
tab | tab: n. 1 flap, tag, loop, ticket, sticker, label, flag, lappet, strap, handle: Pull on the red tab and the life jacket inflates automatically. 2 charge, bill, account, reckoning, Chiefly US check: They left me to pick up the tab at the restaurant for everyone.
table | table: n. 1 food, victuals, provender, comestible, edibles, eatables, fare, board, provisions: One can rely on a fine table at Mrs McGuire''s. 2 plain, flatland, mesa, tableland, plateau, steppe: The area is barren lava table from horizon to horizon. 3 (tabular or columnar) list or listing, register, record, tabulation, chart, catalogue, index, inventory, itemization, pr�cis, table of contents: The figures are easier to understand when arranged in a table. --v. 4 submit, present, offer, proffer, bring forward, bring up, propose: The bill will be tabled for action today. 5 shelve, postpone, defer, suspend, put off, stay, pigeon-hole, mothball, Colloq put on ice: When the bill came up we tabled it for six months.
tableau | tableau: n. scene, sight, spectacle, picture, image; composition, arrangement, grouping, effect: The children raptly listening to their father telling a story - what a charming tableau!
tablet | tablet: n. 1 (scribbling or writing- or note- or memo) pad, (spiral(-bound)) notebook, US scratch pad: I write all my dreams in a little tablet in case I forget to relate them to my psychiatrist. 2 slab, plaque, plate, panel, plaquette: The tablet on the base of the statue says it is of Disraeli. 3 stone, gravestone, headstone, tombstone, memorial: We each contributed to the tablet that marks Croombender''s grave. 4 pill, capsule, troche, pellet, pastille, drop, lozenge, bolus: Take three tablets twice a day.
taboo | taboo: adj. 1 tabu, anathema, forbidden, interdicted, off limits, out of bounds, verboten, proscribed, banned, prohibited, restricted, unmentionable, unspeakable; censored, censorable, unacceptable, rude, impolite, indecorous, dirty, explicit; outlawed, illegal, illicit, unlawful: Our holiday in Benidorm is a taboo subject in my house. Many people dislike hearing taboo language used on radio or television. --n. 2 tabu, anathema, interdict, interdiction, proscription, ban, prohibition, restriction: There is still a strict taboo against mentioning bodily functions in public. --v. 3 tabu, forbid, interdict, proscribe, ban, prohibit: The hotel taboos the sharing of a room by unmarried couples.
tabulate | tabulate: v. systematize, organize, order, group, list, arrange, classify, categorize, rate, grade, catalogue, codify, pigeon-hole, sort, assort, index, itemize; record, note: We shall report the results of the poll as soon as they have been tabulated.
tacit | tacit: adj. unspoken, undeclared, unsaid, unstated, unvoiced, unuttered, silent, understood, unexpressed, implied, implicit: The sisters have a tacit agreement not to poach each other''s boyfriends. He gave me a look of tacit gratitude.
taciturn | taciturn: adj. silent, uncommunicative, mum, mute, reticent, reserved, uncommunicative, unforthcoming, tight-lipped, close-lipped, untalkative, quiet: Even when he was small, Chris was quite taciturn, saying little but evidently thinking much.
tack | tack: n. 1 pin, push-pin, nail, Brit drawing-pin, tin-tack, US thumbtack: Someone keeps stealing the tacks from the bulletin board. 2 fastening, stitch, baste: Could you put some tacks in the hem so I can try on the skirt? 3 direction, bearing, heading, course, approach; way, path, procedure, method, technique, attack, line: Our new tack was due east. They may have to take a different tack to win the contract. 4 tackle, gear, equipment, equipage, harness, saddlery, fittings, fitments, kit, outfit, rig, rigging, accoutrements or US also accouterments: He has ordered all new tack for his horse. --v. 5 pin, attach, fasten, secure, join, couple, unite, combine, stick, fix, affix, staple, nail, skewer, peg, screw, bolt, rivet; baste, stitch, sew, bind, tie; paste, glue, cement, solder, braze, weld: You were only supposed to tack these together lightly, but now I can''t pull them apart. 6 change direction or heading or course , Nautical go or come about; zigzag, veer off or away, Nautical beat: We tacked quickly to avoid striking the buoy. 7 tack on. add (on), append, annex, attach, tag on: When they tacked on a rider to the contract, we refused to sign it.
tackle | tackle: n. 1 gear, rig, fittings, equipment, equipage, rigging, paraphernalia, outfit, tools, apparatus, trappings, accoutrements or US also accouterments, Colloq Brit clobber: The steeplejack brought along all his tackle and made ready for his climb. 2 block (and tackle), fall, hoisting gear, pulley, sheave: You''ll need heavier tackle to lift this cargo. --v. 3 come to grips with, grapple with, approach, take on, try to solve, (try to) deal or cope with, stand or face up to, face, confront, address oneself to, attend to, set about, pursue, Colloq take a crack at, have a go at: Perhaps you''d better tackle the parking problem yourself. I''ll tackle the boss on the matter as soon as I see him. 4 attack, fall upon, devour, consume, demolish, destroy: You''ve seen nothing till you''ve seen Graham tackle a roast turkey.
