fray
n.1) a noisy quarrel.
2) a fight or brawl.
3) an archaic word for fright.
;vb. archaic.
4) (tr) to frighten.
;vb.1) to wear or cause to wear away into tatters or loose threads, esp at an edge or end.
2) to make or become strained or irritated.
3) to rub or chafe (another object) or (of two objects) to rub against one another.
;n.4) a frayed place, as in cloth.
;
pillory
n., pl -ries.
1) a wooden framework into which offenders were formerly locked by the neck and wrists and exposed to public abuse and ridicule.
2) exposure to public scorn or abuse.
;vb. -ries, -rying, -ried (tr).
3) to expose to public scorn or ridicule.
4) to punish by putting in a pillory.
;
flattery
n., pl -teries.
1) the act of flattering.
2) excessive or insincere praise.
;
at bay
<No meaning yet.>
annex
vb. (tr).
1) to join or add, esp to something larger; attach.
2) to add (territory) by conquest or occupation.
3) to add or append as a condition, warranty, etc.
4) to appropriate without permission.
;n.5) a variant spelling (esp US) of annexe.
;
bout
n.1).
a) a period of time spent doing something, such as drinking.
b) a period of illness.
2) a contest or fight, esp a boxing or wrestling match.
;
brawl
n.1) a loud disagreement or fight.
2) US slang an uproarious party.
;vb. (intr).
3) to quarrel or fight noisily; squabble.
4) (esp of water) to flow noisily.
;n.a dance: the English version of the branle
;
fortitude
n.strength and firmness of mind; resolute endurance
;
disparate
adj.1) utterly different or distinct in kind.
;n.2) (plural) unlike things or people.
;
parch
vb.1) to deprive or be deprived of water; dry up.
2) (tr; usually passive) to make very thirsty.
3) (tr) to roast (corn, etc.) lightly.
;
simmer
vb.1) to cook (food) gently at or just below the boiling point.
2) (intr) to be about to break out in rage or excitement.
;n.3) the act, sound, or state of simmering.
;
ration
n.1).
a) a fixed allowance of food, provisions, etc., esp a statutory one for civilians in time of scarcity or soldiers in time of war.
b) (as modifier).
2) a sufficient or adequate amount.
;vb. (tr).
3) (often foll by out) to distribute (provisions), esp to an army.
4) to restrict the distribution or consumption of (a commodity) by (people).
;
falter
vb.1) (intr) to be hesitant, weak, or unsure; waver.
2) (intr) to move unsteadily or hesitantly; stumble.
3) to utter haltingly or hesitantly; stammer.
;n.4) uncertainty or hesitancy in speech or action.
5) a quavering or irregular sound.
;
etiquette
n.1) the customs or rules governing behaviour regarded as correct or acceptable in social or official life.
2) a conventional but unwritten code of practice followed by members of any of certain professions or groups.
;
lush
n.1) a heavy drinker, esp an alcoholic.
2) alcoholic drink.
;vb.3) US and Canadian to drink (alcohol) to excess.
;
raucous
adj.(of voices, cries, etc.) harshly or hoarsely loud
;
vinegar
n.1) a sour-tasting liquid consisting of impure dilute acetic acid, made by oxidation of the ethyl alcohol in beer, wine, or cider. It is used as a condiment or preservative.
2) sourness or peevishness of temper, countenance, speech, etc.
3) pharmacology a medicinal solution in dilute acetic acid.
4) US and Canadian informal vitality.
;vb.5) (tr) to apply vinegar to.
;
deride
vb. (tr).
to speak of or treat with contempt, mockery, or ridicule; scoff or jeer at
;
burgeon
vb.1) (often foll by forth or out) (of a plant) to sprout (buds).
2) (intr; often foll by forth or out) to develop or grow rapidly; flourish.
;n.3) a bud of a plant.
;
pebble
n.1).
a) a small smooth rounded stone, esp one worn by the action of water.
b) geology a rock fragment, often rounded, with a diameter of 4-64 mm and thus smaller than a cobble but larger than a granule.
