369 Department of Homeland Security, the
,dental 'floss n [U] a type of thread usually covered in WAX and used for cleaning between the teeth
,dental 'hygienist n a HYGIENIST
,dental 'plate n a PLATE
,dental 'surgeon || usually oral surgeon AmE — n.fml a dentist
den·tine /'denti:n/ BrE || den·tin /'dentɪn/ AmE — n [U] a hard substance that forms the main part of the tooth
den·tist /'dentɪst/ n a person who has been professionally trained to treat the teeth: I have to go to the dentist/to the dentist's this morning. → compare ORAL SURGEON; see also DENTAL¹, ORTHODONTIST
CULTURAL NOTE In Britain and the US, people usually go to see their dentist every six months when they are children (and in Britain this is paid for by the state), although often they go less frequently as adults. Many people, especially older people, connect the dentist's with pain, and some actually fear going there.
den·tis·try /'dentɪstri/ n [U] the work of a dentist
den·ture /'dentʃər/ n.fml a PLATE into which false teeth are fixed
den·tures /'dentʃəz||-r z/ n [P] FALSE TEETH
Den·tyne /'denti:n/ trademark a type of CHEWING GUM that does not have any sugar, sold in the US and the UK
de·nude /dr'nju:d||dr'nu:d/ v [T(of)].fml to completely remove the (natural) protective covering from: Wind and rain had denuded the mountainside of soil.
de·nun·ci·a·tion /dɪnʌnsieɪʃən/ n [C;U] (an example of) the act of denouncing (DENOUNCE): The President issued a tough denunciation of terrorism.
Den·ver /'denvər/ the capital and largest city of the US state of Colorado, close to the Rocky Mountains. Denver is an important business, educational, and CULTURAL centre, and it is sometimes called the ‘Mile High City’ because it is one mile above sea level.
,Denver 'boot n AmE.infl a metal object that the police fasten to an illegally parked car so that it cannot be moved; WHEEL CLAMP
de·ny /dɪ'naɪ/ v [T] 1 to declare untrue; refuse to accept as a fact: The minister has strenuously denied these allegations. | She denies any involvement in the robbery. | [+v-ing/that] The accused man denies ever having met her/denies that he has ever met her. | [+obj+to-v] (fml) Do you deny this to be your writing? | There's no denying that (=it's very clear that) this will be a serious blow to the government. → compare AFFIRM, ADMIT 2 to refuse to give or allow: Permission to enter was denied. | [+obj||+obj](d)] I was denied the chance of going to university when my parents' business collapsed and they lost everything they owned. 3 to refuse to allow (oneself) too much pleasure: We denied ourselves for years, until we'd finished paying for the house. 4.fml to disclaim connection with or responsibility for; DISOWN: He has denied his country and his principles! → see also DENIAL, DENIER¹
de·o·do·rant /di:'əʊdərənt/ n [C;U] a chemical substance that destroys or hides unpleasant smells, especially those of the human body: a roll-on deodorant → compare ANTIPER- SPIRANT
de·o·do·rize also -rise BrE /di:'əʊdəraɪz/ v [T] to remove or hide the unpleasant smell of
dep written abbrev. for 1 DEPART 2 DEPARTURE → compare ARR
Dep·ar·dieu, Gér·ard /ˌdepɑːr'djɜːr||ˌderpɑːr'djɜː-, -'djuː-, 'dʒeːrɑd||dʒərɑːrd/ (1948–) one of France's greatest film actors, who has appeared in many French films, including Jean de Florette and Cyrano de Bergerac, and also in some English-speaking films, such as Green Card.
de·part /dɪ'pɑːt||-ɑːrt/ v 1 [I(from)].fml or lit to leave; go away, especially when starting a journey: The train to Edinburgh will depart from platform 6 in five minutes. → compare ARRIVE 2 depart this life euph to die; used especially on GRAVESTONES
depart from sthg. phr v [T] to turn away from or stop following (a usual or former course of action, way of thinking etc): On this occasion we departed from our normal practice of holding the meetings in public. → see also DEPAR- TURE
de·part·ed /dɪ'pɑːtɪd||-ɑːr-/ adj 1 gone for ever: to remem- ber one's departed youth 2 euph dead; a word used especially by priests and older people: our dear departed father | [also n, the+C, pl. departed] Let us pray for all the faithful departed.
de·part·ment /dɪ'pɑːtmənt||-ɑːr-/ written abbrev. dept n 1 [C+sing./pl. v] any of the important divisions or branches of a government, business, college etc: The History Depart- ment is/are using this room. | the toy department of a large store | She's the head of the firm's personnel department. | He's a senior executive at the Department of Transport/at the State Department. 2 [C] (in various countries) a political division rather like a COUNTY in Britain or a state in the US 3 [S] infml an activity or subject which is the special responsibility of a particular person: I'm not going to repair the clock – that's your department. → -al /ˌdiːpɑːt'mentl || -ɑːr-/ adj: a depart- mental meeting
De,partmen for ,Constitutional Af'fairs, the the British government department responsible for defending and supporting JUSTICE, rights, and DEMOCRACY. It is in charge of the Magistrates' Courts and the Crown Courts and will be responsible for the new Supreme Court that will replace the Law Lords. Until 2003, the department was called the Lord Chancellor's Office.
De,partmen for ,Culture, ,Media, and 'Sport, the abbrev. DCMS a British government department which is responsible for CULTURE, MEDIA, and sport including the National Lottery, TOURISM, MUSEUMS, and HISTORIC buildings
De,partmen for Edu,cation and Em'ployment, the abbrev. DfEE the former name of the Department for Education and Skills, a British government department
De,partmen for Edu,cation and 'Skills, the abbrev. DfES a British government department which is responsi- ble for the UK's education system and for making laws about workers' rights, organizing training programmes for people without jobs etc
De,partmen for En,vironment, ,Food and ,Rural Af'fairs, the abbrev. Defra the British government depart- ment which is responsible for farming, food production, and the safety of food products. It is also responsible for protecting the environment in the UK.
De,partmen for ,International De'velopment, the abbrev. DFID formerly called the Overseas Development Administration (ODA); a British government department that gives money, advice, and help to poorer countries
De,partmen for ,Transport U'K, the abbrev. DfTUK a British government department which is responsible for deal- ing with transport in the UK, for example by making laws about road vehicles and planes, and by building and repairing roads. In the US there is a similar department called the DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
De,partmen for ,Work and 'Pensions, the abbrev. DWP a British government department which is responsible for paying various types of BENEFIT (=money paid by the government to people who need it, for example people who are poor, old, or too sick to work, and to people who cannot find a job)
De,partmen of De'fense, the abbrev. DoD the US government department which is responsible for the military forces in the US, that is, the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. In the UK there is a similar department called the MINISTRY OF DEFENCE. → see also PENTAGON
De,partmen of Edu'cation, the abbrev. DOE a US government department which is responsible for the educa- tion system, including education programmes, laws for schools and colleges, standards for schools and teachers etc
De,partmen of 'Health, the abbrev. DOH a British government department which is responsible for health pro- grammes in the UK and for the NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
De,partmen of ,Health and ,Human 'Services, the a US government department which is responsible for health programmes, and for providing money and support for people who are poor, people who have no jobs, and people who have stopped working because they are old
De,partmen of ,Homeland Se'curity, the a US government department which is responsible for protecting