didactic
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C2 adjective /daɪˈdæktɪk/

didactic

didaktisch
Meaning
Intended to teach, often with a moral lesson.
Example
The novel is not just entertaining but also didactic in nature.
Der Roman ist nicht nur unterhaltsam, sondern auch didaktisch in seiner Natur.
C2 noun /dɪˈbɔːtʃəri/

debauchery

Völlerei
Meaning
excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; corruption or vice
Example
The novel depicts the debauchery of the aristocrats in the city.
Der Roman beschreibt die Völlerei der Aristokraten in der Stadt.
C2 noun /dɪˌsɪdəˈreɪtəm/

desideratum

notwendige Sache
Meaning
something that is desired or considered necessary
Example
For many students, financial aid is a desideratum.
Für viele Studenten ist finanzielle Hilfe eine notwendige Sache.
C2 adjective /dɪˈkrɛpɪt/

decrepit

verfallen
Meaning
worn out or weakened by age or neglect
Example
The decrepit old house was on the verge of collapse.
Das verfallene alte Haus stand kurz vor dem Einsturz.
B2 noun /doʊ/

dough

Teig
Meaning
a mixture of flour, water, and other ingredients used to make bread or pastries
Example
She kneaded the dough for ten minutes before baking.
Sie knetete den Teig zehn Minuten lang, bevor sie ihn buk.
B1 noun /ˈdaɪ.ə.lɑːɡ/

Dialogue

dialog; gespräch
Meaning
a conversation between two or more people; discussion aimed at exploration of a subject
Example
The political leaders engaged in meaningful dialogue to resolve the conflict.
Die politischen führer führten einen bedeutungsvollen dialog, um den konflikt zu lösen.
B2 noun /ˈder.ɪŋ/

Daring

Waghalsigkeit; Bereitschaft, Risiken einzugehen
Meaning
adventurous courage; willingness to take risks
Example
The mountain climber's daring impressed everyone at the base camp.
Der Wagemut des Bergsteigers beeindruckte alle im Basislager.
B1 verb /dræɡ/

drag

schleppen
Meaning
to pull something heavy or difficult to move along the ground; to go somewhere unwillingly; to last too long
Example
She had to drag the heavy suitcase up the stairs.
Sie musste den schweren Koffer die Treppe hinauf schleppen.
A2 verb /daɪ/

die

sterben
Meaning
to stop living; to cease to exist
Example
The flowers will die without water.
Die Blumen werden ohne Wasser sterben.
C1 adjective dɪsˈfʌŋkʃənl

dysfunctional

dysfunktional
Meaning
Not operating normally or properly.
Example
The dysfunctional system led to numerous delays and errors.
Das dysfunktionale System verursachte zahlreiche Verzögerungen und Fehler.
A2 adverb /ˌdaʊnˈsteəz/

Downstairs

nach unten
Meaning
on or to a lower floor of a building
Example
Please go downstairs and wait in the lobby.
Bitte gehen Sie nach unten und warten Sie in der Lobby.
C2 noun /dɪsˈjuːnjən/

disunion

Zerwürfung
Meaning
the state of being separated or not united
Example
Civil wars often result from national disunion.
Bürgerkriege entstehen oft durch nationale Zerwürfung.
B1 verb /ˈdekəreɪt/

decorate

dekorieren
Meaning
to make something look more attractive by adding ornaments
Example
We will decorate the room for the party.
Wir werden das Zimmer für die Party dekorieren.
C1 verb /dɪˈsweɪd/

dissuade

abhalten, abbringen
Meaning
To persuade someone not to do something.
Example
She tried to dissuade him from quitting his job.
Sie versuchte, ihn davon abzuhalten, seinen Job zu kündigen.
B2 verb /dwel/

dwell

wohnen
Meaning
to live in a place; to think about something for a long time
Example
They dwell in a small cottage by the lake.
Sie wohnen in einem kleinen Häuschen am See.
C2 noun /ˌdɪʃəˈbiːl/

dishabille

unordentlich gekleidet
Meaning
The state of being only partly or loosely dressed; casual or careless attire.
Example
She answered the door in a state of dishabille, wearing just a robe.
Sie öffnete die Tür in einem Zustand unordentlich gekleidet, nur mit einem Morgenmantel.
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.
C2 noun /dɪˈstreɪnər/

