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elu·sive adjective : tending to elude : EVASIVE

— elu·sive·ly adverb

— elu·sive·ness noun

Synonyms

evasive, fugitive, slippery; also cagey, shifty

el·ver noun [ORIGIN: alter. of eelfare migration of eels]

: a young eel

elves plural of ELF

Ely·sian adjective : of or relating to Elysium; especially : full of bliss or delight

Synonyms

celestial, empyrean, heavenly, supernal—more at CELESTIAL

Ely·si·um noun, plural -si·ums or -sia : a place or state of bliss or delight : PARADISE

Synonyms

Eden, heaven, paradise, utopia—more at PARADISE

em noun : a length approximately the width of the letter M

EM abbreviation 1 electromagnetic

2 electron microscope

3 enlisted man

ema·ci·ate verb -at·ed; -at·ing : to become or cause to become very thin

— ema·ci·a·tion noun

e–mail noun 1 : a system for transmitting messages between computers on a network

2 : a message or messages sent and received through an e-mail system

em·a·nate verb -nat·ed; -nat·ing : to come out from a source

— em·a·na·tion noun

eman·ci·pate verb -pat·ed; -pat·ing : to set free

— eman·ci·pa·tor noun

Synonyms

discharge, enfranchise, free, liberate, loose, loosen, manumit, release, spring, unbind, unchain, unfetter—more at FREE

eman·ci·pa·tion noun : the act or process of emancipating

Synonyms

enfranchisement, liberation, manumission—more at LIBERATION

emas·cu·late verb -lat·ed; -lat·ing 1 : to deprive of virility : CASTRATE

2 : to deprive of strength or spirit : WEAKEN

— emas·cu·la·tion noun

em·balm verb : to treat (a corpse) so as to protect from decay

— em·balm·er noun

em·bank·ment noun : a raised structure (as of earth) to hold back water or carry a roadway

Synonyms

dam, dike, levee—more at DAM

em·bar·go noun, plural -goes [ORIGIN: Sp, fr. embargar to bar]

: a prohibition on commerce

— embargo verb

Synonyms

ban, interdict, interdiction, prohibition, proscription, veto—more at PROHIBITION

em·bark verb 1 : to put or go on board a ship or airplane

2 : to make a start

— em·bar·ka·tion noun

Synonyms

begin, commence, enter, launch, open, start—more at BEGIN

em·bar·rass verb 1 : CONFUSE, DISCONCERT

2 : to involve in financial difficulties

3 : to cause to experience self-conscious distress

4 : to hamper or impede the movement or freedom of movement of : HINDER, IMPEDE

— em·bar·rass·ing·ly adverb

Synonyms

[3] abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, faze, fluster, mortify, rattle; also agitate, bother, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, unhinge, unsettle, upset

[4] encumber, hamper, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere

em·bar·rass·ment noun 1 : something that embarrasses; especially : a burden that impedes action or renders it difficult

2 : the state of being embarrassed: as

a : confusion or disturbance of mind

b : difficulty in making progress or functioning (as from lack of resources or from disease)

Synonyms

[2a] abashment, confusion, discomfiture, fluster, mortification; also agitation, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discomposure, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturbance, perturbation, uneasiness, upset

[2b] encumbrance, handicap, hindrance, inhibition, obstacle

em·bas·sy noun, plural -sies 1 : a group of representatives headed by an ambassador

2 : the function, position, or mission of an ambassador

3 : the official residence and offices of an ambassador

em·bat·tle verb : to arrange in order for battle; also : FORTIFY

em·bat·tled adjective 1 : engaged in battle, conflict, or controversy

2 : being a site of battle, conflict, or controversy

3 : characterized by conflict or controversy

em·bed verb em·bed·ded; em·bed·ding 1 : to enclose closely in a surrounding mass

2 : to make something an integral part of

Synonyms

entrench, fix, implant, ingrain, lodge, root—more at ENTRENCH

em·bel·lish verb 1 : to make beautiful with ornamentation : DECORATE

2 : to heighten the attractiveness