UN -abbr
- United Nations
un- [,ən, often 'ən before '-stressed syllable] -prefix
- not : in-, non- in adjectives formed from adjectives or participles , in nouns formed from nouns , and rarely in verbs formed from verbs sometimes in words that have a meaning that merely negates that of the base word and are thereby distinguished from words that prefix in- or a variant of it (as im- ) to the same base word and have a meaning positively opposite to that of the base word
- opposite of : contrary to in adjectives formed from adjectives or participles and in nouns formed from nouns
- do the opposite of : reverse (a specified action) : de- , dis- in verbs formed from verbs
- deprive of : remove (a specified thing) from : remove in verbs formed from nouns
- release from : free from in verbs formed from nouns
- remove from : extract from : bring out of in verbs formed from nouns
- cause to cease to be in verbs formed from nouns
- completely
un·abashed [,ən-ə-'basht] -adj, adv
- not abashed : undisguised, unapologetic
un·abat·ed [,ən-ə-'bā-təd] -adj, adv
- not abated : being at full strength or force
un·able [,ən-'ā-bəl] -adj
- : not able : incapable: as
- unqualified, incompetent
- impotent, helpless
un·abridged [,ən-ə-'brijd] -adj
- not abridged : complete
- an unabridged reprint of a novel
- being the most complete of its class : not based on one larger
un·ac·cept·able [,ən-ik-'sep-tə-bəl, -ak-] -adj, n, adv
- not acceptable : not pleasing or welcome
un·ac·com·pa·nied [,ən-ə-'kəmp-nēd, -'kämp-; -'kəm-pə-, -'käm-] -adj
- not accompanied
- being without instrumental accompaniment
un·ac·count·able [,ən-ə-'kau̇n-tə-bəl] -adj, n
- not to be accounted for : inexplicable, strange
- not to be called to account : not responsible
un·ac·count·ably [-'kau̇n-tə-blē] -adv
- in an unaccountable manner
- looking unaccountably upset
- heat was unaccountably disappearing
- for reasons that are hard to understand
- unaccountably, he stayed right there
un·ac·count·ed [-'kau̇n-təd] -adj
- not accounted : unexplained often used with for
un·ac·cus·tomed [,ən-ə-'kəs-təmd] -adj, adv
- not customary : not usual or common
- not habituated usu. used with to
una cor·da [,ü-nə-'kȯr-də, -(,)dä] -adv or adj
- with soft pedal depressed used as a direction in piano music
un·adorned [,ən-ə-'dȯrnd] -adj
- not adorned : lacking embellishment or decoration : plain, simple
un·adul·ter·at·ed [,ən-ə-'dəl-tə-,rā-təd] -adj, adv
- not adulterated : pure
- complete, unqualified
un·ad·vised [,ən-əd-'vīzd] -adj, adv
- done without due consideration : rash
- unadvised and dangerous dealings with the terrorists
- not prudent : ill-advised
- done with unadvised haste
un·af·fect·ed [,ən-ə-'fek-təd] -adj, adv, n
- not influenced or changed mentally, physically, or chemically
- free from affectation : genuine
un·ag·ing [,ən-'ā-jiŋ] -adj
- ageless
una·kite ['yü-nə-,kīt] -n
- an altered igneous rock that is usu. opaque with green, black, pink, and white flecks and is usu. used as a gemstone
un·alien·able [,ən-'āl-yə-nə-bəl, -'ā-lē-ə-] -adj
- inalienable
un·aligned [,ən-ə-'līnd] -adj
- nonaligned
un·al·loyed [,ən-ə-'lȯid] -adj
- not alloyed : unmixed, unqualified, pure
un·al·ter·able [,ən-'ȯl-t(ə-)rə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- not capable of being altered or changed
un·am·big·u·ous [,ən-am-'bi-gyə-wəs] -adj, adv
- not ambiguous : clear, precise
un·am·biv·a·lent [-'bi-və-lənt] -adj, adv
- not ambivalent : clear-cut, definite
unAmer·i·can [,ən-ə-'mer-ə-kən] -adj
- not American : not characteristic of or consistent with American customs, principles, or traditions
un·an·chored [,ən-'aŋ-kərd] -adj
- not anchored : not at anchor
- not having a firm basis or foundation
un·aneled [,ən-ə-'nēld] -adj
- not having received extreme unction
una·nim·i·ty [,yü-nə-'ni-mə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being unanimous
unan·i·mous [yu̇-'na-nə-məs] -adj, adv
- being of one mind : agreeing
- formed with or indicating unanimity : having the agreement and consent of all
un·an·swer·able [,ən-'an(t)s-rə-bəl, -'an(t)-sə-] -adj, n, adv
- not capable of being answered
- irrefutable
un·an·swered [,ən-'an(t)-sərd] -adj
- not answered
- scored in succession during a period in which an opponent fails to score
- scored 20 unanswered points in the last quarter
un·an·tic·i·pat·ed [,ən-an-'ti-sə-,pā-təd] -adj, adv
- not anticipated : unexpected, unforeseen
un·apol·o·get·ic [,ən-ə-,pä-lə-'je-tik] -adj, adv
- not apologetic : offered, put forward, or being such without apology or qualification
un·ap·peal·able [,ən-ə-'pē-lə-bəl] -adj
- not appealable : not subject to appeal
un·ap·peal·ing [-'pē-liŋ] -adj, adv
- not appealing : unattractive
un·ap·peas·able [-'pē-zə-bəl] -adj, adv
- not to be appeased : implacable
un·ap·pe·tiz·ing [,ən-'a-pə-,tī-ziŋ] -adj, adv
- not appetizing : insipid, unattractive
un·ap·pre·ci·a·tion [,ən-ə-,prē-shē-'ā-shən] -n
- failure to appreciate something
un·ap·proach·able [,ən-ə-'prō-chə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- not approachable : physically inaccessible
- discouraging intimacies : reserved
un·apt [,ən-'apt] -adj, adv, n
- inappropriate, unsuitable
- not accustomed and not likely
- a teacher unapt to tolerate carelessness
- dull, backward
un·ar·gu·able [,ən-'är-gyə-wə-bəl] -adj
- not arguable
un·ar·gu·ably [-blē] -adv
- it cannot be argued : unquestionably
un·arm [,ən-'ärm] -vt
- disarm
un·armed [-'ärmd] -adj
- not armed or armored
- not using or involving a weapon
- having no hard and sharp projections (as spines, spurs, or claws)
un·ar·tic·u·lat·ed [,ən-är-'ti-kyə-,lā-təd] -adj
- not articulated
- not carefully reasoned or analyzed
una·ry ['yü-nə-rē] -adj
- having, consisting of, or acting on a single element, item, or component : monadic
un·ashamed [,ən-ə-'shāmd] -adj, adv
- not ashamed : being without guilt, self-consciousness, or doubt
un·asked [,ən-'as(k)t] -adj
- not being asked : uninvited
- not asked
- not asked for
un·as·sail·able [,ən-ə-'sā-lə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- not assailable : not liable to doubt, attack, or question
un·as·ser·tive [,ən-ə-'sər-tiv] -adj, adv
- not assertive : modest, shy
un·as·sist·ed [,ən-ə-'sis-təd] -adj
- not assisted : lacking help
- made or performed without an assist
- an unassisted double play
un·as·suage·able [,ən-ə-'swā-jə-bəl] -adj
- not capable of being assuaged
un·as·sum·ing [,ən-ə-'sü-miŋ] -adj, n
- not assuming : modest
- an unassuming neighborhood
un·at·tached [,ən-ə-'tacht] -adj
- not assigned or committed (as to a particular task, organization, or person)
- not married or engaged
- not seized as security for a legal judgment
- not joined or united
un·at·trac·tive [-'trak-tiv] -adj, adv, n
- not attractive : plain, dull
un·avail·ing [-'vā-liŋ] -adj, adv, n
- not availing : futile, useless
un·avoid·able [,ən-ə-'vȯi-də-bəl] -adj, adv
- not avoidable : inevitable
- the accident was unavoidable
un·aware [-ə-'wer] -adv
- unawares
unaware -adj, adv, n
- not aware : ignorant
un·awares [-'werz] -adv
- without design, attention, preparation, or premeditation
- without warning : suddenly, unexpectedly
un·backed [,ən-'bakt] -adj
- lacking support or aid
un·bal·ance [-'ba-lən(t)s] -vt
- to put out of balance
unbalance -n
- lack of balance : imbalance
un·bal·anced [-lən(t)st] -adj
- : not balanced: as
- not in equilibrium
- mentally disordered or deranged
- not adjusted so as to make credits equal to debits
un·bal·last·ed [-'ba-lə-stəd] -adj
- not furnished with or steadied by ballast : unsteady
un·ban·dage [-'ban-dij] -vt
- to remove a bandage from
un·bar [,ən-'bär] -vt
- to remove a bar from : unbolt, open
un·bar·bered [-'bär-bərd] -adj
- having long and esp. unkempt hair
un·barred [-'bärd] -adj
- not secured by a bar : unlocked
- not marked with bars
un·bat·ed [-'bā-təd] -adj
- unabated
- not blunted
un·be [-'bē] -vi
- to lack or cease to have being
un·bear·able [,ən-'ber-ə-bəl] -adj, adv
- not bearable : unendurable
un·beat·able [-'bē-tə-bəl] -adj, adv
- not capable of being defeated
- possessing unsurpassable qualities
un·beat·en [-'bē-tᵊn] -adj
- not pounded or beaten : not whipped
- not traversed : untrodden
- not defeated
un·beau·ti·ful [-'byü-ti-fəl] -adj, adv
- not beautiful : unattractive
un·be·com·ing [,ən-bi-'kə-miŋ] -adj, adv, n
- not becoming
- not according with the standards appropriate to one's position or condition of life
un·be·knownst [,ən-bi-'nōn(t)st] -adj
- happening or existing without the knowledge of someone specified usu. used with to
- unbeknownst to us rumors were flying
- unknown
un·be·lief [,ən-bə-'lēf] -n
- incredulity or skepticism esp. in matters of religious faith
un·be·liev·able [-'lē-və-bəl] -adj, adv
- too improbable for belief
- the plot is unreal and unbelievable
- of such a superlative degree as to be hard to believe
- the destruction was unbelievable
- made an unbelievable catch in center field
un·be·liev·er [-'lē-vər] -n
- one that does not believe in a particular religious faith
- one that does not believe : an incredulous person : doubter, skeptic
un·be·liev·ing [-'lē-viŋ] -adj, adv
- marked by unbelief : incredulous, skeptical
un·belt·ed [,ən-'bel-təd] -adj
- not furnished with a belt
un·bend [-'bend] -vb
- to free from flexure : make or allow to become straight
- to cause (as the mind) to relax
- to unfasten (as a sail) from a spar or stay
- to cast loose (as a rope) : untie
- to relax one's severity, stiffness, or austerity
- to cease to be bent : become straight
un·bend·able [-'ben-də-bəl] -adj
- single-minded, firm
un·bend·ing [-'ben-diŋ] -adj
- not bending : unyielding, inflexible
- aloof or unsocial in manner : reserved
un·be·seem·ing [,ən-bi-'sē-miŋ] -adj
- not befitting : unbecoming
un·bi·ased [,ən-'bī-əst] -adj, n
- free from bias
- free from all prejudice and favoritism : eminently fair
- having an expected value equal to a population parameter being estimated
- an unbiased estimate of the population mean
un·bib·li·cal [,ən-'bi-bli-kəl] -adj
- contrary to or unsanctioned by the Bible
un·bid·den [-'bi-dᵊn] -adj
- not bidden : unasked, uninvited
un·bind [-'bīnd] -vt
- to remove a band from : free from fastenings : untie, unfasten
- to set free : release
un·bit·ted [-'bi-təd] -adj
- unbridled, uncontrolled
- our unbitted lusts -- Shak.
un·blenched [-'blencht] -adj
- not disconcerted : undaunted
un·blessed [,ən-'blest] -adj
- evil, accursed
- not blessed
un·blind·ed [-'blīn-dəd] -adj
- not blinded
- free from illusion
un·blink·ing [-'bliŋ-kiŋ] -adj, adv
- not blinking
- not showing signs of emotion, doubt, or confusion
un·block [-'bläk] -vt
- to free from being blocked
un·blush·ing [-'blə-shiŋ] -adj, adv
- not blushing
- shameless, unabashed
un·bod·ied [-'bä-dēd] -adj
- having no body : incorporeal
- freed from the body
- formless
un·bolt [,ən-'bōlt] -vt
- to open or unfasten by withdrawing a bolt
un·bolt·ed [-'bōl-təd] -adj
- not fastened by bolts
unbolted -adj
- not sifted
un·bon·net·ed [,ən-'bä-nə-təd] -adj
- bareheaded
un·born [-'bȯrn] -adj
- not born : not brought into life
- still to appear : future
- existing without birth
un·bos·om [-'bu̇-zəm also -'bü-] -vt
- to give expression to : disclose, reveal
- to disclose the thoughts or feelings of (oneself)
- to unbosom oneself
un·bound [-'bau̇nd] -adj
- : not bound: as
- not fastened
- not confined
- not having the leaves fastened together
- not bound together with other issues
- not held in chemical or physical combination
un·bound·ed [-'bau̇n-dəd] -adj, n
- having no limit
- unrestrained, uncontrolled
un·bowed [,ən-'bau̇d] -adj
- not bowed down
- not subdued
un·box [-'bäks] -vt
- to remove from a box
un·brace [-'brās] -vt
- to free or detach by or as if by untying or removing a brace or bond
- enfeeble, weaken
un·braid [-'brād] -vt
- to separate the strands of : unravel
un·branched [-'brancht] -adj
- having no branches
- a straight unbranched trunk
- not divided into branches
- a leaf with unbranched veins
un·brand·ed [-'bran-dəd] -adj
- not marked with the owner's name or mark
- not sold under a brand name
un·breath·able [-'brē-thə-bəl] -adj
- not fit for being breathed
un·bred [-'bred] -adj
- ill-bred
- not taught : untrained
- not bred : never having been bred
un·bri·dle [,ən-'brī-dᵊl] -vt
- to free or loose from a bridle
- to set loose : free from restraint
un·bri·dled [-'brī-dᵊld] -adj
- unrestrained
- not confined by a bridle
un·broke [-'brōk] -adj
- unbroken
un·bro·ken [-'brō-kən] -adj
- : not broken: as
- not violated
- whole, intact
- not subdued : untamed
- not trained for service or use
- continuous
- not plowed
- not disorganized
- advanced in unbroken ranks
un·buck·le [-'bə-kəl] -vt
- to loose the buckle of : unfasten
- to loosen buckles
- relax
un·budge·able [-'bə-jə-bəl] -adj, adv
- not able to be budged or changed : inflexible
un·budg·ing [-'bə-jiŋ] -adj, adv
- not budging : resisting movement or change
un·build [,ən-'bild] -vb
- to pull down : demolish, raze
- to destroy something
un·built [-'bilt] -adj
- not built : not yet constructed
- not built on
un·bun·dle [-'bən-dᵊl] -vi
- to give separate prices for equipment and supporting services
- to price separately
un·bur·den [-'bər-dᵊn] -vt
- to free or relieve from a burden
- to relieve oneself of (as cares, fears, or worries) : cast off
un·bur·dened [-'bər-dᵊnd] -adj
- not burdened : having no weight or load
- unburdened by the expectations of others
un·but·ton [-'bə-tᵊn] -vt
- to loose the buttons of
- to open by or as if by loosing buttons
- to undo buttons
un·but·toned [-tᵊnd] -adj
- not buttoned
- not provided with buttons
- not under constraint : free and unrestricted in action and expression
- the musicians' unbuttoned energy
Unc -abbr
- uncirculated
un·cage [,ən-'kāj] -vt
- to release from or as if from a cage : free from restraint
un·cal·cu·lat·ed [-'kal-kyə-,lā-təd] -adj
- not planned or thought out beforehand : spontaneous
- uncalculated confrontations
un·cal·cu·lat·ing [-,lā-tiŋ] -adj
- not based on or marked by calculation
un·calledfor [,ən-'kȯl(d)-,fȯr] -adj
- not called for or needed : unnecessary
- being or offered without provocation or justification
- an uncalledfor display of temper
un·can·ny [-'ka-nē] -adj, adv, n
- seeming to have a supernatural character or origin : eerie, mysterious
- being beyond what is normal or expected : suggesting superhuman or supernatural powers
- an uncanny sense of direction
- severe, punishing
un·caused [-'kȯzd] -adj
- having no antecedent cause
un·ceas·ing [-'sē-siŋ] -adj, adv
- never ceasing : continuous, incessant
un·cel·e·brat·ed [-'se-lə-,brā-təd] -adj
- not formally honored or commemorated
- not famous : obscure
- solid but uncelebrated players
un·cer·e·mo·ni·ous [,ən-,ser-ə-'mō-nē-əs] -adj, adv, n
- not ceremonious : informal
- abrupt, rude
- an unceremonious dismissal
un·cer·tain [,ən-'sər-tᵊn] -adj, adv, n
- indefinite, indeterminate
- the time of departure is uncertain
- not certain to occur : problematical
- his success was uncertain
- not reliable : untrustworthy
- not known beyond doubt : dubious
- not having certain knowledge : doubtful
- remains uncertain about her plans
- not clearly identified or defined
- a fire of uncertain origin
- not constant : variable, fitful
un·cer·tain·ty [-tᵊn-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being uncertain : doubt
- something that is uncertain
uncertainty principle -n
- a principle in quantum mechanics: it is impossible to discern simultaneously and with high accuracy both the position and the momentum of a particle (as an electron) called also Heisenberg uncertainty principle
UNCF -abbr
- United Negro College Fund
un·chain [,ən-'chān] -vt
- to free by or as if by removing a chain : set loose
- unchain workers from their desks
un·chancy [-'chan(t)-sē] -adj
- ill-fated
- dangerous
un·change·able [-'chān-jə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- not changing or to be changed : immutable
un·chang·ing [-'chān-jiŋ] -adj, adv, n
- constant, invariable
un·char·ac·ter·is·tic [,ən-,ka-rik-tə-'ris-tik] -adj, adv
- not characteristic : not typical or distinctive
- uncharacteristic outbursts of temper
un·charge [,ən-'chärj] -vt
- acquit
un·charged [-'chärjd] -adj
- not charged
- having no electric charge
un·char·i·ta·ble [-'cha-rə-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- lacking in charity : severe in judging : harsh
un·chart·ed [-'chär-təd] -adj
- not recorded or plotted on a map, chart, or plan
- unknown
- a discussion moving into uncharted territory
un·chaste [-'chāst] -adj, adv, n
- not chaste : lacking in chastity
un·chas·ti·ty [-'chas-tə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being unchaste
un·chiv·al·rous [-'shi-vəl-rəs] -adj, adv
- not chivalrous : lacking in chivalry
un·choke [-'chōk] -vt
- to clear of obstruction
un·chris·tian [-'kris-chən, -'krish-] -adj
- not of the Christian faith
- contrary to the Christian spirit or character
- uncivilized, barbarous
un·church [-'chərch] -vt
- to expel from a church : excommunicate
- to deprive of a church or of status as a church
un·churched [-'chərcht] -adj
- not belonging to or connected with a church
unci ['əŋ-kəs] -n
(variant of uncus)
- a hooked anatomical part or process
un·cial ['ən(t)-shəl, -sē-əl] -adj, adv
- written in the style or size of uncials
uncial -n
- a handwriting used esp. in Greek and Latin manuscripts of the fourth to the eighth centuries a.d.and made with somewhat rounded separated majuscules but having cursive forms for some letters
- an uncial letter
- a manuscript written in uncial
un·ci·form ['ən(t)-sə-,fȯrm] -adj
- hook-shaped : uncinate
un·ci·na·ri·a·sis [,ən-,si-nə-'rī-ə-səs] -n
- hookworm
un·ci·nate ['ən(t)-sə-,nāt] -adj
- bent at the tip like a hook : hooked
un·cir·cu·lat·ed [,ən-'sər-kyə-,lā-təd] -adj
- issued for use as money but kept out of circulation (as for preservation in a collection)
un·cir·cum·cised [,ən-'sər-kəm-,sīzd] -adj, n
- not circumcised
