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dowdy
two parallel yellow lines painted on a main road. In the US
and the UK, double yellow lines are painted at the edge of
the road to show that cars must not be parked there. In the
US, they are also painted between two opposite directions of
traffic, and cars must not drive over them, even if the
drivers want to pass the car in front. → compare SINGLE
YELLOW LINE
dou-bloon /dA'blu:n/ n a former gold coin of Spain and
Spanish America
doub-ly /'dAbli/ adv 1 to twice the degree: to make doubly
sure | You've got to be doubly careful when you're driving in
fog. 2 in two ways or for two reasons: You are doubly
mistaken.
doubt1 /daut/ v [T not in progressive forms] 1 to be uncertain
about; not trust or have confidence in: I doubt his honesty. |
She did exactly what she promised – I'm sorry I ever doubted
her. | I've always doubted the value of this approach to
education. 2 to consider unlikely: We may have it ready by
tomorrow, but I very much doubt it. | [+that] I doubt that she
will get the job. (=I don't think she will) | [+if/whether] I doubt
if/whether we will make a profit out of it. (=I don't think we
will) —–er n
In negative statements doubt is followed by that: I
don't doubt (=I am certain) that he's telling the truth. In
other statements doubt is often followed by if or that
though some people feel whether is the only correct form
here: I doubt whether he's telling the truth. (=I do not
believe he is telling the truth.)
doubt2 n 1 [C;U(about)] (a feeling of) uncertainty of belief or
opinion; lack of confidence or trust: troubled by religious
doubt/doubts | [+wh-] There's some doubt whether John will
come on time. | I've no doubt who did it. | [+(that)] There's no
doubt that he'll come. | He's quite sure that the business will do
well, but I still have my doubts (about it). | It was without
doubt (=certainly) the most successful film of the year. 2 [U] a
state of uncertainty: The whole matter is still in (some)
doubt. | Her guilt has been established beyond reasonable
doubt/beyond the shadow of a doubt. | His ability has
never been in doubt – the question is whether he is prepared to
work hard. 3 no doubt almost certainly; very probably: No
doubt he was just trying to help. | The court will no doubt deal
severely with the criminals. | 'John will probably be late, won't
he?' 'No doubt.' → see also benefit of the doubt (BENEFIT1)
1 Doubt is followed by that after no or not.
Compare There is no doubt that he is guilty and It seems
to me that there is some doubt (as to) whether he is
guilty. 2 No doubt and (more formal) doubtless can be
used simply to mean 'I think' or 'I agree': No doubt you'll
be at the party tonight (=I expect you'll be there). But
without doubt and undoubtedly express a stronger
sense of knowing the real truth: There will undoubtedly
(=certainly) be trouble with the unions if she is dismissed.
doubt-ful /'daʊtfəl/ adj 1 [(about)] (of a person) full of doubt;
uncertain; unconfident: He says he can do it, but I'm rather
doubtful (about it). | [+if,whether] I'm doubtful whether she will
agree to this. 2 causing doubt or uncertainty; open to
question: It's doubtful that he ever found out about it. | The
story he gave the police is very doubtful. 3 not settled or
decided: The future is too doubtful for us to make
plans. 4 not probable; unlikely: It is doubtful that we can get
the engine working before morning. 5 probably worthless or
dishonest; QUESTIONABLE: a doubtful advantage | This docu-
ment looks a bit doubtful – let's show it to a lawyer. | a promise
of doubtful value | There's a rather doubtful character
watching our house. —–ly adv
Doubting 'Thomas n old-fash someone who tends not to
believe things unless he can see the proof of them. The
name comes from the story in the Bible where Thomas, one
of Jesus' followers, refuses to believe that Jesus is no longer
dead until he actually sees Jesus and touches his wounds.
