direction
direction: n.
1 the act or process of directing; supervision.
2 (usu. in pl.) an order or instruction, esp. each of a set guiding use of equipment etc.
3 a the course or line along which a person or thing moves or looks, or which must be taken to reach a destination (sailed in an easterly direction). b (in pl.) guidance on how to reach a destination. c the point to or from which a person or thing moves or looks.
4 the tendency or scope of a theme, subject, or inquiry. direction-finder a device for determining the source of radio waves, esp. as an aid in navigation. directionless adj. [ME f. F direction or L directio (as DIRECT)]

diabetic
diabetic: adj. & n. --adj.
1 of or relating to or having diabetes.
2 for use by diabetics. --n. a person suffering from diabetes.

dictionary
dictionary: n. (pl. -ies.
1 a book that lists (usu. in alphabetical order) and explains the words of a language or gives equivalent words in another language.
2 a reference book on any subject, the items of which are arranged in alphabetical order (dictionary of architecture). [med.L dictionarium (manuale manual) & dictionarius (liber book) f. L dictio (as DICTION)]

demand
demand: n. & v. --n.
1 an insistent and peremptory request, made as of right.
2 Econ. the desire of purchasers or consumers for a commodity (no demand for solid tyres these days).
3 an urgent claim (care of her mother makes demands on her). --v.tr.
1 (often foll. by of, from, or to + infin., or that + clause) ask for (something) insistently and urgently, as of right (demanded to know; demanded five pounds from him; demanded that his wife be present).
2 require or need (a task demanding skill).
3 insist on being told (demanded her business).
4 (as demanding adj.) making demands; requiring skill, effort, etc. (a demanding but worthwhile job). demand feeding the practice of feeding a baby when it cries for a feed rather than at set times. demand not.
1 a written request for payment.
2 US a bill payable at sight. demand pull Econ. available money as a factor causing economic inflation. in demand sought after. on demand as soon as a demand is made (a cheque payable on demand). demandable adj. demander n. demandingly adv. [ME f. OF demande (n.), demander (v.) f. L demandare entrust (as DE-, mandare order: see MANDATE )]

destiny
destiny: n. (pl. -ies.
1 a the predetermined course of events; fate. b this regarded as a power.
2 what is destined to happen to a particular person etc. (it was their destiny to be rejected). [ME f. OF destine f. Rmc, past part. of destinare: see DESTINE]

drunk
drunk: adj. & n. --adj.
1 rendered incapable by alcohol (blind drunk; dead drunk; drunk as a lord).
2 (often foll. by with) overcome or elated with joy, success, power, etc. --n.
1 a habitually drunk person.
2 sl. a drinking-bout; a period of drunkenness. [past part. of DRINK]

diva
diva: n. (pl. divas) a great or famous woman singer; a prima donna. [It. f. L, = goddess]

download
download: v.tr. Computing transfer (data) from one storage device or system to another (esp. smaller remote one).

dentist
dentist: n. a person who is qualified to treat the diseases and conditions that affect the mouth, jaws, teeth, and their supporting tissues, esp. the repair and extraction of teeth and the insertion of artificial ones. dentistry n. [F dentiste f. dent tooth]

deliver
deliver: v.tr.
1 a distribute (letters, parcels, ordered goods, etc.) to the addressee or the purchaser. b (often foll. by to) hand over (delivered the boy safely to his teacher).
2 (often foll. by from) save, rescue, or set free (delivered him from his enemies).
3 a give birth to (delivered a girl). b (in passive; often foll. by of) give birth (was delivered of a child). c assist at the birth of (delivered six babies that week). d assist in giving birth (delivered the patient successfully).
4 a (often refl.) utter or recite (an opinion, a speech, etc.) (delivered himself of the observation; delivered the sermon well). b (of a judge) pronounce (a judgement).
5 (often foll. by up, over) abandon; resign; hand over (delivered his soul up to God).
6 present or render (an account).
7 launch or aim (a blow, a ball, or an attack).
8 Law hand over formally (esp. a sealed deed to a grantee).
9 colloq. = deliver the goods. 10 US cause (voters etc.) to support a candidate. deliver the goods colloq. carry out one's part of an agreement. deliverable adj. deliverer n. [ME f. OF delivrer f. Gallo-Roman (as DE-, LIBERATE)]