- spiritually impure : heathen
un·civ·il [,ən-'si-vəl] -adj, adv
- not civilized : barbarous
- lacking in courtesy : ill-mannered, impolite
- not conducive to civic harmony and welfare
un·civ·i·lized [-'si-və-,līzd] -adj
- not civilized : barbarous
- remote from settled areas : wild
un·clamp [-'klamp] -vt
- to loosen the clamp of : to free from a clamp
un·clar·i·ty [-'kla-rə-tē] -n
- lack of clarity : ambiguity, obscurity
un·clasp [-'klasp] -vt
- to open the clasp of
- to open or cause to be opened (as a clenched hand)
- to loosen a hold
un·clas·si·cal [-'kla-si-kəl] -adj
- not classical
- unconcerned with the classics
un·clas·si·fied [-'kla-sə-,fīd] -adj
- not placed or belonging in a class
- not subject to a security classification
un·cle ['əŋ-kəl] -n
- the brother of one's father or mother
- the husband of one's aunt
- one who helps, advises, or encourages
- used as a cry of surrender
- uncle sam
un·clean [,ən-'klēn] -adj, n
- morally or spiritually impure
- infected with a harmful supernatural contagion
- prohibited by ritual law for use or contact
- dirty, filthy
- lacking in clarity and precision of conception or execution
un·clean·ly [-'klen-lē] -adj, n
- morally or physically unclean
- in an unclean manner
un·clench [-'klench] -vt
- to open from a clenched position
- to release from a grip
- to become unclasped or relaxed
Un·cle Sam [,əŋ-kəl-'sam] -n
- the U.S. government
- the American nation or people
Uncle Tom [-'täm] -n
- a black who is overeager to win the approval of whites (as by obsequious behavior or uncritical acceptance of white values and goals)
- a member of a low-status group who is overly subservient to or cooperative with authority
- the worst floor managers and supervisors by far are women...Some of them are regular Uncle Toms -- Jane Fonda
- to behave like an Uncle Tom
un·climb·able [,ən-'klī-mə-bəl] -adj, n
- not able to be climbed
un·clinch [,ən-'klinch] -vt
- unclench
un·cloak [-'klōk] -vt
- to remove a cloak or cover from
- reveal, unmask
- to take off a cloak
un·clog [-'kläg] -vt
- to free from a difficulty or obstruction
un·close [-'klōz] -vt
- open
- disclose, reveal
- to become opened
un·closed [-'klōzd] -adj
- not closed or settled : not concluded
un·clothe [-'klōth] -vt
- to strip of clothes
- divest, uncover
- the hardest thing to unclothe is still our fears -- Joe Williams
un·clothed [-'klōthd] -adj
- not clothed
un·cloud·ed [-'klau̇-dəd] -adj, adv
- not covered by clouds : not darkened or obscured : clear
un·club·ba·ble [,ən-'klə-bə-bəl] -adj
- unsociable
un·clut·ter [-'klə-tər] -vt
- to remove clutter from : make neat and orderly
un·clut·tered [-tərd] -adj
- not cluttered
un·co ['əŋ-(,)kō, -kə] -adj
- strange, unknown
- uncanny, weird
- extraordinary
unco -adv
- extremely, remarkably, uncommonly
- you keep your room unco hot -- R. L. Stevenson
- news, tidings
- stranger
un·cock [,ən-'käk] -vt
- to remove the hammer of (a firearm) from a cocked position
un·cof·fin [-'kȯ-fən] -vt
- to remove from or as if from a coffin
un·cof·fined [-fənd] -adj
- not placed in a coffin
un·coil [,ən-'kȯi(-ə)l] -vt
- to release from a coiled state : unwind
- to become uncoiled
un·coiled [-'kȯi(-ə)ld] -adj
- not coiled
un·coined [-'kȯind] -adj
- not minted
- not fabricated : natural
- plain and uncoined constancy -- Shak.
un·com·fort·able [,ən-'kəm(p)(f)-tə(r)-bəl, -'kəm(p)-fə(r)-tə-bəl, -'kəm-fə(r)-bəl] -adj, adv
- causing discomfort or annoyance
- an uncomfortable performance
- feeling discomfort : uneasy
- was uncomfortable with them
un·com·mer·cial [,ən-kə-'mər-shəl] -adj
- not engaged in or related to commerce
- not based on commercial principles
- not likely to result in financial success
un·com·mit·ted [,ən-kə-'mi-təd] -adj
- not committed
- not pledged to a particular belief, allegiance, or program
un·com·mon [,ən-'kä-mən] -adj, adv, n
- not ordinarily encountered : unusual
- remarkable, exceptional
- a soldier of uncommon courage
un·com·mu·ni·ca·ble [,ən-kə-'myü-ni-kə-bəl] -adj
- incommunicable
un·com·mu·ni·ca·tive [-'myü-nə-,kā-tiv, -ni-kə-tiv] -adj
- not disposed to talk or impart information : reserved
un·com·pet·i·tive [-'pe-tə-tiv] -adj, n
- not competitive : unable to compete
un·com·plain·ing [-'plā-niŋ] -adj, adv
- not complaining : patient
un·com·pli·cat·ed [,ən-'käm-plə-,kā-təd] -adj
- not complicated by something outside itself
- not involving medical complications
- an uncomplicated peptic ulcer
- not complex : simple
un·com·pli·men·ta·ry [,ən-,käm-plə-'men-tə-rē, -'men-trē] -adj
- not complimentary : derogatory
un·com·pre·hend·ing [-pri-'hen-diŋ] -adj, adv
- not comprehending : lacking understanding
un·com·pro·mis·able [,ən-'käm-prə-,mī-zə-bəl] -adj
- not able to be compromised
un·com·pro·mis·ing [-,mī-ziŋ] -adj, adv, n
- not making or accepting a compromise : making no concessions : inflexible, unyielding
un·con·ceiv·able [,ən-kən-'sē-və-bəl] -adj
- inconceivable
un·con·cern [,ən-kən-'sərn] -n
- lack of care or interest : indifference
- his unconcern for personal gain
- freedom from excessive concern or anxiety
un·con·cerned [-'sərnd] -adj, adv, n
- not involved : not having any part or interest
- not anxious or upset : free of worry
un·con·di·tion·al [,ən-kən-'dish-nəl, -'di-shə-nᵊl] -adj, adv
- not conditional or limited : absolute, unqualified
- unconditioned
un·con·di·tioned [-'di-shənd] -adj
- not subject to conditions or limitations
- not dependent on or subjected to conditioning or learning : natural
- producing an unconditioned response
un·con·form·able [-'fȯr-mə-bəl] -adj, adv
- not conforming
- exhibiting geological unconformity
un·con·for·mi·ty [-'fȯr-mə-tē] -n
- lack of conformity
- lack of continuity in deposition between rock strata in contact corresponding to a period of nondeposition, weathering, or erosion
- the surface of contact between unconformable strata
un·con·ge·nial [-'jē-nyəl, -nē-əl] -adj, n
- not sympathetic or compatible
- not fitted : unsuitable
- a soil uncongenial to most crops
- not to one's taste : disagreeable
un·con·quer·able [,ən-'käŋ-k(ə-)rə-bəl] -adj, adv
- incapable of being conquered : indomitable
- incapable of being surmounted
- unconquerable difficulties
un·con·scio·na·ble [-'kän(t)-sh(ə-)nə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- not guided or controlled by conscience : unscrupulous
- an unconscionable villain
- excessive, unreasonable
- found an unconscionable number of defects in the car
- shockingly unfair or unjust
- unconscionable sales practices
un·con·scious [,ən-'kän(t)-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- not knowing or perceiving : not aware
- free from self-awareness
- not possessing mind or consciousness
- not marked by conscious thought, sensation, or feeling
- of or relating to the unconscious
- having lost consciousness
- was unconscious for three days
- not consciously held or deliberately planned or carried out
unconscious -n
- the part of mental life that does not ordinarily enter the individual's awareness yet may influence behavior and perception or be revealed (as in slips of the tongue or in dreams)
un·con·sid·ered [,ən-kən-'si-dərd] -adj
- not considered or worth consideration
- not resulting from consideration
un·con·sol·i·dat·ed [-'sä-lə-,dā-təd] -adj
- loosely arranged
- unconsolidated subsidiaries
- not stratified
un·con·sti·tu·tion·al [,ən-,kän(t)-stə-'tü-shnəl, -'tyü-, -shə-nᵊl] -adj, n, adv
- not according or consistent with the constitution of a body politic (as a nation)
- an unconstitutional infringement on rights
un·con·straint [,ən-kən-'strānt] -n
- freedom from constraint : ease
- played the game with creative unconstraint -- E. M. Swift
un·con·struct·ed [-'strək-təd] -adj
- manufactured without added material for padding, stiffening, or shape retention
un·con·trol·la·ble [-'trō-lə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- free from control by a superior power : absolute
- incapable of being controlled : ungovernable
- a rush of uncontrollable emotions
un·con·ven·tion·al [-'vench-nəl, -'ven(t)-shə-nᵊl] -adj, n, adv
- not conventional : not bound by or in accordance with convention : being out of the ordinary
- an unconventional thinker
un·con·vinc·ing [-'vin(t)-siŋ] -adj, adv, n
- not convincing : implausible
un·cool [,ən-'kül] -adj
- lacking in assurance, sophistication, or self-control
- failing to accord with the values or styles (as of dress or behavior) of a particular group : not accepted or admired as cool or proper
un·cork [,ən-'kȯrk] -vt
- to draw a cork from
- to release from a sealed or pent-up state
- to let go : release
un·corked [-'kȯrkt] -adj
- not provided with a cork
un·cor·set·ed [-'kȯr-sə-təd] -adj
- not wearing a corset
- not controlled or inhibited
un·count·ed [-'kau̇n-təd] -adj
- not counted
- innumerable
un·cou·ple [-'kə-pəl] -vt, n
- to release (dogs) from a pair of joined collars
- detach, disconnect
un·couth [ən-'küth] -adj, adv, n
- not known or not familiar to one : seldom experienced : uncommon, rare
- mysterious, uncanny
- strange or clumsy in shape or appearance : outlandish
- lacking in polish and grace : rugged
- awkward and uncultivated in appearance, manner, or behavior : rude
un·cov·er [-'kə-vər] -vt
- to make known : bring to light : disclose, reveal
- to expose to view by removing some covering
- to take the cover from
- to remove the hat from
- to deprive of protection
- to remove a cover or covering
- to take off the hat as a token of respect
un·cov·ered [-vərd] -adj
- : not covered: as
- not supplied with a covering
- not covered by insurance or included in a social insurance or welfare program
- not covered by collateral
un·cre·at·ed [,ən-krē-'ā-təd] -adj
- not existing by creation : eternal, self-existent
- not yet created
un·crit·i·cal [,ən-'kri-ti-kəl] -adj, adv
- not critical : lacking in discrimination
- showing lack or improper use of critical standards or procedures
un·cross [-'krȯs] -vt
- to change from a crossed position
un·crown [-'krau̇n] -vt
- to take the crown from : dethrone
un·crum·ple [-'krəm-pəl] -vt
- to restore to an original smooth condition
unc·tion ['əŋ(k)-shən] -n
- the act of anointing as a rite of consecration or healing
- something used for anointing : ointment, unguent
- religious or spiritual fervor or the expression of such fervor
- exaggerated, assumed, or superficial earnestness of language or manner : unctuousness
unc·tu·ous ['əŋ(k)-chə-wəs, -chəs, -shwəs] -adj, adv, n
- fatty, oily
- smooth and greasy in texture or appearance
- plastic
- full of unction
- revealing or marked by a smug, ingratiating, and false earnestness or spirituality
un·curl [,ən-'kər(-ə)l] -vi
- to become straightened out from a curled or coiled position
- to straighten the curls of : unroll
un·cus ['əŋ-kəs] -n
- a hooked anatomical part or process
un·cut [,ən-'kət] -adj
- not cut down or cut into
- not shaped by cutting
- not having the folds of the leaves slit
- not abridged, curtailed, or expurgated
- not diluted or adulterated
un·daunt·able [,ən-'dȯn-tə-bəl, -'dän-] -adj
- undaunted
un·daunt·ed [,ən-'dȯn-təd, -'dän-] -adj, adv
- courageously resolute esp. in the face of danger or difficulty : not discouraged
un·dead [,ən-'ded] -n
- vampire
- zombie
un·de·bat·able [,ən-di-'bā-tə-bəl] -adj, adv
- not subject to debate : indisputable
un·de·ceive [,ən-di-'sēv] -vt
- to free from deception, illusion, or error
un·dec·y·le·nic acid [,ən-,de-sə-'le-nik-, -'lē-] -n
- a fatty acid C 11H 20O 2found in perspiration, obtained commercially from castor oil, and used esp. in the treatment of fungal infections (as ringworm) of the skin
un·dem·o·crat·ic [,ən-,de-mə-'kra-tik] -adj, adv
- not democratic : not agreeing with democratic practice or ideals
un·de·mon·stra·tive [,ən-di-'män(t)-strə-tiv] -adj, adv, n
- restrained in expression of feeling : reserved
un·de·ni·able [,ən-di-'nī-ə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- plainly true : incontestable
- unquestionably excellent or genuine
- an applicant with undeniable references
un·der ['ən-dər] -adv
- in or into a position below or beneath something
- below or short of some quantity, level, or limit often used in combination
- in or into a condition of subjection, subordination, or unconsciousness
- put the patient under for surgery
- down to defeat, ruin, or death
- weaker competitors will be forced under
- so as to be covered
- buried under by the avalanche
under -prep
- below or beneath so as to be overhung, surmounted, covered, protected, or concealed by
- a soft heart under a stern exterior
- subject to the authority, control, guidance, or instruction of
- under the terms of the contract
- a program that runs under any operating system
- receiving or undergoing the action or effect of
- under the influence of alcohol
- the image of a point under a mapping
- within the group or designation of
- having as name or title
- less or lower than (as in size, amount, or rank)
- falling short of a standard or required degree
- lying or placed below, beneath, or on the ventral side often used in combination
- facing or protruding downward
- lower in rank or authority : subordinate
- lower than usual, proper, or desired in amount, quality, or degree often used in combination
- an under -dose of medicine
un·der·achiev·er [,ən-dər-ə-'chē-vər] -n, vi
- one (as a student) that fails to attain a predicted level of achievement or does not do as well as expected
un·der·act [,ən-dər-'akt] -vt
- to perform (a dramatic part) with restraint for effect : underplay
- to perform feebly or with restraint
un·der·ac·tive [-'ak-tiv] -adj, n
- characterized by an abnormally low level of activity
- an underactive thyroid gland
un·der·age [,ən-dər-'āj] -adj
- of less than mature or legal age
- done by or involving underage persons
un·der·ap·pre·ci·at·ed [,ən-dər-ə-'prē-shē-,ā-təd] -adj
- not duly appreciated
un·der·arm ['ən-dər-'ärm] -adj
- underhand
- placed under or on the underside of the arm
- underhand
- armpit
- the part of a garment that covers the underside of the arm
un·der·bel·ly ['ən-dər-,be-lē] -n
- a vulnerable area
- a corrupt or sordid part
- probing the underbelly of the entertainment industry
- the underside of a body or mass
un·der·bid [,ən-dər-'bid] -vb, n
- to bid less than (a competing bidder)
- to bid (a hand of cards) at less than the strength of the hand warrants
- to bid too low
un·der·body ['ən-dər-,bä-dē] -n
- : the lower part of something: as
- the lower part of an animal's body : underparts
- the lower parts of the body of a vehicle
un·der·boss ['ən-dər-,bȯs] -n
- a boss ranking next below the head of a branch of a crime syndicate
un·der·bred [,ən-dər-'bred] -adj
- marked by lack of good breeding : ill-bred
- a degree of underbred pride -- Emily Bronte
un·der·brim ['ən-dər-,brim] -n
- a facing on the underside of a hat brim
un·der·brush ['ən-dər-,brəsh] -n
- shrubs, bushes, or small trees growing beneath large trees in a wood or forest : brush
- a tangled, obstructing, or impeding mass
un·der·bud·get·ed [,ən-dər-'bə-jə-təd] -adj
- provided with an inadequate budget
un·der·cap·i·tal·ized [-'ka-pə-tə-,līzd, -'kap-tə-] -adj
- having too little capital for efficient operation
- an undercapitalized business
un·der·card ['ən-dər-,kärd] -n
- a program (as of boxing matches) supporting the featured match
un·der·car·riage ['ən-dər-,ka-rij] -n
- a supporting framework or underside (as of an automobile)
- the landing gear of an airplane
un·der·charge [,ən-dər-'chärj] -vt, n
- to charge (as a person) too little
un·der·class ['ən-dər-,klas] -n
- the lowest social stratum usu. made up of disadvantaged minority groups
un·der·class·man [,ən-dər-'klas-mən] -n
- a member of the freshman or sophomore class in a school or college
un·der·clothes ['ən-dər-,klō(th)z] -n pl
- underwear
un·der·cloth·ing [-,klō-thiŋ] -n
- underwear
un·der·coat [-,kōt] -n
- a coat or jacket worn under another
- a growth of short hair or fur partly concealed by the longer and usu. coarser guard hairs of a mammal
- a coat (as of paint) applied as a base for another coat
- undercoating
- petticoat
un·der·coat·ing [-,kō-tiŋ] -n
- a usu. asphalt-based waterproof coating applied to the underside of a vehicle
un·der·cool [,ən-dər-'kül] -vt
- supercool
un·der·count [-'kau̇nt] -vt, n
- to count fewer than the actual number of
un·der·cov·er [-'kə-vər] -adj, adv
- acting or executed in secret
- employed or engaged in spying or secret investigation
undercover -n
- a person engaged in undercover activity : spy
un·der·croft ['ən-dər-,krȯft] -n
- a subterranean room
- a vaulted chamber under a church
un·der·cur·rent [-,kər-ənt, -,kə-rənt] -n, adj
- a current below the upper currents or surface
- a hidden opinion, feeling, or tendency often contrary to the one publicly shown
un·der·cut [,ən-dər-'kət] -vb
- to cut away the underpart of
- to cut away material from the underside of (an object) so as to leave an overhanging portion in relief
- to offer to sell at lower prices than or to work for lower wages than (a competitor)
- to cut obliquely into (a tree) below the main cut and on the side toward which the tree will fall
- to strike (a ball) with a downward glancing blow so as to give a backspin or elevation to the shot
- to undermine or destroy the force, value, or effectiveness of
- inflation undercut s consumer buying power
- to perform the action of cutting away beneath
- tenderloin
- the action or result of cutting away from the underside or lower part of something
- a notch cut in the base of a tree before felling to determine the direction of falling and to prevent splitting
un·der·de·vel·oped [,ən-dər-di-'ve-ləpt] -adj, n
- not normally or adequately developed
- having a relatively low economic level of industrial production and standard of living (as from lack of capital)
un·der·di·ag·nose [,ən-dər-'dī-ig-,nōs, -,nōz; -,dī-ig-', -əg-] -vt, n
- to diagnose (a condition or disease) less often than it is actually present
