December NOUN
December is the 12th month of the year. It has 31 days.
decide decides, deciding, decided VERB
If you decide to do something, you make up your mind to do it.
decimal decimals
ADJECTIVE 1 A decimal system involves counting in units of ten.
NOUN 2 A decimal or decimal fraction is written with a dot followed by numbers, such as 0·2, 8·35. The numbers after the dot represent tenths, hundredths and so on.
NOUN 3 A decimal point is the dot that comes between whole numbers and fractions.
NOUN 4 A decimal place is the position of a number after a decimal point.
decision decisions NOUN
A decision is a choice you make about what you think should be done.
deck decks NOUN
A deck is a floor on a ship or bus.
decorate decorates, decorating, decorated
VERB 1 If you decorate something, you add things to make it more attractive.
VERB 2 If someone decorates a room, they paper it or paint it.
decorations PLURAL NOUN
decrease decreases, decreasing, decreased VERB
If something decreases, or if you decrease it, it becomes less.
deep deeper, deepest ADJECTIVE
If something is deep, it goes a long way down. The river is very deep.
deer NOUN
A deer is a large hoofed animal. Male deer have horns called antlers.
defeat defeats, defeating, defeated VERB
If you defeat someone, you beat them in a game or battle.
defend defends, defending, defended VERB
If you defend someone or something, you do something to protect them against danger.
defence NOUN
define defines, defining, defined VERB
If you define something, you say what it is or what it means.
definite
ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is definite is unlikely to be changed. We have a definite date for the outing.
ADJECTIVE 2 Definite can also mean certain or true. Lots of stories were going round, but they heard nothing definite.
definitely ADVERB
definition definitions NOUN
A definition explains the meaning of a word.
degree degrees
NOUN 1 A degree is a unit of measurement of temperature, for example, 20°C.
NOUN 2 In maths, a degree is a unit of measurement of angles. For example, a right angle is 90°.
delay delays, delaying, delayed VERB
If something delays you, it causes you to slow down or be late.
delete deletes, deleting, deleted VERB
If you delete some writing, you cross it out or remove it.
deliberate ADJECTIVE
If you do something that is deliberate, you do it on purpose.
deliberately ADVERB
delicate
ADJECTIVE 1 Something that is delicate is small and graceful.
ADJECTIVE 2 Someone who is delicate becomes ill easily.
delicious ADJECTIVE
Food that is delicious tastes or smells very nice.
delight delights, delighting, delighted VERB
If something delights you, it gives you a lot of pleasure.
delighted ADJECTIVE
deliver delivers, delivering, delivered VERB
If you deliver something, you take it to someone and hand it to them.
demand demands, demanding, demanded VERB
If you demand something, you say strongly that is what you want.
demonstrate demonstrates, demonstrating, demonstrated
VERB 1 If someone demonstrates something, they show you how to do it.
VERB 2 If people demonstrate, they hold a public meeting or march to show they are strongly for or against something.
demonstration NOUN
den dens NOUN
A den is the home of some wild animals such as lions or foxes.
dense denser, densest ADJECTIVE
Something dense is hard to see through. They were in a dense forest.
dent dents, denting, dented VERB
If somebody dents something, they make a dip in it by hitting it.
dentist dentists NOUN
A dentist is someone who looks after people’s teeth.
deny denies, denying, denied VERB
If you deny something, you say that it is untrue.
depart departs, departing, departed VERB
When someone or something departs from a place, they leave it.
departure NOUN
depend depends, depending, depended
VERB 1 If you depend on someone, you need them.
VERB 2 If you can depend on someone, you know you can trust them.
depth NOUN
The depth of something is how deep it is.
descend descends, descending, descended VERB
To descend means to go down.
descending ADJECTIVE
When things are in descending order, each thing is lower than the one before it. The numbers 10, 9, 8 and 7 are in descending order.
describe describes, describing, described VERB
If you describe a person or thing, you say what they are like.
description NOUN
desert deserts NOUN
A desert is very dry land with very little plant life.
deserted ADJECTIVE
If a place is deserted, there are no people there.
deserve deserves, deserving, deserved VERB
If you deserve something, you have earned it by what you have done.
design designs, designing, designed
NOUN 1 A design is a pattern that is used to decorate something.
VERB 2 If you design something, you plan it and make a drawing of it.
desk desks NOUN
A desk is a special table that you use for writing or reading.
desktop