du·al ['dü(-ə)l also 'dyü-əl] -adj, adv
- denoting reference to two
- consisting of two parts or elements or having two like parts : double
- having a double character or nature
dual -n
- the dual number of a language
- a linguistic form in the dual
dual carriageway -n
- a divided highway
dual citizenship -n
- the status of an individual who is a citizen of two or more nations
dualenergy Xray absorptiometry -n
- absorptiometry in which the density or mass of a material (as bone) is measured by comparing the material's absorption of X rays of two different energies and which is used esp. for determining the mineral content of bone
du·al·ism ['dü-ə-,li-zəm also 'dyü-] -n, adj, adv
- a theory that considers reality to consist of two irreducible elements or modes
- the quality or state of being dual or of having a dual nature
- a doctrine that the universe is under the dominion of two opposing principles one of which is good and the other evil
- a view of human beings as constituted of two irreducible elements (as matter and spirit)
du·al·i·ty [dü-'a-lə-tē also dyü-] -n
- dualism
- dichotomy
du·al·ize ['dü-ə-,līz also 'dyü-] -vt
- to make dual
dualpurpose -adj
- having breed characteristics that serve two purposes
- dualpurpose cattle that supply milk and meat
dub ['dəb] -vt, n
- to confer knighthood on
- to call by a distinctive title, epithet, or nickname
- to trim or remove the comb and wattles of
- to hit (a golf ball or shot) poorly
- to execute poorly
- one who is inept or clumsy
- pool, puddle
- to add (sound effects or new dialogue) to a film or to a radio or television production usu. used with in
- to provide (a motion-picture film) with a new sound track and esp. dialogue in a different language
- to make a new recording of (sound or videotape already recorded)
- to mix (recorded sound or videotape from different sources) into a single recording
- Jamaican popular music in which audio effects and spoken or chanted words are imposed on an instrumental reggae background
dub·bin ['də-bən] -n
- a dressing of oil and tallow for leather
du·bi·ety [du̇-'bī-ət-ē also dyü-] -n
- a usu. hesitant uncertainty or doubt that tends to cause vacillation
- a matter of doubt
du·bi·ous ['dü-bē-əs also dyü-] -adj, adv, n
- : giving rise to uncertainty: as
- of doubtful promise or outcome
- questionable or suspect as to true nature or quality
- the practice is of dubious legality
- unsettled in opinion : doubtful
- I was dubious about the plan
du·bi·ta·ble ['dü-bə-tə-bəl also 'dyü-] -adj
- open to doubt or question
du·bi·ta·tion [,d(y)ü-bə-'tā-shən] -n
- doubt
Dub·lin Bay prawn ['də-blən-'bā-] -n
- langoustine
dub·ni·um ['düb-nē-əm, 'dəb-] -n
- a short-lived radioactive element produced artificially
du·cal ['dü-kəl also 'dyü-] -adj, adv
- of or relating to a duke or dukedom
duc·at ['də-kət] -n
- a former European usu. gold coin
- ticket
du·ce ['dü-(,)chā] -n
- leader used esp. for the leader of the Italian Fascist party
Du·chenne muscular dystrophy [dü-'shen-, də-] -n
- a severe progressive X-linked muscular dystrophy of males with early childhood onset that is characterized by absence of the protein dystrophin called also Duchenne's muscular dystrophy
duch·ess ['də-chəs] -n
- the wife or widow of a duke
- a woman who holds the rank of duke in her own right
duchy ['də-chē] -n
- the territory of a duke or duchess : dukedom
- special domain
duck ['dək] -n
- any of various swimming birds (family Anatidae, the duck family) in which the neck and legs are short, the feet typically webbed, the bill often broad and flat, and the sexes usu. different from each other in plumage
- the flesh of any of these birds used as food
- a female duck
- darling often used in pl. but sing. in constr.
- person, creature
- to thrust under water
- to lower (as the head) quickly : bow
- avoid, evade
- to plunge under the surface of water
- to descend suddenly : dip
- to lower the head or body suddenly : dodge
- bow, bob
- to move quickly
- to evade a duty, question, or responsibility
- an instance of ducking
- a durable closely woven usu. cotton fabric
- light clothes and esp. trousers made of duck
duck·bill ['dək-,bil] -n
- platypus
- hadrosaur
duckbilled dinosaur -n
- hadrosaur
duckbilled platypus -n
- platypus
duck·board [-,bȯrd] -n
- a boardwalk or slatted flooring laid on a wet, muddy, or cold surface usu. used in pl.
