Words that rhyme with fer

  • affair
    n 1: a vaguely specified concern; "several matters to attend to"; "it is none of your affair"; "things are going well" [syn: matter, affair, thing] 2: a usually secretive or illicit sexual relationship [syn: affair, affaire, intimacy, liaison, involvement, amour] 3: a vaguely specified social event; "the party was quite an affair"; "an occasion arranged to honor the president"; "a seemingly endless round of social functions" [syn: affair, occasion, social occasion, function, social function]
  • air
    n 1: a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of; "air pollution"; "a smell of chemicals in the air"; "open a window and let in some air"; "I need some fresh air" 2: the region above the ground; "her hand stopped in mid air"; "he threw the ball into the air" 3: a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing; "an air of mystery"; "the house had a neglected air"; "an atmosphere of defeat pervaded the candidate's headquarters"; "the place had an aura of romance" [syn: air, aura, atmosphere] 4: a slight wind (usually refreshing); "the breeze was cooled by the lake"; "as he waited he could feel the air on his neck" [syn: breeze, zephyr, gentle wind, air] 5: the mass of air surrounding the Earth; "there was great heat as the comet entered the atmosphere"; "it was exposed to the air" [syn: atmosphere, air] 6: once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles) 7: 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] 8: medium for radio and television broadcasting; "the program was on the air from 9 til midnight"; "the president used the airwaves to take his message to the people" [syn: air, airwave] 9: travel via aircraft; "air travel involves too much waiting in airports"; "if you've time to spare go by air" [syn: air travel, aviation, air] v 1: expose to fresh air; "aerate your old sneakers" [syn: air out, air, aerate] 2: be broadcast; "This show will air Saturdays at 2 P.M." 3: broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television; "We cannot air this X-rated song" [syn: air, send, broadcast, beam, transmit] 4: make public; "She aired her opinions on welfare" [syn: publicize, publicise, air, bare] 5: expose to warm or heated air, so as to dry; "Air linen" 6: expose to cool or cold air so as to cool or freshen; "air the old winter clothes"; "air out the smoke-filled rooms" [syn: vent, ventilate, air out, air]
  • are
    n 1: a unit of surface area equal to 100 square meters [syn: are, ar]
  • aware
    adj 1: (sometimes followed by `of') having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception; "was aware of his opponent's hostility"; "became aware of her surroundings"; "aware that he had exceeded the speed limit" [syn: aware(p), cognizant, cognisant] [ant: incognizant, unaware] 2: bearing in mind; attentive to; "ever mindful of her health"; "mindful of his responsibilities"; "mindful of these criticisms, I shall attempt to justify my action" [syn: mindful, aware] [ant: forgetful, mindless, unmindful]
  • bare
    adj 1: completely unclothed; "bare bodies"; "naked from the waist up"; "a nude model" [syn: bare, au naturel(p), naked, nude] 2: lacking in amplitude or quantity; "a bare livelihood"; "a scanty harvest"; "a spare diet" [syn: bare(a), scanty, spare] 3: not having a protective covering; "unsheathed cables"; "a bare blade" [syn: unsheathed, bare] [ant: sheathed] 4: lacking its natural or customary covering; "a bare hill"; "bare feet" [ant: covered] 5: just barely adequate or within a lower limit; "a bare majority"; "a marginal victory" [syn: bare(a), marginal] 6: apart from anything else; without additions or modifications; "only the bare facts"; "shocked by the mere idea"; "the simple passage of time was enough"; "the simple truth" [syn: bare(a), mere(a), simple(a)] 7: lacking a surface finish such as paint; "bare wood"; "unfinished furniture" [syn: bare, unfinished] 8: providing no shelter or sustenance; "bare rocky hills"; "barren lands"; "the bleak treeless regions of the high Andes"; "the desolate surface of the moon"; "a stark landscape" [syn: bare, barren, bleak, desolate, stark] 9: having everything extraneous removed including contents; "the bare walls"; "the cupboard was bare" [syn: bare, stripped] 10: lacking embellishment or ornamentation; "a plain hair style"; "unembellished white walls"; "functional architecture featuring stark unornamented concrete" [syn: plain, bare, spare, unembellished, unornamented] v 1: lay bare; "bare your breasts"; "bare your feelings" 2: make public; "She aired her opinions on welfare" [syn: publicize, publicise, air, bare] 3: lay bare; "denude a forest" [syn: denude, bare, denudate, strip]
  • bear
    n 1: massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws 2: an investor with a pessimistic market outlook; an investor who expects prices to fall and so sells now in order to buy later at a lower price [ant: bull] v 1: have; "bear a resemblance"; "bear a signature" 2: cause to be born; "My wife had twins yesterday!" [syn: give birth, deliver, bear, birth, have] 3: put up with something or somebody unpleasant; "I cannot bear his constant criticism"; "The new secretary had to endure a lot of unprofessional remarks"; "he learned to tolerate the heat"; "She stuck out two years in a miserable marriage" [syn: digest, endure, stick out, stomach, bear, stand, tolerate, support, brook, abide, suffer, put up] 4: move while holding up or supporting; "Bear gifts"; "bear a heavy load"; "bear news"; "bearing orders" 5: bring forth, "The apple tree bore delicious apples this year"; "The unidentified plant bore gorgeous flowers" [syn: bear, turn out] 6: take on as one's own the expenses or debts of another person; "I'll accept the charges"; "She agreed to bear the responsibility" [syn: bear, take over, accept, assume] 7: contain or hold; have within; "The jar carries wine"; "The canteen holds fresh water"; "This can contains water" [syn: hold, bear, carry, contain] 8: bring in; "interest-bearing accounts"; "How much does this savings certificate pay annually?" [syn: yield, pay, bear] 9: have on one's person; "He wore a red ribbon"; "bear a scar" [syn: wear, bear] 10: behave in a certain manner; "She carried herself well"; "he bore himself with dignity"; "They conducted themselves well during these difficult times" [syn: behave, acquit, bear, deport, conduct, comport, carry] 11: have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices; "She bears the title of Duchess"; "He held the governorship for almost a decade" [syn: bear, hold] 12: support or hold in a certain manner; "She holds her head high"; "He carried himself upright" [syn: hold, carry, bear] 13: be pregnant with; "She is bearing his child"; "The are expecting another child in January"; "I am carrying his child" [syn: have a bun in the oven, bear, carry, gestate, expect]
