mu ['myü, 'mü] -n
- the 12th letter of the Greek alphabet
muc- -comb form
- mucus
- mucous and
much ['məch] -adj
- great in quantity, amount, extent, or degree
- there is much truth in what you say
- great in importance or significance
- many in number
- more than is expected or acceptable : more than enough
- the large pizza is a bit much for one person
- to a great degree or extent : considerably
- very
- frequently, often
- by or for a long time
- didn't get to work much before noon
- by far
- was much the brightest student
- nearly, approximately
- looks much the way his father did
- a great quantity, amount, extent, or degree
- something considerable or impressive
mu·cha·cho [mü-'chä-(,)chō] -n
- a male servant
- a young man
much as -conj
- however much : even though
much less -conj
- not to mention used esp. in negative contexts to add to one item another denoting something less likely
- had trouble paying for a car, much less a high-definition TV
much·ness ['məch-nəs] -n
- the quality or state of being great in quantity, extent, or degree
mu·ci·lage ['myü-s(ə-)lij] -n
- a gelatinous substance of various plants (as legumes or seaweeds) that contains protein and polysaccharides and is similar to plant gums
- an aqueous usu. viscid solution (as of a gum) used esp. as an adhesive
mu·ci·lag·i·nous [,myü-sə-'la-jə-nəs] -adj, adv
- sticky, viscid
- of, relating to, full of, or secreting mucilage
mu·cin ['myü-sᵊn] -n, adj
- any of various mucoproteins that occur esp. in secretions of mucous membranes
muck ['mək] -n, adj
- soft moist farmyard manure
- slimy dirt or filth
- defamatory remarks or writings
- rubbish, nonsense
- dark highly organic soil
- mire, mud
- something resembling muck : gunk
- material removed in the process of excavating or mining
- to clean up
- to clear of manure or filth usu. used with out
- to clear of muck
- to dress (as soil) with muck
- to dirty with or as if with muck : soil
- to move or load muck (as in a mine)
- to engage in aimless activity usu. used with about or around
- putter, tinker usu. used with about or around
- muck ing around with his computer
- interfere, meddle usu. used with about or around
muck·etymuck ['mə-kə-tē-,mək] -n
- an important and often arrogant person
muck·rake ['mək-,rāk] -vi, n
- to search out and publicly expose real or apparent misconduct of a prominent individual or business
muck up -vt
- to make a mess of : bungle, spoil
mu·co·cu·ta·ne·ous [,myü-kō-kyü-'tā-nē-əs] -adj
- made up of or involving both typical skin and mucous membrane
mu·coid ['myü-,kȯid] -adj
- resembling mucus
mucoid -n
- mucoprotein
mu·co·lyt·ic [,myü-kə-'li-tik] -adj
- hydrolyzing glycosaminoglycans : tending to break down or lower the viscosity of mucin-containing body secretions or components
mu·co·pep·tide [,myü-kō-'pep-,tīd] -n
- peptidoglycan
mu·co·poly·sac·cha·ride ['myü-kō-,pä-li-'sa-kə-,rīd] -n
- glycosaminoglycan
mu·co·pro·tein [,myü-kə-'prō-,tēn also -'prō-tē-ən] -n
- any of various complex conjugated proteins (as mucins) that contain polysaccharides and occur in body fluids and tissues
mu·co·sa [myü-'kō-zə] -n, adj
- mucous membrane
mu·cous ['myü-kəs] -adj
- of, relating to, or resembling mucus
- secreting or containing mucus
- covered with or as if with mucus : slimy
mucous membrane -n
- a membrane rich in mucous glands
- one that lines body passages and cavities which communicate directly or indirectly with the exterior
mu·cro ['myü-,krō] -n, adj
- an abrupt sharp terminal point or tip or process (as of a leaf)
mu·cus ['myü-kəs] -n
- a viscid slippery secretion that is usu. rich in mucins and is produced by mucous membranes which it moistens and protects
mud ['məd] -n
- a slimy sticky mixture of solid material with a liquid and esp. water
- soft wet earth
- abusive and malicious remarks or charges
- political campaigners slinging mud at each other
- anathema usu. used in the phrase one's name is mud
- a mixture of water, clay, and chemicals used in oil-well drilling and having various functions (as lubrication and cooling of the bit and flushing of rock particles to the surface)
- to make muddy or turbid
- to treat or plaster with mud
mud·bug ['məd-,bəg] -n
- crayfish
mud dauber -n
- any of various wasps (esp. family Sphecidae) that construct mud cells in which the female places an egg with spiders or insects paralyzed by a sting to serve as food for the larva
mud·dle ['mə-dᵊl] -vb, n
- to make turbid or muddy
- to befog or stupefy esp. with liquor
- to mix confusedly
- to make a mess of : bungle
- to think or act in a confused aimless way
muddle ['məd-lē, 'mə-dᵊl-ē] -n, adj
- a state of esp. mental confusion
- a confused mess
mud·dle·head·ed [,mə-dᵊl-'he-dəd] -adj, adv, n
- mentally confused
- inept, bungling
muddle through -vi
- to achieve a degree of success without much planning or effort
mud·dy ['mə-dē] -adj, adv, n
- morally impure : base
- full of or covered with mud
- characteristic or suggestive of mud
- turbid with sediment
- lacking in clarity or brightness : cloudy, dull
- obscure in meaning : muddled, confused
muddy -vt
- to soil or stain with or as if with mud
- to make turbid
- to make cloudy or dull
- confuse
Mu·de·jar [mü-'the-,här, -,k̲är] -n, adj
- a Muslim living under a Christian king esp. during the 8th to 11th centuries
mud flap -n
- splash guard
mud·flat ['məd-,flat] -n
- a level tract lying at little depth below the surface of water or alternately covered and left bare by the tide
mud·flow [-,flō] -n
- a moving mass of soil made fluid by rain or melting snow
- lahar
mud·guard [-,gärd] -n
- fender
- splash guard
- a strip of material applied to a shoe upper just above the sole for protection against dampness or as an ornament
mud puppy -n
- a large No. American salamander ( Necturus maculosus) that has external gills and is gray to rusty brown usu. with bluish-black spots
mu·dra [mə-'drä] -n
- one of the symbolic hand gestures used in religious ceremonies and dances of India and in yoga
mud·room ['məd-,rüm, -,ru̇m] -n
- a room in a house designed esp. for the shedding of dirty or wet footwear and clothing and located typically off the kitchen or in the basement
mud·sill [-,sil] -n
- a supporting sill (as of a building or bridge) resting directly on a base and esp. the earth
- a person of the lowest social level
mud·skip·per [-,ski-pər] -n
- any of several Asian and African gobies (genera Periophthalmusand Boleophthalmus) that are able to skip about actively over wet mud and sand
mud·slide ['məd-,slīd] -n
- mudflow
- a cocktail made with coffee liqueur, vodka, and cream
mud·sling·er [-,sliŋ-ər] -n
- one that uses offensive epithets and invective esp. against a political opponent
mud·stone [-,stōn] -n
- an indurated shale produced by the consolidation of mud
mud turtle -n
- any of a genus ( Kinosternon) of American bottom-dwelling freshwater turtles with two transverse hinges on the plastron
Muen·ster ['mən(t)-stər, 'mün(t)-, 'mu̇n(t)-, 'min(t)-] -n
- a semisoft cheese that may be bland or sharp in flavor
mues·li ['myüs-lē, 'myüz-] -n
- a breakfast cereal of Swiss origin consisting of rolled oats, nuts, and fruit
mu·ez·zin [mü-'e-zᵊn, myü-; 'mwe-zᵊn] -n
- a Muslim crier who calls the hour of daily prayers
muff ['məf] -n
- a warm tubular covering for the hands
- to handle awkwardly
- to fail to hold (a ball) when attempting a catch
- to act or do something stupidly or clumsily
- to muff a ball
- a bungling performance
- a failure to hold a ball in attempting a catch
muf·fin ['mə-fən] -n
- a quick bread made of batter containing egg and baked in a pan having cuplike molds
muf·fle ['mə-fəl] -vt
- to wrap up so as to conceal or protect : envelop
- blindfold
- to wrap or pad with something to dull the sound