duck call -n
- a device for imitating the calls of ducks
duck hook -n, vt
- a pronounced and unintended hook in golf
ducking stool -n
- a seat attached to a plank and formerly used to plunge culprits tied to it into water
duck·ling ['dək-liŋ, 'də-kliŋ] -n
- a young duck
duck·pin [-,pin] -n
- a small bowling pin shorter than a tenpin but proportionately wider at mid-diameter
- a bowling game using duckpins
ducks and drakes -n
- the pastime of skimming flat stones or shells along the surface of calm water
duck sauce -n
- a thick sauce in Chinese cuisine that contains fruits (as plums or apricots), vinegar, sweeteners, and seasonings
duck soup -n
- something easy to do
duck·tail ['dək-,tāl] -n
- a hairstyle in which the hair on each side is slicked back to meet in a ridge at the back of the head
duck·walk ['dək-,wȯk] -vi
- to walk while in a crouch or full squatting position
duck·weed ['dək-,wēd] -n
- a small floating aquatic monocotyledonous plant (family Lemnaceae, the duckweed family)
ducky ['də-kē] -adj
- darling, cute
- satisfactory, fine
duct ['dəkt] -n, adj
- a bodily tube or vessel esp. when carrying the secretion of a gland
- a pipe, tube, or channel that conveys a substance
- a pipe or tubular runway for carrying an electric power line, telephone cables, or other conductors
- a tube or elongated cavity (as a xylem vessel) in plant tissue
- a layer (as in the atmosphere or the ocean) which occurs under usu. abnormal conditions and in which radio or sound waves are confined to a restricted path
- to enclose in a duct
- to convey (as a gas) through a duct
- to propagate (as radio waves) through a duct
duc·tile ['dək-tᵊl, -,tī(-ə)l] -adj, n
- capable of being drawn out into wire or thread
- easily led or influenced
- capable of being fashioned into a new form
duct·ing ['dək-tiŋ] -n
- a system of ducts
- the material composing a duct
ductless gland -n
- endocrine gland
duct tape ['dək(t)-] -n
- a wide cloth adhesive tape orig. designed for sealing joints in heating or air-conditioning ducts
duct·ule ['dək-(,)chül] -n
- a small duct
duc·tus ar·te·ri·o·sus ['dək-təs-är-,tir-ē-'ō-səs] -n
- a short broad vessel in the fetus that connects the pulmonary artery with the aorta and conducts most of the blood directly from the right ventricle to the aorta bypassing the lungs
duct·work ['dəkt-,wərk] -n
- ducting
dud ['dəd] -n
- clothing
- personal belongings
- one that is ineffectual
- failure
- misfit
- a bomb or missile that fails to explode
- of little or no worth : valueless
dud·die ['də-dē] -adj
- ragged, tattered
dude ['düd also 'dyüd] -n, adj, adv
- a man extremely fastidious in dress and manner : dandy
- a city dweller unfamiliar with life on the range
- an Easterner in the West
- fellow, guy sometimes used informally as a term of address
- dress up usu. used with up
du·deen [dü-'dēn] -n
- a short tobacco pipe made of clay
dude ranch -n
- a vacation resort offering activities (as horseback riding) typical of western ranches
dud·geon ['də-jən] -n
- a wood used esp. for dagger hilts
- a dagger with a handle of dudgeon
- a haft made of dudgeon
dudgeon -n
- a fit or state of indignation often used in the phrase in high dudgeon
due ['dü, 'dyü] -adj, n
- owed or owing as a debt
- owed or owing as a natural or moral right
- everyone's right to dissent...is due the full protection of the Constitution -- Nat Hentoff
- according to accepted notions or procedures : appropriate
- satisfying or capable of satisfying a need, obligation, or duty : adequate
- giving the matter due attention
- regular, lawful
- capable of being attributed : ascribable used with to
- this advance is partly due to a few men of genius -- A. N. Whitehead
- having reached the date at which payment is required : payable
- required or expected in the prescribed, normal, or logical course of events : scheduled
- expected to give birth
- : something due or owed: as
- something that rightfully belongs to one
- a payment or obligation required by law or custom : debt
- fees, charges
- directly, exactly
- duly
due diligence -n
- the care that a reasonable person exercises under the circumstances to avoid harm to other persons or their property
- research and analysis of a company or organization done in preparation for a business transaction (as a corporate merger or purchase of securities)
du·el ['dü-əl also 'dyü-] -n