un·der·dog ['ən-dər-,dȯg] -n
- a loser or predicted loser in a struggle or contest
- a victim of injustice or persecution
un·der·done [,ən-dər-'dən] -adj
- not thoroughly cooked : rare
un·der·draw·ers ['ən-dər-,drȯ(-ə)rz] -n pl
- an article of underwear for the lower body
un·der·draw·ing ['ən-dər-,drȯ-iŋ] -n
- a preliminary sketch made on a surface (as a canvas or panel) prior to painting
un·der·dress [,ən-dər-'dres] -vi
- to dress in overly or inappropriately simple or informal clothing
- to dress (as oneself) more simply or informally than is appropriate
un·der·ed·u·cat·ed [,ən-dər-'e-jə-,kā-təd] -adj
- poorly educated
un·der·em·pha·sis [,ən-dər-'em(p)-fə-səs] -n
- less emphasis than is possible or desirable
un·der·em·pha·size [-,sīz] -vt
- to fail to emphasize adequately
un·der·em·ployed [,ən-dər-im-'plȯid] -adj
- having less than full-time, regular, or adequate employment
un·der·em·ploy·ment [-'plȯi-mənt] -n
- the condition in which people in a labor force are employed at less than full-time or regular jobs or at jobs inadequate with respect to their training or economic needs
- the condition of being underemployed
un·der·es·ti·mate [,ən-dər-'es-tə-,māt] -vt, n
- to estimate as being less than the actual size, quantity, or number
- to place too low a value on : underrate
un·der·ex·ploit·ed [,ən-dər-ik-'splȯi-təd] -adj
- not fully or sufficiently utilized
- an underexploited food source
un·der·ex·pose [,ən-dər-ik-'spōz] -vt, n
- to expose insufficiently
- to expose (as film) to insufficient radiation (as light)
un·der·feed [,ən-dər-'fēd] -vt
- to feed with too little food
un·der·fi·nanced [-fə-'nan(t)st, -'fī-,, -fī-'] -adj
- inadequately financed
un·der·foot [-'fu̇t] -adv
- under the foot esp. against the ground
- trampled the flowers underfoot
- below, at, or before one's feet
- in the way
- children always getting underfoot
un·der·fund [-'fənd] -vt
- to provide insufficient funds for
un·der·fur ['ən-dər-,fər] -n
- an undercoat of fur esp. when thick and soft
un·der·gar·ment [-,gär-mənt] -n
- a garment to be worn under another
un·der·gird [,ən-dər-'gərd] -vt
- to make secure underneath
- took measures to undergird the ship -- Acts 27:17(RSV)
- to form the basis or foundation of : strengthen, support
- facts and statistics subtly undergird his commentary -- Susan Q. Stranahan
un·der·glaze ['ən-dər-,glāz] -adj, n
- applied or suitable for applying before the glaze is put on
un·der·go [,ən-dər-'gō] -vt
- to submit to : endure
- to go through : experience
- undertake
- to partake of
un·der·grad ['ən-dər-,grad] -n
- undergraduate
un·der·grad·u·ate [,ən-dər-'gra-jə-wət, -,wāt; -'graj-wət] -n, adj
- a student at a college or university who has not received a first and esp. a bachelor's degree
un·der·ground [,ən-dər-'grau̇nd] -adv
- beneath the surface of the earth
- in or into hiding or secret operation
underground ['ən-dər-,grau̇nd] -n
- a subterranean space or channel
- an underground city railway system
- a movement or group organized in strict secrecy among citizens esp. in an occupied country for maintaining communications, popular solidarity, and concerted resistive action pending liberation
- a clandestine conspiratorial organization set up for revolutionary or other disruptive purposes esp. against a civil order
- an unofficial, unsanctioned, or illegal but informal movement or group
- a usu. avant-garde group or movement that functions outside the establishment
un·der·ground ['ən-dər-,grau̇nd] -adj
- being, growing, operating, or situated below the surface of the ground
- conducted by secret means
- existing outside the establishment
- an underground literary reputation
- existing outside the purview of tax collectors or statisticians
- produced or published outside the establishment esp. by the avant-garde
- of or relating to the avant-garde underground
- an underground moviemaker
un·der·ground·er ['ən-dər-,grau̇n-dər] -n
- a member of the underground
Underground Railroad -n
- a system of cooperation among active antislavery people in the U.S. before 1863 by which fugitive slaves were secretly helped to reach the North or Canada called also Underground Railway
un·der·growth ['ən-dər-,grōth] -n
- low growth on the floor of a forest including seedlings and saplings, shrubs, and herbs
un·der·hand ['ən-dər-,hand] -adv
- in a clandestine manner
- in a quiet or unobtrusive manner
- with an underhand motion
underhand -adj
- underhanded
- done so as to evade notice
- made with the hand brought forward and up from below the shoulder level
un·der·hand·ed [,ən-dər-'han-dəd] -adv
- underhand
underhanded -adj, adv, n
- marked by secrecy, chicanery, and deception : not honest and aboveboard : sly
- an underhanded attempt to gain power
un·der·in·flat·ed [,ən-dər-in-'flā-təd] -adj, n
- not sufficiently inflated
un·der·in·sured [-'shu̇rd] -adj
- not sufficiently insured
un·der·in·vest·ment [,ən-dər-in-'ves(t)-mənt] -n
- an insufficient amount of investment
un·der·laid [,ən-dər-'lād] -adj
- laid or placed underneath
- having something laid or lying underneath
un·der·lay [-'lā] -vt
- to cover, line, or traverse the bottom of : give support to on the underside or below
- to raise or support by something laid under
- something that is or is designed to be laid under
un·der·lay·ment [,ən-dər-'lā-mənt] -n
- underlay
un·der·let [,ən-dər-'let] -vt
- to let below the real value
- sublet
un·der·lie [-'lī] -vt
- to be subject or amenable to
- to lie or be situated under
- to be at the basis of : form the foundation of : support
- ideas underlying the revolution
- to exist as a claim or security superior and prior to (another)
un·der·line ['ən-dər-,līn, ,ən-dər-'] -vt
- to mark (as a word) with a line underneath
- to put emphasis on : stress
- to show clearly or emphatically
- the outline of a quadruped's underbody
- the ventral surface of a quadruped's body
- a horizontal line placed underneath something
un·der·ling ['ən-dər-liŋ] -n
- one who is under the orders of another : subordinate, inferior
un·der·lip [,ən-dər-'lip] -n
- the lower lip
un·der·ly·ing [,ən-dər-'lī-iŋ] -adj
- lying beneath or below
- the underlying rock is shale
- basic, fundamental
- an investigation of the underlying issues
- evident only on close inspection : implicit
- anterior and prior in claim
- of or being present in deep structure
un·der·ly·ing·ly [-'lī-iŋ-lē] -adv
- in deep structure
un·der·manned [,ən-dər-'mand] -adj
- inadequately staffed
un·der·mine [,ən-dər-'mīn] -vt
- to excavate the earth beneath : form a mine under : sap
- to wash away supporting material from under
- to subvert or weaken insidiously or secretly
- trying to undermine his political rivals
- to weaken or ruin by degrees
un·der·most ['ən-dər-,mōst] -adj, adv
- lowest in relative position
un·der·neath [,ən-dər-'nēth] -prep
- directly beneath
- write the date underneath the address
- close under esp. so as to be hidden
- treachery lying underneath a mask of friendliness
- wore a swimsuit underneath his slacks
- under subjection to
underneath -adv, adj
- under or below an object or a surface : beneath
- on the lower side
un·der·nour·ished [,ən-dər-'nər-isht, -'nə-risht] -adj, n
- supplied with less than the minimum amount of the foods essential for sound health and growth
- poorly supplied with vital elements or qualities
- undernourished independent libraries
un·der·nu·tri·tion [-nu̇-'tri-shən, -nyu̇-] -n
- deficient bodily nutrition due to inadequate food intake or faulty assimilation
un·der·paint·ing ['ən-dər-,pān-tiŋ] -n
- preliminary painting
- such painting done on a canvas or panel and covered completely or partially by the final layers of paint
un·der·pants ['ən-dər-,pan(t)s] -n pl
- a usu. short undergarment for the lower torso : drawers
un·der·part [-,pärt] -n
- a part lying on the lower side (as of a bird or mammal)
- a subordinate or auxiliary part or role
un·der·pass [-,pas] -n
- a crossing of a highway and another way (as a road or railroad) at different levels
- the lower level of such a crossing
un·der·pay [,ən-dər-'pā] -vt, n
- to pay less than what is normal or required
un·der·per·form [,ən-dər-pə(r)-'fȯrm] -vt, n
- to do worse than
- to fail to do as well as expected
un·der·pin [-'pin] -vt
- support, substantiate
- underpin a thesis with evidence
- to form part of, strengthen, or replace the foundation of
- underpin a sagging building
un·der·pin·ning ['ən-dər-,pi-niŋ] -n
- the material and construction (as a foundation) used for support of a structure
- something that serves as a foundation : basis, support often used in pl.
- the philosophical underpinning s of educational methods
- underwear usu. used in pl.
- a person's legs usu. used in pl.
un·der·plant [,ən-dər-'plant] -vt
- to fill around, under, or among with lower-growing plants
- underplant a tree with pansies
un·der·play [,ən-dər-'plā] -vi
- to play a role with subdued force
- to act or present (as a role or a scene) with restraint : play down
- to play a card lower than (a held high card)
un·der·plot ['ən-dər-,plät] -n
- subplot
un·der·pop·u·lat·ed [,ən-dər-'pä-pyə-,lā-təd] -adj
- having a lower density of population than is normal or desirable
un·der·pow·ered [-'pau̇(-ə)rd] -adj
- driven by an engine of insufficient power
- having or supplied with insufficient power
un·der·pre·pared [-prə-'perd] -adj
- inadequately prepared
un·der·price [-'prīs] -vt
- to price below what is normal or below the real value
- to undercut (a competitor) in prices
un·der·priv·i·leged [-'priv-lijd, -'pri-və-] -adj
- deprived through social or economic condition of some of the fundamental rights of all members of a civilized society
- of or relating to underprivileged people
- underprivileged areas of the city
un·der·pro·duc·tion [-prə-'dək-shən] -n
- the production of less than enough to satisfy the demand or of less than the usual amount
un·der·pub·li·cized [-'pə-blə-,sīzd] -adj
- insufficiently publicized
un·der·rate [,ən-də(r)-'rāt] -vt
- to rate too low : undervalue
un·der·re·act [-rē-'akt] -vi
- to react with less than appropriate force or intensity
un·der·re·port [-ri-'pȯrt] -vt
- to report to be less than is actually the case : understate
un·der·rep·re·sent·ed [-,re-pri-'zen-təd] -adj, n
- inadequately represented
un·der·run [-'rən] -vt
- to pass along under in order to examine (a cable)
- to pass or extend under
- the amount by which something produced (as a cut of lumber) falls below an estimate
un·der·sat·u·rat·ed [,ən-dər-'sa-chə-,rā-təd] -adj
- less than normally or adequately saturated
un·der·score ['ən-dər-,skȯr] -vt
- to draw a line under : underline
- to make evident : emphasize, stress
- arrived early to underscore the importance of the occasion
- to provide (action on film) with accompanying music
underscore -n
- a line drawn under a word or line esp. for emphasis or to indicate intent to italicize
- music accompanying the action and dialogue of a film
un·der·sea [,ən-dər-'sē] -adj
- being or carried on under the sea or under the surface of the sea
- designed for use under the surface of the sea
undersea [-'sēz] -adv
- under the sea : beneath the surface of the sea
- photographs taken undersea
un·der·sec·re·tary [,ən-dər-'se-krə-,ter-ē, -'se-kə-] -n
- a secretary immediately subordinate to a principal secretary
un·der·sell [,ən-dər-'sel] -vt
- to sell articles cheaper than
- to sell cheaper than
- imported cars that undersell domestic ones
un·der·served [-'sərvd] -adj
- provided with inadequate service
un·der·sexed [-'sekst] -adj
- deficient in sexual desire
un·der·shirt ['ən-dər-,shərt] -n, adj
- a collarless undergarment with or without sleeves
un·der·shoot [,ən-dər-'shüt] -vt
- to shoot short of or below (a target)
- to fall short of (a runway) in landing an airplane
un·der·shorts ['ən-dər-,shȯrts] -n pl
- underpants for men or boys
un·der·shot ['ən-dər-,shät] -adj
- moved by water passing beneath
- having the lower incisor teeth or lower jaw projecting beyond the upper when the mouth is closed
un·der·shrub ['ən-dər-,shrəb, esp Southern -,srəb] -n
- subshrub
un·der·side ['ən-dər-,sīd, ,ən-dər-'] -n
- the side or surface lying underneath
- a side usu. hidden from sight
- the more unpleasant or reprehensible side
- the underside of politics
un·der·signed ['ən-dər-,sīnd] -n
- one whose name is signed at the end of a document
- the undersigned all agree
un·der·sized [,ən-dər-'sīzd] -adj
- of a size less than is common, proper, normal, or average
un·der·skirt ['ən-dər-,skərt] -n
- a skirt worn under an outer skirt
- petticoat
un·der·slung [,ən-dər-'sləŋ] -adj
- suspended below the axles
- having a low center of gravity
un·der·spin ['ən-dər-,spin] -n
- backspin
un·der·staffed [,ən-dər-'staft] -adj, n
- inadequately staffed
un·der·stand [,ən-dər-'stand] -vb, n, adj
- to grasp the meaning of
- to grasp the reasonableness of
- his behavior is hard to understand
- to have thorough or technical acquaintance with or expertness in the practice of
- to be thoroughly familiar with the character and propensities of
- to accept as a fact or truth or regard as plausible without utter certainty
- we understand that he is returning from abroad
- to interpret in one of a number of possible ways
- to supply in thought as though expressed
- to be married is commonly understood after the word engaged
- to have understanding : have the power of comprehension
- to achieve a grasp of the nature, significance, or explanation of something
- to believe or infer something to be the case
- to show a sympathetic or tolerant attitude toward something
un·der·stand·ably [,ən-dər-'stan-də-blē] -adv
- as can be easily understood : for understandable reasons
- is understandably nervous
un·der·stand·ing [,ən-dər-'stan-diŋ] -n
- a mental grasp : comprehension
- the power of comprehending
- the capacity to apprehend general relations of particulars
- the power to make experience intelligible by applying concepts and categories
- friendly or harmonious relationship
- an agreement of opinion or feeling : adjustment of differences
- a mutual agreement not formally entered into but in some degree binding on each side
- explanation, interpretation
- sympathy
understanding [-'stan-diŋ-lē] -adj, adv
- knowing, intelligent
- endowed with understanding : tolerant, sympathetic
- an understanding supervisor
un·der·state [,ən-dər-'stāt] -vt, n
- to represent as less than is the case
- understate taxable income
- to state or present with restraint esp. for effect
un·der·stat·ed [-'stā-təd] -adj, adv
- avoiding obvious emphasis or embellishment
- a powerful understated performance
un·der·steer ['ən-dər-,stir] -n, vi
- the tendency of an automobile to turn less sharply than the driver intends
un·der·stood [,ən-dər-'stu̇d] -adj
- fully apprehended
- agreed upon
- implicit
un·der·sto·ry ['ən-dər-,stȯr-ē] -n
- an underlying layer of vegetation
- the vegetative layer and esp. the trees and shrubs between the forest canopy and the ground cover
- the plants that form the understory
un·der·strap·per [-,stra-pər] -n
- a petty agent or subordinate : underling
un·der·strength [,ən-dər-'streŋ(k)th] -adj
- deficient in strength
- lacking sufficient or prescribed personnel
un·der·study ['ən-dər-,stə-dē, ,ən-dər-'] -vi
- to study another actor's part in order to substitute in an emergency
- to prepare (as a part) as understudy
- to prepare as understudy to (as an actor)
- one who is prepared to act another's part or take over another's duties
un·der·sup·ply [,ən-dər-sə-'plī] -n
- an inadequate supply or amount
un·der·sur·face ['ən-dər-,sər-fəs] -n
- underside
- existing or moving below the surface
un·der·take [,ən-dər-'tāk] -vb
- to take upon oneself : set about : attempt
- undertake to learn to swim
- to put oneself under obligation to perform
- to accept as a charge or responsibility
- the lawyer who undertook the case
- guarantee, promise
- readily undertook that the letter should be securely conveyed -- Sir Walter Scott
- to give surety or assume responsibility
un·der·tak·er [,ən-dər-'tā-kər, 2 is 'ən-dər-,] -n
- one that undertakes : one that takes the risk and management of business : entrepreneur
- one whose business is to prepare the dead for burial and to arrange and manage funerals
- an Englishman taking over forfeited lands in Ireland in the 16th and 17th centuries
un·der·tak·ing ['ən-dər-,tā-kiŋ, ,ən-dər-'; 1b is 'ən-dər-, only] -n
- the act of one who undertakes or engages in a project or business
- the business of an undertaker
- something undertaken : enterprise
- pledge, guarantee
un·der·ten·ant ['ən-dər-,te-nənt] -n
- one who holds lands or tenements by a sublease
underthecounter -adj
- surreptitious and usu. irregular or illicit
- underthecounter liquor sales
underthetable -adj
- covert and usu. unlawful
un·der·throw ['ən-dər-,thrō] -vt
- to throw (a ball or pass) short of the intended receiver in football
- to throw a pass short of
un·der·thrust [,ən-dər-'thrəst] -vt
- to insert (a faulted rock mass) into position under a passive rock mass
un·der·tone ['ən-dər-,tōn] -n
- a low or subdued utterance or accompanying sound
- a quality (as of emotion) underlying the surface of an utterance or action
- a subdued color
- a color seen through and modifying another color
un·der·tow [-,tō] -n
- the current beneath the surface that sets seaward or along the beach when waves are breaking upon the shore
- an underlying current, force, or tendency that is in opposition to what is apparent
un·der·treat [,ən-dər-'trēt] -vt
- to treat inadequately
un·der·trick [-,trik] -n
- any of the tricks by which a declarer in bridge falls short of making the contract
un·der·used [,ən-dər-'yüzd] -adj
- not fully used : having more potential than is currently being realized or utilized
un·der·uti·lize [,ən-dər-'yü-tə-,līz] -vt, n
- to utilize less than fully or below the potential use
un·der·val·u·a·tion [,ən-dər-,val-yə-'wā-shən] -n
- the act of undervaluing
- a value below the real worth
un·der·val·ue [-'val-(,)yü] -vt
