Copy of `Princeton University - WordNet - a lexical database for the English language`

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Princeton University - WordNet - a lexical database for the English language Category: General Date & country: 27/01/2008, USA Words: 85192

catalytic cracker
cat cracker noun a chemical reactor for converting oils with high boiling points into fuels with lower boiling points in the presence of a catalyst

catalytically
adverb by catalytic action; in a catalytic manner; `catalytically stabilized combustion of propane`

catalyze
catalyse verb change by catalysis or cause to catalyze

catamaran
noun a sailboat with two parallel hulls held together by single deck

catamite
noun a boy who submits to a sexual relationship with a man

catananche
noun any of several plants of the genus Catananche having long-stalked heads of blue or yellow flowers

cataphasia
noun a speech disorder in which the same word is repeated several times in succession

cataphatic
adjective of or relating to the religious belief that God can be known to humans positively or affirmatively

cataphatism
noun the religious belief that God has given enough clues to be known to humans positively and affirmatively (e.g., God created Adam `in his own image`)

cataphyll
noun a reduced or scarcely developed leaf at the start of a plant`s life (i.e., cotyledons) or in the early stages of leaf development

cataplasia
noun (biology) degenerative reversion of cells or tissue to a less differentiated or more primitive form

cataplastic
adjective of or relating to cataplasia

catapult
arbalest noun medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and other missiles

catapultic
catapultian adjective of or like a catapult; `a catapultic kind of action`

cataract
noun a large waterfall; violent rush of water over a precipice

Cataract Canyon
noun a tributary of the Grand Canyon

catarrh
noun inflammation of the nose and throat with increased production of mucus

catarrhal
adjective of or relating to a catarrh; `catarrhal fever is any of several respiratory or oral diseases of livestock such as bluetongue in horses and sheep`

catarrhal fever
noun any of several disease of livestock marked by fever and edema of the respiratory tract

catarrhine
catarrhinian adjective of or related to Old World monkeys that have nostrils together and opening downward

Catasetum
genus Catasetum noun genus of tropical American orchids having showy male and female flowers usually on separate inflorescences

catastrophe
disaster noun a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune; `lack of funds has resulted in a catastrophe for our school system`; `his policies were a disaster`

catastrophic
adjective extremely harmful; bringing physical or financial ruin; `a catastrophic depression`; `catastrophic illness`; `a ruinous course of action`

catastrophic illness
noun severe illness requiring prolonged hospitalization or recovery; usually involves high costs for hospitals and doctors and medicines

catastrophically
adverb with unfortunate consequences; `catastrophically complex`

catatonic
adjective characterized by catatonia especially either rigidity or extreme laxness of limbs

catatonic schizophrenia
catatonic type schizophrenia noun a form of schizophrenia characterized by a tendency to remain in a fixed stuporous state for long periods; the catatonia may give way to short periods of extreme excitement

Catawba
noun the Siouan language spoken by the Catawba

catbird
gray catbird noun North American songbird whose call resembles a cat`s mewing

catboat
noun a sailboat with a single mast set far forward

catcall
noun a cry expressing disapproval

catch
grab noun the act of catching an object with the hands; `Mays made the catch with his back to the plate`; `he made a grab for the ball before it landed`; `Martin`s snatch at the bridle failed and the horse raced away`; `the infielder`s snap and throw was a single motion`

catch
noun a restraint that checks the motion of something; `he used a book as a stop to hold the door open`

catch cold
verb come down with a cold

catch crop
noun a crop that grows quickly (e.g. lettuce) and can be planted between two regular crops grown in successive seasons or between two rows of crops in the same season

catch it
verb receive punishment; be scolded or reprimanded; `I really caught it the other day!`

catch on
get wise verb understand, usually after some initial difficulty; `She didn`t know what her classmates were plotting but finally caught on`

catch out
verb trap; especially in an error or in a reprehensible act; `He was caught out`; `She was found out when she tried to cash the stolen checks`

catch up
verb learn belatedly; find out about something after it happened; `I`m trying to catch up with the latest developments in molecular biology`

catchall
noun an enclosure or receptacle for odds and ends

catcher
noun the position on a baseball team of the player who is stationed behind home plate and who catches the balls that the pitcher throws; `a catcher needs a lot of protective equipment`; `a catcher plays behind the plate`

catcher`s mask
noun a mask to protect the face of the catcher in baseball

catching
noun (baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team

catching
contagious 1 contractable adjective (of disease) capable of being transmitted by infection