- a combat between two persons
- a formal combat with weapons fought between two persons in the presence of witnesses
- a conflict between antagonistic persons, ideas, or forces
- a hard-fought contest between two opponents
duel ['dü-ə-list] -vb, n
- to fight a duel
- to encounter (an opponent) in a duel
du·el·lo [d(y)ü-'e-(,)lō] -n
- the rules or practice of dueling
- duel
du·en·de [dü-'en-(,)dā] -n
- the power to attract through personal magnetism and charm
du·en·na [dü-'e-nə, 'dyü-] -n
- an elderly woman serving as governess and companion to the younger ladies in a Spanish or a Portuguese family
- chaperone
due process -n
- a course of formal proceedings (as legal proceedings) carried out regularly and in accordance with established rules and principles called also procedural due process
- a judicial requirement that enacted laws may not contain provisions that result in the unfair, arbitrary, or unreasonable treatment of an individual called also substantive due process
du·et [dü-'et also dyü-] -n
- a composition for two performers
duet -vi
- to perform a duet
due to -prep
- as a result of : because of
- due to the complaints of uptight parents...he lost his job -- Herbert Gold
duff ['dəf] -n
- a boiled or steamed pudding often containing dried fruit
- the partly decayed organic matter on the forest floor
- fine coal : slack
- buttocks
- inferior, worthless
duf·fel ['də-fəl] -n
- a coarse heavy woolen material with a thick nap
- transportable personal belongings, equipment, and supplies
- duffel bag
- duffle coat
duffel bag -n
- a soft oblong bag for personal belongings
duf·fer ['də-fər] -n
- a peddler esp. of cheap flashy articles
- something counterfeit or worthless
- an incompetent, ineffectual, or clumsy person
- a mediocre golfer
- a cattle rustler
duffle coat ['də-fəl-] -n
- a heavy usu. woolen medium-length coat with toggle fasteners and a hood
dufus ['dü-fəs, -fis] -n
(variant of doofus)
- a stupid, incompetent, or foolish person
dug ['dig] -vb
(variant of dig)
- to break up, turn, or loosen (as earth) with an implement
- to prepare the soil of
- to bring to the surface by digging : unearth
- to bring to light or out of hiding
- to hollow out or form by removing earth : excavate
- to drive down so as to penetrate : thrust
- poke, prod
- to pay attention to : notice
- understand, appreciate
- couldn't dig the medical jargon
- like, admire
- high school students dig short poetry -- David Burmester
- to turn up, loosen, or remove earth
- to work hard or laboriously
- to advance by or as if by removing or pushing aside material
- thrust, poke
- a cutting remark
- accommodations for living or working
- lodging, hotel
- an archaeological excavation site
- the excavation itself
- digest
du·gong ['dü-,gäŋ, -,gȯŋ] -n
- a sirenian mammal ( Dugong dugonof the family Dugongidae) of a monotypic genus that has a bilobed tail and in the male upper incisors altered into short tusks and that inhabits warm coastal waters chiefly of southern Asia, Australia, and northeastern Africa
dug·out ['dəg-,au̇t] -n
- a boat made by hollowing out a large log
- a shelter dug in a hillside
- a shelter dug in the ground and roofed with sod
- an area in the side of a trench for quarters, storage, or protection
- either of two low shelters on either side of and facing a baseball diamond that contain the players' benches
duh ['də, usu with prolonged ə] -interj
- used to express actual or feigned ignorance or stupidity
- used derisively to indicate that something just stated is all too obvious or self-evident
DUI [,dē-(,)yü-'ī] -n
- the act or crime of driving while affected by alcohol or drugs
- a person who is arrested for or convicted of driving under the influence
- an arrest or conviction for driving under the influence
dui·ker ['dī-kər] -n
- any of several small African antelopes comprising two genera ( Cephalophusand Sylvicapra)
duit ['dȯit] -n
(variant of doit)
- an old Dutch coin equal to about stiver
- trifle
du jour [dü-'zhər, də-, -'zhu̇r, -'zhür] -adj
- made for a particular day used of an item not specified on the regular menu
- popular, fashionable, or prominent at a particular time
duke ['dük also 'dyük] -n
- a sovereign male ruler of a continental European duchy
- a nobleman of the highest hereditary rank
- a member of the highest grade of the British peerage
- fist, hand usu. used in pl.
