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flock

• 1. a number of animals of one kind, especially sheep, goats, or birds, that keep or feed together or are herded together.

• 2. a large number of people; crowd. • 3. a large group of things: a flock of letters to answer. • 4. a. the Christian church in relation to Christ. • b. a single congregation in relation to its pastor. • 5. Archaic. a band or company of persons. • 6. to gather or go in a flock or crowd: They flocked

around the football hero.

graze• Verb 1. to feed on growing grass and pasturage, as do cattle, sheep, etc. • 2. Informal. to eat small portions of food, as appetizers or the like, in place of a

full-sized meal or to snack during the course of the day in place of regular meals. • verb (used with object), grazed, graz·ing. 3. to feed on (growing grass). • 4. to put cattle, sheep, etc., to feed on (grass, pastureland, etc.). • 5. to tend (cattle, sheep, etc.) while they are at pasture. • Verb • 1. to touch or rub lightly in passing. • 2. to scrape the skin from; abrade: The bullet just grazed his shoulder. • verb (used without object), grazed, graz·ing. 3. to touch or rub something lightly,

or so as to produce slight abrasion, in passing: to graze against a rough wall. • noun • 4. a grazing; a touching or rubbing lightly in passing. • 5. a slight scratch, scrape, or wound made in passing; abrasion.

sound• noun • 1. the sensation produced by stimulation of the organs of hearing by vibrations transmitted through the air or

other medium. • 2. mechanical vibrations transmitted through an elastic medium, traveling in air at a speed of approximately 1087

feet (331 meters) per second at sea level. • 3. the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause: the sound of music. • 4. any auditory effect; any audible vibrational disturbance: all kinds of sounds. • 5. a noise, vocal utterance, musical tone, or the like: the sounds from the next room. • 6. a distinctive, characteristic, or recognizable musical style, as from a particular performer, orchestra, or type of

arrangement: the big-band sound. • 7. Phonetics . a. speech sound. • b. the audible result of an utterance or portion of an utterance: the s-sound in “slight”; the sound of m in “mere.” • 8. the auditory effect of sound waves as transmitted or recorded by a particular system of sound reproduction: the

sound of a stereophonic recording. • 9. the quality of an event, letter, etc., as it affects a person: This report has a bad sound. • 10. the distance within which the noise of something may be heard. • 11. mere noise, without meaning: all sound and fury. • 12. Archaic. a report or rumor; news; tidings. • verb (used without object) 13. to make or emit a sound. • 14. to give forth a sound as a call or summons: The bugle sounded as the troops advanced. • 15. to be heard, as a sound. • 16. to convey a certain impression when heard or read: to sound strange. • 17. to give a specific sound: to sound loud.

limb• noun 1. a part or member of an animal body distinct from the head and trunk, as a leg, arm, or wing: the lower

limbs; artificial limbs. • 2. a large or main branch of a tree. • 3. a projecting part or member: the four limbs of a cross. • 4. a person or thing regarded as a part, member, branch, offshoot, or scion of something: a limb of the central

committee. • 5. Archery. the upper or lower part of a bow. • 6. Informal. a mischievous child, imp, or young scamp. • verb• 7. to cut the limbs from (a felled tree). • Idioms 8. out on a limb, in a dangerous or compromising situation; vulnerable: The company overextended itself

financially and was soon out on a limb. • •

Synonyms 1. extremity. 2. See branch.

• noun • 1. Astronomy . the edge of the disk of the sun, a moon, or a planet. • 2. the graduated edge of a quadrant or similar instrument. • 3. Botany . a. the upper spreading part of a gamopetalous corolla. • b. the expanded portion of a petal, sepal, or leaf

film• noun 1. a thin layer or coating: a film of grease on a plate. • 2. a thin sheet of any material: a film of ice. • 3. a thin skin or membrane. • 4. a delicate web of filaments or fine threads. • 5. a thin haze, blur, or mist. • 6. Photography . a. a cellulose nitrate or cellulose acetate composition made in thin sheets or strips and coated with a sensitive emulsion for taking

photographs. • b. a strip or roll of this. • c. the coating of emulsion on such a sheet or strip or on a photographic plate. • 7. Movies. a. a strip of transparent material, usually cellulose triacetate, covered with a photographic emulsion and perforated along one or both

edges, intended for the recording and reproduction of images. • b. a similar perforated strip covered with an iron oxide emulsion (magfilm) intended for the recording and reproduction of both images and sound. • c. motion picture. • 8. Often, films. a. motion pictures collectively. • b. the motion-picture industry, or its productions, operations, etc. • c. motion pictures, as a genre of art or entertainment: experimental film. • verb • 9. to cover with a film, thin skin, or pellicle: filmed eyes. • 10. Movies. a. to photograph with a motion-picture camera. • b. to reproduce in the form of motion pictures: to film a novel. • Verb • 11. to become covered by a film: The water filmed over with ice. • 12. Movies. a. to be reproduced in a motion picture, especially in a specified manner: This story films easily. • b. to direct, make, or otherwise engage in the production of motion pictures.