  • beware
    v 1: be on one's guard; be cautious or wary about; be alert to; "Beware of telephone salesmen" [syn: beware, mind]
  • billionaire
    n 1: a very rich person whose material wealth is valued at more than a billion dollars
  • birr
    n 1: the basic unit of money in Ethiopia; equal to 100 cents 2: sound of something in rapid motion; "whir of a bird's wings"; "the whir of the propellers" [syn: whir, whirr, whirring, birr] v 1: make a soft swishing sound; "the motor whirred"; "the car engine purred" [syn: whizz, whiz, whirr, whir, birr, purr]
  • blare
    n 1: a loud harsh or strident noise [syn: blare, blaring, cacophony, clamor, din] v 1: make a strident sound; "She tended to blast when speaking into a microphone" [syn: blast, blare] 2: make a loud noise; "The horns of the taxis blared" [syn: honk, blare, beep, claxon, toot]
  • blur
    n 1: a hazy or indistinct representation; "it happened so fast it was just a blur"; "he tried to clear his head of the whisky fuzz" [syn: blur, fuzz] v 1: become glassy; lose clear vision; "Her eyes glazed over from lack of sleep" [syn: film over, glaze over, blur] 2: to make less distinct or clear; "The haze blurs the hills" [ant: focus] 3: make unclear, indistinct, or blurred; "Her remarks confused the debate"; "Their words obnubilate their intentions" [syn: confuse, blur, obscure, obnubilate] 4: make a smudge on; soil by smudging [syn: smear, blur, smudge, smutch] 5: make dim or indistinct; "The fog blurs my vision" [syn: blur, blear] [ant: focalise, focalize, focus, sharpen] 6: become vague or indistinct; "The distinction between the two theories blurred" [syn: blur, dim, slur] [ant: focalise, focalize, focus]
  • bur
    n 1: seed vessel having hooks or prickles [syn: bur, burr] 2: small bit used in dentistry or surgery [syn: bur, burr] v 1: remove the burrs from [syn: bur, burr]
  • burr
    n 1: seed vessel having hooks or prickles [syn: bur, burr] 2: rough projection left on a workpiece after drilling or cutting 3: United States politician who served as vice president under Jefferson; he mortally wounded his political rival Alexander Hamilton in a duel and fled south (1756-1836) [syn: Burr, Aaron Burr] 4: rotary file for smoothing rough edges left on a workpiece 5: small bit used in dentistry or surgery [syn: bur, burr] v 1: remove the burrs from [syn: bur, burr]
  • care
    n 1: the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something; "no medical care was required"; "the old car needs constant attention" [syn: care, attention, aid, tending] 2: judiciousness in avoiding harm or danger; "he exercised caution in opening the door"; "he handled the vase with care" [syn: caution, precaution, care, forethought] 3: an anxious feeling; "care had aged him"; "they hushed it up out of fear of public reaction" [syn: concern, care, fear] 4: a cause for feeling concern; "his major care was the illness of his wife" 5: attention and management implying responsibility for safety; "he is in the care of a bodyguard" [syn: care, charge, tutelage, guardianship] 6: activity involved in maintaining something in good working order; "he wrote the manual on car care" [syn: care, maintenance, upkeep] v 1: feel concern or interest; "I really care about my work"; "I don't care" 2: provide care for; "The nurse was caring for the wounded" [syn: care, give care] 3: prefer or wish to do something; "Do you care to try this dish?"; "Would you like to come along to the movies?" [syn: wish, care, like] 4: be in charge of, act on, or dispose of; "I can deal with this crew of workers"; "This blender can't handle nuts"; "She managed her parents' affairs after they got too old" [syn: manage, deal, care, handle] 5: be concerned with; "I worry about my grades" [syn: worry, care]
  • chair
    n 1: a seat for one person, with a support for the back; "he put his coat over the back of the chair and sat down" 2: the position of professor; "he was awarded an endowed chair in economics" [syn: professorship, chair] 3: the officer who presides at the meetings of an organization; "address your remarks to the chairperson" [syn: president, chairman, chairwoman, chair, chairperson] 4: an instrument of execution by electrocution; resembles an ordinary seat for one person; "the murderer was sentenced to die in the chair" [syn: electric chair, chair, death chair, hot seat] 5: a particular seat in an orchestra; "he is second chair violin" v 1: act or preside as chair, as of an academic department in a university; "She chaired the department for many years" [syn: chair, chairman] 2: preside over; "John moderated the discussion" [syn: moderate, chair, lead]
  • chauffeur
    n 1: a man paid to drive a privately owned car v 1: drive someone in a vehicle [syn: drive around, chauffeur]
  • compare
    n 1: qualities that are comparable; "no comparison between the two books"; "beyond compare" [syn: comparison, compare, equivalence, comparability] v 1: examine and note the similarities or differences of; "John compared his haircut to his friend's"; "We compared notes after we had both seen the movie" 2: be comparable; "This car does not compare with our line of Mercedes" 3: consider or describe as similar, equal, or analogous; "We can compare the Han dynasty to the Romans"; "You cannot equate success in financial matters with greed" [syn: compare, liken, equate] 4: to form the comparative or superlative form on an adjective or adverb
  • concessionaire
    n 1: someone who holds or operates a concession [syn: concessionaire, concessioner]
  • concur
    v 1: be in accord; be in agreement; "We agreed on the terms of the settlement"; "I can't agree with you!"; "I hold with those who say life is sacred"; "Both philosophers concord on this point" [syn: agree, hold, concur, concord] [ant: differ, disagree, dissent, take issue] 2: happen simultaneously; "The two events coincided" [syn: concur, coincide]
  • confer
    v 1: have a conference in order to talk something over; "We conferred about a plan of action" [syn: confer, confabulate, confab, consult] 2: present; "The university conferred a degree on its most famous former student, who never graduated"; "bestow an honor on someone" [syn: confer, bestow]
