901
moist
from what had gone before, including Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, and Surrealism, as well as some more recent developments such as MINIMAL ART and PHOTOREALISM
modern 'dance n [U] a kind of dancing developed in Europe and the US in the early 20th century, which is performed in the theatre but is different from BALLET or the dancing which forms part of MUSICALS. Modern dance typically tried to avoid using the movements of ballet and to become independent of the structure of the music which goes with the dance.
'modern-day adj (typical) of the present time, especially in the sense of being similar to something or someone from the past: She's a modern-day Joan of Arc, always finding a cause to martyr herself for.
Modern 'English n [U] the form of English used from about AD 1500 to the present day, which developed from MIDDLE ENGLISH
mod·ern·ism /'mɒdənɪzəm||'mɑːdər-/ n [U] (sometimes cap.) (especially in art and religion) a search for new forms of expression representative of modern times, especially a tendency in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s to make a complete change from the past in using simple forms, artificial materials etc in building, art decoration etc -> compare POST-MODERNISM —ist adj, n: of the modernist school
mod·ern·ist·ic /ˌmɒdə'nɪstɪk ||ˌmɑːdər-/ adj very noticeably and unusually modern: modernistic lampshades —ally /kli/ adv
mod·ern·ize also -ise BrE /'mɒdənaɪz||'mɑːdər-/ v 1 [T] to make suitable for modern use, or for the needs of the present time: to modernize an old house by putting in a bathroom 2 [I] to start using more modern methods of operation: The business will lose money if it doesn't modernize. —ization /ˌmɒdənaɪ'zeɪʃən||mɑːdərə-/ n [C;U]
modern 'languages n [P] the study of one or more current foreign languages in a school or university
modern 'maths BrE || new math AmE — n the MATHEMATICS which is currently taught in most schools in Britain and which includes such ideas as sets, SYMMETRY, and BASES
mod·est /'mɒdɪst||'mɑː-/ adj 1 [(about)] apprec having or expressing a lower opinion of one's own ability than is probably deserved; hiding one's good qualities: The young actress is very modest about her success; she says it's as much the result of good luck as of her own talent. 2 not large in quantity, size, value etc: a modest rise in house prices | They were very modest in their demands. (=They didn't ask for too much.) | modest ambitions 3 old-fash apprec (especially of a woman or her clothes or behaviour) avoiding or not showing anything that might excite sexual feelings: modest dress -> see also IMMODEST —ly adv
mod·es·ty /'mɒdɪsti||'mɑː-/ n [U] often apprec 1 the quality, state, or fact of being modest: With commendable modesty, the editor has not included any of his own poems in the collection. 2 in all modesty euph without wishing to seem to praise oneself too much: I think I can say, in all modesty, that we'd have lost the contract if I hadn't been there.
mod·i·cum /'mɒdɪkəm||'mɑː-/ n [S(of) usually in negatives and questions] a small amount, especially of a good quality such as truth, respect etc: If he had a modicum of sense, he wouldn't do such a thing.
mod·i·fi·ca·tion /ˌmɒdɪfɪ'keɪʃən||ˌmɑː-/ n 1 [U] the act of modifying or process of being modified 2 [C(to)] a small change made in something: A few simple modifications to this plan would greatly improve it.
mod·i·fi·er /'mɒdɪfaɪə ||'mɑː-/ n tech (in grammar) a word or group of words that gives additional information about another word. Modifiers can be adjectives (such as fierce in the fierce dog), adverbs (such as loudly in The dog barked loudly), or phrases (such as with a short tail in the dog with a short tail).
