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a
the first letter and first vowel of the modern English alphabet
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Anthony Simmons
Reason for adoption: Longest then shortest & it was a, i or u from there, finally a for my given name
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A level
a public examination in a subject taken for the General Certificate of Education (GCE), usually at the age of 17--18
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A list
the most socially desirable category
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a priori
relating to or involving deductive reasoning from a general principle to the expected facts or effects
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a'
variants of all
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A'asia
Australasia
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a-
not; without; opposite to
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A-bomb
short for atomic bomb
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A-frame
(of a house) constructed with an A-shaped elevation
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A-line
(of a garment, esp a skirt or dress) flaring slightly from the waist or shoulders
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A-OK
in perfect working order; excellent
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A-sample
the primary urine or blood sample used in doping tests in professional sports; if the A-sample tests positive, the B-sample is tested to confirm or invalidate the results
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A-side
the side of a gramophone record regarded as the more important one
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a-v
audiovisual
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A.
acre(s) or acreage
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a.c.
(in prescriptions) ante cibum
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a.f.
audio frequency
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a.k.a.
also known as
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a.m.
ante meridiem
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a.p.
(in prescriptions, etc) ante prandium
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a.r.
anno regni
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a.s.a.p.
as soon as possible
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a.v.
ad valorem
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a/c
account
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A/F
as found
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A/M
Air Marshal
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A/O
account of
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A1
in good health; physically fit
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A2
an advanced level of a subject taken for the General Certificate of Education, forming the second part of an A level course, after the AS level
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A3
a standard paper size, 297 420 mm
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A4
a standard paper size, 210 297 mm
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A5
a standard paper size (half A4), 148 210 mm
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aa
a volcanic rock consisting of angular blocks of lava with a very rough surface
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AAA
Amateur Athletic Association
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Aachen
a city and spa in W Germany, in North Rhine-Westphalia: the northern capital of Charlemagne's empire. Pop: 256 605 (2003 est)
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Aalborg
a city and port in Denmark, in N Jutland. Pop: 121 549 (2004 est)
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Aalesund
a variant spelling of Ålesund
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aalii
a bushy sapindaceous shrub, Dodonaea viscosa, of Australia, Hawaii, Africa, and tropical America, having small greenish flowers and sticky foliage
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Aalst
the Flemish name for Alost
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AAM
air-to-air missile
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AAP
Australian Associated Press
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Aarau
a town in N Switzerland, capital of Aargau canton: capital of the Helvetic Republic from 1798 to 1803. Pop: 15 470 (2000)
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aardvark
a nocturnal mammal, Orycteropus afer, the sole member of its family (Orycteropodidae) and order (Tubulidentata). It inhabits the grasslands of Africa, has long ears and snout, and feeds on termites
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms Lois Davidson
Reason for adoption: It is one of her favourite words spoken in anger by the incomparable Blackaddder!
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aardwolf
a nocturnal mammal, Proteles cristatus, that inhabits the plains of southern Africa and feeds on termites and insect larvae: family Hyaenidae (hyenas), order Carnivora (carnivores)
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Nigel Evans
Reason for adoption: Because she taught me how to say it in French!!
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Aargau
a canton in N Switzerland. Capital: Aarau. Pop: 556 200 (2002 est). Area: 1404 sq km (542 sq miles)
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Aarhus
a city and port in Denmark, in E Jutland. Pop: 228 547 (2004 est)
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AARNet
Australian Academic Research Network
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Aaron
the first high priest of the Israelites, brother of Moses (Exodus 4:14)
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Aaronic
of or relating to Aaron, his family, or the priestly dynasty initiated by him
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aarti
a Hindu ceremony in which lights with wicks soaked in ghee are lit and offered up to one or more deities
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AAVE
African-American Vernacular English
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Ab
a variant of Av
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ab-
away from; off; outside of; opposite to
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aba
a type of cloth from Syria, made of goat hair or camel hair
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abac
another name for nomogram
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abaca
a Philippine plant, Musa textilis, related to the banana: family Musaceae. Its leafstalks are the source of Manila hemp
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aback
startled or disconcerted
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abactinal
(of organisms showing radial symmetry) situated away from or opposite to the mouth; aboral
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abacus
a counting device that consists of a frame holding rods on which a specific number of beads are free to move. Each rod designates a given denomination, such as units, tens, hundreds, etc, in the decimal system, and each bead represents a digit or a specific number of digits
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Dick Duffin
Reason for adoption: Maths reference
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Abadan
a port in SW Iran, on an island in the Shatt-al-Arab delta. Pop: 307 000 (2005 est)
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Abaddon
the Devil (Revelation 9:11)
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abaft
closer to the stern than to another place on a vessel
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Abakan
a city in S central Russia, capital of the Khakass Republic, at the confluence of the Yenisei and Abakan Rivers. Pop: 167 000 (2005 est)
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abalone
any of various edible marine gastropod molluscs of the genus Haliotis, having an ear-shaped shell that is perforated with a row of respiratory holes. The shells are used for ornament or decoration
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abampere
the cgs unit of current in the electromagnetic system; the constant current that, when flowing through two parallel straight infinitely long conductors 1 centimetre apart, will produce a force between them of 2 dynes per centimetre: equivalent to 10 amperes
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abandon
to forsake completely; desert; leave behind
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abandoned
deserted
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abandonee
a person to whom something is formally relinquished, esp an insurer having the right to salvage a wreck
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abandonware
computer software which is no longer sold or supported by its publisher
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abapical
away from or opposite the apex
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abase
to humble or belittle (oneself, etc)
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abash
to cause to feel ill at ease, embarrassed, or confused; make ashamed
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abashed
ill at ease, embarrassed, or confused; ashamed
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abate
to make or become less in amount, intensity, degree, etc
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abatement
diminution or alleviation; decrease
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abatis
a rampart of felled trees bound together placed with their branches outwards
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abator
a person who effects an abatement
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abattoir
another name for slaughterhouse
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abaxial
facing away from the axis, as the surface of a leaf
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abaya
a long black long-sleeved robe worn by Muslim women in Arabic-speaking countries, often with a headscarf or veil
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Abba
father (used of God)
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abbacy
the office, term of office, or jurisdiction of an abbot or abbess
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abbatial
of or relating to an abbot, abbess, or abbey
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abbé
a French abbot
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abbed
displaying well-developed abdominal muscles
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abbess
the female superior of a convent
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Abbeville
a town in N France: brewing, sugar-refining, and carpet industries. Pop: 24 567 (1999)
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Abbevillian
the period represented by Lower Palaeolithic European sites containing the earliest hand axes, dating from the Mindel glaciation
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abbey
a building inhabited by a community of monks or nuns governed by an abbot or abbess
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abbot
the superior of an abbey of monks
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abbrev.
abbreviation
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abbreviate
to shorten (a word or phrase) by contraction or omission of some letters or words
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abbreviation
a shortened or contracted form of a word or phrase used in place of the whole
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ABC
the rudiments of a subject
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abcoulomb
the cgs unit of electric charge in the electromagnetic system; the charge per second passing any cross section of a conductor through which a steady current of 1 abampere is flowing: equivalent to 10 coulombs
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Abdias
the Douay form of Obadiah
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abdicate
to renounce (a throne, power, responsibility, rights, etc), esp formally
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abdomen
the region of the body of a vertebrate that contains the viscera other than the heart and lungs. In mammals it is separated from the thorax by the diaphragm
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abdominoplasty
the surgical removal of excess skin and fat from the abdomen
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abducent
(of a muscle) abducting
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abduct
to remove (a person) by force or cunning; kidnap
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abduction
the act of taking someone away by force or cunning; kidnapping
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abeam
at right angles to the length and directly opposite the centre of a vessel or aircraft
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abecedarian
a person who is learning the alphabet or the rudiments of a subject
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abed
in bed
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Abednego
one of Daniel's three companions who, together with Shadrach and Meshach, was miraculously saved from destruction in Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace (Daniel 3:12--30)
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Abel
the second son of Adam and Eve, a shepherd, murdered by his brother Cain (Genesis 4:1--8)
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abele
another name for white poplar
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abelmosk
a tropical bushy malvaceous plant, Hibiscus abelmoschus, cultivated for its yellow-and-crimson flowers and for its musk-scented seeds, which yield an oil used in perfumery
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Abeokuta
a town in W Nigeria, capital of Ogun state. Pop: 487 000 (2005 est)
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Aberdare
a town in South Wales, in Rhondda, Cynon, Taff county borough. Pop: 31 705 (2001)
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Aberdeen
a city in NE Scotland, on the North Sea: centre for processing North Sea oil and gas; university (1494). Pop: 184 788 (2001)
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Aberdeenshire
a council area and historical county of N Scotland, on the North Sea: became part of Grampian Region in 1975 but reinstated as an independent unitary authority (with adjusted borders) in 1996: rises to the Grampian and Cairngorm Mountains in the SW: chiefly agricultural (esp sheep and stock raising). Administrative centre: Aberdeen. Pop: 229 330 (2003 est). Area 6319 sq km (2439 sq miles)
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aberdevine
a former name for the siskin, when kept as a cagebird
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Aberdonian
a native or inhabitant of Aberdeen
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Aberfan
a former coal-mining village in S Wales, in Merthyr Tydfil county borough: scene of a disaster in 1966 when a slag heap collapsed onto part of the village killing 144 people (including 116 children)
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abernethy
a crisp unleavened biscuit
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aberrant
deviating from the normal or usual type, as certain animals from the group in which they are classified
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aberration
deviation from what is normal, expected, or usual
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Aberystwyth
a resort and university town in Wales, in Ceredigion on Cardigan Bay. Pop: 15 935 (2001)
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abet
to assist or encourage, esp in crime or wrongdoing
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abeyance
a state of being suspended or put aside temporarily
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abfarad
the cgs unit of capacitance in the electromagnetic system; the capacitance of a capacitor having a charge of 1 abcoulomb and a potential difference of 1 abvolt between its conductors: equivalent to 109 farads
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ABH
actual bodily harm
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abhenry
the cgs unit of inductance in the electromagnetic system; the inductance that results when a rate of change of current of 1 abampere per second generates an induced emf of 1 abvolt: equivalent to 10--9 henry
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abhor
to detest vehemently; find repugnant; reject
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abhorrence
a feeling of extreme loathing or aversion
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abhorrent
repugnant; loathsome
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Abia
a state of SE Nigeria. Capital: Umuahia. Pop: 2 569 362 (1995 est). Area (including Imo state): 11 850 sq km (4575 sq miles)
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Abib
an older name for the month of Nisan
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abide
to tolerate; put up with
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abiding
permanent; enduring
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Abidjan
a port in Côte d'Ivoire, on the Gulf of Guinea: the legislative capital (Yamoussoukro became the administrative capital in 1983). Pop: 3 516 000 (2005 est)
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Abigail
the woman who brought provisions to David and his followers and subsequently became his wife (I Samuel 25:1--42)
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Debra Walker
Reason for adoption: A Father's Joy
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Abilene
a city in central Texas. Pop: 114 889 (2003 est)
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ability
possession of the qualities required to do something; necessary skill, competence, or power
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms jo greenwell
Reason for adoption: give people the tools and ability to communciate - and they will.
