English dictionary — definitions & meanings

detection

noun

The act or process of discovering something hidden, disguised, or not previously known.

detective

noun

A police officer or investigator who gathers evidence to solve crimes.

detector

noun

A device that senses and signals the presence of a particular substance or condition.

detent

noun

That which locks or unlocks a movement; a catch (stopping mechanism), pawl, or dog; especially, in clockwork, the catch which locks and unlocks the wheelwork in striking.

detention

noun

The state of being held in official custody, especially while awaiting trial.

deter

verb

To discourage someone from doing something, usually through fear of a consequence.

detergent

noun

A cleaning agent, especially a manufactured chemical rather than traditional soap.

deteriorate

verb

To get worse in quality or condition.

deteriorating

adj

Getting steadily worse.

deterioration

noun

The process of becoming worse, or the resulting worse state.

deteriority

noun

A worsening in quality or state; or inferiority.

determent

noun

The act of deterring; deterrence.

determinant

noun

A determining factor; an element that determines the nature of something.

determinate

adj

Distinct, clearly defined.

determination

noun

Firmness of purpose; the will to keep going despite difficulty.

determine

verb

To find out or establish something for certain, usually by investigation.

determined

adj

Showing firm resolve; not easily discouraged.

determiner

noun

Someone or something that determines, or helps to determine, something else.

determining

adj

Having a deciding influence on the outcome.

determinism

noun

The doctrine that all actions are determined by the current state and immutable laws of the universe, with no possibility of choice.

deterministic

adj

Of, or relating to determinism.

deterrence

noun

The act of deterring, or the state of being deterred.

deterrent

adj

Acting to discourage someone from doing something.

detest

verb

To hate something or someone intensely.

detestable

adj

So unpleasant or wicked as to inspire hatred or disgust.

detestation

noun

Hate coupled with disgust; abhorrence.

detested

adj

Hated intensely.

dethaw

verb

To thaw; unthaw; unfreeze.

dethronement

noun

Removal from a superior place in a hierarchy.

detonate

verb

To explode, or to make something explode.

detonation

noun

A sudden violent explosion.

detonator

noun

A small device used to trigger the explosion of a larger explosive charge.

detort

verb

to turn from the original or plain meaning.

detour

noun

An indirect route taken instead of the direct one.

detox

noun

The process of clearing harmful substances such as alcohol or drugs from the body.

detoxify

verb

To remove foreign and harmful substances from something.

detract

verb

To take away; to withdraw or remove.

detractor

noun

A person who belittles the worth of another person or cause.

detriment

noun

Harm or damage, especially as a drawback or cost of something else.

detrimental

adj

Causing harm or damage.

detrition

noun

attrition; erosion by friction

detritus

noun

Pieces of rock broken off by ice, glacier, or erosion.

Detroit

name

A major city in Michigan, USA, historically known as the center of the American car industry.

deuce

noun

A playing card or die face showing two.

deucedly

adv

Quite; extremely; utterly.

deuces

noun

A pair of cards or dice both showing two.

deuteragonist

noun

A secondary character; specifically, the second most important character (after the protagonist).

deuterium

noun

A heavier form of hydrogen whose atoms contain a neutron as well as a proton.

deuteron

noun

the nucleus of deuterium, consisting of a proton and a neutron

Deuteronomy

noun

The fifth book of the Hebrew Bible and of the Christian Old Testament, presented as Moses's farewell addresses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab before they enter Canaan. It restates the law, including a version of the Ten Commandments, and sets out blessings and curses tied to keeping the covenant.

Deutsch

adj

German; relating to the German language or people.

Deutschland

name

The German name for Germany.

dev

noun

Informal short form of "developer", especially in software.

deva

noun

A divine or godlike being in Hindu and Buddhist tradition.

Devaki

name

A figure in Hindu scripture, the mother of Krishna.

devaluation

noun

The removal or lessening of something's value.

devan

verb

To unload (goods) from a container.

devastate

verb

To destroy something on a large scale.

devastated

adj

Completely destroyed.

devastating

adj

Causing severe destruction or distress.

devastation

noun

Widespread destruction, or the state of having been destroyed.

Devdas

noun

A term for a heartbroken, tragically lovesick man, drawn from a famous story.

develop

verb

To grow or change gradually into a more advanced state.

developed

adj

Economically advanced and industrialized.

developer

noun

A person or company that writes and builds software.

developing

adj

Currently growing or changing, especially of a country becoming more industrialized.

development

noun

The process of growing, changing, or advancing.

developmental

adj

Relating to growth or development, especially of a child.

developments

noun

Plural of development — new events, or groups of newly built structures.

Deveraux

name

A surname of Norman French origin, a variant spelling of Devereux.

Devereaux

name

A surname of Norman French origin, meaning "from Évreux," a town in Normandy.

devi

noun

A goddess in Hindu and Vedic mythology, or the general Sanskrit-derived title used for a female deity.

deviance

noun

Actions or behaviors that violate formal and informal cultural norms such as laws and customs.

deviancy

noun

The state of being deviant, abnormal or anomalous.

deviant

adj

Different from what is normal or expected, especially in a way society disapproves of.

deviate

verb

To move away from a planned course, method, or expected standard.

deviation

noun

A departure from an expected, planned, or normal course of action.

device

noun

A piece of equipment, especially electronic or mechanical, built to perform a specific job.

devil

noun

In Christian and Jewish tradition, the supreme evil spirit; Satan.

devil's advocate

noun

Someone who argues a position they do not personally hold, in order to test an argument or provoke fuller discussion.

devilfish

noun

Any of several not closely related marine animals:

devilish

adj

Wicked or mischievous in a way that recalls the devil.

devilishly

adv

In a devilish manner.

devilishness

noun

The state or quality of being devilish.

