degeneration
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C1 noun ˌdɪdʒɪˈnɛəreɪʃən

degeneration

Degeneration
Meaning
The process of decline or deterioration in structure or function.
Example
The degeneration of brain cells leads to cognitive decline.
Die Degeneration der Gehirnzellen führt zu kognitivem Verfall.
C1 noun /dɪˈsaɪ.pəl/

Disciple

Jünger; Anhänger
Meaning
a follower and student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher; devoted follower
Example
The famous philosopher had many disciples who spread his teachings worldwide.
Der berühmte Philosoph hatte viele Jünger, die seine Lehren weltweit verbreiteten.
C1 verb ˈdiː.vi.eɪt

deviate

abweichen
Meaning
To depart from an established course or normal pattern.
Example
He tends to deviate from the original plan.
Er neigt dazu, vom ursprünglichen Plan abzuweichen.
C1 noun /ˌdiː.mɑːˈkeɪ.ʃən/

Demarcation

Abgrenzung
Meaning
the action of fixing the boundary or limits of something; separation or division
Example
The demarcation between public and private land was clearly marked.
Die Abgrenzung zwischen öffentlichem und privatem Land war deutlich markiert.
C1 noun /ˌdɛfəˈmeɪʃən/

defamation

Verleumdung
Meaning
the act of damaging someone's reputation by making false statements
Example
The newspaper was sued for defamation of character.
Die Zeitung wurde wegen Verleumdung verklagt.
C1 noun /dɪˈluːʒən/

delusion

Täuschung
Meaning
A false belief or impression maintained despite being contradicted by reality.
Example
He lived under the delusion that he was invincible.
Er lebte unter der Täuschung, dass er unbesiegbar war.
C1 adjective /ˈdɑːsəl/ or /ˈdəʊsaɪl/

docile

fügsam
Meaning
easily managed, taught, or controlled; submissive
Example
The docile puppy quickly learned new tricks.
Der fügsame Welpe lernte schnell neue Tricks.
C1 adjective /dɪˈbɪl.ɪ.teɪ.tɪŋ/

debilitating

debilitierend
Meaning
Making someone or something weak and infirm.
Example
The disease had a debilitating effect on his health.
Die Krankheit hatte eine debiliterende Wirkung auf seine Gesundheit.
C1 noun /ˌdep.rɪˈveɪ.ʃən/

deprivation

Entbehrung, Mangel, Mangelerscheinung
Meaning
The damaging lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a society.
Example
Sleep deprivation affects cognitive function.
Schlafentzug beeinflusst die kognitive Funktion.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈhɑːrtənd/

Disheartened

entmutigt
Meaning
discouraged; feeling dejected; losing hope or confidence
Example
She felt disheartened after failing the exam twice.
Sie fühlte sich entmutigt, nachdem sie die Prüfung zweimal nicht bestanden hatte.
C1 adjective /ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃəl/

differential

differenziell
Meaning
Relating to or showing a difference; involving a distinction.
Example
There is a differential treatment between the two groups.
Es gibt eine differenzielle Behandlung zwischen den beiden Gruppen.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈrɛpjətəbl̩/

disreputable

skandalös
Meaning
having a bad reputation; not considered respectable or trustworthy
Example
The journalist avoided staying in the disreputable part of town.
Der Journalist vermied es, im skandalösen Teil der Stadt zu bleiben.
C1 noun dɪˈtætʃ.mənt

detachment

Loslösung
Meaning
The state of being objective or aloof; not being emotionally involved.
Example
Buddhist philosophy encourages detachment from material desires.
Die buddhistische Philosophie fördert die Loslösung von materiellen Begierden.
C1 verb /dɪˈfeɪs/

deface

verunstalten
Meaning
to spoil the surface or appearance of something, especially by writing or drawing on it
Example
The vandals defaced the wall with graffiti.
Die Vandalen verunstalteten die Wand mit Graffiti.
C1 noun /ˈdel.ɪ.kə.si/

