Barron GRE word list - D
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dabble v. ~ sth splash (hands, feet, etc) around in water
dainty adj. (of things) small and pretty
dais n. raised platform, esp at one end of a room, for a speaker, etc
dally v. ~ (over sth) waste time
damn v. condemn (sb) to suffer in hell
dank adj. unpleasantly damp and cold
dapper adj. (usu of a small person) neat and smart in appearance; nimble in movement
dappled adj. having patches of different colour or shades of colour
dart n. small pointed missile used as a weapon or in the game of darts
daub v. ~ A on ~ B (with A) put (a soft substance) on (a surface) in a rough or careless way
daunt v. discourage (sb); frighten
dauntless adj. not easily discouraged or frightened
dawdle v. be slow; waste time
daze v. make (sb) confused and unable to react properly
dazzle v. blind (sb) briefly with too much light, brilliance, etc
deadlock n. complete failure to reach agreement or to settle a quarrel or grievance
deadpan marked by an impassive matter-of-fact manner, style, or expression
dearth n. ~ shortage; scarcity
debacle n. sudden and complete failure; fiasco
debar to exclude from a place, a right, etc.; bar
debase v. lower the quality, status or value of
debauch v. make act immorally by using bad influence
debilitate v. make very weak
debonair adj. cheerful and self-assured
debris n. scattered fragments; wreckage
debunk v. show that the reputation of is undeserved or exaggerated
debut n. first appearance in public as a performer
debutante n. young woman making her first appearance in fashionable society
decadence n. (falling to a) lower level (in morals, art, literature, etc) esp after a period at a high level
decant v. ~ sth pour (wine, etc) from a bottle into another container, esp slowly so that the sediment is left behind
decapitate v. cut the head off
decelerate v. slow down
deciduous adj. that loses its leaves annually, usu in autumn
decimate v. kill or destroy a large part of (sth)
decipher v. succeed in understanding
declivity n. downward slope
decomposition n.
decorous adj. dignified and socially acceptable
decorum n. dignified and socially acceptable behaviour
decoy n. (real or imitation) bird or animal used to attract others so that they can be shot or trapped
decree n. order given by a ruler or an authority and having the force of a law
decrepit adj. made weak by age or hard use
decrepitude n. state of being decrepit
decry v. ~ sb/sth (as sth) speak critically of sb/sth to make him/it seem less valuable, useful, etc; disparage sb/sth
deducible adj. that may be deduced
deface v. spoil the appearance or legibility of by marking or damaging the surface
defalcate misuse money held in trust
defamation n. defaming or being defamed
defame v. attack the good reputation of say bad things about (sb)
default n. failure to do sth, esp to pay a debt or appear in court
defeatist n. person who shows defeatism . -- adj
defect n. fault or lack that spoils a person or thing
defection n. ~ deserting a party, cause, religion, etc ,
defer v. ~ sth (to sth) delay sth until a later time; postpone sth
deference n. giving way to the views, wishes, etc of others, usu out of respect; respect
defiance n. open disobedience or resistance; refusal to give way to authority or opposition; defying
defile v. make (sth) dirty or impure
definitive adj. clear and having final authority; that cannot or need not be changed
deflect v. ~ (from sth) (cause sth to) turn from its direction of movement
defoliate v. destroy the leaves of
defray v. provide money for (sth); pay for (sth)
defrock v. = unfrock
deft adj. ~ skilful and quick, esp with the hands
defunct adj. (of people) dead
degenerate v. ~ (into sth) pass into a worse physical, mental or moral state than one which is considered normal or desirable
degradation n. degrading or being degraded
dehydrate v. remove water or moisture from
deify v. make a god of (sb/sth); worship as a god
deign v. be kind or gracious enough (to do sth); condescend
delete v. ~ sth cross out or deliberately omit (sth written or printed)
deleterious adj. ~ (fml ) harmful
deliberate adj. done on purpose; intentional
delineate v. show (sth) by drawing or describing; portray
delirium n. mental disturbance caused by illness, resulting in restlessness and often wild talk
delta n. the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet }
delude v. ~ sb deliberately mislead sb; deceive sb
deluge n. great flood or rush of water
delusion n. deluding or being deluded
delusive adj. not real; misleading
delve v. ~ in/into sth search or rummage in sth
demagogue n. political leader who tries to win people's support by using emotional and often unreasonable arguments
demean v. ~ oneself lower oneself in dignity; deprive oneself of others' respect
demeanor behavior; bearing ; behavioral attributes
demented adj. mad
demerit n. fault; defect
demise n. death
demographic related to population balance
demolition the act of demolishing; especially :destruction in war by means of explosives
demoniac adj. very evil; devilish
demotic adj. of or used by ordinary people
demur v. ~ (at sth) (fml ) express a doubt (about sth) or an objection (to sth)
demure adj. (pretending to be) quiet, serious and modest