- to deaden the sound of
- keep down, suppress
muf·fler ['mə-flər] -n, adj
- a scarf worn around the neck
- something that hides or disguises
- a device to deaden noise
- one forming part of the exhaust system of an automotive vehicle
muf·fu·let·ta [,mə-fə-'le-tə] -n
- a sandwich made with round Italian bread and filled usu. with cold cuts, cheese, and olive salad
muf·ti ['məf-tē, 'mu̇f-] -n
- a professional jurist who interprets Muslim law
- ordinary dress as distinguished from that denoting an occupation or station
- civilian clothes when worn by a person in the armed forces
mug ['məg] -n
- a cylindrical drinking cup
- the face or mouth of a person
- grimace
- mug shot
- fool, blockhead
- a person easily deceived
- punk, thug
- to pose or make faces esp. to attract attention or for a camera
- photograph
- to assault usu. with intent to rob
- to attack suddenly : bushwhack
- got mugged in the press by his colleagues
mug·ger ['mə-gər] -n
- a usu. harmless freshwater crocodile ( Crocodylus palustris) of the Indian subcontinent with a broad heavy snout
mugger -n
- one who attacks with intent to rob
- one that grimaces esp. before an audience
mug·gy ['mə-gē] -adj, n
- being warm, damp, and close
Mughal ['mō-(,)gəl] -n, adj
(variant of mogul)
- an Indian Muslim of or descended from one of several conquering groups of Mongol, Turkish, and Persian origin
- great mogul
- a great personage : magnate
- a bump in a ski run
mu·gho pine ['mü-(,)gō-, 'myü-] -n
- a shrubby spreading European pine ( Pinus mugo) widely cultivated as an ornamental called also mugo pine
mug's game ['məgz-] -n
- a profitless or futile activity
mug shot -n
- a photograph of usu. a person's head and esp. face
- a police photograph of a suspect's face or profile
mug up -vi
- to study intensively (as for an examination)
- to work up by study
mug·wort ['məg-,wərt, -wȯrt] -n
- any of several artemisias
- a Eurasian perennial herb ( Artemisia vulgaris) that is naturalized in No. America and has aromatic leaves used in folk medicine and to flavor beverages
- the leaves of a mugwort compare moxa
mug·wump ['məg-,wəmp] -n
- a bolter from the Republican party in 1884
- a person who is independent (as in politics) or who remains undecided or neutral
Mu·ham·mad·an [mō-'ha-mə-dən, -'hä- also mü-] -adj, n
- of or relating to Muhammad or Islam
Muhammadan calendar -n
- islamic calendar
Muhammadan era -n
- islamic era
Mu·har·ram [mü-'ha-rəm] -n
- the first month of the Islamic year
- a Muslim festival held during Muharram
mu·ja·hid·een [mü-,ja-hi-'dēn, mu̇-, -,jä-] -n pl
- Islamic guerrilla fighters esp. in the Middle East
mujik [mü-'zhēk, -'zhik] -n
(variant of muzhik)
- a Russian peasant
muk·luk ['mək-,lək] -n
- a sealskin or reindeer-skin boot worn by Eskimos
- a boot often of duck with a soft leather sole and worn over several pairs of socks
muk·tuk ['mək-,tək] -n
- whale skin used for food
mu·lat·to [mə-'la-(,)tō, mu̇-, myu̇-, -'lä-] -n
- the first-generation offspring of a black person and a white person
- a person of mixed white and black ancestry
mul·ber·ry ['məl-,ber-ē, -b(ə-)rē] -n
- any of a genus ( Morusof the family Moraceae, the mulberry family) of trees with an edible usu. purple multiple fruit that is an aggregate of juicy one-seeded drupes
- the fruit
- a dark purple or purplish black
mulch ['məlch] -n, vt
- a protective covering (as of sawdust, compost, or paper) spread or left on the ground to reduce evaporation, maintain even soil temperature, prevent erosion, control weeds, enrich the soil, or keep fruit (as strawberries) clean
mulct ['məlkt] -n
- fine, penalty
- to punish by a fine
- to defraud esp. of money : swindle
- to obtain by fraud, duress, or theft
mule ['myül] -n
- a hybrid between a horse and a donkey
- the offspring of a male donkey and a mare
- a self-sterile plant whether hybrid or not
- a usu. sterile hybrid
- a very stubborn person
- a machine for simultaneously drawing and twisting fiber into yarn or thread and winding it into cops
- a person who smuggles or delivers illicit substances (as drugs)
- a shoe or slipper without quarter or heel strap
mule deer -n
- a long-eared deer ( Odocoileus hemionus) of western No. America that is larger and more heavily built than the white-tailed deer
mule skinner -n
- muleteer
mu·le·ta [mü-'lā-tə, myü-] -n
- a small cloth attached to a short tapered stick and used by a matador in place of the large cape during the final stage of a bullfight
mu·le·teer [,myü-lə-'tir] -n
- one who drives mules
mu·ley ['myü-lē, 'mu̇-, 'mü-] -adj
- polled, hornless
- naturally hornless
mu·li·eb·ri·ty [,myü-lē-'e-brə-tē] -n
- femininity
mul·ish ['myü-lish] -adj, adv, n
- unreasonably and inflexibly obstinate
mull ['məl] -vb
- to grind or mix thoroughly : pulverize
- to consider at length : ponder often used with over
- meditate, ponder
- to heat, sweeten, and flavor (as wine or cider) with spices
- a soft fine sheer fabric of cotton, silk, or rayon
- friable forest humus that forms a layer of mixed organic matter and mineral soil and merges gradually into the mineral soil beneath
- a finely powdered solid esp. in a suspension
mul·lah ['mə-lə, 'mu̇-] -n
- an educated Muslim trained in religious law and doctrine and usu. holding an official post
mul·lein ['mə-lən] -n
- any of a genus ( Verbascum) of usu. woolly-leaved Eurasian herbs of the snapdragon family including some that are naturalized in No. America
mullein pink -n
- an Old World herb ( Lychnis coronaria) of the pink family cultivated chiefly for its herbage and crimson flowers
mull·er ['mə-lər] -n
- a stone or piece of wood, metal, or glass used as a pestle for pounding or grinding
Mul·le·ri·an [myü-'lir-ē-ən, mi-, ,mə-] -adj
- of, relating to, or being mimicry that exists between two or more inedible or dangerous species (as of butterflies) and that is considered in evolutionary theory to be a mechanism reducing loss to predation by simplification of the recognition process by predators
mul·let ['mə-lət] -n
- any of a family (Mugilidae) of chiefly marine bony fishes with an elongate rather stout body
- a hairstyle in which the hair is short on the sides and top and long at the back
mul·li·gan ['mə-li-gən] -n
- a free shot sometimes given a golfer in informal play when the previous shot was poorly played
mulligan stew -n
- a stew made from whatever ingredients are available
mul·li·ga·taw·ny [,mə-li-gə-'tȯ-nē, -'tä-] -n
- a rich soup usu. of chicken stock seasoned with curry
mul·lion ['məl-yən] -n, vt
- a slender vertical member that forms a division between units of a window, door, or screen or is used decoratively
mull·ite ['mə-,līt] -n
- a mineral that is an orthorhombic silicate of aluminum which is resistant to corrosion and heat and is used as a refractory
multi- -comb form
- many : multiple : much
- more than two
- more than one
- many times over
mul·ti·cen·ter ['məl-tē-,sen-tər, 'məl-,tī-] -adj
- involving more than one medical or research institution
- a multicenter clinical study
mul·ti·cul·ti ['məl-tē-'kəl-tē] -adj
- multicultural
mul·ti·cul·tur·al [,məl-tē-'kəlch-rəl, -,tī-, -'kəl-chə-] -adj, n, n or adj, adv
- of, relating to, reflecting, or adapted to diverse cultures
mul·ti·en·zyme [-'en-,zīm] -adj
- composed of or involving two or more enzymes that function in a biosynthetic pathway
mul·ti·eth·nic [-'eth-nik] -adj, n
- made up of people of various ethnicities
- of, relating to, reflecting, or adapted to diverse ethnicities
mul·ti·fac·e·ted [-'fa-sə-təd] -adj
- having many facets or aspects
mul·ti·fac·to·ri·al [-fak-'tȯr-ē-əl] -adj, adv
- having characters or a mode of inheritance dependent on a number of genes at different loci
