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of something in space: Length is one dimension, and breadth is another. | Time is sometimes called the fourth dimension. 2 a particular side or part of a problem, subject etc; ASPECT: There is another dimension to this problem which you haven't considered. 3 -di·men·sional /dai'menʃənəl, d3-/ having the stated number of dimensions: three-dimensional objects ➔ see also THREE-D
di·men·sions /dai'menʃənz, d3-/ n [P(ø)] (measurements of) size: What are the dimensions of this room? (=its height, length, and width) | (fig.) a problem of enormous dimensions
'dime store also five-and-dime n AmE FIVE-AND-TEN
di·min·ish /d3'miniʃ/ v 1 [I;T] to (cause to) become or seem smaller: His illness diminished his strength. | the government's diminishing popularity 2 [T] to cause to seem less important or valuable
di·min·ished re·spon·si·'bil·i·ty n [U] law (in judging a person who has killed someone) limitation of criminal responsibility for the killing because of disorder or illness of the mind
di·min·ish·ing re·'turns n [P] tech a rate of profit that beyond a certain point stops increasing in relation to the increase in work or effort: the law of diminishing returns | (fig.) The more I do for my son the less he thanks me - it's a case of diminishing returns.
di·min·u·en·do /d3,minju'endəu/ n, adj, adv pl. -dos (a piece of music) getting softer ➔ opposite CRESCENDO
dim·i·nu·tion /,dimi'nju:ʃ∥'nu:-/ n [C;U] fml a case or the state of diminishing or being diminished: a diminution in income
di·min·u·tive¹ /d3'minjutiv/ adj fml very small, and sometimes also lovable
diminutive² n a word formed by adding a diminutive suffix: The word 'duckling' is a diminutive, formed from 'duck'.
di·min·u·tive 'suf·fix n tech an ending which is added to a word to express smallness: A duckling is a small duck, and '-ling' is a diminutive suffix.
dim·i·ty /'dimti/ n [U] rare strong cotton cloth with a raised pattern
dim·mer /'dimə/ also 'dimmer switch n a piece of equipment for controlling the brightness of an electric light
Dim·mock, Charlie /'dimɔk/ (1966-) a well-known and popular British GARDENER who has appeared on several television programmes about gardening. She is known for not wearing a BRA.
dim·ple /'dimpl/ n apprc a small hollow place on the skin, especially one formed in the cheek when a person smiles. Dimples are usually considered attractive.
,dim 'sum n [P;U] any of various Chinese foods typically consisting of small pieces of meat or vegetables wrapped in rice or a kind of light bread and cooked in steam or hot oil; a popular lunchtime meal
dim·wit /'dimwit/ n infml a stupid person: Don't sit on the butter; (you) dimwit! → dim-'witted adj
din¹ /din/ n derog a loud, continuous, confused, and unpleasant noise: to kick up (=make) a din
din² v -nn- [I] (of a sound) to be heard loudly and unpleasantly (especially in the phrase din in someone's ears): (fig.) What she said about me was dinning in my ears all night.
din sthg. into sbdy. phr v [T] infml to repeat (something, such as a fact or lesson) forcefully over and over again to (someone) as a way of making them remember: I ought to remember that rule. I had it dinned into me often enough at school.
di·nar /'di:na: ||di'na:r, 'di:na:r/ n a unit of money used in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and in several Muslim countries
dine /dain/ v [I] fml to eat dinner: We dined at the Ritz. ➔ see also wine and dine (WINE²)
dine off/on sthg. phr v [T pass. rare] to eat (food, especially special or expensive food) for dinner: to dine on lobster and strawberries
dine out phr v [I] to eat dinner away from home, especially in a restaurant
dine out on sthg. phr v [T pass. rare] to talk about (an interesting experience one has had or interesting information one knows) in order to attract attention or admiration: Ever since he met Paul McCartney at a party, he's been dining out on the story.
Dine, Jim /d3im/ (1935-) a US painter known for being a leader of the POP ART movement
diner
D
din·er /'dainə/ n 1 a person who dines, especially in a restaurant 2 AmE a type of restaurant that is typically American. Diners are informal, fairly cheap, and popular with families and old people. They are usually open 24 hours a day. Some are decorated in a 1950s style, and customers sit in BOOTHS (=a partly enclosed place with a table between two long seats). Diners typically serve chicken, BURGERS, PIES, thick MILK SHAKES, and coffee. 3 AmE for DINING CAR
'Diners Card also 'Diner's Club Card trademark a type of CHARGE CARD that can be used to pay for goods and services all over the world
Din·e·sen, I·sak /'dinisən, 'aizək/ ➔ see BLIXEN, KAREN
di·nette /dai'net/ n AmE 1 a small dining area which is usually in or near the kitchen: We haven't got a dining room, only a dinette. 2 also dinette set a table and matching chairs used when people have meals. A dinette is cheaper than a DINING TABLE and chairs, but not as nice.
ding-a-ling /'din ə lin/ n AmE infml a stupid confused person
ding·bat /'dinbæt/ n AmE infml a stupid confused person, especially a woman
ding·dong /,din'don ||'dindo:n/ adj, n 1 [A;U] (like) the noise made by a bell: the loud dingdong of the church bells 2 [A;S] BrE infml (being) a noisy fight or argument: They were having a real dingdong/a dingdong argument.
din·ghy /'dingi, 'dinji/ n 1 a small open sailing boat used especially for racing ➔ compare YACHT 2 a small open boat, used for pleasure or for taking people between a ship and the shore ➔ see also RUBBER DINGHY
din·gle /'dingəl/ n old-fash a small wooded valley
din·go /'dingəu/ n pl. -goes an Australian wild dog
din·gy /'dindʒi/ adj (of things and places) dirty and dull or dark in colour; DRAB: a dingy street | The curtains are getting rather dingy. → -gily adv: She was dingily dressed in an old brown suit. → -giness n [U]
'dining car also restaurant car n a carriage on a train where meals are served
'dining room n a room where meals are eaten in a house, hotel etc
'dining table n a table especially for having meals on: She spread her books on the dining table and settled down to study. ➔ compare DINNER TABLE
din·kum /'dinkəm/ adj see FAIR DINKUM
din·ky¹/'dinki/ adj 1 BrE old-fash small and charming: Look at that dinky little spoon! 2 AmE derog small and unimportant: a dinky little room/hotel
dinky² n infml Double Income No Kids Yet; one of two young married people in professional jobs who do not yet have children and who are both earning quite a lot of money
Dinky also 'Dinky toy trademark a well-known type of small toy car or other toy vehicle. Dinky toys have been popular in the UK since the 1940s and many people collect them.
din·ner /'dinə/ n 1 [C;U] the main meal of the day, eaten