  • connoisseur
    n 1: an expert able to appreciate a field; especially in the fine arts [syn: connoisseur, cognoscente]
  • cur
    n 1: an inferior dog or one of mixed breed [syn: cur, mongrel, mutt] 2: a cowardly and despicable person
  • dare
    n 1: a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy; "he could never refuse a dare" [syn: dare, daring] v 1: take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission; "How dare you call my lawyer?" [syn: make bold, dare, presume] 2: to be courageous enough to try or do something; "I don't dare call him", "she dares to dress differently from the others" 3: challenge; "I dare you!" [syn: defy, dare]
  • debonair
    adj 1: having a sophisticated charm; "a debonair gentleman" [syn: debonair, debonaire, debonnaire, suave] 2: having a cheerful, lively, and self-confident air; "looking chipper, like a man...diverted by his own wit"- Frances G. Patton; "life that is gay, brisk, and debonair"- H.M.Reynolds; "walked with a jaunty step"; "a jaunty optimist" [syn: chipper, debonair, debonaire, jaunty]
  • declare
    v 1: state emphatically and authoritatively; "He declared that he needed more money to carry out the task he was charged with" 2: announce publicly or officially; "The President declared war" [syn: announce, declare] 3: state firmly; "He declared that he was innocent" 4: declare to be; "She was declared incompetent"; "judge held that the defendant was innocent" [syn: declare, adjudge, hold] 5: authorize payments of; "declare dividends" 6: designate (a trump suit or no-trump) with the final bid of a hand 7: make a declaration (of dutiable goods) to a customs official; "Do you have anything to declare?" 8: proclaim one's support, sympathy, or opinion for or against; "His wife declared at once for moving to the West Coast"
  • defer
    v 1: hold back to a later time; "let's postpone the exam" [syn: postpone, prorogue, hold over, put over, table, shelve, set back, defer, remit, put off] 2: yield to another's wish or opinion; "The government bowed to the military pressure" [syn: submit, bow, defer, accede, give in]
  • demur
    n 1: (law) a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings [syn: demur, demurral, demurrer] v 1: take exception to; "he demurred at my suggestion to work on Saturday" [syn: demur, except] 2: enter a demurrer
  • despair
    n 1: a state in which all hope is lost or absent; "in the depths of despair"; "they were rescued from despair at the last minute"; "courage born of desperation" [syn: despair, desperation] 2: the feeling that everything is wrong and nothing will turn out well; "they moaned in despair and dismay"; "one harsh word would send her into the depths of despair" [ant: hope] v 1: abandon hope; give up hope; lose heart; "Don't despair-- help is on the way!" [ant: hope]
  • deter
    v 1: try to prevent; show opposition to; "We should discourage this practice among our youth" [syn: deter, discourage] 2: turn away from by persuasion; "Negative campaigning will only dissuade people" [syn: dissuade, deter] [ant: persuade]
  • disrepair
    n 1: in need of repairs
  • doctrinaire
    adj 1: stubbornly insistent on theory without regard for practicality or suitability n 1: a stubborn person of arbitrary or arrogant opinions [syn: dogmatist, doctrinaire]
  • ensnare
    v 1: take or catch as if in a snare or trap; "I was set up!"; "The innocent man was framed by the police" [syn: ensnare, entrap, frame, set up] 2: catch in or as if in a trap; "The men trap foxes" [syn: trap, entrap, snare, ensnare, trammel]
  • entrepreneur
    n 1: someone who organizes a business venture and assumes the risk for it [syn: entrepreneur, enterpriser]
  • err
    v 1: to make a mistake or be incorrect [syn: err, mistake, slip] 2: wander from a direct course or at random; "The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her"; "don't drift from the set course" [syn: stray, err, drift]
  • fair
    adv 1: in conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating; "they played fairly" [syn: fairly, fair, clean] [ant: below the belt, unfairly] 2: without favoring one party, in a fair evenhanded manner; "deal fairly with one another" [syn: fairly, fair, evenhandedly] adj 1: free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules; "a fair referee"; "fair deal"; "on a fair footing"; "a fair fight"; "by fair means or foul" [syn: fair, just] [ant: unfair, unjust] 2: not excessive or extreme; "a fairish income"; "reasonable prices" [syn: fair, fairish, reasonable] 3: very pleasing to the eye; "my bonny lass"; "there's a bonny bay beyond"; "a comely face"; "young fair maidens" [syn: bonny, bonnie, comely, fair, sightly] 4: (of a baseball) hit between the foul lines; "he hit a fair ball over the third base bag" [ant: foul] 5: lacking exceptional quality or ability; "a novel of average merit"; "only a fair performance of the sonata"; "in fair health"; "the caliber of the students has gone from mediocre to above average"; "the performance was middling at best" [syn: average, fair, mediocre, middling] 6: attractively feminine; "the fair sex" 7: (of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections; "fair copy"; "a clean manuscript" [syn: clean, fair] 8: gained or earned without cheating or stealing; "an honest wage"; "an fair penny" [syn: honest, fair] 9: free of clouds or rain; "today will be fair and warm" 10: (used of hair or skin) pale or light-colored; "a fair complexion"; [syn: fair, fairish] n 1: a traveling show; having sideshows and rides and games of skill etc. [syn: carnival, fair, funfair] 2: gathering of producers to promote business; "world fair"; "trade fair"; "book fair" 3: a competitive exhibition of farm products; "she won a blue ribbon for her baking at the county fair" 4: a sale of miscellany; often for charity; "the church bazaar" [syn: bazaar, fair] v 1: join so that the external surfaces blend smoothly
  • fare
    n 1: an agenda of things to do; "they worked rapidly down the menu of reports" [syn: menu, fare] 2: the sum charged for riding in a public conveyance [syn: fare, transportation] 3: a paying (taxi) passenger 4: the food and drink that are regularly served or consumed v 1: proceed or get along; "How is she doing in her new job?"; "How are you making out in graduate school?"; "He's come a long way" [syn: do, fare, make out, come, get along] 2: eat well
  • flair