dextrorse
dextrorse: adj. rising towards the right, esp. of a spiral stem. [L dextrorsus (as DEXTRO-)]

destruction
destruction: n.
1 the act or an instance of destroying; the process of being destroyed.
2 a cause of ruin; something that destroys (greed was their destruction). [ME f. OF f. L destructio -onis (as DESTROY)]

disease
disease: n.
1 an unhealthy condition of the body (or a part of it) or the mind; illness, sickness.
2 a corresponding physical condition of plants.
3 a particular kind of disease with special symptoms or location. [ME f. OF desaise]

during
during: prep.
1 throughout the course or duration of (read during the meal).
2 at some point in the duration of (came in during the evening). [ME f. OF durant ult. f. L durare last, continue]

darknessdefinition
definition: n.
1 a the act or process of defining. b a statement of the meaning of a word or the nature of a thing.
2 a the degree of distinctness in outline of an object or image (esp. of an image produced by a lens or shown in a photograph or on a cinema or television screen). b making or being distinct in outline. [ME f. OF f. L definitio (as DEFINE)]

digestion
digestion: n.
1 the process of digesting.
2 the capacity to digest food (has a weak digestion).
3 digesting a substance by means of heat, enzymes, or a solvent. [ME f. OF f. L digestio -onis (as DIGEST)]

detective
detective: n. & adj. --n. (often attrib.) a person, esp. a member of a police force, employed to investigate crime. --adj. serving to detect. private detective a usu. freelance detective carrying out investigations for a private employer. [DETECT]

directory
directory: n. (pl. -ies.
1 a book listing alphabetically or thematically a particular group of individuals (e.g. telephone subscribers) or organizations with various details.
2 (Directory) hist. the revolutionary executive of five persons in power in France 1795-9.
3 a book of rules, esp. for the order of private or public worship. [LL directorium (as DIRECT)]

dream
dream: n. & v. --n.
1 a a series of pictures or events in the mind of a sleeping person. b the act or time of seeing this. c (in full waking dream) a similar experience of one awake.
2 a day-dream or fantasy.
3 an ideal, aspiration, or ambition, esp. of a nation.
4 a beautiful or ideal person or thing.
5 a state of mind without proper perception of reality (goes about in a dream). --v. (past and past part. dreamt or dreamed.
1 intr. experience a dream.
2 tr. imagine in or as if in a dream.
3 (usu. with neg.) a intr. (foll. by of) contemplate the possibility of, have any conception or intention of (would not dream of upsetting them). b tr. (often foll. by that + clause) think of as a possibility (never dreamt that he would come).
4 tr. (foll. by away) spend (time) unprofitably.
5 intr. be inactive or unpractical.
6 intr. fall into a reverie. dream-time Austral. the alcheringa. dream up imagine, invent. like a dream colloq. easily, effortlessly. dreamful adj. dreamless adj. dreamlike adj. [ME f. OE dream joy, music]

diversion
diversion: n.
1 a the act of diverting; deviation. b an instance of this.
2 a the diverting of attention deliberately. b a stratagem for this purpose (created a diversion to secure their escape).
3 a recreation or pastime.
4 Brit. an alternative route when a road is temporarily closed to traffic. diversional adj. diversionary adj. [LL diversio (as DIVERT)]

diameter
diameter: n.
1 a a straight line passing from side to side through the centre of a body or figure, esp. a circle or sphere. b the length of this line.
2 a transverse measurement; width, thickness.
3 a unit of linear measurement of magnifying power (a lens magnifying 2000 diameters). diametral adj. [ME f. OF diametre f. L diametrus f. Gk diametros (gramme) (line) measuring across f. metron measure]

dree
dree: v.tr. (drees, dreed, dreeing) Sc. or archaic endure. dree one's weird submit to one's destiny. [OE dreogan f. Gmc]

depression
depression: n.
1 a Psychol. a state of extreme dejection or morbidly excessive melancholy; a mood of hopelessness and feelings of inadequacy, often with physical symptoms. b a reduction in vitality, vigour, or spirits.
2 a a long period of financial and industrial decline; a slump. b (the Depression) the depression of 1929-34.
3 Meteorol. a lowering of atmospheric pressure, esp. the centre of a region of minimum pressure or the system of winds round it.
4 a sunken place or hollow on a surface.
5 a a lowering or sinking (often foll. by of : depression of freezing-point). b pressing down.
6 Astron. & Geog. the angular distance of an object below the horizon or a horizontal plane. [ME f. OF or L depressio (as DE-, premere press- press)]

