VERB 1 If you decorate something, you add things to make it more attractive.
VERB 2 If someone decorates a room, they paper it or paint it.
decorations PLURAL NOUN
decrease decreases, decreasing, decreased VERB
If something decreases, or if you decrease it, it becomes less.
deep deeper, deepest ADJECTIVE
If something is deep, it goes a long way down. The river is very deep.
deer NOUN
A deer is a large hoofed animal. Male deer have horns called antlers.
defeat defeats, defeating, defeated VERB
If you defeat someone, you beat them in a game or battle.
defend defends, defending, defended VERB
If you defend someone or something, you do something to protect them against danger.
defence NOUN
define defines, defining, defined VERB
If you define something, you say what it is or what it means.
definite
ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is definite is unlikely to be changed. We have a definite date for the outing.
ADJECTIVE 2 Definite can also mean certain or true. Lots of stories were going round, but they heard nothing definite.
definitely ADVERB
definition definitions NOUN
A definition explains the meaning of a word.
degree degrees
NOUN 1 A degree is a unit of measurement of temperature, for example, 20°C.
NOUN 2 In maths, a degree is a unit of measurement of angles. For example, a right angle is 90°.
delay delays, delaying, delayed VERB
If something delays you, it causes you to slow down or be late.
delete deletes, deleting, deleted VERB
If you delete some writing, you cross it out or remove it.
deliberate ADJECTIVE
If you do something that is deliberate, you do it on purpose.
deliberately ADVERB
delicate
ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is delicate is small and graceful.
ADJECTIVE 2 Someone who is delicate becomes ill easily.
delicious ADJECTIVE
Food that is delicious tastes or smells very nice.
delight delights, delighting, delighted VERB
If something delights you, it gives you a lot of pleasure.
delighted ADJECTIVE
deliver delivers, delivering, delivered VERB
If you deliver something, you take it to someone and hand it to them.
demand demands, demanding, demanded VERB
If you demand something, you say strongly that is what you want.
demonstrate demonstrates, demonstrating, demonstrated
VERB 1 If someone demonstrates something, they show you how to do it.
VERB 2 If people demonstrate, they hold a public meeting or march to show they are strongly for or against something.
demonstration NOUN
den dens NOUN
A den is the home of some wild animals such as lions or foxes.
dense denser, densest ADJECTIVE
Something dense is hard to see through. They were in a dense forest.
dent dents, denting, dented VERB
If somebody dents something, they make a dip in it by hitting it.
dentist dentists NOUN
A dentist is someone who looks after peoples teeth.
deny denies, denying, denied VERB
If you deny something, you say that it is untrue.
depart departs, departing, departed VERB
When someone or something departs from a place, they leave it.
departure NOUN
depend depends, depending, depended
VERB 1 If you depend on someone, you need them.
VERB 2 If you can depend on someone, you know you can trust them.
depth NOUN
The depth of something is how deep it is.
descend descends, descending, descended VERB
To descend means to go down.
descending ADJECTIVE
When things are in descending order, each thing is lower than the one before it. The numbers 10, 9, 8 and 7 are in descending order.
describe describes, describing, described VERB
If you describe a person or thing, you say what they are like.
description NOUN
desert deserts NOUN
A desert is very dry land with very little plant life.
deserted ADJECTIVE
If a place is deserted, there are no people there.
deserve deserves, deserving, deserved VERB
If you deserve something, you have earned it by what you have done.
design designs, designing, designed
NOUN 1 A design is a pattern that is used to decorate something.
VERB 2 If you design something, you plan it and make a drawing of it.
desk desks NOUN
A desk is a special table that you use for writing or reading.
desktop ADJECTIVE
A desktop computer is small enough to be used at a desk.
dessert desserts NOUN
A dessert is a sweet food served after the main course of a meal.
destroy destroys, destroying, destroyed VERB
To destroy something means to damage it so much it cannot be mended.
detail details NOUN
A detail is a small part or thing that you notice when you look at something carefully.
detective detectives NOUN
A detective is a person whose job is to find out who did a crime.
determined ADJECTIVE
If you are determined to do something, nothing will stop you.
develop develops, developing, developed VERB
When something develops, it grows or becomes more advanced.
dew NOUN
Dew is the small drops of water that form on surfaces outdoors at night.
diagonal ADJECTIVE
A diagonal line slants from one corner of something to the opposite corner.
diagram diagrams NOUN
A diagram is a drawing that explains something.
dial dials NOUN
A dial is a numbered disc on an instrument like a clock.
dialogue dialogues NOUN
In a story, play or film, dialogue is conversation.
diameter diameters NOUN
A diameter is a straight line drawn right through the centre of a circle.
diamond diamonds
NOUN 1 A diamond is a very hard, clear jewel which sparkles.
NOUN 2 A diamond is also a shape with four straight sides, like a square but slightly flattened.
See Colours and shapes on page 266
diary diaries NOUN
A diary is a book in which to write about what you have done.
dice NOUN
Dice are small cubes with spots on each of their six sides.
dictionary dictionaries NOUN
A dictionary is a book in which words are listed alphabetically and explained.
did VERB
Did is the past tense of do.
didnt VERB
Didnt is a contraction of did not.
die dies, dying, died VERB
When a person, animal or plant dies, they stop living.
diesel diesels NOUN
A diesel is a kind of engine that burns a special oil instead of petrol.
diet diets
NOUN 1 A diet is the food that a person or animal normally eats.
