📖 D — The English dictionary · page 32

diplomat — Everyday, meaning 1: A person who represents their country in another country and helps the two governments talk and agree.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Someone who is tactful: good at dealing with people without upsetting them.↗ Example: The diplomat worked at the embassy in Paris.↗ · Diplomats met to try to stop the war.↗ · Her mum is a diplomat, so they have lived in four countries.↗ · Jack is a diplomat; he always stops fights in the playground.↗ · The diplomats signed a peace treaty.↗ · Be a diplomat and tell her kindly that her song was too long.↗

diplomatic — Everyday, meaning 1: Diplomatic means to do with diplomats: people who work for their country in other countries and help countries talk to each other.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Diplomatic means careful and polite, saying things in a way that does not upset people.↗ Example: The two countries held diplomatic talks about the border.↗ · The embassy is a diplomatic building.↗ · When Gran asked about her cake, I gave a diplomatic answer.↗ · Be diplomatic when you tell your friend her drawing has a mistake.↗ · The countries ended diplomatic relations after the quarrel.↗ · Diplomats have a diplomatic passport.↗ · When war came into the country, he had gone on a diplomatic career to foreign courts.↗

diplomatically — Everyday, meaning 1: In a tactful way, careful not to upset or offend people.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: By means of diplomacy, the work of governments talking and agreeing with each other.↗ Example: She diplomatically said the cake was «interesting».↗ · The teacher dealt with the argument diplomatically.↗ · The two countries settled the quarrel diplomatically.↗ · Dad diplomatically changed the subject.↗ · Badger answered Toad diplomatically, so as not to make him angry.↗ · I diplomatically suggested we take turns.↗

dipped — Everyday, meaning 1: If you dipped something, you put it into a liquid and took it out quickly.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: If something dipped, it went down a little: the temperature dipped.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Dipped headlights are car lights angled down.↗ Example: She dipped her biscuit in her tea.↗ · The temperature dipped below zero.↗ · He dipped his toe in the pool.↗ · The sun dipped behind the hills.↗ · I dipped my brush in the blue paint.↗ · Sales dipped in winter.↗ · Into this they also dipped a dry stick, and immediately it burst into flower.↗ · And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a he-goat, and dipped the coat in the blood; (Torah GEN.37.31, JPS 1917)↗ · And the sons of Aaron presented the blood unto him; and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar.↗ (Torah LEV.9.9, JPS 1917)↗ · And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took the coverlet, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died; and Hazael reigned in his stead.↗ (Prophets 2KI.8.15, JPS 1917)↗ · Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh came back like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.↗ (Prophets 2KI.5.14, JPS 1917)↗

dipper — Everyday, meaning 1: A small bird that lives by fast streams and walks or dives under water to catch insects.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A ladle or cup with a long handle for scooping water.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (the Big Dipper, the Little Dipper) Groups of stars shaped like a ladle; in the UK the Big Dipper is called the Plough.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (UK) A roller-coaster ride at a fair; a «big dipper».↗ Example: A dipper bobbed on a rock in the stream.↗ · We watched the dipper walk right under the water.↗ · Use the dipper to scoop water from the barrel.↗ · On a clear night we found the Big Dipper.↗ · In the UK, the Big Dipper is called the Plough.↗ · We rode the big dipper at the fair and screamed.↗ · The pointer stars of the Big Dipper lead to the North Star.↗

dire — Everyday, meaning 1: Dire means very serious or terrible, often dangerous.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Dire needs or situations are extremely urgent.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (UK, informal) Dire means very bad or of low quality.↗ Example: The village was in dire need of clean water after the flood.↗ · The scientists gave a dire warning about the melting ice.↗ · If you break the rules, there will be dire consequences, the wizard said.↗ · After losing his job, the family was in dire straits.↗ · That film was absolutely dire — I fell asleep.↗ · The weather was dire all weekend.↗ · The lost sailors were in a dire situation.↗ · It was a high compliment to Peter that at that dire moment their thoughts turned to him.↗