- to value, rate, or estimate below the real worth
- to treat as having little value
- was undervalued as a poet
un·der·wa·ter [,ən-dər-'wȯ-tər, -'wä-] -adj, adv
- lying, growing, worn, performed, or operating below the surface of the water
- being below the waterline of a ship
un·der·way [,ən-dər-'wā] -adj
- occurring, performed, or used while traveling or in motion
- underway replenishment of fuel
under way -adv
- in motion : not at anchor or aground
- into motion from a standstill
- in progress : afoot
- preparations were under way
- the season got under way with a bang
un·der·wear ['ən-dər-,wer] -n
- clothing or an article of clothing worn next to the skin and under other clothing
under weigh -adv
- under way
un·der·weight [,ən-dər-'wāt] -n
- weight below normal, average, or requisite weight
underweight -adj
- weighing less than the normal or requisite amount
un·der·whelm [-'hwelm, -'welm] -vt
- to fail to impress or stimulate
- the movie underwhelm ed most reviewers
un·der·wing ['ən-dər-,wiŋ] -n
- one of the posterior wings of an insect
- any of various noctuid moths (esp. genus Catocala) that have the hind wings banded with contrasting colors (as red and black) called also underwing moth
- the underside of a bird's wing
underwing -adj
- placed or growing underneath the wing
un·der·wire ['ən-dər-,wī(-ə)r] -n
- a wire running through the bottom edge of a brassiere to aid in support
un·der·wood ['ən-dər-,wu̇d] -n
- undergrowth, underbrush
un·der·wool [-,wu̇l] -n
- short woolly underfur
un·der·world [-,wərld] -n
- the place of departed souls : hades
- earth
- the side of the earth opposite to one : antipodes
- a social sphere below the level of ordinary life
- the town's seedy underworld
- the world of organized crime
un·der·write ['ən-də(r)-,rīt, ,ən-də(r)-'] -vb
- to write under or at the end of something else
- to set one's name to (an insurance policy) for the purpose of thereby becoming answerable for a designated loss or damage on consideration of receiving a premium percent : insure on life or property
- to assume liability for (a sum or risk) as an insurer
- to subscribe to : agree to
- to agree to purchase (as security issue) usu. on a fixed date at a fixed price with a view to public distribution
- to guarantee financial support of
- to work as an underwriter
un·der·writ·er ['ən-də(r)-,rī-tər] -n
- one that underwrites : guarantor
- one that underwrites a policy of insurance : insurer
- one who selects risks to be solicited or rates the acceptability of risks solicited
- one that underwrites a security issue
un·de·scend·ed [,ən-di-'sen-dəd] -adj
- retained within the inguinal region rather than descending into the scrotum
un·de·sign·ing [,ən-di-'zī-niŋ] -adj
- having no ulterior or fraudulent purpose : sincere
- a child's undesigning honesty
un·de·sir·able [-'zī-rə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- not desirable : unwanted
undesirable -n
- one that is undesirable
un·de·vi·at·ing [,ən-'dē-vē-,ā-tiŋ] -adj, adv
- keeping a true course : unswerving
- served their country with undeviating loyalty and devotion
un·dies ['ən-dēz] -n pl
- underwear
- women's underwear
un·dine [,ən-'dēn, 'ən-,] -n
- an elemental being in the theory of Paracelsus inhabiting water : water nymph
un·dip·lo·mat·ic [,ən-,di-plə-'ma-tik] -adj, adv
- not diplomatic
- tactless
un·di·rect·ed [,ən-də-'rek-təd, -dī-] -adj
- not directed : not planned or guided
un·dis·guised [,ən-dis-'gīzd] -adj, adv
- not disguised or concealed
un·dis·so·ci·at·ed [,ən-di-'sō-shē-,ā-təd, -sē-] -adj
- not electrolytically dissociated
un·do [,ən-'dü, 'ən-] -vb, n
- to open or loose by releasing a fastening
- to make of no effect or as if not done : make null : reverse
- to ruin the worldly means, reputation, or hopes of
- a politician undone by scandal
- to disturb the composure of : upset
- seduce
- to come open or apart
un·dock [-'däk] -vi
- to move away from a dock (as at sailing time)
- uncouple
- undock the shuttle from the space station
un·doc·u·ment·ed [ən-'dä-kyə-,men-təd] -adj
- : not documented: as
- not supported by documentary evidence
- undocumented expenditures
- lacking documents required for legal immigration or residence
un·dog·mat·ic [,ən-dȯg-'ma-tik, -däg-] -adj, adv
- not dogmatic : not committed to dogma
un·do·ing [-'dü-iŋ] -n
- an act of loosening : unfastening
- ruin
- a cause of ruin
- greed was to prove his undoing
- annulment, reversal
un·done [-'dən] -adj
- not done : not performed or finished
un·dou·ble [,ən-'də-bəl] -vb
- unfold, unclench
un·dou·bled [-'də-bəld] -adj
- not doubled
un·doubt·ed [-'dau̇-təd] -adj, adv
- not doubted : genuine, undisputed
un·dra·mat·ic [,ən-drə-'ma-tik] -adj, adv
- lacking dramatic force or quality : unspectacular
un·drape [,ən-'drāp] -vt
- to strip of drapery : unveil
un·draw [-'drȯ] -vt
- to draw aside (as a curtain) : open
un·dreamed [-'drem(p)t, -'drēmd] -adj
- not dreamed : not thought of : unimagined
- technical advances undreamed of a few years ago
un·dress [ən-'dres] -vt
- to remove the clothes or covering of : divest, strip
- expose, reveal
- to take off one's clothes : disrobe
undress -n
- : informal dress: as
- a loose robe or dressing gown
- ordinary dress
- the state of being undressed
un·dressed [,ən-'drest] -adj
- : not dressed: as
- partially, improperly, or informally clothed
- not fully processed or finished
- not cared for or tended
un·drink·able [,ən-'driŋ-kə-bəl] -adj
- unsuitable or unpleasant to drink
un·drunk [-'drəŋk] -adj
- not swallowed
un·due [-'dü, -'dyü] -adj
- not due : not yet payable
- exceeding or violating propriety or fitness : excessive
un·du·lant ['ən-jə-lənt, 'ən-dyə-, 'ən-də-] -adj
- rising and falling in waves
- having a wavy form, outline, or surface
- played her approach shot onto the undulant green
undulant fever -n
- a persistent human brucellosis marked esp. by remittent fever, weakness, headache, chills, and weight loss and contracted by contact with infected domestic animals or consumption of their products
un·du·late ['ən-jə-lət, 'ən-dyə-, 'ən-də-, -,lāt] -adj
- having a wavy surface, edge, or markings
- the undulate margin of a leaf
- to form or move in waves : fluctuate
- to rise and fall in volume, pitch, or cadence
- to present a wavy appearance
- to cause to move in a wavy, sinuous, or flowing manner
un·du·la·tion [,ən-jə-'lā-shən, ,ən-dyə-, ,ən-də-] -n
- a rising and falling in waves
- a wavelike motion to and fro in a fluid or elastic medium propagated continuously among its particles but with little or no permanent translation of the particles in the direction of the propagation : vibration
- the pulsation caused by the vibrating together of two tones not quite in unison
- a wavy appearance, outline, or form : waviness
un·du·la·to·ry ['ən-jə-lə-,tȯr-ē, 'ən-dyə-, 'ən-də-] -adj
- of or relating to undulation : moving in or resembling waves : undulating
undulatory theory -n
- wave theory
un·du·ly [,ən-'dü-lē, -'dyü-] -adv
- in an undue manner : excessively
- an unduly harsh punishment
un·du·ti·ful [-'dü-ti-fəl, -'dyü-] -adj, adv, n
- not dutiful
un·dy·ing [-'dī-iŋ] -adj
- not dying : immortal, perpetual
un·earned [-'ərnd] -adj
- not gained by labor, service, or skill
- scored as a result of an error by the opposing team
unearned increment -n
- an increase in the value of property (as land) that is due to no labor or expenditure of the owner but to causes (as the increase of population) that create an increased demand for it
un·earth [,ən-'ərth] -vt
- to dig up out of or as if out of the earth : exhume
- unearth an old photo album
- to make known or public : bring to light
un·earth·ly [-lē] -adj, n
- : not earthly: as
- not mundane : ideal
- not terrestrial
- preternatural, supernatural
- weird, eerie
- absurd, ungodly
- gets up at an unearthly hour
un·ease [,ən-'ēz] -n
- : mental or spiritual discomfort: as
- vague dissatisfaction : misgiving
- anxiety, disquiet
- lack of ease (as in social relations) : embarrassment
un·eas·i·ly [-'ē-zə-lē] -adv
- in an uneasy manner
un·easy [-'ē-zē] -adj, n
- causing physical or mental discomfort
- uneasy news of captures and killings -- Marjory S. Douglas
- not easy : difficult
- marked by lack of ease : awkward, embarrassed
- apprehensive, worried
- restless, unquiet
- precarious, unstable
uneasy -adv
- uneasily
un·eco·nom·ic [,ən-,e-kə-'nä-mik, -,ē-kə-] -adj
- not economically practicable
- uneconomic transportation routes
- costly, wasteful
- an uneconomic nuclear technology
un·ed·it·ed [,ən-'e-də-təd] -adj
- : not edited: as
- left unrevised
- not yet edited
un·emo·tion·al [,ən-i-'mō-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -adj, adv
- : not emotional: as
- not easily aroused or excited : cold
- involving a minimum of emotion : intellectual
- an unemotional assessment
un·em·ploy·able [,ən-im-'plȯi-ə-bəl] -adj, n
- not acceptable for employment
un·em·ployed [-'plȯid] -adj, n
- : not employed:
- not being used
- not engaged in a gainful occupation
- not invested
un·em·ploy·ment [-'plȯi-mənt] -n
- the state of being unemployed : involuntary idleness of workers
- the rate of such unemployment
- unemployment compensation
unemployment compensation -n
- compensation paid at regular intervals (as by a government agency) to an unemployed worker and esp. one who has been laid off called also unemployment benefit
unemployment insurance -n
- social insurance against involuntary unemployment that provides unemployment compensation for a limited period to unemployed workers
- unemployment compensation
un·en·cum·bered [,ən-in-'kəm-bərd] -adj
- free of encumbrance
un·end·ing [,ən-'en-diŋ] -adj, adv
- never ending : endless
unEn·glish [,ən-'iŋ-glish also -'iŋ-lish] -adj
- not characteristically English
- not agreeing with standard or generally accepted usage of the English language
un·equal [,ən-'ē-kwəl] -adj, adv
- not of the same measurement, quantity, or number as another
- not like or not the same as another in degree, worth, or status
- not uniform : variable, uneven
- badly balanced or matched
- contracted between unequals
- not equable
- not equitable : unjust
- inadequate, insufficient
unequal -n
- one that is not equal to another
- in an unequal manner
un·equaled [-kwəld] -adj
- not equaled : unparalleled
- an artist of unequaled talent
un·equiv·o·ca·bly [,ən-i-'kwi-və-kə-blē] -adv
- unequivocally
un·equiv·o·cal [,ən-i-'kwi-və-kəl] -adj
- leaving no doubt : clear, unambiguous
- unquestionable
- production of unequivocal masterpieces -- Carole Cook
un·equiv·o·cal·ly [-kə-lē, -klē] -adv
- in an unequivocal manner
un·err·ing [,ən-'er-iŋ, ,ən-'ər-] -adj, adv
- committing no error : faultless, unfailing
UNESCO -abbr
- United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
un·es·sen·tial [,ən-ə-'sen(t)-shəl] -adj
- not essential : dispensable, unimportant
- void of essence : insubstantial
unEu·ro·pe·an [,ən-,yu̇r-ə-'pē-ən] -adj
- not characteristically European
un·even [,ən-'ē-vən] -adj, adv, n
- unequal
- odd
- not even : not level or smooth : rugged, ragged
- varying from the straight or parallel
- not uniform : irregular
- varying in quality
- unequal
un·event·ful [,ən-i-'vent-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- marked by no noteworthy or untoward incidents : placid
un·evolved [,ən-i-'välvd, -'vȯlvd] -adj
- : not evolved: as
- not fully developed
- lacking cultural refinement : unenlightened
un·ex·am·pled [,ən-ig-'zam-pəld] -adj
- having no example or parallel : unprecedented
- his ardent attachment and...unexampled passion -- Jane Austen
un·ex·cep·tion·able [,ən-ik-'sep-sh(ə-)nə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- not open to objection or criticism : beyond reproach : unimpeachable
- unexceptionable integrity
un·ex·cep·tion·al [-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -adj
- not out of the ordinary : commonplace
un·ex·er·cised [,ən-'ek-sər-,sīzd] -adj
- having terms that are not implemented
- not subjected to exercise
un·ex·pect·ed [,ən-ik-'spek-təd] -adj, adv, n
- not expected : unforeseen
un·ex·ploit·ed [,ən-ik-'splȯi-təd] -adj
- not exploited or developed : not taken advantage of
un·ex·pres·sive [,ən-ik-'spre-siv] -adj
- ineffable
- not expressive : failing to convey the feeling or meaning intended
un·fad·ing [,ən-'fā-diŋ] -adj, adv
- not losing color or freshness
- not losing value or effectiveness
un·fail·ing [,ən-'fā-liŋ] -adj, adv
- : not failing or liable to fail:
- constant, unflagging
- everlasting, inexhaustible
- a subject of unfailing interest
- infallible, sure
un·fair [,ən-'fer] -adj, n
- marked by injustice, partiality, or deception : unjust
- not equitable in business dealings
un·fair·ly -adv
- in an unfair manner
un·faith [,ən-'fāth, 'ən-,] -n
- absence of faith : disbelief
un·faith·ful [,ən-'fāth-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- : not faithful:
- not adhering to vows, allegiance, or duty : disloyal
- not faithful to marriage vows
- suspected her husband of being unfaithful
- inaccurate, untrustworthy
- an unfaithful copy of a document
un·fall·en [,ən-'fȯ-lən] -adj
- not morally fallen : innocent
un·fal·si·fi·able [,ən-,fȯl-sə-'fī-ə-bəl] -adj
- not capable of being proved false
un·fal·ter·ing [,ən-'fȯl-t(ə-)riŋ] -adj, adv
- not wavering or weakening : firm
un·fa·mil·iar [,ən-fə-'mil-yər] -adj, n, adv
- : not familiar:
- not well-known : strange
- not well acquainted
- unfamiliar with the subject
un·fash·ion·able [-'fa-sh(ə-)nə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- not in keeping with the current fashion
- not favored socially
- unfashionable neighborhoods
un·fas·ten [-'fa-sᵊn] -vt
- : to make loose: as
- unpin, unbuckle
- undo
- detach
- unfasten a boat from its moorings
un·fa·thered [-'fä-thərd] -adj
- having no father : illegitimate, bastard
- having no known origin
un·fath·om·able [-'fa-thə-mə-bəl] -adj
- : not capable of being fathomed:
- immeasurable
- impossible to comprehend
un·fa·vor·able [,ən-'fā-v(ə-)rə-bəl, -'fā-vər-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- opposed, contrary
- expressing disapproval : negative
- not propitious : disadvantageous
- an unfavorable business climate
- not pleasing
- an unfavorable feature of the plan
un·fa·vor·ite [-'fā-v(ə-)rət, -'fā-vərt] -adj
- not being a favorite
- being regarded with special disfavor or dislike
un·fazed [,ən-'fāzd] -adj
- not fazed : undaunted
un·feel·ing [-'fē-liŋ] -adj, adv, n
- devoid of feeling : insensate
- devoid of kindness or sympathy : hardhearted, cruel
un·feigned [-'fānd] -adj, adv
- not feigned or hypocritical : genuine
un·fet·ter [-'fe-tər] -vt
- to free from fetters
- emancipate, liberate
- unfetter the mind from prejudice
un·fet·tered [-tərd] -adj
- free, unrestrained
un·fil·ial [,ən-'fi-lē-əl, -'fil-yəl] -adj, adv
- not observing the obligations of a child to a parent : undutiful
un·fil·tered [,ən-'fil-tərd] -adj
- not filtered
- not modified, processed, or refined
- unfiltered commercial publicity material -- Paul Grimes
- lacking a filter
un·find·able [,ən-'fīn-də-bəl] -adj
- not capable of being found
un·fin·ished [-'fi-nisht] -adj
- : not finished:
- not brought to an end or to the desired final state
- being in a rough state : unpolished
- subjected to no other processes (as bleaching or dyeing) after coming from the loom
un·fit [-'fit] -adj, adv, n
- : not fit:
- not adapted to a purpose : unsuitable
- not qualified : incapable, incompetent
- physically or mentally unsound
unfit -vt
- to make unfit : disable, disqualify
un·fit·ted [,ən-'fi-təd] -adj
- not adapted : unqualified
un·fit·ting [-'fi-tiŋ] -adj
- not fitting : unsuitable
un·fix [-'fiks] -vt
- to loosen from a fastening : detach, disengage
- to make unstable : unsettle
un·flag·ging [-'fla-giŋ] -adj, adv
- not flagging : tireless
- unrelenting
un·flap·pa·ble [-'fla-pə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- marked by assurance and self-control
un·flat·ter·ing [-'fla-tə-riŋ] -adj, adv
- not flattering
- unfavorable
un·fledged [,ən-'flejd] -adj
- not feathered : not ready for flight
- not fully developed : immature
un·flinch·ing [-'flin-chiŋ] -adj, adv
- not flinching or shrinking : steadfast, uncompromising
- unflinching determination
un·fo·cused [-'fō-kəst] -adj
- not adjusted to a focus
- not concentrated on one point or objective
un·fold [-'fōld] -vt, n
- to open the folds of : spread or straighten out : expand
- to remove (as a package) from the folds : unwrap
- to open to the view : reveal
- to make clear by gradual disclosure and often by recital
- to open from a folded state : open out : expand
- blossom
- develop, evolve
- to open out gradually to the view or understanding : become known
- a panorama unfold s before their eyes
un·fold·ed [-'fōl-dəd] -adj
- not folded
un·for·get·ta·ble [,ən-fər-'ge-tə-bəl] -adj, adv
- incapable of being forgotten : memorable
un·for·giv·ing [,ən-fər-'gi-viŋ] -adj, n
- unwilling or unable to forgive
- having or making no allowance for error or weakness
- an unforgiving environment where false moves can prove fatal -- Jaclyn Fierman
un·formed [-'fȯrmd] -adj
- not arranged in regular shape, order, or relations
- immature, undeveloped
un·for·tu·nate [-'fȯrch-nət, -'fȯr-chə-] -adj
- not favored by fortune : unsuccessful, unlucky
- marked or accompanied by or resulting in misfortune
- infelicitous, unsuitable
- an unfortunate choice of words
- deplorable, regrettable
- an unfortunate lack of taste
unfortunate -n
- an unfortunate person
un·for·tu·nate·ly [-lē] -adv
- in an unfortunate manner
- the marriage turned out unfortunately
- it is unfortunate
- unfortunately for him your letter has let the cat out of the bag -- G. B. Shaw
un·found·ed [,ən-'fau̇n-dəd] -adj
- lacking a sound basis : groundless, unwarranted
un·freeze [-'frēz] -vt
- to cause to thaw
- to remove from a freeze
un·fre·quent·ed [,ən-frē-'kwen-təd; ,ən-'frē-kwən-] -adj
- not often visited or traveled over
