DAB /dæ b/ DAB is the transmission of digital stereo over conventional radio channels. DAB is an abbreviation for 'digital audio broadcasting'. □ The overall sound quality of DAB is miles better than FM.
dab|ble /dæ b ə l/ (dabbles , dabbling , dabbled ) VERB If you dabble in something, you take part in it but not very seriously. □ [V + in/with/at ] He dabbled in business. □ [V ] Magicians do not dabble, they work hard.
da b ha nd (dab hands ) N‑COUNT In British English, if you are a dab hand at something, you are very good at doing it. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ at ] She's a dab hand at DIY.
dace /de I s/ (dace ) N‑VAR A dace is a type of fish that lives in rivers and lakes.
da|cha /dæ tʃə, [AM ] dɑː tʃə/ (dachas ) N‑COUNT A dacha is a country house in Russia.
dachs|hund /dæ kshʊnd, [AM ] dɑː ksʊnt/ (dachshunds ) N‑COUNT A dachshund is a small dog that has very short legs, a long body, and long ears. WORD HISTORY dachshund
Dachshund is a German word meaning badger-dog , from Dachs , meaning 'badger', and Hund , meaning 'dog'. Dachshunds were originally bred to hunt badgers.
dad ◆◇◇ /dæ d/ (dads ) N‑COUNT Your dad is your father. You can call your dad 'Dad'. [INFORMAL ] □ How do you feel, Dad? □ He's living with his mum and dad.
dad|dy /dæ di/ (daddies ) N‑COUNT Children often call their father daddy . [INFORMAL ] □ Look at me, Daddy! □ She wanted her mummy and daddy.
dad|dy longlegs /dæ di lɒ ŋlegz, [AM ] - lɔː ŋ-/ (daddy longlegs ) N‑COUNT A daddy longlegs is a flying insect with very long legs.
dado /de I doʊ/ (dados ) N‑COUNT A dado is a strip of wood that can be fixed to the lower part of a wall. The wall is then often decorated differently above and below the dado .
daf|fo|dil /dæ fəd I l/ (daffodils ) N‑COUNT A daffodil is a yellow spring flower with a central part shaped like a tube and a long stem.
daffy /dæ fi/ ADJ If you describe a person or thing as daffy , you mean that they are strange or foolish, but in a rather attractive way. [INFORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ Daisy called her daffy, but goodhearted. □ …a daffy storyline.
daft /dɑː ft, dæ ft/ (dafter , daftest ) ADJ If you describe a person or their behaviour as daft , you think that they are stupid, impractical, or rather strange. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ He's not so daft as to listen to rumours. □ Don't be daft!
dag|ger /dæ gə r / (daggers )
1 N‑COUNT A dagger is a weapon like a knife with two sharp edges.
2 PHRASE If you say that two people are at daggers drawn , you mean they are having an argument and are still very angry with each other. [BRIT ] □ She and her mother were at daggers drawn.
dahl|ia /de I liə/ (dahlias ) N‑COUNT A dahlia is a garden flower with a lot of brightly coloured petals.
dai|ly ◆◆◇ /de I li/ (dailies )
1 ADV [ADV after v] If something happens daily , it happens every day. □ Cathay Pacific flies daily non-stop to Hong Kong from Heathrow. □ The Visitor Centre is open daily 8.30 a.m.–4.30 p.m. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Daily is also an adjective. □ They held daily press briefings.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Daily quantities or rates relate to a period of one day. □ …a diet containing adequate daily amounts of fresh fruit. □ Our average daily turnover is about £300.
3 N‑COUNT A daily is a newspaper that is published every day of the week except Sunday. □ Copies of the local daily had been scattered on a table. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Daily is also an adjective. □ He studied the daily papers.
4 PHRASE Your daily life is the things that you do every day as part of your normal life. □ …the failure of the government to improve most people's daily lives.
dain|ty /de I nti/ (daintier , daintiest ) ADJ If you describe a movement, person, or object as dainty , you mean that they are small, delicate, and pretty. □ …dainty pink flowers. ● dain|ti|ly ADV [ADV with v, Also ADV adj] □ She walked daintily down the steps.
dai|qui|ri /da I k I ri, dæ k-/ (daiquiris ) N‑COUNT A daiquiri is a drink made with rum, lime or lemon juice, sugar, and ice.
dairy /deə ri/ (dairies )
1 N‑COUNT A dairy is a shop or company that sells milk and food made from milk, such as butter, cream, and cheese.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Dairy is used to refer to foods such as butter and cheese that are made from milk. □ …dairy produce. □ …vitamins found in eggs, meat and dairy products.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Dairy is used to refer to the use of cattle to produce milk rather than meat. □ …a small vegetable and dairy farm. □ …the feeding of dairy cows.
dais /de I I s/ (daises ) N‑COUNT A dais is a raised platform in a hall.
dai|sy /de I zi/ (daisies ) N‑COUNT A daisy is a small wild flower with a yellow centre and white petals. WORD HISTORY daisy
Daisy comes from Old English dæges ēage , meaning 'day's eye'. The flower was given this name because it opens in the daytime and closes at night.
dai |sy chain (daisy chains ) also daisy-chain N‑COUNT A daisy chain is a string of daisies that have been joined together by their stems to make a necklace. [mainly BRIT ]