- fight
dul·cet ['dəl-sət] -adj, adv
- sweet to the taste
- pleasing to the ear
- generally pleasing or agreeable
dul·ci·fy ['dəl-sə-,fī] -vt
- to make sweet
- to make agreeable : mollify
dul·ci·mer ['dəl-sə-mər] -n
- a stringed instrument of trapezoidal shape played with light hammers held in the hands
- an American folk instrument with three or four strings stretched over an elongate fretted sound box that is held on the lap and played by plucking or strumming
dul·ci·nea [,dəl-sə-'nē-ə, -'si-nē-ə] -n
- mistress, sweetheart
dull ['dəl] -adj, n, adv
- mentally slow : stupid
- slow in perception or sensibility : insensible
- lacking zest or vivacity : listless
- slow in action : sluggish
- lacking in force, intensity, or sharpness
- not resonant or ringing
- lacking sharpness of edge or point
- lacking brilliance or luster
- low in saturation and low in lightness
- cloudy
- tedious, uninteresting
- to make dull
- to become dull
dull·ard ['də-lərd] -n
- a stupid or unimaginative person
dull·ish ['də-lish] -adj, adv
- somewhat dull
dulls·ville ['dəlz-,vil] -n
- something or some place that is dull or boring
dulse ['dəls] -n
- any of several coarse red seaweeds (esp. Palmaria palmata) found esp. in northern latitudes and used as a food condiment
du·ly ['dü-lē also 'dyü-] -adv
- in a due manner or time : properly
du·ma ['dü-mə, -(,)mä] -n
- a representative council in Russia
- the principal legislative assembly in Russia from 1906 to 1917 and since 1993
dumb ['dəm] -adj, adv, n
- lacking the human power of speech
- lacking the ability to speak
- temporarily unable to speak (as from shock or astonishment)
- not expressed in uttered words
- silent
- taciturn
- lacking some usual attribute or accompaniment
- having no means of self-propulsion
- lacking intelligence : stupid
- showing a lack of intelligence
- requiring no intelligence
- not having the capability to process data
- to make silent : deaden
- would lie around, dumb ed by the drugs -- Norman Mailer
dumb·bell ['dəm-,bel] -n
- a short bar with weights at each end that is used usu. in pairs for exercise
- a stupid person
- dummy
dumb cane -n
- dieffenbachia
dumb down -vt
- to lower the level of difficulty and the intellectual content of (as a textbook)
- to lower the general level of intelligence in
- the dumbing down of society
dumb·found [,dəm-'fau̇nd, 'dəm-,] -vt, adv
- to confound briefly and usu. with astonishment
dumb·head ['dəm-,hed] -n
- a stupid person : blockhead
dumb show -n
- a part of a play presented in pantomime
- signs and gestures without words : pantomime
dumb·struck ['dəm-,strək] -adj
- made silent by astonishment
dumb·wait·er ['dəm-,wā-tər, ,dəm-'] -n
- a portable serving table or stand
- a small elevator used for conveying food and dishes from one story of a building to another
dum·dum ['dəm-,dəm] -n
- a bullet (as one with a hollow point) that expands more than usual upon hitting an object
dumdum ['dəm-,dəm] -n
- a stupid person : dummy
dum·ka ['du̇m-kə] -n
- an Eastern European folk ballad or lament usu. with alternating slow and fast sections
dumm·kopf ['du̇m-,kȯpf] -n
- blockhead
dum·my ['də-mē] -n
- a person who is incapable of speaking
- a person who is habitually silent
- a stupid person
- the exposed hand in bridge played by the declarer in addition to his or her own hand
- a bridge player whose hand is a dummy
- : an imitation, copy, or likeness of something used as a substitute: as
- mannequin
- a stuffed figure or cylindrical bag used by football players for tackling and blocking practice
- a large puppet usu. having movable features (as mouth and arms) manipulated by a ventriloquist
- pacifier
- one seeming to act independently but in reality controlled by another
- a mock-up of a proposed publication (as a book or magazine)
- a set of pages (as for a newspaper or magazine) with the position of text and artwork indicated for the printer
dummy -adj
- having the appearance of being real : artificial
- dummy foods in the display case
- existing in name only : fictitious
- apparently acting for oneself while really acting for or at the direction of another
- to make a dummy of (as a publication) often used with up
- dummied up the front page
dummy up -vi
- to say nothing : clam up
dummy variable -n
- an arbitrary mathematical symbol or variable that can be replaced by another without affecting the value of the expression in which it occurs
du·mor·ti·er·ite [du̇-'mȯr-tē-ə-,rīt also dyu̇-] -n
- a bright esp. blue mineral consisting of a borosilicate of aluminum
dump ['dəmp] -vb
- to let fall in or as if in a heap or mass
- dump ed his clothes on the bed
- to get rid of unceremoniously or irresponsibly
- got dump ed by his girlfriend
- jettison
- an airplane dump ing gasoline
- to knock down : beat