dolphin
dolphin: n.
1 any of various porpoise-like sea mammals of the family Delphinidae having a slender beaklike snout.
2 (in general use) = DORADO 1.
3 a bollard, pile, or buoy for mooring.
4 a structure for protecting the pier of a bridge.
5 a curved fish in heraldry, sculpture, etc. [ME, also delphin f. L delphinus f. Gk delphis -inos]

description
description: n.
1 a the act or an instance of describing; the process of being described. b a spoken or written representation (of a person, object, or event).
2 a sort, kind, or class (no food of any description). answers (or fits) the description has the qualities specified. [ME f. OF f. L descriptio -onis (as DESCRIBE)]

discreet
discreet: adj. (discreeter, discreetest.
1 a circumspect in speech or action, esp. to avoid social disgrace or embarrassment. b tactful; trustworthy.
2 unobtrusive (a discreet touch of rouge). discreetly adv. discreetness n. [ME f. OF discret -ete f. L discretus separate (as DIS-, cretus past part. of cernere sift), with LL sense f. its derivative discretio discernment]

discount
discount: n. & v. --n.
1 a deduction from a bill or amount due given esp. in consideration of prompt or advance payment or to a special class of buyers.
2 a deduction from the amount of a bill of exchange etc. by a person who gives value for it before it is due.
3 the act or an instance of discounting. --v.tr.
1 disregard as being unreliable or unimportant (discounted his story).
2 reduce the effect of (an event etc.) by previous action.
3 detract from; lessen; deduct (esp. an amount from a bill etc.).
4 give or get the present worth of (a bill not yet due). at a discoun.
1 below the nominal or usual price (cf. PREMIUM).
2 not in demand; depreciated. discount hous.
1 Brit. a firm that discounts bills.
2 US = discount store. discount rate US the minimum lending rate. discount store esp. US a shop etc. that sells goods at less than the normal retail price. discountable adj. discounter n. [obs. F descompte, -conte, descompter or It. (di)scontare (as DIS-, COUNT(1))]

divorce
divorce: n. & v. --n.
1 a the legal dissolution of a marriage. b a legal decree of this.
2 a severance or separation (a divorce between thought and feeling). --v.
1 a tr. (usu. as divorced adj.) (often foll. by from) legally dissolve the marriage of (a divorced couple; he wants to get divorced from her). b intr. separate by divorce (they divorced last year). c tr. end one's marriage with (divorced him for neglect).
2 tr. (often foll. by from) detach, separate (divorced from reality).
3 tr. archaic dissolve (a union). divorcement n. [ME f. OF divorce (n.), divorcer (v.) f. LL divortiare f. L divortium f. divortere (as DI-(2), vertere turn)]

distinct
distinct: adj.
1 (often foll. by from) a not identical; separate; individual. b different in kind or quality; unlike.
2 a clearly perceptible; plain. b clearly understandable; definite.
3 unmistakable, decided (had a distinct impression of being watched). distinctly adv. distinctness n. [ME f. L distinctus past part. of distinguere DISTINGUISH]

differential
differential: adj. & n. --adj.
1 a of, exhibiting, or depending on a difference. b varying according to circumstances.
2 Math. relating to infinitesimal differences.
3 constituting a specific difference; distinctive; relating to specific differences (differential diagnosis).
4 Physics & Mech. concerning the difference of two or more motions, pressures, etc. --n.
1 a difference between individuals or examples of the same kind.
2 Brit. a difference in wage or salary between industries or categories of employees in the same industry.
3 a difference between rates of interest etc.
4 Math. a an infinitesimal difference between successive values of a variable. b a function expressing this as a rate of change with respect to another variable.
5 (in full differential gear) a gear allowing a vehicle's driven wheels to revolve at different speeds in cornering. differential calculus Math. a method of calculating rates of change, maximum or minimum values, etc. (cf. INTEGRAL). differential coefficient Math. = DERIVATIVE. differential equation Math. an equation involving differentials among its quantities. differentially adv. [med. & mod.L differentialis (as DIFFERENCE)]