    n 1: a natural talent; "he has a flair for mathematics"; "he has a genius for interior decorating" [syn: flair, genius] 2: distinctive and stylish elegance; "he wooed her with the confident dash of a cavalry officer" [syn: dash, elan, flair, panache, style] 3: a shape that spreads outward; "the skirt had a wide flare" [syn: flare, flair]
  • flare
    n 1: a shape that spreads outward; "the skirt had a wide flare" [syn: flare, flair] 2: a sudden burst of flame 3: a burst of light used to communicate or illuminate [syn: flare, flash] 4: reddening of the skin spreading outward from a focus of infection or irritation 5: a sudden recurrence or worsening of symptoms; "a colitis flare"; "infection can cause a lupus flare" 6: a sudden eruption of intense high-energy radiation from the sun's surface; associated with sunspots and radio interference [syn: solar flare, flare] 7: am unwanted reflection in an optical system (or the fogging of an image that is caused by such a reflection) 8: a sudden outburst of emotion; "she felt a flare of delight"; "she could not control her flare of rage" 9: a device that produces a bright light for warning or illumination or identification 10: a short forward pass to a back who is running toward the sidelines; "he threw a flare to the fullback who was tackled for a loss" [syn: flare pass, flare] 11: (baseball) a fly ball hit a short distance into the outfield v 1: burn brightly; "Every star seemed to flare with new intensity" [syn: flare, flame up, blaze up, burn up] 2: become flared and widen, usually at one end; "The bellbottom pants flare out" [syn: flare out, flare] 3: shine with a sudden light; "The night sky flared with the massive bombardment" [syn: flare, flame] 4: erupt or intensify suddenly; "Unrest erupted in the country"; "Tempers flared at the meeting"; "The crowd irrupted into a burst of patriotism" [syn: erupt, irrupt, flare up, flare, break open, burst out]
  • forswear
    v 1: formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure; "He retracted his earlier statements about his religion"; "She abjured her beliefs" [syn: abjure, recant, forswear, retract, resile]
  • foursquare
    adv 1: in a square position; "the building stood foursquare" 2: with firmness and conviction; without compromise; "he stood foursquare for religious liberty and toleration"- C.G.Bowers; "dealt straightforwardly with all issues" [syn: squarely, foursquare, straightforwardly] adj 1: characterized by firm and unwavering conviction; "a foursquare refusal to yield" n 1: (geometry) a plane rectangle with four equal sides and four right angles; a four-sided regular polygon; "you can compute the area of a square if you know the length of its sides" [syn: square, foursquare]
  • glare
    n 1: a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted; "a glare of sunlight" [syn: glare, blaze, brilliance] 2: an angry stare [syn: glare, glower] 3: a focus of public attention; "he enjoyed being in the limelight"; "when Congress investigates it brings the full glare of publicity to the agency" [syn: limelight, spotlight, glare, public eye] v 1: look at with a fixed gaze; "The girl glared at the man who tried to make a pass at her" [syn: glower, glare] 2: be sharply reflected; "The moon glared back at itself from the lake's surface" 3: shine intensely; "The sun glared down on us"
  • hair
    n 1: a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss; "he combed his hair"; "each hair consists of layers of dead keratinized cells" 2: a very small distance or space; "they escaped by a hair's-breadth"; "they lost the election by a whisker" [syn: hair's-breadth, hairsbreadth, hair, whisker] 3: filamentous hairlike growth on a plant; "peach fuzz" [syn: hair, fuzz, tomentum] 4: any of the cylindrical filaments characteristically growing from the epidermis of a mammal; "there is a hair in my soup" [syn: hair, pilus] 5: cloth woven from horsehair or camelhair; used for upholstery or stiffening in garments [syn: haircloth, hair] 6: a filamentous projection or process on an organism
  • hare
    n 1: swift timid long-eared mammal larger than a rabbit having a divided upper lip and long hind legs; young born furred and with open eyes 2: flesh of any of various rabbits or hares (wild or domesticated) eaten as food [syn: rabbit, hare] v 1: run quickly, like a hare; "He hared down the hill"
  • heir
    n 1: a person who is entitled by law or by the terms of a will to inherit the estate of another [syn: heir, inheritor, heritor] 2: a person who inherits some title or office [syn: successor, heir]
  • impair
    v 1: make worse or less effective; "His vision was impaired" 2: make imperfect; "nothing marred her beauty" [syn: mar, impair, spoil, deflower, vitiate]
  • incur
    v 1: make oneself subject to; bring upon oneself; become liable to; "People who smoke incur a great danger to their health" 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]
  • infer
    v 1: reason by deduction; establish by deduction [syn: deduce, infer, deduct, derive] 2: draw from specific cases for more general cases [syn: generalize, generalise, extrapolate, infer] 3: conclude by reasoning; in logic [syn: deduce, infer] 4: guess correctly; solve by guessing; "He guessed the right number of beans in the jar and won the prize" [syn: guess, infer] 5: believe to be the case; "I understand you have no previous experience?" [syn: understand, infer]
  • inter
    v 1: place in a grave or tomb; "Stalin was buried behind the Kremlin wall on Red Square"; "The pharaohs were entombed in the pyramids"; "My grandfather was laid to rest last Sunday" [syn: bury, entomb, inhume, inter, lay to rest]
  • lair
    n 1: the habitation of wild animals [syn: lair, den]
  • liqueur
    n 1: strong highly flavored sweet liquor usually drunk after a meal [syn: liqueur, cordial]
  • mare
    n 1: female equine animal [syn: mare, female horse] 2: a dark region of considerable extent on the surface of the moon [syn: mare, maria]
  • midair
    n 1: some point in the air; above ground level; "the planes collided in midair"
  • millionaire
    n 1: a person whose material wealth is valued at more than a million dollars
  • monsieur
    n 1: used as a French courtesy title; equivalent to English `Mr'
  • myrrh
    n 1: aromatic resin that is burned as incense and used in perfume [syn: myrrh, gum myrrh, sweet cicely]
  • occur
