electronic
electronic: adj.
1 a produced by or involving the flow of electrons. b of or relating to electrons or electronics.
2 (of a device) using electronic components.
3 a (of music) produced by electronic means and usu. recorded on tape. b (of a musical instrument) producing sounds by electronic means. electronic flash a flash from a gas-discharge tube, used in high-speed photography. electronic mail messages distributed by electronic means esp. from one computer system to one or more recipients: also called EMAIL. electronically adv.

experiment
experiment: n. & v. --n.
1 a procedure adopted on the chance of its succeeding, for testing a hypothesis etc., or to demonstrate a known fact.
2 (foll. by of) a test or trial of. --v.intr. (often foll. by on, with) make an experiment. experimentation n. experimenter n. [ME f. OF experiment or L experimentum (as EXPERIENCE)]

enzyme
enzyme: n. Biochem. a protein acting as a catalyst in a specific biochemical reaction. enzymatic adj. enzymic adj. enzymology n. [G Enzym f. med. Gk enzumos leavened f. Gk en in + zume leaven]

exactly
exactly: adv.
1 accurately, precisely; in an exact manner (worked it out exactly).
2 in exact terms (exactly when did it happen?).
3 (said in reply) quite so; I quite agree. not exactly colloq.
1 by no means.
2 not precisely.

ebullient
ebullient: disp. adj.
1 exuberant, high-spirited.
2 Chem. boiling. ebullience n. ebulliency n. ebulliently adv. [L ebullire ebullient- bubble out (as E-, bullire boil)]

education
education: n.
1 the act or process of educating or being educated; systematic instruction.
2 a particular kind of or stage in education (further education; a classical education).
3 a development of character or mental powers. b a stage in or aspect of this (travel will be an education for you). educational adj. educationalist n. educationally adv. educationist n. [F ducation or L educatio (as EDUCATE)]

eclipse
eclipse: n. & v. --n.
1 the obscuring of the reflected light from one celestial body by the passage of another between it and the eye or between it and its source of illumination.
2 a deprivation of light or the period of this.
3 a rapid or sudden loss of importance or prominence, esp. in relation to another or a newly-arrived person or thing. --v.tr.
1 (of a celestial body) obscure the light from or to (another).
2 intercept (light, esp. of a lighthouse).
3 deprive of prominence or importance; outshine, surpass. in eclips.
1 surpassed; in decline.
2 (of a bird) having lost its courting plumage. eclipser n. [ME f. OF f. L f. Gk ekleipsis f. ekleipo fail to appear, be eclipsed f. leipo leave]

entrepreneur
entrepreneur: n.
1 a person who undertakes an enterprise or business, with the chance of profit or loss.
2 a contractor acting as an intermediary.
3 the person in effective control of a commercial undertaking. entrepreneurial adj. entrepreneurialism n. (also entrepreneurism). entrepreneurially adv. entrepreneurship n. [F f. entreprendre undertake: see ENTERPRISE]

eclipserexchange
exchange: n. & v. --n.
1 the act or an instance of giving one thing and receiving another in its place.
2 a the giving of money for its equivalent in the money of the same or another country. b the fee or percentage charged for this.
3 the central telephone office of a district, where connections are effected.
4 a place where merchants, bankers, etc. gather to transact business.
5 a an office where certain information is given or a service provided, usu. involving two parties. b an employment office.
6 a system of settling debts between persons (esp. in different countries) without the use of money, by bills of exchange (see BILL(1) )).
7 a a short conversation, esp. a disagreement or quarrel. b a sequence of letters between correspondents.
8 Chess the capture of an important piece (esp. a rook) by one player at the loss of a minor piece to the opposing player.
9 (attrib.) forming part of an exchange, e.g. of personnel between institutions (an exchange student). --v.
1 tr. (often foll. by for) give or receive (one thing) in place of another.
2 tr. give and receive as equivalents (e.g. things or people, blows, information, etc.); give one and receive another of.
3 intr. (often foll. by with) make an exchange. exchange rate the value of one currency in terms of another. in exchange (often foll. by for) as a thing exchanged (for). exchangeable adj. exchangeability n. exchanger n. [ME f. OF eschangier f. Rmc (as EX-(1), CHANGE)]