- having, involving, or produced by a variety of elements or causes
mul·ti·far·i·ous [,məl-tə-'fer-ē-əs] -adj, n
- having or occurring in great variety : diverse
mul·ti·flo·ra rose [,məl-tə-'flȯr-ə-] -n
- a vigorous thorny rose ( Rosa multiflora) with clusters of small flowers
mul·ti·fold ['məl-ti-,fōld] -adj
- many, numerous
mul·ti·form ['məl-ti-,fȯrm] -adj, n
- having many forms or appearances
mul·ti·germ [,məl-tē-'jərm, -,tī-] -adj
- producing or being a fruit cluster capable of giving rise to several plants
- a multigerm variety of sugar beet
mul·ti·hull ['məl-tē-,həl, -,tī-] -n, adj
- a vessel (as a catamaran or trimaran) with multiple side-by-side hulls
mul·tiin·stru·men·tal·ist [,məl-tē-,in(t)-strə-'men-tə-list, -,tī-] -n
- a musician who plays two or more instruments
mul·ti·lat·er·al [,məl-tē-'la-t(ə-)rəl, -,tī-] -adj, n, adv
- having many sides
- involving or participated in by more than two nations or parties
mul·ti·lay·ered [-'lā-ərd, -'lerd] -adj
- having or involving several distinct layers, strata, or levels
mul·ti·lin·gual [-'liŋ-gwəl, -'liŋ-gyə-wəl] -adj, n, adv
- of, having, or expressed in several languages
- multilingual dictionaries
- using or able to use several languages esp. with equal fluency
mul·ti·me·dia [-'mē-dē-ə] -adj
- using, involving, or encompassing several media
- a multimedia approach to learning
multimedia -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a technique (as the combining of sound, video, and text) for expressing ideas (as in communication, entertainment, or art) in which several media are employed
- something (as software) using or facilitating such a technique
mul·tim·e·ter [,məl-'ti-mə-tər] -n
- an instrument for measuring the properties of an electrical circuit (as resistance, voltage, or current)
mul·ti·mod·al [-'mō-dᵊl] -adj
- having or involving several modes, modalities, or maxima
mul·ti·na·tion·al [-'nash-nəl, -'na-shə-nᵊl] -adj, n
- of or relating to more than two nationalities
- of, relating to, or involving more than two nations
- having divisions in more than two countries
- a multinational corporation
mul·ti·no·mi·al [-'nō-mē-əl] -n, adj
- a mathematical expression that consists of the sum of several terms : polynomial
mul·ti·pack ['məl-tē-,pak] -n
- a package of several individually packed items sold as a unit
mul·tip·a·rous [,məl-'ti-pə-rəs] -adj
- producing many or more than one at a birth
- having experienced one or more previous parturitions
mul·ti·par·tite [,məl-ti-'pär-,tīt] -adj
- divided into several or many parts
- having numerous members or signatories
mul·ti·plat·i·num [,məl-tē-'plat-nəm, -'pla-tə-nəm, -,tī-] -adj
- having sold two million or more copies of an album
mul·ti·ple ['məl-tə-pəl] -adj
- consisting of, including, or involving more than one
- many, manifold
- shared by many
- having numerous aspects or functions : various
- being a group of terminals which make a circuit available at a number of points
- formed by coalescence of the ripening ovaries of several flowers
multiple -n
- the product of a quantity by an integer
- something in units of more than one or two
- parallel
- chain store
multiple allele -n
- an allele of a genetic locus having more than two allelic forms within a population
multiple chemical sensitivity -n
- a variable group of symptoms (as tachycardia, sweating, fatigue, nausea, trembling, and difficulty concentrating) that typically occur in susceptible individuals upon exposure to low concentrations of usu. harmless chemicals called also multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome
multiplechoice -adj
- having several answers from which one is to be chosen
- a multiplechoice question
- composed of multiple-choice questions
multiple factor -n
- one of a group of nonallelic genes that according to the multiple-factor hypothesis control various quantitative hereditary characters
multiple myeloma -n
- a disease of bone marrow that is characterized by the presence of numerous myelomas in various bones of the body
multiple personality disorder -n
- a disorder that is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct and complex identities or personality states each of which becomes dominant and controls behavior from time to time to the exclusion of the others and results from disruption in the integrated functions of consciousness, memory, and identity called also multiple personality dissociative identity disorder
multiple regression -n
- regression in which one variable is estimated by the use of more than one other variable
multiple sclerosis -n
- a demyelinating disease marked by patches of hardened tissue in the brain or the spinal cord and associated esp. with partial or complete paralysis and jerking muscle tremor
multiple star -n
- several stars in close proximity that appear to form a single system
multiple store -n
- chain store
mul·ti·plet ['məl-tə-plət] -n
- a spectrum line having several components
- a group of elementary particles that are different in charge but similar in other properties (as mass)
multiplevalued -adj
- having at least one and sometimes more of the values of the range associated with each value of the domain
- a multiplevalued function
mul·ti·plex ['məl-tə-,pleks] -adj
- many, multiple
- being or relating to a system of transmitting several messages or signals simultaneously on the same circuit or channel
multiplex [-,plek-sər] -vt, n
- to send (messages or signals) by a multiplex system
- to multiplex messages or signals
- a complex that houses several movie theaters
mul·ti·pli·cand [,məl-tə-plə-'kand] -n
- the number that is to be multiplied by another
mul·ti·pli·ca·tion [,məl-tə-plə-'kā-shən] -n
- the act or process of multiplying : the state of being multiplied
- a mathematical operation that at its simplest is an abbreviated process of adding an integer to itself a specified number of times and that is extended to other numbers in accordance with laws that are valid for integers
- any of various mathematical operations that are analogous in some way to multiplication of the real numbers but are defined for other or larger sets of elements (as complex numbers, vectors, matrices, or functions)
multiplication sign -n
- : a symbol used to indicate multiplication:
- times sign
- dot
mul·ti·pli·ca·tive [,məl-tə-'pli-kə-tiv, 'məl-tə-plə-,kā-tiv] -adj, adv
- tending or having the power to multiply
- of, relating to, or associated with a mathematical operation of multiplication
- the multiplicative property of 0 requires that a 0 0 and 0 a 0
multiplicative identity -n
- an identity element (as 1 in the group of rational numbers without 0) that in a given mathematical system leaves unchanged any element by which it is multiplied
multiplicative inverse -n
- an element of a mathematical set that when multiplied by a given element yields the identity element called also reciprocal
mul·ti·plic·i·ty [,məl-tə-'pli-sə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being multiple or various
- the number of components in a system (as a multiplet or a group of energy levels)
- a great number
- the number of times a root of an equation or zero of a function occurs when there is more than one root or zero
- the multiplicity of x 2 for the equation ( x 2) 3 0 is 3
mul·ti·pli·er ['məl-tə-,plī(-ə)r] -n
- : one that multiplies: as
- a number by which another number is multiplied
- an instrument or device for multiplying or intensifying some effect
- a machine, mechanism, or circuit that multiplies figures
mul·ti·ply ['məl-tə-,plī] -vb
- to increase in number esp. greatly or in multiples : augment
- to find the product of by multiplication
- to use as a multiplicand in multiplication with another number
- to become greater in number : spread