tacky� | tacky�: adj. sticky, gluey, gummy, adhesive, ropy, viscous, viscid, Colloq gooey: The varnish is still tacky and must dry before sanding.
tacky� | tacky�: adj. tawdry, cheap, brummagem, gaudy, tasteless, vulgar, shabby, tatty, sleazy, chintzy, shoddy, seedy: Richard consistently buys the tackiest suits on the market.
tact | tact: n. discretion, diplomacy, sensitivity, savoir faire, judgement, politesse, delicacy, finesse, cleverness, prudence, care, carefulness, dexterity, dexterousness, discernment, judiciousness, adroitness, skill, acumen, acuteness, perception, understanding, consideration, thoughtfulness, politeness: You can count on Robert to handle such matters with consummate tact.
tactful | tactful: adj. discreet, diplomatic, sensitive, politic, judicious, delicate, clever, prudent, careful, dexterous, discerning, adroit, skilful, acute, perceptive, considerate, understanding, considerate, thoughtful, polite: Even the people working in the complaints department are tactful.
tactic | tactic: n. 1 move, manoeuvre, ploy, caper, plan, strategy, stratagem, device, ruse, plot, scheme, design: Inviting her husband along was a tactic merely to avert suspicion. 2 tactics. manoeuvres, strategy, plans, campaign, generalship, military science, military operation(s), orchestration, engineering, masterminding: Entirely different tactics must be employed in jungle fighting.
tactical | tactical: adj. artful, clever, cunning, shrewd, adroit, strategic, skilful, adept, politic, smart, tactful: The general was noted for his dazzling strategies and tactical genius.
tactician | tactician: n. strategist, campaigner, mastermind, intriguer, plotter, planner, schemer, manipulator, manoeuvrer, orchestrator, Colloq operator: Montgomery was regarded by some as a master tactician.
tactless | tactless: adj. coarse, boorish, uncivilized, unsophisticated, rough, rude, uncouth, discourteous, ungentlemanly, unladylike, crude, gruff, bluff, abrupt, blunt, brusque, impertinent, disrespectful, uncivil, impolite, insensitive, awkward, bungling, clumsy, maladroit, inept, undiplomatic, thoughtless, gauche, unskilful, impolitic, imprudent, inconsiderate, injudicious, indiscreet, unwise: It was pretty tactless of him to ask her out in front of his ex-girlfriend.
tag | tag: n. 1 label, name or price tag, mark, marker, tab, ticket, sticker, stub, docket: The tag was clearly marked with a bar-code. 2 name, epithet, label, designation, title, appellation, nickname, Slang handle, moniker: Called ''Eddie the dip'', he got his tag ''the dip'' because he''s a pickpocket. --v. 3 label, mark, ticket, identify, earmark: Please tag all these cartons so we''ll know what''s in them without opening them. 4 label, name, call, dub, nickname, style, entitle, christen, baptize: I have already said that Eddie was tagged ''the dip'' because he was a pickpocket. 5 tag along. follow, trail (along) after, tail, shadow, attend, accompany, drag along with or after: Does your little brother have to tag along wherever we go?
tail | tail: n. 1 appendage, brush (of a fox), scut (of a hare, rabbit, of deer), dock, caudal fin (of a fish), uropygium (of a bird), pope''s or parson''s nose, tailpiece, flag: I just caught a glimpse of the fox''s tail as it leapt the fence. 2 rear end, tail-end, backside, buttocks, croup, rump, posterior(s), bottom, Colloq behind, hinie, Taboo slang Brit bum, arse, US ass: When I catch you, I''ll kick your tail! 3 reverse: The obverse of a coin is the head, the reverse is the tail. --v. 4 dog, follow, trail, stalk, shadow, track: We tailed the suspect from Newcastle to New Mexico.
tailor | tailor: n. 1 couturier, couturi�re, costumier, dressmaker, modiste, clothier, garment-maker, outfitter, seamstress: She has all her clothing made by her tailor. --v. 2 fit, adapt, suit, adjust, alter, accommodate, modify, change, convert, cut, fashion, mould, stretch, accustom: Your telephone system can be tailored to your most exacting demands.
tailor-made | tailor-made: adj. 1 fitted, custom-made, made-to-order, bespoke; made to measure: He would not wear anything but tailor-made clothes. 2 ideal, perfect, customized, made-to-order, custom-made, suited, suitable, (just) right, Colloq right up one''s Brit street or US alley: The job of lighthouse-keeper was tailor-made for a misanthrope.
taint | taint: n. 1 stain, blot, blemish, slur, tinge, tincture, (black or bad) mark, stigma, imperfection, flaw, scar, defect; discredit, dishonour: His writing suffers from the taint of pedantry. --v. 2 sully, tarnish, stain, stigmatize, smear, harm, hurt, damage, debase, vitiate, blacken, foul, contaminate, pollute, dirty, muddy, smirch, besmirch, blemish, soil, corrupt, spoil, defile, ruin, destroy: It takes very little to taint one''s reputation in a small village.
