British Library Cataloguing Data
The concise Oxford dictionary of current English.--8th ed.
1. English language--Dictionaries
I. Allen, R. E. (Robert Edward), 1944-423
ISBN 0-19-861243-5 thumb index
ISBN 0-19-861200-1 plain
Taal n. (prec. by the) hist. an early form of Afrikaans. [Du., =
language, rel. to TALE]
TAB abbr. 1 typhoid-paratyphoid A and B vaccine. 2 Austral.
Totalizator Agency Board.
tab(1) n. & v. --n. 1 a a small flap or strip of material attached
for grasping, fastening, or hanging up, or for identification.
b a similar object as part of a garment etc. 2 US colloq. a
bill or price (picked up the tab). 3 Brit. Mil. a marking on
the collar distinguishing a staff officer. 4 a a stage-curtain.
b a loop for suspending this. --v.tr. (tabbed, tabbing)
provide with a tab or tabs. keep tabs (or a tab) on colloq. 1
keep account of. 2 have under observation or in check. [prob.
f. dial.: cf. TAG(1)]
tabard n. 1 a herald's official coat emblazoned with the arms of the
sovereign. 2 a woman's or girl's sleeveless jerkin. 3 hist. a
knight's short emblazoned garment worn over armour. [ME f. OF
tabart, of unkn. orig.]
tabaret n. an upholstery fabric of alternate satin and plain stripes.
[prob. f. TABBY]
tabasco n. 1 a pungent pepper made from the fruit of Capsicum
frutescens. 2 (Tabasco) propr. a sauce made from this used to
flavour food. [Tabasco in Mexico]
tabbouleh n. an Arabic vegetable salad made with cracked wheat. [Arab.
tabbula]
tabby n. (pl. -ies) 1 (in full tabby cat) a a grey or brownish cat
mottled or streaked with dark stripes. b any domestic cat, esp.
female. 2 a kind of watered silk. 3 a plain weave. [F tabis
(in sense 2) f. Arab. al-' attabiya the quarter of Baghdad
where tabby was manufactured: connection of other senses
uncert.]
tabernacle
n. 1 hist. a tent used as a sanctuary for the Ark of the
Covenant by the Israelites during the Exodus. 2 Eccl. a
canopied niche or receptacle esp. for the Eucharistic elements.
3 a place of worship in nonconformist creeds. 4 Bibl. a fixed
or movable habitation usu. of light construction. 5 Naut. a
socket or double post for a hinged mast that can be lowered to
pass under low bridges. feast of Tabernacles = SUCCOTH.
tabernacled adj. [ME f. OF tabernacle or L tabernaculum tent,
dimin. of taberna hut]
tabes n. Med. 1 emaciation. 2 locomotor ataxy; a form of
neurosyphilis. tabetic adj. [L, = wasting away]
tabla n. Ind. Mus. a pair of small drums played with the hands.
[Hind. f. Arab. tabla drum]
tablature n. Mus. an early form of notation indicating fingering (esp.
in playing the lute), rhythm, and features other than notes. [F
f. It. tavolatura f. tavolare set to music]
table n. & v. --n. 1 a piece of furniture with a flat top and one or
more legs, providing a level surface for eating, writing, or
working at, playing games on, etc. 2 a flat surface serving a
specified purpose (altar table; bird table). 3 a food provided
in a household (keeps a good table). b a group seated at table
for dinner etc. 4 a a set of facts or figures systematically
displayed, esp. in columns (a table of contents). b matter
contained in this. c = multiplication table. 5 a flat surface
for working on or for machinery to operate on. 6 a a slab of
wood or stone etc. for bearing an inscription. b matter
inscribed on this. 7 = TABLELAND. 8 Archit. a a flat usu.
rectangular vertical surface. b a horizontal moulding, esp. a
cornice. 9 a a flat surface of a gem. b a cut gem with two
flat faces. 10 each half or quarter of a folding board for
backgammon. 11 (prec. by the) Bridge the dummy hand. --v.tr.
1 bring forward for discussion or consideration at a meeting. 2
postpone consideration of (a matter). 3 Naut. strengthen (a
sail) with a wide hem. at table taking a meal at a table. lay
on the table 1 submit for discussion. 2 postpone indefinitely.
on the table offered for discussion. table knife a knife for
use at meals, esp. in eating a main course. table licence a
licence to serve alcoholic drinks only with meals. table linen
tablecloths, napkins, etc. table manners decorum or correct
behaviour while eating at table. table-mat a mat for protecting
a tabletop from hot dishes, etc. table salt salt that is
powdered or easy to powder for use at meals. table talk
miscellaneous informal talk at table. table tennis an indoor
game based on lawn tennis, played with small bats and a ball
bounced on a table divided by a net. table wine ordinary wine
for drinking with a meal. turn the tables (often foll. by on)
reverse one's relations (with), esp. by turning an inferior into
a superior position (orig. in backgammon). under the table
colloq. drunken after a meal. tableful n. (pl. -fuls).
tabling n. [ME f. OF f. L tabula plank, tablet, list]
tableau n. (pl. tableaux) 1 a picturesque presentation. 2 = TABLEAU
VIVANT. 3 a dramatic or effective situation suddenly brought
about. tableau curtains Theatr. a pair of curtains drawn open
by a diagonal cord. [F, = picture, dimin. of table: see TABLE]
tableau vivant
n. (pl. tableaux vivants pronunc. same) Theatr. a silent and
motionless group of people arranged to represent a scene. [F,
lit. 'living picture']
tablecloth
n. a cloth spread over the top of a table, esp. for meals.
table d'hte
n. a meal consisting of a set menu at a fixed price, esp. in a
hotel (cf. LA CARTE). [F, = host's table]
tableland n. an extensive elevated region with a level surface; a
plateau.
tablespoon
n. 1 a large spoon for serving food. 2 an amount held by this.
tablespoonful n. (pl. -fuls).
tablet n. 1 a small measured and compressed amount of a substance,
esp. of a medicine or drug. 2 a small flat piece of soap etc.
3 a flat slab of stone or wood, esp. for display or an
inscription. 4 Archit. = TABLE 8. 5 US a writing-pad. [ME f.
OF tablete f. Rmc, dimin. of L tabula TABLE]
tabletop n. 1 the top or surface of a table. 2 (attrib.) that can be
placed or used on a tabletop.
tableware n. dishes, plates, implements, etc., for use at meals.
tablier n. hist. an apron-like part of a woman's dress. [F]
tabloid n. 1 a newspaper, usu. popular in style with bold headlines and
large photographs, having pages of half size. 2 anything in a
compressed or concentrated form. [orig. the propr. name of a
medicine sold in tablets]
taboo n., adj., & v. (also tabu) --n. (pl. taboos or tabus) 1 a
system or the act of setting a person or thing apart as sacred
or accursed. 2 a prohibition or restriction imposed by social
custom. --adj. 1 avoided or prohibited, esp. by social custom
(taboo words). 2 designated as sacred and prohibited. --v.tr.
(taboos, tabooed or tabus, tabued) 1 put (a thing, practice,
etc.) under taboo. 2 exclude or prohibit by authority or social
influence. [Tongan tabu]
tabor n. hist. a small drum, esp. one used to accompany a pipe. [ME
f. OF tabour, tabur: cf. TABLA, Pers. tabira drum]
tabouret n. (US taboret) a low seat usu. without arms or a back. [F, =
stool, dimin. as TABOR]
tabu var. of TABOO.
tabular adj. 1 of or arranged in tables or lists. 2 broad and flat
like a table. 3 (of a crystal) having two broad flat faces. 4
formed in thin plates. tabularly adv. [L tabularis (as
TABLE)]
tabula rasa
n. 1 an erased tablet. 2 the human mind (esp. at birth) viewed
as having no innate ideas. [L, = scraped tablet]
tabulate v.tr. arrange (figures or facts) in tabular form. tabulation
n. [LL tabulare tabulat- f. tabula table]
tabulator n. 1 a person or thing that tabulates. 2 a device on a
typewriter for advancing to a sequence of set positions in
tabular work. 3 Computing a machine that produces lists or
tables from a data storage medium such as punched cards.
tacamahac n. 1 a resinous gum obtained from certain tropical trees esp.
of the genus Calophyllum. 2 a the balsam poplar. b the resin
of this. [obs. Sp. tacamahaca f. Aztec tecomahiyac]
tac-au-tac
n. Fencing a parry combined with a riposte. [F: imit.]
tacet v.intr. Mus. an instruction for a particular voice or
instrument to be silent. [L, = is silent]
tachism n. (also tachisme) a form of action painting with dabs of
colour arranged randomly to evoke a subconscious feeling. [F
tachisme f. tache stain]
tachistoscope
n. an instrument for very brief measured exposure of objects to
the eye. tachistoscopic adj. [Gk takhistos swiftest +
-SCOPE]
tacho n. (pl. -os) colloq. = TACHOMETER. [abbr.]
tacho- comb. form speed. [Gk takhos speed]
tachograph
n. a device used esp. in heavy goods vehicles and coaches etc.
for automatically recording speed and travel time.
tachometer
n. an instrument for measuring the rate of rotation of a shaft
and hence the speed or velocity of a vehicle.
tachy- comb. form swift. [Gk takhus swift]
tachycardia
n. Med. an abnormally rapid heart rate. [TACHY- + Gk kardia
heart]
tachygraphy
n. 1 stenography, esp. that of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
2 the abbreviated medieval writing of Greek and Latin.
tachygrapher n. tachygraphic adj. tachygraphical adj.
tachymeter
n. 1 Surveying an instrument used to locate points rapidly. 2
a speed-indicator.
tacit adj. understood or implied without being stated (tacit
consent). tacitly adv. [L tacitus silent f. tacere be
silent]
taciturn adj. reserved in speech; saying little; uncommunicative.
taciturnity n. taciturnly adv. [F taciturne or L taciturnus
(as TACIT)]
tack(1) n. & v. --n. 1 a small sharp broad-headed nail. 2 US a
drawing-pin. 3 a long stitch used in fastening fabrics etc.
lightly or temporarily together. 4 a the direction in which a
ship moves as determined by the position of its sails and
regarded in terms of the direction of the wind (starboard tack).
b a temporary change of direction in sailing to take advantage
of a side wind etc. 5 a course of action or policy (try another
tack). 6 Naut. a a rope for securing the corner of some sails.
b the corner to which this is fastened. 7 a sticky condition of
varnish etc. 8 Brit. an extraneous clause appended to a bill in
Parliament. --v. 1 tr. (often foll. by down etc.) fasten with
tacks. 2 tr. stitch (pieces of cloth etc.) lightly together. 3
tr. (foll. by to, on) annex (a thing). 4 intr. (often foll. by
about) a change a ship's course by turning its head to the wind
(cf. WEAR(2)). b make a series of tacks. 5 intr. change one's
conduct or policy etc. 6 tr. Brit. append (a clause) to a
bill. tacker n. [ME tak etc., of uncert. orig.: cf. Bibl.
tache clasp, link f. OF tache]
tack(2) n. the saddle, bridle, etc., of a horse. [shortened f.
TACKLE]
tackle n. & v. --n. 1 equipment for a task or sport (fishing-tackle).
2 a mechanism, esp. of ropes, pulley-blocks, hooks, etc., for
lifting weights, managing sails, etc. (block and tackle). 3 a
windlass with its ropes and hooks. 4 an act of tackling in
football etc. 5 Amer. Football a the position next to the end
of the forward line. b the player in this position. --v.tr. 1
try to deal with (a problem or difficulty). 2 grapple with or
try to overcome (an opponent). 3 enter into discussion with. 4
obstruct, intercept, or seize and stop (a player running with
the ball). 5 secure by means of tackle. tackle-block a pulley
over which a rope runs. tackle-fall a rope for applying force
to the blocks of a tackle. tackler n. tackling n. [ME,
prob. f. MLG takel f. taken lay hold of]
tacky(1) adj. (tackier, tackiest) (of glue or paint etc.) still slightly
sticky after application. tackiness n. [TACK(1) + -Y(1)]
tacky(2) adj. (tackier, tackiest) esp. US colloq. 1 showing poor taste
or style. 2 tatty or seedy. tackily adv. tackiness n.
[19th c.: orig. unkn.]
taco n. (pl. -os) a Mexican dish of meat etc. in a folded or rolled
tortilla. [Mex. Sp.]
tact n. 1 adroitness in dealing with others or with difficulties
arising from personal feeling. 2 intuitive perception of the
right thing to do or say. [F f. L tactus touch, sense of touch
f. tangere tact- touch]
tactful adj. having or showing tact. tactfully adv. tactfulness n.
tactic n. 1 a tactical manoeuvre. 2 = TACTICS. [mod.L tactica f. Gk
taktike (tekhne art): see TACTICS]
tactical adj. 1 of, relating to, or constituting tactics (a tactical
retreat). 2 (of bombing or weapons) done or for use in
immediate support of military or naval operations (opp.
STRATEGIC). 3 adroitly planning or planned. 4 (of voting)
aimed at preventing the strongest candidate from winning by
supporting the next strongest. tactically adv. [Gk taktikos
(as TACTICS)]
tactics n.pl. 1 (also treated as sing.) the art of disposing armed
forces esp. in contact with an enemy (cf. STRATEGY). 2 a the
plans and means adopted in carrying out a scheme or achieving
some end. b a skilful device or devices. tactician n.
[mod.L tactica f. Gk taktika neut.pl. f. taktos ordered f.
tasso arrange]
tactile adj. 1 of or connected with the sense of touch. 2 perceived by
touch. 3 tangible. 4 Art (in painting) producing or concerning
the effect of three-dimensional solidity. tactual adj. (in
senses 1, 2). tactility n. [L tactilis f. tangere tact-
touch]
tactless adj. having or showing no tact. tactlessly adv.
tactlessness n.
tad n. US colloq. a small amount (often used adverbially: a tad
too salty). [19th c.: orig. unkn.]
tadpole n. a larva of an amphibian, esp. a frog, toad, or newt in its
aquatic stage and breathing through gills. [ME taddepolle (as
TOAD, POLL(1) from the size of its head)]
taedium vitae
n. weariness of life (often as a pathological state, with a
tendency to suicide). [L]
taenia n. (US tenia) (pl. taeniae or taenias) 1 Archit. a fillet
between a Doric architrave and frieze. 2 Anat. any flat
ribbon-like structure, esp. the muscles of the colon. 3 any
large tapeworm of the genus Taenia, esp. T. saginata and T.
soleum, parasitic on humans. 4 Gk Antiq. a fillet or headband.
taenioid adj. [L f. Gk tainia ribbon]
taffeta n. a fine lustrous silk or silklike fabric. [ME f. OF taffetas
or med.L taffata, ult. f. Pers. tafta past part. of taftan
twist]
taffrail n. Naut. a rail round a ship's stern. [earlier tafferel f.
Du. taffereel panel, dimin. of tafel (as TABLE): assim. to
RAIL(1)]
Taffy n. (pl. -ies) colloq. often offens. a Welshman. [supposed
Welsh pronunc. of Davy = David (Welsh Dafydd)]
taffy n. (pl. -ies) US 1 a confection like toffee. 2 insincere
flattery. [19th c.: orig. unkn.]
tafia n. W.Ind. rum distilled from molasses etc. [18th c.: orig.
uncert.]
tag(1) n. & v. --n. 1 a label, esp. one for tying on an object to
show its address, price, etc. 2 a metal or plastic point at the
end of a lace etc. to assist insertion. 3 a loop at the back of
a boot used in pulling it on. 4 US a licence plate of a motor
vehicle. 5 a loose or ragged end of anything. 6 a ragged lock
of wool on a sheep. 7 Theatr. a closing speech addressed to the
audience. 8 a trite quotation or stock phrase. 9 a the refrain
of a song. b a musical phrase added to the end of a piece. 10
an animal's tail, or its tip. --v.tr. (tagged, tagging) 1
provide with a tag or tags. 2 (often foll. by on, on to) join
or attach. 3 colloq. follow closely or trail behind. 4
Computing identify (an item of data) by its type for later
retrieval. 5 label radioactively (see LABEL v. 3). 6 a find
rhymes for (verses). b string (rhymes) together. 7 shear away
tags from (sheep). tag along (often foll. by with) go along or
accompany passively. tag end esp. US the last remnant of
something. [ME: orig. unkn.]
tag(2) n. & v. --n. 1 a children's game in which one chases the rest,
and anyone who is caught then becomes the pursuer. 2 Baseball
the act of tagging a runner. --v.tr. (tagged, tagging) 1 touch
in a game of tag. 2 (often foll. by out) put (a runner) out by
touching with the ball or with the hand holding the ball. [18th
c.: orig. unkn.]
Tagalog n. & adj. --n. 1 a member of the principal people of the
Philippine Islands. 2 the language of this people. --adj. of
or relating to this people or language. [Tagalog f. taga
native + ilog river]
tagetes n. any plant of the genus Tagetes, esp. any of various
marigolds with bright orange or yellow flowers. [mod.L f. L
Tages an Etruscan god]
tagliatelle
n. a form of pasta in narrow ribbons. [It.]
Tahitian n. & adj. --n. 1 a native or national of Tahiti in the S.
Pacific. 2 the language of Tahiti. --adj. of or relating to
Tahiti or its people or language.
tahr n. any goatlike mammal of the genus Hemitragus, esp. H.
jemlahicus of the Himalayas. [native name in Nepal]
tahsil n. an administrative area in parts of India. [Urdu tahsil f.
Arab., = collection]
t'ai chi chu'an
n. (also t'ai chi) a Chinese martial art and system of
callisthenics consisting of sequences of very slow controlled
movements. [Chin., = great ultimate boxing]
Taig n. sl. offens. (in Northern Ireland) a Protestant name for a
Catholic. [var. of Teague, Anglicized spelling of the Irish
name Tadhg, a nickname for an Irishman]
taiga n. coniferous forest lying between tundra and steppe, esp. in
Siberia. [Russ.]
tail(1) n. & v. 1 the hindmost part of an animal, esp. when prolonged
beyond the rest of the body. 2 a a thing like a tail in form or
position, esp. something extending downwards or outwards at an
extremity. b the rear end of anything, e.g. of a procession. c
a long train or line of people, vehicles, etc. 3 a the rear
part of an aeroplane, with the tailplane and rudder, or of a
rocket. b the rear part of a motor vehicle. 4 the luminous
trail of particles following a comet. 5 a the inferior or
weaker part of anything, esp. in a sequence. b Cricket the end
of the batting order, with the weakest batsmen. 6 a the part of
a shirt below the waist. b the hanging part of the back of a
coat. 7 (in pl.) colloq. a a tailcoat. b evening dress
including this. 8 (in pl.) the reverse of a coin as a choice
when tossing. 9 colloq. a person following or shadowing
another. 10 an extra strip attached to the lower end of a kite.
11 the stem of a note in music. 12 the part of a letter (e.g.
y) below the line. 13 a the exposed end of a slate or tile in a
roof. b the unexposed end of a brick or stone in a wall. 14
the slender backward prolongation of a butterfly's wing. 15 a
comparative calm at the end of a gale. 16 a calm stretch
following rough water in a stream. --v. 1 tr. remove the
stalks of (fruit). 2 tr. & (foll. by after) intr. colloq.
shadow or follow closely. 3 tr. provide with a tail. 4 tr.
dock the tail of (a lamb etc.). 5 tr. (often foll. by on to)
join (one thing to another). on a person's tail closely
following a person. tail back (of traffic) form a tailback.
tail covert any of the feathers covering the base of a bird's
tail feathers. tail-end 1 the hindmost or lowest or last part.
2 (sense 5 of the n.). tail-ender a person at the tail-end of
something, esp. in cricket and athletic races. tail in fasten
(timber) by one end into a wall etc. tail-light (or -lamp) US a
light at the rear of a train, motor vehicle, or bicycle. tail
off (or away) 1 become fewer, smaller, or slighter. 2 fall
behind or away in a scattered line. tail-off n. a decline or
gradual reduction, esp. in demand. tail-race the part of a
mill-race below the water-wheel. tail-skid a support for the
tail of an aircraft when on the ground. tail wind a wind
blowing in the direction of travel of a vehicle or aircraft etc.
with one's tail between one's legs in a state of dejection or
humiliation. with one's tail up in good spirits; cheerful.
tailed adj. (also in comb.). tailless adj. [OE tgl, tgel
f. Gmc]
tail(2) n. & adj. Law --n. limitation of ownership, esp. of an estate
limited to a person and that person's heirs. --adj. so limited
(estate tail; fee tail). in tail under such a limitation. [ME
f. OF taille notch, cut, tax, f. taillier cut ult. f. L talea
twig]
tailback n. a long line of traffic extending back from an obstruction.
tailboard n. a hinged or removable flap at the rear of a lorry etc.
tailcoat n. a man's morning or evening coat with a long skirt divided at
the back into tails and cut away in front, worn as part of
formal dress.
tailgate n. & v. --n. 1 esp. US a = TAILBOARD. b the tail door of an
estate car or hatchback. 2 the lower end of a canal lock. --v.
US colloq. 1 intr. drive too closely behind another vehicle. 2
tr. follow (a vehicle) too closely. tailgater n.
tailing n. 1 (in pl.) the refuse or inferior part of grain or ore etc.
2 the part of a beam or projecting brick etc. embedded in a
wall.
tailor n. & v. --n. a maker of clothes, esp. one who makes men's outer
garments to measure. --v. 1 tr. make (clothes) as a tailor. 2
tr. make or adapt for a special purpose. 3 intr. work as or be
a tailor. 4 tr. (esp. as tailored adj.) make clothes for (he
was immaculately tailored). 5 tr. (as tailored adj.) =
tailor-made. tailor-bird any small Asian etc. bird of the
genus Orthotomus that stitches leaves together to form a nest.
tailor-made adj. 1 (of clothing) made to order by a tailor. 2
made or suited for a particular purpose (a job tailor-made for
me). --n. a tailor-made garment. tailor's chair a chair
without legs for sitting cross-legged like a tailor at work.
tailor's twist a fine strong silk thread used by tailors.
tailoring n. [ME & AF taillour, OF tailleur cutter, formed as
TAIL(2)]
tailored adj. (of clothing) well or closely fitted.
tailpiece n. 1 an appendage at the rear of anything. 2 the final part of
a thing. 3 a decoration in a blank space at the end of a
chapter etc. in a book. 4 a piece of wood to which the strings
of some musical instruments are attached at their lower ends.
tailpipe n. the rear section of the exhaust pipe of a motor vehicle.
tailplane n. a horizontal aerofoil at the tail of an aircraft.
tailspin n. & v. --n. 1 a spin (see SPIN n. 2) by an aircraft with the
tail spiralling. 2 a state of chaos or panic. --v.intr.
(-spinning; past and past part. -spun) perform a tailspin.
tailstock n. the adjustable part of a lathe holding the fixed spindle.
taint n. & v. --n. 1 a spot or trace of decay, infection, or some
bad quality. 2 a corrupt condition or infection. --v. 1 tr.
affect with a taint. 2 tr. (foll. by with) affect slightly. 3
intr. become tainted. taintless adj. [ME, partly f. OF
teint(e) f. L tinctus f. tingere dye, partly f. ATTAINT]
taipan(1) n. the head of a foreign business in China. [Chin.]
taipan(2) n. a large venomous Australian snake, Oxyuranus microlepidotus.
[Aboriginal]
taj n. a tall conical cap worn by a dervish. [Arab. taj]
takahe n. = NOTORNIS. [Maori]
take v. & n. --v. (took; taken) 1 tr. lay hold of; get into one's
hands. 2 tr. acquire, get possession of, capture, earn, or win.
3 tr. get the use of by purchase or formal agreement (take
lodgings). 4 tr. (in a recipe) avail oneself of; use. 5 tr.
use as a means of transport (took a taxi). 6 tr. regularly buy
or subscribe to (a particular newspaper or periodical etc.). 7
tr. obtain after fulfilling the required conditions (take a
degree). 8 tr. occupy (take a chair). 9 tr. make use of (take
the next turning on the left). 10 tr. consume as food or
medicine (took tea; took the pills). 11 intr. a be successful
or effective (the inoculation did not take). b (of a plant,
seed, etc.) begin to grow. 12 tr. require or use up (will only
take a minute; these things take time). 13 tr. cause to come or
go with one; convey (take the book home; the bus will take you
all the way). 14 tr. remove; dispossess a person of (someone
has taken my pen). 15 tr. catch or be infected with (fire or
fever etc.). 16 tr. a experience or be affected by (take
fright; take pleasure). b give play to (take comfort). c exert
(take courage; take no notice). 17 tr. find out and note (a
name and address; a person's temperature etc.) by enquiry or
measurement. 18 tr. grasp mentally; understand (I take your
point; I took you to mean yes). 19 tr. treat or regard in a
specified way (took the news calmly; took it badly). 20 tr.
(foll. by for) regard as being (do you take me for an idiot?).
21 tr. a accept (take the offer). b submit to (take a joke;
take no nonsense; took a risk). 22 tr. choose or assume (took a
different view; took a job; took the initiative). 23 tr. derive
(takes its name from the inventor). 24 tr. (foll. by from)
subtract (take 3 from 9). 25 tr. execute, make, or undertake;
perform or effect (take notes; take an oath; take a decision;
take a look). 26 tr. occupy or engage oneself in; indulge in;
enjoy (take a rest; take exercise; take a holiday). 27 tr.
conduct (took the school assembly). 28 tr. deal with in a
certain way (took the corner too fast). 29 tr. a teach or be
taught (a subject). b be examined in (a subject). 30 tr. make
(a photograph) with a camera; photograph (a person or thing).
31 tr. use as an instance (let us take Napoleon). 32 tr. Gram.
have or require as part of the appropriate construction (this
verb takes an object). 33 tr. have sexual intercourse with (a
woman). 34 tr. (in passive; foll. by by, with) be attracted or
charmed by. --n. 1 an amount taken or caught in one session or
attempt etc. 2 a scene or sequence of film photographed
continuously at one time. 3 esp. US takings, esp. money
received at a theatre for seats. 4 Printing the amount of copy
set up at one time. be taken ill become ill, esp. suddenly.
have what it takes colloq. have the necessary qualities etc.
for success. take account of see ACCOUNT. take action see
ACTION. take advantage of see ADVANTAGE. take advice see
ADVICE. take after resemble (esp. a parent or ancestor). take
against begin to dislike, esp. impulsively. take aim see AIM.
take apart 1 dismantle. 2 colloq. beat or defeat. take aside
see ASIDE. take as read accept without reading or discussing.
take away 1 remove or carry elsewhere. 2 subtract. 3 Brit. buy
(food etc.) at a shop or restaurant for eating elsewhere.
take-away Brit. attrib.adj. (of food) bought at a shop or
restaurant for eating elsewhere. --n. 1 an establishment
selling this. 2 the food itself (let's get a take-away). take
back 1 retract (a statement). 2 convey (a person or thing) to
his or her or its original position. 3 carry (a person) in
thought to a past time. 4 Printing transfer to the previous
line. take the biscuit (or bun or cake) colloq. be the most
remarkable. take a bow see BOW(2). take care of see CARE.
take a chance etc. see CHANCE. take down 1 write down (spoken
words). 2 remove (a structure) by separating it into pieces. 3
humiliate. take effect see EFFECT. take for granted see GRANT.
take fright see FRIGHT. take from diminish; weaken; detract
from. take heart be encouraged. take hold see HOLD(1).
take-home pay the pay received by an employee after the
deduction of tax etc. take ill (US sick) colloq. be taken ill.
take in 1 receive as a lodger etc. 2 undertake (work) at home.
3 make (a garment etc.) smaller. 4 understand (did you take
that in?). 5 cheat (managed to take them all in). 6 include or
comprise. 7 colloq. visit (a place) on the way to another
(shall we take in Avebury?). 8 furl (a sail). 9 Brit.
regularly buy (a newspaper etc.). take-in n. a deception.
take in hand 1 undertake; start doing or dealing with. 2
undertake the control or reform of (a person). take into
account see ACCOUNT. take it 1 (often foll. by that + clause)
assume (I take it that you have finished). 2 colloq. endure a
difficulty or hardship in a specified way (took it badly). take
it easy see EASY. take it from me (or take my word for it) I
can assure you. take it ill resent it. take it into one's head
see HEAD. take it on one (or oneself) (foll. by to + infin.)
venture or presume. take it or leave it (esp. in imper.) an
expression of indifference or impatience about another's
decision after making an offer. take it out of 1 exhaust the
strength of. 2 have revenge on. take it out on relieve one's
frustration by attacking or treating harshly. take one's leave
of see LEAVE(2). take a lot of (or some) doing be hard to do.
take a person's name in vain see VAIN. take off 1 a remove
(clothing) from one's or another's body. b remove or lead away.
2 deduct (part of an amount). 3 depart, esp. hastily (took off
in a fast car). 4 colloq. mimic humorously. 5 jump from the
ground. 6 become airborne. 7 (of a scheme, enterprise, etc.)
become successful or popular. 8 have (a period) away from work.
take-off 1 the act of becoming airborne. 2 an act of mimicking.
3 a place from which one jumps. take oneself off go away. take
on 1 undertake (work etc.). 2 engage (an employee). 3 be
willing or ready to meet (an adversary in sport, argument, etc.,
esp. a stronger one). 4 acquire (a new meaning etc.). 5
colloq. show strong emotion. take orders see ORDER. take out 1
remove from within a place; extract. 2 escort on an outing. 3
get (a licence or summons etc.) issued. 4 US = take away 3. 5
Bridge remove (a partner or a partner's call) from a suit by
bidding a different one or no trumps. 6 murder or destroy.
take a person out of himself or herself make a person forget his
or her worries. take over 1 succeed to the management or
ownership of. 2 take control. 3 Printing transfer to the next
line. take-over n. the assumption of control (esp. of a
business); the buying-out of one company by another. take part
see PART. take place see PLACE. take a person's point see
POINT. take shape assume a distinct form; develop into
something definite. take sides see SIDE. take stock see STOCK.
take the sun see SUN. take that! an exclamation accompanying a
blow etc. take one's time not hurry. take to 1 begin or fall
into the habit of (took to smoking). 2 have recourse to. 3
adapt oneself to. 4 form a liking for. take to heart see
HEART. take to one's heels see HEEL(1). take to pieces see
PIECE. take the trouble see TROUBLE. take up 1 become
interested or engaged in (a pursuit). 2 adopt as a protg. 3
occupy (time or space). 4 begin (residence etc.). 5 resume
after an interruption. 6 interrupt or question (a speaker). 7
accept (an offer etc.). 8 shorten (a garment). 9 lift up. 10
absorb (sponges take up water). 11 take (a person) into a
vehicle. 12 pursue (a matter etc.) further. take a person up
on accept (a person's offer etc.). take up with begin to
associate with. takable adj. (also takeable). [OE tacan f.
ON taka]
taker n. 1 a person who takes a bet. 2 a person who accepts an
offer.
takin n. a large Tibetan horned ruminant, Budorcas taxicolor.
[Mishmi]
taking adj. & n. --adj. 1 attractive or captivating. 2 catching or
infectious. --n. (in pl.) an amount of money taken in business.
takingly adv. takingness n.
tala n. any of the traditional rhythmic patterns of Indian music.
[Skr.]
talapoin n. 1 a Buddhist monk or priest. 2 a small West African monkey,
Miopithecus talapoin. [Port. talapo f. Talaing tala pi my
lord]
talaria n.pl. (in Roman mythology) winged sandals as an attribute of
Mercury, Iris, and others. [L, neut. pl. of talaris f. talus
ankle]
talc n. & v. --n. 1 talcum powder. 2 any crystalline form of
magnesium silicate that occurs in soft flat plates, usu. white
or pale green in colour and used as a lubricator etc. --v.tr.
(talcked, talcking) treat (a surface) with talc to lubricate or
dry it. talcose adj. talcous adj. talcy adj. (in sense 1).
[F talc or med.L talcum, f. Arab. talk f. Pers. talk]
talcum n. 1 = TALC. 2 (in full talcum powder) powdered talc for
toilet and cosmetic use, usu. perfumed. [med.L: see TALC]
tale n. 1 a narrative or story, esp. fictitious and imaginatively
treated. 2 a report of an alleged fact, often malicious or in
breach of confidence (all sorts of tales will get about). 3
archaic or literary a number or total (the tale is complete).
tale of a tub an idle fiction. [OE talu f. Gmc: cf. TELL(1)]
talebearer
n. a person who maliciously gossips or reveals secrets.
talebearing n. & adj.
talent n. 1 a special aptitude or faculty (a talent for music; has
real talent). 2 high mental ability. 3 a a person or persons
of talent (is a real talent; plenty of local talent). b colloq.
members of the opposite sex regarded in terms of sexual promise.
4 an ancient weight and unit of currency, esp. among the Greeks.
talent-scout (or -spotter) a person looking for talented
performers, esp. in sport and entertainment. talented adj.
talentless adj. [OE talente & OF talent f. L talentum
inclination of mind f. Gk talanton balance, weight, sum of
money]
tales n. Law 1 a writ for summoning jurors to supply a deficiency. 2
a list of persons who may be summoned. [ME f. L tales (de
circumstantibus) such (of the bystanders), the first words of
the writ]
talesman n. (pl. -men) Law a person summoned by a tales.
taleteller
n. 1 a person who tells stories. 2 a person who spreads
malicious reports.
tali pl. of TALUS(1).
talion n. = LEX TALIONIS. [ME f. OF f. L talio -onis f. talis such]
talipes n. Med. = club-foot. [mod.L f. L talus ankle + pes foot]
talipot n. a tall S. Indian palm, Corypha umbraculifera, with very
large fan-shaped leaves that are used as sunshades etc.
[Malayalam talipat, Hindi talpat f. Skr. talapattra f. tala
palm + pattra leaf]
talisman n. (pl. talismans) 1 an object, esp. an inscribed ring or
stone, supposed to be endowed with magic powers esp. of averting
evil from or bringing good luck to its holder. 2 a charm or
amulet; a thing supposed capable of working wonders.
talismanic adj. [F & Sp., = It. talismano, f. med.Gk
telesmon, Gk telesma completion, religious rite f. teleo
complete f. telos end]
talk v. & n. --v. 1 intr. (often foll. by to, with) converse or
communicate ideas by spoken words. 2 intr. have the power of
speech. 3 intr. (foll. by about) a have as the subject of
discussion. b (in imper.) colloq. as an emphatic statement
(talk about expense! It cost me 50). 4 tr. express or utter in
words; discuss (you are talking nonsense; talked cricket all
day). 5 tr. use (a language) in speech (is talking Spanish). 6
intr. (foll. by at) address pompously. 7 tr. (usu. foll. by
into, out of) bring into a specified condition etc. by talking
(talked himself hoarse; how did you talk them into it?; talked
them out of the difficulty). 8 intr. reveal (esp. secret)
information; betray secrets. 9 intr. gossip (people are
beginning to talk). 10 intr. have influence (money talks). 11
intr. communicate by radio. --n. 1 conversation or talking. 2
a particular mode of speech (baby-talk). 3 an informal address
or lecture. 4 a rumour or gossip (there is talk of a merger).
b its theme (their success was the talk of the town). 5 (often
in pl.) extended discussions or negotiations. know what one is
talking about be expert or authoritative. now you're talking
colloq. I like what you say, suggest, etc. talk away 1 consume
(time) in talking. 2 carry on talking (talk away! I'm
listening). talk back 1 reply defiantly. 2 respond on a
two-way radio system. talk big colloq. talk boastfully. talk
down to speak patronizingly or condescendingly to. talk a
person down 1 silence a person by greater loudness or
persistence. 2 bring (a pilot or aircraft) to landing by radio
instructions from the ground. talk the hind leg off a donkey
talk incessantly. talk nineteen to the dozen see DOZEN. talk
of 1 discuss or mention. 2 (often foll. by verbal noun) express
some intention of (talked of moving to London). talk of the
town what is being talked about generally. talk out Brit.
block the course of (a bill in Parliament) by prolonging
discussion to the time of adjournment. talk over discuss at
length. talk a person over (or round) gain agreement or
compliance from a person by talking. talk shop talk, esp.
tediously or inopportunely, about one's occupation, business,
etc. talk show = chat show (see CHAT(1)). talk tall boast.
talk through one's hat (or neck) colloq. 1 exaggerate. 2
bluff. 3 talk wildly or nonsensically. talk to reprove or
scold (a person). talk to oneself soliloquize. talk turkey see
TURKEY. talk up discuss (a subject) in order to arouse interest
in it. you can't (or can) talk colloq. a reproof that the
person addressed is just as culpable etc. in the matter at
issue. talker n. [ME talken frequent. verb f. TALE or
TELL(1)]
talkathon n. colloq. a prolonged session of talking or discussion.
[TALK + MARATHON]
talkative adj. fond of or given to talking. talkatively adv.
talkativeness n.
talkback n. 1 (often attrib.) a system of two-way communication by
loudspeaker. 2 Austral. & NZ = phone-in (see PHONE(1)).
talkie n. esp. US colloq. a film with a soundtrack, as distinct from
a silent film. [TALK + -IE, after movie]
talking adj. & n. --adj. 1 that talks. 2 having the power of speech
(a talking parrot). 3 expressive (talking eyes). --n. in
senses of TALK v. talking book a recorded reading of a book,
esp. for the blind. talking film (or picture) a film with a
soundtrack. talking head colloq. a presenter etc. on
television, speaking to the camera and viewed in close-up.
talking of while we are discussing (talking of food, what time
is lunch?). talking-point a topic for discussion or argument.
talking-shop derog. an institution regarded as a place of
argument rather than action. talking-to colloq. a reproof or
reprimand (gave them a good talking-to).
tall adj. & adv. --adj. 1 of more than average height. 2 of a
specified height (looks about six feet tall). 3 higher than the
surrounding objects (a tall building). 4 colloq. extravagant or
excessive (a tall story; tall talk). --adv. as if tall;
proudly; in a tall or extravagant way (sit tall). tall drink a
drink served in a tall glass. tall hat = top hat (see TOP(1)).
tall order an exorbitant or unreasonable demand. tall ship a
sailing ship with a high mast. tallish adj. tallness n.
[ME, repr. OE getl swift, prompt]
tallage n. hist. 1 a form of taxation on towns etc., abolished in the
14th c. 2 a tax on feudal dependants etc. [ME f. OF taillage
f. tailler cut: see TAIL(2)]
tallboy n. a tall chest of drawers sometimes in lower and upper
sections or mounted on legs.
tallith n. a scarf worn by Jews esp. at prayer. [Rabbinical Heb.
tallit f. tillel to cover]
tallow n. & v. --n. the harder kinds of (esp. animal) fat melted down
for use in making candles, soap, etc. --v.tr. grease with
tallow. tallow-tree any of various trees, esp. Sapium
sebiferum of China, yielding vegetable tallow. vegetable tallow
a vegetable fat used as tallow. tallowish adj. tallowy adj.
[ME talg, talug, f. MLG talg, talch, of unkn. orig.]
tally n. & v. --n. (pl. -ies) 1 the reckoning of a debt or score.
2 a total score or amount. 3 a a mark registering a fixed
number of objects delivered or received. b such a number as a
unit. 4 hist. a a piece of wood scored across with notches for
the items of an account and then split into halves, each party
keeping one. b an account kept in this way. 5 a ticket or
label for identification. 6 a corresponding thing, counterpart,
or duplicate. --v. (-ies, -ied) (often foll. by with) 1 intr.
agree or correspond. 2 tr. record or reckon by tally. tally
clerk an official who keeps a tally of goods, esp. those loaded
or unloaded in docks. tally sheet a paper on which a tally is
kept. tally system a system of sale on short credit or
instalments with an account kept by tally. tallier n. [ME f.
AF tallie, AL tallia, talia f. L talea: cf. TAIL(2)]
tally-ho int., n., & v. --int. a huntsman's cry to the hounds on
sighting a fox. --n. (pl. -hos) an utterance of this. --v.
(-hoes, -hoed) 1 intr. utter a cry of 'tally-ho'. 2 tr.
indicate (a fox) or urge (hounds) with this cry. [cf. F taaut]
tallyman n. (pl. -men) 1 a person who keeps a tally. 2 a person who
sells goods on credit, esp. from door to door.
Talmud n. the body of Jewish civil and ceremonial law and legend
comprising the Mishnah and the Gemara. Talmudic adj.
Talmudical adj. Talmudist n. [late Heb. talmd instruction f.
Heb. lamad learn]
talon n. 1 a claw, esp. of a bird of prey. 2 the cards left after
the deal in a card-game. 3 the last part of a dividend-coupon
sheet, entitling the holder to a new sheet on presentation. 4
the shoulder of a bolt against which the key presses in shooting
it in a lock. 5 an ogee moulding. taloned adj. (also in
comb.). [ME f. OF, = heel, ult. f. L talus: see TALUS(1)]
talus(1) n. (pl. tali) Anat. the ankle-bone supporting the tibia. Also
called ASTRAGALUS. [L, = ankle, heel]
talus(2) n. (pl. taluses) 1 the slope of a wall that tapers to the top
or rests against a bank. 2 Geol. a sloping mass of fragments at
the foot of a cliff. [F: orig. unkn.]
TAM abbr. television audience measurement.
tam n. a tam-o'-shanter. [abbr.]
tamable var. of TAMEABLE.
tamale n. a Mexican food of seasoned meat and maize flour steamed or
baked in maize husks. [Mex. Sp. tamal, pl. tamales]
tamandua n. any small Central and S. American arboreal anteater of the
genus Tamandua, with a prehensile tail used in climbing .
[Port. f. Tupi tamandu]
tamarack n. 1 an American larch, Larix laricina. 2 the wood from this.
[Amer. Ind.]
tamarillo n. (pl. -os) esp. Austral. & NZ = tree tomato. [arbitrary
marketing name: cf. Sp. tomatillo dimin. of tomate TOMATO]
tamarin n. any S. American usu. insect-eating monkey of the genus
Saguinus, having hairy crests and moustaches. [F f. Carib]
tamarind n. 1 a tropical evergreen tree, Tamarindus indica. 2 the fruit
of this, containing an acid pulp used as food and in making
drinks. [med.L tamarindus f. Arab. tamr-hindi Indian date]
tamarisk n. any shrub of the genus Tamarix, usu. with long slender
branches and small pink or white flowers, that thrives by the
sea. [ME f. LL tamariscus, L tamarix]
tambour n. & v. --n. 1 a drum. 2 a a circular frame for holding
fabric taut while it is being embroidered. b material
embroidered in this way. 3 Archit. each of a sequence of
cylindrical stones forming the shaft of a column. 4 Archit. the
circular part of various structures. 5 Archit. a lobby with a
ceiling and folding doors in a church porch etc. to obviate
draughts. 6 a sloping buttress or projection in a fives-court
etc. --v.tr. (also absol.) decorate or embroider on a tambour.
[F f. tabour TABOR]
tamboura n. Mus. an Indian stringed instrument used as a drone. [Arab.
tanbura]
tambourin n. 1 a long narrow drum used in Provence. 2 a a dance
accompanied by a tambourin. b the music for this. [F, dimin.
of TAMBOUR]
tambourine
n. a percussion instrument consisting of a hoop with a
parchment stretched over one side and jingling discs in slots
round the hoop. tambourinist n. [F, dimin. of TAMBOUR]
tame adj. & v. --adj. 1 (of an animal) domesticated; not wild or
shy. 2 insipid; lacking spirit or interest; dull (tame
acquiescence). 3 (of a person) amenable and available. 4 US a
(of land) cultivated. b (of a plant) produced by cultivation.
--v.tr. 1 make tame; domesticate; break in. 2 subdue, curb,
humble; break the spirit of. tamely adv. tameness n. tamer
n. (also in comb.). [OE tam f. Gmc]
tameable adj. (also tamable) capable of being tamed. tameability n.
tameableness n.
Tamil n. & adj. --n. 1 a member of a Dravidian people inhabiting
South India and Sri Lanka. 2 the language of this people.
--adj. of this people or their language. Tamilian adj.
[native name Tamil, rel. to DRAVIDIAN]
Tammany n. (also Tammany Hall) US 1 a corrupt political organization or
group. 2 corrupt political activities. Tammanyism n. [orig.
the name of a benevolent society in New York with headquarters
at Tammany Hall, which later became the headquarters of the
Democratic Party in New York]
tammy n. (pl. -ies) = TAM-O'-SHANTER.
tam-o'-shanter
n. a round woollen or cloth cap of Scottish origin fitting
closely round the brows but large and full above. [the hero of
Burns's Tam o' Shanter]
tamp v.tr. 1 pack (a blast-hole) full of clay etc. to get the full
force of an explosion. 2 ram down (road material etc.).
tamper n. tamping n. (in sense 1). [perh. back-form. f. F
tampin (var. of TAMPION, taken as = tamping]
tamper v.intr. (foll. by with) 1 meddle with or make unauthorized
changes in. 2 exert a secret or corrupt influence upon; bribe.
tamperer n. tamper-proof adj. [var. of TEMPER]
tampion n. (also tompion) 1 a wooden stopper for the muzzle of a gun.
2 a plug e.g. for the top of an organ-pipe. [ME f. F tampon,
nasalized var. of tapon, rel. to TAP(1)]
tampon n. & v. --n. a plug of soft material used to stop a wound or
absorb secretions, esp. one inserted into the vagina. --v.tr.
(tamponed, tamponing) plug with a tampon. [F: see TAMPION]
tamponade n. compression of the heart by an accumulation of fluid in the
pericardial sac.
tamponage n. = TAMPONADE.
tam-tam n. a large metal gong. [Hindi: see TOM-TOM]
tan(1) n., adj., & v. --n. 1 a brown skin colour resulting from
exposure to ultraviolet light. 2 a yellowish-brown colour. 3
bark, esp. of oak, bruised and used to tan hides. 4 (in full
spent tan) tan from which the tannic acid has been extracted,
used for covering roads etc. --adj. yellowish-brown. --v.
(tanned, tanning) 1 tr. & intr. make or become brown by exposure
to ultraviolet light. 2 tr. convert (raw hide) into leather by
soaking in a liquid containing tannic acid or by the use of
mineral salts etc. 3 tr. sl. beat, thrash. tannable adj.
tanning n. tannish adj. [OE tannian, prob. f. med.L tanare,
tannare, perh. f. Celtic]
tan(2) abbr. tangent.
tanager n. any small American bird of the subfamily Thraupinae, the
male usu. having brightly-coloured plumage. [mod.L tanagra f.
Tupi tangara]
tanbark n. the bark of oak and other trees, used to obtain tannin.
tandem n. & adv. --n. 1 a bicycle or tricycle with two or more seats
one behind another. 2 a group of two persons or machines etc.
with one behind or following the other. 3 a carriage driven
tandem. --adv. with two or more horses harnessed one behind
another (drive tandem). in tandem one behind another. [L, =
at length (of time), used punningly]
tandoor n. a clay oven. [Hind.]
tandoori n. food cooked over charcoal in a tandoor (often attrib.:
tandoori chicken). [Hind.]
Tang n. 1 a dynasty ruling China 618- c.906. 2 (attrib.)
designating art and artefacts of this period. [Chin. tng]
tang(1) n. 1 a strong taste or flavour or smell. 2 a characteristic
quality. 3 the projection on the blade of a tool, esp. a knife,
by which the blade is held firm in the handle. [ME f. ON tange
point, tang of a knife]
tang(2) v. & n. --v.tr. & intr. ring, clang; sound loudly. --n. a
tanging sound. [imit.]
tanga n. a skimpy bikini of small panels connected with strings.
[Port.]
tangelo n. (pl. -os) a hybrid of the tangerine and grapefruit.
[TANGERINE + POMELO]
tangent n. & adj. --n. 1 a straight line, curve, or surface that meets
another curve or curved surface at a point, but if extended does
not intersect it at that point. 2 the ratio of the sides
opposite and adjacent to an angle in a right-angled triangle.
--adj. 1 (of a line or surface) that is a tangent. 2 touching.
at a tangent diverging from a previous course of action or
thought etc. (go off at a tangent). tangent galvanometer a
galvanometer with a coil through which the current to be
measured is passed, its strength being proportional to the
tangent of the angle of deflection. tangency n. [L tangere
tangent- touch]
tangential
adj. 1 of or along a tangent. 2 divergent. 3 peripheral.
tangentially adv.
tangerine n. 1 a small sweet orange-coloured citrus fruit with a thin
skin; a mandarin. 2 a deep orange-yellow colour. [Tangier in
Morocco]
tangible adj. 1 perceptible by touch. 2 definite; clearly intelligible;
not elusive or visionary (tangible proof). tangibility n.
tangibleness n. tangibly adv. [F tangible or LL tangibilis f.
tangere touch]
tangle(1) v. & n. --v. 1 a tr. intertwine (threads or hairs etc.) in a
confused mass; entangle. b intr. become tangled. 2 intr.
(foll. by with) colloq. become involved (esp. in conflict or
argument) with (don't tangle with me). 3 tr. complicate (a
tangled affair). --n. 1 a confused mass of intertwined threads
etc. 2 a confused or complicated state (be in a tangle; a love
tangle). [ME var. of obs. tagle, of uncert. orig.]
tangle(2) n. any of various seaweeds, esp. of the genus Laminaria or
Fucus. [prob. f. Norw. taangel f. ON thngull]
tangly adj. (tanglier, tangliest) tangled.
tango(1) n. & v. --n. (pl. -os) 1 a slow S. American ballroom dance.
2 the music for this. --v.intr. (-oes, -oed) dance the tango.
[Amer. Sp.]
tango(2) n. a tangerine colour. [abbr. after TANGO(1)]
tangram n. a Chinese puzzle square cut into seven pieces to be combined
into various figures. [19th c.: orig. unkn.]
tangy adj. (tangier, tangiest) having a strong usu. spicy tang.
tanginess n.
tanh abbr. hyperbolic tangent.
tanist n. hist. the heir apparent to a Celtic chief, usu. his most
vigorous adult relation, chosen by election. tanistry n.
[Ir. & Gael. tnaiste heir]
tank n. & v. --n. 1 a large receptacle or storage chamber usu. for
liquid or gas. 2 a heavy armoured fighting vehicle carrying
guns and moving on a tracked carriage. 3 a container for the
fuel supply in a motor vehicle. 4 the part of a locomotive
tender containing water for the boiler. 5 a Ind. & Austral. a
reservoir. b dial. esp. US a pond. --v. (usu. foll. by up)
esp. Brit. 1 tr. fill the tank of (a vehicle etc.) with fuel.
2 intr. & colloq. tr. (in passive) drink heavily; become drunk.
tank engine a railway engine carrying fuel and water
receptacles in its own frame, not in a tender. tank-farming the
practice of growing plants in tanks of water without soil. tank
top a sleeveless, close-fitting upper garment with a scoop-neck.
tankful n. (pl. -fuls). tankless adj. [Gujurati tankh
etc., perh. f. Skr. tadaga pond]
tanka n. a Japanese poem in five lines and thirty-one syllables
giving a complete picture of an event or mood. [Jap.]
tankage n. 1 a storage in tanks. b a charge made for this. 2 the
cubic content of a tank. 3 a kind of fertilizer obtained from
refuse bones etc.
tankard n. 1 a tall mug with a handle and sometimes a hinged lid, esp.
of silver or pewter for beer. 2 the contents of or an amount
held by a tankard (drank a tankard of ale). [ME: orig. unkn.:
cf. MDu. tanckaert]
tanker n. a ship, aircraft, or road vehicle for carrying liquids, esp.
mineral oils, in bulk.
tanner(1) n. a person who tans hides.
tanner(2) n. Brit. hist. sl. a sixpence. [19th c.: orig. unkn.]
tannery n. (pl. -ies) a place where hides are tanned.
tannic adj. of or produced from tan. tannic acid a complex natural
organic compound of a yellowish colour used as a mordant and
astringent. tannate n. [F tannique (as TANNIN)]
tannin n. any of a group of complex organic compounds found in certain
tree-barks and oak-galls, used in leather production and ink
manufacture. [F tanin (as TAN(1), -IN)]
tannish see TAN(1).
Tannoy n. propr. a type of public-address system. [20th c.: orig.
uncert.]
tanrec var. of TENREC.
tansy n. (pl. -ies) any plant of the genus Tanacetum, esp. T.
vulgare with yellow button-like flowers and aromatic leaves,
formerly used in medicines and cookery. [ME f. OF tanesie f.
med.L athanasia immortality f. Gk]
tantalite n. a rare dense black mineral, the principal source of the
element tantalum. [G & Sw. tantalit (as TANTALUM)]
tantalize v.tr. (also -ise) 1 torment or tease by the sight or promise of
what is unobtainable. 2 raise and then dash the hopes of;
torment with disappointment. tantalization n. tantalizer n.
tantalizingly adv. [Gk Tantalos mythical king of Phrygia
condemned to stand in water that receded when he tried to drink
it and under branches that drew back when he tried to pick the
fruit]
tantalum n. Chem. a rare hard white metallic element occurring
naturally in tantalite, resistant to heat and the action of
acids, and used in surgery and for electronic components.
Symb.: Ta. tantalic adj. [formed as TANTALUS with ref. to
its non-absorbent quality]
tantalus n. 1 a stand in which spirit-decanters may be locked up but
visible. 2 a wood ibis, Mycteria americana. [see TANTALIZE]
tantamount
predic.adj. (foll. by to) equivalent to (was tantamount to a
denial). [f. obs. verb f. It. tanto montare amount to so much]
tantivy n. & adj. archaic --n. (pl. -ies) 1 a hunting cry. 2 a swift
movement; a gallop or rush. --adj. swift. [17th c.: perh. an
imit. of hoof-beats]
tant mieux
int. so much the better. [F]
tant pis int. so much the worse. [F]
tantra n. any of a class of Hindu or Buddhist mystical and magical
writings. tantric adj. tantrism n. tantrist n. [Skr., =
loom, groundwork, doctrine f. tan stretch]
tantrum n. an outburst of bad temper or petulance (threw a tantrum).
[18th c.: orig. unkn.]
Taoiseach n. the Prime Minister of the Irish Republic. [Ir., = chief,
leader]
Taoism n. a Chinese philosophy based on the writings of Laoze (c.500
BC), advocating humility and religious piety. Taoist n.
Taoistic adj. [Chin. dao (right) way]
tap(1) n. & v. --n. 1 a device by which a flow of liquid or gas from
a pipe or vessel can be controlled. 2 an act of tapping a
telephone etc. 3 Brit. a taproom. 4 an instrument for cutting
the thread of a female screw. --v.tr. (tapped, tapping) 1 a
provide (a cask) with a tap. b let out (a liquid) by means of,
or as if by means of, a tap. 2 draw sap from (a tree) by
cutting into it. 3 a obtain information or supplies or
resources from. b establish communication or trade with. 4
connect a listening device to (a telephone or telegraph line
etc.) to listen to a call or transmission. 5 cut a female
screw-thread in. on tap 1 ready to be drawn off by tap. 2
colloq. ready for immediate use; freely available. tap root a
tapering root growing vertically downwards. tap water water
from a piped supply. tapless adj. tappable adj. [OE tppian
(v.), tppa (n.) f. Gmc]
tap(2) v. & n. --v. (tapped, tapping) 1 intr. (foll. by at, on)
strike a gentle but audible blow. 2 tr. strike lightly (tapped
me on the shoulder). 3 tr. (foll. by against etc.) cause (a
thing) to strike lightly (tapped a stick against the window). 4
intr. = TAP-DANCE v. (can you tap?). --n. 1 a a light blow; a
rap. b the sound of this (heard a tap at the door). 2 a =
TAP-DANCE n. (goes to tap classes). b a piece of metal attached
to the toe and heel of a tap-dancer's shoe to make the tapping
sound. 3 (in pl., usu. treated as sing.) US a a bugle call for
lights to be put out in army quarters. b a similar signal at a
military funeral. tapper n. [ME tappe (imit.), perh. through
F taper]
tapa n. 1 the bark of a paper-mulberry tree. 2 cloth made from
this, used in the Pacific islands. [Polynesian]
tap-dance n. & v. --n. a form of display dance performed wearing shoes
fitted with metal taps, with rhythmical tapping of the toes and
heels. --v.intr. perform a tap-dance. tap-dancer n.
tap-dancing n.
tape n. & v. --n. 1 a narrow strip of woven material for tying up,
fastening, etc. 2 a a strip of material stretched across the
finishing line of a race. b a similar strip for marking off an
area or forming a notional barrier. 3 (in full adhesive tape) a
strip of opaque or transparent paper or plastic etc., esp.
coated with adhesive for fastening, sticking, masking,
insulating, etc. 4 a = magnetic tape. b a tape recording or
tape cassette. 5 = tape-measure. --v.tr. 1 a tie up or join
etc. with tape. b apply tape to. 2 (foll. by off) seal or mark
off an area or thing with tape. 3 record on magnetic tape. 4
measure with tape. breast the tape win a race. have (or get)
a person or thing taped Brit. colloq. understand a person or
thing fully. on tape recorded on magnetic tape. tape deck a
platform with capstans for using magnetic tape. tape machine a
machine for receiving and recording telegraph messages.
tape-measure a strip of tape or thin flexible metal marked for
measuring lengths. tape-record record (sounds) on magnetic
tape. tape recorder apparatus for recording sounds on magnetic
tape and afterwards reproducing them. tape recording a
recording on magnetic tape. tapeable adj. (esp. in sense 3 of
v.). tapeless adj. tapelike adj. [OE tppa, tppe, of unkn.
orig.]
taper n. & v. --n. 1 a wick coated with wax etc. for conveying a
flame. 2 a slender candle. --v. (often foll. by off) 1 intr. &
tr. diminish or reduce in thickness towards one end. 2 tr. &
intr. make or become gradually less. [OE tapur, -or, -er wax
candle, f. L PAPYRUS, whose pith was used for candle-wicks]
tapestry n. (pl. -ies) 1 a a thick textile fabric in which coloured
weft threads are woven to form pictures or designs. b
embroidery imitating this, usu. in wools on canvas. c a piece
of such embroidery. 2 events or circumstances etc. compared
with a tapestry in being intricate, interwoven, etc. (life's
rich tapestry). tapestried adj. [ME, alt. f. tapissery f.
OF tapisserie f. tapissier tapestry-worker or tapisser to
carpet, f. tapis: see TAPIS]
tapetum n. a light-reflecting part of the choroid membrane in the eyes
of certain mammals, e.g. cats. [LL f. L tapete carpet]
tapeworm n. any flatworm of the class Cestoda, with a body like
segmented tape, living as a parasite in the intestines.
tapioca n. a starchy substance in hard white grains obtained from
cassava and used for puddings etc. [Tupi-Guarani tipioca f.
tipi dregs + og, ok squeeze out]
tapir n. any nocturnal hoofed mammal of the genus Tapirus, native to
Central and S. America and Malaysia, having a short flexible
protruding snout used for feeding on vegetation. tapiroid
adj. & n. [Tupi tapira]
tapis n. a covering or tapestry. on the tapis (of a subject) under
consideration or discussion. [ME, a kind of cloth, f. OF tapiz
f. LL tapetium f. Gk tapetion dimin. of tapes tapetos tapestry]
tapotement
n. Med. rapid and repeated striking of the body as massage
treatment. [F f. tapoter tap]
tapper see TAP(2).
tappet n. a lever or projecting part used in machinery to give
intermittent motion, often in conjunction with a cam. [app. f.
TAP(2) + -ET(1)]
taproom n. a room in which alcoholic drinks are available on tap.
tapster n. a person who draws and serves alcoholic drinks at a bar.
[OE tppestre orig. fem. (as TAP(1), -STER)]
tapu n. & adj. NZ = TABOO. [Maori]
tar(1) n. & v. --n. 1 a dark thick inflammable liquid distilled from
wood or coal etc. and used as a preservative of wood and iron,
in making roads, as an antiseptic, etc. 2 a similar substance
formed in the combustion of tobacco etc. --v.tr. (tarred,
tarring) cover with tar. tar and feather smear with tar and
then cover with feathers as a punishment. tar-brush a brush for
applying tar. tarred with the same brush having the same
faults. [OE te(o)ru f. Gmc, rel. to TREE]
tar(2) n. colloq. a sailor. [abbr. of TARPAULIN]
taradiddle
n. (also tarradiddle) colloq. 1 a petty lie. 2 pretentious
nonsense. [18th c.: cf. DIDDLE]
taramasalata
n. (also tarama) a pinkish pt made from the roe of mullet or
other fish with olive oil, seasoning, etc. [mod.Gk taramas roe
(f. Turk. tarama) + salata SALAD]
tarantass n. a springless four-wheeled Russian vehicle. [Russ.
tarantas]
tarantella
n. (also tarantelle) 1 a rapid whirling S. Italian dance. 2
the music for this. [It., f. Taranto in Italy (because the
dance was once thought to be a cure for a tarantula bite): cf.
TARANTISM]
tarantism n. hist. dancing mania, esp. that originating in S. Italy
among those who had (actually or supposedly) been bitten by a
tarantula. [mod.L tarantismus, It. tarantismo f. Taranto in
S. Italy f. L Tarentum]
tarantula n. 1 any large hairy tropical spider of the family
Theraphosidae. 2 a large black S. European spider, Lycosa
tarentula, whose bite was formerly held to cause tarantism.
[med.L f. It. tarantola (as TARANTISM)]
taraxacum n. 1 any composite plant of the genus Taraxacum, including the
dandelion. 2 a tonic etc. prepared from the dried roots of
this. [med.L f. Arab. taraksakuk f. Pers. talk bitter +
chakuk purslane]
tarboosh n. a cap like a fez, sometimes worn as part of a turban.
[Egypt. Arab. tarbus, ult. f. Pers. sar-bus head-cover]
Tardenoisian
n. & adj. Archaeol. --n. a mesolithic culture using small
flint implements. --adj. of or relating to this culture.
[Tardenois in NE France, where remains of it were found]
tardigrade
n. & adj. --n. any minute freshwater animal of the phylum
Tardigrada, having a short plump body and four pairs of short
legs. Also called water bear. --adj. of or relating to this
phylum. [F tardigrade f. L tardigradus f. tardus slow + gradi
walk]
tardy adj. (tardier, tardiest) 1 slow to act or come or happen. 2
delaying or delayed beyond the right or expected time.
tardily adv. tardiness n. [F tardif, tardive ult. f. L
tardus slow]
tare(1) n. 1 vetch, esp. as corn-weed or fodder. 2 (in pl.) Bibl. an
injurious corn-weed (Matt. 13:24-30). [ME: orig. unkn.]
tare(2) n. 1 an allowance made for the weight of the packing or
wrapping around goods. 2 the weight of a motor vehicle without
its fuel or load. tare and tret the arithmetical rule for
computing a tare. [ME f. F, = deficiency, tare, f. med.L tara
f. Arab. tarha what is rejected f. taraha reject]
targe n. archaic = TARGET n. 5. [ME f. OF]
target n. & v. --n. 1 a mark or point fired or aimed at, esp. a round
or rectangular object marked with concentric circles. 2 a
person or thing aimed at, or exposed to gunfire etc. (they were
an easy target). 3 (also attrib.) an objective or result aimed
at (our export targets; target date). 4 a person or thing
against whom criticism, abuse, etc., is or may be directed. 5
archaic a shield or buckler, esp. a small round one. --v.tr.
(targeted, targeting) 1 identify or single out (a person or
thing) as an object of attention or attack. 2 aim or direct
(missiles targeted on major cities; should target our efforts
where needed). targetable adj. [ME, dimin. of ME and OF
targe shield]
tariff n. & v. --n. 1 a table of fixed charges (a hotel tariff). 2 a
a duty on a particular class of imports or exports. b a list of
duties or customs to be paid. 3 standard charges agreed between
insurers etc. --v.tr. subject (goods) to a tariff. [F tarif f.
It. tariffa f. Turk. tarife f. Arab. ta' rif(a) f. ' arrafa
notify]
tarlatan n. a thin stiff open-weave muslin. [F tarlatane, prob. of Ind.
orig.]
Tarmac n. & v. --n. propr. 1 = TARMACADAM. 2 a surface made of
this, e.g. a runway. --v.tr. (tarmac) (tarmacked, tarmacking)
apply tarmacadam to. [abbr.]
tarmacadam
n. a material of stone or slag bound with tar, used in paving
roads etc. [TAR(1) + MACADAM]
tarn n. a small mountain lake. [ME terne, tarne f. ON]
tarnish v. & n. --v. 1 tr. lessen or destroy the lustre of (metal
etc.). 2 tr. impair (one's reputation etc.). 3 intr. (of metal
etc.) lose lustre. --n. 1 a a loss of lustre. b a film of
colour formed on an exposed surface of a mineral or metal. 2 a
blemish; a stain. tarnishable adj. [F ternir f. terne dark]
taro n. (pl. -os) a tropical aroid plant, Colocasia esculenta, with
tuberous roots used as food. Also called EDDO. [Polynesian]
tarot n. 1 (in sing. or pl.) a any of several games played with a
pack of cards having five suits, the last of which is a set of
permanent trumps. b a similar pack used in fortune-telling. 2
a any of the trump cards. b any of the cards from a
fortune-telling pack. [F tarot, It. tarocchi, of unkn. orig.]
tarp n. US & Austral. colloq. tarpaulin. [abbr.]
tarpan n. an extinct N. European primitive wild horse. [Kirghiz
Tartar]
tarpaulin n. 1 heavy-duty waterproof cloth esp. of tarred canvas. 2 a
sheet or covering of this. 3 a a sailor's tarred or oilskin
hat. b archaic a sailor. [prob. f. TAR(1) + PALL(1) +
-ING(1)]
tarpon n. 1 a large silvery fish, Tarpon atlanticus, common in the
tropical Atlantic. 2 a similar fish, Megalops cyprinoides, of
the Pacific ocean. [Du. tarpoen, of unkn. orig.]
tarradiddle
var. of TARADIDDLE.
tarragon n. a bushy herb, Artemisia dracunculus, with leaves used to
flavour salads, stuffings, vinegar, etc. [= med.L tarchon f.
med. Gk tarkhon, perh. through Arab. f. Gk drakon dragon]
tarras var. of TRASS.
tarry(1) adj. (tarrier, tarriest) of or like or smeared with tar.
tarriness n.
tarry(2) v.intr. (-ies, -ied) archaic or literary 1 defer coming or
going. 2 linger, stay, wait. 3 be tardy. tarrier n. [ME:
orig. uncert.]
tarsal adj. & n. --adj. of or relating to the bones in the ankle.
--n. a tarsal bone. [TARSUS + -AL]
tarsi pl. of TARSUS.
tarsi- comb. form (also tarso-) tarsus.
tarsia n. = INTARSIA. [It.]
tarsier n. any small large-eyed arboreal nocturnal primate of the genus
Tarsius, native to Borneo, the Philippines, etc., with a long
tail and long hind legs used for leaping from tree to tree. [F
(as TARSUS), from the structure of its foot]
tarso- comb. form var. of TARSI-.
tarsus n. (pl. tarsi) 1 a the group of bones forming the ankle and
upper foot. b the shank of a bird's leg. c the terminal
segment of a limb in insects. 2 the fibrous connective tissue
of the eyelid. [mod.L f. Gk tarsos flat of the foot, rim of the
eyelid]
tart(1) n. 1 an open pastry case containing jam etc. 2 esp. Brit. a
pie with a fruit or sweet filling. tartlet n. [ME f. OF
tarte = med.L tarta, of unkn. orig.]
tart(2) n. & v. --n. sl. 1 a prostitute; a promiscuous woman. 2 sl.
offens. a girl or woman. --v. (foll. by up) esp. Brit.
colloq. 1 tr. (usu. refl.) smarten (oneself or a thing) up,
esp. flashily or gaudily. 2 intr. dress up gaudily. [prob.
abbr. of SWEETHEART]
tart(3) adj. 1 sharp or acid in taste. 2 (of a remark etc.) cutting,
bitter. tartly adv. tartness n. [OE teart, of unkn. orig.]
tartan(1) n. 1 a pattern of coloured stripes crossing at right angles,
esp. the distinctive plaid worn by the Scottish Highlanders to
denote their clan. 2 woollen cloth woven in this pattern (often
attrib.: a tartan scarf). [perh. f. OF tertaine, tiretaine]
tartan(2) n. a lateen-sailed single-masted ship used in the
Mediterranean. [F tartane f. It. tartana, perh. f. Arab.
tarida]
Tartar n. & adj. (also Tatar except in sense 2 of n.) --n. 1 a a
member of a group of Central Asian peoples including Mongols and
Turks. b the Turkic language of these peoples. 2 (tartar) a
violent-tempered or intractable person. --adj. 1 of or
relating to the Tartars. 2 of or relating to Central Asia E. of
the Caspian Sea. tartar sauce a sauce of mayonnaise and
chopped gherkins, capers, etc. Tartarian adj. [ME tartre f.
OF Tartare or med.L Tartarus]
tartar n. 1 a hard deposit of saliva, calcium phosphate, etc., that
forms on the teeth. 2 a deposit of acid potassium tartrate that
forms a hard crust on the inside of a cask during the
fermentation of wine. tartar emetic potassium antimony
tartrate used as a mordant and in medicine (formerly as an
emetic). tartarize v.tr. (also -ise). [ME f. med.L f.
med.Gk tartaron]
tartare adj. (in full sauce tartare) = tartar sauce (see TARTAR). [F, =
tartar]
tartaric adj. Chem. of or produced from tartar. tartaric acid a
natural carboxylic acid found esp. in unripe grapes, used in
baking powders and as a food additive. [F tartarique f. med.L
tartarum: see TARTAR]
Tartarus n. (in Greek mythology): 1 an abyss below Hades where the
Titans were confined. 2 a place of punishment in Hades.
Tartarean adj. [L f. Gk Tartaros]
tartrate n. Chem. any salt or ester of tartaric acid. [F (as TARTAR,
-ATE(1))]
tartrazine
n. Chem. a brilliant yellow dye derived from tartaric acid and
used to colour food, drugs, and cosmetics. [as TARTAR + AZO- +
-INE(4)]
tarty adj. colloq. (tartier, tartiest) (esp. of a woman) vulgar,
gaudy; promiscuous. tartily adv. tartiness n. [TART(2) +
-Y(1)]
Tarzan n. a man of great agility and powerful physique. [name of the
hero of stories by E. R. Burroughs, Amer. writer d. 1950]
Tas. abbr. Tasmania.
Tashi lama
n. = PANCHEN LAMA.
task n. & v. --n. a piece of work to be done or undertaken. --v.tr.
1 make great demands on (a person's powers etc.). 2 assign a
task to. take to task rebuke, scold. task force (or group) 1
Mil. an armed force organized for a special operation. 2 a unit
specially organized for a task. [ME f. ONF tasque = OF tasche
f. med.L tasca, perh. f. taxa f. L taxare TAX]
taskmaster
n. (fem. taskmistress) a person who imposes a task or burden,
esp. regularly or severely.
Tasmanian n. & adj. --n. 1 a native of Tasmania, an island State of
Australia. 2 a person of Tasmanian descent. --adj. of or
relating to Tasmania. Tasmanian devil a bearlike nocturnal
flesh-eating marsupial, Sarcophilus harrisii, now found only in
Tasmania. [Tasmania f. A. J. Tasman, Du. navigator d. 1659,
who discovered the island]
Tass n. the official news agency of the Soviet Union. [the initials
of Russ. Telegrafnoe agentstvo Sovetskogo Soyuza Telegraphic
Agency of the Soviet Union]
tass n. Sc. 1 a cup or small goblet. 2 a small draught of brandy
etc. [ME f. OF tasse cup f. Arab. tasa basin f. Pers. tast]
tassel(1) n. & v. --n. 1 a tuft of loosely hanging threads or cords etc.
attached for decoration to a cushion, scarf, cap, etc. 2 a
tassel-like head of some plants, esp. a flower-head with
prominent stamens at the top of a maize stalk. --v.
(tasselled, tasselling; US tasseled, tasseling) 1 tr. provide
with a tassel or tassels. 2 intr. US (of maize etc.) form
tassels. [ME f. OF tas(s)el clasp, of unkn. orig.]
tassel(2) n. (also torsel) a small piece of stone, wood, etc., supporting
the end of a beam or joist. [OF ult. f. L taxillus small die,
and tessella: see TESSELLATE]
tassie n. Sc. a small cup.
taste n. & v. --n. 1 a the sensation characteristic of a soluble
substance caused in the mouth and throat by contact with that
substance (disliked the taste of garlic). b the faculty of
perceiving this sensation (was bitter to the taste). 2 a small
portion of food or drink taken as a sample. 3 a slight
experience (a taste of success). 4 (often foll. by for) a
liking or predilection (has expensive tastes; is not to my
taste). 5 aesthetic discernment in art, literature, conduct,
etc., esp. of a specified kind (a person of taste; dresses in
poor taste). --v. 1 tr. sample or test the flavour of (food
etc.) by taking it into the mouth. 2 tr. (also absol.) perceive
the flavour of (could taste the lemon; cannot taste with a
cold). 3 tr. (esp. with neg.) eat or drink a small portion of
(had not tasted food for days). 4 tr. have experience of (had
never tasted failure). 5 intr. (often foll. by of) have a
specified flavour (tastes bitter; tastes of onions). a bad (or
bitter etc.) taste colloq. a strong feeling of regret or
unease. taste blood see BLOOD. taste bud any of the cells or
nerve-endings on the surface of the tongue by which things are
tasted. to taste in the amount needed for a pleasing result
(add salt and pepper to taste). tasteable adj. [ME, = touch,
taste, f. OF tast, taster touch, try, taste, ult. perh. f. L
tangere touch + gustare taste]
tasteful adj. having, or done in, good taste. tastefully adv.
tastefulness n.
tasteless adj. 1 lacking flavour. 2 having, or done in, bad taste.
tastelessly adv. tastelessness n.
taster n. 1 a person employed to test food or drink by tasting it,
esp. for quality or hist. to detect poisoning. 2 a small cup
used by a wine-taster. 3 an instrument for extracting a small
sample from within a cheese. [ME f. AF tastour, OF tasteur f.
taster: see TASTE]
tasting n. a gathering at which food or drink (esp. wine) is tasted and
evaluated.
tasty adj. (tastier, tastiest) (of food) pleasing in flavour;
appetizing. tastily adv. tastiness n.
tat(1) n. colloq. 1 a tatty or tasteless clothes; worthless goods. b
rubbish, junk. 2 a shabby person. [back-form. f. TATTY]
tat(2) v. (tatted, tatting) 1 intr. do tatting. 2 tr. make by
tatting. [19th c.: orig. unkn.]
tat(3) see TIT(2).
ta-ta int. Brit. colloq. goodbye (said esp. to or by a child).
