You would like to give word a happy home but with so many words in the English Language, you feel a bit lost.
Have a look at our Collins dictionary online. Here you can see for yourself every word in our database, and whether it’s available to adopt. You’ll soon feel inspired.
k
the 11th letter and 8th consonant of the modern English alphabet
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K-meson
another name for kaon
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K2
a mountain in the Karakoram Range on the Kashmir-Xinjiang Uygur AR border: the second highest mountain in the world. Height: 8611 m (28 250 ft)
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K
koruna
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ka
(in ancient Egypt) an attendant spirit supposedly dwelling as a vital force in a man or statue
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Kaaba
a cube-shaped building in Mecca, the most sacred Muslim pilgrim shrine, into which is built the black stone believed to have been given by Gabriel to Abraham. Muslims turn in its direction when praying
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kaal
naked
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kab
a variant spelling of cab
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kabaddi
a game played between two teams of seven players, in which individuals take turns to chase and try to touch members of the opposing team without being captured by them
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kabaka
any of the former rulers of the Baganda people of S Uganda
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kabaragoya
a very large monitor lizard, Varanus salvator, of SE Asia: it grows to a length of three metres
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Kabardian
a member of a Circassian people of the North West Caucasus
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kabbalah
an ancient Jewish mystical tradition based on an esoteric interpretation of the Old Testament
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kabeljou
a large marine sciaenid fish, Argyrosomus hololepidotus, that is an important food fish of South African waters
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Kabinett
a dry, usually white, wine produced in Germany, made from mature grapes with no added sugar
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Kabloona
(in Canada) a person who is not of Inuit ancestry, esp a White person
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kabob
another name for kebab
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kabuki
a form of Japanese drama based on popular legends and characterized by elaborate costumes, stylized acting, and the use of male actors for all roles
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Kabul
the capital of Afghanistan, in the northeast of the country at an altitude of 1800 m (5900 ft) on the Kabul River: over 3000 years old, with a strategic position commanding passes through the Hindu Kush and main routes to the Khyber Pass; destroyed and rebuilt many times; capital of the Mogul Empire from 1504 until 1738 and of Afghanistan from 1773; university (1932). Pop: 3 288 000 (2005 est)
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Kabyle
a member of a Berber people inhabiting the E Atlas Mountains in Tunisia and Algeria
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Kachera
short trousers traditionally worn by Sikhs as a symbol of their religious and cultural loyalty: originally worn for ease of horse riding
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kachina
any of the supernatural beings believed by the Hopi Indians to be the ancestors of living humans
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kadaitcha
a variant spelling of kurdaitcha
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Kaddish
an ancient Jewish liturgical prayer largely written in Aramaic and used in various forms to separate sections of the liturgy. Mourners have the right to recite some of these in public prayer during the year after, and on the anniversary of, a death
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kadi
a variant spelling of cadi
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Kaduna
a state of N Nigeria. Capital: Kaduna. Pop: 4 438 007 (1995 est). Area: 46 053 sq km (17 781 sq miles)
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Kaes
a city in SW North Korea: former capital of Korea (938--1392). Pop: 621 000 (2005 est)
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Kaffir
(in southern Africa) any Black African
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kaffirboom
a former, taboo name for Erythrina caffra, now known as coral tree
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kaffiyeh
a variant of keffiyeh
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Kaffraria
a former region of S central South Africa: inhabited chiefly by people then known as the Kaffirs; British Kaffraria was a crown colony established in 1853 in the southwest of the region and annexed to Cape Colony in 1865
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Kaffrarian
of or relating to Kaffraria, a former region of S central South Africa, or its inhabitants
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Kafir
another name for the Nuri
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Kafiristan
the former name of Nuristan
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Kafkaesque
reminiscent of the nightmarish dehumanized world portrayed in the novels of Franz Kafka, the Czech novelist (1883--1924)
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kaftan
a long coatlike garment, usually worn with a belt and made of rich fabric, worn in the East
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Kagera
a river in E Africa, rising in headstreams on the border between Tanzania and Rwanda and flowing east to Lake Victoria: the most remote headstream of the Nile and largest tributary of Lake Victoria. Length: about 480 km (300 miles)
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Kagoshima
a port in SW Japan, on S Kyushu. Pop: 544 840 (2002 est)
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kagoul
variant spellings of cagoule
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kagu
a crested nocturnal bird, Rhynochetos jubatus, with a red bill and greyish plumage: occurs only in New Caledonia and is nearly extinct: family Rhynochetidae, order Gruiformes (cranes, rails, etc)
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kahawai
a large food and game fish of Australian and New Zealand coastal waters, Arripis trutta, that is greenish grey to silvery underneath and spotted with brown: resembles a salmon but is in fact a marine perch
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kahikatea
a tall New Zealand coniferous tree, Podocarpus dacrydioides, valued for its timber and resin
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kahikatoa
another name for manuka
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kai
food
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kaiak
a variant of kayak
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kaif
a variant of kif
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Kaifeng
a city in E China, in N Henan on the Yellow River: one of the oldest cities in China and its capital (as Pien-liang) from 907 to 1126. Pop: 810 000 (2005 est)
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kaik
the South Island dialect word for kainga
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kaikawaka
a small pyramid-shaped New Zealand conifer, Libocedrus bidwillii, with pinkish bark and red wood
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kaikomako
a small New Zealand tree, Pennantia corymbosa with white flowers and black fruit
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kail
a variant spelling of kale
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kailyard
a variant spelling of kaleyard
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kain
a variant spelling of cain
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kainga
(in New Zealand) a Maori village or small settlement
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kainite
a white mineral consisting of potassium chloride and magnesium sulphate: a fertilizer and source of potassium salts. Formula: KCl.MgSO4.3H2O
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kainogenesis
another name for caenogenesis
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kainogenetic
A derivative of kainogenesis
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Kairouan
a city in NE Tunisia: one of the holy cities of Islam; pilgrimage and trading centre. Pop: 124 000 (2005 est)
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Kaiser
any German emperor, esp Wilhelm II (1888--1918)
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Kaiserslautern
a city in W Germany, in S Rhineland-Palatinate. Pop: 999 095 (2003 est)
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kak
faeces
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Sara Beamand
Reason for adoption: it makes me laugh when he uses it
View the word page here.
