TOP 100 WORDS THAT EVERY
HIGH-SCHOOL GRADUATE (AND THEIR PARENTS) SHOULD KNOW
(From the American Heritage College Dictionary)
ab·jure (
b-j
r
)
tr.v. -jured, -jur·ing, -jures 1. To renounce under oath;
forswear. 2. To recant solemnly; repudiate: abjure one's beliefs.
3. To give up (an action or practice, for example); abstain from.
[Middle English abjuren < Old French abjurer < Latin abi
r
re
: ab-, away; see ab– 1 + irre,
to swear.] —ab
ju·ration
n. —ab·jurer
n.
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to Pronunciation
ab·ro·gate (br
-gt)
tr.v. -gat·ed, -gat·ing, -gates To abolish, do away
with, or annul. [Latin abrogre,
abrogt-
: ab-, away; see ab– 1 + rogre,
to ask; see reg- in App.] —abro·gation
n.
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to Pronunciation
ab·ste·mi·ous (b-st
m-s,
b-)
adj. 1. Eating and drinking in moderation. 2a. Sparingly
used or consumed. b. Restricted to bare necessities. [From Latin abstmius
: abs-, ab-, away; see ab– 1 + *tmum,
liquor variant of tmtum.]
—ab·stemi·ous·ly
adv. —ab·stemi·ous·ness
n.
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to Pronunciation
ac·u·men (ky-mn,
-ky
-)
n. Quickness and keenness of judgment or insight. [Latin acmen
< acuere, to sharpen < acus, needle; see ak- in App.]
|
The
pronunciation ( |
an·te·bel·lum (nt-b
lm)
adj. Belonging to the period before a war, esp. the American Civil War.
[From Latin ante bellum, before the war : ante, before; see ante
+ bellum, war.]
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to Pronunciation
aus·pi·cious (ô-sp
shs)
adj. 1. Attended by favorable circumstances; propitious. See Syns
at favorable. 2. Successful; prosperous. —aus·picious·ly
adv. —aus·picious·ness
n.
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to Pronunciation
be·lie (b-l
)
tr.v. -lied, -ly·ing, -lies 1. To picture falsely;
misrepresent: "He spoke roughly in order to belie his air of
gentility" (James Joyce) 2. To show to be false: His smile
belied his ire. 3. To be counter to; contradict. [Middle English bilien
< Old English belogan,
to deceive with lies; see leugh- in App.] —be·lier
n.
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to Pronunciation
bel·li·cose (bl-k
s)
adj. Warlike in manner or temperament; pugnacious. [Middle English <
Latin bellicsus
< bellicus, of war < bellum, war.] —belli·cosely
adv. —belli·cosi·ty
(-k
s-t)
n.
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to Pronunciation
bowd·ler·ize (bdl-rz,
boud-)
tr.v. -ized, -iz·ing, -iz·es 1. To expurgate (a book, for
example) prudishly. 2. To modify, as by shortening or simplifying or by
skewing content. [After Thomas Bowdler (1754–1825), who expurgated
Shakespeare.] —bowdler·ism
n. —bowdler·i·zation
(-lr--zshn)
n. —bowdler·izer
n.
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to Pronunciation
chi·can·er·y (sh-kn-r,
ch-)
n., pl. -ies 1. Deception by trickery or sophistry.
2. A trick; a subterfuge.
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to Pronunciation
chro·mo·some (krm-sm)
n. 1. A threadlike linear strand of DNA and associated proteins
in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells that carries the genes and functions in the
transmission of hereditary information. 2. A circular strand of DNA in
bacteria that contains the hereditary information necessary for cell life. —chromo·somal
(-sml),
chromo·somic
(-smk)
adj. <—chromo·somal·ly
adv.
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to Pronunciation
churl·ish (chûrlsh)
adj. 1. Of, like, or befitting a churl; boorish or vulgar. 2. Having
a bad disposition; surly. 3. Difficult to work with, such as soil;
intractable. —churlish·ly
adv. —churlish·ness
n.
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to Pronunciation
cir·cum·lo·cu·tion (sûrkm-l-kyshn)
n. 1. The use of unnecessarily wordy and indirect language. 2.