    v 1: come to pass; "What is happening?"; "The meeting took place off without an incidence"; "Nothing occurred that seemed important" [syn: happen, hap, go on, pass off, occur, pass, fall out, come about, take place] 2: come to one's mind; suggest itself; "It occurred to me that we should hire another secretary"; "A great idea then came to her" [syn: occur, come] 3: to be found to exist; "sexism occurs in many workplaces"; "precious stones occur in a large area in Brazil"
  • or
    n 1: a state in northwestern United States on the Pacific [syn: Oregon, Beaver State, OR] 2: a room in a hospital equipped for the performance of surgical operations; "great care is taken to keep the operating rooms aseptic" [syn: operating room, OR, operating theater, operating theatre, surgery]
  • pair
    n 1: a set of two similar things considered as a unit [syn: pair, brace] 2: two items of the same kind [syn: couple, pair, twosome, twain, brace, span, yoke, couplet, distich, duo, duet, dyad, duad] 3: two people considered as a unit 4: a poker hand with 2 cards of the same value v 1: form a pair or pairs; "The two old friends paired off" [syn: pair, pair off, partner off, couple] 2: bring two objects, ideas, or people together; "This fact is coupled to the other one"; "Matchmaker, can you match my daughter with a nice young man?"; "The student was paired with a partner for collaboration on the project" [syn: match, mate, couple, pair, twin] 3: occur in pairs [syn: pair, geminate] 4: arrange in pairs; "Pair these numbers" [syn: pair, geminate] 5: engage in sexual intercourse; "Birds mate in the Spring" [syn: copulate, mate, pair, couple]
  • pare
    v 1: decrease gradually or bit by bit [syn: pare, pare down] 2: cut small bits or pare shavings from; "whittle a piece of wood" [syn: whittle, pare] 3: strip the skin off; "pare apples" [syn: skin, peel, pare] 4: remove the edges from and cut down to the desired size; "pare one's fingernails"; "trim the photograph"; "trim lumber" [syn: pare, trim]
  • pear
    n 1: sweet juicy gritty-textured fruit available in many varieties 2: Old World tree having sweet gritty-textured juicy fruit; widely cultivated in many varieties [syn: pear, pear tree, Pyrus communis]
  • prayer
    n 1: the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving); "the priest sank to his knees in prayer" [syn: prayer, supplication] 2: reverent petition to a deity [syn: prayer, petition, orison] 3: earnest or urgent request; "an entreaty to stop the fighting"; "an appeal for help"; "an appeal to the public to keep calm" [syn: entreaty, prayer, appeal] 4: a fixed text used in praying 5: someone who prays to God [syn: prayer, supplicant]
  • prefer
    v 1: like better; value more highly; "Some people prefer camping to staying in hotels"; "We prefer sleeping outside" 2: select as an alternative over another; "I always choose the fish over the meat courses in this restaurant"; "She opted for the job on the East coast" [syn: choose, prefer, opt] 3: promote over another; "he favors his second daughter" [syn: prefer, favor, favour] 4: give preference to one creditor over another
  • prepare
    v 1: make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc; "Get the children ready for school!"; "prepare for war"; "I was fixing to leave town after I paid the hotel bill" [syn: fix, prepare, set up, ready, gear up, set] 2: prepare for eating by applying heat; "Cook me dinner, please"; "can you make me an omelette?"; "fix breakfast for the guests, please" [syn: cook, fix, ready, make, prepare] 3: to prepare verbally, either for written or spoken delivery; "prepare a report"; "prepare a speech" 4: arrange by systematic planning and united effort; "machinate a plot"; "organize a strike"; "devise a plan to take over the director's office" [syn: organize, organise, prepare, devise, get up, machinate] 5: 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] 6: 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] 7: lead up to and soften by sounding the dissonant note in it as a consonant note in the preceding chord; "prepare the discord in bar 139" 8: 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]
  • purr
    n 1: a low vibrating sound typical of a contented cat v 1: make a soft swishing sound; "the motor whirred"; "the car engine purred" [syn: whizz, whiz, whirr, whir, birr, purr] 2: indicate pleasure by purring; characteristic of cats [syn: purr, make vibrant sounds]
  • questionnaire
    n 1: a form containing a set of questions; submitted to people to gain statistical information
  • rare
    adj 1: not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness; "a rare word"; "rare books" 2: recurring only at long intervals; "a rare appearance"; "total eclipses are rare events" 3: not widely distributed; "rare herbs"; "rare patches of green in the desert" 4: having low density; "rare gasses"; "lightheaded from the rarefied mountain air" [syn: rare, rarefied, rarified] 5: marked by an uncommon quality; especially superlative or extreme of its kind; "what is so rare as a day in June"-J.R.Lowell; "a rare skill"; "an uncommon sense of humor"; "she was kind to an uncommon degree" [syn: rare, uncommon] 6: (of meat) cooked a short time; still red inside; "rare roast beef"
  • recur
    v 1: happen or occur again; "This is a recurring story" [syn: recur, repeat] 2: return in thought or speech to something [syn: recur, go back] 3: have recourse to; "The government resorted to rationing meat" [syn: fall back, resort, recur]
  • refer
    v 1: make reference to; "His name was mentioned in connection with the invention" [syn: mention, advert, bring up, cite, name, refer] 2: 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] 3: think of, regard, or classify under a subsuming principle or with a general group or in relation to another; "This plant can be referred to a known species" 4: send or direct for treatment, information, or a decision; "refer a patient to a specialist"; "refer a bill to a committee" 5: seek information from; "You should consult the dictionary"; "refer to your notes" [syn: consult, refer, look up] 6: have as a meaning; "`multi-' denotes `many' " [syn: denote, refer] 7: use a name to designate; "Christians refer to the mother of Jesus as the Virgin Mary"
  • repair