[19th c.: orig. unkn.]
Tatar var. of TARTAR.
tater n. (also tatie, tato) sl. = POTATO. [abbr.]
tatler archaic var. of TATTLER 1.
tatter n. (usu. in pl.) a rag; an irregularly torn piece of cloth or
paper etc. in tatters colloq. (of a negotiation, argument,
etc.) ruined, demolished. tattery adj. [ME f. ON ttrar
rags: cf. Icel. tturr]
tattered adj. in tatters.
tattersall
n. (in full tattersall check) a fabric with a pattern of
coloured lines forming squares like a tartan. [R. Tattersall,
Engl. horseman d. 1795: from the traditional design of horse
blankets]
tatting n. 1 a kind of knotted lace made by hand with a small shuttle
and used for trimming etc. 2 the process of making this. [19th
c.: orig. unkn.]
tattle v. & n. --v. 1 intr. prattle, chatter; gossip idly. 2 tr.
utter (words) idly. --n. gossip; idle or trivial talk.
tattle-tale US a tell-tale, esp. a child. [ME f. MFlem.
tatelen, tateren (imit.)]
tattler n. a prattler; a gossip.
tattoo(1) n. 1 an evening drum or bugle signal recalling soldiers to
their quarters. 2 an elaboration of this with music and
marching, presented as an entertainment. 3 a rhythmic tapping
or drumming. [17th-c. tap-too f. Du. taptoe, lit. 'close the
tap' (of the cask)]
tattoo(2) v. & n. --v.tr. (tattoos, tattooed) 1 mark (the skin) with an
indelible design by puncturing it and inserting pigment. 2 make
(a design) in this way. --n. a design made by tattooing.
tattooer n. tattooist n. [Polynesian]
tatty adj. (tattier, tattiest) colloq. 1 tattered; worn and shabby.
2 inferior. 3 tawdry. tattily adv. tattiness n. [orig.
Sc., = shaggy, app. rel. to OE tttec rag, TATTER]
tau n. the nineteenth letter of the Greek alphabet (T). tau cross
a T-shaped cross. tau particle Physics an unstable, heavy, and
charged elementary particle of the lepton class. [ME f. Gk]
taught past and past part. of TEACH.
taunt n. & v. --n. a thing said in order to anger or wound a person.
--v.tr. 1 assail with taunts. 2 reproach (a person)
contemptuously. taunter n. tauntingly adv. [16th c., in
phr. taunt for taunt f. F tant pour tant tit for tat, hence a
smart rejoinder]
taupe n. a grey with a tinge of another colour, usu. brown. [F, =
MOLE(1)]
taurine adj. of or like a bull; bullish. [L taurinus f. taurus bull]
tauromachy
n. (pl. -ies) archaic 1 a bullfight. 2 bullfighting. [Gk
tauromakhia f. tauros bull + makhe fight]
Taurus n. 1 a constellation. 2 a the second sign of the zodiac (the
Bull). b a person born when the sun is in this sign. Taurean
adj. & n. [ME f. L, = bull]
taut adj. 1 (of a rope, muscles, etc.) tight; not slack. 2 (of
nerves) tense. 3 (of a ship etc.) in good order or condition.
tauten v.tr. & intr. tautly adv. tautness n. [ME touht,
togt, perh. = TOUGH, infl. by tog- past part. stem of obs. tee
(OE teon) pull]
tauto- comb. form the same. [Gk, f. tauto, to auto the same]
tautog n. a fish, Tautoga onitis, found off the Atlantic coast of N.
America, used as food. [Narraganset tautauog (pl.)]
tautology n. (pl. -ies) 1 the saying of the same thing twice over in
different words, esp. as a fault of style (e.g. arrived one
after the other in succession). 2 a statement that is
necessarily true. tautologic adj. tautological adj.
tautologically adv. tautologist n. tautologize v.intr. (also
-ise). tautologous adj. [LL tautologia f. Gk (as TAUTO-,
-LOGY)]
tautomer n. Chem. a substance that exists as two mutually convertible
isomers in equilibrium. tautomeric adj. tautomerism n.
[TAUTO- + -MER]
tautophony
n. repetition of the same sound. [TAUTO- + Gk phone sound]
tavern n. literary an inn or public house. [ME f. OF taverne f. L
taberna hut, tavern]
taverna n. a Greek eating house. [mod. Gk (as TAVERN)]
TAVR abbr. (in the UK) Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve. The
name in use 1967-79: now TA.
taw(1) v.tr. make (hide) into leather without the use of tannin, esp.
by soaking in a solution of alum and salt. tawer n. [OE
tawian f. Gmc]
taw(2) n. 1 a large marble. 2 a game of marbles. 3 a line from which
players throw marbles. [18th c.: orig. unkn.]
tawdry adj. & n. --adj. (tawdrier, tawdriest) 1 showy but worthless.
2 over-ornamented, gaudy, vulgar. --n. cheap or gaudy finery.
tawdrily adv. tawdriness n. [earlier as noun: short for
tawdry lace, orig. St Audrey's lace f. Audrey = Etheldrida,
patron saint of Ely]
tawny adj. (tawnier, tawniest) of an orange- or yellow-brown colour.
tawny eagle a brownish African or Asian eagle, Aquila rapax.
tawny owl a reddish-brown European owl, Strix aluco.
tawniness n. [ME f. AF taun, OF tan f. tan TAN(1)]
taws n. (also tawse) Sc. hist. a thong with a slit end formerly
used in schools for punishing children. [app. pl. of obs. taw
tawed leather, f. TAW(1)]
tax n. & v. --n. 1 a contribution to State revenue compulsorily
levied on individuals, property, or businesses (often foll. by
on: a tax on luxury goods). 2 (usu. foll. by on, upon) a strain
or heavy demand; an oppressive or burdensome obligation.
--v.tr. 1 impose a tax on (persons or goods etc.). 2 deduct
tax from (income etc.). 3 make heavy demands on (a person's
powers or resources etc.) (you really tax my patience). 4
(foll. by with) confront (a person) with a wrongdoing etc. 5
call to account. 6 Law examine and assess (costs etc.). tax
avoidance the arrangement of financial affairs to minimize
payment of tax. tax-deductible (of expenditure) that may be
paid out of income before the deduction of income tax. tax disc
Brit. a paper disc displayed on the windscreen of a motor
vehicle, certifying payment of excise duty. tax evasion the
illegal non-payment or underpayment of income tax. tax-free
exempt from taxes. tax haven a country etc. where income tax is
low. tax return a declaration of income for taxation purposes.
tax shelter a means of organizing business affairs to minimize
payment of tax. tax year see financial year. taxable adj.
taxer n. taxless adj. [ME f. OF taxer f. L taxare censure,
charge, compute, perh. f. Gk tasso fix]
taxa pl. of TAXON.
taxation n. the imposition or payment of tax. [ME f. AF taxacioun, OF
taxation f. L taxatio -onis f. taxare: see TAX]
taxi n. & v. --n. (pl. taxis) 1 (in full taxi-cab) a motor car
licensed to ply for hire and usu. fitted with a taximeter. 2 a
boat etc. similarly used. --v. (taxis, taxied, taxiing or
taxying) 1 a intr. (of an aircraft or pilot) move along the
ground under the machine's own power before take-off or after
landing. b tr. cause (an aircraft) to taxi. 2 intr. & tr. go
or convey in a taxi. taxi dancer a dancing partner available
for hire. taxi-driver a driver of a taxi. taxi rank (US stand)
a place where taxis wait to be hired. [abbr. of taximeter cab]
taxidermy n. the art of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of
animals with lifelike effect. taxidermal adj. taxidermic
adj. taxidermist n. [Gk taxis arrangement + derma skin]
taximeter n. an automatic device fitted to a taxi, recording the distance
travelled and the fare payable. [F taximtre f. taxe tariff,
TAX + -METER]
taxis n. 1 Surgery the restoration of displaced bones or organs by
manual pressure. 2 Biol. the movement of a cell or organism in
response to an external stimulus. 3 Gram. order or arrangement
of words. [Gk f. tasso arrange]
taxman n. colloq. (pl. -men) an inspector or collector of taxes.
taxon n. (pl. taxa) any taxonomic group. [back-form. f. TAXONOMY]
taxonomy n. 1 the science of the classification of living and extinct
organisms. 2 the practice of this. taxonomic adj.
taxonomical adj. taxonomically adv. taxonomist n. [F
taxonomie (as TAXIS, Gk -nomia distribution)]
taxpayer n. a person who pays taxes.
tayberry n. (pl. -ies) a dark red soft fruit produced by crossing the
blackberry and raspberry. [Tay in Scotland (where introduced in
1977)]
tazza n. a saucer-shaped cup, esp. one mounted on a foot. [It.]
te n. (also ti) 1 (in tonic sol-fa) the seventh note of a major
scale. 2 the note B in the fixed-doh system. [earlier si: F f.
It., perh. f. Sancte Iohannes: see GAMUT]
tea n. & v. --n. 1 a (in full tea plant) an evergreen shrub or
small tree, Camellia sinensis, of India, China, etc. b its
dried leaves. 2 a drink made by infusing tea-leaves in boiling
water. 3 a similar drink made from the leaves of other plants
or from another substance (camomile tea; beef tea). 4 a a light
afternoon meal consisting of tea, bread, cakes, etc. b Brit. a
cooked evening meal. --v. (teaed or tea'd) 1 intr. take tea.
2 tr. give tea to (a person). tea and sympathy colloq.
hospitable behaviour towards a troubled person. tea bag a small
perforated bag of tea for infusion. tea-ball esp. US a ball of
perforated metal to hold tea for infusion. tea-bread light or
sweet bread for eating at tea. tea break Brit. a pause in work
etc. to drink tea. tea caddy a container for tea. tea ceremony
an elaborate Japanese ritual of serving and drinking tea, as an
expression of Zen Buddhist philosophy. tea chest a light
metal-lined wooden box in which tea is transported. tea cloth =
tea towel. tea cosy a cover to keep a teapot warm. tea dance
an afternoon tea with dancing. tea garden a garden in which
afternoon tea is served to the public. tea lady a woman
employed to make tea in offices etc. tea-leaf 1 a dried leaf of
tea, used to make a drink of tea. 2 (esp. in pl.) these after
infusion or as dregs. 3 rhymingsl. a thief. tea party a party
at teatime. tea-planter a proprietor or cultivator of a tea
plantation. tea rose a hybrid shrub, Rosa odorata, with a scent
resembling that of tea. tea towel a towel for drying washed
crockery etc. tea-tree Austral. & NZ an aromatic evergreen
flowering shrub, Leptospermum scoparium, the manuka. tea
trolley (US wagon) a small wheeled trolley from which tea is
served. [17th-c. tay, tey, prob. f. Du. tee f. Chin. (Amoy
dial.) te, = Mandarin dial. cha]
teacake n. Brit. a light yeast-based usu. sweet bun eaten at tea,
often toasted.
teach v.tr. (past and past part. taught) 1 a give systematic
information to (a person) or about (a subject or skill). b
(absol.) practise this professionally. c enable (a person) to
do something by instruction and training (taught me to swim;
taught me how to dance). 2 advocate as a moral etc. principle
(my parents taught me tolerance). 3 (foll. by to + infin.) a
induce (a person) by example or punishment to do or not to do a
thing (that will teach you to sit still; that will teach you not
to laugh). b colloq. make (a person) disinclined to do a thing
(I will teach you to interfere). teach-in 1 an informal
lecture and discussion on a subject of public interest. 2 a
series of these. teach a person a lesson see LESSON. teach
school US be a teacher in a school. [OE tcan f. a Gmc root =
'show']
teachable adj. 1 apt at learning. 2 (of a subject) that can be taught.
teachability n. teachableness n.
teacher n. a person who teaches, esp. in a school. teacherly adj.
teaching n. 1 the profession of a teacher. 2 (often in pl.) what is
taught; a doctrine. teaching hospital a hospital where medical
students are taught. teaching machine any of various devices
for giving instruction according to a programme measuring
pupils' responses.
teacup n. 1 a cup from which tea is drunk. 2 an amount held by this,
about 150 ml. teacupful n. (pl. -fuls).
teak n. 1 a large deciduous tree, Tectona grandis, native to India
and SE Asia. 2 its hard durable timber, much used in
shipbuilding and furniture. [Port. teca f. Malayalam tekka]
teal n. (pl. same) 1 any of various small freshwater ducks of the
genus Anas, esp. A. crecca. 2 a dark greenish-blue colour.
[rel. to MDu. teling, of unkn. orig.]
team n. & v. --n. 1 a set of players forming one side in a game (a
cricket team). 2 two or more persons working together. 3 a a
set of draught animals. b one animal or more in harness with a
vehicle. --v. 1 intr. & tr. (usu. foll. by up) join in a team
or in common action (decided to team up with them). 2 tr.
harness (horses etc.) in a team. 3 tr. (foll. by with) match or
coordinate (clothes). team-mate a fellow-member of a team or
group. team spirit willingness to act as a member of a group
rather than as an individual. team-teaching teaching by a team
of teachers working together. [OE team offspring f. a Gmc root
= 'pull', rel. to TOW(1)]
teamster n. 1 US a lorry-driver. 2 a driver of a team of animals.
teamwork n. the combined action of a team, group, etc., esp. when
effective and efficient.
teapot n. a pot with a handle, spout, and lid, in which tea is brewed
and from which it is poured.
teapoy n. a small three- or four-legged table esp. for tea. [Hindi
tin, tir- three + Pers. pai foot: sense and spelling infl. by
TEA]
tear(1) v. & n. --v. (past tore; past part. torn) 1 tr. (often foll.
by up) pull apart or to pieces with some force (tear it in half;
tore up the letter). 2 tr. a make a hole or rent in by tearing
(have torn my coat). b make (a hole or rent). 3 tr. (foll. by
away, off, etc.) pull violently or with some force (tore the
book away from me; tore off the cover; tore a page out; tore
down the notice). 4 tr. violently disrupt or divide (the
country was torn by civil war; torn by conflicting emotions). 5
intr. colloq. go or travel hurriedly or impetuously (tore
across the road). 6 intr. undergo tearing (the curtain tore
down the middle). 7 intr. (foll. by at etc.) pull violently or
with some force. --n. 1 a hole or other damage caused by
tearing. 2 a torn part of cloth etc. be torn between have
difficulty in choosing between. tear apart 1 search (a place)
exhaustively. 2 criticize forcefully. tear one's hair out
behave with extreme desperation or anger. tear into 1 attack
verbally; reprimand. 2 make a vigorous start on (an activity).
tear oneself away leave despite a strong desire to stay. tear
sheet a page that can be removed from a newspaper or magazine
etc. for use separately. tear to shreds colloq. refute or
criticize thoroughly. that's torn it Brit. colloq. that has
spoiled things, caused a problem, etc. tearable adj. tearer
n. [OE teran f. Gmc]
tear(2) n. 1 a drop of clear salty liquid secreted by glands, that
serves to moisten and wash the eye and is shed from it in grief
or other strong emotions. 2 a tearlike thing; a drop. in
tears crying; shedding tears. tear-drop a single tear.
tear-duct a drain for carrying tears to the eye or from the eye
to the nose. tear-gas gas that disables by causing severe
irritation to the eyes. tear-jerker colloq. a story, film,
etc., calculated to evoke sadness or sympathy. without tears
presented so as to be learned or done easily. tearlike adj.
[OE tear]
tearaway n. Brit. 1 an impetuous or reckless young person. 2 a
hooligan.
tearful adj. 1 crying or inclined to cry. 2 causing or accompanied
with tears; sad (a tearful event). tearfully adv.
tearfulness n.
tearing adj. extreme, overwhelming, violent (in a tearing hurry).
tearless adj. not shedding tears. tearlessly adv. tearlessness n.
tearoom n. a small restaurant or caf where tea is served.
tease v. & n. --v.tr. (also absol.) 1 a make fun of (a person or
animal) playfully or unkindly or annoyingly. b tempt or allure,
esp. sexually, while refusing to satisfy the desire aroused. 2
pick (wool, hair, etc.) into separate fibres. 3 dress (cloth)
esp. with teasels. --n. 1 colloq. a person fond of teasing. 2
an instance of teasing (it was only a tease). tease out
separate by disentangling. teasingly adv. [OE tsan f. WG]
teasel n. & v. (also teazel, teazle) --n. 1 any plant of the genus
Dipsacus, with large prickly heads that are dried and used to
raise the nap on woven cloth. 2 a device used as a substitute
for teasels. --v.tr. dress (cloth) with teasels. teaseler n.
[OE ts(e)l, = OHG zeisala (as TEASE)]
teaser n. 1 colloq. a hard question or task. 2 a teasing person. 3
esp. US a short introductory advertisement etc.
teaset n. a set of crockery for serving tea.
teashop n. esp. Brit. = TEAROOM.
teaspoon n. 1 a small spoon for stirring tea. 2 an amount held by this.
teaspoonful n. (pl. -fuls).
teat n. 1 a mammary nipple, esp. of an animal. 2 a thing resembling
this, esp. a device of rubber etc. for sucking milk from a
bottle. [ME f. OF tete, prob. of Gmc orig., replacing TIT(3)]
teatime n. the time in the afternoon when tea is served.
teazel (also teazle) var. of TEASEL.
tec n. colloq. a detective. [abbr.]
tech n. (also tec) colloq. a technical college. [abbr.]
technetium
n. Chem. an artificially produced radioactive metallic element
occurring in the fission products of uranium. Symb.: Tc.
[mod.L f. Gk tekhnetos artificial f. tekhne art]
technic n. 1 (usu. in pl.) a technology. b technical terms, details,
methods, etc. 2 technique. technicist n. [L technicus f. Gk
tekhnikos f. tekhne art]
technical adj. 1 of or involving or concerned with the mechanical arts
and applied sciences (technical college; a technical education).
2 of or relating to a particular subject or craft etc. or its
techniques (technical terms; technical merit). 3 (of a book or
discourse etc.) using technical language; requiring special
knowledge to be understood. 4 due to mechanical failure (a
technical hitch). 5 legally such; such in strict interpretation
(technical assault; lost on a technical point). technical
hitch a temporary breakdown or problem in machinery etc.
technical knockout Boxing a termination of a fight by the
referee on the grounds of a contestant's inability to continue,
the opponent being declared the winner. technically adv.
technicalness n.
technicality
n. (pl. -ies) 1 the state of being technical. 2 a technical
expression. 3 a technical point or detail (was acquitted on a
technicality).
technician
n. 1 an expert in the practical application of a science. 2 a
person skilled in the technique of an art or craft. 3 a person
employed to look after technical equipment and do practical work
in a laboratory etc.
Technicolor
n. (often attrib.) 1 propr. a process of colour cinematography
using synchronized monochrome films, each of a different colour,
to produce a colour print. 2 (usu. technicolor) colloq. a
vivid colour. b artificial brilliance. technicolored adj.
[TECHNICAL + COLOR]
technique n. 1 mechanical skill in an art. 2 a means of achieving one's
purpose, esp. skilfully. 3 a manner of artistic execution in
music, painting, etc. [F (as TECHNIC)]
technocracy
n. (pl. -ies) 1 the government or control of society or
industry by technical experts. 2 an instance or application of
this. [Gk tekhne art + -CRACY]
technocrat
n. an exponent or advocate of technocracy. technocratic adj.
technocratically adv.
technological
adj. of or using technology. technologically adv.
technology
n. (pl. -ies) 1 the study or use of the mechanical arts and
applied sciences. 2 these subjects collectively.
technologist n. [Gk tekhnologia systematic treatment f.
tekhne art]
techy var. of TETCHY.
tectonic adj. 1 of or relating to building or construction. 2 Geol.
relating to the deformation of the earth's crust or to the
structural changes caused by this (see plate tectonics).
tectonically adv. [LL tectonicus f. Gk tektonikos f. tekton
-onos carpenter]
tectonics n.pl. (usu. treated as sing.) 1 Archit. the art and process of
producing practical and aesthetically pleasing buildings. 2
Geol. the study of large-scale structural features (cf. plate
tectonics).
tectorial adj. Anat. 1 forming a covering. 2 (in full tectorial
membrane) the membrane covering the organ of Corti (see CORTI)
in the inner ear. [L tectorium a cover (as TECTRIX)]
tectrix n. (pl. tectrices) = COVERT n. [mod.L f. L tegere tect-
cover]
Ted n. (also ted) Brit. colloq. a Teddy boy. [abbr.]
ted v.tr. (tedded, tedding) turn over and spread out (grass, hay,
or straw) to dry or for a bedding etc. tedder n. [ME f. ON
tethja spread manure f. tad dung, toddi small piece]
teddy n. (also Teddy) (pl. -ies) (in full teddy bear) a soft toy
bear. [Teddy, pet-name of Theodore Roosevelt, US president d.
1919, famous as a bear-hunter]
Teddy boy n. Brit. colloq. 1 a youth, esp. of the 1950s, affecting an
Edwardian style of dress and appearance. 2 a young rowdy male.
[Teddy, pet-form of Edward]
Te Deum 1 a a hymn beginning Te Deum laudamus, 'We praise Thee, O God'.
b the music for this. 2 an expression of thanksgiving or
exultation. [L]
tedious adj. tiresomely long; wearisome. tediously adv. tediousness
n. [ME f. OF tedieus or LL taediosus (as TEDIUM)]
tedium n. the state of being tedious; boredom. [L taedium f. taedere
to weary]
tee(1) n. = T(1). [phonet. spelling]
tee(2) n. & v. --n. 1 Golf a a cleared space from which a golf ball
is struck at the beginning of play for each hole. b a small
support of wood or plastic from which a ball is struck at a tee.
2 a mark aimed at in bowls, quoits, curling, etc. --v.tr.
(tees, teed) (often foll. by up) Golf place (a ball) on a tee
ready to strike it. tee off 1 Golf play a ball from a tee. 2
colloq. start, begin. [earlier (17th-c.) teaz, of unkn. orig.:
in sense 2 perh. = TEE(1)]
tee-hee n. & v. (also te-hee) --n. 1 a titter. 2 a restrained or
contemptuous laugh. --v.intr. (tee-hees, tee-heed) titter or
laugh in this way. [imit.]
teem(1) v.intr. 1 be abundant (fish teem in these waters). 2 (foll. by
with) be full of or swarming with (teeming with fish; teeming
with ideas). [OE teman etc. give birth to f. Gmc, rel. to TEAM]
teem(2) v.intr. (often foll. by down) (of water etc.) flow copiously;
pour (it was teeming with rain). [ME temen f. ON toema f. tmr
(adj.) empty]
teen adj. & n. --adj. = TEENAGE. --n. = TEENAGER. [abbr. of
TEENAGE, TEENAGER]
-teen suffix forming the names of numerals from 13 to 19. [OE
inflected form of TEN]
teenage adj. relating to or characteristic of teenagers. teenaged
adj.
teenager n. a person from 13 to 19 years of age.
teens n.pl. the years of one's age from 13 to 19 (in one's teens).
teeny adj. (teenier, teeniest) colloq. tiny. teeny-weeny very
tiny. [var. of TINY]
teeny-bopper
n. colloq. a young teenager, usu. a girl, who keenly follows
the latest fashions in clothes, pop music, etc.
teepee var. of TEPEE.
teeshirt var. of T-SHIRT.
teeter v.intr. 1 totter; stand or move unsteadily. 2 hesitate; be
indecisive. teeter on the brink (or edge) be in imminent
danger (of disaster etc.). [var. of dial. titter]
teeth pl. of TOOTH.
teethe v.intr. grow or cut teeth, esp. milk teeth. teething-ring a
small ring for an infant to bite on while teething. teething
troubles initial difficulties in an enterprise etc., regarded as
temporary. teething n.
teetotal adj. advocating or characterized by total abstinence from
alcoholic drink. teetotalism n. [redupl. of TOTAL]
teetotaller
n. (US teetotaler) a person advocating or practising abstinence
from alcoholic drink.
teetotum n. 1 a spinning-top with four sides lettered to determine
whether the spinner has won or lost. 2 any top spun with the
fingers. [T (the letter on one side) + L totum the whole
(stakes), for which T stood]
teff n. an African cereal, Eragrostis tef. [Amharic tf]
TEFL abbr. teaching of English as a foreign language.
Teflon n. propr. polytetrafluoroethylene, esp. used as a non-stick
coating for kitchen utensils. [tetra- + fluor- + -on]
teg n. a sheep in its second year. [ME tegge (recorded in
place-names), repr. OE (unrecorded) tegga ewe]
tegular adj. 1 of or like tiles. 2 arranged like tiles. tegularly
adv. [L tegula tile f. tegere cover]
tegument n. the natural covering of an animal's body or part of its
body. tegumental adj. tegumentary adj. [L tegumentum f.
tegere cover]
te-hee var. of TEE-HEE.
tektite n. Geol. a small roundish glassy body of unknown origin
occurring in various parts of the earth. [G Tektit f. Gk tektos
molten f. teko melt]
Tel. abbr. 1 Telephone. 2 a Telegraph. b Telegraphic.
telaesthesia
n. (US telesthesia) Psychol. the supposed perception of
distant occurrences or objects otherwise than by the recognized
senses. telaesthetic adj. [mod.L, formed as TELE- + Gk
aisthesis perception]
telamon n. (pl. telamones) Archit. a male figure used as a pillar to
support an entablature. [L telamones f. Gk telamones pl. of
Telamon, name of a mythical hero]
tele- comb. form 1 at or to a distance (telekinesis). 2 forming names
of instruments for operating over long distances (telescope). 3
television (telecast). 4 done by means of the telephone
(telesales). [Gk tele- f. tele far off: sense 3 f.
TELEVISION: sense 4 f. TELEPHONE]
tele-ad n. an advertisement placed in a newspaper etc. by telephone.
telecamera
n. 1 a television camera. 2 a telephotographic camera.
telecast n. & v. --n. a television broadcast. --v.tr. transmit by
television. telecaster n. [TELE- + BROADCAST]
telecine n. 1 the broadcasting of cinema film on television. 2
equipment for doing this. [TELE- + CINE]
telecommunication
n. 1 communication over a distance by cable, telegraph,
telephone, or broadcasting. 2 (usu. in pl.) the branch of
technology concerned with this. [F tlcommunication (as TELE-,
COMMUNICATION)]
teleconference
n. a conference with participants in different locations linked
by telecommunication devices. teleconferencing n.
teledu n. a badger, Mydaus javanensis, of Java and Sumatra, that
secretes a foul-smelling liquid when attacked. [Jav.]
telefacsimile
n. facsimile transmission (see FACSIMILE n. 2).
telefax n. = TELEFACSIMILE. [abbr.]
telefilm n. = TELECINE.
telegenic adj. having an appearance or manner that looks pleasing on
television. [TELEVISION + - genic in PHOTOGENIC]
telegony n. Biol. the supposed influence of a previous sire on the
offspring of a dam with other sires. telegonic adj. [TELE- +
Gk -gonia begetting]
telegram n. a message sent by telegraph and then usu. delivered in
written form. In UK official use since 1981 only for
international messages. [TELE- + -GRAM, after TELEGRAPH]
telegraph n. & v. --n. 1 a a system of or device for transmitting
messages or signals to a distance esp. by making and breaking an
electrical connection. b (attrib.) used in this system
(telegraph pole; telegraph wire). 2 (in full telegraph board) a
board displaying scores or other information at a match, race
meeting, etc. --v. 1 tr. send a message by telegraph to. 2
tr. send by telegraph. 3 tr. give an advance indication of. 4
intr. make signals (telegraphed to me to come up). telegraph
key a device for making and breaking the electric circuit of a
telegraph system. telegraph plant an E. Indian plant, Desmodium
gyrans, whose leaves have a spontaneous jerking motion.
telegrapher n. [F tlgraphe (as TELE-, -GRAPH)]
telegraphese
n. colloq. or joc. an abbreviated style usual in telegrams.
telegraphic
adj. 1 of or by telegraphs or telegrams. 2 economically
worded. telegraphic address an abbreviated or other registered
address for use in telegrams. telegraphically adv.
telegraphist
n. a person skilled or employed in telegraphy.
telegraphy
n. the science or practice of using or constructing
communication systems for the reproduction of information.
Telegu var. of TELUGU.
telekinesis
n. Psychol. movement of objects at a distance supposedly by
paranormal means. telekinetic adj. [mod.L (as TELE-, Gk
kinesis motion f. kineo move)]
telemark n. & v. Skiing --n. a swing turn with one ski advanced and the
knee bent, used to change direction or stop short. --v.intr.
perform this turn. [Telemark in Norway]
telemarketing
n. the marketing of goods etc. by means of usu. unsolicited
telephone calls. telemarketer n.
telemessage
n. a message sent by telephone or telex and delivered in
written form. In UK official use since 1981 for inland
messages, replacing telegram.
telemeter n. & v. --n. an apparatus for recording the readings of an
instrument and transmitting them by radio. --v. 1 intr. record
readings in this way. 2 tr. transmit (readings etc.) to a
distant receiving set or station. telemetric adj. telemetry
n.
teleology n. (pl. -ies) Philos. 1 the explanation of phenomena by the
purpose they serve rather than by postulated causes. 2 Theol.
the doctrine of design and purpose in the material world.
teleologic adj. teleological adj. teleologically adv.
teleologism n. teleologist n. [mod.L teleologia f. Gk telos
teleos end + -LOGY]
teleost n. any fish of the subclass Teleostei of bony fish, including
eels, plaice, salmon, etc. [Gk teleo- complete + osteon bone]
telepath n. a telepathic person. [back-form. f. TELEPATHY]
telepathy n. the supposed communication of thoughts or ideas otherwise
than by the known senses. telepathic adj. telepathically
adv. telepathist n. telepathize v.tr. & intr. (also -ise).
telephone n. & v. --n. 1 an apparatus for transmitting sound (esp.
speech) to a distance by wire or cord or radio, esp. by
converting acoustic vibrations to electrical signals. 2 a
transmitting and receiving instrument used in this. 3 a system
of communication using a network of telephones. --v. 1 tr.
speak to (a person) by telephone. 2 tr. send (a message) by
telephone. 3 intr. make a telephone call. on the telephone 1
having a telephone. 2 by use of or using the telephone. over
the telephone by use of or using the telephone. telephone book
= telephone directory. telephone box Brit. = telephone booth.
telephone booth (or kiosk) a public booth or enclosure from
which telephone calls can be made. telephone call = CALL n. 4.
telephone directory a book listing telephone subscribers and
numbers in a particular area. telephone exchange = EXCHANGE n.
3. telephone number a number assigned to a particular telephone
and used in making connections to it. telephone operator esp.
US an operator in a telephone exchange. telephoner n.
telephonic adj. telephonically adv.
telephonist
n. Brit. an operator in a telephone exchange or at a
switchboard.
telephony n. the use or a system of telephones.
telephoto n. (pl. -os) (in full telephoto lens) a lens used in
telephotography.
telephotographic
adj. of or for or using telephotography.
telephotographically adv.
telephotography
n. the photographing of distant objects with a system of lenses
giving a large image.
teleport v.tr. Psychol. move by telekinesis. teleportation n.
[TELE- + PORT(4) 3]
teleprinter
n. a device for transmitting telegraph messages as they are
keyed, and for printing messages received.
teleprompter
n. a device beside a television or cinema camera that slowly
unrolls a speaker's script out of sight of the audience (cf.
AUTOCUE).
telerecord
v.tr. record for television broadcasting.
telerecording
n. a recorded television broadcast.
telesales n.pl. selling by means of the telephone.
telescope n. & v. --n. 1 an optical instrument using lenses or mirrors
or both to make distant objects appear nearer and larger. 2 =
radio telescope. --v. 1 tr. press or drive (sections of a
tube, colliding vehicles, etc.) together so that one slides
into another like the sections of a folding telescope. 2 intr.
close or be driven or be capable of closing in this way. 3 tr.
compress so as to occupy less space or time. [It. telescopio
or mod.L telescopium (as TELE-, -SCOPE)]
telescopic
adj. 1 a of, relating to, or made with a telescope (telescopic
observations). b visible only through a telescope (telescopic
stars). 2 (esp. of a lens) able to focus on and magnify distant
objects. 3 consisting of sections that telescope. telescopic
sight a telescope used for sighting on a rifle etc.
telescopically adv.
telesoftware
n. software transmitted or broadcast to receiving terminals.
telesthesia
US var. of TELAESTHESIA.
Teletex n. propr. an electronic text transmission system.
teletext n. a news and information service, in the form of text and
graphics, from a computer source transmitted to televisions with
appropriate receivers (cf. CEEFAX, ORACLE).
telethon n. esp. US an exceptionally long television programme, esp. to
raise money for a charity. [TELE- + - thon in MARATHON]
Teletype n. & v. --n. propr. a kind of teleprinter. --v. (teletype) 1
intr. operate a teleprinter. 2 tr. send by means of a
teleprinter.
teletypewriter
n. esp. US = TELEPRINTER.
televiewer
v.tr. a person who watches television. televiewing adj.
televise v.tr. transmit by television. televisable adj. [back-form.
f. TELEVISION]
television
n. 1 a system for reproducing on a screen visual images
transmitted (usu. with sound) by radio signals. 2 (in full
television set) a device with a screen for receiving these
signals. 3 television broadcasting generally.
televisual
adj. relating to or suitable for television. televisually
adv.
telex n. & v. (also Telex) --n. an international system of telegraphy
with printed messages transmitted and received by teleprinters
using the public telecommunications network. --v.tr. send or
communicate with by telex. [TELEPRINTER + EXCHANGE]
tell(1) v. (past and past part. told) 1 tr. relate or narrate in
speech or writing; give an account of (tell me a story). 2 tr.
make known; express in words; divulge (tell me your name; tell
me what you want). 3 tr. reveal or signify to (a person) (your
face tells me everything). 4 tr. a utter (don't tell lies). b
warn (I told you so). 5 intr. a (often foll. by of, about)
divulge information or a description; reveal a secret (I told of
the plan; promise you won't tell). b (foll. by on) colloq.
inform against (a person). 6 tr. (foll. by to + infin.) give (a
person) a direction or order (tell them to wait; do as you are
told). 7 tr. assure (it's true, I tell you). 8 tr. explain in
writing; instruct (this book tells you how to cook). 9 tr.
decide, determine, distinguish (cannot tell which button to
press; how do you tell one from the other?). 10 intr. a (often
foll. by on) produce a noticeable effect (every disappointment
tells; the strain was beginning to tell on me). b reveal the
truth (time will tell). c have an influence (the evidence tells
against you). 11 tr. (often absol.) count (votes) at a meeting,
election, etc. as far as one can tell judging from the
available information. tell apart distinguish between (usu.
with neg. or interrog.: could not tell them apart). tell me
another colloq. an expression of incredulity. tell off 1
colloq. reprimand, scold. 2 count off or detach for duty. tell
a tale (or its own tale) be significant or revealing. tell
tales report a discreditable fact about another. tell that to
the marines see MARINE. tell the time determine the time from
the face of a clock or watch. there is no telling it is
impossible to know (there's no telling what may happen). you're
telling me colloq. I agree wholeheartedly. tellable adj.
[OE tellan f. Gmc, rel. to TALE]
tell(2) n. Archaeol. an artificial mound in the Middle East etc.
formed by the accumulated remains of ancient settlements.
[Arab. tall hillock]
teller n. 1 a person employed to receive and pay out money in a bank
etc. 2 a person who counts (votes). 3 a person who tells esp.
stories (a teller of tales). tellership n.
telling adj. 1 having a marked effect; striking. 2 significant.
tellingly adv.
telling-off
n. (pl. tellings-off) colloq. a reproof or reprimand.
tell-tale n. 1 a person who reveals (esp. discreditable) information
about another's private affairs or behaviour. 2 (attrib.) that
reveals or betrays (a tell-tale smile). 3 a device for
automatic monitoring or registering of a process etc.
tellurian adj. & n. --adj. of or inhabiting the earth. --n. an
inhabitant of the earth. [L tellus -uris earth]
telluric adj. 1 of the earth as a planet. 2 of the soil. 3 Chem. of
tellurium, esp. in its higher valency. tellurate n. [L
tellus -uris earth: sense 3 f. TELLURIUM]
tellurium n. Chem. a rare brittle lustrous silver-white element
occurring naturally in ores of gold and silver, used in
semiconductors. Symb.: Te. telluride n. tellurite n.
tellurous adj. [L tellus -uris earth, prob. named in contrast
to uranium]
telly n. (pl. -ies) esp. Brit. colloq. 1 television. 2 a
television set. [abbr.]
telpher n. a system for transporting goods etc. by electrically driven
trucks or cable-cars. telpherage n. [TELE- + -PHORE]
telson n. the last segment in the abdomen of Crustacea etc. [Gk, =
limit]
Telugu n. (also Telegu) (pl. same or Telegus) 1 a member of a
Dravidian people in SE India. 2 the language of this people.
[Telugu]
temerarious
adj. literary reckless, rash. [L temerarius f. temere rashly]
temerity n. 1 rashness. 2 audacity, impudence. [L temeritas f. temere
rashly]
temp n. & v. colloq. --n. a temporary employee, esp. a secretary.
--v.intr. work as a temp. [abbr.]
temp.(1) abbr. temperature.
temp.(2) abbr. in the time of (temp. Henry I). [L tempore ablat. of
tempus time]
temper n. & v. --n. 1 habitual or temporary disposition of mind esp.
as regards composure (a person of a placid temper). 2
irritation or anger (in a fit of temper). 3 a tendency to have
fits of anger (have a temper). 4 composure or calmness (keep
one's temper; lose one's temper). 5 the condition of metal as
regards hardness and elasticity. --v.tr. 1 bring (metal or
clay) to a proper hardness or consistency. 2 (foll. by with)
moderate or mitigate (temper justice with mercy). 3 tune or
modulate (a piano etc.) so as to distance intervals correctly.
in a bad temper angry, peevish. in a good temper in an amiable
mood. out of temper angry, peevish. show temper be petulant.
temperable adj. temperative adj. tempered adj. temperedly
adv. temperer n. [OE temprian (v.) f. L temperare mingle:
infl. by OF temprer, tremper]
tempera n. a method of painting using an emulsion e.g. of pigment with
egg, esp. in fine art on canvas. [It.: cf. DISTEMPER(1)]
temperament
n. 1 a person's distinct nature and character, esp. as
determined by physical constitution and permanently affecting
behaviour (a nervous temperament; the artistic temperament). 2
a creative or spirited personality (was full of temperament). 3
a an adjustment of intervals in tuning a piano etc. so as to fit
the scale for use in all keys. b (equal temperament) an
adjustment in which the 12 semitones are at equal intervals.
[ME f. L temperamentum (as TEMPER)]
temperamental
adj. 1 of or having temperament. 2 a (of a person) liable to
erratic or moody behaviour. b (of a thing, e.g. a machine)
working unpredictably; unreliable. temperamentally adv.
temperance
n. 1 moderation or self-restraint esp. in eating and drinking.
2 a total or partial abstinence from alcoholic drink. b
(attrib.) advocating or concerned with abstinence. [ME f. AF
temperaunce f. L temperantia (as TEMPER)]
temperate adj. 1 avoiding excess; self-restrained. 2 moderate. 3 (of a
region or climate) characterized by mild temperatures. 4
abstemious. temperate zone the belt of the earth between the
frigid and the torrid zones. temperately adv. temperateness
n. [ME f. L temperatus past part. of temperare: see TEMPER]
temperature
n. 1 the degree or intensity of heat of a body in relation to
others, esp. as shown by a thermometer or perceived by touch
etc. 2 Med. the degree of internal heat of the body. 3 colloq.
a body temperature above the normal (have a temperature). 4 the
degree of excitement in a discussion etc. take a person's
temperature ascertain a person's body temperature, esp. as a
diagnostic aid. temperature-humidity index a quantity giving
the measure of discomfort due to the combined effects of the
temperature and humidity of the air. [F temprature or L
temperatura (as TEMPER)]
-tempered comb. form having a specified temper or disposition
(bad-tempered; hot-tempered). -temperedly adv. -temperedness
n.
tempest n. 1 a violent windy storm. 2 violent agitation or tumult.
[ME f. OF tempest(e) ult. f. L tempestas season, storm, f.
tempus time]
Templar n. 1 a lawyer or law student with chambers in the Temple,
London. 2 (in full Knight Templar) hist. a member of a
religious and military order for the protection of pilgrims to
the Holy Land, suppressed in 1312. [ME f. AF templer, OF
templier, med.L templarius (as TEMPLE(1))]
template n. (also templet) 1 a a pattern or gauge, usu. a piece of thin
board or metal plate, used as a guide in cutting or drilling
metal, stone, wood, etc. b a flat card or plastic pattern esp.
for cutting cloth for patchwork etc. 2 a timber or plate used
to distribute the weight in a wall or under a beam etc. 3
Biochem. the molecular pattern governing the assembly of a
protein etc. [orig. templet: prob. f. TEMPLE(3) + -ET(1),
alt. after plate]
temple(1) n. 1 a building devoted to the worship, or regarded as the
dwelling-place, of a god or gods or other objects of religious
reverence. 2 hist. any of three successive religious buildings
of the Jews in Jerusalem. 3 US a synagogue. 4 a place of
Christian public worship, esp. a Protestant church in France. 5
a place in which God is regarded as residing, esp. a Christian's
person or body. temple block a percussion instrument
consisting of a hollow block of wood which is struck with a
stick. [OE temp(e)l, reinforced in ME by OF temple, f. L
templum open or consecrated space]
temple(2) n. the flat part of either side of the head between the
forehead and the ear. [ME f. OF ult. f. L tempora pl. of
tempus]
temple(3) n. a device in a loom for keeping the cloth stretched. [ME f.
OF, orig. the same word as TEMPLE(2)]
templet var. of TEMPLATE.
tempo n. (pl. -os or tempi) 1 Mus. the speed at which music is or
should be played, esp. as characteristic (waltz tempo). 2 the
rate of motion or activity (the tempo of the war is quickening).
[It. f. L tempus time]
temporal adj. 1 of worldly as opposed to spiritual affairs; of this
life; secular. 2 of or relating to time. 3 Gram. relating to
or denoting time or tense (temporal conjunction). 4 of the
temples of the head (temporal artery; temporal bone). temporal
power the power of an ecclesiastic, esp. the Pope, in temporal
matters. temporally adv. [ME f. OF temporel or f. L
temporalis f. tempus -oris time]
temporality
n. (pl. -ies) 1 temporariness. 2 (usu. in pl.) a secular
possession, esp. the properties and revenues of a religious
corporation or an ecclesiastic. [ME f. LL temporalitas (as
TEMPORAL)]
temporary adj. & n. --adj. lasting or meant to last only for a limited
time (temporary buildings; temporary relief). --n. (pl. -ies)
a person employed temporarily (cf. TEMP). temporarily adv.
temporariness n. [L temporarius f. tempus -oris time]
temporize v.intr. (also -ise) 1 avoid committing oneself so as to gain
time; employ delaying tactics. 2 comply temporarily with the
requirements of the occasion, adopt a time-serving policy.
temporization n. temporizer n. [F temporiser bide one's time
f. med. L temporizare delay f. tempus -oris time]
tempt v.tr. 1 entice or incite (a person) to do a wrong or forbidden
thing (tempted him to steal it). 2 allure, attract. 3 risk
provoking (esp. an abstract force or power) (would be tempting
fate to try it). 4 archaic make trial of; try the resolution of
(God did tempt Abraham). be tempted to be strongly disposed to
(I am tempted to question this). temptable adj. temptability
n. [ME f. OF tenter, tempter test f. L temptare handle, test,
try]
temptation
n. 1 a the act or an instance of tempting; the state of being
tempted; incitement esp. to wrongdoing. b (the Temptation) the
tempting of Christ by the Devil (see Matt. 4). 2 an attractive
thing or course of action. 3 archaic putting to the test. [ME
f. OF tentacion, temptacion f. L temptatio -onis (as TEMPT)]
tempter n. (fem. temptress) 1 a person who tempts. 2 (the Tempter)
the Devil. [ME f. OF tempteur f. eccl.L temptator -oris (as
TEMPT)]
tempura n. a Japanese dish of fish, shellfish, or vegetables, fried in
batter. [Jap.]
ten n. & adj. --n. 1 one more than nine. 2 a symbol for this (10,
x, X). 3 a size etc. denoted by ten. 4 the time of ten o'clock
(is it ten yet?). 5 a card with ten pips. 6 a set of ten.
--adj. 1 that amount to ten. 2 (as a round number) several
(ten times as easy). the Ten Commandments see COMMANDMENT.
ten-gallon hat a cowboy's large broad-brimmed hat. ten-week
stock a variety of stock, Matthiola incana, said to bloom ten
weeks after the sowing of the seed . [OE tien, ten f. Gmc]
ten. abbr. tenuto.
tenable adj. 1 that can be maintained or defended against attack or
objection (a tenable position; a tenable theory). 2 (foll. by
for, by) (of an office etc.) that can be held for (a specified
period) or by (a specified class of person). tenability n.
tenableness n. [F f. tenir hold f. L tenere]
tenace n. 1 two cards, one ranking next above, and the other next
below, a card held by an opponent. 2 the holding of such cards.
[F f. Sp. tenaza, lit. 'pincers']
tenacious adj. 1 (often foll. by of) keeping a firm hold of property,
principles, life, etc.; not readily relinquishing. 2 (of
memory) retentive. 3 holding fast. 4 strongly cohesive. 5
persistent, resolute. 6 adhesive, sticky. tenaciously adv.
tenaciousness n. tenacity n. [L tenax -acis f. tenere hold]
tenaculum n. (pl. tenacula) a surgeon's sharp hook for picking up
arteries etc. [L, = holding instrument, f. tenere hold]
tenancy n. (pl. -ies) 1 the status of a tenant; possession as a
tenant. 2 the duration or period of this.
tenant n. & v. --n. 1 a person who rents land or property from a
landlord. 2 (often foll. by of) the occupant of a place. 3 Law
a person holding real property by private ownership. --v.tr.
occupy as a tenant. tenant farmer a person who farms rented
land. tenant right Brit. the right of a tenant to continue a
tenancy at the termination of the lease. tenantable adj.
tenantless adj. [ME f. OF, pres. part. of tenir hold f. L
tenere]
tenantry n. the tenants of an estate etc.
tench n. (pl. same) a European freshwater fish, Tinca tinca, of the
carp family. [ME f. OF tenche f. LL tinca]
tend(1) v.intr. 1 (usu. foll. by to) be apt or inclined (tends to lose
his temper). 2 serve, conduce. 3 be moving; be directed; hold
a course (tends in our direction; tends downwards; tends to the
same conclusion). [ME f. OF tendre stretch f. L tendere tens-
or tent-]
tend(2) v. 1 tr. take care of, look after (a person esp. an invalid,
animals esp. sheep, a machine). 2 intr. (foll. by on, upon)
wait on. 3 intr. (foll. by to) esp. US give attention to.
tendance n. archaic. [ME f. ATTEND]
tendency n. (pl. -ies) 1 (often foll. by to, towards) a leaning or
inclination, a way of tending. 2 a group within a larger
political party or movement. [med.L tendentia (as TEND(1))]
tendentious
adj. derog. (of writing etc.) calculated to promote a
particular cause or viewpoint; having an underlying purpose.
tendentiously adv. tendentiousness n. [as TENDENCY + -OUS]
tender(1) adj. (tenderer, tenderest) 1 easily cut or chewed, not tough
(tender steak). 2 easily touched or wounded, susceptible to
pain or grief (a tender heart; a tender conscience). 3 easily
hurt, sensitive (tender skin; a tender place). 4 delicate,
fragile (a tender reputation). 5 loving, affectionate, fond
(tender parents; wrote tender verses). 6 requiring tact or
careful handling, ticklish (a tender subject). 7 (of age)
early, immature (of tender years). 8 (usu. foll. by of)
solicitous, concerned (tender of his honour). tender-eyed 1
having gentle eyes. 2 weak-eyed. tender-hearted having a
tender heart, easily moved by pity etc. tender-heartedness
being tender-hearted. tender mercies iron. attention or
treatment which is not in the best interests of its recipient.
tender spot a subject on which a person is touchy. tenderly
adv. tenderness n. [ME f. OF tendre f. L tener]
tender(2) v. & n. --v. 1 tr. a offer, present (one's services,
apologies, resignation, etc.). b offer (money etc.) as payment.
2 intr. (often foll. by for) make a tender for the supply of a
thing or the execution of work. --n. an offer, esp. an offer in
writing to execute work or supply goods at a fixed price. plea
of tender Law a plea that the defendant has always been ready to
satisfy the plaintiff's claim and now brings the sum into court.
put out to tender seek tenders in respect of (work etc.).
tenderer n. [OF tendre: see TEND(1)]
tender(3) n. 1 a person who looks after people or things. 2 a vessel
attending a larger one to supply stores, convey passengers or
orders, etc. 3 a special truck closely coupled to a steam
locomotive to carry fuel, water, etc. [ME f. TEND(2) or f.
ATTENDER (as ATTEND)]
tenderfoot
n. a newcomer or novice, esp. in the bush or in the Scouts or
Guides.
tenderize v.tr. (also -ise) make tender, esp. make (meat) tender by
beating etc. tenderizer n.
tenderloin
n. 1 a Brit. the middle part of a pork loin. b US the undercut
of a sirloin. 2 US sl. a district of a city where vice and
corruption are prominent.
tendon n. 1 a cord or strand of strong tissue attaching a muscle to a
bone etc. 2 (in a quadruped) = HAMSTRING. tendinitis n.
tendinous adj. [F tendon or med.L tendo -dinis f. Gk tenon
sinew f. teino stretch]
tendril n. 1 each of the slender leafless shoots by which some climbing
plants cling for support. 2 a slender curl of hair etc. [prob.
f. obs. F tendrillon dimin. of obs. tendron young shoot ult. f.
L tener TENDER(1)]
Tenebrae n.pl. 1 RC Ch. hist. matins and lauds for the last three days
of Holy Week, at which candles are successively extinguished. 2
this office set to music. [L, = darkness]
tenebrous adj. literary dark, gloomy. [ME f. OF tenebrus f. L tenebrosus
(as TENEBRAE)]
tenement n. 1 a room or a set of rooms forming a separate residence
within a house or block of flats. 2 US & Sc. a house divided
into and let in tenements. 3 a dwelling-place. 4 a a piece of
land held by an owner. b Law any kind of permanent property,
e.g. lands or rents, held from a superior. tenement-house US &
Sc. = sense 2. tenemental adj. tenementary adj. [ME f. OF
f. med.L tenementum f. tenere hold]
tenesmus n. Med. a continual inclination to evacuate the bowels or
bladder accompanied by painful straining. [med.L f. Gk
teinesmos straining f. teino stretch]
tenet n. a doctrine, dogma, or principle held by a group or person.
[L, = he etc. holds f. tenere hold]
tenfold adj. & adv. 1 ten times as much or as many. 2 consisting of
ten parts.
tenia US var. of TAENIA.
Tenn. abbr. Tennessee.
tenn n. & (usu. placed after noun) adj. (also tenny) Heraldry
orange-brown. [obs. F, var. of tann TAWNY]
tenner n. colloq. a ten-pound or ten-dollar note. [TEN]
tennis n. either of two games (lawn tennis and real tennis) in which
two or four players strike a ball with rackets over a net
stretched across a court. tennis-ball a ball used in playing
tennis. tennis-court a court used in playing tennis. tennis
elbow a sprain caused by or as by playing tennis. tennis-racket
a racket used in playing tennis. tennis shoe a light canvas or
leather soft-soled shoe suitable for tennis or general casual
wear. [ME tenetz, tenes, etc., app. f. OF tenez 'take,
receive', called by the server to an opponent, imper. of tenir
take]
tenno n. (pl. -os) the Emperor of Japan viewed as a divinity.
[Jap.]
tenny var. of TENN.
Tennysonian
adj. relating to or in the style of Alfred (Lord) Tennyson,
Engl. poet d. 1892.
tenon n. & v. --n. a projecting piece of wood made for insertion into
a corresponding cavity (esp. a mortise) in another piece.
--v.tr. 1 cut as a tenon. 2 join by means of a tenon.
tenon-saw a small saw with a strong brass or steel back for
fine work. tenoner n. [ME f. F f. tenir hold f. L tenere]
tenor n. 1 a a singing-voice between baritone and alto or
counter-tenor, the highest of the ordinary adult male range. b
a singer with this voice. c a part written for it. 2 a an
instrument, esp. a viola, recorder, or saxophone, of which the
range is roughly that of a tenor voice. b (in full tenor bell)
the largest bell of a peal or set. 3 (usu. foll. by of) the
general purport or drift of a document or speech. 4 (usu. foll.
by of) a settled or prevailing course or direction, esp. the
course of a person's life or habits. 5 Law a the actual wording
of a document. b an exact copy. 6 the subject to which a
metaphor refers (opp. VEHICLE 4). tenor clef Mus. a clef
placing middle C on the second highest line of the staff. [ME
f. AF tenur, OF tenour f. L tenor -oris f. tenere hold]
tenosynovitis
n. inflammation and swelling of a tendon, usu. in the wrist,
often caused by repetitive movements such as typing. [Gk tenon
tendon + SYNOVITIS]
tenotomy n. (pl. -ies) the surgical cutting of a tendon, esp. as a
remedy for a club-foot. [F tnotomie, irreg. f. Gk tenon -ontos
tendon]
tenpin n. 1 a pin used in tenpin bowling. 2 (in pl.) US = tenpin
bowling. tenpin bowling a game developed from ninepins in
which ten pins are set up at the end of an alley and bowled down
with hard rubber balls.
tenrec n. (also tanrec) any hedgehog-like tailless insect-eating
mammal of the family Tenrecidae, esp. Tenrec ecaudatus native
to Madagascar. [F tanrec, f. Malagasy tndraka]
tense(1) adj. & v. --adj. 1 stretched tight, strained (tense cord;
tense muscle; tense nerves; tense emotion). 2 causing tenseness
(a tense moment). 3 Phonet. pronounced with the vocal muscles
tense. --v.tr. & intr. make or become tense. tense up become
tense. tensely adv. tenseness n. tensity n. [L tensus past
part. of tendere stretch]
tense(2) n. Gram. 1 a form taken by a verb to indicate the time (also
the continuance or completeness) of the action etc. (present
tense; imperfect tense). 2 a set of such forms for the various
persons and numbers. tenseless adj. [ME f. OF tens f. L
tempus time]
tensile adj. 1 of or relating to tension. 2 capable of being drawn out
or stretched. tensile strength resistance to breaking under
tension. tensility n. [med.L tensilis (as TENSE(1))]
tensimeter
n. 1 an instrument for measuring vapour pressure. 2 a
manometer. [TENSION + -METER]
tension n. & v. --n. 1 the act or an instance of stretching; the state
of being stretched; tenseness. 2 mental strain or excitement.
3 a strained (political, social, etc.) state or relationship. 4
Mech. the stress by which a bar, cord, etc. is pulled when it is
part of a system in equilibrium or motion. 5 electromagnetic
force (high tension; low tension). --v.tr. subject to tension.
tensional adj. tensionally adv. tensionless adj. [F tension
or L tensio (as TEND(1))]
tenson n. (also tenzon) 1 a contest in verse-making between
troubadours. 2 a piece of verse composed for this. [F tenson,
= Prov. tenso (as TENSION)]
tensor n. 1 Anat. a muscle that tightens or stretches a part. 2 Math.
a generalized form of vector involving an arbitrary number of
indices. tensorial adj. [mod.L (as TEND(1))]
tent(1) n. & v. --n. 1 a portable shelter or dwelling of canvas,
cloth, etc., supported by a pole or poles and stretched by cords
attached to pegs driven into the ground. 2 Med. a tentlike
enclosure for control of the air supply to a patient. --v. 1
tr. cover with or as with a tent. 2 intr. a encamp in a tent.
b dwell temporarily. tent-bed a bed with a tentlike canopy, or
for a patient in a tent. tent coat (or dress) a coat (or dress)
cut very full. tent-fly (pl. -flies) 1 a flap at the entrance
to a tent. 2 a piece of canvas stretched over the ridge-pole of
a tent leaving an open space but keeping off sun and rain.
tent-peg any of the pegs to which the cords of a tent are
attached. tent-pegging a sport in which a rider tries at full
gallop to carry off on the point of a lance a tent-peg fixed in
the ground. tent-stitch 1 a series of parallel diagonal
stitches. 2 such a stitch. [ME f. OF tente ult. f. L tendere
stretch: tent-stitch may be f. another word]
tent(2) n. a deep-red sweet wine chiefly from Spain, used esp. as
sacramental wine. [Sp. tinto deep-coloured f. L tinctus past
part.: see TINGE]
tent(3) n. Surgery a piece (esp. a roll) of lint, linen, etc., inserted
into a wound or natural opening to keep it open. [ME f. OF
tente f. tenter probe (as TEMPT)]
tentacle n. 1 a long slender flexible appendage of an (esp.
invertebrate) animal, used for feeling, grasping, or moving. 2
a thing used like a tentacle as a feeler etc. 3 Bot. a
sensitive hair or filament. tentacled adj. (also in comb.).
tentacular adj. tentaculate adj. [mod.L tentaculum f. L
tentare = temptare (see TEMPT) + -culum -CULE]
tentative adj. & n. --adj. 1 done by way of trial, experimental. 2
hesitant, not definite (tentative suggestion; tentative
acceptance). --n. an experimental proposal or theory.
tentatively adv. tentativeness n. [med.L tentativus (as
TENTACLE)]
tenter(1) n. 1 a machine for stretching cloth to dry in shape. 2 =
TENTERHOOK. [ME ult. f. med.L tentorium (as TEND(1))]
tenter(2) n. Brit. 1 a person in charge of something, esp. of machinery
in a factory. 2 a workman's unskilled assistant. [tent (now
Sc.) pay attention, perh. f. tent attention f. INTENT or obs.
attent (as ATTEND)]
tenterhook
n. any of the hooks to which cloth is fastened on a tenter.
on tenterhooks in a state of suspense or mental agitation due
to uncertainty.
tenth n. & adj. --n. 1 the position in a sequence corresponding to
the number 10 in the sequence 1-10. 2 something occupying this
position. 3 one of ten equal parts of a thing. 4 Mus. a an
interval or chord spanning an octave and a third in the diatonic
scale. b a note separated from another by this interval.
--adj. that is the tenth. tenth-rate of extremely poor
quality. tenthly adv. [ME tenthe, alt. of OE teogotha]
tenuis n. (pl. tenues) Phonet. a voiceless stop, e.g. k, p, t. [L,
= thin, transl. Gk psilos smooth]
tenuity n. 1 slenderness. 2 (of a fluid, esp. air) rarity, thinness.
[L tenuitas (as TENUIS)]
tenuous adj. 1 slight, of little substance (tenuous connection). 2 (of
a distinction etc.) oversubtle. 3 thin, slender, small. 4
rarefied. tenuously adv. tenuousness n. [L tenuis]
tenure n. 1 a condition, or form of right or title, under which (esp.
real) property is held. 2 (often foll. by of) a the holding or
possession of an office or property. b the period of this
(during his tenure of office). 3 guaranteed permanent
employment, esp. as a teacher or lecturer after a probationary
period. [ME f. OF f. tenir hold f. L tenere]
tenured adj. 1 (of an official position) carrying a guarantee of
permanent employment. 2 (of a teacher, lecturer, etc.) having
guaranteed tenure of office.
tenurial adj. of the tenure of land. tenurially adv. [med.L tenura
TENURE]
tenuto adv., adj., & n. Mus. --adv. & adj. (of a note etc.)
sustained, given its full time-value (cf. LEGATO, STACCATO).
--n. (pl. -os) a note or chord played tenuto. [It., = held]
tenzon var. of TENSON.
teocalli n. (pl. teocallis) a temple of the Aztecs or other Mexican
peoples, usu. on a truncated pyramid. [Nahuatl f. teotl god +
calli house]
tepee n. (also teepee) a N. American Indian's conical tent, made of
skins, cloth, or canvas on a frame of poles. [Sioux or Dakota
Indian tipi]
tephra n. fragmented rock etc. ejected by a volcanic eruption. [Gk, =
ash]
tepid adj. 1 slightly warm. 2 unenthusiastic. tepidity n.
tepidly adv. tepidness n. [L tepidus f. tepere be lukewarm]
tequila n. a Mexican liquor made from an agave. [Tequila in Mexico]
ter- comb. form three; threefold (tercentenary; tervalent). [L ter
thrice]
tera- comb. form denoting a factor of 10(12). [Gk teras monster]
terai n. (in full terai hat) a wide-brimmed felt hat, often with a
double crown, worn by travellers etc. in subtropical regions.
[Terai, belt of marshy jungle between Himalayan foothills and
plains, f. Hindi tarai moist (land)]
terametre n. a unit of length equal to 10(12) metres.
teraph n. (pl. teraphim, also used as sing.) a small image as a
domestic deity or oracle of the ancient Hebrews. [ME f. LL
theraphim, Gk theraphin f. Heb. terapm]
terato- comb. form monster. [Gk teras -atos monster]
teratogen n. Med. an agent or factor causing malformation of an embryo.
teratogenic adj. teratogeny n.
teratology
n. 1 Biol. the scientific study of animal or vegetable
monstrosities. 2 mythology relating to fantastic creatures,
monsters, etc. teratological adj. teratologist n.
teratoma n. Med. a tumour of heterogeneous tissues, esp. of the gonads.
terbium n. Chem. a silvery metallic element of the lanthanide series.
Symb.: Tb. [mod.L f. Ytterby in Sweden]
terce n. Eccl. 1 the office of the canonical hour of prayer
appointed for the third daytime hour (i.e. 9 a.m.). 2 this
hour. [var. of TIERCE]
tercel n. (also tiercel) Falconry the male of the hawk, esp. a
peregrine or goshawk. [ME f. OF tercel, ult. a dimin. of L
tertius third, perh. from a belief that the third egg of a
clutch produced a male bird, or that the male was one-third
smaller than the female]
tercentenary
n. & adj. --n. (pl. -ies) 1 a three-hundredth anniversary. 2
a celebration of this. --adj. of this anniversary.
tercentennial
adj. & n. --adj. 1 occurring every three hundred years. 2
lasting three hundred years. --n. a tercentenary.
tercet n. (also tiercet) Prosody a set or group of three lines rhyming
together or connected by rhyme with an adjacent triplet. [F f.
It. terzetto dimin. of terzo third f. L tertius]
terebene n. a mixture of terpenes prepared by treating oil of turpentine
with sulphuric acid, used as an expectorant etc. [TEREBINTH +
-ENE]
terebinth n. a small Southern European tree, Pistacia terebinthus,
yielding turpentine. [ME f. OF terebinte or L terebinthus f. Gk
terebinthos]
terebinthine
adj. 1 of the terebinth. 2 of turpentine. [L terebinthinus f.
Gk terebinthinos (as TEREBINTH)]
teredo n. (pl. -os) any bivalve mollusc of the genus Teredo, esp. T.
navalis, that bores into wooden ships etc. Also called SHIPWORM.
[L f. Gk teredon f. teiro rub hard, wear away, bore]
terete adj. Biol. smooth and rounded; cylindrical. [L teres -etis]
tergal adj. of or relating to the back; dorsal. [L tergum back]
tergiversate
v.intr. 1 be apostate; change one's party or principles. 2
equivocate; make conflicting or evasive statements. 3 turn
one's back on something. tergiversation n. tergiversator n.
[L tergiversari turn one's back f. tergum back + vertere vers-
turn]
term n. & v. --n. 1 a word used to express a definite concept, esp.
in a particular branch of study etc. (a technical term). 2 (in
pl.) language used; mode of expression (answered in no uncertain
terms). 3 (in pl.) a relation or footing (we are on familiar
terms). 4 (in pl.) a conditions or stipulations (cannot accept
your terms; do it on your own terms). b charge or price (his
terms are 20 a lesson). 5 a a limited period of some state or
activity (for a term of five years). b a period over which
operations are conducted or results contemplated (in the short
term). c a period of some weeks, alternating with holiday or
vacation, during which instruction is given in a school,
college, or university, or Brit. during which a lawcourt holds
sessions. d a period of imprisonment. e a period of tenure. 6
Logic a word or words that may be the subject or predicate of a
proposition. 7 Math. a each of the two quantities in a ratio.
b each quantity in a series. c a part of an expression joined
to the rest by + or - (e.g. a, b, c in a + b - c). 8 the
completion of a normal length of pregnancy. 9 an appointed day,
esp. a Scottish quarter day. 10 (in full Brit. term of years or
US term for years) Law an interest in land for a fixed period.
11 = TERMINUS 6. 12 archaic a boundary or limit, esp. of time.
--v.tr. denominate, call; assign a term to (the music termed
classical). bring to terms cause to accept conditions. come
to terms yield, give way. come to terms with 1 reconcile
oneself to (a difficulty etc.). 2 conclude an agreement with.
in set terms in definite terms. in terms explicitly. in terms
of in the language peculiar to, using as a basis of expression
or thought. make terms conclude an agreement. on terms on
terms of friendship or equality. term paper US an essay or
dissertation representative of the work done during a term.
terms of reference Brit. points referred to an individual or
body of persons for decision or report; the scope of an inquiry
etc.; a definition of this. terms of trade Brit. the ratio
between prices paid for imports and those received for exports.
termless adj. termly adj. & adv. [ME f. OF terme f. L
TERMINUS]
termagant n. & adj. --n. 1 an overbearing or brawling woman; a virago or
shrew. 2 (Termagant) hist. an imaginary deity of violent and
turbulent character, often appearing in morality plays. --adj.
violent, turbulent, shrewish. [ME Tervagant f. OF Tervagan f.
It. Trivigante]
terminable
adj. 1 that may be terminated. 2 coming to an end after a
certain time (terminable annuity). terminableness n.
terminal adj. & n. --adj. 1 a (of a disease) ending in death, fatal. b
(of a patient) in the last stage of a fatal disease. c (of a
morbid condition) forming the last stage of a fatal disease. d
colloq. ruinous, disastrous, very great (terminal laziness). 2
of or forming a limit or terminus (terminal station). 3 a Zool.
etc. ending a series (terminal joints). b Bot. borne at the end
of a stem etc. 4 of or done etc. each term (terminal accounts;
terminal examinations). --n. 1 a terminating thing; an
extremity. 2 a terminus for trains or long-distance buses. 3 a
departure and arrival building for air passengers. 4 a point of
connection for closing an electric circuit. 5 an apparatus for
transmission of messages between a user and a computer,
communications system, etc. 6 (in full terminal figure) =
TERMINUS 6. 7 an installation where oil is stored at the end of
a pipeline or at a port. 8 a patient suffering from a terminal
illness. terminal velocity a velocity of a falling body such
that the resistance of the air etc. prevents further increase of
speed under gravity. terminally adv. [L terminalis (as
TERMINUS)]
terminate v. 1 tr. & intr. bring or come to an end. 2 intr. (foll. by
in) (of a word) end in (a specified letter or syllable etc.). 3
tr. end (a pregnancy) before term by artificial means. 4 tr.
bound, limit. [L terminare (as TERMINUS)]
termination
n. 1 the act or an instance of terminating; the state of being
terminated. 2 Med. an induced abortion. 3 an ending or result
of a specified kind (a happy termination). 4 a word's final
syllable or letters or letter esp. as an element in inflection
or derivation. put a termination to (or bring to a
termination) make an end of. terminational adj. [ME f. OF
termination or L terminatio (as TERMINATE)]
terminator
n. 1 a person or thing that terminates. 2 the dividing line
between the light and dark part of a planetary body.
terminer see OYER AND TERMINER.
termini pl. of TERMINUS.
terminism n. 1 the doctrine that everyone has a limited time for
repentance. 2 = NOMINALISM. terminist n. [L]
terminological
adj. of terminology. terminological inexactitude joc. a lie.
terminologically adv.
terminology
n. (pl. -ies) 1 the system of terms used in a particular
subject. 2 the science of the proper use of terms.
terminologist n. [G Terminologie f. med.L TERMINUS term]
terminus n. (pl. termini or terminuses) 1 a station at the end of a
railway or bus route. 2 a point at the end of a pipeline etc.
3 a final point, a goal. 4 a starting-point. 5 Math. the
end-point of a vector etc. 6 Archit. a figure of a human bust
or an animal ending in a square pillar from which it appears to
spring, orig. as a boundary-marker. terminus ad quem the
finishing-point of an argument, policy, period, etc. terminus
ante quem the finishing-point of a period. terminus a quo the
starting-point of an argument, policy, period, etc. terminus
post quem the starting-point of a period. [L, = end, limit,
boundary]
termitary n. (pl. -ies) a nest of termites, usu. a large mound of earth.
termite n. a small antlike social insect of the order Isoptera, chiefly
tropical and destructive to timber. [LL termes -mitis, alt. of
L tarmes after terere rub]
termor n. Law a person who holds lands etc. for a term of years, or
for life. [ME f. AF termer (as TERM)]
tern(1) n. any marine bird of the subfamily Sterninae, like a gull but
usu. smaller and with a long forked tail. [of Scand. orig.:
cf. Da. terne, Sw. trna f. ON therna]
tern(2) n. 1 a set of three, esp. three lottery numbers that when drawn
together win a large prize. 2 such a prize. [F terne f. L
terni three each]
ternary adj. 1 composed of three parts. 2 Math. using three as a base
(ternary scale). ternary form Mus. the form of a movement in
which the first subject is repeated after an interposed second
subject in a related key. [ME f. L ternarius f. terni three
each]
ternate adj. 1 arranged in threes. 2 Bot. (of a leaf): a having three
leaflets. b whorled in threes. ternately adv. [mod.L
ternatus (as TERNARY)]
terne n. (in full terne-plate) inferior tin-plate alloyed with much
lead. [prob. f. F terne dull: cf. TARNISH]
terotechnology
n. the branch of technology and engineering concerned with the
installation and maintenance of equipment. [Gk tereo take care
of + TECHNOLOGY]
terpene n. Chem. any of a large group of unsaturated cyclic
hydrocarbons found in the essential oils of plants, esp.
conifers and oranges. [terpentin obs. var. of TURPENTINE]
Terpsichorean
adj. of or relating to dancing. [Terpsichore Muse of dancing]
terra alba
n. a white mineral, esp. pipeclay or pulverized gypsum. [L, =
white earth]
terrace n. & v. --n. 1 each of a series of flat areas formed on a
slope and used for cultivation. 2 a level paved area next to a
house. 3 a a row of houses on a raised level or along the top
or face of a slope. b a row of houses built in one block of
uniform style. 4 a flight of wide shallow steps as for
spectators at a sports ground. 5 Geol. a raised beach, or a
similar formation beside a river etc. --v.tr. form into or
provide with a terrace or terraces. terraced house Brit. =
terrace house. terraced roof a flat roof esp. of an Indian or
Eastern house. terrace house Brit. any of a row of houses
joined by party-walls. [OF ult. f. L terra earth]
terracotta
n. 1 a unglazed usu. brownish-red earthenware used chiefly as
an ornamental building-material and in modelling. b a statuette
of this. 2 its colour. [It. terra cotta baked earth]
terra firma
n. dry land, firm ground. [L, = firm land]
terrain n. a tract of land as regarded by the physical geographer or
the military tactician. [F, ult. f. L terrenum neut. of
terrenus TERRENE]
terra incognita
n. an unknown or unexplored region. [L, = unknown land]
terramara n. (pl. terramare) = TERRAMARE. [It. dial.: see TERRAMARE]
terramare n. 1 an ammoniacal earthy deposit found in mounds in
prehistoric lake-dwellings or settlements esp. in Italy. 2 such
a dwelling or settlement. [F f. It. dial. terra mara f. marna
marl]
terrapin n. 1 any of various N. American edible freshwater turtles of
the family Emydidae. 2 (Terrapin) propr. a type of
prefabricated one-storey building. [Algonquian]
terrarium n. (pl. terrariums or terraria) 1 a vivarium for small land
animals. 2 a sealed transparent globe etc. containing growing
plants. [mod.L f. L terra earth, after AQUARIUM]
terra sigillata
n. 1 astringent clay from Lemnos or Samos. 2 Samian ware.
[med.L, = sealed earth]
terrazzo n. (pl. -os) a flooring-material of stone chips set in
concrete and given a smooth surface. [It., = terrace]
terrene adj. 1 of the earth; earthy, worldly. 2 of earth, earthy. 3
of dry land; terrestrial. [ME f. AF f. L terrenus f. terra
earth]
terreplein
n. a level space where a battery of guns is mounted. [orig. a
sloping bank behind a rampart f. F terre-plein f. It.
terrapieno f. terrapienare fill with earth f. terra earth +
pieno f. L plenus full]
terrestrial
adj. & n. --adj. 1 of or on or relating to the earth; earthly.
2 a of or on dry land. b Zool. living on or in the ground (opp.
AQUATIC, ARBOREAL, AERIAL). c Bot. growing in the soil (opp.
