Words that rhyme with duan

  • ascertain
    v 1: establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study; "find the product of two numbers"; "The physicist who found the elusive particle won the Nobel Prize" [syn: determine, find, find out, ascertain] 2: be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something; "He verified that the valves were closed"; "See that the curtains are closed"; "control the quality of the product" [syn: see, check, insure, see to it, ensure, control, ascertain, assure] 3: find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort; "I want to see whether she speaks French"; "See whether it works"; "find out if he speaks Russian"; "Check whether the train leaves on time" [syn: determine, check, find out, see, ascertain, watch, learn] 4: learn or discover with certainty
  • abstain
    v 1: refrain from voting 2: choose not to consume; "I abstain from alcohol" [syn: abstain, refrain, desist] [ant: consume, have, ingest, take, take in]
  • again
    adv 1: anew; "she tried again"; "they rehearsed the scene again" [syn: again, once again, once more, over again]
  • ain
    adj 1: belonging to or on behalf of a specified person (especially yourself); preceded by a possessive; "for your own use"; "do your own thing"; "she makes her own clothes"; "`ain' is Scottish" [syn: own(a), ain]
  • an
    n 1: an associate degree in nursing [syn: Associate in Nursing, AN]
  • arcane
    adj 1: requiring secret or mysterious knowledge; "the arcane science of dowsing"
  • arraign
    v 1: call before a court to answer an indictment 2: accuse of a wrong or an inadequacy
  • attain
    v 1: to gain with effort; "she achieved her goal despite setbacks" [syn: achieve, accomplish, attain, reach] 2: reach a point in time, or a certain state or level; "The thermometer hit 100 degrees"; "This car can reach a speed of 140 miles per hour" [syn: reach, hit, attain] 3: find unexpectedly; "the archeologists chanced upon an old tomb"; "she struck a goldmine"; "The hikers finally struck the main path to the lake" [syn: fall upon, strike, come upon, light upon, chance upon, come across, chance on, happen upon, attain, discover] 4: reach a destination, either real or abstract; "We hit Detroit by noon"; "The water reached the doorstep"; "We barely made it to the finish line"; "I have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts" [syn: reach, make, attain, hit, arrive at, gain]
  • ban
    n 1: a decree that prohibits something [syn: prohibition, ban, proscription] 2: 100 bani equal 1 leu in Moldova 3: 100 bani equal 1 leu in Romania 4: an official prohibition or edict against something [syn: ban, banning, forbiddance, forbidding] 5: a bachelor's degree in nursing [syn: Bachelor of Arts in Nursing, BAN] v 1: forbid the public distribution of ( a movie or a newspaper) [syn: ban, censor] 2: prohibit especially by legal means or social pressure; "Smoking is banned in this building" 3: ban from a place of residence, as for punishment [syn: banish, ban] 4: expel from a community or group [syn: banish, ban, ostracize, ostracise, shun, cast out, blackball]
  • bane
    n 1: something causing misery or death; "the bane of my life" [syn: bane, curse, scourge, nemesis]
  • blain
    n 1: an inflammatory swelling or sore
  • brain
    n 1: that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord [syn: brain, encephalon] 2: mental ability; "he's got plenty of brains but no common sense" [syn: brain, brainpower, learning ability, mental capacity, mentality, wit] 3: that which is responsible for one's thoughts and feelings; the seat of the faculty of reason; "his mind wandered"; "I couldn't get his words out of my head" [syn: mind, head, brain, psyche, nous] 4: someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality; "Mozart was a child genius"; "he's smart but he's no Einstein" [syn: genius, mastermind, brain, brainiac, Einstein] 5: the brain of certain animals used as meat v 1: hit on the head 2: kill by smashing someone's skull
  • bran
    n 1: broken husks of the seeds of cereal grains that are separated from the flour by sifting 2: food prepared from the husks of cereal grains
  • butane
    n 1: occurs in natural gas; used in the manufacture of rubber and fuels
  • campaign
    n 1: a race between candidates for elective office; "I managed his campaign for governor"; "he is raising money for a Senate run" [syn: political campaign, campaign, run] 2: a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported populist campaigns"; "they worked in the cause of world peace"; "the team was ready for a drive toward the pennant"; "the movement to end slavery"; "contributed to the war effort" [syn: campaign, cause, crusade, drive, movement, effort] 3: several related operations aimed at achieving a particular goal (usually within geographical and temporal constraints) [syn: campaign, military campaign] 4: an overland journey by hunters (especially in Africa) [syn: campaign, hunting expedition, safari] v 1: run, stand, or compete for an office or a position; "Who's running for treasurer this year?" [syn: campaign, run] 2: exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for; "The liberal party pushed for reforms"; "She is crusading for women's rights"; "The Dean is pushing for his favorite candidate" [syn: crusade, fight, press, campaign, push, agitate] 3: go on a campaign; go off to war [syn: campaign, take the field]
  • can
    n 1: airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint etc. [syn: can, tin, tin can] 2: the quantity contained in a can [syn: can, canful] 3: a buoy with a round bottom and conical top [syn: can, can buoy] 4: the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on; "he deserves a good kick in the butt"; "are you going to sit on your fanny and do nothing?" [syn: buttocks, nates, arse, butt, backside, bum, buns, can, fundament, hindquarters, hind end, keister, posterior, prat, rear, rear end, rump, stern, seat, tail, tail end, tooshie, tush, bottom, behind, derriere, fanny, ass] 5: a plumbing fixture for defecation and urination [syn: toilet, can, commode, crapper, pot, potty, stool, throne] 6: a room or building equipped with one or more toilets [syn: toilet, lavatory, lav, can, john, privy, bathroom] v 1: preserve in a can or tin; "tinned foods are not very tasty" [syn: can, tin, put up] 2: terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position; "The boss fired his secretary today"; "The company terminated 25% of its workers" [syn: displace, fire, give notice, can, dismiss, give the axe, send away, sack, force out, give the sack, terminate] [ant: employ, engage, hire]