    n 1: the act of putting something in working order again [syn: repair, fix, fixing, fixture, mend, mending, reparation] 2: a formal way of referring to the condition of something; "the building was in good repair" 3: a frequently visited place [syn: haunt, hangout, resort, repair, stamping ground] v 1: restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken; "She repaired her TV set"; "Repair my shoes please" [syn: repair, mend, fix, bushel, doctor, furbish up, restore, touch on] [ant: break, bust] 2: make amends for; pay compensation for; "One can never fully repair the suffering and losses of the Jews in the Third Reich"; "She was compensated for the loss of her arm in the accident" [syn: compensate, recompense, repair, indemnify] 3: move, travel, or proceed toward some place; "He repaired to his cabin in the woods" [syn: repair, resort] 4: set straight or right; "remedy these deficiencies"; "rectify the inequities in salaries"; "repair an oversight" [syn: rectify, remediate, remedy, repair, amend] 5: give new life or energy to; "A hot soup will revive me"; "This will renovate my spirits"; "This treatment repaired my health" [syn: animate, recreate, reanimate, revive, renovate, repair, quicken, vivify, revivify]
  • restaurateur
    n 1: the proprietor of a restaurant [syn: restaurateur, restauranter]
  • saboteur
    n 1: someone who commits sabotage or deliberately causes wrecks [syn: saboteur, wrecker, diversionist] 2: a member of a clandestine subversive organization who tries to help a potential invader [syn: fifth columnist, saboteur]
  • scare
    n 1: sudden mass fear and anxiety over anticipated events; "panic in the stock market"; "a war scare"; "a bomb scare led them to evacuate the building" [syn: panic, scare] 2: a sudden attack of fear [syn: scare, panic attack] v 1: cause fear in; "The stranger who hangs around the building frightens me"; "Ghosts could never affright her" [syn: frighten, fright, scare, affright] 2: cause to lose courage; "dashed by the refusal" [syn: daunt, dash, scare off, pall, frighten off, scare away, frighten away, scare]
  • share
    n 1: assets belonging to or due to or contributed by an individual person or group; "he wanted his share in cash" [syn: share, portion, part, percentage] 2: any of the equal portions into which the capital stock of a corporation is divided and ownership of which is evidenced by a stock certificate; "he bought 100 shares of IBM at the market price" 3: the allotment of some amount by dividing something; "death gets more than its share of attention from theologians" [syn: parcel, portion, share] 4: the part played by a person in bringing about a result; "I am proud of my contribution in advancing the project"; "they all did their share of the work" [syn: contribution, part, share] 5: a sharp steel wedge that cuts loose the top layer of soil [syn: plowshare, ploughshare, share] v 1: have in common; "Our children share a love of music"; "The two countries share a long border" 2: use jointly or in common 3: have, give, or receive a share of; "We shared the cake" [syn: partake, share, partake in] 4: give out as one's portion or share [syn: share, divvy up, portion out, apportion, deal] 5: communicate; "I'd like to share this idea with you"
  • slur
    n 1: (music) a curved line spanning notes that are to be played legato 2: a disparaging remark; "in the 19th century any reference to female sexuality was considered a vile aspersion"; "it is difficult for a woman to understand a man's sensitivity to any slur on his virility" [syn: aspersion, slur] 3: a blemish made by dirt; "he had a smudge on his cheek" [syn: smudge, spot, blot, daub, smear, smirch, slur] v 1: play smoothly or legato; "the pianist slurred the most beautiful passage in the sonata" 2: speak disparagingly of; e.g., make a racial slur; "your comments are slurring your co-workers" 3: utter indistinctly 4: become vague or indistinct; "The distinction between the two theories blurred" [syn: blur, dim, slur] [ant: focalise, focalize, focus]
  • snare
    n 1: something (often something deceptively attractive) that catches you unawares; "the exam was full of trap questions"; "it was all a snare and delusion" [syn: trap, snare] 2: a small drum with two heads and a snare stretched across the lower head [syn: snare drum, snare, side drum] 3: a surgical instrument consisting of wire hoop that can be drawn tight around the base of polyps or small tumors to sever them; used especially in body cavities 4: strings stretched across the lower head of a snare drum; they make a rattling sound when the drum is hit 5: a trap for birds or small mammals; often has a slip noose [syn: snare, gin, noose] v 1: catch in or as if in a trap; "The men trap foxes" [syn: trap, entrap, snare, ensnare, trammel] 2: entice and trap; "The car salesman had snared three potential customers" [syn: hook, snare]
  • solitaire
    n 1: a gem (usually a diamond) in a setting by itself 2: extinct flightless bird related to the dodo [syn: solitaire, Pezophaps solitaria] 3: a dull grey North American thrush noted for its beautiful song 4: a card game played by one person [syn: solitaire, patience]
  • spare
    adj 1: thin and fit; "the spare figure of a marathon runner"; "a body kept trim by exercise" [syn: spare, trim] 2: more than is needed, desired, or required; "trying to lose excess weight"; "found some extra change lying on the dresser"; "yet another book on heraldry might be thought redundant"; "skills made redundant by technological advance"; "sleeping in the spare room"; "supernumerary ornamentation"; "it was supererogatory of her to gloat"; "delete superfluous (or unnecessary) words"; "extra ribs as well as other supernumerary internal parts"; "surplus cheese distributed to the needy" [syn: excess, extra, redundant, spare, supererogatory, superfluous, supernumerary, surplus] 3: not taken up by scheduled activities; "a free hour between classes"; "spare time on my hands" [syn: spare, free] 4: kept in reserve especially for emergency use; "a reserve supply of food"; "a spare tire"; "spare parts" 5: lacking in amplitude or quantity; "a bare livelihood"; "a scanty harvest"; "a spare diet" [syn: bare(a), scanty, spare] 6: lacking embellishment or ornamentation; "a plain hair style"; "unembellished white walls"; "functional architecture featuring stark unornamented concrete" [syn: plain, bare, spare, unembellished, unornamented] n 1: an extra component of a machine or other apparatus [syn: spare part, spare] 2: an extra car wheel and tire for a four-wheel vehicle [syn: fifth wheel, spare] 3: a score in tenpins; knocking down all ten after rolling two balls v 1: refrain from harming [syn: spare, save] 2: save or relieve from an experience or action; "I'll spare you from having to apologize formally" 3: give up what is not strictly needed; "he asked if they could spare one of their horses to speed his journey" [syn: spare, give up, part with, dispense with] 4: use frugally or carefully
