**dignitary**
**dig·ni·ta·ry** /'dɪɡnɪˌtərɪ||-teri/ *n fml* a person holding a high position, especially in public life: *Many of the local dignitaries attended the funeral.*
**dig·ni·ty** /'dɪɡnɪti/ *n* **1** [U] calmness, formality, and seriousness of manner or style: *The dignity of the occasion was spoilt when she fell down the steps.* **2** [U] goodness and nobleness of character, of a kind that makes people feel respect and admiration: *an old lady of great dignity* **3** [C] a high position, rank, or title **4 beneath one’s dignity** below one's standard of social or moral behaviour $\rightarrow$ see also INDIGNITY, **stand on one’s dignity** (STAND$^1$)
**di·gress** /daɪ'ɡres/ *v* [I(from)] *fml* (of a writer or speaker) to turn aside from the main subject or line of argument and talk about something else: *I'll tell you a funny story, if I may digress (from my subject) for a moment.* **-ion** /-'ɡreʃən/ *n* [C;U(from)] *several long digressions (from the subject) in this chapter*
**digs** /dɪɡz/ *n* [P] *BrE infml* one or more rented furnished rooms; LODGINGS: *When his family left London, Tom moved into digs.*
**Di·jon** /'diːʒɒn||diː'ʒɑːn/ *n* a city in eastern central France that is known especially for producing MUSTARD
**dike$^1$, dyke** /daɪk/ *n* **1** a wall or bank built to keep back water and prevent flooding. In an old story, a little Dutch boy saved his area from being flooded by putting his finger in a hole in a dike to stop the water coming through: *The government’s policy is a bit like sticking your finger in the dike when the hole’s already quite big.* $\rightarrow$ compare DAM$^1$ **2** *especially BrE* a narrow passage dug to carry water away; DITCH **3** *ScotE* a wall, especially round a field
**dike$^2$, dyke** *n slang, usually derog* a woman who is sexually attracted to other women; LESBIAN
**dik·tat** /'dɪktæt/ *n often derog* **1** [C] an order forced on people by a ruler or a country which has beaten them in a war **2** [U] the practice of giving such orders: *government by diktat*
**di·lap·i·dat·ed** /dɪ'læpɪˌdeɪtɪd/ *adj* (of things) in bad condition because of age or lack of care; falling to pieces: *a dilapidated old car/castle*
**di·lap·i·da·tion** /dɪˌlæpɪ'deɪʃən/ *n* [U] the state of being dilapidated
**di·late** /daɪ'leɪt/ *v* [I;T] **a)** (of parts of the body, especially the eyes) to become wider or further open by stretching: *Her eyes dilated with terror.* **b)** to cause to become wider or further open: *The cat dilated its eyes.* **-lation** /daɪ'leɪʃən/ *n* [U]
**dilate on/upon sthg.** *phr v* [T] *fml* to speak or write at length on (a subject)
**dil·a·to·ry** /'dɪlətərɪ||-tɔːri/ *adj fml* (of people or their behaviour) slow in action; showing a tendency to delay: *I must apologize for being so dilatory in replying to your letter.*
**Dil·bert** /'dɪlbət||-ərt/ *a* popular US CARTOON STRIP by Scott Adams, about a computer engineer called Dilbert who works in an office. Although he is kind, intelligent, and works hard, he is never very successful because his manager gives unreasonable orders and his company has many silly and annoying rules. Dilbert has an intelligent dog called Dog-bert, who wears glasses and speaks, and who believes that people will only do things that give them an advantage.
**dil·do** /'dɪldəʊ/ *n pl.* **-dos** an object shaped like a PENIS (=male sex organ) that can be placed inside a woman's VAGINA for sexual pleasure
**di·lem·ma** /dɪ'lemə, daɪ-/ *n* a situation in which one has to make a difficult choice between two courses of action, both perhaps equally undesirable: *She was in a dilemma as to whether to stay at school or get a job. / Their offer has put me in a bit of a dilemma.* $\rightarrow$ see also **on the horns of a dilemma** (HORN)
**dil·et·tan·te** /ˌdɪlɪ'tænti||-'tɑːnti/ *n pl.* **-tes** or **-ti** /-ti/ *usually derog* a person who studies or has an interest in some activity, such as an art or branch of knowledge, but does not take it very seriously $\rightarrow$ compare AMATEUR **-dilettante** *adj*
**dil·i·gence** /'dɪlɪdʒəns/ *n* **1** [U] the quality of being diligent **2** [C] (in former times) a public carriage pulled by horses
**dil·i·gent** /'dɪlɪdʒənt/ *adj* (of people or their behaviour) hardworking; showing steady careful effort: *He's not especially clever, but he's a diligent worker and should do well in the examinations. / Diligent police inquiries eventually turned up some clues.* **-ly** *adv*
**dill** /dɪl/ *n* [U] a plant whose seeds are used to give a rather sharp taste to food
**Dil·lin·ger, John** /'dɪlɪndʒə/ (1903-34) a famous US ROBBER and murderer. In 1933 and 1934 he and his GANG (=group of criminals) robbed many different banks in the US, using guns and killing many people. The FBI finally organized a trap and shot him as he was leaving a theatre.