AQUATIC, EPIPHYTIC). 3 Astron. (of a planet) similar in size or
composition to the earth. 4 of this world, worldly (terrestrial
sins; terrestrial interests). --n. an inhabitant of the earth.
a terrestrial globe a globe representing the earth. the
terrestrial globe the earth. terrestrial magnetism the magnetic
properties of the earth as a whole. terrestrial telescope a
telescope giving an erect image for observation of terrestrial
objects. terrestrially adv. [ME f. L terrestris f. terra
earth]
terret n. (also territ) each of the loops or rings on a harness-pad
for the driving-reins to pass through. [ME, var. of toret (now
dial.) f. OF to(u)ret dimin. of TOUR]
terre-verte
n. a soft green earth used as a pigment. [F, = green earth]
terrible adj. 1 colloq. very great or bad (a terrible bore). 2 colloq.
very incompetent (terrible at tennis). 3 causing terror; fit to
cause terror; awful, dreadful, formidable. terribleness n.
[ME f. F f. L terribilis f. terrere frighten]
terribly adv. 1 colloq. very, extremely (he was terribly nice about it).
2 in a terrible manner.
terricolous
adj. living on or in the earth. [L terricola earth-dweller f.
terra earth + colere inhabit]
terrier(1)
n. 1 a a small dog of various breeds originally used for
turning out foxes etc. from their earths. b any of these
breeds. 2 an eager or tenacious person or animal. 3 (Terrier)
Brit. colloq. a member of the Territorial Army etc. [ME f. OF
(chien) terrier f. med.L terrarius f. L terra earth]
terrier(2)
n. hist. 1 a book recording the site, boundaries, etc., of the
land of private persons or corporations. 2 a rent-roll. 3 a
collection of acknowledgements of vassals or tenants of a
lordship. [ME f. OF terrier (adj.) = med.L terrarius liber (as
TERRIER(1))]
terrific adj. 1 colloq. a of great size or intensity. b excellent (did
a terrific job). c excessive (making a terrific noise). 2
causing terror. terrifically adv. [L terrificus f. terrere
frighten]
terrify v.tr. (-ies, -ied) fill with terror; frighten severely
(terrified them into submission; is terrified of dogs).
terrifier n. terrifyingly adv. [L terrificare (as TERRIFIC)]
terrigenous
adj. produced by the earth or the land (terrigenous deposits).
[L terrigenus earth-born]
terrine n. 1 pt or similar food. 2 an earthenware vessel, esp. one
in which such food is cooked or sold. [orig. form of TUREEN]
territ var. of TERRET.
territorial
adj. & n. --adj. 1 of territory (territorial possessions). 2
limited to a district (the right was strictly territorial). 3
(of a person or animal etc.) tending to defend an area of
territory. 4 (usu. Territorial) of any of the Territories of
the US or Canada. --n. (Territorial) (in the UK) a member of
the Territorial Army. Territorial Army (in the UK) a volunteer
force locally organized to provide a reserve of trained and
disciplined manpower for use in an emergency (known as
Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve 1967-79). territorial
waters the waters under the jurisdiction of a State, esp. the
part of the sea within a stated distance of the shore
(traditionally three miles from low-water mark).
territoriality n. territorialize v.tr. (also -ise).
territorialization n. territorially adv. [LL territorialis (as
TERRITORY)]
territory n. (pl. -ies) 1 the extent of the land under the jurisdiction
of a ruler, State, city, etc. 2 (Territory) an organized
division of a country, esp. one not yet admitted to the full
rights of a State. 3 a sphere of action or thought; a province.
4 the area over which a commercial traveller or
goods-distributor operates. 5 Zool. an area defended by an
animal or animals against others of the same species. 6 an area
defended by a team or player in a game. 7 a large tract of
land. [ME f. L territorium f. terra land]
terror n. 1 extreme fear. 2 a a person or thing that causes terror.
b (also holy terror) colloq. a formidable person; a troublesome
person or thing (the twins are little terrors). 3 the use of
organized intimidation; terrorism. reign of terror a period of
remorseless repression or bloodshed, esp. a period of the French
Revolution 1793-4. terror-stricken (or -struck) affected with
terror. [ME f. OF terrour f. L terror -oris f. terrere
frighten]
terrorist n. a person who uses or favours violent and intimidating
methods of coercing a government or community. terrorism n.
terroristic adj. terroristically adv. [F terroriste (as
TERROR)]
terrorize v.tr. (also -ise) 1 fill with terror. 2 use terrorism against.
terrorization n. terrorizer n.
terry n. & adj. --n. (pl. -ies) a pile fabric with the loops uncut,
used esp. for towels. --adj. of this fabric. [18th c.: orig.
unkn.]
terse adj. (terser, tersest) 1 (of language) brief, concise, to the
point. 2 curt, abrupt. tersely adv. terseness n. [L tersus
past part. of tergere wipe, polish]
tertian adj. (of a fever) recurring every third day by inclusive
counting. [ME (fever) tersiane f. L (febris) tertiana (as
TERTIARY)]
tertiary adj. & n. --adj. 1 third in order or rank etc. 2 (Tertiary)
Geol. of or relating to the first period in the Cenozoic era
with evidence of the development of mammals and flowering plants
(cf. PALAEOCENE, EOCENE, OLIGOCENE, MIOCENE, PLIOCENE). Cf.
Appendix II. --n. 1 Geol. this period or system. 2 a member
of the third order of a monastic body. tertiary education
education, esp. in a college or university, that follows
secondary education. [L tertiarius f. tertius third]
tertium quid
n. a third something, esp. intermediate between mind and matter
or between opposite things. [L, app. transl. Gk triton ti]
tervalent adj. Chem. having a valency of three. [TER- + valent- part.
stem (as VALENCE(1))]
Terylene n. propr. a synthetic polyester used as a textile fibre.
[terephthalic acid (f. terebic f. TEREBINTH + PHTHALIC ACID) +
ETHYLENE]
terza rima
n. Prosody an arrangement of (esp. iambic pentameter) triplets
rhyming aba bcb cdc etc. as in Dante's Divina Commedia. [It., =
third rhyme]
terzetto n. (pl. -os or terzetti) Mus. a vocal or instrumental trio.
[It.: see TERCET]
TESL abbr. teaching of English as a second language.
tesla n. the SI unit of magnetic flux density. Tesla coil a form of
induction coil for producing high-frequency alternating
currents. [N. Tesla, Croatian-born Amer. scientist d. 1943]
TESOL abbr. teaching of English to speakers of other languages.
tessellate
v.tr. 1 make from tesserae. 2 Math. cover (a plane surface) by
repeated use of a single shape. [L tessellare f. tessella
dimin. of TESSERA]
tessellated
adj. 1 of or resembling mosaic. 2 Bot. & Zool. regularly
chequered. [L tessellatus or It. tessellato (as TESSELLATE)]
tessellation
n. 1 the act or an instance of tessellating; the state of being
tessellated. 2 an arrangement of polygons without gaps or
overlapping, esp. in a repeated pattern.
tessera n. (pl. tesserae) 1 a small square block used in mosaic. 2 Gk
& Rom. Antiq. a small square of bone etc. used as a token,
ticket, etc. tesseral adj. [L f. Gk, neut. of tesseres,
tessares four]
tessitura n. Mus. the range within which most tones of a voice-part
fall. [It., = TEXTURE]
test(1) n. & v. --n. 1 a critical examination or trial of a person's
or thing's qualities. 2 the means of so examining; a standard
for comparison or trial; circumstances suitable for this
(success is not a fair test). 3 a minor examination, esp. in
school (spelling test). 4 colloq. a test match. 5 a ground of
admission or rejection (is excluded by our test). 6 Chem. a
reagent or a procedure employed to reveal the presence of
another in a compound. 7 Brit. a movable hearth in a
reverberating furnace with a cupel used in separating gold or
silver from lead. --v.tr. 1 put to the test; make trial of (a
person or thing or quality). 2 try severely; tax a person's
powers of endurance etc. 3 Chem. examine by means of a reagent.
4 Brit. refine or assay (metal). put to the test cause to
undergo a test. Test Act hist. 1 an act in force 1672-1828,
requiring all persons before holding office in Britain to take
oaths of supremacy and allegiance or an equivalent test. 2 an
act of 1871 relaxing conditions for university degrees. test
bed equipment for testing aircraft engines before acceptance for
general use. test card a still television picture transmitted
outside normal programme hours and designed for use in judging
the quality and position of the image. test case Law a case
setting a precedent for other cases involving the same question
of law. test drive a drive taken to determine the qualities of
a motor vehicle with a view to its regular use. test-drive
v.tr. (past -drove; past part. -driven) drive (a vehicle) for
this purpose. test flight a flight during which the performance
of an aircraft is tested. test-fly v.tr. (-flies; past -flew;
past part. -flown) fly (an aircraft) for this purpose. test
match a cricket or Rugby match between teams of certain
countries, usu. each of a series in a tour. test meal a meal
of specified quantity and composition, eaten to assist tests of
gastric secretion. test out put (a theory etc.) to a practical
test. test paper 1 a minor examination paper. 2 Chem. a paper
impregnated with a substance changing colour under known
conditions. test pilot a pilot who test-flies aircraft.
test-tube a thin glass tube closed at one end used for chemical
tests etc. test-tube baby colloq. a baby conceived by in vitro
fertilization. testable adj. testability n. testee n. [ME
f. OF f. L testu(m) earthen pot, collateral form of testa
TEST(2)]
test(2) n. the shell of some invertebrates, esp. foraminiferars and
tunicates. [L testa tile, jug, shell, etc.: cf. TEST(1)]
testa n. (pl. testae) Bot. a seed-coat. [L (as TEST(2))]
testaceous
adj. 1 Biol. having a hard continuous outer covering. 2 Bot. &
Zool. of a brick-red colour. [L testaceus (as TEST(2))]
testament n. 1 a will (esp. last will and testament). 2 (usu. foll. by
to) evidence, proof (is testament to his loyalty). 3 Bibl. a a
covenant or dispensation. b (Testament) a division of the
Christian Bible (see Old Testament, New Testament). c
(Testament) a copy of the New Testament. [ME f. L testamentum
will (as TESTATE): in early Christian L rendering Gk diatheke
covenant]
testamentary
adj. of or by or in a will. [L testamentarius (as TESTAMENT)]
testate adj. & n. --adj. having left a valid will at death. --n. a
testate person. testacy n. (pl. -ies). [L testatus past
part. of testari testify, make a will, f. testis witness]
testator n. (fem. testatrix) a person who has made a will, esp. one who
dies testate. [ME f. AF testatour f. L testator (as TESTATE)]
tester(1) n. 1 a person or thing that tests. 2 a sample of a cosmetic
etc., allowing customers to try it before purchase.
tester(2) n. a canopy, esp. over a four-poster bed. [ME f. med.L
testerium, testrum, testura, ult. f. L testa tile]
testes pl. of TESTIS.
testicle n. a male organ that produces spermatozoa etc., esp. one of a
pair enclosed in the scrotum behind the penis of a man and most
mammals. testicular adj. [ME f. L testiculus dimin. of
testis witness (of virility)]
testiculate
adj. 1 having or shaped like testicles. 2 Bot. (esp. of an
orchid) having pairs of tubers so shaped. [LL testiculatus (as
TESTICLE)]
testify v. (-ies, -ied) 1 intr. (of a person or thing) bear witness
(testified to the facts). 2 intr. Law give evidence. 3 tr.
affirm or declare (testified his regret; testified that she had
been present). 4 tr. (of a thing) be evidence of, evince.
testifier n. [ME f. L testificari f. testis witness]
testimonial
n. 1 a certificate of character, conduct, or qualifications. 2
a gift presented to a person (esp. in public) as a mark of
esteem, in acknowledgement of services, etc. [ME f. OF
testimoignal (adj.) f. tesmoin or LL testimonialis (as
TESTIMONY)]
testimony n. (pl. -ies) 1 Law an oral or written statement under oath or
affirmation. 2 declaration or statement of fact. 3 evidence,
demonstration (called him in testimony; produce testimony). 4
Bibl. the Ten Commandments. 5 archaic a solemn protest or
confession. [ME f. L testimonium f. testis witness]
testis n. (pl. testes) Anat. & Zool. a testicle. [L, = witness: cf.
TESTICLE]
testosterone
n. a steroid androgen formed in the testicles. [TESTIS +
STEROL + -ONE]
testudinal
adj. of or shaped like a tortoise. [as TESTUDO]
testudo n. (pl. -os or testudines) Rom.Hist. 1 a screen formed by a
body of troops in close array with overlapping shields. 2 a
movable screen to protect besieging troops. [L testudo -dinis,
lit. 'tortoise' (as TEST(2))]
testy adj. (testier, testiest) irritable, touchy. testily adv.
testiness n. [ME f. AF testif f. OF teste head (as TEST(2))]
tetanic adj. of or such as occurs in tetanus. tetanically adv. [L
tetanicus f. Gk tetanikos (as TETANUS)]
tetanus n. 1 a bacterial disease affecting the nervous system and
marked by tonic spasm of the voluntary muscles. 2 Physiol. the
prolonged contraction of a muscle caused by rapidly repeated
stimuli. tetanize v.tr. (also -ise). tetanoid adj. [ME f.
L f. Gk tetanos muscular spasm f. teino stretch]
tetany n. a disease with intermittent muscular spasms caused by
malfunction of the parathyroid glands and a consequent
deficiency of calcium. [F ttanie (as TETANUS)]
tetchy adj. (also techy) (-ier, -iest) peevish, irritable. tetchily
adv. tetchiness n. [prob. f. tecche, tache blemish, fault f.
OF teche, tache]
tte--tte
n., adv., & adj. --n. 1 a private conversation or interview
usu. between two persons. 2 an S-shaped sofa for two people to
sit face to face. --adv. together in private (dined
tte--tte). --adj. 1 private, confidential. 2 concerning
only two persons. [F, lit. 'head-to-head']
tte-bche
adj. (of a postage stamp) printed upside down or sideways
relative to another. [F f. tte head + bchevet double
bed-head]
tether n. & v. --n. 1 a rope etc. by which an animal is tied to
confine it to the spot. 2 the extent of one's knowledge,
authority, etc.; scope, limit. --v.tr. tie (an animal) with a
tether. at the end of one's tether having reached the limit of
one's patience, resources, abilities, etc. [ME f. ON tjthr f.
Gmc]
tetra- comb. form (also tetr- before a vowel) 1 four (tetrapod). 2
Chem. (forming names of compounds) containing four atoms or
groups of a specified kind (tetroxide). [Gk f. tettares four]
tetrachord
n. Mus. 1 a scale-pattern of four notes, the interval between
the first and last being a perfect fourth. 2 a musical
instrument with four strings.
tetracyclic
adj. 1 Bot. having four circles or whorls. 2 Chem. (of a
compound) having a molecular structure of four fused hydrocarbon
rings.
tetracycline
n. an antibiotic with a molecule of four rings. [TETRACYCLIC +
-INE(4)]
tetrad n. 1 a group of four. 2 the number four. [Gk tetras -ados (as
TETRA-)]
tetradactyl
n. Zool. an animal with four toes on each foot.
tetradactylous adj.
tetraethyl lead
n. a liquid added to petrol as an antiknock agent.
tetragon n. a plane figure with four angles and four sides. [Gk
tetragonon quadrangle (as TETRA-, -GON)]
tetragonal
adj. 1 of or like a tetragon. 2 Crystallog. (of a crystal)
having three axes at right angles, two of them equal.
tetragonally adv.
tetragram n. a word of four letters.
Tetragrammaton
n. the Hebrew name of God written in four letters, articulated
as Yahweh etc. [Gk (as TETRA-, gramma, -atos letter)]
tetragynous
adj. Bot. having four pistils.
tetrahedron
n. (pl. tetrahedra or tetrahedrons) a four-sided solid; a
triangular pyramid. tetrahedral adj. [late Gk tetraedron
neut. of tetraedros four-sided (as TETRA-, -HEDRON)]
tetralogy n. (pl. -ies) 1 a group of four related literary or operatic
works. 2 Gk Antiq. a trilogy of tragedies with a satyric drama.
tetramerous
adj. having four parts.
tetrameter
n. Prosody a verse of four measures. [LL tetrametrus f. Gk
tetrametros (as TETRA-, metron measure)]
tetrandrous
adj. Bot. having four stamens.
tetraplegia
n. Med. = QUADRIPLEGIA. tetraplegic adj. & n. [mod.L (as
TETRA-, Gk plege blow, strike)]
tetraploid
adj. & n. Biol. --adj. (of an organism or cell) having four
times the haploid set of chromosomes. --n. a tetraploid
organism or cell.
tetrapod n. 1 Zool. an animal with four feet. 2 a structure supported
by four feet radiating from a centre. tetrapodous adj.
[mod.L tetrapodus f. Gk tetrapous (as TETRA-, pous podos foot)]
tetrapterous
adj. Zool. having four wings. [mod.L tetrapterus f. Gk
tetrapteros (as TETRA-, pteron wing)]
tetrarch n. 1 Rom.Hist. a the governor of a fourth part of a country or
province. b a subordinate ruler. 2 one of four joint rulers.
tetrarchate n. tetrarchical adj. tetrarchy n. (pl. -ies).
[ME f. LL tetrarcha f. L tetrarches f. Gk tetrarkhes (as TETRA-,
arkho rule)]
tetrastich
n. Prosody a group of four lines of verse. [L tetrastichon f.
Gk (as TETRA-, stikhon line)]
tetrastyle
n. & adj. --n. a building with four pillars esp. forming a
portico in front or supporting a ceiling. --adj. (of a
building) built in this way. [L tetrastylos f. Gk tetrastulos
(as TETRA-, STYLE)]
tetrasyllable
n. a word of four syllables. tetrasyllabic adj.
tetrathlon
n. a contest comprising four events, esp. riding, shooting,
swimming, and running. [TETRA- + Gk athlon contest, after
PENTATHLON]
tetratomic
adj. Chem. having four atoms (of a specified kind) in the
molecule.
tetravalent
adj. Chem. having a valency of four; quadrivalent.
tetrode n. a thermionic valve having four electrodes. [TETRA- + Gk
hodos way]
tetter n. archaic or dial. a pustular skin-eruption, e.g. eczema.
[OE teter: cf. OHG zittaroh, G dial. Zitteroch, Skr. dadru]
Teut. abbr. Teutonic.
Teuto- comb. form = TEUTON.
Teuton n. 1 a member of a Teutonic nation, esp. a German. 2 hist. a
member of a N. European tribe which attacked the Roman republic
c. 110 BC. [L Teutones, Teutoni, f. an IE base meaning 'people'
or 'country']
Teutonic adj. & n. --adj. 1 relating to or characteristic of the
Germanic peoples or their languages. 2 German. --n. the early
language usu. called Germanic. Teutonicism n. [F teutonique
f. L Teutonicus (as TEUTON)]
Tex. abbr. Texas.
Texan n. & adj. --n. a native of Texas in the US. --adj. of or
relating to Texas.
text n. 1 the main body of a book as distinct from notes,
appendices, pictures, etc. 2 the original words of an author or
document, esp. as distinct from a paraphrase of or commentary on
them. 3 a passage quoted from Scripture, esp. as the subject of
a sermon. 4 a subject or theme. 5 (in pl.) books prescribed
for study. 6 US a textbook. 7 (in full text-hand) a fine large
kind of handwriting esp. for manuscripts. text editor
Computing a system or program allowing the user to enter and
edit text. text processing Computing the manipulation of text,
esp. transforming it from one format to another. textless
adj. [ME f. ONF tixte, texte f. L textus tissue, literary style
(in med.L = Gospel) f. L texere text- weave]
textbook n. & adj. --n. a book for use in studying, esp. a standard
account of a subject. --attrib.adj. 1 exemplary, accurate (cf.
COPYBOOK). 2 instructively typical. textbookish adj.
textile n. & adj. --n. 1 any woven material. 2 any cloth. --adj. 1
of weaving or cloth (textile industry). 2 woven (textile
fabrics). 3 suitable for weaving (textile materials). [L
textilis (as TEXT)]
textual adj. of, in, or concerning a text (textual errors). textual
criticism the process of attempting to ascertain the correct
reading of a text. textually adv. [ME f. med.L textualis (as
TEXT)]
textualist
n. a person who adheres strictly to the letter of the text.
textualism n.
texture n. & v. --n. 1 the feel or appearance of a surface or
substance. 2 the arrangement of threads etc. in textile fabric.
3 the arrangement of small constituent parts. 4 Art the
representation of the structure and detail of objects. 5 Mus.
the quality of sound formed by combining parts. 6 the quality
of a piece of writing, esp. with reference to imagery,
alliteration, etc. 7 quality or style resulting from
composition (the texture of her life). --v.tr. (usu. as
textured adj.) provide with a texture. textural adj.
texturally adv. textureless adj. [ME f. L textura weaving (as
TEXT)]
texturize v.tr. (also -ise) (usu. as texturized adj.) impart a particular
texture to (fabrics or food).
-th(1) suffix (also -eth) forming ordinal and fractional numbers from
four onwards (fourth; thirtieth). [OE -tha, -the, -otha, -othe]
-th(2) suffix forming nouns denoting an action or process: 1 from verbs
(birth; growth). 2 from adjectives (breadth; filth; length).
[OE -thu, -tho, -th]
-th(3) var. of -ETH(2).
Thai n. & adj. --n. (pl. same or Thais) 1 a a native or national of
Thailand in SE Asia; a member of the largest ethnic group in
Thailand. b a person of Thai descent. 2 the language of
Thailand. --adj. of or relating to Thailand or its people or
language. [Thai, = free]
thalamus n. (pl. thalami) 1 Anat. either of two masses of grey matter
in the forebrain, serving as relay stations for sensory tracts.
2 Bot. the receptacle of a flower. 3 Gk Antiq. an inner room or
women's apartment. thalamic adj. (in senses 1 and 2). [L f.
Gk thalamos]
thalassic adj. of the sea or seas, esp. small or inland seas. [F
thalassique f. Gk thalassa sea]
thaler n. hist. a German silver coin. [G T(h)aler: see DOLLAR]
thalidomide
n. a drug formerly used as a sedative but found in 1961 to
cause foetal malformation when taken by a mother early in
pregnancy. thalidomide baby (or child) a baby or child born
deformed from the effects of thalidomide. [ph thalimi doglutari
mide]
thalli pl. of THALLUS.
thallium n. Chem. a rare soft white metallic element, occurring
naturally in zinc blende and some iron ores. thallic adj.
thallous adj. [formed as THALLUS, from the green line in its
spectrum]
thallophyte
n. Bot. a plant having a thallus, e.g. alga, fungus, or
lichen. [mod.L Thallophyta (as THALLUS) + -PHYTE]
thallus n. (pl. thalli) a plant-body without vascular tissue and not
differentiated into root, stem, and leaves. thalloid adj. [L
f. Gk thallos green shoot f. thallo bloom]
thalweg n. 1 Geog. a line where opposite slopes meet at the bottom of a
valley, river, or lake. 2 Law a boundary between States along
the centre of a river etc. [G f. Thal valley + Weg way]
than conj. 1 introducing the second element in a comparison (you are
older than he is; you are older than he). It is also possible
to say you are older than him, with than treated as a
preposition, esp. in less formal contexts. 2 introducing the
second element in a statement of difference (anyone other than
me). [OE thanne etc., orig. the same word as THEN]
thanage n. hist. 1 the rank of thane. 2 the land granted to a thane.
[ME f. AF thanage (as THANE)]
thanatology
n. the scientific study of death and its associated phenomena
and practices. [Gk thanatos death + -LOGY]
thane n. hist. 1 a man who held land from an English king or other
superior by military service, ranking between ordinary freemen
and hereditary nobles. 2 a man who held land from a Scottish
king and ranked with an earl's son; the chief of a clan.
thanedom n. [OE theg(e)n servant, soldier f. Gmc]
thank v. & n. --v.tr. 1 express gratitude to (thanked him for the
present). 2 hold responsible (you can thank yourself for that).
--n. (in pl.) 1 gratitude (expressed his heartfelt thanks). 2
an expression of gratitude (give thanks to Heaven). 3 (as a
formula) thank you (thanks for your help; thanks very much).
give thanks say grace at a meal. I will thank you a polite
formula, now usu. iron. implying reproach (I will thank you to
go away). no (or small) thanks to despite. thank goodness (or
God or heavens etc.) 1 colloq. an expression of relief or
pleasure. 2 an expression of pious gratitude. thank-offering
an offering made as an act of thanksgiving. thanks to as the
(good or bad) result of (thanks to my foresight; thanks to your
obstinacy). thank you a polite formula acknowledging a gift or
service or an offer accepted or refused. thank-you n. colloq.
an instance of expressing thanks. [OE thancian, thanc f. Gmc,
rel. to THINK]
thankful adj. 1 grateful, pleased. 2 (of words or acts) expressive of
thanks. thankfulness n. [OE thancful (as THANK, -FUL)]
thankfully
adv. 1 in a thankful manner. 2 disp. let us be thankful;
fortunately (thankfully, nobody was hurt). [OE thancfullice (as
THANKFUL, -LY(2))]
thankless adj. 1 not expressing or feeling gratitude. 2 (of a task etc.)
giving no pleasure or profit. 3 not deserving thanks.
thanklessly adv. thanklessness n.
thanksgiving
n. 1 a the expression of gratitude, esp. to God. b a form of
words for this. 2 (Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day) a national
holiday for giving thanks to God, the fourth Thursday in
November in the US, usu. the second Monday in October in Canada.
General Thanksgiving a form of thanksgiving in the Book of
Common Prayer or the Alternative Service Book.
thar var. of TAHR.
that pron., adj., adv., & conj. --demons.pron. (pl. those) 1 the
person or thing indicated, named, or understood, esp. when
observed by the speaker or when familiar to the person addressed
(I heard that; who is that in the garden?; I knew all that
before; that is not fair). 2 (contrasted with this) the further
or less immediate or obvious etc. of two (this bag is much
heavier than that). 3 the action, behaviour, or circumstances
just observed or mentioned (don't do that again). 4 Brit. (on
the telephone etc.) the person spoken to (who is that?). 5
colloq. referring to a strong feeling just mentioned ('Are you
glad?' 'I am that'). 6 (esp. in relative constructions) the
one, the person, etc., described or specified in some way (those
who have cars can take the luggage; those unfit for use; a table
like that described above). 7 (pl. that) used instead of which
or whom to introduce a defining clause, esp. one essential to
identification (the book that you sent me; there is nothing here
that matters). As a relative that usually specifies, whereas
who or which need not: compare the book that you sent me is lost
with the book, which I gave you, is lost. --demons.adj. (pl.
those) 1 designating the person or thing indicated, named,
understood, etc. (cf. sense 1 of pron.) (look at that dog;
what was that noise?; things were easier in those days). 2
contrasted with this (cf. sense 2 of pron.) (this bag is
heavier than that one). 3 expressing strong feeling (shall not
easily forget that day). --adv. 1 to such a degree; so (have
done that much; will go that far). 2 Brit. colloq. very (not
that good). 3 at which, on which, etc. (at the speed that he
was going he could not stop; the day that I first met her).
Often omitted in this sense: the day I first met her. --conj.
introducing a subordinate clause indicating: 1 a statement or
hypothesis (they say that he is better; there is no doubt that
he meant it; the result was that the handle fell off). 2 a
purpose (we live that we may eat). 3 a result (am so sleepy
that I cannot keep my eyes open). 4 a reason or clause (it is
rather that he lacks the time). 5 a wish (Oh, that summer were
here!). Often omitted in senses 1, 3: they say he is better.
all that very (not all that good). and all that (or and that
colloq.) and all or various things associated with or similar to
what has been mentioned; and so forth. like that 1 of that kind
(is fond of books like that). 2 in that manner, as you are
doing, as he has been doing, etc. (wish they would not talk like
that). 3 colloq. without effort (did the job like that). 4 of
that character (he would not accept any payment -- he is like
that). that is (or that is to say) a formula introducing or
following an explanation of a preceding word or words. that's
colloq. you are (by virtue of present or future obedience etc.)
(that's a good boy). that's more like it an acknowledgement of
improvement. that's right an expression of approval or colloq.
assent. that's that a formula concluding a narrative or
discussion or indicating completion of a task. that there sl.
= sense 1 of adj. that will do no more is needed or desirable.
[OE tht, nom. & acc. sing. neut. of demons. pron. & adj. se,
seo, tht f. Gmc; those f. OE thas pl. of thes THIS]
thatch n. & v. --n. 1 a roof-covering of straw, reeds, palm-leaves,
or similar material. 2 colloq. the hair of the head. --v.tr.
(also absol.) cover (a roof or a building) with thatch.
thatcher n. [n. late collateral form of thack (now dial.) f.
OE thc, after v. f. OE theccan f. Gmc, assim. to thack]
thaumatrope
n. hist. 1 a disc or card with two different pictures on its
two sides, which combine into one by the persistence of visual
impressions when the disc is rapidly rotated. 2 a zoetrope.
[irreg. f. Gk thauma marvel + -tropos -turning]
thaumaturge
n. a worker of miracles; a wonder-worker. thaumaturgic adj.
thaumaturgical adj. thaumaturgist n. thaumaturgy n. [med.L
thaumaturgus f. Gk thaumatourgos (adj.) f. thauma -matos marvel
+ -ergos -working]
thaw v. & n. --v. 1 intr. (often foll. by out) (of ice or snow or a
frozen thing) pass into a liquid or unfrozen state. 2 intr.
(usu. prec. by it as subject) (of the weather) become warm
enough to melt ice etc. (it began to thaw). 3 intr. become warm
enough to lose numbness etc. 4 intr. become less cold or stiff
in manner; become genial. 5 tr. (often foll. by out) cause to
thaw. 6 tr. make cordial or animated. --n. 1 the act or an
instance of thawing. 2 the warmth of weather that thaws (a thaw
has set in). 3 Polit. a relaxation of control or restriction.
thawless adj. [OE thawian f. WG; orig. unkn.]
the before a vowel adj. & adv. --adj. (called the definite article)
1 denoting one or more persons or things already mentioned,
under discussion, implied, or familiar (gave the man a wave;
shall let the matter drop; hurt myself in the arm; went to the
theatre). 2 serving to describe as unique (the Queen; the
Thames). 3 a (foll. by defining adj.) which is, who are, etc.
(ignored the embarrassed Mr Smith; Edward the Seventh). b
(foll. by adj. used absol.) denoting a class described (from the
sublime to the ridiculous). 4 best known or best entitled to
the name (with the stressed: no relation to the Kipling; this is
the book on this subject). 5 used to indicate a following
defining clause or phrase (the book that you borrowed; the best
I can do for you; the bottom of a well). 6 a used to indicate
that a singular noun represents a species, class, etc. (the cat
loves comfort; has the novel a future?; plays the harp well). b
used with a noun which figuratively represents an occupation,
pursuit, etc. (went on the stage; too fond of the bottle). c
(foll. by the name of a unit) a, per (5p in the pound; 5 the
square metre; allow 8 minutes to the mile). d colloq. or
archaic designating a disease, affliction, etc. (the measles;
the toothache; the blues). 7 (foll. by a unit of time) the
present, the current (man of the moment; questions of the day;
book of the month). 8 Brit. colloq. my, our (the dog; the
fridge). 9 used before the surname of the chief of a Scottish
or Irish clan (the Macnab). 10 dial. (esp. in Wales) used with
a noun characterizing the occupation of the person whose name
precedes (Jones the Bread). --adv. (preceding comparatives in
expressions of proportional variation) in or by that (or such a)
degree; on that account (the more the merrier; the more he gets
the more he wants). all the in the full degree to be expected
(that makes it all the worse). so much the (tautologically) so
much, in that degree (so much the worse for him). [(adj.) OE,
replacing se, seo, tht (= THAT), f. Gmc: (adv.) f. OE thy, the,
instrumental case]
theandric adj. of the union, or by the joint agency, of the divine and
human natures in Christ. [eccl.Gk theandrikos f. theos god +
aner andros man]
theanthropic
adj. 1 both divine and human. 2 tending to embody deity in
human form. [eccl.Gk theanthropos god-man f. theos god +
anthropos human being]
thearchy n. (pl. -ies) 1 government by a god or gods. 2 a system or
order of gods (the Olympian thearchy). [eccl.Gk thearkhia
godhead f. theos god + -arkhia f. arkho rule]
theatre n. (US theater) 1 a a building or outdoor area for dramatic
performances. b a cinema. 2 a the writing and production of
plays. b effective material for the stage (makes good theatre).
3 a room or hall for lectures etc. with seats in tiers. 4 Brit.
an operating theatre. 5 a a scene or field of action (the
theatre of war). b (attrib.) designating weapons intermediate
between tactical and strategic (theatre nuclear missiles). 6 a
natural land-formation in a gradually rising part-circle like
ancient Greek and Roman theatres. theatre-goer a frequenter of
theatres. theatre-going frequenting theatres.
theatre-in-the-round a dramatic performance on a stage
surrounded by spectators. theatre sister a nurse supervising
the nursing team in an operating theatre. [ME f. OF t(h)eatre
or f. L theatrum f. Gk theatron f. theaomai behold]
theatric adj. & n. --adj. = THEATRICAL. --n. (in pl.) theatrical
actions.
theatrical
adj. & n. --adj. 1 of or for the theatre; of acting or actors.
2 (of a manner, speech, gesture, or person) calculated for
effect; showy, artificial, affected. --n. (in pl.) 1 dramatic
performances (amateur theatricals). 2 theatrical actions.
theatricalism n. theatricality n. theatricalize v.tr. (also
-ise). theatricalization n. theatrically adv. [LL theatricus
f. Gk theatrikos f. theatron THEATRE]
Theban adj. & n. --adj. of or relating to Thebes in ancient Egypt or
ancient Greece. --n. a native or inhabitant of Thebes. [ME f.
L Thebanus f. Thebae Thebes f. Gk Thebai]
theca n. (pl. thecae) 1 Bot. a part of a plant serving as a
receptacle. 2 Zool. a case or sheath enclosing an organ or
organism. thecate adj. [L f. Gk theke case]
th dansant
n. = tea dance. [F]
thee pron. objective case of THOU(1). [OE]
theft n. 1 the act or an instance of stealing. 2 Law dishonest
appropriation of another's property with intent to deprive him
or her of it permanently. [OE thiefth, theofth, later theoft,
f. Gmc (as THIEF)]
thegn n. hist. an English thane. [OE: see THANE]
theine n. = CAFFEINE. [mod.L thea tea + -INE(4)]
their poss.pron. (attrib.) 1 of or belonging to them or themselves
(their house; their own business). 2 (Their) (in titles) that
they are (Their Majesties). 3 disp. as a third person sing.
indefinite meaning 'his or her' (has anyone lost their purse?).
[ME f. ON their(r)a of them, genit. pl. of s THE, THAT]
theirs poss.pron. the one or ones belonging to or associated with them
(it is theirs; theirs are over here). of theirs of or
belonging to them (a friend of theirs). [ME f. THEIR]
theism n. belief in the existence of gods or a god, esp. a God
supernaturally revealed to man (cf. DEISM) and sustaining a
personal relation to his creatures. theist n. theistic adj.
theistical adj. theistically adv. [Gk theos god + -ISM]
them pron. & adj. --pron. 1 objective case of THEY (I saw them). 2
colloq. they (it's them again; is older than them). 3 archaic
themselves (they fell and hurt them). --adj. sl. or dial.
those (them bones). [ME theim f. ON: see THEY]
thematic adj. 1 of or relating to subjects or topics (thematic
philately; the arrangement of the anthology is thematic). 2
Mus. of melodic subjects (thematic treatment). 3 Gram. a of or
belonging to a theme (thematic vowel; thematic form). b (of a
form of a verb) having a thematic vowel. thematic catalogue
Mus. a catalogue giving the opening themes of works as well as
their names and other details. thematically adv. [Gk
thematikos (as THEME)]
theme n. 1 a subject or topic on which a person speaks, writes, or
thinks. 2 Mus. a prominent or frequently recurring melody or
group of notes in a composition. 3 US a school exercise, esp.
an essay, on a given subject. 4 Gram. the stem of a noun or
verb; the part to which inflections are added, esp. composed of
the root and an added vowel. 5 hist. any of the 29 provinces in
the Byzantine empire. theme park an amusement park organized
round a unifying idea. theme song (or tune) 1 a recurrent
melody in a musical play or film. 2 a signature tune. [ME teme
ult. f. Gk thema -matos f. tithemi set, place]
themselves
pron. 1 a emphat. form of THEY or THEM. b refl. form of THEM;
(cf. HERSELF). 2 in their normal state of body or mind (are
quite themselves again). be themselves act in their normal,
unconstrained manner.
then adv., adj., & n. --adv. 1 at that time; at the time in
question (was then too busy; then comes the trouble; the then
existing laws). 2 a next, afterwards; after that (then he told
me to come in). b and also (then, there are the children to
consider). c after all (it is a problem, but then that is what
we are here for). 3 a in that case; therefore; it follows that
(then you should have said so). b if what you say is true (but
then why did you take it?). c (implying grudging or impatient
concession) if you must have it so (all right then, have it your
own way). d used parenthetically to resume a narrative etc.
(the policeman, then, knocked on the door). --adj. that or who
was such at the time in question (the then Duke). --n. that
time (until then). then and there immediately and on the spot.
[OE thanne, thonne, etc., f. Gmc, rel. to THAT, THE]
thenar n. Anat. the ball of muscle at the base of the thumb.
[earlier = palm of the hand: mod.L f. Gk]
thence adv. (also from thence) archaic or literary 1 from that place
or source. 2 for that reason. [ME thannes, thennes f. thanne,
thenne f. OE thanon(e) etc. f. WG]
thenceforth
adv. (also from thenceforth) archaic or literary from that time
onward.
thenceforward
adv. archaic or literary thenceforth.
theo- comb. form God or gods. [Gk f. theos god]
theobromine
n. a bitter white alkaloid obtained from cacao seeds, related
to caffeine. [Theobroma cacao genus: mod.L f. Gk theos god +
broma food, + -INE(4)]
theocentric
adj. having God as its centre.
theocracy n. (pl. -ies) 1 a form of government by God or a god directly
or through a priestly order etc. 2 (the Theocracy) the Jewish
commonwealth from Moses to the monarchy. theocrat n.
theocratic adj. theocratically adv.
theocrasy n. 1 the mingling of deities into one personality. 2 the union
of the soul with God through contemplation (among Neoplatonists
etc.). [THEO- + Gk krasis mingling]
theodicy n. (pl. -ies) 1 the vindication of divine providence in view
of the existence of evil. 2 an instance of this. theodicean
adj. [THEO- + Gk dike justice]
theodolite
n. a surveying-instrument for measuring horizontal and vertical
angles with a rotating telescope. theodolitic adj. [16th c.
theodelitus, of unkn. orig.]
theogony n. (pl. -ies) 1 the genealogy of the gods. 2 an account of
this. [THEO- + Gk -gonia begetting]
theologian
n. a person trained in theology. [ME f. OF theologien (as
THEOLOGY)]
theological
adj. of theology. theological virtues faith, hope, and
charity. theologically adv. [med.L theologicalis f. L
theologicus f. Gk theologikos (as THEOLOGY)]
theology n. (pl. -ies) 1 a the study of theistic (esp. Christian)
religion. b a system of theistic (esp. Christian) religion. c
the rational analysis of a religious faith. 2 a system of
theoretical principles, esp. an impractical or rigid ideology.
theologist n. theologize v.tr. & intr. (also -ise). [ME f.
OF theologie f. L theologia f. Gk (as THEO-, -LOGY)]
theomachy n. (pl. -ies) strife among or against the gods. [THEO- + Gk
makhe fight]
theophany n. (pl. -ies) a visible manifestation of God or a god to man.
theophoric
adj. bearing the name of a god.
theophylline
n. an alkaloid similar to theobromine, found in tea-leaves.
[irreg. f. mod.L thea tea + Gk phullon leaf + -INE(4)]
theorbo n. (pl. -os) a two-necked musical instrument of the lute class
much used in the seventeenth century. theorbist n. [It.
tiorba, of unkn. orig.]
theorem n. esp. Math. 1 a general proposition not self-evident but
proved by a chain of reasoning; a truth established by means of
accepted truths (cf. PROBLEM). 2 a rule in algebra etc., esp.
one expressed by symbols or formulae (binomial theorem).
theorematic adj. [F thorme or LL theorema f. Gk theorema
speculation, proposition f. theoreo look at]
theoretic adj. & n. --adj. = THEORETICAL. --n. (in sing. or pl.) the
theoretical part of a science etc. [LL theoreticus f. Gk
theoretikos (as THEORY)]
theoretical
adj. 1 concerned with knowledge but not with its practical
application. 2 based on theory rather than experience or
practice. theoretically adv.
theoretician
n. a person concerned with the theoretical aspects of a
subject.
theorist n. a holder or inventor of a theory or theories.
theorize v.intr. (also -ise) evolve or indulge in theories. theorizer
n.
theory n. (pl. -ies) 1 a supposition or system of ideas explaining
something, esp. one based on general principles independent of
the particular things to be explained (opp. HYPOTHESIS) (atomic
theory; theory of evolution). 2 a speculative (esp. fanciful)
view (one of my pet theories). 3 the sphere of abstract
knowledge or speculative thought (this is all very well in
theory, but how will it work in practice?). 4 the exposition of
the principles of a science etc. (the theory of music). 5 Math.
a collection of propositions to illustrate the principles of a
subject (probability theory; theory of equations). [LL theoria
f. Gk theoria f. theoros spectator f. theoreo look at]
theosophy n. (pl. -ies) any of various philosophies professing to
achieve a knowledge of God by spiritual ecstasy, direct
intuition, or special individual relations, esp. a modern
movement following Hindu and Buddhist teachings and seeking
universal brotherhood. theosopher n. theosophic adj.
theosophical adj. theosophically adv. theosophist n. [med.L
theosophia f. late Gk theosophia f. theosophos wise concerning
God (as THEO-, sophos wise)]
therapeutic
adj. 1 of, for, or contributing to the cure of disease. 2
contributing to general, esp. mental, well-being (finds walking
therapeutic). therapeutical adj. therapeutically adv.
therapeutist n. [attrib. use of therapeutic, orig. form of
THERAPEUTICS]
therapeutics
n.pl. (usu. treated as sing.) the branch of medicine concerned
with the treatment of disease and the action of remedial agents.
[F thrapeutique or LL therapeutica (pl.) f. Gk therapeutika
neut. pl. of therapeutikos f. therapeuo wait on, cure]
therapy n. (pl. -ies) 1 the treatment of physical or mental disorders,
other than by surgery. 2 a particular type of such treatment.
therapist n. [mod.L therapia f. Gk therapeia healing]
Theravada n. a more conservative form of Buddhism, practised in Burma
(now Myanmar), Thailand, etc. [Pali theravada f. thera elder,
old + vada speech, doctrine]
there adv., n., & int. --adv. 1 in, at, or to that place or position
(lived there for some years; goes there every day). 2 at that
point (in speech, performance, writing, etc.) (there he
stopped). 3 in that respect (I agree with you there). 4 used
for emphasis in calling attention (you there!; there goes the
bell). 5 used to indicate the fact or existence of something
(there is a house on the corner). --n. that place (lives
somewhere near there). --int. 1 expressing confirmation,
triumph, dismay, etc. (there! what did I tell you?). 2 used to
soothe a child etc. (there, there, never mind). have been
there before sl. know all about it. so there colloq. that is
my final decision (whether you like it or not). there and then
immediately and on the spot. there it is 1 that is the trouble.
2 nothing can be done about it. there's colloq. you are (by
virtue of present or future obedience etc.) (there's a dear).
there you are (or go) colloq. 1 this is what you wanted etc. 2
expressing confirmation, triumph, resignation, etc. [OE thr,
ther f. Gmc, rel. to THAT, THE]
thereabouts
adv. (also thereabout) 1 near that place (ought to be somewhere
thereabouts). 2 near that number, quantity, etc. (two litres or
thereabouts).
thereafter
adv. formal after that.
thereanent
adv. Sc. about that matter.
thereat adv. archaic 1 at that place. 2 on that account. 3 after
that.
thereby adv. by that means, as a result of that. thereby hangs a tale
much could be said about that.
therefor adv. archaic for that object or purpose.
therefore adv. for that reason; accordingly, consequently.
therefrom adv. archaic from that or it.
therein adv. formal 1 in that place etc. 2 in that respect.
thereinafter
adv. formal later in the same document etc.
thereinbefore
adv. formal earlier in the same document etc.
thereinto adv. archaic into that place.
thereof adv. formal of that or it.
thereon adv. archaic on that or it (of motion or position).
thereout adv. archaic out of that, from that source.
therethrough
adv. archaic through that.
thereto adv. formal 1 to that or it. 2 in addition, to boot.
theretofore
adv. formal before that time.
thereunto adv. archaic to that or it.
thereupon adv. 1 in consequence of that. 2 soon or immediately after
that. 3 archaic upon that (of motion or position).
therewith adv. archaic 1 with that. 2 soon or immediately after that.
therewithal
adv. archaic in addition, besides.
theriac n. archaic an antidote to the bites of poisonous animals, esp.
snakes. [L theriaca f. Gk theriake antidote, fem. of theriakos
f. ther wild beast]
therianthropic
adj. of or worshipping beings represented in combined human and
animal forms. [Gk therion dimin. of ther wild beast + anthropos
human being]
theriomorphic
adj. (esp. of a deity) having an animal form. [as
THERIANTHROPIC + Gk morphe form]
therm n. a unit of heat, esp. as the statutory unit of gas supplied
in the UK equivalent to 100,000 British thermal units or 1.055 x
10(8) joules. [Gk therme heat]
thermae n.pl. Gk & Rom. Antiq. public baths. [L f. Gk thermai (pl.)
(as THERM)]
thermal adj. & n. --adj. 1 of, for, or producing heat. 2 promoting
the retention of heat (thermal underwear). --n. a rising
current of heated air (used by gliders, balloons, and birds to
gain height). British thermal unit the amount of heat needed
to raise 1 lb. of water at maximum density through one degree
Fahrenheit, equivalent to 1.055 x 10(3) joules. thermal
capacity the number of heat units needed to raise the
temperature of a body by one degree. thermal neutron a neutron
in thermal equilibrium with its surroundings. thermal reactor a
nuclear reactor using thermal neutrons. thermal springs springs
of naturally hot water. thermal unit a unit for measuring heat.
thermalize v.tr. & intr. (also -ise). thermalization n.
thermally adv. [F (as THERM)]
thermic adj. of or relating to heat.
thermidor see LOBSTER.
thermion n. an ion or electron emitted by a substance at high
temperature. [THERMO- + ION]
thermionic
adj. of or relating to electrons emitted from a substance at
very high temperature. thermionic emission the emission of
electrons from a heated source. thermionic valve (US tube) a
device giving a flow of thermionic electrons in one direction,
used esp. in the rectification of a current and in radio
reception.
thermionics
n.pl. (treated as sing.) the branch of science and technology
concerned with thermionic emission.
thermistor
n. Electr. a resistor whose resistance is greatly reduced by
heating, used for measurement and control. [thermal resistor]
thermite n. (also thermit) a mixture of finely powdered aluminium and
iron oxide that produces a very high temperature on combustion
(used in welding and for incendiary bombs). [G Thermit (as
THERMO-, -ITE(1))]
thermo- comb. form denoting heat. [Gk f. thermos hot, therme heat]
thermochemistry
n. the branch of chemistry dealing with the quantities of heat
evolved or absorbed during chemical reactions. thermochemical
adj.
thermocouple
n. a pair of different metals in contact at a point, generating
a thermoelectric voltage that can serve as a measure of
temperature at this point relative to their other parts.
thermodynamics
n.pl. (usu. treated as sing.) the science of the relations
between heat and other (mechanical, electrical, etc.) forms of
energy. thermodynamic adj. thermodynamical adj.
thermodynamically adv. thermodynamicist n.
thermoelectric
adj. producing electricity by a difference of temperatures.
thermoelectrically adv. thermoelectricity n.
thermogenesis
n. the production of heat, esp. in a human or animal body.
thermogram
n. a record made by a thermograph.
thermograph
n. 1 an instrument that gives a continuous record of
temperature. 2 an apparatus used to obtain an image produced by
infrared radiation from a human or animal body. thermographic
adj.
thermography
n. Med. the taking or use of infrared thermograms, esp. to
detect tumours.
thermolabile
adj. (of a substance) unstable when heated.
thermoluminescence
n. the property of becoming luminescent when pretreated and
subjected to high temperatures, used as a means of dating
ancient artefacts. thermoluminescent adj.
thermolysis
n. decomposition by the action of heat. thermolytic adj.
thermometer
n. an instrument for measuring temperature, esp. a graduated
glass tube with a small bore containing mercury or alcohol which
expands when heated. thermometric adj. thermometrical adj.
thermometry n. [F thermomtre or mod.L thermometrum (as
THERMO-, -METER)]
thermonuclear
adj. 1 relating to or using nuclear reactions that occur only
at very high temperatures. 2 relating to or characterized by
weapons using thermonuclear reactions.
thermophile
n. & adj. (also thermophil) --n. a bacterium etc. growing
optimally at high temperatures. --adj. of or being a
thermophile. thermophilic adj.
thermopile
n. a set of thermocouples esp. arranged for measuring small
quantities of radiant heat.
thermoplastic
adj. & n. --adj. (of a substance) that becomes plastic on
heating and hardens on cooling, and is able to repeat these
processes. --n. a thermoplastic substance.
Thermos n. (in full Thermos flask) propr. a vacuum flask. [Gk (as
THERMO-)]
thermosetting
adj. (of plastics) setting permanently when heated.
thermoset adj.
thermosphere
n. the region of the atmosphere beyond the mesosphere.
thermostable
adj. (of a substance) stable when heated.
thermostat
n. a device that automatically regulates temperature, or that
activates a device when the temperature reaches a certain point.
thermostatic adj. thermostatically adv. [THERMO- + Gk statos
standing]
thermotaxis
n. 1 the regulation of heat or temperature esp. in warm-blooded
animals. 2 movement or stimulation in a living organism caused
by heat. thermotactic adj. thermotaxic adj.
thermotropism
n. the growing or bending of a plant towards or away from a
source of heat. thermotropic adj.
thesaurus n. (pl. thesauri or thesauruses) 1 a a collection of concepts
or words arranged according to sense. b US a book of synonyms
and antonyms. 2 a dictionary or encyclopaedia. [L f. Gk
thesauros treasure]
these pl. of THIS.
thesis n. (pl. theses) 1 a proposition to be maintained or proved. 2
a dissertation, esp. by a candidate for a degree. 3 an
unstressed syllable or part of a metrical foot in Greek or Latin
verse (opp. ARSIS). [ME f. LL f. Gk, = putting, placing, a
proposition etc. f. the- root of tithemi place]
Thespian adj. & n. --adj. of or relating to tragedy or drama. --n. an
actor or actress. [Gk Thespis the traditional originator of
Greek tragedy]
Thess. abbr. Thessalonians (New Testament).
theta n. the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet. [Gk]
theurgy n. 1 a supernatural or divine agency esp. in human affairs. b
the art of securing this. 2 the magical science of the
Neoplatonists. theurgic adj. theurgical adj. theurgist n.
[LL theurgia f. Gk theourgia f. theos god + -ergos working]
thew n. (often in pl.) literary 1 muscular strength. 2 mental or
moral vigour. [OE theaw usage, conduct, of unkn. orig.]
they pron. (obj. them; poss. their, theirs) 1 the people, animals,
or things previously named or in question (pl. of HE, SHE,
IT(1)). 2 people in general (they say we are wrong). 3 those
in authority (they have raised the fees). 4 disp. as a third
person sing. indefinite pronoun meaning 'he or she' (anyone can
come if they want to). [ME thei, obj. theim, f. ON their nom.
pl. masc., theim dat. pl. of s THE that]
they'd contr. 1 they had. 2 they would.
they'll contr. 1 they will. 2 they shall.
they're contr. they are.
they've contr. they have.
THI abbr. temperature-humidity index.
thiamine n. (also thiamin) a vitamin of the B complex, found in
unrefined cereals, beans, and liver, a deficiency of which
causes beriberi. Also called vitamin B[1], or ANEURIN. [THIO- +
amin from VITAMIN]
thick adj., n., & adv. --adj. 1 a of great or specified extent
between opposite surfaces (a thick wall; a wall two metres
thick). b of large diameter (a thick rope). 2 a (of a line
etc.) broad; not fine. b (of script or type, etc.) consisting
of thick lines. 3 a arranged closely; crowded together; dense.
b numerous (fell thick as peas). 4 (usu. foll. by with) densely
covered or filled (air thick with snow). 5 a firm in
consistency; containing much solid matter; viscous (a thick
paste; thick soup). b made of thick material (a thick coat). 6
muddy, cloudy; impenetrable by sight (thick darkness). 7
colloq. (of a person) stupid, dull. 8 (of a voice) indistinct.
9 colloq. intimate or very friendly (esp. thick as thieves).
--n. a thick part of anything. --adv. thickly (snow was falling
thick; blows rained down thick and fast). a bit thick Brit.
colloq. unreasonable or intolerable. in the thick of 1 at the
busiest part of. 2 heavily occupied with. thick ear Brit. sl.
the external ear swollen as a result of a blow (esp. give a
person a thick ear). thick-skinned not sensitive to reproach or
criticism. thick-skulled (or -witted) stupid, dull; slow to
learn. through thick and thin under all conditions; in spite of
all difficulties. thickish adj. thickly adv. [OE thicce
(adj. & adv.) f. Gmc]
thicken v. 1 tr. & intr. make or become thick or thicker. 2 intr.
become more complicated (the plot thickens). thickener n.
thickening
n. 1 the process of becoming thick or thicker. 2 a substance
used to thicken liquid. 3 a thickened part.
thicket n. a tangle of shrubs or trees. [OE thiccet (as THICK,
-ET(1))]
thickhead n. 1 colloq. a stupid person; a blockhead. 2 Austral. any bird
of the genus Pachycephala; a whistler. thickheaded adj.
thickheadedness n.
thickness n. 1 the state of being thick. 2 the extent to which a thing
is thick. 3 a layer of material of a certain thickness (three
thicknesses of cardboard). 4 a part that is thick or lies
between opposite surfaces (steps cut in the thickness of the
wall). [OE thicness (as THICK, -NESS)]
thickset adj. & n. --adj. 1 heavily or solidly built. 2 set or growing
close together. --n. a thicket.
thief n. (pl. thieves) a person who steals esp. secretly and without
violence. [OE theof f. Gmc]
thieve v. 1 intr. be a thief. 2 tr. steal (a thing). [OE theofian
(as THIEF)]
thievery n. the act or practice of stealing.
thieves pl. of THIEF.
thievish adj. given to stealing. thievishly adv. thievishness n.
thigh n. 1 the part of the human leg between the hip and the knee. 2
a corresponding part in other animals. thigh-bone = FEMUR.
-thighed adj. (in comb.). [OE theh, theoh, thioh, OHG dioh,
ON thj f. Gmc]
thill n. a shaft of a cart or carriage, esp. one of a pair. [ME:
orig. unkn.]
thill-horse
n. (also thiller) a horse put between thills.
thimble n. 1 a metal or plastic cap, usu. with a closed end, worn to
protect the finger and push the needle in sewing. 2 Mech. a
short metal tube or ferrule etc. 3 Naut. a metal ring concave
on the outside and fitting in a loop of spliced rope to prevent
chafing. [OE thymel (as THUMB, -LE(1))]
thimbleful
n. (pl. -fuls) a small quantity, esp. of liquid to drink.
thimblerig
n. a game often involving sleight of hand, in which three
inverted thimbles or cups are moved about, contestants having to
spot which is the one with a pea or other object beneath.
thimblerigger n. [THIMBLE + RIG(2) in sense 'trick, dodge']
thin adj., adv., & v. --adj. (thinner, thinnest) 1 having the
opposite surfaces close together; of small thickness or
diameter. 2 a (of a line) narrow or fine. b (of a script or
type etc.) consisting of thin lines. 3 made of thin material (a
thin dress). 4 lean; not plump. 5 a not dense or copious (thin
hair; a thin haze). b not full or closely packed (a thin
audience). 6 of slight consistency (a thin paste). 7 weak;
lacking an important ingredient (thin blood; a thin voice). 8
(of an excuse, argument, disguise, etc.) flimsy or transparent.
--adv. thinly (cut the bread very thin). --v. (thinned,
thinning) 1 tr. & intr. make or become thin or thinner. 2 tr. &
intr. (often foll. by out) reduce; make or become less dense or
crowded or numerous. 3 tr. (often foll. by out) remove some of
a crop of (seedlings, saplings, etc.) or some young fruit from
(a vine or tree) to improve the growth of the rest. have a
thin time colloq. have a wretched or uncomfortable time. on
thin ice see ICE. thin air a state of invisibility or
non-existence (vanished into thin air). thin end of the wedge
see WEDGE(1). thin on the ground see GROUND(1). thin on top
balding. thin-skinned sensitive to reproach or criticism;
easily upset. thinly adv. thinness n. thinnish adj. [OE
thynne f. Gmc]
thine poss.pron. archaic or dial. 1 (predic. or absol.) of or
belonging to thee. 2 (attrib. before a vowel) = THY. [OE thin
f. Gmc]
thing n. 1 a material or non-material entity, idea, action, etc.,
that is or may be thought about or perceived. 2 an inanimate
material object (take that thing away). 3 an unspecified object
or item (have a few things to buy). 4 an act, idea, or
utterance (a silly thing to do). 5 an event (an unfortunate
thing to happen). 6 a quality (patience is a useful thing). 7
(with ref. to a person) expressing pity, contempt, or affection
(poor thing!; a dear old thing). 8 a specimen or type of
something (the latest thing in hats). 9 colloq. one's special
interest or concern (not my thing at all). 10 colloq. something
remarkable (now there's a thing!). 11 (prec. by the) colloq. a
what is conventionally proper or fashionable. b what is needed
or required (your suggestion was just the thing). c what is to
be considered (the thing is, shall we go or not?). d what is
important (the thing about them is their reliability). 12 (in
pl.) personal belongings or clothing (where have I left my
things?). 13 (in pl.) equipment (painting things). 14 (in pl.)
affairs in general (not in the nature of things). 15 (in pl.)
circumstances or conditions (things look good). 16 (in pl. with
a following adjective) all that is so describable (all things
Greek). 17 (in pl.) Law property. do one's own thing colloq.
pursue one's own interests or inclinations. do things to
colloq. affect remarkably. have a thing about colloq. be
obsessed or prejudiced about. make a thing of colloq. 1 regard
as essential. 2 cause a fuss about. one (or just one) of those
things colloq. something unavoidable or to be accepted. [OE f.
Gmc]
thingummy n. (pl. -ies) (also thingamy, thingumabob, thingumajig)
colloq. a person or thing whose name one has forgotten or does
not know or does not wish to mention. [THING + meaningless
suffix]
thingy n. (pl. -ies) = THINGUMMY.
think v. & n. --v. (past and past part. thought) 1 tr. (foll. by
that + clause) be of the opinion (we think that they will come).
2 tr. (foll. by that + clause or to + infin.) judge or consider
(is thought to be a fraud). 3 intr. exercise the mind
positively with one's ideas etc. (let me think for a moment). 4
tr. (foll. by of or about) a consider; be or become mentally
aware of (think of you constantly). b form or entertain the
idea of; imagine to oneself (couldn't think of such a thing). c
choose mentally; hit upon (think of a number). 5 tr. have a
half-formed intention (I think I'll stay). 6 tr. form a
conception of (cannot think how you do it). 7 tr. reduce to a
specified condition by thinking (cannot think away a toothache).
8 tr. recognize the presence or existence of (the child thought
no harm). 9 tr. (foll. by to + infin.) intend or expect (thinks
to deceive us). 10 tr. (foll. by to + infin.) remember (did not
think to lock the door). --n. colloq. an act of thinking (must
have a think about that). think again revise one's plans or
opinions. think aloud utter one's thoughts as soon as they
occur. think back to recall (a past event or time). think
better of change one's mind about (an intention) after
reconsideration. think big see BIG. think fit see FIT(1).
think for oneself have an independent mind or attitude. think
little (or nothing) of consider to be insignificant or
unremarkable. think much (or highly) of have a high opinion of.
think on (or upon) archaic think of or about. think out 1
consider carefully. 2 produce (an idea etc.) by thinking.
think over reflect upon in order to reach a decision. think
through reflect fully upon (a problem etc.). think twice use
careful consideration, avoid hasty action, etc. think up
colloq. devise; produce by thought. thinkable adj. [OE
thencan thohte gethoht f. Gmc]
thinker n. 1 a person who thinks, esp. in a specified way (an original
thinker). 2 a person with a skilled or powerful mind.
thinking adj. & n. --adj. using thought or rational judgement. --n. 1
opinion or judgement. 2 (in pl.) thoughts; courses of thought.
put on one's thinking cap colloq. meditate on a problem.
think-tank
n. a body of experts providing advice and ideas on specific
national and commercial problems.
thinner n. a volatile liquid used to dilute paint etc.
thio- comb. form sulphur, esp. replacing oxygen in compounds
(thio-acid). [Gk theion sulphur]
thiol n. Chem. any organic compound containing an alcohol-like group
but with sulphur in place of oxygen. [THIO- + -OL(1)]
thiosulphate
n. a sulphate in which one oxygen atom is replaced by sulphur.
thiourea n. a crystalline compound used in photography and the
manufacture of synthetic resins.
third n. & adj. --n. 1 the position in a sequence corresponding to
that of the number 3 in the sequence 1-3. 2 something occupying
this position. 3 each of three equal parts of a thing. 4 =
third gear. 5 Mus. a an interval or chord spanning three
consecutive notes in the diatonic scale (e.g. C to E). b a note
separated from another by this interval. 6 a a place in the
third class in an examination. b a person having this. --adj.
that is the third. third-best adj. of third quality. --n. a
thing in this category. third class the third-best group or
category, esp. of hotel and train accommodation. third-class
adj. 1 belonging to or travelling by the third class. 2 of
lower quality; inferior. --adv. by the third class (travels
third-class). third degree long and severe questioning esp. by
police to obtain information or a confession. third-degree Med.
denoting burns of the most severe kind, affecting lower layers
of tissue. third eye 1 Hinduism & Buddhism the 'eye of insight'
in the forehead of an image of a deity, esp. the god Siva. 2
the faculty of intuitive insight. third force a political group
or party acting as a check on conflict between two opposing
parties. third gear the third (and often next to highest) in a
sequence of gears. third man 1 a fielder positioned near the
boundary behind the slips. 2 this position. third part each of
three equal parts into which a thing is or might be divided.
third party 1 another party besides the two principals. 2 a
bystander etc. third-party adj. (of insurance) covering damage
or injury suffered by a person other than the insured. third
person 1 = third party. 2 Gram. see PERSON. third-rate
inferior; very poor in quality. third reading a third
presentation of a bill to a legislative assembly, in the UK to
debate committee reports and in the US to consider it for the
last time. Third Reich see REICH. Third World (usu. prec. by
the) the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin
America. thirdly adv. [OE third(d)a, thridda f. Gmc]
thirst n. & v. --n. 1 a physical need to drink liquid, or the feeling
of discomfort caused by this. 2 a strong desire or craving (a
thirst for power). --v.intr. (often foll. by for or after) 1
feel thirst. 2 have a strong desire. [OE thurst, thyrstan f.
WG]
thirsty adj. (thirstier, thirstiest) 1 feeling thirst. 2 (of land, a
season, etc.) dry or parched. 3 (often foll. by for or after)
eager. 4 colloq. causing thirst (thirsty work). thirstily
adv. thirstiness n. [OE thurstig, thyrstig (as THIRST, -Y(1))]
thirteen n. & adj. --n. 1 one more than twelve, or three more than ten.
2 a symbol for this (13, xiii, XIII). 3 a size etc. denoted by
thirteen. --adj. that amount to thirteen. thirteenth adj. &
n. [OE threotiene (as THREE, -TEEN)]
thirty n. & adj. --n. (pl. -ies) 1 the product of three and ten. 2
a symbol for this (30, xxx, XXX). 3 (in pl.) the numbers from
30 to 39, esp. the years of a century or of a person's life.
--adj. that amount to thirty. thirty-first, -second , etc. the
ordinal numbers between thirtieth and fortieth. Thirty-nine
Articles the points of doctrine assented to by those taking
orders in the Church of England. thirty-one, -two , etc. the
cardinal numbers between thirty and forty. thirty-second note
esp. US Mus. = DEMISEMIQUAVER. thirty-two-mo a book with 32
leaves to the printing-sheet. thirtieth adj. & n. thirtyfold
adj. & adv. [OE thritig (as THREE, -TY(2))]
this pron., adj., & adv. --demons.pron. (pl. these) 1 the person
or thing close at hand or indicated or already named or
understood (can you see this?; this is my cousin). 2
(contrasted with that) the person or thing nearer to hand or
more immediately in mind. 3 the action, behaviour, or
circumstances under consideration (this won't do at all; what do
you think of this?). 4 (on the telephone): a Brit. the person
speaking. b US the person spoken to. --demons.adj. (pl.
these) 1 designating the person or thing close at hand etc. (cf.
senses 1, 2 of pron.). 2 (of time): a the present or current
(am busy all this week). b relating to today (this morning). c
just past or to come (have been asking for it these three
weeks). 3 colloq. (in narrative) designating a person or thing
previously unspecified (then up came this policeman). --adv. to
this degree or extent (knew him when he was this high; did not
reach this far). this and that colloq. various unspecified
examples of things (esp. trivial). this here sl. this
particular (person or thing). this much the amount or extent
about to be stated (I know this much, that he was not there).
this world mortal life. [OE, neut. of thes]
thistle n. 1 any of various prickly composite herbaceous plants of the
genus Cirsium, Carlina, or Carduus etc., usu. with globular
heads of purple flowers. 2 this as the Scottish national
emblem. [OE thistel f. Gmc]
thistledown
n. a light fluffy stuff attached to thistle-seeds and blown
about in the wind.
thistly adj. overgrown with thistles.
thither adv. archaic or formal to or towards that place. [OE thider,
alt. (after HITHER) of thder]
thixotropy
n. the property of becoming temporarily liquid when shaken or
stirred etc., and returning to a gel on standing. thixotropic
adj. [Gk thixis touching + trope turning]
tho' var. of THOUGH.
thole(1) n. (in full thole-pin) 1 a pin in the gunwale of a boat as the
fulcrum for an oar. 2 each of two such pins forming a rowlock.
[OE thol fir-tree, peg]
thole(2) v.tr. Sc. or archaic 1 undergo or suffer (pain, grief, etc.).
2 permit or admit of. [OE tholian f. Gmc]
tholos n. (pl. tholoi) Gk Antiq. a dome-shaped tomb, esp. of the
Mycenaean period. [Gk]
Thomism n. the doctrine of Thomas Aquinas, Italian scholastic
philosopher and theologian d. 1274, or of his followers.
Thomist n. Thomistic adj. Thomistical adj.
thong n. & v. --n. 1 a narrow strip of hide or leather used as the
lash of a whip, as a halter or rein, etc. 2 Austral., NZ, & US
= FLIP-FLOP. --v.tr. 1 provide with a thong. 2 strike with a
thong. [OE thwang, thwong f. Gmc]
thorax n. (pl. thoraces or thoraxes) 1 Anat. & Zool. the part of the
trunk between the neck and the abdomen. 2 Gk Antiq. a
breastplate or cuirass. thoracal adj. thoracic adj. [L f.
Gk thorax -akos]
thoria n. the oxide of thorium.
thorium n. Chem. a radioactive metallic element occurring naturally in
monazite, the oxide of which is used in gas-mantles. Symb.:
Th. [Thor, Scand. god of thunder]
thorn n. 1 a stiff sharp-pointed projection on a plant. 2 a
thorn-bearing shrub or tree. 3 the name of an Old English and
Icelandic runic letter, = th. on thorns continuously uneasy
esp. in fear of being detected. thorn-apple 1 a poisonous plant
of the nightshade family, Datura stramonium. 2 the prickly
fruit of this. a thorn in one's flesh (or side) a constant
annoyance. thornless adj. thornproof adj. [OE f. Gmc]
thornback n. a ray, Raja clavata, with spines on the back and tail.
thornbill n. 1 any Australian warbler of the genus Acanthiza. 2 any of
various South American humming-birds, esp. of the genus
Chalcostigma.
thorntail n. any S. American humming-bird of the genus Popelairia.
thorny adj. (thornier, thorniest) 1 having many thorns. 2 (of a
subject) hard to handle without offence; problematic.
thornily adv. thorniness n.
thorough adj. 1 complete and unqualified; not superficial (needs a
thorough change). 2 acting or done with great care and
completeness (the report is most thorough). 3 absolute (a
thorough nuisance). thorough bass a bass part for a keyboard
player with numerals and symbols below to indicate the harmony.
thorough-paced 1 (of a horse) trained to all paces. 2 complete
or unqualified. thoroughly adv. thoroughness n. [orig. as
adv. and prep. in the senses of through, f. OE thuruh var. of
thurh THROUGH]
thoroughbred
adj. & n. --adj. 1 of pure breed. 2 high-spirited. --n. 1 a
thoroughbred animal, esp. a horse. 2 (Thoroughbred) a a breed
of racehorses originating from English mares and Arab stallions.
b a horse of this breed.
thoroughfare
n. a road or path open at both ends, esp. for traffic.
thoroughgoing
adj. 1 uncompromising; not superficial. 2 (usu. attrib.)
extreme; out and out.
thorp n. (also thorpe) archaic a village or hamlet. Now usually
only in place-names. [OE thorp, throp, f. Gmc]
Thos. abbr. Thomas.
those pl. of THAT.
thou(1) pron. (obj. thee; poss. thy or thine; pl. ye or you) second
person singular pronoun, now replaced by you except in some
formal, liturgical, dialect, and poetic uses. [OE thu f. Gmc]
thou(2) n. (pl. same or thous) colloq. 1 a thousand. 2 one
thousandth. [abbr.]
though conj. & adv. (also tho') --conj. 1 despite the fact that
(though it was early we went to bed; though annoyed, I agreed).
2 (introducing a possibility) even if (ask him though he may
refuse; would not attend though the Queen herself were there).
3 and yet; nevertheless (she read on, though not to the very
end). 4 in spite of being (ready though unwilling). --adv.
colloq. however; all the same (I wish you had told me, though).
[ME thoh etc. f. ON th etc., corresp. to OE theah, f. Gmc]
thought(1)
n. 1 the process or power of thinking; the faculty of reason.
2 a way of thinking characteristic of or associated with a
particular time, people, group, etc. (medieval European
thought). 3 sober reflection or consideration (gave it much
thought). 4 an idea or piece of reasoning produced by thinking
(many good thoughts came out of the discussion). 5 (foll. by of
+ verbal noun or to + infin.) a partly formed intention or hope
(gave up all thoughts of winning; had no thought to go). 6
(usu. in pl.) what one is thinking; one's opinion (have you any
thoughts on this?). 7 the subject of one's thinking (my one
thought was to get away). 8 (prec. by a) somewhat (seems to me
a thought arrogant). give thought to consider; think about.
in thought thinking, meditating. take thought consider matters.
thought-provoking stimulating serious thought. thought-reader a
person supposedly able to perceive another's thoughts.
thought-reading the supposed perception of what another is
thinking. thought transference telepathy. thought-wave an
undulation of the supposed medium of thought transference.
-thoughted adj. (in comb.). [OE thoht (as THINK)]
thought(2)
past and past part. of THINK.
thoughtful
adj. 1 engaged in or given to meditation. 2 (of a book,
writer, remark, etc.) giving signs of serious thought. 3 (often
foll. by of) (of a person or conduct) considerate; not haphazard
or unfeeling. thoughtfully adv. thoughtfulness n.
thoughtless
adj. 1 careless of consequences or of others' feelings. 2 due
to lack of thought. thoughtlessly adv. thoughtlessness n.
thousand n. & adj. --n. (pl. thousands or (in sense 1) thousand) (in
sing. prec. by a or one) 1 the product of a hundred and ten. 2
a symbol for this (1,000, m, M). 3 a set of a thousand things.
4 (in sing. or pl.) colloq. a large number. --adj. that amount
to a thousand. thousandfold adj. & adv. thousandth adj. & n.
[OE thusend f. Gmc]
thrall n. literary 1 (often foll. by of, to) a slave (of a person, or
a power or influence). 2 bondage; a state of slavery or
servitude (in thrall). thraldom n. (also thralldom). [OE
thrl f. ON thrll, perh. f. a Gmc root = run]
thrash v. & n. --v. 1 tr. beat severely, esp. with a stick or whip.
2 tr. defeat thoroughly in a contest. 3 intr. (of a paddle
wheel, branch, etc.) act like a flail; deliver repeated blows.
4 intr. (foll. by about, around) move or fling the limbs about
violently or in panic. 5 intr. (of a ship) keep striking the
waves; make way against the wind or tide (thrash to windward).
6 tr. = THRESH 1. --n. 1 an act of thrashing. 2 colloq. a
party, esp. a lavish one. thrash out discuss to a conclusion.
thrashing n. [OE therscan, later threscan, f. Gmc]
thrasher(1)
n. 1 a person or thing that thrashes. 2 = THRESHER.
thrasher(2)
n. any of various long-tailed N. American thrushlike birds of
the family Mimidae. [perh. f. E dial. thrusher = THRUSH(1)]
thrawn adj. Sc. 1 perverse or ill-tempered. 2 misshapen, crooked.
