Words beginning with D - list and definitions learning English
What will I learn from the English lesson a list verbs beginning with D?
This lesson is a list of words beginning with D from the big list of A to Z of words and definitions to help you, when you don't know the meaning of the word. It is important not to try and remember the words, but just to use the list as a reference guide to help you.
How do I use this English book of words A to Z?
Click on each letter of the alphabet to get the list of the idioms with an explanation of each.
[ A ] [ B ] [ C ] [ D ] [ E ] [ F ] [ G ] [ H ] [ I ] [ J ] [ K ] [ L ] [ M ] [ N ] [ O ] [ P ] [ Q ] [ R ] [ S ] [ T ] [ U ] [ V ] [ W ] [ X ] [ Y ] [ Z ]
The big book of words uses the following grammar after each word
After each word is listed you will see one of the following v, n or adj. To get a more detailed explanation of each click on each link.
- n. (noun) - is a name word
- v. (verb) - is an action word
- ad. (adjective/adverb) - is used as a describing word
Words Beginning with D.
daring adj. Brave.
darkling adv. Blindly.
Darwinism n. The doctrine that natural selection has been the prime cause of evolution of higher forms.
dastard n. A base coward.
datum n. A premise, starting-point, or given fact.
dauntless adj. Fearless.
day-man n. A day-laborer.
dead-heat n. A race in which two or more competitors come out even, and there is no winner.
dearth n. Scarcity, as of something customary, essential ,or desirable.
death's-head n. A human skull as a symbol of death.
debase v. To lower in character or virtue.
debatable adj. Subject to contention or dispute.
debonair adj. Having gentle or courteous bearing or manner.
debut n. A first appearance in society or on the stage.
decagon n. A figure with ten sides and ten angles.
decagram n. A weight of 10 grams.
decaliter n. A liquid and dry measure of 10 liters.
decalogue n. The ten commandments.
Decameron n. A volume consisting of ten parts or books.
decameter n. A length of ten meters.
decamp v. To leave suddenly or unexpectedly.
decapitate v. To behead.
decapod adj. Ten-footed or ten-armed.
decasyllable n. A line of ten syllables.
deceit n. Falsehood.
deceitful adj. Fraudulent.
deceive v. To mislead by or as by falsehood.
decency n. Moral fitness.
decent adj. Characterized by propriety of conduct, speech, manners, or dress.
deciduous adj. Falling off at maturity as petals after flowering, fruit when ripe, etc.
decimal adj. Founded on the number 10.
decimate v. To destroy a measurable or large proportion of.
decipher v. To find out the true words or meaning of, as something hardly legible.
decisive ad. Conclusive.
declamation n. A speech recited or intended for recitation from memory in public.
declamatory adj. A full and formal style of utterance.
declarative adj. Containing a formal, positive, or explicit statement or affirmation.
declension n. The change of endings in nouns and adj. to express their different relations of gender.
decorate v. To embellish.
decorous adj. Suitable for the occasion or circumstances.
decoy n. Anything that allures, or is intended to allures into danger or temptation.
decrepit adj. Enfeebled, as by old age or some chronic infirmity.
dedication n. The voluntary consecration or relinquishment of something to an end or cause.
deduce v. To derive or draw as a conclusion by reasoning from given premises or principles.
deface v. To mar or disfigure the face or external surface of.
defalcate v. To cut off or take away, as a part of something.
defamation n. Malicious and groundless injury done to the reputation or good name of another.
defame v. To slander.
default n. The neglect or omission of a legal requirement.
defendant n. A person against whom a suit is brought.
defensible adj. Capable of being maintained or justified.
defensive adj. Carried on in resistance to aggression.
defer v. To delay or put off to some other time.
deference n. Respectful submission or yielding, as to another's opinion, wishes, or judgment.
defiant adj. Characterized by bold or insolent opposition.
deficiency n. Lack or insufficiency.
deficient adj. Not having an adequate or proper supply or amount.
definite adj. Having an exact signification or positive meaning.
deflect v. To cause to turn aside or downward.
deforest v. To clear of forests.
deform v. To disfigure.
deformity n. A disfigurement.
defraud v. To deprive of something dishonestly.
defray v. To make payment for.
degeneracy n. A becoming worse.
degenerate v. To become worse or inferior.
degradation n. Diminution, as of strength or magnitude.
degrade v. To take away honors or position from.
dehydrate v. To deprive of water.
deify v. To regard or worship as a god.
deign v. To deem worthy of notice or account.
deist n. One who believes in God, but denies supernatural revelation.
deity n. A god, goddess, or divine person.
deject v. To dishearten.
dejection n. Melancholy.
delectable adj. Delightful to the taste or to the senses.
delectation n. Delight.
deleterious adj. Hurtful, morally or physically.
