| 4WD |
abbreviation of "four-wheel drive," a car that drives by means of all four wheels rather than the rear wheels only, or the drive system of such, in which both front and rear wheel axles are turned by the drive shaft. |
| abacus |
a device used to make arithmetic calculations, consisting of a frame with parallel rods or grooves that hold movable counters such as beads. |
| aberration |
an imperfection in an optical lens, or the blurring caused by such an imperfection. [1/3 definitions] |
| -ability |
capacity or fitness for (such) a state, use, or action. |
| -able |
capable or worthy of being the object of (such) an action. [2/3 definitions] |
| ablution |
the liquid used in such washing. [1/2 definitions] |
| -ably |
in a manner that indicates the capability of or tendency toward performing, or being the object of, (such) an action. |
| abomasum |
the fourth stomach chamber of cud-chewing mammals such as cows, in which food is digested. |
| abracadabra |
a nonsense word thought to produce a magical effect such as the warding off of disaster or disease. [1/2 definitions] |
| absenteeism |
habitual or repeated absence from a place where regular attendance is required, such as work or school. |
| acacia |
any of several ornamental trees related to the acacia, such as the locust. [1/2 definitions] |
| academician |
one who belongs to an organization, such as an academy, that promotes learning. [1/2 definitions] |
| accelerant |
a substance capable of accelerating a process, such as the spreading of a fire. |
| accent |
a mark used to indicate such prominence or stress. [1/8 definitions] |
| account |
an arrangement with a store or other business that allows a customer to pay for goods or services on credit offered by the store instead of the customer using cash at the time of sale or using a standard credit card. In such cases, the store generally offers its own store credit card. [1/16 definitions] |
| account executive |
in a company such as an advertising agency, a person responsible for managing one or more clients' accounts and often for securing new accounts. |
| accretion |
the result of such a process. [1/3 definitions] |
| acetylcholine |
a form of this compound used in medicine for its ability to decrease blood pressure and cause muscular movement in such organs as the alimentary canal. [1/2 definitions] |
| acid rain |
rain that has high acidity because of being mixed with pollutants such as vehicle exhausts and residues from burning of fossil fuels for energy or from chemical manufacturing. |
| acinus |
one of the small divisions in an aggregate fruit such as a blackberry. [1/2 definitions] |
| -acity |
(such) a characteristic, condition, or tendency. |