take | take: v. 1 grip, seize, grasp, clasp, get, get or take hold of, grab, snatch, clutch, catch, capture, obtain, lay hold of, lay (one''s) hands on, procure, acquire, gain (possession of), take possession of, secure, win, carry off, abduct, Colloq nab: The police took him into custody. He takes what he can get. When it comes to ineptitude, Sue certainly takes the prize. 2 pick, select, choose, opt for, settle or decide or fasten on or upon: When you get to the fork, take the road to the left. 3 appropriate, arrogate, extract, carry off or away, steal, purloin, pilfer, filch, palm, rob, shoplift, pocket, remove, walk off or away with, run or make off or away with; embezzle, misappropriate, peculate; plagiarize, pirate; Colloq lift, swipe, snitch, Chiefly Brit pinch, nick, Slang knock off, hook, rip off, liberate, US boost, crook: They took what didn''t belong to them. 4 reserve, book, engage; hire, rent, lease: He took a room in a small hotel, where he began to write detective fiction. 5 acquire, get, adopt; assume, derive, obtain, draw, receive, inherit: He has taken his bad manners from you. The film takes its title from the book. 6 accept, receive, bear, withstand, stand, endure, weather, tolerate, abide, brave, go through, undergo, suffer, submit to, swallow, Colloq put up with, brook, stomach, Brit stick: She took the news about Leon''s relapse quite well. I have taken quite enough from you already. 7 assume, bear, undertake, adopt, arrogate; acknowledge, accept: Kevin took full responsibility for the mistake. 8 believe, think, judge, deem, hold, feel; take for, assess (as), consider (as), regard (as), view (as), accept (for): I take people to be honest till proven otherwise. She took him for a fool when they first met. 9 carry, convey, bear, transport, bring, deliver, ferry; haul, cart: Will this train take me to Aylesbury? They took the bicycle to Old Lyme in a van. 10 take up, study, be involved or occupied in or with, apply oneself to, learn; read, Colloq tackle: I cannot believe that Doreen is taking home economics. He took a course in car maintenance. 11 prove or be effective or efficacious or operative or functional, take effect, take hold, operate, function, work, perform, Colloq do the trick: If the transplant fails to take, the doctors will have to operate again. 12 exact, extract, get: She took revenge by denying him certain privileges. 13 swallow, eat, consume, ingest, devour, gulp down, gobble up or down, wolf, bolt; drink, imbibe, quaff; inhale: Rudolf takes pills of every conceivable colour. The doctor said I could take a wee nip now and then. Sonya stepped out to take a breath of fresh air. 14 subtract, deduct, remove, take away, take from, take off: Take three from five. Five, take away two, leaves three. It''s cheaper when you''ve taken off the discount. 15 end, terminate, annihilate, wipe out; kill: The assault on Leningrad took tens of thousands of lives. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. 16 require, demand, need, necessitate, call for: Remember, it takes two to tango. It took him two years to complete the fresco. It takes six to sail his yawl. 17 hold, contain, accommodate, accept, fit in: This storage bin cannot take anything else, it''s completely full. 18 convey, lead, conduct; escort, convoy, guide, accompany: This road takes you directly to the yacht club. He asked to be taken to the manager''s office. 19 understand, gather, interpret, perceive, apprehend, deduce, conclude, infer, judge, deem, assume, suppose, imagine, see: I take it from your expression that you''ve had bad news. 20 charm, captivate, capture, attract, lure, allure: There was something about him that took her fancy. 21 use, employ, make use of, establish, put in(to) place, adopt, put into effect, effect, apply; resort to, have recourse to, turn to: The police have taken measures to ensure that it doesn''t happen again. 22 clear, get or go over or past or round or through: Browning''s Delight took the last jump easily. He must have taken that corner at 90! 23 experience, entertain, feel: She seemed to take an instant dislike to me. 24 express, voice, raise, put forth: I hope you will not take objection or exception to what I am about to tell you. 25 cause or make or induce or drive or persuade (someone) to go or be: What takes you to M�laga in August? 26 act, assume, play, perform: I''m taking the part of the wicked witch in the local pantomime. 27 bilk, cheat, swindle, defraud, Colloq con, Brit fiddle: When he examined his wallet he realized he''d been taken. 28 take aback. astound, astonish, surprise, startle, shock: She was really taken aback at the news. 29 take after. a resemble, look like, be the spitting image or the spit and image of, favour, remind one of, Colloq be a chip off the old block: He takes after his grandfather. b Sometimes, take off after. chase, follow, run after, pursue: When the man stole the newspaper and ran, the shopkeeper took after him at a gallop. 30 take back. retract, withdraw, recant, disavow, repudiate: He now wants to take back what he said about you. 31 take down. a note, make a note or memo or memorandum of, write down, record, put or set down, put in writing, document, transcribe, chronicle: Please take down what I am about to tell you. b debase, deflate, lower, diminish, belittle, depreciate, deprecate, humble, humiliate, shame, disparage, degrade, disgrace: She certainly took that pompous ass down a peg or two. 32 take in. a accommodate, receive, let in, quarter, board, lodge: When her children grew up and left home, she decided to take in lodgers. b deceive, fool, trick, impose upon, overcharge, cheat, mulct, defraud, cozen, bilk, dupe, gull, hoodwink, swindle, Colloq bamboozle, con, pull the wool over (someone''s) eyes, Slang Brit do: He was really taken in by that time-share deal. c include, subsume, embrace, comprise, cover, encompass, contain: Our sales figures take in all of North America, not just Canada. 