un·friend·ed [,ən-'fren-dəd] -adj
- having no friends : not befriended
un·friend·li·ness [-'fren(d)-lē-nəs] -n
- the quality or state of being unfriendly : hostility
un·friend·ly [-'fren(d)-lē] -adj
- : not friendly: as
- hostile, unsympathetic
- inhospitable, unfavorable
- conditions unfriendly to new businesses
un·frock [-'fräk] -vt
- defrock
un·froz·en [-'frō-zᵊn] -adj
- not frozen
un·fruit·ful [-'früt-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- : not fruitful: as
- not producing offspring : barren
- yielding no valuable result : unprofitable
un·fund·ed [-'fən-dəd] -adj
- not funded : floating
- not provided with funds
un·furl [-'fər(-ə)l] -vt
- to release from a furled state
- to open out from or as if from a furled state : unfold
un·fussy [-'fə-sē] -adj, adv
- : not fussy: as
- not particular : unconcerned
- not cluttered with pretentious or nonessential matters : uncomplicated
un·gain·ly [-'gān-lē] -adj, n
- lacking in smoothness or dexterity : clumsy
- hard to handle : unwieldy
- having an awkward appearance
un·gen·er·os·i·ty [,ən-,je-nə-'rä-sə-tē, -'räs-tē] -n
- lack of generosity
un·gen·er·ous [,ən-'jen-rəs, -'je-nə-] -adj, adv
- : not generous:
- petty, mean
- deficient in liberality : stingy
un·gird [-'gərd] -vt
- to divest of a restraining band or girdle : unbind
un·girt [-'gərt] -adj
- having the belt or girdle off or loose
- lacking in discipline or compactness : loose, slack
un·glue [-'glü] -vt
- to separate by or as if by dissolving an adhesive
un·glued [-'glüd] -adj
- upset, disordered usu. used with come
- chief executives came unglued at the thought of a strike -- H. E. Meyer
un·god·li·ness [,ən-'gäd-lē-nəs also -'gȯd-] -n
- the quality or state of being ungodly
un·god·ly [-lē] -adj
- denying or disobeying God : impious, irreligious
- contrary to moral law : sinful, wicked
- outrageous
- gets up at an ungodly hour
un·got·ten [-'gä-tᵊn] -adj
- not begotten
- not obtained
un·gov·ern·able [-'gə-vər-nə-bəl] -adj
- not capable of being governed, guided, or restrained
un·gra·cious [-'grā-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- wicked
- not courteous : rude
- not pleasing : disagreeable
un·gram·mat·i·cal [,ən-grə-'ma-ti-kəl] -adj, n
- not following rules of grammar
un·grate·ful [,ən-'grāt-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- showing no gratitude : making a poor return
- disagreeable
- thankless
un·grudg·ing [-'grə-jiŋ] -adj, adv
- being without envy or reluctance
un·gual ['əŋ-gwəl, 'ən-] -adj
- of, relating to, or resembling a nail, claw, or hoof
un·guard [,ən-'gärd] -vt
- to leave unprotected
un·guard·ed [-'gär-dəd] -adj, adv, n
- vulnerable to attack : unprotected
- free from guile or wariness : direct, incautious
un·guent ['əŋ-gwənt, 'ən-; 'ən-jənt] -n
- a soothing or healing salve : ointment
un·gu·late ['əŋ-gyə-lət, 'ən-, -,lāt] -adj
- having hooves
- of or relating to the ungulates
ungulate -n
- a hoofed typically herbivorous quadruped mammal (as an artiodactyl or a perissodactyl) of a group formerly considered a major mammalian taxon (Ungulata)
un·hair [,ən-'her] -vt
- to deprive of hair
un·hal·low [-'ha-(,)lō] -vt
- to make profane
un·hal·lowed [-(,)lōd] -adj
- not blessed : unconsecrated, unholy
- unsanctioned by or showing lack of reverence for religion : impious, profane
- contrary to accepted standards : immoral
un·hand [,ən-'hand] -vt
- to remove the hand from : let go
un·hand·some [-'han(t)-səm] -adj, adv
- : not handsome: as
- not beautiful : homely
- unbecoming, unseemly
- lacking in courtesy or taste : rude
un·handy [-'han-dē] -adj, adv, n
- hard to handle : inconvenient
- lacking in skill or dexterity : awkward
un·hap·pi·ly [,ən-'ha-pə-lē] -adv
- unfortunately
- unhappily, medicine has not yet found a cure -- Diana Trilling
- in an unhappy manner : without pleasure
- practiced law unhappily for a few years
un·hap·py [-'ha-pē] -adj, n
- not fortunate : unlucky
- not cheerful or glad : sad, wretched
- causing or subject to misfortune : inauspicious
- infelicitous, inappropriate
un·har·ness [-'här-nəs] -vt
- to remove a harness from
un·healthy [-'hel-thē] -adj, adv, n
- not conducive to health
- not in good health : sickly, diseased
- dangerous, risky
- bad, injurious
- morally contaminated : corrupt, unwholesome
un·heard [-'hərd] -adj
- not perceived by the ear
- not given a hearing
- unheard-of
un·heardof [-,əv, -,äv] -adj
- previously unknown
- unprecedented
- moving at unheardof speeds
un·hes·i·tat·ing [-'he-zə-,tā-tiŋ] -adj, adv
- not hesitating : not checked or qualified
un·hinge [-'hinj] -vt
- to make unstable : unsettle, disrupt
- unhinge the balance of world peace
- pressure that would unhinge a less experienced person
- to remove (as a door) from the hinges
un·hinged [-'hinjd] -adj
- upset, unglued
- mentally deranged
- attacked by an unhinged extremist
un·hitch [-'hich] -vt
- to free from or as if from being hitched
un·ho·ly [,ən-'hō-lē] -adj, n
- showing disregard for what is holy : wicked
- deserving of censure
- very unpleasant : god-awful
un·hood [-'hu̇d] -vt
- to remove a hood or covering from
un·hook [-'hu̇k] -vt
- to remove from a hook
- to unfasten by disengaging a hook
- to free from a habit or dependency
un·hoped [-'hōpt] -adj
- not hoped for or expected
un·horse [-'hȯrs] -vt
- to dislodge from or as if from a horse
un·hou·seled [-'hau̇-zəld] -adj
- not having received the Eucharist esp. shortly before death
un·hur·ried [-'hər-ēd, -'hə-rēd] -adj, adv
- not hurried : leisurely
uni- -prefix
- one : single
uni·al·gal [,yü-nē-'al-gəl] -adj
- of, relating to, or derived from a single algal individual or cell
Uni·ate ['yü-nē-,at, 'ü-] -n, adj
- a Christian of a church adhering to an Eastern rite and discipline but submitting to papal authority
uni·ax·i·al [,yü-nē-'ak-sē-əl] -adj
- having only one axis
- of or relating to only one axis
uni·brow ['yü-nə-,brau̇] -n
- a single continuous brow resulting from the growing together of eyebrows
uni·cam·er·al [,yü-ni-'kam-rəl, -'ka-mə-] -adj, adv
- having or consisting of a single legislative chamber
UNICEF -abbr
- United Nations Children's Fund
uni·cel·lu·lar [,yü-ni-'sel-yə-lər] -adj
- having or consisting of a single cell
- unicellular microorganisms
uni·corn ['yü-nə-,kȯrn] -n
- a mythical animal generally depicted with the body and head of a horse, the hind legs of a stag, the tail of a lion, and a single horn in the middle of the forehead
unicorn plant -n
- devil's claw
uni·cy·cle ['yü-ni-,sī-kəl] -n
- a vehicle that has a single wheel and is usu. propelled by pedals
uni·di·men·sion·al [,yü-ni-də-'mench-nəl, -'men(t)-sh(ə-)nᵊl also -,dī-] -adj, n
- one-dimensional
uni·di·rec·tion·al [,yü-ni-də-'rek-shnəl, -dī-, -shə-nᵊl] -adj, adv
- involving, functioning, moving, or responsive in a single direction
- a unidirectional microphone
- not subject to change or reversal of direction
unidirectional current -n
- direct current
uni·fi·ca·tion [,yü-nə-fə-'kā-shən] -n
- the act, process, or result of unifying : the state of being unified
uni·fo·li·ate [-'fō-lē-ət] -adj
- having only one leaf
- unifoliolate
uni·fo·li·o·late [-'fō-lē-ə-,lāt] -adj
- compound but having only a single leaflet and distinguishable from a simple leaf by the basal joint
uni·form ['yü-nə-,fȯrm] -adj, adv, n
- having always the same form, manner, or degree : not varying or variable
- consistent in conduct or opinion
- uniform interpretation of laws
- of the same form with others : conforming to one rule or mode : consonant
- presenting an unvaried appearance of surface, pattern, or color
- relating to or being convergence of a series whose terms are functions in such manner that the absolute value of the difference between the sum of the first nterms of the series and the sum of all terms can be made arbitrarily small for all values of the domain of the functions by choosing the nth term sufficiently far along in the series
uniform -vt
- to bring into uniformity
- to clothe with a uniform
- dress of a distinctive design or fashion worn by members of a particular group and serving as a means of identification
- distinctive or characteristic clothing
Uniform
- a communications code word for the letter u
uni·for·mi·tar·i·an [,yü-nə-,fȯr-mə-'ter-ē-ən] -n, adj
- an adherent of the doctrine of uniformitarianism
- an advocate of uniformity
uni·for·mi·tar·i·an·ism [-ē-ə-,ni-zəm] -n
- a geological doctrine that processes acting in the same manner as at present and over long spans of time are sufficient to account for all current geological features and all past geological changes
uni·for·mi·ty [,yü-nə-'fȯr-mə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being uniform
- an instance of uniformity
uniform resource locator -n
- url
uni·fy ['yü-nə-,fī] -vt, adj, n
- to make into a unit or a coherent whole : unite
uni·lat·er·al [,yü-ni-'la-tə-rəl, -'la-trəl] -adj, adv
- done or undertaken by one person or party
- of, relating to, or affecting one side of a subject : one-sided
- constituting or relating to a contract or engagement by which an express obligation to do or forbear is imposed on only one party
- having parts arranged on one side
- occurring on, performed on, or affecting one side of the body or one of its parts
- unilineal
- having only one side
uni·lat·er·al·ism [,yü-ni-'la-t(ə-)rə-,li-zəm] -n, n or adj
- a policy of taking unilateral action (as in international affairs) regardless of outside support or reciprocity
- advocacy of such a policy
uni·lin·e·al [-'li-nē-əl] -adj
- tracing descent through either the maternal or paternal line only
uni·lin·e·ar [,yü-ni-'li-nē-ər] -adj
- developing in or involving a series of stages usu. from the primitive to the more advanced
uni·lin·gual [,yü-ni-'liŋ-gwəl, -gyə-wəl] -adj
- composed in or using one language only
un·il·lu·sioned [,ən-i-'lü-zhənd] -adj
- free from illusion
uni·loc·u·lar [,yü-ni-'lä-kyə-lər] -adj
- containing a single cavity
un·imag·in·able [,ən-ə-'maj-nə-bəl, -'ma-jə-] -adj, adv
- not imaginable or comprehensible
un·im·peach·able [,ən-im-'pē-chə-bəl] -adj, adv
- : not impeachable: as
- reliable beyond a doubt
- not liable to accusation : irreproachable
- an unimpeachable reputation
un·im·proved [-'prüvd] -adj
- not reproved or admonished
unimproved -adj
- : not improved: as
- not tilled, built on, or otherwise improved for use
- not used or employed advantageously
- not selectively bred for better quality or productiveness
un·in·hib·it·ed [,ən-in-'hi-bə-təd] -adj, adv, n
- free from inhibition
- boisterously informal
- a festive uninhibited party
un·ini·tiate [,ən-ə-'ni-sh(ē-)ət] -adj, n
- not initiated : inexperienced
un·in·stall [,ən-in-'stȯl] -vt
- to remove (software) from a computer system esp. by using a specially designed program
un·in·ter·est [,ən-'in-trəst; -'in-tə-rəst, -tə-,rest, -tərst; -'in-,trest] -n
- lack of interest
uninterested -adj
- not interested : not having the mind or feelings engaged
uni·nu·cle·ate [,yü-ni-'nü-klē-ət, -'nyü-] -adj
- having a single nucleus
union ['yün-yən] -n
- : an act or instance of uniting or joining two or more things into one: as
- the formation of a single political unit from two or more separate and independent units
- a uniting in marriage
- sexual intercourse
- the growing together of severed parts
- a unified condition : combination, junction
- a gracious union of excellence and strength
- : something that is made one : something formed by a combining or coalition of parts or members: as
- a confederation of independent individuals (as nations or persons) for some common purpose
- a political unit constituting an organic whole formed usu. from units which were previously governed separately (as England and Scotland in 1707) and which have surrendered or delegated their principal powers to the government of the whole or to a newly created government (as the U.S. in 1789)
- the federal union of states during the period of the American Civil War
- an organization on a college or university campus providing recreational, social, cultural, and sometimes dining facilities
- the building housing such an organization
- the set of all elements belonging to one or more of a given collection of two or more sets called also join sum
- labor union
- a device emblematic of the union of two or more sovereignties borne on a national flag typically in the upper inner corner or constituting the whole design of the flag
- the upper inner corner of a flag
- any of various devices for connecting parts (as of a machine)
- a coupling for pipes or pipes and fittings
- of, relating to, dealing with, or constituting a union
- of, relating to, or being the side favoring the Union in the American Civil War
union card -n
- a card certifying personal membership in good standing in a labor union
- something that resembles a union card esp. in being necessary for employment or in providing evidence of in-group status
union church -n
- a local church uniting members of diverse denominational backgrounds in an interdenominational congregation
un·ion·i·sa·tion [,yün-yə-nə-'zā-shən] -n
(variant of unionization)
- the quality or state of being unionized
- the action of unionizing
union·ism ['yün-yə-,ni-zəm] -n
- : the principle or policy of forming or adhering to a union: as
- adherence to the policy of a firm federal union between the states of the United States esp. during the Civil War period
- the principles, theory, advocacy, or system of trade unions
union·ist [-nist] -n
- an advocate or supporter of union or unionism
union·i·za·tion [,yün-yə-nə-'zā-shən] -n
- the quality or state of being unionized
- the action of unionizing
union·ize ['yün-yə-,nīz] -vb
- to organize into a labor union
- to form or join a labor union
unionized -adj
- characterized by the presence of labor unions
union jack -n
- a jack consisting of the union of a national ensign
- the state flag of the United Kingdom consisting of the union of the British national ensign
union shop -n
- an establishment in which the employer by agreement is free to hire nonmembers as well as members of the union but retains nonmembers on the payroll only on condition of their becoming members of the union within a specified time
union suit -n
- an undergarment with shirt and drawers in one piece
union territory -n
- a centrally administered subdivision of India
uni·pa·ren·tal [,yü-ni-pə-'ren-tᵊl] -adj, adv
- having, involving, or derived from a single parent
- involving or being inheritance in which all or part of an offspring's genotype (as both members of a pair of homologous chromosomes) is derived from a single parent
uni·po·lar [,yü-ni-'pō-lər] -adj
- relating to, affected with, or being a manic-depressive disorder in which there is only a depressive phase
unique [yu̇-'nēk] -adj, adv, n
- being the only one : sole
- his unique concern was his own comfort
- I can't walk away with a unique copy. Suppose I lost it? -- Kingsley Amis
- the unique factorization of a number into prime factors
- being without a like or equal : unequaled
- could stare at the flames, each one new, violent, unique -- Robert Coover
- distinctively characteristic : peculiar
- this is not a condition unique to California -- Ronald Reagan
- unusual
- a very unique ball-point pen
- we were fairly unique, the sixty of us, in that there wasn't one good mixer in the bunch -- J. D. Salinger
uni·sex ['yü-nə-,seks] -n
- the state or condition of not being distinguishable (as by hair or clothing) as to sex
unisex -adj
- not distinguishable as male or female
- suitable or designed for both males and females
uni·sex·u·al [,yü-nə-'sek-sh(ə-)wəl, -shəl] -adj, n
- : of, relating to, or restricted to one sex:
- male or female but not hermaphroditic
- diclinous
- unisex
uni·son ['yü-nə-sən, -nə-zən] -n, adj
- identity in musical pitch
- the interval of a perfect prime
- the state of being so tuned or sounded
- the writing, playing, or singing of parts in a musical passage at the same pitch or in octaves
- a harmonious agreement or union : concord
unit ['yü-nət] -n
- the first and least natural number : one
- a single quantity regarded as a whole in calculation
- : a determinate quantity (as of length, time, heat, or value) adopted as a standard of measurement: as
- an amount of work used in education in calculating student credits
- an amount of a biologically active agent (as a drug or antigen) required to produce a specific result
- a single thing, person, or group that is a constituent of a whole
- a part of a military establishment that has a prescribed organization (as of personnel and materiel)
- a piece or complex of apparatus serving to perform one particular function
- a part of a school course focusing on a central theme
- a local congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses
- a small molecule esp. when combined in a larger molecule
- repeating unit s of a polymer
- an area in a medical facility and esp. a hospital that is specially staffed and equipped to provide a particular type of care
- being, relating to, or measuring one unit
unit·age ['yü-nə-tij] -n
- specifications of the amount constituting a unit
- amount in units
uni·tard ['yü-nə-,tärd] -n
- a close-fitting one-piece garment for the torso and legs and often for the arms and feet
uni·tar·i·an [,yü-nə-'ter-ē-ən] -n, adj
- one who believes that the deity exists only in one person
- a member of a denomination that stresses individual freedom of belief, the free use of reason in religion, a united world community, and liberal social action
- an advocate of unity or a unitary system
uni·tary ['yü-nə-,ter-ē] -adj, adv
- of or relating to a unit
- based on or characterized by unity or units
- having the character of a unit : undivided, whole
unit cell -n
- the simplest polyhedron that embodies all the structural characteristics of and by indefinite repetition makes up the lattice of a crystal
unit character -n
- a natural character inherited on an all-or-none basis