beige

• noun 1. very light brown, as of undyed wool; light gray with a brownish tinge.

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glee• noun 1. open delight or pleasure; exultant joy; exultation. • 2. an unaccompanied part song for three or more voices, popular

especially in the 18th century. •

Synonyms 1. merriment, jollity, hilarity, mirth, joviality, gaiety. See mirth.

• • 1.• to squint or look with one eye. • noun • 2. a squint. • 3. an imperfect eye, especially one with a cast.

startle• verb• 1. to disturb or agitate suddenly as by surprise or alarm. • 2. to cause to start involuntarily, by or as by a sudden shock. • verb (used without object), star·tled, star·tling. • 3. to start involuntarily, as from a shock of surprise or alarm. • noun • 4. a sudden shock of surprise, alarm, or the like. • 5. something that startles. •

Synonyms 1. scare, frighten, astonish.

tattered

• adjective 1. torn to tatters; ragged: a tattered flag. • 2. wearing ragged clothing: a tattered old man. • noun • 1. a torn piece hanging loose from the main part, as of

a garment or flag. • 2. a separate torn piece; shred. • 3. tatters, torn or ragged clothing: dressed in rags and

tatters. • verb (used with object) 4. to tear or wear to tatters. • verb (used without object) 5. to become ragged.

portrait

• noun • 1. a likeness of a person, especially of the

face, as a painting, drawing, or photograph: a gallery of family portraits.

• 2. a verbal picture or description, usually of a person: a biography that provides a fascinating portrait of an 18th-century rogue.

Cheer• noun • 1. a shout of encouragement, approval, congratulation, etc.: The cheers of the fans filled the stadium. • 2. a set or traditional form of shout used by spectators to encourage or show enthusiasm for an athletic team, contestant, etc., as rah! rah!

rah! • 3. something that gives joy or gladness; encouragement; comfort: words of cheer. • 4. a state of feeling or spirits: Their good cheer overcame his depression. • 5. gladness, gaiety, or animation: full of cheer and good spirits. • 6. food and drink: tables laden with cheer. • 7. Archaic. facial expression. • interjection • 8. cheers, (used as a salutation or toast.) • verb (used with object) • 9. to salute with shouts of approval, congratulation, triumph, etc.: The team members cheered their captain. • 10. to gladden or cause joy to; inspire with cheer (often followed by up ): The good news cheered her. • 11. to encourage or incite: She cheered him on when he was about to give up. • verb (used without object) 12. to utter cheers of approval, encouragement, triumph, etc. • 13. to become happier or more cheerful (often followed by up ): She cheered up as soon as the sun began to shine. • 14. Obsolete . to be or feel in a particular state of mind or spirits. • Idioms • 15. be of good cheer, (used as an exhortation to be cheerful): Be of good cheer! Things could be much worse. • 16. with good cheer, cheerfully; willingly: She accepted her lot with good cheer.

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parched• Verb • 1. to make extremely, excessively, or completely dry, as heat, sun, and

wind do. • 2. to make dry, hot, or thirsty: Walking in the sun parched his throat. • 3. to dry (peas, beans, grain, etc.) by exposure to heat without burning; to

toast or roast slightly: A staple of the Indian diet was parched corn. • 4. to dry or shrivel with cold. • verb (used without object) • 5. to suffer from heat, thirst, or need of water. • 6. to become parched; undergo drying by heat.

• 7. to dry (usually followed bupy ).

rim• noun • 1. the outer edge, border, margin, or brink of something, especially of a circular object. • 2. any edge, margin, or frame added to or around a central object or area. • 3. the outer circle of a wheel, attached to the hub by spokes. • 4. a circular strip of metal forming the connection between an automobile wheel and tire,

either permanently attached to or removable from the wheel. • 5. a drive wheel or flywheel, as on a spinning mule. • 6. Basketball. the metal ring from which the net is suspended to form the basket. • 7. Journalism. the outer edge of a usually U -shaped copy desk, occupied by the copyreaders.

