dam [a wall built across a river to hold back flowing water] The dam burst after a week of rain.
damage [(1) to cause injury or destruction; (2) harm; (3) hurt or injury, usually to things] The boy damaged his toys by throwing them against the wall. (1) The storm caused a lot of damage to crops. (2) Hitting the tree did serious damage to my car. (3) dance [(1) to move the body and feet to music; (2) a series of steps, usually to music] Will you dance with me? (1) Do you know how to do the chicken dance? (2) danger [a strong chance of suffering injury, damage or loss] Some people enjoy the danger of rock climbing or sky diving. dark [having little or no light] The room was dark.
date [a day, month and year] Today's date is September 10, 2000. daughter [a person's female child] Tommy is going to the movies with Helen's daughter. day [(1) twenty-four hours; (2) the hours of sunlight] I plan to be away from home for ten days. (1) Alan works at night and sleeps during the day. (2) dead [not living] The number of dead and injured in the rioting is not yet known. deaf [not able to hear] The deaf man could not hear what you said.
deal [(1) to have to do with; (2) to buy or sell] The talks will deal with the problem of pollution. (1) Her company deals in plastic. (2) debate [(1) to argue for or against something; (2) a public discussion or argument] The two candidates debated for one and a half hours on nationwide television. (1) Which candidate do you think won the debate? (2) debt [(1) something that is owed; (2)the condition of owing] The bank will want a list of all your debts before it considers your loan request. (1) I owe a great debt to my family for all they did for me. (2) decide [(1) to choose; (2) to settle; (3) to judge] Which of the two books did you decide to read? (1) Jay and I agreed that we would decide our dispute. (2) The judge decided that the accused man was not guilty. (3) declare [(1) to say; (2) to make a statement] Jane declared that she never wanted to see him again. (1) The United States declared its independence from Britain on July 4, 1776. (2) decrease [to make less in size or amount] Technology helped the farmer to decrease his use of electricity. deep [(1) going far down; (2) a long way from top to bottom] The diver went deep into the ocean. (1) The ocean was very deep where the ship went down. (2) defeat [to cause to lose in a battle or struggle; (2) a loss; (3) the condition of having lost] The House of Representatives defeated the President's request for more money for health care. (1) It was the first defeat for the White House on health care spending. (2) The defeat kills efforts to expand the health care system. (3) defend [(1) to guard or fight against attack; (2) to protect] The soldiers fought hard to defend the city from the invaders. (1) How can you defend what he did? (2) deficit [a shortage that results when spending is greater than earnings, or imports are greater than exports] The President and the Congress worked together to reduce the budget deficit. define [(1) to give the meaning of; (2) to explain] Today, I want you to define all the words on this list. (1) Please define how the new system will work. (2) degree [a measure of temperature] The temperature outside is two degrees, Celsius. delay [(1) to decide to do something at a later time; (2) to postpone; (3) to cause to be late] Let us delay dinner until we finish this work. (1) The meeting will be delayed until ten o'clock tomorrow morning. (2) The snowstorm delayed my arrival. (3) delegate [(1) one sent to act for another; (2) one who represents another] The President named the Vice President to be his chief delegate at the trade talks. (1) The elected state assembly in Virginia is called the House of Delegates. (2) demand [(1) to ask by ordering; (2) to ask with force] His wife demanded that he paint the windows. (1) The law demands that we pay our taxes on time. (2) democracy [the system of government in which citizens vote to choose leaders or to make other important decisions] The United States has been a representative democracy for more than two hundred years. demonstrate [(1) to make a public show of opinions or feelings; (2) to explain by using examples] The crowd demonstrated in support of human rights. (1) The teacher demonstrated the idea with an experiment. (2) denounce [(1) to accuse of being wrong or evil; (2) to criticize severely] The war crimes court denounced the general for murder and other evil acts. (1) The candidate denounced the newspaper report about his arrest. (2) deny [(1) to declare that something is not true; (2) to refuse a request] The mayor denied the report that he had taken illegal payments. (1) The appeals court denied the woman's request for a new trial. (2) depend [to need help and support] I depend on my friends for emotional support. deplore [(1) to regret strongly; (2) to express sadness] The United Nations deplored the latest violence in the Middle East. (1) The President deplored the deaths in the ship explosion. (2) deploy [to move forces or weapons into positions for action] The general deployed his forces along the border. depression [(1) severe unhappiness; (2) a period of reduced business and economic activity during which many people lose their jobs] The doctor gave her medicine for her depression. (1) The latest economic depression in the United States happened a long time ago. (2) describe [(1) to give a word picture of something; (2) to give details of something] The young man described his home in the desert. (1) The report described how the problem developed. (2) desert [a dry area of land] Survival is difficult in the hot, dry desert. design [to plan or create plans for] An architect designed my new home.
