English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

dipolar

adj

Having a north and a south magnetic pole, like a magnet.

dipped

adj

Briefly immersed in a liquid.

dipper

noun

A long-handled cup or scoop used for ladling liquid.

dipping

noun

The act of briefly submerging something in a liquid.

dippy

adj

(informal) Silly or lacking common sense.

dipshit

noun

(vulgar, slang) A stupid or contemptible person.

dipsomania

noun

A strong addiction to drinking alcohol.

dipsomaniac

noun

Someone with an intense, uncontrollable craving for alcohol; an alcoholic.

dipstick

noun

A rod used to measure the level of a fluid, such as oil in an engine.

diptych

noun

A picture or artwork made up of two panels, usually joined by hinges.

dire

adj

Extremely serious or urgent, often warning of disaster.

direct

adj

Going straight from one point to another without stopping or changing course.

direct democracy

noun

A system of government in which citizens vote on laws and policies themselves, rather than electing representatives to decide on their behalf.

directed

adj

Guided or aimed toward a particular goal or target.

direction

noun

The line or path along which something moves or faces.

directional

adj

Relating to or indicating direction.

directions

noun

Instructions explaining how to get somewhere or how to do something.

directive

noun

An official instruction or order.

directly

adv

In a straight line or straightforward manner, without detour.

directness

noun

The quality of being direct and straightforward.

director

noun

A person in charge of a department, organization, or project.

directorate

noun

A division of an organization headed by a director.

directory

noun

A list of names, addresses, or other information, usually organized alphabetically or by category.

dirge

noun

A sad poem or piece of music performed in memory of someone who has died.

dirigible

noun

An airship that can be steered and powered under its own control.

dirigisme

noun

A system where the state keeps tight control over the economy and society.

dirk

noun

A long dagger with a straight blade, traditionally associated with Scotland.

dirt

noun

Soil, earth, or any unclean substance on a surface.

dirtbag

noun

(informal, derogatory) A dishonest or disreputable person.

dirtball

noun

A person who is dirty or sleazy.

dirtbrain

noun

(informal) A stupid person.

dirten

verb

To make something dirty, or to become dirty.

dirtiness

noun

The state of being dirty.

dirtsome

adj

Dirty, or showing signs of dirt.

dirty

adj

Unclean or covered in dirt, grime, or other unpleasant matter.

dis

verb

Informal short form of "disrespect" — to insult or put someone down.

disability

noun

A physical or mental condition that significantly limits a person's abilities or functioning.

disable

verb

To take away someone's ability to do something, especially by injuring them.

disabled

adj

Having a lasting physical or mental condition that limits activity or function.

disablement

noun

The act of disabling something, or the condition of being disabled.

disabling

adj

Causing a serious loss of ability or function; crippling.

disaccord

noun

A lack of agreement; the opposite of accord.

disadvantage

noun

A drawback, weakness, or unfavorable circumstance compared to others.

disadvantaged

adj

Lacking the resources, opportunities, or advantages that others have, especially due to poverty.

disadventure

noun

Bad luck, or an unlucky mistake.

disaffect

verb

To make someone lose their affection, loyalty or sympathy.

disaffection

noun

A feeling of dissatisfaction and unrest.

disaffirm

verb

To deny or reject something as untrue.

disagree

verb

To hold a different opinion from someone else.

disagreeable

adj

Unpleasant or displeasing to the senses or feelings.

disagreeing

verb

Present participle of "disagree" — holding or expressing a different opinion than someone else.

disagreement

noun

An argument or dispute between people who hold different views.

disallow

verb

To refuse to permit something.

disambiguate

verb

To make something clearer by removing its ambiguity, showing which of several meanings is intended.

disapparent

adj

Not clearly visible, and difficult to notice or perceive.

disappear

verb

To vanish from sight; to stop being visible.

disappearance

noun

The act or fact of vanishing or going missing.

disappeared

adj

Made to vanish, especially abducted or killed for political reasons.

disappearing

verb

Present participle of "disappear" — going out of sight or ceasing to exist.

disappoint

verb

To make someone feel let down by failing to meet their hopes or expectations.

disappointed

adj

Feeling let down because something did not turn out as hoped.

disappointing

adj

Failing to meet expectations; causing disappointment.

disappointment

noun

The feeling of sadness or letdown when something doesn't meet expectations.

disapprobation

noun

Strong disapproval, especially about something felt to be morally wrong.

disapproval

noun

A feeling or expression of not approving of something; condemnation.

disapprove

verb

To think something is wrong or unacceptable (usually followed by "of").

disapproving

adj

Showing that one disagrees with or dislikes something.

disarm

verb

To take weapons away from someone.

disarmament

noun

The reduction or elimination of a country's weapons and military forces.

disarmer

noun

Someone who supports disarmament.

disarming

adj

Charming in a way that removes suspicion or hostility.

disarrange

verb

To spoil the order of something; to make it untidy.

disarray

noun

A state of disorder or confusion.

disassemble

verb

To take something apart, especially a machine or piece of equipment.

disassembler

noun

A computer program that turns a compiled program back into readable assembly code.

disassembly

noun

The process of taking something apart.