dinosaur
dinosaur: n.
1 an extinct reptile of the Mesozoic era, often of enormous size.
2 a large unwieldy system or organization, esp. one not adapting to new conditions. dinosaurian adj. & n. [mod.L dinosaurus f. Gk deinos terrible + sauros lizard]

device
device: n.
1 a thing made or adapted for a particular purpose, esp. a mechanical contrivance.
2 a plan, scheme, or trick.
3 a an emblematic or heraldic design. b a drawing or design.
4 archaic make, look (things of rare device). leave a person to his or her own devices leave a person to do as he or she wishes. [ME f. OF devis ult. f. L (as DIVIDE)]

degree
degree: n.
1 a stage in an ascending or descending scale, series, or process.
2 a stage in intensity or amount (to a high degree; in some degree).
3 relative condition (each is good in its degree).
4 Math. a unit of measurement of angles, one-ninetieth of a right angle or the angle subtended by one-three-hundred-and-sixtieth of the circumference of a circle. Symb.: (as in 45).
5 Physics a unit in a scale of temperature, hardness, etc. Abbr.: deg. (or omitted in the Kelvin scale of temperature).
6 Med. an extent of burns on a scale characterized by the destruction of the skin.
7 an academic rank conferred by a college or university after examination or after completion of a course, or conferred as an honour on a distinguished person.
8 a grade of crime or criminality (murder in the first degree).
9 a step in direct genealogical descent. 10 social or official rank. 11 Math. the highest power of unknowns or variables in an equation etc. (equation of the third degree). 12 a masonic rank. 13 a thing placed like a step in a series; a tier or row. 14 Mus. the classification of a note by its position in the scale. by degrees a little at a time; gradually. degree of freedo.
1 Physics the independent direction in which motion can occur.
2 Chem. the number of independent factors required to specify a system at equilibrium.
3 Statistics the number of independent values or quantities which can be assigned to a statistical distribution. degrees of comparison see COMPARISON . forbidden (or prohibited) degrees a number of degrees of descent too few to allow of marriage between two related persons. to a degree colloq. considerably. degreeless adj. [ME f. OF degr f. Rmc (as DE-, L gradus step)]

discrimination
discrimination: n.
1 unfavourable treatment based on prejudice, esp. regarding race, colour, or sex.
2 good taste or judgement in artistic matters etc.
3 the power of discriminating or observing differences.
4 a distinction made with the mind or in action.

dental
dental: adj.
1 of the teeth; of or relating to dentistry.
2 Phonet. (of a consonant) produced with the tongue-tip against the upper front teeth (as th) or the ridge of the teeth (as n, s, t). dental floss a thread of floss silk etc. used to clean between the teeth. dental mechanic a person who makes and repairs artificial teeth. dental surgeon a dentist. dentalize v.tr. (also -ise). [LL dentalis f. L dens dentis tooth]

driver
driver: n.
1 (often in comb.) a person who drives a vehicle (bus-driver; engine-driver).
2 Golf a club with a flat face and wooden head, used for driving from the tee.
3 Electr. a device or part of a circuit providing power for output.
4 Mech. a wheel etc. receiving power directly and transmitting motion to other parts. in the driver's seat in charge. driverless adj.

democrat
democrat: n.
1 an advocate of democracy.
2 (Democrat) (in the US) a member of the Democratic Party. democratism n. [F dmocrate (as DEMOCRACY), after aristocrate]

dachshund
dachshund: n.
1 a dog of a short-legged long-bodied breed.
2 this breed. [G, = badger-dog]

diagram
diagram: n. & v. --n.
1 a drawing showing the general scheme or outline of an object and its parts.
2 a graphic representation of the course or results of an action or process.
3 Geom. a figure made of lines used in proving a theorem etc. --v.tr. (diagrammed, diagramming; US diagramed, diagraming) represent by means of a diagram. diagrammatic adj. diagrammatically adv. [L diagramma f. Gk (as DIA-, -GRAM)]