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Abingdon
a market town in S England, in Oxfordshire. Pop: 36 010 (2001)
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abiogenesis
the hypothetical process by which living organisms first arose on earth from nonliving matter
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abiosis
absence of life
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abiotrophy
the progressive degeneration of tissues, cells, etc
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abirritant
relieving irritation
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abirritate
to soothe or make less irritable
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abject
utterly wretched or hopeless
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abjure
to renounce or retract, esp formally, solemnly, or under oath
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Abkhaz
a member of a Georgian people living east of the Black Sea
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Abkhazia
an administrative division of NW Georgia, between the Black Sea and the Caucasus Mountains: a subtropical region, with mountains rising over 3900 m (13 000 ft); Abkhazian separatists seized control of the region in 1993. Capital: Sukhumi. Pop: 516 600 (1993 est). Area: 8600 sq km (3320 sq miles)
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abl.
ablative
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ablactation
the weaning of an infant
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ablate
to remove by ablation
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ablation
the surgical removal of an organ, structure, or part
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ablative
(in certain inflected languages such as Latin) denoting a case of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives indicating the agent in passive sentences or the instrument, manner, or place of the action described by the verb
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ablator
the heat shield of a space vehicle, which melts or wears away during re-entry into the earth's atmosphere
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ablaut
vowel gradation, esp in Indo-European languages
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ablaze
on fire; burning
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able
having the necessary power, resources, skill, time, opportunity, etc, to do something
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able-bodied
physically strong and healthy; robust
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abled
having a range of physical powers as specified (esp in the phrases less abled, differently abled)
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ableism
discrimination against disabled or handicapped people
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abloom
in flower; blooming
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ablution
the ritual washing of a priest's hands or of sacred vessels
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ably
in a competent or skilful manner
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ABM
antiballistic missile
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Abnaki
a member of a North American Indian people formerly living in Maine and Quebec
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abnegate
to deny to oneself; renounce (privileges, pleasure, etc)
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abnormal
not normal; deviating from the usual or typical; extraordinary
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abnormality
an abnormal feature, event, etc
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Abo
(as modifier)
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aboard
on, in, onto, or into (a ship, train, aircraft, etc)
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abode
a place in which one lives; one's home
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abohm
the cgs unit of resistance in the electromagnetic system: equivalent to 10=9 ohm
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aboideau
a dyke with a sluicegate that allows flood water to drain but keeps the sea water out
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abolish
to do away with (laws, regulations, customs, etc); put an end to
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abolition
the act of abolishing or the state of being abolished; annulment
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abomasum
the fourth and last compartment of the stomach of ruminants, which receives and digests food from the psalterium and passes it on to the small intestine
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abominable
offensive; loathsome; detestable
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abominate
to dislike intensely; loathe; detest
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abomination
a person or thing that is disgusting
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abondance
a variant spelling of abundance
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aboral
away from or opposite the mouth
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aboriginal
existing in a place from the earliest known period; indigenous; autochthonous
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Aboriginality
the state of being Aboriginal, esp with regard to having a common Aboriginal culture
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aborigine
an original inhabitant of a country or region who has been there from the earliest known times
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aborning
while being born, developed, or realized (esp in the phrase die aborning)
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abort
to undergo or cause (a woman) to undergo the termination of pregnancy before the fetus is viable
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abortifacient
causing abortion
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abortion
an operation or other procedure to terminate pregnancy before the fetus is viable
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abortionist
a person who performs abortions, esp illegally
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abortive
failing to achieve a purpose; fruitless
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aboulia
a variant spelling of abulia
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abound
to exist or occur in abundance; be plentiful
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about
relating to; concerning; on the subject of
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about-ship
to manoeuvre a vessel onto a new tack
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above
on top of or higher than; over
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above-the-line
denoting entries printed above the horizontal line on a company's profit-and-loss account separating the entries that show how the profit (or loss) was made from the entries showing how the profit is to be distributed
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Abp
archbishop
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abracadabra
a spoken formula, used esp by conjurors
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr James Moran
Reason for adoption: Because if it's done properly, writing is one giant magic trick.
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abrade
to scrape away or wear down by friction; erode
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Abraham
the first of the patriarchs, the father of Isaac and the founder of the Hebrew people (Genesis 11--25)
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abranchiate
having no gills
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abrasion
the process of scraping or wearing down by friction
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abrasive
a substance or material such as sandpaper, pumice, or emery, used for cleaning, grinding, smoothing, or polishing
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abraxas
an ancient charm composed of Greek letters: originally believed to have magical powers and inscribed on amulets, etc, but from the second century ad personified by Gnostics as a deity, the source of divine emanations
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abreact
to alleviate (emotional tension) through abreaction
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abreaction
the release and expression of emotional tension associated with repressed ideas by bringing those ideas into consciousness
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abreast
alongside each other and facing in the same direction
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abri
a shelter or place of refuge, esp in wartime
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abridge
to reduce the length of (a written work) by condensing or rewriting
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abridgment
a shortened version of a written work
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abroach
(of a cask, barrel, etc) tapped; broached
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abroad
to or in a foreign country or countries
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abrogate
to cancel or revoke formally or officially; repeal; annul
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abrupt
sudden; unexpected
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abruption
a breaking off of a part or parts from a mass
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Abruzzi
a region of S central Italy, between the Apennines and the Adriatic: separated from the former administrative region Abruzzi e Molise in 1965. Capital: Aquila. Pop: 1 273 284 (2003 est). Area: 10 794 sq km (4210 sq miles)
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abs
abdominal muscles
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Absalom
the third son of David, who rebelled against his father and was eventually killed by Joab (II Samuel 15--18)
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abscess
a localized collection of pus formed as the product of inflammation and usually caused by bacteria
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abscise
to separate or be separated by abscission
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abscissa
the horizontal or x-coordinate of a point in a two-dimensional system of Cartesian coordinates. It is the distance from the y-axis measured parallel to the x-axis
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abscission
the separation of leaves, branches, flowers, and bark from plants by the formation of an abscission layer
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abscond
to run away secretly, esp from an open institution or to avoid prosecution or punishment
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abseil
to descend a steep slope or vertical drop by a rope secured from above and coiled around one's body or through karabiners attached to one's body in order to control the speed of descent
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absence
the state of being away
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absent
away or not present
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absent-minded
preoccupied; forgetful; inattentive
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absentee
a person who is absent
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absenteeism
persistent absence from work, school, etc
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absently
in an absent-minded or preoccupied manner; inattentively
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absinthe
a potent green alcoholic drink, technically a gin, originally having high wormwood content
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absinthism
a diseased condition resulting from excessive drinking of absinthe
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absolute
complete; perfect
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absolutely
in an absolute manner, esp completely or perfectly
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Sam Freestone
Reason for adoption: Because it is his favourite word!
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absolution
the act of absolving or the state of being absolved; release from guilt, obligation, or punishment
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absolutism
the principle or practice of a political system in which unrestricted power is vested in a monarch, dictator, etc; despotism
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absolve
to release from blame, sin, punishment, obligation, or responsibility
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absorb
to soak or suck up (liquids)
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absorbance
a measure of the light-absorbing ability of an object, expressed as the logarithm to base 10 of the reciprocal of the internal transmittance
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absorbed
engrossed; deeply interested
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absorbefacient
a medicine or other agent that promotes absorption
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absorbent
able to absorb
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absorber
a person or thing that absorbs
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absorbing
occupying one's interest or attention; engrossing; gripping
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absorptance
a measure of the ability of an object to absorb radiation, equal to the ratio of the absorbed radiant flux to the incident flux. For a layer of material the ratio of the flux absorbed between the entry and exit surfaces of the layer to the flux leaving the entry surface is the internal absorptance
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absorption
the process of absorbing or the state of being absorbed
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absorptivity
a measure of the ability of a material to absorb radiation, equal to the internal absorptance of a homogeneous layer of the material under conditions in which the path of the radiation has unit length and the boundaries of the layer have no influence
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absquatulate
to leave; decamp
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abstain
to choose to refrain
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abstemious
moderate or sparing, esp in the consumption of alcohol or food; temperate
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abstention
a voluntary decision not to act; the act of refraining or abstaining
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abstergent
cleansing or scouring
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abstinence
the act or practice of refraining from some action or from the use of something, esp alcohol
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abstract
having no reference to material objects or specific examples; not concrete
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abstracted
lost in thought; preoccupied
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abstraction
absence of mind; preoccupation
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abstractionism
the theory and practice of the abstract, esp of abstract art
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abstriction
the separation and release of a mature spore from a sporophore by the formation of a septum. This process occurs in some fungi
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abstruse
not easy to understand; recondite; esoteric
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absurd
at variance with reason; manifestly false
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ABTA
Association of British Travel Agents
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Abu Dhabi
a sheikhdom (emirate) of SE Arabia, on the S coast of the Persian Gulf: the chief sheikhdom and capital of the United Arab Emirates, consisting principally of the port of Abu Dhabi and a desert hinterland; contains major oilfields. Pop: 476 000 (2005 est). Area: 67 350 sq km (25 998 sq miles)
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Abuja
the federal capital of Nigeria, in the centre of the country. Pop: 467 000 (2005 est)
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abulia
a pathological inability to take decisions
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abundance
a copious supply; great amount
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abundant
existing in plentiful supply
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Jon Harvey
Reason for adoption: I aim to help organisations tap into their abundant supply of good ideas!
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abundantly
very
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abuse
to use incorrectly or improperly; misuse
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abusive
characterized by insulting or coarse language
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abut
to adjoin, touch, or border on (something) at one end
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abutilon
any shrub or herbaceous plant of the malvaceous genus Abutilon, such as the flowering maple, that have showy white, yellow, or red flowers
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abutment
the state or process of abutting
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abuttals
the boundaries of a plot of land where it abuts against other property
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abutter
the owner of adjoining property
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abuzz
humming, as with conversation, activity, etc; buzzing
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ABV
alcohol by volume: the number of ml of ethyl alcohol present in each 100 ml of an alcoholic beverage when measured at 20°C; displayed on the packaging of alcoholic drinks in EU countries and used to calculate the amount of tax payable
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abvolt
the cgs unit of potential difference in the electromagnetic system; the potential difference between two points when work of 1 erg must be done to transfer 1 abcoulomb of charge from one point to the other: equivalent to 10--8 volt
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abwatt
the cgs unit of power in the electromagnetic system, equal to the power dissipated when a current of 1 abampere flows across a potential difference of 1 abvolt: equivalent to 10--7 watt
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aby
to pay the penalty for; redeem
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Abydos
an ancient town in central Egypt: site of many temples and tombs
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abysm
an archaic word for abyss
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abysmal
immeasurable; very great
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abyss
a very deep or unfathomable gorge or chasm
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abyssal
of or belonging to the ocean depths, esp below 2000 metres (6500 feet)
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Abyssinia
a former name for Ethiopia
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Abyssinian
a native or inhabitant of Abyssinia
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abyssopelagic
referring to or occurring in the region of deep water above the floor of the ocean
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ac
Ascension Island
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AC/DC
(of a person) bisexual
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ACA
Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants
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acacia
any shrub or tree of the tropical and subtropical leguminous genus Acacia, having compound or reduced leaves and small yellow or white flowers in dense inflorescences
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academe
any place of learning, such as a college or university
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academia
the academic world
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academic
belonging or relating to a place of learning, esp a college, university, or academy
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academicals
another term for academic dress
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academician
a member of an academy (sense 1)
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academicism
adherence to rules and traditions in art, literature, etc; conventionalism
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academy
an institution or society for the advancement of literature, art, or science
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Acadia
the Atlantic Provinces of Canada
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Acadian
denoting or relating to Acadia or its inhabitants
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açaí
a berry that grows on palm trees in the Brazilian rainforests. Because it is rich in nutrients, it is used to make energy drinks
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acajou
a type of mahogany used by cabinet-makers in France
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acalculia
an inability to make simple mathematical calculations
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acaleph
any of the coelenterates of the former taxonomic group Acalephae, which included the jellyfishes
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acanthaceous
of or relating to the Acanthaceae, a mainly tropical and subtropical family of flowering plants that includes the acanthus
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acanthine
of or resembling an acanthus
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acantho-
indicating a spine or thorn
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acanthocephalan
any of the parasitic wormlike invertebrates of the phylum Acanthocephala, the adults of which have a spiny proboscis and live in the intestines of vertebrates
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acanthoid
resembling a spine; spiny
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acanthopterygian
of, relating to, or belonging to the Acanthopterygii, a large group of teleost fishes having spiny fin rays. The group includes most saltwater bony fishes
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acanthous
another term for spinous
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acanthus
any shrub or herbaceous plant of the genus Acanthus, native to the Mediterranean region but widely cultivated as ornamental plants, having large spiny leaves and spikes of white or purplish flowers: family Acanthaceae
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Acapulco
a port and resort in SW Mexico, in Guerrero state. Pop: 761 000 (2005 est)
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acariasis
infestation of the hair follicles and skin with acarids, esp mites
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acaricide
any drug or formulation for killing acarids
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acarid
any of the small arachnids of the order Acarina (or Acari), which includes the ticks and mites
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acaroid
resembling a mite or tick
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acarology
the study of mites and ticks
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acarpellous
(of flowers) having no carpels
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acarpous
(of plants) producing no fruit
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acarus
any of the free-living mites of the widely distributed genus Acarus, several of which, esp A. siro, are serious pests of stored flour, grain, etc
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ACAS
Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service
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acatalectic
having the necessary number of feet or syllables, esp having a complete final foot
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acaudal
having no tail
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acaulescent
having no visible stem or a very short one
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acauline
having no stem
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ACC
Accident Compensation Corporation
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acc.
