Webster's Word Power English Dictionary: With IPA and easy to follow pronunciation

ENGLISH DICTIONARY

This book is an accessible and comprehensive modern dictionary. As well as providing over 35,000 concise, up-to-date dictionary definitions, headwords are listed with parts of speech, pronunciation and inflections and variations.

Features:

Strict alphabetical order is followed. All compound words and hyphenated words are alphabetized as if they are one word.

Variant spellings appear in bold type next to the headword.

Parts of speech are indicated in italic, after the bold headword by the abbreviations shown on the following page. Other parts of speech after the main headword are indicated by a full point (.) and •. Other terms, of a different part of speech, that are related to the headword are given at the end of an entry in bold preceded by •.

Inflected forms of verbs and plural forms of nouns appear in bold following the headword.

Different senses within parts of speech are numbered. Parts of speech are separated by full points (.) and •.

Words of different origins but with the same spelling are given separate, numbered entries.

Pronunciation guides are both spelled out and phonetic.

This book includes pronunciation guides in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and a specially commissioned, crystal-clear, spelled-out pronunciation guide. This is a syllable-based spelling pronunciation.

This spelling pronunciation for each word provides a pronunciation that stays as close to the original spelling of the word as is usefully possible. It uses the conventions of English spelling to provide an easy-to-understand guide.

Our words often have more than one syllable, with one syllable in each word more prominent than others. This is known as the stressed syllable. For each word, there is a series of syllable blocks divided by hyphens (-) which, when read, reveal the pronunciation of the word. The main stress is marked in bold.

Thi re-zult is a clear and in-choo-wi-tiv spe-ling pro-nun-see-ay-shun which is baist on thi sound and spe-ling normz ov thi ing-glish lang-gwidge at a si-la-bic le-vel and which iz i-mee-dee-it-lee in-choo-wi-tiv.

For those familiar with IPA there is also a phonetic guide to pronunciation too. Below is a key to the symbols used.

Vowels

Consonants

The following consonant symbols have the usual meaning b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w, z

The symbol : denotes a long vowel.

The stressed syllable for multisyllabic words is preceded by the symbol ». Syllables with a secondary stress are preceded by « .

ABBREVIATIONS

A

A, a /eI/, /ay/ n 1 the first letter of the English alphabet. 2 (mus) the sixth note of the scale of C major. 3 a human blood type.

a /´, eI/, /a/ indefinite article (an before a vowel) 1 any, some, one. 2 one single thing. 3 per, for each.

aardvark /»ArdvArk/, /ard-vark/ n an African mammal with a long snout that feeds on ants.

abacus /»Qb´k´s/, /a-ba-kus/ n a counting frame with beads.

abalone /»Qb´»lo˘ni/, /a-ba-lo-nee/ n an edible sea snail with a shell that is shaped like an ear.

abandon /´»bQnd´n/, /a-ban-don/ vb 1 to give up. 2 to depart from forever, desert. • n freedom from care.

abandoned /´»bQnd´nd/, /a-ban-dond/ adj 1 deserted. 2 immoral, shameless.

abattoir /»Qb´«twAr/, /a-ba-twar/ n a place where animals are killed for food.

abate /´»beIt/, /a-bate/ vb to lessen. • n abatement.

abbess /»Qb´s/, /a-bess/ n the chief nun in a convent.

abbey /»Qbi/, /a-bee/ n 1 a monastery or convent. 2 a church, once part of a monastery or convent.

abbot /»Qb´t/, /a-bot/ n the chief monk in a monastery.

abbreviate /´»bri˘vI«eIt/, /a-bree-vee-ate/ vb to shorten. • n abbreviation.

abdicate /»QbdI«keIt/, /ab-di-kate/ vb to give up high office, especially a throne. • n abdication.

abdomen /»Qbd´m´n/, /ab-do-men/ n the part of the body between your chest and your thighs. • adj abdominal.

abduct /´b»dåkt/, /ab-duct/ vb to kidnap. • n abduction, abductor.

abhor /´b»hçr/, /ab-hor/ vb to loathe. • n abhorrence.

abhorrent /´b»hAr´nt/, /ab-hor-rent/ adj loathsome.

abide /´»baId/, /a-bide/ vb to put up with. • abide by to obey, to remain true to.

abiding /´»baIdIN/, /a-bide-ing/ adj lasting.

ability /´»bIlIti/, /a-bil-it-ee/, n 1 skill or power to do a thing. 2 cleverness.

