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designer
good description of life on a farm. 2 [C] a sort or kind: The hall was packed with people of every description/all descriptions. | I think it's a bird of some description. 3 beyond description (used to add force to what one is saying): The play was boring beyond description.
de·scrip·tive /dɪ'skrɪptɪv/ adj 1 that describes: descriptive writing | a descriptive passage in a novel 2 [no comp.] tech describing how a language is used: a descriptive grammar of English ➔ compare PRESCRIPTIVE --ly adv --ness n [U]
Des·de·mo·na /ˌdezdə'məʊnə/ the main female character in the play OTHELLO by William SHAKESPEARE. She is Othello's wife, and Othello kills her because his enemy, Iago, makes him believe that she is having a sexual relationship with another man, although she is not.
des·e·crate /'desɪkreɪt/ v [T] to use (something holy) for purposes which are not holy: to desecrate a church by using it as a stable --cration /ˌdesɪ'kreɪʃən/ n [S;U]
de·seg·re·gate /di: 'segrɪgeɪt/ v [T] to end racial or sexual SEGREGATION in (e.g. a school). In the US desegregation of schools was a big political and legal problem, especially in the 1950s and 1960s. ➔ see also BUS² -gation /di:ˌsegrɪ'geɪʃən/ n [U]
de·se·lect /ˌdi:sə'lekt/ v [T] to refuse to choose (a person) for a job, place in a team etc that they have previously done or had --tion n [C;U]
de-sen·si·tize also -tise BrE /di:'sensɪtaɪz/ v [T] to make less sensitive to light, pain etc: to desensitize photographic material | I think children are becoming desensitized to violence through watching too much on TV. -tization /di:ˌsensɪtaɪ'zeʃənl-tə-/ n [U]
des·ert¹ /'dezət||-ərt/ n 1 a large sandy piece of land where there is very little rain and usually not much plant life: the Sahara Desert | a hot desert wind 2 a place that is cheerless and without activity: a cultural desert ➔ see also DESERTS
de·sert² /dɪ'z:t||-ɜ:rt/ v 1 [T] to leave empty or leave completely: The guard deserted his post. | the silent deserted streets of the city at night 2 [T] to leave at a difficult time or in a cruel way, especially with the intention of not returning; ABANDON: The baby's mother deserted him soon after giving birth. | All my friends have deserted me! [fig.] When he had to speak his confidence suddenly deserted him. 3 [I(from)] to leave military service without permission
de·sert·er /dɪ'zɜ:tə||-ɜ:r-/ n a person who leaves military service without permission: Deserters were shot without mercy.
de-sert-i-fi-ca·tion /dɪˌzɜ:tɪfɪ'keɪʃənl-ˌzɜ:r-/ n [U] tech the process by which useful land, especially farm land, changes into desert
de·ser·tion /dɪ'zɜ:ʃənl-ɜ:r-/ n [C;U] (an example of) the act of leaving one's duty, one's family, or military service without permission, especially with the intention of never returning: After two years he divorced his wife on the grounds of her desertion.
desert 'island n a small tropical island a long way from other land and with no one living there
CULTURAL NOTE Desert islands are thought of as being rather ROMANTIC places, with sun, warm seas, and plenty of food and water available, perfect places to escape from the worries and responsibilities of ordinary life.
Desert Island 'Discs a British radio programme in which famous people talk with the PRESENTER about their lives and choose the eight records they would like to have with them if they were left alone on a DESERT ISLAND (=a small tropical island with no one living on it). They are also allowed to choose one book (not the Bible or SHAKESPEARE, since these are already on the island) and one LUXURY (=something that you have just for pleasure and enjoyment) to take with them.
