English Words Starting With D

• decouple

  verbverb-intransitiveverb-transitiveC1/C2
  /ˌdiːˈkʌpəl/To separate, disconnect, or dissociate one thing from another, often ending a link or relationship.
• decoupling

  nounC1-C2
  /ˌdiːˈkʌp.lɪŋ/The act of separating, disconnecting, or ending the link between two things that were previously connected or interdependent.
• decoy

  nounverbverb-intransitiveverb-transitiveB2
  /ˈdiː.kɔɪ/A thing or person used to lure someone or something into a trap or into danger.
• decrease

  nounverbverb-intransitiveverb-transitiveB2
  /dɪˈkriːs/ (verb), /ˈdiːkriːs/ (noun)To become or make something smaller or fewer in size, amount, intensity, or degree.
• decreasing term insurance

  nounC1/C2 (Specialized Financial/Business English)
  /dɪˈkriːsɪŋ tɜːm ɪnˈʃʊərəns/A type of life insurance policy where the death benefit reduces over time, typically designed to match decreasing financial obligations like a repayment mortgage.
• decree

  nounverbverb-ambitransitiveC1
  /dɪˈkriː/An official order or decision issued by a legal authority, such as a government or court, that has the force of law.
• decree absolute

  nounC2
  /dɪˌkriː ˈæbsəluːt/A final, legally binding court order that formally ends a marriage or civil partnership.
• decree nisi

  nounRare/Very Low-Frequency
  /dɪˌkriː ˈnaɪsaɪ/A provisional court order for divorce that will become final (absolute) after a specified period unless a valid objection is raised.
• decree-law

  nounC2
  /dɪˈkriː lɔː/A legislative act issued by the executive branch (usually a government or president) without prior approval from the legislature, often having the force of law, typically used in times of emergency or urgency.
• decreet

  nounSpecialist / Rare
  /dɪˈkriːt/A Scots law term for a final judgment or order of a court, equivalent to a decree in English law.
• decrement

  nounLow-to-medium (Common in technical contexts, rare in everyday speech)
  /ˈdɛkrɪmənt/To decrease by a small, discrete amount; the process or result of such a decrease.
• decremeter

  nounVery Low
  /dɪˈkriːmɪtə/An instrument for measuring the rate of decay of oscillations, particularly in electrical circuits.
• decreolize

  verb-transitiveVery low frequency / specialized
  /diːˈkriːəlaɪz/To cause a creole language to lose its distinct features and become more like its parent or standard language
• decrepitate

  verbverb-intransitiveverb-transitiveVery low
  /dɪˈkrɛpɪteɪt/To crackle or snap when heated, typically referring to salts or crystals; to calcine or roast a substance until it stops crackling.
• decrepitude

  nounC1
  /dɪˈkrɛp.ɪ.tʃuːd/the state of being worn out, weakened, or broken down due to extreme old age or long use.
• decrescendo

  adjectivenounC2
  /ˌdiːkrɪˈʃɛndəʊ/A musical direction indicating a gradual decrease in loudness.
• decretal

  adjectivenounC2
  /dɪˈkriːt(ə)l/A papal decree or authoritative order, particularly one resolving a point of canon law.
• decretals

  plural-nounC2
  /dɪˈkriːtlz/A collection of papal decrees forming a significant part of Canon Law.
• decretist

  nounVery Low Frequency (C2+)
  /ˈdɛkrɪtɪst/A scholar or expert in decretals (papal decrees on canon law); historically, a specialist in the study of Gratian's Decretum in medieval universities.
• decretum

  nounRare
  /dɪˈkriːtəm/A formal decree, edict, or order, especially one having the force of law issued by a person in authority.

Showing 1321–1340 of 7181 words.