NOUN 2 A diet is also a special range of foods that a doctor tells someone to eat if they have a health or weight problem.
difference differences
NOUN 1 The difference between two things is the way in which they are unlike each other.
NOUN 2 In maths, you can work out the difference between two numbers by taking the smaller number away from the larger number.
different ADJECTIVE
Something that is different from something else is not like it in one or more ways.
difficult ADJECTIVE
Something that is difficult is not easy to do or understand.
difficulty NOUN
dig digs, digging, dug VERB
When people dig, they break up soil or sand with a spade or garden fork.
digest digests, digesting, digested VERB
When you digest food, your body breaks it down so that it can be used.
digestion NOUN
digit digits NOUN
A digit is a written symbol for any of the numbers from 0 to 9. For example, 384 is a three-digit number.
digital
ADJECTIVE 1 Digital instruments such as watches have changing numbers instead of a dial with hands.
See analogue
NOUN 2 Digital television is television in which the picture is sent in digital form.
dim dimmer, dimmest ADJECTIVE
If the light is dim, it is rather dark and it is hard to see things.
din NOUN
A din is a loud, annoying noise.
dining room dining rooms NOUN
A dining room is the room where people have their meals.
dinner dinners NOUN
Dinner is the main meal of the day.
dinosaur dinosaurs NOUN
A dinosaur was a large reptile which lived and became extinct in prehistoric times.
dip dips, dipping, dipped VERB
If you dip something into a liquid, you put it in quickly.
direct directs, directing, directed
VERB 1 If you direct someone, you show them the way to go.
VERB 2 A person who directs something, like a film, is in charge of it.
ADJECTIVE 3 Direct means in a straight line without stopping, for example on a journey. Is there a direct flight to Paris?
direction directions
NOUN 1 A direction is the way in which someone or something is moving or pointing.
NOUN 2 Directions are instructions that tell you what to do or which way to go.
dirt NOUN
Dirt is dust, mud or stains on a surface or fabric.
dirty dirtier, dirtiest ADJECTIVE
Something that is dirty is marked or covered with mud or stains.
disabled ADJECTIVE
A disabled person has a condition or injury that makes it hard or impossible to do some things.
disability NOUN
disagree disagrees, disagreeing, disagreed VERB
If you disagree with someone, you think what they are saying is wrong.
disappear disappears, disappearing, disappeared VERB
If someone disappears, they go out of sight.
disappoint disappoints, disappointing, disappointed VERB
If something disappoints you, it is not as good as you thought it would be.
disappointment NOUN
disapprove VERB
If you disapprove of something, you think it is wrong or bad.
disaster disasters NOUN
A disaster is something very bad that happens, such as an air crash.
disastrous ADJECTIVE
disc discs NOUN
A disc is a flat round object.
discover discovers, discovering, discovered VERB
When you discover something, you find it or find out about it.
discovery NOUN
discuss discusses, discussing, discussed VERB
When you discuss something, you talk about it with someone else.
discussion NOUN
disease diseases NOUN
A disease is an illness in people, animals or plants.
disguise disguises NOUN
A disguise is something that changes the way you look, so that people do not recognize you.
disgust NOUN
Disgust is a feeling of strong dislike for someone or something.
dish dishes NOUN
A dish is a shallow container for cooking or serving meals in.
dishonest ADJECTIVE
If someone is dishonest, they are not to be trusted.
dishwasher dishwashers NOUN
A dishwasher is a machine that washes things like plates.
disk disks NOUN
A disk is used for storing information in a computer.
dislike dislikes, disliking, disliked VERB
If you dislike someone or something, you do not like them.
dismiss dismisses, dismissing, dismissed VERB
When someone in authority dismisses you, they tell you to leave.
display displays NOUN
A display is an arrangement of things which is done to show to people.
dissolve dissolves, dissolving, dissolved VERB
If something dissolves in a liquid, it becomes mixed in with it.
See solution
distance distances NOUN
The distance between two things is the amount of space between them.
distant ADJECTIVE
Distant means far away.
distinct ADJECTIVE
If something is distinct, you can hear or see it clearly.
distribute distributes, distributing, distributed VERB
If you distribute things like leaflets, you hand them out to several people.
district districts NOUN
A district is the area around a place. Hes the only doctor in this district.
disturb disturbs, disturbing, disturbed VERB
If you disturb someone, you interrupt them or spoil their peace and quiet.
disturbance disturbances NOUN
A disturbance is something that spoils peoples peace and quiet.
ditch ditches NOUN
A ditch is a channel dug at the side of a road or field, to drain water.
dive dives, diving, dived VERB
To dive is to jump head first into water with your arms above your head.
diver NOUN
divide divides, dividing, divided
VERB 1 When something is divided, it is separated into smaller parts.
VERB 2 When you divide numbers, you share them into equal groups. For example, 15 can be divided into 3 groups of 5, or 5 groups of 3. 15 ÷ 3 = 5 or 15 ÷ 5 = 3
division divisions
NOUN 1 Division is separating something into two or more parts.
NOUN 2 In maths, division is the process of dividing one number by another. The sign ÷ is used for division.
divorce divorces NOUN
A divorce is the legal ending of a marriage.
Diwali NOUN
Diwali is a Hindu festival of light that is celebrated in the autumn.
dizzy dizzier, dizziest ADJECTIVE
If you feel dizzy, your head feels funny, as if you are going to fall over.
do does, doing, did, done
VERB 1 If you do something, you get on and finish it. Have you done your work?