2).
a) a transparent colourless variety of rock crystal, used for making certain lenses.
b) such a lens.
3) (modifier) informal (of a lens or of spectacles) thick, with a high degree of magnification or distortion.
4).
a) a grainy irregular surface, esp on leather.
b) leather having such a surface.
5) informal chiefly Austral a troublesome or obstinate person or animal.
;vb. (tr).
6) to pave, cover, or pelt with pebbles.
7) to impart a grainy surface to (leather).
;
shriek
n.1) a shrill and piercing cry.
;vb.2) to produce or utter (words, sounds, etc.) in a shrill piercing tone.
;
ridicule
n.1) language or behaviour intended to humiliate or mock; derision.
;vb.2) (tr) to make fun of, mock, or deride.
;
gnaw
vb. gnaws, gnawing, gnawed; gnawed or gnawn [nɔ:n].
1) (when intr, often foll by at or upon) to bite (at) or chew (upon) constantly so as to wear away little by little.
2) (tr) to form by gnawing.
3) to cause erosion of (something).
4) (when intr, often foll by at) to cause constant distress or anxiety (to).
;n.5) the act or an instance of gnawing.
;
quench
vb. (tr).
1) to satisfy (one's thirst, desires, etc.); slake.
2) to put out (a fire, flame, etc.); extinguish.
3) to put down or quell; suppress.
4) to cool (hot metal) by plunging it into cold water.
5) physics to reduce the degree of (luminescence or phosphorescence) in (excited molecules or a material) by adding a suitable substance.
6) electronics.
a) to suppress (sparking) when the current is cut off in an inductive circuit.
b) to suppress (an oscillation or discharge) in a component or device.
;
mar
<No meaning yet.>
oblivion
n.1) the condition of being forgotten or disregarded.
2) the state of being mentally withdrawn or blank.
3) law an intentional overlooking, esp of political offences; amnesty; pardon.
;
conjure
vb.1) (intr) to practise conjuring or be a conjuror.
2) (intr) to call upon supposed supernatural forces by spells and incantations.
3) <FONT COLOR=RED>[kənˈdʒuə]</FONT> (tr) to appeal earnestly or strongly to.
4).
;
bane
n.1) a person or thing that causes misery or distress (esp in the phrase bane of one's life).
2) something that causes death or destruction.
3).
a) a fatal poison.
b) (in combination).
4) archaic ruin or distress.
;n.a Scot word for bone
;
culinary
adj.of, relating to, or used in the kitchen or in cookery
;
coax
vb.1) to seek to manipulate or persuade (someone) by tenderness, flattery, pleading, etc.
2) (tr.) to obtain by persistent coaxing.
3) (tr) to work on or tend (something) carefully and patiently so as to make it function as one desires.
4) (tr) obsolete to caress.
5) (tr) obsolete to deceive.
;n.short for coaxial cable
;
reverie
n., pl -eries.
1) an act or state of absent-minded daydreaming.
2) a piece of instrumental music suggestive of a daydream.
3) archaic a fanciful or visionary notion; daydream.
;
bleary
adj. blearier, bleariest.
1) (of eyes or vision) dimmed or blurred, as by tears or tiredness.
2) indistinct or unclear.
3) exhausted; tired.
;
illustrious
adj.1) of great renown; famous and distinguished.
2) glorious or great.
3) obsolete shining.
;
trinket
n.1) a small or worthless ornament or piece of jewellery.
2) a trivial object; trifle.
;
virulent
adj.1).
a) (of a microorganism) extremely infective.
b) (of a disease) having a rapid course and violent effect.
2) extremely poisonous, injurious, etc.
3) extremely bitter, hostile, etc.
;
emanate
vb.1) (intr; often foll by from) to issue or proceed from or as from a source.
2) (tr) to send forth; emit.
;
futile
adj.1) having no effective result; unsuccessful.
2) pointless; unimportant; trifling.
3) inane or foolish.
;
fracture
n.1) the act of breaking or the state of being broken.
2).
a) the breaking or cracking of a bone or the tearing of a cartilage.
b) the resulting condition.
