Draco (drei´kou) 1 7th cent. B.C.; Athenian statesman & lawgiver: also Dra´con' (-kän') 2 Astron. a large N constellation containing the north pole of the ecliptic [L: see DRAGON]

Draconian (drэ kou´ni: эn, drei-) •adj. 1 of Draco or the very harsh code of laws attributed to him 2 [sometimes d-] extremely severe or cruel

draconic (drэ kän´ik, drei-) •adj. 1 of or like a dragon 2 [usually D-] draconian [< L draco: see DRAGON]

draff (dræf) •n. refuse or dregs, esp. of malt after brewing [ME draf < ON, akin to Ger dial. treber (pl.), dregs < IE *dhrābh- < base *dher-, dirty, somber > DARK]

draft (dræft, dräft) •n. 1 a) a drawing or pulling, as of a vehicle or load b) the thing, quantity, or load pulled 2 a) a drawing in of a fish net b) the amount of fish caught in one draw 3 a) a taking of liquid into the mouth; drinking b) the amount taken at one drink 4 a) a portion of liquid for drinking; specif., a dose of medicine b) [Colloq.] a portion of beer, ale, etc. drawn from a cask 5 a) a drawing into the lungs, as of air or tobacco smoke b) the amount of air, smoke, etc., drawn in 6 a rough or preliminary sketch of a piece of writing 7 a plan or drawing of a work to be done 8 a current of air, as in a room, heating system, etc. 9 a device for regulating the current of air in a heating system 10 a written order issued by one person, bank, firm, etc., directing the payment of money to another; check 11 a demand or drain made on something 12 a) the choosing or taking of an individual or individuals from a group for some special purpose, esp. for compulsory military service b) the condition of being so taken Æ c) a group of these so taken Æ 13 the demand made by a political party for a person to accept, sometimes reluctantly, a candidacy 14 Commerce a deduction allowed for waste or loss in weight 15 Hydraulics the size of an opening for the flow of water 16 Masonry a narrow strip along the edge or across the face of a stone, serving as a guide in leveling the surface 17 Mech. the taper given to a pattern or die so that the work can be removed easily 18 Naut. the depth of water that a vessel draws, or needs in order to float, esp. when loaded Æ 19 Sports a system by which a league of professional teams allots to each team exclusive rights to specified individuals in a group of new players •vt. 1 to choose or take for some special purpose, as compulsory military service, by drawing from a group Æ 2 to persuade or compel (a person) to become a candidate for public office 3 to draw off or away 4 to make a preliminary sketch of or working plans for •adj. 1 used for pulling loads {draft animals} 2 drawn from a cask on order {draft beer} 3 in a preliminary or rough form {a draft resolution} •vi. Æ to drive very closely behind another vehicle while racing, so as to take advantage of the reduced air resistance behind it on draft ready to be drawn directly from the cask draft´a·ble •adj. draft´er •n. [ME draught, a drawing, pulling, stroke < base of OE dragan, DRAW]

draft board an official board of civilians designated to select qualified persons for compulsory service in the U.S. armed forces

draft dodger Æ a person who avoids or tries to avoid being drafted into the armed forces

draftee (dræft i:´) •n. a person drafted, esp. one drafted for service in the armed forces

draftsman (dræfts´mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. 1 a person who draws plans of structures or machinery 2 a person who draws up legal documents, speeches, etc. 3 an artist skillful in drawing drafts´man·ship' •n.

draftsperson (pør'sэn) •n. DRAFTSMAN (sense 1): used to avoid the masculine implication of draftsman

drafty (dræf´ti:) draft´i·er, draft´i·est •adj. letting in, having, or exposed to a draft or drafts of air draft´i·ly •adv. draft´i·ness •n.

drag (dræg) dragged, drag´ging •vt. 1 to pull or draw with force or effort, esp. along the ground; haul 2 a) to move (oneself) with effort b) to force into some situation, action, etc. 3 to pull a grapnel, net, etc. over the bottom of (a river, lake, etc.) in searching for something; dredge 4 to draw a harrow over (land) 5 to draw (something) out over a period of time; protract tediously or painfully 6 to bring (a subject) into conversation, a piece of writing, etc. unnecessarily or as if by force Æ 7 Baseball to hit (a ball) in executing a drag bunt •vi. 1 to be dragged; be pulled along the ground or other surface; trail 2 to lag behind 3 to be prolonged tediously; move or pass too slowly 4 to search a body of water with a grapnel, net, etc. 5 [Slang] to draw deeply (on a cigarette, pipe, etc.) 6 [Slang] to participate in or as if in a drag race •n. 1 something dragged or pulled along the ground; specif., a) a harrow used for breaking ground b) a heavy sledge, or sled c) a type of private stagecoach of the 19th cent., with seats inside and on top, drawn by four horses 2 a device used to catch and haul up something under water; grapnel, dragnet, etc. 3 a thing that checks motion, as a brake on the wheel of a carriage 4 anything that hinders or obstructs {a drag on his resources} 5 the amount by which anything drags 6 the act of dragging; slow, cumbersome movement Æ 7 [Slang] influence that gains special or undeserved favors; pull Æ 8 [Slang] a) a deep puff of a cigarette, pipe, etc. b) a swallow of liquid Æ 9 [Slang] a dance 10 [Slang] street; road {the main drag} Æ 11 [Slang] DRAG RACE Æ 12 [Slang] a dull or boring person, situation, etc. 13 [Slang] a) clothing of the opposite sex, esp. as worn by a male homosexual b) clothing, esp. clothing typical of a certain country, period, occupation, etc. 14 Aeron. a resisting force exerted on an aircraft parallel to its airstream and opposite in direction to its motion 15 Hunting a) a trail of scent left by an animal b) something dragged over the ground to leave a trail of scent c) a hunt over such a trail (in full, drag hunt) SYN. PULL drag on (or out) to prolong or be prolonged tediously Æ drag one's feet (or heels) [Slang] to act with deliberate slowness or obvious reluctance; be uncooperative [ME draggen < ON draga (or OE dragan): see DRAW]

drag bunt Baseball a bunt made for a base hit without fully facing the pitcher, but while moving toward first base

drag link a link connecting the cranks of two shafts, esp. in steering linkage

drag queen [Slang] a male homosexual who dresses in women's clothing

drag race a race between vehicles to test their acceleration from a complete stop, esp. between specially designed cars on a short, straight course (drag strip) drag´-race', -raced', -rac'ing, •vi.

dragée (dřå zhei´) •n. a sugar-coated candy, nut, or pill [Fr: see DREDGE²]

dragger (dræg´эr) •n. 1 one that drags Æ 2 a fishing vessel that employs a dragnet

draggle (dræg´эl) -gled, -gling •vt. 1 to make wet and dirty by dragging in mud or water •vi. 1 to be or become draggled; trail on the ground 2 to lag behind; straggle [freq. of DRAG]

draggletail (-teil') •n. a slovenly woman, as one with draggled skirts; slattern drag´gle·tailed' •adj.

draggy (dræg´i:) -gi·er, -gi·est •adj. that drags; slow-moving, lethargic, dull, boring, etc.

dragline (dræg´lain') •n. 1 DRAGROPE 2 a machine for excavating

dragnet (dræg´net') •n. 1 a net dragged along the bottom of a river, lake, etc. for catching fish 2 a net for catching small game Æ 3 an organized system or network for gathering in or catching criminals or others wanted by the authorities

dragoman (dræg´э mэn) pl. -mans or -men (-mэn) •n. in the Near East, an interpreter or professional guide for travelers [ME drogeman < OFr < It dragomanno < MGr dragomanos < Ar tarğumān < Aram tūrğemānā < Assyr targūmanu, akin to ragāmu, to speak]

dragon (dræg´эn) •n. 1 a mythical monster, usually represented as a large reptile with wings and claws, breathing out fire and smoke 2 a fierce person; esp., a fiercely watchful female guardian or chaperon 3 [Historical] a) a short musket carried hooked to a soldier's belt b) a soldier armed with such a musket; dragoon 4 [Obs.] a large serpent or snake 5 [Obs.] Bible a word used to translate several Hebrew words now understood to mean serpent, jackal, Old Serpent (Satan), etc. 6 Zool. any of a genus (Draco) of small tree lizards of SE Asia, with winglike membranes used in gliding from tree to tree [D-] the constellation Draco [ME dragoun < OFr dragon < L draco < Gr drakōn, dragon, serpent, lit., the seeing one < derkesthai, to see < IE base *derk-, to see > OIr derc, eye]

dragon tree a tree (Dracaena draco) of the agave native to the Canary Islands, having swordlike foliage and yielding dragon's blood

dragonet (dræg´э nit, dræg'э net´) •n. 1 a small dragon 2 any of a percoid family (Callionymidae) of small, brightly colored, scaleless, tropical reef fishes [ME < OFr, dim. of prec.]

dragonfly (dræg´эn flai') pl. -flies' •n. any of an order (Odonata) or suborder (Anisoptera) of large insects, harmless to people, having narrow, transparent, net-veined wings and feeding mostly on flies, mosquitoes, etc. while in flight: see DAMSELFLY

dragonhead (-hed') •n. any of a genus (Dracocephalum) of plants of the mint family, with dense spikes of white or bluish flowers Also drag´on's-head'

dragon's blood any of several red, resinous substances obtained from various tropical plants and trees, esp. a Malaysian palm tree (Daemonorops draco), and used for coloring varnishes and in photoengraving

dragoon (drэ gu:n´) •n. 1 [Historical] a) orig., a mounted soldier armed with a short musket (called a dragon), capable of fighting on horseback or on foot b) a heavily armed cavalryman 2 a member of a Canadian armored cavalry regiment •vt. 1 [Historical] to harass or persecute by dragoons 2 to force (someone) into doing something; coerce [Fr dragon (see DRAGON): ? so called from their fire-breathing weapons]

dragrope (dræg´roup') •n. 1 a rope for dragging something, as a cannon 2 a rope hung from a balloon or airship for use as a variable ballast or mooring line

dragster (dræg´stэr) •n. HOT ROD (sense 1)

drain (drein) •vt. 1 to draw off (liquid) gradually 2 to draw water or any liquid from gradually so as to dry or empty {to drain swamps} 3 to receive the waters of {the St. Lawrence drains the Great Lakes} 4 to drink all the liquid from (a cup, glass, etc.) 5 to exhaust (strength, emotions, or resources) gradually 6 [Obs.] to filter •vi. 1 to flow off or trickle through gradually 2 to become dry by the drawing or flowing off of liquid 3 to disappear gradually; fade {his courage drained away} 4 to discharge its waters {central Europe drains into the Danube} •n. 1 a channel or pipe for carrying off water, sewage, etc. 2 a draining or exhausting 3 that which gradually exhausts strength, resources, etc. 4 Surgery a tube or other device for drawing off discharge, fluid, etc. from a cavity, wound, etc. down the drain lost in a wasteful, heedless way drain´er •n. [ME dreinen < OE dreahnian, to strain off, lit., to dry out < base of dryge, DRY]

drainage (-ij) •n. 1 the act, process, or method of draining 2 a system of drains; arrangement of pipes, etc. for carrying off waste matter 3 that which is drained off 4 a region of area drained, as by a river

drainage basin the land drained by a river system

drainboard (drein´börd') •n. a wide board or surface, usually grooved and set at a slight angle, used as in a kitchen for draining wet dishes, vegetables, etc.

drainpipe (drein´paip') •n. a pipe used to carry off water, sewage, etc.

Drake (dreik), Sir Francis c. 1540-96; Eng. admiral & buccaneer: 1st Englishman to sail around the world

Drake Passage strait between Cape Horn & the South Shetland Islands: c. 400 mi. (645 km) wide

drake¹ (dreik) •n. a male duck [ME < WGmc *drako, male, as in OHG anutrehho, lit., duck-male]

drake² (dreik) •n. 1 a small cannon of the 17th and 18th cent. 2 MAYFLY (sense 2) 3 [Obs.] a dragon [ME, dragon < OE draca < L draco, DRAGON]

Drakensberg (drä´kэnz børg') mountain range in E South Africa, extending c. 700 mi. (1,130 km) from S Cape Province through Lesotho to SE Transvaal: highest peak, 11,425 ft. (3,482 m): also Drakensberg Mountains (or Range)

dram (dræm) •n. 1 a unit of apothecaries' weight equal to 60 grains or 3.89 grams (¹/8 ounce): symbol, 3 2 a unit of avoirdupois weight equal to 27.34 grains or 1.77 grams (¹/16 ounce) 3 FLUID DRAM 4 a small drink of alcoholic liquor 5 a small amount of anything [ME < OFr dragme < ML dragma < L drachma: see DRACHMA]

dram. pers. dramatis personae

drama (drä´mэ, dræm´э) •n. 1 a literary composition that tells a story, usually of human conflict, by means of dialogue and action, to be performed by actors; play; now often specif., any play that is not a comedy 2 the art or profession of writing, acting, or producing plays 3 plays collectively {Elizabethan drama} 4 a series of events so interesting, vivid, etc. as to resemble those of a play 5 the quality of being dramatic [LL < Gr, an action, drama < dran, to do < IE base *drā-, to work > Latvian darīt, to do]