- one dependent on the presence or absence of a single gene
unit circle -n
- a circle having a radius of 1
unite [yu̇-'nīt] -vb, n
- to put together to form a single unit
- to cause to adhere
- to link by a legal or moral bond
- to possess (as qualities) in combination
- to become one or as if one
- to become combined by or as if by adhesion or mixture
- to act in concert
- an old British gold 20-shilling piece issued first by James I in 1604 for the newly united England and Scotland called also Jacobus
united -adj, adv
- made one : combined
- relating to or produced by joint action
- being in agreement : harmonious
United Nations Day -n
- October 24 observed in commemoration of the founding of the United Nations
Unit·ed States [yu̇-'nī-təd-, esp Southern 'yü-,] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a federation of states esp. when forming a nation in a usu. specified territory
- advocating a United States of Europe
uni·tive ['yü-nə-tiv, yu̇-'nī-] -adj
- characterized by or tending to produce union
unit·ize ['yü-nə-,tīz] -vt, n
- to form or convert into a unit
- to divide into units
- the added cost of unitizing bulk products
unit membrane -n
- the limiting membrane of cells and various organelles viewed formerly as a 3-layered structure with an inner lipid layer and two outer protein layers and currently as a fluid phospholipid bilayer with intercalating proteins
unit rule -n
- a rule under which a delegation to a national political convention casts its entire vote as a unit as determined by a majority vote
uni·trust ['yü-ni-,trəst] -n
- a trust from which the beneficiary receives annually a fixed percentage of the fair market value of its assets
units place -n
- the place just to the left of the decimal point in a number expressed in the Arabic system of writing numbers
unit train -n
- a railway train that transports a single commodity directly from producer to consumer
unit trust -n
- mutual fund
- an investment company whose portfolio consists of long-term bonds that are held to maturity
uni·ty ['yü-nə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of not being multiple : oneness
- a definite amount taken as one or for which 1 is made to stand in calculation
- in a table of natural sines the radius of the circle is regarded as unity
- identity element
- a condition of harmony : accord
- continuity without deviation or change (as in purpose or action)
- the quality or state of being made one : unification
- a combination or ordering of parts in a literary or artistic production that constitutes a whole or promotes an undivided total effect
- the resulting singleness of effect or symmetry and consistency of style and character
- a totality of related parts : an entity that is a complex or systematic whole
- any of three principles of dramatic structure derived by French classicists from Aristotle's Poeticsand requiring a play to have a single action represented as occurring in one place and within one day
- a 20th century American religious movement that emphasizes spiritual sources of health and prosperity
univ -abbr
- university
uni·va·lent [,yü-ni-'vā-lənt] -adj
- monovalent
- being a chromosomal univalent
univalent -n
- a chromosome that lacks a synaptic mate
uni·valve ['yü-ni-,valv] -n, adj
- a mollusk with a shell consisting of one valve
- gastropod
- the shell of a univalve
uni·var·i·ate [,yü-ni-'ver-ē-ət] -adj
- characterized by or depending on only one random variable
- a univariate linear model
uni·ver·sal [,yü-nə-'vər-səl] -adj, adv, n
- including or covering all or a whole collectively or distributively without limit or exception
- available equitably to all members of a society
- universal health coverage
- present or occurring everywhere
- existent or operative everywhere or under all conditions
- universal cultural patterns
- embracing a major part or the greatest portion (as of humankind)
- comprehensively broad and versatile
- affirming or denying something of all members of a class or of all values of a variable
- denoting every member of a class
- adapted or adjustable to meet varied requirements (as of use, shape, or size)
- a universal remote control
universal -n
- : one that is universal: as
- a universal proposition in logic
- a predicable of traditional logic
- a general concept or term or something in reality to which it corresponds : essence
- a behavior pattern or institution (as the family) existing in all cultures
- a culture trait characteristic of all normal adult members of a particular society
universal donor -n
- a person with blood group O blood which can be donated to any recipient
- the blood of such a person
universal grammar -n
- the study of general principles believed to underlie the grammatical phenomena of all languages
- such principles viewed as part of an innate human capacity for learning a language
uni·ver·sal·ism [,yü-nə-'vər-sə-,li-zəm] -n, n or adj
- a theological doctrine that all human beings will eventually be saved
- the principles and practices of a liberal Christian denomination founded in the 18th century orig. to uphold belief in universal salvation and now united with Unitarianism
- something that is universal in scope
- the state of being universal : universality
uni·ver·sal·is·tic [-,vər-sə-'lis-tik] -adj
- of or relating to the whole : universal in scope or nature
uni·ver·sal·i·ty [-(,)vər-'sa-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being universal
- universal comprehensiveness in range
uni·ver·sal·ize [-'vər-sə-,līz] -vt, n
- to make universal : generalize
universal joint -n
- a shaft coupling capable of transmitting rotation from one shaft to another not collinear with it called also universal coupling
universal motor -n
- an electric motor that can be used on either an alternating or a direct current supply
Universal Product Code -n
- a combination of a bar code and numbers by which a scanner can identify a product and usu. assign a price
universal recipient -n
- a person with blood group AB blood who can receive blood from any donor
universal resource locator -n
- url
Universal Serial Bus -n
- USB
Universal time -n
- greenwich mean time
uni·verse ['yü-nə-,vərs] -n
- : the whole body of things and phenomena observed or postulated : cosmos: as
- a systematic whole held to arise by and persist through the direct intervention of divine power
- the world of human experience
- the entire celestial cosmos
- milky way galaxy
- an aggregate of stars comparable to the Milky Way galaxy
- a distinct field or province of thought or reality that forms a closed system or self-inclusive and independent organization
- population
- a set that contains all elements relevant to a particular discussion or problem
- a great number or quantity
- a large enough universe of stocks...to choose from -- G. B. Clairmont
universe of discourse
- an inclusive class of entities that is tacitly implied or explicitly delineated as the subject of a statement, discourse, or theory
uni·ver·si·ty [,yü-nə-'vər-sə-tē, -'vər-stē] -n
- an institution of higher learning providing facilities for teaching and research and authorized to grant academic degrees
- one made up of an undergraduate division which confers bachelor's degrees and a graduate division which comprises a graduate school and professional schools each of which may confer master's degrees and doctorates
- the physical plant of a university
univ·o·cal [yü-'ni-və-kəl] -adj, adv
- having one meaning only
- unambiguous
- in search of a morally univocal answer
un·just [,ən-'jəst] -adj, adv, n
- characterized by injustice : unfair
- dishonest, faithless
un·kempt [-'kem(p)t] -adj
- not combed
- deficient in order or neatness
- rough, unpolished
un·kenned [-'kend] -adj
- unknown, strange
un·ken·nel [-'ke-nᵊl] -vt
- to drive (as a fox) from a hiding place or den
- to free (dogs) from a kennel
- to bring out into the open : uncover
un·kind [-'kīnd] -adj, n
- not pleasing or mild : inclement
- lacking in kindness or sympathy : harsh, cruel
un·kind·ly [-'kīn(d)-lē] -adj, n
- not kindly
unkindly -adv
- in an unkind manner
- dwells unkindly long on his final decline -- A. H. Johnston
un·kink [,ən-'kiŋk] -vt
- to free from kinks : straighten
- to become lax or loose : relax
un·knit [-'nit] -vb
- undo, unravel
un·know·able [,ən-'nō-ə-bəl] -adj, n
- not knowable
- lying beyond the limits of human experience or understanding
un·know·ing [-'nō-iŋ] -adj, adv
- not knowing
unknowing -n
- ignorance
un·known [-'nōn] -adj
- not known or not well-known
- having an unknown value
unknown -n
- one that is not known or not well-known
- a person who is little known (as to the public)
- : something that requires discovery, identification, or clarification: as
- a symbol (as x, y,or z) in a mathematical equation representing an unknown quantity
- a specimen (as of bacteria or mixed chemicals) required to be identified as an exercise in appropriate laboratory techniques
Unknown Soldier -n
- an unidentified soldier whose body is selected to receive national honors as a representative of all of the same nation who died in a war and esp. in one of the world wars
un·lace [,ən-'lās] -vt
- to loose by undoing a lacing
- undo, disgrace
un·lade [-'lād] -vb
- to take the load or cargo from
- discharge, unload
- to discharge cargo
un·lash [-'lash] -vt
- to untie the lashing of
un·latch [-'lach] -vt
- to open or loose by lifting the latch
- to become loosed or opened
un·law·ful [,ən-'lȯ-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- not lawful : illegal
- not morally right or conventional
un·lay [-'lā] -vb
- to untwist the strands of (as a rope)
- untwist
un·lead·ed [-'le-dəd] -adj
- not having leads between the lines in printing
- not treated or mixed with lead or lead compounds
un·learn [-'lərn] -vt
- to put out of one's knowledge or memory
- to undo the effect of : discard the habit of
un·learned [-'lər-nəd for 1, 2, -'lərnd for 3] -adj
- possessing inadequate learning or education
- deficient in scholarly attainments
- characterized by or revealing ignorance
- not gained by study or training
un·leash [-'lēsh] -vt
- to free from or as if from a leash : let loose
- to throw, shoot, or set in motion forcefully
- unleash ed a superb shot...to earn his side a point -- N.Y. Times
un·less [ən-'les, 'ən-,] -conj
- except on the condition that : under any other circumstance than
- without the accompanying circumstance or condition that : but that : but
unless -prep
- except possibly : except
un·let·tered [,ən-'le-tərd] -adj
- lacking facility in reading and writing and ignorant of the knowledge to be gained from books
- illiterate
- not marked with letters
un·licked [-'likt] -adj
- lacking proper form or shape
- not licked dry
un·like [-'līk] -adj, n
- : not like: as
- marked by lack of resemblance : different
- the two books are quite unlike
- marked by inequality : unequal
- contributed unlike amounts
unlike -prep
- : not like: as
- different from
- a landscape unlike any other
- not characteristic of
- it was unlike him to be late
- in a different manner from
- spoke clearly, unlike the others
- in a manner that is different than : not as
un·like·li·hood [,ən-'lī-klē-,hu̇d] -n
- improbability
- something unlikely
un·like·li·ness [-nəs] -n
- improbability
un·like·ly [-'lī-klē] -adj
- not likely : improbable
- likely to fail : unpromising
un·lim·ber [,ən-'lim-bər] -vt
- to detach the limber from and so make ready
- unlimber a gun for action
- to prepare for operation or performance
- unlimber ed his banjo and began to play
- to prepare something for action
un·lim·it·ed [-'li-mə-təd] -adj, adv
- lacking any controls : unrestricted
- boundless, infinite
- not bounded by exceptions : undefined
- the unlimited and unconditional surrender of the enemy -- Sir Winston Churchill
un·link [-'liŋk] -vt
- to unfasten the links of : separate, disconnect
- to become detached
un·linked [-'liŋ(k)t] -adj
- not belonging to the same genetic linkage group
un·list·ed [-'lis-təd] -adj
- not appearing on a list
- not appearing in a telephone book
- being or involving a security not listed formally on an organized exchange : over-the-counter
un·live [-'liv] -vt
- annul, reverse
un·load [,ən-'lōd] -vt, n
- to take off : deliver
- to take the cargo from
- to give outlet to : pour forth
- unload ed her bitter feelings
- to relieve of something burdensome, unwanted, or oppressive
- unload ed the pack animals
- unload ed himself to his friend
- to draw the charge from
- to sell or dispose of esp. in large quantities : dump
- to hit or propel with a great release of power
- unload ed his ninth homer
- to perform the act of unloading
- to release or deliver something esp. with power
- to give forth a usu. sudden angry outburst
- the coach unload ed on his players
un·lock [-'läk] -vt
- to unfasten the lock of
- open, undo
- to free from restraints or restrictions
- the shock unlock ed a flood of tears
- to furnish a key to : disclose
- to become unfastened or freed from restraints
un·lookedfor [-'lu̇kt-,fȯr] -adj
- not foreseen : unexpected
un·loose [,ən-'lüs] -vt
- to relax the strain of
- to release from or as if from restraints : set free
- to loosen the ties of
- unloose traditional social bonds
un·loos·en [-'lü-sᵊn] -vt
- unloose
un·love·ly [-'ləv-lē] -adj, n
- not likable : disagreeable, unpleasant
un·luck·i·ly [,ən-'lə-kə-lē] -adv
- unfortunately
- unluckily, it has a nasty way of turning to rain -- Ambrose Bierce
- his ascent being unluckily a little out of the perpendicular -- T. L. Peacock
un·lucky [-'lə-kē] -adj, n
- marked by adversity or failure
- likely to bring misfortune : inauspicious
- having or meeting with misfortune
- producing dissatisfaction : regrettable
un·made [,ən-'mād] -adj
- not made
un·make [-'māk] -vt
- to cause to disappear : destroy
- to deprive of rank or office : depose
- to deprive of essential characteristics : change the nature of
un·man [,ən-'man] -vt
- to deprive of manly vigor, fortitude, or spirit
- castrate, emasculate
un·man·ly [-'man-lē] -adj, n
- : not manly: as
- being of weak character : cowardly
- effeminate
un·manned [-'mand] -adj
- not manned
- not trained
un·man·nered [-'ma-nərd] -adj, adv
- marked by a lack of good manners : rude
- characterized by an absence of artificiality : unaffected
un·man·ner·ly [-'ma-nər-lē] -adv
- in an unmannerly fashion
unmannerly [-lē-nəs] -adj, n
- not mannerly : discourteous
un·mar·ried [-'ma-rēd] -adj, n
- : not married:
- not now or previously married
- being divorced or widowed
un·mask [,ən-'mask] -vt
- to reveal the true nature of : expose
- to remove a mask from
- to remove one's mask
un·mean·ing [-'mē-niŋ] -adj
- lacking intelligence : vapid
- having no meaning : senseless
un·me·di·at·ed [,ən-'mē-dē-,ā-təd] -adj
- not mediated : not communicated or transformed by an intervening agency
- experience unmediated by artifice
un·meet [-'mēt] -adj
- not meet : unsuitable, improper
un·men·tion·able [-'men(t)-sh(ə-)nə-bəl] -adj
- not fit or allowed to be mentioned or discussed : unspeakable
unmentionable -n
- : one that is not to be mentioned or discussed: as
- pant
- underwear
un·mer·ci·ful [,ən-'mər-si-fəl] -adj, adv
- not merciful : merciless
- excessive, extreme
- chatted for an unmerciful length of time
un·mind·ful [-'mīn(d)-fəl] -adj
- not conscientiously aware, attentive, or heedful : inattentive, careless
- went shirtless, unmindful of the sun's punishing rays
un·mis·tak·able [,ən-mə-'stā-kə-bəl] -adj, adv
- not capable of being mistaken or misunderstood : clear
un·mit·i·gat·ed [,ən-'mi-tə-,gā-təd] -adj, adv, n
- not lessened : unrelieved
- sufferings unmitigated by any hope of early relief
- being so definitely what is stated as to offer little chance of change or relief
un·mold [,ən-'mōld] -vt
- to remove from a mold
un·moor [-'mu̇r] -vt
- to loosen from or as if from moorings
- to cast off moorings
un·mor·al [-'mȯr-əl, -'mär-] -adj, n
- having no moral perception or quality
- not influenced or guided by moral considerations
- lying outside the bounds of morals or ethics : amoral
un·muf·fle [,ən-'mə-fəl] -vt
- to free from something that muffles
un·muz·zle [-'mə-zəl] -vt
- to free from or as if from a muzzle
un·my·elin·at·ed [-'mī-ə-lə-,nā-təd] -adj
- lacking a myelin sheath
un·nail [,ən-'nāl] -vt
- to unfasten by removing nails
un·nat·u·ral [,ən-'na-chə-rəl, -'nach-rəl] -adj, adv, n
- not being in accordance with nature or consistent with a normal course of events
- not being in accordance with normal human feelings or behavior : perverse
- lacking ease and naturalness : contrived
- her manner was forced and unnatural
- inconsistent with what is reasonable or expected
un·nec·es·sar·i·ly [,ən-,ne-sə-'ser-ə-lē] -adv
- not by necessity : to an unnecessary degree
- unnecessarily harsh criticism
un·nec·es·sary [,ən-'ne-sə-,ser-ē] -adj
- not necessary
un·nerve [-'nərv] -vt, adv
- to deprive of courage, strength, or steadiness
- to cause to become nervous : upset
un·nil·hex·i·um [,yü-nᵊl-'hek-sē-əm] -n
- seaborgium
un·nil·pen·ti·um [-'pen-tē-əm] -n
- dubnium
un·nil·qua·di·um [-'kwä-dē-əm] -n
- rutherfordium
un·num·bered [,ən-'nəm-bərd] -adj
- innumerable
- not having an identifying number
un·ob·tru·sive [,ən-əb-'trü-siv, -ziv] -adj, adv, n
- not obtrusive : not blatant, arresting, or aggressive : inconspicuous
un·oc·cu·pied [,ən-'ä-kyə-,pīd] -adj
- : not occupied: as
- not busy : unemployed
- not lived in : empty
un·or·ga·nized [-'ȯr-gə-,nīzd] -adj
- : not organized: as
- not brought into a coherent or well-ordered whole
- not belonging to a labor union
- not having the characteristics of a living organism
un·or·tho·dox [-'ȯr-thə-,däks] -adj, adv
- not orthodox
un·or·tho·doxy [-,däk-sē] -n
- the quality or state of being unorthodox
- something (as an opinion or doctrine) that is unorthodox
un·pack [,ən-'pak] -vt, n
- to remove the contents of
- unburden, reveal
- must...unpack my heart with words -- Shak.
