Decay
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B2 noun /dɪˈkeɪ/

Decay

décadence; décomposition; pourriture
Meaning
the process of rotting or decomposing; gradual decline or deterioration
Example
The old building showed signs of decay after years of neglect.
Le vieux bâtiment montrait des signes de décadence après des années de négligence.
C2 noun /ˌdɪskwɪˈzɪʃən/

disquisition

disquisition
Meaning
A long or elaborate discussion or written essay on a particular subject.
Example
The professor gave a lengthy disquisition on ancient philosophy.
Le professeur a donné une disquisition approfondie sur la philosophie antique.
C1 adjective /ˌdɪktəˈtɔːriəl/

dictatorial

dictatorial
Meaning
Having or showing a tendency to tell people what to do in an autocratic way.
Example
His dictatorial style made him unpopular among colleagues.
Son style dictatorial le rendait impopulaire parmi ses collègues.
C1 verb /ˈdæb.əl/

dabble

tâtonner
Meaning
To take part in an activity in a casual or superficial way.
Example
He dabbled in painting during his college days.
Il a dabblé dans la peinture pendant ses années universitaires.
B2 noun /dɛk/

deck

pont / plateforme
Meaning
A flat surface or platform, often on a ship or building.
Example
We enjoyed the sunset from the upper deck of the ferry.
Nous avons profité du coucher du soleil depuis le pont supérieur du ferry.
C2 verb /dɪˈsɪmjʊˌleɪt/

dissimulate

dissimuler
Meaning
To disguise or conceal one's true feelings or intentions.
Example
He tried to dissimulate his fear with a smile.
Il a essayé de dissimuler sa peur avec un sourire.
C2 noun /dɪˈkæmɪtər/

decameter

décamètre
Meaning
A metric unit of length equal to ten meters.
Example
The field was measured in decameters for accuracy.
Le terrain a été mesuré en décamètres pour plus de précision.
C2 adjective /ˈdoʊlfəl/

Doleful

triste; lugubre;
Meaning
sorrowful; mournful; expressing grief or sadness
Example
She gave him a doleful look when he left.
Elle lui donna un regard triste lorsqu'il partit.
C2 noun /dɪˈspɔɪlər/

despoiler

pillard
Meaning
A person who robs, plunders, or violently takes things from others.
Example
The despoilers left the city in ruins.
Les pillards ont laissé la ville en ruines.
C2 adjective /dɛˈspɒtɪk/

despotic

despote
Meaning
exercising power in a cruel, oppressive, or authoritarian way
Example
The king’s despotic rule left the people in misery.
Le règne despote du roi a laissé le peuple dans la misère.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsəˈvaʊ/

disavow

désavouer
Meaning
to deny responsibility for or connection with something
Example
He disavowed any involvement in the scandal.
Il a désavoué toute implication dans le scandale.
B2 verb /drɪft/

drift

dériver
Meaning
to move slowly, especially by air or water currents
Example
The boat began to drift away from the shore.
Le bateau a commencé à dériver loin du rivage.
C1 noun /dɪsˈɪntrəst/

disinterest

désintérêt
Meaning
lack of interest or concern
Example
His disinterest in the project was obvious.
Son désintérêt pour le projet était évident.
C2 noun /ˈdɛntɪfrɪs/

dentifrice

dentifrice
Meaning
a substance such as powder, paste, or liquid used to clean teeth
Example
He bought a new herbal dentifrice from the pharmacy.
Il a acheté un nouveau dentifrice à base de plantes à la pharmacie.
C2 noun /ˈdɛvɪltrɪ/

deviltry

mauvais tours
Meaning
Cruel or malicious behavior; mischief with an evil aspect.
Example
The villain’s deviltry terrified the townsfolk.
Les mauvais tours du méchant ont terrifié les habitants du village.
C1 adjective /dɪˈmɒnstrətɪv/

demonstrative

expressif
Meaning
openly showing feelings, especially affection or emotion
Example
She was very demonstrative with her affection towards her friends.
Elle était très expressive avec son affection envers ses amis.
C1 noun dɪˈskrep.ən.siz

discrepancies

divergence
Meaning
Differences between things that should be the same
Example
Discrepancies in regulations delay progress.
Les divergences dans les règlements retardent les progrès.
A1 verb /drɪŋk/

drink

boire
Meaning
to take liquid into the mouth and swallow it
Example
I drink water every morning.
Je bois de l'eau tous les matins.
B2 adjective /dɪˈfensɪv/