Desert 'Orchid a British RACEHORSE which won many important races in the 1980s
Desert 'Rat n 1 a British soldier who fought in North Africa in World War II 2 a British soldier who fought in the GULF WAR in 1991
de-serts /dɪ'zɜ:ts||-ɜ:rts/ n [P] the punishment someone deserves for the bad things they have done: He eventually got his just deserts.
de·serve /dɪ'zɜ:v||-ɜ:rv/ v [T not in progressive forms] 1 to have earned by one's actions or character; be worthy of: You've been working all morning - you deserve a rest. | [+to-v] She deserved to win/to be punished. 2 deserve well/ill of fml to deserve to be treated well/badly by
de·serv·ed·ly /dɪ'zɜ:vɪdli||-ɜ:r-/ adv rightly: She's made a lot of money, and deservedly so. ➔ opposite UNDESERVEDLY
de·serv·ing /dɪ'zɜ:vɪŋ||-ɜ:r-/ adj worthy of support or help: to give money to deserving causes such as children's charities | [F+of] (fml) He is deserving of the highest praise for his conduct during the hijack. --ly adv
dés·ha·bil·lé /ˌdeɪzə bi:eɪ/ BrE || also dishabille AmE -n [U] the state of being only partly dressed. This word is usually used of a woman, often with the suggestion that she is deliberately trying to excite a man: She came to the door in (a state of) déshabillé.
des·ic·cate /'desɪkeɪt/ v [T] fml to dry, especially as a way of preserving: dessicated coconut
de·sid·e·ra·tum /diˌzɪdəreɪtəm, -'ra:-, diˌsɪ-/ n pl. -ta /-tə/ fml something desired as necessary
de·sign¹ /dɪ'zan/ v 1 [i,T] to make a drawing or pattern of (something that will be made or built); develop and draw the plans for: to design (dresses) for a famous shop | Who designed the Sydney Opera House? 2 [T often pass.] to plan or develop for a certain purpose or use: a book designed mainly for use in colleges | [+obj+to-v] The building has been specially designed to provide easy access for people in wheelchairs. ➔ see also DESIGNER¹
design² n 1 [C] a drawing or pattern showing how some-thing is to be made: Have you seen the latest designs for the new library? 2 [U] also designing -the art of making such drawings or patterns: a course in dress design 3 [U] the arrangement of the parts in any man-made product, such as a machine or a work of art, as this influences the product's practical usefulness, artistic quality etc: The success of this car shows the importance of good design in helping to sell the product. 4 [C] a decorative pattern, especially one that is not repeated: a carpet with a floral design in the centre 5 [C] a plan in the mind; SCHEME 6 by design as a result of purposeful planning; intentionally: She arrived just as we were leaving, but whether this was by accident or by design I'm not sure. ➔ see also DESIGNEDLY, DESIGNS
des·ig·nate¹ /'dezigneɪt/ v [T] 1 to choose or name for a particular job or purpose: [+obj+as/n] The Town Hall has been designated (as) an emergency feeding centre in the event of an enemy attack. | [+obj+to-v] She has been designated to take over the position of party chairman. 2 fml to point out or call by a special name: These crosses on the drawing designate all the possible entrances to the castle.
des·ig·nate² /'dezɪgnɪt, -neɪt/ adj [after n] fml chosen for an office but not yet officially placed in it: the minister design-nate
designated 'driver n AmE infml someone who agrees to drive their friends and not drink alcohol when they go out together to a party, bar etc
designated 'hitter abbrev. dh n (in the game of BASEBALL) a BATTER who can replace the PITCHER when it is the pitcher's turn to hit
CULTURAL NOTE The rule allowing a designated hitter was introduced in the US in 1973 but many people are opposed to it. It is used in the American LEAGUE but not in the National League.
des-ig-na-tion /ˌdezɪg'neɪʃən/ n 1 [U[of, as]] the act of designating 2 [C] fml a name or title: Her official designation is Research Editor.
de·sign·ed·ly /dɪ'zanɪdli/ adv on purpose; intentionally
de·sign·er¹ /dɪ'zaɪnə/ n a person who makes plans or patterns, especially professionally: a designer of aircraft engines | a dress designer
designer² adj [A] 1 made by and usually carrying the name of a well-known designer: designer jeans/sheets 2 often humor or derog intended to make the user appear extremely fashion-able: designer stubble/socialism 3 changed by GENETIC ENGI-NEERING: a designer virus