kaka
a New Zealand parrot, Nestor meridionalis, with a long compressed bill
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kakapo
a ground-living nocturnal parrot, Strigops habroptilus, of New Zealand, resembling an owl
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kakariki
any of various green-feathered New Zealand parrots of the genus Cyanoramphus
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kakemono
a Japanese paper or silk wall hanging, usually long and narrow, with a picture or inscription on it and a roller at the bottom
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kaki
another name for Japanese persimmon
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kala-azar
a tropical infectious disease caused by the protozoan Leishmania donovani in the liver, spleen, etc, characterized by fever and weight loss; visceral leishmaniasis
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Kalahari
an extensive arid plateau of South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana. Area: 260 000 sq km (100 000 sq miles)
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Kalamazoo
a city in SW Michigan, midway between Detroit and Chicago: aircraft, missile parts. Pop: 75 312 (2003 est)
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kalanchoe
any plant of the tropical succulent genus Kalanchoe, grown as pot plants for their small brightly coloured flowers, sometimes scented, and their dark shiny leaves: family Crassulaceae
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Kalashnikov
a Russian-made automatic rifle
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Kalat
a region of SW Pakistan, in S Baluchistan: formerly a princely state ruled by the Khan of Kalat, which joined Pakistan in 1948
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kale
a cultivated variety of cabbage, Brassica oleracea acephala, with crinkled leaves: used as a potherb
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kaleidoscope
an optical toy for producing symmetrical patterns by multiple reflections in inclined mirrors enclosed in a tube. Loose pieces of coloured glass, paper, etc, are placed between transparent plates at the far end of the tube, which is rotated to change the pattern
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kalends
a variant spelling of calends
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Kalevala
the land of the hero Kaleva, who performed legendary exploits
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kaleyard
a vegetable garden
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Kalgan
a former name of Zhangjiakou
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Kalgoorlie
a city in Western Australia, adjoining the town of Boulder: a centre of the Coolgardie gold rushes of the early 1890s; declining gold resources superseded by the discovery of nickel ore in 1966. Pop: 28 281 (including Boulder) (2001)
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kali
another name for saltwort
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kalian
another name for hookah
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kalif
a variant spelling of caliph
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Kalimantan
the Indonesian name for Borneo: applied to the Indonesian part of the island only, excluding the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak and the sultanate of Brunei. Pop: 11 341 558 (2000)
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Kalinin
the former name (until 1991) of Tver
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Kaliningrad
a port in W Russia, on the Pregolya River: severely damaged in World War II as the chief German naval base on the Baltic; ceded to the Soviet Union in 1945 and is now Russia's chief Baltic naval base. Pop: 436 000 (2005 est)
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Kalisz
a town in central Poland, on an island in the Prosna River: textile industry. Pop: 110 000 (2005 est)
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Kaliyuga
(in Hindu mythology) the fourth (present) age of the world, characterized by total decadence
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Kalmar
a port in SE Sweden, partly on the mainland and partly on a small island in the Sound of Kalmar opposite Öland: scene of the signing of the Union of Kalmar, which united Sweden, Denmark, and Norway into a single monarchy (1397--1523). Pop: 60 734 (2004 est)
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kalmia
any evergreen ericaceous shrub of the North American genus Kalmia, having showy clusters of white or pink flowers
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Kalmuck
a member of a Mongoloid people of Buddhist tradition, who migrated from W China in the 17th century
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kalong
any fruit bat of the genus Pteropus; a flying fox
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kalpa
(in Hindu cosmology) a period in which the universe experiences a cycle of creation and destruction
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kalpak
a variant spelling of calpac
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kalsomine
a variant of calcimine
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Kaluga
a city in central Russia, on the Oka River. Pop: 340 000 (2005 est)
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Kama
a river in central Russia, rising in the Ural Mountains and flowing to the River Volga, of which it is the largest tributary. Length: 2030 km (1260 miles)
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kamacite
an alloy of iron and nickel, occurring in meteorites
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kamahi
a tall New Zealand hardwood tree, Weinmannia racemosa, with pinkish flowers
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Kamakura
a city in central Japan, on S Honshu: famous for its Great Buddha (Daibutsu), a 13th-century bronze, 15 m (49 ft) high. Pop: 169 714 (2002 est)
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kamala
an East Indian euphorbiaceous tree, Mallotus philippinensis
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Kamchatka
a peninsula in E Russia, between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea. Length: about 1200 km (750 miles)
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Kamchatkan
of or relating to Kamchatka, a peninsula in E Russia, or its inhabitants
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kame
an irregular mound or ridge of gravel, sand, etc, deposited by water derived from melting glaciers
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kameez
a long tunic worn in the Indian subcontinent, often with shalwar
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Kamensk-Uralski
an industrial city in S Russia. Pop: 183 000 (2005 est)
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Kamerun
the German name for Cameroon
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Kamet
a mountain on the border of China and India, west of Nepal in the Himalayas. Height: 7756 m (25 447 ft)
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kami
a divine being or spiritual force in Shinto
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kamik
a traditional Inuit boot made of caribou hide or sealskin
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kamikaze
(in World War II) one of a group of Japanese pilots who performed suicidal missions by crashing their aircraft, loaded with explosives, into an enemy target, esp a ship
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Kamilaroi
an Australian Aboriginal language formerly used in NW New South Wales
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kamokamo
a New Zealand marrow of the family Cucurbitaceae
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Kampala
the capital and largest city of Uganda, in Central region on Lake Victoria: Makerere University (1961). Pop: 1 208 544 (2002 est)
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kampong
(in Malaysia) a village
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Kampuchea
the name (1976--89) of Cambodia
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Kampuchean
of or relating to Kampuchea, a former name for Cambodia, or its inhabitants
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kamseen
variants of khamsin
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Kan.
Kansas
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kana
the Japanese syllabary, which consists of two written varieties
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kanae
another name for grey mullet
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Kanak
a native or inhabitant of New Caledonia who seeks independence from France
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Kanaka
(esp in Hawaii) a native Hawaiian
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kanamycin
an aminoglycoside antibiotic obtained from the soil bacterium Streptomyces kanamyceticus, used in the treatment of various infections, esp those caused by Gram-negative bacteria. Formula: C18H36N4O11
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Kananga
a city in the SW Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre): a commercial centre on the railway from Lubumbashi to Port Francqui. Pop: 424 000 (2005 est)
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Kanara
a region of SW India, in Karnataka on the Deccan Plateau and the W Coast. Area: about 155 000 sq km (60 000 sq miles)
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Kanarese
a member of a people of S India living chiefly in Kanara
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Kanazawa
a port in central Japan, on W Honshu: textile and porcelain industries. Pop: 439 892 (2002 est)
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Kanchenjunga
a variant spelling of Kangchenjunga
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Kanchipuram
a city in SE India, in Tamil Nadu: a sacred Hindu town known as ``the Benares of the South''; textile industries. Pop: 152 984 (2001)
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Kandahar
a city in S Afghanistan: an important trading centre, built by Ahmad Shah Durrani (1724--73) as his capital on the site of several former cities. Pop: 436 000 (2005 est)
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Kandy
a city in central Sri Lanka: capital of the kingdom of Kandy from 1480 until 1815, when occupied by the British; sacred Buddhist temple; University of Sri Lanka. Pop: 112 000 (2005 est)
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kanga
a piece of gaily decorated thin cotton cloth used as a garment by women in E Africa
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kangaroo
any large herbivorous marsupial of the genus Macropus and related genera, of Australia and New Guinea, having large powerful hind legs, used for leaping, and a long thick tail: family Macropodidae
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Kangchenjunga
a mountain on the border between Nepal and Sikkim, in the Himalayas: the third highest mountain in the world. Height: 8598 m (28 208 ft)
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Kangha
the comb traditionally worn by Sikhs as a symbol of their religious and cultural loyalty: originally worn to keep the hair clean
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KaNgwane
(formerly) a Bantu homeland in South Africa; replaced in 1994. Capital: Schoemansdal
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kanji
a Japanese writing system using characters mainly derived from Chinese ideograms
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Kannada
a language of S India belonging to the Dravidian family of languages: the state language of Karnataka, also spoken in Madras and Maharashtra
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Kannon
the Japanese name for Kuan Yin
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Kano
a state of N Nigeria: consists of wooded savanna in the south and scrub vegetation in the north. Capital: Kano Pop: 2 884 000 (2005 est). Area: 20 131 sq km (7773 sq miles)
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Kanpur
an industrial city in NE India, in S Uttar Pradesh on the River Ganges: scene of the massacre by Nana Sahib of British soldiers and European families and his later defeat by British forces in 1857. Pop: 2 532 138 (2001)
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Kansan
a native or inhabitant of Kansas
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Kansas
a state of the central US: consists of undulating prairie, drained chiefly by the Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri Rivers; mainly agricultural. Capital: Topeka. Pop: 2 723 507 (2003 est). Area: 213 096 sq km (82 277 sq miles)
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Kansu