- breed, propagate
- to perform multiplication
- in a multiple manner : in several ways
- multiply talented children
mul·tiply [,məl-tē-'plī, -,tī-] -adj
- composed of several plies
mul·ti·po·lar [-'pō-lər] -adj, n
- having several poles
- having several dendrites
- characterized by more than two centers of power or interest
mul·ti·po·ten·tial [-pə-'ten(t)-shəl] -adj
- having the potential of becoming any of several mature cell types
mul·ti·pro·cess·ing [-'prä-,se-siŋ, -'prō-, -sə-siŋ] -n
- the processing of several computer programs at the same time esp. by a computer system with two or more processors sharing a single memory
mul·ti·pro·gram·ming [-'prō-,gra-miŋ, -grə-] -n
- the technique of utilizing several interleaved programs concurrently in a single computer system
mul·ti·pronged [-'prȯŋd] -adj
- having several prongs
- multipronged fishing spears
- having several distinct aspects or elements
- a multipronged attack on the problem
mul·ti·ra·cial [-'rā-shəl] -adj, n
- composed of, involving, or representing various races
mul·ti·sense ['məl-tē-,sen(t)s] -adj
- having several meanings
mul·ti·sen·so·ry [,məl-tē-'sen(t)-sə-rē, -'sen(t)s-rē] -adj
- relating to or involving several physiological senses
mul·ti·spec·tral [-'spek-trəl] -adj
- of or relating to two or more ranges of frequencies or wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum
mul·ti·stage ['məl-tē-,stāj, -,tī-] -adj
- having successive operating stages
- having propulsion units that operate in turn
- conducted by or occurring in stages
- a multistage investigation
mul·ti·state [-,stāt] -adj
- having divisions in several states
- of, relating to, or involving several states
mul·ti·task·ing [-,tas-kiŋ] -n, vi
- the concurrent performance of several jobs by a computer
- the performance of multiple tasks at one time
mul·ti·tu·ber·cu·late [,məl-tē-,tü-'bər-kyə-lət] -n
- any of an order (Multituberculata) of relatively small extinct mammals of the Mesozoic and early Cenozoic that typically resembled rodents, had many-cusped molars, and have no known living descendants
mul·ti·tude ['məl-tə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n
- the state of being many
- a great number : host
- a great number of people
- populace, public
mul·ti·tu·di·nous [,məl-tə-'tüd-nəs, -'tyüd-; -'tü-dᵊn-əs, -'tyü-] -adj, adv, n
- including a multitude of individuals : populous
- existing in a great multitude
- multitudinous opportunities
- existing in or consisting of innumerable elements or aspects
mul·ti·us·er [,məl-tī-'yü-zər, -tē-, -ti-] -adj
- able to be used by more than one person simultaneously
mul·tiv·a·lence [,məl-'ti-və-lən(t)s] -n
- the quality or state of having many values, meanings, or appeals
mul·ti·va·lent [,məl-tē-'vā-lənt, -,tī-, esp in sense 3 ,məl-'ti-və-] -adj, n
- polyvalent
- represented more than twice in the somatic chromosome number
- having many values, meanings, or appeals
mul·ti·var·i·able [,məl-tē-'ver-ē-ə-bəl, -,tī-] -adj
- multivariate
mul·ti·var·i·ate [-'ver-ē-ət, -,āt] -adj
- having or involving a number of independent mathematical or statistical variables
- multivariate data analysis
mul·ti·ver·si·ty [-'vər-sə-tē, -stē] -n
- a very large university with many component schools, colleges, or divisions and widely diverse functions
mul·ti·vi·ta·min [-'vī-tə-mən, Brit usu -'vi-] -adj
- containing several vitamins and esp. all known to be essential to health
multivitamin -n
- a multivitamin preparation
mul·ti·vol·tine [-'vōl-,tēn, -'vȯl-] -adj
- having several broods in a season
mul·ture ['məl-chər, Scot usu 'mü-tər] -n
- a fee for grinding grain at a mill
mum ['məm] -adj
- silent
- to perform in a pantomime
- to go about merrymaking in disguise during festivals
- a strong ale or beer
mum ['mäm, 'məm] -n
(variant of mom)
- mother
mum·ble ['məm-bəl] -vb, n, adj
- to utter words in a low confused indistinct manner : mutter
- to utter with a low inarticulate voice
- to chew or bite with or as if with toothless gums
mum·ble·typeg ['məm-bəl-(tē-),peg, -blē-,peg] -n
- a game in which the players try to flip a knife from various positions so that the blade will stick into the ground
mum·bo jum·bo [,məm-bō-'jəm-(,)bō] -n
- an object of superstitious homage and fear
- a complicated often ritualistic observance with elaborate trappings
- complicated activity or language usu. intended to obscure and confuse
- unnecessarily involved and incomprehensible language : gibberish
- language, behavior, or beliefs based on superstition
mum·mer ['mə-mər] -n
- a performer in a pantomime
- actor
- one who goes merrymaking in disguise during festivals
mum·mery ['mə-mə-rē] -n
- a performance by mummers
- a ridiculous, hypocritical, or pretentious ceremony or performance
mum·mi·chog ['mə-mi-,chȯg, -,chäg] -n
- a common killifish ( Fundulus heteroclitusof the family Cyprinodontidae) of eastern No. America
mum·mi·fy ['mə-mi-,fī] -vb, n
- to embalm and dry as or as if a mummy
- to make into or like a mummy
- to cause to dry up and shrivel
- to dry up and shrivel like a mummy
mum·my ['mə-mē] -n
- a body embalmed or treated for burial with preservatives in the manner of the ancient Egyptians
- a body unusually well preserved
- one resembling a mummy
mummy ['mä-mē, 'mə-mē] -n
(variant of mommy)
- mother
mumps ['məmps] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- an acute contagious virus disease caused by a paramyxovirus (species Mumps virusof the genus Rubulavirus) and marked by fever and by swelling esp. of the parotid gland
mun -abbr
- municipal
munch ['mənch] -vb, n
- to eat with a chewing action
- many a mouthful is munch ed in private -- Washington Irving
- to snack on
- drank coffee and munch ed homemade cookies -- Lady Bird Johnson
- to eat or chew something
- snack usu. used with on
Mun·chau·sen syndrome ['mən-,chau̇-zən-, ,mən-'chau̇-] -n
- a psychological disorder characterized by the feigning of the symptoms of a disease or injury in order to undergo diagnostic tests, hospitalization, or medical or surgical treatment called also Munchausen's syndrome
Munchausen syndrome by proxy -n
- a psychological disorder in which a parent and typically a mother harms her child (as by poisoning), falsifies the child's medical history, or tampers with the child's medical specimens in order to create a situation that requires or seems to require medical attention called also Munchausen's syndrome by proxy
munch·ies ['mən-chēz] -n pl
- hunger pangs
- light snack foods
munch·kin ['mənch-,kin] -n
- a person who is notably small and often endearing
Mun·da ['mu̇n-də] -n
- a branch of the Austroasiatic language family spoken by tribal peoples of central and eastern India
mun·dane [,mən-'dān, 'mən-,] -adj, adv, n
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the world
- characterized by the practical, transitory, and ordinary : commonplace
- the mundane concerns of day-to-day life
mun·dun·gus [,mən-'dəŋ-gəs] -n
- foul-smelling tobacco
mung bean ['məŋ-] -n
- an erect bushy annual bean ( Vigna radiatasyn. Phaseolus aureus) that is widely cultivated in warm regions for its edible usu. green or yellow seeds, for forage, and as the chief source of bean sprouts
- its seed
mun·go ['məŋ-(,)gō] -n
- reclaimed wool of poor quality and very short staple
mu·ni ['myü-nē] -n
- municipal
mu·nic·i·pal [myu̇-'ni-s(ə-)pəl also myə-, mə-, -'ni-sə-bəl, ÷,myü-nə-'si-pəl] -adj
- of or relating to the internal affairs of a major political unit (as a nation)
- of, relating to, or characteristic of a municipality
- having local self-government
- restricted to one locality
municipal -n
- a security issued by a state or local government or by an authority set up by such a government usu. used in pl.
