Term
com·bat·ant
com·bat·ant [kəm bátt’nt]
(plural com·bat·ants)
n |
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Definition
1. somebody taking part in war: a person or group taking part in a war
2. somebody involved in argument: somebody who is involved in a struggle or argument |
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Term
prom·i·nent
prom·i·nent [prómminənt]
adj |
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Definition
1. sticking out: large and projecting
2. noticeable: noticeable or conspicuous
3. well-known: distinguished, eminent, or well-known |
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Term
com·pas·sion·ate [kəm pásh’nət]
adj |
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Definition
| showing sympathy: showing feelings of sympathy for the suffering of others, often with a desire to help |
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Term
brood·ing
brood·ing [brding]
adj |
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Definition
ominous: seeming to contain some silent threat or danger (literary)
n (plural brood·ings)
deep thought: somebody’s private thoughts about a situation that is a source of anxiety
Her broodings were disturbed by Colette’s arrival.
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Term
trans·lu·cent
trans·lu·cent [trans ls’nt, tranz ls’nt]
adj |
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Definition
1. letting light through diffusely: allowing light to pass through, but only diffusely, so that objects on the other side cannot be clearly distinguished
a translucent membrane
2. glowing: having a glowing appearance, as if light were coming through
translucent skin |
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Term
wrin·kled
wrin·kle [ríngk’l]
n (plural wrin·kles) |
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Definition
vti (past wrin·kled, past participle wrin·kled, present participle wrin·kling, 3rd person present singular wrin·kles)
1. make or get small messy folds: to make small messy or unintentional folds in something, or to come to have messy folds
This fabric wrinkles easily.
2. make or get lines on skin: to develop lines or to cause lines to develop in the skin as a result of aging or exposure to the sun
3. contract part of face: to tighten the muscles in part of the face so that it contracts or creases |
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Term
mi·grant
mi·grant [mgrənt]
n (plural mi·grants) |
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Definition
1. social sciences somebody moving from place to place: somebody who moves from one region or country to another, often in search of work or other economic opportunities
2. zoology migratory animal: an animal, especially a bird, that moves from one region to another, often at specific times of the year in order to breed or avoid unsuitable weather conditions
adj
moving from place to place: moving from one region or country to another |
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Term
re·mained
re·main [ri máyn]
(past re·mained, past participle re·mained, present participle re·main·ing, 3rd person present singular re·mains) |
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Definition
1. stay: to stay behind or wait somewhere
2. continue in a state: to continue in a particular state without changing
3. be left: to be left after everything else has gone
4. require more work: to continue to need to be taken care of after everything else has been dealt with
5. endure: to endure and succeed at continuing on in spite of all
In spite of everything, the city remains. |
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Term
re·verted
re·vert [ri vúrt]
(past re·vert·ed, past participle re·vert·ed, present participle re·vert·ing, 3rd person present singular re·verts) |
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Definition
1. go back to previous state: to return to a former state, often one perceived as less desirable or inferior
2. return in discussion: to return to an earlier topic in the course of a discussion
3. genetics reacquire original features: to acquire or develop original genetic features again
4. return to old habits: to return to a former pattern of behavior, usually something less acceptable
5. law be returned to owner: to become once again the property of the former owner or his or her heirs |
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Term
rum·maged
rum·mage [rúmmij]
v (past rum·maged, past participle rum·maged, present participle rum·mag·ing, 3rd person present singular rum·mag·es) |
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Definition
1. vti go through things looking for something: to make a rapid search for or through something by carelessly moving and disarranging things
2. vt find something: to find something by searching
n (plural rum·mag·es)
1. thorough search: a thorough search for or through something
2. second-hand articles: articles sold at a rummage sale. U.K. term jumble1n.2
3. group of things: a miscellaneous collection of items |
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Term
played
play [play]
v (past played, past participle played, present participle play·ing, 3rd person present singular plays) |
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Definition
1. vi leisure engage in enjoyable activity: to take part in enjoyable activity for the sake of amusement
2. vti game sport take part in a game or sport: to take part in a game or a sporting activity
likes to play football
3. vt game sport compete against: to compete against somebody in a game or sporting event
They play their biggest rival tomorrow.
4. vti sports assign or have a position on field: to assign a player to a particular position on the field, or be assigned such a position
5. vt sports hit a shot: to make a particular shot or stroke in a sporting event
6. vt sports hit ball: to hit or kick a ball, puck, or birdie in a particular direction, especially as a way of beating an opponent
playing the ball straight down the line
7. vt games use a piece or card in a game: to use a card from a hand in a card game or a piece in a board game
8. vti music perform on a musical instrument: to use a musical instrument to produce music
plays the trombone
9. vt music perform music: to use an instrument or the voice to perform a piece of music
play a sonata
10. vt music perform a composer: to perform the music of a particular composer
Chopin is notoriously difficult to play well.