Dramamine (dræm´э mi:n') trademark for DIMENHYDRINATE •n. [d-] a tablet of this substance

dramatic (drэ mæt´ik) •adj. 1 of or connected with drama 2 a) having the characteristics of a drama, esp. conflict; like a play b) filled with action, emotion, or exciting qualities; vivid, striking, etc. Also [Archaic] dra·mat´i·cal dra·mat´i·cal·ly •adv. [LL dramaticus < Gr dramatikos]

dramatic monologue a poetic monologue which presents a character and a situation solely by means of that character's own words

dramatics (drэ mæt´iks) •n.pl. 1 [usually with sing. v.] the art of performing or producing plays 2 plays performed and produced by amateurs 3 dramatic effect; esp., exaggerated emotionalism

dramatis personae (dræm´э tis pэr sou´ni:, drä´mэ-) the characters in a play, or a list of these [ModL < LL dramatis, gen. of drama, DRAMA + L personae, pl. of persona, character, PERSON]

dramatist (dræm´э tist, drä´mэ-) •n. a playwright [see DRAMA]

dramatization (dræm'э ti zei´shэn, drä´mэ-) •n. 1 the act of dramatizing 2 a dramatized version, as of a novel

dramatize (dræm´э taiz', drä´mэ-) -tized', -tiz'ing •vt. 1 to make into a drama; adapt (a story, events, etc.) for performance on the stage, in a movie, etc. 2 to regard or present (actions, oneself, etc.) as though in a play; give dramatic quality to •vi. 1 to be capable of being dramatized 2 to dramatize oneself [< LL drama (gen. dramatis), DRAMA + -IZE]

dramaturge (dræm´э tørj') •n. 1 a playwright, esp. one associated with a particular theater: also dram´a·tur'gist (-tør'jist) 2 a literary advisor for a theater, who works with playwrights, selects and edits scripts, etc.: also dram´a·turg' (-tørj')

dramaturgy (dræm´э tør'ji:, drä´mэ-) •n. the art of writing plays or producing them dram'a·tur´gic or dram'a·tur´gi·cal •adj. dram'a·tur´gi·cal·ly •adv. [Ger dramaturgie < Gr dramatourgia < dramatourgos, dramatist, orig., contriver < drama (see DRAMA) + ergon, WORK]

dramshop (dræm´shäp') •n. [Archaic] a bar; saloon

Drancy (dřäñ si:´) city in NC France: suburb of Paris: pop. 60,000

drank (dræŋk) •vt., vi. pt. & often colloq. pp. of DRINK

drape (dreip) draped, drap´ing •vt. 1 to cover, hang, or decorate with or as with cloth or clothes in loose folds 2 to arrange (a garment, cloth, etc.) artistically in folds or hangings •vi. to hang or fall in folds, as a garment, cloth, etc. •n. [Fr drap, cloth] 1 cloth hanging in loose folds; esp., drapery; curtain: usually used in pl. 2 the manner in which cloth hangs or is cut to hang, as in a garment [ME drapen, to weave into cloth, drape < OFr draper < drap: see DRAB¹]

Draper (drei´pэr) 1 Henry 1837-82; U.S. astronomer 2 John William 1811-82; U.S. historian & scientist, born in England: father of Henry draper (drei´pэr) •n. 1 orig., a maker of cloth 2 [Brit.] a dealer in cloth and dry goods [ME < OFr drapier: see DRAPE]

drapery (drei´pэr i:) pl. -er·ies •n. 1 [Brit.] DRY GOODS 2 [Brit.] the business of a draper 3 a) hangings, covering, or clothing arranged in loose folds b) an artistic arrangement of such hangings, etc., esp. as represented in sculpture, painting, etc. Æ 4 [pl.] curtains of heavy material [ME & OFr draperie: see DRAPE & -ERY]

drastic (dræs´tik) •adj. acting with force; having a strong or violent effect; severe; harsh; extreme dras´ti·cal·ly •adv. [Gr drastikos, active < dran, to do: see DRAMA]

drat (dræt) •interj. confound! darn! [aphetic < 'od rot < God rot]

dratted (dræt´id) •adj. [Colloq.] confounded; darned [see DRAT]

draught (dræft, dräft) •n., vt., adj. now chiefly Brit. sp. of DRAFT

draughts (dræfts, dräfts) •n.pl. [with sing. v.] [Brit.] the game of checkers

draughtsman (-mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. 1 Brit. sp. of DRAFTSMAN 2 [Brit.] any of the pieces used in playing draughts draughts´man·ship' •n.

draughty (dræf´ti:, dräf´-) draught´i·er, draught´i·est •adj. Brit. sp. of DRAFTY draught´i·ly •adv. draught´i·ness •n.

Drava (drä´vä) river in SC Europe, flowing from the Alps of Austria southeastward through Slovenia & Croatia into the Danube: c. 450 mi. (725 km)

drave (dreiv) •vt., vi. archaic pt. of DRIVE

Dravidian (drэ vid´i: эn) •n. 1 any of a group of intermixed races chiefly in S India and N Sri Lanka 2 the family of non-Indo-European languages spoken by these races, including Tamil, Malayalam, etc. •adj. of the Dravidians or their languages Also Dra·vid´ic [after Sans Drāvida, name of district in southern India]

draw (drö) drew, drawn, draw´ing •vt. I. indicating traction 1 to make move toward one or along with one by or as by exerting force; pull; haul; drag {a horse draws the cart} 2 a) to pull up (a sail, drawbridge, etc.) b) to pull down (a window shade, etc.) c) to pull in (a dragnet, etc.) d) to pull aside or together (a curtain, etc.) e) to pull across, as a violin bow over strings 3 to pull back the bowstring of (an archer's bow) 4 to need (a specified depth of water) to float in: said of a ship 5 Billiards to give backspin to (the cue ball) so that it reverses its direction after it hits the object ball 6 Cricket to deflect (the ball) to the side of the field on which the batsman stands, by a slight turn of the bat 7 Golf to deliberately cause (a ball) to hook slightly II. indicating attraction 1 a) to attract; charm; entice b) to attract (audiences of a specified size or kind) 2 to take (air, smoke, etc.) into the mouth or lungs; breathe in, inhale, etc. 3 to provoke (a person) into speaking, responding, taking action, etc.: usually in the passive 4 to bring forth; elicit {his challenge drew no reply} 5 to bring about as a result; bring on; provoke {to draw the enemy's fire} 6 Med. to cause a flow of (blood, pus, etc.) to some part III. indicating extraction 1 to pull out; take out; remove; extract, as a tooth, cork, weapon, etc. 2 a) to remove (a liquid, etc.) by sucking, draining, distilling, seeping, etc. b) to bring up, as water from a well c) to cause (liquid) to flow from an opening, tap, etc. {to draw a bath, to draw blood} 3 to take out the viscera of; disembowel 4 to get or receive from some source {to draw a good salary} 5 to withdraw (money) held in an account 6 to have accruing to it {savings that draw interest} 7 to write (a check or draft) 8 to reach (a conclusion or inference); deduce 9 to get or pick (a number, straw, prize, etc.) at random, as in a lottery 10 to bring (a contest or game) to a tie 11 Card Games a) to take or get (a card or cards) b) to cause (a card or cards) to be played out {draw your opponent's trump} IV. indicating tension 1 to pull out to its fullest extent; make tense; stretch; extend {to draw a rope tight} 2 to pull out of shape; distort 3 to stretch, flatten, or shape (metal) by die stamping, hammering, etc. 4 to make metal into (wire) by pulling it through holes V. indicating delineation (to pull across paper, etc.) 1 to make (lines, figures, pictures, etc.), as with a pencil, pen, brush, or stylus; diagram 2 to describe in words 3 to make (comparisons, etc.); formulate •vi. 1 to draw something (in various senses of the vt.) 2 to be drawn or have a drawing effect 3 to come; move; approach {to draw nearer} 4 to shrink or contract 5 to allow a draft of air, smoke, etc. to move through {the chimney draws well} 6 to suck (on a tobacco pipe, etc.) 7 to attract audiences 8 to become filled with wind: said of sails 9 to steep: said of tea 10 to make a demand or demands (on or upon) 11 Hunting a) to track game by following its scent b) to move slowly toward the game after pointing (said of hounds) •n. 1 a drawing or being drawn (in various senses) 2 the result of drawing 3 a thing drawn 4 the cards dealt as replacements in draw poker 5 a tie; stalemate {the game ended in a draw} [from, formerly, the withdrawal of stakes in such a case] 6 a thing that attracts interest, audiences, etc. Æ 7 the movable part of a drawbridge 8 a gully or ravine that water drains into or through Æ 9 Football a play in which the quarterback while fading back hands the ball to a running back, who moves into the line SYN. PULL Æ beat to the draw to be quicker than (another) in doing something, as in drawing one's weapon draw and quarter Medieval History 1 to execute by tying each arm and leg to a different horse, and then driving the horses in four different directions 2 to eviscerate and cut into pieces after hanging draw away to move away or ahead draw back to withdraw; retreat draw on (or nigh) to approach draw oneself up 1 to assume a straighter posture; stand or sit straight 2 to bridle draw out 1 to extend; lengthen; prolong 2 to take out; extract 3 to get (a person) to answer or talk draw up 1 to arrange in order; marshal 2 to compose (a document) in proper form; draft 3 to bring or come to a stop 4 to raise one's shoulders and pull one's limbs close to the body; huddle [ME drawen < OE dragan, akin to ON draga, to drag, Ger tragen, to bear, carry < IE base *dherāgh-, to pull, draw along > L trahere, to pull, draw]

draw poker a form of poker in which each player is dealt five cards face down, and may be dealt replacements for any unwanted cards (usually not more than three) Cf. STUD POKER

drawback (drö´bæk') •n. Æ 1 money paid back from a charge previously made; refund, esp. of import duties when the taxed commodities are later exported 2 anything that prevents or lessens full satisfaction; shortcoming

drawbar (-bär') •n. 1 COUPLER (sense a) 2 a bar at the rear of a tractor for attaching a plow, harrow, etc.

drawbore (-bör') •n. a hole bored through a mortise-and-tenon joint so that a pin driven into it will force the tenon more securely into the mortise

drawbridge (-brij') •n. a bridge that can be raised or drawn aside to permit passage of watercraft or prevent access, as to a fort

drawdown (-daun') •n. a lowering of the water level of a well, reservoir, etc., as in supplying industry with water

drawee (drö'i:´) •n. the party that the drawer directs, by means of a bill of exchange, order, draft, etc., to pay money over to a third party (called payee)

drawer (drö´эr; for 5, drör) •n. 1 a person or thing that draws 2 a person who draws liquor, as at a bar 3 a person who draws an order for the payment of money 4 a draftsman 5 a sliding box in a table, bureau, chest, etc., that can be drawn out and then pushed back into place

drawers (drörz) •n.pl. an undergarment, long or short, for the lower part of the body, with a separate opening for each leg; underpants [< DRAW, because drawn on]

drawing (drö´iŋ) •n. 1 the act of one that draws; specif., the art of representing something by lines made on a surface with a pencil, pen, etc. 2 a picture, design, sketch, etc. thus made 3 a lottery

drawing account an account of or for money paid for expenses, advances on salary, etc., as to a salesman

drawing board a flat, smooth board on which paper, canvas, etc. is fastened for making drawings on the drawing board in the planning stage

drawing card an entertainer, speaker, show, etc. that normally can be expected to draw a large audience

drawing room 1 a room where guests are received or entertained; living room or parlor 2 a formal reception Æ 3 a private compartment on a railroad sleeping car, with accommodations for a few people [< withdrawing room: orig. name for room to which guests withdrew after dinner]

drawknife (drö´naif') pl. -knives' (-naivz') a knife with a handle at each end of the blade, which is drawn toward the user in shaving a surface Also drawing knife •n.

drawl (dröl) •vt., vi. to speak slowly, prolonging the vowels •n. a slow manner of speech characterized by prolongation of vowels drawl´er •n. drawl´ing·ly •adv. [prob. freq. of DRAW]

drawn (drön) •vt., vi. pp. of DRAW •adj. 1 pulled out of the sheath 2 with neither side winning or losing; even; tied 3 disemboweled; eviscerated 4 tense; haggard

drawn butter melted butter, sometimes thickened and seasoned, used as a sauce

drawnwork (-wørk') •n. ornamental work done on textiles by pulling out threads to produce a lacelike design

drawplate (drö´pleit') •n. a metal plate with holes through which wire is drawn to get the desired thickness

drawshave (-sheiv') •n. DRAWKNIFE

drawstring (-striŋ') •n. a string drawn through a hem, as in the waist of a garment or mouth of a bag, to tighten or close it by taking up the fullness

drawtube (-tu:b', -tyu:b') •n. a tube sliding within another tube, as in the eyepiece of a microscope

dray (drei) •n. a low, sturdily built cart with detachable sides, for carrying heavy loads •vt. to carry or haul on a dray •vi. to drive a dray [ME dreye, orig., a drag, sled < OE dræge, lit., something drawn, dragnet < dragan, to DRAW]

drayage (-ij) •n. 1 the hauling of a load by dray Æ 2 the charge made for this

drayman (-mэn) pl. -men •n. a person whose work is hauling loads by dray

Drayton (dreit´ªn), Michael 1563-1631; Eng. poet

dread (dred) •vt. 1 to anticipate with anxiety, alarm, or apprehension; fear intensely 2 to face (something disagreeable) with reluctance 3 [Archaic] to regard with awe •vi. [Archaic] to be very fearful •n. 1 intense fear, esp. of something which may happen 2 fear mixed with awe or reverence 3 reluctance and uneasiness 4 something dreaded •adj. 1 dreaded or dreadful 2 inspiring awe or reverence; awesome SYN. FEAR, AWE [ME dreden < Late OE (WS) drædan, aphetic for ondrædan (akin to OS andradan, OHG intraten) < ond-, in, on, against + base < ?]

dreadful (dred´fэl) •adj. 1 inspiring dread; terrible or awesome 2 [Colloq.] very bad, offensive, disagreeable, etc. dread´ful·ness •n. [ME dredeful]

dreadfully (-fэl i:) •adv. 1 in a dreadful manner 2 [Colloq.] very; extremely {dreadfully tired}

dreadlocks (dred´läks') •n.pl. long, thin braids or uncombed, twisted locks of a style worn originally by Rastafarians

dreadnought or dreadnaught (-nöt') •n. 1 a) a coat made of a thick woolen cloth b) the cloth 2 any large, heavily armored battleship with many powerful guns [after Dreadnought, the first of such a class of British battleships, built in 1906]

dream (dri:m) •n. 1 a sequence of sensations, images, thoughts, etc. passing through a sleeping person's mind 2 a fanciful vision of the conscious mind; daydream; fantasy; reverie 3 the state, as of abstraction or reverie, in which such a daydream occurs 4 a fond hope or aspiration 5 anything so lovely, charming, transitory, etc. as to seem dreamlike •vi. dreamed (dri:md, dremt) or dreamt (dremt), dream´ing 1 to have a dream or dreams 2 to have daydreams 3 to think (of) as at all possible, desirable, etc. {I wouldn't dream of going} •vt. 1 a) to have (a dream or dreams) b) to have a dream of 2 to spend in dreaming: with away or out 3 to imagine as possible; fancy; suppose •adj. that realizes one's fondest hopes; ideal {her dream house} dream up [Colloq.] to conceive of or devise, as by giving free rein to the imagination dream´ful •adj. dream´like' •adj. [ME dream, dreme: form < OE dream, joy, music < IE base *dher-, to buzz, hum (> DORBEETLE); sense < ON draumr, akin to Ger traum, Du droom < IE base *dhreugh-, to deceive]

dream world 1 DREAMLAND 2 the realm of fantasy; world as seen by one full of illusions about life

dreamboat (dri:m´bout') •n. [Slang] a person or thing that seems ideal to one or attracts one strongly

dreamer (dri:m´эr) •n. 1 a person who dreams 2 a person given to daydreaming 3 a person who has ideas or schemes considered impractical; visionary

dreamland (-lænd') •n. 1 any lovely but imaginary place, as one seen in a dream 2 sleep

dreamless (-lis) •adj. followed by no memory of having dreamed {a dreamless sleep}

dreamscape (dri:m´skeip') •n. an imaginary, surrealistic, or dreamlike scene or setting, as in a film

dreamy (dri:m´i:) dream´i·er, dream´i·est •adj. 1 filled with dreams 2 fond of daydreaming; given to reverie; visionary; impractical 3 like something in a dream; not sharply defined; misty, vague, etc. 4 having a soft, soothing quality {dreamy music} Æ 5 [Slang] excellent, wonderful, delightful, etc.: a generalized term of approval dream´i·ly •adv. dream´i·ness •n.

