| dernier cri |
last cry (French); the last word; latest fashion. |
| derogate |
to detract or take away (usu. fol. by "from"). [2 definitions] |
| derogatory |
having the purpose or effect of detracting; disparaging. |
| derrick |
a device for lifting and moving heavy loads, usu. consisting of a stationary mast and a rotating boom that projects upward from its base. [2 definitions] |
| derrière |
the buttocks. |
| derring-do |
daring or courageous deeds. |
| derringer |
a small pistol that can be easily concealed in a pocket. |
| derris |
any of several leguminous plants of the East Indies, whose roots produce the insecticide rotenone. |
| dervish |
someone who belongs to any of several Muslim religious groups noted for their ascetic practices and for dancing and whirling in religious ecstasy. |
| DES |
abbreviation of "diethylstilbestrol," a synthetic estrogen formerly used to treat the symptoms of menopause and to supplement animal feed, but now banned in the United States as carcinogenic. |
| desalinate |
to remove salt from, esp. to make sea water drinkable. |
| desalination |
the process of removing salt from water, esp. for the purpose of making sea water drinkable; desalinization. |
| desalinization |
the process of removing salt from water; desalination. |
| descant |
a secondary, usu. higher, melody that is played or sung at the same time as the chief melody. [4 definitions] |
| descend |
to move downward or to a lower position or state. [7 definitions] |
| descendant |
one regarded as the biological offspring of a given ancestor or ancestors. [3 definitions] |
| descendent |
proceeding in a downward direction; descending. [2 definitions] |
| descent |
the act or process of going downward. [4 definitions] |
| describe |
to tell about; give a verbal account of. [2 definitions] |
| description |
the act of describing. [3 definitions] |
| descriptive |
characterized by description. [2 definitions] |