- the man rushed out and dump ed him -- John Corry
- to sell in quantity at a very low price
- to sell abroad at less than the market price at home
- to copy (data in a computer's internal storage) to an external storage or output device
- to hit or throw short and softly
- dump a pass to a running back
- dump a bunt down the line
- to hit (a puck) deep into the opponent's zone in ice hockey
- to fall abruptly : plunge
- to dump refuse
- an accumulation of refuse and discarded materials
- a place where such materials are dumped
- a quantity of reserve materials accumulated at one place
- a place where such materials are stored
- a disorderly, slovenly, or objectionable place
- an instance of dumping data stored in a computer
- an act of defecation usu. used with take
dump·er ['dəm-pər] -n
- : one that dumps: as
- dump truck
- a device used for unloading freight cars by tilting or dumping
- a state of collapse, failure, or ruin
- the economy is in the dumper
dumper truck -n
- dump truck
dump·ing ['dəm-piŋ] -n
- the act of one that dumps
- the selling of goods in quantity at below market price
- the practice of refusing emergency medical care to poor or uninsured patients or of referring them to another hospital without that hospital's consent called also patient dumping
dumping ground -n
- a place to which unwanted people or things are sent
dump·ish ['dəm-pish] -adj
- sad, melancholy
dump·ling ['dəmp-liŋ] -n
- a small mass of leavened dough cooked by boiling or steaming
- a usu. baked dessert of fruit wrapped in dough
- something soft and rounded like a dumpling
- a short fat person or animal
dumps ['dəm(p)s] -n pl
- a gloomy state of mind : despondency
Dump·ster ['dəm(p)-stər] -trademark
- used for a large trash receptacle
dump truck -n
- an automotive truck for the transportation of bulk material that has a body which tilts to dump its contents
dumpy ['dəm-pē] -adj, adv, n
- being short and thick in build : squat
- shabby, dingy
dumpy level -n
- a surveyor's level with a short telescope rigidly fixed and rotating only in a horizontal plane
dun ['dən] -adj, n
- having the color dun
- having a grayish-yellow coat with black mane and tail
- marked by dullness and drabness
- a dun horse
- a variable color averaging a nearly neutral slightly brownish dark gray
- a subadult mayfly
- an artificial fly tied to imitate such an insect
- to make persistent demands upon for payment
- plague, pester
- a person who duns
- an urgent request
- a demand for payment
Dun·can Phyfe [,dəŋ-kən-'fīf] -adj
- of, relating to, or constituting furniture designed and built by or in the style of Duncan Phyfe
dunce ['dən(t)s] -n
- a slow-witted or stupid person
dunce cap -n
- a conical cap formerly used as a punishment for slow learners at school called also dunce's cap
dun·der·head ['dən-dər-,hed] -n, adj
- dunce, blockhead
dun·drea·ries [,dən-'drir-ēz] -n pl
- long flowing sideburns
dune ['dün also 'dyün] -n, adj
- a hill or ridge of sand piled up by the wind
dune buggy -n
- an off-road motor vehicle with oversize tires for use esp. on sand
dune·land ['dün-,land] -n
- an area having many dunes
dung ['dəŋ] -n, adj
- the feces of an animal : manure
- something repulsive
- to fertilize or dress with manure
- defecate
dun·ga·ree [,dəŋ-gə-'rē, 'dəŋ-gə-,] -n, adj
- a heavy coarse durable cotton twill woven from colored yarns
- blue denim
- clothes made usu. of blue denim
dung beetle -n
- a beetle (as a tumblebug) that rolls balls of dung in which to lay eggs and on which the larvae feed
Dunge·ness crab [,dən-jə-,nes-] -n
- a large edible crab ( Cancer magister) of the Pacific coast of No. America from Alaska to California
dun·geon ['dən-jən] -n
- donjon
- a dark usu. underground prison or vault
dung·hill ['dəŋ-,hil] -n
- a heap of dung
- something (as a situation or condition) that is repulsive or degraded
du·nite ['dü-,nīt, 'də-] -n, adj
- a granular igneous rock consisting chiefly of olivine
dunk ['dəŋk] -vb
- to dip (as a piece of bread) into a beverage while eating
- to dip or submerge temporarily in liquid
- to throw (a basketball) into the basket from above the rim
- to submerge oneself in water
- to make a dunk shot in basketball
- the act or action of dunking
- dunk shot
dunk·er ['dəŋ-kər] -n
- one that dunks
- a basketball player who makes dunk shots
Dun·ker ['dəŋ-kər] -n
- a member of the Church of the Brethren or any of several other orig. German Baptist denominations practicing trine immersion and love feasts and refusing to take oaths or to perform military service
Dun·kirk ['dən-,kərk, ,dən-'] -n
- a retreat to avoid total defeat
- a crisis situation that requires a desperate last effort to forestall certain failure
- a Dunkirk for U.S. foreign policy -- Time
dunk shot -n
- a shot in basketball made by jumping high into the air and throwing the ball down through the basket