  • spur
    n 1: a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something; "the ceaseless prodding got on his nerves" [syn: goad, goading, prod, prodding, urging, spur, spurring] 2: any sharply pointed projection [syn: spur, spine, acantha] 3: tubular extension at the base of the corolla in some flowers 4: a sharp prod fixed to a rider's heel and used to urge a horse onward; "cowboys know not to squat with their spurs on" [syn: spur, gad] 5: a railway line connected to a trunk line [syn: branch line, spur track, spur] v 1: incite or stimulate; "The Academy was formed to spur research" 2: give heart or courage to [syn: spur, goad] 3: strike with a spur 4: goad with spurs; "the rider spurred his horse" 5: equip with spurs; "spur horses"
  • square
    adv 1: in a straight direct way; "looked him squarely in the eye"; "ran square into me" [syn: squarely, square] 2: in a square shape; "a squarely cut piece of paper"; "folded the sheet of paper square" [syn: squarely, square] 3: firmly and solidly; "hit the ball squarely"; "the bat met the ball squarely"; "planted his great bulk square before his enemy" [syn: squarely, square] adj 1: having four equal sides and four right angles or forming a right angle; "a square peg in a round hole"; "a square corner" [ant: circular, round] 2: characterized by honesty and fairness; "straight dealing"; "a square deal" [syn: straight, square] [ant: corrupt, crooked] 3: providing abundant nourishment; "a hearty meal"; "good solid food"; "ate a substantial breakfast"; "four square meals a day" [syn: hearty, satisfying, solid, square, substantial] 4: leaving no balance; "my account with you is now all square" 5: without evasion or compromise; "a square contradiction"; "he is not being as straightforward as it appears" [syn: square(a), straightforward, straight] 6: rigidly conventional or old-fashioned [syn: square, straight] n 1: (geometry) a plane rectangle with four equal sides and four right angles; a four-sided regular polygon; "you can compute the area of a square if you know the length of its sides" [syn: square, foursquare] 2: the product of two equal terms; "nine is the second power of three"; "gravity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance" [syn: square, second power] 3: an open area at the meeting of two or more streets [syn: public square, square] 4: something approximating the shape of a square 5: someone who doesn't understand what is going on [syn: square, lame] 6: a formal and conservative person with old-fashioned views [syn: square, square toes] 7: any artifact having a shape similar to a plane geometric figure with four equal sides and four right angles; "a checkerboard has 64 squares" 8: a hand tool consisting of two straight arms at right angles; used to construct or test right angles; "the carpenter who built this room must have lost his square" v 1: make square; "Square the circle"; "square the wood with a file" [syn: square, square up] 2: raise to the second power 3: cause to match, as of ideas or acts 4: position so as to be square; "He squared his shoulders" 5: be compatible with; "one idea squares with another" 6: pay someone and settle a debt; "I squared with him" 7: turn the paddle; in canoeing [syn: feather, square] 8: turn the oar, while rowing [syn: feather, square]
  • stair
    n 1: support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway; "he paused on the bottom step" [syn: step, stair]
  • stare
    n 1: a fixed look with eyes open wide v 1: look at with fixed eyes; "The students stared at the teacher with amazement" [syn: gaze, stare] 2: fixate one's eyes; "The ancestor in the painting is staring down menacingly"
  • stir
    n 1: a prominent or sensational but short-lived news event; "he made a great splash and then disappeared" [syn: stir, splash] 2: emotional agitation and excitement 3: a rapid active commotion [syn: bustle, hustle, flurry, ado, fuss, stir] v 1: move an implement through; "stir the soup"; "stir my drink"; "stir the soil" 2: move very slightly; "He shifted in his seat" [syn: stir, shift, budge, agitate] 3: stir feelings in; "stimulate my appetite"; "excite the audience"; "stir emotions" [syn: stimulate, excite, stir] 4: stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of; "These stories shook the community"; "the civil war shook the country" [syn: stimulate, shake, shake up, excite, stir] 5: affect emotionally; "A stirring movie"; "I was touched by your kind letter of sympathy" [syn: touch, stir] 6: summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic; "raise the specter of unemployment"; "he conjured wild birds in the air"; "call down the spirits from the mountain" [syn: raise, conjure, conjure up, invoke, evoke, stir, call down, arouse, bring up, put forward, call forth] 7: to begin moving, "As the thunder started the sleeping children began to stir" [syn: arouse, stir] 8: mix or add by stirring; "Stir nuts into the dough"
  • swear
    v 1: utter obscenities or profanities; "The drunken men were cursing loudly in the street" [syn: curse, cuss, blaspheme, swear, imprecate] 2: to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true; "Before God I swear I am innocent" [syn: affirm, verify, assert, avow, aver, swan, swear] 3: promise solemnly; take an oath 4: make a deposition; declare under oath [syn: swear, depose, depone] 5: have confidence or faith in; "We can trust in God"; "Rely on your friends"; "bank on your good education"; "I swear by my grandmother's recipes" [syn: trust, swear, rely, bank] [ant: distrust, mistrust, suspect]
  • tear
    n 1: a drop of the clear salty saline solution secreted by the lacrimal glands; "his story brought tears to her eyes" [syn: tear, teardrop] 2: an opening made forcibly as by pulling apart; "there was a rip in his pants"; "she had snags in her stockings" [syn: rip, rent, snag, split, tear] 3: an occasion for excessive eating or drinking; "they went on a bust that lasted three days" [syn: bust, tear, binge, bout] 4: the act of tearing; "he took the manuscript in both hands and gave it a mighty tear" v 1: separate or cause to separate abruptly; "The rope snapped"; "tear the paper" [syn: tear, rupture, snap, bust] 2: to separate or be separated by force; "planks were in danger of being torn from the crossbars" 3: move quickly and violently; "The car tore down the street"; "He came charging into my office" [syn: tear, shoot, shoot down, charge, buck] 4: strip of feathers; "pull a chicken"; "pluck the capon" [syn: pluck, pull, tear, deplume, deplumate, displume] 5: fill with tears or shed tears; "Her eyes were tearing"