delicacy n. That which is agreeable to a fine taste.
delineate v. To represent by sketch or diagram.
deliquesce v. To dissolve gradually and become liquid by absorption of moisture from the air.
delirious adj. Raving.
delude v. To mislead the mind or judgment of.
deluge v. To overwhelm with a flood of water.
delusion n. Mistaken conviction, especially when more or less enduring.
demagnetize v. To deprive (a magnet) of magnetism.
demagogue n. An unprincipled politician.
demeanor n. Deportment.
demented adj. Insane.
demerit n. A mark for failure or bad conduct.
demise n. Death.
demobilize v. To disband, as troops.
demolish v. To annihilate.
demonstrable adj. Capable of positive proof.
demonstrate v. To prove indubitably.
demonstrative adj. Inclined to strong exhibition or expression of feeling or thoughts.
demonstrator n. One who proves in a convincing and conclusive manner.
demulcent n. Any application soothing to an irritable surface
demurrage n. the detention of a vessel beyond the specified time of sailing.
dendroid adj. Like a tree.
dendrology n. The natural history of trees.
denizen n. Inhabitant.
denominate v. To give a name or epithet to.
denomination n. A body of Christians united by a common faith and form of worship and discipline.
denominator n. Part of a fraction which expresses the number of equal parts into which the unit is divided.
denote v. To designate by word or mark.
denouement n. That part of a play or story in which the mystery is cleared up.
denounce v. To point out or publicly accuse as deserving of punishment, censure, or odium.
dentifrice n. Any preparation used for cleaning the teeth.
denude v. To strip the covering from.
denunciation n. The act of declaring an action or person worthy of reprobation or punishment.
deplete v. To reduce or lessen, as by use, exhaustion, or waste.
deplorable adj. Contemptible.
deplore v. To regard with grief or sorrow.
deponent adj. Laying down.
depopulate v. To remove the inhabitants from.
deport v. To take or send away forcibly, as to a penal colony.
deportment n. Demeanor.
deposition n. Testimony legally taken on interrogatories and reduced to writing, for use as evidence in court.
depositor n. One who makes a deposit, or has an amount deposited.
depository n. A place where anything is kept in safety.
deprave v. To render bad, especially morally bad.
deprecate v. To express disapproval or regret for, with hope for the opposite.
depreciate v. To lessen the worth of.
depreciation n. A lowering in value or an underrating in worth.
depress v. To press down.
depression n. A falling of the spirits.
depth n. Deepness.
derelict adj. Neglectful of obligation.
deride v. To ridicule.
derisible adj. Open to ridicule.
derision n. Ridicule.
derivation n. That process by which a word is traced from its original root or primitive form and meaning.
derivative adj. Coming or acquired from some origin.
derive v. To deduce, as from a premise.
dermatology n. The branch of medical science which relates to the skin and its diseases.
derrick n. An apparatus for hoisting and swinging great weights.
descendant n. One who is descended lineally from another, as a child, grandchild, etc.
descendent adj. Proceeding downward.
descent n. The act of moving or going downward.
descry v. To discern.
desert v. To abandon without regard to the welfare of the abandoned
desiccant n. Any remedy which, when applied externally, dries up or absorbs moisture, as that of wounds.
designate v. To select or appoint, as by authority.
desist v. To cease from action.
desistance n. Cessation.
despair n. Utter hopelessness and despondency.
desperado n. One without regard for law or life.
desperate adj. Resorted to in a last extremity, or as if prompted by utter despair.
despicable adj. Contemptible.
despite prep. In spite of.
despond v. To lose spirit, courage, or hope.
despondent adj. Disheartened.
despot n. An absolute and irresponsible monarch.
despotism n. Any severe and strict rule in which the judgment of the governed has little or no part.
destitute adj. Poverty-stricken.
desultory adj. Not connected with what precedes.
deter v. To frighten away.
deteriorate v. To grow worse.
determinate adj. Definitely limited or fixed.
determination n. The act of deciding.
deterrent adj. Hindering from action through fear.
detest v. To dislike or hate with intensity.
detract v. To take away in such manner as to lessen value or estimation.
detriment n. Something that causes damage, depreciation, or loss.
detrude v. To push down forcibly.
deviate v. To take a different course.
devilry n. Malicious mischief.
deviltry n. Wanton and malicious mischief.
devious adj. Out of the common or regular track.
devise v. To invent.
devout adj. Religious.
dexterity n. Readiness, precision, efficiency, and ease in any physical activity or in any mechanical work.
diabolic adj. Characteristic of the devil.
diacritical adj. Marking a difference.
diagnose v. To distinguish, as a disease, by its characteristic phenomena.
diagnosis n. Determination of the distinctive nature of a disease.
dialect n. Forms of speech collectively that are peculiar to the people of a particular district.