drear (drir) •adj. [Old Poet.] dreary; melancholy

dreary (drir´i:) drear´i·er, drear´i·est •adj. 1 gloomy; cheerless; depressing; dismal; dull 2 [Archaic] sad drear´i·ly •adv. drear´i·ness •n. [ME dreri < OE dreorig, sad, orig., bloody, gory < dreor, blood < base of dreosan, to drip < IE base *dhreu-, break off > DRIP, DROWSE]

dreck (drek) •n. [Slang] trash; rubbish Also sp. drek [Yidd drek < Ger dreck, dirt < IE *(s)treg- < base *(s)ter-, unclean matter > L stercus, excrement]

dredge¹ (drej) •n. 1 a device consisting of a net attached to a frame, dragged along the bottom of a river, bay, etc. to gather shellfish, marine plant specimens, etc. 2 an apparatus for scooping or sucking up mud, sand, rocks, etc., as in deepening or clearing channels, harbors, etc. 3 a barge or other boat equipped with a dredge •vt. dredged, dredg´ing 1 to search for or gather (up) with or as with a dredge 2 to enlarge or clean out (a river channel, harbor, etc.) with a dredge •vi. 1 to use a dredge 2 to search as with a dredge dredg´er •n. [prob. < MDu dregge, akin to DRAG]

dredge² (drej) dredged, dredg´ing •vt. 1 to coat (food) with flour or the like, as by sprinkling 2 to sprinkle (flour, etc.) dredg´er •n. [< ME dragge, sweetmeat < OFr dragie < ML dragium, earlier dragetum < L tragemata < Gr tragēmata, pl. of tragēma, dried fruit, dessert < trōgein, to gnaw < IE *trog- < base *ter-, to rub: see THROW]

dree (dri:) dreed, dree´ing •vt. [Now Chiefly Scot.] to endure; suffer •adj. [Now Chiefly Scot.] dreary; tedious [ME drien < OE dreogan < IE *dhereugh < base *dher-, to hold firm: see FIRM¹]

dreggy (dreg´i:) -gi·er, -gi·est •adj. full of, or having the nature of, dregs; foul dreg´gi·ness •n.

dregs (dregz) •n.pl. 1 the particles of solid matter that settle at the bottom in a liquid; lees 2 the most worthless part {the dregs of society} 3 [sing.] a small amount remaining; residue [ME dregges, pl. of dregge < ON dregg, barm, lees < IE *dherēgh, residue: for base see DARK]

dreidel (drei´dªl) •n. 1 a small top with Hebrew letters on each of four sides, spun in a game played by children, esp. during the Jewish festival of Hanuka 2 the game using this top

Dreiser (drai´sэr, -zэr), Theodore (Herman Albert) 1871-1945; U.S. novelist

drench (drench) •vt. 1 to make (a horse, cow, etc.) swallow a medicinal liquid 2 to make wet all over; soak or saturate in liquid •n. 1 a large liquid dose, esp. for a sick animal 2 a drenching or soaking 3 a solution for soaking SYN. SOAK [ME drenchen < OE drencan, to make drink, drown, caus. of drincan, to drink < Gmc *drank-, pret. stem of *drinkan, DRINK + -jan, caus. suffix]

Dresden (drez´dэn) city in E Germany, on the Elbe: capital of the state of Saxony: pop. 520,000 •n. a fine porcelain made near Dresden •adj. designating or of such porcelain

dress (dres) dressed or drest, dress´ing •vt. 1 to put clothes on; clothe 2 to provide with clothing 3 to decorate; trim; adorn 4 to arrange a display in {to dress a store window} 5 to arrange or do up (the hair) 6 to arrange (troops) in a straight line or lines 7 to apply medicines and bandages to (a wound, sore, etc.) 8 to treat as required in preparing for use, grooming, etc.; esp., a) to clean and eviscerate (a fowl, deer, etc.) b) to till, cultivate, or fertilize (fields or plants) c) to curry (a horse, leather, etc.) d) to smooth, finish, shape, etc. (stone, wood, etc.) •vi. 1 to put on clothes; wear clothes 2 to dress in formal clothes 3 to get into a straight line or proper alignment: said of troops •n. 1 clothes, clothing, or apparel, esp. as suitable for certain occasions [casual dress] or for a certain place or time {modern dress} 2 the usual outer garment worn by women, generally of one piece with a skirt 3 formal clothes 4 external covering or appearance •adj. 1 of or for dresses {dress material} 2 worn on formal occasions {a dress suit} 3 requiring formal clothes {a dress occasion} dress down to scold severely; reprimand dress ship to raise the ensign at each masthead and the flagstaff and, often, string signal flags over the mastheads from bow to stern dress up 1 to dress in formal clothes, or in clothes more elegant, showy, etc. than one usually wears 2 to improve the appearance of, as by decorating 3 to arrange in a straight line, as troops [ME dressen, to make straight, direct < OFr drecier, to set up, arrange < VL *directiare < L directus: see DIRECT]

dress circle a section of seats in a theater or concert hall, usually a tier partly encircling and above the orchestra: formal dress was formerly customary there

dress parade a military parade in dress uniform

dress rehearsal a final rehearsal, as of a play or ceremony, performed exactly as it is to take place

dress shield a pad worn at the armpit to protect a garment from perspiration

dress suit a man's formal suit for evening wear

dress uniform a military uniform worn on formal occasions

dressage (dre säzh´) •n. exhibition riding or horsemanship in which the horse is controlled in certain difficult steps and gaits by very slight movements of the rider [Fr, training < dresser, to arrange, train < OFr drecier: see DRESS]

dresser¹ (dres´эr) •n. 1 a person who dresses another; esp., one who helps actors and actresses put on their costumes 2 a person who dresses something, as store windows, leather, wounds, etc. 3 a person who dresses elegantly or in a certain way {a fancy dresser}

dresser² (dres´эr) •n. 1 [Archaic] SIDEBOARD 2 a cupboard for dishes and kitchen utensils Æ 3 a chest of drawers, usually with a mirror [ME dressour < OFr dreceur < drecier, arrange: see DRESS]

dressily (dres´э li:) •adv. in a dressy manner

dressiness (dres´i: nis) •n. the quality of being dressy

dressing (dres´iŋ) •n. 1 the act of one that dresses 2 that which is used to dress something (as manure applied to soil, medicines and bandages applied to wounds, etc.) 3 a substance used to stiffen fabric during manufacture 4 a sauce for salads and other dishes 5 a mixture as of bread and seasoning, used for stuffing roast fowl, etc.

dressing gown a loose robe for wear when one is not fully clothed, as before dressing or when lounging

dressing room a room for getting dressed in; esp., a room backstage where actors dress and put on makeup

dressing table a low table with a mirror, for use while putting on cosmetics, grooming the hair, etc.

dressing-down (dres´iŋ daun´) •n. a sound scolding

dressmaker (dres´mei'kэr) •n. a person who makes women's dresses and other clothes to order Æ adj. designating or of a woman's suit, coat, etc. not cut on severe, mannish lines: cf. TAILORED dress´mak'ing •n.

dressy (dres´i:) dress´i·er, dress´i·est •adj. 1 showy or elaborate in dress or appearance 2 stylish, elegant, smart, etc.

drest (drest) •vt., vi. alt. pt. & pp. of DRESS

drew (dru:) •vt., vi. pt. of DRAW

Dreyfus (drei´fэs, drai´-; Fr, dře füs´), Alfred 1859-1935; Fr. army officer convicted of treason & imprisoned but later exonerated when proved to be the victim of antisemitism & conspiracy

DRG (di:'är ji:´) •n. any of the diagnostic categories in a system of Medicare reimbursement to hospitals: rates are determined by the average cost of treatment, hospital stay, etc. for a specific problem or category [d(iagnostic) r(elated) g(roup)]

drib (drib) dribbed, drib´bing •vi., vt. [Obs.] to fall or let fall, in or as if in driblets dribs and drabs small amounts [< N Eng drib, driblet, droplet + drab for drap, dial. form of DROP] [< DRIP]

dribble (drib´эl) -bled, -bling •vi., vt. 1 to flow, or let flow, in drops or driblets; trickle 2 to come forth or let out a little at a time 3 to let (saliva) drip from the mouth; drool 4 to keep (a ball or puck) in motion or move (it) forward by a rapid succession of bounces (in basketball), short kicks (in soccer), or light taps with a stick (in hockey) •n. 1 a small drop, or a flowing in small drops 2 a very small amount 3 the act of dribbling a ball or puck 4 a drizzling rain drib´bler •n. [freq. of prec.]

driblet (drib´lit) •n. a small amount; bit {to pay one's debts in driblets} [dim. of DRIB]

dried (draid) •vt., vi. pt. & pp. of DRY

driegh (dři:kh) •adj. [Scot.] DREE

drier (drai´эr) •n. 1 a substance added to paint, varnish, etc. to make it dry fast 2 DRYER •adj. compar. of DRY

driest (-ist) •adj. superl. of DRY

drift (drift) •n. 1 an act or instance of being driven or carried along, as by a current of air or water or by circumstances 2 the course on which something is directed or driven 3 the deviation of a ship, airplane, rocket, etc. from its path, caused by side currents or winds 4 a) the velocity of a current of water b) a slow ocean current 5 a) a gradual shifting in position b) a random course, variation, or deviation 6 a gradual movement or change in some direction or toward some end or purpose; trend; tendency 7 general meaning of what is said or done; intent; tenor 8 a) something driven, as rain, snow, or smoke driven before the wind, or floating matter driven by water currents b) a heap of snow, sand, etc. piled up by the wind, or floating matter washed ashore Æ 9 Electronics a deviation or variation of a quantity, as voltage, from its assigned value 10 Geol. sand, gravel, boulders, etc. moved and deposited by a glacier or by water arising from its melting ice 11 Linguis. a gradual change along a certain line of development in the various elements of a language 12 Mech. a) a tool used for ramming or driving down a heavy object b) a tool for enlarging or shaping holes 13 Mining a) a horizontal passageway driven into or along the path of a vein or rock layer b) a small tunnel connecting two larger shafts •vi. 1 to be carried along by or as by a current 2 to be carried along by circumstances; go along aimlessly 3 to wander about from place to place, from job to job, etc. 4 to accumulate in heaps by force of wind or water 5 to become heaped with drifting snow, sand, etc. 6 to move easily or gradually away from a set position Æ 7 [West] to range far afield in a drove, as in seeking pasture or escaping a storm: said of cattle •vt. 1 to cause to drift 2 to cover with drifts SYN. TENDENCY, WASH drift apart to gradually lose interest in or affection for each other drift´er •n. [ME (akin to ON & MDu drift, OHG trift) < OE drifan, DRIVE]

drift anchor SEA ANCHOR

driftage (-ij) •n. 1 the action of something that drifts 2 the deviation caused by drifting 3 that which has drifted or has washed ashore

driftwood (drift´wud') •n. wood drifting in the water, or that has been washed ashore

drifty (drif´ti:) drift´i·er, drift´i·est •adj. having drifts or a tendency to form drifts

drill press a machine tool for drilling holes in metal, etc.

drill¹ (dril) •n. 1 a tool or apparatus for boring holes in wood, metal, stone, teeth, etc. 2 the sound of drilling or boring Æ 3 any of various genera of snails, esp. a saltwater species (Urosalpinx cinerea), that bores through the shells of oysters and other shellfish and consumes their flesh 4 a) military or physical training, esp. of a group, as in marching, the manual of arms, or gymnastic exercises b) a single exercise in such training 5 a) the process of training or teaching by the continued repetition of an exercise b) a single exercise in such training or teaching 6 the method or style of drilling 7 [Brit. Colloq.] the accepted or usual way of doing something •vt. [Du drillen] 1 to bore (a hole) in (something) with or as with a drill 2 to train in military or physical exercise; specif., to exercise (troops) in close-order drill 3 to teach or train by having do repeated exercises 4 to instill (ideas, facts, etc.) into someone by repeated exercises Æ 5 [Colloq.] to hit sharply {she drilled the ball past the pitcher; I drilled him with the ball} Æ 6 [Slang] to penetrate with bullets •vi. 1 to bore a hole or holes 2 to engage in, or be put through, military, physical, or mental exercises SYN. PRACTICE drill´er •n. [Du dril < drillen, to bore, ult. < IE base *ter, to rub (esp. with turning motion) > THROW]

drill² (dril) •n. 1 a furrow in which seeds are planted 2 a row of planted seeds 3 a machine for making holes or furrows, dropping seeds into them, and covering them •vt. 1 to sow (seeds) in rows to improve growth and efficiency 2 to plant (a field) in drills: cf. BROADCAST (vt. 1) [< ?]

drill³ (dril) •n. a coarse linen or cotton cloth with a diagonal weave, used for work clothes, uniforms, etc. [< earlier drilling < Ger drillich < OHG drilich, made of three threads < L trilix (gen. trilicis) < tri-, TRI- + licium, thread]

drill4 (dril) •n. a short-tailed, bright-cheeked monkey (Mandrillus leucophaeus) native to W Africa, resembling the mandrill but smaller [< ? native term]

drilling mud a suspension of fine-grained mineral matter, usually in water, circulated in oil-well drilling to counterbalance the pressure of oil, gas, etc., plug up porous surfaces, etc.