3) a division, split, or breach.
4) mineralogy.
a) the characteristic appearance of the surface of a freshly broken mineral or rock.
b) the way in which a mineral or rock naturally breaks.
;vb.5) to break or cause to break; split.
6) to break or crack (a bone) or (of a bone) to become broken or cracked.
7) to tear (a cartilage) or (of a cartilage) to become torn.
;
wry
adj. wrier, wriest or wryer, wryest.
1) twisted, contorted, or askew.
2) (of a facial expression) produced or characterized by contorting of the features, usually indicating dislike.
3) drily humorous; sardonic.
4) warped, misdirected, or perverse.
5) (of words, thoughts, etc.) unsuitable or wrong.
;vb. wries, wrying, wried.
6) (tr) to twist or contort.
;
pique
n.1) a feeling of resentment or irritation, as from having one's pride wounded.
;vb. piques, piquing, piqued (tr).
2) to cause to feel resentment or irritation.
3) to excite or arouse.
4) (foll by on or upon) to pride or congratulate (oneself).
;n.1) a score of 30 points made by a player from a combination of cards held before play begins and from play while his opponent's score is nil.
;vb.2) to score a pique (against).
;
dread
vb. (tr).
1) to anticipate with apprehension or terror.
2) to fear greatly.
3) archaic to be in awe of.
;n.4) great fear; horror.
5) an object of terror.
6) slang a Rastafarian.
7) archaic deep reverence.
;adj.8) literary awesome; awe-inspiring.
;
lull
vb.1) to soothe (a person or animal) by soft sounds or motions (esp in the phrase lull to sleep).
2) to calm (someone or someone's fears, suspicions, etc.), esp by deception.
;n.3) a short period of calm or diminished activity.
;
gull
n.1) a person who is easily fooled or cheated.
;vb.2) (tr) to fool, cheat, or hoax.
;
dislodge
vb.to remove from or leave a lodging place, hiding place, or previously fixed position
;
arid
adj.1) having little or no rain; dry; parched with heat.
2) devoid of interest.
;
unwind
vb. -winds, -winding, -wound.
1) to slacken, undo, or unravel or cause to slacken, undo, or unravel.
2) (tr) to disentangle.
3) to make or become relaxed.
;
shrewd
adj.1) astute and penetrating, often with regard to business.
2) artful and crafty.
3) obsolete.
a) piercing.
b) spiteful.
;
assimilate
vb.1) (tr) to learn (information, a procedure, etc.) and understand it thoroughly.
2) (tr) to absorb (food) and incorporate it into the body tissues.
3) (intr) to become absorbed, incorporated, or learned and understood.
4) (usually foll by into or with) to bring or come into harmony; adjust or become adjusted.
5) (usually foll by to or with) to become or cause to become similar.
6) (usually foll by to) phonetics to change (a consonant) or (of a consonant) to be changed into another under the influence of one adjacent to it.
;
denote
vb. (tr; may take a clause as object).
1) to be a sign, symbol, or symptom of; indicate or designate.
2) (of words, phrases, expressions, etc.) to have as a literal or obvious meaning.
;
commence
vb.to start or begin; come or cause to come into being, operation, etc
;
germ
n.1) a microorganism, esp one that produces disease in animals or plants.
2) (often plural) the rudimentary or initial form of something.
3) a simple structure, such as a fertilized egg, that is capable of developing into a complete organism.
;
pest
n.1) a person or thing that annoys, esp by imposing itself when it is not wanted; nuisance.
2).
a) any organism that damages crops, injures or irritates livestock or man, or reduces the fertility of land.
b) (as modifier).
3) rare an epidemic disease or pestilence.
;
slippery
adj.1) causing or tending to cause objects to slip.
2) liable to slip from the grasp, a position, etc.
3) not to be relied upon; cunning and untrustworthy.
4) (esp of a situation) liable to change; unstable.
5).
;
brittle
adj.1) easily cracked, snapped, or broken; fragile.
2) curt or irritable.
3) hard or sharp in quality.