Evasion in speech or writing. 3. A roundabout expression.
[Ultimately < Latin circumlocti,
circumloctin-
< circumloctus,
past participle of circumloqu
: circum-, circum- + loqu,
to speak.] —circum·locu·tori·ly
(-lky-tôr-l,
-tr-)
adv. —circum·locu·tory
(-tôr,
-tr)
adj.
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to Pronunciation
cir·cum·nav·i·gate (sûrkm-nv-gt)
tr.v. -gat·ed, -gat·ing, -gates 1. To proceed completely around: circumnavigating
the earth. 2. To go around; circumvent. —circum·navi·gation
n. —circum·navi·gator
n.
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to Pronunciation
de·cid·u·ous (d-sj-s)
adj. 1. Falling off or shed at a specific season or stage of
growth: deciduous antlers. 2. Shedding or losing foliage at the
end of the growing season: deciduous trees. 3. Not lasting;
ephemeral. [From Latin dciduus
< dcidere,
to fall off : d-,
de- + cadere, to fall.] —de·cidu·ous·ly
adv. —de·cidu·ous·ness
n.
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to Pronunciation
del·e·te·ri·ous (dl-tîr-s)
adj. Having a harmful effect; injurious. [< Greek dltrios
< dltr,
destroyer < dleisthai,
to harm.] —dele·teri·ous·ly
adv. —dele·teri·ous·ness
n.
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to Pronunciation
dif·fi·dent (df-dnt,
-dnt)
adj. 1. Lacking or marked by a lack of self-confidence; shy and
timid. See Syns at shy 1. 2. Reserved in manner.
[Middle English < Latin diffdns,
diffdent-,
present participle of diffdere,
to mistrust : dis-, dis- + fdere,
to trust; see bheidh- in App.] —diffi·dent·ly
adv.
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to Pronunciation
en·er·vate (nr-vt)
tr.v. -vat·ed, -vat·ing, -vates 1. To weaken or destroy the
strength or vitality of. See Syns at deplete. 2. Medicine To
remove a nerve or part of a nerve.§ adj. (-nûrvt)
Deprived of strength; debilitated. [Latin nervre,
nervt-
: -,
ex-, ex- + nervus, sinew.] —ener·vation
n. —ener·vative
adj. —ener·vator
n.
|
Sometimes
people mistakenly use enervate to mean "to invigorate" or
"to excite" by assuming that it is a close cousin of energize.
In fact, enervate means essentially the opposite. It comes < Latin nervus,
"sinew," and thus means "to cause to become 'out of
muscle'," that is, "to weaken or deplete of strength." It has
no historical connection with energize. |
en·fran·chise (n-frnchz)
tr.v. -chised, -chis·ing, -chis·es 1. To bestow a franchise on. 2.
To endow with the rights of citizenship, esp. the right to vote. 3. To
free, as from bondage. [Middle English enfraunchisen < Old French enfranchir,
enfranchiss-, to set free : en-, intensive pref.; see en– 1
+ franchir (< franc, free; see frank 1).]
—en·franchisement
n.
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to Pronunciation
e·piph·a·ny (-pf-n)
n., pl. -nies 1. Epiphany A Christian feast celebrating
the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as represented
by the Magi, traditionally observed on January 6. 2. A revelatory
manifestation of a divine being. 3a. A sudden manifestation of the
essence or meaning of something. b. A comprehension or perception of
reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization. [Middle English epiphanie
< Old French < Late Latin epiphania < Greek epiphaneia,
manifestation < epiphainesthai, to appear : epi-, forth; see epi–
+ phainein, phan-, to show.] —epi·phanic
(p-fnk)
adj.
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to Pronunciation
e·qui·nox (kw-nks,
kw-)
n. 1. Either of two points on the celestial sphere at which the
ecliptic intersects the celestial equator. 2. Either of the two times
during a year when the sun crosses the celestial equator and when day and night
are of approximately equal length. [Middle English < Old French equinoxe
< Medieval Latin aequinoxium < Latin aequinoctium : aequi-,
equi- + nox, noct-, night; see nekw-t- in App.]
