Mum was bewildered by the huge range of mobile phones on offer.
confused
Granny sometimes gets confused and says odd things.
light-headed
The paint smell was so strong that I began to feel light-headed.
shocked
After the bomb, shocked, dusty people wandered hopelessly around.
stunned
I felt stunned by the unexpected news about James’s accident.
dead ADJECTIVE
A person, animal or plant that is dead is no longer alive.
deceased
It was thought that the deceased man came originally from Ireland.
extinct
The extinct moa of New Zealand was a flightless bird like an ostrich.
late
Many people paid tribute to Mrs Suleiman’s late husband.
ANTONYM: alive
deadly ADJECTIVE
Something deadly is likely or able to cause death.
lethal
The machine guns dispensed a lethal curtain of fire across the muddy wilderness.
mortal
Frodo suddenly came face to face with his mortal enemy.
deal NOUN
A deal is an agreement or arrangement, especially in business.
agreement
The countries formed an agreement about imports and exports.
arrangement
Dad made an arrangement to pick the car up on Tuesday.
contract
The player’s contract with his club will expire in a year’s time.
deal with VERB
If you deal with something, you do what is necessary to sort it out.
attend to
The receptionist has promised to attend to me in a moment.
handle
Mum handled all the holiday arrangements.
see to
“Please would you see to that customer,” the manager said to the sales assistant.
sort out
Thank heavens Mrs Ito was there to sort out the problem.
take care of
“I’ll take care of the flowers if you buy the chocolates,” my sister said on Mother’s Day.
➔ See cope with
dear (1) ADJECTIVE
Something or someone dear is much loved.
beloved
The card read, “To my beloved wife”.
cherished
Grandad has cherished memories of his time in Italy.
treasured
His gran’s rocking chair was a treasured possession.
dear (2) ADJECTIVE
Something that is dear is very expensive.
costly
The furniture was costly but superbly made.
pricey INFORMAL
“That computer game’s a bit pricey,” my friend Sean muttered.
ANTONYM: cheap
decay VERB
When things decay, they rot or go bad.
biodegrade
Most plastic does not biodegrade, which is a problem for the environment.
decompose
I had a sinking feeling that my sandwiches were decomposing in my locker.
perish
The hot-water bottle leaked, as its rubber stopper had perished.
rot
Most softwood will rot if it is not painted.
decide VERB
If you decide to do something, you choose to do it, usually after thinking about it carefully.
commit yourself
In signing up for the course, my brother committed himself to do a year’s study.
make a decision
The hobbit made a decision to cross the river before camping.
make up your mind
“Ted, will you make up your mind!” Dad demanded impatiently.
reach a decision
My parents reached a decision: we were going to move house.
decision NOUN
A decision is a choice or judgment that is made about something.
choice
Daniel faced a choice – to continue and risk getting lost, or to go back the way he had come.
conclusion
I came to the conclusion that I hadn’t been working hard enough.
judgment
The panel’s judgment was that Mrs Flaherty had been fairly treated.
verdict
The courtroom fell silent as the jury’s verdict was announced.
decorate VERB
If you decorate something, you make it more attractive by adding things to it.
adorn
For the wedding, the gate to the churchyard was adorned with flowers.
festoon
The whole of Wall Street was festooned with tickertape streamers.
trim
The Christmas tree was trimmed with tinsel.
decrease VERB
If something decreases, or if you decrease it, it becomes less.
decline
Bird-lovers are worried that the number of house sparrows is declining.
diminish
The glow from the fire diminished as the dogs slumbered on.
dwindle
Once the mines closed, the valley population began to dwindle.
lessen
The driver decided to lessen his speed, as the engine was overheating.
reduce
Reducing your salt intake will help you to stay healthy.
ANTONYM: increase
deep (1) ADJECTIVE
If something is deep, it goes a long way down from the surface.
bottomless
“The