| a1 |
the sixth note in the musical scale at C major. [1/6 definitions] |
| a-1 |
a prefix that means "on," "at," "into," or "to." |
| aardvark |
a large mammal with a long snout, long ears, a long tail, and with long fur mostly around its legs. Aardvarks are active at night, when they use their powerful claws to dig open ant or termite nests. They catch their food with their long, sticky tongue. Aardvarks live in southern and central Africa. Although they are sometimes called anteaters, aardvarks are not closely related to any other kind of mammal. |
| abandon ship |
to extricate oneself from a situation where danger or failure seems imminent, often at the expense of loyalty to a group or cause. [1/2 definitions] |
| abeam |
at right angles to a line passing from the front to the back of a ship. |
| above |
at or to a higher place. [2 definitions] |
| absentee ballot |
a ballot to be marked and delivered to an election official before election day because the voter will be unable to be at the polls on that day. |
| absurd |
not at all logical; impossible to be true; ridiculous. [1/2 definitions] |
| absurdity |
something that makes no sense or is not at all in the normal order of things. [1/2 definitions] |
| AC1 |
abbreviation of "alternating current," electrical current that reverses direction at regular intervals. (Cf. "DC.") |
| academic |
a teacher or scholar at a college or university. [1/3 definitions] |
| acanthus |
in architecture, a decoration resembling acanthus leaves, esp. at the top of a Corinthian column. [1/2 definitions] |
| access |
the right or ability to enter, look at, or use something. [1/4 definitions] |
| accompany |
to be connected with; happen at the same time as; follow. [1/3 definitions] |
| account |
an arrangement wherein a bank or other financial institution holds a customer's deposited funds so that the funds are safe but can be accessed at any time by the customer, or the conception of this arrangement as a container for the funds that are kept. [2/16 definitions] |
| ace |
a person who is a master or expert at something. [1/5 definitions] |
| achene |
a small, dry, hard seed that is attached at a single point and that does not split open when it is mature. |
| across |
so as to pass over at an angle, as one line crossing over another. [1/5 definitions] |
| actual |
existing or happening at the present moment. [1/3 definitions] |
| acute |
sharp or pointed at the end. [1/7 definitions] |
| Adam's apple |
the projection at the front of the human throat formed by the largest cartilage of the larynx, visible esp. in men. |