a variant transliteration of the Chinese name for Gansu
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kantar
a unit of weight used in E Mediterranean countries, equivalent to 100 pounds or 45 kilograms but varying from place to place
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Kantian
(of a philosophical theory) derived from or analogous to a position of the German idealist philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724--1804), esp his doctrines that there are synthetic a priori propositions which order our experience but are not derived from it, that metaphysical conclusions can be inferred from the nature of possible experience, that duty is to be done for its own sake and not as a means to any other end, and that there is a world of things-in-themselves to be distinguished from mere phenomena
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KANU
Kenya African National Union
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kanuka
a New Zealand myrtaceous tree, Leptospermum Ericoides, with aromatic leaves
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kanzu
a long garment, usually white, with long sleeves, worn by E African men
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Kaohsiung
a port in SW Taiwan, on the South China Sea: the chief port of the island. Pop: 1 506 000 (2005 est)
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Kaolack
a port in SW Senegal, on the Saloum River. Pop: 299 000 (2005 est)
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kaoliang
any of various E Asian varieties of the sorghum Sorghum vulgare
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kaolin
a fine white clay used for the manufacture of hard-paste porcelain and bone china and in medicine as a poultice and gastrointestinal absorbent
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kaolinite
a white or grey clay mineral consisting of hydrated aluminium silicate in triclinic crystalline form, the main constituent of kaolin. Formula: Al2Si2O5(OH)4
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kaon
a meson that has a positive or negative charge and a rest mass of about 966 electron masses, or no charge and a rest mass of 974 electron masses
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kapellmeister
a variant spelling of capellmeister
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Kapfenberg
an industrial town in E Austria, in Styria. Pop: 22 234 (2001)
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kaph
the 11th letter of the Hebrew alphabet ( or, at the end of a word, ) transliterated as k or, when final, kh
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kapok
a silky fibre obtained from the hairs covering the seeds of a tropical bombacaceous tree, Ceiba pentandra (kapok tree or silk-cotton tree): used for stuffing pillows, etc, and for sound insulation
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kappa
the tenth letter in the Greek alphabet (, ), a consonant, transliterated as c or k
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kapuka
another name for broadleaf
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kaput
ruined, broken, or not functioning
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Kara
the steel bangle traditionally worn by Sikhs as a symbol of their religious and cultural loyalty, symbolizing unity with God: originally worn as a wristguard by swordsmen
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Kara-Kalpak
a member of a Mongoloid people of central Asia
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karabiner
a metal clip with a spring for attaching to a piton, belay, etc
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Karachi
a port in S Pakistan, on the Arabian Sea: capital of Pakistan (1947--60); university (1950); chief port: commercial and industrial centre. Pop: 11 819 000 (2005 est)
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Karafuto
transliteration of the Japanese name for Sakhalin
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Karaganda
a city in E central Kazakhstan, founded in 1857: a major coal-mining and industrial centre. Pop: 412 000 (2005 est)
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Karaite
a member of a Jewish sect originating in the 8th century ad, which rejected the Talmud, favoured strict adherence to and a literal interpretation of the Bible, and attempted to deduce a code of life from it
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karaka
a common coastal New Zealand tree, Corynocarpus laevigatus, with orange fruits and seeds which are poisonous unless cooked
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karakia
a prayer
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Karakoram
a mountain system in N Kashmir, extending for about 480 km (300 miles) from northwest to southeast: contains the second highest peak in the world (K2); crossed by several high passes, notably the Karakoram Pass 5575 m (18 290 ft)
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Karakorum
a ruined city in Mongolia: founded in 1220 by Ghenghis Khan; destroyed by Kublai Khan when his brother rebelled against him, after Kublai Khan had moved his capital to Peking (now Beijing)
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karakul
a breed of sheep of central Asia having coarse black, grey, or brown hair: the lambs have soft curled usually black hair
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karamu
a small New Zealand tree, Coprosma robusta, with glossy leaves and orange fruit
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karanga
a call or chant of welcome, sung by a female elder
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karaoke
an entertainment of Japanese origin in which people take it in turns to sing well-known songs over a prerecorded backing tape
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karat
a measure of the proportion of gold in an alloy, expressed as the number of parts of gold in 24 parts of the alloy
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karate
a traditional Japanese system of unarmed combat, employing smashes, chops, kicks, etc, made with the hands, feet, elbows, or legs
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karateka
a competitor or expert in karate
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Karbala
a town in central Iraq: the chief holy city of Iraq and centre of Shiah Muslim pilgrimage; burial place of Mohammed's grandson Husain. Pop: 460 000 (2005 est)
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karearea
a New Zealand falcon, Falco novaeseelandiae
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Karelia
a region of NE Europe comprising areas of both Finland and Russia. Following the Russo-Finnish War (1939--40) a large part of what had been Finnish Karelia was annexed by the former Soviet Union; together with the part of Karelia which already belonged to Russia at that time, it corresponds roughly to the modern Karelian Republic in Russia
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Karelian
of or relating to Karelia, its people, or their language
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Karen
a member of a Thai people of Myanmar
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karengo
an edible Pacific seaweed, Porphyra columbina
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Kariba
a lake on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border, created by the building of the Kariba Dam across the Zambezi for hydroelectric power. Length: 282 km (175 miles)
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Karitane
short for Karitane nurse
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Karl-Marx-Stadt
the former name (1953--90) of Chemnitz
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Karlskrona
a port in S Sweden: Sweden's main naval base since 1680. Pop: 61 097 (2004 est)
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Karlsruhe
a city in SW Germany, in Baden-Württemberg: capital of the former Baden state. Pop: 282 595 (2003 est)
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karma
the principle of retributive justice determining a person's state of life and the state of his reincarnations as the effect of his past deeds
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Karmapa
the head of the Kagyupa, Karma Kagyu or Black Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism, third in importance in the hierarchy of lamas
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Karnak
a village in E Egypt, on the Nile: site of the N part of the ruins of ancient Thebes
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Karnataka
a state of S India, on the Arabian Sea: consists of a narrow coastal plain rising to the South Deccan plateau; mainly agricultural. Capital: Bangalore. Pop: 52 733 958 (2001). Area: 191 791 sq km (74 051 sq miles)
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karo
a small New Zealand tree or shrub, Pittosporum crassifolium with sweet-smelling brown flowers
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Karoo
any of several high arid plateaus in South Africa, esp the Central Karoo and the Little Karoo. The highveld, north of the Central Karoo, is sometimes called the Northern Karoo
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karoro
a large seagull, Laris dominicanus, with black feathers on its back
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karoshi
(in Japan) death caused by overwork
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kaross
a garment of skins worn by indigenous peoples in southern Africa
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karri
an Australian eucalyptus tree, Eucalyptus diversifolia
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karst
denoting the characteristic scenery of a limestone region, including underground streams, gorges, etc
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kart
a light low-framed vehicle with small wheels and engine used for recreational racing
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karuhiruhi
another name for pied shag
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karyo-
indicating the nucleus of a cell
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karyogamy
the fusion of two gametic nuclei during fertilization
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karyogram
a diagram or photograph of the chromosomes of a cell, arranged in homologous pairs and in a numbered sequence
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karyokinesis
the division of a cell nucleus in mitosis or meiosis
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karyology
the study of cell nuclei, esp with reference to the number and shape of the chromosomes
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karyolymph
the liquid portion of the nucleus of a cell
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karyolysis
the disintegration of a cell nucleus, which occurs on death of the cell
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karyomapping
a technique for determining whether an embryo has inherited a genetic defect by analysing DNA taken from it and its close relatives
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karyoplasm
another name for nucleoplasm
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karyoplasmic
A derivative of karyoplasm
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karyosome
any of the dense aggregates of chromatin in the nucleus of a cell
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karyotin
a less common word for chromatin
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karyotype
the appearance of the chromosomes in a somatic cell of an individual or species, with reference to their number, size, shape, etc
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Kasai
a river in southwestern Africa, rising in central Angola and flowing east then north as part of the border between Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre), continuing northwest through the Democratic Republic of Congo to the River Congo. Length: 2154 km (1338 miles)
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kasbah
the citadel of any of various North African cities
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kasha
a dish originating in Eastern Europe, consisting of boiled or baked buckwheat
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Kashi
an oasis city in W China, in W Xinjiang Uygur AR. Pop: 318 000 (2005 est)
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kashmir
a variant spelling of cashmere
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Kashmiri
of or relating to Kashmir, its people, or their language
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Kashmirian
of or relating to Kashmir, its people, or their language
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kasme
I swear!
