EnglishDict - Free Online English Dictionary

aioli Pronunciation: ⁄ ʌɪˈəʊli ⁄ noun [mass noun] ·               mayonnaise seasoned with garlic.

animadvert Pronunciation: ⁄ ˌanɪmədˈvəːt ⁄ verb [no object]  ( animadvert on/upon/against )  formal ·               pass criticism or censure on; speak out against: we shall be obliged to animadvert most severely upon you in our report

amiable Pronunciation: ⁄ ˈeɪmɪəb(ə)l ⁄ adjective ·               having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner: the amiable young man greeted me enthusiastically

abate Pronunciation: ⁄ əˈbeɪt ⁄ verb [no object] ·               (of something unpleasant or severe) become less intense or widespread: the storm suddenly abated ·      [with object]  make (something) less intense: nothing abated his crusading zeal ·      [with object]   Law  reduce or remove (a nuisance): this action would not have been sufficient to abate the odour nuisance

animosity Pronunciation: ⁄ ˌanɪˈmɒsɪti ⁄ noun   (plural animosities) [mass noun] ·               strong hostility: he no longer felt any  animosity towards  her

attainment Pronunciation: ⁄ əˈteɪnm(ə)nt ⁄ noun [mass noun] ·               the action or fact of achieving a goal towards which one has worked: the attainment of corporate aims ·      [count noun]  (often  attainments )  a thing achieved, especially a skill or educational achievement: he spoke of the low educational attainments of his workforce

autocrat Pronunciation: ⁄ ˈɔːtəkrat ⁄ noun ·               a ruler who has absolute power: like many autocrats, Franco found the exercise of absolute power addictive ·      an imperious person who insists on complete obedience from others: Eva was an autocrat—people didn’t argue unless they had a lot of courage

aggravate Pronunciation: ⁄ ˈagrəveɪt ⁄ verb [with object] ·               1 make (a problem, injury, or offence) worse or more serious: military action would only aggravate the situation ·               2  informal  annoy or exasperate:  (as adjective  aggravating ) she found him thoroughly aggravating and unprofessional

aberrant Pronunciation: ⁄ əˈbɛr(ə)nt ⁄ adjective ·               departing from an accepted standard: this somewhat aberrant behaviour requires an explanation ·      chiefly  Biology  diverging from the normal type: aberrant chromosomes

antediluvian Pronunciation: ⁄ ˌantɪdɪˈluːvɪən ⁄ adjective ·               of or belonging to the time before the biblical Flood: gigantic bones of antediluvian animals ·      chiefly  humorous  ridiculously old-fashioned: they maintain antediluvian sex-role stereotypes

ameliorate Pronunciation: ⁄ əˈmiːlɪəreɪt ⁄ verb [with object]   formal ·               make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better: the reform did much to ameliorate living standards

abscond Pronunciation: ⁄ əbˈskɒnd, ab- ⁄ verb [no object] ·               leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to escape from custody or avoid arrest: the barman absconded with a week’s takings176 detainees absconded ·      (of a person on bail) fail to surrender oneself for custody at the appointed time: charges of absconding while on bail

assuage Pronunciation: ⁄ əˈsweɪdʒ ⁄ verb [with object] ·               make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense: the letter assuaged the fears of most members ·      satisfy (an appetite or desire): an opportunity occurred to assuage her desire for knowledge