distrainor

Vermögenspfänder
Meaning
a person, usually a landlord, who seizes another's property for unpaid debt or rent
Example
The distrainor took possession of the tenant's car until the debt was cleared.
Der Vermögenspfänder nahm das Auto des Mieters in Besitz, bis die Schuld beglichen war.
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 verb /dɪsˈfɪɡjər/

disfigure

entstellen
Meaning
to spoil or damage the appearance of something
Example
The fire disfigured the old building.
Das Feuer hat das alte Gebäude entstellt.
C2 verb /dɪˈnjuːd/

denude

entblößen
Meaning
to strip something of its covering, possessions, or assets
Example
The forest was denuded of trees by illegal logging.
Der Wald wurde durch illegales Abholzen der Bäume entblößt.
C1 verb /dɪsˈmæntəl/

dismantle

abreißen
Meaning
to take apart; to remove or destroy the parts of
Example
Workers will dismantle the old bridge next month.
Arbeiter werden die alte Brücke nächsten Monat abbauen.
C1 adjective /dɪˈpreɪvd/

depraved

verderbt
Meaning
morally corrupt or wicked
Example
The film depicts the life of a depraved criminal.
Der Film beschreibt das Leben eines verderbten Kriminellen.
C1 adjective /ˈdɪn.dʒi/

Dingy

dunkel und schmutzig; trübe in der Farbe
Meaning
dark and dirty; gloomy; dull in color
Example
The old building had dingy walls that needed painting.
Das alte Gebäude hatte schmutzige Wände, die gestrichen werden mussten.
C1 noun /dɪˈlɪriəm/

delirium

Delirium
Meaning
An acutely disturbed state of mind characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence.
Example
The patient experienced delirium after the surgery due to the strong medication.
Der Patient erlebte nach der Operation aufgrund starker Medikamente Delirium.
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.
C2 noun /ˈdoʊtɪdʒ/

dotage

Alter
Meaning
The period of old age, especially when one is weak or senile.
Example
He spent his dotage reminiscing about his youth.
Er verbrachte sein Alter damit, an seine Jugend zu erinnern.
C1 noun /ˈdɛljuːdʒ/

deluge

Überschwemmung
Meaning
A severe flood; an overwhelming quantity of something.
Example
The town was hit by a deluge of rain in just a few hours.
Die Stadt wurde in nur wenigen Stunden von einem Überschuss an Regen getroffen.
C1 noun /ˌdiːpɔːrˈteɪʃən/

deportation

Abschiebung
Meaning
The act of expelling a foreigner from a country.
Example
The deportation of hundreds of workers sparked international criticism.
Die Abschiebung von Hunderten von Arbeitern löste internationale Kritik aus.
A1 noun /ˈdɒlər/

dollar

Dollar
Meaning
The basic monetary unit of the United States and some other countries
Example
I need five dollars to buy this book.
Ich brauche fünf Dollar, um dieses Buch zu kaufen.
C2 verb /ˈdʌv.teɪl/

dovetail

perfekt passen
Meaning
to fit or combine perfectly together
Example
Her plans dovetail perfectly with our goals.
Ihre Pläne passen perfekt zu unseren Zielen.
C1 adjective daɪˈvɜː.dʒənt

divergent

divergent
Meaning
Tending to be different or develop in different directions
Example
Divergent policies create challenges in collaboration.
Divergente Politiken schaffen Herausforderungen in der Zusammenarbeit.
B2 noun /ˌdek.ləˈreɪ.ʃən/

Declaration

Erklärung; Ankündigung; Proklamation
Meaning
a formal or explicit statement or announcement; an official proclamation
Example
The president's declaration of independence marked a historic moment for the nation.
Die Unabhängigkeitserklärung des Präsidenten markierte einen historischen Moment für die Nation.
C2 noun /ˈdɛsɪkənt/

desiccant

Trocknungsmittel
Meaning
a substance that absorbs moisture and keeps things dry
Example
Silica gel packets are commonly used as a desiccant in packaging.
Silicagel-Pakete werden häufig als Trocknungsmittel in Verpackungen verwendet.
B2 noun /depθ/