[Sc. form of thrown in obs. senses]
thread n. & v. --n. 1 a a spun-out filament of cotton, silk, or glass
etc.; yarn. b a length of this. 2 a thin cord of twisted yarns
used esp. in sewing and weaving. 3 anything regarded as
threadlike with reference to its continuity or connectedness
(the thread of life; lost the thread of his argument). 4 the
spiral ridge of a screw. 5 (in pl.) sl. clothes. 6 a thin seam
or vein of ore. --v.tr. 1 pass a thread through the eye of (a
needle). 2 put (beads) on a thread. 3 arrange (material in a
strip form, e.g. film or magnetic tape) in the proper position
on equipment. 4 make (one's way) carefully through a crowded
place, over a difficult route, etc. 5 streak (hair etc.) as
with threads. 6 form a screw-thread on. hang by a thread be
in a precarious state, position, etc. thread mark a mark in the
form of a thin line made in banknote paper with highly coloured
silk fibres to prevent photographic counterfeiting. threader
n. threadlike adj. [OE thrd f. Gmc]
threadbare
adj. 1 (of cloth) so worn that the nap is lost and the thread
visible. 2 (of a person) wearing such clothes. 3 a hackneyed.
b feeble or insubstantial (a threadbare excuse).
threadfin n. any small tropical fish of the family Polynemidae, with long
streamers from its pectoral fins.
threadworm
n. any of various esp. parasitic threadlike nematode worms,
e.g. the pinworm.
thready adj. (threadier, threadiest) 1 of or like a thread. 2 (of a
person's pulse) scarcely perceptible.
threat n. 1 a a declaration of an intention to punish or hurt. b Law
a menace of bodily hurt or injury, such as may restrain a
person's freedom of action. 2 an indication of something
undesirable coming (the threat of war). 3 a person or thing as
a likely cause of harm etc. [OE threat affliction etc. f. Gmc]
threaten v.tr. 1 make a threat or threats against. 2 be a sign or
indication of (something undesirable). 3 (foll. by to + infin.)
announce one's intention to do an undesirable or unexpected
thing (threatened to resign). 4 (also absol.) give warning of
the infliction of (harm etc.) (the clouds were threatening
rain). threatener n. threateningly adv. [OE threatnian (as
THREAT)]
three n. & adj. --n. 1 a one more than two, or seven less than ten.
b a symbol for this (3, iii, III). 2 a size etc. denoted by
three. 3 the time of three o'clock. 4 a set of three. 5 a
card with three pips. --adj. that amount to three. three-card
trick a game in which bets are made on which is the queen among
three cards lying face downwards. three cheers see CHEER.
three-colour process a process of reproducing natural colours by
combining photographic images in the three primary colours.
three-cornered 1 triangular. 2 (of a contest etc.) between
three parties as individuals. three-decker 1 a warship with
three gun-decks. 2 a novel in three volumes. 3 a sandwich with
three slices of bread. three-dimensional having or appearing to
have length, breadth, and depth. three-handed 1 having or using
three hands. 2 involving three players. three-legged race a
running-race between pairs, one member of each pair having the
left leg tied to the right leg of the other. three-line whip a
written notice, underlined three times to denote urgency, to
members of a political party to attend a parliamentary vote.
three parts three quarters. three-phase see PHASE. three-piece
consisting of three items (esp. of a suit of clothes or a suite
of furniture). three-ply adj. of three strands, webs, or
thicknesses. --n. 1 three-ply wool. 2 three-ply wood made by
gluing together three layers with the grain in different
directions. three-point landing Aeron. the landing of an
aircraft on the two main wheels and the tail wheel or skid
simultaneously. three-point turn a method of turning a vehicle
round in a narrow space by moving forwards, backwards, and
forwards again in a sequence of arcs. three-quarter n. (also
three-quarter back) Rugby Football any of three or four players
just behind the half-backs. --adj. 1 consisting of
three-fourths of something. 2 (of a portrait) going down to the
hips or showing three-fourths of the face (between full face and
profile). three-quarters three parts out of four. three-ring
circus esp. US 1 a circus with three rings for simultaneous
performances. 2 an extravagant display. the three Rs reading,
writing, and arithmetic, regarded as the fundamentals of
learning. three-way involving three ways or participants.
three-wheeler a vehicle with three wheels. [OE thri f. Gmc]
threefold adj. & adv. 1 three times as much or as many. 2 consisting of
three parts.
threepence
n. Brit. the sum of three pence, esp. before decimalization.
threepenny
adj. Brit. costing three pence, esp. before decimalization.
threepenny bit hist. a former coin worth three old pence.
threescore
n. archaic sixty.
threesome n. 1 a group of three persons. 2 a game etc. for three, esp.
Golf of one against two.
thremmatology
n. the science of breeding animals and plants. [Gk thremma
-matos nursling + -LOGY]
threnody n. (also threnode) (pl. -ies or threnodes) 1 a lamentation,
esp. on a person's death. 2 a song of lamentation.
threnodial adj. threnodic adj. threnodist n. [Gk threnoidia
f. threnos wailing + oide ODE]
threonine n. Biochem. an amino acid, considered essential for growth.
[threose (name of a tetrose sugar) ult. f. Gk eruthros red +
-INE(4)]
thresh v. 1 tr. beat out or separate grain from (corn etc.). 2 intr.
= THRASH v. 4. 3 tr. (foll. by over) analyse (a problem etc.)
in search of a solution. threshing-floor a hard level floor
for threshing esp. with flails. threshing-machine a
power-driven machine for separating the grain from the straw or
husk. thresh out = thrash out. [var. of THRASH]
thresher n. 1 a person or machine that threshes. 2 a shark, Alopias
vulpinus, with a long upper lobe to its tail, that it can lash
about.
threshold n. 1 a strip of wood or stone forming the bottom of a doorway
and crossed in entering a house or room etc. 2 a point of entry
or beginning (on the threshold of a new century). 3 Physiol. &
Psychol. a limit below which a stimulus causes no reaction (pain
threshold). 4 Physics a limit below which no reaction occurs,
esp. a minimum dose of radiation producing a specified effect.
5 (often attrib.) a step in a scale of wages or taxation, usu.
operative in specified conditions. [OE therscold, threscold,
etc., rel. to THRASH in the sense 'tread']
threw past of THROW.
thrice adv. archaic or literary 1 three times. 2 (esp. in comb.)
highly (thrice-blessed). [ME thries f. thrie (adv.) f. OE
thriwa, thriga (as THREE, -S(3))]
thrift n. 1 frugality; economical management. 2 a plant of the genus
Armeria, esp. the sea pink. thrift shop (or store) a shop
selling second-hand items usu. for charity. [ME f. ON (as
THRIVE)]
thriftless
adj. wasteful, improvident. thriftlessly adv.
thriftlessness n.
thrill n. & v. --n. 1 a wave or nervous tremor of emotion or
sensation (a thrill of joy; a thrill of recognition). 2 a throb
or pulsation. 3 Med. a vibratory movement or resonance heard in
auscultation. --v. 1 intr. & tr. feel or cause to feel a
thrill (thrilled to the sound; a voice that thrilled millions).
2 intr. quiver or throb with or as with emotion. 3 intr. (foll.
by through, over, along) (of an emotion etc.) pass with a thrill
through etc. (fear thrilled through my veins). thrilling adj.
thrillingly adv. [thirl (now dial.) f. OE thyrlian pierce f.
thyrel hole f. thurh THROUGH]
thriller n. an exciting or sensational story or play etc., esp. one
involving crime or espionage.
thrips n. (pl. same) any insect of the order Thysanoptera, esp. a pest
injurious to plants. [L f. Gk, = woodworm]
thrive v.intr. (past throve or thrived; past part. thriven or
thrived) 1 prosper or flourish. 2 grow rich. 3 (of a child,
animal, or plant) grow vigorously. [ME f. ON thrfask refl. of
thrfa grasp]
thro' var. of THROUGH.
throat n. 1 a the windpipe or gullet. b the front part of the neck
containing this. 2 literary a a voice, esp. of a songbird. b a
thing compared to a throat, esp. a narrow passage, entrance, or
exit. 3 Naut. the forward upper corner of a fore-and-aft sail.
cut one's own throat bring about one's own downfall. ram (or
thrust) down a person's throat force (a thing) on a person's
attention. -throated adj. (in comb.). [OE throte, throtu f.
Gmc]
throaty adj. (throatier, throatiest) 1 (of a voice) deficient in
clarity; hoarsely resonant. 2 guttural; uttered in the throat.
3 having a prominent or capacious throat. throatily adv.
throatiness n.
throb v. & n. --v.intr. (throbbed, throbbing) 1 palpitate or
pulsate, esp. with more than the usual force or rapidity. 2
vibrate or quiver with a persistent rhythm or with emotion.
--n. 1 a throbbing. 2 a palpitation or (esp. violent)
pulsation. [ME, app. imit.]
throe n. (usu. in pl.) 1 a violent pang, esp. of childbirth or death.
2 anguish. in the throes of struggling with the task of. [ME
throwe perh. f. OE threa, thrawu calamity, alt. perh. by assoc.
with woe]
thrombi pl. of THROMBUS.
thrombin n. an enzyme promoting the clotting of blood. [as THROMBUS +
-IN]
thrombocyte
n. a blood platelet, a small plate of protoplasm concerned in
the coagulation of blood. [as THROMBUS + -CYTE]
thrombose v.tr. & intr. affect with or undergo thrombosis. [back-form.
f. THROMBOSIS]
thrombosis
n. (pl. thromboses) the coagulation of the blood in a
blood-vessel or organ. thrombotic adj. [mod.L f. Gk
thrombosis curdling (as THROMBUS)]
thrombus n. (pl. thrombi) a blood-clot formed in the vascular system
and impeding blood flow. [mod.L f. Gk thrombos lump,
blood-clot]
throne n. & v. --n. 1 a chair of State for a sovereign or bishop etc.
2 sovereign power (came to the throne). 3 (in pl.) the third
order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy. 4 colloq. a lavatory
seat and bowl. --v.tr. place on a throne. throneless adj.
[ME f. OF trone f. L thronus f. Gk thronos high seat]
throng n. & v. --n. 1 a crowd of people. 2 (often foll. by of) a
multitude, esp. in a small space. --v. 1 intr. come in great
numbers (crowds thronged to the stadium). 2 tr. flock into or
crowd round; fill with or as with a crowd (crowds thronged the
streets). [ME thrang, throng, OE gethrang, f. verbal stem
thring- thrang-]
throstle n. 1 a song thrush. 2 (in full throstle-frame) a machine for
continuously spinning wool or cotton etc. [OE f. Gmc: rel. to
THRUSH(1)]
throttle n. & v. --n. 1 a (in full throttle-valve) a valve controlling
the flow of fuel or steam etc. in an engine. b (in full
throttle-lever) a lever or pedal operating this valve. 2 the
throat, gullet, or windpipe. --v.tr. 1 choke or strangle. 2
prevent the utterance etc. of. 3 control (an engine or steam
etc.) with a throttle. throttle back (or down) reduce the
speed of (an engine or vehicle) by throttling. throttler n.
[ME throtel (v.), perh. f. THROAT + -LE(4): (n.) perh. a dimin.
of THROAT]
through prep., adv., & adj. (also thro', US thru) --prep. 1 a from end
to end or from side to side of. b going in one side or end and
out the other of. 2 between or among (swam through the waves).
3 from beginning to end (read through the letter; went through
many difficulties). 4 because of; by the agency, means, or
fault of (lost it through carelessness). 5 US up to and
including (Monday through Friday). --adv. 1 through a thing;
from side to side, end to end, or beginning to end (went through
to the garden; would not let us through). 2 having completed
(esp. successfully) (are through their exams). 3 so as to be
connected by telephone (will put you through). --attrib.adj. 1
(of a journey, route, etc.) done without a change of line or
vehicle etc. or with one ticket. 2 (of traffic) going through a
place to its destination. be through colloq. 1 (often foll.
by with) have finished. 2 (often foll. by with) cease to have
dealings. 3 have no further prospects (is through as a
politician). no through road = no thoroughfare. through and
through 1 thoroughly, completely. 2 through again and again.
[OE thurh f. WG]
throughout
prep. & adv. --prep. right through; from end to end of
(throughout the town; throughout the 18th century). --adv. in
every part or respect (the timber was rotten throughout).
throughput
n. the amount of material put through a process, esp. in
manufacturing or computing.
throughway
n. (also thruway) US a thoroughfare, esp. a motorway.
throve past of THRIVE.
throw v. & n. --v.tr. (past threw; past part. thrown) 1 propel with
some force through the air or in a particular direction. 2
force violently into a specified position or state (the ship was
thrown on the rocks; threw themselves down). 3 compel suddenly
to be in a specified condition (was thrown out of work). 4 turn
or move (part of the body) quickly or suddenly (threw an arm
out). 5 project or cast (light, a shadow, a spell, etc.). 6 a
bring to the ground in wrestling. b (of a horse) unseat (its
rider). 7 colloq. disconcert (the question threw me for a
moment). 8 (foll. by on, off, etc.) put (clothes etc.) hastily
on or off etc. 9 a cause (dice) to fall on a table. b obtain
(a specified number) by throwing dice. 10 cause to pass or
extend suddenly to another state or position (threw in the army;
threw a bridge across the river). 11 move (a switch or lever)
so as to operate it. 12 a form (ceramic ware) on a potter's
wheel. b turn (wood etc.) on a lathe. 13 have (a fit or
tantrum etc.). 14 give (a party). 15 colloq. lose (a contest
or race etc.) intentionally. 16 Cricket bowl (a ball) with an
illegitimate sudden straightening of the elbow. 17 (of a snake)
cast (its skin). 18 (of an animal) give birth to (young). 19
twist (silk etc.) into thread or yarn. 20 (often foll. by into)
put into another form or language etc. --n. 1 an act of
throwing. 2 the distance a thing is or may be thrown (a record
throw with the hammer). 3 the act of being thrown in wrestling.
4 Geol. & Mining a a fault in strata. b the amount of vertical
displacement caused by this. 5 a machine or device giving rapid
rotary motion. 6 a the movement of a crank or cam etc. b the
extent of this. 7 the distance moved by the pointer of an
instrument etc. 8 (in full throw rug) US a a light cover for
furniture. b a light rug. 9 (prec. by a) sl. each; per item
(sold at 10 a throw). throw about (or around) 1 throw in
various directions. 2 spend (one's money) ostentatiously.
throw away 1 discard as useless or unwanted. 2 waste or fail to
make use of (an opportunity etc.). 3 discard (a card). 4
Theatr. speak (lines) with deliberate underemphasis. 5 (in
passive; often foll. by on) be wasted (the advice was thrown
away on him). throw-away adj. 1 meant to be thrown away after
(one) use. 2 (of lines etc.) deliberately underemphasized.
--n. a thing to be thrown away after (one) use. throw back 1
revert to ancestral character. 2 (usu. in passive; foll. by on)
compel to rely on (was thrown back on his savings). throw-back
n. 1 reversion to ancestral character. 2 an instance of this.
throw cold water on see COLD. throw down cause to fall. throw
down the gauntlet (or glove) issue a challenge. throw dust in a
person's eyes mislead a person by misrepresentation or
distraction. throw good money after bad incur further loss in a
hopeless attempt to recoup a previous loss. throw one's hand in
1 abandon one's chances in a card game, esp. poker. 2 give up;
withdraw from a contest. throw in 1 interpose (a word or
remark). 2 include at no extra cost. 3 throw (a football) from
the edge of the pitch where it has gone out of play. 4 Cricket
return (the ball) from the outfield. 5 Cards give (a player)
the lead, to the player's disadvantage. throw-in n. the
throwing in of a football during play. throw in one's lot with
see LOT. throw in the towel admit defeat. throw light on see
LIGHT(1). throw off 1 discard; contrive to get rid of. 2 write
or utter in an offhand manner. 3 (of hounds or a hunt) begin
hunting; make a start. throw-off the start in a hunt or race.
throw oneself at seek blatantly as a spouse or sexual partner.
throw oneself into engage vigorously in. throw oneself on (or
upon) 1 rely completely on. 2 attack. throw open (often foll.
by to) 1 cause to be suddenly or widely open. 2 make
accessible. throw out 1 put out forcibly or suddenly. 2
discard as unwanted. 3 expel (a troublemaker etc.). 4 build (a
wing of a house, a pier, or a projecting or prominent thing). 5
put forward tentatively. 6 reject (a proposal or bill in
Parliament). 7 confuse or distract (a person speaking,
thinking, or acting) from the matter in hand. 8 Cricket &
Baseball put out (an opponent) by throwing the ball to the
wicket or base. throw over desert or abandon. throw stones
cast aspersions. throw together 1 assemble hastily. 2 bring
into casual contact. throw up 1 abandon. 2 resign from. 3
colloq. vomit. 4 erect hastily. 5 bring to notice. 6 lift (a
sash-window) quickly. throw up (or in) the sponge 1 (of a boxer
or his attendant) throw the sponge used between rounds into the
air as a token of defeat. 2 abandon a contest; admit defeat.
throw one's weight about (or around) colloq. act with
unpleasant self-assertiveness. throwable adj. thrower n.
(also in comb.). [OE thrawan twist, turn f. WG]
throwster n. a person who throws silk.
thru US var. of THROUGH.
thrum(1) v. & n. --v. (thrummed, thrumming) 1 tr. play (a stringed
instrument) monotonously or unskilfully. 2 intr. (often foll.
by on) drum idly. --n. 1 such playing. 2 the resulting sound.
[imit.]
thrum(2) n. & v. --n. 1 the unwoven end of a warp-thread, or the whole
of such ends, left when the finished web is cut away. 2 any
short loose thread. --v.tr. (thrummed, thrumming) make of or
cover with thrums. thrummer n. thrummy adj. [OE f. Gmc]
thrush(1) n. any small or medium-sized songbird of the family Turdidae,
esp. a song thrush or mistle thrush (see MISTLE THRUSH, song
thrush). [OE thrysce f. Gmc: cf. THROSTLE]
thrush(2) n. 1 a a disease, esp. of children, marked by whitish fungous
vesicles in the mouth and throat. b a similar disease of the
vagina. 2 inflammation affecting the frog of a horse's foot.
[17th c.: orig. unkn.]
thrust v. & n. --v. (past and past part. thrust) 1 tr. push with a
sudden impulse or with force (thrust the letter into my pocket).
2 tr. (foll. by on) impose (a thing) forcibly; enforce
acceptance of (a thing) (had it thrust on me). 3 intr. (foll.
by at, through) pierce or stab; make a sudden lunge. 4 tr. make
(one's way) forcibly. 5 intr. (foll. by through, past, etc.)
force oneself (thrust past me abruptly). --n. 1 a sudden or
forcible push or lunge. 2 the propulsive force developed by a
jet or rocket engine. 3 a strong attempt to penetrate an
enemy's line or territory. 4 a remark aimed at a person. 5 the
stress between the parts of an arch etc. 6 (often foll. by of)
the chief theme or gist of remarks etc. 7 an attack with the
point of a weapon. 8 (in full thrust fault) Geol. a low-angle
reverse fault, with older strata displaced horizontally over
newer. thrust-block a casting or frame carrying or containing
the bearings on which the collars of a propeller shaft press.
thrust oneself (or one's nose) in obtrude, interfere. thrust
stage a stage extending into the audience. [ME thruste etc. f.
ON thrsta]
thruster n. 1 a person or thing that thrusts. 2 a small rocket engine
used to provide extra or correcting thrust on a spacecraft.
thruway US var. of THROUGHWAY.
thud n. & v. --n. a low dull sound as of a blow on a non-resonant
surface. --v.intr. (thudded, thudding) make or fall with a
thud. thuddingly adv. [prob. f. OE thyddan thrust]
thug n. 1 a vicious or brutal ruffian. 2 (Thug) hist. a member of a
religious organization of robbers and assassins in India.
thuggery n. thuggish adj. thuggishly adv. thuggishness n.
[Hindi & Marathi thag swindler]
thuggee n. hist. murder practised by the Thugs. thuggism n. [Hindi
thagi (as THUG)]
thuja n. (also thuya) any evergreen coniferous tree of the genus
Thuja, with small leaves closely pressed to the branches; arbor
vitae. [mod.L f. Gk thuia, an Afr. tree]
thulium n. Chem. a soft metallic element of the lanthanide series,
occurring naturally in apatite. Symb.: Tm. [mod.L f. L Thule
name of a region in the remote north]
thumb n. & v. --n. 1 a a short thick terminal projection on the
human hand, set lower and apart from the other four and
opposable to them. b a digit of other animals corresponding to
this. 2 part of a glove etc. for a thumb. --v. 1 tr. wear or
soil (pages etc.) with a thumb (a well-thumbed book). 2 intr.
turn over pages with or as with a thumb (thumbed through the
directory). 3 tr. request or obtain (a lift in a passing
vehicle) by signalling with a raised thumb. 4 tr. use the thumb
in a gesture. be all thumbs be clumsy with one's hands. thumb
index n. a set of lettered grooves cut down the side of a
diary, dictionary, etc. for easy reference. --v.tr. provide (a
book etc.) with these. thumb one's nose = cock a snook (see
SNOOK(1)). thumb-nut a nut shaped for turning with the thumb
and forefinger. thumbs down an indication of rejection or
failure. thumbs up an indication of satisfaction or approval.
under a person's thumb completely dominated by a person.
thumbed adj. (also in comb.). thumbless adj. [OE thuma f. a
WG root = swell]
thumbnail n. 1 the nail of a thumb. 2 (attrib.) denoting conciseness (a
thumbnail sketch).
thumbprint
n. an impression of a thumb esp. as used for identification.
thumbscrew
n. 1 an instrument of torture for crushing the thumbs. 2 a
screw with a flattened head for turning with the thumb and
forefinger.
thumbtack n. esp. US a drawing-pin.
thump v. & n. --v. 1 tr. beat or strike heavily esp. with the fist
(threatened to thump me). 2 intr. throb or pulsate strongly (my
heart was thumping). 3 intr. (foll. by at, on, etc.) deliver
blows, esp. to attract attention (thumped on the door). 4 tr.
(often foll. by out) play (a tune on a piano etc.) with a heavy
touch. 5 intr. tread heavily. --n. 1 a heavy blow. 2 the
sound of this. thumper n. [imit.]
thumping adj. colloq. big, prominent (a thumping majority; a thumping
lie).
thunder n. & v. --n. 1 a loud rumbling or crashing noise heard after a
lightning flash and due to the expansion of rapidly heated air.
2 a resounding loud deep noise (thunders of applause). 3 strong
censure or denunciation. --v. 1 intr. (prec. by it as subject)
thunder sounds (it is thundering; if it thunders). 2 intr. make
or proceed with a noise suggestive of thunder (the applause
thundered in my ears; the traffic thundered past). 3 tr. utter
or communicate (approval, disapproval, etc.) loudly or
impressively. 4 intr. (foll. by against etc.) a make violent
threats etc. against. b criticize violently. steal a person's
thunder spoil the effect of another's idea, action, etc. by
expressing or doing it first. thunder-box colloq. a primitive
lavatory. thunderer n. thunderless adj. thundery adj. [OE
thunor f. Gmc]
thunderbolt
n. 1 a a flash of lightning with a simultaneous crash of
thunder. b a stone etc. imagined to be a destructive bolt. 2 a
sudden or unexpected occurrence or item of news. 3 a supposed
bolt or shaft as a destructive agent, esp. as an attribute of a
god.
thunderclap
n. 1 a crash of thunder. 2 something startling or unexpected.
thundercloud
n. a cumulus cloud with a tall diffuse top, charged with
electricity and producing thunder and lightning.
thunderhead
n. esp. US a rounded cumulus cloud projecting upwards and
heralding thunder.
thundering
adj. colloq. very big or great (a thundering nuisance).
thunderingly adv.
thunderous
adj. 1 like thunder. 2 very loud. thunderously adv.
thunderousness n.
thunderstorm
n. a storm with thunder and lightning and usu. heavy rain or
hail.
thunderstruck
adj. amazed; overwhelmingly surprised or startled.
Thur. abbr. Thursday.
thurible n. a censer. [ME f. OF thurible or L t(h)uribulum f. thus
thur- incense (as THURIFER)]
thurifer n. an acolyte carrying a censer. [LL f. thus thuris incense
f. Gk thuos sacrifice + -fer -bearing]
Thurs. abbr. Thursday.
Thursday n. & adv. --n. the fifth day of the week, following Wednesday.
--adv. colloq. 1 on Thursday. 2 (Thursdays) on Thursdays;
each Thursday. [OE thunresdg, thur(e)sdg, day of thunder,
representing LL Jovis dies day of Jupiter]
thus adv. formal 1 a in this way. b as indicated. 2 a accordingly.
b as a result or inference. 3 to this extent; so (thus far;
thus much). [OE (= OS thus), of unkn. orig.]
thuya var. of THUJA.
thwack v. & n. --v.tr. hit with a heavy blow; whack. --n. a heavy
blow. [imit.]
thwaite n. Brit. dial. a piece of wild land made arable. Now
usually only in place-names. [ON thveit(i) paddock, rel. to OE
thwitan to cut]
thwart v., n., prep., & adv. --v.tr. frustrate or foil (a person or
purpose etc.). --n. a rower's seat placed across a boat.
--prep. & adv. archaic across, athwart. [ME thwert (adv.) f.
ON thvert neut. of thverr transverse = OE thwe(o)rh f. Gmc]
thy poss.pron. (attrib.) (also thine before a vowel) of or
belonging to thee: now replaced by your except in some formal,
liturgical, dialect, and poetic uses. [ME thi, reduced f. thin
THINE]
thyme n. any herb or shrub of the genus Thymus with aromatic leaves,
esp. T. vulgare grown for culinary use. thymy adj. [ME f.
OF thym f. thymum f. Gk thumon f. thuo burn a sacrifice]
thymi pl. of THYMUS.
thymine n. Biochem. a pyrimidine derivative found in all living tissue
as a component base of DNA. [thymic (as THYMUS) + -INE(4)]
thymol n. Chem. a white crystalline phenol obtained from oil of thyme
and used as an antiseptic. [as THYME + -OL(1)]
thymus n. (pl. thymi) (in full thymus gland) Anat. a lymphoid organ
situated in the neck of vertebrates (in humans becoming much
smaller at the approach of puberty) producing lymphocytes for
the immune response. [mod.L f. Gk thumos]
thyristor n. Electronics a semiconductor rectifier in which the current
between two electrodes is controlled by a signal applied to a
third electrode. [Gk thura gate + TRANSISTOR]
thyro- comb. form (also thyreo-) thyroid.
thyroid n. & adj. --n. (in full thyroid gland) 1 a large ductless gland
in the neck of vertebrates secreting a hormone which regulates
growth and development through the rate of metabolism. 2 an
extract prepared from the thyroid gland of animals and used in
treating goitre and cretinism etc. --adj. Anat. & Zool. 1
connected with the thyroid cartilage (thyroid artery). 2
shield-shaped. thyroid cartilage a large cartilage of the
larynx, the projection of which in man forms the Adam's apple.
[obs.F thyroide or mod.L thyroides, irreg. f. Gk thureoeides f.
thureos oblong shield]
thyroxine n. the main hormone produced by the thyroid gland, involved in
controlling the rate of metabolic processes. [THYROID + OX- +
-INE(4)]
thyrsus n. (pl. thyrsi) 1 Gk & Rom. Antiq. a staff tipped with an
ornament like a pine-cone, an attribute of Bacchus. 2 Bot. an
inflorescence as in lilac, with the primary axis racemose and
the secondary axis cymose. [L f. Gk thursos]
thyself pron. archaic emphat. & refl. form of THOU(1), THEE.
ti(1) n. any woody liliaceous plant of the genus Cordyline, esp. C.
terminalis with edible roots. [Tahitian, Maori, etc.]
ti(2) var. of TE.
tiara n. 1 a jewelled ornamental band worn on the front of a woman's
hair. 2 a three-crowned diadem worn by a pope. 3 hist. a
turban worn by ancient Persian kings. tiaraed adj. (also
tiara'd). [L f. Gk, of unkn. orig.]
Tibetan n. & adj. --n. 1 a a native of Tibet in SW China. b a person
of Tibetan descent. 2 the language of Tibet. --adj. of or
relating to Tibet or its language.
tibia n. (pl. tibiae) 1 Anat. the inner and usu. larger of two bones
extending from the knee to the ankle. 2 the tibiotarsus of a
bird. 3 the fourth segment of the leg in insects. tibial
adj. [L, = shin-bone]
tibiotarsus
n. (pl. tibiotarsi) the bone in a bird corresponding to the
tibia fused at the lower end with some bones of the tarsus.
[TIBIA + TARSUS]
tic n. a habitual spasmodic contraction of the muscles esp. of the
face. tic douloureux trigeminal neuralgia. [F f. It.
ticchio: douloureux F, = painful]
tice n. 1 Cricket = YORKER. 2 Croquet a stroke tempting an opponent
to aim at one's ball. [tice (now dial.), = ENTICE]
tick(1) n. & v. --n. 1 a slight recurring click esp. that of a watch
or clock. 2 esp. Brit. colloq. a moment; an instant. 3 a
mark to denote correctness, check items in a list, etc. --v. 1
intr. a (of a clock etc.) make ticks. b (foll. by away) (of
time etc.) pass. 2 intr. (of a mechanism) work, function (take
it apart to see how it ticks). 3 tr. a mark (a written answer
etc.) with a tick. b (often foll. by off) mark (an item in a
list etc.) with a tick in checking. in two ticks Brit.
colloq. in a very short time. tick off colloq. reprimand.
tick over 1 (of an engine etc.) idle. 2 (of a person, project,
etc.) be working or functioning at a basic or minimum level.
tick-tack (or tic-tac) Brit. a kind of manual semaphore
signalling used by racecourse bookmakers to exchange
information. tick-tack-toe US noughts and crosses. tick-tock
the ticking of a large clock etc. what makes a person tick
colloq. a person's motivation. tickless adj. [ME: cf. Du.
tik, LG tikk touch, tick]
tick(2) n. 1 any of various arachnids of the order Acarina, parasitic
on the skin of dogs and cattle etc. 2 any of various insects of
the family Hippoboscidae, parasitic on sheep and birds etc. 3
colloq. an unpleasant or despicable person. tick-bird =
ox-pecker. tick fever a bacterial or rickettsial fever
transmitted by the bite of a tick. [OE ticca (recorded as
ticia); ME teke, tyke: cf. MDu., MLG teke, OHG zecho]
tick(3) n. colloq. credit (buy goods on tick). [app. an abbr. of
TICKET in phr. on the ticket]
tick(4) n. 1 the cover of a mattress or pillow. 2 = TICKING. [ME
tikke, teke f. WG f. L theca f. Gk theke case]
ticker n. colloq. 1 the heart. 2 a watch. 3 US a tape machine.
ticker-tape 1 a paper strip from a tape machine. 2 this or
similar material thrown from windows etc. to greet a celebrity.
ticket n. & v. --n. 1 a written or printed piece of paper or card
entitling the holder to enter a place, participate in an event,
travel by public transport, use a public amenity, etc. 2 an
official notification of a traffic offence etc. (parking
ticket). 3 Brit. a certificate of discharge from the army. 4 a
certificate of qualification as a ship's master, pilot, etc. 5
a label attached to a thing and giving its price or other
details. 6 esp. US a a list of candidates put forward by one
group esp. a political party. b the principles of a party. 7
(prec. by the) colloq. what is correct or needed. --v.tr.
(ticketed, ticketing) attach a ticket to. have tickets on
oneself Austral. colloq. be conceited. ticket-day Brit.
Stock Exch. the day before settling day, when the names of
actual purchasers are handed to stockbrokers. ticket office an
office or kiosk where tickets are sold for transport,
entertainment, etc. ticket-of-leave man Brit. hist. a
prisoner or convict who had served part of his time and was
granted certain concessions, esp. leave. ticketed adj.
ticketless adj. [obs.F tiquet f. OF estiquet(te) f.
estiquier, estechier fix f. MDu. steken]
tickety-boo
adj. Brit. colloq. all right; in order. [20th c.: orig.
uncert.]
ticking n. a stout usu. striped material used to cover mattresses etc.
[TICK(4) + -ING(1)]
tickle v. & n. --v. 1 a tr. apply light touches or strokes to (a
person or part of a person's body) so as to excite the nerves
and usu. produce laughter and spasmodic movement. b intr. feel
this sensation (my foot tickles). 2 tr. excite agreeably; amuse
or divert (a person, a sense of humour, vanity, etc.) (was
highly tickled at the idea; this will tickle your fancy). 3 tr.
catch (a trout etc.) by rubbing it so that it moves backwards
into the hand. --n. 1 an act of tickling. 2 a tickling
sensation. tickled pink (or to death) colloq. extremely
amused or pleased. tickler n. tickly adj. [ME, prob.
frequent. of TICK(1)]
ticklish adj. 1 sensitive to tickling. 2 (of a matter or person to be
dealt with) difficult; requiring careful handling. ticklishly
adv. ticklishness n.
tic-tac var. of tick-tack (see TICK(1)).
tidal adj. relating to, like, or affected by tides (tidal basin;
tidal river). tidal bore a large wave or bore caused by
constriction of the spring tide as it enters a long narrow
shallow inlet. tidal flow the regulated movement of traffic in
opposite directions on the same stretch of road at different
times of the day. tidal wave 1 Geog. an exceptionally large
ocean wave esp. one caused by an underwater earthquake or
volcanic eruption. 2 a widespread manifestation of feeling etc.
tidally adv.
tidbit US var. of TITBIT.
tiddledy-wink
US var. of TIDDLY-WINK.
tiddler n. Brit. colloq. 1 a small fish, esp. a stickleback or
minnow. 2 an unusually small thing or person. [perh. rel. to
TIDDLY(2) and tittlebat, a childish form of stickleback]
tiddly-wink
n. (US tiddledy-) 1 a counter flicked with another into a cup
etc. 2 (in pl.) this game. [19th c.: perh. rel. to TIDDLY(1)]
tide n. & v. --n. 1 a the periodic rise and fall of the sea due to
the attraction of the moon and sun (see EBB n. 1, FLOOD n. 3).
b the water as affected by this. 2 a time or season (usu. in
comb.: Whitsuntide). 3 a marked trend of opinion, fortune, or
events. --v.intr. drift with the tide, esp. work in or out of
harbour with the help of the tide. tide-mill a mill with a
water-wheel driven by the tide. tide over enable or help (a
person) to deal with an awkward situation, difficult period,
etc. (the money will tide me over until Friday). tide-rip (or
-rips) rough water caused by opposing tides. work double tides
work twice the normal time, or extra hard. tideless adj. [OE
tid f. Gmc, rel. to TIME]
tideland n. US land that is submerged at high tide.
tidemark n. 1 a mark made by the tide at high water. 2 esp. Brit. a a
mark left round a bath at the level of the water in it. b a
line on a person's body marking the extent to which it has been
washed.
tidetable n. a table indicating the times of high and low tides at a
place.
tidewaiter
n. hist. a customs officer who boarded ships on their arrival
to enforce the customs regulations.
tidewater n. 1 water brought by or affected by tides. 2 (attrib.) US
affected by tides (tidewater region).
tidewave n. an undulation of water passing round the earth and causing
high and low tides.
tideway n. 1 a channel in which a tide runs, esp. the tidal part of a
river. 2 the ebb or flow in a tidal channel.
tidings n. (as sing. or pl.) literary news, information. [OE tidung,
prob. f. ON tthindi events f. tthr occurring]
tidy adj., n., & v. --adj. (tidier, tidiest) 1 neat, orderly;
methodically arranged. 2 (of a person) methodically inclined.
3 colloq. considerable (it cost a tidy sum). --n. (pl. -ies)
1 a receptacle for holding small objects or waste scraps, esp.
in a kitchen sink. 2 an act or spell of tidying. 3 esp. US a
detachable ornamental cover for a chair-back etc. --v.tr.
(-ies, -ied) (also absol.; often foll. by up) put in good order;
make (oneself, a room, etc.) tidy. tidily adv. tidiness n.
[ME, = timely etc., f. TIDE + -Y(1)]
tie v. & n. --v. (tying) 1 tr. attach or fasten with string or
cord etc. (tie the dog to the gate; tie his hands together; tied
on a label). 2 tr. a form (a string, ribbon, shoelace,
necktie, etc.) into a knot or bow. b form (a knot or bow) in
this way. 3 tr. restrict or limit (a person) as to conditions,
occupation, place, etc. (is tied to his family). 4 intr. (often
foll. by with) achieve the same score or place as another
competitor (they tied at ten games each; tied with her for first
place). 5 tr. hold (rafters etc.) together by a crosspiece etc.
6 tr. Mus. a unite (written notes) by a tie. b perform (two
notes) as one unbroken note. --n. 1 a cord or chain etc. used
for fastening. 2 a strip of material worn round the collar and
tied in a knot at the front with the ends hanging down. 3 a
thing that unites or restricts persons; a bond or obligation
(family ties; ties of friendship; children are a real tie). 4 a
draw, dead heat, or equality of score among competitors. 5
Brit. a match between any pair from a group of competing players
or teams. 6 (also tie-beam etc.) a rod or beam holding parts
of a structure together. 7 Mus. a curved line above or below
two notes of the same pitch indicating that they are to be
played for the combined duration of their time values. 8 US a
railway sleeper. 9 US a shoe tied with a lace. fit to be tied
colloq. very angry. tie-break (or -breaker) a means of
deciding a winner from competitors who have tied. tie-dye (or
tie and dye) a method of producing dyed patterns by tying string
etc. to protect parts of the fabric from the dye. tie in (foll.
by with) bring into or have a close association or agreement.
tie-in n. 1 a connection or association. 2 (often attrib.)
esp. US a form of sale or advertising that offers or requires
more than a single purchase. 3 the joint promotion of related
commodities etc. (e.g. a book and a film). tie-line a
transmission line connecting parts of a system, esp. a telephone
line connecting two private branch exchanges. tie-pin (or
-clip) an ornamental pin or clip for holding a tie in place.
tie up 1 bind or fasten securely with cord etc. 2 invest or
reserve (capital etc.) so that it is not immediately available
for use. 3 moor (a boat). 4 secure (an animal). 5 obstruct;
prevent from acting freely. 6 secure or complete (an
undertaking etc.). 7 (often foll. by with) = tie in. 8 (usu.
in passive) fully occupy (a person). tieless adj. [OE tigan,
tegan (v.), teah, teg (n.) f. Gmc]
tied adj. Brit. 1 (of a house) occupied subject to the tenant's
working for its owner. 2 (of a public house etc.) bound to
supply the products of a particular brewery only.
tier n. 1 a row or rank or unit of a structure, as one of several
placed one above another (tiers of seats). 2 Naut. a a circle
of coiled cable. b a place for a coiled cable. tiered adj.
(also in comb.). [earlier tire f. F f. tirer draw, elongate f.
Rmc]
tierce n. 1 Eccl. = TERCE. 2 Mus. an interval of two octaves and a
major third. 3 a sequence of three cards. 4 Fencing a the
third of eight parrying positions. b the corresponding thrust.
5 archaic a a former wine-measure of one-third of a pipe. b a
cask containing a certain quantity (varying with the goods) esp.
of provisions. [ME f. OF t(i)erce f. L tertia fem. of tertius
third]
tierced adj. Heraldry divided into three parts of different tinctures.
tiercel var. of TERCEL.
tiercet var. of TERCET.
tiff n. 1 a slight or petty quarrel. 2 a fit of peevishness. [18th
c.: orig. unkn.]
tiffany n. (pl. -ies) thin gauze muslin. [orig. dress worn on Twelfth
Night, f. OF tifanie f. eccl.L theophania f. Gk theophaneia
Epiphany]
tiffin n. & v. Ind. --n. a light meal, esp. lunch. --v.intr.
(tiffined, tiffining) take lunch etc. [app. f. tiffing
sipping]
tig n. = TAG(2). [var. of TICK(1)]
tiger n. 1 a large Asian flesh-eating feline, Panthera tigris, having
a yellow-brown coat with black stripes. 2 a fierce, energetic,
or formidable person. tiger beetle any flesh-eating beetle of
the family Cicindelidae, with spotted or striped wing-covers.
tiger-cat 1 any moderate-sized feline resembling the tiger, e.g.
the ocelot, serval, or margay. 2 Austral. any of various
flesh-eating marsupials of the genus Dasyurus, including the
Tasmanian devil. tiger-eye (or tiger's-eye) 1 a yellow-brown
striped gem of brilliant lustre. 2 US a pottery-glaze of
similar appearance. tiger lily a tall garden lily, Lilium
tigrinum, with flowers of dull orange spotted with black or
purple. tiger moth any moth of the family Arctiidae, esp.
Arctia caja, having richly spotted and streaked wings suggesting
a tiger's skin. tiger-wood a striped or streaked wood used for
cabinet-making. tigerish adj. tigerishly adv. [ME f. OF
tigre f. L tigris f. Gk tigris]
tight adj., n., & adv. --adj. 1 closely held, drawn, fastened,
fitting, etc. (a tight hold; a tight skirt). 2 closely and
firmly put together (a tight joint). 3 (of clothes etc.) too
closely fitting (my shoes are rather tight). 4 impermeable,
impervious, esp. (in comb.) to a specified thing (watertight).
5 tense; stretched so as to leave no slack (a tight bowstring).
6 colloq. drunk. 7 colloq. (of a person) mean, stingy. 8 a (of
money or materials) not easily obtainable. b (of a money
market) in which money is tight. 9 a (of precautions, a
programme, etc.) stringent, demanding. b presenting
difficulties (a tight situation). 10 produced by or requiring
great exertion or pressure (a tight squeeze). 11 (of control
etc.) strictly imposed. --adv. tightly (hold tight!). tight
corner (or place or spot) a difficult situation. tight-fisted
stingy. tight-fitting (of a garment) fitting (often too) close
to the body. tight-lipped with or as with the lips compressed
to restrain emotion or speech. tightly adv. tightness n.
[prob. alt. of thight f. ON thttr watertight, of close texture]
tighten v.tr. & intr. make or become tight or tighter. tighten one's
belt see BELT.
tightrope n. a rope stretched tightly high above the ground, on which
acrobats perform.
tights n.pl. 1 a thin close-fitting wool or nylon etc. garment
covering the legs and the lower part of the torso, worn by women
in place of stockings. 2 a similar garment worn by a dancer,
acrobat, etc.
tigon n. the offspring of a tiger and a lioness (cf. LIGER).
[portmanteau word f. TIGER + LION]
tigress n. 1 a female tiger. 2 a fierce or passionate woman.
tike var. of TYKE.
tiki n. (pl. tikis) NZ a large wooden or small ornamental
greenstone image representing a human figure. [Maori]
tilbury n. (pl. -ies) hist. a light open two-wheeled carriage.
[after the inventor's name]
tilde n. a mark (~), put over a letter, e.g. over a Spanish n when
pronounced ny (as in seor) or a Portuguese a or o when
nasalized (as in So Paulo). [Sp., ult. f. L titulus TITLE]
tile n. & v. --n. 1 a thin slab of concrete or baked clay etc. used
in series for covering a roof or pavement etc. 2 a similar slab
of glazed pottery, cork, linoleum, etc., for covering a floor,
wall, etc. 3 a thin flat piece used in a game (esp. mah-jong).
--v.tr. cover with tiles. on the tiles colloq. having a
spree. [OE tigule, -ele, f. L tegula]
tiler n. 1 a person who makes or lays tiles. 2 the doorkeeper of a
Freemasons' lodge.
tiling n. 1 the process of fixing tiles. 2 an area of tiles.
till(1) prep. & conj. --prep. 1 up to or as late as (wait till six
o'clock; did not return till night). 2 up to the time of
(faithful till death; waited till the end). --conj. 1 up to
the time when (wait till I return). 2 so long that (laughed
till I cried). Until is more usual when beginning a
sentence. [OE & ON til to, rel. to TILL(3)]
till(2) n. a drawer for money in a shop or bank etc., esp. with a
device recording the amount of each purchase. [ME: orig. unkn.]
till(3) v.tr. prepare and cultivate (land) for crops. tillable adj.
tiller n. [OE tilian strive for, cultivate, f. Gmc]
till(4) n. stiff clay containing boulders, sand, etc. deposited by
melting glaciers and ice-sheets. [17th c. (Sc.): orig. unkn.]
tillage n. 1 the preparation of land for crop-bearing. 2 tilled land.
tiller(1) n. a horizontal bar fitted to the head of a boat's rudder to
turn it in steering. [ME f. AF telier weaver's beam f. med.L
telarium f. L tela web]
tiller(2) n. & v. --n. 1 a shoot of a plant springing from the bottom of
the original stalk. 2 a sapling. 3 a sucker. --v.intr. put
forth tillers. [app. repr. OE telgor extended f. telga bough]
tilt v. & n. --v. 1 intr. & tr. assume or cause to assume a sloping
position; heel over. 2 intr. (foll. by at) strike, thrust, or
run at, with a weapon, esp. in jousting. 3 intr. (foll. by
with) engage in a contest. 4 tr. forge or work (steel etc.)
with a tilt-hammer. --n. 1 the act or an instance of tilting.
2 a sloping position. 3 (of medieval knights etc.) the act of
charging with a lance against an opponent or at a mark, done for
exercise or as a sport. 4 an encounter between opponents; an
attack esp. with argument or satire (have a tilt at). 5 =
tilt-hammer. full (or at full) tilt 1 at full speed. 2 with
full force. tilt-hammer a heavy pivoted hammer used in forging.
tilt-yard hist. a place where tilts (see sense 3 of n.) took
place. tilter n. [ME tilte perh. f. an OE form rel. to tealt
unsteady f. Gmc: weapon senses of unkn. orig.]
tilth n. 1 tillage, cultivation. 2 the condition of tilled soil (in
good tilth). [OE tilth(e) (as TILL(3))]
Tim. abbr. Timothy (New Testament).
timbal n. archaic a kettledrum. [F timbale, earlier tamballe f. Sp.
atabal f. Arab. at-tabl the drum]
timbale n. a drum-shaped dish of minced meat or fish in a pastry shell.
[F: see TIMBAL]
timber n. 1 wood prepared for building, carpentry, etc. 2 a piece of
wood or beam, esp. as the rib of a vessel. 3 large standing
trees suitable for timber; woods or forest. 4 (esp. as int.) a
warning cry that a tree is about to fall. timber hitch a knot
used in attaching a rope to a log or spar. timber wolf a type
of large N. American grey wolf. timbering n. [OE, =
building, f. Gmc]
timbered adj. 1 (esp. of a building) made wholly or partly of timber. 2
(of country) wooded.
timberland
n. US land covered with forest yielding timber.
timberline
n. (on a mountain) the line or level above which no trees grow.
timbre n. the distinctive character of a musical sound or voice apart
from its pitch and intensity. [F f. Rmc f. med.Gk timbanon f.
Gk tumpanon drum]
timbrel n. archaic a tambourine or similar instrument. [dimin. of ME
timbre f. OF (as TIMBRE, -LE(2))]
Timbuctoo n. any distant or remote place. [Timbuktu in W. Africa]
time n. & v. --n. 1 the indefinite continued progress of existence,
events, etc., in past, present, and future regarded as a whole.
2 a the progress of this as affecting persons or things (stood
the test of time). b (Time) (in full Father Time) the
personification of time, esp. as an old man with a scythe and
hourglass. 3 a more or less definite portion of time belonging
to particular events or circumstances (the time of the Plague;
prehistoric times; the scientists of the time). 4 an allotted,
available, or measurable portion of time; the period of time at
one's disposal (am wasting my time; had no time to visit; how
much time do you need?). 5 a point of time esp. in hours and
minutes (the time is 7.30; what time is it?). 6 (prec. by a) an
indefinite period (waited for a time). 7 time or an amount of
time as reckoned by a conventional standard (the time allowed is
one hour; ran the mile in record time; eight o'clock New York
time). 8 a an occasion (last time I saw you). b an event or
occasion qualified in some way (had a good time). 9 a moment or
definite portion of time destined or suitable for a purpose etc.
(now is the time to act; shall we fix a time?). 10 (in pl.)
expressing multiplication (is four times as old; five times six
is thirty). 11 a lifetime (will last my time). 12 (in sing. or
pl.) a the conditions of life or of a period (hard times; times
have changed). b (prec. by the) the present age, or that being
considered. 13 colloq. a prison sentence (is doing time). 14
an apprenticeship (served his time). 15 a period of gestation.
16 the date or expected date of childbirth (is near her time) or
of death (my time is drawing near). 17 measured time spent in
work (put them on short time). 18 a any of several rhythmic
patterns of music (in waltz time). b the duration of a note as
indicated by a crotchet, minim, etc. 19 Brit. the moment at
which the opening hours of a public house end. --v.tr. 1
choose the time or occasion for (time your remarks carefully).
2 do at a chosen or correct time. 3 arrange the time of arrival
of. 4 ascertain the time taken by (a process or activity, or a
person doing it). 5 regulate the duration or interval of; set
times for (trains are timed to arrive every hour). against
time with utmost speed, so as to finish by a specified time
(working against time). ahead of time earlier than expected.
ahead of one's time having ideas too enlightened or advanced to
be accepted by one's contemporaries. all the time 1 during the
whole of the time referred to (often despite some contrary
expectation etc.) (we never noticed, but he was there all the
time). 2 constantly (nags all the time). 3 at all times
(leaves a light on all the time). at one time 1 in or during a
known but unspecified past period. 2 simultaneously (ran three
businesses at one time). at the same time 1 simultaneously; at
a time that is the same for all. 2 nevertheless (at the same
time, I do not want to offend you). at a time separately in the
specified groups or numbers (came three at a time). at times
occasionally, intermittently. before time (usu. prec. by not)
before the due or expected time. before one's time prematurely
(old before his time). for the time being for the present;
until some other arrangement is made. half the time colloq. as
often as not. have no time for 1 be unable or unwilling to
spend time on. 2 dislike. have the time 1 be able to spend the
time needed. 2 know from a watch etc. what time it is. have a
time of it undergo trouble or difficulty. in no (or less than
no) time 1 very soon. 2 very quickly. in one's own good time
at a time and a rate decided by oneself. in one's own time
outside working hours. in time 1 not late, punctual (was in
time to catch the bus). 2 eventually (in time you may agree).
3 in accordance with a given rhythm or tempo, esp. of music. in
one's time at or during some previous period of one's life (in
his time he was a great hurdler). keep good (or bad) time 1 (of
a clock etc.) record time accurately (or inaccurately). 2 be
habitually punctual (or not punctual). keep time move or sing
etc. in time. know the time of day be well informed. lose no
time (often foll. by in + verbal noun) act immediately (lost no
time in cashing the cheque). not before time not too soon;
timely. no time colloq. a very short interval (it was no time
before they came). out of time unseasonable; unseasonably.
pass the time of day colloq. exchange a greeting or casual
remarks. time after time 1 repeatedly, on many occasions. 2 in
many instances. time and (or time and time) again on many
occasions. time and a half a rate of payment for work at one
and a half times the normal rate. time-and-motion (usu.
attrib.) concerned with measuring the efficiency of industrial
and other operations. time bomb a bomb designed to explode at a
pre-set time. time capsule a box etc. containing objects
typical of the present time, buried for discovery in the future.
time clock 1 a clock with a device for recording workers' hours
of work. 2 a switch mechanism activated at pre-set times by a
built-in clock. time-consuming using much or too much time.
time exposure the exposure of photographic film for longer than
the maximum normal shutter setting. time factor the passage of
time as a limitation on what can be achieved. time-fuse a fuse
calculated to burn for or explode at a given time.
time-honoured esteemed by tradition or through custom. time
immemorial (or out of mind) a longer time than anyone can
remember or trace. time-lag an interval of time between an
event, a cause, etc. and its effect. time-lapse (of
photography) using frames taken at long intervals to photograph
a slow process, and shown continuously as if at normal speed.
time-limit the limit of time within which a task must be done.
the time of day the hour by the clock. time off time for rest
or recreation etc. the time of one's life a period or occasion
of exceptional enjoyment. time out esp. US 1 a brief
intermission in a game etc. 2 = time off. time-scale the time
allowed for or taken by a sequence of events in relation to a
broader period of time. time-served having completed a period
of apprenticeship or training. time-server a person who changes
his or her view to suit the prevailing circumstances, fashion,
etc. time-share a share in a property under a time-sharing
scheme. time-sharing 1 the operation of a computer system by
several users for different operations at one time. 2 the use
of a holiday home at agreed different times by several joint
owners. time sheet a sheet of paper for recording hours of work
etc. time signal an audible (esp. broadcast) signal or
announcement of the exact time of day. time signature Mus. an
indication of tempo following a clef, expressed as a fraction
with the numerator giving the number of beats in each bar and
the denominator giving the duration of each beat. time switch a
switch acting automatically at a pre-set time. time warp an
imaginary distortion of space in relation to time, whereby
persons or objects of one age can be moved to another. time was
there was a time (time was when I could do that). time-work
work paid for by the time it takes. time-worn impaired by age.
time zone a range of longitudes where a common standard time is
used . [OE tima f. Gmc]
timekeeper
n. 1 a person who records time, esp. of workers or in a game.
2 a a watch or clock as regards accuracy (a good timekeeper). b
a person as regards punctuality. timekeeping n.
timeless adj. not affected by the passage of time; eternal.
timelessly adv. timelessness n.
timely adj. (timelier, timeliest) opportune; coming at the right time.
timeliness n.
timepiece n. an instrument, such as a clock or watch, for measuring time.
timer n. 1 a person or device that measures or records time taken. 2
an automatic mechanism for activating a device etc. at a pre-set
time.
timetable n. & v. --n. a list of times at which events are scheduled to
take place, esp. the arrival and departure of buses or trains
etc., or a sequence of lessons in a school or college. --v.tr.
include in or arrange to a timetable; schedule.
timid adj. (timider, timidest) easily frightened; apprehensive, shy.
timidity n. timidly adv. timidness n. [F timide or L
timidus f. timere fear]
timing n. 1 the way an action or process is timed, esp. in relation to
others. 2 the regulation of the opening and closing of valves
in an internal-combustion engine.
timocracy n. (pl. -ies) 1 a form of government in which possession of
property is required in order to hold office. 2 a form of
government in which rulers are motivated by love of honour.
timocratic adj. [OF timocracie f. med.L timocratia f. Gk
timokratia f. time honour, worth + kratia -CRACY]
timorous adj. 1 timid; easily alarmed. 2 frightened. timorously adv.
timorousness n. [ME f. OF temoreus f. med.L timorosus f. L
timor f. timere fear]
timothy n. (in full timothy grass) a fodder grass, Phleum pratense.
[Timothy Hanson, who introduced it in Carolina c.1720]
timpani n.pl. (also tympani) kettledrums. timpanist n. [It., pl. of
timpano = TYMPANUM]
tin n. & v. --n. 1 Chem. a silvery-white malleable metallic
element resisting corrosion, occurring naturally in cassiterite
and other ores, and used esp. in alloys and for plating thin
iron or steel sheets to form tin plate. Symb.: Sn. 2 a a
vessel or container made of tin or tinned iron. b Brit. an
airtight sealed container made of tin plate or aluminium for
preserving food. 3 = tin plate. 4 Brit. sl. money. --v.tr.
(tinned, tinning) 1 seal (food) in an airtight tin for
preservation. 2 cover or coat with tin. put the tin lid on
see LID. tin can a tin container (see sense 2 of n.), esp. an
empty one. tin foil foil made of tin, aluminium, or tin alloy,
used for wrapping food for cooking or storing. tin-glaze a
glaze made white and opaque by the addition of tin oxide. tin
god 1 an object of unjustified veneration. 2 a self-important
person. tin hat colloq. a military steel helmet. tin Lizzie
colloq. an old or decrepit car. tin-opener a tool for opening
tins. tin-pan alley the world of composers and publishers of
popular music. tin plate sheet iron or sheet steel coated with
tin. tin-plate v.tr. coat with tin. tin soldier a toy soldier
made of metal. tin-tack an iron tack. tin whistle = penny
whistle. [OE f. Gmc]
tinamou n. any South American bird of the family Tinamidae, resembling
a grouse but related to the rhea . [F f. Galibi tinamu]
tinctorial
adj. 1 of or relating to colour or dyeing. 2 producing colour.
[L tinctorius f. tinctor dyer: see TINGE]
tincture n. & v. --n. (often foll. by of) 1 a slight flavour or trace.
2 a tinge (of a colour). 3 a medicinal solution (of a drug) in
alcohol (tincture of quinine). 4 Heraldry an inclusive term for
the metals, colours, and furs used in coats of arms. 5 colloq.
an alcoholic drink. --v.tr. 1 colour slightly; tinge, flavour.
2 (often foll. by with) affect slightly (with a quality). [ME
f. L tinctura dyeing (as TINGE)]
tinder n. a dry substance such as wood that readily catches fire from
a spark. tinder-box hist. a box containing tinder, flint, and
steel, formerly used for kindling fires. tindery adj. [OE
tynder, tyndre f. Gmc]
tine n. a prong or tooth or point of a fork, comb, antler, etc.
tined adj. (also in comb.). [OE tind]
tinea n. Med. ringworm. [L, = moth, worm]
ting n. & v. --n. a tinkling sound as of a bell. --v.intr. & tr.
emit or cause to emit this sound. [imit.]
tinge v. & n. --v.tr. (also tingeing) (often foll. by with; often in
passive) 1 colour slightly (is tinged with red). 2 affect
slightly (regret tinged with satisfaction). --n. 1 a tendency
towards or trace of some colour. 2 a slight admixture of a
feeling or quality. [ME f. L tingere tinct- dye, stain]
tingle v. & n. --v. 1 intr. a feel a slight prickling, stinging, or
throbbing sensation. b cause this (the reply tingled in my
ears). 2 tr. make (the ear etc.) tingle. --n. a tingling
sensation. [ME, perh. var. of TINKLE]
tingly adj. (tinglier, tingliest) causing or characterized by
tingling.
tinhorn n. & adj. US sl. --n. a pretentious but unimpressive person.
--adj. cheap, pretentious.
tinker n. & v. --n. 1 an itinerant mender of kettles and pans etc. 2
Sc. & Ir. a gypsy. 3 colloq. a mischievous person or animal. 4
a spell of tinkering. 5 a rough-and-ready worker. --v. 1
intr. (foll. by at, with) work in an amateurish or desultory
way, esp. to adjust or mend machinery etc. 2 a intr. work as a
tinker. b tr. repair (pots and pans). tinkerer n. [ME:
orig. unkn.]
tinkle v. & n. --v. 1 intr. & tr. make or cause to make a succession
of short light ringing sounds. 2 intr. colloq. urinate. --n.
1 a tinkling sound. 2 Brit. colloq. a telephone call (will
give you a tinkle on Monday). 3 colloq. an act of urinating.
[ME f. obs. tink to chink (imit.)]
tinner n. 1 a tin-miner. 2 a tinsmith.
tinnitus n. Med. a ringing in the ears. [L f. tinnire tinnit- ring,
tinkle, of imit. orig.]
tinny adj. & n. --adj. (tinnier, tinniest) 1 of or like tin. 2 (of
a metal object) flimsy, insubstantial. 3 a sounding like struck
tin. b (of reproduced sound) thin and metallic, lacking low
frequencies. 4 Austral. sl. lucky. --n. (also tinnie) (pl.
-ies) Austral. sl. a can of beer. tinnily adv. tinniness n.
tinpot adj. Brit. cheap, inferior.
tinsel n. & v. --n. 1 glittering metallic strips, threads, etc., used
as decoration to give a sparkling effect. 2 a fabric adorned
with tinsel. 3 superficial brilliance or splendour. 4
(attrib.) showy, gaudy, flashy. --v.tr. (tinselled,
tinselling) adorn with or as with tinsel. tinselled adj.
tinselly adj. [OF estincele spark f. L scintilla]
tinsmith n. a worker in tin and tin plate.
tinsnips n. a pair of clippers for cutting sheet metal.
tinstone n. Geol. = CASSITERITE.
tint n. & v. --n. 1 a variety of a colour, esp. one made lighter by
adding white. 2 a tendency towards or admixture of a different
colour (red with a blue tint). 3 a faint colour spread over a
surface, esp. as a background for printing on. 4 a set of
parallel engraved lines to give uniform shading. --v.tr. apply
a tint to; colour. tinter n. [alt. of earlier tinct f. L
tinctus dyeing (as TINGE), perh. infl. by It. tinto]
tintinnabulation
n. a ringing or tinkling of bells. [as L tintinnabulum
tinkling bell f. tintinnare redupl. form of tinnire ring]
tinware n. articles made of tin or tin plate.
tiny adj. (tinier, tiniest) very small or slight. tinily adv.
tininess n. [obs. tine, tyne (adj. & n.) small, a little: ME,
of unkn. orig.]
-tion suffix forming nouns of action, condition, etc. (see -ION,
-ATION, -ITION, -UTION). [from or after F -tion or L -tio
-tionis]
tip(1) n. & v. --n. 1 an extremity or end, esp. of a small or
tapering thing (tips of the fingers). 2 a small piece or part
attached to the end of a thing, e.g. a ferrule on a stick. 3 a
leaf-bud of tea. --v.tr. (tipped, tipping) 1 provide with a
tip. 2 tr. (foll. by in) attach (a loose sheet) to a page at
the inside edge. on the tip of one's tongue about to be said,
esp. after difficulty in recalling to mind. the tip of the
iceberg a small evident part of something much larger or more
significant. tipless adj. tippy adj. (in sense 3). [ME f.
ON typpi (n.), typpa (v.), typptr tipped f. Gmc (rel. to
TOP(1)): prob. reinforced by MDu. & MLG tip]
tip(2) v. & n. --v. (tipped, tipping) 1 a intr. lean or slant. b tr.
cause to do this. 2 tr. (foll. by into etc.) a overturn or
cause to overbalance (was tipped into the pond). b discharge
the contents of (a container etc.) in this way. --n. 1 a a
slight push or tilt. b a light stroke, esp. in baseball. 2
Brit. a place where material (esp. refuse) is tipped. tip the
balance make the critical difference. tip the scales see
SCALE(2). tip-up able to be tipped, e.g. of a seat in a theatre
to allow passage past. [17th c.: orig. uncert.]
tip(3) v. & n. --v. (tipped, tipping) (often foll. by over, up) 1 tr.
make a small present of money to, esp. for a service given (have
you tipped the porter?). 2 tr. name as the likely winner of a
race or contest etc. 3 tr. strike or touch lightly. 4 tr. sl.
give, hand, pass (esp. in tip the wink below). --n. 1 a small
money present, esp. for a service given. 2 a piece of private
or special information, esp. regarding betting or investment. 3
a small or casual piece of advice. tip off 1 give (a person) a
hint or piece of special information or warning, esp. discreetly
or confidentially. 2 Basketball start play by throwing the ball
up between two opponents. tip-off a hint or warning etc. given
discreetly or confidentially. tip a person the wink give a
person private information. tipper n. [ME: orig. uncert.]
tipcat n. 1 a game with a short piece of wood tapering at the ends and
struck with a stick. 2 this piece of wood.
tipper n. (often attrib.) a road haulage vehicle that tips at the back
to discharge its load.
tippet n. 1 a covering of fur etc. for the shoulders formerly worn by
women. 2 a similar garment worn as part of some official
costumes, esp. by the clergy. 3 hist. a long narrow strip of
cloth as part of or an attachment to a hood etc. [ME, prob. f.
TIP(1)]
tipple v. & n. --v. 1 intr. drink intoxicating liquor habitually. 2
tr. drink (liquor) repeatedly in small amounts. --n. colloq. a
drink, esp. a strong one. tippler n. [ME, back-form. f.
tippler, of unkn. orig.]
tipstaff n. 1 a sheriff's officer. 2 a metal-tipped staff carried as a
symbol of office. [contr. of tipped staff, i.e. tipped with
metal]
tipster n. a person who gives tips, esp. about betting at horse-races.
tipsy adj. (tipsier, tipsiest) 1 slightly intoxicated. 2 caused by
or showing intoxication (a tipsy leer). tipsy-cake Brit. a
sponge cake soaked in wine or spirits and served with custard.
tipsily adv. tipsiness n. [prob. f. TIP(2) = inclined to
lean, unsteady: for -sy cf. FLIMSY, TRICKSY]
tiptoe n., v., & adv. --n. the tips of the toes. --v.intr. (tiptoes,
tiptoed, tiptoeing) walk on tiptoe, or very stealthily. --adv.
(also on tiptoe) with the heels off the ground and the weight on
the balls of the feet.
tiptop adj., adv., & n. colloq. --adj. & adv. highest in excellence;
very best. --n. the highest point of excellence.
TIR abbr. international road transport (esp. with ref. to EEC
regulations). [F, = transport international routier]
tirade n. a long vehement denunciation or declamation. [F, = long
speech, f. It. tirata volley f. tirare pull f. Rmc]
tirailleur
n. 1 a sharpshooter. 2 a skirmisher. [F f. tirailler shoot
independently f. tirer shoot, draw, f. Rmc]
tire(1) v. 1 tr. & intr. make or grow weary. 2 tr. exhaust the
patience or interest of; bore. 3 tr. (in passive; foll. by of)
have had enough of; be fed up with (was tired of arguing). [OE
teorian, of unkn. orig.]
tire(2) n. 1 a band of metal placed round the rim of a wheel to
strengthen it. 2 US var. of TYRE. [ME, perh. = archaic tire
head-dress]
tired adj. 1 weary, exhausted; ready for sleep. 2 (of an idea etc.)
hackneyed. tiredly adv. tiredness n.
tireless adj. having inexhaustible energy. tirelessly adv.
tirelessness n.
tiresome adj. 1 wearisome, tedious. 2 colloq. annoying (how tiresome of
you!). tiresomely adv. tiresomeness n.
tiro n. (also tyro) (pl. -os) a beginner or novice. [L tiro, med.L
tyro, recruit]
'tis archaic it is. [contr.]
tisane n. an infusion of dried herbs etc. [F: see PTISAN]
tissue n. 1 any of the coherent collections of specialized cells of
which animals or plants are made (muscular tissue; nervous
tissue). 2 = tissue-paper. 3 a disposable piece of thin soft
absorbent paper for wiping, drying, etc. 4 fine woven esp.
gauzy fabric. 5 (foll. by of) a connected series (a tissue of
lies). tissue-paper thin soft unsized paper for wrapping or
protecting fragile or delicate articles. [ME f. OF tissu rich
material, past part. of tistre f. L texere weave]
Tit. abbr. Titus (New Testament).
tit(1) n. any of various small birds esp. of the family Paridae.
[prob. f. Scand.]
tit(2) n. tit for tat blow for blow; retaliation. [= earlier tip
(TIP(2)) for tap]
tit(3) n. 1 colloq. a nipple. 2 coarse sl. a woman's breast.
Usually considered a taboo word in sense 2. [OE: cf. MLG
titte]
tit(4) n. coarse sl. a term of contempt for a person. [20th c.:
perh. f. TIT(3)]
Titan n. 1 (often titan) a person of very great strength, intellect,
or importance. 2 (in Greek mythology) a member of a family of
early gigantic gods, the offspring of Heaven and Earth. [ME f.
L f. Gk]
titanic(1)
adj. 1 of or like the Titans. 2 gigantic, colossal.
titanically adv. [Gk titanikos (as TITAN)]
titanic(2)
adj. Chem. of titanium, esp. in quadrivalent form. titanate
n.
titanium n. Chem. a grey metallic element occurring naturally in many
clays etc., and used to make strong light alloys that are
resistant to corrosion. Symb.: Ti. titanium dioxide (or
oxide) a white oxide occurring naturally and used as a white
pigment. [Gk (as TITAN) + -IUM, after uranium]
titbit n. (US tidbit) 1 a dainty morsel. 2 a piquant item of news
etc. [perh. f. dial. tid tender + BIT(1)]
titch n. (also tich) colloq. a small person. [Tich, stage name of
Harry Relph (d. 1928), Engl. music-hall comedian]
titchy adj. (titchier, titchiest) colloq. very small.
titer US var. of TITRE.
titfer n. Brit. sl. a hat. [abbr. of tit for tat, rhyming sl.]
tithe n. & v. --n. 1 one tenth of the annual produce of land or
labour, formerly taken as a tax for the support of the Church
and clergy. 2 a tenth part. --v. 1 tr. subject to tithes. 2
intr. pay tithes. tithe barn a barn built to hold tithes paid
in kind. tithable adj. [OE teogotha tenth]
tithing n. 1 the practice of taking or paying a tithe. 2 hist. a ten
householders living near together and collectively responsible
for each other's behaviour. b the area occupied by them. [OE
tigething (as TITHE, -ING(1))]
titi n. (pl. titis) any South American monkey of the genus
Callicebus. [Tupi]
Titian adj. (in full Titian red) (of hair) bright golden auburn. [name
of Tiziano Vecelli, It. painter d. 1576]
titivate v.tr. (also tittivate) colloq. 1 adorn, smarten. 2 (often
refl.) put the finishing touches to. titivation n. [earlier
tidivate, perh. f. TIDY after cultivate]
titlark n. a pipit, esp. the meadow pipit.
title n. & v. --n. 1 the name of a book, work of art, piece of
music, etc. 2 the heading of a chapter, poem, document, etc. 3
a the contents of the title-page of a book. b a book regarded
in terms of its title (published 20 new titles). 4 a caption or
credit in a film, broadcast, etc. 5 a form of nomenclature
indicating a person's status (e.g. professor, queen) or used as
a form of address or reference (e.g. Lord, Mr, Your Grace). 6
a championship in sport. 7 Law a the right to ownership of
property with or without possession. b the facts constituting
this. c (foll. by to) a just or recognized claim. 8 Eccl. a a
fixed sphere of work and source of income as a condition for
ordination. b a parish church in Rome under a cardinal.
--v.tr. give a title to. title-deed a legal instrument as
evidence of a right, esp. to property. title-page a page at the
beginning of a book giving the title and particulars of
authorship etc. title role the part in a play etc. that gives
it its name (e.g. Othello). [ME f. OF f. L titulus placard,
title]
titled adj. having a title of nobility or rank.
titling(1)
n. the impressing of a title in gold leaf etc. on the cover of
a book.
titling(2)
n. 1 a titlark. 2 a titmouse.
titmouse n. (pl. titmice) any of various small tits, esp. of the genus
Parus. [ME titmose f. TIT(1) + OE mase titmouse, assim. to
MOUSE]
titrate v.tr. Chem. ascertain the amount of a constituent in (a
solution) by measuring the volume of a known concentration of
reagent required to complete the reaction. titratable adj.
titration n.
titre n. (US titer) Chem. the strength of a solution or the quantity
of a constituent as determined by titration. [F, = TITLE]
titter v. & n. --v.intr. laugh in a furtive or restrained way; giggle.
--n. a furtive or restrained laugh. titterer n. titteringly
adv. [imit.]
tittivate var. of TITIVATE.
tittle n. 1 a small written or printed stroke or dot. 2 a particle; a
whit (esp. in not one jot or tittle). [ME f. L (as TITLE)]
tittlebat n. Brit. a stickleback. [fanciful var.]
tittle-tattle
n. & v. --n. petty gossip. --v.intr. gossip, chatter.
[redupl. of TATTLE]
tittup v. & n. --v.intr. (tittuped, tittuping or tittupped,
tittupping) go about friskily or jerkily; bob up and down;
canter. --n. such a gait or movement. [perh. imit. of
hoof-beats]
titty n. (pl. -ies) sl. = TIT(3) (esp. as a child's term).
titubation
n. Med. unsteadiness esp. as caused by nervous disease. [L
titubatio f. titubare totter]
titular adj. & n. --adj. 1 of or relating to a title (the book's
titular hero). 2 existing, or being what is specified, in name
or title only (titular ruler; titular sovereignty). --n. 1 the
holder of an office etc. esp. a benefice, without the
corresponding functions or obligations. 2 a titular saint.
titular bishop a bishop, esp. in a non-Christian country, with
a see named after a Christian see no longer in existence.
titular saint the patron saint of a particular church.
titularly adv. [F titulaire or mod.L titularis f. titulus
TITLE]
tizzy n. (pl. -ies) (also tizz, tiz) colloq. a state of nervous
agitation (in a tizzy). [20th c.: orig. unkn.]
tmesis n. (pl. tmeses) Gram. the separation of parts of a compound
word by an intervening word or words (esp. in colloq. speech,
e.g. can't find it any-blooming-where). [Gk tmesis cutting f.
temno cut]
to before a vowel emphat. prep. & adv. --prep. 1 introducing a
noun: a expressing what is reached, approached, or touched (fell
to the ground; went to Paris; put her face to the window; five
minutes to six). b expressing what is aimed at: often
introducing the indirect object of a verb (throw it to me;
explained the problem to them). c as far as; up to (went on to
the end; have to stay from Tuesday to Friday). d to the extent
of (were all drunk to a man; was starved to death). e
expressing what is followed (according to instructions; made to
order). f expressing what is considered or affected (am used to
that; that is nothing to me). g expressing what is caused or
produced (turn to stone; tear to shreds). h expressing what is
compared (nothing to what it once was; comparable to any other;
equal to the occasion; won by three goals to two). i expressing
what is increased (add it to mine). j expressing what is
involved or composed as specified (there is nothing to it; more
to him than meets the eye). k expressing the substance of a
debit entry in accounting (to four chairs, sixty pounds). l
archaic for; by way of (took her to wife). 2 introducing the
infinitive: a as a verbal noun (to get there is the priority).
b expressing purpose, consequence, or cause (we eat to live;
left him to starve; am sorry to hear that). c as a substitute
for to + infinitive (wanted to come but was unable to). --adv.