drillmaster (dril´mæs'tэr) •n. 1 an instructor in military drill, esp. in close-order drill 2 a person who teaches by drilling and strict discipline

drillstock (dril´stäk') •n. that part of a drilling machine or tool which holds the shank of a drill or bit; chuck

drily (drai´li:) •adv. DRYLY

drink (driŋk) drank, drunk or •vt. now colloq. drank, drink´ing 1 to take (liquid) into the mouth and swallow it 2 to absorb (liquid or moisture) 3 to swallow the contents of 4 to propose or take part in (a toast) 5 to bring (oneself) into a specified condition by drinking 6 to use (up) or spend by drinking alcoholic liquor •vi. 1 to take liquid into the mouth and swallow it 2 to absorb anything as if in drinking 3 to drink alcoholic liquor, sometimes specif. as a matter of habit or to excess •n. 1 any liquid for drinking; beverage: cf. FOOD (sense 2) 2 alcoholic liquor 3 habitual or excessive use of alcoholic liquor 4 a portion of liquid drunk or for drinking drink deep (of) to take in a large amount (of) by or as by drinking drink in to take in with the senses or the mind, esp. in an eager manner drink to to drink in honor of; drink a toast to Æ the drink [Colloq.] any body of water, esp. the ocean [ME drinken < OE drincan, akin to OHG trinkan, Goth drigkan < ? IE base *dhreG-, to draw > Sans dhrájas-, draft]

drinkable (driŋk´э bэl) •adj. fit for drinking •n. a liquid fit for drinking; beverage: usually used in pl.

drinker (driŋk´эr) •n. 1 a person who drinks 2 a person who drinks alcoholic liquor habitually or excessively

drinking fountain a device for providing a jet or flow of drinking water as in a public place

drinking song a song celebrating the pleasures of drinking alcoholic liquors; song for a drinking party

drip (drip) dripped or dript, drip´ping •vi. 1 to fall in or as in drops 2 to let drops of liquid fall 3 to be so soaked or filled with liquid as to have some trickle down or over •vt. to let fall in drops •n. 1 a falling in drops; trickling 2 moisture or liquid falling in drops 3 the sound made by liquid falling in drops 4 a channel cut on the underside of a sill, cornice, etc. for carrying off rainwater; also, such a sill, cornice, etc. 5 [Slang] a person regarded as unpleasant or insipid 6 Med. a continuous giving of a solution of salt, sugar, etc., esp. intravenously drip´per •n. [ME dryppen < OE dryppan, intens. form (< Gmc *drupjan), akin to dreopan (Ger triefen), to drop, drip < IE *dhreub- < base *dhreu-, to break away > DREARY]

drip grind a fine grind of coffee, for use in filter coffee makers, in which the brew drips through a filter into the serving pot

drip-dry (drip´drai') •adj. designating or of fabrics or garments that dry quickly when hung soaking wet and require little or no ironing •vi. -dried', -dry'ing to launder as a drip-dry fabric does

dripping (drip´iŋ) •adv. so as to drip; thoroughly {dripping wet} •n. 1 a falling of liquid drop by drop 2 [usually pl.] anything that drips, esp. the fat and juices that drip from roasting meat

dripping pan a pan to catch drippings Also drip pan

drippy (drip´i:) -pi·er, -pi·est •adj. 1 characterized by dripping water, rain, etc. {a drippy faucet} 2 [Slang] overly sentimental, stupid, etc.

dripstone (drip´stoun') •n. 1 a DRIP (sense 4) made of stone 2 calcium carbonate, CaCO3, deposited by dripping water in the form of stalactites or stalagmites

dript (dript) •vi., vt. alt. pt. & pp. of DRIP

drive (draiv) drove, driv´en, driv´ing •vt. 1 to force to go; urge onward; push forward 2 to force into or from a state or act {driven mad} 3 to force to work, usually to excess 4 a) to force by or as by a blow, thrust, or stroke b) to throw, hit, or cast hard and swiftly c) Golf to hit from the tee, usually with a driver 5 to cause to go through; make penetrate 6 to make or produce by penetrating {to drive a hole through metal} 7 to control the movement or direct the course of (an automobile, horse and wagon, locomotive, etc.) 8 to transport in an automobile or other vehicle 9 to impel or propel as motive power; set or keep going; cause to function {a gasoline engine drives the motorboat} 10 to carry on with vigor; push (a bargain, etc.) through 11 Hunting a) to chase (game) from thickets into the clear or into nets, traps, etc. b) to cover (an area) in this way •vi. 1 to advance violently; dash 2 to work or try hard, as to reach a goal 3 to drive a blow, ball, missile, etc. 4 to be driven; operate: said of a motor vehicle 5 to go or be conveyed in a vehicle 6 to operate a motor vehicle •n. 1 the act of driving 2 a trip in a vehicle 3 a) a road for automobiles, etc. b) a driveway Æ 4 a) a rounding up or moving of animals on foot for branding, slaughter, etc. b) the animals rounded up or moved 5 a) a hard, swift blow, thrust, etc., as of a ball in a game b) Golf a shot from the tee, usually with a driver Æ 6 a) an organized movement to achieve some purpose; campaign b) a large-scale military offensive to gain an objective c) Football a series of plays that advances the ball toward the opponent's goal, usually resulting in a field goal or touchdown Æ 7 the power or energy to get things done; enthusiastic or aggressive vigor 8 that which is urgent or pressing; pressure Æ 9 a collection of logs being floated down a river to a sawmill 10 a) any apparatus that transmits power in a motor vehicle {a gear drive} b) that arrangement in an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle which allows movement forward at varying speeds 11 a device that communicates motion to a machine or machine part 12 Comput. a unit that reads and writes data on magnetic tape, a disk, etc. 13 Psychol. any of the basic biological impulses or urges, such as self-preservation, hunger, sex, etc. drive at 1 to aim at 2 to mean; intend drive in 1 to force in, as by a blow Æ 2 Baseball to cause (a runner) to score or (a run) to be scored, as by getting a hit let drive to hit or aim [ME driven < OE drifan, akin to Goth dreiban, Ger treiben, ON drīfa < IE base *dhreibh-, to push]

drive shaft a shaft that transmits rotary motion or power, as from the transmission to the rear axle in an automobile

drive-in (draiv´in') •adj. designating or of a restaurant, movie theater, bank, etc. designed to render its services to persons who drive up and remain seated in their cars •n. such a restaurant, theater, etc.

drivel (driv´эl) -eled or -elled, -el·ing or -el·ling •vi. 1 to let saliva flow from one's mouth; drool; slobber 2 to speak in a silly or stupid manner; talk childish nonsense •vt. to say in a silly, stupid, or nonsensical manner •n. 1 [Now Rare] saliva running from the mouth 2 silly, stupid talk; childish nonsense; twaddle driv´el·er or driv´el·ler •n. [ME drivelen < OE dreflian, to slobber, prob. akin to DRAFF]

driven (driv´эn) •vt., vi. pp. of DRIVE •adj. 1 moved along and piled up by the wind {driven snow} 2 having or caused to act or function by a sense of urgency or compulsion {a driven person}

driver (drai´vэr) •n. 1 a person who drives; specif., a) one who drives an automobile, team of horses, etc. b) one who herds cattle 2 a thing that drives; specif., a) a mallet, hammer, etc. b) a golf club with a wooden head and little loft, used in hitting the ball from the tee (also called number 1 wood) c) any machine part that communicates motion to another part the driver's seat the position of control or dominance

driver ant ARMY ANT

drivetrain (draiv´trein') •n. the system that transmits an engine's turning power to the wheels, propeller, etc.

driveway (draiv´wei') •n. a path for cars, leading from a street or road to a garage, house, etc.

driving (drai´viŋ) •adj. 1 transmitting force or motion 2 moving with force and violence {a driving rain} 3 vigorous; energetic {a driving jazz solo} •n. the way one drives an automobile, etc.

driving wheel a wheel that transmits motion, as one of the large wheels of a locomotive which receive power from the engine by means of the connecting rod

drizzle (driz´эl) -zled, -zling •vi., vt. to rain or let fall in fine, mistlike drops •n. a fine, mistlike rain driz´zly •adj. [prob. freq. of ME *drisnen (found only as ger. drisning), to fall as dew, akin to Norw dial. drysja, to drizzle & OE dreosan: see DREARY]

Drogheda (dřö´э dэ) seaport in E Ireland, at the mouth of the Boyne River: captured (1649) by Cromwell, who massacred its Royalist garrison: pop. 23,000

drogue (droug) •n. 1 SEA ANCHOR 2 a funnel-shaped device towed behind an aircraft or spacecraft for its drag effect (also drogue parachute), or as a target, for use in certain refueling operations, etc.: see BALLUTE [prob. altered < Scot drug, dial. var. of DRAG]

droit (droit; Fr dřwä) •n. 1 a legal right 2 that to which one has legal claim [ME < OFr < ML directum, right, justice < L directus: see DIRECT]

droit du seigneur (dřwä dü se nyëř´) 1 an alleged right, reputedly claimed by some feudal lords, to the first night with a vassal's bride 2 any alleged right arrogantly presumed Etymology [Fr, right of the lord]

droll (droul) •adj. amusing in an odd or wry way •n. [Now Rare] a droll person; jester •vi. [Now Rare] to joke; play the jester SYN. FUNNY droll´ness •n. drol´ly •adv. [Fr drôle, orig. n., buffoon, jester < MDu drol, short, stout fellow, lit., bowling pin]

drollery (droul´эr i:) pl. -er·ies •n. 1 a droll act, remark, picture, story, etc. 2 the act of joking 3 a droll quality; quaint or wry humor [Fr drôlerie]

-drome (droum) combining form 1 a track or racecourse {motordrome} 2 a large field or arena {airdrome, hippodrome} [< Gr dromos, running race, racecourse: see DROMEDARY]

dromedary (dräm´э der'i:) pl. -dar'ies •n. an Arabian camel, esp. one trained for fast riding: see CAMEL, illus. [ME dromedarie < OFr dromedaire < LL(Ec) dromedarius (camelus), dromedary (camel) < L dromas, dromedary (+ -arius, -ARY) < Gr dromas, dromos, a runner, running < dramein, to run < IE *drem- < base *drā-, to run > Sans drámati, (he) runs]

-dromous (drэ mэs) combining form running, moving {catadromous} [< Gr -dromos < dramein, to run: see DROMEDARY]

drone¹ (droun) •n. 1 a male bee, as a male honeybee, or ant which serves only in a reproductive capacity, has no sting, and does no work 2 an idle person who lives by the work of others; parasite; loafer 3 a pilotless airplane that is directed in flight by remote control •vi. droned, dron´ing to live in idleness; loaf [ME < OE dran, akin to OS dran, MLowG drone < IE *dhren- < base *dher-, to buzz, hum > DOR(BEETLE)]

drone² (droun) droned, dron´ing •vi. 1 to make a continuous and monotonous humming or buzzing sound 2 to talk on and on in a dull, monotonous way •vt. to utter in a dull, monotonous tone •n. 1 a continuous and monotonous humming or buzzing sound 2 a) a bagpipe b) any of the pipes of fixed tone in a bagpipe 3 a) a bass voice or part, sustaining a single low tone b) such a tone [LME dronen < prec.]

drool (dru:l) •vi. 1 to let saliva flow from one's mouth; drivel 2 to flow from the mouth, as saliva 3 [Slang] to speak in a silly or stupid way 4 [Slang] to be overly enthusiastic, eager, etc. •vt. 1 to let drivel from the mouth 2 [Slang] to say in a silly or stupid way •n. 1 saliva running from the mouth Æ 2 [Slang] silly, stupid talk; nonsense [< DRIVEL]

droop (dru:p) •vi. 1 to sink down; hang or bend down 2 to lose vitality or strength; become weakened; languish 3 to become dejected or dispirited •vt. to let sink or hang down •n. an act or instance of drooping [ME droupen < ON drūpa: for IE base see DRIP]

droopy (dru:´pi:) droop´i·er, droop´i·est •adj. 1 drooping or tending to droop 2 [Colloq.] tired or dejected droop´i·ly •adv. droop´i·ness •n.

drop (dräp) •n. 1 a small quantity of liquid that is somewhat spherical, as when falling 2 a very small quantity of liquid 3 [pl.] liquid medicine taken or applied in drops 4 a very small quantity of anything 5 a thing like a drop in shape or size, as a pendent earring or a small piece of candy 6 the act or fact of dropping; sudden fall, descent, slump, or decrease {a drop in prices} 7 the dropping of troops or supplies by parachute; airdrop 8 anything that drops or is used for dropping or covering something, as a drop curtain or piece of theater scenery, a drop hammer, or a trapdoor 9 a receptacle or slot into which something is dropped 10 the distance between a higher and lower level; distance through which anything falls or sinks Æ 11 [Slang] a) a clandestine place or person that is used for depositing or holding messages, something stolen or illegal, etc. b) a deposit made in such a place or with such a person •vi. dropped or occas. dropt, drop´ping 1 to fall in drops 2 to fall; come down 3 to fall exhausted, wounded, or dead 4 to pass into a specified state, esp. into a less active or less desirable one {to drop off to sleep} 5 to come to an end or to nothing {to let a matter drop} 6 to become lower or less, as temperatures, prices, etc. 7 to move down with a current of water or air •vt. 1 to let or make fall; release hold of 2 to give birth to: said of animals 3 to utter (a suggestion, hint, etc.) casually 4 to send (a letter) 5 to cause to fall, as by wounding, killing, or hitting 6 a) to stop, end, or have done with b) to dismiss 7 to make lower or less; lower or lessen 8 to make (the voice) less loud 9 to drop (troops or supplies) by parachute; airdrop 10 to omit (a letter or sound) in a word 11 [Colloq.] to leave (a person or thing) at a specified place 12 [Slang] a) to lose (money or a game) b) to spend (money) 13 [Slang] to take (a hallucinogenic drug, barbiturate, etc.) orally a drop in the bucket [Colloq.] an insufficient or trifling amount Æ at the drop of a hat immediately; at the slightest provocation drop back 1 to move back; retreat 2 DROP BEHIND drop behind to be outdistanced; fall behind drop in (or over or by) to pay a casual or unexpected visit drop off 1 to become fewer or less; decline; decrease 2 [Colloq.] to fall asleep drop out to stop being a member or participant Æ get (or have) the drop on 1 to draw and aim one's gun at (another) more quickly than the person can draw and aim at one 2 to get (or have) any advantage over [ME drope < OE dropa, akin to ON drūpa, DROOP, Ger triefen: for IE base see DRIP]

drop cookie any of various cookies made from dough which is dropped onto a baking sheet as by teaspoonfuls

drop curtain a theater curtain that is lowered and raised rather than drawn

drop forging a product made by drop-forging

drop hammer 1 a machine for pounding metal into shape, with a heavy weight that is raised and then dropped on the metal 2 this weight

drop kick Rugby, Football a kick in which the ball is dropped and kicked just as it hits the ground drop´-kick' •vt., vi. drop´-kick'er •n.