account
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acca
an academic
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Accad
a variant spelling of Akkad
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Accademia
an art gallery in Venice housing a collection of paintings by Venetian masters from the 13th to 18th centuries
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ACCC
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
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accede
to assent or give one's consent; agree
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accel.
accelerando
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accelerando
(to be performed) with increasing speed
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accelerant
another name for accelerator
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accelerate
to go, occur, or cause to go or occur more quickly; speed up
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acceleration
the act of accelerating or the state of being accelerated
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accelerator
a device for increasing speed, esp a pedal for controlling the fuel intake in a motor vehicle; throttle
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accelerometer
an instrument for measuring acceleration, esp of an aircraft or rocket
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accent
the characteristic mode of pronunciation of a person or group, esp one that betrays social or geographical origin
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accentor
any small sparrow-like songbird of the genus Prunella, family Prunellidae, which inhabit mainly mountainous regions of Europe and Asia
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accentual
of, relating to, or having accents; rhythmic
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accentuate
to stress or emphasize
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accept
to take or receive (something offered)
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acceptable
satisfactory; adequate
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acceptance
the act of accepting or the state of being accepted or acceptable
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Ruth Ramsbottom
Reason for adoption: If you are disabled being accepted is not easy my friend accepts me
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acceptant
receiving willingly; receptive
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acceptation
the accepted meaning, as of a word, phrase, etc
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accepted
commonly approved or recognized; customary; established
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acceptor
the person or organization on which a draft or bill of exchange is drawn after liability has been accepted, usually by signature
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access
the act of approaching or entering
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accessarily
A derivative of accessary
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accessary
a less common spelling of accessory.
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accessible
easy to approach, enter, or use
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accession
the act of entering upon or attaining to an office, right, condition, etc
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accessorius
a muscle or nerve that has an augmenting action
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accessorize
to add accessories to
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accessory
a supplementary part or object, as of a car, appliance, etc
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acciaccatura
a small grace note melodically adjacent to a principal note and played simultaneously with or immediately before it
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accidence
inflectional morphology; the part of grammar concerned with changes in the form of words by internal modification or by affixation, for the expression of tense, person, case, number, etc
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accident
an unforeseen event or one without an apparent cause
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accident-prone
more liable than most people to be involved in accidents
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accidental
occurring by chance, unexpectedly, or unintentionally
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accidentology
the study of the prevention of accidents
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accidie
spiritual sloth; apathy; indifference
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accipiter
any hawk of the genus Accipiter, typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
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accipitrine
of, relating to, or resembling a hawk; rapacious
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acclaim
to acknowledge publicly the excellence of (a person, act, etc)
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acclamation
an enthusiastic reception or exhibition of welcome, approval, etc
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acclimatize
to adapt or become accustomed to a new climate or environment
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acclivity
an upward slope, esp of the ground
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accolade
strong praise or approval; acclaim
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accommodate
to supply or provide, esp with lodging or board and lodging
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accommodating
willing to help; kind; obliging
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accommodation
lodging or board and lodging
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accompaniment
something that accompanies or is served or used with something else
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accompanist
a person who plays a musical accompaniment for another performer, esp a pianist accompanying a singer
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accompany
to go along with, so as to be in company with or escort
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accomplice
a person who helps another in committing a crime
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accomplish
to manage to do; achieve
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accomplished
successfully completed; achieved
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accomplishment
the act of carrying out or achieving
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accord
agreement; conformity; accordance (esp in the phrase in accord with)
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accordance
conformity; agreement; accord (esp in the phrase in accordance with)
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accordant
in conformity or harmony
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according
in proportion; in relation
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accordingly
in an appropriate manner; suitably
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accordion
a portable box-shaped instrument of the reed organ family, consisting of metallic reeds that are made to vibrate by air from a set of bellows controlled by the player's hands. Notes are produced by means of studlike keys
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accost
to approach, stop, and speak to (a person), as to ask a question, accuse of a crime, solicit sexually, etc
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account
a verbal or written report, description, or narration of some occurrence, event, etc
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accountable
responsible to someone or for some action; answerable
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accountancy
the profession or business of an accountant
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accountant
a person concerned with the maintenance and audit of business accounts and the preparation of consultant reports in tax and finance
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accounting
the skill or practice of maintaining and auditing accounts and preparing reports on the assets, liabilities, etc, of a business
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accouplement
a timber joist or beam that serves as a tie or support
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accoutre
to provide with equipment or dress, esp military
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accoutrement
equipment worn by soldiers in addition to their clothing and weapons
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Susan Dempster
Reason for adoption: This is just such a fab word!
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Accra
the capital of Ghana, a port on the Gulf of Guinea: built on the site of three 17th-century trading fortresses founded by the English, Dutch, and Danish. Pop: 1 970 000 (2005 est)
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accredit
to ascribe or attribute
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accrescent
(of a calyx or other part) continuing to grow after flowering
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accrete
to grow or cause to grow together; be or become fused
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accretion
any gradual increase in size, as through growth or external addition
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Accrington
a town in NW England, in SE Lancashire. Pop: 35 203 (2001)
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accrual
the act of accruing
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accrue
to increase by growth or addition, esp (of capital) to increase by periodic addition of interest
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acculturate
(of a cultural or social group) to assimilate the cultural traits of another group
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accumbent
(of plant parts and plants) lying against some other part or thing
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accumulate
to gather or become gathered together in an increasing quantity; amass; collect
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accumulation
the act or process of collecting together or becoming collected
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accumulator
a rechargeable device for storing electrical energy in the form of chemical energy, consisting of one or more separate secondary cells
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accuracy
faithful measurement or representation of the truth; correctness; precision
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accurate
faithfully representing or describing the truth
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accursed
under or subject to a curse; doomed
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accusal
another word for accusation
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accusation
an allegation that a person is guilty of some fault, offence, or crime; imputation
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accusative
denoting a case of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives in inflected languages that is used to identify the direct object of a finite verb, of certain prepositions, and for certain other purposes
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accusatorial
containing or implying blame or strong criticism
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accuse
to charge (a person or persons) with some fault, offence, crime, etc; impute guilt or blame
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accused
the defendant or defendants appearing on a criminal charge
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accustom
to make (oneself) familiar (with) or used (to), as by practice, habit, or experience
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accustomed
usual; customary
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Accutron
a type of watch in which the balance wheel and hairspring are replaced by a tuning fork kept in vibration by a tiny internal battery
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ace
any die, domino, or any of four playing cards with one spot
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Iain Holder
Reason for adoption: A catch-all word for everything that's good.
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acedia
another word for accidie
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Aceh
an autonomous region of N Indonesia, in N Sumatra; mountainous with rain forests; scene of separatist conflict since the later 1990s; coastal areas suffered badly in the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004. Capital: Banda Aceh. Pop: 3 930 905 (2000). Area: 55 392 sq km (21 381 sq miles)
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Aceldama
the place near Jerusalem that was bought with the 30 pieces of silver paid to Judas for betraying Jesus (Matthew 27:8; Acts 1:19)
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acellular
not made up of or containing cells
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acentric
without a centre
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acephalous
having no head or one that is reduced and indistinct, as certain insect larvae
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acer
any tree or shrub of the genus Acer, often cultivated for their brightly coloured foliage
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acerate
another word for acerose
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acerbate
to embitter or exasperate
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acerbic
harsh, bitter, or astringent; sour
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acerbity
vitriolic or embittered speech, temper, etc
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acerola
a small tree or shrub, Malpighia glabra, that grows in the rainforests of N South America, Central America, and Jamaica
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acerose
shaped like a needle, as pine leaves
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acervate
growing in heaps or clusters
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acescent
slightly sour or turning sour
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acetabulum
the deep cuplike cavity on the side of the hipbone that receives the head of the thighbone
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acetal
1,1-diethoxyethane; a colourless volatile liquid used as a solvent and in perfumes. Formula: CH3CH(OC2H5)2
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acetaldehyde
a colourless volatile pungent liquid, miscible with water, used in the manufacture of organic compounds and as a solvent and reducing agent. Formula: CH3CHO
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acetamide
a white or colourless soluble deliquescent crystalline compound, used in the manufacture of organic chemicals. Formula: CH3CONH2
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acetanilide
a white crystalline powder used in the manufacture of dyes and rubber, as an analgesic in medicine, and as a precursor in penicillin manufacture. Formula: C6H5NHCOCH3
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acetate
any salt or ester of acetic acid, containing the monovalent ion CH3COO-- or the group CH3COO-
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acetic
of, containing, producing, or derived from acetic acid or vinegar
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acetify
to become or cause to become acetic acid or vinegar
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aceto-
containing an acetyl group or derived from acetic acid
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acetometer
a device for measuring the concentration of acetic acid in a solution, esp in vinegar
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acetonaemia
another name for ketosis
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acetone
a colourless volatile flammable pungent liquid, miscible with water, used in the manufacture of chemicals and as a solvent and thinner for paints, varnishes, and lacquers. Formula: CH3COCH3
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acetonuria
another name for ketonuria
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acetophenetidin
another name for phenacetin
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acetous
containing, producing, or resembling acetic acid or vinegar
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acetum
a solution that has dilute acetic acid as solvent
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acetyl
of, consisting of, or containing the monovalent group CH3CO-
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acetylate
to introduce an acetyl group into (a chemical compound)
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acetylcholine
a chemical substance secreted at the ends of many nerve fibres, esp in the autonomic nervous system, and responsible for the transmission of nervous impulses. Formula: CH3CO2(CH2)2N (CH3)3+
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acetylcholinesterase
an enzyme in nerve cells that is responsible for the destruction of acetylcholine and thus for switching off excitation of the nerve
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acetylene
a colourless flammable gas used in the manufacture of organic chemicals and in cutting and welding metals. Formula: C2H2
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acetylide
any of a class of carbides in which the carbon is present as a diatomic divalent ion (C22--). They are formally derivatives of acetylene
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acey-deucy
a form of backgammon
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ACGI
Associate of the City and Guilds Institute
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ach
an expression of surprise, impatience, disgust, etc
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ach-laut
the voiceless velar fricative sound that is written as ch in Scottish loch or in German ach, often allophonic with the ich-laut
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ach-y-fi
an expression of disgust or abhorrence
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Achaea
a department of Greece, in the N Peloponnese. Capital: Patras. Pop: 318 928 (2001). Area: 3209 sq km (1239 sq miles)
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Achaean
a member of a principal Greek tribe in the Mycenaean era
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Achaemenid
any member of a Persian dynasty of kings, including Cyrus the Great, that ruled from about 550 to 331 bc, when Darius III was overthrown by Alexander the Great
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achalasia
failure of the cardiac sphincter of the oesophagus to relax, resulting in difficulty in swallowing
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acharya
a prominent religious teacher and spiritual guide
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Achates
Aeneas' faithful companion in Virgil's Aeneid
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ache
to feel, suffer, or be the source of a continuous dull pain
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Achelous
a river god who changed into a snake and a bull while fighting Hercules but was defeated when Hercules broke off one of his horns
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achene
a dry one-seeded indehiscent fruit with the seed distinct from the fruit wall. It may be smooth, as in the buttercup, or feathery, as in clematis
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Achernar
the brightest star in the constellation Eridanus, visible only in the S hemisphere. Visual magnitude: 0.5; spectral type: B3V; distance: 144 light years
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Acheron
one of the rivers in Hades over which the souls of the dead were ferried by Charon
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Acheulian
(in Europe) the period in the Lower Palaeolithic following the Abbevillian, represented by the use of soft hammerstones in hand axe production made of chipped stone, bone, antler, or wood. The Acheulian dates from the Riss glaciation
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achieve
to bring to a successful conclusion; accomplish; attain
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achievement
something that has been accomplished, esp by hard work, ability, or heroism
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achillea
any plant of the N temperate genus Achillea, with white, yellow, or purple flowers, some species of which are widely grown as garden plants: family Asteraceae (composites)
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Achilles