;n.4) a crunchy sweet made with treacle and nuts.
;
deflect
vb.to turn or cause to turn aside from a course; swerve
;
abide
vb. abides, abiding, abode or abided.
1) (tr) to tolerate; put up with.
2) (tr) to accept or submit to; suffer.
3) (intr; foll by by).
a) to comply (with).
b) to remain faithful (to).
4) (intr) to remain or continue.
5) (intr) archaic to dwell.
6) (tr) archaic to await in expectation.
7) (tr) archaic to withstand or sustain; endure.
;
reptile
n.1) any of the cold-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Reptilia, characterized by lungs, an outer covering of horny scales or plates, and young produced in amniotic eggs. The class today includes the tortoises, turtles, snakes, lizards, and crocodiles; in Mesozoic times it was the dominant group, containing the dinosaurs and related forms.
2) a grovelling insignificant person.
;adj.3) creeping, crawling, or squirming.
4) grovelling or insignificant; mean; contemptible.
;
barge
n.1) a vessel, usually flat-bottomed and with or without its own power, used for transporting freight, esp on canals.
2) a vessel, often decorated, used in pageants, for state occasions, etc.
3) navy a boat allocated to a flag officer, used esp for ceremonial occasions and often carried on board his flagship.
4) informal and derogatory any vessel, esp an old or clumsy one.
5) Austral informal a heavy or cumbersome surfboard.
;vb.6) (intr; foll by into) informal to bump (into).
7) (tr) informal to push (someone or one's way) violently.
8) (intr; foll by into or in) informal to interrupt rudely or clumsily.
9) (tr) sailing to bear down on (another boat or boats) at the start of a race.
10) (tr) to transport by barge.
11) (intr) informal to move slowly or clumsily.
;
mongrel
n.1) a plant or animal, esp a dog, of mixed or unknown breeding; a crossbreed or hybrid.
2) highly offensive a person of mixed race.
3) Austral and NZ sport toughness and physical aggression.
;adj.4) of mixed origin, breeding, character, etc.
;
disgorge
vb.1) to throw out (swallowed food, etc.) from the throat or stomach; vomit.
2) to discharge or empty of (contents).
3) (tr) to yield up unwillingly or under pressure.
4) (tr) angling to remove (a hook) from the mouth or throat of (a fish).
;
contraption
n. informal, often facetious or derogatory.
a device or contrivance, esp one considered strange, unnecessarily intricate, or improvised
;
artillery
n.1) guns, cannon, howitzers, mortars, etc., of calibre greater than 20 mm.
2) troops or military units specializing in using such guns.
3) the science dealing with the use of guns.
4) devices for discharging heavy missiles, such as catapults or slings.
;
genesis
n., pl -ses [-ˌsi:z].
a beginning or origin of anything
;n.the first book of the Old Testament recounting the events from the Creation of the world to the sojourning of the Israelites in Egypt
;n. combining form.
indicating genesis, development, or generation
;n.ew Latin, from Latin: GENESIS.
Derived words:
;
soluble
adj.1) (of a substance) capable of being dissolved, esp easily dissolved in some solvent, usually water.
2) capable of being solved or answered.
;
excursion
n.1) a short outward and return journey, esp for relaxation, sightseeing, etc.; outing.
2) a group of people going on such a journey.
3) (modifier) of or relating to special reduced rates offered on certain journeys by rail.
4) a digression or deviation; diversion.
5) (formerly) a raid or attack.
6) physics.
a) a movement from an equilibrium position, as in an oscillation.
b) the magnitude of this displacement.
7) the normal movement of a movable bodily organ or part from its resting position, such as the lateral movement of the lower jaw.
8) machinery the locus of a point on a moving part, esp the deflection of a whirling shaft.
;
salvation
n.1) the act of preserving or the state of being preserved from harm.
2) a person or thing that is the means of preserving from harm.
3) Christianity deliverance by redemption from the power of sin and from the penalties ensuing from it.
4) Christian Science the realization that Life, Truth, and Love are supreme and that they can destroy such illusions as sin, death, etc.