drop leaf a hinged board attached to the side or end of a table as an extension of the surface: it hangs down when not in use drop´-leaf' •adj.

drop press DROP HAMMER

drop shot 1 shot made by letting molten metal fall in drops to solidify in a container of water below 2 Tennis a shot hit lightly in which the ball drops just over the net with very little bounce

dropcloth (dräp´klöθ') •n. a large piece of cloth, plastic, etc. used to cover floors, furniture, etc. as a protection against dripping paint

drop-forge (-förj') -forged', -forg'ing •vt. to pound or shape (heated metal) between dies with a drop hammer or a press drop´-forg'er •n.

droplet (dräp´lit) •n. a very small drop, esp. of liquid

droplet infection disease spread by dispersion into the air of droplets from an infected respiratory tract, contaminated vaporizer, etc.

droplight (dräp´lait') •n. a light so suspended from a fixture that it can be raised or lowered as desired

drop-off (dräp´öf') •n. 1 a very steep drop 2 a decline or decrease, as in sales, prices, etc.

dropout (dräp´aut') •n. one who drops out; specif., a person who withdraws from school, esp. high school, before graduating

dropper (dräp´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that drops Æ 2 a small glass or plastic tube usually capped by a hollow rubber bulb at one end, used to measure out a liquid in drops

dropping (dräp´iŋ) •n. 1 the act of a person or thing that drops 2 that which drops or falls in drops 3 [pl.] dung of animals

dropsonde (dräp´sänd') •n. a radiosonde dropped by parachute from an aircraft [DROP + (RADIO)SONDE]

dropsy (dräp´si:) •n. old term for EDEMA drop´si·cal (-si kэl) or drop´sied (-si:d) •adj. drop´si·cal·ly •adv. [ME dropesie < ydropesie < OFr idropisie < L hydropisis < Gr hydrōps, dropsy < hydōr, WATER]

dropt (dräpt) •vi., vt. old poet. pt. & pp. of DROP

dropwort (dräp´wørt') •n. a tall plant (Filipendula vulgaris) of the rose family, with fernlike leaves and white or reddish flowers: it resembles the meadowsweet

drosera (dräs´эr э) •n. any of a genus (Drosera) of small plants of the sundew family, having leaves covered with adhesive hairs that trap insects, which are digested by the plant [ModL < Gr droserē, fem. of droseros, dewy < drosos, dew]

droshky (dräsh´ki:) pl. -kies •n. 1 [Historical] a low, open, four-wheeled Russian carriage with a long, narrow bench which the passengers straddled 2 any of various other, usually open, carriages Also dros´ky (dräs´-) Etymology [Russ drozhki, dim. of drogi, wagon < doroga, way < IE base *dherāgh-, DRAW, pull]

drosophila (drou säf´i lэ) pl. -lae' (-li:') •n. any of a genus (Drosophila, family Drosophilidae) of tiny fruit flies used in laboratory experiments in heredity because of their short life cycle, giant chromosomes, and great reproductive capacity [ModL < Gr drosos, dew + phila, fem. of philos, loving]

dross (drös, dräs) •n. 1 a scum formed on the surface of molten metal 2 waste matter; worthless stuff; rubbish dross´i·ness •n. dross´y, dross´i·er, dross´i·est, •adj. [ME & OE dros, dregs, akin to dærst & ON dregg, DREGS]

drought (draut) •n. 1 a prolonged period of dry weather; lack of rain 2 a prolonged or serious shortage or deficiency 3 [Archaic] thirst drought´y, drought´i·er, drought´i·est, •adj. [ME < OE drugoth, dryness < drugian, to dry up; akin to dryge, DRY]

drouth (drauθ, draut) •n. archaic sp. of DROUGHT

drove¹ (drouv) •n. 1 a number of cattle, hogs, sheep, etc. driven or moving along as a group; flock; herd 2 a moving crowd of people: usually used in pl. 3 a) a broad-faced chisel for grooving or dressing stone (also drove chisel) b) a grooved surface made with this chisel (also drove work) •vt., vi. droved, drov´ing to finish (stone) with a drove chisel [ME < OE draf < drifan, DRIVE]

drove² (drouv) •vt., vi. pt. of DRIVE

drover (drou´vэr) •n. a person who herds droves of animals, esp. to market

drown (draun) •vi. to die by suffocation in water or other liquid •vt. 1 to kill by suffocation in water or other liquid 2 a) to cover with water; flood; inundate b) to overwhelm 3 to be so loud as to overcome (another sound): usually with out 4 to cause to disappear; get rid of {to drown one's worries in drink} [ME drounen, prob. < var. of ON drukna, drown, akin to OE druncnian, to become drunk, be drowned < druncen, pp. of drincan, DRINK]

drowse (drauz) drowsed, drows´ing •vi. to sleep lightly; be half asleep; doze •vt. 1 [Rare] to make sleepy or sluggish 2 to spend (time) in drowsing •n. the act or an instance of drowsing; doze Etymology [< OE drusian, to become sluggish < base of dreosan, to drip: see DREARY]

drowsy (drau´zi:) -i·er, -i·est •adj. 1 a) sleepy or half asleep; lethargic b) making drowsy; soporific 2 brought on by sleepiness 3 peacefully quiet or inactive {a drowsy village} SYN. SLEEPY drows´i·ly •adv. drows´i·ness •n.

drub (drûb) drubbed, drub´bing •vt. 1 to beat as with a stick or club; cudgel; thrash 2 to defeat soundly in a fight, contest, etc. •vi. to drum or tap •n. a blow as with a club; thump drub´ber •n. [? via Turk durb < Ar darb, a beating < daraba, to cudgel, bastinado]

drubbing (-iŋ) •n. a thorough beating or defeat

drudge (drûj) •n. a person who does hard, menial, or tedious work •vi. drudged, drudg´ing to do such work [ME druggen, prob. < OE dreogan: see DREE]

drudgery (drûj´эr i:) pl. -er·ies •n. work that is hard, menial, or tiresome [see DRUDGE & -ERY]

drug (drûg) •n. 1 any substance used as a medicine or as an ingredient in a medicine which kills or inactivates germs, or affects any body function or organ 2 [Obs.] any substance used in chemistry, dyeing, etc. 3 a narcotic, hallucinogen, etc., esp. one that is habit-forming •vt. drugged, drug´ging 1 to put a harmful drug in (a food, drink, etc.) 2 to administer a drug to 3 to stupefy with or as with a drug drug on the market a commodity for which there is little or no demand because the supply is so plentiful [ME drogge < OFr drogue < ? LowG drooge (fat), dry (cask), the adj. mistaken as the name of the contents: see DRY]

drug addict a habitual user of narcotics

drugget (drûg´it) •n. 1 a woolen or part-woolen material formerly used for clothing 2 a coarse fabric used as a floor covering, carpet lining, etc. 3 a coarse rug from India made of jute or cotton and hair [Fr droguet, dim. of drogue, stuff, trash < OFr: see DRUG]

druggie (-i:) •n. [Slang] a habitual user of drugs

druggist (drûg´ist) •n. 1 a dealer in drugs, medical equipment, etc. 2 a person authorized to fill prescriptions; pharmacist Æ 3 an owner or manager of a drugstore [Fr droguiste < OFr drogue, DRUG]

druggy (-i:) -gi·er, -gi·est •adj. [Slang] 1 addicted to or under the influence of drugs 2 of or like one in a drugged state •n. pl. -gies [Slang] DRUGGIE

drugstore (drûg´stör') •n. a store where medical prescriptions are filled and drugs and medical supplies are sold: most drugstores now also sell a wide variety of merchandise

druid (dru:´id) •n. [often D-] a member of a Celtic religious order of priests, soothsayers, judges, poets, etc. in ancient Britain, Ireland, and France dru·id·ic (dru: id´ik) or dru·id´i·cal •adj. [Fr druide < L druides, pl. < Celt, as in OIr drūi < IE *dru-wid-, lit., oak-wise (< base *deru-, oak, TREE + *wid-, know, WISE¹)]

druidism (-iz'эm) •n. the religious and philosophic system of the druids

drum major a person who leads a marching band, keeping time with a baton

drum majorette 1 a female drum major 2 a girl or woman who twirls a baton and accompanies a marching band

drum¹ (drûm) •n. 1 a percussion instrument consisting of a hollow cylinder or hemisphere with a membrane stretched tightly over the end or ends, played by beating with the hands, sticks, etc. 2 the sound produced by beating a drum, or any sound like this 3 any of various drumlike cylindrical objects; specif., a) a metal spool or cylinder around which cable, etc. is wound in a machine b) a barrel-like metal container for oil, etc. c) any of the cylindrical blocks making up the shaft of a stone column d) the circular or polygonal wall supporting a dome Æ 4 any of a family (Sciaenidae) of marine and freshwater percoid fishes that make a drumming sound: also called drum´fish' (-fish') 5 Anat. a) MIDDLE EAR b) TYMPANIC MEMBRANE •vi. drummed, drum´ming 1 to beat a drum 2 to beat or tap continually or rhythmically, as with the fingers Æ 3 to make a loud, reverberating sound by quivering the wings: said of the ruffed grouse, etc. •vt. 1 to play (a tune, rhythm, etc.) on or as on a drum 2 to beat or tap continually 3 to assemble by beating a drum 4 to instill (ideas, facts, etc. into) by continued repetition Æ beat the drum for [Colloq.] to seek to arouse interest in or enthusiasm for drum out of 1 orig., to expel from (the army) with drums beating 2 to expel from in disgrace drum up 1 to summon by or as by beating a drum 2 to get (business, etc.) by soliciting [< Du trom, akin to MLowG trumme, drum, OHG trumba, of echoic orig.]

drum² (drûm) •n. [Scot. or Irish] 1 a narrow hill or ridge 2 DRUMLIN [see DRUMLIN]

drumbeat (drûm´bi:t') •n. a sound made by beating a drum

drumbeater (-bi:t'эr) •n. Æ [Colloq.] one who actively publicizes or advocates something, as a press agent drum´beat'ing •n.

drumfire (drûm´fair') •n. heavy and continuous gunfire, thought of as resembling a drumroll

drumhead (-hed') •n. the membrane stretched over the open end or ends of a drum

drumhead court-martial a summary court-martial held in the field for trial of offenses committed during military operations or troop movements [from the former use of a drum as the judges' table]

drumlin (drûm´lin) •n. a long ridge or oval-shaped hill formed of glacial drift [< Ir druim, narrow ridge + -lin, dim. suffix < -LING¹]

drummer (drûm´эr) •n. 1 a drum player 2 any of various fish or insects that make a drumming sound 3 [Colloq.] a traveling salesman [see DRUM¹, phr. drum up]

drumroll (-roul') •n. a rapid succession of light blows on a drum

drumstick (drûm´stik') •n. 1 a stick for beating a drum 2 the lower half of the leg of a cooked fowl

drunk (drûŋk) •vt., vi. pp. & archaic pt. of DRINK •adj. 1 overcome by alcoholic liquor to the point of losing control over one's faculties; intoxicated 2 overcome by any powerful emotion {drunk with joy} 3 [Colloq.] DRUNKEN (sense 2) Usually used in the predicate •n. 1 [Colloq.] a drunken person 2 [Slang] a drinking spree SYN.—drunk is the simple, direct word, usually used in the predicate, for one who is overcome by alcoholic liquor [he is drunk]; drunken, usually used attributively, is equivalent to drunk but sometimes implies habitual, intemperate drinking of liquor [a drunken bum]; intoxicated and inebriated are euphemisms; there are many euphemistic and slang terms in English expressing varying degrees of drunkenness: e.g., tipsy (slight), tight (moderate, but without great loss of muscular coordination), blind drunk (great), blotto (to the point of unconsciousness), etc. —ANT. sober [ME dronke < dronken, DRUNKEN]

drunkard (drûŋk´эrd) •n. a person who often gets drunk; inebriate [DRUNK + -ARD: ? after Du dronkaard]

drunken (drûŋk´эn) •vt., vi. archaic pp. of DRINK •adj. 1 intoxicated or habitually intoxicated; drunk 2 caused by, characterized by, or occurring during intoxication {drunken driving} Used before a noun SYN. DRUNK drunk´en·ly •adv. drunk´en·ness •n. [ME dronken < OE druncen, pp. of drincan, to DRINK]

drunkometer (drûŋk äm´эt эr) •n. a device for testing a sample of exhaled breath to indicate the amount of alcohol in the blood [DRUNK + -O- + -METER]

drupe (dru:p) •n. any fruit with a soft, fleshy part (mesocarp) covered by a skinlike outer layer (exocarp, or epicarp) and surrounding an inner stone (endocarp) that contains the seed, as an apricot, cherry, plum, etc. dru·pa·ceous (dru: pei´shэs) •adj. [ModL drupa < L drupa (oliva), overripe (olive) < Gr druppa (elaa) olive, orig., (olive) ripened on tree, contr. < drupepēs]

drupelet (-lit) •n. a small drupe: a single blackberry consists of many drupelets

druse (dru:z) •n. a crystalline crust, usually quartz, lining the sides of a small rock cavity [Ger < MHG druos, a boil, swelling, gland < OHG, akin to Du droes, goiter]

Druse or Druze (dru:z) •n. a member of a religious sect in Syria and Lebanon: their creed is basically Muslim Dru·si·an (dru:´zi: эn), Dru´zi·an, Dru´se·an, or Dru´ze·an •adj. [Ar Durūz, pl., after Ismail al-Darazī (lit., tailor), the founder (11th c.)]