33 take it. a withstand or tolerate or survive punishment or abuse, survive: The Marines are extremely tough and can take it. b See 20, above. 34 take off. a remove, doff, strip or peel off, discard, divest (oneself) of: Take off your hat in the house. b satirize, lampoon, caricature, mock, parody, travesty, burlesque, mimic, imitate, Colloq spoof, Brit send up: It is not always easy to take off members of the Cabinet. c depart, leave, go (away), decamp; fly off, become airborne, lift off, blast off; Colloq skedaddle, make (oneself) scarce, Slang hit the road, scram, beat it, split: You''d better take off before they find you here. The plane is due to take off at 18.35. 35 take on. a hire, engage, employ, enrol, enlist, retain: We are so busy that we have taken on ten new people. b challenge, rival, face, contend against, oppose, match or pit (oneself) against, vie with, fight: Are you in any condition to take on the champion? c assume, accept, undertake, tackle: You might be taking on more than you bargained for. 36 take out. entertain, escort, invite out; court, woo: He took her out to dinner at a Chinese restaurant. 37 take over. assume or take or usurp or gain control or possession or command of: A huge conglomerate is trying to take over our company. 38 take to. a like, find pleasant or pleasing, feel affection or liking or affinity for, find suitable: We took to each other the very first time we met. He took to computers as a duck takes to water. b leave or depart or take off for, run for, head for, flee to, make for: When the attack came, the villagers took to the hills. 39 take up. a pick up, accept, agree to, acquiesce to, accede to: She took up his offer, and they''ve been married for forty years. b assume, resume, carry on, continue, go on with, follow on with, pick up: After a pause, he took up the thread of the story once more. c espouse, embrace, become interested or involved in, support, sponsor, advocate: She took up the cause of women''s rights at her age? d occupy, cover, use (up), fill (up): Bernard''s exercise equipment now takes up half the living-room. e deal with, treat, consider, bring up, raise: Next week our panellists will take up the question, ''Who benefits from education?'' --n. 40 revenue, takings, yield, return, receipts, proceeds, gain, profit(s); gate, box office: How much was the take from the first day?
taken | taken: adj. captivated, entranced, enchanted, charmed, bewitched, infatuated: I was so taken with Lucinda that I started blushing like a teenager.
take-off | take-off: n. 1 flight, flying, taking off, departure, leaving, going; launch, lift-off: The take-off was delayed by bad weather. 2 satire, lampoon, caricature, mockery, parody, travesty, burlesque, imitation, Colloq spoof, Brit send-up: The annual students'' entertainment was as usual a take-off of the teachers.
taking | taking: adj. attractive, alluring, engaging, captivating, winning, winsome, charming, entrancing, enchanting, bewitching, fetching, fascinating, delightful, irresistible, compelling, intriguing, prepossessing: Cassie''s taking ways won her many friends.
tale | tale: n. 1 story, narrative, report, account, record, chronicle, history, narration, recital, anecdote: We were brought up on tales of the supernatural. Her tale of what happened does not agree with the facts. 2 falsehood, lie, fiction, fib, fabrication, untruth, falsification, exaggeration, Colloq tall tale or story, (cock-and-bull) story, US fish story: He told some tale about having been captured by urban guerrillas. 3 rumour, gossip, slander, allegation, tittle-tattle, libel, story, US chiefly naval scuttlebutt: I have been hearing tales about wild parties at the neighbours'' again.
talebearer | talebearer: n. gossip, rumour-monger, gossip-monger, taleteller, talemonger, scandalmonger, tell-tale, troublemaker, quidnunc, tattler, informer, sieve, Chiefly US and Canadian tattle-tale, Slang bigmouth, blabbermouth, squealer, stool-pigeon, stoolie, rat, Brit sneak, nark, US fink, ratfink: The words, spoken in private, were repeated to him by some talebearer.
talent | talent: n. 1 ability, power, gift, faculty, flair, genius, facility, aptitude, capacity, knack, ingenuity, forte, strength; endowment: Bill''s extraordinary talent for playing the trombone was widely acclaimed. 2 tendency, proclivity, propensity, penchant, predilection, predisposition, bent, inclination: Annabel certainly has a talent for saying the wrong thing.
talented | talented: adj. gifted, accomplished, brilliant, skilled, skilful, masterful, expert, adept, adroit, dexterous, deft, clever, good, polished, proficient, first-rate, top-drawer, excellent, Colloq ace, crack, top-notch, Brit wizard, whizzo, US crackerjack: Leslie is the most talented player in the school hockey team.
talisman | talisman: n. amulet, charm, tiki, fetish or fetich, ju-ju, periapt, abraxas; wishbone, rabbit''s foot, Brit merry thought: He was given a talisman that was supposed to protect its wearer from bad luck.