ablaze /´»bleIz/, /a-blaze/ adj, adv on fire, in flames.

able /»eIb´l/, /ay-bl/ adj 1 having skill or power to do a thing. 2 clever. • adv ably.

able-bodied /»eIb´l«bÅdi˘d/, /ay-bl-bod-eed/ adj able to walk; physically healthy.

abnormal /Qb»nçrml/, /ab-nor-mal/ adj different from the usual. • adv abnormally.

abnormality /«Qbnçr»mQlIti/, /ab-nor-mal-it-ee/ n an unusual quality.

aboard /´»bçrd/, /a-board/ adv, prep on board, on a ship, train, aeroplane, etc.

abode /´»bo˘d/, /a-bode/ n (fml or hum) house, home.

abolish /´»bÅlIS/, /a-bol-ish/ vb to put an end to, to do away with. • n abolition, abolitionist.

abominable /´»bÅmIn´bl/, /a-bom-in-na-bl/ adj hateful.

aboriginal /«Qb´»rIdZ´n´l/, /a-bor-ri-ji-nal/ adj 1 describing a feature that is native to a country. 2 (cap) describing the native peoples of Australia. • n (cap) a descendant of the people who inhabited Australia before the arrival of the Europeans.

aborigine /«Qb´»rIdZIni/, /a-bor-ri-ji-nee/ n 1 one of the original inhabitants of a country, who has been there since the earliest times. 2 (cap) another name for an Australian Aboriginal. • adj aboriginal, Aboriginal.

abort /´»bçrt/, /a-bort/ vb 1 to have an abortion or miscarriage. 2 to perform an abortion on. 3 to stop something, especially in the early stages.

abortion /´»bçrS´n/, /a-bor-shun/ n a miscarriage, usually induced.

abortive /´»bçrtIv/, /a-bor-tive/ adj unsuccessful because done too soon.

abound /´»baUnd/, /a-bound/ vb to be plentiful.

about /´»båUt/, /a-bout/ adv, prep 1 concerning. 2 around. 3 near to. 4 nearly. 5 on the point of.

above /´»båv/, /a-buv/ adv, prep 1 over. 2 higher (than).

aboveboard /´»båv«bçrd/, /a-buv-board/ adj honest, fair.

abrasion /´»breIZ´n/, /a-bray-zhen/ n 1 the act of rubbing away at something. 2 an area of skin that has been scraped.

abrasive /´»breIsIv/, /a-bray-ziv/ adj 1 causing abrasion. 2 harsh or irritating. • n something that causes abrasion.

abreast /´»brEst/, /a-brest/ adv side by side. • abreast of the times up-to-date.

abridge /´»brIdZ/, /a-bridge/ vb to make shorter. • n abridg(e)ment.

abroad /´»brÅd/, /a-brawd/ adv 1 out of your own country. 2 far and wide.

abrupt /´»bråpt/, /a-brupt/ adj 1 sudden, hasty. 2 discourteous. • adv abruptly. • n abruptness.

abscess /»QbsEs/, /ab-sess/ n a boil, a gathering of pus in some part of the body.

abseil /»QbseIl/, /ab-sail/ vb to go down a very steep slope, such as a cliff face or a very tall building, using a rope secured at the top and passed around the body in a kind of harness.

absence see absent.

absent /»Qbs´nt/, /ab-sent/ adj not present. • n absence.

absentee /«Qbs´n»ti˘/, /ab-sen-tee/ n someone who is not present.

absentminded /«Qbs´nt»maInd´d/, /ab-sent-mind-ded/ adj not thinking of what you are doing.

absolute /»Qbs´«lu˘t/, /ab-so-lute, ab-so-lute/ adj 1 complete. 2 free from controls or conditions. • adv absolutely.

absolution see absolve.

absolve /´b»zÅlv/, /ab-solve/ vb to set free, as from guilt or punishment. • n absolution.

absorb /´b»zçrb/, /ab-sorb/ vb 1 to soak up. 2 to take up all the attention of.

absorbed /´b»zçrbd/, /ab-sorbd/ adj giving the whole mind to.

absorbent /´b»zçrb´nt/, /ab-sor-bent/ adj drinking in.

absorption /´b»zçrpS´n/, /ab-sorp-shen/ n 1 act of absorbing. 2 full attention.

abstain /´b»steIn/, /ab-stain/ vb 1 to keep yourself from, to hold back from. 2 not to vote. • n abstainer, abstention.