Defensive

défensif
Meaning
used or intended to defend or protect; showing a tendency to react in an angry or hurt way when criticized
Example
He became defensive when criticized about his work.
Il est devenu défensif lorsqu'on l'a critiqué pour son travail.
B2 adjective dɪsˈrʌp.tɪv

disruptive

perturbateur, déstabilisant
Meaning
Causing or tending to cause disruption.
Example
Deforestation has a disruptive effect on wildlife.
La déforestation a un effet perturbateur sur la faune.
C1 adjective /dɪˈrɒɡətɔːri/

derogatory

dérogatoire
Meaning
Showing a critical or disrespectful attitude.
Example
The article contained derogatory comments about the politician.
L'article contenait des commentaires dérogatoires à propos du politicien.
C1 verb /dɪˈsɛləˌreɪt/

decelerate

ralentir
Meaning
to reduce speed; to slow down
Example
The car began to decelerate as it approached the traffic light.
La voiture a commencé à ralentir à l'approche du feu de circulation.
C1 verb /dɪˈfeɪs/

deface

défigurer
Meaning
to spoil the surface or appearance of something, especially by writing or drawing on it
Example
The vandals defaced the wall with graffiti.
Les vandales ont défiguré le mur avec des graffitis.
C1 noun /dɪsˈsɜːrvɪs/

disservice

dommage
Meaning
A harmful action; something that does damage rather than help.
Example
Spreading false information is a disservice to the community.
Diffuser de fausses informations est un dommage pour la communauté.
B2 adjective /dɪˈprɛst/

depressed

déprimé
Meaning
Feeling very sad and without hope; in a state of unhappiness.
Example
She felt depressed after losing her job.
Elle s'est sentie déprimée après avoir perdu son emploi.
C2 verb /dɪsˈkʌmfɪt/

discomfit

déconcerter
Meaning
to make someone feel uneasy, embarrassed, or confused
Example
The interviewer’s tough questions discomfited the candidate.
Les questions difficiles de l'intervieweur ont déstabilisé le candidat.
C1 noun /dɪˈvɪnɪti/

divinity

divinité
Meaning
The quality or state of being divine; a deity.
Example
The priest spoke about the divinity of the soul.
Le prêtre a parlé de la divinité de l'âme.
C2 verb /dɪsˈkaʊntənəns/

discountenance

désapprouver
Meaning
To disapprove of or discourage something.
Example
The teacher strongly discountenanced cheating in exams.
Le professeur a fermement désapprouvé la triche lors des examens.
C2 noun /ˈdæl.i.əns/

Dalliance

flirt; aventure; liaison éphémère
Meaning
a casual romantic or sexual relationship; a brief involvement or experiment
Example
His dalliance with photography lasted only a few months before he lost interest.
Son flirt avec la photographie n'a duré que quelques mois avant qu'il perde de l'intérêt.
C1 noun /ˌdɪp.ləˈmæt.ɪk ˈmaɪl.stəʊn/

diplomatic milestone

jalon diplomatique
Meaning
A significant achievement or important event in diplomatic relations.
Example
Hosting the summit was a diplomatic milestone.
L'organisation du sommet était un jalon diplomatique.
C1 verb /dɪˈspɛns/

dispense

distribuer
Meaning
To distribute or provide something, especially in portions.
Example
The machine dispenses clean drinking water.
La machine distribue de l'eau potable propre.
C1 verb /dɪsˈpærɪdʒ/

disparage

dénigrer
Meaning
to criticize someone or something in a way that shows a lack of respect
Example
It is unfair to disparage people for their opinions.
Il est injuste de dénigrer les gens pour leurs opinions.
C2 adjective /dɪˈmoʊniˌæk/

demoniac

démoniaque
Meaning
possessed, produced, or influenced by a demon; frenzied or violent
Example
The soldiers fought with demoniac fury.
Les soldats ont combattu avec une furie démoniaque.
A2 verb, noun /drɒp/

drop

laisser tomber / goutte
Meaning
to let something fall; a small quantity of liquid
Example
Be careful not to drop your phone.
Faites attention à ne pas faire tomber votre téléphone.
C1 verb /dɪˈmiːn/

