| abandon |
to leave (someone or something) with no intention of returning or taking up possession again. [3/6 definitions] |
| abattoir |
a place where animals are killed and cut up for food; slaughterhouse. |
| ABC soil |
a soil made up of three distinct layers, the A, or top layer, being humus and organic matter, the B layer being clay and oxidized material, and the C layer being loose rock and mineral materials. |
| abnegate |
to give up; relinquish. [1/2 definitions] |
| abreast |
in full awareness; up to date (usu. fol. by "of"). [2/4 definitions] |
| absorb |
to take in or soak up. [1/3 definitions] |
| accelerando |
gradually speeding up in tempo (used as a musical direction). |
| acronym |
a type of abbreviation used as a word and pronounced as a word. An acronym is formed by combining the initial letters (or initial parts) of a string of words. The pronunciation of an acronym is based on the typical rules of pronouncing words in a language and is not made up of the sounds of the names of individual letters. The abbreviations "AIDS," "FICA," and "PIN" are acronyms, but the abbreviations "FBI," ATM," and "DVD" are not. |
| add |
to find the total of (often fol. by "up"). [1/5 definitions] |
| addlebrained |
having or seeming to have a mixed-up or confused mind; muddled. [1/2 definitions] |
| adenosine |
an organic compound that is made up of adenine and ribose and found in nucleic acids, and that may be obtained as a white crystalline powder through the hydrolysis of yeast. |
| ad-lib |
to make up or do without preparation; improvise (something spoken, sung, or played). [3 definitions] |
| advised |
up-to-date, as on plans or developments; informed. [1/2 definitions] |
| aerial |
stretching far up into the air; lofty. [1/6 definitions] |
| aggregate |
added up, combined, or considered as a whole. [2/6 definitions] |
| agitation |
the act or process of disturbing or stirring up. [3 definitions] |
| alight2 |
illuminated or appearing illuminated; lighted up. [1/2 definitions] |
| alkali |
any of a category of base chemicals, made up of hydroxides of certain metals and of ammonium, which neutralize acids to form salts. [1/2 definitions] |
| alligator flag |
any of a family of large, broad-leafed, tropical, aquatic plants that usually grow up to six feet tall and have heavy blooms of delicate blue and purple flowers. |
| all-star |
made up entirely of superior performers. [1/2 definitions] |
| altazimuth |
a telescope or other instrument that moves in altitude (up and down) and in azimuth (back and forth). |