Note that, in the passages below, the emboldened and same-coloured parts of words listed immediately after the phrase ‘Pronunciation tip’, are pronounced in the same way. For example, ‘Pronunciation tip: delirium, kid’ means the ‘e‘ in the word ‘delirium’ sounds just like the ‘i’ in the word ‘kid’.
deal-breaker
‘Deal-Breaker’ means ‘an issue which, if unresolved during negotiations, would cause one party to withdraw from a political or business deal‘.
debacle
‘Debacle’ means ‘disastrous or embarrassing failure‘.
Pronunciation tip: debacle, fee, barn.
debris
Pronunciation tip: debris, about, fee.
degradation
Pronunciation tip: degradation, bet, about.
delirium
‘Delirium’ means ‘violent mental agitation‘.
Pronunciation tip: delirium, kid.
den
The word ‘den’ has several meanings.
One of its meanings is ‘hiding place (usually a remote place used by outlaws)‘. Another meaning of ‘den’ is ‘habitation of wild animals‘. Thirdly, ‘den’ also means ‘secluded and comfortable room‘.
You can learn about all the other meanings from a good dictionary.
deplete
The word ‘deplete’ has two meanings. One of its meanings is ‘consume or reduce to a very low amount‘. The other meaning is ‘use up, i.e. consume completely‘.
Pronunciation tip: deplete, kid, fee.
depot
Pronunciation tip: depot, bet, tow.
depraved
‘Depraved’ means ‘deviating from what is good, proper, right or moral‘.
Pronunciation tip: depraved, kid.
derision
‘Derision’ means ‘contemptuous laughter‘.
Pronunciation tip: derision, kid, fusion.
derogatory
‘Derogatory’ means ‘belittling or disparaging‘.
Pronunciation tip: derogatory, kid, rot, about.
descent
Here are some example sentences that illustrate the usage of the words ‘descent/origin/ethnic origin/national origin’:-
- ‘He is a person of Irish descent/origin/ethnic origin/national origin.‘
- ‘He is of Irish descent/origin/ethnic origin/national origin.‘
- ‘His descent/origin/ethnic origin/national origin is Irish. ‘
detest
‘Detest’ means ‘dislike intensely‘.
directorate
-
Pronunciation tip: directorate, kid, bet, about.
disparage
‘Disparage’ means ‘express a negative opinion of‘, as in the sentence ‘He disparaged my effort.‘.
Pronunciation tip: disparage, sad, kid.
distraught
‘Distraught’ means ‘deeply agitated, as from grief or worry‘.
Pronunciation tip: distraught, jaw.
doeth
‘Doeth’ is an archaic third-person singular present form of ‘do’. It is used in sentences such as ‘A merry heart doeth good like a medicine‘.
Pronunciation tip: doeth, mood, about.
dost
‘Dost’ is an archaic second-person singular present form of ‘do’. It is used in sentences such as ‘Thou dost not know it‘.
Pronunciation tip: dost, rot.
doth
‘Doth’ is an archaic third-person singular present form of ‘do’. It is used in sentences such as ‘He doth not know it’‘.
Pronunciation tip: doth, rot.
doubt
The ‘b‘ in this word is silent.
dough
‘Dough’ is a ‘flour mixture that is stiff enough for rolling or kneading‘.
Pronunciation tip: dough, tow, doughy, snowy.
downstairs
The word ‘downstairs‘ may be used as either an adjective or an adverb, but ‘downstair’ may only be used as an adjective.
drag
The word ‘drag’ has several meanings. One of its meanings is ‘something boring and tedious‘ as illustrated by the sentence ‘Lawn mowing is a drag‘.
drunk
Here is an example sentence that illustrates the usage of ‘have drunk’ as the present perfect tense of ‘drink’: ‘I have drunk the fruit juice already.‘