English Words Starting With D

• decolonialize

  verb-transitiveLow
  /ˌdiːkəˈləʊniəlaɪz/To actively work to dismantle or free from colonial structures, systems, and ideologies.
• decolonize

  verbverb-intransitiveverb-transitiveC1
  /ˌdiːˈkɒlənaɪz/To remove the colonial status, influence, or structures from a territory or institution, particularly in a political, social, or cultural context.
• decolor

  verb-transitiveLow
  /diːˈkʌlə/To remove or lose colour; to bleach.
• decolorant

  adjectivenounLow
  /diːˈkʌlərənt/A substance used to remove or reduce colour.
• decolorize

  verb-transitiveLow (Technical/Formal)
  /ˌdiːˈkʌləraɪz/To remove the colour from something; to make white or colourless.
• decolour

  verbLow
  /diːˈkʌlə/To remove colour from; to bleach or make pale.
• decommission

  verbverb-transitiveC1/C2
  /ˌdiːkəˈmɪʃ(ə)n/To formally take (a piece of military equipment, a facility, a ship, or a nuclear reactor) out of active service.
• decommit

  verbLow
  /ˌdiːkəˈmɪt/To withdraw from a previously made commitment, especially a formal agreement.
• decompensate

  verb-intransitiveVery Low
  /diːˈkɒmpənseɪt/In medicine, to fail to compensate; for an organ (especially the heart) to deteriorate and fail after a period of functioning adequately under stress.
• decompensation

  nounC2
  /ˌdiːkɒmpɛnˈseɪʃən/The failure of an organ or system to function adequately under stress, often after a period of compensation.
• decompose

  verbverb-intransitiveverb-transitiveC1
  /ˌdiːkəmˈpəʊz/to break down or separate into simpler components or elements, either chemically or physically
• decomposer

  nounC1
  /ˌdiːkəmˈpəʊzə(r)/An organism, typically a bacterium or fungus, that breaks down dead organic matter into simpler substances.
• decomposition

  nounC1
  /ˌdiːkɒmpəˈzɪʃ(ə)n/The process of breaking down, decaying, or separating a whole into its constituent parts.
• decompound

  adjectiveverbverb-transitiveC1/C2 (Low frequency, specialist)
  /ˌdiːkəmˈpaʊnd/To separate something into its original components; to break down a compound into simpler parts.
• decompress

  verbverb-intransitiveverb-transitiveC1
  /ˌdiːkəmˈpres/to release from compression; to reduce pressure or tension.
• decompression

  nounB2
  /ˌdiːkəmˈpreʃn/The process of releasing from pressure or compression; the act or result of reducing pressure, especially from a high-pressure environment.
• decompression chamber

  nounC2
  /ˌdiː.kəmˈpreʃ.ən ˌtʃeɪm.bər/A sealed, pressure-resistant room used to gradually return divers or other personnel to normal atmospheric pressure to prevent decompression sickness ('the bends').
• decompression sickness

  nounC1/C2
  /ˌdiːkəmˈprɛʃən ˈsɪknəs/A dangerous medical condition caused by dissolved gases (mainly nitrogen) forming bubbles in the body's tissues and bloodstream when ambient pressure decreases too rapidly, typically after deep diving or leaving a high-pressure environment.
• deconcentrate

  verb-transitiveC2 (Proficient User - Very rare)
  /ˌdiːˈkɒnsəntreɪt/To cause something to become less concentrated in one place; to disperse or spread out.
• decondition

  verb-transitiveC2
  /ˌdiːkənˈdɪʃən/to cause someone or something to lose a previously established pattern of behaviour, especially one based on conditioning or training.

Showing 1281–1300 of 7181 words.