  • cane
    n 1: a stick that people can lean on to help them walk 2: a strong slender often flexible stem as of bamboos, reeds, rattans, or sugar cane 3: a stiff switch used to hit students as punishment v 1: beat with a cane [syn: cane, flog, lambaste, lambast]
  • chain
    n 1: a series of things depending on each other as if linked together; "the chain of command"; "a complicated concatenation of circumstances" [syn: chain, concatenation] 2: (chemistry) a series of linked atoms (generally in an organic molecule) [syn: chain, chemical chain] 3: a series of (usually metal) rings or links fitted into one another to make a flexible ligament 4: (business) a number of similar establishments (stores or restaurants or banks or hotels or theaters) under one ownership 5: anything that acts as a restraint 6: a unit of length 7: British biochemist (born in Germany) who isolated and purified penicillin, which had been discovered in 1928 by Sir Alexander Fleming (1906-1979) [syn: Chain, Ernst Boris Chain, Sir Ernst Boris Chain] 8: a series of hills or mountains; "the valley was between two ranges of hills"; "the plains lay just beyond the mountain range" [syn: range, mountain range, range of mountains, chain, mountain chain, chain of mountains] 9: a linked or connected series of objects; "a chain of daisies" 10: a necklace made by a stringing objects together; "a string of beads"; "a strand of pearls"; [syn: chain, string, strand] v 1: connect or arrange into a chain by linking 2: fasten or secure with chains; "Chain the chairs together" [ant: unchain]
  • champagne
    n 1: a white sparkling wine either produced in Champagne or resembling that produced there [syn: champagne, bubbly] 2: a region of northeastern France [syn: Champagne, Champagne-Ardenne]
  • clan
    n 1: group of people related by blood or marriage [syn: kin, kin group, kinship group, kindred, clan, tribe]
  • cocaine
    n 1: a narcotic (alkaloid) extracted from coca leaves; used as a surface anesthetic or taken for pleasure; can become powerfully addictive [syn: cocaine, cocain]
  • complain
    v 1: express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness; "My mother complains all day"; "She has a lot to kick about" [syn: complain, kick, plain, sound off, quetch, kvetch] [ant: cheer, cheer up, chirk up] 2: make a formal accusation; bring a formal charge; "The plaintiff's lawyer complained that he defendant had physically abused his client"
  • constrain
    v 1: hold back [syn: restrain, encumber, cumber, constrain] 2: restrict; "Tighten the rules"; "stiffen the regulations" [syn: stiffen, tighten, tighten up, constrain]
  • contain
    v 1: include or contain; have as a component; "A totally new idea is comprised in this paper"; "The record contains many old songs from the 1930's" [syn: incorporate, contain, comprise] 2: contain or hold; have within; "The jar carries wine"; "The canteen holds fresh water"; "This can contains water" [syn: hold, bear, carry, contain] 3: lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits; "moderate your alcohol intake"; "hold your tongue"; "hold your temper"; "control your anger" [syn: control, hold in, hold, contain, check, curb, moderate] 4: be divisible by; "24 contains 6" 5: be capable of holding or containing; "This box won't take all the items"; "The flask holds one gallon" [syn: contain, take, hold] 6: hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of; "Arrest the downward trend"; "Check the growth of communism in South East Asia"; "Contain the rebel movement"; "Turn back the tide of communism" [syn: check, turn back, arrest, stop, contain, hold back]
  • crane
    n 1: United States writer (1871-1900) [syn: Crane, Stephen Crane] 2: United States poet (1899-1932) [syn: Crane, Hart Crane, Harold Hart Crane] 3: a small constellation in the southern hemisphere near Phoenix [syn: Grus, Crane] 4: lifts and moves heavy objects; lifting tackle is suspended from a pivoted boom that rotates around a vertical axis 5: large long-necked wading bird of marshes and plains in many parts of the world v 1: stretch (the neck) so as to see better; "The women craned their necks to see the President drive by" [syn: crane, stretch out]
  • cyan
    adj 1: of a bluish shade of green [syn: bluish green, blue- green, cyan, teal] n 1: a primary subtractive color for light; has a blue-green color
  • entertain
    v 1: provide entertainment for 2: take into consideration, have in view; "He entertained the notion of moving to South America" [syn: entertain, think of, toy with, flirt with, think about] 3: maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings); "bear a grudge"; "entertain interesting notions"; "harbor a resentment" [syn: harbor, harbour, hold, entertain, nurse]
  • explain
    v 1: make plain and comprehensible; "He explained the laws of physics to his students" [syn: explain, explicate] 2: define; "The committee explained their plan for fund-raising to the Dean" 3: serve as a reason or cause or justification of; "Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work"; "Her recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again" [syn: excuse, explain]
  • fain
    adv 1: in a willing manner; "this was gladly agreed to"; "I would fain do it" [syn: gladly, lief, fain] adj 1: having made preparations; "prepared to take risks" [syn: disposed(p), fain, inclined(p), prepared]
  • fan
    n 1: a device for creating a current of air by movement of a surface or surfaces 2: an enthusiastic devotee of sports [syn: sports fan, fan, rooter] 3: an ardent follower and admirer [syn: fan, buff, devotee, lover] v 1: strike out (a batter), (of a pitcher) 2: make (an emotion) fiercer; "fan hatred" 3: agitate the air 4: separate the chaff from by using air currents; "She stood there winnowing chaff all day in the field" [syn: winnow, fan]
  • feign
    v 1: make believe with the intent to deceive; "He feigned that he was ill"; "He shammed a headache" [syn: feign, sham, pretend, affect, dissemble] 2: make a pretence of; "She assumed indifference, even though she was seething with anger"; "he feigned sleep" [syn: simulate, assume, sham, feign]
  • flan
    n 1: open pastry filled with fruit or custard
  • gain
