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aestivation
0
n 1: (zoology) cessation or slowing of activity during the
summer; especially slowing of metabolism in some animals
during a hot or dry period [syn: estivation,
aestivation]
2: (botany) the arrangement of sepals and petals in a flower bud
before it opens [syn: estivation, aestivation]
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aggravation
0
n 1: an exasperated feeling of annoyance [syn: aggravation,
exasperation]
2: unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment [syn:
aggravation, irritation, provocation]
3: action that makes a problem or a disease (or its symptoms)
worse; "the aggravation of her condition resulted from lack
of care" [syn: aggravation, exacerbation]
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conservation
0
n 1: an occurrence of improvement by virtue of preventing loss
or injury or other change [syn: conservation,
preservation]
2: the preservation and careful management of the environment
and of natural resources
3: (physics) the maintenance of a certain quantities unchanged
during chemical reactions or physical transformations
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cultivation
0
n 1: socialization through training and education to develop
one's mind or manners; "her cultivation was remarkable"
2: (agriculture) production of food by preparing the land to
grow crops (especially on a large scale)
3: a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or
impeccable quality; "they performed with great polish"; "I
admired the exquisite refinement of his prose"; "almost an
inspiration which gives to all work that finish which is
almost art"--Joseph Conrad [syn: polish, refinement,
culture, cultivation, finish]
4: the process of fostering the growth of something; "the
cultivation of bees for honey"
5: the act of raising or growing plants (especially on a large
scale)
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depravation
0
n 1: moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral
principles; "the luxury and corruption among the upper
classes"; "moral degeneracy followed intellectual
degeneration"; "its brothels, its opium parlors, its
depravity"; "Rome had fallen into moral putrefaction" [syn:
corruption, degeneracy, depravation, depravity,
putrefaction]
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deprivation
0
n 1: a state of extreme poverty [syn: privation, want,
deprivation, neediness]
2: the disadvantage that results from losing something; "his
loss of credibility led to his resignation"; "losing him is
no great deprivation" [syn: loss, deprivation]
3: act of depriving someone of food or money or rights;
"nutritional privation"; "deprivation of civil rights" [syn:
privation, deprivation]
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derivation
0
n 1: the source or origin from which something derives (i.e.
comes or issues); "he prefers shoes of Italian derivation";
"music of Turkish derivation"
2: (historical linguistics) an explanation of the historical
origins of a word or phrase [syn: deriving, derivation,
etymologizing]
3: a line of reasoning that shows how a conclusion follows
logically from accepted propositions
4: (descriptive linguistics) the process whereby new words are
formed from existing words or bases by affixation; "`singer'
from `sing' or `undo' from `do' are examples of derivations"
5: inherited properties shared with others of your bloodline
[syn: ancestry, lineage, derivation, filiation]
6: drawing of fluid or inflammation away from a diseased part of
the body
7: drawing off water from its main channel as for irrigation
8: the act of deriving something or obtaining something from a
source or origin
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elevation
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n 1: the event of something being raised upward; "an elevation
of the temperature in the afternoon"; "a raising of the
land resulting from volcanic activity" [syn: elevation,
lift, raising]
2: the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of
development; "his landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty";
"the artist's gifts are at their acme"; "at the height of her
career"; "the peak of perfection"; "summer was at its peak";
"...catapulted Einstein to the pinnacle of fame"; "the summit
of his ambition"; "so many highest superlatives achieved by
man"; "at the top of his profession" [syn: acme, height,
elevation, peak, pinnacle, summit, superlative,
meridian, tiptop, top]
3: angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial
object) [syn: elevation, EL, altitude, ALT]
4: a raised or elevated geological formation [syn: natural
elevation, elevation] [ant: depression, natural
depression]
5: distance of something above a reference point (such as sea
level); "there was snow at the higher elevations"
6: (ballet) the height of a dancer's leap or jump; "a dancer of
exceptional elevation"
7: drawing of an exterior of a structure
8: the act of increasing the wealth or prestige or power or
scope of something; "the aggrandizement of the king"; "his
elevation to cardinal" [syn: aggrandizement,
aggrandisement, elevation]
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enervation
0
n 1: lack of vitality; "an enervation of mind greater than any
fatigue"
2: serious weakening and loss of energy [syn: debilitation,
enervation, enfeeblement, exhaustion]
3: surgical removal of a nerve
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excavation
0
n 1: the act of digging; "there's an interesting excavation
going on near Princeton" [syn: excavation, digging,
dig]
2: the site of an archeological exploration; "they set up camp
next to the dig" [syn: dig, excavation, archeological
site]
3: a hole in the ground made by excavating
4: the act of extracting ores or coal etc from the earth [syn:
mining, excavation]
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inactivation
0
n 1: the process of rendering inactive; "the gene inactivation
system"; "thermal inactivation of serum samples" [ant:
activation]
2: breaking up a military unit (by transfers or discharges)
[syn: deactivation, inactivation]
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innovation
0
n 1: a creation (a new device or process) resulting from study
and experimentation [syn: invention, innovation]
2: the creation of something in the mind [syn: invention,
innovation, excogitation, conception, design]
3: the act of starting something for the first time; introducing
something new; "she looked forward to her initiation as an
adult"; "the foundation of a new scientific society" [syn:
initiation, founding, foundation, institution,
origination, creation, innovation, introduction,
instauration]
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observation
0
n 1: the act of making and recording a measurement
2: the act of observing; taking a patient look [syn:
observation, observance, watching]
3: a remark expressing careful consideration [syn:
observation, reflection, reflexion]
4: facts learned by observing; "he reported his observations to
the mayor"
5: the act of noticing or paying attention; "he escaped the
notice of the police" [syn: notice, observation,
observance]
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preservation
0
n 1: the activity of protecting something from loss or danger
[syn: preservation, saving]
2: the condition of being (well or ill) preserved
3: a process that saves organic substances from decay
4: an occurrence of improvement by virtue of preventing loss or
injury or other change [syn: conservation, preservation]
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renovation
0
n 1: the act of improving by renewing and restoring; "they are
pursuing a general program of renovation to the entire
property"; "a major overhal of the healthcare system was
proposed" [syn: renovation, redevelopment, overhaul]
2: the state of being restored to its former good condition;
"the inn was a renovation of a Colonial house" [syn:
renovation, restoration, refurbishment]
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reservation
0
n 1: a district that is reserved for particular purpose [syn:
reservation, reserve]
2: a statement that limits or restricts some claim; "he
recommended her without any reservations" [syn:
reservation, qualification]
3: an unstated doubt that prevents you from accepting something
wholeheartedly [syn: mental reservation, reservation,
arriere pensee]
4: the act of reserving (a place or passage) or engaging the
services of (a person or group); "wondered who had made the
booking" [syn: booking, reservation]
5: the written record or promise of an arrangement by which
accommodations are secured in advance
6: something reserved in advance (as a hotel accommodation or a
seat on a plane etc.)
7: the act of keeping back or setting aside for some future
occasion
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salivation
0
n 1: the secretion of saliva
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estivation
0
n 1: (zoology) cessation or slowing of activity during the
summer; especially slowing of metabolism in some animals
during a hot or dry period [syn: estivation,
aestivation]
2: (botany) the arrangement of sepals and petals in a flower bud
before it opens [syn: estivation, aestivation]
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innervation
0
n 1: the neural or electrical arousal of an organ or muscle or
gland [syn: excitation, innervation, irritation]
2: the distribution of nerve fibers to an organ or body region