Greek hero, the son of Peleus and the sea goddess Thetis: in the Iliad the foremost of the Greek warriors at the siege of Troy. While he was a baby his mother plunged him into the river Styx making his body invulnerable except for the heel by which she held him. After slaying Hector, he was killed by Paris who wounded him in the heel
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achimenes
any plant of the tropical S American tuberous-rooted perennial genus Achimenes, with showy red, blue, or white tubular flowers, some of which are grown as greenhouse plants: family Gesneriaceae
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Achitophel
the Douay spelling of Ahithophel
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achlamydeous
(of flowers such as the willow) having neither petals nor sepals
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achlorhydria
the absence of free hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice
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achondrite
a rare stony meteorite that consists mainly of silicate minerals and has the texture of igneous rock but contains no chondrules
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achondroplasia
a skeletal disorder, characterized by failure of normal conversion of cartilage into bone, that begins during fetal life and results in dwarfism
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achromat
a lens designed to bring light of two chosen wavelengths to the same focal point, thus reducing chromatic aberration
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achromatic
without colour
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achromatin
the material of the nucleus of a cell that does not stain with basic dyes
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achromatize
to make achromatic; to remove colour from
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achromatous
having little or no colour or less than is normal
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achromic
colourless
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achy
affected by a continuous dull pain; aching
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acicula
a needle-shaped part, such as a spine, prickle, or crystal
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aciculate
having aciculae
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aciculum
a needle-like bristle that provides internal support for the appendages (chaetae) of some polychaete worms
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acid
any substance that dissociates in water to yield a sour corrosive solution containing hydrogen ions, having a pH of less than 7, and turning litmus red
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Acid House
a type of funk-based electronically edited disco music of the late 1980s, which has hypnotic sound effects and is associated with hippy culture and the use of the drug ecstasy
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acid-fast
(of bacteria and tissues) resistant to decolorization by mineral acids after staining
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acid-forming
(of an oxide or element) yielding an acid when dissolved in water or having an oxide that forms an acid in water; acidic
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acidanthera
any plant of the African cormous genus Acidanthera, cultivated for its graceful tubular white and red or white and purple flowers, often scented: family Iridaceae
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acidhead
a person who uses LSD
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acidic
(of an oxide) yielding an acid in aqueous solution
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acidify
to convert into or become acid
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acidimeter
any instrument or standard solution for determining the amount of acid in a sample solution
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acidimetry
the determination of the amount of acid present in a solution, measured by an acidimeter or by volumetric analysis
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acidity
the quality or state of being acid
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acidometer
a type of hydrometer for measuring the relative density of an acid solution, esp the acid in a battery
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acidophil
(of cells or cell contents) easily stained by acid dyes
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acidosis
a condition characterized by an abnormal increase in the acidity of the blood and extracellular fluids
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acidulate
to make slightly acid or sour
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acidulous
rather sour
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acierate
to change (iron) into steel
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ACII
Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute
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acinaciform
(of leaves) shaped like a scimitar; curved
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acinetobacter
a bacterium that causes infections such as pneumonia, particularly in people who have a compromised immune system
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aciniform
shaped like a bunch of grapes
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acinus
any of the terminal saclike portions of a compound gland
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Acis
a Sicilian shepherd and the lover of the nymph Galatea. In jealousy, Polyphemus crushed him with a huge rock, and his blood was turned by Galatea into a river
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ack-ack
anti-aircraft fire
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ack-emma
in the morning; a.m
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ackee
a sapindaceous tree, Blighia sapida, native to tropical Africa and cultivated in the Caribbean for its fruit, edible when cooked
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acker
a pimple
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acknowledge
to recognize or admit the existence, truth, or reality of
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acknowledgment
the act of acknowledging or state of being acknowledged
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ACL
anterior cruciate ligament
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ACLU
American Civil Liberties Union
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ACM
Air Chief Marshal
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acme
the culminating point, as of achievement or excellence; summit; peak
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Stephen Parkes
Reason for adoption: Jennie is the acme of my life.
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acne
a chronic skin disease common in adolescence, involving inflammation of the sebaceous glands and characterized by pustules on the face, neck, and upper trunk
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acnode
a point whose coordinates satisfy the equation of a curve although it does not lie on the curve; an isolated point. The origin is an acnode of the curve y2 + x2 = x3
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Acol
a popular British bidding system favouring light opening bids and a flexible approach
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acolyte
a follower or attendant
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Aconcagua
a mountain in W Argentina: the highest peak in the Andes and in the W Hemisphere. Height: 6960 m (22 835 ft)
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aconite
any of various N temperate plants of the ranunculaceous genus Aconitum, such as monkshood and wolfsbane, many of which are poisonous
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Açôres
the Portuguese name for (the) Azores
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acorn
the fruit of an oak tree, consisting of a smooth thick-walled nut in a woody scaly cuplike base
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acotyledon
any plant, such as a fern or moss, that does not possess cotyledons
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acouchi
any of several South American rodents of the genus Myoprocta, closely related to the agoutis but much smaller, with a white-tipped tail: family Dasyproctidae
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acoustic
of or related to sound, the sense of hearing, or acoustics
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acoustician
an expert in acoustics
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acoustics
the scientific study of sound and sound waves
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acoustoelectronic
denoting a device in which electronic signals are converted into acoustic waves, esp in delay lines, etc
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acquaint
to make (a person) familiar or conversant (with); inform (of)
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acquaintance
a person with whom one has been in contact but who is not a close friend
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acquainted
on terms of familiarity but not intimacy
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acquiesce
to comply (with); assent (to) without protest
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acquire
to get or gain (something, such as an object, trait, or ability), esp more or less permanently
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acquisition
the act of acquiring or gaining possession
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acquisitive
inclined or eager to acquire things, esp material possessions
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acquit
to free or release (from a charge of crime)
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acquittal
the deliverance and release of a person appearing before a court on a charge of crime, as by a finding of not guilty
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acquittance
a release from or settlement of a debt, etc
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acre
a unit of area used in certain English-speaking countries, equal to 4840 square yards or 4046.86 square metres
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acre-foot
the volume of water that would cover an area of 1 acre to a depth of 1 foot: equivalent to 43 560 cubic feet or 1233.5 cubic metres
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acre-inch
the volume of water that would cover an area of 1 acre to a depth of 1 inch; one twelfth of an acre-foot: equivalent to 3630 cubic feet or 102.8 cubic metres
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acreage
land area in acres
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acred
having acres of land
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acrid
unpleasantly pungent or sharp to the smell or taste
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acridine
a colourless crystalline solid used in the manufacture of dyes. Formula: C13H9N
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acriflavine
a brownish or orange-red powder used in medicine as an antiseptic and disinfectant. Formula: C14H14N3Cl
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Acrilan
an acrylic fibre or fabric, characterized by strength, softness, and crease-resistance and used for clothing, upholstery, carpets, etc
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acrimonious
characterized by bitterness or sharpness of manner, speech, temper, etc
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acrimony
bitterness or sharpness of manner, speech, temper, etc
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acro-
denoting something at a height, summit, top, tip, beginning, or end
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acrobat
an entertainer who performs acts that require skill, agility, and coordination, such as tumbling, swinging from a trapeze, or walking a tightrope
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acrobatics
the skills or feats of an acrobat
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acrocarpous
(of mosses) having clustered upright stems and the reproductive parts borne at the tip of a stem
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acrocentric
(of a chromosome) having the centromere at one end
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acrocyanosis
cyanosis of the hands and feet due to poor circulation of the blood
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acrodont
(of the teeth of some reptiles) having no roots and being fused at the base to the margin of the jawbones
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acrodrome
(of the veins of a leaf) running parallel to the edges of the leaf and fusing at the tip
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acrogen
any flowerless plant, such as a fern or moss, in which growth occurs from the tip of the main stem
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acrolein
a colourless or yellowish flammable poisonous pungent liquid used in the manufacture of resins and pharmaceuticals. Formula: CH2:CHCHO
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acrolith
(esp in ancient Greek sculpture) a wooden, often draped figure with only the head, hands, and feet in stone
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acromegaly
a chronic disease characterized by enlargement of the bones of the head, hands, and feet, and swelling and enlargement of soft tissue, esp the tongue. It is caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland
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acromion
the outermost edge of the spine of the shoulder blade
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acronychal
occurring at sunset
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acronym
a pronounceable name made up of a series of initial letters or parts of words; for example, UNESCO for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
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acroparaesthesia
a persistent sensation of numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
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acropetal
(of leaves and flowers) produced in order from the base upwards so that the youngest are at the apex
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acrophobia
abnormal fear or dread of being at a great height
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acropolis
the citadel of an ancient Greek city
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acrosome
a cap-like structure on the tip of a spermatozoon that releases enzymes on encountering the ovum allowing fusion with the ovum in the sexual reproductive process; this part of the process is known as the acrosome reaction
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acrospire
the first shoot developing from the plumule of a germinating grain seed
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across
from one side to the other side of
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across-the-board
(of salary increases, taxation cuts, etc) affecting all levels or classes equally
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acrostic
a number of lines of writing, such as a poem, certain letters of which form a word, proverb, etc A single acrostic is formed by the initial letters of the lines, a double acrostic by the initial and final letters, and a triple acrostic by the initial, middle, and final letters
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acroter
a plinth bearing a statue, etc, at either end or at the apex of a pediment
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acrylic
of, derived from, or concerned with acrylic acid
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acrylonitrile
a colourless liquid that is miscible with water and has toxic fumes: used in the manufacture of acrylic fibres and resins, rubber, and thermoplastics. Formula: CH2:CHCN
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acrylyl
of, consisting of, or containing the monovalent group CH2:CHCO-
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act
something done or performed; a deed
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Actaeon
a hunter of Boeotia who, having accidentally seen Artemis bathing, was turned into a stag and torn apart by his own hounds
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actant
(in valency grammar) a noun phrase functioning as the agent of the main verb of a sentence
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actg
acting
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ACTH
adrenocorticotrophic hormone; a polypeptide hormone, secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, that stimulates growth of the adrenal gland and the synthesis and secretion of corticosteroids. It is used in treating rheumatoid arthritis, allergic and skin diseases, and many other disorders
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actin
a protein that participates in many kinds of cell movement, including muscle contraction, during which it interacts with filaments of a second protein, myosin
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actinal
of or denoting the oral part of a radiate animal, such as a jellyfish, sea anemone, or sponge, from which the rays, tentacles, or arms grow
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acting
taking on duties temporarily, esp as a substitute for another
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actinia
any sea anemone of the genus Actinia, which are common in rock pools
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actinic
(of radiation) producing a photochemical effect
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actinide
a member of the actinide series
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actiniform
another word for actinoid
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actinium
a radioactive element of the actinide series, occurring as a decay product of uranium. It is used as an alpha-particle source and in neutron production. Symbol: Ac; atomic no: 89; half-life of most stable isotope,227Ac: 21.6 years; relative density: 10.07; melting pt: 1051°C; boiling pt: 3200 ± 300°C
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actino-
indicating a radial structure
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actinobacillosis
a disease of cattle and sheep, caused by infection with an Actinobacillus lignieresii and characterized by soft tissue lesions, esp of the tongue
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actinobiology
the branch of biology concerned with the effects of radiation on living organisms
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actinochemistry
another name for photochemistry
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actinodermatitis
dermatitis from exposure to radiation, esp ultraviolet light or X-rays
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actinoid
having a radiate form, as a sea anemone or starfish
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actinolite
a green mineral of the amphibole group consisting of calcium magnesium iron silicate. Formula: Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2
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actinomere
another name for antimere
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actinometer
an instrument for measuring the intensity of radiation, esp of the sun's rays
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actinomorphic
(esp of a flower) having radial symmetry, as buttercups
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actinomycete
any bacterium of the group Actinomycetes, usually filamentous in form
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actinomycin
any of several toxic antibiotics obtained from bacteria of the genus Streptomyces, used in treating some cancers; the most commonly used is dactinomycin (actinomycin D)
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actinomycosis
a fungal disease of cattle and of cats and dogs, sometimes transmitted to humans esp by bites, characterized by a swelling of the affected part, most often the jaw or lungs
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actinon
a radioisotope of radon that is a decay product of radium. Symbol: An or 219Rn; atomic no: 86; half-life: 3.92s
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actinopod
any protozoan of the phylum Actinopoda, such as a radiolarian or a heliozoan, having stiff radiating cytoplasmic projections
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actinotherapy
a former name for radiotherapy
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actinouranium
the isotope of uranium that has a mass number of 235
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actinozoan
another word for anthozoan
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action
the state or process of doing something or being active; operation
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Action Centres UK
Reason for adoption: We all gain so much from being active, taking action and not just sitting around.