Delicacy

Zartheit; eine ausgesuchte oder teure Speise;
Meaning
fineness of texture or structure; a choice or expensive food; sensitivity in handling
Example
The chef prepared a local delicacy that was famous throughout the region.
Der Koch bereitete eine lokale Delikatesse zu, die in der gesamten Region berühmt war.
C1 adjective ˌdet.rɪˈmen.təl

detrimental

schädlich
Meaning
Tending to cause harm; damaging or harmful.
Example
Pollution has detrimental effects on fertility.
Verschmutzung hat schädliche Auswirkungen auf die Fruchtbarkeit.
C1 adjective /ˈdɒɡɪd/

dogged

hartnäckig
Meaning
showing stubborn determination and persistence
Example
She succeeded through dogged determination.
Sie hatte Erfolg durch ihre hartnäckige Entschlossenheit.
C1 noun /daɪˈvɜː.dʒəns/

divergence

Divergenz
Meaning
The process or state of diverging; a difference or deviation between two or more things.
Example
The divergence in their opinions led to a heated debate.
Die Divergenz in ihren Meinungen führte zu einer hitzigen Debatte.
C1 verb /dɪˈspɜːrs/

disperse

zerstreuen
Meaning
To scatter or spread widely in different directions.
Example
The police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Die Polizei hat Tränengas eingesetzt, um die Menge zu zerstreuen.
C1 verb /dɪˈmɔrəˌlaɪz/

demoralize

demoralisieren
Meaning
to cause someone to lose confidence or hope
Example
The constant criticism demoralized the young athlete.
Die ständige Kritik demoralisiert den jungen Athleten.
C1 noun ˌdjʊə.rəˈbɪl.ə.ti

durability

Haltbarkeit
Meaning
The ability to withstand wear, pressure, or damage; hard-wearing.
Example
The durability of materials affects performance.
Die Haltbarkeit von Materialien beeinflusst die Leistung.
C1 noun /dɪˈkriː/

Decree

Dekret
Meaning
an official order issued by a legal authority; a judicial decision or edict
Example
The king issued a decree that all citizens must pay additional taxes.
Der König erließ ein Dekret, dass alle Bürger zusätzliche Steuern zahlen müssen.
C1 adjective /dɪˈlæpɪˌdeɪtɪd/

dilapidated

verfallen
Meaning
Fallen into disrepair or ruin due to neglect or age.
Example
The family lived in a dilapidated house at the edge of town.
Die Familie lebte in einem verfallenen Haus am Rande der Stadt.
C1 verb /dɔːnt/

daunt

abschrecken
Meaning
to make someone feel intimidated, discouraged, or less confident
Example
The steep climb did not daunt the experienced hikers.
Der steile Anstieg hat die erfahrenen Wanderer nicht eingeschüchtert.
C1 noun ˈdɪk.ʃən

diction

Aussprache und Wortwahl
Meaning
The style of pronunciation and word choice in speaking or writing.
Example
A strong diction enhances communication skills.
Eine starke Diktat verbessert die Kommunikationsfähigkeiten.
C1 verb /ˈdrɪbəl/

dribble

tropfen / den Ball mit kleinen Stößen spielen
Meaning
to let liquid flow slowly in drops or to move a ball skillfully with repeated small kicks or bounces
Example
The baby dribbled milk on his shirt.
Das Baby hat Milch auf sein Hemd getropft.
C1 noun /dɪsˈlɛksiə/

dyslexia

Dyslexie
Meaning
A learning disorder characterized by difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and decoding words.
Example
The teacher used special methods to help the student with dyslexia.
Der Lehrer verwendete spezielle Methoden, um dem Schüler mit Dyslexie zu helfen.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsəˈlaʊ/

disallow

untersagen
Meaning
to refuse to allow or accept something
Example
The referee disallowed the goal for offside.
Der Schiedsrichter untersagte das Tor wegen Abseits.
C1 noun delˈteɪɪk ˈlændskeɪp

deltaic landscape

deltaähnliche Landschaft
Meaning
A geographical area formed by sediment deposits at the mouth of a river, creating a triangular land formation.
Example
Bangladesh has a unique deltaic landscape.
Bangladesch hat eine einzigartige deltaähnliche Landschaft.
C1 verb/adjective /dɪˈdʒɛnəreɪt/

degenerate

degenerieren
Meaning
To decline or deteriorate in quality, character, or condition; or someone with low moral standards.
Example
The once thriving empire began to degenerate into chaos.
Das einst blühende Reich begann, in Chaos zu degenerieren.
C1 noun /ˌdɒmɪˈneɪʃən/

