Dashboard(noun)
a panel extending across the interior of a vehicle as an automobile below the windshield and usually containing dials and controls.
In a demonstration at an imaginary dashboard, Michael greeted the computer ("Good morning, Sally"), told it he was catching a flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport and received a map and spoken directions, estimated travel time, the state of the
traffic ahead, the weather, the flight's status, country music on the radio and directions to an Italian restaurant en route.
a usually large collection of data organized especially for rapid search and retrieval as by a computer.
Our editors make daily updates to our proprietary database of company information, which can be found on our Web site, Hoover's Online.
Dazzlingly(adverb)
manner of arousing admiration by an impressive display
The long cylinders of ancient ice that they retrieve provide a dazzlingly detailed record of what was happening in the world over the past several ice ages.
Deadliest(adjective)
extremely destructive or harmful
. At least 80 and perhaps hundreds of people were killed in the deadliest historical eruption to occur in what is now the United States.
Deal with (verb)
to be occupied or concerned.
Politeness strategies are developed for the main purpose of dealing with face threatening acts.
Dearth(noun)
an inadequate supply
The model offers no way to explain the moon's confounding dearth of iron.
Debris(noun)
an accumulation of fragments of rock.
Landslides, mud flows and debris avalanches frequently accompany other natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes.
Decay(verb)
to become or cause to become rotten or unsound; to decompose.
Because of the high humidity, abundant insects, and scavenger-eating animals and birds, an animal carcass can decay in Mississippi in just a few days.
Decipher (verb)
to make understandable.
Few historians today have the capability of deciphering scrolls written in ancient Egyptian.
Decode(verb)
to convert a coded message into intelligible form; to discover the underlying meaning of It seems that the structure of the language you learn as a child affects how the structure.
of your brain develops to decode speech. Native English speakers, for example, find it extraordinarily difficult to learn Mandarin.
Decorated(verb)
to furnish with emblems of honor worn on one’s clothing, or displayed on objects.
Quincy Jones is one of the most decorated musicians of all time.
Decry(verb)
to consider or treat as small or unimportant.
There are those who decry marriage as a sexist and patriarchal institution that should be avoided at all costs.
Deem(verb)
to have an opinion.
Any human caused blazes are to be suppressed immediately as well as any natural fires deemed dangerous.
Default(noun)
a failure to pay financial debts.
The trend has been to raise rates because of the increasing number of defaults among consumers.
Deferential(adjective)
showing or expressing respect and esteem due a superior or an elder.
The Justice Department properly withheld the names and other details about hundreds of foreigners detained in the months after the Sept. 11 attacks, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. The powerful decision was deferential to the Bush administration's
arguments over continued threats to America from terrorists.
Definitive(adjective)
serving the function of deciding or settling with finality.
Two recent books are the definitive books in the area of cold reading: King of the Cold Readers (KCR) by Bascom Jones and Red Hot Cold Reading (RHCR) by Thomas Saville, Ph.D. and Herb Dewey.
Two recent books are the definitive books in the area of cold reading: King of the Cold Readers (KCR) by Bascom Jones and Red Hot Cold Reading (RHCR) by Thomas Saville, Ph.D. and Herb Dewey.
Deflect(verb)
to turn aside especially from a straight course or fixed direction.
If the interior is weak, for example, an attempt to deflect it with a nuclear warhead (an option under consideration) may simply break up the asteroid into many smaller and uncontrolled pieces.
Defuse(verb)
to remove the fuse from a mine or bomb; to make less harmful, potent, or tense.
You can tend to your loved one and to yourself by focusing on the rewards of caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease and by learning to recognize and defuse stress.
Degradation(noun)
the act or an instance of demoting.
Don Quixote shows how not distinguishing between the two leads to the moral degradation of his hero and, consequently, of his public.
Degraded(adjective)
reduced far below ordinary standards of civilized life and conduct; characterized by degeneration of structure or function
Protecting existing habitat and restoring degraded habitat can help the grizzly to recover.
Delectable (adjective)
highly pleasing, especially to the sense of taste.
The ape inserts a twig into a hole in a termite’s nest, after which it pull outs the twig covered with delectable insects.
