English words starting with D

621 words, from Dabble to Dynasty. Levels A1 to C2. Each one opens a full lesson.

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Dabbleverb · To take a slight or casual interest in an activity (dabble in).B2 Dadnoun · An informal word for father.A1 Daftadjective · Silly; not sensible (UK informal).B1 Daggernoun · A short pointed knife used as a weapon.B2 Dailyadjective · Happening every day.A2 Dairynoun · Food made from milk, such as cheese, butter, and yoghurt; also a farm or firm that produces it.B2 Daisynoun · A small white flower with a yellow centre.A1 Damnoun · A wall built across a river to hold back water, often for a reservoir or hydroelectric power.B2 Damagenoun · Harm that makes something less useful or less good.B1 Dampadjective · Slightly wet, often in an unpleasant way.A2 Dampenverb · To make a feeling, sound, or activity less strong (dampen enthusiasm).B2 Danceverb · To move your body to music.A1 Dancernoun · A person who dances, often as a job or in a show.A2 Dancingnoun · The activity of moving your body to music.A2 Dandelionnoun · A wild plant with a yellow flower and seeds that blow away on the wind.B1 Dandruffnoun · Small white pieces of dead skin from the scalp (usually uncountable).B2 Dangernoun · The possibility that someone or something will be harmed.A2 Dangerousadjective · Likely to cause harm or injury.A2 Dareverb · To be brave enough to do something, or to challenge someone to do it.A2 Daringadjective · Brave enough to take risks; as a noun, that willingness to take risks.B2 Darkadjective · With little or no light.A1 Darknessnoun · The state of having little or no light (usually uncountable); also evil or ignorance in formal writing.B2 Darkroomnoun · A room from which daylight is shut out so photographs can be developed.B2 Darlingnoun · A person who is loved; also a favourite of a group (a darling of the critics).B2 Dartsnoun · A game of throwing small pointed missiles at a circular board (often plural).B1 Dashboardnoun · The panel of instruments in a vehicle; also a computer screen that summarises data.B2 Datanoun · Facts or figures used for analysis (usually uncountable in UK news and exams).B1 Databasenoun · An organised computer store of information that you can search.B1 Datenoun · A particular day of the month or year.A1 Daughternoun · A female child.A1 Dauntingadjective · Frightening because it looks difficult.C1 Dawnnoun · The time of day when light first appears.A2 Daynoun · A period of 24 hours, or the time when it is light.A1 Daybreaknoun · The time of day when light first appears; dawn (usually uncountable).B2 Daydreamnoun · Pleasant thoughts that take your attention away from what you are doing; as a verb, to have those thoughts.B2 Daylightnoun · The natural light of the day (usually uncountable); in broad daylight means openly, in the daytime.B2 Daytimenoun · The hours of the day when there is light, as opposed to night (usually uncountable).B2 Deadlinenoun · A time or date by which something must be finished.B1 Deadlocknoun · A situation in which neither side will move, so no progress is possible.C1 Deadlyadjective · Likely to cause death; also extremely effective or serious.B1 Deafadjective · Unable to hear, or unable to hear well.A2 Deafeningadjective · Extremely loud; also a very clear lack of response (a deafening silence).B2 Dealverb · To take action about a problem (deal with).B1 Dealernoun · A person or firm that buys and sells things, often cars or illegal drugs.B1 Deannoun · A senior person in a university faculty, or a senior priest in a cathedral.B2 Dearadjective · Used at the start of a letter; also loved, or expensive.A1 Dearlyadverb · Very much; also at a great cost (pay dearly).B2 Dearthnoun · A scarcity or lack of something.C2 Deathnoun · The end of life; also used in official reports (a death in custody).B1 Debaclenoun · A sudden, complete failure that is public and embarrassing.C1 Debatenoun · A formal discussion in which people express different opinions.B1 Debaternoun · A person who takes part in a formal discussion of a motion.B2 Debilitateverb · To make a person, organisation, or system very weak.C1 Debitnoun · A sum taken from a bank account; as a verb, to take that sum (opposite of credit).B2 Debit Cardnoun · A bank card that pays from your account at once, not on credit.B1 Debrisnoun · Scattered pieces left after something is destroyed or broken.C1 Debtnoun · Money that you owe; also in debt (owing money).B2 Debugverb · To find and remove errors from a computer program.B2 Debutnoun · A first public appearance or performance.B2 Decadenoun · A period of ten years.B1 Decadencenoun · Moral or cultural decline, often with luxurious self-indulgence.C2 Decafnoun · Coffee or tea with most of the caffeine removed (informal; also as an adjective).B2 Decathlonnoun · An athletics contest of ten events for one competitor.B2 Decayverb · To become gradually worse, weaker, or destroyed.B2 Deceiveverb · To make someone believe something that is not true.B2 Decelerateverb · To reduce speed; to slow down.B2 Decembernoun · The twelfth and last month of the year.A1 Decencynoun · Behaviour that meets basic standards of honesty, kindness, or propriety.C1 Decentadjective · Of an acceptable standard; also kind or morally good.B1 Decideverb · To choose what to do after thinking.A2 Decimalnoun · A number using tenths, hundredths, and so on, written with a decimal point; as an adjective, based on ten.B2 Decimateverb · To destroy a large part of something (now rarely the old “one in ten” sense).C1 Decipherverb · To work out the meaning of something hard to read or understand.C1 Decisionnoun · A choice you make after thinking.A2 Decisiveadjective · Settling a result clearly, or able to make firm decisions quickly.C1 Decknoun · A floor of a ship; also a wooden platform; a set of playing cards (a deck of cards).B2 Deckchairnoun · A folding canvas chair used outdoors, especially at the seaside.B1 Declarationnoun · An official or public statement; also a customs form listing goods.B2 Declareverb · To say something officially or publicly; also to state goods or income to the authorities.B1 Declineverb · To become smaller or weaker, or to politely refuse.B1 Decodernoun · A device or program that turns coded data back into a usable