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actionable
affording grounds for legal action
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actioner
a film with a fast-moving plot, usually containing scenes of violence
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Actium
a town of ancient Greece that overlooked the naval battle in 31 bc at which Octavian's fleet under Agrippa defeated that of Mark Antony and Cleopatra
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activate
to make active or capable of action
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active
in a state of action; moving, working, or doing something
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activism
a policy of taking direct and often militant action to achieve an end, esp a political or social one
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activity
the state or quality of being active
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actomyosin
a complex protein in skeletal muscle that is formed by actin and myosin and which, when stimulated, shortens to cause muscle contraction
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acton
a jacket or jerkin, originally of quilted cotton, worn under a coat of mail
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actor
a person who acts in a play, film, broadcast, etc
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Dr C Stow
Reason for adoption: because she is one!
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ACTRA
Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television, and Radio Artists
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actress
a woman who acts in a play, film, broadcast, etc
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Dr jo mountford
Reason for adoption: It's your dream
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actressy
exaggerated and affected in manner; theatrical
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ACTT
Association of Cinematograph and Television Technicians
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ACTU
Australian Council of Trade Unions
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actual
existing in reality or as a matter of fact
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actualité
the truth
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actuality
true existence; reality
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actualize
to make actual or real
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actually
as an actual fact; really
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr wayne feltham
Reason for adoption: because Adam has done brilliantly with his speech and is always saying this word
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actuals
See physicals
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actuary
a person qualified to calculate commercial risks and probabilities involving uncertain future events, esp in such contexts as life assurance
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actuate
to put into action or mechanical motion
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acuity
keenness or acuteness, esp in vision or thought
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aculeate
cutting; pointed
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aculeus
a prickle or spine, such as the thorn of a rose
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acumen
the ability to judge well; keen discernment; insight
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acuminate
narrowing to a sharp point, as some types of leaf
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acupoint
any of the specific points on the body where a needle is inserted in acupuncture or pressure is applied in acupressure
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acupressure
another name for shiatsu
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acupuncture
the insertion of the tips of needles into the skin at specific points for the purpose of treating various disorders by stimulating nerve impulses. Originally Chinese, this method of treatment is practised in many parts of the world
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acutance
a physical rather than subjective measure of the sharpness of a photographic image
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acute
penetrating in perception or insight
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ACW
aircraftwoman
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acyclic
not cyclic; having an open chain structure
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acyl
of, denoting, or containing the monovalent group of atoms RCO-, where R is an organic group
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acylation
the introduction into a chemical compound of an acyl group
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ad
short for advertisement
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ad-
to; towards
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ad-lib
to improvise and deliver without preparation (a speech, musical performance, etc)
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Ada
a high-level computer programming language designed for dealing with real-time processing problems: used for military and other systems
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adactylous
possessing no fingers or toes
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adage
a traditional saying that is accepted by many as true or partially true; proverb
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adagio
(to be performed) slowly
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Adam
the first man, created by God: the progenitor of the human race (Genesis 2--3)
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Adam's-needle
a North American liliaceous plant, Yucca filamentosa, that has a tall woody stem, stiff pointed leaves, and large clusters of white flowers arranged in spikes. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant
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adamant
unshakable in purpose, determination, or opinion; unyielding
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adamantine
very hard; unbreakable or unyielding
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Adamawa
a small group of languages of W Africa, spoken chiefly in E Nigeria, N Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and N Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre), forming a branch of the Niger-Congo family
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Adamite
a human being
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Adams
a mountain in SW Washington, in the Cascade Range. Height: 3751 m (12 307 ft)
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adamsite
a yellow poisonous crystalline solid that readily sublimes; diphenylaminechlorarsine. It is used in chemical warfare as a vomiting agent. Formula: C6H4AsClNHC6H4; relative density: 1.65; melting pt: 195°C; boiling pt: 410°C
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Adana
a city in S Turkey, capital of Adana province. Pop: 1 248 000 (2005 est)
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adapt
to adjust (someone or something, esp oneself) to different conditions, a new environment, etc
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adaptation
the act or process of adapting or the state of being adapted; adjustment
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adaption
another word for adaptation
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adaptogen
any of various natural substances used in herbal medicine to normalize and regulate the systems of the body
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adaptogenic
acting to normalize and regulate the systems of the body
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adaptor
a person or thing that adapts
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Adar
(in the Jewish calendar) the twelfth month of the year according to biblical reckoning and the sixth month of the civil year, usually falling within February and March. In a leap year, an additional month Adar Rishon (first Adar) is intercalated between Shevat and Adar, and the latter is known as Adar Sheni (second Adar)
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adaxial
facing towards the axis, as the surface of a leaf that faces the stem
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ADC
aide-de-camp
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add
to combine (two or more numbers or quantities) by addition
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add-on
a feature that can be added to a standard model or package to give increased benefits
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addax
a large light-coloured antelope, Addax nasomaculatus, having ribbed loosely spiralled horns and inhabiting desert regions in N Africa: family Bovidae, order Artiodactyla
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addend
any of a set of numbers that is to be added
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addendum
something added; an addition
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adder
a common viper, Vipera berus, that is widely distributed in Europe, including Britain, and Asia and is typically dark greyish in colour with a black zigzag pattern along the back
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adder's-meat
the greater stitchwort
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adder's-mouth
any of various orchids of the genus Malaxis that occur in all parts of the world except Australia and New Zealand and have small usually greenish flowers
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adder's-tongue
any of several terrestrial ferns of the genus Ophioglossum, esp O. vulgatum, that grow in the N hemisphere and have a spore-bearing body that sticks out like a spike from the leaf: family Ophioglossaceae
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addict
to cause (someone or oneself) to become dependent (on something, esp a narcotic drug)
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addiction
the condition of being abnormally dependent on some habit, esp compulsive dependency on narcotic drugs
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addictive
of, relating to, or causing addiction
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adding
an act or instance of addition
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addition
the act, process, or result of adding
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additional
added or supplementary
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additionality
(in Britain) the principle that money raised by the National Lottery should only be spent on projects that would not otherwise be funded by government spending
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additive
characterized or produced by addition; cumulative
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addle
to make or become confused or muddled
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address
the conventional form by which the location of a building is described
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addressable
possessing or capable of being reached by an address
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addressee
a person or organization to whom a letter, parcel, etc, is addressed
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Addressograph
a machine for addressing envelopes, etc
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adduce
to cite (reasons, examples, etc) as evidence or proof
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adduct
(of a muscle) to draw or pull (a leg, arm, etc) towards the median axis of the body
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adductor
a muscle that adducts
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addy
an e-mail address
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Adelaide
the capital of South Australia: Port Adelaide, 11 km (7 miles) away on St Vincent Gulf, handles the bulk of exports. Pop: 1 002 127 (2001)
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ademption
the failure of a specific legacy, as by a testator disposing of the subject matter in his lifetime
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Aden
the main port and commercial capital of Yemen, on the N coast of the Gulf of Aden, an arm of the Indian Ocean at the entrance to the Red Sea: capital of South Yemen until 1990: formerly an important port of call on shipping routes to the East. Pop: 584 000 (2005 est)
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adenectomy
surgical removal of a gland
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adenine
a purine base present in tissues of all living organisms as a constituent of the nucleic acids DNA and RNA and of certain coenzymes; 6-aminopurine. Formula: C5H5N5; melting pt: 360--365°C
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adenitis
inflammation of a gland or lymph node
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adeno-
gland or glandular
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adenocarcinoma
a malignant tumour originating in glandular tissue
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adenohypophysis
the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland
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adenoid
of or resembling a gland
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adenoidal
having the nasal tones or impaired breathing of one with enlarged adenoids
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adenoidectomy
surgical removal of the adenoids
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adenoids
a mass of lymphoid tissue at the back of the throat behind the uvula: when enlarged it often restricts nasal breathing, esp in young children
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adenoma
a tumour, usually benign, occurring in glandular tissue
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adenopathy
enlargement of the lymph nodes
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adenosine
a nucleoside formed by the condensation of adenine and ribose. It is present in all living cells in a combined form, as in ribonucleic acids. Formula: C10H13N5O4
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adenovirus
any of a group of viruses that can cause upper respiratory diseases in man
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adept
very proficient in something requiring skill or manual dexterity
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adequate
able to fulfil a need or requirement without being abundant, outstanding, etc
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ADFA
Australian Defence Force Academy
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ADH
antidiuretic hormone
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adhan
a call to prayer
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ADHD
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
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adhere
to stick or hold fast
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adherent
a supporter or follower
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adhesion
the quality or condition of sticking together or holding fast
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adhesive
able or designed to adhere; sticky
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adhibit
to administer or apply
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adhocracy
management that responds to urgent problems rather than planning to avoid them
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adiabatic
(of a thermodynamic process) taking place without loss or gain of heat
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adiactinic
denoting a substance that does not transmit radiation affecting photochemically sensitive materials, such as a safelight in a photographic darkroom
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adiaphorism
a Christian Protestant theological theory that certain rites and actions are matters of indifference in religion since not forbidden by the Scriptures
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Kate Tordoff
Reason for adoption: Very appropriate for you
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adiaphorous
having no effect for good or ill, as a drug or placebo
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adiathermancy
another name for athermancy
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adiathermanous
A derivative of adiathermancy
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adieu
goodbye; farewell
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Adige
a river in N Italy, flowing southeast to the Adriatic. Length: 354 km (220 miles)
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adios
goodbye; farewell
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adipocere
a waxlike fatty substance formed during the decomposition of corpses
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adipocyte
a fat cell that accumulates and stores fats
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adipose
of, resembling, or containing fat; fatty
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Adiprene
a polyurethane elastomer with exceptional abrasion resistance and strength
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adipsia
complete lack of thirst
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adit
an almost horizontal shaft into a mine, for access or drainage
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Adivasi
a member of any of the aboriginal peoples of India
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adj.
adjective
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adjacent
being near or close, esp having a common boundary; adjoining; contiguous
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adjective
a word imputing a characteristic to a noun or pronoun
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adjigo
a yam plant, Dioscorea hastifolia, native to SW Australia that has edible tubers
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adjoin
to be next to (an area of land, etc)
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adjoining
being in contact; connected or neighbouring
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adjoint
a generalization in category theory of this notion
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adjourn
(of a court, etc) to close at the end of a session
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adjudge
to pronounce formally; declare
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adjudicate
to give a decision (on), esp a formal or binding one
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adjudicator
a judge, esp in a competition
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adjunct
something incidental or not essential that is added to something else
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adjunction
(in phrase-structure grammar) the relationship between a branch of a tree representing a sentence to other branches to its left or right that descend from the same node immediately above
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adjure
to command, often by exacting an oath; charge
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adjust
to alter slightly, esp to achieve accuracy; regulate
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adjustment
the act of adjusting or state of being adjusted
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adjutant
an officer who acts as administrative assistant to a superior officer
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adjuvant
aiding or assisting
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adland
the advertising industry and the people who work in it
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Adlerian
of or relating to the Austrian psychiatrist Alfred Adler (1870--1937) or his ideas
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Adm.