domination

Herrschaft
Meaning
the exercise of control or influence over someone or something
Example
The empire sought domination over its neighbors.
Das Imperium strebte nach Herrschaft über seine Nachbarn.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈpæʃənət/

dispassionate

unbeteiligt
Meaning
not influenced by strong emotion; impartial
Example
The judge remained dispassionate throughout the trial.
Der Richter blieb während des gesamten Prozesses unbeteiligt.
C1 adjective /dɪˈplɔːrəbl/

deplorable

verwerflich
Meaning
deserving strong condemnation; shockingly bad in quality
Example
The refugees were living in deplorable conditions.
Die Flüchtlinge lebten unter verwerflichen Bedingungen.
C1 noun /dɪˈmaɪz/

demise

Tod / Ende
Meaning
Death or end of something, especially the end of an institution or system.
Example
The sudden demise of the company shocked investors.
Der plötzliche Untergang des Unternehmens schockierte die Investoren.
C1 adjective /ˌdɪsɪnˈdʒɛnjʊəs/

disingenuous

heuchlerisch
Meaning
not candid or sincere; giving a false appearance of honesty or openness
Example
She gave a disingenuous excuse for missing the meeting.
Sie gab eine heuchlerische Ausrede, um das Treffen zu verpassen.
C1 adjective /dɪˈklærətɪv/

declarative

aussagend
Meaning
relating to a statement that declares something; in grammar, a sentence that makes a statement
Example
A declarative sentence simply states a fact or opinion.
Ein aussagender Satz stellt einfach eine Tatsache oder Meinung dar.
C1 noun /daɪˈvɜː.ʃən/

Diversion

Umleitung
Meaning
the action of turning something aside from its course; an activity that diverts the mind
Example
The road closure forced a diversion through the countryside for all travelers.
Die Straßensperrung zwang zu einer Umleitung durch die Landschaft für alle Reisenden.
C1 noun/verb /dɛnt/

dent

Delle
Meaning
a small hollow mark on the surface of something; to make a small hollow mark
Example
The accident left a dent in the car door.
Der Unfall hinterließ eine Delle in der Autotür.
C1 adjective ˈdɔːn.tɪŋ

daunting

abschreckend oder herausfordernd
Meaning
Something that seems intimidating or challenging.
Example
The task seemed daunting, but she completed it successfully.
Die Aufgabe schien beängstigend, aber sie beendete sie erfolgreich.
C1 noun ˌdiːˌrɛɡ.jʊˈleɪ.ʃən

deregulation

Deregulierung
Meaning
The removal or reduction of government regulations in an economic sector.
Example
Deregulation has increased competition in the telecommunications sector.
Die Deregulierung hat den Wettbewerb im Telekommunikationssektor erhöht.
C1 verb /ˈdɛsɪmeɪt/

decimate

verderben
Meaning
To destroy or kill a large proportion of something.
Example
The wildfire decimated the forest.
Der Waldbrand zerstörte den Wald.
C1 noun /ˌdiː.viˈeɪ.ʃən/

Deviation

Abweichung; Abkommen von einem festgelegten Kurs
Meaning
the action of departing from an established course; a departure from usual standards
Example
Any deviation from the established procedure must be reported immediately.
Jede Abweichung von der festgelegten Vorgehensweise muss sofort gemeldet werden.
C1 noun /ˌdɪsəˈbiːdiəns/

disobedience

Ungehorsam
Meaning
failure or refusal to obey rules, laws, or authority
Example
The child's disobedience worried his parents.
Der Ungehorsam des Kindes besorgte seine Eltern.
C1 noun /dɪˈfjuːʒən/

diffusion

Diffusion
Meaning
the spreading of something more widely or the movement of particles from high to low concentration
Example
The diffusion of information on social media is rapid.
Die Diffusion von Informationen in sozialen Medien ist schnell.
C1 noun /dɪˈfaɪəns/

defiance

Herausforderung
Meaning
Open resistance or bold disobedience.
Example
The protest was an act of defiance against injustice.
Der Protest war ein Akt der Herausforderung gegen das Unrecht.
C1 verb /ˌdiːˈbʌŋk/

