you keep them from going somewhere or doing something.
detect detects, detecting, detected
VERB If you detect something, you notice or find it. • X-rays can detect broken bones.
detective detectives
NOUN a person, usually a police officer, whose job is to investigate crimes
detector detectors
NOUN an instrument used to detect the presence of something • a metal detector
detention
NOUN 1 a form of punishment in which a pupil is made to stay in school for extra time when other children do not have to
2 arrest or imprisonment
deter deters, deterring, deterred
VERB If you deter someone from doing something, you persuade them not to do it or try to stop them in some way.
detergent detergents
NOUN a chemical substance used for washing or cleaning things
deteriorate deteriorates, deteriorating, deteriorated
VERB If something deteriorates, it gets worse.
deterioration NOUN
determination
NOUN a great strength and will to do something
determined
ADJECTIVE having your mind firmly made up • She was determined to pass her exams.
deterrent deterrents
NOUN something that prevents people from doing something, usually by making them afraid to do it • We have a car alarm as a deterrent to car thieves.
detest detests, detesting, detested
VERB If you detest someone or something, you dislike them intensely.
[from Latin detestari meaning to curse]
detestable ADJECTIVE
detonate detonates, detonating, detonated
VERB If someone detonates a bomb or mine, they cause it to explode.
detonation NOUN detonator NOUN
detour detours
NOUN If you make a detour on a journey, you go by a longer or less direct route.
devastate devastates, devastating, devastated
VERB A place that has been devastated has been severely damaged or destroyed.
devastation NOUN
develop develops, developing, developed
VERB 1 When something develops, it grows or becomes more advanced.
2 If you develop photographs or film, you produce a visible image from them.
development developments
NOUN gradual growth or progress • There have been great developments in technology over the past fifty years.
device devices
NOUN a machine or tool that is used for a particular purpose
devil devils
NOUN an evil spirit
devious
ADJECTIVE Devious people behave in an underhand, nasty and secretive way.
devise devises, devising, devised
VERB If you devise something, you invent it or design it.
devoted
ADJECTIVE very loving and loyal
devour devours, devouring, devoured
VERB 1 If you devour food, you eat it quickly and greedily.
2 If one creature devours another, it eats it.
3 If you devour a book, you read it very quickly.
devout
ADJECTIVE very deeply religious
dew
NOUN drops of moisture that form on the ground and other cool surfaces at night
diabetes
NOUN a condition in which a person has too much sugar in their blood
diabetic NOUN OR ADJECTIVE
diagnose diagnoses, diagnosing, diagnosed
VERB If someone diagnoses an illness or problem, they identify what is wrong.
diagonal diagonals
NOUN 1 a straight line that slopes from one corner of a shape to another
ADJECTIVE 2 in a slanting direction • a diagonal line
[from Greek diagonios meaning from angle to angle]
diagram diagrams
NOUN a drawing that shows or explains something • Carroll or Venn diagram
dial dials, dialling, dialled
NOUN 1 the part of a clock or meter where the time or a measurement is shown
VERB 2 If you dial a telephone number, you press the buttons to select the number you want.
dialect dialects
NOUN the form of a language spoken in a particular area
dialogue dialogues
NOUN In a novel, play or film, dialogue is conversation.
diameter diameters
NOUN the length of a straight line drawn across a circle through its centre
diamond diamonds
NOUN 1 a precious stone made of pure carbon
2 a shape with four straight sides of equal length that are not at right angles to each other
See rhombus
diarrhoea
NOUN an illness that attacks