abstract /»QbstrQkt/, /ab-stract/ n a summary. • adj 1 existing in the mind only. 2 portraying ideas rather than realistic images.

absurd /´b»s´rd/, /ab-surd/ adj foolish. • n absurdity.

abundance /´»bånd´ns/, /a-bun-dance/ n more than enough, plenty. • adj abundant. • adv abundantly.

abuse /´»bju˘z/, /a-byooz/ vb 1 to make wrong use of. 2 to ill-treat, to maltreat, especially physically or sexually. 3 to use insulting language. • n /´»bju˘s/, /a-byooss/ abuse.

abusive /´»bju˘sIv/, /a-byoo-sive/ adj 1 ill-treating, cruel. 2 insulting. • adv abusively.

abysmal /´»bIzm´l/, /a-biz-mal/, adj very bad.

abyss /´»bIs/, /a-biss/ n a very deep pit or ravine.

academic /«Qk´»dEmIk/, /a-ca-de-mic/ adj 1 of or concerning education, especially in a college or university. 2 not practical or useful; theoretical. • n teacher in a college or university.

academy /´»kQd´mi/, /a-ca-de-mee/ n 1 a school for special studies. 2 a society for advancing arts and sciences.

accelerate /´k»sEl´«reIt/, /ac-sel-le-rate/ vb to increase speed. • n acceleration.

accelerator /´k»sEl´«reIt´r/, /ac-sel-le-ray-tor/ n a device that controls the speed of a car.

accent /»QksEnt/, /ac-sent/ n 1 a special emphasis given to part of a word. 2 the mark that indicates such emphasis. 3 a way of speaking peculiar to certain persons or groups. • vb to emphasize a certain part of a word.

accentuate /Qk»sEntSU«eIt/, /ac-sen-choo-ate/ vb to emphasize.

accept /´k»sEpt/, /ak-sept/ vb 1 to receive something offered. 2 to regard as true, reasonable, satisfactory, etc. • n acceptance.

acceptable /´k»sEpt´b´l/, /ak-sep-ta-bl/ adj 1 pleasant to receive. 2 satisfactory, good enough. 3 allowable, tolerable.

access /»QksEs/, /ak-sess/ n a way or means of approach. • vb to find on a computer file.

accessible /´k»sEs´b´l/, /ak-sess-i-bl/ adj 1 easily approached. 2 easily reached. 3 easily obtained or understood. • n accessibility.

accessory /´k»sEs´ri/, /ak-sess-or-ee/ n 1 an assistant, especially in crime. 2 an additional part or tool. 3 an additional item worn with clothing.

accident /»QksId´nt/, /ak-sid-ent/ n 1 an unexpected happening. 2 an unexpected event that causes damage or injury. • adj accidental.

acclaim /´»kleIm/, /a-claim/ vb to greet with applause • n recognition and praise; applause.

acclamation /«Qkl´»meIS´n/, /ak-la-may-shun/ n a shout of joy or approval.

acclimatize /´»klaIm´«taIz/, /a-clime-a-tize/ vb, also acclimatise to accustom to a new climate or situation. • n acclimatization, acclimatisation.

accolade /»Qk´«leId/, /a-ko-lade/ n 1 the touching on the shoulder with a sword in the ceremony of making someone a knight. 2 praise or approval.

accommodate /´»kÅm´«deIt/, /a-com-o-date/ vb 1 to provide lodgings for. 2 to have space for. 3 to supply with. 4 to make suitable, to adapt.

accommodating /´»kÅm´«deItIN/, /a-com-o-date-ing/ adj obliging.

accommodation /´«kÅm´»deIS´n/, /a-com-o-day-shun/ n 1 lodgings. 2 adaptation.

accompaniment /´»kåmp´nim´nt/, /a-com-pan-ee-ment/ n the music played with a singer or player.

accompanist /´»kåmp´nIst/, /a-com-pan-ist/ n someone who plays the accompaniment for a singer or player.

accompany /´»kåmp´ni/, /a-com-pan-ee/ vb 1 to go with. 2 to join a singer or player by playing a musical instrument.

accomplice /´»kÅmplIs/, /a-com-pliss/ n a helper, especially in crime.

accomplish /´»kÅmplIS/, /a-com-plish/ vb to perform successfully, to finish.

accomplished /´»kÅmplISd/, /a-com-plisht/ adj 1 finished. 2 skilled.

accomplishment /´»kÅmplISm´nt/, /a-com-plish-ment/ n 1 something which is done successfully. 2 completion.