  • there
    adv 1: in or at that place; "they have lived there for years"; "it's not there"; "that man there" [syn: there, at that place, in that location] [ant: here] 2: in that matter; "I agree with you there" [syn: there, in that respect, on that point] 3: to or toward that place; away from the speaker; "go there around noon!" [syn: there, thither] [ant: here, hither] n 1: a location other than here; that place; "you can take it from there" [ant: here]
  • transfer
    n 1: the act of moving something from one location to another [syn: transportation, transport, transfer, transferral, conveyance] 2: someone who transfers or is transferred from one position to another; "the best student was a transfer from LSU" [syn: transfer, transferee] 3: the act of transfering something from one form to another; "the transfer of the music from record to tape suppressed much of the background noise" [syn: transfer, transference] 4: a ticket that allows a passenger to change conveyances 5: application of a skill learned in one situation to a different but similar situation [syn: transfer, transfer of training, carry-over] 6: transferring ownership [syn: transfer, transference] v 1: transfer somebody to a different position or location of work [syn: transfer, reassign] 2: move from one place to another; "transfer the data"; "transmit the news"; "transfer the patient to another hospital" 3: lift and reset in another soil or situation; "Transplant the young rice plants" [syn: transplant, transfer] 4: move around; "transfer the packet from his trouser pockets to a pocket in his jacket" [syn: transfer, shift] 5: cause to change ownership; "I transferred my stock holdings to my children" 6: change from one vehicle or transportation line to another; "She changed in Chicago on her way to the East coast" [syn: transfer, change] 7: send from one person or place to another; "transmit a message" [syn: transmit, transfer, transport, channel, channelize, channelise] 8: shift the position or location of, as for business, legal, educational, or military purposes; "He removed his children to the countryside"; "Remove the troops to the forest surrounding the city"; "remove a case to another court" [syn: remove, transfer] 9: transfer from one place or period to another; "The ancient Greek story was transplanted into Modern America" [syn: transfer, transpose, transplant]
  • unaware
    adj 1: (often followed by `of') not aware; "seemed unaware of the scrutiny"; "unaware of the danger they were in"; "unaware of the newborn hope"; "the most unaware person I've known" [syn: unaware, incognizant] [ant: aware(p), cognisant, cognizant]
  • unfair
    adj 1: not fair; marked by injustice or partiality or deception; "used unfair methods"; "it was an unfair trial"; "took an unfair advantage" [syn: unfair, unjust] [ant: fair, just]
  • ware
    n 1: articles of the same kind or material; usually used in combination: `silverware', `software' 2: commodities offered for sale; "good business depends on having good merchandise"; "that store offers a variety of products" [syn: merchandise, ware, product] v 1: spend extravagantly; "waste not, want not" [syn: consume, squander, waste, ware]
  • wear
    n 1: impairment resulting from long use; "the tires showed uneven wear" 2: a covering designed to be worn on a person's body [syn: clothing, article of clothing, vesture, wear, wearable, habiliment] 3: the act of having on your person as a covering or adornment; "she bought it for everyday wear" [syn: wear, wearing] v 1: be dressed in; "She was wearing yellow that day" [syn: wear, have on] 2: have on one's person; "He wore a red ribbon"; "bear a scar" [syn: wear, bear] 3: have in one's aspect; wear an expression of one's attitude or personality; "He always wears a smile" 4: deteriorate through use or stress; "The constant friction wore out the cloth" [syn: wear, wear off, wear out, wear down, wear thin] 5: have or show an appearance of; "wear one's hair in a certain way" 6: last and be usable; "This dress wore well for almost ten years" [syn: wear, hold out, endure] 7: go to pieces; "The lawn mower finally broke"; "The gears wore out"; "The old chair finally fell apart completely" [syn: break, wear, wear out, bust, fall apart] 8: exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress; "We wore ourselves out on this hike" [syn: tire, wear upon, tire out, wear, weary, jade, wear out, outwear, wear down, fag out, fag, fatigue] [ant: freshen, refresh, refreshen] 9: put clothing on one's body; "What should I wear today?"; "He put on his best suit for the wedding"; "The princess donned a long blue dress"; "The queen assumed the stately robes"; "He got into his jeans" [syn: wear, put on, get into, don, assume]
  • blair
    n 1: British statesman who became prime minister in 1997 (born in 1953) [syn: Blair, Tony Blair, Anthony Charles Lynton Blair]
  • eyre
    n 1: a shallow salt lake in south central Australia about 35 feet below sea level; the largest lake in the country and the lowest point on the continent [syn: Eyre, Lake Eyre]
  • herr
    n 1: a German man; used before the name as a title equivalent to Mr in English 2: a German courtesy title or form of address for a man
  • khmer
    n 1: the Mon-Khmer language spoken in Cambodia 2: a native or inhabitant of Cambodia
  • astaire
    n 1: United States dancer and cinema actor noted for his original and graceful tap dancing (1899-1987) [syn: Astaire, Fred Astaire]
  • moliere
    n 1: French author of sophisticated comedies (1622-1673) [syn: Moliere, Jean-Baptiste Poquelin]
  • pierre
    n 1: capital of the state of South Dakota; located in central South Dakota on the Missouri river [syn: Pierre, capital of South Dakota]
  • sinclair
    n 1: United States writer whose novels argued for social reform (1878-1968) [syn: Sinclair, Upton Sinclair, Upton Beall Sinclair] 2: English electrical engineer who founded a company that introduced many innovative products (born in 1940) [syn: Sinclair, Clive Sinclair, Sir Clive Marles Sinclair]
  • voltaire
    n 1: French writer who was the embodiment of 18th century Enlightenment (1694-1778) [syn: Voltaire, Arouet, Francois-Marie Arouet]
  • ur
    n 1: an ancient city of Sumer located on a former channel of the Euphrates River