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to Pronunciation
eu·ro or Eu·ro (yr)
n., pl. -ros or -ro's The basic unit of currency
among members of the European Monetary Union. [After Europe.]
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to Pronunciation
ev·a·nes·cent (v-nsnt)
adj. Vanishing or likely to vanish like vapor. —eva·nescent·ly
adv.
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to Pronunciation
ex·pur·gate (kspr-gt)
tr.v. -gat·ed, -gat·ing, -gates To remove erroneous, vulgar,
obscene, or otherwise objectionable material from (a book, for example) before
publication. [Latin exprgre,
exprgt-,
to purify : ex-, intensive pref.; see ex– + prgre,
to cleanse.] —expur·gation
n. —expur·gator
n.
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to Pronunciation
fa·ce·tious (f-sshs)
adj. Playfully jocular; humorous. [French facétieux < facétie,
jest < Latin factia
< factus,
witty.] —fa·cetious·ly
adv. —fa·cetious·ness
n.
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to Pronunciation
fat·u·ous (fch-s)
adj. 1. Vacuously, smugly, and unconsciously foolish. 2. Delusive;
unreal. [From Latin fatuus.] —fatu·ous·ly
adv. —fatu·ous·ness
n.
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to Pronunciation
feck·less (fkls)
adj. 1. Feeble or ineffective. 2. Careless and
irresponsible. [Scots feck, effect (alteration of effect ) + –less.] —feckless·ly
adv. —feckless·ness
n.
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to Pronunciation
fi·du·ci·ar·y (f-dsh-r,
-sh-r,
-dy-,
f-)
adj. 1a. Of or relating to a holding of something in trust for
another. b. Of or being a trustee or trusteeship. c. Held in
trust. 2. Of or consisting of fiat money. 3. Of, relating to, or
being a system of marking in the field of view of an optical instrument that is
used as a reference point or measuring scale.§ n., pl. -ies
One, such as a company director, that has a special relation of trust or
responsibility in certain obligations to others. [Latin fdcirius
< fdcia,
trust; see fiducial.]
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fil·i·bus·ter (fl-b
str)
n. 1a. The use of obstructionist tactics, esp. prolonged
speechmaking, in order to delay legislative action. b. An instance of
the use of this delaying tactic. 2. An adventurer who engages in a
private military action in a foreign country.§ v. -tered,
-ter·ing, -ters — intr. 1. To use obstructionist
tactics in a legislative body. 2. To take part in a private military
action in a foreign country. — tr. To use a filibuster against (a
legislative measure, for example). [< Spanish filibustero, freebooter
< French flibustier < Dutch vrijbuiter, pirate; see freebooter.]
—fili·buster·er
n.
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to Pronunciation
gam·ete (gmt
,
g-mt)
n. A reproductive cell having the haploid number of chromosomes, esp. a
mature sperm or egg capable of fusing with a gamete of the opposite sex to
produce the fertilized egg. [New Latin gameta < Greek gamet,
wife and gamets,
husband < gamein, to marry < gamos, marriage.] —ga·metic
(-mtk)
adj.
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to Pronunciation
gauche (gsh)
adj. Lacking social polish; tactless. [French awkward < Old French
< gauchir, to turn aside, walk clumsily, of Germanic origin.] —gauchely
adv. —gaucheness
n.
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to Pronunciation
ger·ry·man·der (jr-mn
dr,
gr-)
tr.v. -dered, -der·ing, -ders To divide (a geographic area) into
voting districts so as to give unfair advantage to one party in elections.§
n. 1. The act, process, or an instance of gerrymandering. 2. A
district or configuration of districts differing widely in size or population
because of gerrymandering. [After Elbridge Gerry + (sala)mander (< the shape
of an election district created while Gerry was governor of MA).]