Compare slot ( def 5 ) . • 8. Metallurgy . (in an ingot) an outer layer of metal having a composition different from that

of the center. • verb (used with object), rimmed, rim·ing. 9. to furnish with a rim, border, or margin. • 10. (of a golf ball or putt) to roll around the edge of (a hole) but not go in. • 11. Basketball. (of a basketball) to roll around (the rim of the basket) and not go in. • 12. to coat or encrust the rim of (a glass): Rim each cocktail glass with salt

mar

• verb marred, mar·ng. • 1. to damage or spoil to a certain extent;

render less perfect, attractive, useful, etc.; impair or spoil: That billboard mars the view. The holiday was marred by bad weather.

• 2. to disfigure, deface, or scar: The scratch marred the table.

lean• 1. to incline or bend from a vertical position: She leaned out the window. • 2. to incline, as in a particular direction; slant: The post leans to the left. The building leaned sharply before renovation. • 3. to incline in feeling, opinion, action, etc.: to lean toward socialism. • 4. to rest against or on something for support: to lean against a wall. • 5. to depend or rely (usually followed by on or upon ): someone he could lean on in an emergency. • verb (leaned or ( especially British ) leant; lean·ing. 6. to incline or bend: He leaned his head forward. • 7. to cause to lean or rest; prop: to lean a chair against the railing. • noun 8. the act or state of leaning; inclination: The tower has a pronounced lean. • Verb phrases • 9. lean in, a. to shift one's body weight forward or toward someone or something: He stood near home plate and leaned in for the pitch. • b. to embrace risk, be assertive, etc., as to achieve the greatest level of success in the workplace: She really knows how to lean in—she'll have a corner office before long. • 10. lean on, Informal. a. to exert influence or pressure on in order to gain cooperation, maintain discipline, or the like: The state is leaning on the company to clean up its industrial wastes. • b. to criticize, reprimand, or punish: I would have enjoyed school more if the teachers hadn't leaned on me so much. • Idioms • 11. lean over backward(s). bend1 ( def 21 ) . •

• 1. (of persons or animals) without much flesh or fat; not plump or fat; thin: lean cattle. • 2. (of edible meat) containing little or no fat. • 3. lacking in richness, fullness, quantity, etc.; poor: a lean diet; lean years. • 4. spare; economical: a lean prose style. • 5. Automotive. (of a mixture in a fuel system) having a relatively low ratio of fuel to air (contrasted with rich ). • 6. (of paint) having more pigment than oil. Compare fat ( def 12 ) . • 7. Nautical . (of a bow) having fine lines; sharp. • 8. Metallurgy . (of ore) having a low mineral content; low-grade. • Noun• 9. the part of flesh that consists of muscle rather than fat. • 10. the lean part of anything. • 11. Typesetting. matter that is difficult to set because of complexity or intermixed fonts. Compare fat ( def 23 ) . •

Synonyms 1. skinny, lank, lanky. See thin. 3. sparse, barren, unfruitful, jejune.

•Antonyms 1, 2. fat. 3. fruitful.

dough

• noun 1. flour or meal combined with water, milk, etc., in a mass for baking into bread, cake, etc.; paste of bread.

• 2. any similar soft, pasty mass. • 3. Slang. money.

roam

• verb (used without object) 1. to walk, go, or travel without a fixed purpose or direction; ramble; wander; rove: to roam about the world.

• verb (used with object) • 2. to wander over or through: to roam the

countryside. • noun • 3. an act or instance of roaming; a ramble

shabby• adjective, • 1. impaired by wear, use, etc.; worn: shabby clothes. • 2. showing conspicuous signs of wear or neglect: The rooms on the upper

floors of the mansion had a rather shabby appearance, as if they had not been much in use of late.

• 3. wearing worn clothes or having a slovenly or unkempt appearance: a shabby person.

• 4. run-down, seedy, or dilapidated: a shabby hotel. • 5. meanly ungenerous or unfair; contemptible, as persons, actions, etc.:

shabby behavior.

century• noun, 1. a period of 100 years. • 2. one of the successive periods of 100 years reckoned forward or

backward from a recognized chronological epoch, especially from the assumed date of the birth of Jesus.

