de|na|tion|al|ize /diː næ ʃənəla I z/ (denationalizes , denationalizing , denationalized ) in BRIT, also use denationalise VERB To denationalize an industry or business means to transfer it into private ownership so that it is no longer owned and controlled by the state. [OLD-FASHIONED , BUSINESS ] □ [V n] The government started to denationalize financial institutions. ● de|na|tion|ali|za|tion /diː næ ʃənəla I ze I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ …the denationalisation of industry.
de|ni|al /d I na I əl/ (denials )
1 N‑VAR A denial of something is a statement that it is not true, does not exist, or did not happen. □ Despite official denials, the rumours still persist. □ [+ of ] Denial of the Mafia's existence is nothing new.
2 N‑UNCOUNT The denial of something to someone is the act of refusing to let them have it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …the denial of visas to international relief workers.
3 N‑UNCOUNT [oft in N ] In psychology, denial is when a person cannot or will not accept an unpleasant truth. □ …an addict who is in denial about his addiction.
den|ier /de niə r / N‑UNCOUNT [num N ] Denier is used when indicating the thickness of stockings and tights. □ …fifteen-denier stockings.
deni|grate /de n I gre I t/ (denigrates , denigrating , denigrated ) VERB If you denigrate someone or something, you criticize them unfairly or insult them. □ [V n] They denigrated his work, questioning whether it did anything to confront the problems. ● deni|gra|tion /de n I gre I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the denigration of minorities in this country.
den|im /de n I m/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Denim is a thick cotton cloth, usually blue, which is used to make clothes. Jeans are made from denim. □ …a light blue denim jacket.
den|ims /de n I mz/ N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Denims are casual trousers made of denim. □ She was dressed in blue denims.
deni|zen /de n I z ə n/ (denizens ) N‑COUNT A denizen of a particular place is a person, animal, or plant that lives or grows in this place. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Gannets are denizens of the open ocean.
de|nomi|na|tion /d I nɒ m I ne I ʃ ə n/ (denominations )
1 N‑COUNT A particular denomination is a particular religious group which has slightly different beliefs from other groups within the same faith. □ Acceptance of women preachers varies greatly from denomination to denomination.
2 N‑COUNT The denomination of a banknote or coin is its official value. □ …a pile of bank notes, mostly in small denominations.
de|nomi|na|tion|al /d I nɒ m I ne I ʃən ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Denominational means relating to or organized by a particular religious denomination. □ …a growth in the number of denominational schools.
de|nomi|na|tor /d I nɒ m I ne I tə r / (denominators )
1 N‑COUNT In mathematics, the denominator is the number which appears under the line in a fraction.
2 → see also common denominator , lowest common denominator
de|note /d I noʊ t/ (denotes , denoting , denoted )
1 VERB If one thing denotes another, it is a sign or indication of it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Red eyes denote strain and fatigue. □ [V that] There was a message waiting, denoting that someone had been here ahead of her.
2 VERB What a symbol denotes is what it represents. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] In figure 24 'D' denotes quantity demanded and 'S' denotes quantity supplied.
de|noue|ment /de I nuː mɒn/ (denouements ) also dénouement N‑COUNT [usu sing] In a book, play, or series of events, the denouement is the sequence of events at the end, when things come to a conclusion. □ …an unexpected denouement.
de|nounce /d I naʊ ns/ (denounces , denouncing , denounced )
1 VERB If you denounce a person or an action, you criticize them severely and publicly because you feel strongly that they are wrong or evil. □ [V n] German leaders denounced the attacks and pleaded for tolerance. □ [V n + as ] Some 25,000 demonstrators denounced him as a traitor.
2 VERB If you denounce someone who has broken a rule or law, you report them to the authorities. □ [V n] …informers who might denounce you at any moment. [Also V n + to ]
dense /de ns/ (denser , densest )
1 ADJ Something that is dense contains a lot of things or people in a small area. □ Where Bucharest now stands, there once was a large, dense forest. □ They thrust their way through the dense crowd. ● dense|ly ADV [usu ADV -ed] □ Java is a densely populated island.
2 ADJ Dense fog or smoke is difficult to see through because it is very heavy and dark. □ A dense column of smoke rose several miles into the air.
3 ADJ In science, a dense substance is very heavy in relation to its volume. [TECHNICAL ] □ …a small dense star.
4 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that someone is dense , you mean that you think they are stupid and that they take a long time to understand simple things. [INFORMAL ] □ He's not a bad man, just a bit dense.
den|sity /de ns I ti/ (densities )
1 N‑VAR Density is the extent to which something is filled or covered with people or things. □ [+ of ] …a law which restricts the density of housing. □ The region has a very high population density.