municipal court -n
- a court that sits in some cities and larger towns and that usu. has civil and criminal jurisdiction over cases arising within the municipality
- police court
mu·nic·i·pal·i·ty [myu̇-,ni-sə-'pa-lə-tē] -n
- a primarily urban political unit having corporate status and usu. powers of self-government
- the governing body of a municipality
mu·nic·i·pal·ize [myu̇-'ni-sə-pə-,līz] -vt, n
- to bring under municipal ownership or supervision
- a plan to municipalize utilities
mu·nic·i·pal·ly [myu̇-'ni-sə-p(ə-)lē] -adv
- by or in terms of a municipality
- municipally owned property
mu·nif·i·cent [myu̇-'ni-fə-sənt] -adj, n, adv
- very liberal in giving or bestowing : lavish
- characterized by great liberality or generosity
mu·ni·ment ['myü-nə-mənt] -n
- the evidence (as documents) that enables one to defend the title to an estate or a claim to rights and privileges usu. used in pl.
- a means of defense
mu·ni·tion [myu̇-'ni-shən] -n, vt
- rampart, defense
- armament, ammunition
mun·tin ['mən-tᵊn] -n
- a strip separating panes of glass in a sash
munt·jac ['mən(t)-,jak, 'mən-,chak] -n
- any of a genus ( Muntiacus) of small deer of southeastern Asia with a cry similar to the bark of a dog and having in the male upper canine teeth elongated into small tusks called also barking deer
mu·on ['myü-,än] -n, adj
- an unstable lepton that is common in the cosmic radiation near the earth's surface, has a mass about 207 times the mass of the electron, and exists in negative and positive forms
mu·on·ium [myü-'ō-nē-əm, -'ä-] -n
- a short-lived quasi-atom consisting of an electron and a positive muon
mu·ral ['myu̇r-əl] -adj
- of, relating to, or resembling a wall
- applied to and made integral with a wall or ceiling surface
mural [-ə-list] -n
- a mural work of art (as a painting)
mu·ram·ic acid [myu̇-'ra-mik-] -n
- an amino sugar C 9H 17NO 7that is a lactic acid derivative of glucosamine and is found esp. in bacterial cell walls
mur·der ['mər-dər] -n
- the crime of unlawfully killing a person esp. with malice aforethought
- something very difficult or dangerous
- something outrageous or blameworthy
murder ['mər-d(ə-)riŋ] -vb
- to kill (a human being) unlawfully and with premeditated malice
- to slaughter wantonly : slay
- to put an end to
- tease, torment
- mutilate, mangle
- to defeat badly
- to commit murder
mur·der·ee [,mər-də-'rē] -n
- an actual or potential victim of a murder
mur·der·er ['mər-dər-ər] -n
- one who murders
- one who commits the crime of murder
mur·der·ess ['mər-də-rəs] -n
- a woman who murders
mur·der·ous ['mər-d(ə-)rəs] -adj, adv, n
- having the purpose or capability of murder
- characterized by or causing murder or bloodshed
- having the ability or power to overwhelm : devastating
mu·rein ['myu̇r-ē-ən, 'myu̇r-,ēn] -n
- peptidoglycan
mu·rex ['myu̇r-,eks] -n
- any of a genus ( Murexof the family Muricidae) of marine gastropod mollusks having a rough and often spiny shell, abounding in tropical seas, and yielding a purple dye
mu·ri·ate ['myu̇r-ē-,āt] -n
- chloride
mu·ri·at·ic acid [,myu̇r-ē-'a-tik-] -n
- hydrochloric acid
mu·rid ['myu̇r-əd] -adj, n
- of or relating to a family (Muridae) comprising the typical mice and rats and often those rodents classified as cricetids
mu·rine ['myu̇r-,īn] -adj, n
- of or relating to a murid genus ( Mus) or its subfamily (Murinae) which includes the common household rats and mice
- of, relating to, or involving these rodents and esp. the house mouse
murine typhus -n
- a mild disease that is marked esp. by fever, headache, and rash, is caused by a rickettsia ( Rickettsia typhisyn. R. mooseri), is widespread in nature in rodents, and is transmitted to humans by a flea
murk ['mərk] -n, adj
- gloom, darkness
- fog
murky ['mər-kē] -adj, adv, n
- characterized by a heavy dimness or obscurity caused by or like that caused by overhanging fog or smoke
- characterized by thickness and heaviness of air : foggy, misty
- darkly vague or obscure
mur·mur ['mər-mər] -n
- a half-suppressed or muttered complaint : grumbling
- a low indistinct but often continuous sound
- a soft or gentle utterance
- an atypical sound of the heart typically indicating a functional or structural abnormality
murmur -vi, n
- to make a murmur
- the breeze murmur ed in the pines
- complain, grumble
- to say in a murmur
mur·mur·ous ['mər-mə-rəs, 'mərm-rəs] -adj, adv
- filled with or characterized by murmurs : low and indistinct
Mur·phy ['mər-fē] -n
- any of various confidence games
- one in which the victim believes he is paying for sex
Murphy bed -n
- a bed that may be folded or swung into a closet
Murphy's Law -n
- an observation: anything that can go wrong will go wrong
mur·rain ['mər-ən, 'mə-rən] -n
- a pestilence or plague esp. affecting domestic animals
murre ['mər] -n
- any of a genus ( Uria) of black-and-white alcids
- a common seabird ( U. aalge) of northern seas
murre·let ['mər-lət] -n
- any of several small alcids of No. Pacific islands and coasts
mur·rey ['mər-ē, 'mə-rē] -n
- a purplish black : mulberry
mur·ther ['mər-dər] -n
(variant of murder)
- the crime of unlawfully killing a person esp. with malice aforethought
- something very difficult or dangerous
- something outrageous or blameworthy
mus -abbr
- museum
- music; musical; musician
mus·ca·det [,məs-kə-'dā, -'de] -n
- a dry white wine from the Loire valley of France
mus·ca·dine ['məs-kə-,dīn] -n
- a grape ( Vitis rotundifolia) of the southern U.S. with musky fruits borne in small clusters
- the fruit
mus·cae vo·li·tan·tes ['məs-,kē-,vä-lə-'tan-,tēz, 'mə-,sē-] -n pl
- floater
mus·ca·rine ['məs-kə-,rēn] -n
- a toxic alkaloid base C 9H 20NO 2 that is biochemically related to acetylcholine, is found esp. in fly agaric, and acts directly on smooth muscle
mus·ca·rin·ic [,məs-kə-'ri-nik] -adj
- of, relating to, resembling, producing, or mediating the parasympathetic effects (as a slowed heart rate and increased activity of smooth muscle) produced by muscarine
