NSF nationals vocabulary V7 Flashcards
crux
a pivotal point or a perplexing question
cryptic
mysterious in meaning or ciphered
cryptography
the study or sciences of secret writing or code
cull
to choose, select or pick
cultivar
a variety of plants that originated under or persisted under cultivation
cupidity
eager or excessive desire
cut and run
to open up and incise, with a sharp instrument
cybernetics
the study of human control and mechanical device used to replace them
cyclopean
of or the characteristics of a cyclops, massive
cynosure
something that strongly attracts
dale
a valley especially a broad one
dalliance
trifling away of time, amorous toying, flirtation
dank
unpleasantly moist or humid
dapple
a spot or mottled marking
daub
to cover or coat with soft adhesive matter
de facto
in fact or reality
deadhead
a person who boards or attends without tickets, a empty commercial vehicle, stupid
debase
to reduce in quality or value
decadent
the act of decaying
decamp
to depart quickly from a campground, to depart secretly or quickly
decelerate
to decrease the velocity of
decimate
to destroy a great proportion or great number of, to kill by the tens
declivity
to downward slope
defect
a shortcoming, fault, or imperfection
defer
to put off for a future
deference
respect or esteem to an elder
derferential
showing or expressing deference
deferment
the act of deferring
delta
the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet
delve
to dig with a spade
demarcate
to determine or mark off the boundaries or limits to
demerit
a mark against a person for misbehaving
demure
characterized by shyness or modesty
deplore
to regret deeply or disapprove
depreciate
to lessen the value of; lower the price
derisory
mocking; contemptuous
despondence
depression of spirits from loss of courage
destitution
utter poverty
detention
the state of being detained or held in captivity
devolution
the passing on to a successor