Deville

name

A surname of French origin meaning "of the town," also used as the name of a Cadillac model.

devilment

noun

Devilish action or conduct; wickedness; (more generally) troublemaking behaviour; mischief; (countable) an instance of this.

devilry

noun

Wickedness; cruelty.

Devin

name

A masculine given name of Irish origin, derived from Damhán, meaning "little deer" or "poet."

Devine

name

A surname of Irish origin, anglicized from Ó Daimhín, and a variant spelling of "divine."

devious

adj

Dishonest and cunning; willing to use underhand methods to get what one wants.

devise

verb

To work out or invent a plan, method, or system through careful thought.

deviser

noun

A person who devises something; a planner or inventor.

devising

noun

The act of working out a plan, invention, or (in law) a will.

devitalize

verb

To deprive of vitality; to make lifeless; to weaken.

Devlin

name

A surname and given name of Irish origin, from Ó Doibhilin, meaning "descendant of the unlucky one."

devo

noun

Informal short form of "devotion" or "devotional" — a short piece of religious reading or reflection.

devoid

adj

Completely lacking in something; empty of a particular quality.

devoir

noun

Duty, business; something that one must do.

devolution

noun

A rolling down.

devolve

verb

To be inherited by someone else; to pass down upon the next person in a succession, especially through failure or loss of an earlier holder.

Devon

noun

A breed of sturdy, deep-red beef and dairy cattle that originated in the West Country of England.

Devonshire

name

The formal name for Devon, a county in southwest England, also a title held by the Dukes of Devonshire.

Devore

name

A surname of French origin, a variant of Devereux or Duvore.

devote

verb

To give one's time, energy, or resources entirely to a particular purpose or person.

devoted

adj

Loyal and loving, showing strong and constant attachment to someone or something.

devotee

noun

A person with a strong, enthusiastic interest in or loyalty to something.

devotion

noun

Strong love, loyalty, or commitment to a person, cause, or activity.

devotional

adj

Relating to religious worship or spiritual devotion.

devour

verb

To eat something quickly and hungrily.

devouring

noun

The act of eating, destroying, or consuming something quickly and completely.

devout

adj

Deeply religious and committed to one's faith.

devoutful

adj

Full of devotion; devoted or pious.

devoutness

noun

The state or quality of being devout; religiosity.

dew

noun

Tiny drops of water that form on cool surfaces outdoors overnight, from moisture in the air.

Dewar

noun

A double-walled flask, similar to a thermos, used to keep liquids at a stable temperature, especially in scientific and cryogenic work.

Dewey

name

A given name or surname, notably associated with the Dewey Decimal System used to classify library books.

Dewitt

name

A surname of Dutch origin, an anglicized form of "de Witt."

dewy

adjective

Covered with tiny drops of moisture, as grass or leaves are in the early morning.

dex

noun

Short informal term for dexterity, especially a character's skill stat in video games and tabletop RPGs.

dexter

adj

On the right-hand side; in heraldry, the side of a shield as seen from the bearer's (not the viewer's) perspective.

dexterity

noun

Skill and quickness, especially in using the hands.

dexterous

adj

Skillful with one's hands.

dextrose

noun

The naturally occurring dextrorotatory form of glucose monosaccharide molecule.

dey

noun

Historically, the title given to the Ottoman-appointed ruler of Algiers.

Dez

name

A masculine given name, a shortened form of Desmond or Derek.

Dhanraj

name

An Indian masculine given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "king of wealth."

dharma

noun

In Hinduism and related traditions, the natural order of the universe, or the moral law that upholds it.

dhoni

noun

A traditional Maldivian sailing boat, similar to a dhow, now often fitted with a motor.

dhoti

noun

A long piece of cloth wrapped around the waist and legs like a loincloth, traditionally worn by men in India.

di

interjection

A nonsense syllable used to fill out a sung melody or hum a rhythm, without a specific meaning.

Dia

name

A short feminine given name of various origins, and an abbreviation used in some Spanish place names.

diabetes

noun

A metabolic disease in which the body can't produce or properly use insulin, resulting in high blood sugar.

diabetic

adj

Relating to, or caused by, diabetes.

diablo

noun

The devil — used informally, often for dramatic or slangy effect in English.

diabolic

adj

Of, being, or pertaining to a devil or the Devil.

diabolical

adj

Extremely cruel or wicked; evil.

diaconal

adj

Of or pertaining to a deacon or the diaconate.

diaconate

noun

The rank of a deacon.

diacritic

adj

Distinguishing.

diagnose

verb

To identify a disease or condition from a patient's symptoms.

diagnoser

noun

That which diagnoses, especially an artificial intelligence software component.

diagnosis

noun

The identification of a disease or medical condition through examination.

diagnostic

adj

Relating to, or used in, diagnosis.

diagnostician

noun

A person who diagnoses, especially a medical doctor.

diagnostics

noun

The methods and processes used to identify a problem, whether medical or technical.

diagonal

adj

Slanted; running at an angle rather than straight up-and-down or side-to-side.

diagonally

adv

In a slanted direction; at an angle rather than straight across or straight up.

diagram

noun

A simplified drawing that shows how something works or how its parts relate to each other.

dial

noun

A round, marked surface with a needle or pointer used to display a measurement, such as on a clock or gauge.

dialect

noun

A form of a language spoken in a particular region or by a particular group, differing from the standard version in vocabulary, grammar, or pronunciation.