democracy
democracy: n. (pl. -ies.
1 a a system of government by the whole population, usu. through elected representatives. b a State so governed. c any organization governed on democratic principles.
2 a classless and tolerant form of society.
3 US a the principles of the Democratic Party. b its members. [F dmocratie f. LL democratia f. Gk demokratia f. demos the people + -CRACY]

discharge
discharge: v. & n. --v.
1 tr. a let go, release, esp. from a duty, commitment, or period of confinement. b relieve (a bankrupt) of residual liability.
2 tr. dismiss from office, employment, army commission, etc.
3 tr. a fire (a gun etc.). b (of a gun etc.) fire (a bullet etc.).
4 a tr. (also absol.) pour out or cause to pour out (pus, liquid, etc.) (the wound was discharging). b tr. throw; eject (discharged a stone at the cat). c tr. utter (abuse etc.). d intr. (foll. by into) (of a river etc.) flow into (esp. the sea).
5 tr. a carry out, perform (a duty or obligation). b relieve oneself of (a financial commitment) (discharged his debt).
6 tr. Law cancel (an order of court).
7 tr. Physics release an electrical charge from.
8 tr. a relieve (a ship etc.) of its cargo. b unload (a cargo) from a ship. --n.
1 the act or an instance of discharging; the process of being discharged.
2 a dismissal, esp. from the armed services.
3 a a release, exemption, acquittal, etc. b a written certificate of release etc.
4 an act of firing a gun etc.
5 a an emission (of pus, liquid, etc.). b the liquid or matter so discharged.
6 (usu. foll. by of) a the payment (of a debt). b the performance (of a duty etc.).
7 Physics a the release of a quantity of electric charge from an object. b a flow of electricity through the air or other gas esp. when accompanied by the emission of light. c the conversion of chemical energy in a cell into electrical energy.
8 the unloading (of a ship or a cargo). dischargeable adj. discharger n. (in sens.
7 of v.). [ME f. OF descharger (as DIS-, CHARGE)]

disability
disability: n. (pl. -ies.
1 physical incapacity, either congenital or caused by injury, disease, etc.
2 a lack of some asset, quality, or attribute, that prevents one's doing something.
3 a legal disqualification.

develop
develop: v. (developed, developing.
1 tr. & intr. a make or become bigger or fuller or more elaborate or systematic (the new town developed rapidly). b bring or come to an active or visible state or to maturity (developed a plan of action).
2 tr. begin to exhibit or suffer from (developed a rattle).
3 tr. a construct new buildings on (land). b convert (land) to a new purpose so as to use its resources more fully.
4 tr. treat (photographic film etc.) to make the latent image visible.
5 tr. Mus. elaborate (a theme) by modification of the melody, harmony, rhythm, etc.
6 tr. Chess bring (a piece) into position for effective use. developing country a poor or primitive country that is developing better economic and social conditions. developer n. [F dvelopper f. Rmc (as DIS-, orig. of second element unknown)]

drawing
drawing: n.
1 a the art of representing by line. b delineation without colour or with a single colour. c the art of representing with pencils, pens, crayons, etc., rather than paint.
2 a picture produced in this way. drawing-board a board for spreading drawing-paper on. drawing-paper stout paper for drawing pictures etc. on. drawing-pin Brit. a flat-headed pin for fastening paper etc. (orig. drawing-paper) to a surface. out of drawing incorrectly depicted.

door
door: n.
1 a a hinged, sliding, or revolving barrier for closing and opening an entrance to a building, room, cupboard, etc. b this as representing a house etc. (lives two doors away).
2 a an entrance or exit; a doorway. b a means of access or approach. close the door to exclude the opportunity for. door-case (or -frame) the structure into which a door is fitted. door-head the upper part of a door-case. door-keeper = DOORMAN. door-plate a plate on the door of a house or room bearing the name of the occupant. door-to-door (of selling etc.) done at each house in turn. lay (or lie) at the door of impute (or be imputable) to. leave the door open ensure that an option remains available. next door in or to the next house or room. next door t.
1 in the next house to.
2 nearly, almost, near to. open the door to create an opportunity for. out of doors in or into the open air. doored adj. (also in comb.). [OE duru, dor f. Gmc]

dharma
dharma: n. Ind.
1 social custom; the right behaviour.
2 the Buddhist truth.
3 the Hindu social or moral law. [Skr., = decree, custom]

diamondback
diamondback: n.
1 an edible freshwater terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin, native to N. America, with lozenge-shaped markings on its shell.
2 any rattlesnake of the genus Crotalus, native to N. America, with diamond-shaped markings.