Delegate(noun)
one who stands in for another; one who is given authority to represent another.
In 1776, John Adams was a Massachusetts delegate to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
Deleterious(adjective)
harmful often in a subtle or unexpected way.
There is increasing evidence that some beached whales may have been stranded as a result of loud sounds made by mid-range navy sonar. This has produced a great deal of concern about the possible deleterious effects of noise pollution on marine mammals.
Delineation(noun)
a line marking and shaping the outer form of an object.
Bialystok asserts that the delineation begins at the age of twenty, at which point begins a decline in the ability to learn a language.
Delta(noun)
the alluvial deposit at the mouth of a river.
The delta extends outward fifty miles on both sides of the Mississippi River in the area of Mississippi and Louisiana and experiences floods during the spring.
Demise(noun)
a cessation of existence or activity.
Columbia's demise on Feb. 1, 2003, not only cost the lives of seven astronauts, but also leaves a gaping hole in the busy shuttle manifest, which is now focused on building and supplying the International Space Station.
Demographic (adjective)
relating to the dynamic balance of a population.
These demographic peculiarities reveal a pattern of upward marriage or hypergamy which is quite different from endogamy and reflects an acknowledged status difference between communities.
Denouncing(verb)
to find fault with; to make an accusation against.
A pamphlet entitled A Dissertation on the Canon and the Feudal Law and town instructions denouncing the Stamp Act (1765) marked him as a vigorous, patriotic penman, and, holding various local offices, he soon became a leader among Massachusetts radicals.
Densely(adverb)
with all parts or elements in extremely close proximity.
Particles within the cloud's center (core) became so densely packed that they often collided and stuck (fused) together.
Dependent(noun)
a person who relies on another for support.
It is one of the more remarkable feats of American literature, how a young man who never graduated from high school, never received a college degree, living in a small town in the poorest state in the nation, all the while balancing a growing family of dependents and impending financial ruin, could during the Great Depression write a
series of novels all set in the same small Southern county that would one day be recognized as among the greatest novels ever written by an American.
Depict(verb)
to present a lifelike image of.
St. Francis is depicted wearing a brown habit worn by Franciscan Monks and by the stigmata over the heart.
Deposit(noun)
matter that settles on a bottom or collects on a surface by a natural process.
Several tools have been developed to help land users identify unstable slopes. Slope maps, geology maps, and landslide deposit maps are available for public inspection at the Santa Cruz County Planning Department.
Derive(verb)
to obtain from another source.
Like German, English is derived from some common original Germanic or Teutonic parent speech, although this original language is no longer in existence.
Derange(verb)
to disturb the health or physiological functioning of.
The writer became deranged due to his heavy consumption of alcohol and drugs.
Derogatory(adjective)
tending or intending to belittle.
Derogatory language is not permitted in the workplace.
Descend(verb)
to become lower in quality, character, or condition.
The absolute finest colorless stone carries a D rating, descending through each letter of the alphabet to Z, designating a diamond of light yellow, brown, or gray.
Desegregate(verb)
to open to all people regardless of race.
Montgomery buses were desegregated in December, 1956, after the United States Supreme Court declared Alabama's segregation laws unconstitutional.
Designate(verb)
to make known or identify, as by signs.
The absolute finest colorless stone carries a D rating, descending through each letter of the alphabet to Z, designating a diamond of light yellow, brown, or gray.
Desolate(adjective)
devoid of inhabitants and visitors; deserted.
The Sinai Peninsula is a desolate desert region in northeast Egypt. Its terrain includes a sandy coastal plain, a high limestone plateau, and mountains.
Destabilize(verb)
to take out of balance so as to make it unstable.
A landslide or slope failure occurs when steep slopes are destabilized by excess water accumulation in the soil, the addition of excess weight to the top of a slope, the removal of support from the bottom of a slope, or a combination of the above.
Detect(verb)
to perceive, to discover.
Scientists detected Chernobyl radioactivity in snow at the South Pole, a graphic reminder of how small our planet is.
Detergent(noun)
a cleansing agent such as soap.
Waste water often containing detergents encourage the growth of algae.
Deteriorate(verb)
to become in a less than perfect or whole condition in quality, functioning, or condition.
