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2 : a grade rating a student's work as superior

2a indefinite article : ONE, SOME — used to indicate an unspecified or unidentified individual

3a abbreviation, often cap 1 absent

2 acre

3 alto

4 answer

5 are

6 area

AA abbreviation 1 Alcoholics Anonymous

2 antiaircraft

3 associate in arts

AAA abbreviation American Automobile Association

A and M abbreviation agricultural and mechanical

A and R abbreviation artists and repertory

aard·vark noun [ORIGIN: obs. Afrikaans, fr. Afrikaans aard earth + vark pig]

: a large burrowing African mammal that feeds on ants and termites with its long sticky tongue

1ab noun : an abdominal muscle

2ab abbreviation about

AB abbreviation 1 able-bodied seaman

2 airman basic

3 [ORIGIN NL artium baccalaureus] bachelor of arts

ABA abbreviation American Bar Association

aback adverb : by surprise

Synonyms

suddenly, unaware, unawares—more at UNAWARES

aba·cus noun, plural aba·ci or aba·cus·es : an instrument for making calculations by sliding counters along rods or grooves

1abaft preposition : to the rear of

2abaft adverb : toward or at the stern : AFT

ab·a·lo·ne noun : any of a genus of large edible sea mollusks with a flattened slightly spiral shell with holes along the edge

1abandon verb [ORIGIN: ME abandounen, fr. AF abanduner, fr. (mettre) a bandun to hand over, put in someone's control]

: to give up completely : FORSAKE, DESERT

Synonyms

desert, forsake, maroon, quit; also relinquish, retreat (from), take off (from), vacate, withdraw (from)

2abandon noun : a thorough yielding to natural impulses

Synonyms

abandonment, ease, lightheartedness, naturalness, spontaneity, unrestraint; also ardor, enthusiasm, exuberance, fervor, spirit, warmth, zeal

Antonyms

constraint, restraint

aban·doned adjective 1 : morally unrestrained

2 : given up : FORSAKEN

Synonyms

derelict, deserted, forsaken; also ignored, neglected, unattended, untended

aban·don·ment noun 1 : the act of abandoning

2 : freedom from restraint

Synonyms

[1] dereliction, desertion—more at DERELICTION

[2] abandon, ease, lightheartedness, naturalness, spontaneity, unrestraint—more at ABANDON

abase verb abased; abas·ing : to lower in rank, office, prestige, or esteem : HUMBLE, DEGRADE

— abase·ment noun

Synonyms

debase, degrade, demean, demoralize, humble, subvert, warp—more at DEBASE

abash verb : to destroy the composure of : EMBARRASS

Synonyms

confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, rattle—more at EMBARRASS

abash·ment noun : the quality or state of being abashed

Synonyms

confusion, discomfiture, embarrassment, fluster, mortification—more at EMBARRASSMENT

abate verb abat·ed; abat·ing 1 : to put an end to <~ a nuisance>

2 : to decrease in amount, number, or degree

Synonyms

decline, decrease, diminish, dwindle, ebb, fall, lessen, recede, subside, taper, wane—more at DECREASE

abate·ment noun 1 : an amount of taking away; especially : a deduction from a tax

2 : an amount abated or lessened

Synonyms

[1] deduction, discount, reduction—more at DEDUCTION

[1, 2] decline, decrease, decrement, diminution, drop, fall, loss, reduction, shrinkage—more at DECREASE

ab·at·toir noun [ORIGIN: F]

: SLAUGHTERHOUSE

ab·ba·cy noun, plural -cies : the office or term of office of an abbot or abbess

ab·bé noun : a member of the French secular clergy — used as a title

ab·bess noun : the superior of a convent for nuns

ab·bey noun, plural abbeys 1 : a house for persons and esp. monks under religious vows : MONASTERY

2 : CONVENT

3 : an abbey church

Synonyms

cloister, friary, monastery, priory—more at MONASTERY

ab·bot noun [ORIGIN: ME abbod, fr. OE, fr. LL abbat-, abbas, fr. LGk abbas, fr. Aramaic abbā father]

: the superior of a monastery for men

abbr abbreviation abbreviation

ab·bre·vi·ate verb -at·ed; -at·ing : to make briefer : SHORTEN,