Admiral
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adman
a person who works in advertising
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admeasure
to measure out (land, etc) as a share; apportion
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Admetus
a king of Thessaly, one of the Argonauts, who was married to Alcestis
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admin
short for administration
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adminicle
something contributing to prove a point without itself being complete proof
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administer
to direct or control (the affairs of a business, government, etc)
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administrate
to manage or direct (the affairs of a business, institution, etc)
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administration
management of the affairs of an organization, such as a business or institution
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administrator
a person who administers the affairs of an organization, official body, etc
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admirable
deserving or inspiring admiration; excellent
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Katie Newcombe
Reason for adoption: Because she is admirable and inspirational :)
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admiral
the supreme commander of a fleet or navy
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admiralty
the office or jurisdiction of an admiral
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admiration
pleasurable contemplation or surprise
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admire
to regard with esteem, respect, approval, or pleased surprise
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Constance Dutreix
Reason for adoption: Because I admire him.
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admissible
able or deserving to be considered or allowed
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admission
permission to enter or the right, authority, etc, to enter
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admit
to confess or acknowledge (a crime, mistake, etc)
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admittance
the right or authority to enter
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admittedly
willingly conceded
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admix
to mix or blend
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admixture
anything added in mixing; ingredient
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admonish
to reprove firmly but not harshly
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ADN
Yemen (from Aden)
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adnate
growing closely attached to an adjacent part or organ
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adnexa
adjoining organs, esp of the uterus
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adnominal
a word modifying a noun
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adnoun
an adjective used as a noun; absolute adjective
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ado
bustling activity; fuss; bother; delay (esp in the phrases without more ado, with much ado)
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adobe
a sun-dried brick used for building
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adobo
the national dish of the Philippines, which consists of chunks of meat, fish, or vegetables, marinated in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and spices and then stewed in the marinade
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adolescence
the period in human development that occurs between the beginning of puberty and adulthood
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adolescent
of or relating to adolescence
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Adonai
a name for God
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Adonic
(in classical prosody) of or relating to a verse line consisting of a dactyl () followed by a spondee () or by a trochee (), thought to have been first used in laments for Adonis
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Adonis
a handsome youth loved by Aphrodite. Killed by a wild boar, he was believed to spend part of the year in the underworld and part on earth, symbolizing the vegetative cycle
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adopt
to bring (a person) into a specific relationship, esp to take (another's child) as one's own child
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adopted
having been adopted
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adoptive
acquired or related by adoption
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adorable
very attractive; charming; lovable
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Tracey Richardson
Reason for adoption: Because I adore my husband
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adoration
deep love or esteem
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adore
to love intensely or deeply
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Louisa Burke
Reason for adoption: because
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adorn
to decorate
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Adowa
a variant spelling of Aduwa
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ADP
adenosine diphosphate; a nucleotide derived from ATP with the liberation of energy that is then used in the performance of muscular work
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ADR
adverse drug reaction
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Adrastea
a small satellite of Jupiter, discovered in 1979
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Adrastus
a king of Argos and leader of the Seven against Thebes of whom he was the sole survivor
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adrenal
on or near the kidneys
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Adrenalin
a brand of adrenaline
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adrenaline
a hormone that is secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress and increases heart rate, pulse rate, and blood pressure, and raises the blood levels of glucose and lipids. It is extracted from animals or synthesized for such medical uses as the treatment of asthma. Chemical name: aminohydroxyphenylpropionic acid; formula: C9H13NO3
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adrenalized
tense or highly charged
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adrenergic
releasing or activated by adrenaline or an adrenaline-like substance
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adrenocorticotrophic
stimulating the adrenal cortex
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Adrianople
former names of Edirne
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Adriatic
of or relating to the Adriatic Sea, or to the inhabitants of its coast or islands
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Dr Adrian Murphy
Reason for adoption: My name means 'man of the Adriatic'.
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adrift
floating without steering or mooring; drifting
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adroit
skilful or dexterous
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adscititious
added or supplemental; additional
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adscription
a less common word for ascription
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adsorb
to undergo or cause to undergo a process in which a substance, usually a gas, accumulates on the surface of a solid forming a thin film, often only one molecule thick
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adsorbate
a substance that has been or is to be adsorbed on a surface
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adsorbent
capable of adsorption
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adsum
I am present
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aduki
a variant of adzuki
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adularescent
(of minerals, such as moonstone) having or emitting a milky or bluish iridescence
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adularia
a white or colourless glassy variety of orthoclase in the form of prismatic crystals. It occurs in metamorphic rocks and is a minor gemstone. Formula: KAlSi3O8
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adulate
to flatter or praise obsequiously
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adulation
obsequious flattery or praise; extreme admiration
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adulatory
expressing praise, esp obsequiously; flattering
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Adullamite
a person who has withdrawn from a political group and joined with a few others to form a dissident group
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adult
having reached maturity; fully developed
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adulterant
a substance or ingredient that adulterates
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adulterate
to debase by adding inferior material
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adulterer
a person who has committed adultery
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adulteress
a woman who has committed adultery
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adulterine
of or made by adulteration; fake
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adulterous
of, characterized by, or inclined to adultery
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adultery
voluntary sexual intercourse between a married man or woman and a partner other than the legal spouse
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adultescent
an adult who is still actively interested in youth culture
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adumbral
shadowy
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adumbrate
to outline; give a faint indication of
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adust
dried up or darkened by heat; burnt or scorched
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Aduwa
a town in N Ethiopia: Emperor Menelik II defeated the Italians here in 1896. Pop: 17 476 (1989 est)
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adv.
adverb
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advance
to go or bring forward in position
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advanced
being ahead in development, knowledge, progress, etc
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advancement
promotion in rank, status, etc; preferment
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advances
personal overtures made in an attempt to become friendly, gain a favour, etc
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advantage
superior or more favourable position or power
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advantaged
in a superior social or economic position
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advantageous
producing advantage
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advection
the transference of heat energy in a horizontal stream of gas, esp of air
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advent
an arrival or coming, esp one which is awaited
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Adventist
a member of any of the Christian groups, such as the Seventh-Day Adventists that hold that the Second Coming of Christ is imminent
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adventitia
the outermost covering of an organ or part, esp the outer coat of a blood vessel
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adventitious
added or appearing accidentally or unexpectedly
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adventive
(of a species) introduced to a new area and not yet established there; exotic
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adventure
a risky undertaking of unknown outcome
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Caitlin Lock
Reason for adoption: Because life is one big adventure
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adventurer
a person who seeks adventure, esp one who seeks success or money through daring exploits
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adventuress
a woman who seeks adventure, esp one who seeks success or money through daring exploits
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adventurism
recklessness, esp in politics and finance
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adventurous
daring or enterprising
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Sue Ferro
Reason for adoption: Because life is an adventure!
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adverb
a word or group of words that serves to modify a whole sentence, a verb, another adverb, or an adjective; for example, probably, easily, very, and happily respectively in the sentence They could probably easily envy the very happily married couple
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adverbial
a word or group of words playing the grammatical role of an adverb, such as in the rain in the sentence I'm singing in the rain
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Mat Woods
Reason for adoption: Because sometimes you have very adverbial sorts of days, or moments.
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adversarial
pertaining to or characterized by antagonism and conflict
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adversary
a person or group that is hostile to someone; enemy
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adversative
(of a word, phrase, or clause) implying opposition or contrast. But and although are adversative conjunctions introducing adversative clauses
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adverse
antagonistic or inimical; hostile
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adversity
distress; affliction; hardship
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advert
to draw attention (to); refer (to)
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advertence
heedfulness or attentiveness
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advertise
to present or praise (goods, a service, etc) to the public, esp in order to encourage sales
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advertisement
any public notice, as a printed display in a newspaper, short film on television, announcement on radio, etc, designed to sell goods, publicize an event, etc
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advertising
the promotion of goods or services for sale through impersonal media, such as radio or television
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advertorial
advertising material presented under the guise of editorial material
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advice
recommendation as to appropriate choice of action; counsel
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advisable
worthy of recommendation; prudent; sensible
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advise
to offer advice (to a person or persons); counsel
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advised
resulting from deliberation
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advisement
consultation; deliberation
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adviser
a person who advises
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advisory
giving advice; empowered to make recommendations
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advocaat
a liqueur having a raw egg base
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advocacy
active support, esp of a cause
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advocate
to support or recommend publicly; plead for or speak in favour of
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advocation
the transfer to itself by a superior court of an action pending in a lower court
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advowson
the right of presentation to a vacant benefice
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advt
advertisement
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adware
a type of computer software that collects information about a user's browsing patterns in order to display relevant advertisements in his or her Web browser
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Adygei
a member of a Circassian people of the Northwest Caucasus
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adynamia
loss of vital power or strength, esp as the result of illness; weakness or debility
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adytum
the most sacred place of worship in an ancient temple from which the laity was prohibited
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adze
a heavy hand tool with a steel cutting blade attached at right angles to a wooden handle, used for dressing timber
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adzuki
a leguminous plant, Phaseolus angularis, that has yellow flowers and pods containing edible brown seeds; widely cultivated as a food crop in China and Japan
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ae
one; a single
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ae.