debunk

widerlegen, die Falschheit von etwas aufdecken
Meaning
Expose the falseness or hollowness of (a myth, idea, or belief).
Example
Scientists debunked the myth that vaccines cause autism.
Wissenschaftler widerlegten den Mythos, dass Impfstoffe Autismus verursachen.
C1 verb /dɪˈraɪd/

deride

verspotten
Meaning
to mock or ridicule someone or something
Example
The critics derided the new movie for its poor script.
Die Kritiker verspoteten den neuen Film für sein schlechtes Skript.
C1 verb, noun /dɪsˈkrɛdɪt/

discredit

diskreditieren
Meaning
To harm the reputation of someone or something; loss of respect or credibility.
Example
The scandal discredited the politician in the eyes of the public.
Der Skandal diskreditierte den Politiker in den Augen der Öffentlichkeit.
C1 noun /ˌdɪs.ɪˈluː.ʒən.mənt/

disillusionment

Desillusion
Meaning
A feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be.
Example
Many people experience disillusionment after unrealistic expectations.
Viele Menschen erleben eine Desillusion nach unrealistischen Erwartungen.
C1 verb /diːˈhaɪdreɪt/

dehydrate

dehydrieren
Meaning
to remove water from something; to lose water or body fluids
Example
Running in the heat can quickly dehydrate you.
Laufen bei der Hitze kann dich schnell dehydrieren.
C1 noun /ˌdɪs.kʌl.əˈreɪ.ʃən/

discoloration

Verfärbung
Meaning
The process of changing or losing color; fading.
Example
Sun exposure causes discoloration of fabrics.
Sonnenexposition verursacht eine Verfärbung des Stoffs.
C1 verb /dəˈmɛstɪkeɪt/

domesticate

domestizieren
Meaning
to tame an animal for use by humans; to adapt something for domestic use
Example
Humans domesticated dogs thousands of years ago.
Menschen domestizierten Hunde vor Tausenden von Jahren.
C1 adjective /dɪˈsɜːrnəbl/

discernible

wahrnehmbar
Meaning
able to be seen, recognized, or understood
Example
There was a discernible change in his behavior.
Es gab eine wahrnehmbare Veränderung in seinem Verhalten.
C1 verb /daɪˈvʌldʒ/

divulge

enthüllen
Meaning
to make known something private, secret, or previously unknown
Example
She refused to divulge the source of her information.
Sie weigerte sich, die Quelle ihrer Informationen zu enthüllen.
C1 adjective /ˈdjuːtɪfəl/

Dutiful

pflichtbewusst; respektvoll; gehorsam
Meaning
conscientiously fulfilling one's duty; obedient; respectful
Example
She is a dutiful daughter who always helps her parents.
Sie ist eine pflichtbewusste Tochter, die ihren Eltern immer hilft.
C1 adjective /dɪˈspɜːrst/

dispersed

verstreut
Meaning
Scattered or spread across a wide area.
Example
The dispersed population made it difficult to provide public services.
Die verstreute Bevölkerung erschwerte die Bereitstellung öffentlicher Dienste.
C1 verb /dɪˈsɛnt/

dissent

widersprechen
Meaning
To hold or express opinions that are different from those officially accepted.
Example
Several members dissented from the majority decision.
Mehrere Mitglieder stimmten gegen die Mehrheitsentscheidung.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈtæŋɡl/

disentangle

entwirren
Meaning
To free something or someone from a tangle or complication.
Example
She tried to disentangle her hair from the branches.
Sie versuchte, ihr Haar von den Zweigen zu entwirren.
C1 adjective /dɪˈmɒnstrəbl/

demonstrable

nachweisbar
Meaning
clearly able to be shown or proven
Example
There was demonstrable evidence that he was innocent.
Es gab nachweisbare Beweise dafür, dass er unschuldig war.
C1 noun /ˌdɛməˈlɪʃən/

demolition

Abriss
Meaning
the act or process of destroying a building or structure
Example
The demolition of the old factory took several weeks.
Der Abriss der alten Fabrik dauerte mehrere Wochen.
C1 noun /dɪˈmiːnər/

