Collins Dictionaries - Collins Junior Illustrated Dictionary

deserve deserves, deserving, deserved VERB

If you deserve something, you have earned it by what you have done.

design designs, designing, designed

NOUN 1 A design is a pattern that is used to decorate something.

VERB 2 If you design something, you plan it and make a drawing of it.

desk desks NOUN

A desk is a special table that you use for writing or reading.

desktop ADJECTIVE

A desktop computer is small enough to be used at a desk.

dessert desserts NOUN

A dessert is a sweet food served after the main course of a meal.

destroy destroys, destroying, destroyed VERB

To destroy something means to damage it so much it cannot be mended.

detail details NOUN

A detail is a small part or thing that you notice when you look at something carefully.

detective detectives NOUN

A detective is a person whose job is to find out who did a crime.

determined ADJECTIVE

If you are determined to do something, nothing will stop you.

develop develops, developing, developed VERB

When something develops, it grows or becomes more advanced.

dew NOUN

Dew is the small drops of water that form on surfaces outdoors at night.

diagonal ADJECTIVE

A diagonal line slants from one corner of something to the opposite corner.

diagram diagrams NOUN

A diagram is a drawing that explains something.

dial dials NOUN

A dial is a numbered disc on an instrument like a clock.

dialogue dialogues NOUN

In a story, play or film, dialogue is conversation.

diameter diameters NOUN

A diameter is a straight line drawn right through the centre of a circle.

diamond diamonds

NOUN 1 A diamond is a very hard, clear jewel which sparkles.

NOUN 2 A diamond is also a shape with four straight sides, like a square but slightly flattened.

See Colours and shapes on page 266

diary diaries NOUN

A diary is a book in which to write about what you have done.

dice NOUN

Dice are small cubes with spots on each of their six sides.

dictionary dictionaries NOUN

A dictionary is a book in which words are listed alphabetically and explained.

did VERB

Did is the past tense of do.

didn’t VERB

Didn’t is a contraction of did not.

die dies, dying, died VERB

When a person, animal or plant dies, they stop living.

diesel diesels NOUN

A diesel is a kind of engine that burns a special oil instead of petrol.

diet diets

NOUN 1 A diet is the food that a person or animal normally eats.

NOUN 2 A diet is also a special range of foods that a doctor tells someone to eat if they have a health or weight problem.

difference differences

NOUN 1 The difference between two things is the way in which they are unlike each other.

NOUN 2 In maths, you can work out the difference between two numbers by taking the smaller number away from the larger number.

different ADJECTIVE

Something that is different from something else is not like it in one or more ways.

difficult ADJECTIVE

Something that is difficult is not easy to do or understand.

difficulty NOUN

dig digs, digging, dug VERB

When people dig, they break up soil or sand with a spade or garden fork.

digest digests, digesting, digested VERB

When you digest food, your body breaks it down so that it can be used.

digestion NOUN

digit digits NOUN

A digit is a written symbol for any of the numbers from 0 to 9. For example, 384 is a three-digit number.

digital

ADJECTIVE 1 Digital instruments such as watches have changing numbers instead of a dial with hands.

See analogue

NOUN 2 Digital television is television in which the picture is sent in digital form.

dim dimmer, dimmest ADJECTIVE

If the light is dim, it is rather dark and it is hard to see things.

din NOUN

A din is a loud, annoying noise.

dining room dining rooms NOUN

A dining room is the room where people have their meals.

dinner dinners NOUN

Dinner is the main meal of the day.

dinosaur dinosaurs NOUN

A dinosaur was a large reptile which lived and became extinct in prehistoric times.

dip dips, dipping, dipped VERB

If you dip something into a liquid, you put it in quickly.

direct directs, directing, directed

VERB 1 If you direct someone, you show them the way to go.

VERB 2 A person who directs something, like a film, is in charge of it.

ADJECTIVE 3 Direct means in a straight line without stopping, for example on a journey. Is there a direct flight to Paris?

direction directions

NOUN 1 A direction is the way in which someone or something is moving or pointing.

NOUN 2 Directions are instructions that tell you what to do or which way to go.

dirt NOUN

Dirt is dust, mud or stains on a surface or fabric.

dirty dirtier, dirtiest ADJECTIVE

Something that is dirty is marked or covered with mud or stains.

disabled ADJECTIVE

A disabled person has a condition or injury that makes it hard or impossible to do some things.

disability NOUN

disagree disagrees, disagreeing, disagreed VERB

If you disagree with someone, you think what they are saying is wrong.

disappear disappears, disappearing, disappeared VERB

If someone disappears, they go out of sight.

disappoint disappoints, disappointing, disappointed VERB

If something disappoints you, it is not as good as you thought it would be.

disappointment NOUN

disapprove VERB

If you disapprove of something, you think it is wrong or bad.

disaster disasters NOUN

A disaster is something very bad that happens, such as an air crash.

disastrous ADJECTIVE

disc discs NOUN

A disc is a flat round object.

discover discovers, discovering, discovered VERB

When you discover something, you find it or find out about it.

discovery NOUN

discuss discusses, discussing, discussed VERB

When you discuss something, you talk about it with someone else.

discussion NOUN

disease diseases NOUN

A disease is an illness in people, animals or plants.

disguise disguises NOUN

A disguise is something that changes the way you look, so that people do not recognize you.

disgust NOUN

Disgust is a feeling of strong dislike for someone or something.

dish dishes NOUN

A dish is a shallow container for cooking or serving meals in.

dishonest ADJECTIVE

If someone is dishonest, they are not to be trusted.

dishwasher dishwashers NOUN

A dishwasher is a machine that washes things like plates.

disk disks NOUN

A disk is used for storing information in a computer.

dislike dislikes, disliking, disliked VERB

If you dislike someone or something, you do not like them.

dismiss dismisses, dismissing, dismissed VERB

When someone in authority dismisses you, they tell you to leave.

display displays NOUN

A display is an arrangement of things which is done to show to people.

dissolve dissolves, dissolving, dissolved VERB

If something dissolves in a liquid, it becomes mixed in with it.