aetatis
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AEA
Atomic Energy Authority
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AEC
Atomic Energy Commission
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aeciospore
any of the spores produced in an aecium of the rust fungi, which spread to and infect the primary host
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aecium
a globular or cup-shaped structure in some rust fungi in which aeciospores are produced
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AECL
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
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aedes
any mosquito of the genus Aedes (formerly Stegomyia) of tropical and subtropical regions, esp A. aegypti, which transmits yellow fever and dengue
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aedicule
an opening such as a door or a window, framed by columns on either side, and a pediment above
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aedile
a magistrate of ancient Rome in charge of public works, games, buildings, and roads
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Aeëtes
a king of Colchis, father of Medea and keeper of the Golden Fleece
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Aegean
of or relating to the Aegean Sea or Islands
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Aegeus
an Athenian king and father of Theseus
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Aegina
an island in the Aegean Sea, in the Saronic Gulf. Area: 85 sq km (33 sq miles)
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Aegir
the god of the sea
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aegis
sponsorship or protection; auspices (esp in the phrase under the aegis of)
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Aegisthus
a cousin to and the murderer of Agamemnon, whose wife Clytemnestra he had seduced. He usurped the kingship of Mycenae until Orestes, Agamemnon's son, returned home and killed him
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Aegospotami
a river of ancient Thrace that flowed into the Hellespont. At its mouth the Spartan fleet under Lysander defeated the Athenians in 405 bc, ending the Peloponnesian War
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aegrotat
(in British and certain other universities, and, sometimes, schools) a certificate allowing a candidate to pass an examination although he has missed all or part of it through illness
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Aegyptus
a king of Egypt and twin brother of Danaüs
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Aeneas
a Trojan prince, the son of Anchises and Aphrodite, who escaped the sack of Troy and sailed to Italy via Carthage and Sicily. After seven years, he and his followers established themselves near the site of the future Rome
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Aeneid
an epic poem in Latin by Virgil relating the experiences of Aeneas after the fall of Troy, written chiefly to provide an illustrious historical background for Rome
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aeolian
of or relating to the wind; produced or carried by the wind
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Aeolic
of or relating to the Aeolians or their dialect
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aeolipile
a device illustrating the reactive forces of a gas jet: usually a spherical vessel mounted so as to rotate and equipped with angled exit pipes from which steam within it escapes
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Aeolis
the ancient name for the coastal region of NW Asia Minor, including the island of Lesbos, settled by the Aeolian Greeks (about 1000 bc)
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aeolotropic
a less common word for anisotropic
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Aeolus
the god of the winds
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aeon
an immeasurably long period of time; age
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aeonian
everlasting
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aepyornis
any of the large extinct flightless birds of the genus Aepyornis, remains of which have been found in Madagascar
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aer-
a variant of aero-
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aerate
to charge (a liquid) with a gas, esp carbon dioxide, as in the manufacture of effervescent drink
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aerenchyma
plant tissue with large air-filled spaces, which is typical of aquatic plants and allows air to reach waterlogged parts
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aeri-
a variant of aero-
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aerial
of, relating to, or resembling air
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aerialist
a trapeze artist or tightrope walker
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aerie
a variant spelling (esp US) of eyrie
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aeriform
having the form of air; gaseous
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aerify
to change or cause to change into a gas
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aero
of or relating to aircraft or aeronautics
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aero-
denoting air, atmosphere, or gas
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aero-optics
the study of the effect of aircraft-induced and atmospheric disturbances on the efficiency of laser weapons
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aeroacoustics
the study of the generation and transmittance of sound by fluid flow
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aeroballistics
the ballistics of projectiles dropped, launched, or fired from aircraft
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aerobatics
spectacular or dangerous manoeuvres, such as loops or rolls, performed in an aircraft or glider; stunt flying
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aerobe
an organism that requires oxygen for respiration
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aerobic
(of an organism or process) depending on oxygen
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aerobics
any system of sustained exercises designed to increase the amount of oxygen in the blood and strengthen the heart and lungs
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aerobiology
the study of airborne organisms, spores, etc
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aerobiosis
life in the presence of oxygen
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aerobraking
the use of aerodynamic braking in extremely low-density atmospheres in space at hypersonic Mach numbers
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aerodigestive
of or relating to the organs and tissues of the respiratory tract and the upper part of the digestive tract
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aerodonetics
the study of soaring or gliding flight, esp the study of gliders
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aerodrome
a landing area, esp for private aircraft, that is usually smaller than an airport
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aerodynamics
the study of the dynamics of gases, esp of the forces acting on a body passing through air
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aerodyne
any heavier-than-air machine, such as an aircraft, that derives the greater part of its lift from aerodynamic forces
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aeroembolism
a former name for air embolism
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aerofoil
a cross section of an aileron, wing, tailplane, or rotor blade
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aerogel
a colloid that has a continuous solid phase containing dispersed gas
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aerogram
an airmail letter written on a single sheet of lightweight paper that folds and is sealed to form an envelope
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aerography
the description of the character of the upper atmosphere
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aerolite
a stony meteorite consisting of silicate minerals
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aerology
the study of the atmosphere, particularly its upper layers
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aeromechanic
an aircraft mechanic
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aeromechanics
the mechanics of gases, esp air
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aerometeorograph
an aircraft instrument that records temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure
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aerometer
an instrument for determining the mass or density of a gas, esp air
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aerometry
another name for pneumatics
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aeron.
aeronautics
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aeronaut
a person who flies in a lighter-than-air craft, esp the pilot or navigator
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aeronautical
of or relating to aeronauts or aeronautics
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aeronautics
the study or practice of all aspects of flight through the air
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aeroneurosis
a functional disorder of aeroplane pilots characterized by anxiety and various psychosomatic disturbances, caused by insufficient oxygen at high altitudes and the emotional tension of flying
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aeronomy
the science of the earth's upper atmosphere
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aeropause
the region of the upper atmosphere above which aircraft cannot fly
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aerophagia
spasmodic swallowing of air, a habit that can lead to belching and stomach pain
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aerophobia
a pathological fear of draughts of air
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aerophyte
another name for epiphyte
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aeroplane
a heavier-than-air powered flying vehicle with fixed wings
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aerosol
a colloidal dispersion of solid or liquid particles in a gas; smoke or fog
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aerospace
the atmosphere and space beyond
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aerosphere
the entire atmosphere surrounding the earth
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aerostat
a lighter-than-air craft, such as a balloon
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aerostatics
the study of gases in equilibrium and bodies held in equilibrium in gases
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aerostation
the science of operating lighter-than-air craft
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aerostructure
any separately manufactured unit, component, or section of an aircraft or other vehicle capable of flight
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aerothermodynamics
the study of the exchange of heat between solids and gases, esp of the heating effect on aircraft flying through the air at very high speeds
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aeruginous
A derivative of aerugo
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aerugo
(esp of old bronze) another name for verdigris
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aery
lofty, insubstantial, or visionary
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Aesculapian
of or relating to Aesculapius or to the art of medicine
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Aesculapius
the Roman god of medicine or healing
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Aesir
the chief gods of Norse mythology dwelling in Asgard
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aesthesia
the normal ability to experience sensation, perception, or sensitivity
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aesthete
a person who has or who affects a highly developed appreciation of beauty, esp in poetry and the visual arts
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aesthetic
connected with aesthetics or its principles
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aesthetician
a student of aesthetics
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aestheticism
the doctrine that aesthetic principles are of supreme importance and that works of art should be judged accordingly
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aesthetics
the branch of philosophy concerned with the study of such concepts as beauty, taste, etc
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aestival
of or occurring in summer
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aestivate
to pass the summer
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aestivation
the act or condition of aestivating
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aet.
aetatis
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aether
a variant spelling of ether
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aethereal
a variant spelling of ethereal
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aethereality
A derivative of aethereal
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aetiological
of or relating to aetiology
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aetiology
the philosophy or study of causation
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Aetna
the Latin name for Mount Etna
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Aetolia
a mountainous region forming (with the region of Acarnania) a department of W central Greece, north of the Gulf of Patras: a powerful federal state in the 3rd century bc Chief city: Missolonghi. Pop (with Acarnania): 219 092 (2001). Area: 5461 sq km (2108 sq miles)
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AEW
airborne early warning (aircraft)
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af
Afghanistan
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AFAIK
as far as I know
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afar
at, from, or to a great distance
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AFB
(US) Air Force Base
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AFC
Air Force Cross
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afeard
an archaic or dialect word for afraid
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afebrile
without fever
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aff
off
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affable
showing warmth and friendliness; kindly; mild; benign
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Lucy Hutchinson
Reason for adoption: I = affable
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affair
a thing to be done or attended to; matter; business
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affairs
personal or business interests
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affect
to act upon or influence, esp in an adverse way
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affectation
an assumed manner of speech, dress, or behaviour, esp one that is intended to impress others
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affected
deeply moved, esp by sorrow or grief
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affecting
evoking feelings of pity, sympathy, or pathos; moving
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affection
a feeling of fondness or tenderness for a person or thing; attachment
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affectionate
having or displaying tender feelings, affection, or warmth
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affective
relating to affects
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affectless
showing no emotion or concern for others
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affenpinscher
a small wire-haired breed of dog of European origin, having tufts of hair on the muzzle
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afferent
bringing or directing inwards to a part or an organ of the body, esp towards the brain or spinal cord
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affettuoso
with feeling
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affiance
to bind (a person or oneself) in a promise of marriage; betroth
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affiant
a person who makes an affidavit
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affidavit
a declaration in writing made upon oath before a person authorized to administer oaths, esp for use as evidence in court
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affiliate
to receive into close connection or association (with a larger body, group, organization, etc); adopt as a member, branch, etc
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affine
of, characterizing, or involving transformations which preserve collinearity, esp in classical geometry, those of translation, rotation and reflection in an axis
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affined
closely related; connected
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affinity
a natural liking, taste, or inclination towards a person or thing
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affirm
to declare to be true; assert positively
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affirmation
the act of affirming or the state of being affirmed
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affirmative
confirming or asserting something as true or valid
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr john hurley
Reason for adoption: it suits fiona's positive nature and is close to a word she suggested herself.
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affix
to attach, fasten, join, or stick
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afflatus
an impulse of creative power or inspiration, esp in poetry, considered to be of divine origin (esp in the phrase divine afflatus)
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afflict
to cause suffering or unhappiness to; distress greatly
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afflicting
deeply distressing; painful
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affliction
a condition of great distress, pain, or suffering
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affluence
an abundant supply of money, goods, or property; wealth
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affluent
rich; wealthy
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affluential
an affluent person who does not display his or her wealth in the form of material possessions
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affluenza
the guilt or lack of motivation experienced by people who have made or inherited large amounts of money
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afflux
a flowing towards a point
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afford
to be able to do or spare something, esp without incurring financial difficulties or without risk of undesirable consequences
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afforest
to plant trees on; convert into forested land
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affranchise
to release from servitude or an obligation
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affray
a fight, noisy quarrel, or disturbance between two or more persons in a public place
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affreightment
a contract hiring a ship to carry goods
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affricate
a composite speech sound consisting of a stop and a fricative articulated at the same point, such as the sound written ch, as in chair
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affricative
of, relating to, or denoting an affricate
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affright
to frighten
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affront
a deliberate insult
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affusion
the baptizing of a person by pouring water onto his head
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AFG
Afghanistan
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Afg.