denigrate v. claim that (sb/sth) is inferior, worthless, etc; belittle
denizen n. person or type of animal or plant living or growing permanently in a place
denomination n. name, esp of a general class or type; classification
denotation meaning; distinguishing by name
denouement n. last part, esp of a novel, play, etc, in which everything is settled or made clear
denounce v. ~ sb (to sb) (as sth) give information (to the authorities) against sb
depict v. show (sb/sth) as a picture; portray
deplete v. reduce greatly the quantity, size, power or value of
deplore v. be shocked or offended by (sth); condemn
deploy v. (cause troops, etc to) move into the correct position for battle
deport v. ~ sb legally force (a foreigner, criminal, etc) to leave a country
depose v. remove from power
deposition n. removing from power; dethronement
depravity n. state of being depraved; corruption
deprecate v. feel and express disapproval of (sth)
depreciate v. become less valuable
depredation n. damage caused by an attack, accident, etc
deputize verb to appoint or act as deput
deranged adj. unable to act and think normally, esp because of mental illness; seriously disturbed
derelict adj. deserted and allowed to fall into ruins; dilapidated
dereliction n. being derelict
deride v. ~ sb/sth treat sb/sth as funny and not worthy of serious attention; mock sb/sth
derision n. ridicule or mockery
derivation n. development or origin
derivative adj. derived from sth else; not original
dermatologist n. expert in dermatology
derogatory adj. showing a hostile or critical attitude (to sb's reputation, etc); insulting
descry v. (fml ) see (sth) esp a long way away; catch sight of
desecrate n. treat in an unworthy or evil way
deserts n. what one deserves
desiccate v. remove all the moisture from to preserve it
desolate adj. deserted and miserable
desperado n. (dated ) man who commits dangerous, esp criminal, acts without worrying about himself or other people
desperate adj. feeling or showing great despair and ready to do anything regardless of danger
despicable adj. ~ (to do sth) deserving to be despised; contemptible
despise v. ~ sb/sth (for sth) feel contempt for sb/sth; consider sb/sth as worthless
despoil v. ~sth (fml ) rob (a place) of sth valuable; plunder sth
despondent adj. ~ having or showing loss of hope; wretched
despot An absolute and irresponsible monarch.
despotism tyranny
destitute adj. without money, food, etc and other things necessary for life; impoverished
desultory adj. going from one thing to another, without a definite plan or purpose; unmethodical
detached adj. not influenced by others; impartial
detain v. prevent from leaving or doing sth; delay
determinate adj. limited in range or scope; definite ;
determination n. ~ quality of being firmly committed to doing sth; resoluteness
deterrent n, adj that deters or is meant to deter
detonation n. explosion
detraction n. unfair criticism of sb/sth; belittling ;
detrimental adj. ~ harmful
deviate v. ~ from sth stop following
devious adj. cunning; dishonest
devise v. think out (a plan, system, tool, etc); invent
devoid adj. ~ of sth without sth; completely lacking in sth
devolve v. ~ on/upon sb (of work, duties) be transferred or passed to sb
devotee n. person who is devoted to sth; enthusiast
devout adj. sincerely religious; pious
dexterous adj. skilful with one's hands
diabolical adj. = diabolic
diadem n. crown worn as a sign of royal power
dialectic n. (philosophy ) art of discovering and testing truths by discussion and logical argument
dialectical adj. of or relating to dialectic
diaphanous adj. light, very fine and almost transparent
diatribe n. ~ lengthy and bitter attack in words
dichotomy n. ~ (fml ) separation into or between two groups or things that are opposed, entirely different, etc
dictum n. saying; maxim
didactic adj. intended to teach
die n. block of hard metal with a design, etc cut into it, used for shaping coins, printing-type, medals, etc or for stamping paper, leather, etc so that designs stand out from the surface
diffidence shyness
diffuse v. spread all around; send out in all directions
diffusion n. diffusing or being diffused
dignitary n. person with a high rank or position
digression n. digressing
dilapidated adj. falling to pieces; in a bad state of repair
dilate v. become wider, larger or further open
dilatory adj. ~ (in doing sth) slow in acting
dilemma n. situation in which one has to choose between two undesirable things or courses of action
dilettante n. (often derog ) person who studies or does sth, but without serious interest or understanding
diligence n. ~ steady effort; careful hard work
dilute v. ~ sth make (a liquid or colour) thinner or weaker (by adding water or another liquid)
diminution n. diminishing or being diminished; reduction
din n. continuing loud confused noise
dinghy n. any of various types of small open boat
dingy adj. dirty-looking; not cheerful or bright; drab
dint n. = dent
diorama a picture (or series of pictures) representing a continuous scene
dire adj. dreadful; terrible
dirge n. song sung at a burial or for a dead person
disabuse v. ~ sb of sth free sb of (false ideas)
disaffected adj. discontented; disloyal
disapprobation n. disapproval
disarray n. state in which people or things are no longer properly organized
disavowal n.