dun·lin ['dən-lən] -n
- a small widely distributed sandpiper ( Calidris alpina) largely cinnamon to rusty brown above and white below
Dun·lop ['dən-,läp, ,dən-'] -n
- a Scottish cheese similar to cheddar
dun·nage ['də-nij] -n
- loose materials used to support and protect cargo in a ship's hold
- padding in a shipping container
- baggage
duo ['dü-(,)ō also 'dyü-] -n
- duet
- pair
duo- -comb form
- two
duo·dec·i·mal [,dü-ə-'de-sə-məl, ,dyü-] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or proceeding by twelve or the scale of twelves
duo·dec·i·mo [-,mō] -n
- twelvemo
du·o·de·num [,dü-ə-'dē-nəm, du̇-'ä-də-nəm also (,)dyü-] -n, adj
- the first part of the small intestine extending from the pylorus to the jejunum
duo·logue ['dü-ə-,lȯg, -,läg also 'dyü-] -n
- a dialogue between two persons
duo·mo ['dwȯ-(,)mō] -n
- cathedral
du·op·o·ly [du̇-'ä-pə-lē also dyu̇-] -n, adj
- an oligopoly limited to two sellers
- preponderant influence or control by two political powers
dup ['dəp] -vt
- open
- duplex
- duplicate
dupe ['düp also 'dyüp] -n
- one that is easily deceived or cheated : fool
- to make a dupe of
- duplicate
dup·ery ['dü-pə-rē also 'dyü-] -n
- the condition of being duped
- the act or practice of duping
du·ple ['dü-pəl also 'dyü-] -adj
- having two elements
- marked by two or a multiple of two beats per measure of music
- consisting of a meter based on disyllabic feet
du·plex ['dü-,pleks also 'dyü-] -adj
- having two principal elements or parts : double, twofold
- having two complementary polynucleotide strands of DNA or of DNA and RNA
- allowing telecommunication in opposite directions simultaneously
duplex -vt
- to make duplex
- : something duplex: as
- a 2-family house
- duplex apartment
- a duplex molecule of DNA or of RNA and DNA
duplex apartment -n
- an apartment having rooms on two floors
du·plex·er ['dü-,plek-sər also 'dyü-] -n
- a switching device that permits alternate transmission and reception with the same radio antenna
du·pli·cate ['dü-pli-kət also 'dyü-] -adj
- consisting of or existing in two corresponding or identical parts or examples
- being the same as another
- to make double or twofold
- to make a copy of
- a cell duplicate s itself when it divides
- to produce something equal to
- trying to duplicate last year's success
- to do over or again often needlessly
- to become duplicated
- repeat
- either of two things exactly alike and usu. produced at the same time or by the same process
- an additional copy of something (as a book or stamp) already in a collection
- one that resembles or corresponds to another : counterpart
- two identical copies used in the phrase in duplicate
duplicate bridge -n
- a tournament form of contract bridge in which identical deals are played in order to compare individual scores
du·pli·ca·tion [,dü-pli-'kā-shən also ,dyü-] -n
- the act or process of duplicating
- the quality or state of being duplicated
- duplicate, counterpart
- a part of a chromosome in which the genetic material is repeated
- the process of forming a duplication
du·pli·ca·tor ['dü-pli-,kā-tər also 'dyü-] -n
- one that duplicates
- a machine for making copies of graphic matter
du·plic·i·tous [du̇-'pli-sə-təs also dyu̇-] -adj, adv
- marked by duplicity
- deceptive in words or action
du·plic·i·ty [du̇-'pli-sə-tē also dyu̇-] -n
- contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action
- the belying of one's true intentions by deceptive words or action
- the quality or state of being double or twofold
- the technically incorrect use of two or more distinct items (as claims, charges, or defenses) in a single legal action
du·ra·ble ['du̇r-ə-bəl also 'dyu̇r-] -adj, n, adv
- able to exist for a long time without significant deterioration
- designed to be durable
durable press -n
- permanent press
du·ra·bles ['du̇r-ə-bəlz also 'dyu̇r-] -n pl
- consumer goods (as vehicles and household appliances) that are typically used repeatedly over a period of years called also durable goods
du·ral·u·min [du̇-'ral-yə-mən also dyu̇-] -n
- a light strong alloy of aluminum, copper, manganese, and magnesium
du·ra ma·ter ['du̇r-ə-,mā-tər, 'dyu̇r-, -,mä-] -n
- the tough fibrous membrane that envelops the brain and spinal cord external to the arachnoid and pia mater
du·rance ['du̇r-ən(t)s also 'dyu̇r-] -n
- endurance
- restraint by or as if by physical force usu. used in the phrase durance vile
du·ra·tion [du̇-'rā-shən also dyu̇-] -n
- continuance in time
- the time during which something exists or lasts
du·ra·tive ['du̇r-ə-tiv, 'dyu̇r-] -adj, n
- continuative
dur·bar ['dər-,bär, ,dər-'] -n
- court held by an Indian prince
- a formal reception held by an Indian prince or an African ruler
du·ress [du̇-'res also dyu̇-] -n
- forcible restraint or restriction