1 in the normal or required position or condition (come to;
heave to). 2 (of a door) in a nearly closed position. to and
fro 1 backwards and forwards. 2 repeatedly between the same
points. [OE to (adv. & prep.) f. WG]
toad n. 1 any froglike amphibian of the family Bufonidae, esp. of
the genus Bufo, breeding in water but living chiefly on land. 2
any of various similar amphibians including the Surinam toad. 3
a repulsive or detestable person. toad-eater archaic a toady.
toad-in-the-hole Brit. sausages or other meat baked in batter.
toadish adj. [OE tadige, tadde, tada, of unkn. orig.]
toadfish n. any marine fish of the family Batrachoididae, with a large
head and wide mouth, making grunting noises by vibrating the
walls of its swim-bladder.
toadflax n. 1 any plant of the genus Linaria or Chaenorrhinum, with
flaxlike leaves and spurred yellow or purple flowers . 2 a
related plant, Cymbalaria muralis, with lilac flowers and
ivy-shaped leaves.
toadstone n. a stone, sometimes precious, supposed to resemble or to have
been formed in the body of a toad, formerly used as an amulet
etc.
toadstool n. the spore-bearing structure of various fungi, usu.
poisonous, with a round top and slender stalk.
toady n. & v. --n. (pl. -ies) a sycophant; an obsequious hanger-on.
--v.tr. & (foll. by to) intr. (-ies, -ied) behave servilely to;
fawn upon. toadyish adj. toadyism n. [contr. of toad-eater,
a charlatan's attendant who ate toads (regarded as poisonous)]
toast n. & v. --n. 1 bread in slices browned on both sides by
radiant heat. 2 a a person (orig. esp. a woman) or thing in
whose honour a company is requested to drink. b a call to drink
or an instance of drinking in this way. --v. 1 tr. cook or
brown (bread, a teacake, cheese, etc.) by radiant heat. 2 intr.
(of bread etc.) become brown in this way. 3 tr. warm (one's
feet, oneself, etc.) at a fire etc. 4 tr. drink to the health
or in honour of (a person or thing). have a person on toast
colloq. be in a position to deal with a person as one wishes.
toasting-fork a long-handled fork for making toast before a
fire. toast rack a rack for holding slices of toast at table.
[ME (orig. as verb) f. OF toster roast, ult. f. L torrere tost-
parch: sense 2 of the noun reflects the notion that a woman's
name flavours the drink as spiced toast would]
toaster n. an electrical device for making toast.
toastmaster
n. (fem. toastmistress) an official responsible for announcing
toasts at a public occasion.
tobacco n. (pl. -os) 1 (in full tobacco-plant) any plant of the genus
Nicotiana, of American origin, with narcotic leaves used for
smoking, chewing, or snuff. 2 its leaves, esp. as prepared for
smoking. tobacco mosaic virus a virus that causes mosaic
disease in tobacco, much used in biochemical research.
tobacco-pipe see PIPE n. 2. tobacco-stopper an instrument for
pressing down the tobacco in a pipe. [Sp. tabaco, of Amer.
Ind. orig.]
tobacconist
n. a retail dealer in tobacco and cigarettes etc.
toboggan n. & v. --n. a long light narrow sledge for sliding downhill
esp. over compacted snow or ice. --v.intr. ride on a toboggan.
tobogganer n. tobogganing n. tobogganist n. [Can. F
tabaganne f. Algonquian]
toby jug n. a jug or mug for ale etc., usu. in the form of a stout old
man wearing a three-cornered hat. [familiar form of the name
Tobias]
toccata n. a musical composition for a keyboard instrument designed to
exhibit the performer's touch and technique. [It., fem. past
part. of toccare touch]
Toc H n. Brit. a society, orig. of ex-servicemen and -women, founded
after the war of 1914-18 for promoting Christian fellowship and
social service. [toc (former telegraphy code for T) + H, for
Talbot House, a soldier's club established in Belgium in 1915]
Tocharian n. & adj. --n. 1 an extinct Indo-European language of a
central Asian people in the first millennium AD. 2 a member of
the people speaking this language. --adj. of or in this
language. [F tocharien f. L Tochari f. Gk Tokharoi a Scythian
tribe]
tocopherol
n. any of several closely related vitamins, found in wheat-germ
oil, egg yolk, and leafy vegetables, and important in the
stabilization of cell membranes etc. Also called vitamin E. [Gk
tokos offspring + phero bear + -OL(1)]
tocsin n. an alarm bell or signal. [F f. OF touquesain, toquassen f.
Prov. tocasenh f. tocar TOUCH + senh signal-bell]
tod n. Brit. sl. on one's tod alone; on one's own. [20th c.:
perh. f. rhyming sl. on one's Tod Sloan (name of a jockey)]
today adv. & n. --adv. 1 on or in the course of this present day
(shall we go today?). 2 nowadays, in modern times. --n. 1
this present day (today is my birthday). 2 modern times.
today week (or fortnight etc.) a week (or fortnight etc.) from
today. [OE to dg on (this) day (as TO, DAY)]
toddle v. & n. --v.intr. 1 walk with short unsteady steps like those
of a small child. 2 colloq. a (often foll. by round, to, etc.)
take a casual or leisurely walk. b (usu. foll. by off) depart.
--n. 1 a toddling walk. 2 colloq. a stroll or short walk.
[16th-c. todle (Sc. & N.Engl.), of unkn. orig.]
toddler n. a child who is just beginning to walk. toddlerhood n.
toddy n. (pl. -ies) 1 a drink of spirits with hot water and sugar or
spices. 2 the sap of some kinds of palm, fermented to produce
arrack. [Hind. tari f. tar palm f. Skr. tla palmyra]
to-do n. a commotion or fuss. [to do as in what's to do (= to be
done)]
tody n. (pl. -ies) any small insect-eating West Indian bird of the
genus Todus, related to the kingfisher. [F todier f. L todus, a
small bird]
toe n. & v. --n. 1 any of the five terminal projections of the
foot. 2 the corresponding part of an animal. 3 the part of an
item of footwear that covers the toes. 4 the lower end or tip
of an implement etc. 5 Archit. a projection from the foot of a
buttress etc. to give stability. --v. (toes, toed, toeing) 1
tr. touch (a starting-line etc.) with the toes before starting a
race. 2 tr. a mend the toe of (a sock etc.). b provide with a
toe. 3 intr. (foll. by in, out) a walk with the toes pointed in
(or out). b (of a pair of wheels) converge (or diverge)
slightly at the front. 4 tr. Golf strike (the ball) with a
part of the club too near the toe. on one's toes alert, eager.
toe-clip a clip on a bicycle-pedal to prevent the foot from
slipping. toe-hold 1 a small foothold. 2 a small beginning or
advantage. toe the line conform to a general policy or
principle, esp. unwillingly or under pressure. turn up one's
toes colloq. die. toed adj. (also in comb.). toeless adj.
[OE ta f. Gmc]
toecap n. the (usu. strengthened) outer covering of the toe of a boot
or shoe.
toenail n. 1 the nail at the tip of each toe. 2 a nail driven
obliquely through the end of a board etc.
toerag n. Brit. sl. a term of contempt for a person. [earlier =
tramp, vagrant, f. the rag wrapped round the foot in place of a
sock]
toey adj. Austral. sl. restless, nervous, touchy.
toff n. & v. Brit. sl. --n. a distinguished or well-dressed
person; a dandy. --v.tr. (foll. by up) dress up smartly.
[perh. a perversion of tuft = titled undergraduate (from the
gold tassel formerly worn on the cap)]
toffee n. (also toffy) (pl. toffees or toffies) 1 a kind of firm or
hard sweet softening when sucked or chewed, made by boiling
sugar, butter, etc. 2 Brit. a small piece of this. for toffee
sl. (prec. by can't etc.) (denoting incompetence) at all (they
couldn't sing for toffee). toffee-apple an apple with a thin
coating of toffee. toffee-nosed esp. Brit. sl. snobbish,
pretentious. [earlier TAFFY]
toft n. Brit. 1 a homestead. 2 land once occupied by this. [OE f.
ON topt]
tofu n. (esp. in China and Japan) a curd made from mashed soya
beans. [Jap. tofu f. Chin., = rotten beans]
tog(1) n. & v. colloq. --n. (usu. in pl.) an item of clothing.
--v.tr. & intr. (togged, togging) (foll. by out, up) dress,
esp. elaborately. [app. abbr. of 16th-c. cant togeman(s),
togman, f. F toge or L toga: see TOGA]
tog(2) n. a unit of thermal resistance used to express the insulating
properties of clothes and quilts. [arbitrary, prob. f. TOG(1)]
toga n. hist. an ancient Roman citizen's loose flowing outer
garment. togaed adj. (also toga'd). [L, rel. to tegere
cover]
together adv. & adj. --adv. 1 in company or conjunction (walking
together; built it together; were at school together). 2
simultaneously; at the same time (both shouted together). 3 one
with another (were talking together). 4 into conjunction; so as
to unite (tied them together; put two and two together). 5 into
company or companionship (came together in friendship). 6
uninterruptedly (could talk for hours together). --adj.
colloq. well organized or controlled. together with as well
as; and also. [OE togdere f. TO + gdre together: cf.
GATHER]
togetherness
n. 1 the condition of being together. 2 a feeling of comfort
from being together.
toggery n. colloq. clothes, togs.
toggle n. & v. --n. 1 a device for fastening (esp. a garment),
consisting of a crosspiece which can pass through a hole or loop
in one position but not in another. 2 a pin or other crosspiece
put through the eye of a rope, a link of a chain, etc., to keep
it in place. 3 a pivoted barb on a harpoon. 4 Computing a
switch action that is operated the same way but with opposite
effect on successive occasions. --v.tr. provide or fasten with
a toggle. toggle joint a device for exerting pressure along
two jointed rods by applying a transverse force at the joint.
toggle switch an electric switch with a projecting lever to be
moved usu. up and down. [18th-c. Naut.: orig. unkn.]
Togolese adj. & n. --adj. of or relating to Togo in W. Africa. --n.
(pl. same) 1 a native or national of Togo. 2 a person of
Togolese descent.
toil v. & n. --v.intr. 1 work laboriously or incessantly. 2 make
slow painful progress (toiled along the path). --n. prolonged
or intensive labour; drudgery. toil-worn worn or worn out by
toil. toiler n. [ME f. AF toiler (v.), toil (n.), dispute,
OF tooilier, tooil, f. L tudiculare stir about f. tudicula
machine for bruising olives, rel. to tundere beat]
toile n. 1 cloth esp. for garments. 2 a garment reproduced in muslin
or other cheap material for fitting or for making copies. [F
toile cloth f. L tela web]
toilet n. 1 = LAVATORY. 2 the process of washing oneself, dressing,
etc. (make one's toilet). 3 the cleansing of part of the body
after an operation or at the time of childbirth. toilet paper
(or tissue) paper for cleaning oneself after excreting. toilet
roll a roll of toilet paper. toilet set a set of hairbrushes,
combs, etc. toilet soap soap for washing oneself. toilet table
a dressing-table usu. with a mirror. toilet-train cause (a
young child) to undergo toilet-training. toilet-training the
training of a young child to use the lavatory. toilet water a
dilute form of perfume used after washing. [F toilette cloth,
wrapper, dimin. f. toile: see TOILE]
toiletry n. (pl. -ies) (usu. in pl.) any of various articles or
cosmetics used in washing, dressing, etc.
toilette n. = TOILET 2. [F: see TOILET]
toils n.pl. a net or snare. [pl. of toil f. OF toile cloth f. L tela
web]
toilsome adj. involving toil; laborious. toilsomely adv.
toilsomeness n.
toing and froing
n. constant movement to and fro; bustle; dispersed activity.
[TO adv. + FRO + -ING(1)]
Tokay n. 1 a sweet aromatic wine made near Tokaj in Hungary. 2 a
similar wine produced elsewhere.
token n. & adj. --n. 1 a thing serving as a symbol, reminder, or
distinctive mark of something (as a token of affection; in token
of my esteem). 2 a thing serving as evidence of authenticity or
as a guarantee. 3 a voucher exchangeable for goods (often of a
specified kind), given as a gift. 4 anything used to represent
something else, esp. a metal disc etc. used instead of money in
coin-operated machines etc. 5 (attrib.) a nominal or
perfunctory (token effort). b conducted briefly to demonstrate
strength of feeling (token resistance; token strike). c serving
to acknowledge a principle only (token payment). d chosen by
way of tokenism to represent a particular group (the token woman
on the committee). by this (or the same) token 1 similarly. 2
moreover. token money coins having a higher face value than
their worth as metal. token vote a parliamentary vote of money,
the stipulated amount of which is not meant to be binding. [OE
tac(e)n f. Gmc, rel. to TEACH]
tokenism n. 1 esp. Polit. the principle or practice of granting minimum
concessions, esp. to appease radical demands etc. (cf. TOKEN
5d). 2 making only a token effort.
tolbooth var. of TOLLBOOTH.
told past and past part. of TELL(1).
Toledo n. (pl. -os) a fine sword or sword-blade made in Toledo in
Spain.
tolerable adj. 1 able to be endured. 2 fairly good; mediocre.
tolerability n. tolerableness n. tolerably adv. [ME f. OF
f. L tolerabilis (as TOLERATE)]
tolerance n. 1 a willingness or ability to tolerate; forbearance. 2 the
capacity to tolerate. 3 an allowable variation in any
measurable property. 4 the ability to tolerate the effects of a
drug etc. after continued use. [ME f. OF f. L tolerantia (as
TOLERATE)]
tolerant adj. 1 disposed or accustomed to tolerate others or their acts
or opinions. 2 (foll. by of) enduring or patient. tolerantly
adv. [F tolrant f. L tolerare (as TOLERATE)]
tolerate v.tr. 1 allow the existence or occurrence of without
authoritative interference. 2 leave unmolested. 3 endure or
permit, esp. with forbearance. 4 sustain or endure (suffering
etc.). 5 be capable of continued subjection to (a drug,
radiation, etc.) without harm. 6 find or treat as endurable.
tolerator n. [L tolerare tolerat- endure]
toleration
n. the process or practice of tolerating, esp. the allowing of
differences in religious opinion without discrimination. [F
tolration f. L toleratio (as TOLERATE)]
toll(1) n. 1 a charge payable for permission to pass a barrier or use a
bridge or road etc. 2 the cost or damage caused by a disaster,
battle, etc., or incurred in an achievement (death toll). 3 US
a charge for a long distance telephone call. take its toll be
accompanied by loss or injury etc. toll-bridge a bridge at
which a toll is charged. toll-gate a gate preventing passage
until a toll is paid. toll-house a house at a toll-gate or
-bridge, used by a toll-collector. toll-road a road maintained
by the tolls collected on it. [OE f. med.L toloneum f. LL
teloneum f. Gk telonion toll-house f. telos tax]
toll(2) v. & n. --v. 1 a intr. (of a bell) sound with a slow uniform
succession of strokes. b tr. ring (a bell) in this way. c tr.
(of a bell) announce or mark (a death etc.) in this way. 2 tr.
strike (the hour). --n. 1 the act of tolling. 2 a stroke of a
bell. [ME, special use of (now dial.) toll entice, pull, f. an
OE root -tyllan (recorded in fortyllan seduce)]
tollbooth n. (also tolbooth) 1 a booth at the roadside from which tolls
are collected. 2 Sc. archaic a town hall. 3 Sc. archaic a
town gaol.
Toltec n. 1 a member of an American Indian people that flourished in
Mexico before the Aztecs. 2 the language of this people.
Toltecan adj. [Amer. Ind.]
tolu n. a fragrant brown balsam obtained from either of two South
American trees, Myroxylon balsamum or M. toluifera, and used in
perfumery and medicine. [Santiago de Tolu in Colombia]
toluene n. a colourless aromatic liquid hydrocarbon derivative of
benzene, orig. obtained from tolu, used in the manufacture of
explosives etc. Also called methyl benzene. toluic adj.
toluol n. [TOLU + -ENE]
tom n. a male of various animals, esp. (in full tom-cat) a male
cat. [abbr. of the name Thomas]
tomahawk n. & v. --n. 1 a N. American Indian war-axe with a stone or
iron head. 2 Austral. a hatchet. --v.tr. strike, cut, or kill
with a tomahawk. [Renape tmhak f. tmham he etc. cuts]
tomato n. (pl. -oes) 1 a glossy red or yellow pulpy edible fruit. 2
a solanaceous plant, Lycopersicon esculentum, bearing this.
tomatoey adj. [17th-c. tomate, = F or Sp. & Port., f. Mex.
tomatl]
tomb n. 1 a large esp. underground vault for the burial of the dead.
2 an enclosure cut in the earth or in rock to receive a dead
body. 3 a sepulchral monument. 4 (prec. by the) the state of
death. [ME t(o)umbe f. AF tumbe, OF tombe f. LL tumba f. Gk
tumbos]
tombac n. an alloy of copper and zinc used esp. as material for cheap
jewellery. [F f. Malay tambaga copper]
tombola n. Brit. a kind of lottery with tickets usu. drawn from a
turning drum-shaped container, esp. at a fte or fair. [F
tombola or It. f. tombolare tumble]
tombolo n. (pl. -os) a spit joining an island to the mainland. [It.,
= sand-dune]
tomboy n. a girl who behaves in a rough boyish way. tomboyish adj.
tomboyishness n.
tombstone n. a stone standing or laid over a grave, usu. with an epitaph.
Tom Collins
n. an iced cocktail of gin with soda, lemon or lime juice, and
sugar. [20th c.: orig. unkn.]
Tom, Dick, and Harry
n. (usu. prec. by any, every) usu. derog. ordinary people
taken at random.
tome n. a large heavy book or volume. [F f. L tomus f. Gk tomos
section, volume f. temno cut]
-tome comb. form forming nouns meaning: 1 an instrument for cutting
(microtome). 2 a section or segment. [Gk tome a cutting,
-tomos -cutting, f. temno cut]
tomentum n. (pl. tomenta) 1 Bot. matted woolly down on stems and
leaves. 2 Anat. the tufted inner surface of the pia mater in
the brain. tomentose adj. tomentous adj. [L, =
cushion-stuffing]
tomfool n. 1 a foolish person. 2 (attrib.) silly, foolish (a tomfool
idea).
tomfoolery
n. (pl. -ies) 1 foolish behaviour; nonsense. 2 an instance of
this.
Tommy n. (pl. -ies) colloq. a British private soldier. [Tommy
(Thomas) Atkins, a name used in specimens of completed official
forms]
tommy-bar n. a short bar for use with a box spanner.
tommy-gun n. a type of sub-machine-gun. [J. T. Thompson, US Army
officer d. 1940, its co-inventor]
tommy-rot n. sl. nonsense.
tomogram n. a record obtained by tomography.
tomography
n. a method of radiography displaying details in a selected
plane within the body. [Gk tome a cutting + -GRAPHY]
tomorrow adv. & n. --adv. 1 on the day after today. 2 at some future
time. --n. 1 the day after today. 2 the near future.
tomorrow morning (or afternoon etc.) in the morning (or
afternoon etc.) of tomorrow. tomorrow week a week from
tomorrow. [TO + MORROW: cf. TODAY]
tompion var. of TAMPION.
Tom Thumb n. 1 a dwarf or midget. 2 a dwarf variety of various plants.
[the name of a tiny person in fairy stories]
tomtit n. a tit, esp. a blue tit.
tom-tom n. 1 a primitive drum beaten with the hands. 2 a tall drum
beaten with the hands and used in jazz bands etc. [Hindi
tamtam, imit.]
-tomy comb. form forming nouns denoting cutting, esp. in surgery
(laparotomy). [Gk - tomia cutting f. temno cut]
ton(1) n. 1 (in full long ton) a unit of weight equal to 2,240 lb.
avoirdupois (1016.05 kg). 2 (in full short ton) a unit of
weight equal to 2,000 lb. avoirdupois (907.19 kg). 3 (in full
metric ton) = TONNE. 4 a (in full displacement ton) a unit of
measurement of a ship's weight or volume in terms of its
displacement of water with the loadline just immersed, equal to
2,240 lb. or 35 cu. ft. (0.99 cubic metres). b (in full freight
ton) a unit of weight or volume of cargo, equal to a metric ton
(1,000 kg) or 40 cu. ft. 5 a (in full gross ton) a unit of
gross internal capacity, equal to 100 cu. ft. (2.83 cubic
metres). b (in full net or register ton) an equivalent unit of
net internal capacity. 6 a unit of refrigerating power able to
freeze 2,000 lb. of ice at 0C in 24 hours. 7 a measure of
capacity for various materials, esp. 40 cu. ft. of timber. 8
(usu. in pl.) colloq. a large number or amount (tons of money).
9 esp. Brit. sl. a a speed of 100 m.p.h. b a sum of 100. c
a score of 100. ton-mile one ton of goods carried one mile, as
a unit of traffic. ton-up Brit. sl. n. a speed of 100 m.p.h.
--attrib.adj. 1 (of a motor cyclist) achieving this, esp.
habitually and recklessly (ton-up kid). 2 fond or capable of
travelling at high speed. weigh a ton colloq. be very heavy.
[orig. the same word as TUN: differentiated in the 17th c.]
ton(2) n. 1 a prevailing mode or fashion. 2 fashionable society. [F]
tonal adj. 1 of or relating to tone or tonality. 2 (of a fugue etc.)
having repetitions of the subject at different pitches in the
same key. tonally adv. [med.L tonalis (as TONE)]
tonality n. (pl. -ies) 1 Mus. a the relationship between the tones of
a musical scale. b the observance of a single tonic key as the
basis of a composition. 2 the tone or colour scheme of a
picture.
tondo n. (pl. tondi) a circular painting or relief. [It., = round
(plate), f. rotondo f. L rotundus round]
tone n. & v. --n. 1 a musical or vocal sound, esp. with reference
to its pitch, quality, and strength. 2 (often in pl.)
modulation of the voice expressing a particular feeling or mood
(a cheerful tone; suspicious tones). 3 a manner of expression
in writing. 4 Mus. a a musical sound, esp. of a definite pitch
and character. b an interval of a major second, e.g. C-D. 5 a
the general effect of colour or of light and shade in a picture.
b the tint or shade of a colour. 6 a the prevailing character
of the morals and sentiments etc. in a group. b an attitude or
sentiment expressed esp. in a letter etc. 7 the proper firmness
of bodily organs. 8 a state of good or specified health or
quality. 9 Phonet. a an accent on one syllable of a word. b a
way of pronouncing a word to distinguish it from others of a
similar sound (Mandarin Chinese has four tones). --v. 1 tr.
give the desired tone to. 2 tr. modify the tone of. 3 intr.
(often foll. by to) attune. 4 intr. (foll. by with) be in
harmony (esp. of colour) (does not tone with the wallpaper). 5
tr. Photog. give (a monochrome picture) an altered colour in
finishing by means of a chemical solution. 6 intr. undergo a
change in colour by toning. tone-arm the movable arm
supporting the pick-up of a record-player. tone control a
switch for varying the proportion of high and low frequencies in
reproduced sound. tone-deaf unable to perceive differences of
musical pitch accurately. tone-deafness the condition of being
tone-deaf. tone down 1 make or become softer in tone of sound
or colour. 2 make (a statement etc.) less harsh or emphatic.
tone poem = symphonic poem. tone-row = SERIES 8. tone up 1
make or become stronger in tone of sound or colour. 2 make (a
statement etc.) more emphatic. whole-tone scale see WHOLE.
toneless adj. tonelessly adv. toner n. [ME f. OF ton or L
tonus f. Gk tonos tension, tone f. teino stretch]
toneburst n. an audio signal used in testing the transient response of
audio components.
toneme n. a phoneme distinguished from another only by its tone.
tonemic adj. [TONE after phoneme]
tong n. a Chinese guild, association, or secret society. [Chin.
tang meeting-place]
tonga n. a light horse-drawn two-wheeled vehicle used in India.
[Hindi tanga]
tongs n.pl. (also pair of tongs sing.) an instrument with two hinged
or sprung arms for grasping and holding. [pl. of tong f. OE
tang(e) f. Gmc]
tongue n. & v. --n. 1 the fleshy muscular organ in the mouth used in
tasting, licking, and swallowing, and (in man) for speech. 2
the tongue of an ox etc. as food. 3 the faculty of or a
tendency in speech (a sharp tongue). 4 a particular language
(the German tongue). 5 a thing like a tongue in shape or
position, esp.: a a long low promontory. b a strip of leather
etc., attached at one end only, under the laces in a shoe. c
the clapper of a bell. d the pin of a buckle. e the projecting
strip on a wooden etc. board fitting into the groove of another.
f a vibrating slip in the reed of some musical instruments. g a
jet of flame. --v. (tongues, tongued, tonguing) 1 tr. produce
staccato etc. effects with (a flute etc.) by means of tonguing.
2 intr. use the tongue in this way. find (or lose) one's
tongue be able (or unable) to express oneself after a shock etc.
the gift of tongues the power of speaking in unknown languages,
regarded as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2). keep
a civil tongue in one's head avoid rudeness. tongue-and-groove
applied to boards in which a tongue along one edge fits into a
groove along the edge of the next, each board having a tongue on
one edge and a groove on the other. tongue-in-cheek adj.
ironic; slyly humorous. --adv. insincerely or ironically.
tongue-lashing a severe scolding or reprimand. tongue-tie a
speech impediment due to a malformation of the tongue.
tongue-tied 1 too shy or embarrassed to speak. 2 having a
tongue-tie. tongue-twister a sequence of words difficult to
pronounce quickly and correctly. with one's tongue hanging out
eagerly or expectantly. with one's tongue in one's cheek
insincerely or ironically. tongued adj. (also in comb.).
tongueless adj. [OE tunge f. Gmc, rel. to L lingua]
tonguing n. Mus. the technique of playing a wind instrument using the
tongue to articulate certain notes.
tonic n. & adj. --n. 1 an invigorating medicine. 2 anything serving
to invigorate. 3 = tonic water. 4 Mus. the first degree of a
scale, forming the keynote of a piece (see KEYNOTE 3). --adj.
1 serving as a tonic; invigorating. 2 Mus. denoting the first
degree of a scale. 3 a producing tension, esp. of the muscles.
b restoring normal tone to organs. tonic accent an accent
marked by a change of pitch within a syllable. tonic sol-fa
Mus. a system of notation used esp. in teaching singing, with
doh as the keynote of all major keys and lah as the keynote of
all minor keys. tonic spasm continuous muscular contraction
(cf. CLONUS). tonic water a carbonated mineral water
containing quinine. tonically adv. [F tonique f. Gk tonikos
(as TONE)]
tonicity n. 1 the state of being tonic. 2 a healthy elasticity of
muscles etc.
tonight adv. & n. --adv. on the present or approaching evening or
night. --n. the evening or night of the present day. [TO +
NIGHT: cf. TODAY]
tonka bean
n. the black fragrant seed of a South American tree, Dipteryx
odorata, used in perfumery etc. [tonka, its name in Guyana, +
BEAN]
tonnage n. 1 a ship's internal cubic capacity or freight-carrying
capacity measured in tons. 2 the total carrying capacity esp.
of a country's mercantile marine. 3 a charge per ton on freight
or cargo. [orig. in sense 'duty on a tun of wine': OF tonnage
f. tonne TUN: later f. TON(1)]
tonne n. a metric ton equal to 1,000 kg. [F: see TUN]
tonneau n. the part of a motor car occupied by the back seats, esp. in
an open car. tonneau cover a removable flexible cover for the
passenger seats in an open car, boat, etc., when they are not in
use. [F, lit. cask, tun]
tonometer n. 1 a tuning-fork or other instrument for measuring the pitch
of tones. 2 an instrument for measuring the pressure of fluid.
[formed as TONE + -METER]
tonsil n. either of two small masses of lymphoid tissue on each side
of the root of the tongue. tonsillar adj. [F tonsilles or L
tonsillae (pl.)]
tonsillectomy
n. (pl. -ies) the surgical removal of the tonsils.
tonsillitis
n. inflammation of the tonsils.
tonsorial adj. usu. joc. of or relating to a hairdresser or
hairdressing. [L tonsorius f. tonsor barber f. tondere tons-
shave]
tonsure n. & v. --n. 1 the shaving of the crown of the head or the
entire head, esp. of a person entering a priesthood or monastic
order. 2 a bare patch made in this way. --v.tr. give a tonsure
to. [ME f. OF tonsure or L tonsura (as TONSORIAL)]
tontine n. an annuity shared by subscribers to a loan, the shares
increasing as subscribers die until the last survivor gets all,
or until a specified date when the remaining survivors share the
proceeds. [F, f. the name of Lorenzo Tonti of Naples,
originator of tontines in France c. 1653]
tony adj. (tonier, toniest) US colloq. having 'tone'; stylish,
fashionable.
too adv. 1 to a greater extent than is desirable, permissible, or
possible for a specified or understood purpose (too colourful
for my taste; too large to fit). 2 colloq. extremely (you're
too kind). 3 in addition (are they coming too?). 4 moreover
(we must consider, too, the time of year). none too 1 rather
less than (feeling none too good). 2 barely. too bad see BAD.
too much, too much for see MUCH. too right see RIGHT. too-too
adj. & adv. colloq. extreme, excessive(ly). [stressed form of
TO, f. 16th-c. spelling too]
took past of TAKE.
tool n. & v. --n. 1 any device or implement used to carry out
mechanical functions whether manually or by a machine. 2 a
thing used in an occupation or pursuit (the tools of one's
trade; literary tools). 3 a person used as a mere instrument by
another. 4 coarse sl. the penis. Usually considered a taboo
use. 5 a a distinct figure in the tooling of a book. b a small
stamp or roller used to make this. --v.tr. 1 dress (stone)
with a chisel. 2 impress a design on (a leather book-cover). 3
(foll. by along, around, etc.) sl. drive or ride, esp. in a
casual or leisurely manner. 4 (often foll. by up) equip with
tools. tool-box a box or container for keeping tools in.
tool-pusher a worker directing the drilling on an oil rig. tool
up 1 sl. arm oneself. 2 equip oneself. tooler n. [OE tol f.
Gmc]
tooling n. 1 the process of dressing stone with a chisel. 2 the
ornamentation of a book-cover with designs impressed by heated
tools.
toolmaker n. a person who makes precision tools, esp. tools used in a
press. toolmaking n.
toot(1) n. & v. --n. 1 a short sharp sound as made by a horn, trumpet,
or whistle. 2 US sl. cocaine or a snort (see SNORT n. 4) of
cocaine. --v. 1 tr. sound (a horn etc.) with a short sharp
sound. 2 intr. give out such a sound. tooter n. [prob. f.
MLG tuten, or imit.]
toot(2) n. Austral. sl. a lavatory. [20th c.: orig. unkn.]
tooth n. & v. --n. (pl. teeth) 1 each of a set of hard bony
enamel-coated structures in the jaws of most vertebrates, used
for biting and chewing. 2 a toothlike part or projection, e.g.
the cog of a gearwheel, the point of a saw or comb, etc. 3
(often foll. by for) one's sense of taste; an appetite or
liking. 4 (in pl.) force or effectiveness (the penalties give
the contract teeth). --v. 1 tr. provide with teeth. 2 intr.
(of cog-wheels) engage, interlock. armed to the teeth
completely and elaborately armed or equipped. fight tooth and
nail fight very fiercely. get one's teeth into devote oneself
seriously to. in the teeth of 1 in spite of (opposition or
difficulty etc.). 2 contrary to (instructions etc.). 3
directly against (the wind etc.). set a person's teeth on edge
see EDGE. tooth-billed (of a bird) having toothlike projections
on the cutting edges of the bill. tooth-comb = fine-tooth comb
(see FINE(1)). tooth powder powder for cleaning the teeth.
tooth shell = tusk shell. toothed adj. (also in comb.).
toothless adj. toothlike adj. [OE toth (pl. teth) f. Gmc]
toothache n. a (usu. prolonged) pain in a tooth or teeth.
toothbrush
n. a brush for cleaning the teeth.
toothing n. projecting bricks or stones left at the end of a wall to
allow its continuation.
toothpaste
n. a paste for cleaning the teeth.
toothpick n. a small sharp instrument for removing small pieces of food
lodged between the teeth.
toothsome adj. (of food) delicious, appetizing. toothsomely adv.
toothsomeness n.
toothwort n. a parasitic plant, Lathraea squamaria, with toothlike root
scales.
toothy adj. (toothier, toothiest) having or showing large, numerous,
or prominent teeth (a toothy grin). toothily adv.
tootle v.intr. 1 toot gently or repeatedly. 2 (usu. foll. by along,
around, etc.) colloq. move casually or aimlessly. tootler n.
tootsy n. (also tootsie) (pl. -ies) sl. usu. joc. a foot. [E joc.
dimin.: cf. FOOTSIE]
top(1) n., adj., & v. --n. 1 the highest point or part (the top of
the house). 2 a the highest rank or place (at the top of the
school). b a person occupying this (was top in maths). c the
upper end or head (the top of the table). 3 the upper surface
of a thing, esp. of the ground, a table, etc. 4 the upper part
of a thing, esp.: a a blouse, jumper, etc. for wearing with a
skirt or trousers. b the upper part of a shoe or boot. c the
stopper of a bottle. d the lid of a jar, saucepan, etc. e the
creamy part of milk. f the folding roof of a car, pram, or
carriage. g the upper edge or edges of a page or pages in a
book (gilt top). 5 the utmost degree; height (called at the top
of his voice). 6 (in pl.) colloq. a person or thing of the best
quality (he's tops at cricket). 7 (esp. in pl.) the leaves etc.
of a plant grown esp. for its root (turnip-tops). 8 (usu. in
pl.) a bundle of long wool fibres prepared for spinning. 9
Naut. a platform round the head of the lower mast, serving to
extend the topmost rigging or carry guns. 10 (in pl.) esp.
Bridge the two or three highest cards of a suit. 11 Brit. = top
gear (climbed the hill in top). 12 = TOPSPIN. --adj. 1
highest in position (the top shelf). 2 highest in degree or
importance (at top speed; the top job). --v.tr. (topped,
topping) 1 provide with a top, cap, etc. (cake topped with
icing). 2 remove the top of (a plant, fruit, etc.), esp. to
improve growth, prepare for cooking, etc. 3 be higher or better
than; surpass; be at the top of (topped the list). 4 sl. a
execute esp. by hanging, kill. b (refl.) commit suicide. 5
reach the top of (a hill etc.). 6 Golf a hit (a ball) above the
centre. b make (a stroke) in this way. at the top (or at the
top of the tree) in the highest rank of a profession etc. come
to the top win distinction. from top to toe from head to foot;
completely. off the top of one's head see HEAD. on top 1 in a
superior position; above. 2 on the upper part of the head (bald
on top). on top of 1 fully in command of. 2 in close proximity
to. 3 in addition to. on top of the world colloq. exuberant.
over the top 1 over the parapet of a trench (and into battle).
2 into a final or decisive state. 3 to excess, beyond
reasonable limits (that joke was over the top). top-boot esp.
hist. a boot with a high top esp. of a different material or
colour. top brass esp. Mil. colloq. the highest-ranking
officers, heads of industries, etc. top copy the uppermost
typed copy (cf. carbon copy). top dog colloq. a victor or
master. top drawer 1 the uppermost drawer in a chest etc. 2
colloq. high social position or origin. top-dress apply manure
or fertilizer on the top of (earth) instead of ploughing it in.
top-dressing 1 this process. 2 manure so applied. 3 a
superficial show. top-flight in the highest rank of
achievement. top fruit Brit. fruit grown on trees, not bushes.
top gear Brit. the highest gear in a motor vehicle or bicycle.
top-hamper an encumbrance on top, esp. the upper sails and
rigging of a ship. top hat a man's tall silk hat. top-hole
Brit. colloq. first-rate. top-level of the highest level of
importance, prestige, etc. top-notch colloq. first-rate.
top-notcher colloq. a first-rate person or thing. top off (or
up) put an end or the finishing touch to (a thing). top out put
the highest stone on (a building). top one's part esp. Theatr.
act or discharge one's part to perfection. top-sawyer 1 a
sawyer in the upper position in a saw-pit. 2 a person who holds
a superior position; a distinguished person. top secret of the
highest secrecy. top ten (or twenty etc.) the first ten (or
twenty etc.) gramophone records in the charts. top up esp.
Brit. 1 a complete (an amount or number). b fill up (a glass
or other partly full container). 2 top up something for (a
person) (may I top you up with sherry?). top-up n. an
addition; something that serves to top up (esp. a partly full
glass). topmost adj. [OE topp]
top(2) n. a wooden or metal toy, usu. conical, spherical, or
pear-shaped, spinning on a point when set in motion by hand,
string, etc. [OE, of uncert. orig.]
topaz n. 1 a transparent or translucent aluminium silicate mineral,
usu. yellow, used as a gem. 2 any South American humming-bird
of the genus Topaza. [ME f. OF topace, topaze f. L topazus f.
Gk topazos]
topazolite
n. a yellow or green kind of garnet. [TOPAZ + -LITE]
topcoat n. 1 an overcoat. 2 an outer coat of paint etc.
tope(1) v.intr. archaic or literary drink alcohol to excess, esp.
habitually. toper n. [perh. f. obs. top quaff]
tope(2) n. Ind. a grove, esp. of mangoes. [Telugu topu, Tamil toppu]
tope(3) n. = STUPA. [Punjab top f. Prakrit & Pali thupo f. Skr.
STUPA]
tope(4) n. a small shark, Galeorhinus galeus. [perh. f. Corn.]
topee var. of TOPI.
topgallant
n. Naut. the mast, sail, yard, or rigging immediately above
the topmast and topsail.
top-heavy adj. 1 disproportionately heavy at the top so as to be in
danger of toppling. 2 a (of an organization, business, etc.)
having a disproportionately large number of people in senior
administrative positions. b overcapitalized. 3 colloq. (of a
woman) having a disproportionately large bust. top-heavily
adv. top-heaviness n.
Tophet n. Bibl. hell. [name of a place in the Valley of Hinnom near
Jerusalem used for idolatrous worship and later for burning
refuse: f. Heb. topet]
tophus n. (pl. tophi) 1 Med. a gouty deposit of crystalline uric acid
and other substances at the surface of joints. 2 Geol. = TUFA.
[L, name of loose porous stones]
topi n. (also topee) (pl. topis or topees) Anglo-Ind. a hat, esp.
a sola topi. [Hindi topi]
topiary adj. & n. --adj. concerned with or formed by clipping shrubs,
trees, etc. into ornamental shapes. --n. (pl. -ies) 1 topiary
art. 2 an example of this. topiarian adj. topiarist n. [F
topiaire f. L topiarius landscape-gardener f. topia opera fancy
gardening f. Gk topia pl. dimin. of topos place]
topic n. 1 a theme for a book, discourse, essay, sermon, etc. 2 the
subject of a conversation or argument. [L topica f. Gk (ta)
topika topics, as title of a treatise by Aristotle f. topos a
place, a commonplace]
topical adj. 1 dealing with the news, current affairs, etc. (a topical
song). 2 dealing with a place; local. 3 Med. (of an ailment,
medicine, etc.) affecting a part of the body. 4 of or
concerning topics. topicality n. topically adv.
topknot n. a knot, tuft, crest, or bow of ribbon, worn or growing on
the head.
topless adj. 1 without or seeming to be without a top. 2 a (of
clothes) having no upper part. b (of a person) wearing such
clothes; bare-breasted. c (of a place, esp. a beach) where
women go topless. toplessness n.
toplofty adj. US colloq. haughty.
topman n. (pl. -men) 1 a top-sawyer. 2 Naut. a man doing duty in a
top.
topmast n. Naut. the mast next above the lower mast.
topography
n. 1 a a detailed description, representation on a map, etc.,
of the natural and artificial features of a town, district, etc.
b such features. 2 Anat. the mapping of the surface of the body
with reference to the parts beneath. topographer n.
topographic adj. topographical adj. topographically adv. [ME
f. LL topographia f. Gk f. topos place]
topoi pl. of TOPOS.
topology n. Math. the study of geometrical properties and spatial
relations unaffected by the continuous change of shape or size
of figures. topological adj. topologically adv. topologist
n. [G Topologie f. Gk topos place]
toponym n. 1 a place-name. 2 a descriptive place-name, usu. derived
from a topographical feature of the place. [TOPONYMY]
toponymy n. the study of the place-names of a region. toponymic adj.
[Gk topos place + onoma name]
topos n. (pl. topoi) a stock theme in literature etc. [Gk, =
commonplace]
topper n. 1 a thing that tops. 2 colloq. = top hat (see TOP(1)). 3
colloq. a good fellow; a good sort.
topping adj. & n. --adj. 1 pre-eminent in position, rank, etc. 2
Brit. archaic sl. excellent. --n. anything that tops something
else, esp. icing etc. on a cake.
topple v.intr. & tr. (usu. foll. by over, down) 1 fall or cause to
fall as if top-heavy. 2 totter or cause to totter and fall.
[TOP(1) + -LE(4)]
topsail n. a square sail next above the lowest fore-and-aft sail on a
gaff.
topside n. 1 Brit. the outer side of a round of beef. 2 the side of a
ship above the water-line.
topsoil n. the top layer of soil (opp. SUBSOIL).
topspin n. a fast forward spinning motion imparted to a ball in tennis
etc. by hitting it forward and upward.
topsy-turvy
adv., adj., & n. --adv. & adj. 1 upside down. 2 in utter
confusion. --n. utter confusion. topsy-turvily adv.
topsy-turviness n. [app. f. TOP(1) + obs. terve overturn]
toque n. 1 a woman's small brimless hat. 2 hist. a small cap or
bonnet for a man or woman. [F, app. = It. tocca, Sp. toca, of
unkn. orig.]
toquilla n. 1 a palmlike tree, Carludovica palmata, native to S.
America. 2 a fibre produced from the leaves of this. [Sp., =
small gauze head-dress, dimin. of toca toque]
tor n. a hill or rocky peak, esp. in Devon or Cornwall. [OE torr:
cf. Gael. trr bulging hill]
Torah n. 1 (usu. prec. by the) a the Pentateuch. b a scroll
containing this. 2 the will of God as revealed in Mosaic law.
[Heb. torah instruction]
torc var. of TORQUE 1.
torch n. & v. --n. 1 (also electric torch) Brit. a portable
battery-powered electric lamp. 2 a a piece of wood, cloth,
etc., soaked in tallow and lighted for illumination. b any
similar lamp, e.g. an oil-lamp on a pole. 3 a source of heat,
illumination, or enlightenment (bore aloft the torch of
freedom). 4 esp. US a blowlamp. 5 US sl. an arsonist.
--v.tr. esp. US sl. set alight with a torch. carry a torch
for suffer from unrequited love for. put to the torch destroy
by burning. torch-fishing catching fish by torchlight at night.
torch-race Gk Antiq. a festival performance of runners handing
lighted torches to others in relays. torch singer a woman who
sings torch songs. torch song a popular song of unrequited
love. torch-thistle any tall cactus of the genus Cereus, with
funnel-shaped flowers which open at night. [ME f. OF torche f.
L torqua f. torquere twist]
torchre n. a tall stand with a small table for a candlestick etc. [F
(as TORCH)]
torchlight
n. the light of a torch or torches.
torchon n. (in full torchon lace) coarse bobbin lace with geometrical
designs. [F, = duster, dishcloth f. torcher wipe]
tore(1) past of TEAR(1).
tore(2) n. = TORUS 1, 4. [F f. L torus: see TORUS]
toreador n. a bullfighter, esp. on horseback. toreador pants
close-fitting calf-length women's trousers. [Sp. f. torear
fight bulls f. toro bull f. L taurus]
torero n. (pl. -os) a bullfighter. [Sp. f. toro: see TOREADOR]
toreutic adj. & n. --adj. of or concerning the chasing, carving, and
embossing of esp. metal. --n. (in pl.) the art or practice of
this. [Gk toreutikos f. toreuo work in relief]
torgoch n. a kind of red-bellied char found in some Welsh lakes.
[Welsh f. tor belly + coch red]
tori pl. of TORUS.
toric adj. Geom. having the form of a torus or part of a torus.
torii n. (pl. same) the gateway of a Shinto shrine, with two uprights
and two crosspieces. [Jap.]
torment n. & v. --n. 1 severe physical or mental suffering (was in
torment). 2 a cause of this. 3 archaic a torture. b an
instrument of torture. --v.tr. 1 subject to torment (tormented
with worry). 2 tease or worry excessively (enjoyed tormenting
the teacher). tormentedly adv. tormentingly adv. tormentor
n. [ME f. OF torment, tormenter f. L tormentum missile-engine
f. torquere to twist]
tormentil n. a low-growing plant, Potentilla erecta, with bright yellow
flowers and a highly astringent rootstock used in medicine. [ME
f. OF tormentille f. med.L tormentilla, of unkn. orig.]
torn past part. of TEAR(1).
tornado n. (pl. -oes) 1 a violent storm of small extent with whirling
winds, esp.: a in West Africa at the beginning and end of the
rainy season. b in the US etc. over a narrow path often
accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud. 2 an outburst or volley
of cheers, hisses, missiles, etc. tornadic adj. [app. assim.
of Sp. tronada thunderstorm (f. tronar to thunder) to Sp.
tornar to turn]
toroid n. a figure of toroidal shape.
toroidal adj. Geom. of or resembling a torus. toroidally adv.
torose adj. 1 Bot. (of plants, esp. their stalks) cylindrical with
bulges at intervals. 2 Zool. knobby. [L torosus f. torus: see
TORUS]
torpedo n. & v. --n. (pl. -oes) 1 a a cigar-shaped self-propelled
underwater missile that explodes on impact with a ship. b (in
full aerial torpedo) a similar device dropped from an aircraft.
2 Zool. an electric ray. 3 US an explosive device or firework.
--v.tr. (-oes, -oed) 1 destroy or attack with a torpedo. 2
make (a policy, institution, plan, etc.) ineffective or
inoperative; destroy. torpedo-boat a small fast lightly armed
warship for carrying or discharging torpedoes. torpedo-net (or
-netting) netting of steel wire hung round a ship to intercept
torpedoes. torpedo-tube a tube from which torpedoes are fired.
torpedo-like adj. [L, = numbness, electric ray f. torpere be
numb]
torpefy v.tr. (-ies, -ied) make numb or torpid. [L torpefacere f.
torpere be numb]
torpid adj. 1 sluggish, inactive, dull, apathetic. 2 numb. 3 (of a
hibernating animal) dormant. torpidity n. torpidly adv.
torpidness n. [L torpidus (as TORPOR)]
torpor n. torpidity. torporific adj. [L f. torpere be sluggish]
torquate adj. Zool. (of an animal) with a ring of distinctive colour or
texture of hair or plumage round the neck. [L torquatus (as
TORQUE)]
torque n. 1 (also torc) hist. a necklace of twisted metal, esp. of the
ancient Gauls and Britons. 2 Mech. the moment of a system of
forces tending to cause rotation. torque converter a device to
transmit the correct torque from the engine to the axle in a
motor vehicle. [(sense 1 F f. L torques) f. L torquere to
twist]
torr n. (pl. same) a unit of pressure used in measuring partial
vacuums, equal to 133.32 pascals. [E. Torricelli, It.
physicist d. 1647]
torrefy v.tr. (-ies, -ied) 1 roast or dry (metallic ore, a drug, etc.).
2 parch or scorch with heat. torrefaction n. [F torrfier f.
L torrefacere f. torrere scorch]
torrent n. 1 a rushing stream of water, lava, etc. 2 (in pl.) a great
downpour of rain (came down in torrents). 3 (usu. foll. by of)
a violent or copious flow (uttered a torrent of abuse).
torrential adj. torrentially adv. [F f. It. torrente f. L
torrens -entis scorching, boiling, roaring f. torrere scorch]
Torricellian vacuum
n. a vacuum formed when mercury in a long tube closed at one
end is inverted with the open end in a reservoir of mercury (the
principle on which a barometer is made). [Torricelli: see TORR]
torrid adj. 1 a (of the weather) very hot and dry. b (of land etc.)
parched by such weather. 2 (of language or actions) emotionally
charged; passionate, intense. torrid zone the central belt of
the earth between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
torridity n. torridly adv. torridness n. [F torride or L
torridus f. torrere parch]
torse n. Heraldry a wreath. [obs. F torse, torce wreath ult. f. L
torta fem. past part. (as TORT)]
torsel var. of TASSEL(2).
torsion n. 1 twisting, esp. of one end of a body while the other is
held fixed. 2 Math. the extent to which a curve departs from
being planar. 3 Bot. the state of being twisted into a spiral.
4 Med. the twisting of the cut end of an artery after surgery
etc. to impede bleeding. torsion balance an instrument for
measuring very weak forces by their effect upon a system of fine
twisted wire. torsion bar a bar forming part of a vehicle
suspension, twisting in response to the motion of the wheels,
and absorbing their vertical movement. torsion pendulum a
pendulum working by rotation rather than by swinging.
torsional adj. torsionally adv. torsionless adj. [ME f. OF
f. LL torsio -onis f. L tortio (as TORT)]
torsk n. a fish of the cod family, Brosmius brosme, abundant in
northern waters and often dried for food. [Norw. to(r)sk f. ON
tho(r)skr prob. rel. to thurr dry]
torso n. (pl. -os) 1 the trunk of the human body. 2 a statue of a
human consisting of the trunk alone, without head or limbs. 3
an unfinished or mutilated work (esp. of art, literature, etc.).
[It., = stalk, stump, torso, f. L thyrsus]
tort n. Law a breach of duty (other than under contract) leading to
liability for damages. [ME f. OF f. med.L tortum wrong, neut.
past part. of L torquere tort- twist]
torte n. (pl. torten or tortes) an elaborate sweet cake or tart.
[G]
tortfeasor
n. Law a person guilty of tort. [OF tort-fesor, tort-faiseur,
etc. f. tort wrong, -fesor, faiseur doer]
torticollis
n. Med. a rheumatic etc. disease of the muscles of the neck,
causing twisting and stiffness. [mod.L f. L tortus crooked +
collum neck]
tortilla n. a thin flat orig. Mexican maize cake eaten hot or cold with
or without a filling. [Sp. dimin. of torta cake f. LL]
tortious adj. Law constituting a tort; wrongful. tortiously adv. [AF
torcious f. torcion extortion f. LL tortio torture: see
TORSION]
tortoise n. 1 any slow-moving land or freshwater reptile of the family
Testudinidae, encased in a scaly or leathery domed shell, and
having a retractile head and elephantine legs. 2 Rom. Antiq. =
TESTUDO. tortoise-like adj. & adv. [ME tortuce, OF tortue,
f. med.L tortuca, of uncert. orig.]
tortoiseshell
n. & adj. --n. 1 the yellowish-brown mottled or clouded outer
shell of some turtles, used for decorative hair-combs,
jewellery, etc. 2 a = tortoiseshell cat. b = tortoiseshell
butterfly. --adj. having the colouring or appearance of
tortoiseshell. tortoiseshell butterfly any of various
butterflies, esp. of the genus Aglais or Nymphalis, with wings
mottled like tortoiseshell. tortoiseshell cat a domestic cat
with markings resembling tortoiseshell.
tortrix n. any moth of the family Tortricidae, esp. Tortrix viridana,
the larvae of which live inside rolled leaves. [mod.L, fem. of
L tortor twister: see TORT]
tortuous adj. 1 full of twists and turns (followed a tortuous route). 2
devious, circuitous, crooked (has a tortuous mind).
tortuosity n. (pl. -ies). tortuously adv. tortuousness n.
[ME f. OF f. L tortuosus f. tortus a twist (as TORT)]
torture n. & v. --n. 1 the infliction of severe bodily pain esp. as a
punishment or a means of persuasion. 2 severe physical or
mental suffering (the torture of defeat). --v.tr. 1 subject to
torture (tortured by guilt). 2 force out of a natural position
or state; deform; pervert. torturable adj. torturer n.
torturous adj. torturously adv. [F f. LL tortura twisting (as
TORT)]
torula n. (pl. torulae) 1 a yeast, Candida utilis, used medicinally
as a food additive. 2 any yeast-like fungus of the genus
Torula, growing on dead vegetation. [mod.L, dimin. of torus:
see TORUS]
torus n. (pl. tori) 1 Archit. a large convex bun-shaped moulding
esp. as the lowest part of the base of a column. 2 Bot. the
receptacle of a flower. 3 Anat. a smooth ridge of bone or
muscle. 4 Geom. a surface or solid formed by rotating a closed
curve, esp. a circle, about a line in its plane but not
intersecting it. [L, = swelling, bulge, cushion, etc.]
Tory n. & adj. --n. (pl. -ies) 1 colloq. = CONSERVATIVE n. 2. 2
hist. a member of the party that opposed the exclusion of James
II and later supported the established religious and political
order and gave rise to the Conservative party (opp. WHIG). 3
US hist. a loyal colonist during the American Revolution.
--adj. colloq. = CONSERVATIVE adj. 3. Toryism n. [orig. =
Irish outlaw, prob. f. Ir. f. tir pursue]
tosh n. colloq. rubbish, nonsense. [19th c.: orig. unkn.]
toss v. & n. --v. 1 tr. throw up (a ball etc.) esp. with the hand.
2 tr. & intr. roll about, throw, or be thrown, restlessly or
from side to side (the ship tossed on the ocean; was tossing and
turning all night; tossed her head angrily). 3 tr. (usu. foll.
by to, away, aside, out, etc.) throw (a thing) lightly or
carelessly (tossed the letter away). 4 tr. a throw (a coin)
into the air to decide a choice etc. by the side on which it
lands. b (also absol.; often foll. by for) settle a question or
dispute with (a person) in this way (tossed him for the
armchair; tossed for it). 5 tr. a (of a bull etc.) throw (a
person etc.) up with the horns. b (of a horse etc.) throw (a
rider) off its back. 6 tr. coat (food) with dressing etc. by
shaking. 7 tr. bandy about in debate; discuss (tossed the
question back and forth). --n. 1 the act or an instance of
tossing (a coin, the head, etc.). 2 Brit. a fall, esp. from a
horse. toss one's head throw it back esp. in anger,
impatience, etc. tossing the caber the Scottish sport of
throwing a tree-trunk. toss oars raise oars to an upright
position in salute. toss off 1 drink off at a draught. 2
dispatch (work) rapidly or without effort (tossed off an
omelette). 3 Brit. coarse sl. masturbate. Usually considered
a taboo use in sense 3. toss a pancake throw it up so that it
flips on to the other side in the frying-pan. toss up toss a
coin to decide a choice etc. toss-up n. 1 a doubtful matter; a
close thing (it's a toss-up whether he wins). 2 the tossing of
a coin. [16th c.: orig. unkn.]
tosser n. 1 Brit. coarse sl. an unpleasant or contemptible person. 2
a person or thing that tosses.
tot(1) n. 1 a small child (a tiny tot). 2 a dram of liquor. [18th
c., of dial. orig.]
tot(2) v. & n. --v. (totted, totting) 1 tr. (usu. foll. by up) add
(figures etc.). 2 intr. (foll. by up) (of items) mount up.
--n. Brit. archaic a set of figures to be added. totting-up
1 the adding of separate items. 2 Brit. the adding of
convictions for driving offences to cause disqualification. tot
up to amount to. [abbr. of TOTAL or of L totum the whole]
tot(3) v. & n. Brit. sl. --v.intr. (totted, totting) collect
saleable items from refuse as an occupation. --n. an article
collected from refuse. [19th c.: orig. unkn.]
total adj., n., & v. --adj. 1 complete, comprising the whole (the
total number of people). 2 absolute, unqualified (in total
ignorance; total abstinence). --n. a total number or amount.
--v. (totalled, totalling; US totaled, totaling) 1 tr. a
amount in number to (they totalled 131). b find the total of
(things, a set of figures, etc.). 2 intr. (foll. by to, up to)
amount to, mount up to. 3 tr. US sl. wreck completely. total
abstinence abstaining completely from alcohol. total eclipse an
eclipse in which the whole disc (of the sun, moon, etc.) is
obscured. total internal reflection reflection without
refraction of a light-ray meeting the interface between two
media at more than a certain critical angle to the normal.
total recall the ability to remember every detail of one's
experience clearly. total war a war in which all available
weapons and resources are employed. totally adv. [ME f. OF
f. med.L totalis f. totus entire]
totalitarian
adj. & n. --adj. of or relating to a centralized dictatorial
form of government requiring complete subservience to the State.
--n. a person advocating such a system. totalitarianism n.
totality n. 1 the complete amount or sum. 2 Astron. the time during
which an eclipse is total.
totalizator
n. (also totalisator) 1 a device showing the number and amount
of bets staked on a race, to facilitate the division of the
total among those backing the winner. 2 a system of betting
based on this.
totalize v.tr. (also -ise) collect into a total; find the total of.
totalization n.
totalizer n. = TOTALIZATOR.
tote(1) n. sl. 1 a totalizator. 2 a lottery. [abbr.]
tote(2) v.tr. esp. US colloq. carry, convey, esp. a heavy load
(toting a gun). tote bag a woman's large bag for shopping etc.
tote box US a small container for goods. toter n. (also in
comb.). [17th-c. US, prob. of dial. orig.]
totem n. 1 a natural object, esp. an animal, adopted by North
American Indians as an emblem of a clan or an individual. 2 an
image of this. totem-pole 1 a pole on which totems are carved
or hung. 2 a hierarchy. totemic adj. totemism n. totemist
n. totemistic adj. [Algonquian]
tother adj. & pron. (also t'other) dial. or joc. the other. tell
tother from which joc. tell one from the other. [ME the
tother, for earlier thet other 'that other'; now understood as =
the other]
totter v. & n. --v.intr. 1 stand or walk unsteadily or feebly
(tottered out of the pub). 2 a (of a building etc.) shake or
rock as if about to collapse. b (of a system of government
etc.) be about to fall. --n. an unsteady or shaky movement or
gait. totterer n. tottery adj. [ME f. MDu. touteren to
swing]
toucan n. any tropical American fruit-eating bird of the family
Ramphastidae, with an immense beak and brightly coloured
plumage. [Tupi tucana, Guarani tuca]
touch v. & n. --v. 1 tr. come into or be in physical contact with
(another thing) at one or more points. 2 tr. (often foll. by
with) bring the hand etc. into contact with (touched her arm).
3 a intr. (of two things etc.) be in or come into contact with
one another (the balls were touching). b tr. bring (two things)
into mutual contact (they touched hands). 4 tr. rouse tender or
painful feelings in (was touched by his appeal). 5 tr. strike
lightly (just touched the wall with the back bumper). 6 tr.
(usu. with neg.) a disturb or harm (don't touch my things). b
have any dealings with (won't touch bricklaying). c consume;
use up; make use of (dare not touch alcohol; has not touched her
breakfast; need not touch your savings). d cope with; affect;
manage (soap won't touch this dirt). 7 tr. a deal with (a
subject) lightly or in passing (touched the matter of their
expenses). b concern (it touches you closely). 8 tr. a reach
or rise as far as, esp. momentarily (the thermometer touched
90). b (usu. with neg.) approach in excellence etc. (can't
touch him for style). 9 tr. affect slightly; modify (pity
touched with fear). 10 tr. (as touched adj.) slightly mad. 11
tr. (often foll. by in) esp. Art mark lightly, put in (features
etc.) with a brush, pencil, etc. 12 tr. a strike (the keys,
strings, etc. of a musical instrument). b strike the keys or
strings of (a piano etc.). 13 tr. (usu. foll. by for) sl. ask
for and get money etc. from (a person) as a loan or gift
(touched him for 5). 14 tr. injure slightly (blossom touched
by frost). 15 tr. Geom. be tangent to (a curve). --n. 1 the
act or an instance of touching, esp. with the body or hand (felt
a touch on my arm). 2 a the faculty of perception through
physical contact, esp. with the fingers (has no sense of touch
in her right arm). b the qualities of an object etc. as
perceived in this way (the soft touch of silk). 3 a small
amount; a slight trace (a touch of salt; a touch of irony). 4 a
a musician's manner of playing keys or strings. b the manner in
which the keys or strings respond to touch. c an artist's or
writer's style of workmanship, writing, etc. (has a delicate
touch). 5 a distinguishing quality or trait (a professional
touch). 6 (esp. in pl.) a a light stroke with a pen, pencil,
etc. b a slight alteration or improvement (speech needs a few
touches). 7 = TAG(2). 8 (prec. by a) slightly (is a touch too
arrogant). 9 sl. a the act of asking for and getting money
etc. from a person. b a person from whom money etc. is so
obtained. 10 Football the part of the field outside the side
limits. 11 archaic a test with or as if with a touchstone (put
it to the touch). at a touch if touched, however lightly
(opened at a touch). easy touch sl. a person who readily parts
with money. finishing touch (or touches) the final details
completing and enhancing a piece of work etc. get (or put) in
(or into) touch with come or cause to come into communication
with; contact. in touch (often foll. by with) 1 in
communication (we're still in touch after all these years). 2
up to date, esp. regarding news etc. (keeps in touch with
events). 3 aware, conscious, empathetic (not in touch with her
own feelings). keep in touch (often foll. by with) 1 remain
informed (kept in touch with the latest developments). 2
continue correspondence, a friendship, etc. lose touch (often
foll. by with) 1 cease to be informed. 2 cease to correspond
with or be in contact with another person. lose one's touch not
show one's customary skill. the Nelson touch a masterly or
sympathetic approach to a problem (from Horatio Nelson, Admiral
at Trafalgar). out of touch (often foll. by with) 1 not in
correspondence. 2 not up to date or modern. 3 lacking in
awareness or sympathy (out of touch with his son's beliefs).
personal touch a characteristic or individual approach to a
situation. soft touch = easy touch (see TOUCH). to the touch
when touched (was cold to the touch). touch-and-go uncertain
regarding a result; risky (it was touch-and-go whether we'd
catch the train). touch at (of a ship) call at (a port etc.).
touch bottom 1 reach the bottom of water with one's feet. 2 be
at the lowest or worst point. 3 be in possession of the full
facts. touch down 1 Rugby Football & Amer. Football touch the
ground with the ball behind one's own or the opponent's goal. 2
(of an aircraft) make contact with the ground in landing. touch
football US football with touching in place of tackling.
touch-hole a small hole in a gun for igniting the charge.
touch-in-goal Football each of the four corners enclosed by
continuations of the touch-lines and goal-lines. touch-judge
Rugby Football a linesman. touch-line (in various sports)
either of the lines marking the side boundaries of the pitch.
touch-mark the maker's mark on pewter. touch-me-not any of
various plants of the genus Impatiens, with ripe seed-capsules
jerking open when touched. touch-needle a needle of gold or
silver alloy of known composition used as a standard in testing
other alloys on a touchstone. touch off 1 represent exactly (in
a portrait etc.). 2 explode by touching with a match etc. 3
initiate (a process) suddenly (touched off a run on the pound).
touch of nature 1 a natural trait. 2 colloq. an exhibition of
human feeling with which others sympathize (from a
misinterpretation of Shakesp. Troilus and Cressida III. iii.
169). touch of the sun 1 a slight attack of sunstroke. 2 a
little sunlight. touch on (or upon) 1 treat (a subject)
briefly, refer to or mention casually. 2 verge on (that touches
on impudence). touch-paper paper impregnated with nitre, for
firing gunpowder, fireworks, etc. touch the spot colloq. find
out or do exactly what was needed. touch-type type without
looking at the keys. touch-typing this skill. touch-typist a
person who touch-types. touch up 1 give finishing touches to or
retouch (a picture, writing, etc.). 2 Brit. sl. a caress so
as to excite sexually. b sexually molest. 3 strike (a horse)
lightly with a whip. touch wood touch something wooden with the
hand to avert ill luck. would not touch with a bargepole see
BARGEPOLE. touchable adj. [ME f. OF tochier, tuchier (v.),
touche (n.): prob. imit., imitating a knock]
touchdown n. 1 the act or an instance of an aircraft making contact with
the ground during landing. 2 Rugby Football & Amer. Football
the act or an instance of touching down.
touch int. 1 the acknowledgement of a hit by a fencing-opponent. 2
the acknowledgement of a justified accusation, a witticism, or a
point made in reply to one's own. [F, past part. of toucher
TOUCH]
toucher n. 1 a person or thing that touches. 2 Bowls a wood that
touches the jack.
touching adj. & prep. --adj. moving; pathetic (a touching incident;
touching confidence). --prep. literary concerning; about.
touchingly adv. touchingness n. [ME f. TOUCH: (prep.) f. OF
touchant pres. part. (as TOUCH)]
touchstone
n. 1 a fine-grained dark schist or jasper used for testing
alloys of gold etc. by marking it with them and observing the
colour of the mark. 2 a standard or criterion.
touchwood n. readily inflammable wood, esp. when made soft by fungi, used
as tinder.
touchy adj. (touchier, touchiest) apt to take offence; over-sensitive.
touchily adv. touchiness n. [perh. alt. of TETCHY after
TOUCH]
tough adj. & n. --adj. 1 hard to break, cut, tear, or chew; durable;
strong. 2 (of a person) able to endure hardship; hardy. 3
unyielding, stubborn, difficult (it was a tough job; a tough
customer). 4 colloq. a acting sternly; hard (get tough with).
b (of circumstances, luck, etc.) severe, unpleasant, hard,
unjust. 5 colloq. criminal or violent (tough guys). --n. a
tough person, esp. a ruffian or criminal. tough guy colloq. 1
a hard unyielding person. 2 a violent aggressive person. tough
it (or tough it out) colloq. endure or withstand difficult
conditions. tough-minded realistic, not sentimental.
tough-mindedness being tough-minded. toughen v.tr. & intr.
toughener n. toughish adj. toughly adv. toughness n. [OE
toh]
toughie n. colloq. a tough person or problem.
toupee n. (also toupet) a wig or artificial hairpiece to cover a bald
spot. [F toupet hair-tuft dimin. of OF toup tuft (as TOP(1))]
tour n. & v. --n. 1 a a journey from place to place as a holiday.
b an excursion, ramble, or walk (made a tour of the garden). 2
a a spell of duty on military or diplomatic service. b the time
to be spent at a particular post. 3 a series of performances,
matches, etc., at different places on a route through a country
etc. --v. 1 intr. (usu. foll. by through) make a tour (toured
through India). 2 tr. make a tour of (a country etc.). on
tour (esp. of a team, theatre company, etc.) touring.
touring-car a car with room for passengers and much luggage.
tour operator a travel agent specializing in package holidays.
[ME f. OF to(u)r f. L tornus f. Gk tornos lathe]
touraco var. of TURACO.
tour de force
n. a feat of strength or skill. [F]
tourer n. a vehicle, esp. a car, for touring. [TOUR]
tourism n. the organization and operation of (esp. foreign) holidays,
esp. as a commercial enterprise.
tourist n. a person making a visit or tour as a holiday; a traveller,
esp. abroad (often attrib.: tourist accommodation). tourist
class the lowest class of passenger accommodation in a ship,
aircraft, etc. touristic adj. touristically adv.
touristy adj. usu. derog. appealing to or visited by many tourists.
tourmaline
n. a boron aluminium silicate mineral of various colours,
possessing unusual electrical properties, and used in electrical
and optical instruments and as a gemstone. [F f. Sinh.
toramalli porcelain]
tournament
n. 1 any contest of skill between a number of competitors, esp.
played in heats (chess tournament; tennis tournament). 2 a
display of military exercises etc. (Royal Tournament). 3 hist.
a a pageant in which jousting with blunted weapons took place.
b a meeting for jousting between single knights for a prize etc.
[ME f. OF torneiement f. torneier TOURNEY]
tournedos n. (pl. same) a small round thick cut from a fillet of beef.
[F]
tourney n. & v. --n. (pl. -eys) a tournament. --v.intr. (-eys,
-eyed) take part in a tournament. [ME f. OF tornei (n.),
torneier (v.), ult. f. L tornus a turn]
tourniquet
n. a device for stopping the flow of blood through an artery by
twisting a bar etc. in a ligature or bandage. [F prob. f. OF
tournicle coat of mail, TUNICLE, infl. by tourner TURN]
tousle v.tr. 1 make (esp. the hair) untidy; rumple. 2 handle roughly
or rudely. [frequent. of (now dial.) touse, ME f. OE rel. to
OHG -zuson]
tous-les-mois
n. 1 food starch obtained from tubers of a canna, Canna indica.
2 this plant. [F, lit. = every month, prob. corrupt. of W.Ind.
toloman]
tout v. & n. --v. 1 intr. (usu. foll. by for) solicit custom
persistently; pester customers (touting for business). 2 tr.
solicit the custom of (a person) or for (a thing). 3 intr. a
Brit. spy out the movements and condition of racehorses in
training. b US offer racing tips for a share of the resulting
profit. --n. a person employed in touting. touter n. [ME
tute look out = ME (now dial.) toot (OE totian) f. Gmc]
tout court
adv. without addition; simply (called James tout court). [F,
lit. very short]
tovarish n. (also tovarich) (in the USSR) comrade (esp. as a form of
address). [Russ. tovarishch]
tow(1) v. & n. --v.tr. 1 (of a motor vehicle, horse, or person
controlling it) pull (a boat, another motor vehicle, a caravan,
etc.) along by a rope, tow-bar, etc. 2 pull (a person or thing)
along behind one. --n. the act or an instance of towing; the
state of being towed. have in (or on) tow 1 be towing. 2 be
accompanied by and often in charge of (a person). tow-bar a bar
for towing esp. a trailer or caravan. tow- (or towing-) line
(or rope) a line etc. used in towing. tow- (or towing-) net a
net used for dragging through water to collect specimens. tow-
(or towing-) path a path beside a river or canal used for towing
a boat by horse. towable adj. towage n. [OE togian f. Gmc,
rel. to TUG]
tow(2) n. 1 the coarse and broken part of flax or hemp prepared for
spinning. 2 a loose bunch of rayon etc. strands. tow-coloured
(of hair) very light. tow-head tow-coloured or unkempt hair.
tow-headed having very light or unkempt hair. towy adj. [ME
f. MLG touw f. OS tou, rel. to ON t wool: cf. TOOL]
toward prep. & adj. --prep. = TOWARDS. --adj. archaic 1 about to
take place; in process. 2 docile, apt. 3 promising,
auspicious. towardness n. (in sense of adj.).
towards prep. 1 in the direction of (set out towards town). 2 as
regards; in relation to (his attitude towards death). 3 as a
contribution to; for (put this towards your expenses). 4 near
(towards the end of our journey). [OE toweard (adj.) future (as
TO, -WARD)]
towel n. & v. --n. 1 a a piece of rough-surfaced absorbent cloth
used for drying oneself or a thing after washing. b absorbent
paper used for this. c a cloth used for drying plates, dishes,
etc.; a tea towel. 2 Brit. = sanitary towel. --v. (towelled,
towelling; US toweled, toweling) 1 tr. (often refl.) wipe or dry
with a towel. 2 intr. wipe or dry oneself with a towel. 3 tr.
sl. thrash. towel-horse (or -rail) a frame for hanging towels
on. towelling n. [ME f. OF toail(l)e f. Gmc]
tower n. & v. --n. 1 a a tall esp. square or circular structure,
often part of a church, castle, etc. b a fortress etc.
comprising or including a tower. c a tall structure housing
machinery, apparatus, operators, etc. (cooling tower; control
tower). 2 a place of defence; a protection. --v.intr. 1 (usu.
foll. by above, high) reach or be high or above; be superior. 2
(of a bird) soar or hover. 3 (as towering adj.) a high, lofty
(towering intellect). b violent (towering rage). tower block
a tall building containing offices or flats. tower of silence a
tall open-topped structure on which Parsees place their dead.
tower of strength a person who gives strong and reliable
support. towered adj. towery adj. [OE torr, & ME tur, AF &
OF tur etc., f. L turris f. Gk]
town n. 1 a a large urban area with a name, defined boundaries, and
local government, being larger than a village and usu. not
created a city. b any densely populated area, esp. as opposed
to the country or suburbs. c the people of a town (the whole
town knows of it). 2 a Brit. London or the chief city or town
in one's neighbourhood (went up to town). b the central
business or shopping area in a neighbourhood (just going into
town). 3 the permanent residents of a university town as
distinct from the members of the university (cf. GOWN). 4 US =
TOWNSHIP 2. go to town colloq. act or work with energy or
enthusiasm. on the town colloq. enjoying the entertainments,
esp. the night-life, of a town; celebrating. town clerk 1 US &
hist. the officer of the corporation of a town in charge of
records etc. 2 Brit. hist. the secretary and legal adviser of
a town corporation until 1974. town council the elective
governing body in a municipality. town councillor an elected
member of this. town crier see CRIER. town gas manufactured
gas for domestic and commercial use. town hall a building for
the administration of local government, having public meeting
rooms etc. town house 1 a town residence, esp. of a person with
a house in the country. 2 a terrace house, esp. of a stylish
modern type. 3 a house in a planned group in a town. 4 Brit. a
town hall. town-major hist. the chief executive officer in a
garrison town or fortress. town mayor Brit. the chairman of a
town council. town meeting US a meeting of the voters of a town
for the transaction of public business. town planning the
planning of the construction and growth of towns. townish
adj. townless adj. townlet n. townward adj. & adv. townwards
adv. [OE tun enclosure f. Gmc]
townee n. (also townie) derog. a person living in a town, esp. as
opposed to a countryman or (in a university town) a student etc.
townscape n. 1 the visual appearance of a town or towns. 2 a picture of
a town.
townsfolk n. the inhabitants of a particular town or towns.
township n. 1 S.Afr. a an urban area set aside for Black (usu. African)
occupation. b a White urban area (esp. if new or about to be
developed). 2 US & Can. a a division of a county with some
corporate powers. b a district six miles square. 3 Brit.
hist. a a community inhabiting a manor, parish, etc. b a manor
or parish as a territorial division. c a small town or village
forming part of a large parish. 4 Austral. & NZ a small town; a
town-site. [OE tunscipe (as TOWN, -SHIP)]
townsman n. (pl. -men; fem. townswoman, pl. -women) an inhabitant of
a town; a fellow citizen.
townspeople
n.pl. the people of a town.
towy see TOW(2).
toxaemia n. (US toxemia) 1 blood-poisoning. 2 a condition in pregnancy
characterized by increased blood pressure. toxaemic adj. [as
TOXI- + -AEMIA]
toxi- comb. form (also toxico-, toxo-) poison; poisonous, toxic.
toxic adj. 1 of or relating to poison (toxic symptoms). 2 poisonous
(toxic gas). 3 caused by poison (toxic anaemia). toxically
adv. toxicity n. [med.L toxicus poisoned f. L toxicum f. Gk
toxikon (pharmakon) (poison for) arrows f. toxon bow, toxa
arrows]
toxicology
n. the scientific study of poisons. toxicological adj.
toxicologist n.
toxin n. a poison produced by a living organism, esp. one formed in
the body and stimulating the production of antibodies. [TOXIC +
-IN]
toxocara n. any nematode worm of the genus Toxocara, parasitic in the
alimentary canal of dogs and cats. toxocariasis n. [TOXO-
(see TOXI-) + Gk kara head]
toxophilite
n. & adj. --n. a student or lover of archery. --adj. of or
concerning archery. toxophily n. [Ascham's Toxophilus (1545)
f. Gk toxon bow + -philos -PHILE]
toy n. & v. --n. 1 a a plaything, esp. for a child. b (often
attrib.) a model or miniature replica of a thing, esp. as a
plaything (toy gun). 2 a a thing, esp. a gadget or instrument,
regarded as providing amusement or pleasure. b a task or
undertaking regarded in an unserious way. 3 (usu. attrib.) a
diminutive breed or variety of dog etc. --v.intr. (usu. foll.
by with) 1 trifle, amuse oneself, esp. with a person's
affections; flirt (toyed with the idea of going to Africa). 2 a
move a material object idly (toyed with her necklace). b nibble
at food etc. unenthusiastically (toyed with a peach). toy-box
a usu. wooden box for keeping toys in. toy boy colloq. a
woman's much younger male lover. toy soldier 1 a miniature
figure of a soldier. 2 sl. a soldier in a peacetime army.