demeanour

verhalten
Meaning
a person's outward behavior or appearance
Example
Her calm demeanour impressed everyone during the meeting.
Ihr ruhiges Verhalten beeindruckte alle während des Treffens.
C1 adjective ˈdɪs.pər.ət

disparate

unterschiedlich
Meaning
containing elements very different from one another.
Example
Their opinions were disparate, leading to debates.
Ihre Meinungen waren disparat, was zu Debatten führte.
C1 adjective dɪ ˈskrɛʃ.ən.er.i

discretionary

diskretionär
Meaning
Available for use at the discretion of the user; not required or mandatory.
Example
He set aside some discretionary income for travel.
Er hat etwas diskretionäres Einkommen für Reisen beiseitegelegt.
C1 noun /ˈdɑːrwɪnɪzəm/

darwinism

Darwinismus
Meaning
the theory of biological evolution developed by Charles Darwin, emphasizing natural selection
Example
Darwinism revolutionized the way scientists understood the origin of species.
Der Darwinismus revolutionierte die Art und Weise, wie Wissenschaftler den Ursprung der Arten verstanden.
C1 verb /dɪˈteɪn/

detain

festnehmen
Meaning
to keep someone from proceeding; to hold back, especially by official authority
Example
The police detained the suspect for questioning.
Die Polizei hat den Verdächtigen zur Befragung festgenommen.
C1 noun ˈdaɪ.nə.sti

dynasty

Dynastie
Meaning
A line of hereditary rulers of a country; a succession of people from the same family who play a prominent role in business, politics, or another field.
Example
The Ming dynasty ruled China for centuries.
Die Ming-Dynastie regierte China über Jahrhunderte.
C1 noun /ˈdʊr.i.ən/

Durian

Durian
Meaning
a large spiky tropical fruit known for its strong smell and creamy custard-like flesh
Example
Durian is known as the king of fruits in Southeast Asia despite its pungent odor.
Durian ist in Südostasien trotz seines stechenden Geruchs als König der Früchte bekannt.
C1 verb /dɪˈtrækt/

detract

minderwertig machen
Meaning
To reduce or take away the worth or value of something.
Example
His rude behavior will detract from his good reputation.
Sein unhöfliches Verhalten wird seinen guten Ruf schmälern.
C1 verb /daɪˈleɪt/

dilate

erweitern
Meaning
To make wider, larger, or more open.
Example
The doctor used drops to dilate the patient's pupils.
Der Arzt benutzte Tropfen, um die Pupillen des Patienten zu erweitern.
C1 verb /dɪˈluːd/

delude

täuschen
Meaning
To mislead someone into believing something that is not true.
Example
He deluded himself into thinking he could win the race without training.
Er täuschte sich selbst, indem er dachte, dass er das Rennen ohne Training gewinnen könnte.
C1 noun /ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃɪˈeɪʃən/

differentiation

Differenzierung, Unterscheidung
Meaning
The action or process of differentiating or distinguishing between things.
Example
Differentiation from competitors can create a unique market position.
Die Differenzierung von Wettbewerbern kann eine einzigartige Marktposition schaffen.
C1 noun /ˈdrɛsˌmeɪkər/

dressmaker

Schneiderin
Meaning
A person who makes or alters women's clothing professionally.
Example
The dressmaker crafted a beautiful gown for the bride.
Die Schneiderin fertigte ein schönes Kleid für die Braut an.
C1 verb /daɪˈvɛst/

divest

abstoßen
Meaning
to strip away possessions, rights, or assets; to rid oneself of
Example
The company decided to divest its unprofitable division.
Das Unternehmen hat beschlossen, sich von seiner unrentablen Abteilung zu trennen.
C1 adjective /dɪˈmɛntɪd/

demented

dement / irrational
Meaning
behaving irrationally due to mental illness or extreme excitement
Example
He looked demented after hearing the shocking news.
Er sah dement aus, nachdem er die schockierenden Nachrichten gehört hatte.
C1 adjective dɪˈskrɪmɪnətɔːri

discriminatory

diskriminierend
Meaning
Making or showing an unfair or prejudicial distinction between different categories of people or things.
Example
Discriminatory policies triggered protests.
Diskriminierende Politiken lösten Proteste aus.
C1 noun /ˈdɛmənˌstreɪtər/