talk | talk: v. 1 Sometimes, talk in. speak (in), use, communicate in, converse in, express (oneself) in, discourse in: If you talk English I might understand. 2 confer, consult, parley, have a (little) talk, (have a) chat, confabulate, Colloq confab, Slang US rap: I think we ought to talk before you decide which offer to accept. 3 chatter, prate, prattle, jabber, blather or blether, gibber, jibber-jabber, cackle, babble, patter, rattle on, go on, Brit natter, witter, rabbit on, Colloq gab, Slang gas, jaw , US run off at the mouth: They talk continuously, mostly about nothing. 4 chat, gossip, palaver, Slang chew the fat or the rag, shoot the breeze, US chin, schmooze, rap, have a bull session, bat the breeze, shoot the bull: We were just sitting around talking when Tom suggested we go for a swim. 5 inform, confess, give the game away, blab, Colloq come clean, Slang rat, squeal, sing, spill the beans, Brit grass: If they give him the third degree, you can be sure he''ll talk. 6 speak, give or deliver a speech or a talk or an address, lecture: I believe that Professor Hale is talking at the County Library tonight. 7 talk about or over or of. discuss, confer about or on, parley about: I don''t want to talk about football all the time. Can''t we talk it over? She talks only of you. 8 talk big. boast, brag, vaunt, crow, bluster, exaggerate, blow or toot (one''s) own horn: He was never in the war - he just talks big. 9 talk down. a depreciate, deprecate, denigrate, disparage, belittle, minimize, diminish, criticize, Colloq knock, pan, put down: It''s the only thing he''s ever done, and you shouldn''t talk it down. b Usually, talk down to. condescend to, patronize: I resent your talking down to me in that way. 10 talk into. convince, bring round, sway, persuade: We have been trying to talk him into running in the marathon. 11 talk over. discuss: We talked over the best way to prepare the advertising proposal. 12 talk to or with. speak to or with, communicate with, converse with: Since the episode with the monkey, she refuses to talk to me. I talked with him yesterday. 13 talk up. promote, support, sponsor, advertise, publicize, push, Colloq plug, hype, ballyhoo: She has been talking up the book on her radio show. --n. 14 oration, lecture, address, presentation, speech, discourse, report, disquisition, dissertation; sermon; harangue, tirade, Colloq spiel: Claire delivered a talk on computational linguistics. Every week we have to listen to the same talk about sin. 15 conversation, conference, discussion, meeting, consultation, dialogue, colloquy, parley, palaver, chat, t�te-�-t�te, confabulation, Colloq confab, powwow, Slang chin-wag, head-to-head, US one-on-one, rap session: We must have a little talk about your school report. 16 subject or topic of conversation or gossip or rumour: Her behaviour at the wedding was the talk of the town for weeks. 17 gossip, rumour, hearsay, information, news, report, Colloq info, Slang dope: There is some talk that you might be leaving. 18 palaver, gossip, claptrap, prattle, prattling, chatter, verbiage, cackle, bunk, nonsense, rubbish, balderdash, poppycock, hot air, stuff and nonsense, twaddle, Colloq malarkey, piffle, hooey, hokum, bunkum, bosh, hogwash, horse feathers, Slang bilge(-water), crap, bull, tripe, Brit tosh, balls, US apple-sauce, Taboo slang horseshit, bullshit: That''s just a lot of talk. 19 dialect, speech, way or manner of speaking, fa�on de parler, language, jargon, argot, cant, patois, accent, Colloq lingo: Can you understand musicians'' talk? My parents'' talk is peppered with words long obsolete in standard English.
talkative | talkative: adj. garrulous, loquacious, verbose, long-winded, voluble, prolix, wordy, chatty, gossipy, effusive, talky, logorrhoeic or logorrhoeal, Colloq gabby, blabby, Slang big-mouthed; US running off at the mouth: The children are so talkative I can''t get a word in edgeways.
talker | talker: n. 1 speaker, lecturer, orator, speech-maker, keynoter, spellbinder, tub-thumper, rabble-rouser, demagogue, haranguer, ranter: You might disagree with what he says, but you must admit he''s a great talker. 2 blusterer, blatherskite, swaggerer, show-off, Slang windbag, gasbag, lot of hot air, blowhard: He is a big talker, but he never gets anything done.
tall | tall: adj. 1 high, towering, big, soaring, lofty, giant, gigantic; multi-storey: The giant sequoias of California are the tallest trees in the world. There are many tall buildings in most major cities. 2 lanky, gangling, rangy, leggy, long-legged, big, giant, huge, gigantic, large: Some of those basketball players are unbelievably tall. 3 exaggerated, overblown, far-fetched, improbable, unbelievable, incredible, preposterous, outrageous, overdone, absurd, Colloq Brit steep: He told us some amusing tall tales about his fishing adventures.
tally | tally: v. 1 agree, coincide, accord, correspond, fit, compare, match (up), square, conform, concur, harmonize, Colloq US jibe: Nothing I could do would make my figures tally with those of the bank. 2 Sometimes, tally up. count (up or out), enumerate, record, register, reckon, add (up), total (up), tabulate, itemize, list, calculate, compute: Please tally up what I owe you. --n. 3 count, enumeration, record, register, reckoning, addition, total, tabulation, itemization, listing, calculation, computation: According to my tally, you owe �156.72. 4 ticket, label, mark, marker, tag, tab: Each plant can be identified by its own tally. 5 counterfoil, stub, counterpart, duplicate, mate: If you lose your tally you cannot get back your luggage.