mus·cat ['məs-,kat, -kət] -n
- muscatel
- any of several cultivated grapes used in making wine and raisins
mus·ca·tel [,məs-kə-'tel] -n
- a sweet fortified wine from muscat grapes
- a raisin from muscat grapes
mus·cle ['mə-səl] -n
- a body tissue consisting of long cells that contract when stimulated and produce motion
- an organ that is essentially a mass of muscle tissue attached at either end to a fixed point and that by contracting moves or checks the movement of a body part
- muscular strength : brawn
- effective strength : power
muscle ['mə-s(ə-)liŋ] -vb
- to move or force by or as if by muscular effort
- muscled him out of office
- to make one's way by brute strength or by force
mus·clebound ['mə-səl-,bau̇nd] -adj
- having some of the muscles tense and enlarged and of impaired elasticity sometimes as a result of excessive exercise
- lacking in flexibility : rigid
muscle car [-,kär] -n
- any of a group of American-made 2-door sports coupes with powerful engines designed for high-performance driving
mus·cled ['mə-səld] -adj
- having muscles esp. of a specified kind often used in combination
mus·cle·man ['mə-səl-,man] -n
- a man with a muscular physique
- bully
muscle spindle -n
- a sensory end organ in a muscle that is sensitive to stretch in the muscle, consists of small striated muscle fibers richly supplied with nerve fibers, and is enclosed in a connective tissue sheath called also stretch receptor
mus·co·vite ['məs-kə-,vīt] -n, adj
- a native or resident of the ancient principality of Moscow or of the city of Moscow
- russian
- a colorless to pale brown form of mica consisting of a silicate of aluminum and potassium
Mus·co·vy duck ['məs-,kō-vē-] -n
- a large dark crested duck ( Cairina moschata) of Central and So. America that is widely kept in domestication
muscul- -comb form
- muscle
- muscular and
mus·cu·lar ['məs-kyə-lər] -adj, n, adv
- of, relating to, or constituting muscle
- of, relating to, or performed by the muscles
- having well-developed musculature
- of or relating to physical strength : brawny
- having strength of expression or character : vigorous
- characterized by forcefulness or resolve
- full-bodied
muscular dystrophy -n
- any of a group of hereditary diseases characterized by progressive wasting of muscles
mus·cu·la·ture ['məs-kyə-lə-,chu̇r, -chər, -,tyu̇r, -,tu̇r] -n
- the muscles of all or a part of the animal body
mus·cu·lo·skel·e·tal [,məs-kyə-lō-'ske-lə-tᵊl] -adj
- of, relating to, or involving both musculature and skeleton
muse ['myüz] -vb, n
- to become absorbed in thought
- to turn something over in the mind meditatively and often inconclusively
- wonder, marvel
- to think or say reflectively
- a state of deep thought or dreamy abstraction
- any of the nine sister goddesses in Greek mythology presiding over song and poetry and the arts and sciences
- a source of inspiration
- a guiding genius
- poet
mu·se·ol·o·gy [,myü-zē-'ä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- the science or profession of museum organization and management
mu·sette [myu̇-'zet] -n
- a bellows-blown bagpipe popular in France in the 17th and 18th centuries
- a small knapsack
- a similar bag with one shoulder strap called also musette bag
mu·se·um [myu̇-'zē-əm] -n
- an institution devoted to the procurement, care, study, and display of objects of lasting interest or value
- a place where objects are exhibited
mu·se·um·go·er [myu̇-'zē-əm-,gō-ər] -n
- a person who frequently goes to museums
museum piece -n
- something preserved in or suitable for a museum
- one that is out-of-date : a thing of the past
mush ['məsh, esp 3 also 'mu̇sh] -n
- a thick porridge made with cornmeal boiled in water or milk
- something soft and spongy or shapeless
- weak sentimentality : drivel
- mawkish amorousness
- to reduce to a crumbly mass
- to fly in a partly or nearly stalled condition
- to travel esp. over snow with a sled drawn by dogs often used as a command to a dog team
- a trip esp. across snow with a dog team
mush·room ['məsh-,rüm, -,ru̇m; chiefly Northern & Midland -,rün; dial 'mə-shə-,rüm, -,ru̇m, -,rün] -n
- an enlarged complex aboveground fleshy fruiting body of a fungus (as a basidiomycete) that consists typically of a stem bearing a pileus
- one that is edible
- fungus
- upstart
- something resembling a mushroom
mushroom -vi
- to well up and spread out laterally from a central source
- to become enlarged or extended : grow
- to collect wild mushrooms
- to spring up suddenly or multiply rapidly
mushroom cloud -n
- a mushroom-shaped cloud
- one caused by the explosion of a nuclear weapon
mushy ['mə-shē, esp 2 also 'mu̇-] -adj, adv, n
- having the consistency of mush : soft
- lacking in definition or precision
- excessively tender or emotional
- mawkishly amorous
mu·sic ['myü-zik] -n
- the science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity
- vocal, instrumental, or mechanical sounds having rhythm, melody, or harmony
- an agreeable sound : euphony
- her voice was music to my ears
- musical quality
- a musical accompaniment
- the score of a musical composition set down on paper
- a distinctive type or category of music
- there is a music for everybody -- Eric Salzman
mu·si·cal ['myü-zi-kəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to music
- having the pleasing harmonious qualities of music : melodious
- having an interest in or talent for music
- set to or accompanied by music
- of or relating to musicians or music lovers
musical -n
- musicale
- a film or theatrical production typically of a sentimental or humorous nature that consists of musical numbers and dialogue based on a unifying plot
musical box -n
- music box
musical chairs -n pl but sing in constr
- a game in which players march to music around a row of chairs numbering one less than the players and scramble for seats when the music stops
- a situation or series of events suggesting the game of musical chairs (as in rapid change or confusing activity)