- to remove or undo from packing or a container
- to analyze the nature of by examining in detail : explicate
- to engage in unpacking a container
un·paged [-'pājd] -adj
- having no page numbers
un·paid [-'pād] -adj
- not paid
- not paying a salary
un·paired [-'perd] -adj
- : not paired: as
- not matched or mated
- being an electron that doesn't share its orbital with another electron
un·pal·at·able [-'pa-lə-tə-bəl] -adj, n
- not palatable : distasteful
- unpleasant, disagreeable
- raising income tax rates is politically unpalatable -- Mary Rowland
un·par·al·leled [,ən-'pa-rə-,leld, -ləld] -adj
- having no parallel
- having no equal or match : unique in kind or quality
un·par·lia·men·ta·ry [,ən-,pär-lə-'men-tə-rē, -,pärl-yə-, -'men-trē] -adj
- contrary to the practice of parliamentary bodies
un·peg [,ən-'peg] -vt
- to remove a peg from
- to unfasten by or as if by removing a peg
un·peo·ple [-'pē-pəl] -vt
- depopulate
un·peo·pled [,ən-'pē-pəld] -adj
- not filled with or occupied by people
un·per·fect [-'pər-fikt] -adj
- imperfect
un·per·son ['ən-'pər-sᵊn, -,pər-] -n
- an individual who usu. for political or ideological reasons is removed completely from recognition or consideration
un·pick [,ən-'pik] -vt
- to undo (as sewing) by taking out stitches
un·pile [-'pī(-ə)l] -vt
- to take or disentangle from a pile
un·pin [-'pin] -vt
- to remove a pin from
- to loosen, free, or unfasten by or as if by removing a pin
un·placed [,ən-'plāst] -adj
- not placed : not having a definite or assigned place
- taxonomically unplaced organisms
- not finishing in one of the first three places in a horse race
un·pleas·ant [-'ple-zᵊnt] -adj, adv
- not pleasant : not amiable or agreeable : displeasing
un·pleas·ant·ness -n
- the quality or state of being unpleasant
- an unpleasant situation, experience, or event
un·plug [,ən-'pləg] -vt
- to take a plug out of
- to remove an obstruction from
- to remove (as an electric plug) from a socket or receptacle
- to disconnect from an electric circuit by removing a plug
un·plugged [-'pləgd] -adj
- acoustic
un·plumbed [-'pləmd] -adj
- not tested with a plumb line
- not measured with a plumb
- not thoroughly explored
un·po·lar·ized [-'pō-lə-,rīzd] -adj
- not polarized
- having a random pattern of vibrations
un·po·lit·i·cal [,ən-pə-'li-ti-kəl] -adj
- apolitical
un·pop·u·lar [,ən-'pä-pyə-lər] -adj, n, adv
- not popular : viewed or received unfavorably by the public
un·prec·e·dent·ed [,ən-'pre-sə-,den-təd] -adj, adv
- having no precedent : novel, unexampled
un·preg·nant [,ən-'preg-nənt] -adj
- inept
un·pre·tend·ing [,ən-pri-'ten-diŋ] -adj
- unpretentious
un·pre·ten·tious [-'ten(t)-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- free from ostentation, elegance, or affectation : modest
- an unpretentious celebrity
un·prin·ci·pled [,ən-'prin(t)-s(ə-)pəld, -sə-bəld] -adj, n
- lacking moral principles : unscrupulous
un·print·able [-'prin-tə-bəl] -adj
- unfit to be printed
- too obscene or offensive to be shown in print
un·pro·fessed [,ən-prə-'fest] -adj
- not professed
un·prof·it·able [,ən-'prä-fə-tə-bəl, -'präf-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- not profitable : producing no gain, good, or result
un·prom·is·ing [-'prä-mə-siŋ] -adj, adv
- appearing unlikely to prove worthwhile or result favorably
un·pro·nounced [,ən-prə-'nau̇n(t)st] -adj
- not pronounced
- mute
un·pro·tect·ed [-prə-'tek-təd] -adj
- lacking protection or defense
- skin unprotected from the sun's rays
- performed without the use of birth control to prevent pregnancy
- performed without the use of a condom to prevent spread of sexually transmitted disease
un·pub·lish·able [-'pə-bli-shə-bəl] -adj
- unprintable
un·put·down·able [,ən-,pu̇t-'dȧun-ə-bəl] -adj
- unable to be set aside : riveting
un·qual·i·fied [,ən-'kwä-lə-,fīd] -adj, adv
- not fit : not having requisite qualifications
- not modified or restricted by reservations : complete
un·ques·tion·able [-'kwes-chə-nə-bəl, -'kwesh-] -adj, adv
- not questionable : indisputable
un·ques·tion·ing [-'kwes-chə-niŋ, -'kwesh-] -adj, adv
- not questioning : not expressing or marked by doubt or hesitation
un·qui·et [-'kwī-ət] -adj, adv, n
- not quiet : agitated, turbulent
- physically, emotionally, or mentally restless : uneasy
un·quote ['ən-,kwōt also -,kōt] -n
- used orally to indicate the end of a direct quotation
un·rav·el [,ən-'ra-vəl] -vt
- to disengage or separate the threads of : disentangle
- to cause to come apart by or as if by separating the threads of
- to resolve the intricacy, complexity, or obscurity of : clear up
- to become unraveled
un·read [-'red] -adj
- not read : left unexamined
- lacking the experience or the benefits of reading
- unread in political science
un·re·al [-'rē(-ə)l] -adj
- lacking in reality, substance, or genuineness : artificial, illusory
- incredible, fantastic
un·re·al·is·tic [,ən-,rē-ə-'lis-tik] -adj, adv
- not realistic : inappropriate to reality or fact
un·re·al·i·ty [,ən-rē-'a-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being unreal : lack of substance or validity
- something unreal, insubstantial, or visionary : figment
- ineptitude in dealing with reality
un·rea·son [,ən-'rē-zᵊn, 'ən-,] -n
- the absence of reason or sanity : irrationality, madness
un·rea·son·able [-'rēz-nə-bəl, -'rē-zᵊn-ə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- not governed by or acting according to reason
- not conformable to reason : absurd
- exceeding the bounds of reason or moderation
- working under unreasonable pressure
un·rea·soned [-'rē-zᵊnd] -adj
- not founded on reason or reasoning
un·rea·son·ing [-'rēz-niŋ, -'rē-zᵊn-iŋ] -adj, adv
- not reasoning
- not moderated or controlled by reason
un·re·con·struct·ed [,ən-,rē-kən-'strək-təd] -adj
- not reconciled to some political, economic, or social change
- holding stubbornly to a particular belief, view, place, or style
- an unreconstructed hard-liner
un·reel [,ən-'rēl] -vt
- to unwind from a reel
- to perform successfully
- unreel ed a 66-yard pass play
- reel off
- unreel ed five birdies in a row
- to become unwound
- to be presented
- the dress rehearsal unreel ed flawlessly
un·reeve [-'rēv] -vt
- to withdraw (a rope) from an opening (as a ship's block or thimble)
un·re·gen·er·ate [,ən-ri-'je-nə-rət, -'jen-rət] -adj, adv
- not regenerate
- the unregenerate condition of humanity
- not reformed : unreconstructed
- unregenerate Confederates
- obstinate, stubborn
- struggling against unregenerate impulses
- his unregenerate competitiveness
un·re·lent·ing [-'len-tiŋ] -adj, adv
- not softening or yielding in determination : hard, stern
- not letting up or weakening in vigor or pace : constant
un·re·marked [-'märkt] -adj
- not remarked : unnoticed
un·re·mit·ting [-'mi-tiŋ] -adj, adv
- not remitting : constant, incessant
un·re·quit·ed [,ən-ri-'kwī-təd] -adj
- not requited : not reciprocated or returned in kind
un·re·serve [-'zərv] -n
- absence of reserve : frankness
un·re·served [-'zərvd] -adj, adv, n
- not limited or partial : entire, unqualified
- not cautious or reticent : frank, open
- not set aside for special use
un·rest [,ən-'rest] -n
- a disturbed or uneasy state : turmoil
un·re·strained [,ən-ri-'strānd] -adj, adv, n
- not restrained : immoderate, uncontrolled
- unrestrained proliferation of technology
- free of constraint : spontaneous
- felt happy and unrestrained
un·re·straint [-'strānt] -n
- freedom from or lack of restraint
un·re·tire [,ən-ri-'tī(-ə)r] -vi
- to leave retirement : rejoin the workforce
un·rid·dle [,ən-'ri-dᵊl] -vt
- to find the explanation of : figure out, solve
- no trouble unriddling three-part syllogisms -- New Yorker
- to make understandable : explain
- just trying to unriddle the man -- Helen Dudar
un·rig [-'rig] -vt
- to strip of rigging
un·righ·teous [-'rī-chəs] -adj, adv, n
- not righteous : sinful, wicked
- unjust, unmerited
- intolerable and unrighteous interference in their lives -- W. W. Wagar
un·ripe [-'rīp] -adj, n
- not ripe : immature
- not ready : unprepared
un·ri·valed [,ən-'rī-vəld] -adj
- having no rival : incomparable, supreme
un·roll [-'rōl] -vt
- to unwind a roll of : open out : uncoil
- to spread out like a scroll for reading or inspection : unfold, reveal
- to be unrolled : unwind
un·roof [-'rüf, -'ru̇f] -vt
- to strip off the roof or covering of
un·round [,ən-'rau̇nd] -vt
- to pronounce (a sound) without lip rounding or with decreased lip rounding
- to spread (the lips) laterally
- necessary to unround the lips in pronouncing e
unround -adj
- pronounced with the lips not rounded
un·ruf·fled [,ən-'rə-fəld] -adj
- poised and serene esp. in the face of setbacks or confusion
- not ruffled : smooth
un·ruly [-'rü-lē] -adj, n
- not readily ruled, disciplined, or managed
UNRWA -abbr
- United Nations Relief and Works Agency
un·sad·dle [,ən-'sa-dᵊl] -vt
- to take the saddle from
- to throw from the saddle
- to remove the saddle from a horse
un·said [-'sed] -adj
- not said
- not spoken aloud
un·sat·is·fac·to·ry [-,sa-təs-'fak-t(ə-)rē] -adj, adv, n
- not satisfactory
un·sat·u·rate [-'sa-chə-rət, -'sach-rət] -n
- an unsaturated chemical compound
un·sat·u·rat·ed [-'sa-chə-,rā-təd] -adj
- : not saturated: as
- capable of absorbing or dissolving more of something
- able to form products by chemical addition
- containing double or triple bonds between carbon atoms
un·saved [,ən-'sāvd] -adj
- not saved
- not absolved from eternal punishment : not regenerate
un·sa·vory [-'sā-və-rē, -'sāv-rē] -adj
- insipid, tasteless
- unpleasant to taste or smell
- disagreeable, distasteful
- morally offensive
- unsavory business practices
un·say [-'sā, Southern also -'se] -vt
- to make as if not said : recant, retract
un·say·able [-'sā-ə-bəl] -adj
- not sayable : not easily expressed or related
- not allowed to be said
un·scathed [-'skāthd] -adj
- wholly unharmed : not injured
un·schooled [-'sküld] -adj
- not schooled : untaught, untrained
- not artificial : natural
un·sci·en·tif·ic [,ən-,sī-ən-'ti-fik] -adj, adv
- : not scientific: as
- not used in scientific work
- not being in accord with the principles and methods of science
- unscientific management of woodlands
- not showing scientific knowledge or familiarity with scientific methods
un·scram·ble [,ən-'skram-bəl] -vt, n
- to separate (as a conglomeration or tangle) into original components : resolve, clarify
- to restore (scrambled communication) to intelligible form
un·screw [-'skrü] -vt
- to draw the screws from
- to loosen or withdraw by turning
- to become or admit of being unscrewed
un·script·ed [-'skrip-təd] -adj
- not following a prepared script
un·scru·pu·lous [-'skrü-pyə-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- not scrupulous : unprincipled
un·seal [-'sēl] -vt
- to break or remove the seal of : open
un·sealed [-'sēld] -adj
- not sealed
un·seam [,ən-'sēm] -vt
- to open the seams of
un·search·able [-'sər-chə-bəl] -adj, adv
- not capable of being searched or explored : inscrutable
un·sea·son·able [-'sēz-nə-bəl, -'sē-zᵊn-ə-] -adj, n, adv
- occurring at other than the proper time : untimely
- not being in season
- not normal for the season of the year
- marked by unseasonable weather
un·seat [-'sēt] -vt
- to dislodge from one's seat esp. on horseback
- to remove from a place or position
- to remove from political office
un·seem·ly [-'sēm-lē] -adj, n
- : not seemly: as
- not according with established standards of good form or taste
- not suitable for time or place : inappropriate, unseasonable
unseemly -adv
- in an unseemly manner
un·seen [,ən-'sēn] -adj
- not seen or perceived
- sight
un·seg·re·gat·ed [-'se-gri-,gā-təd] -adj
- not segregated
- free from racial segregation
un·se·lect·ed [,ən-sə-'lek-təd] -adj
- not selected
- will be held at a still unselected location
- chosen at random
un·se·lec·tive [-'lek-tiv] -adj, adv
- not marked by selection : random, indiscriminate
un·self·ish [,ən-'sel-fish] -adj, adv, n
- not selfish : generous
un·sell [-'sel] -vt
- to dissuade from a belief in the truth, value, or desirability of something
- ads that unsell the public on energy consumption
- to discourage a belief in the truth, value, or desirability of
- I unsold the coat he wanted and sold him another
un·set [-'set] -adj
- : not set: as
- not fixed in a setting : unmounted
- not firmed or solidified
un·set·tle [,ən-'se-tᵊl] -vt
- to loosen or move from a settled state or condition : make unstable : disorder
- to perturb or agitate mentally or emotionally : discompose
- to become unsettled
un·set·tled [-'se-tᵊld] -adj, n
- : not settled: as
- not calm or tranquil : disturbed
- unsettled political conditions
- likely to vary widely esp. in the near future : variable
- not settled down
- not decided or determined : doubtful
- an unsettled state of mind
- not resolved or worked out : undecided
- characterized by irregularity
- not inhabited or populated
- mentally unbalanced
- not disposed of according to law
- not paid or discharged
un·set·tling [,ən-'set-liŋ, -'se-tᵊl-iŋ] -adj, adv
- having the effect of upsetting, disturbing, or discomposing
- unsettling images of the war
un·set·tle·ment [-tᵊl-mənt] -n
- an act, process, or instance of unsettling
- the quality or state of being unsettled
un·sew [,ən-'sō] -vt
- to undo the sewing of
un·sex [-'seks] -vt
- to deprive of sex or sexual power
- to deprive of the qualities typical of one's sex
un·shack·le [-'sha-kəl] -vt
- to free from shackles
un·shaped [-'shāpt] -adj
- : not shaped: as
- not dressed or finished to final form
- imperfect in form or formulation
un·shap·en [-'shā-pən] -adj
- unshaped
un·sheathe [,ən-'shēth] -vt
- to draw from or as if from a sheath or scabbard
un·ship [-'ship] -vt
- to take out of a ship : discharge, unload
- to remove (as an oar or tiller) from position : detach
- to become or admit of being detached or removed
un·shod [,ən-'shäd] -adj
- not wearing or provided with shoes
un·sight [-'sīt] -vt
- to prevent from seeing
unsight -adj
- not sighted or examined
un·sight·ly [,ən-'sīt-lē] -adj, n
- not pleasing to the sight : not comely
un·skilled [-'skild] -adj
- not skilled in a branch of work : lacking technical training
- not requiring skill
- marked by lack of skill
un·skill·ful [-'skil-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- not skillful : lacking in skill or proficiency
un·slak·able [,ən-'slā-kə-bəl] -adj
- unable to be slaked : unquenchable
- an unslakable desire for excellence
un·sling [-'sliŋ] -vt
- to remove from being slung
un·snap [-'snap] -vt
- to loosen or free by or as if by undoing a snap
un·snarl [-'snär(-ə)l] -vt
- to disentangle a snarl in
un·so·cia·ble [,ən-'sō-shə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- having or showing a disinclination for social activity : solitary, reserved
- not conducive to sociability
un·so·cial [-'sō-shəl] -adj, adv
- lacking a taste or desire for society or close association
- marked by or arising from such a lack
un·sold [-'sōld] -adj
- not sold