form.B2 Decorateverb · To add things to make a place look more attractive; also to paint a room.B1 Decorativeadjective · Intended to look attractive rather than to serve a practical function.C1 Decoratornoun · A person whose job is to paint and paper rooms; also someone who adds decoration.B2 Decorumnoun · Behaviour that is correct, dignified, and socially fitting.C2 Decoynoun · A person or thing used to trick someone into a trap or away from the real target.B2 Decreaseverb · To become smaller or fewer, or to make something smaller.B2 Decryverb · To criticise something publicly and strongly as bad or wrong.C1 Decryptverb · To convert coded data back into readable form (decrypt a message).B2 Dedicateverb · To give time or effort to a purpose; also to name a book or building in honour of someone.B1 Dedicationnoun · Hard, loyal effort given to a task; also the words at the front of a book naming someone.C1 Deduceverb · To reach a conclusion from the facts you have.B2 Deductverb · To take an amount away from a total.B2 Deductibleadjective · Able to be taken away from a total, especially for tax.B2 Deductionnoun · A conclusion reached by reasoning; also money taken off a total (tax deduction).C1 Deednoun · An action, especially one that is notable; also a legal document proving ownership.B2 Deemverb · To consider or judge something in a particular way.C1 Deepadjective · Going a long way down from the top or surface.A2 Deep-Fryverb · To cook food in a pan of hot oil that covers it.B2 Deepenverb · To become or make deeper, stronger, or more serious.B2 Deeplyadverb · To a great degree, especially about feelings or thought.B1 Deernoun · A wild animal with long legs; the male often has antlers.A1 Defaceverb · To spoil the appearance of something by writing on it or damaging its surface.B2 Defameverb · To damage someone’s reputation by saying or writing something false (from fame, already in the dictionary).C1 Defaultnoun · Failure to pay a debt or keep an agreement; also a computer’s pre-set option.C1 Defeatverb · To win against someone; as a noun, a loss.B1 Defectnoun · A fault in a product, system, or argument.B2 Defectornoun · A person who leaves a country, party, or cause to join an opposing one.B2 Defencenoun · Protection against attack; also the case made for an accused person in court (UK spelling).B2 Defendverb · To protect a person, place, or idea against attack or criticism.B1 Defendantnoun · The person or organisation accused in a court case.C1 Defendernoun · A person who protects a place, idea, or person; also a player whose job is to stop the other side scoring.B2 Defenestrateverb · To throw someone or something out of a window; also, informally, to remove someone from a post.C2 Defensiveadjective · Used to protect against attack; also too ready to feel criticised.B1 Deferverb · To delay something until later (defer to a date); also to accept someone else’s authority (defer to).C1 Deferencenoun · Polite yielding to another’s wishes or judgement, out of respect.C2 Deferralnoun · The act of delaying something until a later time (a deferral of).B2 Defiancenoun · Open refusal to obey a person, rule, or order.C1 Defiantadjective · Openly refusing to obey, or showing that refusal.C1 Defibrillatornoun · A machine that gives an electric shock to restore a normal heart rhythm.B2 Deficiencynoun · A lack of something needed, especially a nutrient, skill, or quality.C1 Deficientadjective · Not having enough of something that is needed.B2 Deficitnoun · The amount by which something, especially money, is smaller than it should be.C1 Defineverb · To say exactly what a word or idea means; also to show the limits of something.B1 Definiteadjective · Clear, certain, and not likely to change.B1 Definitelyadverb · Without any doubt; certainly.A2 Definitionnoun · A statement that explains the meaning of a word or idea.B1 Definitiveadjective · Final and complete; accepted as the best or most authoritative version.C1 Deflateverb · To let air or gas out of something so that it becomes smaller or softer.B2 Deflectverb · To make something change direction; also to avoid answering fully.B2 Deforestationnoun · The cutting down or clearing of forest over a large area.C1 Deformverb · To change the shape of something so that it is spoiled or no longer natural.B2 Defraudverb · To get money or an advantage from someone by deceiving them (from fraud, already in the dictionary).C1 Defrostverb · To remove ice from a freezer or windscreen, or to thaw frozen food.B2 Defunctadjective · No longer existing, used, or operating.C1 Defyverb · To refuse to obey, or to be so extreme that something seems impossible (defy belief).C1 Degradationnoun · The process of being damaged, reduced in quality, or humiliated.C1 Degradeverb · To treat someone as less than human, or to damage the quality of something.C1 Degreenoun · A university qualification, or a unit for measuring temperature or angles.B1 Dehydrateverb · To lose or remove water from a body or a substance.B2 Delayverb · To make something happen later than planned.A2 Delegateverb · To give part of your work or authority to someone else.B2 Delegationnoun · A group of people sent to represent an organisation; also the act of giving tasks to others.C1 Deleteverb · To remove something, especially from a computer or phone.A2 Deleteriousadjective · Harmful, often in a gradual or hidden way.C2 Delinoun · A shop that sells cooked meats, cheeses, and salads (short for delicatessen).B2 Deliberateadjective · Done on purpose, not by accident; also slow and careful.B2 Deliberatelyadverb · On purpose, not by accident.B1 Deliberationnoun · Careful, slow thought or discussion before a decision.C1 Delicateadjective · Easy to damage; also needing careful, tactful handling.B2 Delicatessennoun · A shop that sells cooked meats, cheeses, and unusual or imported foods.B2 Deliciousadjective · Having a very pleasant taste.A2 Delightnoun · A feeling of great pleasure; as a verb, to give that pleasure (delight in).B2 Delightedadjective · Very pleased (delighted with / to).B2 Delightfuladjective · Very pleasant or attractive.B2 Delineateverb · To describe or draw something precisely, especially an outline or boundary.C1 Deliververb · To take goods, letters, or a message to a person or place.B1 Deliverablenoun · A