disband v. stop operating as an organization; break up
disbar remove from the bar; expel from the practice of law by official action
disburse v. pay out (money)
discernible adj. that can just be discerned
discerning adj. showing careful judgement
disclaim v. say that one does not have (sth); renounce
disclose v. ~ sth (to sb) allow sth to be seen
discombobulated [ discombobulate: ] (informal) (chiefly U.S. and Canadian) to throw into confusion
discomfit v. confuse or embarrass (sb)
discompose v. make (sb) feel uneasy or uncomfortable
disconcert v. cause to feel confused, upset or embarrassed
disconsolate adj. unhappy, esp at the loss of sb/sth; refusing to be comforted
discord n. disagreement; quarrelling
discordant adj. not in agreement; conflicting
discount n. amount of money taken off the cost of sth
discourse n. lengthy and serious treatment of a subject in speech or writing
discredit v. damage the good reputation of
discrepancy n. ~ difference; failure to agree
discrete adj. separate; distinct
discretion n. quality of being discreet; good judgement
discriminate v. ~ ~ A from B see or make a difference (between two things)
discriminating adj. showing good judgement and perception
discrimination n. good judgement and perception
discursive adj. wandering from one point to another
disdain n. feeling that sb/sth is not good enough to deserve one's respect; contempt
disembark v. ~ (from sth) (of people) leave a ship or an aircraft
disenfranchise v. = disfranchise
disengage v. ~ sth/sb (fml ) free or disconnect sth/sb from sth/sb that holds it/him firmly
disfigure v. spoil the appearance of
disgorge v. ~ sth throw out (food, etc) from the stomach or throat; vomit sth
disgruntle to make ill-humored or discontented usually used as a participial adjective
dishearten v. cause to lose hope or confidence
disheveled [ dishevel: ] di'shevelment nou
dishonor [ dishonour: ] to treat with disrespect
disinclination n. ~ (fml ) unwillingness; reluctance
disingenuous adj. insincere, esp in pretending that one knows less about sth than one really does
disinter v. (fml ) dig up (sth buried)
disinterested adj. not influenced by personal feelings or interests; unbiased
disjointed adj. in which it is difficult to understand how the ideas, events, etc follow each other and develop
disjunction Also called: dis'juncture the act of disconnecting or the state of being disconnected; separation
dislodge v. ~ sb/sth move or force sb/sth from a previously fixed position
dismantle v. take to pieces
dismember v. cut or tear off the limbs of
dismiss v. ~ sb remove sb (esp an employee) from a position
disparage v. suggest, esp unfairly, that is of little value or importance
disparate adj. so different in kind or degree that they cannot be compared
disparity n. difference or inequality
dispassionate adj. not influenced by emotion; impartial
dispatch v. ~ sb/sth send sb/sth off to a destination or for a special purpose
dispel v. drive (sth) away; cause to vanish
dispense v. ~ sth give sth out; distribute sth
disperse v. go in different directions; scatter; break up
dispirited adj.
