Page 283 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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Essential Vocabulary
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dormant (DAWR mint) adj. 1. asleep; 2. as if asleep; resting; 3. inactive;
inoperative
• The night watchman was dormant on the job.
• While the cat may appear dormant, it is aware of everything going on
around it.
•A dormant volcano might not have erupted in the last 100 years, yet it is
still alive.
• Most of the volcanoes in the Cascades are considered to be dormant.
[-ly adv., dormancy n.] [Syn. latent]
dross (DRAWSS) n. 1. a scum that forms on the surface of molten metal;
2. waste material; worthless stuff; rubbish
• In a steel mill or foundry, dross ends up on the rubbish heap.
• Good garage-sale shoppers learn to separate treasure from dross.
dubious (DOO bee is) adj. 1. causing doubt; vague; ambiguous; 2. of doubtful
value; questionable; shady; 3. skeptical; hesitating
• Valerie was rather dubious about whether she was coming to the basketball
game.
• That premium-brand watch being offered by the street salesperson for $30
is of dubious quality.
dynamo (DY ni MOH) n. 1. a forceful, energetic person; 2. an electrical
generator
• The chairman of the company was a human dynamo, constantly on
the go.
• In hydroelectric plants, falling water turns the dynamo that generates the
electricity.
• That weight lifter is strong as a dynamo.
dysfunctional (dis FUNK shi nuhl) adj. 1. unable to perform normally or
properly; 2. showing impaired or abnormal psychosocial functioning
• A person with dysfunctional kidneys has to make use of a dialysis
machine.
• Serial killers are among the most dysfunctional personalities in the world.