accord /´»kçrd/, /a-cord/ vb 1 to agree. 2 to give. • n agreement. • of your own accord by your own wish.

accordance /´»kçrd´ns/, /a-cor-dans/ n agreement.

accordingly /´»kçrdINli/, /a-cor-ding-lee/ adv therefore.

according to /´»kçrdIN tu˘/, /a-cor-ding to/ prep 1 in keeping with. 2 as stated by.

accordion /´»kçrdi´n/, /a-cor-dee-on/ n a portable musical instrument played by keys and worked by bellows. • n accordionist.

accost /´»kÅst/, /a-cost/ vb to approach and speak to in an aggressive way.

account /´»kaUnt/, /a-count/ vb (fml) to consider, to reckon. • n 1 a statement of money received and paid, a bill. 2 a report, description. • account for give an explanation of. • of no account of no importance. • on account of because of.

accountable /´»kaUnt´b´l/, /a-count-a-bl/ adj responsible.

accountancy /´»kaUnt´nsi/, /a-count-an-see/ n the work of an accountant.

accountant /´»kaUnt´nt/, /a-count-ant/ n someone who keeps or examines money accounts.

accumulate /´»kju˘mjU«leIt/, /a-kyoom-yoo-late/ vb 1 to increase, to heap up. 2 to collect.

accumulation /´«kju˘mU»leIS´n/, /a-kyoom-yoo-lay-shun/ n growth, a large collection.

accuracy /»QkjUr´si/, /ak-yoo-rass-ee/ n exactness, precision.

accurate /»Qkj´r´t/, /ak-yoo-rit/ adj 1 correct, exact. 2 correct, careful. • adv accurately.

accursed /´»k´rst/, /a-curst/ adj 1 under a curse, doomed. 2 hateful.

accusation /«Qkju˘»zeIS´n/, /a-kyoo-zay-shun/ n a charge brought against anyone.

accuse /´»kju˘z/, /a-kyooz/ vb to charge with wrongdoing. • n accuser.

accused /´»kju˘zd/, /a-kyoozd/ n someone charged with wrongdoing.

accustom /´»kåst´m/, /a-cuss-tom/ vb to make well known by use.

accustomed /´»kåst´md/, /a-cuss-tomd/ adj 1 usual. 2 used (to), familiar with.

ace /eIs/, /ace/ n 1 the value of ‘one’ in games of cards, dice, or dominoes. 2 someone good at sports. • within an ace of on the very point of.

acetic /´»si˘tIk/, /a-set-ic/ adj sour, of vinegar.

acetylene /´sEtI»li˘n/, /a-set-ill-een/ n a gas used for giving light and heat, and commonly used with oxygen for welding or cutting metal.

ache /eIk/, /ake/ vb to be in or to give prolonged pain. • n a prolonged or throbbing pain.

achieve /´»tSi˘v/, /a-cheev/ vb 1 to succeed in doing. 2 to gain.

achievement /´»tSi˘vm´nt/, /a-cheev-ment/ n 1 something done successfully. 2 a feat.

acid /»QsId/, /a-sid/ n a sour or corrosive substance. • adj sour; sharp to the taste; bitter.

acid rain /»QsId«reIn/, /a-sid rane/ n rain that has been polluted by acid from factory waste, car exhausts, etc. and is harmful to the environment.

acid test /»QsId«tEst/, /a-sid test/ n a test that indicates the worth or value of something.

acidity /´»sIdItI/, /a-sid-it-ee/ n sourness.

acknowledge /´k»nÅlIdZ/, /ak-naw-ledge/ vb 1 to admit as true. 2 to admit the receipt of. • n acknowledg(e)ment.

acne /»Qkni/, /ak-nee/ n a skin condition that causes pimples.

acorn /eI»kçrn/, /ay-corn/ n the fruit or seed of the oak tree.

acoustic /´»ku˘stIk/, /a-coos-tik/ adj 1 having to do with hearing and sound. 2 making its natural sound, not electric.

acoustics /´»ku˘stIks/, /a-coos-tiks/ npl the science of sound.

acquaint /´»kweInt/, /a-kwaint/ vb 1 to make familiar with. 2 to inform.

acquaintance /´»kweInt´ns/, /a-kwain-tanse/ n 1 a person you know. 2 knowledge.

acquire /´»kwaIr/, /a-kwire/ vb to gain, to obtain.

acquit /´»kwIt/, /a-kwit/ vb 1 to declare innocent. 2 to conduct yourself.