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to Pronunciation
he·gem·o·ny (h-jm-n,
hj-m
n)
n., pl. -nies The predominant influence, as of a state,
region, or group, over another or others. [Greek hgemoni
< hgemn,
leader < hgeisthai,
to lead.] —heg
e·monic
(hj
-mnk)
adj. —he·gemo·nism
n. —he·gemo·nist
adj. & n.
|
Hegemony may be stressed on either the first or second syllable, though 72 percent of the Usage Panel prefers the latter. |
he·mo·glo·bin (hm-gl
bn)
n. The iron-containing respiratory pigment in red blood cells of
vertebrates, consisting of about 6 percent heme and 94 percent globin.
[Ultimately short for hematinoglobulin : hematin + globulin.]
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ho·mo·ge·ne·ous (h
m-jn-s,
-jnys)
adj. 1. Of the same or similar nature or kind. 2. Uniform
in structure or composition. 3. Mathematics Consisting of terms
of the same degree or elements of the same dimension. [From Medieval Latin homogeneus
< Greek homogens
: homo-, homo- + genos, kind; see heterogeneous.] —ho
mo·gene·ous·ness
n.
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to Pronunciation
hu·bris (hybrs)
also hy·bris (h-)
n. Overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance. [Greek excessive pride,
wanton violence; see ud- in App.] —hu·bristic
(-brstk)
adj. —hu·bristic·al·ly
adv.
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to Pronunciation
hy·pot·e·nuse (h-ptn-s
,
-ys
)
also hy·poth·e·nuse (-pth-ns
,
-nys
)
n. The side of a right triangle opposite the right angle. [Latin hypotnsa
< Greek hupoteinousa < feminine present participle of hupoteinein,
to stretch or extend under : hupo-, hypo- + teinein, to stretch;
see ten- in App.]
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im·peach (m-pch)
tr.v. -peached, -peach·ing, -peach·es 1a. To accuse. b. To
charge (a public official) with improper conduct in office before a proper
tribunal. 2. To challenge the validity of; try to discredit: impeach
one's credibility. [Middle English empechen, to impede, accuse <
Anglo-Norman empecher < Late Latin impedicre,
to entangle : Latin in-, in; see in– 2 + Latin pedica,
fetter; see ped- in App.] —im·peacher
n. —im·peachment
n.
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in·cog·ni·to (nkg-nt,
n-kgn-t
)
adv. & adj. With one's identity disguised or concealed.§
n., pl. -tos 1. One whose identity is disguised or
concealed. 2. The condition of having a disguised or concealed identity.
[Italian < Latin incognitus, unknown : in-, not; see in–
1 + cognitus, past participle of cognscere,
to learn, recognize; see cognition.]
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in·con·tro·vert·i·ble (n-kn
tr-vûrt-bl,
n
kn-)
adj. Impossible to dispute; unquestionable. —in·con
tro·vert
i·bili·ty
n. —in·con
tro·verti·bly
adv.
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to Pronunciation
in·cul·cate (n-klkt
,
nkl-)
tr.v. -cat·ed, -cat·ing, -cates 1. To impress (something) upon
the mind of another by frequent instruction or repetition; instill: inculcating
sound principles. 2. To teach (others) by frequent instruction or
repetition; indoctrinate. [Latin inculcre,
inculct-,
to force upon : in-, on; see in– 2 + calcre,
to trample (< calx, calc-, heel).] —in
cul·cation
n. —in·culca
tor
n.
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in·fra·struc·ture (nfr-strk
chr)
n. 1. An underlying base or foundation, esp. for an organization
or a system. 2. The basic facilities, services, and installations needed
for the functioning of a community or society, such as transportation and
communications systems.
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in·ter·po·late (n-tûrp-lt
)
v. -lat·ed, -lat·ing, -lates — tr. 1. To
insert or introduce between other elements or parts. 2a. To insert
(material) into a text. b. To insert into a conversation. 3. To
change or falsify (a text) with new or incorrect material. 4. Mathematics
To estimate a value of (a function or series) between two known values. —
intr. To make insertions or additions. [Latin interpolre,
interpolt-,
to touch up, refurbish < interpolis, refurbished; see pel- 2
in App.] —in·ter
po·lation
n. —in·terpo·la
tive
adj. —in·terpo·la
tor
n.