dialectician n. A logician.
dialogue n. A formal conversation in which two or more take part.
diaphanous adj. Transparent.
diatomic adj. Containing only two atoms.
diatribe n. A bitter or malicious criticism.
dictum n. A positive utterance.
didactic adj. Pertaining to teaching.
difference n. Dissimilarity in any respect.
differentia n. Any essential characteristic of a species by reason of which it differs from other species.
differential adj. Distinctive.
differentiate v. To acquire a distinct and separate character.
diffidence n. Self-distrust.
diffident adj. Affected or possessed with self-distrust.
diffusible adj. Spreading rapidly through the system and acting quickly.
diffusion n. Dispersion.
dignitary n. One who holds high rank.
digraph n. A union of two characters representing a single sound.
digress v. To turn aside from the main subject and for a time dwell on some incidental matter.
dilapidated pa. Fallen into decay or partial ruin.
dilate v. To enlarge in all directions.
dilatory adj. Tending to cause delay.
dilemma n. A situation in which a choice between opposing modes of conduct is necessary.
dilettante n. A superficial amateur.
diligence n. Careful and persevering effort to accomplish what is undertaken.
dilute v. To make more fluid or less concentrated by admixture with something.
diminution n. Reduction.
dimly adv. Obscurely.
diphthong n. The sound produced by combining two vowels in to a single syllable or running together the sounds.
diplomacy n. Tact, shrewdness, or skill in conducting any kind of negotiations or in social matters.
diplomat n. A representative of one sovereign state at the capital or court of another.
diplomatic adj. Characterized by special tact in negotiations.
diplomatist n. One remarkable for tact and shrewd management.
disagree v. To be opposite in opinion.
disallow v. To withhold permission or sanction.
disappear v. To cease to exist, either actually or for the time being.
disappoint v. To fail to fulfill the expectation, hope, wish, or desire of.
disapprove v. To regard with blame.
disarm v. To deprive of weapons.
disarrange v. To throw out of order.
disavow v. To disclaim responsibility for.
disavowal n. Denial.
disbeliever n. One who refuses to believe.
disburden v. To disencumber.
disburse v. To pay out or expend, as money from a fund.
discard v. To reject.
discernible adj. Perceivable.
disciple n. One who believes the teaching of another, or who adopts and follows some doctrine.
disciplinary adj. Having the nature of systematic training or subjection to authority.
discipline v. To train to obedience.
disclaim v. To disavow any claim to, connection with, or responsibility to.
discolor v. To stain.
discomfit v. To put to confusion.
discomfort n. The state of being positively uncomfortable.
disconnect v. To undo or dissolve the connection or association of.
disconsolate adj. Grief-stricken.
discontinuance n. Interruption or intermission.
discord n. Absence of harmoniousness.
discountenance v. To look upon with disfavor.
discover v. To get first sight or knowledge of, as something previously unknown or unperceived.
discredit v. To injure the reputation of.
discreet adj. Judicious.
discrepant adj. Opposite.
discriminate v. To draw a distinction.
discursive adj. Passing from one subject to another.
discussion n. Debate.
disenfranchise v. To deprive of any right privilege or power
disengage v. To become detached.
disfavor n. Disregard.
disfigure v. To impair or injure the beauty, symmetry, or appearance of.
dishabille n. Undress or negligent attire.
dishonest adj. Untrustworthy.
disillusion v. To disenchant.
disinfect v. To remove or destroy the poison of infectious or contagious diseases.
disinfectant n. A substance used to destroy the germs of infectious diseases.
disinherit v. To deprive of an inheritance.
disinterested adj. Impartial.
disjunctive adj. Helping or serving to disconnect or separate.
dislocate v. To put out of proper place or order.
dismissal n. Displacement by authority from an office or an employment.
dismount v. To throw down, push off, or otherwise remove from a horse or the like.
disobedience n. Neglect or refusal to comply with an authoritative injunction.
disobedient adj. Neglecting or refusing to obey.
disown v. To refuse to acknowledge as one's own or as connected with oneself.
disparage v. To regard or speak of slightingly.
disparity n. Inequality.
dispel v. To drive away by or as by scattering in different directions.
dispensation n. That which is bestowed on or appointed to one from a higher power.
displace v. To put out of the proper or accustomed place.
dispossess v. To deprive of actual occupancy, especially of real estate.
disputation n. Verbal controversy.
disqualify v. To debar.
disquiet v. To deprive of peace or tranquility.
disregard v. To take no notice of.
disreputable adj. Dishonorable or disgraceful.
disrepute n. A bad name or character.
disrobe v. To unclothe.
disrupt v. To burst or break asunder.
dissatisfy v. To displease.
dissect v. To cut apart or to pieces.