The heartbreak of watching your loved one slowly deteriorate, coupled with that person's growing need for supervision and personal care, often causes caregivers to feel overwhelming stress.
Determinate(adjective)
having defined limits.
In a sharp contrast to monkeys, human children pick up thousands of words spontaneously, combine them in structured sequences in which every word has a determinate role, respect the word order of the adult language, and use sentences for a variety of purposes such as commenting on interesting objects.
Detrimental(adjective)
causing harm or injury.
Continuing to stretch by bouncing one’s body is detrimental in the long run as the body will start to adapt against it and one may find it difficult to stretch properly at all.
Devastate(verb)
to destroy completely while conquering or occupying.
As the tsunami's speed diminishes as it travels into shallower water, its height grows, consequently making its effects devastating to a coastal community.
Deviance(noun)
the condition of being abnormal.
The labeling theory explains deviance as a social process by which some people who commit deviant acts come to be known as deviants and others do not.
Devise(verb)
to form a strategy for; to use ingenuity in making, developing, or achieving.
Considerable effort is devoted to devising innovative applications to important practical problems, e.g., human computer interaction, decision aiding, and medical training.
Devoid(adjective)
lacking a desirable element; containing nothing.
Studies of lunar samples revealed that the interior of the Moon is essentially devoid of water, so no underground supplies could be used by lunar inhabitants.
Devote(verb)
to give over by or as if by vow to a higher purpose.
Researchers from all over the world are devoting considerable time and energy into finding the answer to this critical question.
Diagnostic(adjective)
relating to investigation or analysis of the cause or nature of a condition, situation, or problem.
For those unfamiliar with the term, cold reading is the description of the personality, characteristics, and features, past experiences and sometimes the future of a person without the use of standard psychological or other formal diagnostic procedures.
Diarrhea(noun)
abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools.
Bulimia nervosa is when a person consumes large amounts of food, but then induces vomiting or diarrhea in an attempt to avoid weight gain.
Diaspora(noun)
people settled far from their ancestral homelands.
The African Voices Hall presents the richness and diversity of cultures throughout the African continent, as well as traditions sustained and reinterpreted by the African diasporas in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Dictate (verb)
to set forth expressly and authoritatively.
The value of a diamond is determined by its exact quality as defined by the 4C's: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight. The cut of a diamond refers to its proportions. Of the 4C's, the cut is the aspect most directly influenced by man. The other three are dictated by nature.
Differential(adjective)
making a distinction among individuals or classes.
The theory is called differential association. It denotes a person's associations that differ from those of other persons
Digestion(noun)
the process of making food absorbable by breaking it down into smaller, simpler chemical compounds.
Sucrose is hydrolyzed during digestion according to the following equation: Sucrose + H2O v Glucose + Fructose.
Dilute(verb)
lower than its normal strength or concentration due to a mixture
Gasoline, if diluted with water, will cause an automobile engine to malfunction.
Dimensional(adjective)
relating to the amount of space occupied by something.
Our vocal tracts have a sharp right angle bend that creates two independently modifiable resonant cavities (the mouth and the pharynx or throat) that defines a large two dimensional range of vowel sounds.
Disavow(verb)
to deny responsibility for; disclaim, repudiate.
The Israeli Prime Minister has decided to disavow talks with the Palestinians.
Discard(verb)
to let go or get rid of as being no longer of use, value, etc.
Scientific knowledge is not absolute, but cumulative. New facts are constantly being added while old facts are discarded.
Discernable(adjective)
so as to perceive, to recognize as being different.
Many inclusions are not discernable to the naked eye and require magnification to become apparent.
Discharge(verb)
to release from military duty.
After being discharged from the military, Elvis Presley went back to singing and starring in movies.
Disconnecting(verb)
to separate one thing from another thing.
Dissociation Identity Disorder is the phenomena of completely disconnecting oneself from a memory (or memories) and the emotions around the memory (or memories), creating a separate identity to hold memories and emotions.
Discredit(verb)
causing disbelief in the accuracy or authority of.
Canup and Asphaug were able to re-test the discredited mid-1980s hypothesis of impact by a Mars size object thanks to greater computing power.
Discrepancy(noun)
a marked lack of correspondence or agreement.
