`
`‘O The New Oxford
`
`E
`'
`American'Dictionary
`
` Avh‘Nsztz......«~W~w......_
`whithamenuxmamm
`
`, SECOND EDITION
`
`FIRST EDITION
`
`Elizabeth J. Jewell
`Frank Abate
`
`' SECOND EDITION
`
`Erin McKean
`
`OXFORD
`UNIVERSITY PRESS
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`WMT 1010-1
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`OXFORD
`UNIVERSITY PRESS
`
`Oxford University Press, Inc., publishes works that further
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`The first edition of the New Oxford American Dictionary was based on The New Oxford
`Dictionary of English, published in the United Kingdom in 1998.
`
`Copyright © 2005 by Oxford University Press, Inc.
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`Library of Congress Cataloging—in~Publication Data
`
`The new Oxford American dictionary.—— 2nd ed.
`p. cm.
`ISBN 0—19~517077~6
`1. English language~—United States—-Dictionaries. 2.
`Americanisms——Dictionaries.
`PE1628.N429 2005
`423'.1——dc22
`
`2005000941
`
`This book includes some words that are, or are asserted to be, proprietary names or"
`trademarks. Their inclusion does not imply that they have acquired for legal
`purposes a nonproprietary or general significance, nor is any other judgment
`implied concerning their legal status. 'In cases where the editor has some evidence
`that a word is used as a proprietary name or trademark, this is indicated by the
`designation trademark, but no judgment concerning the legal status of such words is
`made or implied thereby.
`
`10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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`Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
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`417
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`cut
`
`swearsop. 2 the tree that bears this fruit, native to
`Central and South America. ' Genus Annona. family
`Annonaceae: several species.
`Cusvter /'kastar/. George (Armstrong) (1839—76), US.
`cavalry officer. He served with distinction during
`the Civil War. In 1876. he was killed, along with all
`of his men (266) in a clash (popularly known as
`Custer's Last Stand) with the Sioux lndians at Little
`Bighorn in Montana.
`cus-tooi-an jkas'todcen/ rn. a person who has re
`sponsibility for or looks after something, such as a
`museum, financial assets, or a culture or tradition:
`the custodians ofpension and insurancefluids. I a person
`employed to clean and maintain a building.
`l>late
`18th cent.:
`from cusrouv‘, on the. pattern of
`guardian. —cus~lo‘di-an.ship 1—,3Hlp/ n.
`cus~to-dy /'kastadé[ n. the protective care or
`guardianship of someone or something: the property
`was placed in the autody of a trustee. I imprisonment:
`myfather was being taken into custody. I Law parental
`responsibility. esp. as allocated to one of two di-
`vorcing parents: he was trying to get custody of their
`child.
`l>late Middle English: from Latin custodia. from
`custos ‘guardian.’ wcus~to~dlral /,ke‘stodéell adj.
`Gus-tom ['kastom/ bn. 1 a traditional and widely ac-
`cepted way of behaving or doing something that is
`specific to a particular society. place. or time: the old
`English custom ofdancing around the maypole ( custom de—
`mandcd that a person should have giftsfor the child. I (in
`sing.) a thing that one does habitually: it was my cus-
`tom to nap for an hour every day. I Law established
`practice or usage having the force of law or right.
`2 chiefly Bril. regular dealings with a shop or busi—
`ness by customers: ifyou keep me waiting, 1 will take my
`custom elsewhere.
`)adj. made or done to order for a particular cus-
`tomer: a custom guitar. DMiddle English: from Old
`French coustume. based on Latin consuetudo, from con-
`suetus, past participle of coruuescere ‘accustorn,’ from
`con- (expressing intensive force) + suescere ‘become
`accustomed.’
`cos-tome) m. variant spelling of cusTuMAL.
`cusdomoarry ]‘kaste.mere/ >adj. according to the (2115'
`toms or usual practices associated with a particular
`society. place, or set of circumstances: it is customary
`to mark an occasion like this with a toast. I according to
`a person‘s habitual practice: 1 put the kettle on for our
`alstomary cup oftea. I Law established by or based on
`custom rather than common law or statute.
`>n. (pl. -ar~ies) historical another term for CUSTUMAL.
`Dlate Middle English (as a noun): from medieval
`Latin custumarius, from custuma, from Anglo-Norman
`French costume (see custom). ~cus-tom’ar-i-ly
`j,kasto'me(a)ralé/ adv. -—cus-tom‘ar-i-ness n.
`cus‘tomwbuilt radj. another term for CUSTOM-MADE.