dissection n. The act or operation of cutting in pieces, specifically of a plant or an animal.
dissemble v. To hide by pretending something different.
disseminate v. To sow or scatter abroad, as seed is sown.
dissension n. Angry or violent difference of opinion.
dissent n. Disagreement.
dissentient n. One who disagrees.
dissentious adj. Contentious.
dissertation n. Thesis.
disservice n. An ill turn.
dissever v. To divide.
dissimilar adj. Different.
dissipate v. To disperse or disappear.
dissipation n. The state of being dispersed or scattered.
dissolute adj. Lewd.
dissolution n. A breaking up of a union of persons.
dissolve v. To liquefy or soften, as by heat or moisture.
dissonance n. Discord.
dissonant adj. Harsh or disagreeable in sound.
dissuade v. To change the purpose or alter the plans of by persuasion, counsel, or pleading.
dissuasion n. The act of changing the purpose of or altering the plans of through persuasion, or pleading.
disyllable n. A word of two syllables.
distemper n. A disease or malady.
distend v. To stretch out or expand in every direction.
distensible adj. Capable of being stretched out or expanded in every direction.
distention n. Expansion.
distill v. To extract or produce by vaporization and condensation.
distillation n. Separation of the more volatile parts of a substance from those less volatile.
distiller n. One occupied in the business of distilling alcoholic liquors.
distinction n. A note or designation of honor, officially recognizing superiority or success in studies.
distort v. To twist into an unnatural or irregular form.
distrain v. To subject a person to distress.
distrainor n. One who subjects a person to distress.
distraught adj. Bewildered.
distrust n. Lack of confidence in the power, wisdom, or good intent of any person.
disunion n. Separation of relations or interests.
diurnal adj. Daily.
divagation n. Digression.
divergent adj. Tending in different directions.
diverse adj. Capable of various forms.
diversion n. Pastime.
diversity n. Dissimilitude.
divert v. To turn from the accustomed course or a line of action already established.
divertible adj. Able to be turned from the accustomed course or a line of action already established.
divest v. To strip, specifically of clothes, ornaments, or accouterments or disinvestment.
divination n. The pretended forecast of future events or discovery of what is lost or hidden.
divinity n. The quality or character of being godlike.
divisible adj. Capable of being separated into parts.
divisor n. That by which a number or quantity is divided.
divulge v. To tell or make known, as something previously private or secret.
divulgence n. A divulging.
docile adj. Easy to manage.
docket n. The registry of judgments of a court.
doe n. The female of the deer.
dogma n. A statement of religious faith or duty formulated by a body claiming authority.
dogmatic adj. Making statements without argument or evidence.
dogmatize v. To make positive assertions without supporting them by argument or evidence.
doleful adj. Melancholy.
dolesome adj. Melancholy.
dolor n. Lamentation.
dolorous adj. Expressing or causing sorrow or pain.
domain n. A sphere or field of action or interest.
domesticity n. Life in or fondness for one's home and family.
domicile n. The place where one lives.
dominance n. Ascendancy.
dominant adj. Conspicuously prominent.
dominate v. To influence controllingly.
domination n. Control by the exercise of power or constituted authority.
domineer v. To rule with insolence or unnecessary annoyance.
donate v. To bestow as a gift, especially for a worthy cause.
donator n. One who makes a donation or present.
donee n. A person to whom a donation is made.
donor n. One who makes a donation or present.
dormant adj. Being in a state of or resembling sleep.
doublet n. One of a pair of like things.
doubly adv. In twofold degree or extent.
dowry n. The property which a wife brings to her husband in marriage.
drachma n. A modern and an ancient Greek coin.
dragnet n. A net to be drawn along the bottom of the water.
dragoon n. In the British army, a cavalryman.
drainage n. The means of draining collectively, as a system of conduits, trenches, pipes, etc.
dramatist n. One who writes plays.
dramatize v. To relate or represent in a dramatic or theatrical manner.
drastic adj. Acting vigorously.
drought n. Dry weather, especially when so long continued as to cause vegetation to wither.
drowsy adj. Heavy with sleepiness.
drudgery n. Hard and constant work in any menial or dull occupation.
dubious adj. Doubtful.
duckling n. A young duck.
ductile adj. Capable of being drawn out, as into wire or a thread.
duet n. A composition for two voices or instruments.
dun v. To make a demand or repeated demands on for payment.
duplex adj. Having two parts.
duplicity n. Double-dealing.
durance n. Confinement.
duration n. The period of time during which anything lasts.
duteous adj. Showing submission to natural superiors.
dutiable adj. Subject to a duty, especially a customs duty.
dutiful adj. Obedient.
dwindle v. To diminish or become less.
dyne n. The force which, applied to a mass of one gram for 1 second, would give it a velocity of 1 cm/s.
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