demonstrator

Demonstrator, Protestierender
Meaning
a person who shows how something works or takes part in a public protest
Example
The demonstrators marched peacefully through the city streets.
Die Demonstranten marschierten friedlich durch die Straßen der Stadt.
C1 noun /dɪˈfɛkʃən/

defection

Defektion
Meaning
The act of abandoning one’s country, cause, or group in favor of another.
Example
The politician’s defection shocked his supporters.
Die Defektion des Politikers schockierte seine Anhänger.
C1 noun /dɪˈmiːnər/

demeanor

Verhalten
Meaning
a person's outward behavior or appearance
Example
Her calm demeanor impressed everyone at the meeting.
Ihr ruhiges Verhalten beeindruckte alle bei dem Treffen.
C1 noun /ˈdɪsənˌtɛri/

dysentery

Darmkrankheit (Durchfall mit Blut und Schleim)
Meaning
An infection of the intestines resulting in severe diarrhea with blood and mucus.
Example
Many soldiers suffered from dysentery during the war.
Viele Soldaten litten während des Krieges an Dysenterie.
C1 noun/verb /dɪsˈdeɪn/

disdain

Verachtung
Meaning
The feeling that someone or something is unworthy of respect; to regard with contempt.
Example
She looked at the messy room with open disdain.
Sie betrachtete das unordentliche Zimmer mit Verachtung.
C1 adjective /dɪˈfʌŋkt/

defunct

außer Betrieb, verfallen
Meaning
No longer existing, operating, or functioning.
Example
The company became defunct after the financial crisis.
Das Unternehmen wurde nach der Finanzkrise defekt.
C1 noun /dɪˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/

denunciation

Denunziation / öffentliche Anklage
Meaning
the public condemnation or accusation of someone or something
Example
The journalist's article was a strong denunciation of corruption.
Der Artikel des Journalisten war eine starke Denunziation der Korruption.
C1 adjective /dɪˈlɪriəs/

delirious

delirisch
Meaning
in an extremely disturbed or excited state of mind, often due to illness or emotion
Example
He was delirious with fever and kept muttering nonsense.
Er war delirisch vor Fieber und murmelte Unsinn.
C1 noun /ˈdæɡ.ər/

Dagger

Dolch
Meaning
a short knife with a pointed blade used as a weapon
Example
The ancient warrior carried a silver dagger.
Der antike Krieger trug einen silbernen Dolch.
C1 noun dɪˈskrep.ən.siz

discrepancies

Abweichung
Meaning
Differences between things that should be the same
Example
Discrepancies in regulations delay progress.
Abweichungen in den Vorschriften verzögern den Fortschritt.
C1 noun /dɪˈpɑːzətɔːri/

depository

Depot, Lager
Meaning
a place where things are stored or deposited, especially financial assets
Example
The national depository safeguards all government bonds.
Das nationale Depot schützt alle Staatsanleihen.
C1 noun /dɪn/

din

Lärm
Meaning
a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise
Example
The din of traffic outside made it hard to concentrate.
Der Lärm des Verkehrs draußen erschwerte das Konzentrieren.
C1 noun /ˈdaɪəˌlɛkt/

dialect

Dialekt
Meaning
A particular form of a language spoken in a specific region or by a specific group.
Example
He speaks a dialect of Bengali that is common in rural areas.
Er spricht einen Dialekt des Bengalischen, der in ländlichen Gebieten verbreitet ist.
C1 noun /ˌdɪp.ləˈmæt.ɪk ˈmaɪl.stəʊn/

diplomatic milestone

diplomatischer Meilenstein
Meaning
A significant achievement or important event in diplomatic relations.
Example
Hosting the summit was a diplomatic milestone.
Die Ausrichtung des Gipfels war ein diplomatischer Meilenstein.
C1 noun /ˌdɪspɛnˈseɪʃən/

dispensation

Ausnahme
Meaning
An exemption from a rule or usual requirement; a system of order, government, or control.
Example
The school granted him a special dispensation to skip the exam due to illness.
Die Schule gewährte ihm aufgrund einer Erkrankung eine besondere Ausnahmegenehmigung, die Prüfung zu versäumen.
C1 verb /dɪˈstɪl/