    n 1: a quantity that is added; "there was an addition to property taxes this year"; "they recorded the cattle's gain in weight over a period of weeks" [syn: addition, increase, gain] 2: the advantageous quality of being beneficial [syn: profit, gain] 3: the amount of increase in signal power or voltage or current expressed as the ratio of output to input [syn: amplification, gain] 4: the amount by which the revenue of a business exceeds its cost of operating [ant: loss, red, red ink] v 1: obtain; "derive pleasure from one's garden" [syn: derive, gain] 2: win something through one's efforts; "I acquired a passing knowledge of Chinese"; "Gain an understanding of international finance" [syn: acquire, win, gain] [ant: lose] 3: derive a benefit from; "She profited from his vast experience" [syn: profit, gain, benefit] 4: reach a destination, either real or abstract; "We hit Detroit by noon"; "The water reached the doorstep"; "We barely made it to the finish line"; "I have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts" [syn: reach, make, attain, hit, arrive at, gain] 5: obtain advantages, such as points, etc.; "The home team was gaining ground"; "After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one playoff berth in the Western Conference" [syn: gain, advance, win, pull ahead, make headway, get ahead, gain ground] [ant: drop off, fall back, fall behind, lose, recede] 6: rise in rate or price; "The stock market gained 24 points today" [syn: advance, gain] 7: increase or develop; "the peace movement gained momentum"; "the car gathers speed" [syn: gain, gather] 8: earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages; "How much do you make a month in your new job?"; "She earns a lot in her new job"; "this merger brought in lots of money"; "He clears $5,000 each month" [syn: gain, take in, clear, make, earn, realize, realise, pull in, bring in] 9: increase (one's body weight); "She gained 20 pounds when she stopped exercising" [syn: gain, put on] [ant: lose weight, melt off, reduce, slenderize, slim, slim down, thin]
  • germane
    adj 1: relevant and appropriate; "he asks questions that are germane and central to the issue"
  • grain
    n 1: a relatively small granular particle of a substance; "a grain of sand"; "a grain of sugar" 2: foodstuff prepared from the starchy grains of cereal grasses [syn: grain, food grain, cereal] 3: the side of leather from which the hair has been removed 4: a weight unit used for pearls or diamonds: 50 mg or 1/4 carat [syn: grain, metric grain] 5: 1/60 dram; equals an avoirdupois grain or 64.799 milligrams 6: 1/7000 pound; equals a troy grain or 64.799 milligrams 7: dry seed-like fruit produced by the cereal grasses: e.g. wheat, barley, Indian corn [syn: grain, caryopsis] 8: a cereal grass; "wheat is a grain that is grown in Kansas" 9: the smallest possible unit of anything; "there was a grain of truth in what he said"; "he does not have a grain of sense" 10: the direction, texture, or pattern of fibers found in wood or leather or stone or in a woven fabric; "saw the board across the grain" 11: the physical composition of something (especially with respect to the size and shape of the small constituents of a substance); "breadfruit has the same texture as bread"; "sand of a fine grain"; "fish with a delicate flavor and texture"; "a stone of coarse grain" [syn: texture, grain] v 1: thoroughly work in; "His hands were grained with dirt" [syn: ingrain, grain] 2: paint (a surface) to make it look like stone or wood 3: form into grains [syn: granulate, grain] 4: become granular [syn: granulate, grain]
  • humane
    adj 1: pertaining to or concerned with the humanities; "humanistic studies"; "a humane education" [syn: humanist, humanistic, humane] 2: marked or motivated by concern with the alleviation of suffering [ant: inhumane] 3: showing evidence of moral and intellectual advancement
  • inane
    adj 1: devoid of intelligence [syn: asinine, fatuous, inane, mindless, vacuous]
  • inhumane
    adj 1: lacking and reflecting lack of pity or compassion; "humans are innately inhumane; this explains much of the misery and suffering in the world"; "biological weapons are considered too inhumane to be used" [ant: humane]
  • insane
    adj 1: afflicted with or characteristic of mental derangement; "was declared insane"; "insane laughter" [ant: sane] 2: very foolish; "harebrained ideas"; "took insane risks behind the wheel"; "a completely mad scheme to build a bridge between two mountains" [syn: harebrained, insane, mad]
  • lane
    n 1: a narrow way or road 2: a well-defined track or path; for e.g. swimmers or lines of traffic
  • legerdemain
    n 1: an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers [syn: magic trick, conjuring trick, trick, magic, legerdemain, conjuration, thaumaturgy, illusion, deception]
  • main
    adj 1: most important element; "the chief aim of living"; "the main doors were of solid glass"; "the principal rivers of America"; "the principal example"; "policemen were primary targets"; "the master bedroom"; "a master switch" [syn: chief(a), main(a), primary(a), principal(a), master(a)] 2: (of a clause) capable of standing syntactically alone as a complete sentence; "the main (or independent) clause in a complex sentence has at least a subject and a verb" [syn: independent, main(a)] [ant: dependent, subordinate] 3: of force; of the greatest possible intensity; "by main strength" n 1: any very large body of (salt) water [syn: main, briny] 2: a principal pipe in a system that distributes water or gas or electricity or that collects sewage
  • maintain
    v 1: keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., "keep clean"; "hold in place"; "She always held herself as a lady"; "The students keep me on my toes" [syn: keep, maintain, hold] 2: keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction; "We preserve these archeological findings"; "The old lady could not keep up the building"; "children must be taught to conserve our national heritage"; "The museum curator conserved the ancient manuscripts" [syn: conserve, preserve, maintain, keep up] 3: supply with necessities and support; "She alone sustained her family"; "The money will sustain our good cause"; "There's little to earn and many to keep" [syn: sustain, keep, maintain] 4: state categorically [syn: assert, asseverate, maintain] 5: have and exercise; "wield power and authority" [syn: wield, exert, maintain] 6: maintain for use and service; "I keep a car in the countryside"; "She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips" [syn: keep, maintain] 7: maintain by writing regular records; "keep a diary"; "maintain a record"; "keep notes" [syn: keep, maintain] 8: state or assert; "He maintained his innocence" [syn: maintain, defend] 9: support against an opponent; "The appellate court upheld the verdict" [syn: uphold, maintain] 10: stick to correctly or closely; "The pianist kept time with the metronome"; "keep count"; "I cannot keep track of all my employees" [syn: observe, keep, maintain]