Depth

Tiefe; die Qualität, intensiv oder tief zu sein
Meaning
the distance from the top or surface to the bottom; the quality of being intense or profound
Example
The depth of the ocean in this area reaches over three thousand meters.
Die Tiefe des Ozeans in diesem Bereich erreicht über dreitausend Meter.
C2 verb /ˈdɛpjʊˌtaɪz/

deputize

jemanden als Stellvertreter ernennen
Meaning
To appoint someone as a deputy; to act as a substitute or representative.
Example
The sheriff decided to deputize several locals to help maintain order.
Der Sheriff beschloss, mehrere Einheimische zu deputieren, um die Ordnung aufrechtzuerhalten.
C2 noun /dɪˈdʒɛnərəsi/

degeneracy

Degeneration
Meaning
The state of decline or deterioration, often in moral, cultural, or physical qualities.
Example
The novel portrays the moral degeneracy of a corrupt society.
Der Roman stellt den moralischen Verfall einer korrupten Gesellschaft dar.
A1 verb /driːm/

dream

träumen
Meaning
to have thoughts and images in your mind while sleeping; to hope for
Example
I often dream about flying in the sky.
Ich träume oft davon, am Himmel zu fliegen.
C1 verb /dɪˈfjuːz/

diffuse

verbreiten
Meaning
to spread over a wide area or among a large number of people
Example
The smell of fresh bread diffused through the entire house.
Der Duft von frischem Brot verbreitete sich im ganzen Haus.
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.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪvəˈɡeɪʃən/

divagation

Abschweifung
Meaning
digression; wandering from a path or subject
Example
His lecture was full of divagation, making it hard to follow the main point.
Seine Vorlesung war voller Abschweifungen, was es schwer machte, dem Hauptpunkt zu folgen.
B2 verb dɪˈtɪrɪəˌreɪts

deteriorates

verschlechtert
Meaning
To become progressively worse; to decline in quality, condition, or strength.
Example
The quality of air deteriorates due to pollution.
Die Luftqualität verschlechtert sich aufgrund der Verschmutzung.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌliːtər/

decaliter

zehn Liter
Meaning
A metric unit of capacity equal to ten liters.
Example
The container could hold up to one decaliter of water.
Der Behälter könnte bis zu einem Dekaliter Wasser fassen.
C2 verb /dɪsˈbɜːrs/

disburse

auszahlen
Meaning
to pay out money, especially from a fund
Example
The organization will disburse the funds to the affected families.
Die Organisation wird die Mittel an die betroffenen Familien auszahlen.
C2 noun /ˈdræɡˌnɛt/

dragnet

Durchsuchung
Meaning
A systematic search or investigation, often by police to catch criminals.
Example
The police launched a dragnet to capture the fugitives.
Die Polizei startete eine Durchsuchung, um die Flüchtigen zu fangen.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsæprəˈbeɪʃən/

disapprobation

starke Ablehnung
Meaning
strong disapproval, typically on moral grounds
Example
The policy was met with widespread disapprobation.
Die Politik stieß auf weit verbreitete Ablehnung.
C2 noun /ˈdɪti/

ditty

kurzes Lied
Meaning
a short, simple song or poem
Example
She sang a cheerful little ditty while cooking.
Sie sang ein fröhliches kleines Lied beim Kochen.
C1 noun /ˈdiːvə/

diva

berühmte Sängerin
Meaning
a famous female singer; a woman who is admired or behaves like a star
Example
The pop diva performed her latest hit to a cheering crowd.
Die Pop-Diva trat mit ihrem neuesten Hit vor einer jubelnden Menge auf.
B1 verb /dɪˈfiːt/

Defeat

Niederlage
Meaning
to win a victory over; to overcome in battle or competition
Example
The army managed to defeat the enemy forces.
Die Armee konnte die feindlichen Truppen besiegen.
C2 verb /dɪˈmɜːr/

demur

widersprechen
Meaning
to raise doubts, objections, or show reluctance
Example
She agreed to help without demur.
Sie stimmte zu zu helfen, ohne Einwände zu erheben.
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.
B1 noun ˌdɪsədˈvæntɪdʒ

disadvantage

Nachteil
Meaning
An unfavorable circumstance or condition that reduces the chances of success or effectiveness.
Example
Urdu's dominance placed Bengalis at a disadvantage.
Die Dominanz des Urdu brachte die Bengalen in eine benachteiligte Lage.
C2 adjective /dɪˈtɜːrmɪnət/

