daze
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clearly, especially by a shock or blow; STUPEFY: After the accident Jean was dazed. | The news left us dazed. —dly /'deɪzɪdli/ adv
daze² n in a daze in a dazed condition
daz·zle /'dæzəl/ v [T] 1 to make unable to see because of a sudden very strong light shining in the eyes: The lights of the car dazzled me. 2 to fill with wonder or admiration: She was dazzled by her sudden success | a dazzling display of skill
—dazzle n [S] The theatre was a dazzle of bright lights.
dB written abbrev. for decibel or decibels
DBE /ˌdiː biː 'iː/ n abbrev. for Dame Commander of the (Order of the) British Empire; a title given in Britain to a woman as an honour because she has done something of national importance. A woman who has a DBE can use the title Dame instead of Mrs, Miss, or Ms: She was awarded a DBE in 1992.
dbl abbrev. for DOUBLE
DBMS /ˌdiː biː em 'es/ n abbrev. for database management system; a set of computer PROGRAMS which controls and makes easier the use of information stored on a computer
DBS /ˌdiː biː 'es/ n [U] abbrev. for direct broadcasting by satellite; a way of sending many different television programmes into people's houses. To receive these programmes, people need a SATELLITE DISH which they fix to the outside of their house.
D.C. /ˌdiː 'si/ abbrev. for District of Columbia; the area containing the city of Washington, the capital of the US
DC /ˌdiː 'siː/ abbrev. for 1 DIRECT CURRENT → compare AC 2 Detective Constable; the lowest rank in the British police force's PLAIN-CLOTHES division
DCMS, the /ˌdiː siː em 'es/ abbrev. for the DEPARTMENT FOR CULTURE, MEDIA, AND SPORT in Britain
DD /ˌdiː 'diː/ abbrev. for 1 DIRECT DEBIT 2 Doctor of Divinity; an advanced university degree in THEOLOGY (=religious studies)
'D-day n 1 6th June, 1944; in World War II, the day the ALLIES landed in France to begin the spread of their forces through Europe, under the command of General Eisenhower. It is remembered for its military organization, willingness to work effectively together, and success. 2 a day on which an important operation or planned action is to begin: So, today is D-day, then?
DDS /ˌdiː diː 'es/ n abbrev. for Doctor of Dental Surgery; a university degree in DENTISTRY. DDS is written after someone's name to show that they have this degree.
DDT /ˌdiː diː 'tiː/ n [U] a chemical that kills insects. DDT was used on food crops all over the world until it was discovered that it remains in the crops and can harm people.
de- → see WORD FORMATION TABLE
DE written abbrev. for DELAWARE
DEA, the /ˌdiː iː 'e/ abbrev. for the DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION
dea·con /'diːkən/ n (in various Christian churches) a religious official who is directly below a priest in rank
de·ac·ti·vate /ˌdiːˌæktɪ'veɪt/ v [T] to switch something, especially a piece of equipment, off or to stop it from being used any more: You need to type in a code number to deactivate the alarm. → opposite ACTIVATE
dead¹ /ded/ adj [no comp.] 1 no longer alive: I'm afraid he's dead. | a dead man/cat/leaf | Two of the terrorists were shot dead (=shot and killed) by the police. → compare INANIMATE; see also DECEASED, DEPARTED 2 no longer in use, operation, or existence: a dead language | dead ideas → compare LIVING¹ 3 without the necessary power to work properly: dead matches | a dead battery | The telephone went dead in the middle of our conversation. → compare LIVE² 4 [A] complete: a dead stop | dead silence | a dead loss (=a completely useless person or thing) 5 without life, movement, or activity: dead rocks and stones | The whole place seems dead. 6 [F] unable to feel; NUMB: It's so cold that my fingers have gone dead. 7 (of a ball in some sports) out of PLAY 8 (of sounds and colours) dull; not clear or bright 9 dead as a doornail infml completely dead 10 dead to the world very deeply asleep or unconscious → see also DEATH, flog a dead horse (FLOG) 11 sb wouldn't be caught/seen dead used in order to say that someone would never do something, spend time in a place etc because it would make them ashamed or embarrassed: Antoine won't ride a bike because he wouldn't be caught dead in cycling shorts. | He keeps phoning me, but I wouldn't be seen dead with him. | Julio's offers good, cheap food to those students who wouldn't be caught dead eating burgers and French fries. —ness n [U]
dead² n [P often the] people who have died: The dead are thought to number more than 400. | Because of the continued fighting, families have been unable to bury their dead. | the resurrection of the dead → see also DECEASED², DEPARTED
dead³ adv 1 suddenly and completely: The train stopped dead. 2 [+adj] infml completely: dead certain | . dead tired 3 [+adv/prep] infml directly: dead ahead | His shot was dead on target.