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Kassa
the Hungarian name for Kosice
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Kassala
a city in the E Sudan: founded as a fort by the Egyptians in 1834. Pop: 430 000 (2005 est)
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Kassel
a city in central Germany, in Hesse; capital of Westphalia (1807--13) and of the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau (1866--1945). Pop: 194 322 (2003 est)
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Kastrop-Rauxel
a variant spelling of Castrop-Rauxel
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kat
a variant spelling of khat
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Karen Phillips
Reason for adoption: It's her name
View the word page here.
kata
an exercise consisting of a sequence of the specific movements of a martial art, used in training and designed to show skill in technique
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kata-
a variant of cata-
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katabasis
the retreat of the Greek mercenaries of Cyrus the Younger, after his death at Cunaxa, from the Euphrates to the Black Sea in 401--400 bc under the leadership of Xenophon: recounted in his Anabasis
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katabatic
(of winds) blowing downhill through having become denser with cooling, esp at night when heat is lost from the earth's surface
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katabolic
A derivative of katabolism
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katabolism
a variant spelling of catabolism
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katakana
one of the two systems of syllabic writing employed for the representation of Japanese, based on Chinese ideograms. It is used mainly for foreign or foreign-derived words
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katana
a long, curved single-edged sword traditionally used by Japanese samurai
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Katanga
a region of SE Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre): site of a secessionist movement during the 1960s and again in 1993; important for hydroelectric power and rich mineral resources (copper and tin ore). Pop: 4 125 000 (1998 est). Area: 496 964 sq km (191 878 sq miles)
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Katar
a variant spelling of Qatar
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Katari
a variant spelling of Qatari
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Kathak
a form of N Indian classical dancing that tells a story
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Kathakali
a form of dance drama of S India using mime and based on Hindu literature
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Katharevusa
a literary style of Modern Greek, derived from the Attic dialect of Ancient Greek and including many archaic features
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katharometer
an instrument used for the analysis of gases by measurement of thermal conductivity
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Kathiawar
a large peninsula of W India, in Gujarat between the Gulf of Kutch and the Gulf of Cambay. Area: about 60 690 sq km (23 430 sq miles)
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katipo
a small venomous spider, Latrodectus katipo, of New Zealand, commonly black with a red or orange stripe on the abdomen
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Katmai
a volcano in SW Alaska, in the Aleutian Range: erupted in 1912 forming the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, a region with numerous fumaroles; established as Katmai National Monument, 10 917 sq km (4215 sq miles), in 1918. Height: 2100 m (7000 ft). Depth of crater: 1130 m (3700 ft). Width of crater: about 4 km (2.5 miles)
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Katmandu
the capital of Nepal, in the east at the confluence of the Baghmati and Vishnumati Rivers. Pop: 814 000 (2005 est)
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Katowice
an industrial city in S Poland. Pop: 2 914 000 (2005 est)
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Katrine
a lake in central Scotland, east of Loch Lomond: noted for its associations with Sir Walter Scott's Lady of the Lake. Length: about 13 km (8 miles)
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Katsina
a city in N Nigeria, in Kaduna state: a major intellectual and cultural centre of the Hausa people (16th--18th centuries). Pop: 530 000 (2005 est)
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Kattegat
a strait between Denmark and Sweden: linked by the Sound, the Great Belt, and the Little Belt with the Baltic Sea and by the Skagerrak with the North Sea
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katydid
any typically green long-horned grasshopper of the genus Microcentrum and related genera, living among the foliage of trees in North America
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katzenjammer
a confused uproar
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Tim Bazell
Reason for adoption: Because it's a great word, and there's a katzenjammer at our house every xmas
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Kauai
a volcanic island in NW Hawaii, northwest of Oahu. Chief town: Lihue. Pop (Kauai county): 60 747 (2003 est). Area (island): 1433 sq km (553 sq miles)
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kaumatua
a senior member of a tribe; elder
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Kaunas
a city in central Lithuania at the confluence of the Neman and Viliya Rivers: ceded by Poland to Russia in 1795; became the provisional capital of Lithuania (1920--40); incorporated into the Soviet Union 1944--91; university (1922). Pop: 364 000 (2005 est)
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kaupapa
a strategy, policy, or cause
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Kaur
a title assumed by a Sikh woman when she becomes a full member of the community
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kauri
a New Zealand coniferous tree, Agathis australis, with oval leaves and round cones: family Araucariaceae
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kauru
the edible stem of the cabbage tree
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kava
a Polynesian shrub, Piper methysticum: family Piperaceae
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Kaválla
a port in E Greece, in Macedonia East and Thrace region on the Bay of Kaválla an important Macedonian fortress of the Byzantine empire; ceded to Greece by Turkey after the Balkan War (1912--13). Pop: 58 576 (1991)
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Kaveri
a variant spelling of Cauvery
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kawa
protocol or etiquette, particularly in a Maori tribal meeting place
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kawakawa
an aromatic shrub or small tree of New Zealand, Macropiper excelsum: held to be sacred by the Maoris
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kawanatanga
governing; governorship
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Kawasaki
an industrial port in central Japan, on SE Honshu, between Tokyo and Yokohama. Pop: 1 245 780 (2002 est)
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kawau
another name for black shag
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Kay
(in Arthurian legend) the braggart foster brother and steward of King Arthur
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kayak
a small light canoe-like boat used by the Inuit, consisting of a light frame covered with watertight animal skins
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kaylied
intoxicated; drunk
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kayo
another term for knockout
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Kayseri
a city in central Turkey: trading centre since ancient times as the chief city of Cappadocia. Pop: 605 000 (2005 est)
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kazachok
a Russian folk dance in which the performer executes high kicks from a squatting position
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Kazakh
a member of a traditionally Muslim Mongoloid people of Kazakhstan
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Kazakhstan
a republic in central Asia: conquered by Mongols in the 13th century; came under Russian control in the 18th and 19th centuries; was a Soviet republic from 1936 until it gained independence in 1991. It has rich mineral deposits and agriculture is important. Official language: Kazakh. Religion: nonreligious, Muslim, and Christian. Official currency: tenge. Capital: Astana (formerly Akmola); capital functions moved from Almaty (formerly Alma-Ata) in 1997. Pop: 15 403 000 (2004 est). Area: 2 715 100 sq km (1 048 030 sq miles)
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Kazan
a city in W Russia, capital of the Tatar Autonomous Republic on the River Volga: capital of an independent khanate in the 15th century; university (1804); a major industrial centre. Pop: 1 108 000 (2005 est)
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Kazbek
an extinct volcano in N Georgia in the central Caucasus Mountains. Height: 5047 m (16 558 ft)
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kazoo
a cigar-shaped musical instrument of metal or plastic with a membranous diaphragm of thin paper that vibrates with a nasal sound when the player hums into it
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kb
kilobar
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KBE
Knight (Commander of the Order) of the British Empire
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KBP
king's bishop's pawn
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Kbps
kilobits per second
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kbyte
kilobyte
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kc
kilocycle
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kcal
kilocalorie
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KCB
Knight Commander of the Bath (a Brit title)
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KCMG
Knight Commander (of the Order) of St Michael and St George (a Brit title)
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KCVO
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (a Brit title)
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KD
knocked down: indicating furniture, machinery, etc, in separate parts
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ke
Kenya
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kea
a large New Zealand parrot, Nestor notabilis, with brownish-green plumage
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kebab
a dish consisting of small pieces of meat, tomatoes, onions, etc, threaded onto skewers and grilled, generally over charcoal
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Kechua
a variant of Quechua
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keck
to retch or feel nausea
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kecks
trousers
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Kecskemét
a city in central Hungary: vineyards and fruit farms. Pop: 107 604 (2003 est)
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ked
See sheep ked
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Kedah
a state of NW Malaysia: under Thai control until it came under the British in 1909; the chief exports are rice, tin, and rubber. Capital: Alor Star. Pop: 1 648 756 (2000). Area: 9425 sq km (3639 sq miles)