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i·ro·ny (r-n,
r-)
n., pl. -nies 1a. The use of words to express
something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning. b. An
expression or utterance marked by irony. c. A literary style employing
irony for humorous or rhetorical effect. 2a. Incongruity between what
might be expected and what actually occurs. b. An occurrence, result, or
circumstance notable for such incongruity. See Usage Note at ironic. 3. Dramatic
irony. 4. Socratic irony. [French ironie < Old French <
Latin rna
< Greek eirneia,
feigned ignorance < eirn,
dissembler probably < eirein, to say; see wer- 1 in
App.]
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je·june (j-jn)
adj. 1. Not interesting; dull. 2. Lacking maturity;
childish. 3. Lacking in nutrition. [From Latin iinus,
meager, dry, fasting.] —je·junely
adv. —je·juneness
n.
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ki·net·ic (k-ntk,
k-)
adj. 1. Of, relating to, or produced by motion. 2. Relating
to or exhibiting kinesis. [Greek kntikos
< kntos,
moving < knein,
to move; see kei- 2 in App.] —ki·neti·cal·ly
adv.
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kow·tow (kou-tou,
koutou
)
intr.v. -towed, -tow·ing, -tows 1. To kneel and touch the
forehead to the ground in expression of deep respect, worship, or submission,
as formerly done in China. 2. To show servile deference.§ n.
1. The act of kneeling and touching the forehead to the ground. 2. An
obsequious act. [From Chinese (Mandarin) kòu tóu, a kowtow : kòu,
to knock + tóu, head.]
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lais·sez faire also lais·ser faire (ls
fâr,
l
z)
n. 1. An economic doctrine that opposes governmental regulation
of or interference in commerce. 2. Noninterference in the affairs of
others. [French : laissez, let + faire, to do.] —lais
sez-faire
adj.
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to Pronunciation
lex·i·con (lks-kn
)
n., pl. -cons or -ca (-k)
1. A dictionary. 2. A stock of terms used in a particular
profession, subject, or style; a vocabulary. 3. Linguistics The
morphemes of a language considered as a group. [Medieval Latin < Greek lexikon
(biblion), word(book), neuter of lexikos, of words < lexis,
word < legein, to speak; see leg- in App.]
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lo·qua·cious (l-kwshs)
adj. Very talkative; garrulous. [< Latin loqux,
loquc-
< loqu,
to speak.] —lo·quacious·ly
adv. —lo·quacious·ness,
lo·quaci·ty
(l-kws-t)
n.
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lu·gu·bri·ous (l-gbr-s,
-gy-)
adj. Mournful, dismal, or gloomy, esp. to an exaggerated or ludicrous
degree. [From Latin lgubris
< lgre,
to mourn.] —lu·gubri·ous·ly
adv. —lu·gubri·ous·ness
n.
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met·a·mor·pho·sis (mt-môrf-ss)
n., pl. -ses (-sz)
1. A transformation, as by magic or sorcery. 2. A marked change
in appearance, character, condition, or function. 3. Biology
Change in the form and often habits of an animal during normal development
after the embryonic stage. 4. Pathology A usu. degenerative
change in the structure of a particular body tissue. [Latin metamorph
sis
< Greek < metamorphoun, to transform : meta-, meta- + morph,
form.]
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mi·to·sis (m-t
ss)
n., pl. -ses (-sz)
Biology 1. The process in cell division by which the nucleus
divides, normally resulting in two new nuclei, each of which contains a
complete copy of the parental chromosomes. 2. The entire process of cell
division including division of the nucleus and the cytoplasm. [Greek mitos,
warp thread + –osis.] —mi·totic
(-ttk)
adj. —mi·toti·cal·ly
adv.
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moi·e·ty (moi-t)
n., pl. -ties 1. A half. 2. A part, portion, or
share. 3. Either of two kinship groups based on unilateral descent that
together make up a tribe or society. [Middle English moite < Old
French meitiet, moitie < Late Latin mediets
< Latin middle < medius, middle; see medhyo- in App.]
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to Pronunciation
nan·o·tech·nol·o·gy (nn-tk-nl-j)
n. The science and technology of building electronic circuits and devices
from individual atoms and molecules. —nano·tech·nolo·gist
n.