11. vti music reproduce recorded music: to reproduce recorded music for listening, or be reproduced in this way
played my favorite CD
12. vti act in a particular manner: to deal with a situation in a particular way to achieve a desired result
We decided to play it safe.
13. vt pretend to be: to pretend to be a particular type of person
Don’t play the innocent with me.
14. vti arts act a part in a play: to portray a character in a theatrical or movie production
played Macbeth on Broadway
15. vt theater perform in particular places: to perform in particular places or types of places
plays the Catskills every summer
16. vi act in jest: to do something for fun, not in earnest
17. vti arts perform or be performed somewhere: to perform a play or show a movie at a particular theater, or be performed or shown there
What’s playing at the Roxy?
18. vt theater perform a dramatic work by: to perform the work of a particular dramatist
19. vti gambling gamble: to gamble on a game of chance such as roulette or on horse races
20. vt finance speculate in a market: to speculate with securities or commodities in a market
21. vi make a particular impression on somebody: to be received in a particular way by somebody or to make a particular impression on that person
a policy that is likely to play well with middle-class voters
How will it play in Peoria?
22. vti move irregularly over a surface: to move or cause something to move unsteadily or irregularly over a surface, usually in a pleasing way
sunlight playing on her brown hair
23. vt let a fish pull on a line: to tire an already hooked fish by letting it pull on the line as it tries to escape
24. vti direct light or water: to direct light or water over a surface or in a particular way, or be directed in this manner
n (plural plays)
1. leisure enjoyable activities: activities bringing amusement or enjoyment, especially the spontaneous activity of young children or young animals
young cubs at play
2. sports action or move in a game: a particular action or move in a game
drilled the team in several new offensive plays
3. game sport turn in a game: somebody’s turn to move in a game
4. sports action during a game: the action during a game or series of games
The play was skilled during the first half but then the team began to tire.
5. game sport handling of a shot or move: a player’s handling of a shot or move or use of a piece or card
6. looseness: the amount of looseness in something, such as a rope or between moving parts
7. theater dramatic composition or production: a dramatic work written to be performed by actors on the stage, on television, or on the radio
8. ploy: a ploy or deceptive act intended to achieve a particular end
The defendant’s tears were just a play for your sympathy.
9. gambling gambling: participation in betting or gambling
10. language pun: a pun on a word
11. flickering movement: flickering or shimmering movement, especially of light through or on something
[Old English pleg(i)an . Ultimately from a prehistoric Germanic word meaning “to risk, exercise” that is also the ancestor of English plight and pledge.]
-play·a·bil·i·ty [plàyə bíllətee], n
-play·a·ble [pláyəb’l], adj
make a play for somebody or something to try openly to gain something
play fair to act in an honest and reasonable way
play fast and loose to act irresponsibly or recklessly without regard to facts or others’ feelings
play hard to get to avoid agreeing to a suggestion, invitation, or proposal, with the intention of appearing to be desirable or in demand
play it safe to exercise caution and take few risks |
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Term
right·eous
right·eous [rchəss]
adj |
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Definition
1. strictly observant of morality: always behaving according to a religious or moral code
2. justifiable: considered to be correct or justifiable
3. responding to injustice: arising from the perception of great injustice or wrongdoing
righteous indignation
4. great: good or outstanding (dated slang)
n
morally upright group: righteous people viewed as a group
believing that the righteous will prevail
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Term
crux
crux [kruks]
(plural crux·es or cru·ces [kr sz])
n |
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Definition
1. crucial point: an essential or deciding point or element in something, for example, in an argument
2. puzzling problem: an extremely difficult or puzzling problem
3. mountaineering arduous part of climb: the most demanding part of a climb |
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Term
ev·i·dence
ev·i·dence [évvid’ns]
n |
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Definition
1. sign or proof: something that gives a sign or proof of the existence or truth of something, or that helps somebody to come to a particular conclusion
There is no evidence that the disease is related to diet.
2. proof of guilt: the objects or information used to prove or suggest the guilt of somebody accused of a crime
The police have no evidence.
