show the edge or shape of: I saw a clearly defined shape
outside the window. 4 [(as)] to show the nature of; CHARAC-
TERIZE: What defines us as human?
def·i·nite /'definət, 'defənət/ adj clearly known, seen, or
stated; without any uncertainty: So you're coming on Tues-
day, after all; that's definite now, is it? | Adding the cushions
has made a definite improvement to the room. | We must set
definite standards for our students. | He was very definite
about it. $\rightarrow$ see also DEFINITELY, INDEFINITE
,definite 'article n 1 (in English) the word 'the' 2 (in other
languages) a word used like 'the' $\rightarrow$ compare INDEFINITE
ARTICLE; see also ARTICLE¹
def·i·nite·ly /'defənətli, 'defənətli/ adv 1 without doubt;
clearly: That was definitely the best play I've seen all year. |
She is definitely coming/definitely not coming. | 'Is she com-
ing?' 'Definitely!' | 'Do you smoke?' 'Definitely not!' 2 in a
definite way: He explained his intentions very definitely. $\rightarrow$
see CERTAINLY (USAGE)
def·i·ni·tion /,defɪ'nɪʃən/ n 1 [C] an exact statement of the
meaning, nature, or limits of something, especially of a
word or phrase: the definitions in a dictionary | An English
person is British by definition. (=it is part of the meaning of
being 'English') 2 [U] clearness of shape, colour, or sound:
This photograph lacks definition.
de·fin·i·tive /dɪ'fɪnətɪv/ adj 1 providing a last decision that
cannot be questioned or changed; CONCLUSIVE: a definitive
decision by the Supreme Court 2 that cannot be improved as
a treatment of a particular subject: She's written the defini-
tive life of Lord Byron. $\rightarrow$ compare AUTHORITATIVE —ly adv
de·flate /,diː'fleft, dɪ-/ v 1 [I;T] to (cause to) become smaller
by losing air or gas: to deflate a balloon 2 [T] to take away
the pride or self-confidence of (someone), especially sud-
denly: One sharp remark is enough to deflate him. 3 [I;T] to
reduce the supply of money (of) or lower the level of prices
(of); a word used in economics or financial planning: to
deflate the national economy
de·fla·tion /,diː'fleɪʃən, dɪ-/ n [U] 1 the act of deflating or
process of being deflated 2 (in ECONOMICS) a decrease in the
amount of money being used in a country, especially as a
result of government decisions, leading to less demand for
goods, less industrial activity, and usually intended to or
likely to cause lower prices $\rightarrow$ compare INFLATION, REFLATION
de·fla·tion·a·ry /,diː'fleɪʃənəri, dr-lɪ-neri/ also disinfla-
tionary adj (in ECONOMICS) producing deflation of money or
prices: deflationary policies/wage settlements
de·flect /dɪ'flekt/ v [I;T(from)] to (cause to) turn from a
straight course or fixed direction, especially after hitting
something: The bullet deflected when it hit the tree. | One of
their forwards deflected the ball into the goal. | (fig.) to deflect
someone from their purpose | (fig.) a politician trying to deflect
criticism by changing the subject
de·flec·tion /dɪ'flekʃən/ n [C;U] 1 a turning aside; turning
off course: the deflection of the bullet by the tree 2 (the
amount of) a movement away from 0 by the pointer, needle
etc of a measuring instrument: a deflection of $30^{\circ}$
de·flow·er /,diː'flaʊər, dɪ-/ v [T] especially lit to have sex with
(a woman who has not had sex before)
De·foe, Daniel /dɪ'fəʊ/ (1660-1731) a British writer whose
best known works are the novels ROBINSON CRUSOE and
MOLL FLANDERS
de·fog /diː'fɒg||-'fɑːg, -'fɔːg/ v -gg- AmE for DEMIST
de·fo·li·ant /,diː'fəʊliənt, dɪ-/ n [C;U] (a) chemical sub-
stance used on plants to make their leaves drop off early
de·fo·li·ate /,diː'fəʊlieɪt, dɪ-/ v [T] to use defoliant on
-ation /-,fəʊli'eɪʃən/ n [U]
de·for·est /diː'fɒrɪst||-'fɔː-, -'fɑː-/ v [T] to clear (an area) of
forest or trees: More and more of the country is being defor-
ested.
de·for·es·ta·tion /diː,fɒrɪ'steɪʃən||-,fɔː-, -,fɑː-/ n [U] the
action of clearing an area of forest or trees: The deforestation
of South America is of worldwide concern.
de·form /dɪ'fɔːm||-ɔːrm/ v [T] to change the usual shape of
(something), especially so as to spoil its appearance or
usefulness: a face deformed by disease/anger | He was born
with a severely deformed foot. | Heat deforms plastics.
de·for·ma·tion /diːfɔː'meɪʃən||-ɔːr-/ n 1 [U] the action of
deforming or process of being deformed: the deformation of
a solid object by pressure 2 [C;U] (a) change of shape, espe-
cially for the worse
de·for·mi·ty /dɪ'fɔːmətɪll-ɔːr-/ n [C;U] (an) imperfection of
the body, especially one that can be seen: Lack of essential
minerals can cause deformity in unborn children.