;
arsenal
n.1) a store for arms, ammunition, and other military items.
2) a workshop or factory that produces munitions.
3) a store of anything regarded as weapons.
;
fledgling
n.1) a young bird that has just fledged.
2) a young and inexperienced person.
;
procrastination
<No meaning yet.>
gruff
adj.1) rough or surly in manner, speech, etc.
2) (of a voice, bark, etc.) low and throaty.
;
scowl
vb.1) (intr) to contract the brows in a threatening or angry manner.
;n.2) a gloomy or threatening expression.
;
scathing
adj.1) harshly critical; scornful.
2) damaging; painful.
;
avert
vb. (tr).
1) to turn away or aside.
2) to ward off; prevent from occurring.
;
hermit
n.1) one of the early Christian recluses.
2) any person living in solitude.
;
pamper
vb. (tr).
1) to treat with affectionate and usually excessive indulgence; coddle; spoil.
2) archaic to feed to excess.
;
weather
n.1).
a) the day-to-day meteorological conditions, esp temperature, cloudiness, and rainfall, affecting a specific place.
b) (modifier) relating to the forecasting of weather.
2) a prevailing state or condition.
3).
4).
;adj.5) (prenominal) on or at the side or part towards the wind; windward.
;vb.6) to expose or be exposed to the action of the weather.
7) to undergo or cause to undergo changes, such as discoloration, due to the action of the weather.
8) (intr) to withstand the action of the weather.
9) (when intr, foll by through) to endure (a crisis, danger, etc.).
10) (tr) to slope (a surface, such as a roof, sill, etc.) so as to throw rainwater clear.
11) (tr) to sail to the windward of.
;
payoff
<No meaning yet.>
envisage
vb. (tr).
1) to form a mental image of; visualize; contemplate.
2) to conceive of as a possibility in the future; foresee.
3) archaic to look in the face of; confront.
;
brazen
adj.1) shameless and bold.
2) made of or resembling brass.
3) having a ringing metallic sound like that of a brass trumpet.
;vb. (tr).
4) (usually foll by out or through) to face and overcome boldly or shamelessly.
5) to make (oneself, etc.) bold or brash.
;
prop
vb. props, propping, propped (when tr, often foll by up).
1) (tr) to support with a rigid object, such as a stick.
2) (tr; usually also foll by against) to place or lean.
3) (tr) to sustain or support.
4) (intr) Austral and NZ to stop suddenly or unexpectedly.
;n.5) something that gives rigid support, such as a stick.
6) a person or thing giving support, as of a moral or spiritual nature.
7) rugby either of the forwards at either end of the front row of a scrum.
;n.short for property 8)
;n.an informal word for propeller
;
fraying
<No meaning yet.>
infiltrate
vb.1) to undergo or cause to undergo the process in which a fluid passes into the pores or interstices of a solid; permeate.
2) military to pass undetected through (an enemy-held line or position).
3) to gain or cause to gain entrance or access surreptitiously.
;n.4) something that infiltrates.
5) pathology any substance that passes into and accumulates within cells, tissues, or organs.
6) pathology a local anaesthetic solution injected into the tissues to cause local anaesthesia.
;
stall
n.1).
a) a compartment in a stable or shed for confining or feeding a single animal.
b) another name for stable I 1).
2) a small often temporary stand or booth for the display and sale of goods.
3) (in a church).
a) one of a row of seats, usually divided from the others by armrests or a small screen, for the use of the choir or clergy.
b) a pen.
4) an instance of an engine stalling.
5) a condition of an aircraft in flight in which a reduction in speed or an increase in the aircraft's angle of attack causes a sudden loss of lift resulting in a downward plunge.
6) any small room or compartment.
7) Brit.
a) a seat in a theatre or cinema that resembles a chair, usually fixed to the floor.
b) (plural) the area of seats on the ground floor of a theatre or cinema nearest to the stage or screen.
8) a tubelike covering for a finger, as in a glove.
9) (plural).
10).