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ni·hil·ism (n-lzm,
n-)
n. 1. Philosophy a. An extreme form of skepticism
that denies all existence. b. A doctrine holding that all values are
baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. 2. Rejection of
all distinctions in moral or religious value and a willingness to repudiate all
previous theories of morality or religious belief. 3. The belief that
destruction of existing political or social institutions is necessary for
future improvement. 4. also >Nihilism A movement of mid
19th-century Russia that believed in radical societal and governmental change
through terrorism and assassination. 5. Psychology A delusion
that the world or one's mind, body, or self does not exist. [Latin nihil,
nothing; see ne in App. + –ism.] —nihil·ist
n. —nihil·istic
adj. —nihil·isti·cal·ly
adv.
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no·men·cla·ture (n
mn-klchr,
n
-mnkl-)
n. 1. A system of names used in an art or science. 2. The
procedure of assigning names to organisms listed in a taxonomic classification.
[Latin n
mencltra
< n
mencltor,
nomenclator; see nomenclator.]
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non·sec·tar·i·an (nnsk-târ-n)
adj. Not limited to or associated with a particular religious
denomination. —nonsec·tari·an·ism
n.
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to Pronunciation
no·ta·rize (n
t-rz)
tr.v. -rized, -riz·ing, -riz·es To certify or attest to (the
validity of a signature on a document, for example) as a notary public. —nota·ri·zation
(-r-zshn)
n.
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ob·se·qui·ous (b-skw-s,
b-)
adj. Full of or exhibiting servile compliance; fawning. [Middle English
< Latin obsequi
sus
< obsequium, compliance < obsequ,
to comply : ob-, to; see ob– + sequ,
to follow; see sekw- 1 in App.] —ob·sequi·ous·ly
adv. —ob·sequi·ous·ness
n.
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ol·i·gar·chy (l-gärk,
l-)
n., pl. -chies 1a. Government by a few, esp. by a small
faction of persons or families. b. Those making up such a government. 2.
A state governed by an oligarchy. —oli·garchic,
oli·garchi·cal
adj.
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om·nip·o·tent (m-np-tnt)
adj. Having unlimited or universal power, authority, or force. See Usage
Note at infinite.§ n. 1. One who is omnipotent. 2.
Omnipotent God. Used with the. [Middle English < Old French <
Latin omnipotns,
omnipotent- : omni-, omni- + potns,
present participle of posse, to be able; see poti- in App.] —om·nipo·tence,
om·nipo·ten·cy
n. —om·nipo·tent·ly
adv.
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or·thog·ra·phy (ôr-thgr-f)
n., pl. -phies 1. The art or study of standard
spelling. 2. The aspect of language study concerned with letters and
spelling. 3. A method of representing a language or the sounds of
language by written symbols; spelling. —or·thogra·pher,
or·thogra·phist
n.
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ox·i·dize (ks-dz)
v. -dized, -diz·ing, -diz·es — tr. 1. To
combine with oxygen; make into an oxide. 2. To increase the positive
charge or valence of (an element) by removing electrons. 3. To coat with
oxide. — intr. To become oxidized. —oxi·diza·ble
adj. —oxi·di·zation
(-d-zshn)
n.
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pa·rab·o·la (p-rb-l)
n. A plane curve formed by the intersection of a right circular cone and
a plane parallel to an element of the cone or by the locus of points
equidistant from a fixed line and a fixed point not on the line. [New Latin
< Greek parabol,
comparison, application, parabola (< the relationship between the line
joining the vertices of a conic and the line through its focus and parallel to
its directrix) < paraballein, to compare; see parable.]
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par·a·digm (pr-dm,
-dm)
n. 1. One that serves as pattern or model. 2. A set or
list of all the inflectional forms of a word or of one of its grammatical
categories. 3. A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices
that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them,
esp. in an intellectual discipline. [Middle English example < Late Latin paradgma
< Greek paradeigma < paradeiknunai, to compare : para-,
alongside; see para– 1 + deiknunai, to show;
see deik- in App.]