piece of work that must be completed and handed over, especially in a project.B2 Deliverynoun · The act of taking goods or letters to a person or place.B1 Deltanoun · A low area of land where a river splits into several streams as it meets the sea.B2 Deludeverb · To make someone believe something that is not true.C1 Delugenoun · A sudden very heavy fall of rain; also a huge number of things arriving at once (a deluge of).B2 Delusionnoun · A false belief that you hold despite evidence, often a strong or lasting one.C1 Demagoguenoun · A political leader who wins support by appealing to emotions and prejudice, not reason.C2 Demandnoun · A strong need or request for something.B1 Demarcateverb · To set the boundaries of an area, period, or duty.C1 Demeanournoun · The way a person looks and behaves.C1 Demisenoun · The end of something that used to exist, especially an organisation or practice (formal).C1 Demonoun · A demonstration: a public protest march, or a display of how a product works (informal).B2 Democracynoun · A system of government in which people choose their leaders by voting.B1 Democratnoun · A person who believes in or supports democracy.B2 Democraticadjective · Based on equal votes and public choice; also fair about sharing decisions.B1 Demographicadjective · Connected with the number and types of people in a population.C1 Demolishverb · To pull down a building; also to destroy an argument completely.B2 Demolitionnoun · The act of knocking down a building or other structure.C1 Demonnoun · An evil spirit in stories and religion.B2 Demonstrateverb · To show how something works, or to prove a point.B1 Demonstrationnoun · A public protest march; also a practical showing of how something works.B1 Demoraliseverb · To make someone lose confidence or hope (UK spelling).C1 Demurverb · To raise an objection or show reluctance (formal).C2 Denialnoun · A statement that something is not true; also a refusal to accept a fact.B2 Denigrateverb · To criticise someone or something unfairly and make them seem worthless (formal).C2 Denimnoun · Strong cotton cloth used especially for jeans (often uncountable).B1 Denoteverb · To be a sign of something; to mean.B2 Denouementnoun · The final unravelling of a plot or of a complicated situation.C2 Denounceverb · To criticise someone or something publicly and strongly.C1 Denseadjective · Packed tightly together; also thick (fog) or hard to understand.B1 Densitynoun · How tightly packed something is, of people, traffic, or a material.C1 Dentnoun · A hollow in a hard surface caused by a blow or pressure.B2 Dentistnoun · A doctor who looks after people’s teeth.A2 Denturesnoun · False teeth; a set of artificial teeth (plural).B2 Denyverb · To say that something is not true, or to refuse to give or allow something.B1 Deodorantnoun · A product that reduces body smell, often a spray, stick, or roll-on.B1 Departverb · To leave a place, especially on a journey.A2 Departmentnoun · A part of a large organisation that deals with a particular type of work.B1 Department Storenoun · A large shop divided into sections that sell many kinds of goods.B1 Departurenoun · The act of leaving a place, especially on a journey.A2 Dependverb · To need someone or something, or to change according to a situation.A2 Dependableadjective · Able to be trusted to do what is needed.B2 Dependentadjective · Needing someone or something for support (dependent on).C1 Depictverb · To show or describe something in a picture, film, or words.B2 Depleteverb · To reduce something by using too much of it.C1 Deploreverb · To say that you strongly disapprove of something.C1 Deployverb · To send troops or resources into position for use; also to use something effectively.B2 Deploymentnoun · The act of sending people or resources into position for use.C1 Deportverb · To force a person who is not a citizen to leave a country (deport to / from).B2 Deposeverb · To remove someone from power; also to give evidence under oath.C1 Depositnoun · A sum paid in advance to reserve something; also money paid into a bank.B1 Depotnoun · A place where vehicles, goods, or supplies are stored; also a small bus or train station.B2 Depredationnoun · An act of attacking, plundering, or causing damage (often plural: depredations).C2 Depressverb · To make someone very sad; also to reduce the level of something (prices, demand).B1 Depressionnoun · A medical condition of deep, lasting low mood; also a period of falling trade.B1 Deprivationnoun · The damaging lack of something people need, such as sleep, food, or opportunity.C1 Depriveverb · To take something necessary away from someone (deprive of).B2 Depthnoun · How deep something is; also the quality of being thorough (in depth).B1 Deputynoun · A person who is second in rank and acts when the leader is away.B2 Derailverb · To cause a train to leave the tracks; also to stop a plan from succeeding.C1 Deregulateverb · To remove government rules that control a business or industry.B2 Derelictadjective · Abandoned and in poor condition; also neglectful of a duty.C2 Derideverb · To laugh at someone or something as if they were stupid or of no value.C1 Derivativeadjective · Copied or developed from something else rather than original.C1 Deriveverb · To get something from a source, or to come from it.B2 Dermatologynoun · The branch of medicine that deals with the skin (usually uncountable).B2 Derogatoryadjective · Showing a low opinion; insulting.C1 Descendverb · To go down; also to come from ancestors (descend from).B2 Descendantnoun · A person (or animal) who comes from an ancestor later in the family line.C1 Descentnoun · Movement downwards; also a person’s family origin.C1 Describeverb · To say what someone or something is like.A2 Descriptionnoun · A spoken or written account of what someone or something is like.B1 Desecrateverb · To damage or treat a sacred place or thing with violent disrespect (from sacred, already in the dictionary).C1 Desertnoun · A large area of very dry land, often with sand and almost no rain.B1 Desertedadjective · Empty of people; also left by someone who should have stayed (a deserted village; deserted by).B2 Deserveverb · To have earned something because of what you did.B1 Designverb · To plan how something will look or work.A2 Designateverb · To choose someone or