demean

dévaloriser
Meaning
to cause someone to lose dignity or respect
Example
The manager demeaned his employees with rude remarks.
Le gestionnaire a dévalorisé ses employés avec des remarques grossières.
B1 noun /dʌst/

dust

poussière
Meaning
Fine particles of matter.
Example
Road dust is a major pollutant in urban areas.
La poussière de la route est un polluant majeur dans les zones urbaines.
C2 verb /ˌdɛlɪˈkwɛs/

deliquesce

devenir liquide en absorbant l'humidité de l'air
Meaning
to become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air
Example
The salt began to deliquesce after being left in the humid room.
Le sel a commencé à se délier après avoir été laissé dans la pièce humide.
A2 noun /ˈdrɔːɪŋ/

drawing

bonheur
Meaning
a picture or diagram made with a pencil, pen, or crayons rather than paint
Example
She showed me a drawing of her house.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C1 noun /ˌdiː.viˈeɪ.ʃən/

Deviation

déviation; éloignement d'une trajectoire établie
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.
Toute déviation de la procédure établie doit être signalée immédiatement.
B2 adjective /dɪˈfektɪv/

Defective

défectueux; imparfait
Meaning
having faults or defects; imperfect
Example
The defective product was returned to the store.
Le produit défectueux a été retourné au magasin.
C2 noun /ˈdɪfɪdəns/

diffidence

manque de confiance en soi
Meaning
Lack of self-confidence; shyness or modesty.
Example
Her diffidence made it hard for her to speak in public.
Son manque de confiance en elle rendait difficile de parler en public.
C2 verb /ˈdæli/

dally

traîner
Meaning
To act or move slowly; to waste time; also to engage in a casual romantic relationship.
Example
He dallied in the garden instead of starting his work.
Il a traîné dans le jardin au lieu de commencer son travail.
B1 adjective ˌdem.əˈkræt.ɪk

democratic

démocratique
Meaning
Relating to or supporting democracy or its principles.
Example
Democratic governance ensures equal rights.
La gouvernance démocratique garantit l'égalité des droits.
C1 verb /ˈdæŋɡəl/

dangle

pendre
Meaning
to hang loosely or swing freely
Example
The keys dangled from his belt.
Les clés pendaient de sa ceinture.
B1 verb /dɪˈpɑːrt/

depart

partir
Meaning
to leave, especially to start a journey
Example
The train will depart at 9 a.m.
Le train partira à 9 heures.
C1 noun dɪˌlɪb.əˈreɪ.ʃən

deliberation

délibération
Meaning
Long and careful consideration or discussion.
Example
The agreement was finalized after much deliberation.
L'accord a été finalisé après beaucoup de délibération.
A2 verb /ˌdɪsəˈɡriː/

disagree

être en désaccord
Meaning
to have a different opinion; to not agree
Example
I disagree with your assessment of the situation.
Je ne suis pas d'accord avec votre évaluation de la situation.
C1 noun /ˈdɛspɒt/

despot

despote
Meaning
a ruler with absolute power, often ruling in a cruel or oppressive way
Example
The despot ruled the nation with fear and violence.
Le despote a dirigé la nation avec la peur et la violence.
B1 verb /dæm/

damn

maudire / juron
Meaning
to condemn or criticize strongly; used as an expletive to express anger or emphasis
Example
He damned the unfair system in his speech.
Il a maudit le système injuste dans son discours.
B1 noun dɪˈskʌvəriz

discoveries

découvertes
Meaning
The action or process of finding or learning something for the first time; facts or things discovered.
Example
His discoveries revolutionized multiple fields.
Ses découvertes ont révolutionné plusieurs domaines.
A2 noun /ˈdɪfərəns/

difference

différence
Meaning
A point or way in which things are not the same.
Example
There is a big difference between theory and practice.
Il y a une grande différence entre la théorie et la pratique.
B1 noun /ˌdɛfɪˈnɪʃən/

definition

définition
Meaning
a statement that explains the meaning of a word or concept
Example
The dictionary gives a clear definition of the word.
Le dictionnaire donne une définition claire du mot.
B2 noun /ˈdiːlər/

dealer

vendeur
Meaning
a person or business that buys and sells goods; someone who distributes
Example
The car dealer offered a discount to attract customers.
Le vendeur de voitures a offert une réduction pour attirer les clients.
C2 noun /ˈdræɡˌnɛt/

