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— ab·surd·ly adverb

Synonyms

bizarre, crazy, fanciful, fantastic, foolish, insane, nonsensical, preposterous, unreal, wild—more at FANTASTIC

comical, derisive, farcical, laughable, ludicrous, preposterous, ridiculous, risible, silly—more at RIDICULOUS

ab·sur·di·ty noun 1 : the quality or state of being absurd

2 : something that is absurd

Synonyms

[1] craziness, daftness, fatuity, folly, foolishness, inanity, insanity, silliness, zaniness

[2] asininity, fatuity, folly, foolery, inanity, insanity, lunacy, stupidity—more at FOLLY

abun·dance noun : an ample quantity

Synonyms

gobs, heap, loads, lot, much, plenty, profusion, quantity—more at LOT

plenty, superabundance, wealth—more at PLENTY

abun·dant adjective [ORIGIN: ME, fr. AF, fr. L abundant-, abundans, prp. of abundare to abound, fr. ab- from + unda wave]

: more than enough : amply sufficient

— abun·dance noun

— abun·dant·ly adverb

Synonyms

ample, bountiful, comfortable, generous, liberal, plentiful—more at PLENTIFUL

1abuse noun 1 : a corrupt practice

2 : incorrect or improper use : MISUSE

3 : coarse and insulting speech

4 : MISTREATMENT

Synonyms

[2] misuse, perversion—more at MISUSE

[3] fulmination, invective, vitriol, vituperation; also blasphemy, curse, execration, imprecation, malediction, profanity

2abuse verb abused; abus·ing 1 : to put to a wrong use : MISUSE

2 : to use so as to injure or damage : MISTREAT

3 : to attack in words

4 to use to excess <~ alcohol>

— abus·er noun

— abu·sive adjective

— abu·sive·ly adverb

— abu·sive·ness noun

Synonyms

[1] misapply, misuse, pervert, profane, prostitute—more at MISAPPLY

[1] capitalize, cash in, exploit, impose, play, use—more at EXPLOIT

[2] ill-treat, maltreat, manhandle, mishandle, mistreat, misuse; also molest, outrage, violate

[3] assail, attack, belabor, blast, castigate, excoriate, jump, lambaste, slam, vituperate—more at ATTACK

abut verb abut·ted; abut·ting : to touch along a border : border on

Synonyms

adjoin, border, flank, fringe, join, skirt, touch, verge—more at ADJOIN

abut·ment noun : the part of a structure (as a bridge) that supports weight or withstands lateral pressure

abut·ter noun : one that abuts; especially : the owner of a contiguous property

abys·mal adjective 1 : immeasurably deep : BOTTOMLESS

2 : absolutely wretched <~ living conditions of the poor>

— abys·mal·ly adverb

abyss noun 1 : the bottomless pit in old accounts of the universe

2 : an immeasurable depth

abys·sal adjective : of or relating to the bottom waters of the ocean depths

ac abbreviation account

-ac noun suffix : one affected with

Ac symbol actinium

AC abbreviation 1 air-conditioning

2 alternating current

3 [ORIGIN L ante Christum] before Christ

4 [ORIGIN L ante cibum] before meals

5 area code

aca·cia noun : any of numerous leguminous trees or shrubs with round white or yellow flower clusters and often fernlike leaves

acad abbreviation academic; academy

ac·a·deme noun : SCHOOL; also : academic environment

1academic noun : a person who is academic in background, outlook, or methods

2academic adjective 1 : of, relating to, or associated with schools or colleges

2 : literary or general rather than technical

3 : theoretical rather than practical

— ac·a·dem·i·cal·ly adverb

Synonyms

educational, scholarly, scholastic; also bookish, pedantic, professorial

Antonyms

nonacademic, unacademic

ac·a·de·mi·cian noun 1 : a member of a society of scholars or artists

2 : ACADEMIC

ac·a·dem·i·cism also acad·e·mism noun 1 : a formal academic quality

2 : purely speculative thinking

acad·e·my noun, plural -mies [ORIGIN: Gk Akadēmeia, school of philosophy founded by Plato, fr. Akadēmeia, gymnasium where Plato taught, fr. Akadēmos Greek mythological hero]

1 : a school usu. above the elementary level; especially : a private high school

2 : a society of scholars or artists

acan·thus noun, plural acanthus 1 : any of a genus