something for a particular role or name.C1 Designernoun · A person who plans how things will look or work; also used before nouns (designer clothes).B1 Desirableadjective · Wanted because it is useful, attractive, or worth having.B2 Desirenoun · A strong wish for something; as a verb, to want it (slightly formal).B1 Desknoun · A table that you sit at to write or work.A1 Desktopnoun · The main screen of a computer, or a computer designed to stay on a desk (a desktop computer).B2 Desolateadjective · Empty of people and bleak; also extremely lonely and unhappy.B2 Despairnoun · The feeling that there is no hope.B2 Desperateadjective · Needing something very badly; also willing to take extreme risks.B1 Desperatelyadverb · In a way that shows urgent need; also extremely (desperately unhappy).B1 Despiseverb · To dislike someone or something strongly because you think they have no value.B2 Despitepreposition · Without being stopped by something.B1 Despotnoun · A ruler with absolute power, especially one who uses it cruelly.C1 Dessertnoun · Sweet food eaten at the end of a meal.A2 Destinationnoun · The place you are going to.A2 Destinedadjective · Certain to happen, or certain to become something in the future.B2 Destroyverb · To damage something so badly that it cannot be used or does not exist any more.B1 Destructionnoun · The act of damaging something so badly that it cannot be used (uncountable).B1 Desuetudenoun · A state of disuse (formal).C2 Desultoryadjective · Lacking a plan; jumping from one thing to another without a clear purpose (formal).C2 Detachverb · To separate something from what it was joined to.B2 Detachableadjective · Able to be removed and put back (a detachable hood).B2 Detachmentnoun · The state of not being emotionally involved; also a small military or work unit.C1 Detailnoun · A small fact or piece of information about something.A2 Detailedadjective · Including many facts or small points.B1 Detainverb · To keep someone at a place, especially by official power, and not let them leave.C1 Detectverb · To notice or discover something that is not obvious.B2 Detectivenoun · A police officer whose job is to investigate crimes.B1 Detectornoun · A device that finds or measures something, such as smoke, metal, or radiation.B2 Detentionnoun · The state of being kept in custody; also keeping a pupil in after school.C1 Deterverb · To discourage someone from doing something, often by making it difficult.C1 Deteriorateverb · To become worse in condition or quality.B2 Deteriorationnoun · The process of becoming worse in condition, quality, or health.C1 Determinationnoun · The quality of continuing even when something is hard (uncountable).B1 Determineverb · To officially decide, or to find out the facts.B1 Determinedadjective · Having made a firm decision and not willing to change it.B1 Deterrentnoun · Something that discourages people from doing a harmful or illegal act.C1 Detonateverb · To explode, or to make a bomb or explosive explode.B2 Detournoun · A longer route used when the usual road is closed; as a verb, to take that route.B2 Detrimentaladjective · Causing harm or damage.C1 Devalueverb · To reduce the official value of a currency, or to make something seem less worthy.C1 Devastateverb · To destroy a place or shock someone very badly.B2 Developverb · To grow or become more advanced.A2 Developernoun · A person or company that builds houses or writes software.B1 Developmentnoun · The process of growing, improving, or creating something new.B1 Deviateverb · To go in a different direction from the usual or expected path (deviate from).C1 Deviationnoun · A departure from a usual path, rule, or average.C1 Devicenoun · A machine or tool made for a particular purpose.A2 Deviseverb · To invent a method, plan, or system, usually with care.C1 Devoidadjective · Completely without something (devoid of).C1 Devolutionnoun · The transfer of power from a central government to a regional one (usually uncountable).B2 Devolveverb · To transfer power or work to a lower level of government or staff.C1 Devoteverb · To give time, energy, or attention to a person, cause, or task (devote to).C1 Devotedadjective · Giving a lot of time and love to someone or something (devoted to).B2 Dewnoun · Small drops of water that form on cool surfaces at night (usually uncountable).B2 Diabeticadjective · Having diabetes, or relating to that condition; as a noun, a person with diabetes.B2 Diagnoseverb · To identify an illness or a problem by examining the signs.B2 Diagnosisnoun · The identification of an illness or problem (plural diagnoses).B2 Diagonaladjective · Joining two opposite corners of a shape; as a noun, that line.B2 Diagramnoun · A simple drawing that shows how something works or is organised.B1 Dialverb · To press numbers on a phone to make a call.A2 Dialectnoun · A form of a language spoken in a particular area, with its own words and sounds.C1 Dialecticnoun · A method of reaching truth by discussing opposing ideas (related to dialect, already in the dictionary, but not the same).C1 Diallingnoun · The act of calling a telephone number (UK spelling).B1 Dialoguenoun · Conversation in a book or film; also formal discussion between groups.B2 Diameternoun · A straight line through the centre of a circle or sphere, or the length of that line.B2 Diamondnoun · A very hard precious stone made of carbon; also a shape with four equal sides.B2 Diaphanousadjective · Light, delicate, and almost transparent, of fabric; also insubstantial.C2 Diarrhoeanoun · A condition in which waste from the body is watery and frequent (British spelling; usually uncountable).B2 Diarynoun · A book in which you write what happens each day, or your plans.A2 Diatribenoun · A bitter, angry, and often lengthy verbal attack.C1 Dicenoun · Small cubes with numbered faces, used in games (one is a die; dice is usual as the plural).B2 Dichotomynoun · A division into two opposite parts or groups.C2 Dictateverb · To say words for someone to write; also to control what happens.B2 Dictatornoun · A ruler with total power, usually taken and kept by force.B2 Dictionnoun · The choice and use of words in speech or writing (usually uncountable).B2 Dictionarynoun · A book or app that explains the meanings of words.A2 Dictumnoun · A formal statement of opinion or a