`custom-er j‘kastamar/ in. 1 a person or organiza-
`tion that buys goods or services from a store or busi-
`nessszr. Harrison was a regular customer at the Golden
`Lion ) [as adj.) customer service. 2 a person or thing of
`a specified kind that one has to deal with: the fish is
`a slippery customer and very hard to catch (jun won over
`Lucie’s father, but her mother is a tough customer.
`cuthom house (also ens-toms house) >n. chief/y his-
`torical the office at a port or frontier where customs
`duty is collected.
`cus-tom-ize ['kasta,mi2] Vv. (trans) (often be cus-
`tomized) modify (something) to suit a particular in-
`dividual or task: the suit can be customizedfor every sky-
`diving need.
`cus‘tom-made bad]. made to a particular customer’s
`order.
`cos-toms j‘kaslamz) >plural n. the official depart—
`ment that administers and collects the duties levied
`by a government on imported goods: cocaine seizures
`by customs have risen this year ( [as adj) a customs ofl‘icer.
`I the place at a port, airport, or frontier where offi—
`cials check incoming goods. travelers. or luggage:
`arriving refilgecs were whisked through alstoms. I (usu.
`customs duties) the duties levied by a government
`on imported goods.
`l>late Middle English: originally
`in the singular. denoting a customary due paid to a
`ruler, later duty levied on goods on their way to
`market.
`cusitoms un-ion )n. a group of countries that have
`agreed to charge the same import duties as each
`other and usually to allow free trade between them-
`selves.
`cusdwmal ['kaslomal; 'kescrta/ (also cus‘tomal) in.
`historical a written account of the customs of a
`manor or other local community or large establish-
`ment. Plate 16th cent.: from medieval Latin
`
`custumale ‘customs book,’ neuter of custumalis, from
`custuma 'custorn.’
`cut [katl by, (cut-ling; past and past part. out) (trans)
`1 make an opening. incision. or wound in (some-
`thing) with a sharpedged tool or object: he cut his big
`toe on a sharp stone ( he cut open MacKay'sface with the
`and of his hockey stick ( (inlrans.) figuralive his scorn cut
`deeper than knives. 2 remove (something) from some—
`thing larger by using a sharp implement: i cut his
`photograph out of the paper ) some prisoners had their
`right hands out ofl'll informal castrate (an animal, esp.
`a horse). I remove the foreskin of a penis: circum—
`cise. I (cut something out) make something by cut.
`ting: I cut out some squares ofpaper, I (out something
`out) remove. exclude, or stop eating or doing some-
`thing undesirable: start today by cutting outfattyfoods.
`I (out something out) separate an animal from the
`main herd. 3 divide into pieces with a knife or
`other sharp implement: cut the beefinto thin slices I he
`cut his food up into teeny pieces. Imake divisions in
`(something): land that has been cut up by streams into
`forested areas. I separate (something) into two; sever:
`they cut the rope before he choked. I(cut something
`down) make something. esp. a tree, fall by cutting it
`through at the base. I (out someone down) (of a
`weapon. bullet, or disease) kill or injure someone:
`Barker had been cut down by a snipcr'sfibullet. 4 make or
`form (something) by using a sharp tool to remove
`material: workmen cut a hole in the pipe. I make or de
`sign (a garment) in a particular way: (as adj.) (cut) an
`impeccably cut chalk~stripe suit, I make (a path. tunnel,
`or other route) by excavation, digging, or chopping:
`plans to cut a road through a rainforest ( (inlrans) investi-
`gators called for a machete to cut through the bush |
`lig-
`uralive a large woman with a voice that cut through
`crowds. 5 trim or reduce the length of (something.
`esp. grass or a person‘s hair or fingernails) by using
`a sharp implementfcum‘ng the lawn ( cut back all the
`year's growth to aboutfour leaves. 6 reduce the amount
`or quantity of: buyers will bargain hard to cut the cost of
`the house they want ( i should cut down my sugar intake (
`(intrans) they've cutback on costs | the state passed a law
`to cut down on drunkdriving ( the paper glut cuts into
`profits. I abridge (a text, movie. or performance) by
`removing material: he had to cut unnecessary additions
`made to the opening scene. I Compulingdelete (part of a
`text or other display) completely or so as to insert a
`copy of it elsewhere. See also our AND PASTE. I (in
`sports) remove (a player) from a team's roster. I end
`or interrupt the provision of(something, esp. power
`or food supplies): we resolved to cut oil supplies to terri~
`tories controlled by the rebels ( ifthe pump develops afault,
`the electrical supply is immediately cut ojf. I (out some
`thing oil) block the usual means ofaccess to a place:
`the caves were cut offfrom the outside world by a land—
`slide. I absent oneself deliberately from (something
`one should normally attend. esp. school): Robert was
`cutting class. I switch off (an engine or a light). 7 (of
`a line) Cross or intersect (another line): the point
`where the line cuts the vertical axis. I (inlrans) (cut
`across) pass or traverse, esp. so as to shorten one’s
`route: the following aircraft cut across to join him. I (in~
`trans.) (cut acrdss) have an effect regardless of (divi-
`sions or boundaries between groups): subcultures that
`cut across national and political boundaries. I (inlrans)
`(out along) informal, dated leave or move hurriedly:
`you can cut along now. 8 dated ignore or refuse to rec.
