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adroit adjective [ORIGIN: F, fr. OF, fr. a- to + droit right]

: having or showing skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations

— adroit·ly adverb

Synonyms

artful, delicate, dexterous, expert, masterful, masterly, practiced, skillful, virtuoso—more at SKILLFUL

adroit·ness noun : the quality or state of being adroit

Synonyms

cleverness, craft, dexterity, finesse, sleight—more at DEXTERITY

adeptness, art, artfulness, artifice, artistry, cleverness, craft, cunning, deftness, masterfulness, skill—more at SKILL

ad·sorb verb : to take up (as molecules of gases) and hold on the surface of a solid or liquid

— ad·sorp·tion noun

ad·u·late verb -lat·ed; -lat·ing : to flatter or admire excessively

— ad·u·la·tor noun

ad·u·la·tion noun : excessive or slavish admiration or flattery

Synonyms

deification, idolatry, worship—more at WORSHIP

blarney, flattery, overpraise—more at FLATTERY

ad·u·la·to·ry adjective : characterized by or given to adulation

Synonyms

fulsome, unctuous—more at FULSOME

1adult adjective [ORIGIN: L adultus, pp. of adolescere to grow up, fr. ad- to + alescere to grow]

: fully developed and mature

Synonyms

full-blown, full-fledged, mature, ripe—more at MATURE

2adult noun : one that is adult; especially : a human being after an age (as 18) specified by law

adul·ter·ant noun : something used to adulterate another

Synonyms

contaminant, defilement, impurity, pollutant—more at IMPURITY

adul·ter·ate verb -at·ed; -at·ing [ORIGIN: L adulterare, fr. ad- to + alter other]

: to make impure by mixing in a foreign or inferior substance

— adul·ter·a·tion noun

Synonyms

dilute, thin, water, weaken; also befoul, contaminate, corrupt, defile, dirty, foul, infect, poison, pollute, soil, sully, spoil, taint

Antonyms

enrich, fortify, strengthen

adul·tery noun, plural -ter·ies : sexual unfaithfulness of a married person

— adul·ter·er noun

— adul·ter·ess noun

— adul·ter·ous adjective

adult·hood noun : the state or time of being an adult

ad·um·brate verb -brat·ed; -brat·ing 1 : to foreshadow vaguely : INTIMATE

2 : to suggest or disclose partially

3 : SHADE, OBSCURE

— ad·um·bra·tion noun

adv abbreviation 1 adverb

2 advertisement

ad va·lor·em adjective [ORIGIN: L, according to the value]

: imposed at a percentage of the value

1advance verb ad·vanced; ad·vanc·ing 1 : to assist the progress of

2 : to bring or move forward

3 : to promote in rank

4 : to make earlier in time

5 : to bring forward for notice, consideration, or acceptance : PROPOSE

6 : to supply or furnish in expectation of repayment : LEND

7 : to raise in rate : INCREASE

Synonyms

[1] cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote—more at FOSTER

[2] fare, forge, get along, go, march, proceed, progress—more at GO

[3] elevate, promote, raise, upgrade—more at PROMOTE

[5] offer, pose, proffer, propose, propound, suggest, vote—more at PROPOSE

2advance noun 1 : a forward movement

2 : a progressive step : IMPROVEMENT

3 : a rise esp. in price or value

4 : OFFER

— in advance

: BEFOREHAND

Synonyms

[1] advancement, furtherance, headway, march, onrush, passage, process, procession, progress, progression; also current, drift, flow, flux, stream, way

Antonyms

recession, regression, retrogression

[2] advancement, breakthrough, enhancement, improvement, refinement; also amelioration, boost, heightening, increase, melioration, strengthening, upgrade, uplift, upswing, upturn

Antonyms

setback

3advance adjective : made, sent, or furnished ahead of time <~ sales>

ad·vanced adjective 1 : far on in time or course

2 : being beyond others in progress

Synonyms

[1,2] high, progressive, refined; also full-blown, full-fledged, full-scale

Antonyms

backward, low, lower, primitive, retarded, rudimentary, undeveloped

ad·vance·ment noun : the action of advancing : the state of being advanced

Synonyms

ascent, elevation, promotion,