distortion
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C1 noun /dɪˈstɔːrʃən/

distortion

Verzerrung, falsche Darstellung
Meaning
the action of twisting, changing, or misrepresenting the shape, sound, or truth of something
Example
There was a distortion in the radio signal.
Es gab eine Verzerrung im Radiosignal.
C1 noun /ˈdɛspətɪzəm/

despotism

Despotismus
Meaning
absolute power exercised in a cruel and oppressive way
Example
The people revolted against the era of despotism.
Das Volk erhob sich gegen das Zeitalter des Despotismus.
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 /dɪˈsɪd.ju.əs/

deciduous

laubabwerfend
Meaning
Referring to trees that shed their leaves seasonally, typically in autumn.
Example
Oak and maple trees are deciduous, shedding leaves in autumn.
Eichen- und Ahornbäume sind laubabwerfend und werfen ihre Blätter im Herbst ab.
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 /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 /dʌb/

dub

synchronisieren
Meaning
to give a name or label to something; to add a soundtrack to a film or recording
Example
The movie was dubbed into several languages for international release.
Der Film wurde in mehrere Sprachen synchronisiert für die internationale Veröffentlichung.
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 noun dɪˈfleɪʃən

deflation

Deflation
Meaning
Reduction of the general level of prices in an economy.
Example
Deflation often leads to decreased consumer spending.
Deflation führt oft zu sinkenden Konsumausgaben.
C1 noun, adjective /dɪˈrɪvətɪv/

derivative

abgeleitet
Meaning
Something that is based on another source; in math, a measure of how a function changes.
Example
The film was criticized for being too derivative of earlier works.
Der Film wurde kritisiert, weil er zu sehr von früheren Werken abgeleitet war.
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 noun /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/

disposition

Disposition
Meaning
A person's usual attitude or temperament; arrangement or tendency.
Example
She has a cheerful disposition despite the difficulties.
Sie hat eine fröhliche Disposition trotz der Schwierigkeiten.
C1 noun /ˌdɪs.əˈreɪ/

disarray

Unordnung
Meaning
A state of disorganization or untidiness; confusion or disorder.
Example
His desk was in complete disarray.
Sein Schreibtisch war in völliger Unordnung.
C1 noun /dɪˈskrep.ən.si/

discrepancy

Diskrepanz, Unterschied, Unstimmigkeit
Meaning
A lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts.
Example
The audit revealed a discrepancy between the reported earnings and actual income.
Die Prüfung hat eine Diskrepanz zwischen den gemeldeten Einnahmen und den tatsächlichen Einkünften aufgedeckt.
C1 adjective /ˈdɪzməl/

Dismal

düster; deprimierend; traurig
Meaning
gloomy; depressing; causing sadness or despair
Example
The weather was dismal with heavy rain and dark clouds.
Das Wetter war düster mit starkem Regen und dunklen Wolken.
C1 noun /ˌdɪstɪˈleɪʃən/

distillation

Destillation
Meaning
The process of purifying a liquid by heating and cooling; the extraction of the essential meaning.
Example
Distillation is commonly used to produce alcoholic beverages.
Destillation wird häufig zur Herstellung alkoholischer Getränke verwendet.
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 /ˈdeɪ.ə.ti/

deity

Gottheit
Meaning
a god or goddess
Example
The temple is dedicated to a Hindu deity.
Der Tempel ist einer hinduistischen Gottheit gewidmet.
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 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 adjective /dɪˈrɒɡətɔːri/

derogatory

abwertend
Meaning
Showing a critical or disrespectful attitude.
Example
The article contained derogatory comments about the politician.
Der Artikel enthielt abwertende Kommentare über den Politiker.
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 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 /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 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 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 /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.
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 /dʌsk/

Dusk

Dämmerung; Abenddämmerung
Meaning
the period of the day when daylight is fading; twilight
Example
They walked along the beach during dusk, watching the sunset.
Sie gingen am Strand während der Dämmerung, sahen den Sonnenuntergang.
C1 noun /dɪˈten.ʃən/