mod·i·fy /'mɒdɪfaɪ||'mɑː-/ v [T] 1 to change (a plan, an opinion, a condition, or the form or quality of something), especially slightly: to modify one's views in the light of new evidence | The design has been modified to improve fuel consumption. 2 (of a word, especially an adjective or adverb) to describe or limit the meaning of (another word): An adverb modifies the verb 'talk' in the phrase 'to talk quietly'. -> compare MODERATE²
Mod·i·glia·ni, Am·e·de·o /ˌmɒdɪl'jɑːni||ˌmɑːdiːl-,
ˌæmə'deɪəʊ/ (1884-1920) an Italian painter and SCULPTOR known especially for his pictures of NUDES (=women without clothes) and of people's faces in which the bodies and faces are much longer than in real life
mod·ish /'məʊdɪʃ/ adj fashionable —ly adv
mod·u·lar /'mɒdjʊlə ||'mɑːdʒə-/ adj tech built or made using modules: modular furniture | a modular course in business studies
mod·u·late /'mɒdjʊleɪt||'mɑːdʒə-/ v 1 [T] to vary the strength, nature etc of (a sound): He has a very monotonous voice; he should modulate it more. 2 [I+from, to] to pass by regular steps from one musical KEY to another: Here the music modulates from E to G. 3 [T] tech to vary the size or rate etc of (a radio wave or signal) —lation /ˌmɒdjʊ'leɪʃən||mɑːdʒə-/ n [C;U]
mod·ule /'mɒdjuːl||'mɑːdʒuːl/ n tech 1 an independent part or unit which can be combined with others to form a structure or arrangement 2 a part of a spacecraft that can be used independently of the other parts for a particular purpose: While one of the astronauts went round the moon in the command module the other went down to the surface in the lunar module.
mo·dus op·e·ran·di /ˌməʊdəs ˌɒpə'rændi||-ˌɑːpə-/ also MO infml — n [S] tech, Lat a method of doing something, especially one that is typical of a particular person: His modus operandi is well known to the police.
modus vi·ven·di /ˌməʊdəs vi'vendi/ n [S] Lat 1 [(with)] an arrangement between people of different opinions, habits etc to live or work together without quarrelling: They made a great effort to reach some kind of modus vivendi, for the sake of the children. 2 a way of living
mog·gy /'mɒgi||'mɑːgi, 'mɔːgi/ also mog /mɒg||mɑːg, mɔːg/ n BrE infml, especially humor a cat
mo·gul /'məʊgəl/ n a person of very great power, wealth, and importance: the moguls of the film industry
Mogul, Moghul n a member of a family of Muslim rulers of northern India from 1526-1857, a period known for its beautiful art and buildings, including the TAJ MAHAL
Mu·ghal /'muːgɑːl/ n another spelling for MOGUL
mo·hair /'məʊheə/ n [U] (cloth made from) the long fine silky hair of the ANGORA goat. Mohair is more expensive than most other types of woollen cloth: a mohair sweater
Mo·ham·med /məʊ'hæmɪd, mə-/ -> see MUHAMMAD
Mo·ham·me·dan /məʊ'hæmɪdən, mə-/ n [C] a word meaning Muslim, now considered offensive by most Muslims —Mohammedan adj
Mo·ham·me·dan·ism /məʊ'hæmɪdənɪzəm, mə-/ v [T] a word meaning the Muslim religion, now considered offensive by most Muslims; ISLAM
Mo·ha·ve Desert, the /məʊˌhɑvi 'dezət||-zərt/ -> see MOJAVE DESERT
Mo·hawk /'məʊhɔːk/ n 1 the Mohawk [P] a Native American tribe of the Mohawk River valley in New York State 2 [C] a member of this tribe -> see Cultural Note at NATIVE AMERICAN 3 [C] AmE a MOHICAN hairstyle —Mohawk adj: a Mohawk chief
mo·hi·can /məʊ'hiːkən/ BrE || mohawk AmE — n a hairstyle in which the hair on the sides of the head is cut very short and the remaining hair is made to stand upright and is often brightly coloured. Mohicans were especially popular among young people at the time of PUNK fashion, but are now becoming less common.
Mohican n 1 the Mohican [P] an imaginary NATIVE AMERICAN tribe of the upper Hudson River valley in New York State, invented by the writer James Fenimore COOPER for his stories, such as The Last of the Mohicans 2 [C] a member of this tribe -> see Cultural Note at NATIVE AMERICAN —Mohican adj
Moi, Dan·iel ar·ap /mɔɪ, dænjəl 'ærəp/ (1924-) the President of Kenya from 1978 to 2002, and leader of the Kenya African National Union KANU), the party which governed Kenya from its independence from the UK in 1963 until 2002
moi·e·ty /'mɔɪəti/ n [(of) usually sing.] law or lit a half share
moist /mɔɪst/ adj usually apprec slightly wet: warm moist air |