dragnet

filtre
Meaning
A systematic search or investigation, often by police to catch criminals.
Example
The police launched a dragnet to capture the fugitives.
La police a lancé un filtre pour capturer les fugitifs.
C1 verb /dɪˈfɔːrm/

deform

déformer
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.
La chaleur intense a commencé à déformer le récipient en plastique.
C1 noun /ˌdɪsbɪˈliːvər/

disbeliever

incrédule
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.
Il a été appelé incrédule pour avoir rejeté la foi traditionnelle.
C1 noun /ˈdɛmənˌstreɪtər/

demonstrator

démonstrateur, manifestant
Meaning
a person who shows how something works or takes part in a public protest
Example
The demonstrators marched peacefully through the city streets.
Les manifestants ont défilé pacifiquement dans les rues de la ville.
B2 noun /dɪˈstrækʃənz/

distractions

distractions
Meaning
Things that prevent someone from concentrating on something else.
Example
Eliminate distractions for better productivity.
Éliminez les distractions pour améliorer la productivité.
C1 adjective /dɪˈspɪrɪtɪd/

dispirited

abattu
Meaning
Having lost enthusiasm, hope, or confidence; dejected.
Example
After losing the match, the team looked dispirited.
Après avoir perdu le match, l'équipe semblait abattue.
B2 adjective /dɪˈskriːt/

discreet

discret
Meaning
careful and prudent in one's speech or actions, especially to keep something confidential or avoid embarrassment
Example
She was discreet about the details of their conversation.
Elle était discrète sur les détails de leur conversation.
B2 noun /ˈdreɪ.nɪdʒ/

drainage

drainage
Meaning
the system or process by which water or other liquids are drained away
Example
Poor drainage caused flooding in the neighborhood.
Un mauvais drainage a causé des inondations dans le quartier.
C2 adjective /dɪˈtɜːrmɪnət/

determinate

déterminé
Meaning
having exact and definite limits or form
Example
The contract is for a determinate period of two years.
Le contrat est pour une période déterminée de deux ans.
C2 noun /ˈdeb.juː.tɑːnt/

debutante

jeune femme faisant sa première apparition formelle dans la société
Meaning
A young woman making her first formal appearance in society.
Example
The debutante wore a white gown at the ball.
La debutante portait une robe blanche au bal.
B2 adjective /ˈdʌsti/

dusty

poussiéreux
Meaning
covered with or full of dust; dry and dull from lack of moisture or use
Example
The old bookshelf was dusty after years of neglect.
La vieille étagère était poussiéreuse après des années de négligence.
C1 verb /ˈdɛsɪmeɪt/

decimate

détruire
Meaning
To destroy or kill a large proportion of something.
Example
The wildfire decimated the forest.
L'incendie a ravagé la forêt.
C2 noun /ˌdɪpsəˈmeɪniæk/

dipsomaniac

alcoolique
Meaning
A person with an uncontrollable craving for alcoholic drinks.
Example
The novel portrayed the tragic downfall of a dipsomaniac who lost everything to alcohol.
Le roman a dépeint la chute tragique d'un alcoolique qui a tout perdu à cause de l'alcool.
A2 noun /ˈdɪʃ ˌwɒʃər/

Dish washer

lave-vaisselle
Meaning
an appliance for washing dishes automatically
Example
We installed a new dishwasher in our kitchen last week.
Nous avons installé un nouveau lave-vaisselle dans notre cuisine la semaine dernière.
B2 verb /ˈdɛzɪɡneɪt/

designate

désigner
Meaning
to officially assign, appoint, or indicate something or someone
Example
The committee will designate a new chairperson next week.
Le comité désignera un nouveau président la semaine prochaine.
C1 noun /ˈdjuːplɛks/

duplex

maison duplex
Meaning
A house or apartment divided into two separate residences.
Example
They live in a duplex near the city center.
Ils vivent dans un duplex près du centre-ville.
B2 noun /ˈdʌmi/

dummy

poupée / personne stupide
Meaning
a model or replica of a human used for practice, display, or testing; also a term for a foolish person
Example
The tailor used a dummy to display the dress.
Le tailleur a utilisé une poupée pour exposer la robe.
C1 adjective /dɪˈspɒndənt/

despondent

désespéré
Meaning
feeling or showing deep hopelessness or discouragement
Example
She felt despondent after losing her job.
Elle s'est sentie désespérée après avoir perdu son travail.
C2 verb /ˌdɪskəmˈpoʊz/