Detention

Haft; Untersuchungshaft
Meaning
the action of detaining someone or being detained in official custody
Example
The student received detention for repeatedly disrupting the class.
Der Schüler erhielt Haft für wiederholte Störungen im Unterricht.
C1 noun ˌdɪs.æmˌbɪɡ.juˈeɪ.ʃən

disambiguation

Disambiguierung
Meaning
The removal of ambiguity by making something clear and unambiguous.
Example
The AI system applies disambiguation to refine text understanding.
Das KI-System wendet Disambiguierung an, um das Textverständnis zu verfeinern.
C1 adjective /ˈdɒdʒi/

Dodgy

verdächtig; fragwürdig; unzuverlässig; riskant oder gefährlich
Meaning
suspicious; questionable; unreliable; risky or dangerous
Example
That deal sounds dodgy to me.
Dieser Deal klingt für mich verdächtig.
C1 noun /ˌdɪsəˈluːʃən/

dissolution

auflösung
Meaning
the act of formally ending or breaking apart something, such as an organization or marriage
Example
The dissolution of the company was announced yesterday.
Die Auflösung des Unternehmens wurde gestern bekannt gegeben.
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.
C1 noun dɪˈspær.ə.ti

disparity

Disparität
Meaning
A great difference or inequality.
Example
Disparity between countries must be reduced.
Die Disparität zwischen den Ländern muss reduziert werden.
C1 noun /ˈdeɪ.li.ə/

Dahlia

dahlie
Meaning
a garden plant with brightly colored flowers that bloom in summer and autumn
Example
She planted colorful dahlias in her garden last summer.
Sie pflanzte bunte Dahlien in ihrem Garten letzten Sommer.
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 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 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 noun /dɪˌlɪb.əˈreɪ.ʃənz/

deliberations

Überlegungen
Meaning
Careful consideration and discussion before making decisions.
Example
Deliberations on sustainability continued for hours.
Die Überlegungen zur Nachhaltigkeit dauerten stundenlang.
C1 verb /dɪˈflɛkt/

deflect

ablenken / ausweichen
Meaning
to cause something to change direction; to avoid answering directly
Example
The shield deflected the incoming arrow.
Der Schild hat den eintreffenden Pfeil abgelenkt.
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.
C1 noun /deɪˈbɑː.kəl/

debacle

Debakel
Meaning
A sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco.
Example
The company's poor management led to a financial debacle.
Das schlechte Management des Unternehmens führte zu einem finanziellen Debakel.
C1 verb /diːˈfjuːz/

defuse

entschärfen
Meaning
To make a situation less dangerous, tense, or explosive; to remove a fuse from a bomb.
Example
The negotiator helped defuse the tense situation.
Der Verhandlungsführer half, die angespannte Situation zu entschärfen.
C1 verb /dɪˈbɑːr/

debar

verhindern
Meaning
To officially prevent someone from doing something.
Example
He was debarred from entering the competition due to cheating.
Er wurde aufgrund von Schummeln vom Wettbewerb ausgeschlossen.
C1 adjective /dɪˈfɛnsəbəl/

defensible

verteidigbar / gerechtfertigt
Meaning
Capable of being protected against attack or criticism; justifiable.
Example
Her decision was legally defensible.
Ihre Entscheidung war rechtlich verteidigenswert.
C1 verb /dɪsˈoʊn/

disown

enterben
Meaning
to refuse to acknowledge or accept responsibility for someone or something
Example
He decided to disown his reckless brother.
Er entschied sich, seinen rücksichtslosen Bruder zu enterben.
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 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 adjective /ˈdwɪndlɪŋ/

dwindling

schwinden
Meaning
Gradually reducing in number, size, or strength.
Example
The villagers relied on dwindling water supplies.
Die Dorfbewohner waren auf die schwinden Wasserreserven angewiesen.
C1 verb /dɛlv/

delve

tief eingraben
Meaning
To investigate deeply; to dig into a subject or area.
Example
The researcher delved into ancient manuscripts to find clues.
Der Forscher grub tief in alten Manuskripten, um Hinweise zu finden.
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 adjective /dɪˈspɒndənt/

despondent

niedergeschlagen
Meaning
feeling or showing deep hopelessness or discouragement
Example
She felt despondent after losing her job.
Sie fühlte sich niedergeschlagen, nachdem sie ihren Job verloren hatte.
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, 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 /ˌdez.ɪɡˈneɪ.ʃən/