The tiny differences between the observed and predicted values were a minor but nagging problem for many decades. It was thought that another planet (sometimes called Vulcan) might exist in an orbit near Mercury's to account for the discrepancy.
Disdain(noun)
the quality of being overly convinced of one’s own superiority and importance.
Due to the complete disdain the co-worker showed to others, he was fired.
Disenchant(verb)
disappoint; dissatisfy
Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean sought to redefine and broaden his liberal, anti war campaign in formally announcing his candidacy Monday, telling disenchanted American voters, ''You have the power!'' to oust President Bush and rid Washington of special interests.
Disintegration(noun)
severe damage or decay rendering something useless or worthless
Many founding fathers of the United States spoke out repeatedly against mob violence and other signs of social disintegration.
Dismantle(verb)
to take to pieces; to destroy the integrity or functioning of
Bush said the "true test" would be if the Palestinian militant groups would give up their arms and their ability to disrupt the peace process, Hamas must be dismantled.
Dismay (noun)
to deprive of courage or the power to act as a result of fear, anxiety, or disgust.
In 1782 the now popular Mozart married Constance Weber from Germany, much to his father's dismay.
Disorder(noun)
a disturbance of the health or physiological functioning of.
A new term, Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) was created in 1994 to replace Multiple Personality Disorder.
Dispense(verb)
to prepare and distribute as in medication.
But four states now allow pharmacists to dispense emergency contraception pills, and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) is considering a request to make Plan B available over the counter.
Disperse (verb)
to cause to separate and go in various directions.
Diamonds allow light to be reflected and dispersed as a rainbow of color.
Displace(verb)
to move something from a position occupied.
Tsunamis can be generated when the sea floor abruptly deforms and vertically displaces the overlying water.
Disposition(noun)
the combination of emotional, intellectual, and moral qualities that distinguishes an individual.
A crow looks mean and evil and some people say it has a disposition to match its looks.
Disrepute(noun)
loss of or damage to one’s reputation.
Multiple Personalities disorder was being thrown into disrepute because many people were giving phony demonstrations of alter switching during television talk shows.
Disruptive(adjective)
troubling to the mind or emotions.
Driven by dizzying mutations in medical costs, program directors and staff ponder the disruptive dynamism of these new healthcare reforms.
Disseminate (verb)
to pass something out; to spread out.
Many plants depend upon the wind to disseminate their pollen.
Dissertation(noun)
a formal, lengthy exposition on a topic.
Graduation requirements include an empirical research project, a general preliminary examination, and a dissertation project.
Dissipate(verb)
to disappear by or as if by dispersal of particles.
Helping to dissipate heat, the large neck of the giraffe serves as a cooling tower.
Dissociate(verb)
to break the ties of connection between; to separate from.
A child may dissociate, and create an alternative personality to handle severe sexual or physical abuse.
Distinctly(adverb)
so as to be easily perceived and understood.
Language is a form of speech distinctly different from others, adding for good measure not, or only partially, intelligible to others without special study.
Distinguishable(adjective)
making noticeable or different from something else.
Brown diamond shaped markings are found along the middle of the rattlesnake’s back.
These distinguishable markings stand out against their lighter body color.
Distort(verb)
to twist out of a natural, normal, or original shape or condition; to cause to be perceived unnaturally.
The agency is trying to find a way to modify the machines with an electronic fig leaf programming that fuzzes out sensitive body parts or distorts the body so it is unrecognizable.
Divergent(adjective)
departing from the normal; not like another in nature, quality, amount, or form.
While healthcare strategies abound from diverse viewpoints and divergent professional groups, no one strategy has all the answers to reform the medical healthcare enterprise.
Diversity(noun)
the quality of being made of many different elements, forms, kinds, or individuals.
Colleges seek an equal diversity in its applicants by looking at background, experience, and previous scholastic achievement.
Colleges seek an equal diversity in its applicants by looking at background, experience, and previous scholastic achievement.
Diurnal (adjective)
opening during the day and closing at night.
In rural areas, businesses are mostly diurnal because there is not a large enough population base to sustain extended hours operation.
Division(noun)
one of the parts into which something is divided.