determinate

bestimmt
Meaning
having exact and definite limits or form
Example
The contract is for a determinate period of two years.
Der Vertrag ist für einen bestimmten Zeitraum von zwei Jahren.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsəˈsɛmbəl/

disassemble

auseinandernehmen
Meaning
To take apart something into its separate pieces.
Example
He had to disassemble the computer to repair it.
Er musste den Computer auseinandernehmen, um ihn zu reparieren.
B2 noun /dɪˈnɒmɪˌneɪtər/

denominator

Nenner
Meaning
the number below the line in a fraction; a common factor in a situation
Example
In the fraction 3/4, the number 4 is the denominator.
Im Bruch 3/4 ist die Zahl 4 der Nenner.
B1 adjective /dɪsˈɒnəst/

Dishonest

unehrlich; betrügerisch; täuschend
Meaning
not honest; fraudulent; deceitful
Example
The dishonest salesman tried to sell them a broken car.
Der unehrliche Verkäufer versuchte, ihnen ein kaputtes Auto zu verkaufen.
B2 noun/verb /dɪˈvɔːrs/

divorce

Scheidung
Meaning
the legal ending of a marriage; to officially end a marriage
Example
After years of conflict, they decided to get a divorce.
Nach Jahren der Konflikte beschlossen sie, sich scheiden zu lassen.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈkrɪtɪkəl/

diacritical

diakritisch
Meaning
Relating to a mark added to a letter to indicate a different pronunciation or stress.
Example
The word résumé has diacritical marks that change its meaning from resume.
Das Wort 'Résumé' hat diakritische Zeichen, die seine Bedeutung von 'resume' ändern.
C1 noun ˌdɪm.ɪˈnjuː.ʃən

diminution

Verringerung
Meaning
A reduction in the size, extent, or importance of something; decrease.
Example
There has been a diminution in air pollution.
Es gab eine Verringerung der Luftverschmutzung.
C2 verb /dɪˈskraɪ/

descry

erblicken
Meaning
to catch sight of something, especially something distant or obscure
Example
From the hilltop, they descried a small village in the distance.
Vom Hügel aus erspähten sie ein kleines Dorf in der Ferne.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛndrɔɪd/

dendroid

baumähnlich
Meaning
tree-shaped or branching like a tree
Example
The coral has a dendroid structure.
Das Korallen hat eine dendroid Struktur.
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.
B2 verb /ˈdɪkteɪt/

dictate

diktieren
Meaning
to say words aloud for someone to write down; to give orders
Example
The boss dictates letters to his secretary.
Der Chef diktiert Briefe an seinen Sekretär.
B1 verb /daɪv/

dive

tauchen
Meaning
to plunge headfirst into water or another substance
Example
He decided to dive into the pool on a hot day.
Er beschloss, an einem heißen Tag in den Pool zu tauchen.
B2 noun /ˈdæf.ə.dɪl/

Daffodil

Narzisse
Meaning
A bright yellow spring flower with a trumpet-shaped center, symbolizing rebirth and new beginnings
Example
The daffodils bloomed early this spring in the meadow.
Die Narzissen blühten früh in diesem Frühling auf der Wiese.
B2 noun draʊt

drought

Dürre
Meaning
A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall; a shortage of water.
Example
Drought impacts crop growth significantly.
Dürre beeinträchtigt das Wachstum der Ernte erheblich.
A1 noun /ˈdænsɪŋ/

dancing

Meaning
the activity of moving the body rhythmically to music
Example
They spent the evening dancing at the party.
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 noun /ˈdɛspɒt/

despot

Despot
Meaning
a ruler with absolute power, often ruling in a cruel or oppressive way
Example
The despot ruled the nation with fear and violence.
Der Despot regierte die Nation mit Angst und Gewalt.
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 verb /ˈdɛnɪˌɡreɪt/

denigrate

denigreren
Meaning
to criticize unfairly; to belittle or disparage someone or something
Example
He was quick to denigrate the achievements of his colleagues.
Er war schnell dabei, die Errungenschaften seiner Kollegen zu denigreren.
C2 adjective /dɪˈfjuːzəbl/

diffusible

diffusierbar
Meaning
able to spread or be spread through a medium
Example
Oxygen is diffusible through cell membranes.
Sauerstoff ist durch Zellmembranen diffusierbar.
C1 noun /diːˈkrɪp.ʃən/