- compulsion by threat
- unlawful constraint
Dur·ham ['dər-əm, 'də-rəm, 'du̇r-əm] -n
- shorthorn
Durham Rule -n
- a legal hypothesis under which a person is not judged responsible for a criminal act that is attributed to a mental disease or defect
du·ri·an ['du̇r-ē-ən, -ē-,än also 'dyu̇r-] -n
- a large oval tasty but foul-smelling fruit with a prickly rind
- an East Indian tree ( Durio zibethinus) of the silk-cotton family that bears durians
dur·ing ['du̇r-iŋ also 'dyu̇r-] -prep
- throughout the duration of
- swims every day during the summer
- at a point in the course of
- was offered a job during a visit to the capital
dur·mast oak ['dər-,mast-] -n
- a European oak ( Quercus petraea) valued esp. for its dark heavy tough elastic wood and for its tannin-rich bark
durn ['därn] -vb, n
(variant of darn)
- to mend with interlacing stitches
- to embroider by filling in with long running or interlacing stitches
- to do darning
- a place that has been darned
- damned
- damn
- damn
du·ro ['du̇r-(,)ō] -n
- a Spanish or Spanish American peso or silver dollar
du·roc ['du̇r-,äk also 'dyu̇r-] -n
- any of a breed of large vigorous red American hogs
du·rom·e·ter [du̇-'rä-mə-tər also dyu̇-] -n
- an instrument for measuring hardness
dur·ra ['du̇r-ə] -n
- any of several grain sorghums widely grown in warm dry regions
durst ['der] -vb, n
(variant of dare)
- to be sufficiently courageous to
- she dare not let herself love -- G. B. Shaw
- to have sufficient courage
- to challenge to perform an action esp. as a proof of courage
- to confront boldly : defy
- dared the anger of his family
- to have the courage to contend against, venture, or try
- the actress dared a new interpretation of this classic role
- an act or instance of daring : challenge
- imaginative or vivacious boldness : daring
du·rum wheat ['du̇r-əm-, 'dyu̇r-, 'dər-əm-, 'də-rəm-] -n
- a wheat ( Triticum durum) that yields a glutenous flour used esp. in pasta called also durum
dusk ['dəsk] -adj
- dusky
- to become dark
- to make dark or gloomy
- the darker part of twilight esp. at night
- darkness or semidarkness caused by the shutting out of light
dusky ['dəs-kē] -adj, adv, n
- somewhat dark in color
- having dark skin
- marked by slight or deficient light : shadowy
dust ['dəst] -n, adj
- fine particles of matter (as of earth)
- the particles into which something disintegrates
- something worthless
- a state of humiliation
- the earth esp. as a place of burial
- the surface of the ground
- a cloud of dust
- confusion, disturbance
- a single particle (as of earth)
- refuse ready for collection
- to make dusty
- to make free of dust
- to sprinkle with fine particles
- a cake dust ed with sugar
- to sprinkle in the form of dust
- to throw a fastball close to (a batter)
- brush back often used with off
- to defeat badly (as in a race)
- to work dust into the feathers
- to remove dust
- to give off dust
dust·bin ['dəs(t)-,bin] -n
- a can for trash or garbage
- dustheap
dust bowl -n
- a region that suffers from prolonged droughts and dust storms
dust bunny -n
- an aggregate of dust
- swept the dust bunnies from under the bed
dust·cov·er [-,kə-vər] -n
- a cover (as of cloth or plastic) used to protect furniture or equipment from dust
- dust jacket
dust devil -n
- a small whirlwind containing sand or dust
dust·er ['dəs-tər] -n
- one that removes dust
- a long lightweight overgarment to protect clothing from dust
- a long coat cut like a duster called also duster coat
- a dress-length housecoat
- one that scatters fine particles
- a device for applying insecticidal or fungicidal dusts to crops
- dust storm
dust·heap ['dəst-,(h)ēp] -n
- a pile of refuse
- a category of forgotten items
- the dustheap of history -- New Republic
dust jacket -n
- a paper cover for a book
dust·man ['dəs(t)-mən] -n
- a collector of trash or garbage
dust mite -n
- any of various mites (esp. family Pyroglyphidae) commonly found in house dust
dust mop -n
- dry mop
dust off -vt
- to bring out or back to use again
- dusted off his golf clubs when he retired
dust·pan ['dəs(t)-,pan] -n
- a shovel-shaped pan for sweepings
dust storm -n
- a dust-laden whirlwind that moves across an arid region and is usu. associated with hot dry air and marked by high electrical tension
- strong winds bearing clouds of dust
dust·up ['dəst-,əp] -n
- row, fight
dust wrapper -n
- dust jacket
dusty ['dəs-tē] -adj, adv, n
- covered or abounding with dust
- consisting of dust : powdery
- resembling dust
- lacking vitality : dry
- unsatisfactory used esp. in the phrases dusty answer and not so dusty
dusty miller -n
- any of several plants having ashy-gray or white tomentose leaves
- an herbaceous artemisia ( Artemisia stelleriana) with grayish foliage found esp. along the eastern coast of the U.S.