musical comedy -n
- musical
mu·si·cale [,myü-zi-'kal] -n
- a social entertainment with music as the leading feature
mu·si·cal·ise ['myü-zi-kə-,līz] -vt, n
(variant of musicalize)
- to set to music
mu·si·cal·i·ty [,myü-zi-'ka-lə-tē] -n
- sensitivity to, knowledge of, or talent for music
- the quality or state of being musical : melodiousness
mu·si·cal·ize ['myü-zi-kə-,līz] -vt, n
- to set to music
musical saw -n
- a handsaw made to produce melody by bending the blade while sounding it with a hammer or violin bow
music box -n
- a container enclosing an apparatus that reproduces music mechanically when activated by a clockwork
music drama -n
- an opera in which the action is not interrupted by formal song divisions (as recitatives or arias) and the music is determined solely by dramatic appropriateness
music hall -n
- a vaudeville theater
- vaudeville
mu·si·cian [myü-'zi-shən] -n, adj
- a composer, conductor, or performer of music
- instrumentalist
music of the spheres
- an ethereal harmony thought by the Pythagoreans to be produced by the vibration of the celestial spheres
mu·si·col·o·gy [,myü-zi-'kä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- the study of music as a branch of knowledge or field of research as distinct from composition or performance
musing -n
- meditation
- thoughtfully abstracted : meditative
mu·sique con·crete [myu̇-'zēk-kōⁿ-'kret, mᵫ-] -n
- a recorded montage of natural sounds often electronically modified and presented as a musical composition
musk ['məsk] -n
- a substance with a penetrating persistent odor obtained from a sac beneath the abdominal skin of the male musk deer and used as a perfume fixative
- a similar substance from another animal or a synthetic substitute
- the odor of musk
- an odor resembling musk esp. in heaviness or persistence
- any of various plants with musky odors
- musk plant
musk deer -n
- any of a genus ( Moschus) of small heavy-limbed hornless deer of central Asian uplands with tusked musk-producing males
mus·keg ['məs-,keg, -,kāg] -n
- bog
- a sphagnum bog of northern No. America often with tussocks
- a usu. thick deposit of partially decayed vegetable matter of wet boreal regions
mus·kel·lunge ['məs-kə-,lənj] -n
- a large No. American pike ( Esox masquinongy) that has dark markings, may weigh over 60 pounds (27 kilograms), and is a valuable sport fish
mus·ket ['məs-kət] -n
- a heavy large-caliber muzzle-loading usu. smoothbore shoulder firearm
- a shoulder gun carried by infantry
mus·ke·teer [,məs-kə-'tir] -n
- a soldier armed with a musket
- a good friend : buddy
mus·ket·ry ['məs-kə-trē] -n
- muskets
- musketeers
- musket fire
- the art or science of using small arms esp. in battle
mus·kie ['məs-kē] -n
- muskellunge
musk·mel·on ['məsk-,me-lən] -n
- : a usu. sweet edible melon that is the fruit of an annual trailing or climbing Asian vine ( Cucumis melo) of the gourd family: as
- any of various melons ( C. melo reticulatus) with netted skin and musky odor that include most of the muskmelons cultivated in No. America
- cantaloupe
- winter melon
Mus·ko·ge·an [mə-'skō-gē-ən] -n
- a language family of southeastern U.S. that includes Muskogee
Mus·ko·gee [mə-'skō-gē] -n
- a member of an American Indian people of Georgia and eastern Alabama constituting the nucleus of the Creek confederacy
- the language of the Muskogees and of some of the Seminoles
musk ox -n
- a heavyset shaggy-coated wild ox ( Ovibos moschatus) of tundra regions of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska with the males producing a strong musky odor from glands beneath the eyes
musk plant -n
- a yellow-flowered perennial No. American herb ( Mimulus moschatus) of the snapdragon family that has hairy foliage and sometimes a musky odor
musk·rat ['məsk-,rat] -n
- an aquatic rodent ( Ondatra zibethica) of the U.S. and Canada with a long scaly laterally compressed tail, webbed hind feet, and dark glossy brown fur
- its fur or pelt
musk rose -n
- a rose ( Rosa moschata) of the Mediterranean region with white flowers having a musky odor
musk thistle -n
- a Eurasian thistle ( Carduus nutans) that has nodding musky flower heads and is naturalized in eastern No. America
musk turtle -n
- any of various small American freshwater turtles (esp. genus Sternotherus) that have musk glands
- a small dark turtle ( S. odoratus) capable of producing a foul odor
musky ['məs-kē] -adj, n
- having an odor of or resembling musk
Mus·lim ['məz-ləm, 'mu̇s-, 'mu̇z-] -n, adj
- an adherent of Islam
- black muslim
Muslim era -n
- islamic era
mus·lin ['məz-lən] -n
- a plain-woven sheer to coarse cotton fabric
mus·quash ['məs-,kwäsh, -,kwȯsh] -n
- muskrat
muss ['məs] -n
- a game in which players scramble for small objects thrown to the ground
- scramble
- a confused conflict : row
- a state of disorder : mess
- to make untidy : disarrange
mus·sel ['mə-səl] -n
- a marine bivalve mollusk (esp. genus Mytilus) usu. having a dark elongated shell
- a freshwater bivalve mollusk (as of Unio, Anodonta,or related genera) that is esp. abundant in rivers of the central U.S. and has a shell with a lustrous nacreous lining
Mus·sul·man ['mə-səl-mən] -n
- muslim
mussy ['mə-sē] -adj, adv, n
- characterized by clutter or muss : messy
must [məs(t), 'məst] -vb
- be commanded or requested to
- be urged to : ought by all means to
- be compelled by physical necessity to: be required by immediate or future need or purpose to
- we must hurry to catch the bus
- be obliged to : be compelled by social considerations to
- I must say you're looking well
- be required by law, custom, or moral conscience to
- be determined to
- if you must go at least wait for me
- be unreasonably or perversely compelled to
- be logically inferred or supposed to
- be compelled by fate or by natural law to
- was or were presumably certain to : was or were bound to
- if he did it she must have known
- may, shall used chiefly in questions
- to be obliged to go
- I must to Coventry -- Shak.