Designation

Bezeichnung; Titel; Position; Status
Meaning
the action of choosing someone for a position; a name, title, or official status
Example
His designation as team leader came with additional responsibilities and authority.
Seine Bezeichnung als Teamleiter brachte zusätzliche Verantwortlichkeiten und Befugnisse mit sich.
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.
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 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.
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 verb /daɪˈɡrɛs/

digress

vorübergehend vom Hauptthema abweichen
Meaning
To leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing.
Example
The professor began to digress from the main topic of the lecture.
Der Professor begann, vom Hauptthema der Vorlesung abzuweichen.
C1 verb /dɪˈfeɪm/

defame

verleumden
Meaning
to harm someone's reputation by spreading false information
Example
He was defamed by malicious rumors.
Er wurde durch bösartige Gerüchte diffamiert.
C1 adverb /ˈduːli/

Duly

ordnungsgemäß, pünktlich
Meaning
in accordance with what is required or appropriate; at the proper time
Example
The documents were duly signed and submitted.
Die Dokumente wurden ordnungsgemäß unterschrieben und eingereicht.
C1 noun dɪˈdʒɛnəˌreɪtɪv dɪˈzizɪz

degenerative diseases

degenerative Krankheiten
Meaning
Medical conditions that involve the deterioration or progressive decline of tissues, organs, or functions
Example
Degenerative diseases are common in an aging population.
Degenerative Krankheiten sind in einer alternden Bevölkerung verbreitet.
C1 noun /ˈdɒɡmə/

dogma

Dogma
Meaning
A principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true.
Example
The religious leader strictly adhered to traditional dogma.
Der religiöse Führer hielt sich streng an das traditionelle Dogma.
C1 verb /dɪˈpliːt/

deplete

erschöpfen
Meaning
to reduce the quantity or supply of something
Example
The long war has depleted the country's resources.
Der lange Krieg hat die Ressourcen des Landes erschöpft.
C1 noun ˌdɛməˈɡræfɪk trænˈzɪʃən

demographic transition

demografischer Übergang
Meaning
A shift in population patterns from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a country develops economically
Example
The demographic transition indicates a shift towards an aging society.
Der demografische Übergang zeigt einen Wandel hin zu einer alternden Gesellschaft.
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 /daɪˈluːt/

dilute

verdünnen
Meaning
To make a liquid thinner or weaker by adding water or another solvent.
Example
You should dilute the juice with water before serving it to children.
Du solltest den Saft mit Wasser verdünnen, bevor du ihn den Kindern servierst.
C1 noun /djuːˈɛt/

duet

Duett
Meaning
a musical performance by two singers or instrumentalists
Example
They sang a beautiful duet together on stage.
Sie sangen zusammen ein wunderschönes Duett auf der Bühne.
C1 noun /ˈdrɪz.əl/

Drizzle

Nieselregen
Meaning
light rain falling in very fine drops; a very light rainfall
Example
The gentle drizzle continued throughout the morning, making everything misty.
Der sanfte Nieselregen setzte sich den ganzen Morgen fort und ließ alles neblig erscheinen.
C1 noun /ˌdev.əˈtiː/

Devotee

Anhänger; Verehrer
Meaning
a person who is very interested in and enthusiastic about someone or something
Example
As a devotee of classical music, she attended every concert in the city.
Als Anhängerin der klassischen Musik besuchte sie jedes Konzert in 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 /drɑːft/ (UK), /dræft/ (US)

draught

Meaning
a current of cool air in a room or another confined space; also a portion of liquid, especially beer, served from a barrel or cask
Example
She closed the window to keep out the cold draught.
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 /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 verb /dɪsˈkleɪm/

disclaim

abstreiten
Meaning
to deny responsibility or connection with something
Example
The company disclaimed responsibility for the accident.
Das Unternehmen stritt die Verantwortung für den Unfall ab.
C1 verb /ˈdɪs.ɪ.peɪt/

dissipate

sich auflösen
Meaning
To disappear or cause to disappear gradually.
Example
The tension in the room slowly dissipated.
Die Spannung im Raum löste sich langsam auf.
C1 noun dɪˈsʌɪsɪvnɪs