  • man
    n 1: an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman); "there were two women and six men on the bus" [syn: man, adult male] [ant: adult female, woman] 2: someone who serves in the armed forces; a member of a military force; "two men stood sentry duty" [syn: serviceman, military man, man, military personnel] [ant: civilian] 3: the generic use of the word to refer to any human being; "it was every man for himself" 4: any living or extinct member of the family Hominidae characterized by superior intelligence, articulate speech, and erect carriage [syn: homo, man, human being, human] 5: a male subordinate; "the chief stationed two men outside the building"; "he awaited word from his man in Havana" 6: an adult male person who has a manly character (virile and courageous competent); "the army will make a man of you" 7: a manservant who acts as a personal attendant to his employer; "Jeeves was Bertie Wooster's man" [syn: valet, valet de chambre, gentleman, gentleman's gentleman, man] 8: a male person who plays a significant role (husband or lover or boyfriend) in the life of a particular woman; "she takes good care of her man" [ant: woman] 9: one of the British Isles in the Irish Sea [syn: Man, Isle of Man] 10: game equipment consisting of an object used in playing certain board games; "he taught me to set up the men on the chess board"; "he sacrificed a piece to get a strategic advantage" [syn: man, piece] 11: all of the living human inhabitants of the earth; "all the world loves a lover"; "she always used `humankind' because `mankind' seemed to slight the women" [syn: world, human race, humanity, humankind, human beings, humans, mankind, man] v 1: take charge of a certain job; occupy a certain work place; "Mr. Smith manned the reception desk in the morning" 2: provide with workers; "We cannot man all the desks"; "Students were manning the booths"
  • mane
    n 1: long coarse hair growing from the crest of the animal's neck 2: growth of hair covering the scalp of a human being [syn: mane, head of hair]
  • moraine
    n 1: accumulated earth and stones deposited by a glacier
  • mundane
    adj 1: found in the ordinary course of events; "a placid everyday scene"; "it was a routine day"; "there's nothing quite like a real...train conductor to add color to a quotidian commute"- Anita Diamant [syn: everyday, mundane, quotidian, routine, unremarkable, workaday] 2: concerned with the world or worldly matters; "mundane affairs"; "he developed an immense terrestrial practicality" [syn: mundane, terrestrial] 3: belonging to this earth or world; not ideal or heavenly; "not a fairy palace; yet a mundane wonder of unimagined kind"; "so terrene a being as himself" [syn: mundane, terrene]
  • obtain
    v 1: come into possession of; "How did you obtain the visa?" 2: receive a specified treatment (abstract); "These aspects of civilization do not find expression or receive an interpretation"; "His movie received a good review"; "I got nothing but trouble for my good intentions" [syn: receive, get, find, obtain, incur] 3: be valid, applicable, or true; "This theory still holds" [syn: prevail, hold, obtain]
  • ordain
    v 1: order by virtue of superior authority; decree; "The King ordained the persecution and expulsion of the Jews"; "the legislature enacted this law in 1985" [syn: ordain, enact] 2: appoint to a clerical posts; "he was ordained in the Church" [syn: ordain, consecrate, ordinate, order] 3: invest with ministerial or priestly authority; "The minister was ordained only last month" 4: issue an order
  • pain
    n 1: a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder; "the patient developed severe pain and distension" [syn: pain, hurting] 2: emotional distress; a fundamental feeling that people try to avoid; "the pain of loneliness" [syn: pain, painfulness] [ant: pleasance, pleasure] 3: a somatic sensation of acute discomfort; "as the intensity increased the sensation changed from tickle to pain" [syn: pain, pain sensation, painful sensation] 4: a bothersome annoying person; "that kid is a terrible pain" [syn: pain, pain in the neck, nuisance] 5: something or someone that causes trouble; a source of unhappiness; "washing dishes was a nuisance before we got a dish washer"; "a bit of a bother"; "he's not a friend, he's an infliction" [syn: annoyance, bother, botheration, pain, infliction, pain in the neck, pain in the ass] v 1: cause bodily suffering to and make sick or indisposed [syn: trouble, ail, pain] 2: cause emotional anguish or make miserable; "It pains me to see my children not being taught well in school" [syn: pain, anguish, hurt]
  • pan
    n 1: cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal vessel [syn: pan, cooking pan] 2: (Greek mythology) god of fields and woods and shepherds and flocks; represented as a man with goat's legs and horns and ears; identified with Roman Sylvanus or Faunus [syn: Pan, goat god] 3: shallow container made of metal 4: chimpanzees; more closely related to Australopithecus than to other pongids [syn: Pan, genus Pan] v 1: make a sweeping movement; "The camera panned across the room" 2: wash dirt in a pan to separate out the precious minerals [syn: pan, pan out, pan off] 3: express a totally negative opinion of; "The critics panned the performance" [syn: pan, tear apart, trash]
  • pane
    n 1: sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors [syn: pane, pane of glass, window glass] 2: a panel or section of panels in a wall or door [syn: paneling, panelling, pane] 3: street name for lysergic acid diethylamide [syn: acid, back breaker, battery-acid, dose, dot, Elvis, loony toons, Lucy in the sky with diamonds, pane, superman, window pane, Zen]
  • pecan
    n 1: wood of a pecan tree 2: tree of southern United States and Mexico cultivated for its nuts [syn: pecan, pecan tree, Carya illinoensis, Carya illinoinsis] 3: smooth brown oval nut of south central United States
  • pertain
    v 1: be relevant to; "There were lots of questions referring to her talk"; "My remark pertained to your earlier comments" [syn: refer, pertain, relate, concern, come to, bear on, touch, touch on, have-to doe with] 2: be a part or attribute of [syn: pertain, appertain]
  • plain
