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dilate
VERB
When things such as blood vessels or the pupils of your eyes dilate or when something dilates them, they become wider or bigger.
At night, the pupils dilate to allow in more light. [VERB]
Exercise dilates blood vessels on the surface of the brain. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: enlarge, extend, stretch, expand
metastasize
INTRANSITIVE VERB
If cancer cells metastasize, they spread to another part of the body.
[medicine]
A checkup revealed a small tumor on the left lower lobe of his lung, but it had not yet metastasized.
…when diagnosis is delayed until cancer has metastasized to other parts of the body.
detour
- COUNTABLE NOUN
If you make a detour on a journey, you go by a route which is not the shortest way, because you want to avoid something such as a traffic jam, or because there is something you want to do on the way.
He did not take the direct route home, but made a detour around the outskirts of the city.
Synonyms: diversion [British], bypass, deviation, circuitous route More Synonyms of detour - COUNTABLE NOUN
A detour is a special route for traffic to follow when the normal route is blocked, for example because it is being repaired.
[US]
REGIONAL NOTE:
in BRIT, use diversion - VERB
If you detour, you make a detour.
On the way back, Jarvis detoured to check the time of services at the church.
bland
- ADJECTIVE
If you describe someone or something as bland, you mean that they are rather dull and unexciting.
Serle has a blander personality than Howard.
It sounds like an advert: easy on the ear but bland and forgettable.
…a bland, 12-storey office block.
Synonyms: dull, boring, weak, plain More Synonyms of bland
blandness UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
…the blandness of television. - ADJECTIVE
Food that is bland has very little flavour.
It tasted bland and insipid, like warmed cardboard.
Synonyms: tasteless, weak, watered-down, insipid
bland
- ADJECTIVE
If you describe someone or something as bland, you mean that they are rather dull and unexciting.
Serle has a blander personality than Howard.
It sounds like an advert: easy on the ear but bland and forgettable.
…a bland, 12-storey office block.
Synonyms: dull, boring, weak, plain More Synonyms of bland
blandness UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
…the blandness of television. - ADJECTIVE
Food that is bland has very little flavour.
It tasted bland and insipid, like warmed cardboard.
Synonyms: tasteless, weak, watered-down, insipid
emotive
ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
An emotive situation or issue is likely to make people feel strong emotions.
Embryo research is an emotive issue.
Synonyms: sensitive, controversial, delicate, contentious
piquant
- ADJECTIVE
Food that is piquant has a pleasantly spicy taste.
[written]
…a crisp mixed salad with an unusually piquant dressing.
Synonyms: spicy, biting, sharp, stinging - ADJECTIVE
Something that is piquant is interesting and exciting.
[written]
There may well have been a piquant novelty about her books when they came out.
Synonyms: interesting, spirited, stimulating, lively
queasy
- ADJECTIVE
If you feel queasy or if you have a queasy stomach, you feel rather ill, as if you are going to be sick.
[informal]
He was very prone to seasickness and already felt queasy.
Synonyms: sick, ill, nauseous, squeamish - GRADED ADJECTIVE [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you feel queasy about something, you are a little worried about it.
[informal]
Some people feel queasy about how their names and addresses have been obtained.
Synonyms: uneasy, concerned, worried, troubled
competence
UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
Competence is the ability to do something well or effectively.
His competence as an economist had been reinforced by his successful fight against inflation. [+ as]
We’ve always regarded him as a man of integrity and high professional competence.
Synonyms: ability, skill, talent, capacity
mar
VERB
To mar something means to spoil or damage it.
A number of problems marred the smooth running of this event. [VERB noun]
That election was marred by massive cheating. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: harm, damage, hurt, spoil
politic
adjective [ + to infinitive ] formal
wise and showing the ability to make the right decisions:
It would not be politic for you to be seen there.
cloying
adjective
too sweet and therefore unpleasant:
This is a wonderful wine - honeyed and rich without being remotely cloying.
reproach
verb [ T ]
to criticize someone, especially for not being successful or not doing what is expected:
His mother reproached him for not eating all his dinner.
You have nothing to reproach yourself for/with.
squeamish
ADJECTIVE [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you are squeamish, you are easily upset by unpleasant sights or situations.
I’m terribly squeamish. I can’t bear gory films.
I am not squeamish about blood.
reproach
- VERB
If you reproach someone, you say or show that you are disappointed, upset, or angry because they have done something wrong.
She is quick to reproach anyone who doesn’t live up to her own high standards. [VERB noun]
She had not even reproached him for breaking his promise. [VERB noun + for]
Synonyms: blame, criticize, rebuke, reprimand More Synonyms of reproach - VARIABLE NOUN
If you look at or speak to someone with reproach, you show or say that you are disappointed, upset, or angry because they have done something wrong.
He looked at her with reproach.
Public servants and political figures must be beyond reproach.
Synonyms: censure, blame, abuse, contempt