;vb.11) to cause (a motor vehicle or its engine) to stop, usually by incorrect use of the clutch or incorrect adjustment of the fuel mixture, or (of an engine or motor vehicle) to stop, usually for these reasons.
12) to cause (an aircraft) to go into a stall or (of an aircraft) to go into a stall.
13) to stick or cause to stick fast, as in mud or snow.
14) (tr) to confine (an animal) in a stall.
;vb.1) to employ delaying tactics towards (someone); be evasive.
2) (intr) sport chiefly US to play or fight below one's best in order to deceive.
;n.3) an evasive move; pretext.
;
thwart
vb.1) to oppose successfully or prevent; frustrate.
2) obsolete to be or move across.
;n.3) nautical.
a) a seat lying across a boat and occupied by an oarsman.
b).
;adj.4) passing or being situated across.
5) archaic perverse or stubborn.
;prep., adv.
6) obsolete across.
;
derive
vb.1) (usually foll by from) to draw or be drawn (from) in source or origin; trace or be traced.
2) (tr) to obtain by reasoning; deduce; infer.
3) (tr) to trace the source or development of.
4) (usually foll by from) to produce or be produced (from) by a chemical reaction.
5) mathematics to obtain (a function) by differentiation.
;
peddle
vb.1) to go from place to place selling (goods, esp small articles).
2) (tr) to sell (illegal drugs, esp narcotics).
3) (tr) to advocate (ideas) persistently or importunately.
4) (intr) archaic to trifle.
;
glucose
n.1) a white crystalline monosaccharide sugar that has several optically active forms, the most abundant being dextrose: a major energy source in metabolism. Formula: C6H12O6.
2) a yellowish syrup (or, after desiccation, a solid) containing dextrose, maltose, and dextrin, obtained by incomplete hydrolysis of starch: used in confectionery, fermentation, etc.
;
fad
n. informal.
1) an intense but short-lived fashion; craze.
2) a personal idiosyncrasy or whim.
;n. biochemistry.
flavin adenine dinucleotide: an ester of riboflavin with ADP that acts as the prosthetic group for many flavoproteins
;
lambaste
<No meaning yet.>
prominence
n.1) the state or quality of being prominent.
2) something that is prominent, such as a protuberance.
3) relative importance or consequence.
4) astronomy an eruption of incandescent gas from the sun's surface that can reach an altitude of several hundred thousand kilometres. Prominences are visible during a total eclipse. When viewed in front of the brighter solar disc, they are called filaments.
;
suffuse
vb. (tr; usually passive).
to spread or flood through or over (something)
;
balmy
adj. balmier, balmiest.
1) (of weather) mild and pleasant.
2) having the qualities of balm; fragrant or soothing.
3) a variant spelling of barmy.
;
tremor
n.1) an involuntary shudder or vibration, as from illness, fear, shock, etc.
2) any trembling or quivering movement.
3) a vibrating or trembling effect, as of sound or light.
4) Also called: earth tremor.
;vb. (intr).
5) to tremble.
;
confide
vb.1) (usually foll by in; when tr, may take a clause as object) to disclose (secret or personal matters) in confidence (to); reveal in private (to).
2) (intr; foll by in) to have complete trust.
3) (tr) to entrust into another's keeping.
;
shatter
vb.1) to break or be broken into many small pieces.
2) (tr) to impair or destroy.
3) (tr) to dumbfound or thoroughly upset.
4) (tr) informal to cause to be tired out or exhausted.
5) an obsolete word for scatter.
;n.6) (usually plural) obsolete or dialect a fragment.
;
onslaught
n.a violent attack
;
hunch
n.1) an intuitive guess or feeling.
2) another word for hump.
3) a lump or large piece.
;vb.4) to bend or draw (oneself or a part of the body) up or together.
5) (intr; usually foll by up) to sit in a hunched position.
;
curt
adj.1) rudely blunt and brief; abrupt.
2) short or concise.
;
tweezer
<No meaning yet.>
dishevel
vb. -els, -elling, -elled or US -els, -eling, -eled.
to disarrange (the hair or clothes) of (someone)
;