**Dil·lon’s** /'dɪlənz/ *trademark* the former name of a British bookshop which had stores in many cities in the UK. In 1998 Dillon's and another bookshop called Waterstone's became part of HMV Media Group, and Dillon's stores were all renamed Waterstone's.
**ˏdill 'pickle** *n* a CUCUMBER which has been preserved whole, often served with SANDWICHES. Thin pieces of dill pickle are called **dill slices**.
**dil·ly** /'dɪli/ *n AmE infml* something exciting or remarkable: *a dilly of a rollercoaster*
**dil·ly-dal·ly** /'dɪlɪˌdælɪ/ *v* [I] *infml* to waste time, especially by being unable to make up one's mind or by stopping often in the middle of doing something
**di·lute$^1$** /daɪ'luːt/ *v* [T(with)] to make (a liquid) weaker and thinner by mixing another liquid with it: *I diluted the paint with a little oil. | Dilute the orange juice with six parts of water.* | (fig.) *The President's influence has been further diluted (=reduced) by the election of fifteen new senators from the opposition party.* **-lution** /-'luːʃən/ *n* [C;U(with)] *the illegal dilution of beer | a dilution of one part of anti-freeze to two parts of water*
**di·lute$^2$** /daɪ'luːt/ *adj* that has been diluted: *dilute sulphuric acid*
**dim$^1$** /dɪm/ *adj* **1** (of a light) not bright: *The light is too dim for me to read easily.* | (fig.) *Prospects for any early settlement of the dispute are dim. (=are not good)* **2** not easy to see; INDISTINCT: *the dim shape of a large building in the mist* **3** (of the eyes) not able to see clearly: *The old man's eyesight was dim.* **4** *infml, especially BrE* slow to learn or understand; stupid **5** not clear in the mind: *a dim awareness that something was wrong* **6 take a dim view of** *infml* to regard with disapproval **-ly** *adv:* *dimly aware of a slight tapping sound* **-ness** *n* [U]
**dim$^2$** *v* **-mm-** **1** [I;T] to make or become dim: *The lights in the theatre began to dim. | The smoke dimmed his eyes.* **2** [T] *AmE || dip BrE* - to lower the angle of the HEADLIGHTS of a car so that they do not DAZZLE (=cause them not to be able to see for a short time) drivers coming towards you: *Dim your lights, there’s a car coming.*
**Di Mag·gi·o, Joe** /də 'mædʒiəʊ, dʒəʊ/ (1914-99) a US BASEBALL player who played for the New York Yankees team, and is considered to be one of the greatest players ever. He is also known for being married to Marilyn MONROE.
**Dim·ble·by, David** /'dɪmbəlbi/ (1938-) a British television PRESENTER who is known for appearing on programmes about politics and elections, especially Question Time. He is the older brother of Jonathan Dimbleby, and the son of Richard Dimbleby.
**Dimbleby, Jon·a·than** /'dʒɒnəθən||'dʒɑː-/ (1944-) a British television PRESENTER who appears on programmes about politics. He is the younger brother of David Dimbleby, and the son of Richard Dimbleby.
**Dimbleby, Richard** (1913-65) a British BROADCASTER known especially for reporting important national events such as the CORONATION of Queen ELIZABETH II and the funeral of Winston CHURCHILL
**dime** /daɪm/ *n* **1** a coin of the US and Canada, worth ten cents or one tenth of a dollar $\rightarrow$ compare CENT **2 a dime a dozen** *AmE infml* not at all unusual or valuable $\rightarrow$ see also ten a penny (TEN)
**'dime ˌnovel** *n AmE* a small cheap book containing a very eventful story, especially one printed in the late 1800s and early 1900s
**di·men·sion** /daɪ'menʃən, dɪ-/ *n* **1** a measurement in any one direction, especially as used for establishing the position