dead⁴ n in the dead of night/winter in the quietest or least active period of the night or winter
ˌdead-and-a'live adj BrE (of a place, person, or activity) uninteresting; dull
dead 'beat adj infml completely tired
dead-beat /'dedbiːt/ n slang 1 a lazy aimless person 2 AmE infml someone who avoids paying their debts
'dead bolt n AmE a strong lock often used on doors; MORTISE LOCK BrE
ˌdead 'centre, the n (in) the exact centre: Aim for the dead centre.
ˌdead 'duck n infml a plan, idea etc, that has failed or is likely to fail
dead·en /'dedn/ v [T] to cause to lose strength, feeling, brightness etc: This drug will deaden the pain. | The thick walls of the shelter deadened the noise of the bombing.
ˌdead 'end n 1 an end (especially of a street) with no way out 2 a position or situation beyond which movement or development is impossible: We've come to a dead end in our efforts to reach an agreement.
ˌdead-end 'job n a boring job, often needing little skill or ability, which does not lead to other more exciting jobs
ˌdead 'ground n [U] ground through which one can move without being seen by the enemy, e.g. because of the way the ground slopes
dead·head¹ /'dedhed/ n AmE 1 a person who rides on a train, bus etc, without buying a ticket 2 a car, bus, TRUCK, or train which is empty when it is moved
deadhead² v 1 [T] BrE to remove the dead flowers from (a plant) 2 [I] AmE to drive a train, bus, or TRUCK without passengers or goods: I'm going to deadhead home as soon as I unload these potatoes.
ˌdead 'heat n a race in which two or more competitors finish at exactly the same time
ˌdead 'letter n 1 a letter that cannot be either delivered or returned to the sender 2 a law or rule that still exists but that people no longer obey
dead·line /'dedlaɪn/ n a date or time before which something must be done or completed: Next Tuesday is the deadline for sending in your application. | I'm working to a deadline. (=My work must be finished by a certain time.) | Can you meet the deadline? (=finish in time)
dead·lock /'dedlɒk|-lɑːk/ n [C;U] a position in which a disagreement cannot be settled; STALEMATE: The talks about arms control have reached (a) complete deadlock. | Will the new proposal break (=end) the deadlock? —deadlock v [I;T] —deadlocked adj: the deadlocked Vietnam peace talks
ˌdead 'loss n slang a complete waste; something or someone that is completely useless: He won't know, he's a dead loss at maths.
dead·ly¹ /'dedli/ adj 1 likely to cause death: a deadly poison/weapon 2 aiming to kill or destroy: deadly enemies 3 [A] complete or total: He said it in deadly earnest. (=completely seriously) | deadly accuracy 4 [A] like death in appearance: deadly paleness 5 infml very uninteresting; dull: a deadly party/bore —liness n [U]
deadly² adv 1 very (in phrases like deadly serious, deadly dull, deadly boring) 2 like death: deadly pale
ˌdeadly 'nightshade also belladonna n [C;U] a poisonous European plant from which the drug BELLADONNA is obtained
ˌdeadly 'sin n a MORTAL SIN → see also SEVEN DEADLY SINS