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

derangement
noun the act of disturbing the mind or body; `his carelessness could have caused an ecological upset`; `she was unprepared for this sudden overthrow of their normal way of living`

derate
verb lower the rated electrical capability of electrical apparatus

deregulate
verb lift the regulations on

deregulation
deregulating noun the act of freeing from regulation (especially from governmental regulations)

derelict
delinquent adjective failing in what duty requires; `derelict (or delinquent) in his duty`; `neglectful of his duties`; `remiss of you not to pay your bills`

dereliction
noun willful negligence

derequisition
verb release from government control

derestrict
verb make free from restrictions

deride
verb treat or speak of with contempt; `He derided his student`s attempt to solve the biggest problem in mathematics`

derision
ridicule noun the act of deriding or treating with contempt

derisive
gibelike adjective abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule; `derisive laughter`; `a jeering crowd`; `her mocking smile`; `taunting shouts of `coward` and `sissy``

derisively
scoffingly adverb in a disrespectful and mocking manner; ``Sorry,` she repeated derisively`

derivable
adjective capable of being derived

derivation
noun the act of deriving something or obtaining something from a source or origin

derivational
adjective characterized by inflections indicating a semantic relation between a word and its base; `the morphological relation between `sing` and `singer` and `song` is derivational`

derivational morphology
noun the part of grammar that deals with the derivations of words

derivative
adjective resulting from or employing derivation; `a derivative process`; `a highly derivative prose style`

derivative instrument
noun a financial instrument whose value is based on another security

derive
educe verb develop or evolve from a latent or potential state

derived
adjective formed or developed from something else; not original; `the belief that classes and organizations are secondary and derived`- John Dewey

derived function
derivative noun the result of mathematical differentiation; the instantaneous change of one quantity relative to another; df(x)/dx

deriving
derivation 1 etymologizing noun (historical linguistics) an explanation of the historical origins of a word or phrase

dermabrasion
noun removal of scars or tattoos by anesthetizing the skin surface and then sanding or scraping off some of the outer skin layer

Dermacentor
genus Dermacentor noun vectors of important diseases of man and animals

Dermaptera
order Dermaptera noun earwigs and a few related forms

dermatitis
noun inflammation of the skin; skin becomes itchy and may develop blisters

Dermatobia
genus Dermatobia noun larvae live under the skin of domestic mammals and humans

dermatoglyphic
noun the lines that form patterns on the skin (especially on the fingertips and the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet)

dermatoglyphics
noun the study of the whorls and loops and arches in the fingertips and on the palms of the hand and the soles of the feet; `some criminologists specialize in dermatoglyphics`

dermatologic
dermatological adjective of or relating to or practicing dermatology

dermatologist
skin doctor noun a doctor who specializes in the physiology and pathology of the skin

dermatology
noun the branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its diseases

dermatome
noun a surgical instrument used to cut very thin slices of skin

dermatomycosis
dermatophytosis noun fungal infection of the skin (especially of moist parts covered by clothing)

dermatomyositis
noun myositis characterized by weakness of limb and neck muscles and much muscle pain and selling accompanied by skin rash affecting cheeks and eyelids and neck and chest and limbs; progression and severity vary among individuals

dermatosis
noun disorder involving lesions or eruptions of the skin (in which there is usually no inflammation)

Dermestidae
family Dermestidae noun carpet beetles

dermis
corium noun the deep vascular inner layer of the skin

Dermochelyidae
family Dermochelyidae noun sea turtles

Dermochelys
genus Dermochelys noun type genus of the Dermochelyidae: leatherback turtles

dermoid cyst
noun a cystic tumor (usually benign) with a wall lined with epithelium and a cavity containing other material

Dermoptera
order Dermoptera noun flying lemurs

derogation
noun (law) the partial taking away of the effectiveness of a law; a partial repeal or abolition of a law; `any derogation of the common law is to be strictly construed`

derogative
derogatory adjective expressive of low opinion; `derogatory comments`; `disparaging remarks about the new house`

derrick
noun a simple crane having lifting tackle slung from a boom

derring-do
noun brave and heroic deeds

derringer
noun a pocket pistol of large caliber with a short barrel

derris
noun any of various usually woody vines of the genus Derris of tropical Asia whose roots yield the insecticide rotenone; several are sources of native fish and arrow poisons

derris root
tuba root noun woody vine having bright green leaves and racemes of rose-tinted white flowers; the swollen roots contain rotenone

derv
noun diesel oil used in cars and lorries with diesel engines; from d(iesel) e(ngine) r(oad) v(ehicle)

dervish
noun an ascetic Muslim monk; a member of an order noted for devotional exercises involving bodily movements