discompose

déstabiliser
Meaning
To disturb the order or calmness of something or someone.
Example
The unexpected question seemed to discompose her.
La question inattendue sembla la déstabiliser.
C2 adjective /dɪˈmɒtɪk/

demotic

relatif au langage populaire
Meaning
relating to ordinary people or everyday language
Example
The poet used demotic language to connect with common readers.
Le poète a utilisé un langage relatif au langage populaire pour se connecter avec les lecteurs ordinaires.
C2 verb /dɪˈkæpɪteɪt/

decapitate

bonheur
Meaning
To cut off the head of a person or animal.
Example
The ancient executioner decapitated the criminal.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur quand elle a reçu le prix.
C1 adjective /ˈdjuːtɪfəl/

Dutiful

dévoué; respectueux; obéissant
Meaning
conscientiously fulfilling one's duty; obedient; respectful
Example
She is a dutiful daughter who always helps her parents.
Elle est une fille dévouée qui aide toujours ses parents.
C2 adjective /ˌdɛbəˈnɛr/

debonair

charmant
Meaning
confident, stylish, and charming, typically referring to a man
Example
He looked debonair in his tuxedo at the gala.
Il avait l'air charmant dans son smoking à la soirée.
B2 noun /ˌdaɪəˈbiːtiːz/

diabetes

bonheur
Meaning
a medical condition in which the body cannot properly control the level of sugar in the blood
Example
He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last year.
Elle n'a pas pu cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
A2 noun /dɪˈziːz/

disease

maladie
Meaning
An illness or medical condition that affects the body or mind.
Example
The doctor is researching a cure for the disease.
Le médecin fait des recherches sur un remède pour la maladie.
C1 noun dɪˈfleɪʃən

deflation

déflation
Meaning
Reduction of the general level of prices in an economy.
Example
Deflation often leads to decreased consumer spending.
La déflation entraîne souvent une diminution des dépenses des consommateurs.
C1 noun /ˌdɛfəˈmeɪʃən/

defamation

diffamation
Meaning
the act of damaging someone's reputation by making false statements
Example
The newspaper was sued for defamation of character.
Le journal a été poursuivi pour diffamation.
C1 adjective /dɪˈskriːt/

discrete

discret
Meaning
individually separate and distinct
Example
The course is divided into three discrete modules.
Le cours est divisé en trois modules discrets.
C1 verb /ˈdɪsləkeɪt/

dislocate

déboîter
Meaning
To disturb the normal position of something, especially a joint in the body.
Example
He dislocated his shoulder while playing football.
Il a disloqué son épaule en jouant au football.
B1 noun /ˌdek.əˈreɪ.ʃən/

Decoration

décoration; ornement; prix;
Meaning
the process or art of decorating something; ornamental items used to beautify
Example
The Christmas decoration transformed the ordinary room into a festive wonderland.
La décoration de Noël a transformé la pièce ordinaire en un merveilleux pays des merveilles festives.
B2 noun /dɪˈpen.dəns/

Dependence

dépendance
Meaning
the state of relying on or needing someone or something for support; addiction
Example
His dependence on technology made it difficult for him to work without internet.
Sa dépendance à la technologie rendait difficile de travailler sans internet.
C1 verb /ˌdiːˈbʌŋk/

debunk

démystifier, exposer la fausseté de
Meaning
Expose the falseness or hollowness of (a myth, idea, or belief).
Example
Scientists debunked the myth that vaccines cause autism.
Les scientifiques ont démystifié le mythe selon lequel les vaccins causent l'autisme.
C2 noun /ˈdɪti/

ditty

petite chanson
Meaning
a short, simple song or poem
Example
She sang a cheerful little ditty while cooking.
Elle chanta une petite chanson joyeuse en cuisinant.
C2 noun /ˈdɛskænt/

descant

mélodie supplémentaire
Meaning
An additional melody or counterpoint sung or played above the main melody.
Example
The choir added a beautiful descant to the hymn.
Le chœur a ajouté une belle mélodie supplémentaire à l'hymne.
B1 verb /dɪˈpɛndɪŋ/

depending

dépendre
Meaning
Being contingent on or influenced by something.
Example
The success of the plan is depending on the team's effort.
Le succès du plan dépend de l'effort de l'équipe.
C1 adjective /dɪˈspɜːrst/