decisiveness

Entscheidungsfähigkeit
Meaning
The ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.
Example
His decisiveness during the crisis saved the company.
Seine Entschlossenheit während der Krise rettete das Unternehmen.
C1 noun /ˈdɪsɪdənt/

dissident

Dissident
Meaning
A person who opposes official policy, especially that of an authoritarian state.
Example
The dissident was arrested for speaking against the government.
Der Dissident wurde verhaftet, weil er gegen die Regierung sprach.
C1 noun /ˈdɑː.mə.saɪl/

domicile

Wohnsitz
Meaning
A person's legal residence or permanent home.
Example
He declared Canada as his legal domicile.
Er erklärte Kanada als seinen rechtlichen Wohnsitz.
C1 noun /ˈded.lɑk/

Dead-lock

totpunkt; blockierung
Meaning
a situation in which no progress is possible; complete standstill
Example
The negotiations reached a deadlock when neither side would compromise.
Die Verhandlungen erreichten einen toten Punkt, als keine Seite Kompromisse eingehen wollte.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsɪmˈbɑːrk/

disembark

von Bord gehen
Meaning
To leave a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.
Example
The passengers disembarked from the plane after landing.
Die Passagiere stiegen nach der Landung aus dem Flugzeug aus.
C1 adjective deft

deft

geschickt
Meaning
Neatly skillful and quick in one's movements; dexterous and adroit.
Example
The artist's deft hands created a masterpiece.
Die geschickten Hände des Künstlers schufen ein Meisterwerk.
C1 adjective /dɪˈfɪʃənt/

Deficient

mangelhaft
Meaning
not having enough of a specified quality or ingredient; lacking or inadequate
Example
His diet was deficient in essential vitamins.
Seine Ernährung war mangelhaft an wichtigen Vitaminen.
C1 noun ˌdep.əˈzɪʃ.ən

deposition

Ablagerung, der Vorgang des Absetzens von etwas
Meaning
The action of depositing something; the laying down of matter by a natural process.
Example
River deposition leads to the formation of new landmasses.
Flussablagerungen führen zur Bildung neuer Landmassen.
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 noun /ˈdæmpər/

damper

etwas, das die Kraft, Wirkung oder Aufregung reduziert oder verringert
Meaning
something that reduces or lessens the force, effect, or excitement
Example
The cancellation of the trip put a damper on their enthusiasm.
Die Absage der Reise dämpfte ihre Begeisterung.
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 adjective /dɪˈfaɪənt/

Defiant

widerspenstig; trotzig
Meaning
boldly resistant or challenging; disobedient
Example
The defiant student refused to follow the rules.
Der widerspenstige Student weigerte sich, den Regeln zu folgen.
C1 verb /dɪˈfrɔːd/

defraud

betrügen
Meaning
to illegally take money or valuables from someone by deception
Example
The company was accused of trying to defraud investors.
Das Unternehmen wurde beschuldigt, Investoren zu betrügen.
C1 noun /ˈdaʊn.pɔːr/

Downpour

starker Regen; plötzlicher Regenschauer
Meaning
a heavy fall of rain; a sudden heavy rainfall
Example
The sudden downpour caught everyone off guard and soaked the outdoor event.
Der plötzliche starke Regen überraschte alle und durchnässte die Veranstaltung im Freien.
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 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/

disengage

abkoppeln
Meaning
To release or detach oneself from something; to withdraw.
Example
He tried to disengage from the heated argument.
Er versuchte, sich aus der hitzigen Diskussion abzukoppeln.
C1 noun ˌdiː.sen.trə.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

decentralization

Dezentralisierung
Meaning
The transfer of authority from central to local government.
Example
Decentralization promotes regional autonomy.
Dezentralisierung fördert die regionale Autonomie.
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 verb /ˈduːdəl/

doodle

kritzeln
Meaning
To draw or scribble absentmindedly, often while thinking about something else.
Example
She doodled flowers in the corner of her notebook during class.
Sie kritzelte Blumen in die Ecke ihres Notizbuchs während des Unterrichts.
C1 adjective /ˈdjuːbiəs/