empire
empire: n.
1 an extensive group of States or countries under a single supreme authority, esp. an emperor.
2 a supreme dominion. b (often foll. by over) archaic absolute control.
3 a large commercial organization etc. owned or directed by one person or group.
4 (the Empire) hist. a the British Empire. b the Holy Roman Empire.
5 a type or period of government in which the sovereign is called emperor.
6 (Empire) (attrib.) a denoting a style of furniture or dress fashionable during the first (1804-14) or second (1852-70) French Empire. b Brit. denoting produce from the Commonwealth. empire-builder a person who deliberately acquires extra territory, authority, etc. esp. unnecessarily. Empire Day hist. the former name of Commonwealth Day, orig. 24 May. [ME f. OF f. L imperium rel. to imperare: see EMPEROR]

emulatorexposure
exposure: n. (foll. by to.
1 the act or condition of exposing or being exposed (to air, cold, danger, etc.).
2 the condition of being exposed to the elements, esp. in severe conditions (died from exposure).
3 the revelation of an identity or fact, esp. when concealed or likely to find disapproval.
4 Photog. a the action of exposing a film etc. to the light. b the duration of this action. c the area of film etc. affected by it.
5 an aspect or outlook (has a fine southern exposure). exposure meter Photog. a device for measuring the strength of the light to determine the correct duration of exposure. [EXPOSE after enclosure etc.]

entertainment
entertainment: n.
1 the act or an instance of entertaining; the process of being entertained.
2 a public performance or show.
3 diversions or amusements for guests etc.
4 amusement (much to my entertainment).
5 hospitality.

expert
expert: adj. & n. --adj.
1 (often foll. by at, in) having special knowledge or skill in a subject.
2 involving or resulting from this (expert evidence; an expert piece of work). --n. (often foll. by at, in) a person having special knowledge or skill. expertly adv. expertness n. [ME f. OF f. L expertus past part. of experiri: see EXPERIENCE]

enterprise
enterprise: n.
1 an undertaking, esp. a bold or difficult one.
2 (as a personal attribute) readiness to engage in such undertakings (has no enterprise).
3 a business firm. enterprise zone Brit. a depressed (usu. urban) area where State incentives such as tax concessions are designed to encourage investment. enterpriser n. [ME f. OF entreprise fem. past part. of entreprendre var. of emprendre ult. f. L prendere, prehendere take]

electrolysis
electrolysis: n.
1 Chem. the decomposition of a substance by the application of an electric current.
2 Surgery this process applied to the destruction of tumours, hair-roots, etc. electrolytic adj. electrolytical adj. electrolytically adv. [ELECTRO- + -LYSIS]

estate
estate: n.
1 a property consisting of an extensive area of land usu. with a large house.
2 Brit. a modern residential or industrial area with integrated design or purpose.
3 all of a person's assets and liabilities, esp. at death.
4 a property where rubber, tea, grapes, etc., are cultivated.
5 (in full estate of the realm) an order or class forming (or regarded as) a part of the body politic.
6 archaic or literary a state or position in life (the estate of holy matrimony; poor man's estate).
7 colloq. = estate car. estate agent Brit.
1 a person whose business is the sale or lease of buildings and land on behalf of others.
2 the steward of an estate. estate car Brit. a car with the passenger area extended and combined with space for luggage, usu. with an extra door at the rear. estate duty Brit. hist. death duty levied on property. Replaced in 1975 by capital transfer tax and in 1986 by inheritance tax. the Three Estates Lords Spiritual (the heads of the Church), Lords Temporal (the peerage), and the Commons. [ME f. OF estat (as STATUS)]

entice
entice: v.tr. (often foll. by from, into, or to + infin.) persuade by the offer of pleasure or reward. enticement n. enticer n. enticingly adv. [ME f. OF enticier prob. f. Rmc]

esquire
esquire: n.
1 (usu. as abbr. Esq.) Brit. a title appended to a man's surname when no other form of address is used, esp. as a form of address for letters.
2 archaic = SQUIRE. [ME f. OF esquier f. L scutarius shield-bearer f. scutum shield]

environment
environment: n.
1 physical surroundings and conditions, esp. as affecting people's lives.
2 conditions or circumstances of living.
3 Ecol. external conditions affecting the growth of plants and animals.
4 a structure designed to be experienced from inside as a work of art. environmental adj. environmentally adv.