[16th c.: earlier = dallying, fun, jest, whim, trifle: orig.
unkn.]
trabeation
n. the use of beams instead of arches or vaulting in
construction. trabeate adj. [L trabs trabis beam]
trabecula n. (pl. trabeculae) 1 Anat. a supporting band or bar of
connective or bony tissue, esp. dividing an organ into
chambers. 2 Bot. a beamlike projection or process within a
hollow structure. trabecular adj. trabeculate adj. [L,
dimin. of trabs beam]
tracasserie
n. 1 a state of annoyance. 2 a fuss; a petty quarrel. [F f.
tracasser bustle]
trace(1) v. & n. --v.tr. 1 a observe, discover, or find vestiges or
signs of by investigation. b (often foll. by along, through,
to, etc.) follow or mark the track or position of (traced their
footprints in the mud; traced the outlines of a wall). c (often
foll. by back) follow to its origins (can trace my family to the
12th century; the report has been traced back to you). 2 (often
foll. by over) copy (a drawing etc.) by drawing over its lines
on a superimposed piece of translucent paper, or by using carbon
paper. 3 (often foll. by out) mark out, delineate, sketch, or
write esp. laboriously (traced out a plan of the district;
traced out his vision of the future). 4 pursue one's way along
(a path etc.). --n. 1 a a sign or mark or other indication of
something having existed; a vestige (no trace remains of the
castle; has the traces of a vanished beauty). b a very small
quantity. c an amount of rainfall etc. too small to be
measured. 2 a track or footprint left by a person or animal. 3
a track left by the moving pen of an instrument etc. 4 a line
on the screen of a cathode-ray tube showing the path of a moving
spot. 5 a curve's projection on or intersection with a plane
etc. 6 a change in the brain caused by learning processes.
trace element 1 a chemical element occurring in minute amounts.
2 a chemical element required only in minute amounts by living
organisms for normal growth. trace fossil a fossil that
represents a burrow, footprint, etc., of an organism.
traceable adj. traceability n. traceless adj. [ME f. OF
trace (n.), tracier (v.) f. L tractus drawing: see TRACT(1)]
trace(2) n. each of the two side-straps, chains, or ropes by which a
horse draws a vehicle. kick over the traces become
insubordinate or reckless. trace-horse a horse that draws in
traces or by a single trace, esp. one hitched on to help uphill
etc. [ME f. OF trais, pl. of TRAIT]
tracer n. 1 a person or thing that traces. 2 Mil. a bullet etc. that
is visible in flight because of flames etc. emitted. 3 an
artificially produced radioactive isotope capable of being
followed through the body by the radiation it produces.
tracery n. (pl. -ies) 1 ornamental stone openwork esp. in the upper
part of a Gothic window. 2 a fine decorative pattern. 3 a
natural object finely patterned. traceried adj.
trachea n. (pl. tracheae) 1 the passage reinforced by rings of
cartilage, through which air reaches the bronchial tubes from
the larynx; the windpipe. 2 each of the air passages in the
body of an insect etc. 3 any duct or vessel in a plant.
tracheal adj. tracheate adj. [ME f. med.L, = LL trachia f.
Gk trakheia (arteria) rough (artery), f. trakhus rough]
tracheo- comb. form.
tracheotomy
n. (also tracheostomy) (pl. -ies) an incision made in the
trachea to relieve an obstruction to breathing. tracheotomy
tube a breathing-tube inserted into this incision.
trachoma n. a contagious disease of the eye with inflamed granulation on
the inner surface of the lids. trachomatous adj. [mod.L f.
Gk trakhoma f. trakhus rough]
trachyte n. a light-coloured volcanic rock rough to the touch.
trachytic adj. [F f. Gk trakhutes roughness (as TRACHOMA)]
tracing n. 1 a copy of a drawing etc. made by tracing. 2 = TRACE(1) n.
3. 3 the act or an instance of tracing. tracing-paper
translucent paper used for making tracings.
track(1) n. & v. --n. 1 a a mark or marks left by a person, animal, or
thing in passing. b (in pl.) such marks esp. footprints. 2 a
rough path, esp. one beaten by use. 3 a continuous railway line
(laid three miles of track). 4 a a racecourse for horses, dogs,
etc. b a prepared course for runners etc. 5 a a groove on a
gramophone record. b a section of a gramophone record
containing one song etc. (this side has six tracks). c a
lengthwise strip of magnetic tape containing one sequence of
signals. 6 a a line of travel, passage, or motion (followed the
track of the hurricane; America followed in the same track). b
the path travelled by a ship, aircraft, etc. (cf. COURSE n.
2c). 7 a continuous band round the wheels of a tank, tractor,
etc. 8 the transverse distance between a vehicle's wheels. 9 =
SOUNDTRACK. 10 a line of reasoning or thought (this track
proved fruitless). --v. 1 tr. follow the track of (an animal,
person, spacecraft, etc.). 2 tr. make out (a course,
development, etc.); trace by vestiges. 3 intr. (often foll. by
back, in, etc.) (of a film or television camera) move in
relation to the subject being filmed. 4 intr. (of wheels) run
so that the back ones are exactly in the track of the front
ones. 5 intr. (of a gramophone stylus) follow a groove. 6 tr.
US a make a track with (dirt etc.) from the feet. b leave such
a track on (a floor etc.). in one's tracks colloq. where one
stands, there and then (stopped him in his tracks). keep (or
lose) track of follow (or fail to follow) the course or
development of. make tracks colloq. go or run away. make
tracks for colloq. go in pursuit of or towards. off the track
away from the subject. on a person's track 1 in pursuit of him
or her. 2 in possession of a clue to a person's conduct, plans,
etc. on the wrong side of (or across) the tracks colloq. in an
inferior or dubious part of town. on the wrong (or right) track
following the wrong (or right) line of inquiry. track down
reach or capture by tracking. track events running-races as
opposed to jumping etc. (cf. field events). tracking station
an establishment set up to track objects in the sky.
track-laying (of a vehicle) having a caterpillar tread. track
record a person's past performance or achievements. track shoe
a spiked shoe worn by a runner. track suit a loose warm suit
worn by an athlete etc. for exercising or jogging. track system
US streaming in education. track with Austral. sl. associate
with, court. trackage US n. [ME f. OF trac, perh. f. LG or
Du. tre(c)k draught etc.]
track(2) v. 1 tr. tow (a boat) by rope etc. from a bank. 2 intr. travel
by being towed. [app. f. Du. trekken to draw etc., assim. to
TRACK(1)]
tracker n. 1 a person or thing that tracks. 2 a police dog tracking by
scent. 3 a wooden connecting-rod in the mechanism of an organ.
4 = black tracker.
tracking n. Electr. the formation of a conducting path over the surface
of an insulating material.
tracklayer
n. 1 US = TRACKMAN. 2 a tractor or other vehicle equipped with
continuous tracks (see TRACK(1) n. 7).
tracklement
n. an item of food, esp. a jelly, served with meat. [20th c.:
orig. unkn.]
trackless adj. 1 without a track or tracks; untrodden. 2 leaving no
track or trace. 3 not running on a track. trackless trolley
US a trolleybus.
trackman n. (pl. -men) a platelayer.
trackway n. a beaten path; an ancient roadway.
tract(1) n. 1 a region or area of indefinite, esp. large, extent
(pathless desert tracts). 2 Anat. an area of an organ or system
(respiratory tract). 3 Brit. archaic a period of time etc. [L
tractus drawing f. trahere tract- draw, pull]
tract(2) n. a short treatise in pamphlet form esp. on a religious
subject. [app. abbr. of L tractatus TRACTATE]
tract(3) n. RC Ch. & Mus. an anthem replacing the alleluia in some
masses. [med.L tractus (cantus) drawn-out (song), past part. of
L trahere draw]
tractable adj. 1 (of a person) easily handled; manageable; docile. 2 (of
material etc.) pliant, malleable. tractability n.
tractableness n. tractably adv. [L tractabilis f. tractare
handle, frequent. of trahere tract- draw]
Tractarianism
n. hist. = OXFORD MOVEMENT. Tractarian adj. & n. [after
Tracts for the Times, published in Oxford 1833-41 and outlining
the movement's principles]
tractate n. a treatise. [L tractatus f. tractare: see TRACTABLE]
traction n. 1 the act of drawing or pulling a thing over a surface, esp.
a road or track (steam traction). 2 a a sustained pulling on a
limb, muscle, etc., by means of pulleys, weights, etc. b
contraction, e.g. of a muscle. 3 the grip of a tyre on a road,
a wheel on a rail, etc. 4 US the public transport service.
traction-engine a steam or diesel engine for drawing heavy
loads on roads, fields, etc. traction-wheel the driving-wheel
of a locomotive etc. tractional adj. tractive adj. [F
traction or med.L tractio f. L trahere tract- draw]
tractor n. 1 a motor vehicle used for hauling esp. farm machinery,
heavy loads, etc. 2 a traction-engine. [LL tractor (as
TRACTION)]
trad n. & adj. esp. Brit. colloq. --n. traditional jazz. --adj.
traditional. [abbr.]
trade n. & v. --n. 1 a buying and selling. b buying and selling
conducted between nations etc. c business conducted for profit
(esp. as distinct from a profession) (a butcher by trade). d
business of a specified nature or time (Christmas trade; tourist
trade). 2 a skilled handicraft esp. requiring an apprenticeship
(learnt a trade; his trade is plumbing). 3 (usu. prec. by the)
a the people engaged in a specific trade (the trade will never
agree to it; trade enquiries only). b Brit. colloq. licensed
victuallers. c colloq. the submarine service. 4 US a
transaction, esp. a swap. 5 (usu. in pl.) a trade wind. --v.
1 intr. (often foll. by in, with) engage in trade; buy and sell
(trades in plastic novelties; we trade with Japan). 2 tr. a
exchange in commerce; barter (goods). b exchange (insults,
blows, etc.). 3 intr. (usu. foll. by with, for) have a
transaction with a person for a thing. 4 intr. (usu. foll. by
to) carry goods to a place. be in trade esp. derog. be in
commerce, esp. keep a shop. foreign trade international trade.
Trade Board Brit. hist. a statutory body for settling disputes
etc. in certain industries. trade book a book published by a
commercial publisher and intended for general readership. trade
cycle Brit. recurring periods of boom and recession. trade gap
the extent by which a country's imports exceed its exports.
trade in (often foll. by for) exchange (esp. a used car etc.) in
esp. part payment for another. trade-in n. a thing, esp. a
car, exchanged in this way. trade journal a periodical
containing news etc. concerning a particular trade. trade-last
US a compliment from a third person which is reported to the
person complimented in exchange for one to the reporter. trade
mark 1 a device, word, or words, secured by legal registration
or established by use as representing a company, product, etc.
2 a distinctive characteristic etc. trade name 1 a name by
which a thing is called in a trade. 2 a name given to a
product. 3 a name under which a business trades. trade off
exchange, esp. as a compromise. trade-off n. such an exchange.
trade on take advantage of (a person's credulity, one's
reputation, etc.). trade paper = trade journal. trade plates
number-plates used by a car-dealer etc. on unlicensed cars.
trade price a wholesale price charged to the dealer before goods
are retailed. trade secret 1 a secret device or technique used
esp. in a trade. 2 joc. any secret. Trades Union Congress
Brit. the official representative body of British trade unions,
meeting annually. trade (or trades) union an organized
association of workers in a trade, group of trades, or a
profession, formed to protect and further their rights and
interests. trade- (or trades-) unionism this system of
association. trade- (or trades-) unionist a member of a trade
union. trade wind a wind blowing continually towards the
equator and deflected westward, f. obs. blow trade = blow
regularly. tradable adj. tradeable adj. [ME f. MLG trade
track f. OS trada, OHG trata: cf. TREAD]
trader n. 1 a person engaged in trade. 2 a merchant ship.
tradescantia
n. any usu. trailing plant of the genus Tradescantia, with
large blue, white, or pink flowers. [mod.L f. J. Tradescant,
Engl. naturalist d. 1638]
tradesman n. (pl. -men; fem. tradeswoman, pl. -women) a person engaged
in trading or a trade, esp. a shopkeeper or skilled craftsman.
tradespeople
n.pl. people engaged in trade and their families.
trading n. the act of engaging in trade. trading estate esp. Brit.
a specially-designed industrial and commercial area. trading
post a store etc. established in a remote or unsettled region.
trading-stamp a stamp given to customers by some stores which is
exchangeable in large numbers for various articles.
tradition n. 1 a a custom, opinion, or belief handed down to posterity
esp. orally or by practice. b this process of handing down. 2
esp. joc. an established practice or custom (it's a tradition
to complain about the weather). 3 artistic, literary, etc.
principles based on experience and practice; any one of these
(stage tradition; traditions of the Dutch School). 4 Theol.
doctrine or a particular doctrine etc. claimed to have divine
authority without documentary evidence, esp.: a the oral
teaching of Christ and the Apostles. b the laws held by the
Pharisees to have been delivered by God to Moses. c the words
and deeds of Muhammad not in the Koran. 5 Law the formal
delivery of property etc. traditionary adj. traditionist n.
traditionless adj. [ME f. OF tradicion or L traditio f.
tradere hand on, betray (as TRANS-, dare give)]
traditional
adj. 1 of, based on, or obtained by tradition. 2 (of jazz) in
the style of the early 20th c. traditionally adv.
traditionalism
n. 1 respect, esp. excessive, for tradition, esp. in religion.
2 a philosophical system referring all religious knowledge to
divine revelation and tradition. traditionalist n.
traditionalistic adj.
traditor n. (pl. traditors or traditores) hist. an early Christian who
surrendered copies of Scripture or Church property to his or her
persecutors to save his or her life. [L: see TRAITOR]
traduce v.tr. speak ill of; misrepresent. traducement n. traducer
n. [L traducere disgrace (as TRANS-, ducere duct- lead)]
traffic n. & v. --n. 1 (often attrib.) a vehicles moving in a public
highway, esp. of a specified kind, density, etc. (heavy traffic
on the M1; traffic warden). b such movement in the air or at
sea. 2 (usu. foll. by in) trade, esp. illegal (the traffic in
drugs). 3 a the transportation of goods, the coming and going
of people or goods by road, rail, air, sea, etc. b the persons
or goods so transported. 4 dealings or communication between
people etc. (had no traffic with them). 5 the messages,
signals, etc., transmitted through a communications system; the
flow or volume of such business. --v. (trafficked,
trafficking) 1 intr. (usu. foll. by in) deal in something, esp.
illegally (trafficked in narcotics; traffics in innuendo). 2
tr. deal in; barter. traffic circle US a roundabout. traffic
cop esp. US colloq. a traffic policeman. traffic island a
paved or grassed area in a road to divert traffic and provide a
refuge for pedestrians. traffic jam traffic at a standstill
because of roadworks, an accident, etc. traffic-light (or
-lights or -signal) a usu. automatic signal controlling road
traffic esp. at junctions by coloured lights. traffic sign a
sign conveying information, a warning, etc., to vehicle-drivers.
traffic warden Brit. a uniformed official employed to help
control road traffic and esp. parking. trafficker n.
trafficless adj. [F traf(f)ique, Sp. trfico, It. traffico,
of unkn. orig.]
trafficator
n. Brit. hist. a signal raised automatically to indicate a
change of direction in a motor vehicle. [TRAFFIC + INDICATOR]
tragacanth
n. a white or reddish gum from a plant, Astragalus gummifer,
used in pharmacy, calico-printing, etc., as a vehicle for drugs,
dye, etc. [F tragacante f. L tragacantha f. Gk tragakantha,
name of a shrub, f. tragos goat + akantha thorn]
tragedian n. 1 a writer of tragedies. 2 an actor in tragedy. [ME f. OF
tragediane (as TRAGEDY)]
tragedienne
n. an actress in tragedy. [F fem. (as TRAGEDIAN)]
tragedy n. (pl. -ies) 1 a serious accident, crime, or natural
catastrophe. 2 a sad event; a calamity (the team's defeat is a
tragedy). 3 a a play in verse or prose dealing with tragic
events and with an unhappy ending, esp. concerning the downfall
of the protagonist. b tragic plays as a genre (cf. COMEDY).
[ME f. OF tragedie f. L tragoedia f. Gk tragoidia app. goat-song
f. tragos goat + oide song]
tragic adj. 1 (also tragical) sad; calamitous; greatly distressing (a
tragic tale). 2 of, or in the style of, tragedy (tragic drama;
a tragic actor). tragic irony a device, orig. in Greek
tragedy, by which words carry a tragic, esp. prophetic, meaning
to the audience, unknown to the character speaking.
tragically adv. [F tragique f. L tragicus f. Gk tragikos f.
tragos goat: see TRAGEDY]
tragicomedy
n. (pl. -ies) 1 a a play having a mixture of comedy and
tragedy. b plays of this kind as a genre. 2 an event etc.
having tragic and comic elements. tragicomic adj.
tragicomically adv. [F tragicomdie or It. tragicomedia f. LL
tragicomoedia f. L tragico-comoedia (as TRAGIC, COMEDY)]
tragopan n. any Asian pheasant of the genus Tragopan, with erect fleshy
horns on its head. [L f. Gk f. tragos goat + Pan the god Pan]
trahison des clercs
n. the betrayal of standards, scholarship, etc., by
intellectuals. [F, title of a book by J. Benda (1927)]
trail n. & v. --n. 1 a a track left by a thing, person, etc., moving
over a surface (left a trail of wreckage; a slug's slimy trail).
b a track or scent followed in hunting, seeking, etc. (he's on
the trail). 2 a beaten path or track, esp. through a wild
region. 3 a part dragging behind a thing or person; an
appendage (a trail of smoke; a condensation trail). 4 the rear
end of a gun-carriage stock. --v. 1 tr. & intr. draw or be
drawn along behind, esp. on the ground. 2 intr. (often foll. by
behind) walk wearily; lag; straggle. 3 tr. follow the trail of;
pursue (trailed him to his home). 4 intr. be losing in a game
or other contest (trailing by three points). 5 intr. (usu.
foll. by away, off) peter out; tail off. 6 intr. a (of a plant
etc.) grow or hang over a wall, along the ground etc. b (of a
garment etc.) hang loosely. 7 tr. (often refl.) drag (oneself,
one's limbs, etc.) along wearily etc. 8 tr. advertise (a film,
a radio or television programme, etc.) in advance by showing
extracts etc. 9 tr. apply (slip) through a nozzle or spout to
decorate ceramic ware. at the trail Mil. with arms trailed.
trail arms Mil. let a rifle etc. hang balanced in one hand and,
Brit., parallel to the ground. trail bike a light motor cycle
for use in rough terrain. trail-blazer 1 a person who marks a
new track through wild country. 2 a pioneer; an innovator.
trail-blazing n. the act or process of blazing a trail.
--attrib.adj. that blazes a trail; pioneering. trail one's coat
deliberately provoke a quarrel, fight, etc. trailing edge 1 the
rear edge of an aircraft's wing etc. 2 Electronics the part of
a pulse in which the amplitude diminishes (opp. leading edge
(see LEADING(1))). trailing wheel a wheel not given direct
motive power. trail-net a drag-net. [ME (earlier as verb) f.
OF traillier to tow, or f. MLG treilen haul f. L tragula
drag-net]
trailer n. 1 a person or thing that trails. 2 a series of brief
extracts from a film etc., used to advertise it in advance. 3 a
vehicle towed by another, esp.: a the rear section of an
articulated lorry. b an open cart. c a platform for
transporting a boat etc. d US a caravan. 4 a trailing plant.
train v. & n. --v. 1 a tr. (often foll. by to + infin.) teach (a
person, animal, oneself, etc.) a specified skill esp. by
practice (trained the dog to beg; was trained in midwifery). b
intr. undergo this process (trained as a teacher). 2 tr. &
intr. bring or come into a state of physical efficiency by
exercise, diet, etc.; undergo physical exercise, esp. for a
specific purpose (trained me for the high jump; the team trains
every evening). 3 tr. cause (a plant) to grow in a required
shape (trained the peach tree up the wall). 4 (usu. as trained
adj.) make (the mind, eye, etc.) sharp or discerning as a result
of instruction, practice, etc. 5 tr. (often foll. by on) point
or aim (a gun, camera, etc.) at an object etc. 6 colloq. a
intr. go by train. b tr. (foll. by it as object) make a journey
by train (trained it to Aberdeen). 7 tr. (usu. foll. by away)
archaic entice, lure. --n. 1 a series of railway carriages or
trucks drawn by an engine. 2 something dragged along behind or
forming the back part of a dress, robe, etc. (wore a dress with
a long train; the train of the peacock). 3 a succession or
series of people, things, events, etc. (a long train of camels;
interrupted my train of thought; a train of ideas). 4 a body of
followers; a retinue (a train of admirers). 5 a succession of
military vehicles etc., including artillery, supplies, etc.
(baggage train). 6 a line of gunpowder etc. to fire an
explosive charge. 7 a series of connected wheels or parts in
machinery. in train properly arranged or directed. in a
person's train following behind a person. in the train of as a
sequel of. train-bearer a person employed to hold up the train
of a robe etc. train down train with exercise or diet to lower
one's weight. train-ferry (pl. -ies) a ship that conveys a
railway train across water. train-mile one mile travelled by
one train, as a unit of traffic. train-spotter a person who
collects locomotive numbers as a hobby. train-spotting this
hobby. trainable adj. trainability n. trainee n. trainless
adj. [ME f. OF traner, trahiner, ult. f. L trahere draw]
trainband n. hist. any of several divisions of London citizen soldiers,
esp. in the Stuart period.
trainer n. 1 a person who trains. 2 a person who trains horses,
athletes, footballers, etc., as a profession. 3 an aircraft or
device simulating it used to train pilots. 4 Brit. a soft
running shoe of leather, canvas, etc.
training n. the act or process of teaching or learning a skill,
discipline, etc. (physical training). go into training begin
physical training. in training 1 undergoing physical training.
2 physically fit as a result of this. out of training 1 no
longer training. 2 physically unfit. training-college a
college or school for training esp. prospective teachers.
training-ship a ship on which young people are taught seamanship
etc.
trainman n. (pl. -men) a railway employee working on trains.
train-oil n. oil obtained from the blubber of a whale (esp. of a right
whale). [obs. train, trane train-oil f. MLG tran, MDu. traen,
app. = TEAR(2)]
trainsick adj. affected with nausea by the motion of a train.
trainsickness n.
traipse v. & n. (also trapes) colloq. or dial. --v.intr. 1 tramp or
trudge wearily. 2 (often foll. by about) go on errands. --n.
1 a tedious journey on foot. 2 archaic a slattern. [16th-c.
trapes (v.), of unkn. orig.]
trait n. a distinguishing feature or characteristic esp. of a person.
[F f. L tractus (as TRACT(1))]
traitor n. (fem. traitress) (often foll. by to) a person who is
treacherous or disloyal, esp. to his country. traitorous adj.
traitorously adv. [ME f. OF trat(o)ur f. L traditor -oris f.
tradere: see TRADITION]
trajectory
n. (pl. -ies) 1 the path described by a projectile flying or
an object moving under the action of given forces. 2 Geom. a
curve or surface cutting a system of curves or surfaces at a
constant angle. [(orig. adj.) f. med.L trajectorius f. L
traicere traject- (as TRANS-, jacere throw)]
tra-la int. an expression of joy or gaiety. [imit. of song]
tram(1) n. 1 Brit. an electrically-powered passenger vehicle running on
rails laid in a public road. 2 a four-wheeled vehicle used in
coal-mines. tram-road hist. a road with wooden, stone, or
metal wheel-tracks. [MLG & MDu. trame balk, beam,
barrow-shaft]
tram(2) n. (in full tram silk) double silk thread used for the weft of
some velvets and silks. [F trame f. L trama weft]
tramcar n. Brit. = TRAM(1) 1.
tramlines n.pl. 1 rails for a tramcar. 2 colloq. a either pair of two
sets of long parallel lines at the sides of a lawn-tennis court.
b similar lines at the side or back of a badminton court. 3
inflexible principles or courses of action etc.
trammel n. & v. --n. 1 (usu. in pl.) an impediment to free movement; a
hindrance (the trammels of domesticity). 2 a triple drag-net
for fish, which are trapped in a pocket formed when they attempt
to swim through. 3 an instrument for drawing ellipses etc. with
a bar sliding in upright grooves. 4 a beam-compass. 5 US a
hook in a fireplace for a kettle etc. --v.tr. (trammelled,
trammelling; US trammeled, trammeling) confine or hamper with or
as if with trammels. [in sense 'net' ME f. OF tramail f. med.L
tramaculum, tremaculum, perh. formed as TRI- + macula (MAIL(2)):
later history uncert.]
tramontana
n. a cold north wind in the Adriatic. [It.: see TRAMONTANE]
tramontane
adj. & n. --adj. 1 situated or living on the other side of
mountains, esp. the Alps as seen from Italy. 2 (from the
Italian point of view) foreign; barbarous. --n. 1 a tramontane
person. 2 = TRAMONTANA. [ME f. It. tramontano f. L
transmontanus beyond the mountains (as TRANS-, mons montis
mountain)]
tramp v. & n. --v. 1 intr. a walk heavily and firmly (tramping
about upstairs). b go on foot, esp. a distance. 2 tr. a cross
on foot, esp. wearily or reluctantly. b cover (a distance) in
this way (tramped forty miles). 3 tr. (often foll. by down)
tread on; trample; stamp on. 4 tr. Austral. colloq. dismiss
from employment, sack. 5 intr. live as a tramp. --n. 1 an
itinerant vagrant or beggar. 2 the sound of a person, or esp.
people, walking, marching, etc., or of horses' hooves. 3 a
journey on foot, esp. protracted. 4 a an iron plate protecting
the sole of a boot used for digging. b the part of a spade that
it strikes. 5 esp. US sl. derog. a promiscuous woman. 6 =
ocean tramp. tramper n. trampish adj. [ME trampe f. Gmc]
trample v. & n. --v.tr. 1 tread under foot. 2 press down or crush in
this way. --n. the sound or act of trampling. trample on 1
tread heavily on. 2 treat roughly or with contempt; disregard
(a person's feelings etc.). trampler n. [ME f. TRAMP +
-LE(4)]
trampoline
n. & v. --n. a strong fabric sheet connected by springs to a
horizontal frame, used by gymnasts etc. for somersaults, as a
springboard, etc. --v.intr. use a trampoline. trampolinist
n. [It. trampolino f. trampoli stilts]
tramway n. 1 = tram-road (see TRAM(1)). 2 a rails for a tramcar. b a
tramcar system.
trance n. & v. --n. 1 a a sleeplike or half-conscious state without
response to stimuli. b a hypnotic or cataleptic state. 2 such
a state as entered into by a medium. 3 a state of extreme
exaltation or rapture; ecstasy. --v.tr. poet. = ENTRANCE(2).
trancelike adj. [ME f. OF transe f. transir depart, fall
into trance f. L transire: see TRANSIT]
tranche n. a portion, esp. of income, or of a block of shares. [F, =
slice (as TRENCH)]
tranny n. (pl. -ies) esp. Brit. colloq. a transistor radio.
[abbr.]
tranquil adj. calm, serene, unruffled. tranquillity n. tranquilly
adv. [F tranquille or L tranquillus]
tranquillize
v.tr. (US tranquilize, -ise) make tranquil, esp. by a drug etc.
tranquillizer
n. (US tranquilizer, -iser) a drug used to diminish anxiety.
trans- prefix 1 across, beyond (transcontinental; transgress). 2 on or
to the other side of (transatlantic) (opp. CIS-). 3 through
(transonic). 4 into another state or place (transform;
transcribe). 5 surpassing, transcending (transfinite). 6 Chem.
a (of an isomer) having the same atom or group on opposite sides
of a given plane in the molecule (cf. CIS- 4). b having a
higher atomic number than (transuranic). [from or after L trans
across]
transact v.tr. perform or carry through (business). transactor n. [L
transigere transact- (as TRANS-, agere do)]
transaction
n. 1 a a piece of esp. commercial business done; a deal (a
profitable transaction). b the management of business etc. 2
(in pl.) published reports of discussions, papers read, etc., at
the meetings of a learned society. transactional adj.
transactionally adv. [ME f. LL transactio (as TRANSACT)]
transalpine
adj. beyond the Alps, esp. from the Italian point of view. [L
transalpinus (as TRANS-, alpinus ALPINE)]
transatlantic
adj. 1 beyond the Atlantic, esp.: a Brit. American. b US
European. 2 crossing the Atlantic (a transatlantic flight).
transceiver
n. a combined radio transmitter and receiver.
transcend v.tr. 1 be beyond the range or grasp of (human experience,
reason, belief, etc.). 2 excel; surpass. [ME f. OF transcendre
or L transcendere (as TRANS-, scandere climb)]
transcendent
adj. & n. --adj. 1 excelling, surpassing (transcendent merit).
2 transcending human experience. 3 Philos. a higher than or
not included in any of Aristotle's ten categories in scholastic
philosophy. b not realizable in experience in Kantian
philosophy. 4 (esp. of the supreme being) existing apart from,
not subject to the limitations of, the material universe (opp.
IMMANENT). --n. Philos. a transcendent thing. transcendence
n. transcendency n. transcendently adv.
transcendental
adj. & n. --adj. 1 = TRANSCENDENT. 2 a (in Kantian
philosophy) presupposed in and necessary to experience; a
priori. b (in Schelling's philosophy) explaining matter and
objective things as products of the subjective mind. c (esp. in
Emerson's philosophy) regarding the divine as the guiding
principle in man. 3 a visionary, abstract. b vague, obscure.
4 Math. (of a function) not capable of being produced by the
algebraical operations of addition, multiplication, and
involution, or the inverse operations. --n. a transcendental
term, conception, etc. transcendental cognition a priori
knowledge. Transcendental Meditation a method of detaching
oneself from problems, anxiety, etc., by silent meditation and
repetition of a mantra. transcendental object a real (unknown
and unknowable) object. transcendental unity unity brought
about by cognition. transcendentally adv. [med.L
transcendentalis (as TRANSCENDENT)]
transcendentalism
n. 1 transcendental philosophy. 2 exalted or visionary
language. transcendentalist n. transcendentalize v.tr.
(also -ise).
transcode v.tr. & intr. convert from one form of coded representation to
another.
transcontinental
adj. & n. --adj. (of a railway etc.) extending across a
continent. --n. a transcontinental railway or train.
transcontinentally adv.
transcribe
v.tr. 1 make a copy of, esp. in writing. 2 transliterate. 3
write out (shorthand, notes, etc.) in ordinary characters or
continuous prose. 4 a record for subsequent reproduction. b
broadcast in this form. 5 arrange (music) for a different
instrument etc. transcriber n. transcription n.
transcriptional adj. transcriptive adj. [L transcribere
transcript- (as TRANS-, scribere write)]
transcript
n. 1 a written or recorded copy. 2 any copy. [ME f. OF
transcrit f. L transcriptum neut. past part.: see TRANSCRIBE]
transducer
n. any device for converting a non-electrical signal into an
electrical one e.g. pressure into voltage. [L transducere lead
across (as TRANS-, ducere lead)]
transect v.tr. cut across or transversely. transection n. [TRANS- +
L secare sect- cut]
transept n. 1 either arm of the part of a cross-shaped church at right
angles to the nave (north transept; south transept). 2 this
part as a whole. transeptal adj. [mod.L transeptum (as
TRANS-, SEPTUM)]
transexual
var. of TRANSSEXUAL.
transfer v. & n. --v. (transferred, transferring) 1 tr. (often foll. by
to) a convey, remove, or hand over (a thing etc.) (transferred
the bag from the car to the station). b make over the
possession of (property, a ticket, rights, etc.) to a person
(transferred his membership to his son). 2 tr. & intr. change
or move to another group, club, department, etc. 3 intr. change
from one station, route, etc., to another on a journey. 4 tr.
a convey (a drawing etc.) from one surface to another, esp. to
a lithographic stone by means of transfer-paper. b remove (a
picture) from one surface to another, esp. from wood or a wall
to canvas. 5 tr. change (the sense of a word etc.) by extension
or metaphor. --n. 1 the act or an instance of transferring or
being transferred. 2 a a design etc. conveyed or to be conveyed
from one surface to another. b a small usu. coloured picture or
design on paper, which is transferable to another surface. 3 a
football player etc. who is or is to be transferred. 4 a the
conveyance of property, a right, etc. b a document effecting
this. 5 US a ticket allowing a journey to be continued on
another route etc. transfer-book a register of transfers of
property, shares, etc. transfer company US a company conveying
passengers or luggage between stations. transfer fee a fee paid
for the transfer of esp. a professional footballer. transfer
ink ink used for making designs on a lithographic stone or
transfer-paper. transfer list a list of footballers available
for transfer. transfer-paper specially coated paper to receive
the impression of transfer ink and transfer it to stone.
transfer RNA RNA conveying an amino-acid molecule from the
cytoplasm to a ribosome for use in protein synthesis etc.
transferee n. transferor esp. Law n. transferrer n. [ME f.
F transfrer or L transferre (as TRANS-, ferre lat- bear)]
transferable
adj. capable of being transferred. transferable vote a vote
that can be transferred to another candidate if the first choice
is eliminated. transferability n.
transference
n. 1 the act or an instance of transferring; the state of being
transferred. 2 Psychol. the redirection of childhood emotions
to a new object, esp. to a psychoanalyst.
transferral
n. = TRANSFER n. 1.
transferrin
n. a protein transporting iron in the blood of animals.
[TRANS- + L ferrum iron]
transfiguration
n. 1 a change of form or appearance. 2 a Christ's appearance
in radiant glory to three of his disciples (Matt. 17:2, Mark
9:2-3). b (Transfiguration) the festival of Christ's
transfiguration, 6 Aug. [ME f. OF transfiguration or L
transfiguratio (as TRANSFIGURE)]
transfigure
v.tr. change in form or appearance, esp. so as to elevate or
idealize. [ME f. OF transfigurer or L transfigurare (as TRANS-,
FIGURE)]
transfinite
adj. 1 beyond or surpassing the finite. 2 Math. (of a number)
exceeding all finite numbers.
transfix v.tr. 1 pierce with a sharp implement or weapon. 2 root (a
person) to the spot with horror or astonishment; paralyse the
faculties of. transfixion n. [L transfigere transfix- (as
TRANS-, FIX)]
transform v. & n. --v. 1 a tr. make a thorough or dramatic change in the
form, outward appearance, character, etc., of. b intr. (often
foll. by into, to) undergo such a change. 2 tr. Electr. change
the voltage etc. of (a current). 3 tr. Math. change (a
mathematical entity) by transformation. --n. Math. &
Linguistics the product of a transformation. transformable
adj. transformative adj. [ME f. OF transformer or L
transformare (as TRANS-, FORM)]
transformation
n. 1 the act or an instance of transforming; the state of being
transformed. 2 Zool. a change of form at metamorphosis, esp. of
insects, amphibia, etc. 3 the induced or spontaneous change of
one element into another. 4 Math. a change from one geometrical
figure, expression, or function to another of the same value,
magnitude, etc. 5 Biol. the modification of a eukaryotic cell
from its normal state to a malignant state. 6 Linguistics a
process, with reference to particular rules, by which one
grammatical pattern of sentence structure can be converted into
another, or the underlying meaning of a sentence can be
converted into a statement of syntax. 7 archaic a woman's wig.
8 a sudden dramatic change of scene on stage. [ME f. OF
transformation or LL transformatio (as TRANSFORM)]
transformational
adj. relating to or involving transformation.
transformational grammar Linguistics a grammar that describes a
language by means of transformation (see TRANSFORMATION 6).
transformationally adv.
transformer
n. 1 an apparatus for reducing or increasing the voltage of an
alternating current. 2 a person or thing that transforms.
transfuse v.tr. 1 permeate (purple dye transfused the water; was
transfused with gratitude). 2 a transfer (blood) from one
person or animal to another. b inject (liquid) into a
blood-vessel to replace lost fluid. 3 cause (fluid etc.) to
pass from one vessel etc. to another. transfusion n. [ME f.
L transfundere transfus- (as TRANS-, fundere pour)]
transgenic
adj. Biol. (of an animal or plant) having genetic material
introduced from another species.
transgress
v.tr. (also absol.) 1 go beyond the bounds or limits set by (a
commandment, law, etc.); violate; infringe. 2 Geol. (of the
sea) to spread over (the land). transgression n.
transgressive adj. transgressor n. [F transgresser or L
transgredi transgress- (as TRANS-, gradi go)]
tranship var. of TRANSSHIP.
transhumance
n. the seasonal moving of livestock to a different region. [F
f. transhumer f. L TRANS- + humus ground]
transient adj. & n. --adj. 1 of short duration; momentary; passing;
impermanent (life is transient; of transient interest). 2 Mus.
serving only to connect; inessential (a transient chord). --n.
1 a temporary visitor, worker, etc. 2 Electr. a brief current
etc. transience n. transiency n. transiently adv. [L
transire (as TRANS-, ire go)]
transilluminate
v.tr. pass a strong light through for inspection, esp. for
medical diagnosis. transillumination n.
transire n. Brit. a customs permit for the passage of goods. [L
transire go across (as TRANSIENT)]
transistor
n. 1 a semiconductor device with three connections, capable of
amplification in addition to rectification. 2 (in full
transistor radio) a portable radio with transistors.
[portmanteau word, f. TRANSFER + RESISTOR]
transistorize
v.tr. (also -ise) design or equip with, or convert to,
transistors rather than valves. transistorization n.
transit n. & v. --n. 1 the act or process of going, conveying, or
being conveyed, esp. over a distance (transit by rail; made a
transit of the lake). 2 a passage or route (the overland
transit). 3 a the apparent passage of a celestial body across
the meridian of a place. b such an apparent passage across the
sun or a planet. 4 US the local conveyance of passengers on
public routes. --v. (transited, transiting) 1 tr. make a
transit across. 2 intr. make a transit. in transit while
going or being conveyed. transit camp a camp for the temporary
accommodation of soldiers, refugees, etc. transit-circle (or
-instrument) an instrument for observing the transit of a
celestial body across the meridian. transit-compass (or
-theodolite) a surveyor's instrument for measuring a horizontal
angle. transit-duty duty paid on goods passing through a
country. transit lounge a lounge at an airport for passengers
waiting between flights. transit visa a visa allowing only
passage through a country. [ME f. L transitus f. transire (as
TRANSIENT)]
transition
n. 1 a passing or change from one place, state, condition,
etc., to another (an age of transition; a transition from plain
to hills). 2 Mus. a momentary modulation. 3 Art a change from
one style to another, esp. Archit. from Norman to Early
English. 4 Physics a change in an atomic nucleus or orbital
electron with emission or absorption of radiation. transition
element Chem. any of a set of elements in the periodic table
characterized by partly filled d or f orbitals and the ability
to form coloured complexes. transition point Physics the point
at which different phases of the same substance can be in
equilibrium. transitional adj. transitionally adv.
transitionary adj. [F transition or L transitio (as TRANSIT)]
transitive
adj. 1 Gram. (of a verb or sense of a verb) that takes a direct
object (whether expressed or implied), e.g. saw in saw the
donkey, saw that she was ill (opp. INTRANSITIVE). 2 Logic (of
a relation) such as to be valid for any two members of a
sequence if it is valid for every pair of successive members.
transitively adv. transitiveness n. transitivity n. [LL
transitivus (as TRANSIT)]
transitory
adj. not permanent, brief, transient. transitory action Law
an action that can be brought in any country irrespective of
where the transaction etc. started. transitorily adv.
transitoriness n. [ME f. AF transitorie, OF transitoire f. L
transitorius (as TRANSIT)]
translate v. 1 tr. (also absol.) a (often foll. by into) express the
sense of (a word, sentence, speech, book, etc.) in another
language. b do this as a profession etc. (translates for the
UN). 2 intr. (of a literary work etc.) be translatable, bear
translation (does not translate well). 3 tr. express (an idea,
book, etc.) in another, esp. simpler, form. 4 tr. interpret the
significance of; infer as (translated his silence as dissent).
5 tr. move or change, esp. from one person, place, or condition,
to another (was translated by joy). 6 intr. (foll. by into)
result in; be converted into; manifest itself as. 7 tr. Eccl.
a remove (a bishop) to another see. b remove (a saint's relics
etc.) to another place. 8 tr. Bibl. convey to heaven without
death; transform. 9 tr. Mech. a cause (a body) to move so
that all its parts travel in the same direction. b impart
motion without rotation to. translatable adj.
translatability n. [ME f. L translatus, past part. of
transferre: see TRANSFER]
translation
n. 1 the act or an instance of translating. 2 a written or
spoken expression of the meaning of a word, speech, book, etc.
in another language. translational adj. translationally adv.
translator
n. 1 a person who translates from one language into another. 2
a television relay transmitter. 3 a program that translates
from one (esp. programming) language into another.
transliterate
v.tr. represent (a word etc.) in the closest corresponding
letters of a different alphabet or language. transliteration
n. transliterator n. [TRANS- + L littera letter]
translocate
v.tr. 1 move from one place to another. 2 (usu. in passive)
Bot. move (substances in a plant) from one part to another.
translocation n.
translucent
adj. 1 allowing light to pass through diffusely;
semi-transparent. 2 transparent. translucence n.
translucency n. translucently adv. [L translucere (as TRANS-,
lucere shine)]
translunar
adj. 1 lying beyond the moon. 2 of or relating to space travel
or a trajectory towards the moon.
transmarine
adj. situated or going beyond the sea. [L transmarinus f.
marinus MARINE]
transmigrant
adj. & n. --adj. passing through, esp. a country on the way to
another. --n. a migrant or alien passing through a country etc.
[L transmigrant-, part. stem of transmigrare (as TRANSMIGRATE)]
transmigrate
v.intr. 1 (of the soul) pass into a different body; undergo
metempsychosis. 2 migrate. transmigration n. transmigrator
n. transmigratory adj. [ME f. L transmigrare (as TRANS-,
MIGRATE)]
transmission
n. 1 the act or an instance of transmitting; the state of being
transmitted. 2 a broadcast radio or television programme. 3
the mechanism by which power is transmitted from an engine to
the axle in a motor vehicle. transmission line a conductor or
conductors carrying electricity over large distances with
minimum losses. [L transmissio (as TRANS-, MISSION)]
transmit v.tr. (transmitted, transmitting) 1 a pass or hand on; transfer
(transmitted the message; how diseases are transmitted). b
communicate (ideas, emotions, etc.). 2 a allow (heat, light,
sound, electricity, etc.) to pass through; be a medium for. b
be a medium for (ideas, emotions, etc.) (his message transmits
hope). 3 broadcast (a radio or television programme).
transmissible adj. transmissive adj. transmittable adj.
transmittal n. [ME f. L transmittere (as TRANS-, mittere miss-
send)]
transmitter
n. 1 a person or thing that transmits. 2 a set of equipment
used to generate and transmit electromagnetic waves carrying
messages, signals, etc., esp. those of radio or television. 3 =
NEUROTRANSMITTER.
transmogrify
v.tr. (-ies, -ied) joc. transform, esp. in a magical or
surprising manner. transmogrification n. [17th c.: orig.
unkn.]
transmontane
adj. = TRAMONTANE. [L transmontanus: see TRAMONTANE]
transmutation
n. 1 the act or an instance of transmuting or changing into
another form etc. 2 Alchemy hist. the supposed process of
changing base metals into gold. 3 Physics the changing of one
element into another by nuclear bombardment etc. 4 Geom. the
changing of a figure or body into another of the same area or
volume. 5 Biol. Lamarck's theory of the change of one species
into another. transmutational adj. transmutationist n. [ME
f. OF transmutation or LL transmutatio (as TRANSMUTE)]
transmute v.tr. 1 change the form, nature, or substance of. 2 Alchemy
hist. subject (base metals) to transmutation. transmutable
adj. transmutability n. transmutative adj. transmuter n. [ME
f. L transmutare (as TRANS-, mutare change)]
transnational
adj. extending beyond national boundaries.
transoceanic
adj. 1 situated beyond the ocean. 2 concerned with crossing
the ocean (transoceanic flight).
transom n. 1 a horizontal bar of wood or stone across a window or the
top of a door (cf. MULLION). 2 each of several beams fixed
across the stern-post of a ship. 3 a beam across a saw-pit to
support a log. 4 a strengthening crossbar. 5 US = transom
window . transom window 1 a window divided by a transom. 2 a
window placed above the transom of a door or larger window; a
fanlight. transomed adj. [ME traversayn, transyn, -ing, f.
OF traversin f. traverse TRAVERSE]
transonic adj. (also trans-sonic) relating to speeds close to that of
sound. [TRANS- + SONIC, after supersonic etc.]
transpacific
adj. 1 beyond the Pacific. 2 crossing the Pacific.
transparence
n. = TRANSPARENCY 1.
transparency
n. (pl. -ies) 1 the condition of being transparent. 2 Photog.
a positive transparent photograph on glass or in a frame to be
viewed using a slide projector etc. 3 a picture, inscription,
etc., made visible by a light behind it. [med.L transparentia
(as TRANSPARENT)]
transparent
adj. 1 allowing light to pass through so that bodies can be
distinctly seen (cf. TRANSLUCENT). 2 a (of a disguise,
pretext, etc.) easily seen through. b (of a motive, quality,
etc.) easily discerned; evident; obvious. 3 (of a person etc.)
easily understood; frank; open. 4 Physics transmitting heat or
other electromagnetic rays without distortion. transparently
adv. transparentness n. [ME f. OF f. med.L transparens f. L
transparere shine through (as TRANS-, parere appear)]
transpierce
v.tr. pierce through.
transpire v. 1 intr. (of a secret or something unknown) leak out; come to
be known. 2 intr. disp. a (prec. by it as subject) turn out;
prove to be the case (it transpired he knew nothing about it).
b occur; happen. 3 tr. & intr. emit (vapour, sweat, etc.), or
be emitted, through the skin or lungs; perspire. 4 intr. (of a
plant or leaf) release water vapour. transpirable adj.
transpiration n. transpiratory adj. [F transpirer or med.L
transpirare (as TRANS-, L spirare breathe)]
transplant
v. & n. --v.tr. 1 a plant in another place (transplanted the
daffodils). b move to another place (whole nations were
transplanted). 2 Surgery transfer (living tissue or an organ)
and implant in another part of the body or in another body.
--n. 1 Surgery a the transplanting of an organ or tissue. b
such an organ etc. 2 a thing, esp. a plant, transplanted.
transplantable adj. transplantation n. transplanter n. [ME
f. LL transplantare (as TRANS-, PLANT)]
transponder
n. a device for receiving a radio signal and automatically
transmitting a different signal. [TRANSMIT + RESPOND]
transpontine
adj. on the other side of a bridge, esp. on the south side of
the Thames. [TRANS- + L pons pontis bridge]
transport v. & n. --v.tr. 1 take or carry (a person, goods, troops,
baggage, etc.) from one place to another. 2 hist. take (a
criminal) to a penal colony; deport. 3 (as transported adj.)
(usu. foll. by with) affected with strong emotion. --n. 1 a a
system of conveying people, goods, etc., from place to place. b
the means of this (our transport has arrived). 2 a ship,
aircraft, etc. used to carry soldiers, stores, etc. 3 (esp. in
pl.) vehement emotion (transports of joy). 4 hist. a
transported convict. transport caf Brit. a roadside caf for
(esp. commercial) drivers. [ME f. OF transporter or L
transportare (as TRANS-, portare carry)]
transportable
adj. 1 capable of being transported. 2 hist. (of an offender
or an offence) punishable by transportation. transportability
n.
transportation
n. 1 the act of conveying or the process of being conveyed. 2
a a system of conveying. b esp. US the means of this. 3 hist.
removal to a penal colony.
transporter
n. 1 a person or device that transports. 2 a vehicle used to
transport other vehicles or large pieces of machinery etc. by
road. transporter bridge a bridge carrying vehicles etc.
across water on a suspended moving platform.
transpose v.tr. 1 a cause (two or more things) to change places. b
change the position of (a thing) in a series. 2 change the
order or position of (words or a word) in a sentence. 3 Mus.
write or play in a different key. 4 Algebra transfer (a term)
with a changed sign to the other side of an equation.
transposing instrument Mus. an instrument producing notes
different in pitch from the written notes. transposing piano
etc. Mus. a piano etc. on which a transposition may be effected
mechanically. transposable adj. transposal n. transposer n.
[ME, = transform f. OF transposer (as TRANS-, L ponere put)]
transposition
n. the act or an instance of transposing; the state of being
transposed. transpositional adj. transpositive adj. [F
transposition or LL transpositio (as TRANS-, POSITION)]
transputer
n. a microprocessor with integral memory designed for parallel
processing. [TRANSISTOR + COMPUTER]
transsexual
adj. & n. (also transexual) --adj. having the physical
characteristics of one sex and the supposed psychological
characteristics of the other. --n. 1 a transsexual person. 2
a person whose sex has been changed by surgery.
transsexualism n.
transship v.tr. (also tranship) intr. (-shipped, -shipping) transfer
from one ship or form of transport to another. transshipment
n.
trans-sonic
var. of TRANSONIC.
transubstantiation
n. Theol. & RC Ch. the conversion of the Eucharistic elements
wholly into the body and blood of Christ, only the appearance of
bread and wine still remaining. [med.L (as TRANS-, SUBSTANCE)]
transude v.intr. (of a fluid) pass through the pores or interstices of a
membrane etc. transudation n. transudatory adj. [F
transsuder f. OF tressuer (as TRANS-, L sudare sweat)]
transuranic
adj. Chem. (of an element) having a higher atomic number than
uranium.
transversal
adj. & n. --adj. (of a line) cutting a system of lines. --n. a
transversal line. transversality n. transversally adv. [ME
f. med.L transversalis (as TRANSVERSE)]
transverse
adj. situated, arranged, or acting in a crosswise direction.
transverse magnet a magnet with poles at the sides and not the
ends. transverse wave Physics a wave in which the medium
vibrates at right angles to the direction of its propagation.
transversely adv. [L transvertere transvers- turn across (as
TRANS-, vertere turn)]
transvestism
n. the practice of wearing the clothes of the opposite sex,
esp. as a sexual stimulus. transvestist n. [G
Transvestismus f. TRANS- + L vestire clothe]
transvestite
n. a person given to transvestism.
trap(1) n. & v. --n. 1 a an enclosure or device, often baited, for
catching animals, usu. by affording a way in but not a way out.
b a device with bait for killing vermin, esp. = MOUSETRAP. 2 a
trick betraying a person into speech or an act (is this question
a trap?). 3 an arrangement to catch an unsuspecting person,
e.g. a speeding motorist. 4 a device for hurling an object such
as a clay pigeon into the air to be shot at. 5 a compartment
from which a greyhound is released at the start of a race. 6 a
shoe-shaped wooden device with a pivoted bar that sends a ball
from its heel into the air on being struck at the other end with
a bat. 7 a a curve in a downpipe etc. that fills with liquid
and forms a seal against the upward passage of gases. b a
device for preventing the passage of steam etc. 8 Golf a
bunker. 9 a device allowing pigeons to enter but not leave a
loft. 10 a two-wheeled carriage (a pony and trap). 11 =
TRAPDOOR. 12 sl. the mouth (esp. shut one's trap). 13 (esp.
in pl.) colloq. a percussion instrument esp. in a jazz band.
--v.tr. (trapped, trapping) 1 catch (an animal) in a trap. 2
catch or catch out (a person) by means of a trick, plan, etc. 3
stop and retain in or as in a trap. 4 provide (a place) with
traps. trap-ball a game played with a trap (see sense 6 of
n.). trap-shooter a person who practises trap-shooting.
trap-shooting the sport of shooting at objects released from a
trap. traplike adj. [OE treppe, trppe, rel. to MDu.
trappe, med.L trappa, of uncert. orig.]
trap(2) v.tr. (trapped, trapping) (often foll. by out) 1 provide with
trappings. 2 adorn. [obs. trap (n.): ME f. OF drap: see
DRAPE]
trap(3) n. (in full trap-rock) any dark-coloured igneous rock,
fine-grained and columnar in structure, esp. basalt. [Sw.
trapp f. trappa stair, f. the often stairlike appearance of its
outcroppings]
trapdoor n. a door or hatch in a floor, ceiling, or roof, usu. made
flush with the surface. trapdoor spider any of various
spiders, esp. of the family Ctenizidae, that make a hinged
trapdoor at the top of their nest.
trapes var. of TRAIPSE.
trapeze n. a crossbar or set of crossbars suspended by ropes used as a
swing for acrobatics etc. [F trapze f. LL trapezium: see
TRAPEZIUM]
trapezium n. (pl. trapezia or trapeziums) 1 Brit. a quadrilateral with
only one pair of sides parallel. 2 US = TRAPEZOID 1. [LL f. Gk
trapezion f. trapeza table]
trapezoid n. 1 Brit. a quadrilateral with no two sides parallel. 2 US =
TRAPEZIUM 1. trapezoidal adj. [mod.L trapezoides f. Gk
trapezoeides (as TRAPEZIUM)]
trapper n. a person who traps wild animals esp. to obtain furs.
trappings n.pl. 1 ornamental accessories, esp. as an indication of status
(the trappings of office). 2 the harness of a horse esp. when
ornamental. [ME (as TRAP(2))]
Trappist n. & adj. --n. a member of a branch of the Cistercian order
founded in 1664 at La Trappe in Normandy and noted for an
austere rule including a vow of silence. --adj. of or relating
to this order. [F trappiste f. La Trappe]
traps n.pl. colloq. personal belongings; baggage. [perh. contr. f.
TRAPPINGS]
trash n. & v. --n. 1 esp. US worthless or waste stuff; rubbish,
refuse. 2 a worthless person or persons. 3 a thing of poor
workmanship or material. 4 (in full cane-trash) W.Ind. the
refuse of crushed sugar canes and dried stripped leaves and tops
of sugar cane used as fuel. --v.tr. 1 esp. US colloq. wreck.
2 strip (sugar canes) of their outer leaves to speed up the
ripening process. 3 esp. US colloq. expose the worthless
nature of; disparage. trash can US a dustbin. trash-ice (on a
sea, lake, etc.) broken ice mixed with water. [16th c.: orig.
unkn.]
trass n. (also tarras) a light-coloured tuff used as cement-material.
[Du. trass, earlier terras, tiras f. Rmc: cf. TERRACE]
trattoria n. an Italian restaurant. [It.]
trauma n. (pl. traumata or traumas) 1 any physical wound or injury.
2 physical shock following this, characterized by a drop in body
temperature, mental confusion, etc. 3 Psychol. emotional shock
following a stressful event, sometimes leading to long-term
neurosis. traumatize v.tr. (also -ise). traumatization n.
[Gk trauma traumatos wound]
traumatic adj. 1 of or causing trauma. 2 colloq. (in general use)
distressing; emotionally disturbing (a traumatic experience). 3
of or for wounds. traumatically adv. [LL traumaticus f. Gk
traumatikos (as TRAUMA)]
traumatism
n. 1 the action of a trauma. 2 a condition produced by this.
travail n. & v. literary --n. 1 painful or laborious effort. 2 the
pangs of childbirth. --v.intr. undergo a painful effort, esp.
in childbirth. [ME f. OF travail, travaillier ult. f. med.L
trepalium instrument of torture f. L tres three + palus stake]
travel v. & n. --v.intr. & tr. (travelled, travelling; US traveled,
traveling) 1 intr. go from one place to another; make a journey
esp. of some length or abroad. 2 tr. a journey along or
through (a country). b cover (a distance) in travelling. 3
intr. colloq. withstand a long journey (wines that do not
travel). 4 intr. go from place to place as a salesman. 5 intr.
move or proceed in a specified manner or at a specified rate
(light travels faster than sound). 6 intr. colloq. move
quickly. 7 intr. pass esp. in a deliberate or systematic manner
from point to point (the photographer's eye travelled over the
scene). 8 intr. (of a machine or part) move or operate in a
specified way. 9 intr. (of deer etc.) move onwards in feeding.
--n. 1 a the act of travelling, esp. in foreign countries. b
(often in pl.) a spell of this (have returned from their
travels). 2 the range, rate, or mode of motion of a part in
machinery. travel agency (or bureau) an agency that makes the
necessary arrangements for travellers. travel agent a person or
firm acting as a travel agency. travelling crane a crane able
to move on rails, esp. along an overhead support.
travelling-rug a rug used for warmth on a journey. travelling
wave Physics a wave in which the medium moves in the direction
of propagation. travel-sick suffering from nausea caused by
motion in travelling. travel-sickness the condition of being
travel-sick. [ME, orig. = TRAVAIL]
travelled adj. experienced in travelling (also in comb.: much-travelled).
traveller n. (US traveler) 1 a person who travels or is travelling. 2 a
travelling salesman. 3 a Gypsy. 4 Austral. an itinerant
workman; a swagman. 5 a moving mechanism, esp. a travelling
crane. traveller's cheque (US check) a cheque for a fixed
amount that may be cashed on signature, usu. internationally.
traveller's joy a wild clematis, Clematis vitalba. traveller's
tale an incredible and probably untrue story.
travelogue
n. a film or illustrated lecture about travel. [TRAVEL after
monologue etc.]
traverse v. & n. --v. 1 tr. travel or lie across (traversed the
country; a pit traversed by a beam). 2 tr. consider or discuss
the whole extent of (a subject). 3 tr. turn (a large gun)
horizontally. 4 tr. Law deny (an allegation) in pleading. 5
tr. thwart, frustrate, or oppose (a plan or opinion). 6 intr.
(of the needle of a compass etc.) turn on or as on a pivot. 7
intr. (of a horse) walk obliquely. 8 intr. make a traverse in
climbing. --n. 1 a sideways movement. 2 an act of traversing.
3 a thing, esp. part of a structure, that crosses another. 4 a
gallery extending from side to side of a church or other
building. 5 a a single line of survey, usu. plotted from
compass bearings and chained or paced distances between angular
points. b a tract surveyed in this way. 6 Naut. a zigzag line
taken by a ship because of contrary winds or currents. 7 a
skier's similar movement on a slope. 8 the sideways movement of
a part in a machine. 9 a a sideways motion across a rock-face
from one practicable line of ascent or descent to another. b a
place where this is necessary. 10 Mil. a pair of right-angle
bends in a trench to avoid enfilading fire. 11 Law a denial,
esp. of an allegation of a matter of fact. 12 the act of
turning a large gun horizontally to the required direction.
traversable adj. traversal n. traverser n. [OF traverser f.
LL traversare, transversare (as TRANSVERSE)]
travertine
n. a white or light-coloured calcareous rock deposited from
springs. [It. travertino, tivertino f. L tiburtinus of Tibur
(Tivoli) near Rome]
travesty n. & v. --n. (pl. -ies) a grotesque misrepresentation or
imitation (a travesty of justice). --v.tr. (-ies, -ied) make
or be a travesty of. [(orig. adj.) f. F travesti past part. of
travestir disguise, change the clothes of, f. It. travestire
(as TRANS-, vestire clothe)]
travois n. (pl. same) a N. American Indian vehicle of two joined poles
pulled by a horse etc. for carrying a burden. [earlier travail
f. F, perh. the same word as TRAVAIL]
trawl v. & n. --v. 1 intr. a fish with a trawl or seine. b seek a
suitable candidate etc. by sifting through a large number. 2
tr. a catch by trawling. b seek a suitable candidate etc. from
(a certain area or group etc.) (trawled the schools for new
trainees). --n. 1 an act of trawling. 2 (in full trawl-net) a
large wide-mouthed fishing-net dragged by a boat along the
bottom. 3 (in full trawl-line) US a long sea-fishing line
buoyed and supporting short lines with baited hooks. [prob. f.
MDu. traghelen to drag (cf. traghel drag-net), perh. f. L
tragula]
trawler n. 1 a boat used for trawling. 2 a person who trawls.
tray n. 1 a flat shallow vessel usu. with a raised rim for carrying
dishes etc. or containing small articles, papers, etc. 2 a
shallow lidless box forming a compartment of a trunk. trayful
n. (pl. -fuls). [OE trig f. Gmc, rel. to TREE]
treacherous
adj. 1 guilty of or involving treachery. 2 (of the weather,
ice, the memory, etc.) not to be relied on; likely to fail or
give way. treacherously adv. treacherousness n. [ME f. OF
trecherous f. trecheor a cheat f. trechier, trichier: see
TRICK]
treachery n. (pl. -ies) 1 violation of faith or trust; betrayal. 2 an
instance of this.
treacle n. 1 esp. Brit. a a syrup produced in refining sugar. b
molasses. 2 cloying sentimentality or flattery. treacly adj.
[ME triacle f. OF f. L theriaca f. Gk theriake antidote against
venom, fem. of theriakos (adj.) f. therion wild beast]
tread v. & n. --v. (trod; trodden or trod) 1 intr. (often foll. by
on) a set down one's foot; walk or step (do not tread on the
grass; trod on a snail). b (of the foot) be set down. 2 tr. a
walk on. b (often foll. by down) press or crush with the feet.
3 tr. perform (steps etc.) by walking (trod a few paces). 4 tr.
make (a hole etc.) by treading. 5 intr. (foll. by on) suppress;
subdue mercilessly. 6 tr. make a track with (dirt etc.) from
the feet. 7 tr. (often foll. by in, into) press down into the
ground with the feet (trod dirt into the carpet). 8 tr. (also
absol.) (of a male bird) copulate with (a hen). --n. 1 a
manner or sound of walking (recognized the heavy tread). 2 (in
full tread-board) the top surface of a step or stair. 3 the
thick moulded part of a vehicle tyre for gripping the road. 4 a
the part of a wheel that touches the ground or rail. b the part
of a rail that the wheels touch. 5 the part of the sole of a
shoe that rests on the ground. 6 (of a male bird) copulation.
tread the boards (or stage) be an actor; appear on the stage.
tread on air see AIR. tread on a person's toes offend a person
or encroach on a person's privileges etc. tread out 1 stamp out
(a fire etc.). 2 press out (wine or grain) with the feet.
tread water maintain an upright position in the water by moving
the feet with a walking movement and the hands with a downward
circular motion. tread-wheel a treadmill or similar appliance.
treader n. [OE tredan f. WG]
treadle n. & v. --n. a lever worked by the foot and imparting motion to
a machine. --v.intr. work a treadle. [OE tredel stair (as
TREAD)]
treadmill n. 1 a device for producing motion by the weight of persons or
animals stepping on movable steps on the inner surface of a
revolving upright wheel. 2 monotonous routine work.
treadwheel
n. = TREADMILL 1.
treason n. 1 (in full high treason: see note below) violation by a
subject of allegiance to the sovereign or to the State, esp. by
attempting to kill or overthrow the sovereign or to overthrow
the government. 2 (in full petty treason) hist. murder of one's
master or husband, regarded as a form of treason. The crime of
petty treason was abolished in 1828; the term high treason,
originally distinguished from petty treason, now has the same
meaning as treason. treasonous adj. [ME f. AF treisoun etc.,
OF trason, f. L traditio handing over (as TRADITION)]
treasonable
adj. involving or guilty of treason. treasonably adv.
treasure n. & v. --n. 1 a precious metals or gems. b a hoard of these.
c accumulated wealth. 2 a thing valued for its rarity,
workmanship, associations, etc. (art treasures). 3 colloq. a
much loved or highly valued person. --v.tr. 1 (often foll. by
up) store up as valuable. 2 value (esp. a long-kept possession)
highly. treasure hunt 1 a search for treasure. 2 a game in
which players seek a hidden object from a series of clues.
treasure trove Law treasure of unknown ownership found hidden.
[ME f. OF tresor, ult. f. Gk thesauros: see THESAURUS]
treasurer n. 1 a person appointed to administer the funds of a society or
municipality etc. 2 an officer authorized to receive and
disburse public revenues. treasurership n. [ME f. AF
tresorer, OF tresorier f. tresor (see TREASURE) after LL
thesaurarius]
treasury n. (pl. -ies) 1 a place or building where treasure is stored.
2 the funds or revenue of a State, institution, or society. 3
(Treasury) a the department managing the public revenue of a
country. b the offices and officers of this. c the place where
the public revenues are kept. Treasury bench (in the UK) the
front bench in the House of Commons occupied by the Prime
Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer, etc. treasury bill a
bill of exchange issued by the government to raise money for
temporary needs. treasury note US & hist. a note issued by the
Treasury for use as currency. [ME f. OF tresorie (as TREASURE)]
treat v. & n. --v. 1 tr. act or behave towards or deal with (a
person or thing) in a certain way (treated me kindly; treat it
as a joke). 2 tr. deal with or apply a process to; act upon to
obtain a particular result (treat it with acid). 3 tr. apply
medical care or attention to. 4 tr. present or deal with (a
subject) in literature or art. 5 tr. (often foll. by to)
provide with food or drink or entertainment at one's own expense
(treated us to dinner). 6 intr. (often foll. by with) negotiate
terms (with a person). 7 intr. (often foll. by of) give a
spoken or written exposition. --n. 1 an event or circumstance
(esp. when unexpected or unusual) that gives great pleasure. 2
a meal, entertainment, etc., provided by one person for the
enjoyment of another or others. 3 (prec. by a) extremely good
or well (they looked a treat; has come on a treat). treatable
adj. treater n. treating n. [ME f. AF treter, OF traitier f.
L tractare handle, frequent. of trahere tract- draw, pull]
treatise n. a written work dealing formally and systematically with a
subject. [ME f. AF tretis f. OF traitier TREAT]
treatment n. 1 a process or manner of behaving towards or dealing with a
person or thing (received rough treatment). 2 the application
of medical care or attention to a patient. 3 a manner of
treating a subject in literature or art. 4 (prec. by the)
colloq. the customary way of dealing with a person, situation,
etc. (got the full treatment).
treaty n. (pl. -ies) 1 a formally concluded and ratified agreement
between States. 2 an agreement between individuals or parties,
esp. for the purchase of property. treaty port hist. a port
that a country was bound by treaty to keep open to foreign
trade. [ME f. AF tret f. L tractatus TRACTATE]
treble adj., n., & v. --adj. 1 a threefold. b triple. c three times
as much or many (treble the amount). 2 (of a voice)
high-pitched. 3 Mus. = SOPRANO (esp. of an instrument or with
ref. to a boy's voice). --n. 1 a treble quantity or thing. 2
Darts a hit on the narrow ring enclosed by the two middle
circles of a dartboard, scoring treble. 3 a Mus. = SOPRANO
(esp. a boy's voice or part, or an instrument). b a
high-pitched voice. 4 the high-frequency output of a radio,
record-player, etc., corresponding to the treble in music. 5 a
system of betting in which the winnings and stake from the first
bet are transferred to a second and then (if successful) to a
third. 6 Sport three victories or championships in the same
game, sport, etc. --v. 1 tr. & intr. make or become three
times as much or many; increase threefold; multiply by three. 2
tr. amount to three times as much as. treble chance a method
of competing in a football pool in which the chances of winning
depend on the number of draws and home and away wins predicted
by the competitors. treble clef a clef placing G above middle C
on the second lowest line of the staff. treble rhyme a rhyme
including three syllables. trebly adv. (in sense 1 of adj.).
[ME f. OF f. L triplus TRIPLE]
trebuchet n. (also trebucket) hist. 1 a military machine used in siege
warfare for throwing stones etc. 2 a tilting balance for
accurately weighing light articles. [ME f. OF f. trebucher
overthrow, ult. f. Frank.]
trecento n. the style of Italian art and literature of the 14th c.
trecentist n. [It., = 300 used with reference to the years
1300-99]
tree n. & v. 1 a a perennial plant with a woody self-supporting main
stem or trunk when mature and usu. unbranched for some distance
above the ground (cf. SHRUB(1)). b any similar plant having a
tall erect usu. single stem, e.g. palm tree. 2 a piece or frame
of wood etc. for various purposes (shoe-tree). 3 archaic or
poet. a a gibbet. b a cross, esp. the one used for Christ's
crucifixion. 4 (in full tree diagram) Math. a diagram with a
structure of branching connecting lines. 5 = family tree.
--v.tr. 1 force to take refuge in a tree. 2 esp. US put into
a difficult position. 3 stretch on a shoe-tree. grow on trees
(usu. with neg.) be plentiful. tree agate agate with treelike
markings. tree calf a calf binding for books stained with a
treelike design. tree-fern a large fern, esp. of the family
Cyatheaceae, with an upright trunklike stem. tree frog any
arboreal tailless amphibian, esp. of the family Hylidae,
climbing by means of adhesive discs on its digits. tree hopper
any insect of the family Membracidae, living in trees. tree
house a structure in a tree for children to play in. tree line
= TIMBERLINE. tree of heaven an ornamental Asian tree,
Ailanthus altissima, with evil-smelling flowers. tree of
knowledge the branches of knowledge as a whole. tree of life =
ARBOR VITAE. tree ring a ring in a cross section of a tree,
from one year's growth. tree shrew any small insect-eating
arboreal mammal of the family Tupaiidae having a pointed nose
and bushy tail. tree sparrow 1 Brit. a sparrow, Passer
montanus, inhabiting woodland areas. 2 US a N. American finch,
Spizella arborea, inhabiting grassland areas. tree surgeon a
person who treats decayed trees in order to preserve them. tree
surgery the art or practice of such treatment. tree toad = tree
frog. tree tomato a South American shrub, Cyphomandra betacea,
with egg-shaped red fruit. tree-trunk the trunk of a tree. up
a tree esp. US cornered; nonplussed. treeless adj.
treelessness n. tree-like adj. [OE treow f. Gmc]
treecreeper
n. any small creeping bird, esp. of the family Certhiidae,
feeding on insects in the bark of trees.
treen n. (treated as pl.) small domestic wooden objects, esp.
antiques. [treen (adj.) wooden f. OE treowen (as TREE)]
treenail n. (also trenail) a hard wooden pin for securing timbers etc.
treetop n. the topmost part of a tree.
trefa adj. (also tref and other variants) not kosher. [Heb. terepah
the flesh of an animal torn f. tarap rend]
trefoil n. & adj. --n. 1 any leguminous plant of the genus Trifolium,
with leaves of three leaflets and flowers of various colours,
esp. clover. 2 any plant with similar leaves. 3 a three-lobed
ornamentation, esp. in tracery windows. 4 a thing arranged in
or with three lobes. --adj. of or concerning a three-lobed
plant, window tracery, etc. trefoiled adj. (also in comb.).
[ME f. AF trifoil f. L trifolium (as TRI-, folium leaf)]
trek v. & n. orig. S.Afr. --v.intr. (trekked, trekking) 1 travel
or make one's way arduously (trekking through the forest). 2
esp. hist. migrate or journey with one's belongings by
ox-wagon. 3 (of an ox) draw a vehicle or pull a load. --n. 1
a a journey or walk made by trekking (it was a trek to the
nearest launderette). b each stage of such a journey. 2 an
organized migration of a body of persons. trekker n. [S.Afr.
Du. trek (n.), trekken (v.) draw, travel]
trellis n. & v. --n. (in full trellis-work) a lattice or grating of
light wooden or metal bars used esp. as a support for
fruit-trees or creepers and often fastened against a wall.
--v.tr. (trellised, trellising) 1 provide with a trellis. 2
support (a vine etc.) with a trellis. [ME f. OF trelis, trelice
ult. f. L trilix three-ply (as TRI-, licium warp-thread)]
trematode n. any parasitic flatworm of the class Trematoda, esp. a fluke,
equipped with hooks or suckers, e.g. a liver fluke. [mod.L
Trematoda f. Gk trematodes perforated f. trema hole]
tremble v. & n. --v.intr. 1 shake involuntarily from fear, excitement,
weakness, etc. 2 be in a state of extreme apprehension
(trembled at the very thought of it). 3 move in a quivering
manner (leaves trembled in the breeze). --n. 1 a trembling
state or movement; a quiver (couldn't speak without a tremble).