decryption

Dekodierung
Meaning
The process of converting encrypted data back into its original form so it can be understood.
Example
Hackers attempted decryption of classified data.
Hacker versuchten, die Dekodierung von klassifizierten Daten durchzuführen.
C1 verb /ˈdæb.əl/

dabble

herumexperimentieren
Meaning
To take part in an activity in a casual or superficial way.
Example
He dabbled in painting during his college days.
Er dabbelte in der Malerei während seiner Studienzeit.
B2 noun /dɪˈrɛktəri/

directory

Verzeichnis
Meaning
a book or online resource listing people, businesses, or services with relevant details
Example
I need to find a plumber in the phone directory.
Ich muss einen Klempner im Telefonbuch finden.
C1 verb /dɪˈkraɪ/

decry

verurteilen
Meaning
to publicly criticize or express strong disapproval of something
Example
Many activists decry the destruction of the rainforest.
Viele Aktivisten verurteilen die Zerstörung des Regenwaldes.
C2 adjective /daɪˈvɜːrtɪbəl/

divertible

umleitbar
Meaning
capable of being turned aside or redirected
Example
Funds from the budget are not legally divertible.
Gelder aus dem Budget können nicht gesetzlich umgeleitet werden.
B2 noun /ˈdɛpjʊti/

deputy

Stellvertreter
Meaning
A person appointed as a substitute with power to act.
Example
The deputy will lead the meeting in the manager’s absence.
Der Stellvertreter wird das Meeting in der Abwesenheit des Managers leiten.
C1 noun /ˈdaʊri/

dowry

Morgengabe
Meaning
Property or money brought by a bride to her husband at marriage.
Example
The dowry tradition is still followed in some cultures.
Die Tradition der Morgengabe wird in einigen Kulturen immer noch befolgt.
C1 verb /dɪsˈhɑːrtn/

dishearten

entmutigen
Meaning
to cause someone to lose determination or confidence; to discourage
Example
The constant rejection letters began to dishearten the young writer.
Die ständigen Ablehnungsbriefe begannen, den jungen Schriftsteller zu entmutigen.
B2 noun /dɪˈsɛnt/

descent

Abstieg / Abstammung
Meaning
the action of moving downward, falling, or dropping; ancestry or origin
Example
The climbers began their descent from the mountain peak.
Die Kletterer begannen ihren Abstieg vom Gipfel des Berges.
C1 verb /dɪˈsɛləˌreɪt/

decelerate

verlangsamen
Meaning
to reduce speed; to slow down
Example
The car began to decelerate as it approached the traffic light.
Das Auto begann, langsamer zu werden, als es sich der Ampel näherte.
B2 verb /dɪˈspætʃ/

dispatch

verschicken
Meaning
to send off to a destination or for a purpose
Example
The company dispatched aid to the flood victims.
Das Unternehmen hat Hilfsgüter an die Überschwemmungsopfer gesendet.
B1 adjective /dɪsˈɡʌstɪŋ/

disgusting

ekelhaft
Meaning
extremely unpleasant or offensive; causing strong dislike or revulsion
Example
The smell coming from the trash can was absolutely disgusting.
Der Geruch aus dem Mülleimer war absolut ekelhaft.
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.
B1 verb /ˈdɪfər/

differ

differieren
Meaning
to be unlike or distinct from something else
Example
Opinions differ on this issue.
Die Meinungen differieren zu diesem Thema.
B2 noun /ˌdɪsəˈpruːvəl/

disapproval

Missbilligung
Meaning
The expression of an unfavorable opinion or judgment
Example
Her parents showed clear disapproval of her decision to drop out of college.
Ihre Eltern zeigten deutliche Missbilligung gegenüber ihrer Entscheidung, das College abzubrechen.
A2 noun /ˈdæn.sər/

Dancer

tänzerin
Meaning
a person who performs dance, typically as a profession or art form
Example
The dancer performed gracefully on the stage.
Die Tänzerin trat anmutig auf der Bühne auf.
C1 adjective draʊt rɪˈzɪs.tənt

drought-resistant

trockenresistent
Meaning
Able to survive and grow despite limited water availability or drought conditions.
Example
Drought-resistant crops can survive in arid conditions.
Trockenresistente Pflanzen können in trockenen Bedingungen überleben.
C2 noun /drɒs/

dross

Abfall
Meaning
worthless or unwanted material; rubbish or impurities
Example
Most of his early writings were considered dross.
Die meisten seiner frühen Schriften wurden als Abfall betrachtet.
C2 verb /dɪˈkæpɪteɪt/

decapitate

Glück
Meaning
To cut off the head of a person or animal.
Example
The ancient executioner decapitated the criminal.
Sie konnte ihr Glück nicht verbergen, als sie den Preis erhielt.
B1 noun /dɪˈfens/