tame | tame: adj. 1 tamed, docile, disciplined, obedient, domesticated, house-broken, trained, broken: He used to keep a tame fox in his back garden. 2 mild, gentle, fearless, unafraid: It is amazing how tame animals can be when they do not perceive man as a threat. 3 tractable, pliant, compliant, meek, submissive, mild, under (someone''s) control or thumb, subdued, suppressed; unassertive, feeble, ineffectual, timid, timorous, cowardly, pusillanimous, chicken-hearted, faint-hearted, white-livered, lily-livered, yellow, Colloq wimpish: Charles is far too tame to defy Kate. 4 boring, tedious, tiresome, dull, insipid, bland, lifeless, flat, vapid, prosaic, humdrum, bland, unexciting, uninspired, uninspiring, run-of-the-mill, ordinary, uninteresting, dead, Colloq wishy-washy: As a nightclub, the place is much too tame for my tastes. --v. 5 break, domesticate, train, house-train, gentle, master, subdue, subjugate: The brown bear is a most difficult animal to tame. 6 calm, subdue, control, mollify, pacify, mute, temper, soften, curb, tone down, moderate, mitigate, tranquillize: After a week the Lord tamed the violent sea and our tiny craft was allowed to continue.
tamper | tamper: v. interfere, meddle, intermeddle, intrude, tinker, mess (about or around), Colloq fiddle or fool (about or around), monkey (around), muck (about): Anyone caught tampering with the machinery will be prosecuted.
tang | tang: n. 1 pungency, piquancy, bite, zest, zestiness, sharpness, poignancy, spiciness, nip, edge, spice, taste, flavour, savour, aroma, smell, odour, Colloq zip, kick: Ginger root gives the dish just the right tang. 2 tinge, flavour, hint, suggestion, soup�on, trace, dab, smack, touch, smattering: The new version has the tang of the original without its obsolete words. 3 prong, tab, projection, tongue, strip, tine, shank, pin, spike: The tang of a good knife goes right through to the end of the handle.
tangential | tangential: adj. divergent, digressive, off or beside(s) the point, peripheral, irrelevant, extraneous, unrelated: The matter of cost is tangential to the main issue.
tangible | tangible: adj. material, real, physical, corporeal, bodily, somatic, solid, concrete, touchable, tactile, manifest, palpable, evident, actual, substantial, visible, seeable, discernible, perceptible, ponderable, objective, ostensive: Leaving aside intangibles like taste, smell, and colour, the important tangible characteristic of food is texture.
tangle | tangle: n. 1 confusion, knot, gnarl, mesh, snarl, twist, kink, entanglement, jam, snag, jumble, mess, skein, web, coil: It took hours to straighten out the tangle of ribbons. 2 muddle, complication, jumble, puzzle, medley, complexity, complication, scramble, mishmash, mix-up, hotchpotch or US and Canadian also hodgepodge, jungle, maze, labyrinth: She was rather bewildered by the vast tangle of information on the subject. --v. 3 Often, tangle up. confuse, knot, mesh, snarl, gnarl, twist, kink, ravel, entangle, jam, snag, intertwist, intertwine, interlace, interweave, jumble, mess up, scramble, shuffle, muddle: Now you''ve tangled all the ribbons I carefully straightened out earlier. 4 Often, tangle with. wrangle (with), contend (with), fight (with or against), (come into) conflict (with), come or go up against, lock horns (with), dispute, cross swords (with), disagree (with): The sheriff is the last person I want to tangle with.
tantalize | tantalize: v. tease, taunt, provoke, torment, torture, bait, tempt, plague, frustrate: They tantalized him by hanging the keys to his cell just outside his reach.
tantamount to | tantamount to: adj. amounting to, as good as, virtually the same as, (pretty) much the same as, equal to, equivalent to, like, of a piece with, comparable to, commensurate with: His response, for all its politeness, was tantamount to a rejection.
tantrum | tantrum: n. fit (of anger or of passion), outburst, eruption, blow-up, explosion, flare-up, storm, rage, fury, Colloq Brit paddy, wax: He has a tantrum every time he fails to get his own way.
tap� | tap�: v. 1 rap, knock, dab, strike, peck; drum, beat: Must you continually tap on the table with that blasted pencil?! --n. 2 rap, knock, dab, strike, peck, pat; tapping, tap-tap, rapping, knocking, pecking, beat, beating, patter, pattering: I felt a tap on my shoulder. The tap, tap, tap of the dripping water was driving me mad.