2 (in pl.) a disease (esp. of cattle) marked by trembling. all
of a tremble colloq. 1 trembling all over. 2 extremely
agitated. trembling poplar an aspen. tremblingly adv. [ME
f. OF trembler f. med.L tremulare f. L tremulus TREMULOUS]
trembler n. an automatic vibrator for making and breaking an electrical
circuit.
tremendous
adj. 1 awe-inspiring, fearful, overpowering. 2 colloq.
remarkable, considerable, excellent (a tremendous explosion;
gave a tremendous performance). tremendously adv.
tremendousness n. [L tremendus, gerundive of tremere tremble]
tremolo n. Mus. 1 a tremulous effect in playing stringed and keyboard
instruments or singing, esp. by rapid reiteration of a note; in
other instruments, by rapid alternation between two notes (cf.
VIBRATO). 2 a device in an organ producing a tremulous effect.
[It. (as TREMULOUS)]
tremor n. & v. --n. 1 a shaking or quivering. 2 a thrill (of fear or
exultation etc.). 3 (in full earth tremor) a slight earthquake.
--v.intr. undergo a tremor or tremors. [ME f. OF tremour & L
tremor f. tremere tremble]
tremulous adj. 1 trembling or quivering (in a tremulous voice). 2 (of a
line etc.) drawn by a tremulous hand. 3 timid or vacillating.
tremulously adv. tremulousness n. [L tremulus f. tremere
tremble]
trenail var. of TREENAIL.
trench n. & v. --n. 1 a long narrow usu. deep depression or ditch. 2
Mil. a this dug by troops to stand in and be sheltered from
enemy fire. b (in pl.) a defensive system of these. 3 a long
narrow deep depression in the ocean bed. --v. 1 tr. dig a
trench or trenches in (the ground). 2 tr. turn over the earth
of (a field, garden, etc.) by digging a succession of adjoining
ditches. 3 intr. (foll. by on, upon) archaic a encroach. b
verge or border closely. trench coat 1 a soldier's lined or
padded waterproof coat. 2 a loose belted raincoat. trench
fever a highly infectious disease transmitted by lice, that
infested soldiers in the trenches in the war of 1914-18. trench
mortar a light simple mortar throwing a bomb from one's own into
the enemy trenches. trench warfare hostilities carried on from
more or less permanent trenches. [ME f. OF trenche (n.)
trenchier (v.), ult. f. L truncare TRUNCATE]
trenchant adj. 1 (of a style or language etc.) incisive, terse, vigorous.
2 archaic or poet. sharp, keen. trenchancy n. trenchantly
adv. [ME f. OF, part. of trenchier: see TRENCH]
trencher n. 1 hist. a wooden or earthenware platter for serving food. 2
(in full trencher cap) a stiff square academic cap; a
mortarboard. [ME f. AF trenchour, OF trencheoir f. trenchier:
see TRENCH]
trencherman
n. (pl. -men) a person who eats well, or in a specified manner
(a good trencherman).
trend n. & v. --n. a general direction and tendency (esp. of events,
fashion, or opinion etc.). --v.intr. 1 bend or turn away in a
specified direction. 2 be chiefly directed; have a general and
continued tendency. trend-setter a person who leads the way in
fashion etc. trend-setting establishing trends or fashions.
[ME 'revolve' etc. f. OE trendan f. Gmc: cf. TRUNDLE]
trendy adj. & n. colloq. --adj. (trendier, trendiest) often derog.
fashionable; following fashionable trends. --n. (pl. -ies) a
fashionable person. trendily adv. trendiness n.
trente-et-quarante
n. = rouge-et-noir. [F, = thirty and forty]
trepan n. & v. --n. 1 a cylindrical saw formerly used by surgeons for
removing part of the bone of the skull. 2 a borer for sinking
shafts. --v.tr. (trepanned, trepanning) perforate (the skull)
with a trepan. trepanation n. trepanning n. [ME f. med.L
trepanum f. Gk trupanon f. trupao bore f. trupe hole]
trepang n. = BCHE-DE-MER 1. [Malay tripang]
trephine n. & v. --n. an improved form of trepan with a guiding
centre-pin. --v.tr. operate on with this. trephination n.
[orig. trafine, f. L tres fines three ends, app. formed after
TREPAN]
trepidation
n. 1 a feeling of fear or alarm; perturbation of the mind. 2
tremulous agitation. 3 the trembling of limbs, e.g. in
paralysis. [L trepidatio f. trepidare be agitated, tremble, f.
trepidus alarmed]
trespass v. & n. --v.intr. 1 (usu. foll. by on, upon) make an unlawful
or unwarrantable intrusion (esp. on land or property). 2 (foll.
by on) make unwarrantable claims (shall not trespass on your
hospitality). 3 (foll. by against) literary or archaic offend.
--n. 1 Law a voluntary wrongful act against the person or
property of another, esp. unlawful entry to a person's land or
property. 2 archaic a sin or offence. trespass on a person's
preserves meddle in another person's affairs. trespasser n.
[ME f. OF trespasser pass over, trespass, trespas (n.), f. med.L
transpassare (as TRANS-, PASS(1))]
tress n. & v. --n. 1 a long lock of human (esp. female) hair. 2 (in
pl.) a woman's or girl's head of hair. --v.tr. arrange (hair)
in tresses. tressed adj. (also in comb.). tressy adj. [ME
f. OF tresse, perh. ult. f. Gk trikha threefold]
tressure n. Heraldry a narrow orle. [ME, orig. = hair-ribbon, f. OF
tressour etc. (as TRESS)]
trestle n. 1 a supporting structure for a table etc., consisting of two
frames fixed at an angle or hinged or of a bar supported by two
divergent pairs of legs. 2 (in full trestle-table) a table
consisting of a board or boards laid on trestles or other
supports. 3 (in full trestle-work) an open braced framework to
support a bridge etc. 4 (in full trestle-tree) Naut. each of a
pair of horizontal pieces on a lower mast supporting the topmast
etc. [ME f. OF trestel ult. f. L transtrum]
tret n. hist. an allowance of extra weight formerly made to
purchasers of some goods for waste in transportation. [ME f. AF
& OF, var. of trait draught: see TRAIT]
trevally n. (pl. -ies) any Australian fish of the genus Caranx, used as
food. [prob. alt. f. cavally, a kind of fish, f. Sp. caballo
horse f. L (as CAVALRY)]
trey n. (pl. treys) the three on dice or cards. [ME f. OF trei,
treis three f. L tres]
TRH abbr. Their Royal Highnesses.
tri- comb. form forming nouns and adjectives meaning: 1 three or
three times. 2 Chem. (forming the names of compounds)
containing three atoms or groups of a specified kind
(triacetate). [L & Gk f. L tres, Gk treis three]
triable adj. 1 liable to a judicial trial. 2 that may be tried or
attempted. [ME f. AF (as TRY)]
triacetate
n. a cellulose derivative containing three acetate groups, esp.
as a base for man-made fibres.
triad n. 1 a group of three (esp. notes in a chord). 2 the number
three. 3 a Chinese secret society, usu. criminal. 4 a Welsh
form of literary composition with an arrangement in groups of
three. triadic adj. triadically adv. [F triade or LL trias
triad- f. Gk trias -ados f. treis three]
triadelphous
adj. Bot. having stamens united in three bundles. [TRI- + Gk
adelphos brother]
triage n. 1 the act of sorting according to quality. 2 the assignment
of degrees of urgency to decide the order of treatment of
wounds, illnesses, etc. [F f. trier: cf. TRY]
trial n. 1 a judicial examination and determination of issues between
parties by a judge with or without a jury (stood trial for
murder). 2 a a process or mode of testing qualities. b
experimental treatment. c a test (will give you a trial). 3 a
trying thing or experience or person, esp. hardship or trouble
(the trials of old age). 4 a sports match to test the ability
of players eligible for selection to a team. 5 a test of
individual ability on a motor cycle over rough ground or on a
road. 6 any of various contests involving performance by
horses, dogs, or other animals. on trial 1 being tried in a
court of law. 2 being tested; to be chosen or retained only if
suitable. trial and error repeated (usu. varied and
unsystematic) attempts or experiments continued until
successful. trial balance (of a ledger in double-entry
bookkeeping), a comparison of the totals on either side, the
inequality of which reveals errors in posting. trial jury =
petty jury. trial run a preliminary test of a vehicle, vessel,
machine, etc. [AF trial, triel f. trier TRY]
trialist n. 1 a person who takes part in a sports trial, motor-cycle
trial, etc. 2 a person involved in a judicial trial.
triandrous
adj. Bot. having three stamens.
triangle n. 1 a plane figure with three sides and angles. 2 any three
things not in a straight line, with imaginary lines joining
them. 3 an implement of this shape. 4 a musical instrument
consisting of a steel rod bent into a triangle and sounded by
striking it with a small steel rod. 5 a situation, esp. an
emotional relationship, involving three people. 6 a
right-angled triangle of wood etc. as a drawing-implement. 7
Naut. a device of three spars for raising weights. 8 hist. a
frame of three halberds joined at the top to which a soldier was
bound for flogging. triangle of forces a triangle whose sides
represent in magnitude and direction three forces in
equilibrium. [ME f. OF triangle or L triangulum neut. of
triangulus three-cornered (as TRI-, ANGLE(1))]
triangular
adj. 1 triangle-shaped, three-cornered. 2 (of a contest or
treaty etc.) between three persons or parties. 3 (of a pyramid)
having a three-sided base. triangularity n. triangularly
adv. [LL triangularis (as TRIANGLE)]
triangulate
v. & adj. --v.tr. 1 divide (an area) into triangles for
surveying purposes. 2 a measure and map (an area) by the use of
triangles with a known base length and base angles. b determine
(a height, distance, etc.) in this way. --adj. Zool. marked
with triangles. triangulately adv. triangulation n. [L
triangulatus triangular (as TRIANGLE)]
Triassic adj. & n. Geol. --adj. of or relating to the earliest period
of the Mesozoic era with evidence of an abundance of reptiles
(including the earliest dinosaurs) and the emergence of mammals.
Cf. Appendix II. --n. this period or system. [LL trias (as
TRIAD), because the strata are divisible into three groups]
triathlon n. an athletic contest consisting of three different events.
triathlete n. [TRI- after DECATHLON]
triatomic adj. Chem. 1 having three atoms (of a specified kind) in the
molecule. 2 having three replacement atoms or radicals.
triaxial adj. having three axes.
tribade n. a woman who takes part in a simulation of sexual intercourse
with another woman. tribadism n. [F tribade or L tribas f.
Gk f. tribo rub]
tribal adj. of, relating to, or characteristic of a tribe or tribes.
tribally adv.
tribalism n. tribal organization. tribalist n. tribalistic adj.
tribasic adj. Chem. (of an acid) having three replaceable hydrogen
atoms.
tribe n. 1 a group of (esp. primitive) families or communities,
linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, and usu.
having a common culture and dialect, and a recognized leader. 2
any similar natural or political division. 3 Rom.Hist. each of
the political divisions of the Roman people. 4 each of the 12
divisions of the Israelites. 5 usu. derog. a set or number of
persons esp. of one profession etc. or family (the whole tribe
of actors). 6 Biol. a group of organisms usu. ranking between
genus and the subfamily. 7 (in pl.) large numbers. [ME, orig.
in pl. form tribuz, tribus f. OF or L tribus (sing. & pl.)]
tribesman n. (pl. -men) a member of a tribe or of one's own tribe.
triblet n. a mandrel used in making tubes, rings, etc. [F triboulet,
of unkn. orig.]
tribo- comb. form rubbing, friction. [Gk tribos rubbing]
triboelectricity
n. the generation of an electric charge by friction.
tribology n. the study of friction, wear, lubrication, and the design of
bearings; the science of interacting surfaces in relative
motion. tribologist n.
triboluminescence
n. the emission of light from a substance when rubbed,
scratched, etc. triboluminescent adj.
tribometer
n. an instrument for measuring friction in sliding.
tribrach n. Prosody a foot of three short or unstressed syllables.
tribrachic adj. [L tribrachys f. Gk tribrakhus (as TRI-,
brakhus short)]
tribulation
n. 1 great affliction or oppression. 2 a cause of this (was a
real tribulation to me). [ME f. OF f. eccl.L tribulatio -onis
f. L tribulare press, oppress, f. tribulum sledge for
threshing, f. terere trit- rub]
tribunal n. 1 Brit. a board appointed to adjudicate in some matter, esp.
one appointed by the government to investigate a matter of
public concern. 2 a court of justice. 3 a seat or bench for a
judge or judges. 4 a a place of judgement. b judicial
authority (the tribunal of public opinion). [F tribunal or L
tribunus (as TRIBUNE(2))]
tribune(1)
n. 1 a popular leader or demagogue. 2 (in full tribune of the
people) an official in ancient Rome chosen by the people to
protect their interests. 3 (in full military tribune) a Roman
legionary officer. tribunate n. tribuneship n. [ME f. L
tribunus, prob. f. tribus tribe]
tribune(2)
n. 1 a a bishop's throne in a basilica. b an apse containing
this. 2 a dais or rostrum. 3 a raised area with seats. [F f.
It. f. med.L tribuna TRIBUNAL]
tributary n. & adj. --n. (pl. -ies) 1 a river or stream flowing into a
larger river or lake. 2 hist. a person or State paying or
subject to tribute. --adj. 1 (of a river etc.) that is a
tributary. 2 hist. a paying tribute. b serving as tribute.
tributarily adv. tributariness n. [ME f. L tributarius (as
TRIBUTE)]
tribute n. 1 a thing said or done or given as a mark of respect or
affection etc. (paid tribute to their achievements; floral
tributes). 2 hist. a a payment made periodically by one State
or ruler to another, esp. as a sign of dependence. b an
obligation to pay this (was laid under tribute). 3 (foll. by
to) an indication of (some praiseworthy quality) (their success
is a tribute to their perseverance). 4 a proportion of ore or
its equivalent paid to a miner for his work, or to the owner of
a mine. [ME f. L tributum neut. past part. of tribuere tribut-
assign, orig. divide between tribes (tribus)]
tricar n. Brit. a three-wheeled motor car.
trice n. in a trice in a moment; instantly. [ME trice (v.) pull,
haul f. MDu. trisen, MLG trissen, rel. to MDu. trise windlass,
pulley]
tricentenary
n. (pl. -ies) = TERCENTENARY.
triceps adj. & n. --adj. (of a muscle) having three heads or points of
attachment. --n. any triceps muscle, esp. the large muscle at
the back of the upper arm. [L, = three-headed (as TRI-, -ceps
f. caput head)]
triceratops
n. a plant-eating dinosaur with three sharp horns on the
forehead and a wavy-edged collar round the neck. [mod.L f. Gk
trikeratos three-horned + ops face]
trichiasis
n. Med. ingrowth or introversion of the eyelashes. [LL f. Gk
trikhiasis f. trikhiao be hairy]
trichina n. (pl. trichinae) any hairlike parasitic nematode worm of the
genus Trichinella, esp. T. spiralis, the adults of which live
in the small intestine, and whose larvae become encysted in the
muscle tissue of humans and flesh-eating animals. trichinous
adj. [mod.L f. Gk trikhinos of hair: see TRICHO-]
trichinosis
n. a disease caused by trichinae, usu. ingested in meat, and
characterized by digestive disturbance, fever, and muscular
rigidity.
tricho- comb. form hair. [Gk thrix trikhos hair]
trichogenous
adj. causing or promoting the growth of hair.
trichology
n. the study of the structure, functions, and diseases of the
hair. trichologist n.
trichome n. Bot. a hair, scale, prickle, or other outgrowth from the
epidermis of a plant. [Gk trikhoma f. trikhoo cover with hair
(as TRICHO-)]
trichomonad
n. any flagellate protozoan of the genus Trichomonas, parasitic
in humans, cattle, and fowls.
trichomoniasis
n. any of various infections caused by trichomonads parasitic
on the urinary tract, vagina, or digestive system.
trichopathy
n. the treatment of diseases of the hair. trichopathic adj.
trichotomy
n. (pl. -ies) a division (esp. sharply defined) into three
categories, esp. of human nature into body, soul, and spirit.
trichotomic adj. [Gk trikha threefold f. treis three, after
DICHOTOMY]
trichroic adj. (esp. of a crystal viewed in different directions) showing
three colours. trichroism n. [Gk trikhroos (as TRI-, khros
colour)]
trichromatic
adj. 1 having or using three colours. 2 (of vision) having the
normal three colour-sensations, i.e. red, green, and purple.
trichromatism n.
trick n. & v. --n. 1 an action or scheme undertaken to fool, outwit,
or deceive. 2 an optical or other illusion (a trick of the
light). 3 a special technique; a knack or special way of doing
something. 4 a a feat of skill or dexterity. b an unusual
action (e.g. begging) learned by an animal. 5 a mischievous,
foolish, or discreditable act; a practical joke (a mean trick to
play). 6 a peculiar or characteristic habit or mannerism (has a
trick of repeating himself). 7 a the cards played in a single
round of a card-game, usu. one from each player. b such a
round. c a point gained as a result of this. 8 (attrib.) done
to deceive or mystify or to create an illusion (trick
photography; trick question). 9 Naut. a sailor's turn at the
helm, usu. two hours. --v.tr. 1 deceive by a trick; outwit. 2
(often foll. by out of, or into + verbal noun) cheat; treat
deceitfully so as to deprive (were tricked into agreeing; were
tricked out of their savings). 3 (of a thing) foil or baffle;
take by surprise; disappoint the calculations of. do the trick
colloq. accomplish one's purpose; achieve the required result.
how's tricks? colloq. how are you? not miss a trick see
MISS(1). trick cyclist 1 a cyclist who performs tricks, esp. in
a circus. 2 sl. a psychiatrist. trick of the trade a special
usu. ingenious technique or method of achieving a result in an
industry or profession etc. trick or treat esp. US a
children's custom of calling at houses at Hallowe'en with the
threat of pranks if they are not given a small gift. trick out
(or up) dress, decorate, or deck out esp. showily. up to one's
tricks colloq. misbehaving. up to a person's tricks aware of
what a person is likely to do by way of mischief. tricker n.
trickish adj. trickless adj. [ME f. OF dial. trique, OF
triche f. trichier deceive, of unkn. orig.]
trickery n. (pl. -ies) 1 the practice or an instance of deception. 2
the use of tricks.
trickle v. & n. --v. 1 intr. & tr. flow or cause to flow in drops or a
small stream (water trickled through the crack). 2 tr. come or
go slowly or gradually (information trickles out). --n. a
trickling flow. trickle charger an electrical charger for
batteries that works at a steady slow rate from the mains. [ME
trekel, trikle, prob. imit.]
trickster n. a deceiver or rogue.
tricksy adj. (tricksier, tricksiest) full of tricks; playful.
tricksily adv. tricksiness n. [TRICK: for -sy cf. FLIMSY,
TIPSY]
tricky adj. (trickier, trickiest) 1 difficult or intricate; requiring
care and adroitness (a tricky job). 2 crafty or deceitful. 3
resourceful or adroit. trickily adv. trickiness n.
triclinic adj. 1 (of a mineral) having three unequal oblique axes. 2
denoting the system classifying triclinic crystalline
substances. [Gk TRI- + klino incline]
triclinium
n. (pl. triclinia) Rom. Antiq. 1 a dining-table with couches
along three sides. 2 a room containing this. [L f. Gk
triklinion (as TRI-, kline couch)]
tricolour n. & adj. (US tricolor) --n. a flag of three colours, esp. the
French national flag of blue, white, and red. --adj. (also
tricoloured) having three colours. [F tricolore f. LL tricolor
(as TRI-, COLOUR)]
tricorn adj. & n. (also tricorne) --adj. 1 having three horns. 2 (of
a hat) having a brim turned up on three sides. --n. 1 an
imaginary animal with three horns. 2 a tricorn hat. [F
tricorne or L tricornis (as TRI-, cornu horn)]
tricot n. 1 a a hand-knitted woollen fabric. b an imitation of this.
2 a ribbed woollen cloth. [F, = knitting f. tricoter knit, of
unkn. orig.]
tricrotic adj. (of the pulse) having a triple beat. [TRI- after
DICROTIC]
tricuspid n. & adj. --n. 1 a tooth with three cusps or points. 2 a
heart-valve formed of three triangular segments. --adj. (of a
tooth) having three cusps or points.
tricycle n. & v. --n. 1 a vehicle having three wheels, two on an axle
at the back and one at the front, driven by pedals in the same
way as a bicycle. 2 a three-wheeled motor vehicle for a
disabled driver. --v.intr. ride on a tricycle. tricyclist n.
tridactyl adj. (also tridactylous) having three fingers or toes.
trident n. 1 a three-pronged spear, esp. as an attribute of Poseidon
(Neptune) or Britannia. 2 (Trident) a US type of
submarine-launched ballistic missile. [L tridens trident- (as
TRI-, dens tooth)]
tridentate
adj. having three teeth or prongs. [TRI- + L dentatus toothed]
Tridentine
adj. & n. --adj. of or relating to the Council of Trent, held
at Trento in Italy 1545-63, esp. as the basis of Roman Catholic
doctrine. --n. a Roman Catholic adhering to this traditional
doctrine. Tridentine mass the eucharistic liturgy used by the
Roman Catholic Church from 1570 to 1964. [med.L Tridentinus f.
Tridentum Trent]
triduum n. RC Ch. esp. hist. three days' prayer in preparation for a
saint's day or other religious occasion. [L (as TRI-, dies
day)]
tridymite n. a crystallized form of silica, occurring in cavities of
volcanic rocks. [G Tridymit f. Gk tridumos threefold (as TRI-,
didumos twin), from its occurrence in groups of three crystals]
tried past and past part. of TRY.
triennial adj. & n. --adj. 1 lasting three years. 2 recurring every
three years. --n. a visitation of an Anglican diocese by its
bishop every three years. triennially adv. [LL triennis (as
TRI-, L annus year)]
triennium n. (pl. trienniums or triennia) a period of three years. [L
(as TRIENNIAL)]
trier n. 1 a person who perseveres (is a real trier). 2 a tester,
esp. of foodstuffs. 3 a person appointed to decide whether a
challenge to a juror is well-founded.
trifacial nerve
n. = TRIGEMINAL NERVE.
trifecta n. US, Austral., & NZ a form of betting in which the first
three places in a race must be predicted in the correct order.
[TRI- + PERFECTA]
trifid adj. esp. Biol. partly or wholly split into three divisions or
lobes. [L trifidus (as TRI-, findere fid- split)]
trifle n. & v. --n. 1 a thing of slight value or importance. 2 a a
small amount esp. of money (was sold for a trifle). b (prec. by
a) somewhat (seems a trifle annoyed). 3 Brit. a confection of
sponge cake with custard, jelly, fruit, cream, etc. --v. 1
intr. talk or act frivolously. 2 intr. (foll. by with) a treat
or deal with frivolously or derisively; flirt heartlessly with.
b refuse to take seriously. 3 tr. (foll. by away) waste (time,
energies, money, etc.) frivolously. trifler n. [ME f. OF
truf(f)le by-form of trufe deceit, of unkn. orig.]
trifocal adj. & n. --adj. having three focuses, esp. of a lens with
different focal lengths. --n. (in pl.) trifocal spectacles.
trifoliate
adj. 1 (of a compound leaf) having three leaflets. 2 (of a
plant) having such leaves.
triforium n. (pl. triforia) a gallery or arcade above the arches of the
nave, choir, and transepts of a church. [AL, of unkn. orig.]
triform adj. (also triformed) 1 formed of three parts. 2 having three
forms or bodies.
trifurcate
v. & adj. --v.tr. & intr. divide into three branches. --adj.
divided into three branches.
trig(1) n. colloq. trigonometry. [abbr.]
trig(2) adj. & v. archaic or dial. --adj. trim or spruce. --v.tr.
(trigged, trigging) make trim; smarten. [ME, = trusty, f. ON
tryggr, rel. to TRUE]
trigamous adj. 1 a three times married. b having three wives or husbands
at once. 2 Bot. having male, female, and hermaphrodite flowers
in the same head. trigamist n. trigamy n. [Gk trigamos (as
TRI-, gamos marriage)]
trigeminal nerve
n. Anat. the largest cranial nerve which divides into the
ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular nerves. trigeminal
neuralgia Med. neuralgia involving one or more of these
branches, and often causing severe pain. [as TRIGEMINUS]
trigeminus
n. (pl. trigemini) the trigeminal nerve. [L, = born as a
triplet (as TRI-, geminus born at the same birth)]
trigger n. & v. --n. 1 a movable device for releasing a spring or
catch and so setting off a mechanism (esp. that of a gun). 2 an
event, occurrence, etc., that sets off a chain reaction.
--v.tr. 1 (often foll. by off) set (an action or process) in
motion; initiate, precipitate. 2 fire (a gun) by the use of a
trigger. quick on the trigger quick to respond. trigger fish
any usu. tropical marine fish of the family Balistidae with a
first dorsal fin-spine which can be depressed by pressing on the
second. trigger-happy apt to shoot without or with slight
provocation. triggered adj. [17th-c. tricker f. Du.
trekker f. trekken pull: cf. TREK]
triglyph n. Archit. each of a series of tablets with three vertical
grooves, alternating with metopes in a Doric frieze.
triglyphic adj. triglyphical adj. [L triglyphus f. Gk
trigluphos (as TRI-, gluphe carving)]
trigon n. 1 a triangle. 2 an ancient triangular lyre or harp. 3 the
cutting region of an upper molar tooth. [L trigonum f. Gk
trigonon neuter of trigonos three-cornered (as TRI-, -GON)]
trigonal adj. 1 triangular; of or relating to a triangle. 2 Biol.
triangular in cross-section. 3 (of a crystal etc.) having an
axis with threefold symmetry. trigonally adv. [med.L
trigonalis (as TRIGON)]
trigonometry
n. the branch of mathematics dealing with the relations of the
sides and angles of triangles and with the relevant functions of
any angles. trigonometric adj. trigonometrical adj. [mod.L
trigonometria (as TRIGON, -METRY)]
trigraph n. (also trigram) 1 a group of three letters representing one
sound. 2 a figure of three lines.
trigynous adj. Bot. having three pistils.
trihedral adj. having three surfaces.
trihedron n. a figure of three intersecting planes.
trihydric adj. Chem. containing three hydroxyl groups.
trike n. & v.intr. colloq. tricycle. [abbr.]
trilabiate
adj. Bot. & Zool. three-lipped.
trilateral
adj. & n. --adj. 1 of, on, or with three sides. 2 shared by
or involving three parties, countries, etc. (trilateral
negotiations). --n. a figure having three sides.
trilby n. (pl. -ies) Brit. a soft felt hat with a narrow brim and
indented crown. trilbied adj. [name of the heroine in G. du
Maurier's novel Trilby (1894), in the stage version of which
such a hat was worn]
trilinear adj. of or having three lines.
trilingual
adj. 1 able to speak three languages, esp. fluently. 2 spoken
or written in three languages. trilingualism n.
triliteral
adj. 1 of three letters. 2 (of a Semitic language) having
(most) roots with three consonants.
trilith n. (also trilithon) a monument consisting of three stones, esp.
of two uprights and a lintel. trilithic adj. [Gk trilithon
(as TRI-, lithos stone)]
trill n. & v. --n. 1 a quavering or vibratory sound, esp. a rapid
alternation of sung or played notes. 2 a bird's warbling sound.
3 the pronunciation of r with a vibration of the tongue. --v.
1 intr. produce a trill. 2 tr. warble (a song) or pronounce (r
etc.) with a trill. [It. trillo (n.), trillare (v.)]
trillion n. (pl. same or (in sense 3) trillions) 1 a million million
(1,000,000,000,000 or 10(12)). 2 (formerly, esp. Brit.) a
million million million (1,000,000,000,000,000,000 or 10(18)).
3 (in pl.) colloq. a very large number (trillions of times).
Senses 1-2 correspond to the change in sense of billion.
trillionth adj. & n. [F trillion or It. trilione (as TRI-,
MILLION), after billion]
trilobite n. any fossile marine arthropod of the class Trilobita of
Palaeozoic times, characterized by a three-lobed body. [mod.L
Trilobites (as TRI-, Gk lobos lobe)]
trilogy n. (pl. -ies) 1 a group of three related literary or operatic
works. 2 Gk Antiq. a set of three tragedies performed as a
group. [Gk trilogia (as TRI-, -LOGY)]
trim v., n., & adj. --v. (trimmed, trimming) 1 tr. a set in good
order. b make neat or of the required size or form, esp. by
cutting away irregular or unwanted parts. 2 tr. (foll. by off,
away) remove by cutting off (such parts). 3 tr. a (often foll.
by up) make (a person) neat in dress and appearance. b ornament
or decorate (esp. clothing, a hat, etc. by adding ribbons, lace,
etc.). 4 tr. adjust the balance of (a ship or aircraft) by the
arrangement of its cargo etc. 5 tr. arrange (sails) to suit the
wind. 6 intr. a associate oneself with currently prevailing
views, esp. to advance oneself. b hold a middle course in
politics or opinion. 7 tr. colloq. a rebuke sharply. b
thrash. c get the better of in a bargain etc. --n. 1 the
state or degree of readiness or fitness (found everything in
perfect trim). 2 ornament or decorative material. 3 dress or
equipment. 4 the act of trimming a person's hair. 5 the
inclination of an aircraft to the horizontal. --adj. 1 neat or
spruce. 2 in good order; well arranged or equipped. in trim 1
looking smart, healthy, etc. 2 Naut. in good order. trimly
adv. trimness n. [perh. f. OE trymman, trymian make firm,
arrange: but there is no connecting evidence between OE and
1500]
trimaran n. a vessel like a catamaran, with three hulls side by side.
[TRI- + CATAMARAN]
trimer n. Chem. a polymer comprising three monomer units. trimeric
adj. [TRI- + -MER]
trimerous adj. having three parts.
trimester n. a period of three months, esp. of human gestation or US as a
university term. trimestral adj. trimestrial adj. [F
trimestre f. L trimestris (as TRI-, - mestris f. mensis month)]
trimeter n. Prosody a verse of three measures. trimetric adj.
trimetrical adj. [L trimetrus f. Gk trimetros (as TRI-, metron
measure)]
trimmer n. 1 a person who trims articles of dress. 2 a person who
trims in politics etc.; a time-server. 3 an instrument for
clipping etc. 4 Archit. a short piece of timber across an
opening (e.g. for a hearth) to carry the ends of truncated
joists. 5 a small capacitor etc. used to tune a radio set. 6
Austral. colloq. a striking or outstanding person or thing.
trimming n. 1 ornamentation or decoration, esp. for clothing. 2 (in
pl.) colloq. the usual accompaniments, esp. of the main course
of a meal. 3 (in pl.) pieces cut off in trimming.
trimorphism
n. Bot., Zool., & Crystallog. existence in three distinct
forms. trimorphic adj. trimorphous adj.
trine adj. & n. --adj. 1 threefold, triple; made up of three parts.
2 Astrol. denoting the aspect of two heavenly bodies 120
(one-third of the zodiac) apart. --n. Astrol. a trine aspect.
trinal adj. [ME f. OF trin trine f. L trinus threefold f.
tres three]
Trinitarian
n. & adj. --n. a person who believes in the doctrine of the
Trinity. --adj. of or relating to this belief.
Trinitarianism n.
trinitrotoluene
n. (also trinitrotoluol) = TNT.
trinity n. (pl. -ies) 1 the state of being three. 2 a group of three.
3 (the Trinity or Holy Trinity) Theol. the three persons of the
Christian Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Trinity
Brethren the members of Trinity House. Trinity House Brit. an
association concerned with the licensing of pilots, the erection
and maintenance of buoys, lighthouses, etc., in England, Wales,
etc. Trinity Sunday the next Sunday after Whit Sunday. Trinity
term Brit. the university and law term beginning after Easter.
[ME f. OF trinit f. L trinitas -tatis triad (as TRINE)]
trinket n. a trifling ornament, jewel, etc., esp. one worn on the
person. trinketry n. [16th c.: orig. unkn.]
trinomial adj. & n. --adj. consisting of three terms. --n. a scientific
name or algebraic expression of three terms. [TRI- after
BINOMIAL]
trio n. (pl. -os) 1 a set or group of three. 2 Mus. a a
composition for three performers. b a group of three
performers. c the central, usu. contrastive, section of a
minuet, scherzo, or march. 3 (in piquet) three aces, kings,
queens, or jacks in one hand. [F & It. f. L tres three, after
duo]
triode n. 1 a thermionic valve having three electrodes. 2 a
semiconductor rectifier having three connections. [TRI- +
ELECTRODE]
trioecious
adj. Bot. having male, female, and hermaphrodite organs each
on separate plants. [TRI- + Gk oikos house]
triolet n. a poem of eight (usu. eight-syllabled) lines rhyming
abaaabab, the first line recurring as the fourth and seventh and
the second as the eighth. [F (as TRIO)]
trioxide n. Chem. an oxide containing three oxygen atoms.
trip v. & n. --v.intr. & tr. (tripped, tripping) 1 intr. a walk or
dance with quick light steps. b (of a rhythm etc.) run lightly.
2 a intr. & tr. (often foll. by up) stumble or cause to stumble,
esp. by catching or entangling the feet. b intr. & tr. (foll.
by up) make or cause to make a slip or blunder. 3 tr. detect (a
person) in a blunder. 4 intr. make an excursion to a place. 5
tr. release (part of a machine) suddenly by knocking aside a
catch etc. 6 a release and raise (an anchor) from the bottom by
means of a cable. b turn (a yard etc.) from a horizontal to a
vertical position for lowering. 7 intr. colloq. have a
hallucinatory experience caused by a drug. --n. 1 a journey or
excursion, esp. for pleasure. 2 a a stumble or blunder. b the
act of tripping or the state of being tripped up. 3 a nimble
step. 4 colloq. a hallucinatory experience caused by a drug. 5
a contrivance for a tripping mechanism etc. trip-hammer a
large tilt-hammer operated by tripping. trip-wire a wire
stretched close to the ground, operating an alarm etc. when
disturbed. [ME f. OF triper, tripper, f. MDu. trippen skip,
hop]
tripartite
adj. 1 consisting of three parts. 2 shared by or involving
three parties. 3 Bot. (of a leaf) divided into three segments
almost to the base. tripartitely adv. tripartition n. [ME
f. L tripartitus (as TRI-, partitus past part. of partiri
divide)]
tripe n. 1 the first or second stomach of a ruminant, esp. an ox, as
food. 2 colloq. nonsense, rubbish (don't talk such tripe). [ME
f. OF, of unkn. orig.]
triphibious
adj. (of military operations) on land, on sea, and in the air.
[irreg. f. TRI- after amphibious]
triphthong
n. 1 a union of three vowels (letters or sounds) pronounced in
one syllable (as in fire). 2 three vowel characters
representing the sound of a single vowel (as in b eau).
triphthongal adj. [F triphtongue (as TRI-, DIPHTHONG)]
triplane n. an early type of aeroplane having three sets of wings, one
above the other.
triple adj., n., & v. --adj. 1 consisting of three usu. equal parts
or things; threefold. 2 involving three parties. 3 three times
as much or many (triple the amount; triple thickness). --n. 1
a threefold number or amount. 2 a set of three. 3 (in pl.) a
peal of changes on seven bells. --v.tr. & intr. multiply or
increase by three. triple crown 1 RC Ch. the pope's tiara. 2
the act of winning all three of a group of important events in
horse-racing, rugby football, etc. triple jump an athletic
exercise or contest comprising a hop, a step, and a jump.
triple play Baseball the act of putting out three runners in a
row. triple rhyme a rhyme including three syllables. triple
time Mus. that with three beats to the bar; waltz time.
triply adv. [OF triple or L triplus f. Gk triplous]
triplet n. 1 each of three children or animals born at one birth. 2 a
set of three things, esp. of equal notes played in the time of
two or of verses rhyming together. [TRIPLE + -ET(1), after
doublet]
triplex adj. & n. --adj. triple or threefold. --n. (Triplex) Brit.
propr. toughened or laminated safety glass for car windows etc.
[L triplex -plicis (as TRI-, plic- fold)]
triplicate
adj., n., & v. --adj. 1 existing in three examples or copies.
2 having three corresponding parts. 3 tripled. --n. each of a
set of three copies or corresponding parts. --v.tr. 1 make in
three copies. 2 multiply by three. in triplicate consisting
of three exact copies. triplication n. [ME f. L triplicatus
past part. of triplicare (as TRIPLEX)]
triplicity
n. (pl. -ies) 1 the state of being triple. 2 a group of three
things. 3 Astrol. a set of three zodiacal signs. [ME f. LL
triplicitas f. L TRIPLEX]
triploid n. & adj. Biol. --n. an organism or cell having three times
the haploid set of chromosomes. --adj. of or being a triploid.
[mod.L triploides f. Gk (as TRIPLE)]
triploidy n. the condition of being triploid.
tripmeter n. a vehicle instrument that can be set to record the distance
of individual journeys.
tripod n. 1 a three-legged stand for supporting a camera etc. 2 a
stool, table, or utensil resting on three feet or legs. 3 Gk
Antiq. a bronze altar at Delphi on which a priestess sat to
utter oracles. tripodal adj. [L tripus tripodis f. Gk
tripous (as TRI-, pous podos foot)]
tripoli n. = rotten-stone. [F f. Tripoli in N. Africa or in Syria]
tripos n. Brit. (at Cambridge University) the honours examination for
the BA degree. [as TRIPOD, with ref. to the stool on which
graduates sat to deliver a satirical speech at the degree
ceremony]
tripper n. 1 Brit. a person who goes on a pleasure trip or excursion.
2 colloq. a person experiencing hallucinatory effects of a drug.
triptych n. 1 a a picture or relief carving on three panels, usu. hinged
vertically together and often used as an altarpiece. b a set of
three associated pictures placed in this way. 2 a set of three
writing-tablets hinged or tied together. 3 a set of three
artistic works. [TRI-, after DIPTYCH]
triptyque n. a customs permit serving as a passport for a motor vehicle.
[F, as TRIPTYCH (orig. having three sections)]
triquetra n. (pl. triquetrae) a symmetrical ornament of three interlaced
arcs. [L, fem. of triquetrus three-cornered]
trireme n. an ancient Greek warship, with three files of oarsmen on
each side. [F trirme or L triremis (as TRI-, remus oar)]
trisaccharide
n. Chem. a sugar consisting of three linked monosaccharides.
Trisagion n. a hymn, esp. in the Eastern Churches, with a triple
invocation of God as holy. [ME f. Gk, neut. of trisagios f.
tris thrice + hagios holy]
trisect v.tr. cut or divide into three (usu. equal) parts.
trisection n. trisector n. [TRI- + L secare sect- cut]
trishaw n. a light three-wheeled pedalled vehicle used in the Far East.
[TRI- + RICKSHAW]
triskelion
n. a symbolic figure of three legs or lines from a common
centre. [Gk TRI- + skelos leg]
trismus n. Med. a variety of tetanus with tonic spasm of the jaw
muscles causing the mouth to remain tightly closed. [mod.L f.
Gk trismos = trigmos a scream, grinding]
triste adj. sad, melancholy, dreary. [F f. L tristis]
trisyllable
n. a word or metrical foot of three syllables. trisyllabic
adj.
tritagonist
n. the third actor in a Greek play (cf. DEUTERAGONIST). [Gk
tritagonistes (as TRITO-, agonistes actor)]
trite adj. (of a phrase, opinion, etc.) hackneyed, worn out by
constant repetition. tritely adv. triteness n. [L tritus
past part. of terere rub]
tritiate v.tr. replace the ordinary hydrogen in (a substance) by
tritium. tritiation n.
tritium n. Chem. a radioactive isotope of hydrogen with a mass about
three times that of ordinary hydrogen. Symb.: T. [mod.L f. Gk
tritos third]
trito- comb. form third. [Gk tritos third]
Triton n. 1 (in Greek mythology) a minor sea-god usu. represented as a
man with a fish's tail and carrying a trident and shell-trumpet.
2 (triton) any marine gastropod mollusc of the family
Cymatiidae, with a long conical shell. 3 (triton) a newt. [L
f. Gk Triton]
triton n. a nucleus of a tritium atom, consisting of a proton and two
neutrons.
tritone n. Mus. an interval of an augmented fourth, comprising three
tones.
triturate v.tr. 1 grind to a fine powder. 2 masticate thoroughly.
triturable adj. trituration n. triturator n. [L triturare
thresh corn f. tritura rubbing (as TRITE)]
triumph n. & v. --n. 1 a the state of being victorious or successful
(returned home in triumph). b a great success or achievement.
2 a supreme example (a triumph of engineering). 3 joy at
success; exultation (could see triumph in her face). 4 the
processional entry of a victorious general into ancient Rome.
--v.intr. 1 (often foll. by over) gain a victory; be
successful; prevail. 2 ride in triumph. 3 (often foll. by
over) exult. [ME f. OF triumphe (n.), triumpher (v.), f. L
triump(h)us prob. f. Gk thriambos hymn to Bacchus]
triumphal adj. of or used in or celebrating a triumph. [ME f. OF
triumphal or L triumphalis (as TRIUMPH)]
triumphant
adj. 1 victorious or successful. 2 exultant. triumphantly
adv. [ME f. OF triumphant or L triumphare (as TRIUMPH)]
triumvir n. (pl. triumvirs or triumviri) 1 each of three men holding a
joint office. 2 a member of a triumvirate. triumviral adj.
[L, orig. in pl. triumviri, back-form. f. trium virorum genit.
of tres viri three men]
triumvirate
n. 1 a board or ruling group of three men, esp. in ancient
Rome. 2 the office of triumvir.
triune adj. three in one, esp. with ref. to the Trinity. triunity
n. (pl. -ies). [TRI- + L unus one]
trivalent adj. Chem. having a valency of three; tervalent. trivalency
n.
trivet n. 1 an iron tripod or bracket for a cooking pot or kettle to
stand on. 2 an iron bracket designed to hook on to bars of a
grate for a similar purpose. as right as a trivet colloq. in
a perfectly good state, esp. healthy. trivet table a table with
three feet. [ME trevet, app. f. L tripes (as TRI-, pes pedis
foot)]
trivia n.pl. trifles or trivialities. [mod.L, pl. of TRIVIUM, infl.
by TRIVIAL]
trivial adj. 1 of small value or importance; trifling (raised trivial
objections). 2 (of a person) concerned only with trivial
things. 3 archaic commonplace or humdrum (the trivial round of
daily life). 4 Biol. & Chem. of a name: a popular; not
scientific. b specific, as opposed to generic. 5 Math. giving
rise to no difficulty or interest. triviality n. (pl.
-ies). trivially adv. trivialness n. [L trivialis commonplace
f. trivium: see TRIVIUM]
trivialize
v.tr. (also -ise) make trivial or apparently trivial; minimize.
trivialization n.
trivium n. hist. a medieval university course of grammar, rhetoric,
and logic. [L, = place where three roads meet (as TRI-, via
road)]
tri-weekly
adj. produced or occurring three times a week or every three
weeks.
-trix suffix (pl. -trices or -trixes) forming feminine agent nouns
corresponding to masculine nouns in -tor, esp. in Law
(executrix). [L -trix -tricis]
tRNA abbr. transfer RNA.
trocar n. an instrument used for withdrawing fluid from a body cavity,
esp. in oedema etc. [F trois-quarts, trocart f. trois three +
carre side, face of an instrument, after its triangular form]
trochaic adj. & n. Prosody --adj. of or using trochees. --n. (usu. in
pl.) trochaic verse. [L trochaicus f. Gk trokhaikos (as
TROCHEE)]
trochal adj. Zool. wheel-shaped. trochal disc Zool. the retractable
disc on the head of a rotifer bearing a crown of cilia, used for
drawing in food or for propulsion. [Gk trokhos wheel]
trochanter
n. 1 Anat. any of several bony protuberances by which muscles
are attached to the upper part of the thigh-bone. 2 Zool. the
second segment of the leg in insects. [F f. Gk trokhanter f.
trekho run]
troche n. a small usu. circular medicated tablet or lozenge. [obs.
trochisk f. OF trochisque f. LL trochiscus f. Gk trokhiskos
dimin. of trokhos wheel]
trochee n. Prosody a foot consisting of one long or stressed syllable
followed by one short or unstressed syllable. [L trochaeus f.
Gk trokhaios (pous) running (foot) f. trekho run]
trochlea n. (pl. trochleae) Anat. a pulley-like structure or
arrangement of parts, e.g. the groove at the lower end of the
humerus. trochlear adj. [L, = pulley f. Gk trokhilia]
trochoid adj. & n. --adj. 1 Anat. rotating on its own axis. 2 Geom.
(of a curve) traced by a point on a radius of a circle rotating
along a straight line or another circle. --n. a trochoid joint
or curve. trochoidal adj. [Gk trokhoeides wheel-like f.
trokhos wheel]
trod past and past part. of TREAD.
trodden past part. of TREAD.
trog n. sl. a term of contempt for a person; a lout or hooligan.
[abbr. of TROGLODYTE]
troglodyte
n. 1 a cave-dweller, esp. of prehistoric times. 2 a hermit. 3
derog. a wilfully obscurantist or old-fashioned person.
troglodytic adj. troglodytical adj. troglodytism n. [L
troglodyta f. Gk troglodutes f. the name of an Ethiopian people,
after trogle hole]
trogon n. any tropical bird of the family Trogonidae, with a long tail
and brilliantly coloured plumage. [mod.L f. Gk trogon f. trogo
gnaw]
troika n. 1 a a Russian vehicle with a team of three horses abreast.
b this team. 2 a group of three people, esp. as an
administrative council. [Russ. f. troe three]
troilism n. sexual activity involving three participants. [perh. f. F
trois three]
Trojan adj. & n. --adj. of or relating to ancient Troy in Asia Minor.
--n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Troy. 2 a person who works,
fights, etc. courageously (works like a Trojan). Trojan Horse
1 a hollow wooden horse said to have been used by the Greeks to
enter Troy. 2 a person or device planted to bring about an
enemy's downfall. [ME f. L Troianus f. Troia Troy]
troll(1) n. (in Scandinavian folklore) a fabulous being, esp. a giant or
dwarf dwelling in a cave. [ON & Sw. troll, Da. trold]
troll(2) v. & n. --v. 1 intr. sing out in a carefree jovial manner. 2
tr. & intr. fish by drawing bait along in the water. 3 intr.
esp. Brit. walk, stroll. --n. 1 the act of trolling for fish.
2 a line or bait used in this. troller n. [ME 'stroll,
roll': cf. OF troller quest, MHG trollen stroll]
trolley n. (pl. -eys) 1 esp. Brit. a table, stand, or basket on
wheels or castors for serving food, transporting luggage or
shopping, gathering purchases in a supermarket, etc. 2 esp.
Brit. a low truck running on rails. 3 (in full trolley-wheel) a
wheel attached to a pole etc. used for collecting current from
an overhead electric wire to drive a vehicle. 4 a US =
trolley-car. b Brit. = trolley bus. trolley bus Brit. an
electric bus running on the road and using a trolley-wheel.
trolley-car US an electric tram using a trolley-wheel. [of
dial. orig., perh. f. TROLL(2)]
trollop n. 1 a disreputable girl or woman. 2 a prostitute.
trollopish adj. trollopy adj. [17th c.: perh. rel. to TRULL]
trombone n. 1 a a large brass wind instrument with a sliding tube. b
its player. 2 an organ stop with the quality of a trombone.
trombonist n. [F or It. f. It. tromba TRUMPET]
trommel n. Mining a revolving cylindrical sieve for cleaning ore. [G,
= drum]
tromometer
n. an instrument for measuring very slight earthquake shocks.
[Gk tromos trembling + -METER]
trompe n. an apparatus for producing a blast in a furnace by using
falling water to displace air. [F, = trumpet: see TRUMP(1)]
trompe-l'oeil
n. a still-life painting etc. designed to give an illusion of
reality. [F, lit. 'deceives the eye']
-tron suffix Physics forming nouns denoting: 1 an elementary particle
(positron). 2 a particle accelerator. 3 a thermionic valve.
[after ELECTRON]
troop n. & v. --n. 1 an assembled company; an assemblage of people
or animals. 2 (in pl.) soldiers or armed forces. 3 a cavalry
unit commanded by a captain. 4 a unit of artillery and armoured
formation. 5 a grouping of three or more Scout patrols. --v.
1 intr. (foll. by in, out, off, etc.) come together or move in
large numbers. 2 tr. form (a regiment) into troops. troop the
colour esp. Brit. transfer a flag ceremonially at a public
mounting of garrison guards. troop-ship a ship used for
transporting troops. [F troupe, back-form. f. troupeau dimin.
of med.L troppus flock, prob. of Gmc orig.]
trooper n. 1 a private soldier in a cavalry or armoured unit. 2
Austral. & US a mounted or motor-borne policeman. 3 a cavalry
horse. 4 esp. Brit. a troop-ship. swear like a trooper swear
extensively or forcefully.
tropaeolum
n. a trailing or climbing plant of the genus Tropaeolum, with
trumpet-shaped yellow, orange, or red flowers. [mod.L f. L
tropaeum trophy, with ref. to the likeness of the flower and
leaf to a helmet and shield]
trope n. a figurative (e.g. metaphorical or ironical) use of a word.
[L tropus f. Gk tropos turn, way, trope f. trepo turn]
trophic adj. of or concerned with nutrition (trophic nerves). [Gk
trophikos f. trophe nourishment f. trepho nourish]
-trophic comb. form relating to nutrition.
tropho- comb. form nourishment. [Gk trophe: see TROPHIC]
trophoblast
n. a layer of tissue on the outside of a mammalian blastula,
providing nourishment to an embryo.
trophy n. (pl. -ies) 1 a cup or other decorative object awarded as a
prize or memento of victory or success in a contest etc. 2 a
memento or souvenir, e.g. a deer's antlers, taken in hunting. 3
Gk & Rom. Antiq. the weapons etc. of a defeated army set up as a
memorial of victory. 4 an ornamental group of symbolic or
typical objects arranged for display. trophied adj. (also in
comb.). [F trophe f. L trophaeum f. Gk tropaion f. trope rout
f. trepo turn]
tropic n. & adj. --n. 1 the parallel of latitude 2327 north (tropic
of Cancer) or south (tropic of Capricorn) of the Equator. 2
each of two corresponding circles on the celestial sphere where
the sun appears to turn after reaching its greatest declination.
3 (the Tropics) the region between the tropics of Cancer and
Capricorn. --adj. 1 = TROPICAL 1. 2 of tropism. tropic bird
any sea bird of the family Phaethontidae, with very long central
tail-feathers. [ME f. L tropicus f. Gk tropikos f. trope
turning f. trepo turn]
-tropic comb. form 1 = -TROPHIC. 2 turning towards (heliotropic).
tropical adj. 1 of, peculiar to, or suggesting the Tropics (tropical
fish; tropical diseases). 2 very hot; passionate, luxuriant. 3
of or by way of a trope. tropical year see YEAR 1.
tropically adv.
tropism n. Biol. the turning of all or part of an organism in a
particular direction in response to an external stimulus. [Gk
tropos turning f. trepo turn]
tropology n. 1 the figurative use of words. 2 figurative interpretation,
esp. of the Scriptures. tropological adj. [LL tropologia f.
Gk tropologia (as TROPE)]
tropopause
n. the interface between the troposphere and the stratosphere.
[TROPOSPHERE + PAUSE]
troposphere
n. a layer of atmospheric air extending from about 6-10 km
upwards from the earth's surface, in which the temperature falls
with increasing height (cf. STRATOSPHERE, IONOSPHERE).
tropospheric adj. [Gk tropos turning + SPHERE]
troppo(1) adv. Mus. too much (qualifying a tempo indication). ma non
troppo but not too much so. [It.]
troppo(2) adj. Austral. sl. mentally ill from exposure to a tropical
climate.
Trot n. colloq. usu. derog. a Trotskyist. [abbr.]
trot v. & n. --v. (trotted, trotting) 1 intr. (of a person) run at
a moderate pace esp. with short strides. 2 intr. (of a horse)
proceed at a steady pace faster than a walk lifting each
diagonal pair of legs alternately. 3 intr. colloq. walk or go.
4 tr. cause (a horse or person) to trot. 5 tr. traverse (a
distance) at a trot. --n. 1 the action or exercise of trotting
(proceed at a trot; went for a trot). 2 (the trots) sl. an
attack of diarrhoea. 3 a brisk steady movement or occupation.
4 (in pl.) Austral. colloq. a trotting-races. b a meeting for
these. on the trot colloq. 1 continually busy (kept them on
the trot). 2 in succession (five weeks on the trot). trot out
1 cause (a horse) to trot to show his paces. 2 produce or
introduce (as if) for inspection and approval, esp. tediously or
repeatedly. [ME f. OF troter f. Rmc & med.L trottare, of Gmc
orig.]
troth n. archaic 1 faith, loyalty. 2 truth. pledge (or plight)
one's troth pledge one's word esp. in marriage or betrothal.
[ME trowthe, for OE treowth TRUTH]
Trotskyism
n. the political or economic principles of L. Trotsky, Russian
politician d. 1940, esp. as urging worldwide socialist
revolution. Trotskyist n. Trotskyite n. derog.
trotter n. 1 a horse bred or trained for trotting. 2 (usu. in pl.) a
an animal's foot as food (pig's trotters). b joc. a human foot.
trotting n. racing for trotting horses pulling a two-wheeled vehicle and
driver.
troubadour
n. 1 any of a number of French medieval lyric poets composing
and singing in Provenal in the 11th-13th c. on the theme of
courtly love. 2 a singer or poet. [F f. Prov. trobador f.
trobar find, invent, compose in verse]
trouble n. & v. --n. 1 difficulty or distress; vexation, affliction
(am having trouble with my car). 2 a inconvenience; unpleasant
exertion; bother (went to a lot of trouble). b a cause of this
(the child was no trouble). 3 a cause of annoyance or concern
(the trouble with you is that you can't say no). 4 a faulty
condition or operation (kidney trouble; engine trouble). 5 a
fighting, disturbance (crowd trouble; don't want any trouble).
b (in pl.) political or social unrest, public disturbances. 6
disagreement, strife (is having trouble at home). --v. 1 tr.
cause distress or anxiety to; disturb (were much troubled by
their debts). 2 intr. be disturbed or worried (don't trouble
about it). 3 tr. afflict; cause pain etc. to (am troubled with
arthritis). 4 tr. & intr. (often refl.) subject or be subjected
to inconvenience or unpleasant exertion (sorry to trouble you;
don't trouble yourself; don't trouble to explain). ask (or
look) for trouble colloq. invite trouble or difficulty by one's
actions, behaviour, etc.; behave rashly or indiscreetly. be no
trouble cause no inconvenience etc. go to the trouble (or some
trouble etc.) exert oneself to do something. in trouble 1
involved in a matter likely to bring censure or punishment. 2
colloq. pregnant while unmarried. take trouble (or the trouble)
exert oneself to do something. trouble and strife rhymingsl.
wife. trouble spot a place where difficulties regularly occur.
troubler n. [ME f. OF truble (n.), trubler, turbler (v.) ult.
f. L turbidus TURBID]
troubled adj. showing, experiencing, or reflecting trouble, anxiety,
etc. (a troubled mind; a troubled childhood).
troublemaker
n. a person who habitually causes trouble. troublemaking n.
troubleshooter
n. 1 a mediator in industrial or diplomatic etc. disputes. 2 a
person who traces and corrects faults in machinery etc.
troubleshooting n.
troublous adj. archaic or literary full of troubles; agitated, disturbed
(troublous times). [ME f. OF troubleus (as TROUBLE)]
trough n. 1 a long narrow open receptacle for water, animal feed, etc.
2 a channel for conveying a liquid. 3 an elongated region of
low barometric pressure. 4 a hollow between two wave crests. 5
the time of lowest economic performance etc. 6 a region around
the minimum on a curve of variation of a quantity. 7 a low
point or depression. [OE trog f. Gmc]
troupe n. a company of actors or acrobats etc. [F, = TROOP]
trouper n. 1 a member of a theatrical troupe. 2 a staunch colleague.
trousers n.pl. 1 an outer garment reaching from the waist usu. to the
ankles, divided into two parts to cover the legs. 2 (trouser)
(attrib.) designating parts of this (trouser leg).
trouser-clip = bicycle-clip. trouser suit a woman's suit of
trousers and jacket. wear the trousers be the dominant partner
in a marriage. trousered adj. trouserless adj. [archaic
trouse (sing.) f. Ir. & Gael. triubhas TREWS: pl. form after
drawers]
trousseau n. (pl. trousseaus or trousseaux) the clothes collected by a
bride for her marriage. [F, lit. bundle, dimin. of trousse
TRUSS]
trout n. (pl. same or trouts) 1 any of various freshwater fish of the
genus Salmo of the northern hemisphere, valued as food. 2 a
similar fish of the family Salmonidae (see also salmon trout).
3 sl. derog. a woman, esp. an old or ill-tempered one (usu.
old trout). troutlet n. troutling n. trouty adj. [OE truht
f. LL tructa]
trouvaille
n. a lucky find; a windfall. [F f. trouver find]
trouvre n. a medieval epic poet in Northern France in the 11th-14th c.
[OF trovere f. trover find: cf. TROUBADOUR]
trove n. = treasure trove. [AF trov f. trover find]
trover n. Law 1 finding and keeping personal property. 2 common-law
action to recover the value of personal property wrongfully
taken etc. [OF trover find]
trowel n. & v. --n. 1 a small hand-held tool with a flat pointed
blade, used to apply and spread mortar etc. 2 a similar tool
with a curved scoop for lifting plants or earth. --v.tr.
(trowelled, trowelling; US troweled, troweling) 1 apply (plaster
etc.). 2 dress (a wall etc.) with a trowel. [ME f. OF truele
f. med.L truella f. L trulla scoop, dimin. of trua ladle etc.]
troy n. (in full troy weight) a system of weights used for precious
metals and gems, with a pound of 12 ounces or 5,760 grains.
[ME, prob. f. Troyes in France]
trs. abbr. transpose (letters or words etc.).
truant n., adj., & v. --n. 1 a child who stays away from school
without leave or explanation. 2 a person missing from work etc.
--adj. (of a person, conduct, thoughts, etc.) shirking, idle,
wandering. --v.intr. (also play truant) stay away as a truant.
truancy n. [ME f. OF, prob. ult. f. Celt.: cf. Welsh truan,
Gael. truaghan wretched]
truce n. 1 a temporary agreement to cease hostilities. 2 a
suspension of private feuding or bickering. truceless adj.
[ME trew(e)s (pl.) f. OE treow, rel. to TRUE]
truck(1) n. & v. --n. 1 Brit. an open railway wagon for carrying
freight. 2 esp. US a vehicle for carrying heavy goods; a
lorry. 3 a vehicle for transporting troops, supplies, etc. 4 a
railway bogie. 5 a wheeled stand for transporting goods. 6 a
Naut. a wooden disc at the top of a mast with holes for
halyards. b a small solid wheel. --v. 1 tr. convey on or in a
truck. 2 intr. US drive a truck. 3 intr. US sl. proceed; go,
stroll. truckage n. [perh. short for TRUCKLE in sense
'wheel, pulley']
truck(2) n. & v. --n. 1 dealings; exchange, barter. 2 small wares. 3
US market-garden produce (truck farm). 4 colloq. odds and ends.
5 hist. the payment of workers in kind. --v.tr. & intr.
archaic barter, exchange. have no truck with avoid dealing
with. [ME f. OF troquer (unrecorded) = trocare, of unkn. orig.]
trucker n. esp. US 1 a long-distance lorry-driver. 2 a firm dealing
in long-distance carriage of goods.
truckie n. Austral. colloq. a lorry-driver; a trucker.
trucking n. US conveyance of goods by lorry.
truckle n. & v. --n. 1 (in full truckle-bed) a low bed on wheels that
can be stored under a larger bed. 2 orig. dial. a small
barrel-shaped cheese. --v.intr. (foll. by to) submit
obsequiously. truckler n. [orig. = wheel, pulley, f. AF
trocle f. L trochlea pulley]
truculent adj. 1 aggressively defiant. 2 aggressive, pugnacious. 3
fierce, savage. truculence n. truculency n. truculently
adv. [L truculentus f. trux trucis fierce]
trudge v. & n. --v. 1 intr. go on foot esp. laboriously. 2 tr.
traverse (a distance) in this way. --n. a trudging walk.
trudger n. [16th c.: orig. unkn.]
trudgen n. a swimming stroke like the crawl with a scissors movement of
the legs. [J. Trudgen, 19th-c. English swimmer]
true adj., adv., & v. --adj. 1 in accordance with fact or reality
(a true story). 2 genuine; rightly or strictly so called; not
spurious or counterfeit (a true friend; the true heir to the
throne). 3 (often foll. by to) loyal or faithful (true to one's
word). 4 (foll. by to) accurately conforming (to a standard or
expectation etc.) (true to form). 5 correctly positioned or
balanced; upright, level. 6 exact, accurate (a true aim; a true
copy). 7 (absol.) (also it is true) certainly, admittedly
(true, it would cost more). 8 (of a note) exactly in tune. 9
archaic honest, upright (twelve good men and true). --adv. 1
truly (tell me true). 2 accurately (aim true). 3 without
variation (breed true). --v.tr. (trues, trued, truing or
trueing) bring (a tool, wheel, frame, etc.) into the exact
position or form required. come true actually happen or be the
case. out of true (or the true) not in the correct or exact
position. true bill US & hist. a bill of indictment endorsed
by a grand jury as being sustained by evidence. true-blue adj.
extremely loyal or orthodox. --n. such a person, esp. a
Conservative. true-born genuine (a true-born Englishman).
true-bred of a genuine or good breed. true-hearted faithful,
loyal. true horizon see HORIZON 1c. true-love a sweetheart.
true-love (or -lover's) knot a kind of knot with interlacing
bows on each side, symbolizing true love. true north etc. north
etc. according to the earth's axis, not magnetic north. true
rib a rib joined directly to the breastbone. true to form (or
type) being or behaving etc. as expected. true to life
accurately representing life. trueish adj. trueness n. [OE
treowe, trywe, f. the Gmc noun repr. by TRUCE]
truffle n. 1 any strong-smelling underground fungus of the order
Tuberales, used as a culinary delicacy and found esp. in France
by trained dogs or pigs. 2 a usu. round sweet made of chocolate
mixture covered with cocoa etc. [prob. f. Du. truffel f. obs.
F truffle ult. f. L tubera pl. of TUBER]
trug n. Brit. 1 a shallow oblong garden-basket usu. of wood strips.
2 archaic a wooden milk-pan. [perh. a dial. var. of TROUGH]
truism n. 1 an obviously true or hackneyed statement. 2 a proposition
that states nothing beyond what is implied in any of its terms.
truistic adj.
trull n. archaic a prostitute. [16th c.: cf. G Trulle, TROLLOP]
truly adv. 1 sincerely, genuinely (am truly grateful). 2 really,
indeed (truly, I do not know). 3 faithfully, loyally (served
them truly). 4 accurately, truthfully (is not truly depicted;
has been truly stated). 5 rightly, properly (well and truly).
[OE treowlice (as TRUE, -LY(2))]
trumeau n. (pl. trumeaux) a section of wall or a pillar between two
openings, e.g. a pillar dividing a large doorway. [F]
trump(1) n. & v. --n. 1 a playing-card of a suit ranking above the
others. 2 an advantage esp. involving surprise. 3 colloq. a a
helpful or admired person. b Austral. & NZ a person in
authority. --v. 1 a tr. defeat (a card or its player) with a
trump. b intr. play a trump card when another suit has been
led. 2 tr. colloq. gain a surprising advantage over (a person,
proposal, etc.). trump card 1 a card belonging to, or turned
up to determine, a trump suit. 2 colloq. a a valuable
resource. b a surprise move to gain an advantage. trump up
fabricate or invent (an accusation, excuse, etc.) (on a
trumped-up charge). turn up trumps Brit. colloq. 1 turn out
better than expected. 2 be greatly successful or helpful.
[corrupt. of TRIUMPH in the same (now obs.) sense]
trump(2) n. archaic a trumpet-blast. the last trump the trumpet-blast
to wake the dead on Judgement Day. [ME f. OF trompe f. Frank.:
prob. imit.]
trumpery n. & adj. --n. (pl. -ies) 1 a worthless finery. b a
worthless article. 2 rubbish. --adj. 1 showy but worthless
(trumpery jewels). 2 delusive, shallow (trumpery arguments).
[ME f. OF tromperie f. tromper deceive]
trumpet n. & v. --n. 1 a a tubular or conical brass instrument with a
flared bell and a bright penetrating tone. b its player. c an
organ stop with a quality resembling a trumpet. 2 a the tubular
corona of a daffodil etc. b a trumpet-shaped thing
(ear-trumpet). 3 a sound of or like a trumpet. --v.
(trumpeted, trumpeting) 1 intr. a blow a trumpet. b (of an
enraged elephant etc.) make a loud sound as of a trumpet. 2 tr.
proclaim loudly (a person's or thing's merit). trumpet-call an
urgent summons to action. trumpet major the chief trumpeter of
a cavalry regiment. trumpetless adj. [ME f. OF trompette
dimin. (as TRUMP(2))]
trumpeter n. 1 a person who plays or sounds a trumpet, esp. a cavalry
soldier giving signals. 2 a bird making a trumpet-like sound,
esp.: a a variety of domestic pigeon. b a large black S.
American cranelike bird of the genus Psophia. trumpeter swan a
large N. American wild swan, Cygnus buccinator.
truncal adj. of or relating to the trunk of a body or a tree.
truncate v. & adj. --v.tr. 1 cut the top or the end from (a tree, a
body, a piece of writing, etc.). 2 Crystallog. replace (an edge
or an angle) by a plane. --adj. Bot. & Zool. (of a leaf or
feather etc.) ending abruptly as if cut off at the base or tip.
truncately adv. truncation n. [L truncare truncat- maim]
truncheon n. 1 esp. Brit. a short club or cudgel, esp. carried by a
policeman. 2 a staff or baton as a symbol of authority, esp.
that of the Earl Marshal. [ME f. OF tronchon stump ult. f. L
truncus trunk]
trundle v.tr. & intr. roll or move heavily or noisily esp. on or as on
wheels. trundle-bed = TRUCKLE(1). [var. of obs. or dial.
trendle, trindle, f. OE trendel circle (as TREND)]
trunk n. 1 the main stem of a tree as distinct from its branches and
roots. 2 a person's or animal's body apart from the limbs and
head. 3 the main part of any structure. 4 a large box with a
hinged lid for transporting luggage, clothes, etc. 5 US the
luggage compartment of a motor car. 6 an elephant's elongated
prehensile nose. 7 (in pl.) men's close-fitting shorts worn for
swimming, boxing, etc. 8 the main body of an artery, nerve,
etc. 9 an enclosed shaft or conduit for cables, ventilation,
etc. trunk call esp. Brit. a telephone call on a trunk line
with charges made according to distance. trunk line a main line
of a railway, telephone system, etc. trunk road esp. Brit. an
important main road. trunkful n. (pl. -fuls). trunkless
adj. [ME f. OF tronc f. L truncus]
trunking n. 1 a system of shafts or conduits for cables, ventilation,
etc. 2 the use or arrangement of trunk lines.
trunnion n. 1 a supporting cylindrical projection on each side of a
cannon or mortar. 2 a hollow gudgeon supporting a cylinder in a
steam engine and giving passage to the steam. [F trognon core,
tree-trunk, of unkn. orig.]
truss n. & v. --n. 1 a framework, e.g. of rafters and struts,
supporting a roof or bridge etc. 2 a surgical appliance worn to
support a hernia. 3 Brit. a bundle of old hay (56 lb.) or new
hay (60 lb.) or straw (36 lb.). 4 a compact terminal cluster of
flowers or fruit. 5 a large corbel supporting a monument etc.
6 Naut. a heavy iron ring securing the lower yards to a mast.
--v.tr. 1 tie up (a fowl) compactly for cooking. 2 (often
foll. by up) tie (a person) up with the arms to the sides. 3
support (a roof or bridge etc.) with a truss or trusses.
trusser n. [ME f. OF trusser (v.), trusse (n.), of unkn.
orig.]
trust n. & v. --n. 1 a a firm belief in the reliability or truth or
strength etc. of a person or thing. b the state of being
relied on. 2 a confident expectation. 3 a a thing or person
committed to one's care. b the resulting obligation or
responsibility (am in a position of trust; have fulfilled my
trust). 4 a person or thing confided in (is our sole trust). 5
reliance on the truth of a statement etc. without examination.
6 commercial credit (obtained goods on trust). 7 Law a
confidence placed in a person by making that person the nominal
owner of property to be used for another's benefit. b the right
of the latter to benefit by such property. c the property so
held. d the legal relation between the holder and the property
so held. 8 a a body of trustees. b an organization managed by
trustees. c an organized association of several companies for
the purpose of reducing or defeating competition etc., esp. one
in which all or most of the stock is transferred to a central
committee and shareholders lose their voting power although
remaining entitled to profits. --v. 1 tr. place trust in;
believe in; rely on the character or behaviour of. 2 tr. (foll.
by with) allow (a person) to have or use (a thing) from
confidence in its proper use (was reluctant to trust them with
my books). 3 tr. (often foll. by that + clause) have faith or
confidence or hope that a thing will take place (I trust you
will not be late; I trust that she is recovering). 4 tr. (foll.
by to) consign (a thing) to (a person) with trust. 5 tr. (foll.
by for) allow credit to (a customer) for (goods). 6 intr.
(foll. by in) place reliance in (we trust in you). 7 intr.
(foll. by to) place (esp. undue) reliance on (shall have to
trust to luck). in trust Law held on the basis of trust (see
sense 7 of n.). on trust 1 on credit. 2 on the basis of trust
or confidence. take on trust accept (an assertion, claim, etc.)
without evidence or investigation. trust company a company
formed to act as a trustee or to deal with trusts. trust fund a
fund of money etc. held in trust. trust territory a territory
under the trusteeship of the United Nations or of a State
designated by them. trustable adj. truster n. [ME troste,
truste (n.) f. ON traust f. traustr strong: (v.) f. ON treysta,
assim. to the noun]
trustee n. 1 Law a person or member of a board given control or powers
of administration of property in trust with a legal obligation
to administer it solely for the purposes specified. 2 a State
made responsible for the government of an area. trusteeship
n.
trustful adj. 1 full of trust or confidence. 2 not feeling or showing
suspicion. trustfully adv. trustfulness n.
trusting adj. having trust (esp. characteristically); trustful.
trustingly adv. trustingness n.
trustworthy
adj. deserving of trust; reliable. trustworthily adv.
trustworthiness n.
trusty adj. & n. --adj. (trustier, trustiest) 1 archaic or joc.
trustworthy (a trusty steed). 2 archaic loyal (to a sovereign)
(my trusty subjects). --n. (pl. -ies) a prisoner who is given
special privileges for good behaviour. trustily adv.
trustiness n.
truth n. (pl. truths) 1 the quality or a state of being true or
truthful (doubted the truth of the statement; there may be some
truth in it). 2 a what is true (tell us the whole truth; the
truth is that I forgot). b what is accepted as true (one of the
fundamental truths). in truth literary truly, really. to tell
the truth (or truth to tell) to be frank. truth drug any of
various drugs supposedly able to induce a person to tell the
truth. truth table a list indicating the truth or falsity of
various propositions in logic etc. truthless adj. [OE
triewth, treowth (as TRUE)]
truthful adj. 1 habitually speaking the truth. 2 (of a story etc.)
true. 3 (of a likeness etc.) corresponding to reality.
truthfully adv. truthfulness n.
try v. & n. --v. (-ies, -ied) 1 intr. make an effort with a view
to success (often foll. by to + infin.; colloq. foll. by and +
infin.: tried to be on time; try and be early; I shall try
hard). Use with and is uncommon in the past tense and in
negative contexts (except in imper.). 2 tr. make an effort to
achieve (tried my best; had better try something easier). 3 tr.
a test (the quality of a thing) by use or experiment. b test
the qualities of (a person or thing) (try it before you buy). 4
tr. make severe demands on (a person, quality, etc.) (my
patience has been sorely tried). 5 tr. examine the
effectiveness or usefulness of for a purpose (try cold water;
try the off-licence; have you tried kicking it?). 6 tr.
ascertain the state of fastening of (a door, window, etc.). 7
tr. a investigate and decide (a case or issue) judicially. b
subject (a person) to trial (will be tried for murder). 8 tr.
make an experiment in order to find out (let us try which takes
longest). 9 intr. (foll. by for) a apply or compete for. b
seek to reach or attain (am going to try for a gold medal). 10
tr. (often foll. by out) a extract (oil) from fat by heating. b
treat (fat) in this way. 11 tr. (often foll. by up) smooth
(roughly-planed wood) with a plane to give an accurately flat
surface. --n. (pl. -ies) 1 an effort to accomplish something;
an attempt (give it a try). 2 Rugby Football the act of
touching the ball down behind the opposing goal-line, scoring
points and entitling the scoring side to a kick at goal. 3
Amer. Football an attempt to score an extra point in various
ways after a touchdown. try conclusions with see CONCLUSION.
try a fall with contend with. try for size try out or test for
suitability. try one's hand see how skilful one is, esp. at the
first attempt. trying-plane a plane used in trying (see sense
11 of v.). try it on colloq. 1 test another's patience. 2
attempt to outwit or deceive another person. try on put on
(clothes etc.) to see if they fit or suit the wearer. try-on n.
Brit. colloq. 1 an act of trying it on. 2 an attempt to fool
or deceive. try out 1 put to the test. 2 test thoroughly.
try-out n. an experimental test of efficiency, popularity, etc.
try-sail a small strong fore-and-aft sail set on the mainmast or
other mast of a sailing-vessel in heavy weather. try-square a
carpenter's square, usu. with one wooden and one metal limb.