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keddah
a variant spelling of kheda
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kedge
to draw (a vessel) along by hauling in on the cable of a light anchor that has been dropped at some distance from it, or (of a vessel) to be drawn in this fashion
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kedgeree
a lightly curried dish consisting of rice, cooked flaked fish, and hard-boiled eggs
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Andrew Harrison
Reason for adoption: it's on his list of 12 most important dishes
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Kediri
a city in Indonesia, in E Java: commercial centre. Pop: 244 519 (2000)
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Kedron
a ravine under the eastern wall of Jerusalem
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keef
a variant spelling of kif
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keek
a Scot word for peep
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keel
one of the main longitudinal structural members of a vessel to which the frames are fastened and that may extend into the water to provide lateral stability
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keelage
a fee charged by certain ports to allow a ship to dock
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keelboat
a river boat with a shallow draught and a keel, used for freight and moved by towing, punting, or rowing
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keelhaul
to drag (a person) by a rope from one side of a vessel to the other through the water under the keel
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keelie
a kestrel
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keelson
a longitudinal beam fastened to the keel of a vessel for strength and stiffness
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Keelung
another name for Chilung
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keen
eager or enthusiastic
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keener
a person, esp a student, who is keen, enthusiastic, or zealous
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keep
to have or retain possession of
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keeper
a person in charge of animals, esp in a zoo
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keeping
conformity or harmony (esp in the phrases in or out of keeping)
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keepnet
a cylindrical net strung on wire hoops and sealed at one end, suspended in water by anglers to keep alive the fish they have caught
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keepsake
a gift that evokes memories of a person or event with which it is associated
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keepy-uppy
the act or an instance of keeping a ball off the ground by bouncing it repeatedly on a foot, knee, or head
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keeshond
a breed of dog of the spitz type with a shaggy greyish coat and tightly curled tail, originating in Holland
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Keewatin
a former administrative district of the Northwest Territories of Canada stretching from the district of Mackenzie to Hudson Bay; became part of Nunavut in 1999: mostly tundra
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kef
a variant of kif
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keffiyeh
a cotton headdress worn by Arabs
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Keflavík
a port in SW Iceland: NATO airbase, fishing. Pop: 7963 (2003 est)
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keftedes
a Greek dish of meatballs cooked with herbs and onions
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keg
a small barrel with a capacity of between five and ten gallons
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kegler
a participant in a game of tenpin bowling
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kehua
a ghost or spirit
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Keighley
a town in N England, in Bradford unitary authority, West Yorkshire, on the River Aire: textile industry. Pop: 49 453 (2001)
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Keijo
transliteration of the Japanese name for Seoul
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keirin
a cycling race originating in Japan, in which groups of cyclists follow a pacesetter and then sprint for the last part of the race [Japanese]
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keister
the rump; buttocks
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keitloa
a southern African variety of the black two-horned rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis
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kekeno
another name for New Zealand fur seal
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kekerengu
another name for Maori bug
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keks
a variant spelling of kecks
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Kelantan
a state of NE Malaysia: under Thai control until it came under the British in 1909; produces rice and rubber. Capital: Kota Bharu. Pop: 1 313 014 (2000). Area: 14 930 sq km (5765 sq miles)
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Kells
a town in the Republic of Ireland, in Co Meath: The Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript of the Gospels, was produced at the monastery here in the 8th century. Pop: 4421 (2002)
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Kelly
See game
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keloid
a hard smooth pinkish raised growth of scar tissue at the site of an injury, tending to occur more frequently in dark-skinned races
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kelp
any large brown seaweed, esp any in the order Laminariales
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kelpie
an Australian breed of sheepdog, originally developed from Scottish collies, having a smooth coat of various colours and erect ears
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kelson
a variant of keelson
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kelt
a salmon that has recently spawned and is usually in poor condition
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kelter
a variant of kilter
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Keltic
A derivative of Kelt
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Keltist
A derivative of Kelt
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kelvin
the basic SI unit of thermodynamic temperature; the fraction 1/273.16 of the thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water
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Kemalism
the theory and form of government associated with Kemal Atatürk, the Turkish general and statesman (1881--1938), who founded the Turkish republic and westernized and secularized the country
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kembla
small change
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Kemerovo
a city in S Russia: a major coal-mining centre of the Kuznetsk Basin, with important chemical plants. Pop: 479 000 (2005 est)
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kemp
a coarse hair or strand of hair, esp one in a fleece that resists dyeing
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Karen Phillips
Reason for adoption: She is Dr Kemp
View the word page here.
kempt
(of hair) tidy; combed
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ken
range of knowledge or perception (esp in the phrases beyond or in one's ken)
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Ken.
Kentucky
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kenaf
another name for ambary
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Kendal
a town in NW England, in Cumbria: a gateway town to the Lake District, with an ancient woollen industry. Pop: 28 030 (2001)
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kendo
the Japanese art of fencing with pliable bamboo staves or, sometimes, real swords: strict conventions are observed
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Kenilworth
a town in central England, in Warwickshire: ruined 12th-century castle, subject of Sir Walter Scott's novel Kenilworth. Pop: 22 218 (2001)
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Kénitra
a port in NW Morocco, on the Sebou River 16 km (10 miles) from the Atlantic. Pop: 598 000 (2003)
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Kennedy
a former name (1963--73) of (Cape) Canaveral
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kennel
a hutlike shelter for a dog
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kennett
another word for jeff
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kenning
a conventional metaphoric name for something, esp in Old Norse and Old English poetry, such as Old English banhus (bone house) for ``body''
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keno
a game of chance similar to bingo
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kenogenesis
a secondary US spelling of caenogenesis
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kenogenetic
A derivative of kenogenesis
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kenosis
Christ's voluntary renunciation of certain divine attributes, in order to identify himself with mankind (Philippians 2:6--7)
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kenspeckle
easily seen or recognized
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Louise Catley
Reason for adoption: Just because!
View the word page here.
kent
a past tense and past participle of ken
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms Michelle Lowe
Reason for adoption: The best group in the world
View the word page here.
kente
a brightly coloured handwoven cloth of Ghana, usually with some gold thread
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kentia
a plant name formerly used to include palms now allotted to several different genera and still used commercially to denote the feather palm genus Howea, native to Lord Howe Island, popular as greenhouse or house plants for their decorative arching foliage: family Palmaceae
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Kentish
of or relating to Kent
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kentledge
scrap metal used as ballast in a vessel
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Kentuckian
a native or inhabitant of Kentucky
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Kentucky
a state of the S central US: consists of an undulating plain in the west, the Bluegrass region in the centre, the Tennessee and Ohio River basins in the southwest, and the Appalachians in the east. Capital: Frankfort. Pop: 4 117 827 (2003 est). Area: 102 693 sq km (39 650 sq miles)
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Kenya
a republic in E Africa, on the Indian Ocean: became a British protectorate in 1895 and a colony in 1920; gained independence in 1963 and is a member of the Commonwealth. Tea and coffee constitute about a third of the total exports. Official languages: Swahili and English. Religions: Christian majority, animist minority. Currency: shilling. Capital: Nairobi. Pop: 32 420 000 (2004 est). Area: 582 647 sq km (224 960 sq miles)
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Charlotte Little
Reason for adoption: If he can't be there for another year, then we'll have to bring it here...