short saying treated as authoritative.C1 Didverb · The past form of do; also used in past questions and negatives.A1 Didacticadjective · Intended to teach; often a criticism when it means preachy (formal).C2 Dieverb · To stop living.A1 Dieselnoun · A heavy fuel used in some cars, buses, and trains, not the same as petrol.B1 Dietnoun · The food and drink that a person or animal usually has.B1 Dieticiannoun · A person trained to advise people on food and nutrition (also dietitian).B2 Differverb · To be unlike; also to disagree (differ from / on).B2 Differencenoun · The way in which two things are not the same.A2 Differentadjective · Not the same.A2 Differentialnoun · A difference between two amounts, levels, or rates, especially of pay.B2 Differentiateverb · To see or show the difference between things.B2 Difficultadjective · Not easy to do, understand, or deal with.A2 Difficultynoun · The state of being hard to do, or a problem that you have to deal with.B1 Diffidentadjective · Lacking confidence; shy about asserting yourself.C2 Digverb · To make a hole in the ground by moving earth.A2 Digestverb · To break food down in the body; also to take in and understand information.B2 Digestiveadjective · Connected with digesting food; also a type of plain biscuit in British English.B2 Digitaladjective · Using computer technology, or showing information as numbers.B1 Dignifyverb · To make something seem more worthy or important than it is (dignify with).B2 Dignitynoun · Calm, serious self-respect; the right to be treated as a person of worth.C1 Dilapidatedadjective · In very bad condition because of age or lack of care.C1 Dilateverb · To become wider, or to make an opening in the body wider (pupils dilate).B2 Dilatoryadjective · Slow and tending to delay (formal).C2 Dilemmanoun · A situation in which you must choose between two difficult options.B2 Diligentadjective · Working hard and with care over a period of time.C1 Diluteverb · To make a liquid weaker by adding water; also to weaken an effect.B2 Dimensionnoun · A measurement of size; also an aspect of a problem.B2 Diminishverb · To become smaller or less important.C1 Dimmernoun · A control that makes lights brighter or darker (also a dimmer switch).B1 Dineverb · To eat dinner, especially formally (dine on / out).B2 Dinernoun · A person who is eating a meal, especially in a restaurant.B2 Dinghynoun · A small open boat, often carried on a larger ship or used near the shore.B2 Diningnoun · The activity of eating a meal, especially a formal one (often in dining hall / fine dining).B2 Dining Roomnoun · A room in a house or boarding house where people eat meals.B1 Dinnernoun · The main meal of the day, often in the evening.A1 Dinner Ladynoun · A woman who serves school meals or supervises at lunchtime (UK).B1 Dinosaurnoun · A very large animal that lived millions of years ago.A1 Dioxidenoun · A compound of two oxygen atoms with another element, especially carbon dioxide (CO₂).B2 Dipverb · To put something briefly into a liquid; also to fall a little; as a noun, a savoury sauce or a small fall.B2 Diplomanoun · An official paper that shows you have finished a course of study.A2 Diplomacynoun · The management of relations between states; also skill in handling people tactfully.C1 Diplomatnoun · An official who represents a country abroad and helps manage relations.B1 Diplomaticadjective · Connected with managing relations between countries; also skilfully tactful.B2 Direadjective · Extremely serious or urgent; very bad.B2 Directadjective · Going straight to a place without stopping, or saying exactly what you mean.B1 Directionnoun · The way that someone or something is moving, facing, or going.A2 Directivenoun · An official instruction from an authority that must be followed.C1 Directlyadverb · With nothing in between; also immediately; also in a frank way.B1 Directornoun · A person who manages a company, a department, or a film.B1 Directorynoun · A list of names, addresses, or files; also a folder in a computer system.C1 Dirtnoun · Earth or mud that makes things unclean.A2 Dirtyadjective · Not clean.A1 Disabilitynoun · A physical or mental condition that limits a person’s movements, senses, or activities.B2 Disableverb · To stop a machine or function working; also to cause a lasting injury that limits activity.B2 Disabledadjective · Having a condition that makes daily activities harder; used before people in careful UK style.B1 Disabuseverb · To free someone from a false idea (disabuse someone of).C2 Disadvantagenoun · Something that makes a situation more difficult or less fair.B2 Disagreeverb · To have a different opinion from someone else.B1 Disagreementnoun · A situation in which people have different opinions, or the fact of not matching.B2 Disappearverb · To become impossible to see or find; also to stop existing.B1 Disappointverb · To make someone sad because something was not as good as they hoped.B1 Disappointedadjective · Sad because something was worse than you hoped.B1 Disappointingadjective · Worse than you hoped; causing disappointment.B1 Disappointmentnoun · The feeling of being disappointed; also a person or thing that disappoints.B1 Disasternoun · A sudden event that causes serious damage or suffering.B1 Disastrousadjective · Causing serious damage, harm, or failure.B2 Disavowverb · To deny any responsibility for, or connection with, something.C1 Disbandverb · To break up an organised group so that it no longer exists.C1 Discnoun · A flat round object; also a compact disc or a spinal disc (British spelling; computing often disk).B2 Discardverb · To throw something away because it is no longer wanted.B2 Discernverb · To notice or understand something that is not obvious.B2 Dischargeverb · To officially allow someone to leave hospital, the army, or a court; also to release a substance.B2 Disciplinaryadjective · Connected with punishing people who break rules.C1 Disciplinenoun · The practice of training people to follow rules, or self-control.B1 Disclaimernoun · A statement that denies responsibility or limits what is being claimed.C1 Discloseverb · To give someone information that was secret or private.B2 Disclosurenoun · The act of giving secret or private information; also the information given.B2 Disconoun · A place or event with recorded dance