disport v. ~ oneself amuse oneself energetically
disproportion n. ~ (instance of) being out of proportion
disputatious adj. fond of arguing; inclined to argue ;
disquietude a feeling or state of anxiety or uneasines
disquisition n. ~ long elaborate spoken or written report or account
dissection n. dissecting or being dissected
dissemble v. hide or disguise (one's true thoughts and feelings); dissimulate
disseminate v. spread widely
dissension n. angry disagreement
dissent n. holding opinions which differ from common or officially held ones
dissertation n. ~ long essay on a particular subject, esp one written for a doctorate or similar degree; thesis
dissident n. person who strongly disagrees with or opposes official views and policies
dissimulate v. hide or disguise (one's thoughts and feelings); dissemble
dissipate v. scatter or vanish
dissolution n. ~ breaking up (of sth); dissolving
dissonance n. discord
dissuade v. ~ sb (try to) stop sb by advice or persuasion
distant adj. far away in space or time
distend v. (cause sth to) swell by means of pressure from inside
distill undergo distillation; of liquids
distinct adj. easily heard, seen, felt or understood; definite
distinction n. ~ difference or contrast between one person or thing and another
distinctive adj. ~ that distinguishes sth by making it different from others
distort v. pull or twist out of its usual shape
distortion n. distorting or being distorted
distract v. ~ sb stop sb concentrating on sth
distrait adj. absent-minded; not paying attention ;
distraught adj. very troubled in mind with grief or worry
diurnal adj. of the daytime; not nocturnal
diva operatic singer; prima donna
diverge v. ~ (of lines, roads, etc) separate and go in different directions, becoming further apart
divergent adj. divergent paths, opinions
diverse adj. of different kinds; varied
diversion n. action of turning sth aside or changing its direction
diversity n. state of being varied; variety
divest v. ~ sb of sth take off (sb's clothes)
divine adj. of, from or like God or a god
divulge v. ~ sth make known (sth secret)
docile adj. easy to control
docket n. document or label listing goods delivered, jobs done, contents of a package, etc ,
doctrinaire adj. rigidly applying a theory with no concern for practical problems
doctrine n. set of beliefs held by a church, political party, group of scientists, etc
document n. paper, form, book, etc giving information about sth, evidence or proof of sth
doddering adjs weak and uncertain in movement
doff v. take off (one's hat)
dogged adj. determined; not giving up easily
doggerel n. verse that produces a clumsy and ridiculous effect
dogmatic adj. of or based on dogma
doldrums n. the doldrums parts of the ocean near the equator where there is little or no wind
dolorous adj. sorrowful
dolt n. stupid person
domicile n. a person's place of residence, esp as officially established for purposes of taxation, etc ,
dominant adj. ~ most important or prominent; dominating
dominate v. have control of or a very strong influence on (people, events, etc)
domineer v. ~ (derog ) try to make sb do exactly what one wants by ordering him about, regardless of what he wants to do
don n. teacher at a university, esp at an Oxford or a Cambridge college
doom n. death or ruin; any terrible and inevitable fate
dormant adj. temporarily inactive
dormer n. upright window built in a sloping roof
dorsal adj. of or on the back of an animal or a plant
dossier n. set of documents containing information about a person, an event, etc; file ,
dotage n. in one's dotage confused in one's mind because of old age
dote v. ~ on sb/sth show (too) much fondness for sb/sth
dour adj. stern; severe; gloomy-looking; joyless
douse v. ~ sb/sth put sb/sth into (water); throw (water) over sb/sth ;
dowdy adj. (derog ) (of clothes, etc) dull; unfashionable; drab ,
downcast adj. looking downwards
dowry n. property or money brought by a bride to her husband
dowse = douse
doze v. sleep lightly
drab adj. dull; uninteresting
draconian adj. very harsh
draft n. rough preliminary written version of sth
drama n. play for the theatre, radio or TV
drastic adj. having a strong or violent effect
draught n. current of air in a room or some other enclosed space
draw n. (usu sing ) ~ (for sth) act of picking at random tickets in a lottery, matches in a tournament, etc
dregs n. solid particles that sink to the bottom of certain liquids, esp wine and beer
dribble v. allow saliva to run from the mouth
drip v. fall in drops
drivel n. silly nonsense
droll adj. amusing in an odd or a quaint way
drone n. male honey-bee
droop v. bend or hang downwards through tiredness or weakness
dross n. scum of waste matter on melted metals
drudge n. person who has to do long hard boring jobs
drudgery n. hard boring work
dubious adj. ~ not certain and slightly suspicious about sth; doubtful
ductile adj. that can be pressed, beaten or pulled into fine strands without being heated ,
ductility the malleability of something that can be drawing into wires or hammered into thin sheets
dulcet adj. sounding sweet; pleasing to the ear
dull adj. not bright or clear
dumbfound v. make speechless with surprise; astonish
dummy n. model of the human figure, used for displaying or fitting clothes, etc
dupe v. ~ sb deceive or trick sb (into doing sth)
duplicity n. deliberate deception
duration n. time during which sth lasts or continues
duress n. threats or force used to make sb do sth; compulsion
dutiful adj. showing respect and obedience; fulfilling all one's obligations
dwindle v. ~ (to nothing) become gradually less or smaller
dynamic adj. of power or forces that produce movement
dynamo n. device for converting steam-power, water-power, etc into electricity; generator .
dys- [ dys- prefix : ] prefix : ] diseased, abnormal, or faulty
dysentery n. inflammation of the bowels, causing severe diarrhoea, usu with a discharge of mucus and blood
dyslexia n. (also word-blindness) abnormal difficulty in reading and spelling, caused by a brain condition
dyspeptic adj. n person suffering from dyspepsia or the irritability that it causes

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