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Kenyan
of or relating to Kenya or its inhabitants
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Keos
an island in the Aegean Sea, in the NW Cyclades. Pop: 2412 (2001). Area: 174 sq km (67 sq miles)
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kep
to catch
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Kephallinía
transliteration of the Modern Greek name for Cephalonia
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kepi
a military cap with a circular top and a horizontal peak
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Kepler
a small crater in the NW quadrant of the moon, centre of a large bright ray system
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kept
a woman maintained by a man as his mistress
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Kerala
a state of SW India, on the Arabian Sea: formed in 1956, it includes the former state of Travancore-Cochin; has the highest population density of any Indian state. Capital: Trivandrum. Pop: 31 838 619 (2001). Area: 38 863 sq km (15 005 sq miles)
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keramic
a rare variant of ceramic
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keramics
a rare variant of ceramics
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keratin
a fibrous protein that occurs in the outer layer of the skin and in hair, nails, feathers, hooves, etc
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keratinize
to become or cause to become impregnated with keratin
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keratitis
inflammation of the cornea
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kerato-
indicating horn or a horny substance
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keratogenous
developing or causing the growth of horny tissue
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keratoid
resembling horn; horny
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keratoplasty
plastic surgery of the cornea, esp involving corneal grafting
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keratose
(esp of certain sponges) having a horny skeleton
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keratosis
any skin condition marked by a horny growth, such as a wart
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keratotomy
surgical incision of the cornea
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kerb
a line of stone or concrete forming an edge between a pavement and a roadway, so that the pavement is some 15 cm above the level of the road
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kerbaya
a blouse worn by Malay women
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Kerbela
a variant of Karbala
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kerbing
material used for a kerb
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kerbside
the edge of a pavement where it drops to the level of the road
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kerbstone
one of a series of stones that form a kerb
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Kerch
a port in S Ukraine on the Kerch Peninsula and the Strait of Kerch (linking the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov): founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century bc; ceded to Russia in 1774; iron-mining, steel production, and fishing. Pop: 153 000 (2005 est)
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kerchief
a piece of cloth worn tied over the head or around the neck
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kerel
a chap or fellow
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kereru
another name for New Zealand pigeon
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kerf
the cut made by a saw, an axe, etc
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kerfuffle
commotion; disorder; agitation
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms Tanya Butler
Reason for adoption: Because she loves it!
View the word page here.
Kerguelen
an archipelago in the S Indian Ocean: consists of one large volcanic island (Kerguelen or Desolation Island) and 300 small islands; part of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories
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Kerkrade
a town in the SE Netherlands, in Limburg: one of the oldest coal-mining centres in Europe. Pop: 50 000 (2003 est)
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kerky
stupid
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Kérkyra
transliteration of the Modern Greek name for Corfu
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kerma
the quotient of the sum of the initial kinetic energies of all the charged particles liberated by indirectly ionizing radiation in a volume element of a material divided by the mass of the volume element. The SI unit is the gray
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Kerman
a city in SE Iran: carpet-making centre. Pop: 546 000 (2005 est)
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Kermanshah
the former name (until 1987) of Bakhtaran
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kermes
the dried bodies of female scale insects of the genus Kermes, esp K. ilices of Europe and W Asia, used as a red dyestuff
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kermis
(formerly, esp in Holland and Northern Germany) an annual country festival or carnival
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kern
the part of the character on a piece of printer's type that projects beyond the body
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kernel
the edible central part of a seed, nut, or fruit within the shell or stone
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kerning
the adjustment of space between the letters of words to improve the appearance of text matter
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kernite
a light soft colourless or white mineral consisting of a hydrated sodium borate in monoclinic crystalline form: an important source of borax and other boron compounds. Formula: Na2B4O7.4H2O
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kero
short for kerosene
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kerogen
the solid organic material found in some rocks, such as oil shales, that produces hydrocarbons similar to petroleum when heated
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kerosene
a liquid mixture consisting mainly of alkane hydrocarbons with boiling points in the range 150°--300°C, used as an aircraft fuel, in domestic heaters, and as a solvent
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Kerry
a county of SW Republic of Ireland, in W Munster province: mostly mountainous (including the highest peaks in Ireland), with a deeply indented coast and many offshore islands. County town: Tralee. Pop: 132 527 (2002). Area: 4701 sq km (1815 sq miles)
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Steven Day
Reason for adoption: As this is Kerry's first name,it is only fair that she adopts it.
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KERS
Motor racing Kinetic Energy Recovery System: an on-board system that stores the energy expended while breaking and then converts it into energy that can be used during acceleration.
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kersey
a smooth woollen cloth used for overcoats, etc
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kerseymere
a fine soft woollen cloth of twill weave
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kerygma
the essential news of Jesus, as preached by the early Christians to elicit faith rather than to educate or instruct
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Kesh
the beard and uncut hair, covered by the turban, traditionally worn by Sikhs as a symbol of their religious and cultural loyalty, symbolizing the natural life
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Kesteven
an area in E England constituting a former administrative division of Lincolnshire
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kestrel
any of several small falcons, esp the European Falco tinnunculus, that tend to hover against the wind and feed on small mammals on the ground
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Keswick
a market town in NW England, in Cumbria in the Lake District: tourist centre. Pop: 4984 (2001)
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ketamine
a drug, chemically related to PCP, that is used in medicine as a general anaesthetic, being administered by injection; cyclohexylamine
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ketch
a two-masted sailing vessel, fore-and-aft rigged, with a tall mainmast and a mizzen stepped forward of the rudderpost
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ketchup
any of various piquant sauces containing vinegar
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kete
a basket woven from flax
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ketene
a colourless irritating toxic gas used as an acetylating agent in organic synthesis. Formula: CH2:CO
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keto-
indicating that a chemical compound is a ketone or is derived from a ketone
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ketogenic
forming or able to stimulate the production of ketone bodies
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ketonaemia
an excess of ketone bodies in the blood
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ketone
any of a class of compounds with the general formula RCOR, where R and R are alkyl or aryl groups
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ketonuria
the presence of ketone bodies in the urine
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ketose
any monosaccharide that contains a ketone group
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ketosis
a high concentration of ketone bodies in the blood
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ketoxime
an oxime formed by reaction between hydroxylamine and a ketone
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Kettering
a town in central England, in Northamptonshire: footwear industry. Pop: 51 063 (2001)
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kettle
a metal or plastic container with a handle and spout for boiling water
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kettledrum
a percussion instrument of definite pitch, consisting of a hollow bowl-like hemisphere covered with a skin or membrane, supported on a tripod or stand. The pitch may be adjusted by means of screws or pedals, which alter the tension of the skin
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ketubah
the contract that states the obligations within Jewish marriage
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keV
kilo-electronvolt
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kevel
a strong bitt or bollard for securing heavy hawsers
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Kevlar
a synthetic fibre, consisting of long-chain polyamides, having high tensile strength and temperate resistance
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Kevin Pocock
Reason for adoption: For some situations we all need high tensile strength and temperate resistance
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Kew
part of the Greater London borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, on the River Thames: famous for Kew Gardens (the Royal Botanic Gardens), established in 1759 and given to the nation in 1841
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kewl
a nonstandard variant spelling of cool
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Sara Jeffery
Reason for adoption: Because Rosie likes it
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kex
any of several large hollow-stemmed umbelliferous plants, such as cow parsnip and chervil
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key
a metal instrument, usually of a specifically contoured shape, that is made to fit a lock and, when rotated, operates the lock's mechanism
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keyboard
a complete set of keys, usually hand-operated, as on a piano, organ, typewriter, or typesetting machine
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keyboardist
a person who plays a keyboard instrument, esp an electronic musical instrument
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keyhole
an aperture in a door or a lock case through which a key may be passed to engage the lock mechanism
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keylogging
the practice of covertly recording and monitoring keystrokes made on a remote computer, typically using a dedicated software application or piece of implanted hardware
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Keynesian
of or relating to the theories of John Maynard Keynes, 1st Baron Keynes, the English economist (1883--1946)
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keynote
a central or determining principle in a speech, literary work, etc
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keypad
a small keyboard with push buttons, as on a pocket calculator, remote control unit for a television, etc
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keypal
a person with whom one regularly exchanges E-mails for fun
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keys
a children's cry for truce or respite from the rules of a game
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keystone