druthers (drûð´эrz) •n. Æ [Colloq. or Dial.] a choice or preference {if I had my druthers} [contr. < I'd rather, with sound infl. by OTHER]

dry (drai) dri´er, dri´est •adj. 1 not watery; not under water {dry land} 2 having no moisture; not wet or damp 3 not shedding tears 4 lacking rain or water {a dry summer} 5 having lost liquid or moisture; specif., a) arid; withered b) empty of water or other liquid c) dehydrated 6 needing water or drink; thirsty 7 not yielding milk {a dry cow} 8 without butter, jam, etc. on it {dry toast} 9 solid; not liquid 10 not sweet; unsweetened; sec {dry wine} 11 having no mucous or watery discharge {a dry cough} Æ 12 prohibiting or opposed to the manufacture or sale of alcoholic beverages {a dry town} 13 not colored by emotion, prejudice, etc.; plain; matter-of-fact {dry facts} 14 clever and shrewd but ironic or subtle {dry wit} 15 not producing results; unfruitful {a dry interview} 16 boring, dull, or tedious {a dry lecture} 17 [Obs.] without bleeding {a dry death} •n. 1 [Rare] dryness or drought 2 [Rare] dry land Æ 3 pl. drys [Colloq.] a prohibitionist •vt., vi. dried, dry´ing to make or become dry dry out 1 to make or become thoroughly dry 2 [Slang] to withdraw from addiction to alcohol or a narcotic dry up 1 to make or become thoroughly dry; parch or wither 2 to make or become unproductive, uncreative, etc. Æ 3 [Slang] to stop talking not dry behind the ears [Colloq.] immature; inexperienced; naive SYN.—dry suggests a lack or insufficiency of moisture, in either a favorable or unfavorable sense [a dry climate, a dry river bed]; arid implies an abnormal, intense dryness, esp. with reference to a region or climate, and connotes barrenness or lifelessness [an arid waste] —ANT. wet, moist [ME drie < OE dryge, akin to Ger trocken, Du droog < IE *dhereugh-, fast, firm, solid (< base *dher-, to hold out, hold fast > FIRM¹)]

dry battery 1 an electric battery made up of several connected dry cells 2 a dry cell

dry cell a voltaic cell in which the electrolyte is in the form of a paste or is treated with an absorbent so that its contents cannot spill

dry dock a dock from which the water can be emptied, used for building and repairing ships: see FLOATING (DRY) DOCK, illus.

dry farming farming in an almost rainless region without the help of irrigation: it is done by conserving the natural moisture of the soil and by planting crops that can resist drought dry´-farm' •vt., vi. dry farmer

dry fly see FLY² (sense 2)

dry gangrene gangrene in which the involved body part does not become infected, but mummifies

dry goods cloth, cloth products, thread, etc.

dry ice carbon dioxide solidified and compressed into snowlike cakes that vaporize at -78.5°C without passing through a liquid state: used as a refrigerant

dry kiln an enclosed place in which lumber is dried and seasoned by artificial heat

dry measure a system for measuring the volume of dry things such as grain or vegetables, in which 2 pints = 1 quart, 8 quarts = 1 bushel: see MEASURE, table

dry nurse a nurse who takes care of a baby but does not breast-feed it: cf. WET NURSE dry´-nurse', -nursed', -nurs'ing, •vt.

dry rot 1 a fungous decay causing seasoned timber to become brittle and crumble to powder 2 a similar fungous disease of plants, fruits, and vegetables 3 any of various fungi causing such decay 4 any internal moral or social decay, generally resulting from lack of new or progressive influences dry´-rot´, -rot´ted, -rot´ting, •vi., vt.

dry run 1 [Mil. Slang] practice in firing without using live ammunition 2 [Colloq.] a simulated or practice performance; rehearsal

dry socket a tooth socket in which the blood clot either has broken down after extraction of a tooth or has never formed, resulting in delayed and very painful healing

Dry Tortugas (tör tu´gэz) group of small islands of Fla. in the Gulf of Mexico, west of Key West

dry wash a dry stream bed

dryable (drai´э bэl) •adj. that may be dried in a clothes dryer

dryad (drai´æd', -эd) pl. -ads' or -a·des' (-э di:z') •n. [also D-] Gr. & Rom. Myth. any of the nymphs living in trees; wood nymph dry·ad·ic (drai æd´ik) •adj. Etymology [L dryas (gen. dryadis) < Gr < drys, an oak, TREE]

dryasdust (drai´эz dûst') •n. a dull, pedantic person •adj. dull and boring

dry-bulb thermometer (drai´bûlb´) a thermometer that is not covered with a wet cloth: see WET-BULB THERMOMETER

dry-clean (drai´kli:n') •vt. to clean (garments, etc.) with some solvent other than water, as naphtha or carbon tetrachloride dry cleaner dry cleaning

Dryden (draid´ªn), John 1631-1700; Eng. poet, critic, & playwright: poet laureate (1670-88)

dry-dock (drai´däk') •vt., vi. to place or go into a dry dock

dryer (drai´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that dries; specif., a) a frame or rack for drying clothes, etc. b) an apparatus for drying by heating or blowing air, esp. an appliance for drying clothes 2 DRIER

dry-eyed (drai´aid') •adj. not weeping; shedding no tears

drying oil an organic oil that, when applied in a thin film, dries to form a hard but elastic solid: widely used in paints and varnishes

dryly (drai´li:) •adv. in a dry manner; matter-of-factly

dryness (drai´nis) •n. the quality or state of being dry

dryopithecine (drai'ou piθ´э si:n', -sain', -sin) •adj. of or belonging to a genus (Dryopithecus) of fossil apelike animals •n. a dryopithecine ape [< ModL Dryopithecinae, name of the subfamily < Dryopithecus, type genus < Gr drys, TREE + ModL -pithecus, ape (see PITHECANTHROPUS ERECTUS) + -inae, suffix for members of a subfamily < L, fem. pl. of -inus, -INE¹]

drypoint (drai´point') •n. 1 a fine, hard needle for engraving lines on a copper plate without using acid 2 a picture printed from such a plate 3 this way of engraving

dry-salt (drai´sölt') •vt. to salt and dry (meat, etc.) in order to preserve it

drysalter (-эr) •n. [Brit.] a dealer in chemical products, dyes, etc. or, formerly, in dried or salted foods

drysaltery (-эr i:) pl. -er·ies •n. [Brit.] the stock, shop, or trade of a drysalter

dry-shod (drai´shäd') •adj. having dry shoes or feet

drywall (drai´wöl') •n. PLASTERBOARD dry´wall' •adj.

ds Commerce days after sight DS 1 Doctor of Science: also DSc or D.S. or D.Sc. 2 Music (repeat) from this sign: also ds [It dal segno]

DSC Distinguished Service Cross

DSM Distinguished Service Medal

DSO Distinguished Service Order

DST daylight saving time

dt 1 Football defensive tackle 2 delirium tremens 3 double time Dt Bible Deuteronomy DT Football defensive tackle

DTh, DTheol, D.Th., or D.Theol. Doctor of Theology

Du 1 Duke 2 Dutch

du Barry (du: bær´i:; Fr dü bå ři:´), Comtesse (born Marie Jeanne Bécu) c. 1743-93; mistress of Louis XV of France

du Bois (dü bwä´), Guy Pène (gi: pen) 1884-1958; U.S. painter & art critic Du Bois (du: bois´), W(illiam) E(dward) B(urghardt) 1868-1963; U.S. historian, educator, & civil rights leader

du jour (du: zhur´, dyu:; Fr dü zhu:ř´) available or offered on this day {vegetable du jour}

du Maurier (du: mör´i: ei', dyu:-), George (Louis Palmella Busson) 1834-96; Eng. illustrator & novelist, born in France

du Pont (du: pänt´, du:´pänt; dyu:-; Fr dü pouñ´), É·leu·thère I·ré·née (Fr ei lë teř´ i: řei nei´) 1771-1834; U.S. industrialist, born in France

du Vigneaud (du: vi:n´you, dyu:-), Vincent 1901-78; U.S. chemist

duad (du:´æd', dyu:´-) •n. two together; pair; couple

dual (du:´эl, dyu:´-) •adj. 1 of two 2 having or composed of two parts or kinds, like or unlike; double; twofold {a dual nature} •n. Linguis. 1 DUAL NUMBER 2 a word having dual number du·al·i·ty (du: æl´э ti:, dyu:-) •n. du´al·ly •adv. [L dualis < duo, TWO]

dual number a grammatical number category referring to exactly two persons or things: distinguished by inflection, in some languages, as classical Greek and Old English, from singular and plural

dualism (-iz'эm) •n. 1 the state of being dual; duality 2 Philos. the theory that the world is ultimately composed of, or explicable in terms of, two basic entities, as mind and matter 3 Theol. a) the doctrine that there are two mutually antagonistic principles in the universe, good and evil b) the doctrine that man has two natures, physical and spiritual du´al·ist (-ist) •n.

dualistic (du:'эl is´tik, dyu:'-) •adj. 1 of or based on dualism 2 dual du'al·is´ti·cal·ly •adv.

dualize (du:´эl aiz', dyu:´-) -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to make, or consider as, dual

dual-purpose (du:'эl pør´pэs, dyu:'-) •adj. having, or meant to have, two uses

dub¹ (dûb) dubbed, dub´bing •vt. 1 [Obs.] to hit; strike; thrust; poke 2 to confer knighthood on by tapping on the shoulder with a sword 3 a) to confer a title or rank upon b) to call, name, or nickname 4 to make (wood, etc.) smooth, as by hammering or scraping 5 to dress (leather) by rubbing 6 [Slang] to bungle (a golf stroke, etc.) •n. Æ [Slang] a clumsy, unskillful performer or person dub´ber •n. [ME dubben < OE dubbian, to strike (akin to ON dubba, to dub, EFris dubben, push) < IE base *dheubh-, a club, wooden pin > DOWEL]

dub² (dûb) dubbed, dub´bing •vt. 1 to rerecord the sound from (an old recording): distinguished from RE-PRESS 2 to provide with a soundtrack 3 to insert in (a film) a soundtrack with synchronized dialogue in another language •n. 1 dialogue, music, etc. inserted in a soundtrack, as of a motion picture 2 a copy of a recording made for testing the sound or content dub in Film, Radio, TV to insert (dialogue, music, etc.) in the soundtrack dub´ber •n. [contr. < DOUBLE]

dub³ (dûb, dub) •n. [Scot. or North Eng.] a small pool or puddle [prob. < Scand, akin to Norw dobbe, swampy land, MDu doppe, shell, MLowG dobbe, pool: for IE base see DIMPLE]

Dubai (dэ bai´) 1 one of the emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates: 1,500 sq. mi. (3,885 sq. km); pop. 318,000 2 seaport in the United Arab Emirates, on the Persian Gulf: pop. 266,000

dubbin (dûb´in) •n. a greasy preparation for softening and waterproofing leather: also dub´bing (-iŋ, -in) [< dubbing: see DUB¹, vt. 5]

dubiety (du: bai´э ti:, dyu:-) •n. 1 the quality of being dubious; doubtfulness 2 pl. -ties a doubtful thing SYN. UNCERTAINTY [LL dubietas]

dubiosity (du:'bi: äs´э ti:, dyu:'-) pl. -ties •n. vague doubt or uncertainty SYN. UNCERTAINTY

dubious (du:´bi: эs, dyu:´-) •adj. 1 causing doubt; ambiguous; vague {a dubious remark} 2 feeling doubt; hesitating; skeptical 3 with the outcome undecided or hanging in the balance {dubious battle} 4 rousing suspicion; questionable; shady {a dubious character} SYN. DOUBTFUL du´bi·ous·ly •adv. du´bi·ous·ness •n. [L dubiosus, doubtful < dubius, doubting, uncertain < du- < or akin to duo, TWO + IE base *bhu-, *bheu-, to BE]

dubitable (du:´bi tэ bэl, dyu:´-) •adj. that is to be doubted; uncertain du´bi·ta·bly •adv. [L dubitabilis]

Dublin (dûb´lэn) 1 capital of Ireland: seaport on the Irish Sea: pop. 526,000 2 county in E Ireland, on the Irish Sea: 356 sq. mi. (922 sq. km); pop. 1,003,000; county seat, Dublin

Dubrovnik (du:´břôv nik) seaport in S Croatia, on the Adriatic: pop. 33,000

Dubuffet (du´bu fei'), Jean (-Philippe-Arthur) (zhäñ) 1901-85; Fr. painter

Dubuque (dэ byu:k´) city in E Iowa, on the Mississippi: pop. 58,000 [after J. Dubuque (1762-1810), early lead miner]

ducal (du:´kэl, dyu:´-) •adj. of a duke or dukedom du´cal·ly •adv. [OFr < LL ducalis, of a leader < L dux: see DUCT]

ducat (dûk´эt) •n. 1 any of several gold or silver coins formerly used in some European countries 2 [Slang] a piece of money 3 [Slang] a ticket, esp. an admission ticket [ME & OFr < It ducato, ducat, coin bearing image of a duke < LL ducatus: see DUCHY]

duce (du:´che) •n. leader: title (Il Duce) assumed by Benito Mussolini as head of Fascist Italy [It < L dux (gen. ducis): see DUCT]

Duchamp (dü shäñ´), Mar·cel (måř sel´) 1887-1968; U.S. painter, born in France

duchess (dûch´is) •n. 1 the wife or widow of a duke 2 a woman who has the rank of a duke [ME & OFr duchesse, fem. of duc, DUKE]

duchy (dûch´i:) pl. duch´ies •n. the territory ruled by a duke or duchess; dukedom [ME & OFr duchee < LL ducatus, military command, territory of a duke < L dux: see DUCT]

duck hawk Æ PEREGRINE (FALCON)

duck plague an acute, highly fatal disease of ducks caused by a herpes virus

duck soup [Slang] something that is easy to do; cinch

duck¹ (dûk) •n. 1 pl. ducks or duck any of a large number of relatively small waterfowl with a flat bill, short neck and legs, and webbed feet 2 a female duck: opposed to DRAKE¹ 3 the flesh of a duck as food 4 [Colloq., Chiefly Brit.] a darling; dear Æ 5 [Slang] a person, esp. one qualified as being odd, harmless, funny, etc. like water off a duck's back with no effect or reaction [ME doke < OE duce, lit., diver, ducker < base of *ducan, to plunge, dive (see DUCK2); replaces OE ened (akin to Ger ente), common Gmc word for the bird]

duck² (dûk) •vt., vi. 1 to plunge or dip under water for a moment 2 to lower, turn, or bend (the head, body, etc.) suddenly, as in avoiding a blow or in hiding Æ 3 [Colloq.] to avoid (a task, person, etc.) 4 [Slang] to move (in or out) quickly •n. the act of ducking duck´er •n. [ME douken < OE *ducan, to plunge, dive, akin to OHG tūhan (Ger tauchen), MLowG dūken, Du duiken, to dive]

duck³ (dûk) •n. 1 a cotton or linen cloth somewhat like canvas but finer and lighter in weight 2 [pl.] clothes, esp. white trousers, made of this cloth [Du doek, akin to Ger tuch, cloth]

duck4 (dûk) •n. Æ [Mil. Slang] an amphibious motor vehicle used during World War II [altered (infl. by DUCK¹) < DUKW, military code name]

duckbill (dûk´bil') •n. PLATYPUS

duckboard (-börd') •n. a board or boards forming a slightly raised surface or flooring on a muddy road, wet place, etc.: often used in pl.