William Tecupseh Sherman, division commander, was quoted saying to reporters, "Take your regiment to Ohio. No enemy is nearer than Corinth."
Dizzying (adjective)
vastly exceeding the normal limit, as in cost.
Driven by dizzying mutations in medical costs, program directors and staff ponder the disruptive dynamism of these new reforms.
Doctorate(adjective)
any degree at the highest level awarded by universities.
A student intending to teach and conduct sociological research will most likely need a master’s or a doctorate degree.
Document(verb)
anything serving as proof.
Although explosive eruptions at Kilauea are infrequent, deposits of ash discovered by United States Geological Survey and other scientists document that they actually occur about as often as explosive eruptions from volcanoes in the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest, which includes Mount St. Helens, Washington.
Doggedly(adverb)
with firm perseverance; with irrational determination of fixity of purpose.
The attack pushed most Union divisions back to reform elsewhere. Others fought doggedly to hold their line.
Domesticate(verb)
to train to live with and be of use to man.
The single-humped Arabian camel has been domesticated for more than 5,000 years.
Dominant(adjective)
most important, influential, or significant.
The abuse memories contained within alters are not typically accessible to the dominant personality.
Dormant(adjective)
in a state of temporary inactivity.
Farther north of Stovepipe Wells is more salt pan and a dormant volcanic area which includes Ubehebe Crater.
Downdraft(noun)
a downward air current.
The strength of intense downdrafts that emerge from Rocky Mountain storms can stir up severe weather downstream.
Downpour(noun)
a heavy rain.
The scientists found that one downpour leads to another. In effect, they were able to pinpoint the culprit of these torrential rains in the Midwest.
Downsizing(noun)
the act of reducing in size.
I managed to survive two rounds of corporate downsizing, but the third round was a 20 percent reduction in the workforce, which included me."
Down slope (noun)
moving from place of higher elevation to a place of lower elevation.
In spring, the built up snow melts and runs down slope into brooks. These brooks flow down and join a river.
Downstream(noun)
in the direction of the flow of water running along the surface of the earth; in the direction of the flow of something.
The strength of intense downdrafts that emerge from the mountain storms can stir up severe weather downstream.
Drainage(noun)
the act, the process, or method for carrying off waster matter.
Human activities which act to further destabilizing slopes are logging, woodland conversion, road building, housing construction, and any activity which alters normal drainage patterns.
Dramatic(adjective)
filled with action, emotion, or exciting qualities.
Gases trapped in ice cores show the dramatic impact that human activities have had on the planet since the Industrial Revolution.
Drilling(verb)
to do or perform repeatedly so as to master.
At the Union camp at Shiloh, the Federal troops spent a day drilling and merry making.
Driven(verb)
to fix an idea in someone’s mind by emphasis and repetition.
Driven by an intense need to characterize the traditions of the South, the writer sometimes depicts his characters as vulnerable, ill-informed, and racist.
Drought(noun)
a prolonged or chronic shortage or lack of something, especially water.
A serious Midwestern drought during the 1930's devastated many farmers’ crops.
Drunkenness(noun)
given to habitual excessive use of alcohol of, relating to, or characterized by intoxication.
The immediate physical effects of drinking alcohol range from mild mood changes to complete loss of coordination, vision, balance, and speech any of which can be signals of the temporary systemic poisoning known as acute alcohol intoxication, or drunkenness.
Dusk(noun)
the period between afternoon and nighttime.
It is recommended that a driver turn his lights on at the first signs of dusk.
Dwarf(verb)
to make extremely small.
Given that is has snowed 35 inches in less than two days, this blizzard dwarfs any other storm that we have ever seen in our state.
Dwellings(noun)
a building or shelter where one lives.
Many ancient Native American dwellings were built within the cliffs of the Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona.
Dye(noun)
something that gives color.
Ancient peoples used fermentation to make beer and used plants to produce dyes and medicines.
Dynamism (noun)
the quality of being energetic, vigorous.
Driven by dizzying mutations in medical costs, program directors and staff ponder the disruptive dynamism of these new reforms.
Dysfunction(noun)
abnormal, impaired, or incomplete functioning, as of a body organ or part.
Victims may have a predisposition to mood disorders which can be heightened by dysfunctions in family life.
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