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abom·i·nate verb -nat·ed; -nat·ing [ORIGIN: L abominari, lit., to deprecate as an ill omen, fr. ab- away + omen omen]

: to hate or loathe intensely : LOATHE, DETEST

Synonyms

abhor, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe—more at HATE

abom·i·na·tion noun 1 : something abominable

2 : extreme disgust and hatred : LOATHING

Synonyms

[1] abhorrence, anathema, antipathy, aversion, bête noire, hate—more at HATE

[2] abhorrence, execration, hate, hatred, loathing—more at HATE

ab·orig·i·nal adjective : being the first or earliest known of its kind present in a region : INDIGENOUS

Synonyms

born, endemic, indigenous, native—more at NATIVE

ab·orig·i·ne noun : a member of the original race of inhabitants of a region : NATIVE

aborn·ing adverb : while being born or produced

1abort verb 1 : to cause or undergo abortion

2 : to terminate prematurely <~ a spaceflight>

Synonyms

call, call off, cancel, drop, recall, repeal, rescind, revoke—more at CANCEL

2abort noun : the premature termination of a mission of or a procedure relating to an aircraft or spacecraft

abor·tion noun 1 : the spontaneous or induced termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus

2 : arrest of development (as of a part or process); also : a result of such arrest

Synonyms

calling, cancellation, recall, repeal, rescission, revocation—more at CANCELLATION

abor·tion·ist noun : one who induces abortions

abor·tive adjective : not successful

Synonyms

fruitless, futile, ineffective, unproductive, unsuccessful—more at FUTILE

abound verb 1 : to be plentiful : TEEM

2 : to be fully supplied

1about adverb 1 : reasonably close to; also : on the verge of <~ to join the army>

2 : on all sides

3 : in the vicinity : NEARBY

4 : in the opposite direction

Synonyms

[1] almost, most, much, near, nearly, next to, nigh, practically, some, virtually, well-nigh—more at ALMOST

[4] around, back, round—more at AROUND

2about preposition 1 : on every side of

2 : near to

3 : relating to : CONCERNING

4 : over or in different parts of

Synonyms

[2] around, by, near, next to—more at AROUND

[3] apropos of, concerning, of, on, regarding, respecting, toward; also as to, over

[4] around, over, round, through, throughout—more at AROUND

about–face noun : a reversal of direction or attitude

— about–face verb

1above adverb 1 : in the sky; also : in or to heaven

2 : in or to a higher place; also : higher on the same page or on a preceding page

Synonyms

aloft, over, overhead, skyward

Antonyms

below, beneath, under

2above preposition 1 : in or to a higher place than : OVER

2 : superior to

3 : more than : EXCEEDING

4 : as distinct from <~ the noise>

above·board adverb or adjective : without concealment or deception : OPENLY

abp abbreviation archbishop

abr abbreviation abridged; abridgment

ab·ra·ca·dab·ra noun 1 : a magical charm or incantation against calamity

2 : GIBBERISH

abrade verb abrad·ed; abrad·ing 1 a : to wear away by friction

b : to irritate or roughen by rubbing

2 : to wear down in spirit : IRRITATE

— abra·sion noun

Synonyms

[1a] chafe, erode, fray, fret, gall, rub, wear; also file, gnaw, grate, graze, grind, nibble, rasp, sandblast, sandpaper, scour, scrape, scuff, shave

[1b] graze, scrape, scratch, scuff—more at SCRAPE

1abrasive noun : a substance (as pumice) for abrading, smoothing, or polishing

2abrasive adjective : tending to abrade : causing irritation <~ relationships>

— abra·sive·ly adverb

— abra·sive·ness noun

abreast adverb or adjective 1 : side by side

2 : up to a standard or level esp. of knowledge

Synonyms

conversant, familiar, informed, knowledgeable, up, up-to-date, versed—more at FAMILIAR

abridge verb abridged; abridg·ing [ORIGIN: ME abregen, fr. AF abreger, fr. LL abbreviare,