`ognize (someone). 9 (intrans, often in imperative)
`stop filming or recording. I move to another shot in
`a movie: cut to a dentist’s surgery. I (trans) make (a
`movie) into a coherent whole by removing parts or
`placing them in a different order.) 10 make (a
`sound recording). 11 divide (a pack of playing
`cards) by lifting a portion from the top. either to re
`veal or draw a card at random or to place the top
`portion under the bottom portion. 1 2 Golfslice (the
`ball). 13 adulterate (a drug) or dilute (alcohol) by
`mixing it with another substance: speed cut with rat
`poison. 14 (cut it) informal come up to expectations;
`meet requirements: this CD player doesn't quite cut it,
`(shortened form of the idiom cut the mustard.)
`bphrasal v. u out in 1 interrupt someone while they
`are speaking: "it’s urgent," Raoul cut in. I dated inter»
`rupt a dancing couple to take over from one part-
`ner. 2 pull in too closely in front ofanother vehicle
`after having overtaken it: she cut in on ast'ation wagon,
`forcing the driver to brake. 3 (of a motor or other
`mechanical device) begin operating. eSp. when
`Pronunciation Key 9 ago; or over, 'a or ,a up: 'er or ,ar
`fur“, a hat; a rate; a cor; CH chew; 6 let; (3 see; e(a)r air.
`ifit: I by; i(a)r ear, NG Sing; 6 go; 6for; oi boy; 50 good: 0'?)
`
`goo; on our SH she' TH thin; :31 then; (h)w why; ZH vision
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`cashing’s disease
`../___,_,.-
`
`c c
`
`
`
`
`the fact of beta
`ething is milled-
`
`earth I it has a dig
`lmelry the deg“?
`traight line, or i
`ie. I a numefiw
`ddle Englishwl;
`rom curvare (see p
`
`Cushin :
`W—\9
`acting or telau‘m g
`:nlor magma“; ('3
`.sul and praew .i
`la cumlis (rum; 3;
`
`early, 17th Cent
`*
`10" (in which up
`he seat of Office, ..
`
`
`
`.ofa woman)”;
`namely cu
`
`3
`
`be nominated by President Washington to serve as
`an associate justice on the US. Supreme Court.
`cush'ing’s dis-ease ['kobsnluozj in. Cushing’s syn-
`drome as caused by a tumor of the pituitary gland.
`cush-lng's syndrome in. Medicine a metabolic dis—
`order caused by overproduction of corticosteroid
`hormones by the adrenal cortex and ofteu‘involving
`obesity and high blood pressure. D19305: named
`after Harvey W. Cushing (1869—1939), American sur-
`geon.
`'cush-ion ['chosnan/ >n. a pillow or pad stuffed with
`a mass of soft material, used as a comfortable sup
`port for sitting or learning on. I something provid-
`ing support or protection against impact: the pad
`omrs a whim between carpet andfloor | figurative a poll
`showed the candidate with a 14-point cushion. I the elas-
`tic lining of the sides of a billiard table, from which
`the ball rebounds. I the layer of air supporting a
`hovercraft or similar vehicle.
`yv. (lransl soften the effect of an impact on: the bag
`it gradually deli 1;
`cushions equipment from inevitable knocks. I figurative
`r all ofits length “
`mitigate the adverse effects of: he calledforfederal a5-
`
`5
`:1 curve. I a p13“,
`sistance to cushion the blow for farmers. DMiddle Eng~
`{ht path: the rah
`lish: from Old French cuissin. based on a latin word
`mg contouroia _
`
`meaning ‘cushion for the hip.’ from coxa ‘hip,
`.
`graph (Whether
`
`thigh‘. woush-loned adj. wcush-ion-y adj.
`e quantity Varies
`cushion capJ-tal >n. Architecture a capital resem~
`
`ion curve. la 5).,
`'
`bling a cushion pressed down by a weight. seen par:
`0 students based
`ticularly in Romanesque churches.
`
`her students» '
`
`Cush-it-ic lkdosn‘itik;
`.kaSH—l M. a group of East
`f
`z of the subjext
`African languages of the Afrollsiatic family spoken
`rail another term ‘
`
`mainly in Ethiopia and Somalia, including Somali
`and Oromo.