direct — Everyday, meaning 1: Direct means going straight from one place to another without stopping or turning.↗ e.g. "a direct flight".↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Direct means with nothing or nobody in between.↗ e.g. "direct sunlight", "direct contact".↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A direct person says exactly what they mean, plainly.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (verb) To direct someone means to tell or show them the way.↗ e.g. "can you direct me to the station?"↗ Everyday, meaning 5: (verb) To direct means to manage or control, and to direct a film or play means to be in charge of the actors.↗ Everyday, meaning 6: (verb) To direct something at someone means to aim it at them.↗ e.g. "his question was directed at me".↗ Example: We took a direct train to London.↗ · Never look directly at the sun.↗ · Keep the plant out of direct sunlight.↗ · "Please be direct: did you take it?"↗ · Could you direct me to the library?↗ · She directed the school play.↗ · The police officer directed the traffic.↗ · "I like cake," said Tom — that is direct speech.↗ · I will direct you if you have a mind to see it."↗ · The Thirty-second Path is the Administrative Intelligence, and it is so called because it directs and associates, in all their operations, the seven planets, even all of them in their own due courses.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1887)↗ · The Thirty-second Path is the Administrative Intel- ligence, and it is so called because it directs and asso- ciates in all their operations the seven planets, even all of them in their own due courses.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths.↗ (Writings PRO.3.6, JPS 1917)↗ · Go thee one way to the right, or direct thyself to the left; whither is thy face set?↗ (Prophets EZK.21.21, JPS 1917)↗ · LORD, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt direct their heart, Thou wilt cause Thine ear to attend; (Writings PSA.10.17, JPS 1917)↗

directed — Everyday, meaning 1: Directed is the past of direct: told someone the way, or told people what to do.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Pointed or aimed at someone or something: «the question was directed at me».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Was in charge of making a film, play or show.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (maths, science) A directed number has a sign, + or −, showing which way it goes.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: A directed route is one you have been told to follow, or a path you have chosen to walk, towards a place.↗ Example: The police officer directed the cars around the crash.↗ · The film was directed by a famous director.↗ · Take this medicine as directed by your doctor.↗ · Her angry look was directed at her brother.↗ · A kind lady directed us to the station.↗ · In maths, −5 and +3 are directed numbers.↗ · The teacher directed the class to line up.↗ · At daylight we wandered inland, and soon saw some huts, to which we directed our steps.↗ · Oh that my ways were directed to observe Thy statutes!↗ (Writings PSA.119.5, JPS 1917)↗ · For he hath not directed his words against me; neither will I answer him with your speeches.↗ (Writings JOB.32.14, JPS 1917)↗

direction — Everyday, meaning 1: A direction is the way something goes, faces or points, like north, left, up or forwards.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Directions are instructions that tell you how to get somewhere, or how to do something.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Direction is also leading or guiding people, like a film director does.↗ Example: Two cars go in opposite directions.↗ · They walk in the same direction.↗ · Which direction is north?↗ · Follow the directions on the map.↗ · Can you give me directions to the station?↗ · Read the directions before you start the test.↗ · The wind changed direction.↗ · She has a good sense of direction and never gets lost.↗ · He selected three letters from the simple ones, and sealed them as forming his great Name, I H V and he sealed the universe in six directions.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1887)↗ · Their development in three directions is pointed out, namely in the Macrocosm or Universe ; in the Year or in Time ; and in the Microcosm or Man.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · These symbolize also twelve directions in space: northeast, southeast, the east above, the east below, the northwest, southwest, the west above, the west below, the upper south, the lower south, the upper north, the lower north.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1887)↗ · Where no wise direction is, a people falleth; but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.↗ (Writings PRO.11.14, JPS 1917)↗ · of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph; under the hand of Asaph, who prophesied according to the direction of the king.↗ (Writings 1CH.25.2, JPS 1917)↗