    adv 1: unmistakably (`plain' is often used informally for `plainly'); "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great pain"; "he was manifestly too important to leave off the guest list"; "it is all patently nonsense"; "she has apparently been living here for some time"; "I thought he owned the property, but apparently not"; "You are plainly wrong"; "he is plain stubborn" [syn: obviously, evidently, manifestly, patently, apparently, plainly, plain] adj 1: clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment; "the effects of the drought are apparent to anyone who sees the parched fields"; "evident hostility"; "manifest disapproval"; "patent advantages"; "made his meaning plain"; "it is plain that he is no reactionary"; "in plain view" [syn: apparent, evident, manifest, patent, plain, unmistakable] 2: not elaborate or elaborated; simple; "plain food"; "stuck to the plain facts"; "a plain blue suit"; "a plain rectangular brick building" [ant: fancy] 3: lacking patterns especially in color [syn: plain, unpatterned] [ant: patterned] 4: not mixed with extraneous elements; "plain water"; "sheer wine"; "not an unmixed blessing" [syn: plain, sheer, unmingled, unmixed] 5: free from any effort to soften to disguise; "the plain and unvarnished truth"; "the unvarnished candor of old people and children" [syn: plain, unvarnished] 6: lacking embellishment or ornamentation; "a plain hair style"; "unembellished white walls"; "functional architecture featuring stark unornamented concrete" [syn: plain, bare, spare, unembellished, unornamented] 7: lacking in physical beauty or proportion; "a homely child"; "several of the buildings were downright homely"; "a plain girl with a freckled face" [syn: homely, plain] n 1: extensive tract of level open land; "they emerged from the woods onto a vast open plain"; "he longed for the fields of his youth" [syn: plain, field, champaign] 2: a basic knitting stitch [syn: knit, knit stitch, plain, plain stitch] v 1: express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness; "My mother complains all day"; "She has a lot to kick about" [syn: complain, kick, plain, sound off, quetch, kvetch] [ant: cheer, cheer up, chirk up]
  • plan
    n 1: a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished; "they drew up a six-step plan"; "they discussed plans for a new bond issue" [syn: plan, program, programme] 2: an arrangement scheme; "the awkward design of the keyboard made operation difficult"; "it was an excellent design for living"; "a plan for seating guests" [syn: design, plan] 3: scale drawing of a structure; "the plans for City Hall were on file" [syn: plan, architectural plan] v 1: have the will and intention to carry out some action; "He plans to be in graduate school next year"; "The rebels had planned turmoil and confusion" [syn: plan, be after] 2: make plans for something; "He is planning a trip with his family" 3: make or work out a plan for; devise; "They contrived to murder their boss"; "design a new sales strategy"; "plan an attack" [syn: plan, project, contrive, design] 4: make a design of; plan out in systematic, often graphic form; "design a better mousetrap"; "plan the new wing of the museum" [syn: design, plan]
  • plane
    adj 1: having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another; "a flat desk"; "acres of level farmland"; "a plane surface"; "skirts sewn with fine flat seams" [syn: flat, level, plane] n 1: an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets; "the flight was delayed due to trouble with the airplane" [syn: airplane, aeroplane, plane] 2: (mathematics) an unbounded two-dimensional shape; "we will refer to the plane of the graph as the X-Y plane"; "any line joining two points on a plane lies wholly on that plane" [syn: plane, sheet] 3: a level of existence or development; "he lived on a worldly plane" 4: a power tool for smoothing or shaping wood [syn: plane, planer, planing machine] 5: a carpenter's hand tool with an adjustable blade for smoothing or shaping wood; "the cabinetmaker used a plane for the finish work" [syn: plane, carpenter's plane, woodworking plane] v 1: cut or remove with or as if with a plane; "The machine shaved off fine layers from the piece of wood" [syn: plane, shave] 2: travel on the surface of water [syn: plane, skim] 3: make even or smooth, with or as with a carpenter's plane; "plane the top of the door"
  • preordain
    v 1: foreordain or determine beforehand [syn: predestine, foreordain, preordain]
  • profane
    adj 1: characterized by profanity or cursing; "foul-mouthed and blasphemous"; "blue language"; "profane words" [syn: blasphemous, blue, profane] 2: not concerned with or devoted to religion; "sacred and profane music"; "secular drama"; "secular architecture", "children being brought up in an entirely profane environment" [syn: profane, secular] [ant: sacred] 3: not holy because unconsecrated or impure or defiled [syn: profane, unconsecrated, unsanctified] 4: grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred; "blasphemous rites of a witches' Sabbath"; "profane utterances against the Church"; "it is sacrilegious to enter with shoes on" [syn: blasphemous, profane, sacrilegious] v 1: corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality; "debauch the young people with wine and women"; "Socrates was accused of corrupting young men"; "Do school counselors subvert young children?"; "corrupt the morals" [syn: corrupt, pervert, subvert, demoralize, demoralise, debauch, debase, profane, vitiate, deprave, misdirect] 2: violate the sacred character of a place or language; "desecrate a cemetery"; "violate the sanctity of the church"; "profane the name of God" [syn: desecrate, profane, outrage, violate]
  • rain
    n 1: water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere [syn: rain, rainfall] 2: drops of fresh water that fall as precipitation from clouds [syn: rain, rainwater] 3: anything happening rapidly or in quick successive; "a rain of bullets"; "a pelting of insults" [syn: rain, pelting] v 1: precipitate as rain; "If it rains much more, we can expect some flooding" [syn: rain, rain down]
  • rattan
    n 1: climbing palm of Sri Lanka and southern India remarkable for the great length of the stems which are used for malacca canes [syn: rattan, rattan palm, Calamus rotang] 2: the stem of various climbing palms of the genus Calamus and related genera used to make wickerwork and furniture and canes [syn: rattan, rattan cane] 3: a switch made from the stems of the rattan palms [syn: rattan, ratan]
  • refrain
    n 1: the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers [syn: refrain, chorus] v 1: resist doing something; "He refrained from hitting him back"; "she could not forbear weeping" [syn: refrain, forbear] [ant: act, move] 2: choose not to consume; "I abstain from alcohol" [syn: abstain, refrain, desist] [ant: consume, have, ingest, take, take in]
