dormant(DAWR mint) adj. 1. asleep; 2. as if asleep; resting; 3. inactive;
inoperative
- The night watchman was dormanton the job.
- While the cat may appear dormant,it is aware of everything going on
around it.
•A dormantvolcano might not have erupted in the last 100 years, yet it is
still alive. - Most of the volcanoes in the Cascades are considered to be dormant.
[-ly adv., dormancy n.] [Syn. latent]
dross(DRAWSS) n. 1. a scum that forms on the surface of molten metal;
- waste material; worthless stuff; rubbish
- In a steel mill or foundry,drossends up on the rubbish heap.
- Good garage-sale shoppers learn to separate treasure from dross.
dubious(DOO bee is) adj. 1. causing doubt; vague; ambiguous; 2. of doubtful
value; questionable; shady; 3. skeptical; hesitating - Valerie was rather dubiousabout whether she was coming to the basketball
game. - That premium-brand watch being offered by the street salesperson for $30
is of dubiousquality.
dynamo(DY ni MOH) n. 1. a forceful, energetic person; 2. an electrical
generator - The chairman of the company was a human dynamo,constantly on
the go. - In hydroelectric plants, falling water turns the dynamothat generates the
electricity. - That weight lifter is strong as a dynamo.
dysfunctional(dis FUNK shi nuhl) adj.1. unable to perform normally or
properly; 2. showing impaired or abnormal psychosocial functioning - A person with dysfunctionalkidneys has to make use of a dialysis
machine. - Serial killers are among the most dysfunctionalpersonalities in the world.
274 Essential Vocabulary