`
`alrans.)hermoutl
`.
`)adj. of or relating to this group of languages. Dearly
`
`is with longalrml
`l
`20th cent; from Cusn + one.
`'rctched. alrvelh .f
`
`cushry j'kobsrié/ )adj. (cush-ier. cosh-lest) informal
`.
`: from Latin m.
`
`1 (ofa job. task. or situation) undemanding, easy, or
`The noun data 3_
`
`secure: cushy jobs that pay you to ski. 2 (of furniture)
`
`comfortable.
`l>World War I (originally Anglolndi
`' a ball
`thatis 1
`
`an): from Urdu kushi ‘pleasure,’ from Persian Lari.
`i a strong down »
`~cush-l‘ness n.
`
`o drOp suddenly .
`
`cusk [kaskj in. another term for roasx. Dearly 17th
`;
`.‘ne plate.
`
`cent.: of unknown origin.
`‘
`;.
`.raceful or ener
`
`cusk-eel >n. a small. eellike fish with a tapering
`
`body and fins that form a pointed tail, typically
`ing)(inlrans.|ma .
`found in deep water. 0 Family Ophidiidae: numer<
`
`’_
`rgetically. Matt
`ous genera.
`
`iinutive ofmm
`cusp [kasp/ >n. 1 a pointed end where two curves
`om Latin amu ,7
`
`meet. in particular: I Architecture a projecting point
`
`between small arcs in Gothic tracery. Ia cone—
`ontained by or
`i
`
`shaped prominence on the surface ofa tooth. esp. of
`these designsm »-
`
`a molar or premolar. I Anatomy a pocket or fold in
`18th cent.:fmm 3
`the wall of the heart or a major blood vessel that
`=
`.1 the pattemol
`
`fills and distends if the blood flows backward, so
`with a curved
`forming part of a valve. I Mathematics 3 point at
`
`which the direction of a curve is abruptly reversed.
`I Each ofthe pointed ends of a crescent, esp. of the
`rv-i-est) haVI'DS
`moon. 2 Astrology the initial point ofan astrological
`
`Iinformal(esp.0i
`Sign or house: he was Aries on the cusp With Taurus.
`
`ptuous. ~00”
`' ’lguralive a point between two different situations
`
`or states. when a person or thing is poised between
`:e-dwelling mar“
`‘;
`the two oryust about to move from one to the other:
`
`:hensile (aim? :3
`
`those on the cusp ofadulthood.
`|>late 16th cent. (sense
`.ustralia. . it}!
`
`several speafi
`i). from Latin cuspis ‘point or apex.’ ——cus-pale
`"
`’ cuscus m
`
`.lkespal; anal] adj. “cusped adj. ~cus-pi-date
`l Respenai/ adj.
`:ntalit). See 33°
`
`cusfpld I’kasp‘id/ in. a tooth with a single cusp or
`such and fluid
`Perm: a canine tooth. Dmid 18th cent; from Latin
`
`to)
`lands.
`“51’“; 06PM 'point or apex.’
`' (esp. of we
`
`(1. >early 2”
`Cuspidor i‘kespe,dor/ in. a spittoon. Dmid 18th
`cond.
`‘_
`.
`chem: from Portuguese, literally ‘spitter‘.
`
`.est son of!” ;
`ms??? I'kaspiNo/ n. 1 formation of a cusp or
`
`2 the south? ’
`
`M P" lfl’flu use the incorrectpressure there mil be serious
`led in {SW :
`
`“653:3 and uneven wear‘on the tire. 2 Architecture 3
`1e Bible inst? ;
`Gus
`auve feature consrstrng of cusps.
`
`3 [Res] Informal >n. 1 an annoying or stubborn
`
`
`32$th animal: he was certainly an unsociable cuss.
`h, an her term for cunse (sense 2).
`
`.
`ot er term for cunsa (sense 2).
`whsysdeod I kSSBdI >adj. informal stubborn; annoying:
`-
`~
`~
`an o
`.
`-
`.
`
`inally {1mg gift/Bait; betso LELssed? |>rnld 19th cent‘. (or‘lig
`o
`“WW-tress n.
`cunseu —cussed ,y a v
`
`flssiawgr? ’n. informal a swear word.
`
`with “$68de >n. a dessert or sweet sauce made
`"Wattle ' Eggs_ and sugar.
`l>late Middle English
`
`"mar or, flotarde (denoting an open pie containing
`
`fined With
`t in a spiced or sweetened sauce thick-
`
`cuMard
`eggs), from Old French crouste (see'cnusr).
`
`. with a ap‘ple kn. 1 a large. fleshy, tropical fruit
`5W€6t yellow pulp. See also CHERIMOYA and
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