dispersed

dispersé
Meaning
Scattered or spread across a wide area.
Example
The dispersed population made it difficult to provide public services.
La population dispersée a rendu difficile la fourniture de services publics.
C2 noun /ˌdɛspəˈrɑːdoʊ/

desperado

bandit
Meaning
A bold, reckless, or dangerous person, often a criminal.
Example
The sheriff was determined to capture the desperado who terrorized the town.
Le shérif était déterminé à capturer le bandit qui terrorisait la ville.
C1 adjective /ˈdek.stər.əs/

dexterous

habile
Meaning
Showing or having skill, especially with the hands; mentally adroit and skillful.
Example
A dexterous programmer can write complex codes effortlessly.
Un programmeur habile peut écrire des codes complexes sans effort.
C1 verb, noun /dɪsˈkrɛdɪt/

discredit

discréditer
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.
Le scandale a discrédité le politicien aux yeux du public.
C2 verb /dɪˈdʒɛkt/

deject

dégrader
Meaning
to make someone feel sad, depressed, or dispirited
Example
The news of his failure seemed to deject him deeply.
Les nouvelles de son échec semblaient le déprimer profondément.
C1 noun ˌdɪdʒɪˈnɛəreɪʃən

degeneration

dégénérescence
Meaning
The process of decline or deterioration in structure or function.
Example
The degeneration of brain cells leads to cognitive decline.
La dégénérescence des cellules cérébrales conduit à un déclin cognitif.
B1 noun /dɪˈstrʌk.ʃən/

Destruction

destruction; ruine;
Meaning
the action or process of causing damage to something so that it no longer exists
Example
The earthquake caused widespread destruction throughout the entire city.
Le tremblement de terre a causé une destruction généralisée dans toute la ville.
B2 verb dɪˈtɪəriəreɪt

deteriorate

se détériorer
Meaning
To become progressively worse in quality, condition, or performance; to decline.
Example
Unplanned growth can deteriorate living conditions.
La croissance non planifiée peut détériorer les conditions de vie.
B2 verb /ˌdɪsəˈpruːv/

disapprove

désapprouver
Meaning
to have a negative opinion about something; to consider something wrong or bad
Example
Many parents disapprove of smoking.
Beaucoup de parents désapprouvent de fumer.
A2 noun /ˈdrʌɡˌstɔːr/

drugstore

pharmacie
Meaning
A retail store that sells medicines, health-related products, and sometimes cosmetics or snacks.
Example
I stopped by the drugstore to buy some cold medicine.
Je suis allé à la pharmacie pour acheter des médicaments contre le rhume.
C2 noun /dɪˈsɪstəns/

desistance

désistance
Meaning
The act of stopping or ceasing from some action or behavior.
Example
The court urged his desistance from further unlawful activities.
Le tribunal l'a encouragé à cesser toute activité illégale supplémentaire.
B1 noun /doʊˈneɪ.ʃən/

Donation

donation; contribution
Meaning
something that is given to a charity, especially a sum of money; the act of giving
Example
The generous donation helped the hospital purchase new medical equipment.
La généreuse donation a aidé l'hôpital à acheter de nouveaux équipements médicaux.
C1 verb /dɪsˈkwɑːlɪfaɪ/

disqualify

disqualifier
Meaning
to officially prevent someone from participating or being eligible
Example
The referee decided to disqualify the player for cheating.
L'arbitre a décidé de disqualifier le joueur pour tricher.
C1 adjective /ˈdæʃ.ɪŋ/

Dashing

élégant; attrayant; audacieux;
Meaning
stylish and confident; lively and energetic; attractive and charming
Example
He looked dashing in his new suit.
Il avait l'air élégant dans son nouveau costume.
B2 verb /ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃieɪt/

differentiate

différencier
Meaning
To recognize or make a distinction between things.
Example
It is important to differentiate between fact and opinion.
Il est important de différencier les faits des opinions.
C2 noun /ˈdɪfθɒŋ/

diphthong

diphtongue
Meaning
A complex vowel sound that begins with one vowel and glides into another within the same syllable.
Example
The word 'coin' contains a diphthong.
Le mot 'coin' contient un diphtongue.
C1 adjective /ˈdestatəʊt/