dutch ['dəch] -adv
- with each person paying his or her own way
Dutch ['dəch] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or in any of the Germanic languages of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Low Countries
- of, relating to, or in the Dutch of the Netherlands
- of or relating to the Germanic peoples of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Low Countries
- of or relating to the Netherlands or its inhabitants
- german
- of or relating to the Pennsylvania Dutch or their language
- any of the Germanic languages of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Low Countries
- german
- the Germanic language of the Netherlands and Belgium
- the Germanic peoples of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Low Countries
- germans
- the people of the Netherlands
- pennsylvania dutch
- dander
- disfavor, trouble
Dutch cheese -n
- cottage cheese
Dutch clover -n
- white clover
Dutch Colonial -adj
- characterized by a gambrel roof with overhanging eaves
Dutch courage -n
- courage artificially stimulated esp. by drink
- drink taken for courage
Dutch door -n
- a door divided horizontally so that the lower or upper part can be shut separately
Dutch elm disease -n
- a disease of elms caused by an ascomycetous fungus ( Ceratocystis ulmi) and characterized by yellowing of the foliage, defoliation, and death
Dutch hoe -n
- scuffle hoe
dutch·man ['dəch-mən] -n
- a member of any of the Germanic peoples of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Low Countries
- a native or inhabitant of the Netherlands
- a person of Dutch descent
- german
- a device for hiding or counteracting structural defects
Dutch·man'sbreech·es [,dəch-mənz-'bri-chəz] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a spring-flowering herb ( Dicentra cucullaria) of the fumitory family occurring in the eastern U.S. and having finely divided leaves and cream-white double-spurred flowers
Dutchman'spipe [-'pīp] -n
- a vine ( Aristolochia duriorsyn. A. macrophylla) of the birthwort family with large leaves and early summer flowers having the tube of the calyx curved like the bowl of a pipe
Dutch oven -n
- a metal shield for roasting before an open fire
- a brick oven in which cooking is done by the preheated walls
- a cast-iron kettle with a tight cover that is used for baking in an open fire
- a heavy pot with a tight-fitting domed cover
Dutch roll -n
- a combination of directional and lateral oscillation of an airplane
dutch treat -n
- a meal or other entertainment for which each person pays his or her own way
- dutch
Dutch uncle -n
- one who admonishes sternly and bluntly
du·te·ous ['dü-tē-əs also 'dyü-] -adj
- dutiful, obedient
du·ti·able ['dü-tē-ə-bəl also 'dyü-] -adj
- subject to a duty
du·ti·ful ['dü-ti-fəl also 'dyü-] -adj, adv, n
- filled with or motivated by a sense of duty
- proceeding from or expressive of a sense of duty
du·ty ['dü-tē also 'dyü-] -n
- conduct due to parents and superiors : respect
- obligatory tasks, conduct, service, or functions that arise from one's position (as in life or in a group)
- assigned service or business
- active military service
- a period of being on duty
- a moral or legal obligation
- the force of moral obligation
- tax
- a tax on imports
- work
- the service required (as of an electric machine) under specified conditions
- functional application : use
- got double duty out of the trip
- use as a substitute
- making the word do duty for the thing -- Edward Sapir
duty -adj
- done as a duty
- being on duty : assigned to specified tasks or functions
dutyfree [,dü-tē-'frē, ,dyü-, 'dü-tē-,] -adj or adv
- without payment of customs duties : free from duties
- relating to or selling duty-free goods
du·um·vir [du̇-'əm-vər also dyu̇-] -n
- one of two Roman officers or magistrates constituting a board or court
- one of two people jointly holding power
du·vet [d(y)ü-'vā, 'd(y)ü-,] -n
- comforter
duve·tyn ['dü-və-,tēn, 'dyü-, 'dəv-,tēn] -n
- a smooth lustrous velvety fabric
dux·elles [,dük-'sel, (,)dü-'sel] -n
- a garnish or stuffing made esp. of finely chopped sauteed mushrooms