distill

destillieren
Meaning
To purify a liquid by heating and cooling; to extract the essential meaning or most important aspects.
Example
The factory distills water to make it safe for drinking.
Die Fabrik destilliert Wasser, um es trinkbar zu machen.
C1 noun dɪˈtɜː.mɪ.nənt

determinant

entscheidender Faktor
Meaning
A factor that decisively affects the nature or outcome of something.
Example
Education is a key determinant of success.
Bildung ist ein entscheidender Faktor für den Erfolg.
C1 noun dɪˌzɝː.t̬ə.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən

desertification

desertifikation
Meaning
The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.
Example
Deforestation accelerates desertification.
Abholzung beschleunigt die Desertifikation.
C1 adjective /dɪˈɡreɪdɪd/

degraded

degradiert
Meaning
Reduced in quality, dignity, or condition.
Example
The villagers were forced to live in degraded conditions.
Die Dorfbewohner wurden gezwungen, in degradierten Bedingungen zu leben.
C1 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪkəl/

diabolical

diabolisch
Meaning
Wicked, cruel, or outrageously bad; resembling the devil.
Example
The dictator’s diabolical rule brought misery to the nation.
Die diabolische Herrschaft des Diktators brachte Elend in das Land.
C1 noun /draɪ ˈtʃɪl.i/

Dry Chilli

getrocknete Chilischoten
Meaning
dried chili peppers used as spice for adding heat to food
Example
The recipe calls for two dry chillies to make it spicy.
Das Rezept verlangt zwei getrocknete Chilischoten, um es scharf zu machen.
C1 verb dɪˈsaɪ.fɚ

decipher

entschlüsseln, dekodieren, übersetzen
Meaning
To convert something written in code into normal language; to succeed in understanding the meaning of something.
Example
It took hours to decipher the ancient script.
Es dauerte Stunden, um die alte Schrift zu entschlüsseln.
C1 verb /ˌdiː.kəmˈprɛs/

decompress

entspannen
Meaning
To relax and recover from stress or pressure.
Example
Taking deep breaths helps to decompress after a stressful day.
Tiefes Atmen hilft, sich nach einem stressigen Tag zu entspannen.
C1 verb, noun /ˌdɪsɪˈluːʒən/

disillusion

Desillusion
Meaning
to cause someone to realize that something is not as good as they believed
Example
The scandal disillusioned many voters.
Der Skandal hat viele Wähler desillusioniert.
C1 noun /ˌdɪsbɪˈliːvər/

disbeliever

Ungläubiger
Meaning
a person who does not believe in something, especially a religion or idea
Example
He was called a disbeliever for rejecting the traditional faith.
Er wurde Ungläubiger genannt, weil er den traditionellen Glauben ablehnte.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsˈmaʊnt/

dismount

absteigen
Meaning
to get off or down from something, especially a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle
Example
The rider dismounted from the horse after a long journey.
Der Reiter stieg nach einer langen Reise vom Pferd ab.
C1 noun /dɪˈkɔː.rəm/

Decorum

Anstand; Höflichkeit; Würde
Meaning
behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety; dignified and appropriate conduct
Example
The diplomat maintained perfect decorum throughout the heated negotiations.
Der Diplomat bewahrte während der hitzigen Verhandlungen perfekten Anstand.
C1 noun dɪˌlɪb.əˈreɪ.ʃən

deliberation

Überlegung
Meaning
Long and careful consideration or discussion.
Example
The agreement was finalized after much deliberation.
Die Vereinbarung wurde nach viel Überlegung finalisiert.
C1 noun /ˈduːmz.deɪ/