disassociate

verb

To separate (oneself); to dissolve one's association with a person, group, or situation.

disaster

noun

A sudden event, natural or man-made, that causes serious damage, loss of life, or destruction.

disastrous

adj

Causing great damage or harm; having the nature of a disaster.

disavail

verb

To put someone at a disadvantage, or to cause them harm.

disavow

verb

To formally deny responsibility for or support of something.

disavowal

noun

A statement denying that one knows, is connected to, or is responsible for something or someone.

disavowed

adj

Firmly denied or rejected as one's own.

disband

verb

To break up a group so it no longer exists; to disperse.

disbelief

noun

An unwillingness or inability to believe that something is true.

disbelieve

verb

To not believe something.

disbeliever

noun

Someone who does not believe something.

disbelieving

adj

Not willing to believe something; doubtful.

disburden

verb

To take a heavy weight off someone or something.

disburse

verb

To pay money out, especially from a fund kept for a particular purpose.

disbursement

noun

The paying out of money from a fund or account, especially a formal or scheduled payment such as a loan, grant or dividend.

disc

noun

A flat, round, thin object or shape.

discalced

adj

Belonging to a religious group whose members traditionally went without shoes.

discard

verb

To throw away or get rid of something no longer wanted.

discarding

noun

The act of throwing something away.

discase

verb

To take someone's clothes off.

discern

verb

To notice or perceive something, especially something not immediately obvious.

discernible

adj

Able to be noticed or perceived, whether by the senses or the mind.

discerning

adj

Having good judgment or taste; able to notice subtle differences.

discernment

noun

The ability to judge well — to see the difference between things and decide wisely between them.

discerp

verb

To tear something apart into pieces.

discharge

verb

To officially release someone from a hospital, job, the armed forces, or legal custody.

discharging

noun

The process of releasing or letting something out, such as a duty, a substance, or a patient.

disciple

noun

Someone who follows and learns from a teacher or leader, especially a religious or philosophical one.

discipleship

noun

In Christianity, the practice of following Jesus as a learner and living by his teaching, and the process by which believers are taught and formed to do so.

disciplinary

adj

Relating to punishment or rules meant to enforce good behaviour.

discipline

noun

The practice of training yourself or others to follow rules and control behaviour.

disciplined

adj

Showing strong self-control and the ability to stick to a plan or routine.

disciplineless

adj

Having no discipline; not controlled or ordered.

disclaim

verb

To say officially that you have no claim to something, or no responsibility for it.

disclaimer

noun

A statement that limits or denies legal responsibility for something, typically attached to a product, website, contract or piece of advice.

disclose

verb

To reveal information that was previously secret or unknown.

disclosed

adj

Made known or revealed to others.

disclosing

noun

The act of revealing information that was previously hidden.

disclosure

noun

The act of revealing something previously secret, or the information revealed.

discman

name

A product line of portable personal compact disc players made by Sony.

disco

noun

A style of dance music popular in the 1970s, or a nightclub playing it.

discography

noun

A discography is a complete list or collection of the recordings that a musician or band has released.

discoid

adj

Shaped like a flat, round disc.

discoloration

noun

A change in colour, usually an unwanted stain or fading, or the resulting mark.

discolour

verb

A British and Canadian standard spelling of discolor.

discoloured

adj

A UK standard spelling of discolored.

discombobulate

verb

To make someone feel confused or muddled.

discombobulated

adjective

Confused, flustered and unable to think straight, usually because something has disrupted your routine or expectations.

discomfit

verb

To make someone feel embarrassed, confused or uneasy.

discomfiting

adj

Making someone feel awkward, embarrassed or unsettled.

discomfiture

noun

A defeat suffered in a fight or battle.

discomfort

noun

A feeling of mild physical pain or mental unease.

discommendation

noun

Strong criticism or blame, or being avoided by others.

discommodate

verb

To make something unsuitable, or to treat someone badly.

discommode

verb

To cause trouble or difficulty for someone.

discompose

verb

To upset someone's calm; to unsettle or agitate them.

disconcert

verb

To make someone feel suddenly unsettled or startled.

disconcerted

adj

Feeling upset and a little embarrassed.

disconcerting

adj

Making someone feel confused, unsettled, or worried.

disconfirm

verb

To show that a claim, belief or theory is not true.

disconnect

verb

To break a connection between two things, such as a cable or a phone call.

disconnected

adj

No longer joined or linked; cut off.

disconnection

noun

The breaking of a physical link between two things.

disconsolate

adj

Sad and gloomy.

discontent

noun

A feeling of dissatisfaction or unhappiness with one's situation.

discontented

adj

Feeling unhappy or dissatisfied.

discontentment

noun

A feeling of being unhappy or dissatisfied.

discontinuance

noun

The stopping of something before it is properly finished.

discontinuation

noun

A break in something that was continuous.

discontinue

verb

To stop making, selling, or continuing something.

discontinued

adj

No longer made, sold, or continued.

discontinuity

noun

A break in something that should be continuous or regular.

discontinuous

adj

Not continuous, with gaps or breaks.

discontinuously

adv

With gaps or breaks, rather than steadily.