un·so·phis·ti·cat·ed [,ən-sə-'fis-tə-,kā-təd] -adj
- : not sophisticated: as
- not changed or corrupted : genuine
- not worldly-wise : lacking social or economic sophistication
- lacking complexity of structure : simple, straightforward
- an unsophisticated analysis
un·so·phis·ti·ca·tion [-,fis-tə-'kā-shən] -n
- lack of or freedom from sophistication
un·sought [,ən-'sȯt] -adj
- not searched for or sought out
un·sound [-'sau̇nd] -adj, adv
- : not sound: as
- not healthy or whole
- not mentally normal : not wholly sane
- not firmly made, placed, or fixed
- not valid or true : invalid, specious
un·sound·ness [-'sau̇n(d)-nəs] -n
- the quality or state of being unsound
- something (as a disease, injury, or defect) that causes one to be unsound
un·spar·ing [-'sper-iŋ] -adj, adv
- not merciful or forbearing : hard, ruthless
- not frugal : liberal, profuse
un·speak [-'spēk] -vt
- unsay
un·speak·able [-'spē-kə-bəl] -adj, adv
- incapable of being expressed in words : unutterable
- inexpressibly bad : horrendous
- unspeakable living conditions
- that may not or cannot be spoken
- the bawdy thoughts that come into one's head - the unspeakable words -- L. P. Smith
- unspeakable collections of consonants -- Rosemary Jellis
un·spool [,ən-'spül] -vt
- to unwind from a spool
- to execute or present artfully or gracefully
- unspool ing an intricate tale
- to be presented or revealed on or as if on a motion-picture screen
un·sports·man·like [-'spȯrts-mən-,līk] -adj
- not characteristic of or exhibiting good sportsmanship
- not sportsmanlike
un·spot·ted [-'spä-təd] -adj
- not spotted : free from spot or stain
- free from moral stain
un·sprung [-'sprəŋ] -adj
- not sprung
- not equipped with springs
un·sta·ble [-'stā-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- : not stable : not firm or fixed : not constant: as
- not steady in action or movement : irregular
- wavering in purpose or intent : vacillating
- lacking steadiness : apt to move, sway, or fall
- liable to change or alteration
- readily changing (as by decomposing) in chemical or physical composition or in biological activity
- characterized by lack of emotional control
unstable angina -n
- angina pectoris characterized by sudden changes (as an increase in the severity or length of anginal attacks or a decrease in the exertion required to precipitate an attack) esp. when symptoms were previously stable
un·steady [,ən-'ste-dē] -vt
- to make unsteady
unsteady [-'ste-də-lē] -adj, adv, n
- : not steady: as
- not firm or solid : not fixed in position : unstable
- marked by change or fluctuation : changeable
- not uniform or even : irregular
un·step [,ən-'step] -vt
- to remove (a mast) from a step
un·stick [-'stik] -vt
- to release from a state of adhesion
un·stint·ing [-'stin-tiŋ] -adj, adv
- not restricting or holding back : giving or being given freely or generously
un·stop [-'stäp] -vt
- to free from an obstruction : open
- to remove a stopper from
un·stop·pa·ble [-'stä-pə-bəl] -adj, adv
- incapable of being stopped
- an unstoppable rise to power
un·strap [-'strap] -vt
- to remove or loose a strap from
un·stressed [,ən-'strest] -adj
- not bearing a stress or accent
- not subjected to stress
un·string [-'striŋ] -vt
- to loosen or remove the strings of
- to remove from a string
- to make weak, disordered, or unstable
un·struc·tured [-'strək-chərd] -adj
- : lacking structure or organization: as
- not formally organized in a set or conventional pattern
- feel insecure in an unstructured situation
- not having a system or hierarchy typical of an organized society
un·stuck [,ən-'stək] -adj
- brought into a state of disarray, discomposure, or incoherence
un·stud·ied [-'stə-dēd] -adj
- : not studied: as
- not acquired by study
- not forced : not done or planned for effect
un·sub·stan·tial [,ən-səb-'stan(t)-shəl] -adj, n, adv
- not substantial : lacking substance, firmness, or strength
un·suc·cess·ful [-fəl] -adj, adv
- not successful : not meeting with or producing success
un·sul·fured [,ən-'səl-fərd] -adj
- not treated or preserved with sulfur
un·sung [,ən-'səŋ] -adj
- not sung
- not celebrated or praised (as in song or verse)
un·sur·pris·ing [,ən-sə(r)-'prī-ziŋ] -adj
- not surprising or unexpected
un·sur·pris·ing·ly [-ziŋ-lē] -adv
- as is not surprising
- matters complicate, unsurprisingly -- Stanley Kauffmann
- in an unsurprising manner
- the story ended unsurprisingly
un·swathe [-'swäth, -'swȯth, -'swāth] -vt
- to free from something that swathes
un·swear [-'swer] -vb
- to unsay or retract something sworn
- to recant or recall (as an oath) esp. by a second oath
un·swerv·ing [-'swər-viŋ] -adj
- not swerving or turning aside
- steady, unfaltering
un·sym·met·ri·cal [,ən-sə-'me-tri-kəl] -adj, adv
- asymmetric
un·tan·gle [,ən-'taŋ-gəl] -vt
- to loose from tangles or entanglement : straighten out
un·tapped [-'tapt] -adj
- not subjected to tapping
- not drawn upon or utilized
un·taught [-'tȯt] -adj
- not instructed or trained : ignorant
- natural, spontaneous
un·teach [-'tēch] -vt
- to cause to unlearn something
- to teach the contrary of
un·ten·a·ble [-'te-nə-bəl] -adj, n
- not able to be defended
- not able to be occupied
un·tent·ed [-'ten-təd] -adj
- not probed or dressed
- the untented woundings of a father's curse -- Shak.
un·teth·er [-'te-thər] -vt
- to free from or as if from a tether
un·think [-'thiŋk] -vt
- to put out of mind
un·think·able [-'thiŋ-kə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- not capable of being grasped by the mind
- being contrary to what is reasonable, desirable, or probable : being out of the question
un·think·ing [,ən-'thiŋ-kiŋ] -adj, adv
- not taking thought : heedless, unmindful
- not indicating thought or reflection
- not having the power of thought
un·thought [-'thȯt] -adj
- not anticipated : unexpected often used with of
- an unthought -of development
un·thread [,ən-'thred] -vt
- to draw or take out a thread from
- to loosen the threads or connections of
- to make one's way through
un·throne [-'thrōn] -vt
- to remove from or as if from a throne
un·ti·dy [-'tī-dē] -adj, adv, n
- not neat : slovenly
- not neat or orderly in habits or procedure
- not neatly organized or carried out
- conducive to a lack of neatness
- untidy tasks like bathing the baby -- New Yorker
un·tie [-'tī] -vb
- to free from something that ties, fastens, or restrains : unbind
- to disengage the knotted parts of
- disentangle, resolve
- to become loosened or unbound
un·til [ən-'til, -'tel; 'ən-,, -tᵊl] -prep
- to
- used as a function word to indicate continuance (as of an action or condition) to a specified time
- before
- not available until tomorrow
until -conj
- up to the time that : up to such time as
- play continued until it got dark
- never able to relax until he took up fishing
- ran until she was breathless
un·time·ly [,ən-'tīm-lē] -adv
- at an inopportune time : unseasonably
- before the due, natural, or proper time : prematurely
- went untimely to the grave
untimely -adj, n
- inopportune, unseasonable
- occurring or done before the due, natural, or proper time : too early : premature
un·time·ous [-'tī-məs] -adj
- untimely
un·tir·ing [-'tī-riŋ] -adj, adv
- not becoming tired : indefatigable
un·ti·tled [-'tī-tᵊld] -adj
- having no title or right to rule
- not named
- not called by a title
un·to ['ən-(,)tü] -prep
- to
- used as a function word to indicate reference or concern
- they became a world unto themselves -- Anne T. Fleming
un·told [,ən-'tōld] -adj
- not told or related
- kept secret
- too great or numerous to count : incalculable, vast
un·touch·abil·i·ty [,ən-,tə-chə-'bi-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being untouchable
- the state of being an untouchable
un·touch·able [,ən-'tə-chə-bəl] -adj
- forbidden to the touch : not to be handled
- exempt from criticism or control
- lying beyond reach
- disagreeable or defiling to the touch
untouchable -n
- one that is untouchable
- a member of a large formerly segregated hereditary group in India having in traditional Hindu belief the quality of defiling by contact a member of a higher caste
un·touched [,ən-'təcht] -adj
- not subjected to touching : not handled
- not described or dealt with
- not tasted
- being in the first or a primeval state or condition
- not influenced : unaffected
un·to·ward [,ən-'tō-ərd, -'tȯ(-ə)rd; ,ən-tə-'wȯrd] -adj, adv, n
- difficult to guide, manage, or work with : unruly, intractable
- marked by trouble or unhappiness : unlucky
- not favorable : adverse, unpropitious
- improper, indecorous
un·track [,ən-'trak] -vt
- to cause to escape from a slump
- couldn't get untrack ed and played poorly throughout the game
un·tread [,ən-'tred] -vt
- to tread back : retrace
un·tried [-'trīd] -adj
- not tested or proved by experience or trial
- a recruit untried in combat
- not tried in court
un·trod·den [-'trä-dᵊn] -adj
- not trod : untraversed
un·trou·bled [-'trə-bəld] -adj
- not given trouble : not made uneasy
- untroubled by the age difference
- calm, tranquil
un·true [-'trü] -adj, adv
- not faithful : disloyal
- not according with a standard of correctness : not level or exact
- not according with the facts : false
un·truss [-'trəs] -vt
- untie, unfasten used in the phrase untruss one's points
- undress
- to unfasten or take off one's clothes and esp. one's breeches
un·truth [,ən-'trüth, 'ən-,] -n
- disloyalty
- lack of truthfulness : falsity
- something that is untrue : falsehood
un·truth·ful [-'trüth-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- not containing or telling the truth : false, inaccurate
un·tune [-'tün, -'tyün] -vt
- to put out of tune
- disarrange, discompose
un·tu·tored [-'tü-tərd, -'tyü-] -adj
- having no formal learning or training
- naive, unsophisticated
- not produced or developed by instruction : native
un·twine [-'twīn] -vt
- to unwind the twisted or tangled parts of : disentangle
- to remove by unwinding
- to become disentangled or unwound
un·twist [,ən-'twist] -vt
- to separate the twisted parts of : untwine
- to become untwined
un·twist·ed [-'twis-təd] -adj
- not twisted
un·used [-'yüzd, in the phrase “unused to” usu -'yüs(t)] -adj
- not habituated : unaccustomed
- : not used: as
- fresh, new
- set an unused canvas on the easel
- not put to use : idle
- not consumed : accrued
un·usu·al [-'yü-zhə-wəl, -zhəl; -'yüzh-wəl] -adj, adv, n
- not usual : uncommon, rare
un·ut·ter·able [,ən-'ə-tə-rə-bəl] -adj, adv
- being beyond the powers of description : inexpressible
un·val·ued [-'val-(,)yüd, -yəd] -adj
- invaluable
- not important or prized : disregarded
- not appraised
un·var·nished [-'vär-nisht] -adj
- not adorned or glossed : plain, straightforward
- told the unvarnished truth
- artless, frank
- the unvarnished candor of old people and children -- Janet Flanner
- not coated with or as if with varnish : crude, unfinished
un·veil [,ən-'vāl] -vt
- to remove a veil or covering from
- to make public : divulge, reveal
- a good time to unveil their plans
- to throw off a veil or protective cloak
un·veiled [-'vāld] -adj
- not veiled : open, revealed
un·vo·cal [,ən-'vō-kəl] -adj
- not eloquent or outspoken : inarticulate
- not musical : discordant
un·voice [-'vȯis] -vt
- devoice
un·voiced [-'vȯist] -adj
- not verbally expressed
- voiceless
un·war·rant·able [-'wȯr-ən-tə-bəl, -'wär-] -adj, adv
- not justifiable : inexcusable
un·wary [,ən-'wer-ē] -adj, adv, n
- not alert : easily fooled or surprised : heedless, gullible
un·washed [-'wȯsht, -'wäsht] -adj, n
- not cleaned with or as if with soap and water
- ignorant, plebeian
unwashed -n
- an ignorant or underprivileged group : rabble usu. used with great
un·watch·able [,ən-'wä-chə-bəl, -'wȯ-] -adj
- not suitable or fit for watching : tending to discourage watching
un·wea·ried [-'wir-ēd] -adj, adv
- not tired or jaded : fresh
un·weave [-'wēv] -vt
- disentangle, unravel
un·weet·ing [-'wē-tiŋ] -adj, adv
- unwitting
un·weight [-'wāt] -vt
- to reduce momentarily the force exerted by (as a ski) upon a surface by shifting the weight or position of one's body
- to unweight something by shifting the weight or position of one's body
un·well [,ən-'wel] -adj
- being in poor health : ailing, sick
- undergoing menstruation
un·whole·some [-'hōl-səm] -adj, adv
- detrimental to physical, mental, or moral well-being : unhealthy
- corrupt, unsound
- shady unwholesome dealings
- offensive to the senses : loathsome
un·wieldy [-'wēl-dē] -adj, adv, n
- not easily managed, handled, or used (as because of bulk, weight, complexity, or awkwardness) : cumbersome
un·will·ing [-'wi-liŋ] -adj, adv, n
- : not willing:
- loath, reluctant
- done or given reluctantly
- offering opposition : obstinate
un·wind [-'wīnd] -vb
- to cause to uncoil : wind off : unroll
- to free from or as if from a binding or wrapping
- to release from tension : relax
- to trace to the end
- unwind ing the labryinth and bringing the hero out -- Laurence Sterne
- to undo (a financial arrangement or position) through the necessary legal or financial steps
- unwound most of its natural gas hedges -- N.Y. Times
- to become uncoiled or disentangled : unfold
- to become released from tension
un·wis·dom [,ən-'wiz-dəm] -n
- lack of wisdom : foolishness, folly
un·wise [-'wīz] -adj, adv
- lacking wisdom or good sense : foolish, imprudent
un·wish [-'wish] -vt
- to wish away
un·wit·ting [-'wi-tiŋ] -adj, adv
- not knowing : unaware
- kept the truth from their unwitting friends
- not intended : inadvertent
un·wont·ed [-'wȯn-təd, -'wōn- also -'wən- or -'wän-] -adj, adv, n
- being out of the ordinary : rare, unusual
- not accustomed by experience
un·world·ly [-'wər(-ə)l-dlē, -'wərl-lē] -adj, n
- not of this world : unearthly
- spiritual
- not wise in the ways of the world : naive
- not swayed by mundane considerations
un·worn [-'wȯrn] -adj
- not impaired by use : not worn away
- not worn : new
- not jaded : fresh, original
un·wor·thy [,ən-'wər-thē] -adj, adv, n
- lacking in excellence or value : poor, worthless
- base, dishonorable
- not meritorious : undeserving
- not deserved : unmerited
- inappropriate to one's condition or station
- actions unworthy of a gentleman
un·wrap [-'rap] -vt
- to remove the wrapping from : disclose
- unwrap evidence in a criminal case
un·wreathe [-'rēth] -vt
- uncoil, untwist
un·writ·ten [-'ri-tᵊn] -adj
- not expressed in writing : oral, traditional
- containing no writing : blank
unwritten constitution -n
- a constitution not embodied in a single document but based chiefly on custom and precedent as expressed in statutes and judicial decisions
unwritten law -n
- law based chiefly on custom rather than legislative enactments
un·yield·ing [,ən-'yēl-diŋ] -adj, adv
- characterized by firmness or obduracy
- characterized by lack of softness or flexibility
un·yoke [-'yōk] -vt
- to free from a yoke or harness
- to take apart : disjoin
- to unharness a draft animal
- to cease from work
un·zip [-'zip] -vt
- to zip open
- to open by or as if by means of a zipper