doubt-less /'dautləs/ adv 1 very probably: It will doubtless
rain on the day of the garden party. 2 without doubt; cer-
tainly: They have doubtless planned a counter-attack. → see
DOUBT2 (USAGE)
douche /du:f/ n (an instrument for forcing) a stream of
water into or onto any part of the body to wash it, especially
for medical reasons – douche v [I;T]
dough /dəu/ n [U] 1 flour mixed with water ready for
baking 2 slang money
dough-boy /'dəubɔɪ/ n AmE infml an American soldier during
WORLD WAR I
dough-nut1 || also donut AmE /'dəunʌt/ n a small round
often ring-shaped cake cooked in hot fat and covered with
sugar: a jam doughnut
doughnut2 v [I;T] to gather closely round (a person who is
being filmed) in order to appear in the film with them
—doughnutting n [U]
dough-ty /'dauti/ adj old use or humor full of courage and
determination
dough-y /'dəui/ adj 1 (of bread, cake etc) not cooked
enough; soft or too soft 2 (of human skin) unhealthily pale;
PASTY2
Doug-las /'dʌgləs/ the capital of the ISLE OF MAN
Douglas, Kirk (1916–) a US film actor who appeared in
many films in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, usually as
characters who were strong, determined, and very brave. His
films included Spartacus (1960).
Douglas, Michael (1944–) a US film actor and DIRECTOR,
who is the son of Kirk Douglas. His films include Wall Street
(1987), Basic Instinct (1991), and Traffic (2000). He won the
Best Actor OSCAR for Wall Street.
Doug-lass, Fred-e-rick /'dʌgləs, 'fredərɪk/ (1817–95) a
former SLAVE in the US, who worked to get rid of SLAVERY
(=the practice of having slaves), and wrote a book about his
life
Doun-reay /'du:nrei, du:n'reɪ/ a town in Scotland where
there was a NUCLEAR power station until 1977
dour /duər, 'daʊə/ adj cold and unsmiling in one's nature or
manner; cheerless; GLOOMY: a dour character/expression
—–ly adv
douse, dowse /daus/ v [T(with, in)] to put into liquid (espe-
cially water) or throw water over: to douse a fire | I doused the
cloths in disinfectant.
dove1/dʌv/ n 1 a kind of PIGEON; a soft-voiced bird often used
as a sign of peace and freedom from anything seen as wrong:
A pair of doves were cooing (=making their gentle noise) in a
tree outside the window. | Doves are sometimes mentioned
when people are talking about loving behaviour or life-long
faithfulness between a man and a woman: Gentle as a dove
came the sound of her voice. | They were cuddling up to each
other like a pair of doves. 2 (in politics) a person in favour of
peace and COMPROMISE → opposite HAWK
dove2 /dəʊv/ especially AmE a past tense of DIVE
Dove /dʌv/ trademark a type of white soap used for washing
the body and face
dove-cote /'dʌvkəʊt, -kɒt||-koʊt, -kɑ:t/ also -cot /-kɒt||
-kɑ:t/ n a house built for doves to live in
Do-ver /'dəʊvə/ a port in southeast England, from which
ships go across the English Channel to France carrying
passengers, vehicles, and goods → see also WHITE CLIFFS OF
DOVER
CULTURAL NOTE High white cliffs rise above the port, and
for English people who have travelled to Europe, the sight
of the white cliffs of Dover is the first sign that they are
returning home.
dove-tail1 /'dʌvteɪl/ n a join formed in wood with a shaped
piece sticking out at the end of one piece fitting closely into
a cut-out place in the other piece
dovetail2 v 1 [T[TOGETHER]] to join (wood) by means of dove-
tails 2 [I;T(with, into)] to (cause to) fit skilfully or perfectly
together: I dovetailed my holiday arrangements with Joyce's
so that there would always be one of us to run the shop.
dow-a-ger /'daʊdʒə/ n 1 infml a grand-looking rich old
lady 2 a woman of high social class who has land or a title
from her dead husband: a dowager duchess
dow-dy /'daʊdi/ adj 1 (especially of a woman) dressed in a
dull and unattractive way 2 (of clothes) uninteresting and
old-fashioned; not stylish: (fig.) an attempt to jazz up the
company's rather dowdy image —–dily adv —–diness n [U]