the central stone at the top of an arch or the top stone of a dome or vault
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keystroke
a single operation of the mechanism of a typewriter or keyboard-operated typesetting machine by the action of a key
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keyway
a longitudinal slot cut into a component to accept a key that engages with a similar slot on a mating component to prevent relative motion of the two components
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keyword
a word used as a key to a code
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kg
keg
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KGB
the former Soviet secret police, founded in 1954
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kh
Cambodia
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Khabarovsk
a port in E Russia, on the Amur River: it was the administrative centre of the whole Soviet Far Eastern territory until 1938; a major industrial centre. Pop: 579 000 (2005 est)
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khaddar
a cotton cloth of plain weave, produced in India
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khaki
a dull yellowish-brown colour
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khalif
a variant spelling of caliph
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Khalkha
the dialect of Mongolian that is the official language of Mongolia
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Khalkidíki
transliteration of the Modern Greek name for Chalcidice
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Khalkís
transliteration of the Modern Greek name for Chalcis
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Khalsa
an order of the Sikh religion, founded (1699) by Guru Gobind Singh. Members vow to wear the five Ks, to eat only ritually killed meat, and to refrain from committing adultery or cutting their hair
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khamsin
a hot southerly wind blowing from about March to May, esp in Egypt
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khan
(formerly) a title borne by medieval Chinese emperors and Mongol and Turkic rulers: usually added to a name
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khanate
the territory ruled by a khan
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khanda
a double-edged sword that appears as the emblem on the Sikh flag and is used in the Amrit ceremony to stir the amrit
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khanga
a variant spelling of kanga
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Khaniá
transliteration of the Modern Greek name for Chania
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kharif
(in Pakistan, India, etc) a crop that is harvested at the beginning of winter
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Kharkov
a city in E Ukraine: capital of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (1917--34); university (1805). Pop: 1 436 000 (2005 est)
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Khartoum
the capital of the Sudan, at the junction of the Blue and the White Nile: with adjoining Khartoum North and Omdurman, the largest conurbation in the country; destroyed by the Mahdists in 1885 when General Gordon was killed; seat of the Anglo-Egyptian government of the Sudan until 1954, then capital of the new republic. Pop: 4 495 000 (2005 est)
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khat
a white-flowered evergreen shrub, Catha edulis, of Africa and Arabia, whose leaves have narcotic properties
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Maureen Murray
Reason for adoption: Jan often uses the variant form "qat" in games of Scrabble
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khayal
a kind of Indian classical vocal music
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khazi
a lavatory; toilet
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kheda
(in India, Myanmar, etc) an enclosure into which wild elephants are driven to be captured
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khedive
the viceroy of Egypt under Ottoman suzerainty (1867--1914)
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Khelat
a variant spelling of Kalat
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Kherson
a port in S Ukraine on the Dnieper River near the Black Sea: shipyards. Pop: 320 000 (2005 est)
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Khíos
transliteration of the Modern Greek name for Chios
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Khiva
a former khanate of W Asia, on the Amu Darya River: divided between the former Uzbek and Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republics in 1924
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Khmer
a member of a people of Cambodia, noted for a civilization that flourished from about 800 ad to about 1370, remarkable for its architecture
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Khoikhoi
a member of a race of people of Southern Africa, of short stature and a dark yellowish-brown complexion, who formerly occupied the region near the Cape of Good Hope and are now almost extinct
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Khoisan
a family of languages spoken in southern Africa by the Khoikhoi and Bushmen and by two small groups in Tanzania. A characteristic phonological feature of these languages is the use of suction stops (clicks)
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Khojent
a town in Tajikistan on the Syr Darya River: one of the oldest towns in central Asia; textile industries. Pop: 146 000 (2005 est)
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Khotan
another name for Hotan
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Khujand
a variant spelling of Khojent
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Khulna
a city in S Bangladesh. Pop: 1 497 000 (2005 est)
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khurta
a variant spelling of kurta
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khuskhus
an aromatic perennial Indian grass, Vetiveria zizanioides (or Andropogon squarrosus), whose roots are woven into mats, fans, and baskets
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khutbah
a Muslim sermon that is delivered on a Friday
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kHz
kilohertz
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ki
Kiribati
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kiaat
a tropical African leguminous tree, Pterocarpus angolensis
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kiang
a variety of the wild ass, Equus hemionus, that occurs in Tibet and surrounding regions
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Kiangsi
a variant transliteration of the Chinese name for Jiangxi
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Kiangsu
a variant transliteration of the Chinese name for Jiangsu
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Kiaochow
a variant transliteration of the Chinese name for Jiazhou
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kibble
a bucket used in wells or in mining for hoisting
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kibbutz
a collective agricultural settlement in modern Israel, owned and administered communally by its members and on which children are reared collectively
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kibe
a chilblain, esp an ulcerated one on the heel
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kibi-
denoting 210
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kibitka
(in Russia) a covered sledge or wagon
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kibitz
to interfere or offer unwanted advice, esp as a spectator at a card game
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kiblah
the direction of Mecca, to which Muslims turn in prayer, indicated in mosques by a niche (mihrab) in the wall
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kibosh
to put a stop to; prevent from continuing; halt
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kick
to drive or impel with the foot
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kick ass
to be impressive, esp in a forceful way
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kick-start
to start (a motorcycle engine) by means of a pedal that is kicked downwards
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kickback
a strong reaction
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kickdown
a method of changing gear in a car with automatic transmission, by fully depressing the accelerator
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kicker
a person or thing that kicks
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kickshaw
a valueless trinket
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kicksorter
a multichannel pulse-height analyser used esp to distinguish between isotopes by sorting their characteristic pulses (kicks)
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kickstand
a short metal bar attached to and pivoting on the bottom of the frame of a motorcycle or bicycle, which when kicked into a vertical position holds the stationary vehicle upright
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kid
the young of a goat or of a related animal, such as an antelope
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kid-on
artificial; make-believe
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kidder
a person who kids
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Kidderminster
a town in W central England, in N Worcestershire on the River Stour: carpet industry. Pop: 55 610 (2001)
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kiddle
a device, esp a barrier constructed of nets and stakes, for catching fish in a river or in the sea
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Kiddush
a special blessing said before a meal on sabbaths and festivals, usually including the blessing for wine or bread
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kiddy
an affectionate word for child
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kidnap
to carry off and hold (a person), usually for ransom
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kidney
either of two bean-shaped organs at the back of the abdominal cavity in man, one on each side of the spinal column. They maintain water and electrolyte balance and filter waste products from the blood, which are excreted as urine
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kidney-shaped
shaped like an oval with an inward curve at one side
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kidology
the art or practice of bluffing or deception
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Kidron
a variant of Kedron
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kidskin
a soft smooth leather made from the hide of a young goat
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kidstakes
pretence; nonsense
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kidult
an adult who is interested in forms of entertainment such as computer games, television programmes, etc that are intended for children
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kief
a variant spelling of kif
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kiekie
a climbing bush plant, Freycinetia banksii, of New Zealand, having elongated leaves and edible berries
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Kiel
a port in N Germany, capital of Schleswig-Holstein state, on the Kiel Canal (connecting the North Sea with the Baltic): joined the Hanseatic League in 1284; became part of Denmark in 1773 and passed to Prussia in 1866; an important naval base in World Wars I and II; shipbuilding and engineering industries. Pop: 233 039 (2003 est)
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kielbasa
a traditional garlic sausage of Eastern European origin [from Polish kie_basa, Ukrainian kovbasa]
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Kielce
an industrial city in S Poland. Pop: 212 383 (1999 est)
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kier
a vat in which cloth is bleached
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Kierkegaardian
of or relating to Søren Aabye Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher and theologian (1813--55), whose theories anticipated existentialism
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kieselguhr
an unconsolidated form of diatomite
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kieserite
a white mineral consisting of hydrated magnesium sulphate. Formula: MgSO4.H2O
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Kiev
the capital of Ukraine, on the Dnieper River: formed the first Russian state by the late 9th century; university (1834). Pop: 2 623 000 (2005 est)
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kif
any drug or agent that when smoked is capable of producing a euphoric condition
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kiff
excellent; cool
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Kigali
the capital of Rwanda, in the central part. Pop: 782 000 (2005 est)
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Kigoma-Ujiji
a city in W Tanzania, on the shore of Lake Tanganyika; formed by the merger of the towns of Kigoma and Ujiji in the 1960s
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Kikládhes
transliteration of the Modern Greek name for Cyclades
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kikoi
a piece of cotton cloth with coloured bands, worn wrapped around the body