tap� | tap�: n. 1 cock, stopcock, pet-cock, sillcock, seacock, spigot, spout, valve, US faucet: Replace the washer in the tap to stop the leak. 2 bung, stopper, cork, spile, plug, stopple, peg: Move the tap from the empty barrel to the new one. 3 wire-tap, bug, listening device, electronic eavesdropper: I think there''s a tap on my phone. 4 on tap. a on draught, out of the barrel or keg: They have real ale on tap. b ready, available, on or at hand, waiting, in reserve, on call: He promised to be on tap if I needed him for anything. --v. 5 drain, draw (off), siphon off or out, extract, withdraw: We tapped the wine directly from the casks. 6 open, drain, unplug, sap, bleed, milk, broach, mine, use, utilize, make use of, put to use, draw on or upon, turn to account: Whenever she needed money, she tapped her savings. 7 bug, eavesdrop on, wire-tap: M.I.5 still taps her phone.
tape | tape: n. 1 strip, band, fillet, stripe, strap, belt, ribbon: She wore a colourful woven tape round her head to hold her hair. 2 (tape) recording, reel, spool, cassette, video: He played us the tape of the whole interview. --v. 3 strap, band, bind; seal, stick: If you tape the packet, customs cannot open it for inspection. 4 record; tape-record, video: Programmes can be taped automatically when we are out.
taper | taper: v. 1 narrow (down), thin, diminish, come or go down: Note how the trousers taper towards the ankles. 2 Often, taper off. diminish, reduce, thin out, wind down, decrease, fade, lessen, peter out, fall off, wane, subside, let up, slacken, die away or down or off or out, decline, slow (down or up), weaken, abate, ebb, slump, drop (off), fall (off), plummet: Sales of ice skates can be expected to taper off during the summer.
tardy | tardy: adj. 1 late, unpunctual, behind schedule, overdue, behindhand: Yet again you have been somewhat tardy in completing your assignments. 2 slow, dilatory, belated, slack, retarded, sluggish, reluctant, indolent, lackadaisical, listless, phlegmatic, slothful, lethargic, languid: They have been tardy in acknowledging the importance of Allen''s work.
target | target: n. goal, object, objective, aim, end; butt, quarry: The target of the charity drive is to raise �30,000. Why make Peter the target of your ridicule?
tariff | tariff: n. 1 tax, assessment, duty, excise, levy, impost, toll, Brit rate: The tariff on imported clothing may be increased. 2 schedule (of charges), price-list; bill of fare, menu: I stopped by the hotel to ask about their tariff.
tarnish | tarnish: v. sully, disgrace, taint, blacken, blemish, stain, blot, soil, spot, dirty, contaminate, defame, injure, spoil, ruin, damage, harm, hurt, stigmatize, debase, degrade, denigrate, dishonour, asperse, calumniate: By his behaviour, he has tarnished the reputation of his entire family.
tarry | tarry: v. 1 delay, pause, wait, linger, loiter, stall, procrastinate, dawdle, bide one''s time, temporize, hang back, Colloq hang on or about or (a)round: They tarried in the pub, and missed their train. 2 remain, sojourn, stay, stop, rest, dwell, bide (one''s) time, settle: She plans to tarry at Eastbourne for a while.
tart� | tart�: adj. 1 sour, acidic, acidulous, acidulated, lemony, citrusy, vinegary, acetous, acescent; sharp, tangy, astringent, acerb, acerbic, acrid, bitter, pungent, piquant, harsh: Those grapes are a bit tart for my taste. 2 biting, bitter, caustic, acid, corrosive, mordant, astringent, acrimonious, trenchant, harsh, scathing, stinging, acerbic, incisive, cutting, keen,barbed, nasty, curmudgeonly, testy, crusty, abusive, virulent, sarcastic, sardonic, satiric(al), vicious, cynical: You can rely on Henry for a tart rebuff every time.
tart� | tart�: n. 1 pie, tartlet, pastry, turnover, flan, quiche, patty, Brit pasty: Three guesses who stole the tarts from the Queen of Hearts. 2 strumpet, streetwalker, prostitute, whore, harlot, fallen woman, trollop, wanton, working girl, fille de joie, call-girl, loose woman, slut, drab, jade, demi-mondaine, courtesan, woman of ill repute, hussy, doxy, lady of the evening or the night, woman of easy virtue, Slang floozy, hooker, US chippy, roundheels, bimbo: The paper claimed that the minister was involved with a woman that it described as ''a tart''.
task | task: n. 1 duty, assignment, business, job, charge, stint, mission, work, chore, undertaking: It will be your task to keep the others working. 2 (major) effort, test (of strength), piece of work, struggle, strain: Getting him to do anything at all was quite a task. 3 take to task. scold, reprimand, call to account, blame, censure, recriminate, reproach, reprove, rebuke, criticize, lecture, upbraid, chide, reprehend: I was taken to task for failing to notify the police of the break-in.
taste | taste: n. 1 drop, soup�on, dash, pinch, touch, hint, suggestion, grain, trace, bit; flavour, savour, relish, tang: I added just the tiniest taste of coriander to the sauce. 2 sample, morsel, bite, mouthful, bite, sip, nip, swallow: I had a taste of the sauce and it''s superb. 3 palate, desire, inclination, leaning, partiality, disposition, penchant, liking, fancy, preference, fondness, appetite, relish, stomach, tolerance: She developed a taste for caviare and champagne while working in television. 4 discernment, discrimination, perception, judgement, cultivation, refinement, stylishness, grace, polish, elegance: Her unerring taste leads her to select only the best. 5 style, mode, fashion, manner, form, design, motif: The room was decorated in Moorish taste. 6 decorum, discretion, tactfulness, delicacy, refinement, politesse, politeness, correctness, propriety, tastefulness: Evan''s taste would never allow him to say anything rude. --v. 7 savour, sample, examine, try, test: Taste this and see if it''s too salty. 8 experience, sample, know, have knowledge of, undergo, encounter, meet (with), come up against: As a young man he had tasted the pleasures of Paris.