  • regain
    v 1: get or find back; recover the use of; "She regained control of herself"; "She found her voice and replied quickly" [syn: recover, retrieve, find, regain] 2: come upon after searching; find the location of something that was missed or lost; "Did you find your glasses?"; "I cannot find my gloves!" [syn: find, regain] [ant: lose]
  • reign
    n 1: a period during which something or somebody is dominant or powerful; "he was helpless under the reign of his egotism" 2: the period during which a monarch is sovereign; "during the reign of Henry VIII" 3: royal authority; the dominion of a monarch [syn: reign, sovereignty] v 1: have sovereign power; "Henry VIII reigned for a long time" 2: be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance; "Money reigns supreme here"; "Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood" [syn: predominate, dominate, rule, reign, prevail]
  • rein
    n 1: one of a pair of long straps (usually connected to the bit or the headpiece) used to control a horse 2: any means of control; "he took up the reins of government" v 1: control and direct with or as if by reins; "rein a horse" [syn: harness, rein in, draw rein, rein] 2: stop or slow up one's horse or oneself by or as if by pulling the reins; "They reined in in front of the post office" [syn: rein, rein in] 3: stop or check by or as if by a pull at the reins; "He reined in his horses in front of the post office" [syn: rein, rein in] 4: keep in check; "rule one's temper" [syn: rule, harness, rein]
  • remain
    v 1: stay the same; remain in a certain state; "The dress remained wet after repeated attempts to dry it"; "rest assured"; "stay alone"; "He remained unmoved by her tears"; "The bad weather continued for another week" [syn: stay, remain, rest] [ant: change] 2: continue in a place, position, or situation; "After graduation, she stayed on in Cambridge as a student adviser"; "Stay with me, please"; "despite student protests, he remained Dean for another year"; "She continued as deputy mayor for another year" [syn: stay, stay on, continue, remain] 3: be left; of persons, questions, problems, results, evidence, etc.; "There remains the question of who pulled the trigger"; "Carter remains the only President in recent history under whose Presidency the U.S. did not fight a war" 4: stay behind; "The smell stayed in the room"; "The hostility remained long after they made up" [syn: persist, remain, stay]
  • restrain
    v 1: keep under control; keep in check; "suppress a smile"; "Keep your temper"; "keep your cool" [syn: restrain, keep, keep back, hold back] 2: place limits on (extent or access); "restrict the use of this parking lot"; "limit the time you can spend with your friends" [syn: restrict, restrain, trammel, limit, bound, confine, throttle] 3: to close within bounds, limit or hold back from movement; "This holds the local until the express passengers change trains"; "About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade"; "The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center"; "The terrorists held the journalists for ransom" [syn: restrain, confine, hold] 4: hold back [syn: restrain, encumber, cumber, constrain] 5: to compel or deter by or as if by threats [syn: intimidate, restrain]
  • retain
    v 1: hold back within; "This soil retains water"; "I retain this drug for a long time"; "the dam retains the water" 2: allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature; "We cannot continue several servants any longer"; "She retains a lawyer"; "The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff"; "Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on"; "We kept the work going as long as we could"; "She retained her composure"; "this garment retains its shape even after many washings" [syn: retain, continue, keep, keep on] 3: secure and keep for possible future use or application; "The landlord retained the security deposit"; "I reserve the right to disagree" [syn: retain, hold, keep back, hold back] 4: keep in one's mind; "I cannot retain so much information"
  • retrain
    v 1: teach new skills; "We must retrain the linguists who cannot find employment" 2: train again; "He is retraining to become an IT worker"
  • romaine
    n 1: lettuce with long dark-green leaves in a loosely packed elongated head [syn: cos, cos lettuce, romaine, romaine lettuce]
  • sane
    adj 1: mentally healthy; free from mental disorder; "appears to be completely sane" [ant: insane] 2: marked by sound judgment; "sane nuclear policy" [syn: reasonable, sane]
  • scan
    n 1: the act of scanning; systematic examination of a prescribed region; "he made a thorough scan of the beach with his binoculars" 2: an image produced by scanning; "he analyzed the brain scan"; "you could see the tumor in the CAT scan" [syn: scan, CAT scan] v 1: examine minutely or intensely; "the surgeon scanned the X-ray" 2: examine hastily; "She scanned the newspaper headlines while waiting for the taxi" [syn: scan, skim, rake, glance over, run down] 3: make a wide, sweeping search of; "The beams scanned the night sky" 4: conform to a metrical pattern 5: move a light beam over; in electronics, to reproduce an image 6: read metrically; "scan verses" 7: obtain data from magnetic tapes; "This dictionary can be read by the computer" [syn: read, scan]
  • sedan
    n 1: a car that is closed and that has front and rear seats and two or four doors [syn: sedan, saloon] 2: a closed litter for one passenger [syn: sedan, sedan chair]
  • skein
    n 1: coils of worsted yarn
  • slain
    adj 1: killed; `slain' is formal or literary as in "slain warriors"; "a picture of St. George and the slain dragon" n 1: people who have been slain (as in battle)
  • span
    n 1: the complete duration of something; "the job was finished in the span of an hour" 2: the distance or interval between two points 3: two items of the same kind [syn: couple, pair, twosome, twain, brace, span, yoke, couplet, distich, duo, duet, dyad, duad] 4: a unit of length based on the width of the expanded human hand (usually taken as 9 inches) 5: a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc. [syn: bridge, span] 6: the act of sitting or standing astride [syn: straddle, span] v 1: to cover or extend over an area or time period; "Rivers traverse the valley floor", "The parking lot spans 3 acres"; "The novel spans three centuries" [syn: cross, traverse, span, sweep]
  • sprain