Defence

Verteidigung; Schutz
Meaning
the action of defending from or resisting attack; protection or support
Example
The country strengthened its defence system against potential threats.
Das Land verstärkte sein Verteidigungssystem gegen potenzielle Bedrohungen.
C1 noun ˌdɛɡrəˈdeɪʃən

degradation

Degradierung
Meaning
The condition or process of degrading or being degraded.
Example
Soil degradation due to overuse is a growing issue.
Bodenzerstörung durch Übernutzung ist ein wachsendes Problem.
C1 verb /dɪˈzɪst/

desist

absehen
Meaning
to stop doing something, especially an action considered wrong or undesirable
Example
The judge ordered the company to desist from unfair practices.
Der Richter befahl dem Unternehmen, von unfairen Praktiken abzusehen.
C2 noun /ˌdɛrɪˈlɪkʃən/

dereliction

Pflichtvernachlässigung
Meaning
the state of being abandoned; neglect of duty
Example
The officer was charged with dereliction of duty.
Der Beamte wurde wegen der Pflichtvernachlässigung angeklagt.
C2 verb /daʊz/

dowse

Nach Wasser oder Mineralien mit einer Wahrsagerstab suchen; oder mit Flüssigkeit durchnässen oder löschen.
Meaning
To search for underground water or minerals using a divining rod; also to drench or extinguish with liquid.
Example
The farmer tried to dowse for water in the dry field.
Der Bauer versuchte, im trockenen Feld nach Wasser zu suchen.
C2 noun /ˈdʌblɪt/

doublet

Doppelt / enge Jacke
Meaning
a close-fitting jacket worn by men in the Renaissance; also, a pair of similar things
Example
The actor wore a velvet doublet for the Shakespearean play.
Der Schauspieler trug ein Samtdoublet für das Shakespeare-Stück.
A2 adjective /duː/

Due

fällig; erwartet; geplant
Meaning
owed as a debt; expected at a certain time; scheduled
Example
The assignment is due tomorrow.
Die Aufgabe ist morgen fällig.
C1 noun /ˈdæn.drʌf/

Dandruff

Schuppen
Meaning
small white or grey flakes of dead skin that form on the scalp and fall from the hair
Example
He used a special shampoo to treat his persistent dandruff problem.
Er benutzte ein spezielles Shampoo, um sein hartnäckiges Problem mit Schuppen zu behandeln.
C2 adjective /ˈdekərəs/

decorous

vornehm
Meaning
showing proper and polite behavior; marked by good taste
Example
The audience gave a decorous applause after the performance.
Das Publikum spendete nach der Aufführung höflichen Applaus.
C2 noun /ˈdɛθsˌhɛd/

deaths-head

Totenkopf
Meaning
A representation of a human skull, often used as a symbol of death.
Example
The pirate flag was marked with a grim deaths-head.
Die Piratenflagge war mit einem finsteren Totenkopf markiert.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈkɜrsɪv/

discursive

abschweifend
Meaning
Tending to digress or move from topic to topic; lengthy and rambling.
Example
His discursive style made the lecture hard to follow.
Seine abschweifende Art machte den Vortrag schwer zu folgen.
C2 noun /dɪˌlæpɪˈdeɪʃən/

dilapidation

Verwahrlosung
Meaning
The state of disrepair or ruin as a result of neglect.
Example
The old temple was in a state of dilapidation.
Der alte Tempel war in einem Zustand der Verwahrlosung.
B2 verb /ˈdɒmɪneɪt/

dominate

dominieren
Meaning
to have power or control over something or someone
Example
The company dominates the smartphone market.
Das Unternehmen dominiert den Smartphone-Markt.
C1 adjective /ˈdɪs.ə.plɪ.ner.i/