catchment
noun a structure in which water is collected

catchment area
catchment basin noun the geographical area draining into a river or reservoir

catchpenny(a)
adjective designed to sell quickly without concern for quality; `catchpenny ornaments`

catchphrase
catch phrase noun a phrase that has become a catchword

catchy
tricky adjective having concealed difficulty; `a catchy question`; `a tricky recipe to follow`

catechesis
noun oral religious instruction (as before baptism or confirmation)

catechetical
adjective of or relating to or involving catechesis

catechetical instruction
noun teaching religious principles by questions and answers

catechin
noun a tannic acid that is extracted from black catechu as a white crystalline substance

catechism
noun an elementary book summarizing the principles of a Christian religion; written as questions and answers

catechismal
adjective of or relating to a catechism summarizing the principles of Christianity

catechist
noun one who instructs catechumens in preparation for baptism (especially one using a catechism)

catechistic
catechetic adjective of or relating to or resembling a rigorous catechism; `the catechistic method`

catechize
catechise verb examine through questioning and answering

catechu
noun East Indian spiny tree having twice-pinnate leaves and yellow flowers followed by flat pods; source of black catechu

catechumen
noun a new convert being taught the principles of Christianity by a catechist

categorem
categoreme noun a categorematic expression; a term capable of standing alone as the subject or predicate of a logical proposition; `names are called categorems`

categorematic
adjective of a term or phrase capable of standing as the subject or (especially) the predicate of a proposition

categorial
adjective of or relating to the concept of categories

categoric
categorical adjective not modified or restricted by reservations; `a categorical denial`; `a flat refusal`

categorical
categoric adjective relating to or included in a category or categories

categorical imperative
noun the moral principle that behavior should be determined by duty

categorization
categorisation noun the act of distributing things into classes or categories of the same type

categorize
categorise verb place into or assign to a category; `Children learn early on to categorize`

categorized
categorised adjective arranged into categories

catena
noun a chain of connected ideas or passages or objects so arranged that each member is closely related to the preceding and following members (especially a series of patristic comments elucidating Christian dogma)

catenary
noun the curve theoretically assumed by a perfectly flexible and inextensible cord of uniform density and cross section hanging freely from two fixed points

catenate
catenulate verb arrange in a series of rings or chains, as for spores

catenulate
chainlike adjective having a chainlike form; `catenulate bacterial cell colonies`

caterer
noun someone who provides food and service (as for a party)

catering
noun providing food and services

caterpillar
noun a wormlike and often brightly colored and hairy or spiny larva of a butterfly or moth

caterpillar track
caterpillar tread noun an endless metal belt on which tracked vehicles move over the ground

caterpillar-tracked
adjective having caterpillar treads or tracks on the wheels; `a caterpillar-tracked earthmover`

caterwaul
noun the yowling sound made by a cat in heat

catfish
mudcat noun flesh of scaleless food fish of the southern United States; often farmed

catfish
noun any of numerous mostly freshwater bottom-living fishes of Eurasia and North America with barbels like whiskers around the mouth

catgut
gut noun a strong cord made from the intestines of sheep and used in surgery

Catha
genus Catha noun a genus of African evergreen shrubs characterized by thick leaves and white flowers

Catha edulis
noun a shrub that is cultivated by Arabs for its leaves which are chewed or used to make tea

Catharacta
genus Catharacta noun skuas

Catharanthus
genus Catharanthus noun small genus of erect annual or perennial herbs native to Madagascar; widely naturalized in the tropics; formerly included in genus Vinca

catharsis
katharsis noun (psychoanalysis) purging of emotional tensions

catharsis
noun purging the body by the use of a cathartic to stimulate evacuation of the bowels

Cathartes
genus Cathartes noun type genus of the Cathartidae: turkey vultures

cathartic
evacuant adjective strongly laxative

cathartic
adjective emotionally purging

Cathartidae
family Cathartidae noun condors; turkey buzzards; king vultures

Cathay
noun an archaic or literary name for China

Cathaya
noun Chinese evergreen conifer discovered in 1955; not yet cultivated elsewhere

cathect
verb inject with libidinal energy

cathectic
adjective of or relating to cathexis

cathedra
bishop`s throne noun a throne that is the official chair of a bishop

cathedral
adjective relating to or containing or issuing from a bishop`s office or throne; `a cathedral church`

cathedral
noun the principal Christian church building of a bishop`s diocese

Cather
Willa Cather noun United States writer who wrote about frontier life (1873-1947)