Defra /'defre/ abbrev. for the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs
de·fraud /dɪ'frɔːd/ v [T(of)] to deceive so as to get or keep
something wrongly and usually not legally: She defrauded
her employers of thousands of dollars.
de·fray /di'freɪ/ v [T] fml to provide for the payment of; pay:
The company will defray the cost of the trip/all your expenses.
de·frock /,diː'frɒk||-'frɑːk/ also unfrock v [T] to remove (a
priest) from his position as a punishment for behaviour or
beliefs that are disapproved of
de·frost /,diː'frɒst||-'frɔːst/ v 1 [I;T] to remove ice from;
unfreeze: to defrost a refrigerator | Don't let the meat defrost
too quickly. 2 [T] AmE for DEMIST --er n
deft /deft/ adj effortlessly skilful; ADROIT: deft fingers | a deft
performance $\rightarrow$ly adv $\rightarrow$ness n [U]
de·funct /dɪ'fʌŋkt/ adj fml or humor no longer living, existing,
or having effect: The scheme for building a new airport seems
to be completely defunct now.
de·fuse /,diː'fjuːz/ v [T] 1 to remove the FUSE from (some-
thing explosive) in order to prevent an explosion: to defuse a
bomb 2 to make less dangerous or harmful: to defuse a
dangerous situation
de·fiy /dɪ'faɪ/ v [T] 1 to show no fear of nor respect for;
openly disobey; refuse to obey: The child defied his parents
and went to the cinema after school. | They defied their party
leader and voted against his plan. | (fig.) The acrobat seemed to
defy the law of gravity. 2 [+obj+to-v] to ask (someone), very
strongly, to do something considered impossible: I defy you
to produce any evidence that supports your claim 3 to make
impossible or unsuccessful: The untidiness of the room defies
description. | The disease has so far defied all attempts to find
a cure.
De·gas, Ed·gar /'deɪgɑː\|də'gɑː, 'edgər/ (1834-1917) a
French IMPRESSIONIST painter, known especially for his
pictures of horse racing, theatres, CAFÉS, and women danc-
ing
de Gaulle, General Charles /də 'gəʊlll-'gɔːl/ (1890-1970)
the President of France between 1959 and 1969. De Gaulle
was a French general and politician who is well known for
his determination to free his country from Nazi rule during
World War II.
de·gen·e·rate¹ /dɪ'dʒenərət / adj having become worse in
character, quality etc in comparison with a former state: a
degenerate species | the last degenerate member of a noble
family $\rightarrow$racy n [U]
degenerate² n a degenerate person, especially one whose
sexual behaviour is regarded as unacceptable
de·gen·e·rate³ /dɪ'dʒenəreɪt/ v [I(into)] 1 to pass from a
higher to a lower type or condition: The wide paved road
degenerated into a narrow bumpy track. | The argument soon
degenerated into a brawl. 2 to sink into a low state of mind
or morals $\rightarrow$ration /dɪ,dʒenə'reɪʃən/ n [U] the degeneration
of moral standards/of a bodily organ $\rightarrow$rative
/dɪ'dʒenərətɪv/ adj: a degenerative disease of the heart
De·Gen·e·res, El·len /də 'dʒenərəs, 'elən/ (1958-) a US
actress and COMEDIAN who has appeared in her own tele-
vision SITCOM and who has a television talk show. In the
late 1990s she said in public that she is a LESBIAN, and her
character on her sitcom also said this. There was a lot of
GOSSIP in newspapers about her and her partner, the actress
Anne Heche. The couple separated and her sitcom was
cancelled.
de·grade /dɪ'greɪd/ v 1 [T] to cause to lose self-respect or the
good opinion of other people; DEBASE: It was very degrading
to be punished in front of the whole class. | Don't degrade
yourself by answering him. 2 [I;T] tech to (cause to) change
from a higher to a lower kind of living matter, or from a
compound chemical to a simpler one $\rightarrow$ see also BIODE-
GRADABLE $\rightarrow$gradation /,degrə'deɪʃən/ n [C;U]
de·gree /dɪ'griː/ n 1 [C] tech any of various units of measure,