[ME, = separate, distinguish, etc., f. OF trier sift, of unkn.
orig.]
trying adj. annoying, vexatious; hard to endure. tryingly adv.
trypanosome
n. Med. any protozoan parasite of the genus Trypanosoma having
a long trailing flagellum and infesting the blood etc. [Gk
trupanon borer + -SOME(3)]
trypanosomiasis
n. any of several diseases caused by a trypanosome including
sleeping sickness and Chagas' disease.
trypsin n. a digestive enzyme acting on proteins and present in the
pancreatic juice. tryptic adj. [Gk tripsis friction f.
tribo rub (because it was first obtained by rubbing down the
pancreas with glycerine)]
trypsinogen
n. a substance in the pancreas from which trypsin is formed.
tryptophan
n. Biochem. an amino acid essential in the diet of
vertebrates. [as TRYPSIN + -phan f. Gk phaino appear]
tryst n. & v. archaic --n. 1 a time and place for a meeting, esp. of
lovers. 2 such a meeting (keep a tryst; break one's tryst).
--v.intr. (foll. by with) make a tryst. tryster n. [ME, =
obs. trist (= TRUST) f. OF triste an appointed station in
hunting]
tsar n. (also czar) 1 hist. the title of the former emperor of
Russia. 2 a person with great authority. tsardom n. tsarism
n. tsarist n. [Russ. tsar', ult. f. L Caesar]
tsarevich n. (also czarevich) hist. the eldest son of an emperor of
Russia. [Russ. tsarevich son of a tsar]
tsarina n. (also czarina) hist. the title of the former empress of
Russia. [It. & Sp. (c)zarina f. G Czarin, Zarin, fem. of Czar,
Zar]
tsetse n. any fly of the genus Glossina native to Africa, that feeds
on human and animal blood with a needle-like proboscis and
transmits trypanosomiasis. [Tswana]
TSH abbr. 1 thryroid-stimulating hormone. 2 Their Serene
Highnesses.
T-shirt n. (also teeshirt) a short-sleeved casual top, usu. of knitted
cotton and having the form of a T when spread out.
tsp. abbr. (pl. tsps.) teaspoonful.
T-square n. a T-shaped instrument for drawing or testing right angles.
tsunami n. (pl. tsunamis) a long high sea wave caused by underwater
earthquakes or other disturbances. [Jap. f. tsu harbour + nami
wave]
Tswana n. (also Setswana) 1 a southern African people living in
Botswana and neighbouring areas. 2 a member of this people. 3
the Bantu language of this people. Setswana is now the
preferred form for the language. [native name]
tuatara n. a large lizard-like reptile, Sphenodon punctatus, unique to
certain small islands of New Zealand, having a crest of soft
spines extending along its back, and a third eye on top of its
head. [Maori f. tua on the back + tara spine]
tub n. & v. --n. 1 an open flat-bottomed usu. round container for
various purposes. 2 a tub-shaped (usu. plastic) carton. 3 the
amount a tub will hold. 4 colloq. a bath. 5 a colloq. a clumsy
slow boat. b a stout roomy boat for rowing practice. 6 (in
mining) a container for conveying ore, coal, etc. --v.
(tubbed, tubbing) 1 tr. & intr. plant, bathe, or wash in a tub.
2 tr. enclose in a tub. 3 tr. line (a mine-shaft) with a wooden
or iron casing. tub chair a chair with solid arms continuous
with a usu. semicircular back. tub-thumper colloq. a ranting
preacher or orator. tub-thumping colloq. ranting oratory.
tubbable adj. tubbish adj. tubful n. (pl. -fuls). [ME,
prob. of LG or Du. orig.: cf. MLG, MDu. tubbe]
tuba n. (pl. tubas) 1 a a low-pitched brass wind instrument. b its
player. 2 an organ stop with the quality of a tuba. [It. f. L,
= trumpet]
tubal adj. Anat. of or relating to a tube, esp. the bronchial or
Fallopian tubes.
tubby adj. (tubbier, tubbiest) 1 (of a person) short and fat;
tub-shaped. 2 (of a violin) dull-sounding, lacking resonance.
tubbiness n.
tube n. & v. --n. 1 a long hollow rigid or flexible cylinder, esp.
for holding or carrying air, liquids, etc. 2 a soft metal or
plastic cylinder sealed at one end and having a screw cap at the
other, for holding a semi-liquid substance ready for use (a tube
of toothpaste). 3 Anat. & Zool. a hollow cylindrical organ in
the body (bronchial tubes; Fallopian tubes). 4 (often prec. by
the) colloq. the London underground railway system (went by
tube). 5 a a cathode-ray tube esp. in a television set. b
(prec. by the) esp. US colloq. television. 6 US a thermionic
valve. 7 = inner tube. 8 the cylindrical body of a wind
instrument. 9 Austral. sl. a can of beer. --v.tr. 1 equip
with tubes. 2 enclose in a tube. tubeless adj. (esp. in
sense 7 of n.). tubelike adj. [F tube or L tubus]
tubectomy n. (pl. -ies) Surgery removal of a Fallopian tube.
tuber n. 1 a the short thick rounded part of a stem or rhizome, usu.
found underground and covered with modified buds, e.g. in a
potato. b the similar root of a dahlia etc. 2 Anat. a lump or
swelling. [L, = hump, swelling]
tubercle n. 1 a small rounded protuberance esp. on a bone. 2 a small
rounded swelling on the body or in an organ, esp. a nodular
lesion characteristic of tuberculosis in the lungs etc. 3 a
small tuber; a wartlike growth. tubercle bacillus a bacterium
causing tuberculosis. tuberculate adj. tuberculous adj. [L
tuberculum, dimin. of tuber: see TUBER]
tubercular
adj. & n. --adj. of or having tubercles or tuberculosis. --n.
a person with tuberculosis. [f. L tuberculum (as TUBERCLE)]
tuberculation
n. 1 the formation of tubercles. 2 a growth of tubercles. [f.
L tuberculum (as TUBERCLE)]
tuberculin
n. a sterile liquid from cultures of tubercle bacillus, used in
the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis. tuberculin test a
hypodermic injection of tuberculin to detect a tubercular
infection. tuberculin-tested (of milk) from cows giving a
negative response to a tuberculin test. [f. L tuberculum (as
TUBERCLE)]
tuberculosis
n. an infectious disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium
tuberculosis, characterized by tubercles, esp. in the lungs (see
also pulmonary tuberculosis).
tuberose(1)
adj. 1 covered with tubers; knobby. 2 of or resembling a
tuber. 3 bearing tubers. tuberosity n. [L tuberosus f.
TUBER]
tuberose(2)
n. a plant, Polianthes tuberosa, native to Mexico, having
heavily scented white funnel-like flowers and strap-shaped
leaves. [L tuberosa fem. (as TUBEROSE(1))]
tuberous adj. = TUBEROSE(1). tuberous root a thick and fleshy root
like a tuber but without buds. [F tubreux or L tuberosus f.
TUBER]
tubifex n. any red annelid worm of the genus Tubifex, found in mud at
the bottom of rivers and lakes and used as food for aquarium
fish. [mod.L f. L tubus tube + -fex f. facere make]
tubiform adj. tube-shaped.
tubing n. 1 a length of tube. 2 a quantity of tubes.
tubular adj. 1 tube-shaped. 2 having or consisting of tubes. 3 (of
furniture etc.) made of tubular pieces. tubular bells an
orchestral instrument consisting of a row of vertically
suspended brass tubes that are struck with a hammer.
tubule n. a small tube in a plant or an animal body. [L tubulus,
dimin. of tubus tube]
tubulous adj. = TUBULAR.
TUC abbr. (in the UK) Trades Union Congress.
tuck v. & n. --v. 1 tr. (often foll. by in, up) a draw, fold, or
turn the outer or end parts of (cloth or clothes etc.) close
together so as to be held; thrust in the edge of (a thing) so as
to confine it (tucked his shirt into his trousers; tucked the
sheet under the mattress). b thrust in the edges of bedclothes
around (a person) (came to tuck me in). 2 tr. draw together
into a small space (tucked her legs under her; the bird tucked
its head under its wing). 3 tr. stow (a thing) away in a
specified place or way (tucked it in a corner; tucked it out of
sight). 4 tr. a make a stitched fold in (material, a garment,
etc.). b shorten, tighten, or ornament with stitched folds. 5
tr. hit (a ball) to the desired place. --n. 1 a flattened usu.
stitched fold in material, a garment, etc., often one of several
parallel folds for shortening, tightening, or ornament. 2 Brit.
colloq. food, esp. cakes and sweets eaten by children (also
attrib.: tuck box). 3 Naut. the part of a ship's hull where the
planks meet under the stern. 4 (in full tuck position) (in
diving, gymnastics, etc.) a position with the knees bent upwards
into the chest and the hands clasped round the shins. tuck in
colloq. eat food heartily. tuck-in n. Brit. colloq. a large
meal. tuck into (or away) colloq. eat (food) heartily (tucked
into their dinner; could really tuck it away). tuck-net (or
-seine) a small net for taking caught fish from a larger net.
tuck shop Brit. a small shop, esp. near or in a school, selling
food to children. [ME tukke, tokke, f. MDu., MLG tucken, = OHG
zucchen pull, rel. to TUG]
tucker n. & v. --n. 1 a person or thing that tucks. 2 hist. a piece
of lace or linen etc. in or on a woman's bodice. 3 Austral.
colloq. food. --v.tr. (esp. in passive; often foll. by out) US
colloq. tire, exhaust. best bib and tucker see BIB(1).
tucker-bag (or -box) Austral. colloq. a container for food.
tucket n. archaic a flourish on a trumpet. [ONF toquer beat (a drum)]
tucking n. a series of usu. stitched tucks in material or a garment.
-tude suffix forming abstract nouns (altitude; attitude; solitude).
[from or after F -tude f. L -tudo -tudinis]
Tudor adj. & n. hist. --adj. 1 of, characteristic of, or associated
with the royal family of England ruling 1485-1603 or this
period. 2 of or relating to the architectural style of this
period, esp. with half-timbering and elaborately decorated
houses. --n. a member of the Tudor royal family. Tudor rose
(in late Perpendicular decoration) a conventional five-lobed
figure of a rose esp. a red rose encircling a white one. [Owen
Tudor of Wales, grandfather of Henry VII]
Tues. abbr. (also Tue.) Tuesday.
Tuesday n. & adv. --n. the third day of the week, following Monday.
--adv. 1 colloq. on Tuesday. 2 (Tuesdays) on Tuesdays; each
Tuesday. [OE Tiwesdg f. Tiw the Gmc god identified with Roman
Mars]
tufa n. 1 a porous rock composed of calcium carbonate and formed
round mineral springs. 2 = TUFF. tufaceous adj. [It., var.
of tufo: see TUFF]
tuff n. rock formed by the consolidation of volcanic ash.
tuffaceous adj. [F tuf, tuffe f. It. tufo f. LL tofus, L
TOPHUS]
tuffet n. 1 = TUFT 1. 2 a low seat. [var. of TUFT]
tuft n. & v. --n. 1 a bunch or collection of threads, grass,
feathers, hair, etc., held or growing together at the base. 2
Anat. a bunch of small blood-vessels. --v. 1 tr. provide with
a tuft or tufts. 2 tr. make depressions at regular intervals in
(a mattress etc.) by passing a thread through. 3 intr. grow in
tufts. tufty adj. [ME, prob. f. OF tofe, toffe, of unkn.
orig.: for -t cf. GRAFT(1)]
tufted adj. 1 having or growing in a tuft or tufts. 2 (of a bird)
having a tuft of feathers on the head.
tug v. & n. --v. (tugged, tugging) 1 tr. & (foll. by at) intr.
pull hard or violently; jerk (tugged it from my grasp; tugged at
my sleeve). 2 tr. tow (a ship etc.) by means of a tugboat.
--n. 1 a hard, violent, or jerky pull (gave a tug on the rope).
2 a sudden strong emotional feeling (felt a tug as I watched
them go). 3 a small powerful boat for towing larger boats and
ships. 4 an aircraft towing a glider. 5 (of a horse's harness)
a loop from a saddle supporting a shaft or trace. tug of love
colloq. a dispute over the custody of a child. tug of war 1 a
trial of strength between two sides pulling against each other
on a rope. 2 a decisive or severe contest. tugger n. [ME
togge, tugge, intensive f. Gmc: see TOW(1)]
tugboat n. = TUG n. 3.
tui n. NZ a large honey-eater, Prosthemadura novaeseelandiae,
native to New Zealand and having a long protrusible bill and
glossy bluish-black plumage with two white tufts at the throat.
[Maori]
tuition n. 1 teaching or instruction, esp. if paid for (driving
tuition; music tuition). 2 a fee for this. tuitional adj.
[ME f. OF f. L tuitio -onis f. tueri tuit- watch, guard]
tularaemia
n. (US tularemia) a severe infectious disease of animals
transmissible to man, caused by the bacterium Pasteurella
tularense and characterized by ulcers at the site of infection,
fever, and loss of weight. tularaemic adj. [mod.L f. Tulare
County in California, where it was first observed]
tulip n. 1 any bulbous spring-flowering plant of the genus Tulipa,
esp. one of the many cultivated forms with showy cup-shaped
flowers of various colours and markings. 2 a flower of this
plant. tulip-root a disease of oats etc. causing the base of
the stem to swell. tulip-tree any of various trees esp. of the
genus Liriodendron, producing tulip-like flowers . tulip-wood a
fine-grained pale timber produced by the N. American tree
Liriodendron tulipifera. [orig. tulipa(n) f. mod.L tulipa f.
Turk. tul(i)band f. Pers. dulband TURBAN (from the shape of
the expanded flower)]
tulle n. a soft fine silk etc. net for veils and dresses. [Tulle in
SW France, where it was first made]
tum n. colloq. stomach. [abbr. of TUMMY]
tumble v. & n. --v. 1 intr. & tr. fall or cause to fall suddenly,
clumsily, or headlong. 2 intr. fall rapidly in amount etc.
(prices tumbled). 3 intr. (often foll. by about, around) roll
or toss erratically or helplessly to and fro. 4 intr. move or
rush in a headlong or blundering manner (the children tumbled
out of the car). 5 intr. (often foll. by to) colloq. grasp the
meaning or hidden implication of an idea, circumstance, etc.
(they quickly tumbled to our intentions). 6 tr. overturn; fling
or push roughly or carelessly. 7 intr. perform acrobatic feats,
esp. somersaults. 8 tr. rumple or disarrange; pull about;
disorder. 9 tr. dry (washing) in a tumble-drier. 10 tr. clean
(castings, gemstones, etc.) in a tumbling-barrel. 11 intr. (of
a pigeon) turn over backwards in flight. --n. 1 a sudden or
headlong fall. 2 a somersault or other acrobatic feat. 3 an
untidy or confused state. tumble-drier n. a machine for
drying washing in a heated rotating drum. tumble-dry v.tr. &
intr. (-dries, -dried) dry in a tumble-drier. tumbling-barrel
(or -box etc.) a revolving device containing an abrasive
substance, in which castings, gemstones, etc., are cleaned by
friction. tumbling-bay 1 the outfall of a river, reservoir,
etc. 2 a pool into which this flows. [ME tumbel f. MLG
tummelen, OHG tumalon frequent. of tumon: cf. OE tumbian dance]
tumbledown
adj. falling or fallen into ruin; dilapidated.
tumbler n. 1 a drinking-glass with no handle or foot (formerly with a
rounded bottom so as not to stand upright). 2 an acrobat, esp.
one performing somersaults. 3 (in full tumbler-drier) =
tumble-drier. 4 a a pivoted piece in a lock that holds the bolt
until lifted by a key. b a notched pivoted plate in a gunlock.
5 a kind of pigeon that turns over backwards in flight. 6 an
electrical switch worked by pushing a small sprung lever. 7 a
toy figure that rocks when touched. 8 = tumbling-barrel (see
TUMBLE). tumblerful n. (pl. -fuls).
tumbleweed
n. US & Austral. a plant, Amaranthus albus, that forms a
globular bush that breaks off in late summer and is tumbled
about by the wind.
tumbrel n. (also tumbril) hist. 1 an open cart in which condemned
persons were conveyed to their execution, esp. to the guillotine
during the French Revolution. 2 a two-wheeled covered cart for
carrying tools, ammunition, etc. 3 a cart that tips to empty
its load, esp. one carrying dung. [ME f. OF tumberel, tomberel
f. tomber fall]
tumefy v. (-ies, -ied) 1 intr. swell, inflate; be inflated. 2 tr.
cause to do this. tumefacient adj. tumefaction n. [F
tumfier f. L tumefacere f. tumere swell]
tumescent adj. 1 becoming tumid; swelling. 2 swelling as a response to
sexual stimulation. tumescence n. tumescently adv. [L
tumescere (as TUMEFY)]
tumid adj. 1 (of parts of the body etc.) swollen, inflated. 2 (of a
style etc.) inflated, bombastic. tumidity n. tumidly adv.
tumidness n. [L tumidus f. tumere swell]
tummy n. (pl. -ies) colloq. the stomach. tummy-button the navel.
[childish pronunc. of STOMACH]
tumour n. (US tumor) a swelling, esp. from an abnormal growth of
tissue. tumorous adj. [L tumor f. tumere swell]
tumult n. 1 an uproar or din, esp. of a disorderly crowd. 2 an angry
demonstration by a mob; a riot; a public disturbance. 3 a
conflict of emotions in the mind. [ME f. OF tumulte or L
tumultus]
tumultuous
adj. 1 noisily vehement; uproarious; making a tumult (a
tumultuous welcome). 2 disorderly. 3 agitated. tumultuously
adv. tumultuousness n. [OF tumultuous or L tumultuosus (as
TUMULT)]
tumulus n. (pl. tumuli) an ancient burial mound or barrow. tumular
adj. [L f. tumere swell]
tun n. & v. --n. 1 a large beer or wine cask. 2 a brewer's
fermenting-vat. 3 a measure of capacity, equal to 252 wine
gallons. --v.tr. (tunned, tunning) store (wine etc.) in a tun.
[OE tunne f. med.L tunna, prob. of Gaulish orig.]
tuna(1) n. (pl. same or tunas) 1 any marine fish of the family
Scombridae native to tropical and warm waters, having a round
body and pointed snout, and used for food. Also called TUNNY. 2
(in full tuna-fish) the flesh of the tuna or tunny, usu. tinned
in oil or brine. [Amer. Sp., perh. f. Sp. atn tunny]
tuna(2) n. 1 a prickly pear, esp. Opuntia tuna. 2 the fruit of this.
[Sp. f. Haitian]
tundish n. 1 a wooden funnel esp. in brewing. 2 an intermediate
reservoir in metal-founding.
tundra n. a vast level treeless Arctic region usu. with a marshy
surface and underlying permafrost. [Lappish]
tune n. & v. --n. a melody with or without harmony. --v. 1 tr. put
(a musical instrument) in tune. 2 a tr. adjust (a radio
receiver etc.) to the particular frequency of the required
signals. b intr. (foll. by in) adjust a radio receiver to the
required signal (tuned in to Radio 2). 3 tr. adjust (an engine
etc.) to run smoothly and efficiently. 4 tr. (foll. by to)
adjust or adapt to a required or different purpose, situation,
etc. 5 intr. (foll. by with) be in harmony with. in tune 1
having the correct pitch or intonation (sings in tune). 2 (usu.
foll. by with) harmonizing with one's company, surroundings,
etc. out of tune 1 not having the correct pitch or intonation
(always plays out of tune). 2 (usu. foll. by with) clashing
with one's company etc. to the tune of colloq. to the
considerable sum or amount of. tune up 1 (of an orchestra)
bring the instruments to the proper or uniform pitch. 2 begin
to play or sing. 3 bring to the most efficient condition.
tunable adj. (also tuneable). [ME: unexpl. var. of TONE]
tuneful adj. melodious, musical. tunefully adv. tunefulness n.
tuneless adj. 1 unmelodious, unmusical. 2 out of tune. tunelessly
adv. tunelessness n.
tuner n. 1 a person who tunes musical instruments, esp. pianos. 2 a
device for tuning a radio receiver.
tung n. (in full tung-tree) a tree, Aleurites fordii, native to
China, bearing poisonous fruits containing seeds that yield oil.
tung oil this oil used in paints and varnishes. [Chin. tong]
tungsten n. Chem. a steel-grey dense metallic element with a very high
melting-point, occurring naturally in scheelite and used for the
filaments of electric lamps and for alloying steel etc. Symb.:
W. tungsten carbide a very hard black substance used in making
dies and cutting tools. tungstate n. tungstic adj.
tungstous adj. [Sw. f. tung heavy + sten stone]
tunic n. 1 a a close-fitting short coat of police or military etc.
uniform. b a loose, often sleeveless garment usu. reaching to
about the knees, as worn in ancient Greece and Rome. c any of
various loose, pleated dresses gathered at the waist with a belt
or cord. d a tunicle. 2 Zool. the rubbery outer coat of an
ascidian etc. 3 Bot. a any of the concentric layers of a bulb.
b the tough covering of a part of this. 4 Anat. a membrane
enclosing or lining an organ. [F tunique or L tunica]
tunica n. (pl. tunicae) Bot. & Anat. = TUNIC 3, 4. [L]
tunicate n. & adj. --n. any marine animal of the subphylum Urochordata
having a rubbery or hard outer coat, including sea squirts.
--adj. 1 Zool. of or relating to this subphylum. 2 a Zool.
enclosed in a tunic. b Bot. having concentric layers. [L
tunicatus past part. of tunicare clothe with a tunic (as
TUNICA)]
tunicle n. a short vestment worn by a bishop or subdeacon at the
Eucharist etc. [ME f. OF tunicle or L tunicula dimin. of
TUNICA]
tuning n. the process or a system of putting a musical instrument in
tune. tuning-fork a two-pronged steel fork that gives a
particular note when struck, used in tuning. tuning-peg (or pin
etc.) a peg or pin etc. attached to the strings of a stringed
instrument and turned to alter their tension in tuning.
tunnel n. & v. --n. 1 an artificial underground passage through a
hill or under a road or river etc., esp. for a railway or road
to pass through, or in a mine. 2 an underground passage dug by
a burrowing animal. 3 a prolonged period of difficulty or
suffering (esp. in metaphors, e.g. the end of the tunnel). 4 a
tube containing a propeller shaft etc. --v. (tunnelled,
tunnelling; US tunneled, tunneling) 1 intr. (foll. by through,
into, etc.) make a tunnel through (a hill etc.). 2 tr. make
(one's way) by tunnelling. 3 intr. Physics pass through a
potential barrier. tunnel diode Electronics a two-terminal
semiconductor diode using tunnelling electrons to perform
high-speed switching operations. tunnel-kiln a kiln in which
ceramic ware is carried on trucks along a continuously-heated
passage. tunnel-net a fishing-net wide at the mouth and narrow
at the other end. tunnel vision 1 vision that is defective in
not adequately including objects away from the centre of the
field of view. 2 colloq. inability to grasp the wider
implications of a situation. tunneller n. [ME f. OF tonel
dimin. of tonne TUN]
tunny n. (pl. same or -ies) = TUNA(1). [F thon f. Prov. ton, f. L
thunnus f. Gk thunnos]
tup n. & v. --n. 1 esp. Brit. a male sheep; a ram. 2 the
striking-head of a pile-driver, etc. --v.tr. (tupped, tupping)
esp. Brit. (of a ram) copulate with (a ewe). [ME toje, tupe,
of unkn. orig.]
Tupamaro n. (pl. -os) a Marxist urban guerilla in Uruguay. [Tupac
Amaru, the names of two Inca leaders]
tupelo n. (pl. -os) 1 any of various Asian and N. American deciduous
trees of the genus Nyssa, with colourful foliage and growing in
swampy conditions. 2 the wood of this tree. [Creek f. ito
tree + opilwa swamp]
Tupi n. & adj. --n. (pl. same or Tupis) 1 a member of an American
Indian people native to the Amazon valley. 2 the language of
this people. --adj. of or relating to this people or language.
[native name]
Tupperware
n. propr. a range of plastic containers for storing food.
[Tupper, name of the US manufacturer, + WARE(1)]
tuque n. a Canadian stocking cap. [Can. F form of TOQUE]
turaco n. (also touraco) (pl. -os) any African bird of the family
Musophagidae, with crimson and green plumage and a prominent
crest. [F f. native W.Afr. name]
Turanian n. & adj. --n. the group of Asian languages that are neither
Semitic nor Indo-European, esp. the Ural-Altaic family. --adj.
of or relating to this group. [Pers. Turan region beyond the
Oxus]
turban n. 1 a man's headdress of cotton or silk wound round a cap or
the head, worn esp. by Muslims and Sikhs. 2 a woman's headdress
or hat resembling this. turbaned adj. [16th c. (also tulbant
etc.), ult. f. Turk. tlbent f. Pers. dulband: cf. TULIP]
turbary n. (pl. -ies) Brit. 1 the right of digging turf on common
ground or on another's ground. 2 a place where turf or peat is
dug. [ME f. AF turberie, OF tourberie f. tourbe TURF]
turbellarian
n. & adj. --n. any usu. free-living flatworm of the class
Turbellaria, having a ciliated surface. --adj. of or relating
to this class. [mod.L Turbellaria f. L turbella dimin. of turba
crowd: see TURBID]
turbid adj. 1 (of a liquid or colour) muddy, thick; not clear. 2 (of
a style etc.) confused, disordered. turbidity n. turbidly
adv. turbidness n. [L turbidus f. turba a crowd, a
disturbance]
turbinate adj. 1 shaped like a spinning-top or inverted cone. 2 (of a
shell) with whorls decreasing rapidly in size. 3 Anat. (esp. of
some nasal bones) shaped like a scroll. turbinal adj.
turbination n. [L turbinatus (as TURBINE)]
turbine n. a rotary motor or engine driven by a flow of water, steam,
gas, wind, etc., esp. to produce electrical power. [F f. L
turbo -binis spinning-top, whirlwind]
turbit n. a breed of domestic pigeon of stout build with a neck frill
and short beak. [app. f. L turbo top, from its figure]
turbo n. (pl. -os) = TURBOCHARGER.
turbo- comb. form turbine.
turbocharger
n. a supercharger driven by a turbine powered by the engine's
exhaust gases.
turbofan n. 1 a jet engine in which a turbine-driven fan provides
additional thrust. 2 an aircraft powered by this.
turbojet n. Aeron. 1 a jet engine in which the jet also operates a
turbine-driven compressor for the air drawn into the engine. 2
an aircraft powered by this.
turboprop n. Aeron. 1 a jet engine in which a turbine is used as in a
turbojet and also to drive a propeller. 2 an aircraft powered
by this.
turboshaft
n. a gas turbine that powers a shaft for driving heavy
vehicles, generators, pumps, etc.
turbosupercharger
n. = TURBOCHARGER.
turbot n. 1 a flatfish, Scophthalmus maximus, having large bony
tubercles on the body and head and prized as food . 2 any of
various similar fishes including halibut. [ME f. OF f. OSw.
trnbut f. trn thorn + but BUTT(3)]
turbulence
n. 1 an irregularly fluctuating flow of air or fluid. 2
Meteorol. stormy conditions as a result of atmospheric
disturbance. 3 a disturbance, commotion, or tumult.
turbulent adj. 1 disturbed; in commotion. 2 (of a flow of air etc.)
varying irregularly; causing disturbance. 3 tumultuous. 4
insubordinate, riotous. turbulently adv. [L turbulentus f.
turba crowd]
Turco n. (pl. -os) hist. an Algerian soldier in the French army.
[Sp., Port., & It., = TURK]
turd n. coarse sl. 1 a lump of excrement. 2 a term of contempt for
a person. Often considered a taboo word, esp. in sense 2. [OE
tord f. Gmc]
turdoid adj. thrushlike. [L turdus THRUSH(1)]
tureen n. a deep covered dish for serving soup etc. [earlier terrine,
-ene f. F terrine large circular earthenware dish, fem. of OF
terrin earthen ult. f. L terra earth]
turf n. & v. --n. (pl. turfs or turves) 1 a a layer of grass etc.
with earth and matted roots as the surface of grassland. b a
piece of this cut from the ground. 2 a slab of peat for fuel.
3 (prec. by the) a horse-racing generally. b a general term for
racecourses. --v.tr. 1 cover (ground) with turf. 2 (foll. by
out) esp. Brit. colloq. expel or eject (a person or thing).
turf accountant Brit. a bookmaker. [OE f. Gmc]
turfman n. (pl. -men) esp. US a devotee of horse-racing.
turfy adj. (turfier, turfiest) like turf; grassy.
turgescent
adj. becoming turgid; swelling. turgescence n.
turgid adj. 1 swollen, inflated, enlarged. 2 (of language) pompous,
bombastic. turgidity n. turgidly adv. turgidness n. [L
turgidus f. turgere swell]
turgor n. Bot. the rigidity of cells due to the absorption of water.
[LL (as TURGID)]
turion n. Bot. 1 a young shoot or sucker arising from an underground
bud. 2 a bud formed by certain aquatic plants. [F f. L turio
-onis shoot]
Turk n. 1 a a native or national of Turkey in SE Europe and Asia
Minor. b a person of Turkish descent. 2 a member of a Central
Asian people from whom the Ottomans derived, speaking Turkic
languages. 3 offens. a ferocious, wild, or unmanageable person.
Turk's cap a martagon lily or other plant with turban-like
flowers. Turk's head a turban-like ornamental knot. [ME, = F
Turc, It. etc. Turco, med.L Turcus, Pers. & Arab. Turk, of
unkn. orig.]
turkey n. (pl. -eys) 1 a large mainly domesticated game-bird,
Meleagris gallopavo, orig. of N. America, having dark plumage
with a green or bronze sheen, prized as food esp. on festive
occasions including Christmas and, in the US, Thanksgiving. 2
the flesh of the turkey as food. 3 US sl. a a theatrical
failure; a flop. b a stupid or inept person. talk turkey US
colloq. talk frankly and straightforwardly; get down to
business. turkey buzzard (or vulture) an American vulture,
Cathartes aura. [16th c.: short for turkeycock or turkeyhen,
orig. applied to the guinea-fowl which was imported through
Turkey, and then erron. to the Amer. bird]
Turkey carpet
n. = Turkish carpet.
turkeycock
n. 1 a male turkey. 2 a pompous or self-important person.
Turkey red
n. 1 a scarlet pigment obtained from the madder or alizarim. 2
a cotton cloth dyed with this.
Turki adj. & n. --adj. of or relating to a group of Ural-Altaic
languages (including Turkish) and the peoples speaking them.
--n. the Turki group of languages. Turkic adj. [Pers. turki
(as TURK)]
Turkish adj. & n. --adj. of or relating to Turkey in SE Europe and Asia
Minor, or to the Turks or their language. --n. this language.
Turkish bath 1 a hot-air or steam bath followed by washing,
massage, etc. 2 (in sing. or pl.) a building for this. Turkish
carpet a wool carpet with a thick pile and traditional bold
design. Turkish coffee a strong black coffee. Turkish delight
a sweet of lumps of flavoured gelatine coated in powdered sugar.
Turkish towel a towel made of cotton terry.
Turko- var. of TURCO-.
Turkoman n. (also Turcoman) (pl. -mans) 1 a member of any of various
Turkic peoples in Turkmenistan in SW Middle Asia. 2 the
language of these peoples. Turkoman carpet a traditional
rich-coloured carpet with a soft long nap. [Pers. Turkuman (as
TURK, manistan resemble)]
turmeric n. 1 an E. Indian plant, Curcuma longa, of the ginger family,
yielding aromatic rhizomes used as a spice and for yellow dye.
2 this powdered rhizome used as a spice esp. in curry-powder.
[16th-c. forms tarmaret etc. perh. f. F terre mrite and mod.L
terra merita, of unkn. orig.]
turmoil n. 1 violent confusion; agitation. 2 din and bustle. [16th
c.: orig. unkn.]
turn v. & n. --v. 1 tr. & intr. move around a point or axis so that
the point or axis remains in a central position; give a rotary
motion to or receive a rotary motion (turned the wheel; the
wheel turns; the key turns in the lock). 2 tr. & intr. change
in position so that a different side, end, or part becomes
outermost or uppermost etc.; invert or reverse or cause to be
inverted or reversed (turned inside out; turned it upside down).
3 a tr. give a new direction to (turn your face this way). b
intr. take a new direction (turn left here; my thoughts have
often turned to you). 4 tr. aim in a certain way (turned the
hose on them). 5 intr. & tr. (foll. by into) change in nature,
form, or condition to (turned into a dragon; then turned him
into a frog; turned the book into a play). 6 intr. (foll. by
to) a apply oneself to; set about (turned to doing the ironing).
b have recourse to; begin to indulge in habitually (turned to
drink; turned to me for help). c go on to consider next (let us
now turn to your report). 7 intr. & tr. become or cause to
become (turned hostile; has turned informer; your comment turned
them angry). 8 a tr. & intr. (foll. by against) make or become
hostile to (has turned them against us). b intr. (foll. by on,
upon) become hostile to; attack (suddenly turned on them). 9
intr. (of hair or leaves) change colour. 10 intr. (of milk)
become sour. 11 intr. (of the stomach) be nauseated. 12 intr.
(of the head) become giddy. 13 tr. cause (milk) to become sour,
(the stomach) to be nauseated, or (the head) to become giddy.
14 tr. translate (turn it into French). 15 tr. move to the
other side of; go round (turned the corner). 16 tr. pass the
age or time of (he has turned 40; it has now turned 4 o'clock).
17 intr. (foll. by on) depend on; be determined by (it all turns
on the weather tomorrow). 18 tr. send or put into a specified
place or condition; cause to go (was turned loose; turned the
water out into a basin). 19 tr. perform (a somersault etc.)
with rotary motion. 20 tr. remake (a garment or, esp., a sheet)
putting the worn outer side on the inside. 21 tr. make (a
profit). 22 tr. divert (a bullet). 23 tr. blunt (the edge of a
knife, slot of a screw-head, etc.). 24 tr. shape (an object) on
a lathe. 25 tr. give an (esp. elegant) form to (turn a
compliment). 26 intr. Golf begin the second half of a round.
27 tr. (esp. as turned adj.) Printing invert (type) to make it
appear upside down (a turned comma). 28 tr. pass round (the
flank etc. of an army) so as to attack it from the side or rear.
29 intr. (of the tide) change from flood to ebb or vice versa.
--n. 1 the act or process or an instance of turning; rotary
motion (a single turn of the handle). 2 a a changed or a change
of direction or tendency (took a sudden turn to the left). b a
deflection or deflected part (full of twists and turns). 3 a
point at which a turning or change occurs. 4 a turning of a
road. 5 a change of the tide from ebb to flow or from flow to
ebb. 6 a change in the course of events. 7 a tendency or
disposition (is of a mechanical turn of mind). 8 an opportunity
or obligation etc. that comes successively to each of several
persons etc. (your turn will come; my turn to read). 9 a short
walk or ride (shall take a turn in the garden). 10 a short
performance on stage or in a circus etc. 11 service of a
specified kind (did me a good turn). 12 purpose (served my
turn). 13 colloq. a momentary nervous shock or ill feeling
(gave me quite a turn). 14 Mus. an ornament consisting of the
principal note with those above and below it. 15 one round in a
coil of rope etc. 16 Printing a inverted type as a temporary
substitute for a missing letter. b a letter turned wrong side
up. 17 a Brit. the difference between the buying and selling
price of stocks etc. b a profit made from this. at every turn
continually; at each new stage etc. by turns in rotation of
individuals or groups; alternately. in turn in succession; one
by one. in one's turn when one's turn or opportunity comes.
not know which way (or where) to turn be completely at a loss,
unsure how to act, etc. not turn a hair see HAIR. on the turn
1 changing. 2 (of milk) becoming sour. 3 at the turning-point.
out of turn 1 at a time when it is not one's turn. 2
inappropriately; inadvisedly or tactlessly (did I speak out of
turn?). take turns (or take it in turns) act or work
alternately or in succession. to a turn (esp. cooked) to
exactly the right degree etc. turn about move so as to face in
a new direction. turn-about n. 1 an act of turning about. 2
an abrupt change of policy etc. turn and turn about
alternately. turn around esp. US = turn round. turn away 1
turn to face in another direction. 2 refuse to accept; reject.
3 send away. turn back 1 begin or cause to retrace one's steps.
2 fold back. turn one's back on see BACK. turn-bench a
watchmaker's portable lathe. turn-buckle a device for tightly
connecting parts of a metal rod or wire. turn-cap a revolving
chimney-top. turn the corner 1 pass round it into another
street. 2 pass the critical point in an illness, difficulty,
etc. turn a deaf ear see DEAF. turn down 1 reject (a proposal,
application, etc.). 2 reduce the volume or strength of (sound,
heat, etc.) by turning a knob etc. 3 fold down. 4 place
downwards. turn-down (of a collar) turned down. turn one's
hand to see HAND. turn a person's head see HEAD. turn an
honest penny see HONEST. turn in 1 hand in or return. 2
achieve or register (a performance, score, etc.). 3 colloq. go
to bed in the evening. 4 fold inwards. 5 incline inwards (his
toes turn in). 6 colloq. abandon (a plan etc.). turn in one's
grave see GRAVE(1). turn off 1 a stop the flow or operation of
(water, electricity, etc.) by means of a tap, switch, etc. b
operate (a tap, switch, etc.) to achieve this. 2 a enter a
side-road. b (of a side-road) lead off from another road. 3
colloq. repel; cause to lose interest (turned me right off with
their complaining). 4 dismiss from employment. turn-off n. 1
a turning off a main road. 2 colloq. something that repels or
causes a loss of interest. turn of speed the ability to go fast
when necessary. turn on 1 a start the flow or operation of
(water, electricity, etc.) by means of a tap, switch, etc. b
operate (a tap, switch, etc.) to achieve this. 2 colloq.
excite; stimulate the interest of, esp. sexually. 3 tr. & intr.
colloq. intoxicate or become intoxicated with drugs. turn-on n.
colloq. a person or thing that causes (esp. sexual) arousal.
turn on one's heel see HEEL(1). turn out 1 expel. 2 extinguish
(an electric light etc.). 3 dress or equip (well turned out).
4 produce (manufactured goods etc.). 5 empty or clean out (a
room etc.). 6 empty (a pocket) to see the contents. 7 colloq.
a get out of bed. b go out of doors. 8 colloq. assemble;
attend a meeting etc. 9 (often foll. by to + infin. or that +
clause) prove to be the case; result (turned out to be true; we
shall see how things turn out). 10 Mil. call (a guard) from the
guardroom. turn over 1 reverse or cause to reverse vertical
position; bring the under or reverse side into view (turn over
the page). 2 upset; fall or cause to fall over. 3 a cause (an
engine) to run. b (of an engine) start running. 4 consider
thoroughly. 5 (foll. by to) transfer the care or conduct of (a
person or thing) to (a person) (shall turn it all over to my
deputy; turned him over to the authorities). 6 do business to
the amount of (turns over 5000 a week). turn over a new leaf
improve one's conduct or performance. turn round 1 turn so as
to face in a new direction. 2 a Commerce unload and reload (a
ship, vehicle, etc.). b receive, process, and send out again;
cause to progress through a system. 3 adopt new opinions or
policy. turn-round n. 1 a the process of loading and
unloading. b the process of receiving, processing, and sending
out again; progress through a system. 2 the reversal of an
opinion or tendency. turn the scales see SCALE(2). turn the
tables see TABLE. turn tail turn one's back; run away. turn
the tide reverse the trend of events. turn to set about one's
work (came home and immediately turned to). turn to account see
ACCOUNT. turn turtle see TURTLE. turn up 1 increase the volume
or strength of (sound, heat, etc.) by turning a knob etc. 2
place upwards. 3 discover or reveal. 4 be found, esp. by
chance (it turned up on a rubbish dump). 5 happen or present
itself; (of a person) put in an appearance (a few people turned
up late). 6 colloq. cause to vomit (the sight turned me up). 7
shorten (a garment) by increasing the size of the hem. turn-up
n. 1 Brit. the lower turned up end of a trouser leg. 2 colloq.
an unexpected (esp. welcome) happening; a surprise. [OE tyrnan,
turnian f. L tornare f. tornus lathe f. Gk tornos lathe,
circular movement: prob. reinforced in ME f. OF turner, torner]
turncoat n. a person who changes sides in a conflict, dispute, etc.
turncock n. an official employed to turn on water for the mains supply
etc.
turner n. 1 a person or thing that turns. 2 a person who works with a
lathe. [ME f. OF tornere -eor f. LL tornator (as TURN)]
turnery n. 1 objects made on a lathe. 2 work with a lathe.
turning n. 1 a a road that branches off another. b a place where this
occurs. 2 a use of the lathe. b (in pl.) chips or shavings
from a lathe. turning-circle the smallest circle in which a
vehicle can turn without reversing. turning-point a point at
which a decisive change occurs.
turnip n. 1 a cruciferous plant, Brassica rapa, with a large white
globular root and sprouting leaves. 2 this root used as a
vegetable. 3 a large thick old-fashioned watch. turnip-top
the leaves of the turnip eaten as a vegetable. turnipy adj.
[earlier turnep(e) f. neep f. L napus: first element of uncert.
orig.]
turnkey n. & adj. --n. (pl. -eys) archaic a gaoler. --adj. (of a
contract etc.) providing for a supply of equipment in a state
ready for operation.
turnout n. 1 the number of people attending a meeting, voting at an
election, etc. (rain reduced the turnout). 2 the quantity of
goods produced in a given time. 3 a set or display of
equipment, clothes, etc.
turnover n. 1 the act or an instance of turning over. 2 the amount of
money taken in a business. 3 the number of people entering and
leaving employment etc. 4 a small pie or tart made by folding a
piece of pastry over a filling.
turnpike n. 1 hist. a defensive frame of spikes. 2 hist. a a
toll-gate. b a road on which a toll was collected at a
toll-gate. 3 US a motorway on which a toll is charged.
turnsick n. = STURDY n.
turnside n. giddiness in dogs and cattle.
turnsole n. any of various plants supposed to turn with the sun. [OF
tournesole f. Prov. tournasol f. L tornare TURN + sol sun]
turnspit n. hist. a person or small dog used to turn a spit.
turnstile n. a gate for admission or exit, with revolving arms allowing
people through singly.
turnstone n. any wading bird of the genus Arenaria, related to the
plover, that looks under stones for small animals to eat.
turntable n. 1 a circular revolving plate supporting a gramophone record
that is being played. 2 a circular revolving platform for
turning a railway locomotive or other vehicle.
turpentine
n. & v. --n. an oleo-resin secreted by several trees esp. of
the genus Pinus, Pistacia, Syncarpia, or Copaifera, and used in
various commercial preparations. --v.tr. apply turpentine to.
Chian turpentine the type of turpentine secreted by the
terebinth. oil of turpentine a volatile pungent oil distilled
from turpentine, used in mixing paints and varnishes, and in
medicine. [ME f. OF ter(e)bentine f. L ter(e)binthina (resina
resin) (as TEREBINTH)]
turpeth n. (in full turpeth root) the root of an E. Indian plant,
Ipomoea turpethum, used as a cathartic. [ME f. med.L
turbit(h)um f. Arab. & Pers. turbid]
turpitude n. formal baseness, depravity, wickedness. [F turpitude or L
turpitudo f. turpis disgraceful, base]
turps n. colloq. oil of turpentine. [abbr.]
turquoise n. 1 a semiprecious stone, usu. opaque and greenish- or
sky-blue, consisting of hydrated copper aluminium phosphate. 2
a greenish-blue colour. [ME turkeis etc. f. OF turqueise (later
-oise) Turkish (stone)]
turret n. 1 a small tower, usu. projecting from the wall of a building
as a decorative addition. 2 a low flat usu. revolving armoured
tower for a gun and gunners in a ship, aircraft, fort, or tank.
3 a rotating holder for tools in a lathe etc. turret lathe =
capstan lathe. turreted adj. [ME f. OF to(u)rete dimin. of
to(u)r TOWER]
turtle n. 1 any of various marine or freshwater reptiles of the order
Chelonia, encased in a shell of bony plates, and having flippers
or webbed toes used in swimming. 2 the flesh of the turtle,
esp. used for soup. 3 Computing a directional cursor in a
computer graphics system which can be instructed to move around
a screen. turn turtle capsize. turtle-neck 1 a high
close-fitting neck on a knitted garment. 2 US = polo-neck.
[app. alt. of tortue: see TORTOISE]
turtle-dove
n. any wild dove of the genus Streptopelia, esp. S. turtur,
noted for its soft cooing and its affection for its mate and
young. [archaic turtle (in the same sense) f. OE turtla, turtle
f. L turtur, of imit. orig.]
turves pl. of TURF.
Tuscan n. & adj. --n. 1 an inhabitant of Tuscany in central Italy. 2
the classical Italian language of Tuscany. --adj. 1 of or
relating to Tuscany or the Tuscans. 2 Archit. denoting the
least ornamented of the classical orders. Tuscan straw fine
yellow wheat-straw used for hats etc. [ME f. F f. L Tuscanus f.
Tuscus Etruscan]
tush(1) int. archaic expressing strong disapproval or scorn. [ME:
imit.]
tush(2) n. 1 a long pointed tooth, esp. a canine tooth of a horse. 2
an elephant's short tusk. [OE tusc TUSK]
tusk n. & v. --n. 1 a long pointed tooth, esp. protruding from a
closed mouth, as in the elephant, walrus, etc. 2 a tusklike
tooth or other object. --v.tr. gore, thrust at, or tear up with
a tusk or tusks. tusk shell 1 any of various molluscs of the
class Scaphopoda. 2 its long tubular tusk-shaped shell.
tusked adj. (also in comb.). tusky adj. [ME alt. of OE tux
var. of tusc: cf. TUSH(2)]
tusker n. an elephant or wild boar with well-developed tusks.
tussah US var. of TUSSORE.
tusser var. of TUSSORE.
tussive adj. of or relating to a cough. [L tussis cough]
tussle n. & v. --n. a struggle or scuffle. --v.intr. engage in a
tussle. [orig. Sc. & N.Engl., perh. dimin. of touse: see
TOUSLE]
tussock n. 1 a clump of grass etc. 2 (in full tussock moth) any moth
of the genus Orgyia etc., with tufted larvae. tussock grass
grass growing in tussocks, esp. Poa flabellata from Patagonia
etc. tussocky adj. [16th c.: perh. alt. f. dial. tusk tuft]
tussore n. (also tusser, US tussah) 1 an Indian or Chinese silkworm,
Anthereae mylitta, yielding strong but coarse brown silk. 2 (in
full tussore-silk) silk from this and some other silkworms.
[Urdu f. Hindi tasar f. Skr. tasara shuttle]
tut var. of TUT-TUT.
tutelage n. 1 guardianship. 2 the state or duration of being under
this. 3 instruction, tuition. [L tutela f. tueri tuit- or
tut- watch]
tutelary adj. (also tutelar) 1 a serving as guardian. b relating to a
guardian (tutelary authority). 2 giving protection (tutelary
saint). [LL tutelaris, L -arius f. tutela: see TUTELAGE]
tutenag n. 1 zinc imported from China and the E. Indies. 2 a white
alloy like German silver. [Marathi tuttinag perh. f. Skr.
tuttha copper sulphate + naga tin, lead]
tutor n. & v. --n. 1 a private teacher, esp. in general charge of a
person's education. 2 a university teacher supervising the
studies or welfare of assigned undergraduates. 3 Brit. a book
of instruction in a subject. --v. 1 tr. act as a tutor to. 2
intr. work as a tutor. 3 tr. restrain, discipline. 4 intr. US
receive tuition. tutorage n. tutorship n. [ME f. AF, OF
tutour or L tutor f. tueri tut- watch]
tutorial adj. & n. --adj. of or relating to a tutor or tuition. --n. a
period of individual tuition given by a tutor. tutorially
adv. [L tutorius (as TUTOR)]
tutsan n. a species of St John's wort, Hypericum androsaemum, formerly
used to heal wounds etc. [ME f. AF tutsaine all healthy]
tutti adv. & n. Mus. --adv. with all voices or instruments together.
--n. (pl. tuttis) a passage to be performed in this way.
[It., pl. of tutto all]
tutti-frutti
n. (pl. -fruttis) a confection, esp. ice-cream, of or
flavoured with mixed fruits. [It., = all fruits]
tut-tut int., n., & v. (also tut) --int. expressing rebuke, impatience,
or contempt. --n. such an exclamation. --v.intr. (-tutted,
-tutting) exclaim this. [imit. of a click of the tongue against
the teeth]
tutty n. impure zinc oxide or carbonate used as a polishing powder.
[ME f. OF tutie f. med.L tutia f. Arab. tutiya]
tutu(1) n. a ballet dancer's short skirt of stiffened projecting
frills. [F]
tutu(2) n. Bot. a shrub, Coriaria arborea, native to New Zealand,
bearing poisonous purplish-black berries. [Maori]
tu-whit, tu-whoo
n. a representation of the cry of an owl. [imit.]
tux n. US colloq. = TUXEDO.
tuxedo n. (pl. -os or -oes) US 1 a dinner-jacket. 2 a suit of
clothes including this. [after a country club at Tuxedo Park,
New York]
tuyre n. (also tuyere, twyer) a nozzle through which air is forced
into a furnace etc. [F f. tuyau pipe]
twaddle n. & v. --n. useless, senseless, or dull writing or talk.
--v.intr. indulge in this. twaddler n. [alt. of earlier
twattle, alt. of TATTLE]
twain adj. & n. archaic two (usu. in twain). [OE twegen, masc. form
of twa TWO]
twang n. & v. --n. 1 a strong ringing sound made by the plucked
string of a musical instrument or bow. 2 the nasal quality of a
voice compared to this. --v. 1 intr. & tr. emit or cause to
emit this sound. 2 tr. usu. derog. play (a tune or instrument)
in this way. 3 tr. utter with a nasal twang. twangy adj.
[imit.]
'twas archaic it was. [contr.]
twat n. coarse sl. Usually considered a taboo word. 1 the female
genitals. 2 Brit. a term of contempt for a person. [17th c.:
orig. unkn.]
twayblade n. any orchid of the genus Listera etc., with green or purple
flowers and a single pair of leaves. [tway var. of TWAIN +
BLADE]
tweak v. & n. --v.tr. 1 pinch and twist sharply; pull with a sharp
jerk; twitch. 2 make fine adjustments to (a mechanism). --n.
an instance of tweaking. [prob. alt. of dial. twick &
TWITCH(1)]
twee adj. (tweer; tweest) Brit. usu. derog. affectedly dainty or
quaint. tweely adv. tweeness n. [childish pronunc. of
SWEET]
tweed n. 1 a rough-surfaced woollen cloth, usu. of mixed flecked
colours, orig. produced in Scotland. 2 (in pl.) clothes made of
tweed. [orig. a misreading of tweel, Sc. form of TWILL, infl.
by assoc. with the river Tweed]
Tweedledum and Tweedledee
n. a pair of persons or things that are virtually
indistinguishable. [after the stock names of rival musicians]
tweedy adj. (tweedier, tweediest) 1 of or relating to tweed cloth. 2
characteristic of the country gentry, heartily informal.
tweedily adv. tweediness n.
'tween prep. archaic = BETWEEN. 'tween-decks Naut. the space
between decks. [contr.]
tweet n. & v. --n. the chirp of a small bird. --v.intr. make a
chirping noise. [imit.]
tweeter n. a loudspeaker designed to reproduce high frequencies.
tweezers n.pl. a small pair of pincers for taking up small objects,
plucking out hairs, etc. [extended form of tweezes (cf.
pincers etc.) pl. of obs. tweeze case for small instruments, f.
etweese = tuis, pl. of TUI]
twelfth n. & adj. --n. 1 the position in a sequence corresponding to
the number 12 in the sequence 1-12. 2 something occupying this
position. 3 each of twelve equal parts of a thing. 4 Mus. a
an interval or chord spanning an octave and a fifth in the
diatonic scale. b a note separated from another by this
interval. --adj. that is the twelfth. Twelfth Day 6 Jan., the
twelfth day after Christmas, the festival of the Epiphany.
twelfth man a reserve member of a cricket team. Twelfth Night
the evening of 5 Jan., the eve of the Epiphany. twelfth part =
sense 3 of n. twelfthly adv. [OE twelfta (as TWELVE)]
twelve n. & adj. --n. 1 one more than eleven; the product of two
units and six units. 2 a symbol for this (12, xii, XII). 3 a
size etc. denoted by twelve. 4 the time denoted by twelve
o'clock (is it twelve yet?). 5 (the Twelve) the twelve
apostles. 6 (12) Brit. (of films) classified as suitable for
persons of 12 years and over. --adj. that amount to twelve.
twelve-note (or -tone) Mus. using the twelve chromatic notes
of the octave on an equal basis without dependence on a key
system. [OE twelf(e) f. Gmc, prob. rel. to TWO]
twelvefold
adj. & adv. 1 twelve times as much or as many. 2 consisting of
twelve parts.
twelvemo n. = DUODECIMO.
twelvemonth
n. archaic a year; a period of twelve months.
twenty n. & adj. --n. (pl. -ies) 1 the product of two and ten. 2 a
symbol for this (20, xx, XX). 3 (in pl.) the numbers from 20 to
29, esp. the years of a century or of a person's life. 4
colloq. a large indefinite number (have told you twenty times).
--adj. that amount to twenty. twenty-first, -second , etc. the
ordinal numbers between twentieth and thirtieth. twenty-one,
-two , etc. the cardinal numbers between twenty and thirty.
twenty-twenty (or 20/20) 1 denoting vision of normal acuity. 2
colloq. denoting clear perception or hindsight. twentieth
adj. & n. twentyfold adj. & adv. [OE twentig (perh. as TWO,
-TY(2))]
'twere archaic it were. [contr.]
twerp n. (also twirp) sl. a stupid or objectionable person. [20th
c.: orig. unkn.]
twibill n. a double-bladed battleaxe. [OE f. twi- double + BILL(3)]
twice adv. 1 two times (esp. of multiplication); on two occasions. 2
in double degree or quantity (twice as good). [ME twiges f. OE
twige (as TWO, -S(3))]
twiddle v. & n. --v. 1 tr. & (foll. by with etc.) intr. twirl, adjust,
or play randomly or idly. 2 intr. move twirlingly. --n. 1 an
act of twiddling. 2 a twirled mark or sign. twiddle one's
thumbs 1 make them rotate round each other. 2 have nothing to
do. twiddler n. twiddly adj. [app. imit., after twirl,
twist, and fiddle, piddle]
twig(1) n. 1 a small branch or shoot of a tree or shrub. 2 Anat. a
small branch of an artery etc. twigged adj. (also in comb.).
twiggy adj. [OE twigge f. a Gmc root twi- (unrecorded) as in
TWICE, TWO]
twig(2) v.tr. (twigged, twigging) colloq. 1 (also absol.) understand;
grasp the meaning or nature of. 2 perceive, observe. [18th c.:
orig. unkn.]
twilight n. 1 the soft glowing light from the sky when the sun is below
the horizon, esp. in the evening. 2 the period of this. 3 a
faint light. 4 a state of imperfect knowledge or understanding.
5 a period of decline or destruction. twilight sleep Med. a
state of partial narcosis, esp. to ease the pain of childbirth.
twilight zone 1 an urban area that is becoming dilapidated. 2
any physical or conceptual area which is undefined or
intermediate. [ME f. OE twi- two (in uncert. sense) + LIGHT(1)]
twilit adj. (also twilighted) dimly illuminated by or as by twilight.
[past part. of twilight (v.) f. TWILIGHT]
twill n. & v. --n. a fabric so woven as to have a surface of diagonal
parallel ridges. --v.tr. (esp. as twilled adj.) weave (fabric)
in this way. twilled adj. [N.Engl. var. of obs. twilly, OE
twili, f. twi- double, after L bilix (as BI-, licium thread)]
'twill archaic it will. [contr.]
twin n., adj., & v. --n. 1 each of a closely related or associated
pair, esp. of children or animals born at a birth. 2 the exact
counterpart of a person or thing. 3 a compound crystal one part
of which is in a reversed position with reference to the other.
4 (the Twins) the zodiacal sign or constellation Gemini. --adj.
1 forming, or being one of, such a pair (twin brothers). 2 Bot.
growing in pairs. 3 consisting of two closely connected and
similar parts. --v. (twinned, twinning) 1 tr. & intr. a join
intimately together. b (foll. by with) pair. 2 intr. bear
twins. 3 intr. grow as a twin crystal. 4 intr. & tr. Brit.
link or cause (a town) to link with one in a different country,
for the purposes of friendship and cultural exchange. twin bed
each of a pair of single beds. twin-engined having two engines.
twin-screw (of a ship) having two propellers on separate shafts
with opposite twists. twin set esp. Brit. a woman's matching
cardigan and jumper. twin town Brit. a town which is twinned
with another. twinning n. [OE twinn double, f. twi- two:
cf. ON tvinnr]
twine n. & v. --n. 1 a strong thread or string of two or more
strands of hemp or cotton etc. twisted together. 2 a coil or
twist. 3 a tangle; an interlacing. --v. 1 tr. form (a string
or thread etc.) by twisting strands together. 2 tr. form (a
garland etc.) of interwoven material. 3 tr. (often foll. by
with) garland (a brow etc.). 4 intr. (often foll. by round,
about) coil or wind. 5 intr. & refl. (of a plant) grow in this
way. twiner n. [OE twin, twigin linen, ult. f. the stem of
twi- two]
twinge n. & v. --n. a sharp momentary local pain or pang (a twinge of
toothache; a twinge of conscience). --v.intr. & tr. experience
or cause to experience a twinge. [twinge (v.) pinch, wring f.
OE twengan f. Gmc]
twinkle v. & n. --v. 1 intr. (of a star or light etc.) shine with
rapidly intermittent gleams. 2 intr. (of the eyes) sparkle. 3
intr. (of the feet in dancing) move lightly and rapidly. 4 tr.
emit (a light or signal) in quick gleams. 5 tr. blink or wink
(one's eyes). --n. 1 a a sparkle or gleam of the eyes. b a
blink or wink. 2 a slight flash of light; a glimmer. 3 a short
rapid movement. in a twinkle (or a twinkling or the twinkling
of an eye) in an instant. twinkler n. twinkly adj. [OE
twinclian]
twirl v. & n. --v.tr. & intr. spin or swing or twist quickly and
lightly round. --n. 1 a twirling motion. 2 a form made by
twirling, esp. a flourish made with a pen. twirler n. twirly
adj. [16th c.: prob. alt. (after whirl) of obs. tirl TRILL]
twirp var. of TWERP.
twist v. & n. --v. 1 a tr. change the form of by rotating one end
and not the other or the two ends in opposite directions. b
intr. undergo such a change; take a twisted position (twisted
round in his seat). c tr. wrench or pull out of shape with a
twisting action (twisted my ankle). 2 tr. a wind (strands
etc.) about each other. b form (a rope etc.) by winding the
strands. c (foll. by with, in with) interweave. d form by
interweaving or twining. 3 a tr. give a spiral form to (a rod,
column, cord, etc.) as by rotating the ends in opposite
directions. b intr. take a spiral form. 4 tr. (foll. by off)
break off or separate by twisting. 5 tr. distort or
misrepresent the meaning of (words). 6 a intr. take a curved
course. b tr. make (one's way) in a winding manner. 7 tr.
Brit. colloq. cheat (twisted me out of 20). 8 tr. cause (the
ball, esp. in billiards) to rotate while following a curved
path. 9 tr. (as twisted adj.) (of a person or mind) emotionally
unbalanced. 10 intr. dance the twist. --n. 1 the act or an
instance of twisting. 2 a a twisted state. b the manner or
degree in which a thing is twisted. 3 a thing formed by or as
by twisting, esp. a thread or rope etc. made by winding strands
together. 4 the point at which a thing twists or bends. 5 usu.
derog. a peculiar tendency of mind or character etc. 6 an
unexpected development of events, esp. in a story etc. 7 a fine
strong silk thread used by tailors etc. 8 a roll of bread,
tobacco, etc., in the form of a twist. 9 Brit. a paper packet
with screwed-up ends. 10 a curled piece of lemon etc. peel to
flavour a drink. 11 a spinning motion given to a ball in
cricket etc. to make it take a special curve. 12 a a twisting
strain. b the amount of twisting of a rod etc., or the angle
showing this. c forward motion combined with rotation about an
axis. 13 Brit. a drink made of two ingredients mixed together.
14 Brit. colloq. a swindle. 15 (prec. by the) a dance with a
twisting movement of the body, popular in the 1960s. round the
twist Brit. sl. crazy. twist a person's arm colloq. apply
coercion, esp. by moral pressure. twist round one's finger see
FINGER. twistable adj. twisty adj. (twistier, twistiest).
[ME, rel. to TWIN, TWINE]
twister n. 1 Brit. colloq. a swindler; a dishonest person. 2 a
twisting ball in cricket or billiards. 3 US a tornado,
waterspout, etc.
twit(1) n. esp. Brit. sl. a silly or foolish person. [orig. dial.:
perh. f. TWIT(2)]
twit(2) v.tr. (twitted, twitting) reproach or taunt, usu.
good-humouredly. [16th-c. twite f. atwite f. OE twitan
reproach with f. t at + witan blame]
twitch v. & n. --v. 1 intr. (of the features, muscles, limbs, etc.)
move or contract spasmodically. 2 tr. give a short sharp pull
at. --n. 1 a sudden involuntary contraction or movement. 2 a
sudden pull or jerk. 3 colloq. a state of nervousness. 4 a
noose and stick for controlling a horse during a veterinary
operation. twitchy adj. (twitchier, twitchiest) (in sense 3
of n.). [ME f. Gmc: cf. OE twiccian, dial. twick]
twitcher n. 1 colloq. a bird-watcher who tries to get sightings of rare
birds. 2 a person or thing that twitches.
twitch grass
n. = COUCH(2). [var. of QUITCH]
twite n. a moorland finch, Carduelis flavirostris, resembling the
linnet. [imit. of its cry]
twitter v. & n. --v. 1 intr. (of or like a bird) emit a succession of
light tremulous sounds. 2 tr. utter or express in this way.
--n. 1 the act or an instance of twittering. 2 colloq. a
tremulously excited state. twitterer n. twittery adj. [ME,
imit.: cf. -ER(4)]
'twixt prep. archaic = BETWIXT. [contr.]
two n. & adj. --n. 1 one more than one; the sum of one unit and
another unit. 2 a symbol for this (2, ii, II). 3 a size etc.
denoted by two. 4 the time of two o'clock (is it two yet?). 5
a set of two. 6 a card with two pips. --adj. that amount to
two. in two in or into two pieces. in two shakes (or ticks)
see SHAKE, TICK(1). or two denoting several (a thing or two =
several things). put two and two together make (esp. an
obvious) inference from what is known or evident. that makes
two of us colloq. that is true of me also. two-bit US colloq.
cheap, petty. two-by-four a length of timber with a rectangular
cross-section 2 in. by 4 in. two by two (or two and two) in
pairs. two can play at that game colloq. another person's
behaviour can be copied to that person's disadvantage.
two-dimensional 1 having or appearing to have length and breadth
but no depth. 2 lacking depth or substance; superficial.
two-edged double-edged. two-faced 1 having two faces. 2
insincere; deceitful. two-handed 1 having, using, or requiring
the use of two hands. 2 (of a card-game) for two players. two
a penny see PENNY. two-piece adj. (of a suit etc.) consisting
of two matching items. --n. a two-piece suit etc. two-ply adj.
of two strands, webs, or thicknesses. --n. 1 two-ply wool. 2
two-ply wood made by gluing together two layers with the grain
in different directions. two-seater 1 a vehicle or aircraft
with two seats. 2 a sofa etc. for two people. two-sided 1
having two sides. 2 having two aspects; controversial.
two-step a round dance with a sliding step in march or polka
time. two-stroke esp. Brit. (of an internal-combustion
engine) having its power cycle completed in one up-and-down
movement of the piston. two-time colloq. 1 deceive or be
unfaithful to (esp. a partner or lover). 2 swindle,
double-cross. two-timer colloq. a person who is deceitful or
unfaithful. two-tone having two colours or sounds. two-up
Austral. & NZ a gambling game with bets placed on a showing of
two heads or two tails. two-way 1 involving two ways or
participants. 2 (of a switch) permitting a current to be
switched on or off from either of two points. 3 (of a radio)
capable of transmitting and receiving signals. 4 (of a tap
etc.) permitting fluid etc. to flow in either of two channels or
directions. 5 (of traffic etc.) moving in two esp. opposite
directions. two-way mirror a panel of glass that can be seen
through from one side and is a mirror on the other. two-wheeler
a vehicle with two wheels. [OE twa (fem. & neut.), tu (neut.),
with Gmc cognates and rel. to Skr. dwau, dwe, Gk & L duo]
twofold adj. & adv. 1 twice as much or as many. 2 consisting of two
parts.
twopence n. Brit. 1 the sum of two pence, esp. before decimalization.
2 colloq. (esp. with neg.) a thing of little value (don't care
twopence).
twopenny adj. Brit. 1 costing two pence, esp. before decimalization. 2
colloq. cheap, worthless. twopenny-halfpenny cheap,
insignificant.
twosome n. 1 two persons together. 2 a game, dance, etc., for two
persons.
tychism n. Philos. the theory that chance controls the universe. [Gk
tukhe chance]
tycoon n. 1 a business magnate. 2 hist. a title applied by foreigners
to the shogun of Japan 1854-68. [Jap. taikun great lord]
tying pres. part. of TIE.
tyke n. (also tike) 1 esp. Brit. an unpleasant or coarse man. 2 a
mongrel. 3 a small child. 4 Brit. sl. a Yorkshireman. 5
Austral. & NZ sl. offens. a Roman Catholic. [ME f. ON tk
bitch: sense 5 assim. from TAIG]
tylopod n. & adj. Zool. --n. any animal that bears its weight on the
sole-pads of the feet rather than on the hoofs, esp. the camel.
--adj. (of an animal) bearing its weight in this way.
tylopodous adj. [Gk tulos knob or tule callus, cushion + pous
podos foot]
tympan n. 1 Printing an appliance in a printing-press used to equalize
pressure between the platen etc. and a printing-sheet. 2
Archit. = TYMPANUM. [F tympan or L tympanum: see TYMPANUM]
tympana pl. of TYMPANUM.
tympani var. of TIMPANI.
tympanic adj. 1 Anat. of, relating to, or having a tympanum. 2
resembling or acting like a drumhead. tympanic bone Anat. the
bone supporting the tympanic membrane. tympanic membrane Anat.
the membrane separating the outer ear and middle ear and
transmitting vibrations resulting from sound waves to the inner
ear.
tympanites
n. a swelling of the abdomen caused by gas in the intestine
etc. tympanitic adj. [LL f. Gk tumpanites of a drum (as
TYMPANUM)]
tympanum n. (pl. tympanums or tympana) 1 Anat. a the middle ear. b
the tympanic membrane. 2 Zool. the membrane covering the
hearing organ on the leg of an insect. 3 Archit. a a vertical
triangular space forming the centre of a pediment. b a similar
space over a door between the lintel and the arch; a carving on
this space. 4 a drum-wheel etc. for raising water from a
stream. [L f. Gk tumpanon drum f. tupto strike]
Tynwald n. the parliament of the Isle of Man. [ON thing-vllr place of
assembly f. thing assembly + vllr field]
type n. & v. --n. 1 a a class of things or persons having common
characteristics. b a kind or sort (would like a different type
of car). 2 a person, thing, or event serving as an
illustration, symbol, or characteristic specimen of another, or
of a class. 3 (in comb.) made of, resembling, or functioning as
(ceramic-type material; Cheddar-type cheese). 4 colloq. a
person, esp. of a specified character (is rather a quiet type;
is not really my type). 5 an object, conception, or work of art
serving as a model for subsequent artists. 6 Printing a a piece
of metal etc. with a raised letter or character on its upper
surface for use in printing. b a kind or size of such pieces
(printed in large type). c a set or supply of these (ran short
of type). 7 a device on either side of a medal or coin. 8
Theol. a foreshadowing in the Old Testament of a person or event
of the Christian dispensation. 9 Biol. an organism having or
chosen as having the essential characteristics of its group and
giving its name to the next highest group. --v. 1 tr. be a
type or example of. 2 tr. & intr. write with a typewriter. 3
tr. esp. Biol. & Med. assign to a type; classify. 4 tr. =
TYPECAST. in type Printing composed and ready for printing.
type-founder a designer and maker of metal types. type-foundry
a foundry where type is made. type-metal Printing an alloy of
lead etc., used for casting printing-types. type site Archaeol.
a site where objects regarded as defining the characteristics of
a period etc. are found. type specimen Biol. the specimen used
for naming and describing a new species. typal adj. [ME f. F
type or L typus f. Gk tupos impression, figure, type, f. tupto
strike]
typecast v.tr. (past and past part. -cast) assign (an actor or actress)
repeatedly to the same type of role, esp. one in character.
typeface n. Printing 1 a set of types or characters in a particular
design. 2 the inked part of type, or the impression made by
this.
typescript
n. a typewritten document.
typesetter
n. Printing 1 a person who composes type. 2 a
composing-machine. typesetting n.
typewrite v.tr. & intr. (past -wrote; past part. -written) formal = TYPE
v. 2.
typewriter
n. a machine with keys for producing printlike characters one
at a time on paper inserted round a roller.
typewritten
adj. produced with a typewriter.
typhlitis n. inflammation of the caecum. typhlitic adj. [mod.L f. Gk
tuphlon caecum or blind gut f. tuphlos blind + -ITIS]
typhoid n. & adj. --n. 1 (in full typhoid fever) an infectious
bacterial fever with an eruption of red spots on the chest and
abdomen and severe intestinal irritation. 2 a similar disease
of animals. --adj. like typhus. typhoid condition (or state)
a state of depressed vitality occurring in many acute diseases.
typhoidal adj. [TYPHUS + -OID]
typhoon n. a violent hurricane in E. Asian seas. typhonic adj.
[partly f. Port. tufo f. Arab. tufan perh. f. Gk tuphon
whirlwind; partly f. Chin. dial. tai fung big wind]
typhus n. an infectious fever caused by rickettsiae, characterized by
a purple rash, headaches, fever, and usu. delirium. typhous
adj. [mod.L f. Gk tuphos smoke, stupor f. tupho to smoke]
typical adj. 1 serving as a characteristic example; representative. 2
characteristic of or serving to distinguish a type. 3 (often
foll. by of) conforming to expected behaviour, attitudes, etc.
(is typical of them to forget). 4 symbolic. typicality n.
typically adv. [med.L typicalis f. L typicus f. Gk tupikos (as
TYPE)]
typify v.tr. (-ies, -ied) 1 be a representative example of; embody the
characteristics of. 2 represent by a type or symbol; serve as a
type, figure, or emblem of; symbolize. typification n.
typifier n. [L typus TYPE + -FY]
typist n. a person who uses a typewriter, esp. professionally.
typo n. (pl. -os) colloq. 1 a typographical error. 2 a
typographer. [abbr.]
typographer
n. a person skilled in typography.
typography
n. 1 printing as an art. 2 the style and appearance of printed
matter. typographic adj. typographical adj. typographically
adv. [F typographie or mod.L typographia (as TYPE, -GRAPHY)]
typology n. the study and interpretation of (esp. biblical) types.
typological adj. typologist n. [Gk tupos TYPE + -LOGY]
tyrannical
adj. 1 acting like a tyrant; imperious, arbitrary. 2 given to
or characteristic of tyranny. tyrannically adv. [OF
tyrannique f. L tyrannicus f. Gk turannikos (as TYRANT)]
tyrannicide
n. 1 the act or an instance of killing a tyrant. 2 the killer
of a tyrant. tyrannicidal adj. [F f. L tyrannicida, -cidium
(as TYRANT, -CIDE)]
tyrannize v.tr. & (foll. by over) intr. (also -ise) behave like a tyrant
towards; rule or treat despotically or cruelly. [F tyranniser
(as TYRANT)]
tyrannosaurus
n. (also tyrannosaur) any bipedal flesh-eating dinosaur of the
genus Tyrannosaurus, esp. T. rex having powerful hind legs,
small clawlike front legs, and a long well-developed tail. [Gk
turannos TYRANT, after dinosaur]
tyranny n. (pl. -ies) 1 the cruel and arbitrary use of authority. 2 a
tyrannical act; tyrannical behaviour. 3 a rule by a tyrant. b
a period of this. c a State ruled by a tyrant. tyrannous
adj. tyrannously adv. [ME f. OF tyrannie f. med.L tyrannia f.
Gk turannia (as TYRANT)]
tyrant n. 1 an oppressive or cruel ruler. 2 a person exercising power
arbitrarily or cruelly. 3 Gk Hist. an absolute ruler who seized
power without the legal right. [ME tyran, -ant, f. OF tiran,
tyrant f. L tyrannus f. Gk turannos]
tyre n. (US tire) a rubber covering, usu. inflated, placed round a
wheel to form a soft contact with the road. tyre-gauge a
portable device for measuring the air-pressure in a tyre. [var.
of TIRE(2)]
Tyrian adj. & n. --adj. of or relating to ancient Tyre in Phoenicia.
--n. a native or citizen of Tyre. Tyrian purple see PURPLE n.
2. [L Tyrius f. Tyrus Tyre]
tyro var. of TIRO.
Tyrolean adj. of or characteristic of the Tyrol, an Alpine province of
Austria. Tyrolese adj. & n.
Tyrrhene adj. & n. (also Tyrrhenian) archaic or poet. = ETRUSCAN. [L
Tyrrhenus]