establishment
establishment: n.
1 the act or an instance of establishing; the process of being established.
2 a a business organization or public institution. b a place of business. c a residence.
3 a the staff or equipment of an organization. b a household.
4 any organized body permanently maintained for a purpose.
5 a Church system organized by law.
6 (the Establishment) a the group in a society exercising authority or influence, and seen as resisting change. b any influential or controlling group (the literary Establishment).

embrace
embrace: v. & n. --v.tr.
1 a hold (a person) closely in the arms, esp. as a sign of affection. b (absol., of two people) hold each other closely.
2 clasp, enclose.
3 accept eagerly (an offer, opportunity, etc.).
4 adopt (a course of action, doctrine, cause, etc.).
5 include, comprise.
6 take in with the eye or mind. --n. an act of embracing; holding in the arms. embraceable adj. embracement n. embracer n. [ME f. OF embracer, ult. f. L in- IN-(1) + bracchium arm]

estrogen
estrogen: US var. of OESTROGEN.

erythemalevergreen
evergreen: adj. & n. --adj.
1 always green or fresh.
2 (of a plant) retaining green leaves throughout the year. --n. an evergreen plant (cf. DECIDUOUS).

electricity
electricity: n.
1 a form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles (electrons, protons, etc.), either statically as an accumulation of charge or dynamically as a current.
2 the branch of physics dealing with electricity.
3 a supply of electric current for heating, lighting, etc.

eczema
eczema: n. inflammation of the skin, with itching and discharge from blisters. eczematous adj. [mod.L f. Gk ekzema -atos f. ek out + zeo boil]

error
error: n.
1 a mistake.
2 the condition of being wrong in conduct or judgement (led into error).
3 a wrong opinion or judgement.
4 the amount by which something is incorrect or inaccurate in a calculation or measurement. errorless adj. [ME f. OF errour f. L error -oris (as ERR)]

executor
executor: n. (fem. executrix) a person appointed by a testator to carry out the terms of his or her will. literary executor a person entrusted with a writer's papers, unpublished works, etc. executorial adj. executorship n. executory adj. [ME f. AF executor, -our f. L executor -oris (as EXECUTE)]

ecclesiastic
ecclesiastic: n. & adj. --n. a priest or clergyman. --adj. = ECCLESIASTICAL. ecclesiasticism n. [F ecclsiastique or LL ecclesiasticus f. Gk ekklesiastikos f. ekklesia assembly, church: see ECCLESIAL]

easy
easy: adj., adv., & int. (easier, easiest) --adj.
1 not difficult; achieved without great effort.
2 a free from pain, discomfort, anxiety, etc. b comfortably off, affluent (easy circumstances).
3 free from embarrassment, awkwardness, constraint, etc.; relaxed and pleasant (an easy manner).
4 compliant, obliging; easily persuaded (an easy touch).
5 Stock Exch. (of goods, money on loan, etc.) not much in demand. --adv. with ease; in an effortless or relaxed manner. --int. go carefully; move gently. easy as pie see PIE(1) ). easy chair a large comfortable chair, usu. an armchair. easy come easy go colloq. what is easily got is soon lost or spent. easy does it colloq. go carefully. easy money money got without effort (esp. of dubious legality). easy of access easily entered or approached. easy on the eye (or ear etc.) colloq. pleasant to look at (or listen to etc.). easy-peasy sl. very simple. Easy Street colloq. affluence. easy terms payment by instalments. go easy (foll. by with, on) be sparing or cautious. I'm easy colloq. I have no preference. of easy virtue (of a woman) sexually promiscuous. stand easy! Brit. Mil. permission to a squad standing at ease to relax their attitude further. take it eas.
1 proceed gently or carefully.
2 relax; avoid overwork. easiness n. [ME f. AF ais, OF aisi past part. of aisier EASE]

eucalyptus
eucalyptus: n. (also eucalypt) (pl. eucalyptuses or eucalypti or eucalypts.
1 any tree of the genus Eucalyptus, native to Australasia, cultivated for its timber and for the oil from its leaves.
2 (in full eucalyptus oil) this oil used as an antiseptic etc. [mod.L f. EU- + Gk kaluptos covered f. kalupto to cover, the unopened flower being protected by a cap]

earthquake
earthquake: n.
1 a convulsion of the superficial parts of the earth due to the release of accumulated stress as a result of faults in strata or volcanic action.
2 a social etc. disturbance.