- an imperative need or duty : requirement
- an indispensable item : essential
- the expressed juice of fruit and esp. grapes before and during fermentation
- the pulp and skins of the crushed grapes
- musk
- mold, mustiness
mus·tache ['məs-,tash, (,)mə-'stash] -n, adj
- the hair growing on the human upper lip
- such hair grown and often trimmed in a particular style
- hair or bristles about the mouth of a mammal
mus·ta·chio [(,)mə-'sta-shē-,ō, -'stä-, -shō] -n, adj
- mustache
- a large mustache
mus·tang ['məs-,taŋ] -n
- a small hardy naturalized horse of U.S. western plains directly descended from horses brought in by the Spaniards
- bronc
- a commissioned officer (as in the U.S. Navy) who has risen from the ranks
mus·tard ['məs-tərd] -n, adj
- a pungent yellow powder of the seeds of any of several common mustards ( Brassica hirta, B. nigra,or B. juncea) used as a condiment or in medicine as a stimulant and diuretic, an emetic, or a counterirritant
- zest
- any of several herbs (genus Brassicaof the family Cruciferae syn. Brassicaceae, the mustard family) with lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and linear beaked pods
- a dark to moderate yellow
mustard gas -n
- an irritant vesicant oily liquid C 4H 8Cl 2S used esp. as a chemical weapon
mustard plaster -n
- a counterirritant and rubefacient plaster containing powdered mustard
mus·ter ['məs-tər] -n
- a representative specimen : sample
- an act of assembling
- formal military inspection
- critical examination
- an assembled group : collection
- inventory
muster [-t(ə-)riŋ] -vb
- to cause to gather : convene
- to enroll formally usu. used with in or into
- was muster ed into the army
- to call the roll of
- to bring together : collect
- to call forth : rouse
- to amount to : comprise
- to come together : congregate
muster out -vt
- to discharge from service
muster roll -n
- inventory, roster
- a register of the officers and men in a military unit or ship's company
musth ['məst] -n
- a periodic state of the bull elephant characterized esp. by aggressive behavior and usu. connected with the rutting season
musthave ['məst-,hav] -n, adj
- something that is essential to have or obtain
mustn't ['mə-sᵊnt]
- must not
mustsee ['məst-'sē] -n, adj
- something (as a film) that must or should be seen
musty ['məs-tē] -adj, adv, n
- impaired by damp or mildew : moldy
- tasting of mold
- smelling of damp and decay : fusty
- trite, stale
- antiquated
- superannuated
mu·ta·ble ['myü-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- prone to change : inconstant
- capable of change or of being changed
- capable of or liable to mutation
mu·ta·gen ['myü-tə-jən] -n, adj, adv
- an agent (as a chemical or various radiations) that tends to increase the frequency or extent of mutation
mu·ta·gen·e·sis [,myü-tə-'je-nə-səs] -n
- the occurrence or induction of mutation
mu·ta·ge·nic·i·ty [-jə-'ni-sə-tē] -n
- the capacity to induce mutations
mu·tant ['myü-tᵊnt] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or produced by mutation
mu·tase ['myü-,tās, -,tāz] -n
- any of various enzymes that catalyze molecular rearrangements and esp. those involving the transfer of phosphate from one hydroxyl group to another in the same molecule
mu·tate ['myü-,tāt, myü-'] -vb, adj
- to undergo mutation
- to cause to undergo mutation
mu·ta·tion [myü-'tā-shən] -n, adj, adv
- a significant and basic alteration : change
- umlaut
- a relatively permanent change in hereditary material involving either a physical change in chromosome relations or a biochemical change in the codons that make up genes
- the process of producing a mutation
- an individual, strain, or trait resulting from mutation
mu·ta·tis mu·tan·dis [m(y)ü-'tä-təs-m(y)ü-'tän-dəs, -'tā-təs-, -'tan-] -adv
- with the necessary changes having been made
- with the respective differences having been considered
mutch·kin ['məch-kən] -n
- a Scottish unit of liquid capacity equal to 0.90 pint (0.42 liter)
mute ['myüt] -adj, adv, n
- unable to speak : lacking the power of speech
- : characterized by absence of speech: as
- felt or experienced but not expressed
- touched her hand in mute sympathy
- refusing to plead directly or stand trial
- remaining silent, undiscovered, or unrecognized
- contributing nothing to the pronunciation of a word
- contributing to the pronunciation of a word but not representing the nucleus of a syllable
- stop
- a person who cannot or does not speak
- a device attached to or inserted into a musical instrument to soften or alter its tone
- to muffle, reduce, or eliminate the sound of
- to tone down : soften, subdue
- to evacuate the cloaca
muted -adj, adv
- being mute : silent
- toned down : low-key, subdued
- provided with or produced or modified by the use of a mute
mute swan -n
- a common white swan ( Cygnus olor) that produces no loud notes, is native to Europe and western Asia, and has been introduced into parts of the U.S.
mu·ti·late ['myü-tə-,lāt] -vt, n
- to cut up or alter radically so as to make imperfect
- the child mutilated the book with his scissors
- to cut off or permanently destroy a limb or essential part of : cripple
mu·tine ['myü-tᵊn] -vi
- rebel, mutiny
mu·ti·neer [,myü-tə-'nir] -n
- one that mutinies
mu·ti·nous ['myü-tə-nəs, 'myüt-nəs] -adj, adv, n
- disposed to or being in a state of mutiny : rebellious
- turbulent, unruly
- of, relating to, or constituting mutiny
mu·ti·ny ['myü-tə-nē, 'myüt-nē] -n, vi
- tumult, strife
- forcible or passive resistance to lawful authority
- concerted revolt (as of a naval crew) against discipline or a superior officer
mut·ism ['myü-,ti-zəm] -n
- the condition of being mute
mutt ['mət] -n
- a stupid or insignificant person : fool
- a mongrel dog : cur
mut·ter ['mə-tər] -vb, n
- to utter sounds or words indistinctly or with a low voice and with the lips partly closed
- to murmur complainingly or angrily : grumble
- to utter esp. in a low or imperfectly articulated manner
mut·ton ['mə-tᵊn] -n, adj
- the flesh of a mature sheep used for food
mut·ton·chops ['mə-tᵊn-,chäps] -n pl
- side-whiskers that are narrow at the temple and broad and round by the lower jaws called also muttonchop whiskers
mut·ton·fish [-,fish] -n
- a common snapper ( Lutjanus analis) of the warmer parts of the western Atlantic that is usu. olive green and sometimes nearly white or tinged with rosy red and that is an important food and sport fish called also mutton snapper
mu·tu·al ['myü-chə-wəl, -chəl, -chü-əl; 'myüch-wəl] -adj, adv
- directed by each toward the other or the others
- having the same feelings one for the other
- they had long been mutual enemies
- shared in common
- enjoying their mutual hobby
- joint
- characterized by intimacy
- of or relating to a plan whereby the members of an organization share in the profits and expenses
- of, relating to, or taking the form of an insurance method in which the policyholders constitute the members of the insuring company
mutual fund -n
- an open-end investment company that invests money of its shareholders in a usu. diversified group of securities of other corporations
mu·tu·al·ism ['myü-chə-wə-,li-zəm, 'myü-chə-,li-, 'myüch-wə-,li-] -n, adj
- the doctrine or practice of mutual dependence as the condition of individual and social welfare
- mutually beneficial association between different kinds of organisms
mu·tu·al·i·ty [,myü-chə-'wa-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being mutual
- a sharing of sentiments : intimacy
mu·tu·al·ize ['myü-chə-wə-,līz, 'myü-chə-,līz, 'myüch-wə-,līz] -vt, n
- to make mutual
mutually exclusive -adj
- being related such that each excludes or precludes the other
- mutually exclusive events
- incompatible
- their outlooks were not mutually exclusive
mu·tu·el ['myü-chə-wəl, -chəl, -chü-əl; 'myüch-wəl] -n
- pari-mutuel
muu·muu ['mü-,mü] -n
- a loose often long dress having bright colors and patterns and adapted from the dresses orig. distributed by missionaries to the native women of Hawaii
Mu·zak ['myü-,zak] -trademark
- used for recorded background music
mu·zhik [mü-'zhēk, -'zhik] -n
- a Russian peasant
muz·zle ['mə-zəl] -n
- the projecting jaws and nose of an animal : snout
- a fastening or covering for the mouth of an animal used to prevent eating or biting
- something (as censorship) that restrains normal expression
- the open end of an implement
- the discharging end of a weapon
muzzle ['məz-liŋ, 'mə-zə-] -vt, n
- to fit with a muzzle
- gag
- muzzled the regime's critics
- restrain, restrict
- the Pentagon's efforts to muzzle press access -- Joe Strupp
- the low prices muzzled competition
muz·zy ['mə-zē] -adj, adv, n
- deficient in brightness : dull, gloomy
- lacking in clarity and precision
- his conclusions can be muzzy and naive -- Times Lit. Supp.
- muddled or confused in mind