duckfooted (-fut'id) •adj. 1 having the hind toe pointing forward, as on a duck's foot: said of fowl 2 having the feet turned outward; FLAT-FOOTED (adj. 2) •adv. with the feet turned outward

ducking stool a chair at the end of a plank, in which a culprit was tied and then ducked into water: a form of punishment formerly used, as in New England [altered (infl. by DUCK²) < CUCKING STOOL]

duckling (dûk´liŋ) •n. a young duck [DUCK¹ + -LING¹]

duckpins (dûk´pinz') •n.pl. 1 [with sing. v.] a game like tenpins, played with smaller pins and balls 2 the pins used in this game

ducks and drakes the game of throwing a small, flat stone so that it will skim or skip along the surface of water make ducks and drakes of to deal with recklessly or squander Also play ducks and drakes with

ducktail (-teil') •n. a style of young man's haircut in which the hair is cut long on the sides and swept back so as to resemble a duck's tail: also duck's ass duck´tailed' or duck´-tailed' •adj.

duckwalk (-wök') •vi. to walk in a crouching or squatting position

duckweed (dûk´wi:d') •n. any of a family (Lemnaceae, order Arales) of monocotyledonous, minute flowering plants that float on ponds and sluggish streams and reproduce by a kind of budding: so called because eaten by ducks

ducky (dûk´i:) duck´i·er, duck´i·est •adj. [Slang] pleasing, delightful, darling, etc.: often used ironically [early 19th-c. term of endearment < DUCK¹ + -Y²]

duct (dûkt) •n. 1 a tube, channel, or canal through which a gas or liquid moves 2 a tube in the body for the passage of excretions or secretions {a tear duct, bile duct} 3 a conducting tubule in plant tissues, esp. one containing resin, latex, etc. 4 a pipe or conduit through which wires or cables are run duct´less •adj. [ML ducta, conduit < L ductus, a leading, conducting, pp. of ducere, to lead < IE base *deuk-, to pull > TOW¹, TUG, L dux, leader]

ductile (dûk´tэl) •adj. 1 that can be stretched, drawn, or hammered thin without breaking; not brittle: said of metals 2 easily molded; plastic; pliant 3 easily led; tractable SYN. PLIABLE duc·til·i·ty (dûk til´э ti:) •n. [ME ductil < L ductilis < ductus: see DUCT]

ductless gland an endocrine gland

ductule (dûk´tyu:l') •n. a small duct

dud (dûd) •n. [Colloq.] 1 a bomb or shell that fails to explode 2 a person or thing that fails or is ineffectual •adj. [Colloq.] worthless [prob. < Du dood, dead]

dude (du:d, dyu:d) •n. 1 a man too much concerned with his clothes and appearance; dandy; fop 2 [West Slang] a city fellow or tourist, esp. an Easterner who is vacationing on a ranch 3 [Slang] any man or boy •vt. dud´ed, dud´ing [Slang] 1 to dress up, esp. in showy or flashy clothes 2 to add showy ornamentation to Usually used with up •vi. [Slang] to dress up, esp. in showy or flashy clothes: usually used with up dud´ish •adj. dud´ish·ly •adv. [< ?]

dude ranch a ranch or farm operated as a vacation resort, with horseback riding and similar sports

dudeen (du: di:n´, θu:-) •n. [Irish] a short-stemmed clay tobacco pipe [< Ir dūidīn, a little pipe < dūd, a pipe]

Dudevant (düd väñ´), Baronne see SAND, George

dudgeon¹ (dûj´эn) •n. anger or resentment: now chiefly in the phrase in high dudgeon, very angry, offended, or resentful [16th-c. (take) in dudgeon, also endugine, prob. Anglo-Fr en digeon, with reference to the hand on the dagger hilt: see DUDGEON2]

dudgeon² (dûj´эn) •n. [Obs.] 1 a wood, perhaps boxwood, used for dagger hilts 2 a hilt of this wood or a dagger with such a hilt [ME dogeon < Anglo-Fr digeon]

Dudley (dûd´li:) 1 a masculine name 2 Robert see LEICESTER, Earl of [< the family (earlier place) name, orig. Dudda's lea] Dudley (dûd´li:) city in West Midlands county, WC England, near Birmingham: pop. 187,000

duds (dûdz) •n.pl. [Colloq.] 1 clothes 2 trappings; belongings [ME dudde, cloth, cloak < ?]

due (du:, dyu:) •adj. 1 owed or owing as a debt, right, etc.; payable {the first payment is due} 2 suitable; fitting; proper {with all due respect} 3 as much as is required; enough; adequate {due care, in due time} 4 expected or scheduled to arrive or be ready; timed for a certain hour or date {the plane is due at 6:30 P.M.} •adv. exactly; directly {due west} •n. anything due or owed; specif., a) deserved recognition {to give a man his due} b) [pl.] fees, taxes, or other charges {membership dues} become (or fall) due to become payable as previously arranged Æ due to 1 caused by; resulting from {an omission due to oversight} 2 [Colloq.] because of: widely so used despite objections by some grammarians {the name was omitted due to oversight} Æ pay one's dues [Slang] to earn certain rights, privileges, etc. as by having suffered in struggle [ME < OFr deu, pp. of devoir, to owe < L debere, to owe: see DEBT]

due bill a written acknowledgment of a debt to a person named, but neither payable to that person's order nor transferable by endorsement; often, such an acknowledgment exchangeable for merchandise or services only

due process (of law) the course of legal proceedings established by the legal system of a nation or state to protect individual rights and liberties

duel (du:´эl, dyu:´-) •n. 1 a formal fight between two persons armed with deadly weapons: it is prearranged and witnessed by two others, called seconds, one for each combatant 2 any contest or encounter suggesting such a fight, usually between two persons {a verbal duel} •vi., vt. -eled or -elled, -el·ing or -el·ling to fight a duel with (a person or persons) du´el·ist or du´el·list, du´el·er or du´el·ler n. [ME duelle < ML duellum < OL dvellum (L bellum), war < IE base *dāu-, *deu-, to injure, destroy, burn > Sans dū, pain, OE teona, harm]

duello (du: el´ou, dyu:-) pl. -los •n. 1 the art, rules, or code of dueling 2 [Obs.] a duel [It < ML duellum, DUEL]

duende (dwen´de) •n. a special quality or charm that makes a person irresistibly attractive [Sp, lit., goblin, spirit]

duenna (du: en´э, dyu:-) •n. 1 an elderly woman who has charge of the girls and young unmarried women of a Spanish or Portuguese family 2 a chaperon or governess Etymology [Sp dueña < L domina, mistress: see DAME]

Duero (dwe´řô) Sp. name of DOURO

duet (du: et´, dyu:-) •n. Music 1 a composition for two voices or two instruments 2 the two performers of such a composition [It duetto, dim. of duo, duet < L, TWO]

duff¹ (dûf) •n. 1 a thick flour pudding boiled in a cloth bag or steamed, often containing dried fruit 2 decaying vegetable matter on the ground in a forest 3 coal dust or slack [dial. var. of DOUGH, with ff for ME -gh (see LAUGH), orig. pronounced (kh); senses 2 & 3 < ?]

duff² (dûf) •n. [Slang] the buttocks [< ?]

duffel (or duffle) bag a large, cylindrical cloth bag, esp. of waterproof canvas or duck, for carrying clothing and personal belongings

duffel or duffle (dûf´эl) •n. 1 a coarse woolen cloth with a thick nap Æ 2 clothing and equipment carried by a sportsman, soldier, camper, etc. Æ 3 DUFFEL BAG 4 DUFFLE COAT [Du, after Duffel, town in N Belgium]

duffer (dûf´эr) •n. 1 [Old Slang] a peddler, as of cheap trinkets 2 [Old Slang] anything counterfeit or worthless 3 [Colloq.] a person, now often elderly, who is incompetent, ineffectual, or dawdling 4 [Colloq.] a relatively unskilled golfer [< thieves' slang duff, to counterfeit, fake]

duffle coat a knee-length, hooded coat made of duffel or other wool cloth Also duffel coat

Dufy (dü fi:´), Ra·oul (Ernest Joseph) (řä u:l´) 1877-1953; Fr. painter

dug¹ (dûg) •vt., vi. pt. & pp. of DIG

dug² (dûg) •n. a female animal's nipple, teat, or udder: sometimes used, vulgarly or contemptuously, of a woman's breast [< same base as Dan daegge, to suckle, caus. of die, to suck < IE base *dhē: see FEMALE]

dugong (du:´göŋ') •n. any of a genus (Dugong) of large tropical sirenian mammals that live along the shores of the Indian Ocean and feed mostly on seaweed [ModL < Malay duyong]

dugout (dûg´aut') •n. 1 a boat or canoe hollowed out of a log 2 a shelter, as in warfare, dug in the ground or in a hillside 3 Baseball a covered shelter near the diamond for the players to sit in when not at bat or in the field

Duhamel (dü å mel´), Georges (zhôřzh) 1884-1966; Fr. novelist, poet, & dramatist

DUI (di:'yu:'ai´) •n. a traffic citation issued to a person accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, etc. [d(riving) u(nder the) i(influence)]

duiker (dai´kэr) pl. -kers •n.or -ker any of several small African antelopes (as genera Cephalophus and Sylvicapra) common south of the Sahara [Du duiker, lit., a diver < duiken, to DUCK²]

Duisburg (dyu:s´børg; Ger düs´buřk) city in W Germany, at the junction of the Rhine & Ruhr rivers, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia: pop. 528,000

duke (du:k, dyu:k) •n. 1 a prince who rules an independent duchy 2 a nobleman of the highest hereditary rank below that of prince 3 any of several varieties of cherry created by crossing a sweet cherry with a sour cherry duke´dom (-dэm) •n. [ME duk < OFr duc < L dux, leader < ducere, to lead: see DUCT]

dukes (du:ks, dyu:ks) •n.pl. [Slang] the fists or hands [< duke, short for Duke of York, used in 19th-c. E rhyming slang for fork, hence fingers, hence fist]

Dukhobors (du:´kou börz', duk'э börz´) •n.pl. a pacifistic, nonritualistic, mystical religious sect that separated (1785) from the Eastern Orthodox Church: in the 1890's, many members emigrated to W Canada Also Du·kho·bor·tsy (duk'э bört´si:)

dulcet (dûl´sit) •adj. 1 soothing or pleasant to hear; sweet-sounding; melodious 2 [Archaic] sweet to taste or smell dul´cet·ly •adv. [ME doucet < OFr, dim. of douz, sweet < L dulcis, sweet < ? IE base *dlku-, sweet > Gr glykys]

dulcify (dûl´sэ fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. [Rare] 1 to sweeten 2 to make pleasant or agreeable; mollify [< L dulcis (see DULCET) + -FY]

dulcimer (dûl´sэ mэr) •n. 1 a musical instrument with metal strings, which are struck with two small hammers by the player 2 a long, oval-shaped stringed instrument of the southern Appalachians, played on the lap or a table by plucking with a wooden plectrum or goose quill: also dul´ci·more' (-mör') 3 Bible a musical instrument, variously interpreted to be a harp, bagpipe, etc.: see Dan. 3:5 [ME doucemer < OFr doulcemer < Sp dulcemele < L dulce-melos < dulce, neut. of dulcis, sweet (see DULCET) + melos < Gr, a song, strain]

Dulcinea (dûl'sэ ni:´э, -nei´-) the name given by Don Quixote to a coarse peasant girl whom he imagines to be a beautiful lady and falls in love with [Sp < dulce, sweet < L dulcis: see DULCET]

dulia (du: lai´э, dyu:-) •n. R.C.Ch. veneration given to angels and saints: distinguished from LATRIA [ME < ML < Gr douleia, service < doulos, a slave]

dull (dûl) •adj. 1 mentally slow; stupid 2 lacking sensitivity; blunted in feeling or perception {dull to grief} 3 physically slow; slow-moving; sluggish 4 lacking spirit, zest, etc.; not lively; listless, insipid, etc. 5 not active or busy; slack {a dull period for sales} 6 causing boredom; tedious {a dull party} 7 not pointed or sharp; blunt; not keen {a dull blade} 8 not felt keenly; not acute {a dull headache} 9 a) not vivid; not brilliant; dim {a dull color} b) not shiny or glossy; lusterless {a dull finish} 10 not distinct, resonant, etc.; muffled {a dull thud} 11 gloomy; cloudy {dull weather} •vt., vi. to make or become dull dull´ish •adj. dull´ness or dul´ness •n. dul´ly •adv. SYN.—dull is specifically applied to a point or edge that has lost its previous sharpness [a dull knife] and generally connotes a lack of keenness, zest, spirit, intensity, etc. [a dull book, pain, etc.]; blunt is often equivalent to dull, but specifically refers to a point or edge that is intentionally not sharp [a blunt fencing saber]; obtuse literally applies to a pointed end whose sides form an angle greater than 90°, and figuratively connotes great dullness of understanding or lack of sensitivity [too obtuse to comprehend] see also STUPID —ANT. sharp, keen [ME dul < OE dol, stupid, akin to Ger toll < IE *dh(e)wel- < base *dheu-, blow, be turbid > DUMB, DWELL, OIr dall, blind, Gr thanatos, death]

dullard (dûl´эrd) •n. a stupid person [ME: see DULL & -ARD]

Dulles (dûl´эs), John Foster 1888-1959; U.S. diplomat: secretary of state (1953-59)

dullsville (dûlz´vil') •n. [also D-] [Slang] a person, condition, etc. that is very dull or boring •adj. [also D-] [Slang] very dull, boring, tedious, etc.

dull-witted (dûl´wit'эd) •adj. slow-witted dull´-wit'ted·ly •adv. dull´-wit'ted·ness •n.