extant
extant: adj. (esp. of a document etc.) still existing, surviving. [L exstare exstant- (as EX-(1), stare stand)]

exerciserecology
ecology: n.
1 the branch of biology dealing with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
2 (in full human ecology) the study of the interaction of people with their environment. ecological adj. ecologically adv. ecologist n. [G kologie f. Gk oikos house]

ejaculate
ejaculate: v. & n. --v.tr. (also absol..
1 utter suddenly (words esp. of prayer or other emotion).
2 eject (fluid etc., esp. semen) from the body. --n. semen that has been ejaculated from the body. ejaculation n. ejaculator n. ejaculatory adj. [L ejaculari to dart (as E-, jaculum javelin)]

extrusionetymology
etymology: n. (pl. -ies.
1 a the historically verifiable sources of the formation of a word and the development of its meaning. b an account of these.
2 the branch of linguistic science concerned with etymologies. etymological adj. etymologically adv. etymologist n. [OF ethimologie f. L etymologia f. Gk etumologia (as ETYMON, -LOGY)]

enterpriserelement
element: n.
1 a component part; a contributing factor or thing.
2 Chem. & Physics any of the hundred or so substances that cannot be resolved by chemical means into simpler substances.
3 a any of the four substances (earth, water, air, and fire) in ancient and medieval philosophy. b any of these as a being's natural abode or environment.
4 Electr. a resistance wire that heats up in an electric heater, cooker, etc.; an electrode.
5 (in pl.) atmospheric agencies, esp. wind and storm.
6 (in pl.) the rudiments of learning or of a branch of knowledge.
7 (in pl.) the bread and wine of the Eucharist.
8 Math. & Logic an entity that is a single member of a set. in (or out of) one's element in (or out of) one's accustomed or preferred surroundings. reduced to its elements analysed. [ME f. OF f. L elementum]

eternal
eternal: adj.
1 existing always; without an end or (usu.) beginning in time.
2 essentially unchanging (eternal truths).
3 colloq. constant; seeming not to cease (your eternal nagging). the Eternal God. Eternal City Rome. eternal triangle a complex of emotional relationships involving two people of one sex and one of the other sex. eternality n. eternalize v.tr. (also -ise). eternally adv. eternalness n. eternize v.tr. (also -ise). [ME f. OF f. LL aeternalis f. L aeternus f. aevum age]

escallop
escallop: n.
1 = SCALLOP 1, 2.
2 = ESCALOPE.
3 (in pl.) = SCALLOP 3.
4 Heraldry a scallop shell as a device. [formed as ESCALOPE]

expense
expense: n.
1 cost incurred; payment of money.
2 (usu. in pl.) a costs incurred in doing a particular job etc. (will pay your expenses). b an amount paid to reimburse this (offered me 40 per day expenses).
3 a thing that is a cause of much expense (the house is a real expense to run). at the expense of so as to cause loss or damage or discredit to. expense account a list of an employee's expenses payable by the employer. [ME f. AF, alt. of OF espense f. LL expensa (money) spent, past part. of L expendere EXPEND]

electrical
electrical: adj.
1 of or concerned with or of the nature of electricity.
2 operating by electricity.
3 suddenly or dramatically exciting (the effect was electrical).

effigy
effigy: n. (pl. -ies) a sculpture or model of a person. in effigy in the form of a (usu. crude) representation of a person. [L effigies f. effingere to fashion]

economics
economics: n.pl. (treated as sing..
1 a the science of the production and distribution of wealth. b the application of this to a particular subject (the economics of publishing).
2 the condition of a country etc. as regards material prosperity.

ergonomicexecutoryequity
equity: n. (pl. -ies.
1 fairness.
2 the application of the principles of justice to correct or supplement the law.
3 a the value of the shares issued by a company. b (in pl.) stocks and shares not bearing fixed interest.
4 the net value of a mortgaged property after the deduction of charges.
5 (Equity) Brit. the actors' trade union. [ME f. OF equit f. L aequitas -tatis f. aequus fair]

earner
earner: n.
1 a person or thing that earns (often in comb.: wage-earner).
2 sl. a lucrative job or enterprise.

electronics
electronics: n.pl. (treated as sing..
1 a branch of physics and technology concerned with the behaviour and movement of electrons in a vacuum, gas, semiconductor, etc.
2 the circuits used in this.