de|test|able /d I te stəb ə l/ ADJ If you say that someone or something is detestable , you mean you dislike them very much. [FORMAL ] □ I find their views detestable.
de|throne /diː θroʊ n/ (dethrones , dethroning , dethroned ) VERB [usu passive] If a king, queen, or other powerful person is dethroned , they are removed from their position of power. □ [be V -ed] He was dethroned and went into exile.
deto|nate /de təne I t/ (detonates , detonating , detonated ) VERB If someone detonates a device such as a bomb, or if it detonates , it explodes. □ [V n] France is expected to detonate its first nuclear device in the next few days. □ [V ] An explosive device detonated on the roof of the building.
deto|na|tion /de təne I ʃ ə n/ (detonations )
1 N‑COUNT A detonation is a large or powerful explosion. [FORMAL ]
2 N‑UNCOUNT Detonation is the action of causing a device such as a bomb to explode. [FORMAL ] □ …accidental detonation of nuclear weapons.
deto|na|tor /de təne I tə r / (detonators ) N‑COUNT A detonator is a small amount of explosive or a piece of electrical or electronic equipment which is used to explode a bomb or other explosive device.
de|tour /diː tʊə r / (detours )
1 N‑COUNT If you make a detour on a journey, you go by a route which is not the shortest way, because you want to avoid something such as a traffic jam, or because there is something you want to do on the way. □ He did not take the direct route home, but made a detour around the outskirts of the city.
2 N‑COUNT A detour is a special route for traffic to follow when the normal route is blocked, for example because it is being repaired. [AM ] in BRIT, use diversion
de|tox /diː tɒ ks/ (detoxes , detoxing , detoxed )
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Detox is treatment given to people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol in order to stop them from being addicted. □ A patient going through acute detox will have an assigned nurse nearby. □ …a detox therapist.
2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] A detox is a treatment that is intended to remove poisonous or harmful substances from your body. □ Overhaul your body with a cleansing detox. □ Give yourself a healthy glow on our detox diet.
3 VERB If someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol detoxes , or if another person detoxes them, they undergo treatment which stops them from being addicted. □ [V n] …mums trying to detox their kids. □ [V ] …drugs binges and failed attempts to detox.
4 VERB If you detox , or if something detoxes your body, you do something to remove poisonous or harmful substances from your body. □ [V ] It might be an idea to detox after the indulgences of Christmas. □ [V n] Honey can help to detox the body.
de|toxi|fi|ca|tion /diːtɒ ks I f I ke I ʃ ə n/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Detoxification is treatment given to people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol in order to stop them from being addicted.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Detoxification is treatment that is intended to remove poisonous or harmful substances from your body. □ Drink at least 2 litres of still mineral water throughout the day to aid detoxification.
de|toxi|fy /diːtɒ ks I fa I / (detoxifies , detoxifying , detoxified )
1 VERB If someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol detoxifies , or if they are detoxified , they undergo treatment which stops them from being addicted. □ [V n] …drugs which block the affects of heroin use and rapidly detoxify addicts. □ [V ] With the controversial new treatment, addicts will be able to detoxify rapidly.
2 VERB If you detoxify , or if something detoxifies your body, you do something to remove poisonous or harmful substances from your body. □ [V ] Many people have made it a rule to detoxify once a year. □ [V n] Seaweed baths can help to detoxify the body.
3 VERB To detoxify a poisonous substance means to change it chemically so that it is no longer poisonous. □ [V n] Vitamin C helps to detoxify pollutants in the body.
de|tract /d I træ kt/ (detracts , detracting , detracted ) VERB If one thing detracts from another, it makes it seem less good or impressive. □ [V + from ] The publicity could detract from our election campaign. [Also V n + from ]
de|trac|tor /d I træ ktə r / (detractors ) N‑COUNT [usu pl, usu with poss] The detractors of a person or thing are people who criticize that person or thing. [JOURNALISM ] □ This performance will silence many of his detractors.
det|ri|ment /de tr I mənt/
1 PHRASE If something happens to the detriment of something or to a person's detriment , it causes harm or damage to them. [FORMAL ] □ Children spend too much time on schoolwork, to the detriment of other activities.
2 PHRASE If something happens without detriment to a person or thing, it does not harm or damage them. [FORMAL ]
det|ri|men|tal /de tr I me nt ə l/ ADJ Something that is detrimental to something else has a harmful or damaging effect on it. □ [+ to ] …foods suspected of being detrimental to health.
de|tri|tus /d I tra I təs/ N‑UNCOUNT Detritus is the small pieces of rubbish that remain after an event has finished or when something has been used. [FORMAL ] □ …the detritus of war.
deuce /djuː s, [AM ] duː s/ (deuces ) N‑UNCOUNT Deuce is the score in a game of tennis when both players have forty points. One player has to win two points one after the other to win the game.
de|value /diː væ ljuː/ (devalues , devaluing , devalued )