Afghanistan
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afghan
a knitted or crocheted wool blanket or shawl, esp one with a geometric pattern
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afghani
the standard monetary unit of Afghanistan, divided into 100 puli
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Afghanistan
a republic in central Asia: became independent in 1919; occupied by Soviet troops, 1979--89; controlled by mujaheddin forces from 1992 until 1996 when Taliban forces seized power; in the US-led `war on terror' (2001) the Taliban were overthrown and replaced by an interim administration, although the Taliban insurgency continues; generally arid and mountainous, with the Hindu Kush range rising over 7500 m (25 000 ft) and fertile valleys of the Amu Darya, Helmand, and Kabul Rivers. Official languages: Pashto and Dari (Persian), Tajik also widely spoken. Religion: Muslim. Currency: afghani. Capital: Kabul. Pop: 24 926 000 (2004 est). Area: 657 500 sq km (250 000 sq miles)
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aficionado
an ardent supporter or devotee
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms Jean Holmes
Reason for adoption: This word needs properly looking after
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afield
away from one's usual surroundings or home (esp in the phrase far afield)
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afire
on fire; ablaze
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AFIS
Automated Fingerprint Identification System: a computer system that scans fingerprints from crime scenes and compares them with millions of others around the world
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AFK
away from keyboard
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AFL
Australian Football League: the national body for Australian Rules football
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AFL-CIO
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations: a federation of independent American trade unions formed by the union of these two groups in 1955
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aflame
in flames; ablaze
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aflatoxin
a toxin produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus growing on peanuts, maize, etc, causing liver disease (esp cancer) in man
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afloat
floating
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aflutter
in or into a nervous or excited state
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AFM
Air Force Medal
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AFN
Assembly of First Nations
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AFNOR
Association Française de Normalisation: the standards organization of France
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afoot
in circulation or operation; astir
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afore
an archaic or dialect word for before
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aforementioned
(chiefly in legal documents) stated or mentioned before or already
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aforesaid
(chiefly in legal documents) spoken of or referred to previously
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aforethought
premeditated (esp in the phrase malice aforethought)
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aforetime
formerly
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afoul
in or into a state of difficulty, confusion, or conflict (with)
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afp
alpha-fetoprotein
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AFRAeS
Associate Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
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afraid
feeling fear or apprehension; frightened
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afreet
a powerful evil demon or giant monster
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afresh
once more; once again; anew
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Africa
the second largest of the continents, on the Mediterranean in the north, the Atlantic in the west, and the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean in the east. The Sahara desert divides the continent unequally into North Africa (an early centre of civilization, in close contact with Europe and W Asia, now inhabited chiefly by Arabs) and Africa south of the Sahara (relatively isolated from the rest of the world until the 19th century and inhabited chiefly by Negroid peoples). It was colonized mainly in the 18th and 19th centuries by Europeans and now comprises independent nations. The largest lake is Lake Victoria and the chief rivers are the Nile, Niger, Congo, and Zambezi. Pop: 887 964 000 (2005 est). Area: about 30 300 000 sq km (11 700 000 sq miles)
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African
denoting or relating to Africa or any of its peoples, languages, nations, etc
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African-American
an American of African descent
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African-Canadian
a Canadian of African descent
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Africana
objects of cultural or historical interest of African origin
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Africanism
something characteristic of Africa or Africans, esp a characteristic feature of an African language when introduced into a non-African language
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Africanist
a person specializing in the study of African affairs or culture
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Africanize
to make African, esp to give control of (policy, government, etc) to Africans
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Afrikaans
one of the official languages of the Republic of South Africa, closely related to Dutch
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Afrikander
a breed of humpbacked beef cattle originally raised in southern Africa
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Afrikaner
a White native of the Republic of South Africa whose mother tongue is Afrikaans
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Afrikanerdom
(in South Africa) Afrikaner nationalism based on pride in the Afrikaans language and culture, conservative Calvinism, and a sense of heritage as pioneers
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afrit
a variant spelling of afreet
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afro
a hairstyle in which the hair is shaped into a wide frizzy bush
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Afro-
indicating Africa or African
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Afro-American
another word for African-American
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Afro-Asian
of or relating to both Africa and Asia, esp as part of the Third World
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Afro-Asiatic
a family of languages of SW Asia and N Africa, consisting of the Semitic, ancient Egyptian, Berber, Cushitic, and Chadic subfamilies
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Afro-British
of or relating to British people of African descent
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Afro-Caribbean
denoting or relating to Caribbean people of African descent or their culture
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Afro-chain
(in the Caribbean) a large chain necklace with a central pendant: usually worn with a dashiki by men
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Afro-comb
a comb with a handle and long teeth used esp on curly hair
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Afro-Cuban
of or relating to a type of jazz influenced by Cuban variants of African rhythms
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Afro-pessimism
the belief that the provision of aid to African countries is futile
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afrormosia
a hard teaklike wood obtained from tropical African trees of the leguminous genus Pericopsis
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AFSLAET
Associate Fellow of the Society of Licensed Aircraft Engineers and Technologists
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aft
towards or at the stern or rear
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after
following in time; in succession to
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after-ripening
the period of internal change that is necessary in some apparently mature seeds before germination can occur
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afterbirth
the placenta and fetal membranes expelled from the uterus after the birth of the offspring
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afterbody
any discarded part that continues to trail a satellite, rocket, etc, in orbit
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afterbrain
a nontechnical name for myelencephalon
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afterburner
a device in the exhaust system of an internal-combustion engine for removing or rendering harmless potentially dangerous components in the exhaust gases
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afterburning
a process in which additional fuel is ignited in the exhaust gases of a jet engine to produce additional thrust
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aftercare
support services by a welfare agency for a person discharged from an institution, such as hospital, hostel, or prison
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afterdamp
a poisonous mixture of gases containing carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen formed after the explosion of firedamp in coal mines
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afterdeck
the unprotected deck behind the bridge of a ship
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aftereffect
any result occurring some time after its cause
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afterglow
the glow left after a light has disappeared, such as that sometimes seen after sunset
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afterheat
the heat generated in a nuclear reactor after it has been shut down, produced by residual radioactivity in the fuel elements
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afterimage
a sustained or renewed sensation, esp visual, after the original stimulus has ceased
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afterlife
life after death or at a later time in a person's lifetime
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aftermath
signs or results of an event or occurrence considered collectively, esp of a catastrophe or disaster
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aftermost
closer or closest to the rear or (in a vessel) the stern; last
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afternoon
the period of the day between noon and evening
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afternoons
during the afternoon, esp regularly
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afterpains
cramplike pains caused by contraction of the uterus after childbirth
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afterpeak
the space behind the aftermost bulkhead, often used for storage
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afterpiece
a brief usually comic dramatic piece presented after a play
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afters
dessert; sweet
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aftersensation
another word for afterimage
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aftershaft
a secondary feather arising near the base of a contour feather
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aftershock
one of a series of minor tremors occurring after the main shock of an earthquake
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aftershow
a party held after a public performance of a play or film
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aftersun
a moisturizing lotion applied to the skin to soothe sunburn and avoid peeling
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aftertaste
a taste that lingers on after eating or drinking
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afterthought
a comment, reply, etc, that occurs to one after the opportunity to deliver it has passed
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afterwards
after an earlier event or time; subsequently
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afterword
an epilogue or postscript in a book, etc
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afterworld
a world inhabited after death
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AFTN
Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network: a worldwide system of radio and cable links for transmitting and recording messages
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AFV
armoured fighting vehicle
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ag
an expression of surprise, annoyance, pleasure, etc
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aga
a title of respect, often used with the title of a senior position
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Agadir
a port in SW Morocco, which became the centre of an international crisis (1911), when a gunboat arrived to protect German interests. Britain issued a strong warning to Germany but the French negotiated and war was averted. In 1960 the town was virtually destroyed by an earthquake, about 10 000 people being killed. Pop: 385 000 (2003)
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again
another or second time; once more; anew
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against
opposed to; in conflict or disagreement with
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agalactia
absence or failure of secretion of milk
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agalloch
another name for eaglewood
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agama
any small terrestrial lizard of the genus Agama, which inhabit warm regions of the Old World: family Agamidae
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Agamemnon
a king of Mycenae who led the Greeks at the siege of Troy. On his return home he was murdered by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus
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agamete
a reproductive cell, such as the merozoite of some protozoans, that develops into a new form without fertilization
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agamic
asexual; occurring or reproducing without fertilization
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agamogenesis
asexual reproduction, such as fission or parthenogenesis
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agamogony
another name for schizogony
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agamont
another name for schizont
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agamospermy
formation of seeds in the absence of fertilization; a form of apomixis
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Agaña
the capital of the Pacific island of Guam, on its W coast. Pop: 1100 (2000)
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agapanthus
a liliaceous plant, Agapanthus africanus, of southern Africa, having rounded clusters of blue or white funnel-shaped flowers
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agape
(esp of the mouth) wide open
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agar
a complex gelatinous carbohydrate obtained from seaweeds, esp those of the genus Gelidium, used as a culture medium for bacteria, a laxative, in food such as ice cream as a thickening agent (E406), etc
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agaric
any saprotrophic basidiomycetous fungus of the family Agaricaceae, having gills on the underside of the cap. The group includes the edible mushrooms and poisonous forms such as the fly agaric
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Agartala
a city in NE India, capital of the state of Tripura. Pop: 189 327 (2001)
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agate
an impure microcrystalline form of quartz consisting of a variegated, usually banded chalcedony, used as a gemstone and in making pestles and mortars, burnishers, and polishers. Formula: SiO2
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agateware
ceramic ware made to resemble agate or marble
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agave
any plant of the genus Agave, native to tropical America, with tall flower stalks rising from a massive, often armed, rosette of thick fleshy leaves: family Agavaceae. Some species are the source of fibres such as sisal or of alcoholic beverages such as pulque and tequila
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AGC
automatic gain control
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age
the period of time that a person, animal, or plant has lived or is expected to live
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age-old
very old or of long duration; ancient
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age-proof
not adversely affected by a person's age
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aged
advanced in years; old
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agee
awry, crooked, or ajar
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ageing
the process of growing old or developing the appearance and characteristics of old age
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ageism
discrimination against people on the grounds of age; specifically, discrimination against the elderly
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ageless
apparently never growing old
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Agen
a market town in SW France, on the Garonne river. Pop: 30 170 (1999)
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agency
a business or other organization providing a specific service
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agenda
a schedule or list of items to be attended to
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agenesis
(of an animal or plant) imperfect development
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agent
a person who acts on behalf of another person, group, business, government, etc; representative
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agent-general
a representative in London of a Canadian province or an Australian state
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agentive
(in some inflected languages) denoting a case of nouns, etc, indicating the agent described by the verb
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ageratum
any tropical American plant of the genus Ageratum, such as A. houstonianum and A. conyzoides, which have thick clusters of purplish-blue flowers
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ageusia
lack of the sense of taste
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Aggadah
a homiletic passage of the Talmud
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agger
an earthwork or mound forming a rampart, esp in a Roman military camp
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aggers
aggressive
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agglomerate
to form or be formed into a mass or cluster; collect
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agglutinate
to adhere or cause to adhere, as with glue
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agglutination
the act or process of agglutinating
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agglutinative
tending to join or capable of joining
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agglutinin
a substance, such as an antibody or a lectin, that causes agglutination of cells or bacteria
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agglutinogen
an antigen that reacts with or stimulates the formation of a specific agglutinin
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aggrade
to build up the level of (any land surface) by the deposition of sediment
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aggrandize
to increase the power, wealth, prestige, scope, etc, of
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aggravate
to make (a disease, situation, problem, etc) worse or more severe
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aggravated
(of a criminal offence) made more serious by its circumstances
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aggregate
formed of separate units collected into a whole; collective; corporate
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aggregation
the act or process of aggregating
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aggregator
a business organization that collates the details of an individual's financial affairs so that the information can be presented on a single website
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aggress
to attack first or begin a quarrel
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aggression
an attack or harmful action, esp an unprovoked attack by one country against another
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aggressive
quarrelsome or belligerent
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aggrieve
to grieve; distress; afflict
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aggrieved
feeling resentment at having been treated unjustly
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aggro
aggressive behaviour, esp by youths in a gang
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agha
a variant spelling of aga
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aghast
overcome with amazement or horror
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agile
quick in movement; nimble
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Alan Francis
Reason for adoption: irony
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agin
an informal, facetious, or dialect word for against
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Agincourt
a battle fought in 1415 near the village of Azincourt, N France: a decisive victory for English longbowmen under Henry V over French forces vastly superior in number
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agio
the difference between the nominal and actual values of a currency
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agiotage
the business of exchanging currencies
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agist
to care for and feed (cattle or horses) for payment
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agitate
to excite, disturb, or trouble (a person, the mind, or feelings); worry
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agitation
a state of excitement, disturbance, or worry
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agitato
(to be performed) in an agitated manner
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agitator
a person who agitates for or against a cause, etc
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agitpop
the use of pop music to promote political propaganda
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agitprop
(formerly) a bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, in charge of agitation and propaganda on behalf of Communism
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Aglaia
one of the three Graces
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agleam
glowing; gleaming
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aglet
a metal sheath or tag at the end of a shoelace, ribbon, etc
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agley
awry; askew
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aglimmer
glimmering
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aglitter
sparkling; glittering
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aglossia
congenital absence of the tongue
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aglow
glowing
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aglu
a breathing hole made in ice by a seal
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AGM
annual general meeting
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agma
the symbol ([ng]), used to represent a velar nasal consonant, as in long (lA[ng]) or tank (t[+ae][ng]k)
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agminate
gathered or clustered together
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AGN
active galactic nucleus
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agnail
another name for hangnail
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agnate
related by descent from a common male ancestor
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agnathan
any jawless eel-like aquatic vertebrate of the superclass Agnatha, which includes the lampreys and hagfishes
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agnathous
(esp of lampreys and hagfishes) lacking jaws
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Agni
the god of fire, one of the three chief deities of the Vedas
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agnoiology
the theory of ignorance
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agnomen
the fourth name or second cognomen occasionally acquired by an ancient Roman
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agnosia
loss or diminution of the power to recognize familiar objects or people, usually as a result of brain damage
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agnostic
a person who holds that knowledge of a Supreme Being, ultimate cause, etc, is impossible
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ago
in the past
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agog
highly impatient, eager, or curious
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agon
(in ancient Greece) a festival at which competitors conte