3. statements of witnesses: the oral or written statements of witnesses and other people involved in a trial or official inquiry
vt (past ev·i·denced, past participle ev·i·denced, present participle ev·i·denc·ing, 3rd person present singular ev·i·denc·es)
demonstrate or prove: to demonstrate or prove something (usually passive)
Their unwillingness to participate is evidenced by their failure to contact us. |
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Term
leg·a·cy
leg·a·cy [léggəssee]
n (plural leg·a·cies) |
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Definition
1. bequest made in will: money or property that is left to somebody in a will
2. something from past: something that is handed down or remains from a previous generation or time
adj
outdated or discontinued: associated with something that is outdated or discontinued |
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Term
spher·i·cal
spher·i·cal [sfrək’l, sférrək’l]
or spher·ic [sfrik, sférrik]
adj |
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Definition
1. round: shaped like a sphere
2. of spheres: relating to a sphere, or to spheres in general
3. astronomy of celestial bodies: relating to celestial objects
4. astronomy of ancient astronomy spheres: relating to the spheres of ancient astronomy |
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Term
en·fee·bled
en·fee·ble [in fb’l, en fb’l]
(past en·fee·bled, past participle en·fee·bled, present participle en·fee·bling, 3rd person present singular en·fee·bles)
vt |
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Definition
| weaken: to reduce the strength of somebody or something to the point of weakness |
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Term
re·dun·dant
re·dun·dant [ri dúndənt]
adj |
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Definition
1. superfluous: not needed or no longer needed
2. electrical engineering backup: fitted as a backup component or system
3. linguistics repeating meaning: with the same meaning as a word used elsewhere in a passage and without a rhetorical purpose
4. U.K. dismissed from work: dismissed from employment because the job or the worker has been deemed no longer necessary |
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Term
mis·guided
mis·guide [miss gd]
(past mis·guid·ed, past participle mis·guid·ed, present participle mis·guid·ing, 3rd person present singular mis·guides) |
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Definition
vt
mislead: to lead somebody in a wrong direction or into making a mistake
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Term
im·pa·tient
im·pa·tient [im páysh’nt]
adj |
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Definition
1. annoyed at waiting: annoyed by being kept waiting or by being delayed
2. eager: eager to do something immediately, and unwilling to wait
3. showing impatience: showing annoyance at being kept waiting, or eagerness to proceed with something
4. easily annoyed: unable to tolerate a particular thing and easily annoyed by it
he was impatient of formalities |
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Term
un·fas·ten
un·fas·ten
[un fáss’n]
(past un·fas·tened, past participle un·fas·tened, present participle un·fas·ten·ing, 3rd person present singular un·fas·tens) |
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Definition
vt
separate parts of something: undo something that holds things together, e.g., the buttons of a garment |
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Term
in·dent
v [in dént] (past in·dent·ed, past participle in·dent·ed, present participle in·dent·ing, 3rd person present singular in·dents) |
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Definition
1. vti printing begin line in from margin: to start a line or row some distance in from the margin
2. vt form recess in: to form a deep recess in something (often passive)
3. vt tear copied document in half: to tear a document, especially one containing two copies of the same text, in half along an irregular line
4. vt notch: to make jagged, notched, or serrated edges in something
5. vt fit notched edges: to join together two notched pieces of something |
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Term
de·part
de·part [di prt]
(past de·part·ed, past participle de·part·ed, present participle de·part·ing, 3rd person present singular de·parts) |
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Definition
v
1. vi set off: to leave, especially at the beginning of a journey
2. vt leave place: to leave from a place
3. vi change: to change or vary from a pattern |
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Term
ex·clude
ex·clude [ik skld]
(past ex·clud·ed, past participle ex·clud·ed, present participle ex·clud·ing, 3rd person present singular ex·cludes)
vt |
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Definition
1. keep out: to prevent somebody or something from entering or participating
I felt excluded from the family celebrations.
2. reject: to prevent somebody or something from being considered or accepted
cannot exclude the possibility of treason
3. omit: to fail to include something or somebody |
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Term
pre·scrip·tion
pre·scrip·tion [pri skrípshən]
(plural pre·scrip·tions)
n |
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Definition
1. written order for medicine: a written order issued by a physician or other qualified practitioner that authorizes a pharmacist to supply a particular medication for a particular patient, with instructions on its use (often used before a noun)
2. prescribed medicine: a drug or other medication prescribed by a physician or other qualified practitioner |
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Term
in·ci·sion
in·ci·sion [in sí’n]
n |
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Definition
| 1. surgery cut or act of cutting: a cut or the act of cutting, especially when performed by a surgeon |
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Term
proof·read
proof·read [prf rd] |
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Definition
| ( check proofs for errors: to read the proofs of a text in order to correct them |
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Term
great-aunt
(plural great-aunts)
n |
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Definition
| parent’s aunt: an aunt of somebody’s father or mother. Also called grandaunt |
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