distiller
distiller: n. a person who distils, esp. a manufacturer of alcoholic liquor.

double
double: adj., adv., n., & v. --adj.
1 a consisting of two usu. equal parts or things; twofold. b consisting of two identical parts.
2 twice as much or many (double the amount; double the number; double thickness).
3 having twice the usual size, quantity, strength, etc. (double whisky).
4 designed for two people (double bed).
5 a having some part double. b (of a flower) having more than one circle of petals. c (of a domino) having the same number of pips on each half.
6 having two different roles or interpretations, esp. implying confusion or deceit (double meaning; leads a double life).
7 Mus. lower in pitch by an octave (double bassoon). --adv.
1 at or to twice the amount etc. (counts double).
2 two together (sleep double). --n.
1 a a double quantity or thing; twice as much or many. b colloq. a double measure of spirits.
2 a a counterpart of a person or thing; a person who looks exactly like another. b an understudy. c a wraith.
3 (in pl.) Sport (in lawn tennis) a game between two pairs of players.
4 Sport a pair of victories over the same team, a pair of championships at the same game, etc.
5 a system of betting in which the winnings and stake from the first bet are transferred to a second.
6 Bridge the doubling of an opponent's bid.
7 Darts a hit on the narrow ring enclosed by the two outer circles of a dartboard, scoring double.
8 a sharp turn, esp. of the tracks of a hunted animal, or the course of a river. --v.
1 tr. & intr. make or become twice as much or many; increase twofold; multiply by two.
2 tr. amount to twice as much as.
3 a tr. fold or bend (paper, cloth, etc.) over on itself. b intr. become folded.
4 a tr. (of an actor) play (two parts) in the same piece. b intr. (often foll. by for) be understudy etc.
5 intr. (usu. foll. by as) play a twofold role.
6 intr. turn sharply in flight or pursuit; take a tortuous course.
7 tr. Naut. sail round (a headland).
8 tr. Bridge make a call increasing the value of the points to be won or lost on (an opponent's bid).
9 Mus. a intr. (often foll. by on) play two or more musical instruments (the clarinettist doubles on tenor sax). b tr. add the same note in a higher or lower octave to (a note). 10 tr. clench (a fist). 11 intr. move at twice the usual speed; run. 12 Billiards a intr. rebound. b tr. cause to rebound. at the double running, hurrying. bent double folded, stooping. double acrostic see ACROSTIC . double agent one who spies simultaneously for two rival countries etc. double axe an axe with two blades. double back take a new direction opposite to the previous one. double-bankin.
1 double-parking.
2 Austral. & NZ riding two on a horse etc. double-barrelle.
1 (of a gun) having two barrels.
2 Brit. (of a surname) having two parts joined by a hyphen.
3 twofold. double-bas.
1 the largest and lowest-pitched instrument of the violin family.
2 its player. double bill a programme with two principal items. double bind a dilemma. double-blind adj. (of a test or experiment) in which neither the tester nor the subject has knowledge of identities etc. that might lead to bias. --n. such a test or experiment. double bluff an action or statement intended to appear as a bluff, but in fact genuine. double boiler a saucepan with a detachable upper compartment heated by boiling water in the lower one. double bond Chem. a pair of bonds between two atoms in a molecule. double-book accept two reservations simultaneously for (the same seat, room, etc.). double-breasted (of a coat etc.) having two fronts overlapping across the body. double-check verify twice or in two ways. double chin a chin with a fold of loose flesh below it. double-chinned having a double chin. double concerto a concerto for two solo instruments. double cream thick cream with a high fat-content. double-cross v.tr. deceive or betray (a person one is supposedly helping). --n. an act of doing this. double-crosser a person who double-crosses. double dagger Printing = double obelus. double-dealer a deceiver. double-dealing n. deceit, esp. in business. --adj. deceitful; practising deceit. double-decke.
1 esp. Brit. a bus having an upper and lower deck.
2 colloq. anything consisting of two layers. double-declutch see DECLUTCH . double decomposition Chem. a chemical reaction involving exchange of radicals between two reactants: also called METATHESIS. double density Computing designating a storage device, esp. a disk, having twice the basic capacity. double dummy Bridge play with two hands exposed, allowing every card to be located. double Dutch Brit. colloq. incomprehensible talk. double-dyed deeply affected with guilt. double eagl.
