Atrophy

Atrophy-n
1-the shrinking in size of some part or organ of the body, usually caused by injury, disease, or lack of use
2-weakening or lessening of some ability

vi
to weaken or waste away through disuse or the effects of disease

Synonyms
waste away
shrivel
waste
degenerate
wither
deteriorate
weaken

Atrocious

Atrocious-adj
1-appallingly bad
2-extremely evil or cruel
3-so ugly in taste or appearance as to elicit revulsion

Synonyms
terrible
appalling
fearful
dreadful
awful
frightful
horrible
forrific
horrendous
hideous
ghastly
wonderful (antonym)

Atrium

Atrium-n
1-a central hall usually with a glass roof or skylight and extending the full height or several stories of a building
2-the open central courtyard of an ancient Roman house
3-a cavity or chamber of the body, especially one of the upper chambers of the heart that takes blood from the veins and pumps it into a ventricle

Synonyms
entrance hall
foyer
reception areal
hall
vestibule
entrance
porch

Atonement

Atonement-n
1-to making of reparationfor a sin or a mistake
2-atonement or Atonement in Christian belief, the reconciliation between God and people brought about bythe death of Jesus Christ

Synonyms
compensation
amends
pentinence
penance
punishment
expiation
apology
reparation
recompense

Atonality

Atonality-n
in music, the fact of consisting of notes that are not related by any mode or key
see also tonality

Atone

Atone-vi
to make reparation for a sin or a mistake (formal)

Synonyms
in agreement
in concurence
in harmony
agreed
in disagreement (antonym)

Atomize

Atomize-v
1-vt to reduce something to atoms or separate something into free atoms
2-vt to destroy something with atomic weapons
3-vti to convert a liquid into fine particles or to spray particles converted in this way

Atmospherics

Atmospherics-n
the study of electromagnetic radiation emanating from natural sources in the atmosphere (takes a singular verb)

npl (takes a plural verb)
1-static on a radio or flickering white spots (snow) on a television screen caused by electromagnet radiation from natural sources in the atmosphere
also called sferics
2-the mood or atmosphere suffusing a situation, group, or place

Atilt

Atilt-adj
in or into a slanting position

Athwart

Athwart-prep
1-so as to be across or positioned crosswise over something
2-so as to oppose or obstruct something

Synonyms
crossways
crosswise
transversely
diagonally
from corner to corner

Ataxia

Ataxia-n
inability to coordinate to movements of muscles

Atelier

Atelier-n
a studio or workshop where an artist works

Atavism

Atavism-n
1-the recurrence of a genetically controlled feature in an organism after it has been absent for several generations, usually because of an accidental recomination of genes
2-an individual showing atavism. Also called atavist

Asymmetry

Asymmetry-n
1-the condition of being asymmetrical in arrangement. Also called dissymmetry
2-a relation between two things where the first has a relation to the second, but the second cannot have the same relation to the first

Synonyms
irregularity
lop-sidedness
unevenness
symmetry (antonym)

Asunder

Asunder-adv
into separate parts, pieces, or places (formal)

Astute

Astute-adj
shrewd and discerning, especially where personal benefit is to be derived

Synonyms
shrewd
incisive
perspicacious
smart
wise
of good judgment
intelligent
perceptive
sharp
judicious
clever
stupid (antonym)

Astrolabe

Astrolabe-n
an early instrument used to observe the position and determine the altitude of the Sun or other celestial body

Astringent

Astringent-n
a substance used on the skin to draw tissue together

adj
speaking or writing in a manner that is critical and hurtful in tone and content

Synonyms
harsh
severe
biting
caustic
sharp
acerbic
mordant
cutting
gentle (antonym)

Astral

Astral-adj
1-relating to, characteristic of, or consisting of stars
2-in theosophical belief, belonging to the ethereal region that is believed to exist throught and at a higher level than the material world, in which personal auras are said to be perceived
3-likened to stars, for example, in height or distance from ordinary places or people

Synonyms
astronomical
solar
planetary
cosmological
astrophysical
lunar
stellar

Astigmatism

Astigmatism-n
1-a visual defect caused by the unequal curving of one or more of the refractive surfaces of the eye, usually the cornea
2-a defect in a lens or mirror that prevents light rays from meeting at a single point, producing an imperfect image