Des Moines
capital of Iowa noun the capital and largest city in Iowa

desacralize
secularize verb transfer from ecclesiastical to civil possession, use, or control

desalinate
desalt verb remove salt from; `desalinate water`

desalination
desalinization noun the removal of salt (especially from sea water)

descant
discant noun a decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody

descant on
verb sing a descant on a main tune or melody

Descartes
Rene Descartes noun French philosopher and mathematician; developed dualistic theory of mind and matter; introduced the use of coordinates to locate a point in two or three dimensions (1596-1650)

descend
fall verb move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way; `The temperature is going down`; `The barometer is falling`; `The curtain fell on the diva`; `Her hand went up and then fell again`

descendant
descendent adjective going or coming down

descendants
noun all of the offspring of a given progenitor; `we must secure the benefits of freedom for ourselves and our posterity`

descender
noun (printing) the part of lowercase letters that extends below the other lowercase letters

descending aorta
noun the descending part of the aorta that branches into the thoracic and abdominal aortae

descending colon
noun the part of the large intestine that descends from the transverse colon to the sigmoid colon

descending node
noun the point at which an orbit crosses the ecliptic plane going south

descending(a)
adjective coming down or downward

descent
noun the act of changing your location in a downward direction

describable
adjective capable of being described

describe
depict 1 draw verb give a description of; `He drew an elaborate plan of attack`

described
adjective represented in words especially with sharpness and detail; `the vividly described wars`

description
noun sort or variety; `every description of book was there`

description
noun a statement that represents something in words

descriptive
adjective describing the structure of a language; `descriptive linguistics simply describes language`

descriptive adjective
qualifying adjective noun an adjective that ascribes to its noun the value of an attribute of that noun (e.g., `a nervous person` or `a musical speaking voice`)

descriptive grammar
noun a grammar that is produced by descriptive linguistics

descriptive linguistics
noun a description (at a given point in time) of a language with respect to its phonology and morphology and syntax and semantics without value judgments

descriptively
adverb by giving a description; `these topics need to be treated not just descriptively`

descriptivism
noun (linguistics) a doctrine supporting or promoting descriptive linguistics

descriptor
noun a piece of stored information that is used to identify an item in an information storage and retrieval system

descry
spot verb catch sight of

Descurainia
genus Descurainia noun includes annual or biennial herbs of America and Europe very similar to and often included among those of genera Sisymbrium or Hugueninia; not recognized in some classification systems

desecrate
unhallow verb remove the consecration from a person or an object

desecrated
adjective treated with contempt; `many desecrated shrines and cemeteries`

desegrated
nonsegregated adjective rid of segregation; having had segregation ended

desegregate
integrate verb open (a place) to members of all races and ethnic groups; `This school is completely desegregated`

desensitization technique
desensitisation technique noun a technique used in behavior therapy to treat phobias and other behavior problems involving anxiety; client is exposed to the threatening situation under relaxed conditions until the anxiety reaction is extinguished

desensitization
desensitisation noun the process of reducing sensitivity; `the patient was desensitized to the allergen`

desensitize
desensitise verb make insensitive; `His military training desensitized him`

desensitized
desensitised adjective made less sensitive; `desensitized to the allergen`; `desensitized photographic film is less sensitive to light`

desensitizing
desensitising adjective making less susceptible or sensitive to either physical or emotional stimuli

desert four o`clock
Colorado four o`clock noun wildflower having vibrant deep pink tubular evening-blooming flowers; found in sandy and desert areas from southern California to southern Colorado and into Mexico

desert holly
Atriplex hymenelytra noun handsome low saltbush of arid southwestern United States and Mexico having blue-green prickly-edged leaves often used for Christmas decoration

desert iguana
Dipsosaurus dorsalis noun small long-tailed lizard of arid areas of southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico

desert mariposa tulip
Calochortus kennedyi noun mariposa with clusters of bell-shaped vermilion or orange or yellow flowers atop short stems; southern California to Arizona and Mexico

desert paintbrush
Castilleja chromosa noun most common paintbrush of western United States dry lands; having erect stems ending in dense spikes of bright orange to red flowers

desert pea
Sturt pea noun sprawling shrubby perennial noted for its scarlet black-marked flowers; widely distributed in dry parts of Australia

desert plant
xerophyte noun plant adapted for life with a limited supply of water; compare hydrophyte and mesophyte

desert plume
prince`s-plume noun perennial of southwestern United States having leathery blue-green pinnatifid leaves and thick plumelike spikes of yellow flowers; sometimes placed in genus Cleome

desert rat
Dipodomys phillipsii noun any of various leaping rodents of desert regions of North America and Mexico; largest members of the family Heteromyidae

desert sand verbena
Abronia villosa noun soft-haired sticky plant with heads of bright pink trumpet-shaped flowers; found in sandy desert soil; after ample rains may carpet miles of desert with pink from the southwestern United States to northern Mexico