dulse (dûls) •n. any of several edible red algae (esp. Rhodymenia palmata) with large, wedge-shaped fronds [Ir & Gael duileasg]

Duluth (dэ lu:θ´) city and port in NE Minn., on Lake Superior: pop. 85,000 [after Daniel G. Du Lhut (or Du Luth), 1636-1710, Fr explorer]

duly (du:´li:, dyu:´-) •adv. in a due manner; specif., a) as due; rightfully b) when due; at the right time c) as required; sufficiently

Duma (du:´mä) •n. the legislative assembly of czarist Russia (1905-17) [Russ < Gmc, as in Goth doms, ON domr, OE dom, judgment: see DOOM¹]

Dumas (dü må´; E du:´mä) 1 Alexandre 1802-70; Fr. novelist & playwright: called Dumas père 2 Alexandre 1824-95; Fr. playwright & novelist: called Dumas fils: son of Dumas père

dumb (dûm) •adj. 1 lacking the power of speech; mute 2 unwilling to talk; silent 3 not accompanied by speech 4 temporarily speechless, as from fear 5 producing no sound 6 lacking some normal part, characteristic, or quality Æ 7 [Colloq.] stupid; moronic [Ger dumm] SYN. VOICELESS dumb´ly •adv. dumb´ness •n. [ME & OE, akin to Ger dumm (Goth dumbs), mute, stupid < nasalized var. of IE *dheubh < base *dheu-: see DULL]

dumb show 1 [Historical] a part of a play done in pantomime 2 gestures without speech

Dumbarton (dûm bär´tªn) city in the Strathclyde region of W Scotland, on the Clyde River: pop. 23,000

dumbbell (dûm´bel') •n. 1 a device usually used in pairs, consisting of round weights joined by a short bar, by which it is lifted or swung about in the hand for muscular exercise Æ 2 [Slang] a stupid person [cf. DUMB, sense 7] [DUMB + BELL¹: from orig. shape]

dumbfound or dumfound (dûm´faund', dûm faund´) •vt. to make speechless by shocking; amaze; astonish SYN. PUZZLE [DUMB + (CON)FOUND]

dumbstruck (dûm´strûk') •adj. so shocked as to be speechless Also dumb´strick'en (-strik'эn)

dumbwaiter (-weit'эr) •n. 1 a small, portable stand for serving food, often with shelves Æ 2 a small elevator for sending food, trash, etc. from one floor to another

dum-dum (dûm´dûm') •n. [Slang] a stupid person; dumbbell

dumdum (bullet) (dûm´dûm') a soft-nosed bullet that expands when it hits, inflicting a large, jagged wound [after Dumdum, arsenal near Calcutta, India < Hindi damdama, hill, fortification]

Dumfries (dûm fri:s´) former county of S Scotland, on Solway Firth: now part of a region called Dumfries and Galloway, 2,500 sq. mi. (6,475 sq. km); pop. 146,000

dummy (dûm´i:) pl. -mies •n. 1 a person unable to talk; mute: an obsolescent term 2 a figure made in human form, as for displaying clothing, practicing tackling in football, etc. 3 an imitation or sham; substitute for the real thing, as an empty container or false drawer 4 a person secretly acting for another while apparently representing his or her own interests 5 [Slang] a stupid person 6 Bridge a) the declarer's partner, whose hand is arranged face up on the table and played by the declarer b) such a hand 7 Printing a) a set of pages with the layout, as for a magazine b) a bound volume with blank pages, used as a model for a planned book •adj. 1 imitation; sham; fictitious 2 secretly acting as a front for another {a dummy corporation} •vi. -mied, -my·ing [Slang] to refuse to talk or tell what one knows: only in the phrase dummy up Etymology [< DUMB + -Y²]

dump truck a truck with a back end that can be tilted backward to dump a load through the opened tailgate

dump¹ (dûmp) •vt. 1 to throw down or out roughly; empty out or unload as in a heap or mass 2 a) to throw away (garbage, rubbish, etc.), esp. in a place set apart for the purpose b) to get rid of in an abrupt, rough, or careless manner 3 to sell (a commodity) in a large quantity at a low price, esp. in a foreign market at a price below that of the domestic market Æ 4 a) to transfer (data in a computer memory) to another section of storage or to another storage medium b) to print out (data in a computer memory) Æ 5 Football to throw (a short pass) into the flat •vi. 1 to fall in a heap or mass 2 to unload rubbish 3 to dump commodities •n. 1 a rubbish pile Æ 2 a place for dumping rubbish, etc. Æ 3 a copy, esp. a printout, of data stored in a computer 4 Mil. a temporary storage center in the field, as for ammunition, food, or clothing Æ 5 [Colloq.] a place that is unpleasant, ugly, run-down, etc. Æ dump on [Slang] to treat with contempt; demean [ME dompen, to plunge, throw down; prob. < ON base akin to Dan dumpe, Swed dompa: for IE base see DEEP]

dump² (dûmp) •n. [Obs.] a sad tune or song (down) in the dumps [Colloq.] in low spirits; depressed [prob. < Du domp, haze, dullness, akin to DAMP]

dumper (dûm´pэr) •n. [Slang] a container into which refuse is dumped

dumpling (dûmp´liŋ) •n. 1 a small piece of dough, steamed or boiled and served with meat or soup 2 a crust of dough filled with fruit and steamed or baked 3 [Colloq.] a short, fat person or animal [< ?]

dumpsite (dûmp´sait') •n. DUMP¹ (n. 2)

Dumpster (dûmp´stэr) trademark for a large metal trash bin, often of a kind that is emptied, or transported to a dump, by a specially equipped truck •n. [d-] such a trash bin

dumpy (dûm´pi:) dump´i·er, dump´i·est •adj. 1 short and thick; squat; stumpy 2 [Colloq.] ugly, run-down, etc. dump´i·ly •adv. dump´i·ness •n. [prob. < DUMP¹]

dumpy level a surveyor's level with a rotating telescope

Dumyat (dum´yät´) Ar. name of DAMIETTA

Dun & Bradstreet (dûn´эn bræd´stri:t') service mark for an agency furnishing subscribers with information as to the financial standing and credit rating of businesses

Dun Laoghaire (dэn ler´э) port in E Ireland, on the Irish Sea, near Dublin: pop. 54,000

dun¹ (dûn) •adj. dull grayish-brown •n. 1 a dull grayish brown 2 a dun horse 3 an artificial fishing fly of this color 4 MAYFLY dun´ness •n. [ME & OE, akin to OS, chestnut-brown, ult. (? via Celt) < IE *dhus-no < base *dhus, dust-colored, mist-gray: see FURY]

dun² (dûn) dunned, dun´ning •vt., vi. 1 to ask (a debtor) insistently or repeatedly for payment 2 to annoy constantly •n. 1 a person who duns 2 an insistent demand, esp. for payment of a debt [? dial. var. of DIN]

Duna (du´nå) Hung. name of DANUBE

Dunai (du:´nai') Russ. name of DANUBE

dunam (dun´эm) •n. in Israel, a unit of land measure equal to 1,000 square meters (about ¼ acre)

Dunant (dü näñ´), Jean Hen·ri (zhäñ äñ ři:´) 1828-1910; Swiss philanthropist: founder of the Red Cross society

Dunǎrea (du:´nэr yä) Romanian name of DANUBE

Dunav (du:´näv') Bulg. name of DANUBE

Dunbar (dûn´bär) 1 Paul Laurence 1872-1906; U.S. poet 2 William 1460-1520; Scot. poet

Dunbarton (dûn bär´tªn) former county of W Scotland, now in Strathclyde region

Duncan (dûŋ´kэn) 1 a masculine name 2 Isadora 1878-1927; U.S. dancer [Gael Donnchadh, lit., brown warrior]

Duncan Phyfe designating or of furniture in a modified Empire and Directoire style designed by Duncan Phyfe

dunce (dûns) •n. 1 a dull, ignorant person 2 a person slow at learning [after John DUNS SCOTUS: his followers, called Dunsmen, Dunses, Dunces, were regarded as foes of Renaissance humanism]

dunce cap a cone-shaped hat that children slow at learning were formerly forced to wear in school

Dundalk (dûn´dök) suburb of Baltimore, in central Md.: pop. 66,000

Dundee (dûn di:´) seaport in E Scotland, on the Firth of Tay: pop. 180,000

dunderhead (dûn´dэr hed') •n. a stupid person; dunce dun´der·head'ed •adj. [< Du donder, thunder, assoc. by rhyme with BLUNDER (see BLUNDERBUSS) + HEAD]

dune (du:n, dyu:n) •n. a rounded hill or ridge of sand heaped up by the action of the wind [Fr < MDu: for IE base see DOWN³]

dune buggy a small, light automobile generally made from a standard, compact, rear-engine chassis and a prefabricated body, often made of fiberglass [so called because orig. equipped with wide, low-pressure tires for driving on sand dunes]

Dunedin (dэ ni:´dªn) city on the SE coast of South Island, New Zealand: pop. (of urban area) 111,000

Dunfermline (dэn førm´lin) city in Fife region, E Scotland, on the Firth of Forth: pop. 52,000

dung (dûŋ) •n. 1 animal excrement; manure 2 filth •vt. to spread or cover with dung, as in fertilizing [ME & OE, prob. identical with dung, a prison, orig., cellar covered with dung for warmth, as in OS dung, OHG tung, cellar where women weave < IE base *dheng-, to cover]

dung beetle any of various scarab beetles that breed in dung and feed on it

dungaree (dûŋ'gэ ri:´, dûŋ´gэ ri:') •n. 1 a coarse cotton fabric, specif. blue denim 2 [pl.] work trousers or overalls made of this cloth [Hindi dungrī]

dungeon (dûn´jэn) •n. 1 DONJON 2 a dark underground cell, vault, or prison •vt. [Rare] to confine in a dungeon [ME dongoun < OFr donjon, prob. < Frank *dungjo, earth-covered cellar for storing fruits: see DUNG]

dunghill (dûŋ´hil') •n. 1 a heap of dung 2 anything vile or filthy

dungy (dûŋ´i:) dung´i·er, dung´i·est •adj. of, like, or soiled with dung; filthy; vile

dunite (dûn´ait', du:n´-) •n. a dense, igneous rock consisting largely of olivine [after Mt. Dun, in New Zealand + -ITE¹]

dunk (dûŋk) •vt. 1 to dip (bread, cake, etc.) into coffee or other liquid before eating it 2 to immerse in a liquid for a short time 3 Basketball to put (the ball) into the basket by means of a dunk shot •n. 1 a dunking; immersion 2 DUNK SHOT [Ger tunken, to steep, dip, soak < OHG dunchôn: for IE base see TINGE]

dunk shot Basketball a shot scoring a field goal that is made by a player who leaps up and thrusts the ball down into the basket

Dunkerque (dëñ keřk´) Fr. name of DUNKIRK

Dunkers (dûŋ´kэrz) •n.pl. a sect of German-American Baptists opposed to military service and the taking of oaths Also called Dunk´ards (-эrdz) but properly called Church of the Brethren [Ger tunker, dipper < tunken (see DUNK): so named from practice of immersion]

Dunkirk (dûn´kэrk) seaport in N France, on the North Sea: scene of the evacuation of over 300,000 Allied troops under fire (1940) as France fell to Germany: pop. 74,000

dunlin (dûn´lin) pl. -lins •n.or -lin a small sandpiper (Calidris alpina) with breeding plumage marked by a reddish back, a black patch on the belly, and a striped breast [< dunling < DUN¹ + -LING¹]

dunnage (dûn´ij) •n. 1 a loose packing of any bulky material put around cargo for protection 2 personal baggage or belongings [ML dennagium < ?]

dunnite (dûn´ait) •n. ammonium picrate, a high explosive, C6H2(NO2)3ONH4, used esp. in armor-piercing shells because of its relative insensitivity to shock [after B. W. Dunn (1860-1936), U.S. army officer + -ITE¹]

Duns Scotus (dûnz skout´эs), John (or Johannes) c. 1265-1308; Scot. scholastic philosopher and theologian: see SCOTISM

Dunsinane (dûn´sэ nein') hill in central Scotland: ruined fortress at its summit is the reputed site of Macbeth's defeat as related in Shakespeare's play

Dunstan (dûn´stэn), Saint (c. A.D. 924-988); Eng. prelate: archbishop of Canterbury (959-988): his day is May 19

duo (du:´ou, dyu:´-) pl. du´os or du´i (-i:) •n. 1 DUET (esp. sense 2) 2 a pair; couple [It]

duo- (du:´ou, -э; dyu:´-) combining form two, double {duologue} [< L duo, TWO]

duodecimal (du:'ou des´э mэl, dyu:'-) •adj. 1 relating to twelve or twelfths 2 consisting of or counting by twelves or powers of twelve •n. 1 one twelfth 2 [pl.] Math. a system of numeration with twelve as its base, rather than ten as in the decimal system [< L duodecim, twelve (< duo, TWO + decem, TEN) + -AL]

duodecimo (-mou') pl. -mos' •n. 1 a page size (about 5 by 7½ in.), ¹/12 of a printer's sheet 2 a book with pages of this size Also called twelvemo, and written 12mo or 12° •adj. with pages of this size [short for L in duodecimo, in twelve: see DUODECIMAL]

duodenal (du:'ou di:´nэl, dyu:'-; du: äd´ªn эl, dyu:-) •adj. in or of the duodenum

duodenum (du:'ou di:´nэm, dyu:'-; du: äd´ªn эm, dyu:-) pl. -de´na (-nэ) •n.or -de´nums the first section of the small intestine, between the stomach and the jejunum [ME < ML < L duodeni, twelve each: its length is about twelve fingers' breadth]

duologue (du:´э lög', dyu:´-) •n. a conversation between two people, esp. in a dramatic performance [DUO- + (MONO)LOGUE]

duomo (dwô´mô) pl. -mi (-mi:) •n. a cathedral [It: see DOME]

duopoly (du: äp´э li:, dyu:-) •n. control of a commodity or service in a given market by only two producers or suppliers [DUO- + (MONO)POLY]

dup duplicate

dupe¹ (du:p, dyu:p) •n. a person easily tricked or fooled •vt. duped, dup´ing to deceive by trickery; fool or cheat [Fr duper < the n.] SYN. CHEAT dup´a·ble •adj. dup´er •n. Etymology [Fr < OFr duppe, cant alteration of L upupa, hoopoe, stupid bird]

dupe² (du:p, dyu:p) •n., vt. DUPLICATE