acquittal /´»kwItl/, /a-kwi-tal/ n a setting free.

acre /»eIk´r/, /ay-kr/ n an imperial measure of land (= 4840 square yards or 4046.9 square metres).

acrobat /»Qkr´bQt/, /a-cro-bat/ n a high-wire or trapeze artiste. • adj acrobatic. • npl acrobatics.

acronym /»Qkr´nIm/, /a-cro-nym/ n an abbreviation, made from the initial letters, or from combinations of letters from a word, which itself can be pronounced as a word.

act /Qkt/, /act/ vb 1 to do. 2 to conduct yourself. 3 to perform on the stage, in films, or on television. 4 to produce an effect. • n 1 a deed. 2 a law. 3 a part of a play.

action /»QkS´n/, /ac-shon/ n 1 something done. 2 a movement. 3 the producing of an effect. 4 the events in a narrative or drama. 5 a battle. 6 a lawsuit.

active /Qk»tIv/, /ac-tiv/ adj 1 energetic. 2 taking part, involved. 3 being in action, working, operative.

activity /Qk»tIvIti/, /ac-ti-vi-tee/ n 1 energy. 2 occupation or pastime.

actor /»Qkt´r/, /ac-tor/ n a man who performs in a play or film or on television.

actress /»QktrIs/, /ac-tress/ n a woman who performs in a play or film or on television.

actual /Qk»tSUw´l/, /ac-chul/ adj 1 real, not imaginary. 2 true.

actuality /Qk«tSU»wQlIti, -«Su˘-/, /ac-chu-wa-li-tee/ n reality.

actually /»QktSU´li, »QkS´li/, /ac-cha-lee/ adv really, as a matter of fact.

acupuncture /»Qkju˘«påNktS´r/, /a-kyoo-punk-cher/ n a treatment used in alternative medicine in which fine needles are inserted into the skin at certain points along energy paths known as meridians.

acute /´»kju˘t/, /a-kyoot/ adj 1 coming to a sharp point. 2 sharp-witted. 3 (of emotions or diseases) intense but short-lasting. • adv acutely.

acute angle /´«kju˘t »QNg´l/, /a-kyoot ang-gl/ n an angle less than 90º.

AD /«eI»di˘/, /ay dee/ abbr = Anno Domini: a Latin phrase meaning ‘in the year of our Lord’, used to describe the years following the birth of Jesus.

ad /Qd/, /ad/ n short for advertisement.

adage /»QdIdZ/, /a-didge/ n a proverb, an old wise saying.

adamant /»Qd´m´nt/, /a-da-mant/ adj determined, firm.

adapt /´»dQpt/, /a-dapt/ vb 1 to make suitable, to fit to a different use. 2 to change, adjust.

adaptable /´»dQpt´bIl«/ /a-dap-ta-bl/ adj easily fitted to new uses or conditions. • n adaptability.

adaptation /«QdQp»teIS´n/, /a-dap-tay-shun/ n the action or result of adapting.

adapter /´»dQpt´/, /a-dap-ter/ n a device for connecting electrical plugs with a socket.

add /Qd/, /add/ vb 1 to join one thing to another. 2 to increase. 3 to say more.

adder /»Qd´r/, /a-der/ n a small poisonous snake, a viper.

addict /»QdIkt/, /a-dict/ n a person who is dependent on and so unable to give up a habit, especially a harmful one such as drug-taking.

addicted /´»dIktId/, /a-dic-ted/ adj dependent on, unable to give up. • n addiction.

addition /´»dIkS´n/, /a-di-shen/ n 1 act of adding. 2 something added. • adj additional.

additive /»QdItIv/, /a-di-tiv/ n a substance added to another, especially to add flavour or colour.

address /´»drEs/, /a-dress/ vb 1 to speak to. 2 to direct a letter. 3 to direct your attention or energy to. • n 1 the place where a person lives or works. 2 the directions on a letter or envelope. 3 a formal talk.

adenoids /»Qd´«nçIdz/, /a-de-noids/ npl glands at the back of the nose that if enlarged can hinder breathing.

adept /»QdEpt/, /a-dept/ adj very skilful. • n someone who is skilled.

adequate /»Qd´kw´t/, /a-de-kwit/ adj 1 enough. 2 satisfactory. 3 able. • adv adequately. • n adequacy.

adhere /´d»hi˘r/, /ad-heer/ vb 1 to stick (to). 2 to remain loyal to. • n adherence.