dubious

zweifelhaft
Meaning
Hesitating or doubting; not to be relied upon.
Example
She gave him a dubious look after hearing his excuse.
Sie warf ihm einen zweifelhaften Blick zu, nachdem sie seine Ausrede gehört hatte.
C1 verb /dɪˈbeɪs/

debase

entwerten
Meaning
to reduce the quality, value, or dignity of something
Example
Corruption can debase the values of a society.
Korruption kann die Werte einer Gesellschaft entwerten.
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 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 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 /ˌdɛrɪˈveɪʃən/

derivation

Ableitung
Meaning
The origin or development of something from a source.
Example
The derivation of the word comes from Latin.
Die Ableitung des Wortes kommt aus dem Lateinischen.
C1 adjective /ˈdeɪnti/

dainty

zart und hübsch
Meaning
Delicately small, pretty, and often considered elegant.
Example
She wore a dainty necklace made of pearls.
Sie trug eine zarte Halskette aus Perlen.
C1 verb /dɪˈsɛm.ɪ.neɪt/

disseminate

verbreiten
Meaning
To spread or give out something, especially news, information, ideas, etc., to a lot of people.
Example
Social media helps to disseminate information quickly.
Soziale Medien helfen dabei, Informationen schnell zu verbreiten.
C1 verb /dɪsˈlɒdʒ/

dislodge

vertreiben
Meaning
To remove or force out from a position, especially one that is fixed or hard to move.
Example
The troops dislodged the enemy from the hill.
Die Truppen vertrieben den Feind vom Hügel.
C1 noun daɪˈkɒtəmi

dichotomy

Dichotomie
Meaning
A division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different.
Example
The dichotomy between tradition and modernity is often debated.
Die Dichotomie zwischen Tradition und Moderne wird oft diskutiert.
C1 noun /ˈdɪɡnɪˌtɛri/

dignitary

wichtige Person
Meaning
a person considered to be important because of high rank or office
Example
Several foreign dignitaries attended the state banquet.
Mehrere ausländische Würdenträger nahmen am Staatsbankett teil.
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 /ˌdɪsərˈteɪʃən/

dissertation

Dissertation
Meaning
A long piece of writing on a particular subject, usually written for a university degree.
Example
She spent two years writing her doctoral dissertation.
Sie verbrachte zwei Jahre mit dem Schreiben ihrer Dissertation.
C1 adjective /daɪər/

Dire

schlimm; dringend; schrecklich
Meaning
extremely serious; urgent; terrible
Example
The country is facing a dire economic crisis.
Das Land steht vor einer schlimmen wirtschaftlichen Krise.
C1 noun /djuːn/

dune

Düne
Meaning
A hill or ridge of sand formed by the wind, usually found in deserts or near beaches.
Example
The children played on the sand dune by the beach.
Die Kinder spielten auf der Sanddüne am Strand.
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 /diːˈsɛntrəlaɪzd/

decentralized

dezentralisiert
Meaning
Controlled by several local offices or authorities rather than one single one.
Example
The decentralized system allowed for more control at local levels.
Das dezentralisierte System ermöglichte mehr Kontrolle auf lokaler Ebene.
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 /ˈdɔːr.mənt/

Dormant

inaktiv; schlafend; vorübergehend suspendiert; momentan nicht aktiv
Meaning
inactive; sleeping; temporarily suspended; not currently active
Example
The volcano has been dormant for over a century.
Der Vulkan war über ein Jahrhundert lang inaktiv.
C1 verb /ˌdɪskənˈsɜːrt/

disconcert

verunsichern
Meaning
To unsettle, confuse, or disturb the composure of someone.
Example
The sudden change of plans disconcerted the team.
Die plötzliche Änderung der Pläne hat das Team verunsichert.
C1 adjective /dɪˈsɜːrnɪŋ/

discerning

scharfsinnig
Meaning
having good judgment or insight; able to distinguish well
Example
He is a discerning reader who notices subtle details.
Er ist ein scharfsinniger Leser, der subtile Details bemerkt.
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 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 adjective /dæft/

daft

dumm
Meaning
Silly or foolish.
Example
It was a daft idea to go hiking without water.
Es war eine dumme Idee, ohne Wasser wandern zu gehen.