    n 1: a painful injury to a joint caused by a sudden wrenching of its ligaments v 1: twist suddenly so as to sprain; "wrench one's ankle"; "The wrestler twisted his shoulder"; "the hikers sprained their ankles when they fell"; "I turned my ankle and couldn't walk for several days" [syn: twist, sprain, wrench, turn, wrick, rick]
  • stain
    n 1: a soiled or discolored appearance; "the wine left a dark stain" [syn: stain, discoloration, discolouration] 2: (microscopy) a dye or other coloring material that is used in microscopy to make structures visible 3: the state of being covered with unclean things [syn: dirt, filth, grime, soil, stain, grease, grunge] 4: a symbol of disgrace or infamy; "And the Lord set a mark upon Cain"--Genesis [syn: mark, stigma, brand, stain] 5: an act that brings discredit to the person who does it; "he made a huge blot on his copybook" [syn: blot, smear, smirch, spot, stain] v 1: color with a liquid dye or tint; "Stain this table a beautiful walnut color"; "people knew how to stain glass a beautiful blue in the middle ages" 2: produce or leave stains; "Red wine stains the table cloth" 3: make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically; "The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air"; "Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man" [syn: tarnish, stain, maculate, sully, defile] 4: color for microscopic study; "The laboratory worker dyed the specimen"
  • strain
    n 1: (physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces 2: difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension; "she endured the stresses and strains of life"; "he presided over the economy during the period of the greatest stress and danger"- R.J.Samuelson [syn: stress, strain] 3: a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence; "she was humming an air from Beethoven" [syn: tune, melody, air, strain, melodic line, line, melodic phrase] 4: (psychology) nervousness resulting from mental stress; "his responsibilities were a constant strain"; "the mental strain of staying alert hour after hour was too much for him" [syn: strain, mental strain, nervous strain] 5: a special variety of domesticated animals within a species; "he experimented on a particular breed of white rats"; "he created a new strain of sheep" [syn: breed, strain, stock] 6: (biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups; "a new strain of microorganisms" [syn: form, variant, strain, var.] 7: injury to a muscle (often caused by overuse); results in swelling and pain 8: the general meaning or substance of an utterance; "although I disagreed with him I could follow the tenor of his argument" [syn: tenor, strain] 9: an effortful attempt to attain a goal [syn: striving, nisus, pains, strain] 10: an intense or violent exertion [syn: strain, straining] 11: the act of singing; "with a shout and a song they marched up to the gates" [syn: song, strain] v 1: to exert much effort or energy; "straining our ears to hear" [syn: strive, reach, strain] 2: test the limits of; "You are trying my patience!" [syn: try, strain, stress] 3: use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity; "He really extended himself when he climbed Kilimanjaro"; "Don't strain your mind too much" [syn: strain, extend] 4: separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements; "sift the flour" [syn: sift, sieve, strain] 5: cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious; "he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up" [syn: tense, strain, tense up] [ant: loosen up, make relaxed, relax, unlax, unstrain, unwind] 6: become stretched or tense or taut; "the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;" "the rope strained when the weight was attached" [syn: strain, tense] 7: remove by passing through a filter; "filter out the impurities" [syn: filter, filtrate, strain, separate out, filter out] 8: rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender; "puree the vegetables for the baby" [syn: puree, strain] 9: alter the shape of (something) by stress; "His body was deformed by leprosy" [syn: deform, distort, strain]
  • sustain
    v 1: lengthen or extend in duration or space; "We sustained the diplomatic negotiations as long as possible"; "prolong the treatment of the patient"; "keep up the good work" [syn: prolong, sustain, keep up] 2: undergo (as of injuries and illnesses); "She suffered a fracture in the accident"; "He had an insulin shock after eating three candy bars"; "She got a bruise on her leg"; "He got his arm broken in the scuffle" [syn: suffer, sustain, have, get] 3: provide with nourishment; "We sustained ourselves on bread and water"; "This kind of food is not nourishing for young children" [syn: nourish, nurture, sustain] 4: supply with necessities and support; "She alone sustained her family"; "The money will sustain our good cause"; "There's little to earn and many to keep" [syn: sustain, keep, maintain] 5: be the physical support of; carry the weight of; "The beam holds up the roof"; "He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam"; "What's holding that mirror?" [syn: hold, support, sustain, hold up] 6: admit as valid; "The court sustained the motion" 7: establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts; "his story confirmed my doubts"; "The evidence supports the defendant" [syn: confirm, corroborate, sustain, substantiate, support, affirm] [ant: contradict, negate]
  • swain
    n 1: a man who is the lover of a girl or young woman; "if I'd known he was her boyfriend I wouldn't have asked" [syn: boyfriend, fellow, beau, swain, young man]
  • tan
    adj 1: of a light yellowish-brown color n 1: a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun [syn: tan, suntan, sunburn, burn] 2: a light brown the color of topaz [syn: tan, topaz] 3: ratio of the opposite to the adjacent side of a right-angled triangle [syn: tangent, tan] v 1: treat skins and hides with tannic acid so as to convert them into leather 2: get a tan, from wind or sun [syn: tan, bronze]
  • terrain
    n 1: a piece of ground having specific characteristics or military potential; "they decided to attack across the rocky terrain"
  • thane
    n 1: a feudal lord or baron 2: a man ranking above an ordinary freeman and below a noble in Anglo-Saxon England (especially one who gave military service in exchange for land)
  • train