tasteful | tasteful: adj. in good taste, decorous, refined, finished, tactful, polite, polished, restrained, correct, harmonious, fitting, fit, proper, discriminating, aesthetic, discriminative, fastidious, cultivated, comme il faut, elegant, graceful, charming: Though a bit shabby, her clothes were demure and tasteful.
tasteless | tasteless: adj. 1 in bad or poor taste, garish, gaudy, loud, tawdry, meretricious, cheap, flashy, unrefined, inelegant, unaesthetic; improper, wrong, indecorous, indelicate, uncultivated, uncouth, uncultured, gauche, boorish, maladroit, distasteful, unsavoury, coarse, crude, gross, vulgar, base, low: That is the most tasteless dress I have ever seen. He made a tasteless remark about her table manners. 2 insipid, bland, dull, flat, watery, vapid, flavourless, unsavoury, Colloq wishy-washy: The tea served there is completely tasteless.
tasty | tasty: adj. delicious, delectable, luscious, flavorous, flavoursome, flavourful, savoury, toothsome, palatable, appetizing, sapid, mouth-watering, ambrosial, Colloq yummy, scrumptious: They serve a very tasty curry at that Indian restaurant.
tatter | tatter: n. 1 Often, tatters. scrap(s), rag(s), shred(s), bit(s), piece(s): Tatters from the culprit''s clothing were found on a thorn-bush. 2 in tatters. in ruins, in shreds, destroyed, ruined, shattered, in disarray, demolished: My life has been in tatters ever since she left me.
tattered | tattered: adj. ragged, torn, shredded, rent, threadbare: Above the altar in the chapel hang the tattered standards of the regiment, dating from the Crimean War.
tattle | tattle: v. 1 blab, tell, reveal or divulge, give away secrets, Slang squeal: Though sworn to silence, Davis tattled. 2 gossip, prattle, prate, babble, chatter, jabber, blather or blether, Brit natter, witter, Slang yack: The old crones were tattling away in the kitchen.
taunt | taunt: v. 1 tease, jeer (at), flout, twit, mock, torment, annoy, make fun or sport of, poke fun at, deride, sneer (at), scoff (at), insult, ridicule, burlesque, lampoon, US ride, Colloq kid, rib, roast, put down, Brit guy, Slang bug, rag, hassle, US get on (someone''s) case: The boys used to taunt him, calling him ''Shrimpo'' because he was so short. --n. 2 jeer, gibe, brickbat, insult, scoff, derision, sneer, slap (in the face), raspberry, Colloq dig, US Bronx cheer: At 17, he was six feet tall and no longer had to tolerate his classmates'' taunts.
taut | taut: adj. 1 tight, tense, strained, stretched, rigid, stiff: When his jaw goes taut like that I know he''s angry. 2 Nautical neat, tidy, Bristol fashion, shipshape, spruce, (in) trim, smart, orderly, well-organized; well-disciplined: Captain Scriven runs a taut ship, no doubt about it.
tautology | tautology: n. repetition, redundancy, battology, pleonasm, iteration, tautologism; repetitiousness, repetitiveness, wordiness, prolixity, verbiage, verbosity, long-windedness: Clich�s like ''null and void'' and ''cease and desist'' are tautologies. Tautology, when called ''repetition'', is often used for rhetorical effect.
tawdry | tawdry: adj. gaudy, cheap, flashy, brummagem, showy, meretricious, garish, loud, tatty, tinsel, tinselly, plastic, tinny, shabby, US tacky, Colloq cheapjack: She was wearing a tawdry outfit picked up at a church jumble sale.
tax | tax: n. 1 levy, impost, duty, tariff, assessment, tribute, toll, excise, customs, charge, contribution, Archaic scot, tithe, Brit octroi, cess, rate(s), dues: Most people try to pay the lowest taxes they can get away with. 2 onus, burden, weight, load, encumbrance, strain, pressure: The admission of fifty new children put a heavy tax on the school''s resources. --v. 3 assess, exact, demand, charge, impose or levy a tax (on), Archaic tithe: If the government doesn''t tax citizens, where will the money come from? 4 burden, strain, put a strain on, try; load, overload, stretch, exhaust; encumber, weigh down, saddle, Brit pressurize, US pressure: This misbehaviour is really taxing my patience. Our meagre resources were taxed to the limit. Mother was taxed with the responsibility of caring for us.
taxi | taxi: n. 1 taxi-cub, cab, hackney, Colloq hack: Please hurry, as I have a taxi waiting. --v. 2 drive, ride (on the ground): After landing, the plane taxied to the gate.