Destitute

démuni; pauvre; sans argent ni biens
Meaning
extremely poor; without money or possessions
Example
Many families became destitute after the economic collapse.
De nombreuses familles sont devenues démunies après l'effondrement économique.
A2 noun /ˈdɪfɪkəlti/

difficulty

Meaning
the state or condition of being hard to do, deal with, or understand
Example
He faced great difficulty in learning a new language.
B2 noun /diːp ˈkʌlər/

Deep colour

couleur profonde
Meaning
a rich, intense, or dark shade of any color
Example
The artist used deep colours to create a dramatic effect.
L'artiste a utilisé des couleurs profondes pour créer un effet dramatique.
C2 noun /dɪˈdʒɛkʃən/

dejection

dépression
Meaning
a state of sadness, depression, or low spirits
Example
She sat in a state of dejection after hearing the bad news.
Elle était assise dans un état de dépression après avoir entendu les mauvaises nouvelles.
C1 adjective /ˈdɒɡɪd/

dogged

obstiné
Meaning
showing stubborn determination and persistence
Example
She succeeded through dogged determination.
Elle a réussi grâce à sa détermination obstinée.
B1 noun /ˈdɛdˌlaɪnz/

deadlines

délais
Meaning
The latest time or date by which something should be completed.
Example
Setting deadlines helps finish tasks.
Fixer des délais aide à terminer les tâches.
C2 noun/adjective /ˈdɪstæf/

distaff

lié aux femmes, côté maternel
Meaning
Relating to women or the maternal side of a family; also a tool for spinning thread.
Example
She came from the distaff side of a noble family.
Elle venait du côté maternel d'une famille noble.
C1 adjective /ˈdɛkədənt/

decadent

décadent, luxueux
Meaning
Characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline; excessively self-indulgent.
Example
The party was filled with decadent luxury and excess.
La fête était remplie de luxe décadent et d'excès.
C2 verb /dɪˈlæpɪdeɪt/

dilapidate

détériorer
Meaning
To cause something, especially a building, to fall into ruin or disrepair.
Example
The abandoned house began to dilapidate over the years.
La maison abandonnée a commencé à se détériorer au fil des ans.
B2 noun /dɪsˈmɪsl̩/

dismissal

licenciement, rejet
Meaning
the act of removing someone from their job; the act of treating something as unimportant
Example
His unfair dismissal led to a lawsuit against the company.
Son licenciement injuste a entraîné une poursuite contre l'entreprise.
B2 noun /dæm/

Dam

barrage; réservoir;
Meaning
a barrier constructed to hold back water and raise its level; a female parent of an animal
Example
The massive dam provides electricity and controls flooding in the region.
Le grand barrage fournit de l'électricité et contrôle les inondations dans la région.
B2 noun /ˌdɪs.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/

Disability

handicap
Meaning
a physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities
Example
Despite his physical disability, he became a successful athlete in wheelchair racing.
Malgré son handicap physique, il est devenu un athlète à succès dans les courses en fauteuil roulant.
B2 noun /dɪˈvoʊ.ʃən/

Devotion

dévotion; fidélité; enthousiasme
Meaning
love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause
Example
Her devotion to helping others made her a beloved figure in the community.
Sa dévotion à aider les autres a fait d'elle une figure bien-aimée dans la communauté.
C1 noun dɪˈpliː.ʃən

depletion

épuisement
Meaning
The gradual reduction or exhaustion of a resource or substance.
Example
Overuse of groundwater leads to depletion of water resources.
Une utilisation excessive de l'eau souterraine entraîne l'épuisement des ressources en eau.
B1 noun /dɪˈpɑː.tʃər/

Departure

départ
Meaning
the action of leaving, especially to start a journey; a deviation from an established course
Example
The departure of the train was delayed by thirty minutes due to technical issues.
Le départ du train a été retardé de trente minutes en raison de problèmes techniques.
B2 noun /dɪˈsen.dənt/

Descendant

descendant
Meaning
a person who is descended from a particular ancestor; offspring of a later generation
Example
She discovered that she was a descendant of European royalty through genealogy research.
Elle a découvert qu'elle était une descendante de la royauté européenne grâce à la recherche généalogique.
B1 adjective /drʌŋk/

drunk

ivre
Meaning
affected by alcohol to the point of losing control of one's faculties or behavior
Example
He was too drunk to walk straight.
Il était trop ivre pour marcher droit.