• 3. any group or collection of 100: a century of limericks. • 4. (in the ancient Roman army) a company, consisting of approximately

100 men. • 5. one of the voting divisions of the ancient Roman people, each division

having one vote.

doze• Verb • 1. to sleep lightly or fitfully. • 2. to fall into a light sleep unintentionally (often followed by off ): He

dozed off during the sermon. • 3. to sleep for a short time; nap. • 4. to be dull or half asleep. • verb (used with object), dozed, doz·ing. 5. to pass or spend (time) in

drowsiness (often followed by away ): He dozed away the afternoon. • Noun• 6. a light or fitful sleep; nap.

idle• adjective, 1. not working or active; unemployed; doing nothing: idle workers. • 2. not spent or filled with activity: idle hours. • 3. not in use or operation; not kept busy: idle machinery. • 4. habitually doing nothing or avoiding work; lazy. • 5. of no real worth, importance, or significance: idle talk. • 6. having no basis or reason; baseless; groundless: idle fears. • 7. frivolous; vain: idle pleasures. • 8. meaningless; senseless: idle threats. • 9. futile; unavailing: idle rage. • verb (used without object), i·dled, i·dling. • 10. to pass time doing nothing. • 11. to move, loiter, or saunter aimlessly: to idle along the avenue. • 12. (of a machine, engine, or mechanism) to operate at a low speed, disengaged from the load. • verb (used with object), i·dled, i·dling. 13. to pass (time) doing nothing (often followed by away ): to idle away the

afternoon. • 14. to cause (a person) to be idle: The strike idled many workers. • 15. to cause (a machine, engine, or mechanism) to idle: I waited in the car while idling the engine. • noun 16. the state or quality of being idle. • 17. the state of a machine, engine, or mechanism that is idling: a cold engine that stalls at idle.

peak• noun 1. the pointed top of a mountain or ridge. • 2. a mountain with a pointed summit. • 3. the pointed top of anything. • 4. the highest or most important point or level: the peak of her political career. • 5. the maximum point, degree, or volume of anything: Oil prices reached their peak last year. • 6. a time of the day or year when traffic, use, demand, etc., is greatest and charges, fares, or the like are at the maximum: Early evening is the peak on commuter railroads. • 7. the higher fare, charges, etc., during such a period: If you fly during the Christmas holidays, you'll have to pay peak. • 8. Physics. a. the maximum value of a quantity during a specified time interval: a voltage peak. • b. the maximum power consumed or produced by a unit or group of units in a stated period of time. • 9. a projecting point: the peak of a man's beard. • 10. widow's peak. • 11. a projecting front piece, or visor, of a cap. • 12. Phonetics , nucleus ( def 8a ) . • 13. Nautical . a. the contracted part of a ship's hull at the bow or the stern. • b. the upper after corner of a sail that is extended by a gaff. See diag. under sail. • c. the outer extremity of a gaff. • verb (used without object) 14. to project in a peak. • 15. to attain a peak of activity, development, popularity, etc.: The artist peaked in the 1950s. • verb (used with object) 16. Nautical . to raise the after end of (a yard, gaff, etc.) to or toward an angle above the horizontal. • adjective 17. being at the point of maximum frequency, intensity, use, etc.; busiest or most active: Hotel rooms are most expensive during the peak travel seasons. • 18. constituting the highest or maximum level, volume, etc.; optimal; prime: a machine running at peak performance. •

Related forms peak·less, adjective • peak·like, adjective •

Synonyms 2, 4. pinnacle. 4. acme, zenith.

•Antonyms 4. abyss, nadir.

gnarled

• Adjective • 1. (of trees) full of or covered with gnarls;

bent; twisted. • 2. having a rugged, weather-beaten

appearance: a gnarled old sea captain. • 3. crabby; cantankerous.

jewel• noun 1. a cut and polished precious stone; gem. • 2. a fashioned ornament for personal adornment, especially of a precious

metal set with gems. • 3. a precious possession. • 4. a person or thing that is treasured, esteemed, or indispensable. • 5. a durable bearing used in fine timepieces and other delicate

instruments, made of natural or synthetic precious stone or other very hard material.

invent• Verb • 1. to originate or create as a product of one's own ingenuity, experimentation, or

contrivance: to invent the telegraph. • 2. to produce or create with the imagination: to invent a story. • 3. to make up or fabricate (something fictitious or false): to invent excuses. • 4. Archaic. to come upon; find.