music; also that style of music from the 1970s.B2 Disconnectverb · To break an electrical, digital, or personal connection.B2 Discontentnoun · A feeling of unhappiness with a situation, often shared and political.C1 Discountnoun · A reduction in the usual price.A2 Discourageverb · To make someone less confident or less willing to do something.B1 Discoursenoun · Written or spoken communication, especially serious discussion of ideas.C1 Discoververb · To find something for the first time, or to find out a fact.A2 Discoverynoun · The act of finding something that was not known before, or the thing found.B1 Discreditverb · To harm someone’s reputation, or to make an idea seem untrue or unreliable.C1 Discreetadjective · Careful not to attract attention or embarrass someone (not discrete, which means separate).C1 Discrepancynoun · A difference between two things that should match.C1 Discreteadjective · Separate and distinct; not continuous.B2 Discretionnoun · The freedom to decide; also the quality of being careful with secrets.C1 Discriminateverb · To treat a person or group unfairly because of a characteristic such as race, sex, or age; also to see a difference.B2 Discriminationnoun · Unfair treatment of a person or group; also the ability to see fine differences.B2 Discriminatoryadjective · Unfairly treating a particular group of people worse than others.C1 Discursiveadjective · Wandering from topic to topic in speech or writing, rather than staying on one line (formal).C2 Discussverb · To talk about something with other people, usually to share ideas.A2 Discussionnoun · A conversation in which people talk about a subject and share opinions.B1 Disdainnoun · A feeling that someone or something is not worth respect.C1 Diseasenoun · An illness that affects people, animals, or plants.B1 Disenfranchiseverb · To take away someone’s right to vote or another civic right (from franchise, already in the dictionary).C1 Disgracenoun · The loss of other people’s respect after shameful behaviour.B2 Disguiseverb · To change appearance, or to hide the true nature of something.B2 Disgustnoun · A strong feeling of dislike at something unpleasant or morally wrong.B2 Disgustingadjective · Extremely unpleasant; making you feel sick or shocked.B1 Dishnoun · Food cooked in a particular way, or a plate for serving food.A2 Dishonestadjective · Not truthful; ready to lie or cheat.B1 Dishwashernoun · A machine that washes plates, glasses, and cutlery.A2 Disillusionverb · To make someone see that a belief was false.C1 Disingenuousadjective · Not sincere; pretending to be more innocent or less informed than you are (formal).C2 Disinterestedadjective · Not influenced by personal advantage; impartial (not the same as uninterested).C1 Disknoun · A flat round object, especially for storing computer data.A2 Dislikeverb · To not like someone or something.A2 Dislodgeverb · To force something or someone out of a fixed position.C1 Dismantleverb · To take something apart, or to end a system piece by piece.C1 Dismaynoun · A feeling of shock and disappointment.B2 Dismissverb · To remove someone from a job; also to refuse to consider an idea seriously.B2 Dismissalnoun · The act of officially ending someone’s job; also refusing to take an idea seriously.B2 Disobeyverb · To refuse to do what a person, rule, or law tells you.B2 Disordernoun · A lack of order; also a medical or mental condition.B2 Disparageverb · To speak of someone or something as if they were of little worth.C1 Disparateadjective · Clearly different in kind; not easy to compare.C2 Disparitynoun · A large difference, especially an unfair one.C1 Dispatchverb · To send a person, vehicle, or message quickly to a place.B2 Dispelverb · To make a feeling, doubt, or false idea go away.B2 Disperseverb · To spread over a wide area, or to make a crowd move apart.B2 Displaceverb · To force people or things out of their usual place.B2 Displayverb · To show something so that people can see it.B1 Disposalnoun · The act of getting rid of something; also at your disposal (available for you to use).B2 Disposeverb · To get rid of something (dispose of); also to arrange.B2 Disproportionateadjective · Too large or too small when compared with something else.C1 Disputenoun · A serious disagreement, often lasting and public.B2 Disqualifyverb · To stop someone taking part because they have broken a rule.B2 Disquietnoun · A feeling of anxiety or unease (also verb: to make uneasy; from quiet, already in the dictionary).C1 Disregardverb · To ignore something or treat it as unimportant.B2 Disreputenoun · The state of no longer being respected; a bad reputation.C1 Disruptverb · To interrupt an event, system, or process so that it cannot continue normally.B2 Disruptionnoun · A situation in which something cannot continue in the normal way.B2 Dissatisfiedadjective · Not pleased because something is not as good as you wanted (dissatisfied with).B2 Dissembleverb · To hide your true feelings or intentions (formal).C2 Disseminateverb · To spread information widely.C1 Dissentnoun · Disagreement with an official opinion or decision.C1 Dissertationnoun · A long piece of academic writing on a subject, especially for a degree.B2 Dissidentnoun · A person who publicly opposes the official policy of a government or organisation.C1 Dissipateverb · To gradually disappear or scatter; also to waste energy, money, or attention.C1 Dissociateverb · To disconnect two things in your mind, or to declare that you have no connection with someone (from associate, already in the dictionary).C1 Dissolveverb · To mix into a liquid until it disappears; also to officially end a group or marriage.B2 Dissonancenoun · A lack of harmony or agreement; in music, a clashing combination of notes.C1 Distancenoun · The amount of space between two places or things.B1 Distantadjective · Far away in space or time; also cold and unfriendly.B2 Distilverb · To purify a liquid by heating and condensing; also to extract the essential meaning (British spelling).C1 Distinctadjective · Clearly different or easy to notice.B2 Distinctionnoun · A clear difference; also a very high exam grade (a distinction).B1 Distinctiveadjective · Easy to recognise because it is different from others.C1 Distinctlyadverb · In a way that is clear and easy to notice; also definitely (I distinctly remember).B2 Distinguishverb · To see or show the difference between things; also to make someone or something noticeable.B2 Distortverb · To change something so that it is no longer true or natural.B2 Distortionnoun · A change that makes something look or sound false or inaccurate.B2 Distractverb · To take someone’s attention away from what they should be doing.B2 Distressnoun · Great pain, sadness, or difficulty; also serious danger (a ship in distress).B2 Distributeverb · To give things out to a number of people, or to spread them.B2 Distributionnoun · The way something is shared or spread; also the work of delivering goods.B2 Districtnoun · An area of a town or country, often with its own character or local government.B1 District Nursenoun · An NHS nurse who visits people at home in a local area (UK).B1 Disturbverb · To interrupt someone; also to upset a place or a person.B1 Disturbingadjective · Making you feel worried or shocked.B1 Ditchnoun · A long narrow channel dug at the side of a field or road; as a verb (informal), to abandon.B2 Diurnaladjective · Happening in the daytime, or repeating every day.C1 Diveverb · To jump into water with your head first, or to swim underwater.A2 Divernoun · A person who swims underwater with breathing equipment, or who dives as a sport.B2 Divergeverb · To go in different directions from the same point; also to become unlike.B2 Diverseadjective · Including many different types of people or things.B2 Diversifyverb · To increase the range of products, activities, or people involved.C1 Diversionnoun · A change of route; something that takes attention away; also a pastime.C1 Diversitynoun · The fact of including many different types of people or things.B2 Divertverb · To change the direction of something, or to take attention away from it.C1 Divideverb · To separate something into parts, or to share it between people.B1 Dividendnoun · A share of a company’s profits paid to shareholders; also a benefit from an action (pay dividends).B2 Divineadjective · Relating to a god; also (literary) extremely good.C1 Divisionnoun · The act of separating something; also a disagreement, or a section of an organisation.B2 Divisiveadjective · Causing people to disagree and form opposing groups.C1 Divorcenoun · The legal ending of a marriage; as a verb, to end a marriage that way.B1 Divulgeverb · To give away secret or private information.C1 DIYnoun · Making or repairing things yourself instead of paying a worker (UK, often uncountable).B1 Dizzyadjective · Feeling as if you might fall, because your head is spinning.A2 Doverb · To perform an action; also used in questions and negatives.A1 Docknoun · A place in a port where ships load and unload; also the enclosed place in court for the accused.B2 Doctornoun · A person whose job is to treat people who are ill.A1 Doctoratenoun · The highest university degree, typically a PhD.C1 Doctrinaireadjective · Applying a theory rigidly and ignoring practical facts.C2 Doctrinenoun · A set of beliefs taught by a church, party, or school of thought.C1 Documentnoun · An official paper or computer file that gives information.B1 Documentarynoun · A film or radio programme that presents facts about a real subject.B2 Documentationnoun · Official papers that prove or explain something; also written instructions for software.B2 Dodgyadjective · Probably dishonest, unsafe, or of poor quality (UK informal).B1 Doesverb · The form of do used with he, she, and it.A1 Dognoun · An animal that people often keep as a pet, which barks.A1 Dogmanoun · A belief or set of beliefs taught by an authority as unquestionably true.C1 Dogmaticadjective · Stating opinions as if they were facts that cannot be questioned.C2 Dolefuladjective · Expressing sorrow; mournful in look or sound.C2 Dollnoun · A child’s toy that looks like a small person.A1 Dollarnoun · Money used in the United States and some other countries.A1 Dolorousadjective · Feeling or expressing great sorrow (literary).C2 Dolphinnoun · A clever sea animal that is grey and swims in groups.A1 Domainnoun · An area of knowledge, activity, or control.B2 Domenoun · A round roof like half a sphere; also a rounded natural shape.B2 Domesticadjective · Relating to the home or to one country rather than other countries.B1 Domicilenoun · A person’s legal home for official purposes (also verb: to settle someone there).C1 Dominancenoun · The fact of being more powerful, common, or successful than others.B2 Dominantadjective · More powerful, important, or noticeable than others.B2 Dominateverb · To have more power or importance than other people or things.B1 Donateverb · To give money, goods, or blood to help a person or organisation.B2 Donationnoun · Something given to help a person or organisation, especially money.B2 Donkeynoun · An animal like a small horse with long ears.A1 Donornoun · A person or organisation that gives money, goods, or an organ to help others.B2 Doornoun · The thing you open to enter a room or building.A1 Doorbellnoun · A button by a door that rings to tell people you are there.B1 Doormannoun · A person whose job is to stand at the door of a hotel, block of flats, or club.B1 Doormatnoun · A mat by a door for wiping mud off your shoes.B1 Doorstepnoun · The step just outside a front door; also a very thick slice of bread (UK informal).B1 Doorwaynoun · The opening where a door sits; the space you walk through.B2 Dormantadjective · Not active now, but able to become active later.B2 Dosenoun · An amount of a medicine taken at one time.B2 Dotnoun · A small round mark; as a verb, to mark with dots (dotted with).B2 Doubleadjective · Twice as much, or made for two people.A2 Double Glazingnoun · Windows with two layers of glass to keep heat in and noise out (UK, often uncountable).B1 Doubtnoun · A feeling of not being sure about something.B1 Doubtfuladjective · Not certain; probably not true or not likely to happen (doubtful about / of).B2 Doughnutnoun · A small round sweet cake, often with a hole in the middle (British spelling).A1 Doughtyadjective · Brave and persistent (literary; sometimes slightly old-fashioned).C2 Douradjective · Stern, gloomy, and unfriendly in manner.C1 Downadverb · Towards a lower place.A1 Downfallnoun · A loss of power, money, success, or reputation; the cause of that