Assuage

Assuage-vt
to provide relief from something distressing or painful

Synonyms
alleviate
relieve
lessen
mollify
ease
allay
moderate
take the edge off
diminish
tone down
dull
soften

Assonance

Assonance-n
the similarity of two or more vowel sounds or the repetition of two or more consonant sounds, especially in words that are close together in a poem

Assimilate

Assimilate-v
1-(vti) to integrate somebody into a larger group, so that differences are minimized or eliminated, or become integrated in this way
2-(vt) to incorporate digested food materials into the cells and tissues of the body
3-(vti) to make a speech sound similar to an adjacent sound or to become similar to an adjacent sound

Synonyms
incorporate
take in
digest
absorb
understand
take on board
learn
reject (antonym)

Assignation

Assignation-n
1-an appointment to meet with a lvoer, especially secretly
2-the act of giving somebody a particular job or designating something for a particular use
3-see assignment #4

Synonyms
meeting
tryst
rendezvous
get-together

Assignment #4
the transfer of a right in or over property to another

Assiduity

Assiduity-n
great care and attention in doing something

npl-assiduities
constant attentiveness shown toward somebody

Asserverate

Asserverate-vt
to stame something earnestly or solemnly (formal)

Assent

Assent-vi
to agree to something or express agreement

n
an expression of agreement or acceptance

Synonyms
agree
acquiesce
concur
go along with
subscribe to
consent
disagree (antonym)

Assay

Assay-n
1-an examination and analysis of something
2-chemical testing carried out to determine the composition of a substance or the concentration of various components in a substance
3-a sample of material for analysis
4-an attempt to do something (archaic)

vt
1-to examine or test something with a view to evaluating it
2-to analyze a substance such as a metal or ore in order to discover its components
3-to attempt to do something (literary)

Synonyms
examine
assess
analyze
evaluate
test

Aspic

Aspic-n
a cold jelly often used as a mold for fish, meat, eggs, or vegetables

Aspirant

Aspirant-n
somebody who seeks or hopes to attain something

adj
seeking or hoping to attain something

Symonyms
hopeful
dandidate
contendor
applicant

Asphyxiate

Asphyxiate-vti
to deprive a person or animal of oxygen, or be deprived of oxygen, usually leading to unconsciousness or death

Synonyms
suffocate
smother
choke

Asperse

Asperse-vt
to malign somebody by spreading harmful information or making false accusations (formal)

Asp 2

Asp-n
an apsen tree (archaic)

Asperity

Asperity-n
1-harshness or severity of manner or tone (synonyms)
2-the roughness of a surface (literary)
3-something that is hard to bear because of its harshness or severity
4-a region of contact between two load-bearing fat surfaces

Synonyms
roughness
severity
brusqueness
gruffness
harshness
sharpness
curtness
softness (antonym)

Asp 1

Asp-n
1-a small poisonous snake that caused the death of Cleopatra. It is thought to have been a member of the combra family found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Latin name: Naja naje
2-a snake of the viper family, resembling a small adder, found in southern Europe. Also called asp viper.

Asocial

Asocial-adj
1-disinclined or averse to human social interaction
2-lacking a need or capacity for social interaction
3-not acceptable in normal society, or showing a lack of consideration for others

Aslant

Aslant-adv
sloping or at an angle

Synonyms
angled
at an angle
sloping
on a slope
oblique
diagonal
inclined
leaning
sideways
level (antonym)

Askew

Askew-adj adv
at an angle

Synonyms
crooked
awry
out of kilter
out of line
off center
cockeyed
straight (antonym)

Askance

Askance-adv
1-with doubt or suspicion
2-sideways, or out of the side of the eye (archaic)

Synonyms
doubtfully
suspiciously
sideways

Asher 2

Asher-adj
relating to the ash tree, or made from its wood (literary)

Asher 1

Asher-adj
1-extremely pale in appearance
2-resembling or consisting of ashes

Synonyms
pallid
pale
wan
ashy
pasty
white
white as a sheet
drained of color
gray

Ascribe

Ascribe-vt (formal)
1-to believe or say that something was caused by something else that is name
2-to believe or say that something was originally written or said by somebody who is named
3-to believe that something that is named belongs to or is typical of a person or group