Disciplinary

disziplinarisch
Meaning
relating to discipline; intended to correct behavior
Example
The company took disciplinary action against the employee.
Das Unternehmen ergriff disziplinarische Maßnahmen gegen den Mitarbeiter.
C2 adjective /ˌdɛlɪˈkwɛsənt/

deliquescent

das durch Feuchtigkeit in Flüssigkeit übergeht
Meaning
tending to become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air
Example
Sugar is not deliquescent, but salt can be.
Zucker ist nicht deliqueszent, aber Salz kann es sein.
A2 noun /drʌɡ/

drug

droge
Meaning
a substance used as a medicine or an illegal addictive substance
Example
The doctor prescribed a new drug for the illness.
Der Arzt verschrieb ein neues Medikament für die Krankheit.
C2 noun /dɪˈsɛnʃən/

dissension

Dissens
Meaning
Strong disagreement or difference of opinion, especially leading to discord within a group.
Example
The meeting ended in dissension among the committee members.
Das Treffen endete in Dissens unter den Mitgliedern des Komitees.
C1 verb /dɪˈpriːʃieɪt/

depreciate

abwerten
Meaning
to reduce in value over time
Example
Cars tend to depreciate quickly in their first few years.
Autos neigen dazu, schnell an Wert zu verlieren in den ersten Jahren.
A2 noun /deθ/

Death

Tod
Meaning
the end of life; the permanent cessation of vital functions
Example
The death of the great leader was mourned by the entire nation.
Der Tod des großen Führers wurde von der ganzen Nation betrauert.
C1 verb /ˈdiːmɑːrˌkeɪt/

demarcate

abgrenzen
Meaning
to set the boundaries or limits of something
Example
The land was demarcated with fences to avoid disputes.
Das Land wurde mit Zäunen abgegrenzt, um Streitigkeiten zu vermeiden.
C1 verb /dɪsˈpruːv/

disprove

widerlegen
Meaning
to show that something is false or wrong
Example
The scientist worked hard to disprove the old theory.
Der Wissenschaftler arbeitete hart daran, die alte Theorie zu widerlegen.
C1 noun /dɪˈprɛsənt/

depressant

Beruhigungsmittel
Meaning
A drug that reduces functional or nervous activity in the body.
Example
Alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system.
Alkohol wirkt als Beruhigungsmittel auf das zentrale Nervensystem.
A2 noun dɪˈvaɪs

device

Gerät, Vorrichtung, Geräteteil
Meaning
A thing made or adapted for a particular purpose, especially a piece of mechanical or electronic equipment.
Example
This device improves efficiency in data processing.
Dieses Gerät verbessert die Effizienz bei der Datenverarbeitung.
A2 noun /dʌk/

Duck

Ente
Meaning
a waterbird with webbed feet and a broad flat bill
Example
The duck swam gracefully across the lake.
Die Ente schwamm anmutig über den See.
B2 noun daɪˈmen.ʃən

dimension

Dimension
Meaning
An aspect or feature of a situation, problem, or thing; a measurable extent.
Example
Renewable projects add a new dimension to urban planning.
Erneuerbare Projekte bringen eine neue Dimension in die Stadtplanung.
B2 verb /dɪsˈeɪbl/

disable

deaktivieren
Meaning
to make something unable to function or operate
Example
The technician disabled the alarm system temporarily.
Der Techniker hat das Alarmsystem vorübergehend deaktiviert.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsəˈbjuːz/

disabuse

korrigieren
Meaning
To free someone from a false belief or misconception.
Example
The teacher tried to disabuse the students of their misunderstanding.
Der Lehrer versuchte, die Schüler von ihrem Missverständnis zu befreien.
B2 verb /dɪˈskrɪmɪˌneɪt/

discriminate

diskriminieren
Meaning
To treat someone unfairly based on race, gender, or other differences; or to recognize a distinction.
Example
The law prohibits employers from discriminating against women.
Das Gesetz verbietet es Arbeitgebern, gegen Frauen zu diskriminieren.
B2 adjective /dɪˈzaɪərəbl/

desirable

begehrt
Meaning
worth having or wanting; attractive
Example
The location of the house was highly desirable, with great views.
Der Standort des Hauses war sehr begehrt, mit tollen Ausblicken.
C1 noun /ˈdɛsɪˌbɛl/

decibel

Dezibel
Meaning
a unit used to measure the intensity of sound
Example
The noise level in the factory exceeded 90 decibels.
Der Geräuschpegel in der Fabrik überschritt 90 Dezibel.