der|elic|tion /de r I l I kʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT If a building or a piece of land is in a state of dereliction , it is deserted or abandoned. □ The previous owners had rescued the building from dereliction.
de r|elic|tion of du ty N‑UNCOUNT Dereliction of duty is deliberate or accidental failure to do what you should do as part of your job. [FORMAL ] □ He pleaded guilty to wilful dereliction of duty.
de|ride /d I ra I d/ (derides , deriding , derided ) VERB If you deride someone or something, you say that they are stupid or have no value. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Opposition MPs derided the Government's response to the crisis.
de ri|gueur /də r I gɜː r / ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that a possession or habit is de rigueur , you mean that it is fashionable and therefore necessary for anyone who wants to avoid being considered unfashionable. □ T-shirts now seem almost de rigueur in the West End.
de|ri|sion /d I r I ʒ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT If you treat someone or something with derision , you express contempt for them. □ He tried to calm them, but was greeted with shouts of derision.
de|ri|sive /d I ra I s I v/ ADJ A derisive noise, expression, or remark expresses contempt. □ There was a short, derisive laugh. ● de|ri|sive|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Phil's tormentor snorted derisively.
de|ri|sory /d I ra I zəri/
1 ADJ If you describe something such as an amount of money as derisory , you are emphasizing that it is so small or inadequate that it seems silly or not worth considering. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ She was being paid what I considered a derisory amount of money.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Derisory means the same as derisive . □ …derisory remarks about the police.
deri|va|tion /de r I ve I ʃ ə n/ (derivations ) N‑VAR The derivation of something, especially a word, is its origin or source. □ [+ of ] The derivation of its name is obscure.
de|riva|tive /d I r I vət I v/ (derivatives )
1 N‑COUNT A derivative is something which has been developed or obtained from something else. □ …a poppy-seed derivative similar to heroin.
2 ADJ If you say that something is derivative , you are criticizing it because it is not new or original but has been developed from something else. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …their dull, derivative debut album.
de|rive /d I ra I v/ (derives , deriving , derived )
1 VERB If you derive something such as pleasure or benefit from a person or from something, you get it from them. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + from ] Mr Ying is one of those happy people who derive pleasure from helping others.
2 VERB If you say that something such as a word or feeling derives or is derived from something else, you mean that it comes from that thing. □ [be V -ed + from ] Anna's strength is derived from her parents and her sisters. □ [V + from ] The word Easter derives from Eostre, the pagan goddess of spring. [Also V n from n]
der|ma|ti|tis /dɜː r məta I t I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Dermatitis is a medical condition which makes your skin red and painful.
der|ma|tolo|gist /dɜː r mətɔ lədʒ I st/ (dermatologists ) N‑COUNT A dermatologist is a doctor who specializes in the study of skin and the treatment of skin diseases. ● der|ma|tol|ogy N‑UNCOUNT □ …drugs used in dermatology.
de|roga|tory /d I rɒ gətri, [AM ] -tɔːri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you make a derogatory remark or comment about someone or something, you express your low opinion of them. □ He refused to withdraw derogatory remarks made about his boss.
der|rick /de r I k/ (derricks )
1 N‑COUNT A derrick is a machine that is used to move cargo on a ship by lifting it in the air.
2 N‑COUNT A derrick is a tower built over an oil well which is used to raise and lower the drill.
derring-do /de r I ŋ duː / N‑UNCOUNT Derring-do is the quality of being bold, often in a rather showy or foolish way. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
der|vish /dɜː r v I ʃ/ (dervishes )
1 N‑COUNT A dervish is a member of a Muslim religious group which has a very active and lively dance as part of its worship.
2 PHRASE If you say that someone is like a dervish , you mean that they are turning round and round, waving their arms about, or working very quickly. □ Brian was whirling like a dervish, slapping at the mosquitoes and moaning.
de|sali|na|tion /diː sæl I ne I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Desalination is the process of removing salt from sea water so that it can be used for drinking, or for watering crops.
des|cant /de skænt/ (descants ) N‑COUNT A descant is a tune which is played or sung above the main tune in a piece of music.
de|scend /d I se nd/ (descends , descending , descended )
1 VERB If you descend or if you descend a staircase, you move downwards from a higher to a lower level. [FORMAL ] □ [V prep] Things are cooler and more damp as we descend to the cellar. □ [V n] She descended one flight of stairs. [Also V ]
2 VERB When a mood or atmosphere descends on a place or on the people there, it affects them by spreading among them. [LITERARY ] □ [V + on/upon/over ] An uneasy calm descended on the area. [Also V ]
3 VERB If a large group of people arrive to see you, especially if their visit is unexpected or causes you a lot of work, you can say that they have descended on you. □ [V + on/upon ] 3,000 city officials descended on Capitol Hill to lobby for more money.