Doomsday

der Jüngste Tag; der Tag des Weltuntergangs
Meaning
the last day of the world's existence; a time of catastrophic destruction
Example
The preacher spoke about doomsday and the importance of preparing spiritually.
Der Prediger sprach über den Jüngsten Tag und die Bedeutung der spirituellen Vorbereitung.
C1 noun dəˌmɛstɪˈkeɪʃən

domestication

Domestikation
Meaning
The process of taming an animal and keeping it as a pet or for farm produce.
Example
Domestication of animals has been crucial for human survival.
Die Domestikation von Tieren war entscheidend für das Überleben des Menschen.
C1 adjective /drəˈkoʊniən/

draconian

drakonisch
Meaning
Extremely harsh and severe, especially laws or rules.
Example
The new regulations were criticized as draconian.
Die neuen Vorschriften wurden als drakonisch kritisiert.
C1 noun dɪˈpliː.ʃən

depletion

Verbrauch
Meaning
The gradual reduction or exhaustion of a resource or substance.
Example
Overuse of groundwater leads to depletion of water resources.
Übermäßiger Gebrauch von Grundwasser führt zu einer Depletion der Wasserressourcen.
C1 adjective, noun /ˈdɛrəlɪkt/

derelict

verlassen
Meaning
in poor condition due to neglect or disuse; a homeless or neglected person
Example
The old factory stood derelict for decades.
Die alte Fabrik stand jahrzehntelang verlassen.
C1 verb /dɪˈfɔːrm/

deform

verformen
Meaning
to change the shape or form of something, especially in a way that makes it ugly or damaged; to distort
Example
The intense heat began to deform the plastic container.
Die intensive Hitze begann, den Plastikbehälter zu verformen.
C1 adjective /dɪˈspɪkəbl/

despicable

verachtenswert
Meaning
Deserving hatred and contempt; vile or shameful.
Example
His despicable actions shocked the entire community.
Seine verachtenswerten Taten schockierten die ganze Gemeinschaft.
C1 noun /ˈdɑːsieɪ/

dossier

Aktenordner
Meaning
A collection of documents about a particular person, event, or subject.
Example
The lawyer presented a dossier of evidence to the court.
Der Anwalt reichte dem Gericht ein Dossier mit Beweismaterial vor.
C1 noun /ˌdɛtəˈneɪʃən/

detonation

Detonation
Meaning
The act of exploding or causing something to explode.
Example
The sudden detonation shook the entire building.
Die plötzliche Detonation erschütterte das ganze Gebäude.
C1 verb /dɪˈspɛl/

dispel

vertreiben
Meaning
to make a doubt, feeling, or belief disappear
Example
The teacher's explanation dispelled the students' confusion.
Die Erklärung des Lehrers zerstreute die Verwirrung der Schüler.
C1 noun /dɪˈfen.dənt/

Defendant

Beklagte
Meaning
an individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law
Example
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him.
Der Beklagte plädierte auf nicht schuldig in Bezug auf alle gegen ihn erhobenen Anklagen.
C1 noun /dɪsˈsɜːrvɪs/

disservice

Schaden
Meaning
A harmful action; something that does damage rather than help.
Example
Spreading false information is a disservice to the community.
Falsche Informationen zu verbreiten ist ein Schaden für die Gemeinschaft.
C1 adjective /dɪˈskriːt/

discrete

diskret
Meaning
individually separate and distinct
Example
The course is divided into three discrete modules.
Der Kurs ist in drei diskrete Module unterteilt.
C1 noun /daɪˈsɛkʃən/

dissection

Sezierung
Meaning
the act of cutting apart or analyzing something in detail, especially a body or structure
Example
The dissection of the specimen revealed important details about its structure.
Die Sezierung des Exemplars enthüllte wichtige Details über seine Struktur.
C1 noun /ˌdɛsɪˈmeɪʃən/

decimation

Vernichtung
Meaning
The act of destroying or killing a large proportion of something.
Example
The decimation of the city left thousands homeless.
Die Vernichtung der Stadt ließ Tausende obdachlos zurück.
C1 verb /ˈdæmpən/

dampen

befeuchten, dämpfen
Meaning
to make something slightly wet; to make something less strong, active, or intense
Example
The rain dampened the excitement of the outdoor concert.
Der Regen dampfte die Aufregung des Open-Air-Konzerts.
C1 adjective /dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/

diminutive

winzig
Meaning
extremely or unusually small
Example
Despite his diminutive size, he was a powerful leader.
Trotz seiner winzigen Größe war er ein mächtiger Anführer.
C1 verb /diːˈfɒrɪst/

deforest

abholzen
Meaning
to clear an area of trees, usually on a large scale
Example
The region has been heavily deforested for agriculture.
Die Region wurde für die Landwirtschaft stark abgeholzt.