loss.C1 Downgradeverb · To reduce something in rank, status, importance, or estimated value.C1 Downhilladverb · Towards the bottom of a slope; go downhill also means to get worse.B2 Downloadverb · To copy a file from the internet onto your computer or phone.B1 Downplayverb · To make something seem less important or serious than it is.C1 Downsidenoun · The negative part of something that also has advantages.B2 Downstairsadverb · To or on a lower floor of a building.A2 Downwardadjective · Moving or pointing towards a lower place or level (also downwards as an adverb).B2 Dozennoun · A group of twelve.A2 Draconianadjective · Extremely harsh or severe, especially of a law or penalty.C1 Draftnoun · A first version of a piece of writing that you will change later.B1 Dragonnoun · A large imaginary animal that can breathe fire.A1 Drainverb · To remove liquid; as a noun, a pipe that takes liquid away; a drain on means a heavy use of money or energy.B2 Drainpipenoun · A pipe on the outside of a building that carries rainwater down from the roof.B1 Dramanoun · A play for the theatre, television, or radio, or plays as a subject.B1 Dramaticadjective · Sudden and striking, or connected with plays.B2 Dramaticallyadverb · Suddenly and by a large amount; also in a theatrical way.B1 Drasticadjective · Extreme and having a strong effect, often sudden.B2 Draughtsnoun · A board game of moving discs and jumping to capture (UK, often plural; US checkers).B1 Drawverb · To make a picture with a pencil or pen.A1 Drawbacknoun · A disadvantage or problem that makes something less attractive.C1 Drawernoun · A box that slides in and out of a piece of furniture.A2 Drawingnoun · A picture you make with a pencil or pen.A1 Drawing Pinnoun · A short pin with a flat round head, used to fix paper to a board (UK; US thumbtack).B1 Dreadverb · To feel very worried about something that is going to happen.C1 Dreadfuladjective · Extremely bad or unpleasant.B2 Dreamnoun · A series of images and feelings in your mind while you sleep, or a hope for the future.B1 Dressnoun · A piece of clothing for a woman or girl that covers the body in one piece.A1 Dressedadjective · Wearing clothes; often used as get dressed.A2 Dressernoun · A piece of furniture with cupboards and shelves (a kitchen dresser); also a person who helps actors with costumes.B2 Dressingnoun · A covering for a wound; also a sauce for salad.B2 Dressing Gownnoun · A loose coat worn over night clothes at home (UK; close to a bathrobe).B1 Dressing Tablenoun · A bedroom table with a mirror, used when you get ready (UK).B1 Driftverb · To move slowly with no control; of policy or talk, to change course gradually.C1 Drillnoun · A tool for making holes; also a repeated training exercise (a fire drill); as a verb, to make holes or to train that way.B2 Drinkverb · To take liquid into your mouth and swallow it.A1 Dripverb · To fall in drops; as a noun, a drop or a medical device that puts liquid into a vein.B2 Driveverb · To control a car, bus, or other vehicle.A1 Drivernoun · A person who drives a car, bus, or other vehicle.A1 Drivewaynoun · A short private road from the street to a house, used by cars.B1 Drivingnoun · The activity of controlling a car or other vehicle.A2 Drizzlenoun · Very light rain; as a verb, to rain that way, or to pour a thin stream of liquid over food.B2 Drolladjective · Amusing in an odd, dry, or understated way.C1 Dropverb · To let something fall, or to fall yourself.A2 Drop-Offnoun · A place or act of leaving someone or something, especially from a car.B1 Dropoutnoun · A person who leaves school or university before finishing; also the rate of that leaving.B2 Drossnoun · Waste matter; worthless leftover material.C2 Droughtnoun · A long period with little or no rain, so that land, crops, and water supplies suffer.B2 Drownverb · To die in water because you cannot breathe, or to kill that way; also to flood with sound or liquid (drown out).B2 Drugnoun · A medicine, or an illegal substance that affects your mind or body.B1 Drumnoun · A round musical instrument that you hit with your hands or sticks.A1 Dryadjective · Not wet; with little or no water.A1 Dryernoun · A machine that dries clothes (a tumble dryer) or hair (a hairdryer).B2 Dualadjective · Having two parts, uses, or aspects.B2 Dubiousadjective · Doubtful, or probably not honest or of good quality.C1 Ducknoun · A bird that lives on or near water and can swim.A1 Dueadjective · Expected to happen or arrive at a particular time, or owed to someone.B1 Dulladjective · Not interesting or exciting; also not bright.A2 Dummynoun · A small rubber object a baby sucks (British).A1 Duplicateverb · To make an exact copy; also to do the same work twice by mistake.B2 Duplicitousadjective · Dishonest because you say one thing and secretly do another (formal).C2 Duplicitynoun · Deceitful double-dealing; saying one thing and secretly doing another.C2 Durableadjective · Staying in good condition for a long time; not easily damaged.B2 Durationnoun · The length of time that something lasts.B2 Duringpreposition · All through a period of time, or at some point in it.A2 Dusknoun · The time of day when it is getting dark, just before night (usually uncountable).B2 Dustnoun · A fine powder of dirt that settles on surfaces.B1 Dustbinnoun · A container for rubbish, usually outside.A2 Dustbin Linernoun · A plastic bag that lines a dustbin so it stays clean (UK).B1 Dustyadjective · Covered with dust; also dry and powdery (a dusty track).B2 Dutynoun · Something you must do because of your job or because it is right.B1 Duvetnoun · A thick, soft cover filled with feathers or man-made material, used on a bed (British).A1 Duvet Covernoun · A washable cloth case that goes over a duvet (UK).B1 Dwellverb · To live in a place (formal); also to keep thinking about something (dwell on).B2 Dwindleverb · To become gradually smaller or weaker.C1 Dyenoun · A substance used to change the colour of something; as a verb, to colour that way.B2 Dynamicadjective · Full of energy and new ideas; also continuously changing.B2 Dynamitenoun · A powerful explosive used in blasting; also, informally, something very impressive (usually uncountable as the substance).B2 Dynastynoun · A series of rulers from the same family; also a powerful family line in an institution.C1