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pa·ram·e·ter (p-rm-tr)
n. 1. Mathematics a. A constant in an equation that
varies in other equations of the same general form, esp. in the equation of a
curve or surface that can be varied to represent a family of curves or
surfaces. b. One of a set of independent variables that express the
coordinates of a point. 2a. One of a set of measurable factors, such as
temperature, that define a system and determine its behavior and are varied in
an experiment. b. A factor that restricts what is possible or what
results. c. A factor that determines a range of variations; a boundary. 3.
Statistics A quantity, such as a mean, that is calculated from data
and describes a population. 4. A distinguishing characteristic or
feature. [New Latin parametrum, a line through the focus and parallel to
the directrix of a conic : Greek para-, beside; see para– 1
+ Greek metron, measure; see –meter.] —para·metric
(pr-mtrk),
para·metri·cal
adj. —para·metri·cal·ly
adv.
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pe·cu·ni·ar·y (p-kyn-r)
adj. 1. Of or relating to money. 2. Requiring payment of
money. [Latin pecnirius
< pecnia,
wealth; see peku- in App.]
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pho·to·syn·the·sis (f
t
-snth-ss)
n. The process by which green plants and certain other organisms
synthesize carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water using light as an energy
source and usu. releasing oxygen as a byproduct. —photo·synthe·size
(-sz)
v. —photo·syn·thetic
(-sn-thtk)
adj. —photo·syn·theti·cal·ly
adv.
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pla·gia·rize (plj-rz)
v. -rized, -riz·ing, -riz·es — tr. 1. To use
and pass off (the ideas or writings of another) as one's own. 2. To
appropriate for use as one's own passages or ideas from (another). — intr.
To plagiarize the ideas or words of another. —plagia·rizer
n.
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plas·ma (plzm)
also plasm (plzm)
n. 1a. The clear yellowish fluid portion of blood, lymph, or
intramuscular fluid in which cells are suspended. b. Blood plasma. 2.
Medicine Cell-free sterilized blood plasma, used in transfusions. 3.
Protoplasm or cytoplasm. 4. The fluid portion of milk from which the
curd is separated by coagulation; whey. 5. Physics A highly
ionized gas containing nearly equal numbers of positive ions and electrons.
[New Latin < Late Latin image, figure < Greek < plassein, to
mold; see pel-
2 in App.] —plas·matic
(plz-mtk),
plasmic
(-mk)
adj.
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pol·y·mer (pl-mr)
n. Any of numerous natural or synthetic compounds of usu. high molecular
weight consisting of repeated linked units, each a relatively light and simple
molecule. [Greek polumers,
consisting of many parts : polu-, poly- + meros, part.]
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pre·cip·i·tous (pr-sp-ts)
adj. 1. Resembling a precipice; extremely steep. See Syns at steep
1. 2. Having several precipices: a precipitous
bluff. 3. Usage Problem Extremely rapid or abrupt;
precipitate. See Usage Note at precipitate. [Probably < obsolete precipitious
< Latin praecipitium, precipice; see precipice.] —pre·cipi·tous·ly
adv. —pre·cipi·tous·ness
n.
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qua·sar (kwzär,
-sär,
-zr,
-sr)
n. An extremely distant celestial object whose power output is thousands
of times that of our entire galaxy. [quas(i-stellar) + (st)ar.]
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quo·tid·i·an (kw
-td-n)
adj. 1. Everyday; commonplace. 2. Recurring daily. Used
esp. of attacks of malaria. [Middle English cotidien < Old French
< Latin qu
tdinus
< qu
tdi,
each day : quot, how many, as many as; see kwo- in App. + di,
ablative of dis,
day; see dyeu- in App.]
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re·ca·pit·u·late (rk-pch-lt)
v. -lat·ed, -lat·ing, -lates — tr. 1. To
repeat in concise form. 2. Biology To appear to repeat (the
evolutionary stages of the species) during the embryonic development of the
individual organism. — intr. To make a summary. [Latin recapitulre,
recapitult-
: re-, re- + capitulum, main point, heading diminutive of caput,
capit-, head; see kaput- in App.] —re·ca·pitu·lative,
re·ca·pitu·la·tory
(-l-tôr,
-t
r)
adj.
