| asparagus |
a tall branching plant related to the lily, whose young shoots are cultivated and eaten as a vegetable. |
| asparkle |
glittering; sparkling. |
| aspartame |
an artificial sweetener about two hundred times sweeter than sucrose, synthesized from amino acids and used as a low-calorie sugar substitute in manufactured soft drinks, cereals, cookies, and the like. |
| aspartate |
the ionic form of aspartic acid, which is a nonessential amino acid found in proteins. |
| aspartic acid |
a nonessential amino acid found in proteins. |
| ASPCA |
abbreviation of "American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals." |
| aspect |
an element or part. [5 definitions] |
| aspen |
any of several poplar trees whose leaves flutter in the slightest breeze. |
| Asperger's syndrome |
a mild autism spectrum disorder in which afflicted individuals are generally of normal intelligence but have poor social and nonverbal communication skills. |
| Aspergillus |
a genus of fungus that is classified as a mold. |
| asperity |
harshness or roughness, esp. of tone or manner. |
| asperse |
to spread false accusations or malicious insinuations against; slander. |
| aspersion |
an insulting or malicious remark about someone; derogation; slander. [2 definitions] |
| asphalt |
a sticky brown to black bituminous substance, occurring naturally or obtained as a by-product of refining petroleum and coal tar, and used for paving, roofing, and waterproofing. [4 definitions] |
| asphalt jungle |
any large city, esp. when considered as the noisy, crowded arena of a struggle for survival. |
| asphaltum |
see "asphalt." |
| asphodel |
any of several flowering plants related to lilies, with tall spikes bearing clusters of usu. yellow or white flowers. |
| asphyxia |
a lack of oxygen or excess of carbon dioxide in the lungs that results in suffocation. |
| asphyxiate |
to cause unconsciousness or death by cutting off oxygen to; suffocate. [2 definitions] |
| aspic1 |
a gelatin, usu. of meat or fish stock, used as a garnish for fish or meat or to make a mold of various foods. |
| aspic2 |
a lavender plant of which the oil is used in making perfumes. |