desire [(1) to want very much; (2) to wish for] After traveling for two weeks, Jim very much desired a meal cooked at home. (1) If you could have anything you wanted, what would you desire? (2) destroy [(1) to break into pieces; (2) to end the existence of] The earthquake destroyed many houses. (1) His actions destroyed any trust between them. (2) detail [(1) a small part of something; (2) a small piece of information] Lisa decided every detail of her wedding. (1) I want to hear every detail of your story. (2) develop [(1) to grow; (2) to create; (3) to experience progress] He is developing into a fine young man. (1) The professor developed a new way to teach English. (2) The country needed many years to develop an industrial economy. (3) device [a piece of equipment made for a special purpose] The microwave cooker is a device I use every day. dictator [a ruler with complete power] The people of Yugoslavia forced the dictator from power.
die [(1) to become dead; (2) to stop living; (3) to end] If you touch that wire you will die. (1) The river died slowly as pollution increased. (2) All hope died when the prison gate closed. (3) diet [usual daily food and drink] The doctor ordered a special diet to help him lose weight. different [not the same] His clothes are different from mine.
difficult [(1) not easy; (2) hard to do, make or carry out] Keith was a difficult child. (1) Building a boat is a difficult job. (2) dig [to make a hole in the ground] Dig here and you will find water. dinner [(1) the main amount of food eaten at a usual time; (2) a special event that includes food ] The family had its dinner at noon. (1) The official dinner took place at the White House. (2) diplomat [a person who represents his or her government in dealing with another government] Most foreign diplomats live in the Washington area. direct [(1) to lead; (2) to aim or show the way；(3) straight to something; (4) not through some other person or thing] The mayor directs all city agencies. (1) He directed me to the theater. (2) The most direct way to Annapolis is Highway 50. (3) The path is direct. (4) direction [(1) the way (east, west, north, south); (2) where someone or something came from or went to] North is the opposite direction from south. (1) The cold wind is coming from that direction. (2) dirt [earth or soil] Little children enjoy playing in the dirt. disappear [(1) to become unseen; (2) to no longer exist] His dog disappears when it is time for a bath. (1) Dinosaurs disappeared a long time ago. (2) disarm [(1) to take away weapons; (2) to no longer keep weapons; (3) to make a bomb harmless by removing its exploding device] The policeman disarmed the gunman. (1) Some smaller countries have disarmed. (2) Explosives experts often can disarm bombs. (3) discover [to find or learn something] Scientists have discovered cures for many kinds of cancer. discuss [(1) to talk about; (2) to exchange ideas] We can discuss anything you wish. (1) The two presidents discussed trade and other economic issues. (2) disease [a sickness in living things, often caused by viruses, germs or bacteria] Modern medicines have made some diseases disappear. dismiss [(1) to send away; (2) to refuse to consider] The scientist was dismissed for copying secret information about nuclear weapons. (1) The senators dismissed any idea of campaign finance reform. (2) dispute [(1) to oppose strongly by argument; (2) an angry debate] The two nations disputed where the border between them should be. (1) The United Nations helped settle the border dispute. (2) dissident [a person who strongly disagrees with his or her government] The three dissidents were sentenced to long prison terms. distance [the amount of space between two places or objects] The distance from my house to your house is two kilometers.
dive [to jump into water head first] He dived into the river and swam to the screaming child.
divide [to separate into two or more parts] She divided the food into four equal amounts.
do [(1) to act; (2) to make an effort] I did the job exactly as ordered. (1) He did the best that he could do. (2) doctor [a person trained in medicine to treat sick people] He was sick so he went to see the doctor. document [an official piece of paper with facts written on it, used as proof or support of something] The lawyer offered many documents to support his case.
dog [a small animal that often lives with humans] Our dog loves to chase our cat.
dollar [United States money, one hundred cents] Could I borrow a dollar from you?
door [an opening for entering or leaving a building or room] He ran through the door just as she closed it.
down [(1) from higher to lower; (2) in a low place] The climbers walked down the mountain. (1) I was doing some exercises down on the floor when she walked in. (2) dream [(1) to have a picture or story in the mind during sleep; (2) a picture or story in the mind during sleep; (3) a happy idea about the future] He dreamed he was standing on a falling building. (1) The man described his dream to the psychiatrist. (2) The civil rights leader had a dream that someday whites and blacks could live together in peace. (3) drink [to take liquid into the body through the mouth] I always drink water after running. drive [to control a moving vehicle] He is learning to drive a car.
drop [(1) to fall or let fall; (2) to go lower] She dropped a book as she walked by him. (1) The value of the dollar dropped. (2) drown [to die under water] Three hundred people drowned when the ferry boat sank. drug [(1) anything used as a medicine or in making medicine; (2) a chemical substance used to ease pain or to affect the mind] The new drug seems to be an effective weapon against infections. (1) Some doctors say the illegal drug marijuana can reduce bad effects of treatment with anti-cancer chemicals. (2) dry [(1) not wet; (2) without rain] This raincoat will keep you dry. (1) The hot, dry weather is causing severe problems for farmers. (2) during [(1) through the whole time; (2) while (something is happening)] She said she would be too busy during the day to see me. (1) I slept during his long speech. (2) dust [pieces of matter so small that they can float in the air] After the explosion, the air in the building was filled with dust. duty [(1) one's job or responsibility; (2) what one must do because it is right and just] The soldier was often on guard duty. (1) It is my duty to vote on election day. (2)