directly — Everyday, meaning 1: Directly means going straight to a place or person, without stopping or turning off.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Directly means with nothing or nobody in between, like talking directly to someone.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Directly means exactly, like directly opposite or directly above.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: Directly (mainly British, a bit old-fashioned) means immediately or very soon.↗ Example: Never look directly at the Sun.↗ · The library is directly opposite the school.↗ · Come directly home after the club.↗ · You can ask the teacher directly.↗ · The light is directly above the table.↗ · Rain fell directly into the bucket.↗ · The bus goes directly to the station.↗ · I'll be there directly.↗ · A large yellow sun hung directly overhead.↗ · Thou hast a beloved one in the world, wilt thou conceal anythinij from him ?"↗ Directly, the Holy On blessed be He said, 'Shall I conceal from Abraham?' and consulted the Torah.↗ (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914))↗

director — Everyday, meaning 1: A director is the person in charge of making a film, play or TV programme who tells the actors and crew what to do.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A director is one of the people who run a company or a large organisation.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A director is the head of a department or project.↗ e.g. "the museum director", "the director of music".↗ Example: The director shouted "Action!"↗ · Our music teacher is the director of the school choir.↗ · Steven Spielberg is a famous film director.↗ · The company has five directors.↗ · The museum director showed us the dinosaur bones.↗ · The funeral director arranged everything kindly.↗ · She wants to be a theatre director when she grows up.↗ · He was a director of a theatre, a manager of masked balls, and a leader of all the amusements we can imagine.↗

directory — Everyday, meaning 1: A directory is a book or list of names, addresses and numbers, arranged in order so people can look them up.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: On a computer, a directory is a folder that holds files.↗ Example: Look the shop up in the phone directory.↗ · His name is certain to be in the Directory.↗ · The file is saved in a directory on the computer.↗

dirge — Everyday, meaning 1: A dirge is a slow, sad song sung for someone who has died.↗ Example: The people sang a dirge for the dead king.↗ · The Muses chanted a funeral dirge.↗ · She sang a low dirge over the fallen rover.↗

dirt — Everyday, meaning 1: Dirt is anything that makes things unclean, like mud, dust or grease.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Dirt is loose earth or soil.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Dirt about someone is gossip or bad secret information (informal).↗ Example: Wash the dirt off your hands before dinner.↗ · The boys came home covered in dirt.↗ · We planted seeds in the dirt.↗ · The car bumped along a dirt road.↗ · There's dirt under your fingernails.↗ · Worms live in the dirt.↗ · Its china label was quite coated over with dirt and cobwebs.↗ · But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.↗ (Prophets ISA.57.20, JPS 1917)↗

dirtiness — Everyday, meaning 1: The state of being dirty: covered in mud, dust or germs.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Being unfair or dishonest, as in a dirty trick (less common).↗ Example: The dirtiness of the river worried the scientists.↗ · We were shocked by the dirtiness of the old shed.↗ · Dirtiness in a kitchen can make people ill.↗ · The dirtiness of my football kit made Mum groan.↗ · The inspector wrote about the dirtiness of the toilets.↗ · Washing your hands removes dirtiness you cannot even see.↗ · Some people did not like the dirtiness of the game.↗

dirty — Everyday, meaning 1: Not clean; covered with dirt, mud, dust or germs.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Not fair or honest: a dirty trick.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Rude or not nice: a dirty word, a dirty look (an angry look).↗ Everyday, meaning 4: Verb: to make something dirty.↗ Example: Wash your dirty hands before dinner.↗ · My shoes got dirty in the mud.↗ · Put your dirty clothes in the basket.↗ · Who left these dirty dishes?↗ · Don't drink dirty water from a puddle.↗ · Hiding the ball was a dirty trick.↗ · She gave me a dirty look.↗ · Gardening is fun, even if you get dirty.↗ · Knives are dirty things at any time.↗

disability — Everyday, meaning 1: A disability is a condition that makes some things harder for a person to do, such as seeing, hearing, walking, learning or communicating.↗ Example: Her brother has a disability and uses a wheelchair.↗ · Some disabilities, like dyslexia, cannot be seen.↗ · Our school has ramps for people with disabilities.↗ · Paralympians are athletes with disabilities.↗ · Don't park in the space for people with disabilities.↗ · Ask if someone with a disability wants help before you help them.↗ · A guide dog helps people who are blind.↗ · Having a disability doesn't stop you from having fun with friends.↗