decadence
358
have risen steadily during the past decade. | a movement
which grew in the early decades of this century
dec·a·dence /'dekədəns/ n [U] 1 a fall to a lower or worse
level, e.g. of morality, civilization, or art, from a former
higher or better level 2 a state of having low standards of
behaviour or morality
dec·a·dent /'dekədənt/ adj marked by decadence; in a state
of DECLINE, especially morally: the last decadent years of the
Roman Empire | How decadent to stay in bed all day! —ly adv
de·caf /'di:kæf/ adj, n [U] abbrev. for decaffeinated (coffee or,
rarely, tea)
de·caf·fei·na·ted /di:'kæfʃneɪtɪd/ adj with the CAFFEINE
(=a drug which makes you feel more active) removed. Some
people drink decaffeinated coffee, tea, or COLA because
ordinary coffee or tea excites their mind and they feel
unwell or cannot sleep, and some drink it because they
think ordinary tea and coffee are bad for the heart.
de·cal /'di:kæl, 'de-ldi:'kæl, 'dekəl/ n especially AmE for TRANS-
FER
Dec·a·logue, the /'dekəlɒg||-'lɔ:g, -lɑ:g/ tech the TEN COM-
MANDMENTS
De·cam·e·ron, the /dɪ'kæmərɒn/ a group of amusing
stories, often about sex, by the great Italian writer Boccaccio.
Written in the middle of the 14th century this work had a
great influence on English literature.
de·camp /dɪ'kæmp/ v [I] infml to leave a place quickly and
usually in secret: The lodger has decamped without paying his
bill.
de·cant /dɪ'kænt/ v [T] 1 to pour (liquid, especially wine)
from one container into another 2 infml to move (people)
from one living or working place into another
de·can·ter /dɪ'kæntər/ n a container (usually of glass and
decorated) for holding alcoholic drinks, especially wine,
before they are poured into glasses. It is used for decorative
effect and, in the case of wine, to improve the taste.
de·cap·i·tate /dɪ'kæpɪteɪt/ v [T] to cut off the head of,
especially as a punishment; BEHEAD —tation
/dɪˌkæpɪ'teɪʃən/ n [C;U]
de·cath·lon /dɪ'kæθlɒn||-lɑ:n, -lən/ n a competition in ATH-
LETICS in which the competitors have to take part in ten
separate events: The decathlon includes the 100 metres sprint,
the long jump, and the javelin. ➔ compare PENTATHLON,
BIATHLON
de·cay¹ /dɪ'keɪ/ v 1 [I;T] to (cause to) go through chemical
changes which cause destruction: Sugar can decay the teeth. |
decayed wood 2 [I] to fall to a lower or worse state; lose
health, power, activity etc; DECLINE: Perhaps all nations decay
in the course of time. | a decaying urban area
decay² n [U] 1 the process or state of decaying: The empty
house has fallen into decay. | The wood has been specially
treated to be resistant to decay. 2 the decayed parts of the
teeth: The dentist used a drill to remove the decay.
Dec·ca /'dekə/ trademark a US company that used to produce
electrical equipment such as televisions and radios in the
1950s and 60s. It was also a RECORD LABEL (=a company that
produces music), and the company still produces some music
now.
de·cease /dɪ'si:s/ n [U] fml or law death: Upon your decease the
house will pass to your wife.
de·ceased /dɪ'si:st/ adj fml, euph or law (of people) no longer
living, especially recently dead
deceased, the n fml, euph or law the dead person or people; a
word used especially by policemen, lawyers, and UNDER-
TAKERS: The deceased left a large sum of money to his wife. |
The deceased were both killed with the same knife.
de·ceit /dɪ'si:t/ n 1 [U] the quality of being dishonest 2 [C]
a trick; DECEPTION
de·ceit·ful /dɪ'si:tʃʊl/ adj tending to deceive; dishonest
—ly adv —ness n [U]
de·ceive /dɪ'si:v/ v [T(into)] to cause (someone) to accept as
true or good what is false or bad, usually for a dishonest
purpose: He deceived me – he lied about the money. | They
deceived her into signing the papers. | Unless my eyes deceive
me, that's the vice-president sitting over there. | You're just
deceiving yourself if you carry on believing that she loves you.
