inflicting painful bites called also conenose

kissing cousin -n

  1. a person and esp. a relative whom one knows well enough to kiss more or less formally upon meeting
  2. one that is closely related in kind to something else

kissing disease -n

  1. infectious mononucleosis

kiss of death

  1. something (as an act or association) ultimately causing ruin

kiss off ['ki-,sȯf] -vt, n

  1. to dismiss usu. lightly
    • kisses the other performers off as mere amateurs

kiss of life

  1. artificial respiration by the mouth-to-mouth method

kiss of peace

  1. a ceremonial kiss, embrace, or handclasp used in Christian liturgies and esp. the Eucharist as a sign of fraternal unity

kist ['kist] -n

  1. chest

kit ['kit] -n

  1. a wooden tub
  2. a collection of articles usu. for personal use
    • a travel kit
  3. a set of tools or implements
    • a carpenter's kit
  4. a set of parts to be assembled or worked up
    • a model-airplane kit
  5. a packaged collection of related material
    • a convention kit
  6. gear
    • run over to my billet and get some overnight kit -- Lionel Shapiro
  7. a container for any of such sets or collections
  8. a group of persons or things usu. used in the phrase the whole kit and caboodle
  9. equip, outfit often used with up or out
  10. a small narrow violin
  11. kitten
  12. a young or undersized fur-bearing animal
  13. its pelt
  14. kitchen

kit bag -n

  1. knapsack
  2. a suitcase usu. with sides that fasten at the top or open to the full width of the bag

kitch·en ['ki-chən] -n

  1. a place (as a room) with cooking facilities
  2. the personnel that prepares, cooks, and serves food
  3. cuisine

kitchen cabinet -n

  1. an informal group of advisers to one in a position of power (as the head of a government)
  2. a cupboard with drawers and shelves for use in a kitchen

kitch·en·ette [,ki-chə-'net] -n

  1. a small kitchen or an alcove containing cooking facilities

kitchen garden -n

  1. a garden in which plants (as vegetables or herbs) for use in the kitchen are cultivated

kitchen midden -n

  1. a refuse heap
  2. a mound marking the site of a primitive human habitation

kitchen police -n

  1. kp
  2. the work of KPs

kitch·ensink [-'siŋk] -adj

  1. portraying or emphasizing the squalid aspects of modern life
    • the kitchensink realism of contemporary British drama -- Current Biog.
  2. being or made up of a hodgepodge of disparate elements or ingredients

kitch·en·ware [-,wer] -n

  1. utensils and appliances for use in a kitchen

kite ['kīt] -n, adj

  1. any of various usu. small hawks (family Accipitridae) with long narrow wings and often a notched or forked tail
  2. a person who preys on others
  3. a light frame covered with paper, cloth, or plastic, often provided with a stabilizing tail, and designed to be flown in the air at the end of a long string
  4. a check drawn against uncollected funds in a bank account or fraudulently raised before cashing
  5. a light sail used in a light breeze usu. in addition to the regular working sails
  6. spinnaker
  7. to use (a bad check) to get credit or money
  8. to cause to soar
    • kited the prices they charged wealthy clients
  9. to go in a rapid, carefree, or flighty manner
  10. to rise rapidly : soar
  11. to get money or credit by a kite

kite·board·ing ['kīt-,bȯr-diŋ] -n

  1. the sport of riding on a small surfboard that is propelled across water by a large kite to which the rider is harnessed called also kitesurfing

kit fox -n

  1. swift fox
  2. a fox ( Vulpes macrotis) of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico with exceptionally large ears and a black tip on the tail
  3. the fur or pelt of a kit fox

kith ['kith] -n

  1. familiar friends, neighbors, or relatives
    • kith and kin

kith·a·ra ['ki-thə-rə] -n

  1. an ancient Greek stringed instrument similar to but larger than the lyre and having a box-shaped resonator

kithe ['kīth] -vb

  1. to make known
  2. to become known

kitsch ['kich] -n, adj

  1. something that appeals to popular or lowbrow taste and is often of poor quality
  2. a tacky or lowbrow quality or condition
    • teetering on the brink of kitsch -- Ron Miller

kit·ten ['ki-tᵊn] -n

  1. a young cat
  2. an immature or young individual of various other small mammals

kitten ['kit-niŋ, 'ki-tᵊn-iŋ] -vi

  1. to give birth to kittens

kitten heel -n

  1. a short stiletto heel on women's shoes

kit·ten·ish ['kit-nish, 'ki-tᵊn-ish] -adj, adv, n

  1. resembling a kitten
  2. coyly playful

kit·ti·wake ['ki-tē-,wāk] -n

  1. either of two cliff-nesting gulls ( Rissa tridactylaand R. brevirostris) that winter on the open ocean

kit·tle ['ki-tᵊl] -vt

  1. tickle
  2. perplex

kittle -adj

  1. ticklish, touchy

kit·ty ['ki-tē] -n

  1. cat
  2. kitten

kitty -n

  1. a fund in a poker game made up of contributions from each pot
  2. a sum of money or collection of goods often made up of small contributions : pool

kit·tycor·ner ['ki-tē-,kȯr-nər, 'ka-tē-, 'ka-tə-] -adv or adj

  1. in a diagonal or oblique position
    • the house stood kittycorner across the square

ki·va ['kē-və] -n

  1. a Pueblo Indian ceremonial structure that is usu. round and partly underground

Ki·wa·ni·an [kə-'wä-nē-ən] -n

  1. a member of a major national and international service club

ki·wi ['kē-(,)wē] -n

  1. any of a small genus ( Apteryx) of flightless New Zealand birds with rudimentary wings, stout legs, a long bill, and grayish brown hairlike plumage
  2. a native or resident of New Zealand used as a nickname
  3. kiwifruit

ki·wi·fruit [-,früt] -n

  1. the edible fruit of a Chinese gooseberry having a fuzzy brown skin and slightly acidic typically green flesh