aw ['ȯ] -interj
- used to express mild disappointment, gentle entreaty, or real or mock sympathy or sentiment
AW -abbr
- actual weight
- aircraft warning
- articles of war
- automatic weapon
AWACS -abbr
- airborne warning and control system
await [ə-'wāt] -vb
- to lie in wait for
- to wait for
- to remain in abeyance until
- a treaty await ing ratification
- to be in store for
- wonders what await s him next
- attend
- to stay or be in waiting : wait
- to be in store
awake [ə-'wāk] -vb
- to cease sleeping
- to become aroused or active again
- to become conscious or aware of something
- awoke to the possibilities
- to arouse from sleep or a sleeplike state
- to make active : stir up
- fully conscious, alert, and aware : not asleep
awak·en [ə-'wā-kən] -vb, n
- awake
award [ə-'wȯrd] -vt, adj, n
- to give by judicial decree or after careful consideration
- to confer or bestow as being deserved or merited or needed
- award scholarships to disadvantaged students
- a judgment or final decision
- the decision of arbitrators in a case submitted to them
- the document containing the decision of arbitrators
- something that is conferred or bestowed esp. on the basis of merit or need
aware [ə-'wer] -adj, n
- watchful, wary
- having or showing realization, perception, or knowledge
awash [ə-'wȯsh, -'wäsh] -adj
- alternately covered and exposed by waves or tide
- washing about : afloat
- covered with water : flooded
- filled, covered, or completely overrun as if by a flood
- a movie awash in sentimentality
away [ə-'wā] -adv
- on the way : along
- from this or that place
- in a secure place or manner
- in another direction
- out of existence : to an end
- from one's possession
- steadily onward : uninterruptedly
- by a long distance or interval : far
- absent from a place : gone
- distant in space or time
- the season is two months away
- played on an opponent's grounds
- out
awd -abbr
- all-wheel drive
awe ['ȯ] -n
- an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime
- regard nature's wonders with awe
- dread, terror
- the power to inspire dread
- to inspire with awe
- we were awed by the beauty of the mountains
aweary [ə-'wir-ē] -adj
- being weary
aweath·er [ə-'we-thər] -adv
- on or toward the weather or windward side
awed ['ȯd] -adj
- showing awe
aweigh [ə-'wā] -adj
- raised just clear of the bottom used of an anchor
awe·less ['ȯ-ləs] -adj
- feeling no awe
- inspiring no awe
awe·some ['ȯ-səm] -adj, adv, n
- expressive of awe
- inspiring awe
- terrific, extraordinary
awe·struck [-,strək] -adj
- filled with awe
aw·ful ['ȯ-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- inspiring awe
- : filled with awe: as
- afraid, terrified
- deeply respectful or reverential
- extremely disagreeable or objectionable
- exceedingly great used as an intensive
awful -adv
- very, extremely
awhile [ə-'hwī(-ə)l, ə-'wī(-ə)l] -adv
- for a while
awhirl [ə-'hwər(-ə)l, -'wər(-ə)l] -adj
- being in a whirl
awk·ward ['ȯ-kwərd] -adj, adv, n
- perverse
- unfavorable, adverse
- lacking dexterity or skill (as in the use of hands)
- awkward with a needle and thread
- showing the result of a lack of expertness
- lacking ease or grace (as of movement or expression)
- lacking the right proportions, size, or harmony of parts : ungainly
- lacking social grace and assurance
- causing embarrassment
- not easy to handle or deal with : requiring great skill, ingenuity, or care
- an awkward diplomatic situation
awl ['ȯl] -n
- a pointed tool for marking surfaces or piercing small holes (as in leather or wood)
awn ['ȯn] -n, adj
- one of the slender bristles that terminate the glumes of the spikelet in some cereal and other grasses
aw·ning ['ȯ-niŋ, 'ä-niŋ] -n, adj
- a rooflike cover extending over or in front of a place (as over the deck or in front of a door or window) as a shelter
awoke [ə-'wāk] -vb
(variant of awake)
- to cease sleeping
- to become aroused or active again
- to become conscious or aware of something
- awoke to the possibilities
- to arouse from sleep or a sleeplike state
- to make active : stir up
- fully conscious, alert, and aware : not asleep
awoken [ə-'wāk] -vb
(variant of awake)
- to cease sleeping
- to become aroused or active again
- to become conscious or aware of something
- awoke to the possibilities
- to arouse from sleep or a sleeplike state
- to make active : stir up
- fully conscious, alert, and aware : not asleep
AWOL ['ā-,wȯl, ,ā-,də-bəl-yu̇-,ō-'el] -adj or adv
- absent without leave
- absent often without notice or permission
- the place looked as if its caretaker had been AWOL for some time -- Daniel Ford
- a person who is AWOL
awry [ə-'rī] -adv or adj
- in a turned or twisted position or direction : askew
- off the correct or expected course : amiss
awshucks ['ȯ-,shəks] -adj
- being or marked by an unsophisticated, self-conscious, or self-effacing manner