1 a figure of a two-headed eagle.
2 US Golf = ALBATROSS.
3 US a coin worth twenty dollars. double-edge.
1 having two functions or (often contradictory) applications.
2 (of a knife etc.) having two cutting-edges. double entry a system of bookkeeping in which each transaction is entered as a debit in one account and a credit in another. double exposure Photog. the accidental or deliberate repeated exposure of a plate, film, etc. double-face.
1 insincere.
2 (of a fabric or material) finished on both sides so that either may be used as the right side. double fault (in lawn tennis) two consecutive faults in serving. double feature a cinema programme with two full-length films. double figures the numbers from 10 to 99. double first Brit.
1 first-class honours in two subjects or examinations at a university.
2 a person achieving this. double-fronted (of a house) with principal windows on either side of the front door. double-ganger = DOPPELGNGER. double glazin.
1 a window consisting of two layers of glass with a space between them, designed to reduce loss of heat and exclude noise.
2 the provision of this. double Gloucester a kind of hard cheese orig. made in Gloucestershire. double heade.
1 a train pulled by two locomotives coupled together.
2 US two games etc. in succession between the same opponents.
3 Austral. colloq. a coin with a head on both sides. double helix a pair of parallel helices with a common axis, esp. in the structure of the DNA molecule. double-jointed having joints that allow unusual bending of the fingers, limbs, etc. double-lock lock by a double turn of the key. double negative Gram. a negative statement containing two negative elements (e.g. didn't say nothing). Considered ungrammatical in standard English. double obelus (or obelisk) Printing a sign used to introduce a reference. double or quits a gamble to decide whether a player's loss or debt be doubled or cancelled. double-park park (a vehicle) alongside one that is already parked at the roadside. double play Baseball putting out two runners. double pneumonia pneumonia affecting both lungs. double-quick very quick or quickly. double refraction Optics refraction forming two separate rays from a single incident ray. double rhyme a rhyme including two syllables. double salt Chem. a salt composed of two simple salts and having different crystal properties from either. double saucepan Brit. = double boiler. double shuffle Dancing a shuffle executed twice with one foot and then twice with the other. double standar.
1 a rule or principle applied more strictly to some people than to others (or to oneself).
2 bimetallism. double star two stars actually or apparently very close together. double-stopping Mus. the sounding of two strings at once on a violin etc. double take a delayed reaction to a situation etc. immediately after one's first reaction. double-talk verbal expression that is (usu. deliberately) ambiguous or misleading. double-think the mental capacity to accept contrary opinions or beliefs at the same time esp. as a result of political indoctrination. double tim.
1 payment of an employee at twice the normal rate.
2 Mil. the regulation running-pace. double-tonguing rapid articulation in playing a wind instrument. double top Darts a score of double twenty. double u.
1 a bend or curl up. b cause to do this, esp. by a blow.
2 be overcome with pain or laughter.
3 share or assign to a room, quarters, etc., with another or others.
4 fold or become folded.
5 use winnings from a bet as stake for another. doubler n. doubly adv. [ME f. OF doble, duble (n.), dobler, dubler (v.) f. L duplus DUPLE]

duo
duo: n. (pl. -os.
1 a pair of actors, entertainers, singers, etc. (a comedy duo).
2 Mus. a duet. [It. f. L, = two]

distillation
distillation: n.
1 the process of distilling or being distilled (in various senses).
2 something distilled.

deaf
deaf: adj.
1 wholly or partly without hearing (deaf in one ear).
2 (foll. by to) refusing to listen or comply.
3 insensitive to harmony, rhythm, etc. (tone-deaf). deaf-aid Brit. a hearing-aid. deaf-and-dumb alphabet (or language etc.) = sign language Sign language is preferred in official use. deaf as a post completely deaf. deaf mute a deaf and dumb person. fall on deaf ears be ignored. turn a deaf ear (usu. foll. by to) be unresponsive. deafly adv. deafness n. [OE deaf f. Gmc]