English words starting with D

Tending to depart from the main subject or point in speech or writing.

A potent androgen hormone, formed as an active metabolite of testosterone, responsible for the development of male characteristics.

A long wall or embankment built to prevent flooding from the sea or a river.

A harsh order or decree that must be obeyed without question, especially one imposed by a government or authority on a defeated country.

To cause or allow a building, structure, or organization to fall into a state of disrepair or ruin.

(of a building or object) in a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect.

the state of being in a state of disrepair or ruin, especially of a building.

the action of becoming or making something wider or larger, especially a hollow part of the body.

to become or to make something larger, wider, or more open.

Made wider or larger; expanded.

The process of becoming wider or larger; the action of stretching a part of the body.

A surgical instrument used to enlarge or open a bodily passage or cavity.

intended to cause delay

An object shaped like a penis, used for sexual stimulation.

a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially ones that are equally undesirable.

a person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the arts, without real commitment or knowledge.

careful and persistent work or effort.

Showing care and effort in one's work or duties.

in a way that shows care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties.

A herb with yellow flowers and delicate, feathery leaves that are used for flavoring in cooking, especially in pickles.

To waste time, especially by being slow or indecisive; to dawdle or loiter.

to make a liquid weaker by adding water or another solvent

(of a liquid) made weaker or thinner by having had water or another solvent added to it.

the action of making a liquid thinner or weaker by adding water or another solvent.

Not bright or clear; lacking in light.

Poorly or faintly illuminated.

Lacking intelligence or the ability to think quickly; stupid.

A coin of the United States and Canada worth ten cents.

Having a size or diameter approximately equal to that of a dime (a ten-cent U.S. coin).

Having a size or diameter approximately equal to that of a dime (a ten-cent U.S. coin).

Relating to or characteristic of something cheap, inferior, or tawdry, as if sold in a store where items cost very little.

A measurable extent of a particular kind, such as length, breadth, depth, or height.

Relating to measurements such as length, width, or height.

The quality or state of having multiple dimensions or aspects.

having no dimensions; lacking physical extent in any spatial direction.

A molecule composed of two identical simpler molecules (monomers) linked together.

to become or make something become smaller, weaker, etc.

made smaller or less in size, importance, or intensity

Becoming smaller, weaker, or less important

the act or process of making something smaller or less important; reduction.

a gradual decrease in loudness in a piece of music.

a reduction in the size, extent, or importance of something.

extremely or unusually small.

in a way that is not bright or clear

Having a low level of light; poorly illuminated.

Made less bright or distinct.

A device for varying the brightness of an electric light.

The action or process of making something less bright or distinct.

The state or quality of being dim; lack of bright light.

Existing in or representing two distinct forms.

The existence of two distinct forms of the same species, such as differences in size, color, or shape between males and females.

A small hollow place in the skin, especially one formed in the cheeks when a person smiles.

Having one or more small, natural hollows in the skin, especially on the cheeks or chin.

A stupid or foolish person.

A loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise.

The basic monetary unit of several countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, and Serbia.

to eat dinner

A person who is eating a meal, especially in a restaurant.

Money, especially cash.

A small room or part of a room used for eating meals.

To make a short, sharp, metallic ringing sound.

The sound made by a bell, especially when it rings twice with two different tones.

A foolish or eccentric person.

A small, open boat, often used for pleasure or as a lifeboat on a larger ship.

A small, deep, wooded valley.

a wild australian dog with a yellowish-brown coat

Dirty and discolored; shabby and dull in appearance.

The activity of eating a meal, especially a formal or leisurely one.

A shot in table tennis or pickleball that is hit softly so it drops sharply over the net.

small and unattractive or insignificant

The main meal of the day, eaten either in the middle of the day or in the evening.

a social event that includes a formal dinner followed by dancing

A social event at which a dinner is served to a group of guests, typically in a private home.

A table, especially a dining table, at which dinner is eaten.

The time at which the main meal of the day is eaten.

the plates, glasses, bowls, etc., used for serving and eating a meal.

A type of mostly marine plankton, many of which are photosynthetic, characterized by two flagella for movement and often having cellulose plates in their cell walls.

A large extinct reptile of the Mesozoic era, often with bony armor or crests.

A mark or dent in a surface made by pressure or a blow.

Relating to a diocese, especially the bishop of a diocese.

A district for which a bishop is responsible.

an electronic device that allows an electric current to pass in one direction only, used especially for converting alternating current to direct current.

relating to the sensual, spontaneous, and emotional aspects of human nature, especially as associated with the abandonment of restraint and the pursuit of ecstasy.

A unit of measurement for the refractive power of a lens, equal to the reciprocal of its focal length in meters.

a model representing a scene with three-dimensional figures, often in miniature, against a painted background.

A chemical compound containing two atoms of oxygen combined with another element or group.

Any of several persistent, toxic, chlorine-containing chemical compounds that are produced as byproducts of certain industrial processes and incineration.

To put something into a liquid for a short time.

An antihistamine drug used to treat allergies, motion sickness, and insomnia, and as a cough suppressant.

a serious infectious disease that causes fever and difficulty in breathing and swallowing, and can lead to heart failure.

A single vowel sound that changes its quality within a single syllable, as in the pronunciation of the vowel sounds in "coin" or "loud".

a very large herbivorous dinosaur of the late jurassic period, with a long neck and tail and a relatively small head.

(of a cell or nucleus) containing two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.

A certificate awarded by an educational institution for successfully completing a course of study.

the management of relationships between countries through negotiation and dialogue.

an official representing a country abroad, who works to maintain good relations with the country they are in.

a person who holds a diploma, especially a doctor certified as a specialist by a medical board after advanced training and examination.

relating to the profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations

in a way that is tactful and skillful in dealing with people, especially in sensitive situations

a visual disorder in which a single object is perceived as two images; double vision.

Having two equal and opposite electric charges or magnetic poles separated by a distance.

a pair of equal and opposite electric charges or magnetic poles separated by a small distance.

Past tense and past participle of dip.

A bird that lives near fast streams and dives into the water to find food.

The action of briefly lowering something into a liquid.

silly or foolish

A stupid, incompetent, or contemptible person.

an uncontrollable craving for alcoholic drink; alcoholism.

a graduated rod for measuring the depth of a liquid, especially oil in an engine.

A painting, especially an altarpiece, on two hinged wooden panels which may be closed like a book.

Extremely serious or urgent, often involving danger or disaster.

Going in a straight line or by the shortest route; not curved or crooked.

(of a method, especially in industrial disputes or political protest) involving immediate and forceful physical steps to achieve one's aims, rather than negotiation or working through official channels.

(of a mechanism) having the driving part connected to the driven part without intermediate gears or linkages.

A method of introducing fuel directly into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, rather than into the intake manifold.

A method of marketing where advertisements, catalogs, or other promotional materials are sent by post directly to potential customers.

A method of selling products or services directly to customers, rather than through retailers, using channels such as mail, email, telephone, or text messages.

relating to or denoting advertising designed to elicit an immediate order, inquiry, or visit, typically by including a coupon, phone number, or website address.

Relating to or involving the selling of products directly to consumers, bypassing intermediaries like retailers or wholesalers.

(of a film) released for sale or rental on video or DVD without being shown in cinemas first.