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re·cip·ro·cal (r-spr-kl)
adj. 1. Concerning each of two or more persons or things. 2. Interchanged,
given, or owed to each other: a reciprocal invitation. 3. Performed,
experienced, or felt by both sides: reciprocal respect. 4. Interchangeable;
complementary: reciprocal electric outlets. 5. Grammar
Expressing mutual action or relationship. Used of some verbs and compound
pronouns. 6. Mathematics Of or relating to the reciprocal of a quantity.
7. Physiology Of or relating to a neuromuscular phenomenon in
which the inhibition of one group of muscles accompanies the excitation of
another. 8. Genetics Of or being a pair of crosses in which the
male or female parent in one cross is of the same genotype or phenotype as the
complementary female or male parent in the other cross.§ n. 1.
Something that is reciprocal to something else. 2. Mathematics
A number related to another so that when multiplied together their product is
1. For example, the reciprocal of 7 is 1/7. [From Latin reciprocus,
alternating; see per 1 in App.] —re·cipro·cali·ty
(-kl-t),
re·cipro·cal·ness
(-kl-ns)
n. —re·cipro·cal·ly
adv.
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rep·a·ra·tion (rp-rshn)
n. 1. The act or process of repairing or the condition of being
repaired. 2. The act or process of making amends; expiation. 3. Something
done or paid to compensate or make amends. 4. reparations Compensation
or remuneration required from a defeated nation as indemnity for damage or
injury during a war. [Middle English reparacion < Old French <
Late Latin reparti
,
reparti
n-,
restoration < Latin repartus,
past participle of reparre,
to repair; see repair 1.]
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res·pi·ra·tion (rsp-rshn)
n. 1a. The act or process of inhaling and exhaling; breathing. b.
The act or process by which an organism without lungs, such as a plant,
exchanges gases with its environment. 2a. The oxidative process in
living cells by which the chemical energy of organic molecules is released in
metabolic steps involving the consumption of oxygen and the liberation of
carbon dioxide and water. b. Any of various analogous metabolic
processes by which certain organisms, such as fungi, obtain energy from organic
molecules. —respi·ration·al
adj.
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san·guine (snggwn)
adj. 1a. Of the color of blood; red. b. Of a healthy
reddish color; ruddy: a sanguine complexion. 2. Archaic a.
In medieval physiology, having blood as the dominant humor. b. Having
the temperament and ruddy complexion once thought to be characteristic of this
humor; passionate. 3. Cheerfully confident; optimistic. [Middle English
< Old French sanguin < Latin sanguineus < sanguis,
sanguin-, blood.] —sanguine·ly
adv. —sanguine·ness,
san·guini·ty
n.
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so·lil·o·quy (s-ll-kw)
n., pl. -quies 1a. A dramatic or literary form of
discourse in which a character reveals his or her thoughts when alone or unaware
of the presence of other characters. b. A specific speech or piece of
writing in this form of discourse. 2. The act of speaking to oneself.
[Late Latin sliloquium
: Latin slus,
alone; see s(w)e- in App. + Latin loqu,
to speak.] —so·lilo·quist
(-kwst),
so·lilo·quizer
(-kwzr)
n. —so·lilo·quize
(-kwz)
v.
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sub·ju·gate (sbj-gt)
tr.v. -gat·ed, -gat·ing, -gates 1. To bring under control;
conquer. See Syns at defeat. 2. To make subservient; enslave. [Middle
English subjugaten < Latin subiugre,
subiugt-
: sub-, sub- + iugum, yoke; see yeug- in App.] —subju·gation
n. —subju·gator
n.
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suf·fra·gist (sfr-jst)
n. An advocate of the extension of political voting rights, esp. to
women. —suffra·gism
n.
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su·per·cil·i·ous (spr-sl-s)
adj. Feeling or showing haughty disdain. See Syns at proud.
[Latin supercilisus
< supercilium, eyebrow, pride : super-, super- + cilium,
lower eyelid; see kel- in App.] —su