Synonyms
assign
credit
attribute

Ascetic

Ascetic-n
somebody who chooses an auster life of self-denial

adj
1-choosing or reflecting austerity and self-denial
2-relating asceticism as a way of life

Synonyms
austere
abstinent
frugal
abstemious
spartan
severe
hedonistic (antonym)

Ascertain

Ascertain-vti
to find out something with certainty (formal)

Synonyms
determine
establish
discover
find out
learn
make certain

Ascendant/ascendent

Ascendant/ascendent-adj
1-moving upward (literary)
2-having a position of power or domination over others (formal)
3-see ascending adj. 2

n
in astrology, the point on the ecliptic or the sign of the zodiac that is rising in the east at a particular time

Synonyms
rising
increasing
growin
downward (antonym)

Artifice

Artifice-n (formal)
1-a clever trick or stratagem
2-the use of clever stratagems or tricks
3-the deceiving of people in a clever or subtle way

Synonyms
pretense
seight of hand
ploy
ruse
trick
lie

Articular

Articular-adj
relating to or involving a joint of the body

Arterial

Arterial-adj
1-relating to, affecting, or used in arteries
2-used to describe the bright red blood in the arteries that has absorbed oxygen
3-constituting a main route in a road, rail, or river system

Synonyms
major
main
principal
through
side (antonym)

Arroyo

Arroyo-n Southwestern U.S.
1-a steep-sided dry gulch in a desert area, that is wet only after heavy rain
2-a small stream of running water

Synonyms
gulf
gap
abyss
gorge
rift
gulch
break
opening
hollow place

Arrogant

Arrogant-adj
feeling or showing proud self-importance and contempt or disregard for others

Synonyms
conceited
haughty
egotistical
bigheaded
superior
proud
overconfident
supercilious
self-important
condescending
humble (antonym)

Arrant

Arrant-adj
used to emphasize that somebody or something is an extreme example of something disapproved of

Synonyms
complete
total
outright
unmitigated
utter
extreme
out-and-out

Arraign

Arraign-vt
1-to bring somebody to court to answer a criminal charge (usually passive)
2-to call somebody to account for a fault or mistake

Synonyms
accuse
charge
impeach
prosecute
have up
bring before the court

Arpeggio

Arpeggio-n
a sounding of the notes of a chord one after the other in rapid succession, rather than simultaneously

Synonyms
harmony
triad
musical tones

Armory

Armory-n
1-a building in which weapons are stored
2-a store or collection of weapons
3-a building used for drilling and training militia
4-a range of equipment and sills available to somebody, used especially in dealing with oponents
5-a factory where arms are manufactured

Synonyms
arsenal
munitions
store
weapon store

Armorer

Armorer-n
1-somebody who makes and repairs armors and weapons
2-a soldier who repairs and maintains small arms

Armistice

Armistice-n
a truce in a war to discuss terms for peace

Synonyms
truce
ceasefire
peace agreement
resolution
settlement

Armature

Armature-n
1-the moving part in an electromagnetic device, wound with coils that carry a current
2-a bar of soft iron or steel placed across the poles of a magnet to maintain its strength
Also called keeper
3-a protective outer covering or structure, for example, quills on a porcupine or spines on a plant
4-a framework that supports a sculpture while it is being molded

Synonyms
framework
frame
skeleton
hulk
carcass
bodywork

Armament

Armament-n
1-the guns and other weapons on a military aircraft, vehicle, or ship (often used in the plural)
2-the provision of weapons and equipment in preparation for war
3-a military force equipped for war (archaic)

Synonyms
guard
guardian
shield
minder
mask
defender
protection
armor
bodyguard

Armada

Armada-n
a large fleet of ships

Synonyms
fleet
flotilla
navy
squadron

Aristocrat

Aristocrat-n
1-a member of the highest social class in a country
2-a member of a governing aristocracy, or somebody who supports government by aristocracy
3-a person, thing, or group believed to be superior to all others of the same kind

Synonyms
noble
lord
lady
peer of the realm
member of the aristocracy

Aristocracy

Aristocracy-n
1-people of noble families or the highest social class
2-a group acknowledged to be superior to all others of the same kind
3-government of a country by a small group of people, especially a hereditary nobility
4-a state governed by an aristocracy

Synonyms
nobility
upper classes
landed gentry
lords and ladies
upper crust
lower class (antonym)