—ceiver n
de·cel·er·ate /dɪ'seləreɪt/ v [I;T] tech to (cause to) go
slower, especially in a vehicle: to decelerate when approach-
ing a corner ➔ opposite ACCELERATE —'ration
/dɪˌselə'reɪʃən/ n [U]
De·cem·ber /dɪ'sembər/ written abbrev. Dec. n [C, U] the 12th
and last month of the year, between November and January:
in December The course starts in December. | this/last/next
December I arrived in the UK last December. | on December
6th etc They leave for Australia on December 6th. | on (the)
6th December BrE We've arranged to go on 6th December. |
December 6 AmE We travel December 6.
CULTURAL NOTE In the UK and northern US, December is
one of the cold winter months, when days are short and
there is often snow. When people think of December, they
think of Christmas, which is on December 25th, and New
Year's Eve, on December 31st.
de·cen·cies /'di:sənsiz/ n observe the decencies becoming
rare to behave in accordance with socially accepted standards
of behaviour
de·cen·cy /'di:sənsi/ n [U] the quality of being decent: I
know you didn't like him, but at least have the decency to go
to his funeral!
de·cent /'di:sənt/ adj 1 proper; socially acceptable; not caus-
ing shame or shock to others: decent behaviour | Those tight
trousers of yours aren't very decent! ➔ opposite INDE-
CENT 2 good enough; ADEQUATE: a decent wage/standard of
living | You can get quite a decent meal there without spending
too much. 3 infml nice; kind: It was very decent of you to drive
me to the station. —ly adv
de·cen·tral·ize also -ise BrE /di:'sentrəlaɪz/ v [I;T] a) to
move (government, a business etc) from one central place or
office to several different smaller ones b) (of government, a
business etc) to move in this way ➔ see also CENTRALIZE
—ization /di:sentrəlaɪ'zeɪʃən||-ʃə-/ n [U]
de·cep·tion /dɪ'sepʃən/ n 1 [U] the act of deceiving 2 [C]
something that deceives; a trick
de·cep·tive /dɪ'septɪv/ adj tending or intended to deceive;
misleading: She seems to have plenty of confidence, but
appearances are sometimes deceptive. —ly adv: The salesman
made it look deceptively simple. —ness n [U]
dec·i·bel /'desɪbel, -bəl/ n tech a measure of the loudness of
sound
dec·i·bels /'desɪbəlz, -bəlz/ n [P] infml humor noise
de·cide /dɪ'saɪd/ v 1 [(on);T] to make a choice or judgment
about (a course of action), especially in a way that ends
uncertainty or disagreement; reach a decision about: I don't
know which one to take – I'll let you decide. | We've decided on
Paris (=that we will go to Paris) for our next holiday. | After
long discussion they decided in favour of the younger
candidate. | What has the committee decided? | [+wh-] We
couldn't decide which one to buy/whether to buy the red one or
the blue one. | [+to-V/(that)] She's decided to say no/that she will
say no. | The court has decided for/decided in favour of the
defendant. (=passed a judgment in the DEFENDANT's
favour) 2 [T] to cause to make a choice; make (someone)
decide: Your words have decided me. | [+obj+to-v] What was it
that finally decided you to give up your job? 3 [T] to bring to
a clear or certain end: A goal in the last minute decided the
match. | The chairperson has the deciding vote.
de·cid·ed /dɪ'sadɪd/ adj 1 very clear and easily seen or
understood; UNQUESTIONABLE: a decided change for the bet-
ter 2 having or showing no doubt; sure of oneself: a man of
very decided opinions ➔ see also UNDECIDED
de·cid·ed·ly /dɪ'sadɪdli/ adv fml 1 in a very DECIDED man-
ner: He spoke so decidedly that none of us dared question
him. 2 without doubt; clearly: The company's prospects look
decidedly gloomy.
de·cid·u·ous /dɪ'sɪdʒuəs/ adj tech 1 having leaves that fall
off in autumn: deciduous trees ➔ opposite EVERGREEN;
compare CONIFEROUS 2 falling off seasonally or at a certain
stage of development of life: a child's deciduous teeth