    n 1: public transport provided by a line of railway cars coupled together and drawn by a locomotive; "express trains don't stop at Princeton Junction" [syn: train, railroad train] 2: a sequentially ordered set of things or events or ideas in which each successive member is related to the preceding; "a string of islands"; "train of mourners"; "a train of thought" [syn: string, train] 3: a procession (of wagons or mules or camels) traveling together in single file; "we were part of a caravan of almost a thousand camels"; "they joined the wagon train for safety" [syn: caravan, train, wagon train] 4: a series of consequences wrought by an event; "it led to a train of disasters" 5: piece of cloth forming the long back section of a gown that is drawn along the floor; "the bride's train was carried by her two young nephews" 6: wheelwork consisting of a connected set of rotating gears by which force is transmitted or motion or torque is changed; "the fool got his tie caught in the geartrain" [syn: gearing, gear, geartrain, power train, train] v 1: create by training and teaching; "The old master is training world-class violinists"; "we develop the leaders for the future" [syn: train, develop, prepare, educate] 2: undergo training or instruction in preparation for a particular role, function, or profession; "She is training to be a teacher"; "He trained as a legal aid" [syn: train, prepare] 3: develop (children's) behavior by instruction and practice; especially to teach self-control; "Parents must discipline their children"; "Is this dog trained?" [syn: discipline, train, check, condition] 4: educate for a future role or function; "He is grooming his son to become his successor"; "The prince was prepared to become King one day"; "They trained him to be a warrior" [syn: prepare, groom, train] 5: teach or refine to be discriminative in taste or judgment; "Cultivate your musical taste"; "Train your tastebuds"; "She is well schooled in poetry" [syn: educate, school, train, cultivate, civilize, civilise] 6: point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards; "Please don't aim at your little brother!"; "He trained his gun on the burglar"; "Don't train your camera on the women"; "Take a swipe at one's opponent" [syn: aim, take, train, take aim, direct] 7: teach and supervise (someone); act as a trainer or coach (to), as in sports; "He is training our Olympic team"; "She is coaching the crew" [syn: coach, train] 8: exercise in order to prepare for an event or competition; "She is training for the Olympics" 9: cause to grow in a certain way by tying and pruning it; "train the vine" 10: travel by rail or train; "They railed from Rome to Venice"; "She trained to Hamburg" [syn: train, rail] 11: drag loosely along a surface; allow to sweep the ground; "The toddler was trailing his pants"; "She trained her long scarf behind her" [syn: trail, train]
  • urbane
    adj 1: showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience; "his polished manner"; "maintained an urbane tone in his letters" [syn: polished, refined, svelte, urbane]
  • vain
    adj 1: characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance; "a conceited fool"; "an attitude of self-conceited arrogance"; "an egotistical disregard of others"; "so swollen by victory that he was unfit for normal duty"; "growing ever more swollen-headed and arbitrary"; "vain about her clothes" [syn: conceited, egotistic, egotistical, self- conceited, swollen, swollen-headed, vain] 2: unproductive of success; "a fruitless search"; "futile years after her artistic peak"; "a sleeveless errand"; "a vain attempt" [syn: bootless, fruitless, futile, sleeveless, vain]
  • van
    n 1: any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts) [syn: avant-garde, vanguard, van, new wave] 2: the leading units moving at the head of an army [syn: vanguard, van] 3: (Great Britain) a closed railroad car that carries baggage or freight 4: a camper equipped with living quarters [syn: van, caravan] 5: a truck with an enclosed cargo space
  • vane
    n 1: mechanical device attached to an elevated structure; rotates freely to show the direction of the wind [syn: weathervane, weather vane, vane, wind vane] 2: a fin attached to the tail of an arrow, bomb or missile in order to stabilize or guide it 3: flat surface that rotates and pushes against air or water [syn: blade, vane] 4: the flattened weblike part of a feather consisting of a series of barbs on either side of the shaft [syn: vane, web]
  • vein
    n 1: a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart; "all veins except the pulmonary vein carry unaerated blood" [syn: vein, vena, venous blood vessel] 2: a distinctive style or manner; "he continued in this vein for several minutes" 3: any of the vascular bundles or ribs that form the branching framework of conducting and supporting tissues in a leaf or other plant organ [syn: vein, nervure] 4: a layer of ore between layers of rock [syn: vein, mineral vein] 5: one of the horny ribs that stiffen and support the wing of an insect [syn: vein, nervure] v 1: make a veinlike pattern
  • wane
    n 1: a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number) [syn: ebb, ebbing, wane] v 1: grow smaller; "Interest in the project waned" [syn: decline, go down, wane] 2: become smaller; "Interest in his novels waned" [ant: climb, mount, rise, wax] 3: decrease in phase; "the moon is waning" [ant: full, wax]
  • ane
    adj 1: used of a single unit or thing; not two or more; "`ane' is Scottish" [syn: one, 1, i, ane]
  • cain
    n 1: (Old Testament) Cain and Abel were the first children of Adam and Eve born after the Fall of Man; Cain killed Abel out of jealousy and was exiled by God
  • dane
    n 1: a native or inhabitant of Denmark
  • jain
    adj 1: relating to or characteristic of Jainism; "Jain gods" [syn: Jain, Jainist]
  • maine
    n 1: a state in New England [syn: Maine, Pine Tree State, ME]
  • paine
    n 1: American Revolutionary leader and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1731-1814) [syn: Paine, Robert Treat Paine] 2: American Revolutionary leader and pamphleteer (born in England) who supported the American colonist's fight for independence and supported the French Revolution (1737-1809) [syn: Paine, Tom Paine, Thomas Paine]
  • spain
    n 1: a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power [syn: Spain, Kingdom of Spain, Espana]
  • wain
    n 1: English writer (1925-1994) [syn: Wain, John Wain, John Barrington Wain] 2: a group of seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa Major [syn: Big Dipper, Dipper, Plough, Charles's Wain, Wain, Wagon] 3: large open farm wagon
  • wayne
    n 1: United States film actor who played tough heroes (1907-1979) [syn: Wayne, John Wayne, Duke Wayne] 2: American general during the American Revolution (1745-1796) [syn: Wayne, Anthony Wayne, Mad Anthony Wayne]