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kikumon
the chrysanthemum emblem of the imperial family of Japan
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Kikuyu
a member of a Negroid people of E Africa, living chiefly in Kenya on the high foothills around Mount Kenya
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Kilauea
a crater on the E side of Mauna Loa volcano, on SE Hawaii Island: the world's largest active crater. Height: 1247 m (4090 ft). Width: 3 km (2 miles)
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Kildare
a county of E Republic of Ireland, in Leinster province: mostly low-lying and fertile. County town: Naas. Pop: 163 944 (2002). Area: 1694 sq km (654 sq miles)
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kilderkin
an obsolete unit of liquid capacity equal to 16 or 18 Imperial gallons or of dry capacity equal to 16 or 18 wine gallons
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kiley
a variant spelling of kylie
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kilim
a pileless woven rug of intricate design made in the Middle East
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Kilimanjaro
a volcanic massif in N Tanzania: the highest peak in Africa; extends from east to west for 80 km (50 miles). Height: 5895 m (19 340 ft)
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Kilkenny
a county of SE Republic of Ireland, in Leinster province: mostly agricultural. County town: Kilkenny. Pop: 80 339 (2002). Area: 2062 sq km (796 sq miles)
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kill
to cause the death of (a person or animal)
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kill-time
an occupation that passes the time
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Killarney
a town in SW Republic of Ireland, in Co Kerry: a tourist centre near the Lakes of Killarney. Pop: 13 137 (2002)
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killdeer
a large brown-and-white North American plover, Charadrius vociferus, with two black breast bands and a noisy cry
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killer
a person or animal that kills, esp habitually
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killick
a small anchor, esp one made of a heavy stone
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Killiecrankie
a pass in central Scotland, in the Grampians: scene of a battle (1689) in which the Jacobites defeated William III's forces but lost their leader, Viscount Dundee
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killifish
any of various chiefly American minnow-like cyprinodont fishes of the genus Fundulus and related genera, of fresh and brackish waters: used as aquarium fishes, to control mosquitoes, and as anglers' bait
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killikinick
a variant of kinnikinnick
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killing
very tiring; exhausting
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killjoy
a person who spoils other people's pleasure
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Kilmarnock
a town in SW Scotland, the administrative centre of East Ayrshire: associations with Robert Burns; engineering and textile industries; whisky blending. Pop: 43 588 (2001)
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kiln
a large oven for burning, drying, or processing something, such as porcelain or bricks
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kilo
short for kilogram
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kilo-
denoting 103 (1000)
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kilobit
(in general computer contexts, such as data transfer) 1000 bits
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kilobyte
1024 bytes
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kilocalorie
another name for Calorie
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kilocycle
short for kilocycle per second: a former unit of frequency equal to 1 kilohertz
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kilogram
one thousand grams
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kilohertz
one thousand hertz; one thousand cycles per second
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kilometre
one thousand metres, equal to 0.621371 miles
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kiloton
one thousand tons
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kilovolt
one thousand volts
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kilowatt
one thousand watts
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kilowatt-hour
a unit of energy equal to the work done by a power of 1000 watts in one hour
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kilt
a knee-length pleated skirt-like garment, esp one in tartan, as worn by men in Highland dress
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kilter
working order or alignment (esp in the phrases off kilter, out of kilter)
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Kilung
another name for Chilung
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Kimberley
a city in central South Africa; the capital of Northern Cape province: besieged (1899--1900) for 126 days during the Boer War; diamond-mining and -marketing centre, with heavy engineering works. Pop: 62 526 (2001)
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kimberlite
an intrusive igneous rock generated at great depth in the earth's mantle and consisting largely of olivine and phlogopite. It often contains diamonds
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kimono
a loose sashed ankle-length garment with wide sleeves, worn in Japan
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kin
a person's relatives collectively; kindred
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kina
the standard monetary unit of Papua New Guinea, divided into 100 toea
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Kinabalu
a mountain in Malaysia, on N Borneo in central Sabah: the highest peak in Borneo. Height: 4125 m (13 533 ft)
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kinaesthesia
the sensation by which bodily position, weight, muscle tension, and movement are perceived
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kinase
any enzyme that can convert an inactive zymogen to the corresponding enzyme
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Kincardineshire
a former county of E Scotland: became part of Grampian region in 1975 and part of Aberdeenshire in 1996
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Kinchinjunga
a variant of Kangchenjunga
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kincob
a fine silk fabric embroidered with threads of gold or silver, of a kind made in India
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kind
having a friendly or generous nature or attitude
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms jane kerr
Reason for adoption: because she is
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kind-hearted
characterized by kindness; sympathetic
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Ian Lister
Reason for adoption: A perfect description
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kindergarten
a class or small school for young children, usually between the ages of four and six to prepare them for primary education
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kindle
to set alight or start to burn
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kindless
heartless
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kindling
material for starting a fire, such as dry wood, straw, etc
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kindly
having a sympathetic or warm-hearted nature
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kindness
the practice or quality of being kind
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Monica Walczak
Reason for adoption: Represents the glittering thread that runs through our school
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kindred
having similar or common qualities, origin, etc
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kindy
short for kindergarten
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kine
an archaic word for cows
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kinematics
the study of the motion of bodies without reference to mass or force
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kinematograph
a variant of cinematograph
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kinematographer
A derivative of kinematograph
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kinescope
the US name for television tube
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kinesics
the study of the role of body movements, such as winking, shrugging, etc, in communication
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kinesiology
the study of the mechanics and anatomy of human muscles
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kinesis
the nondirectional movement of an organism or cell in response to a stimulus, the rate of movement being dependent on the strength of the stimulus
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kinesthesia
the usual US spelling of kinaesthesia
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kinetheodolite
a type of theodolite containing a cine camera instead of a telescope and giving continuous film of a moving target together with a record of its altitude and azimuth: used in tracking a missile, satellite, etc
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kinetic
relating to, characterized by, or caused by motion
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kinetics
the branch of mechanics, including both dynamics and kinematics, concerned with the study of bodies in motion
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kinetoplast
a small granular cell body close to the nucleus in some flagellate protozoans
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kinfolk
another word for kinsfolk
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king
a male sovereign prince who is the official ruler of an independent state; monarch
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king-hit
a knockout blow, esp an unfair one
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king-of-arms
the highest rank of heraldic officer, itself divided into the ranks of Garter, Clarenceaux, and Norroy and Ulster. In Scotland the first is Lyon
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king-size
larger or longer than a standard size
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kingbird
any of several large American flycatchers of the genus Tyrannus, esp T. tyrannus (eastern kingbird or bee martin)
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kingbolt
the pivot bolt that connects the body of a horse-drawn carriage to the front axle and provides the steering joint
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kingcraft
the art of ruling as a king, esp by diplomacy and cunning
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kingcup
any of several yellow-flowered ranunculaceous plants, esp the marsh marigold
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kingdom
a territory, state, people, or community ruled or reigned over by a king or queen
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kingfish
any marine sciaenid food and game fish of the genus Menticirrhus, occurring in warm American Atlantic coastal waters
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kingfisher
any coraciiform bird of the family Alcedinidae, esp the Eurasian Alcedo atthis, which has a greenish-blue and orange plumage. Kingfishers have a large head, short tail, and long sharp bill and tend to live near open water and feed on fish
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kingklip
an edible eel-like marine fish
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kinglet
the king of a small or insignificant territory
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kingly
appropriate to a king; majestic
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kingmaker
a person who has control over appointments to positions of authority
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kingpin
the most important person in an organization
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss koren kineta murphy
Reason for adoption: our daddy is the greatest kingpin of all kingpins
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Kings
(in versions based on the Hebrew, including the Authorized Version) either of the two books called I and II Kings recounting the histories of the kings of Judah and Israel
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kingship
the position or authority of a king
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Kingston
the capital and chief port of Jamaica, on the SE coast: University of the West Indies. Pop: 574 000 (2005 est)
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Kingstown
the capital of St Vincent and the Grenadines: a port and resort. p.: 31 000 (2005 est)
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Kingwana
a language of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre) in W Africa, closely related to Swahili and used as a lingua franca
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kingwood
the hard fine-grained violet-tinted wood of a Brazilian leguminous tree, Dalbergia cearensis, used in cabinetwork
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kinin
any of a group of polypeptides in the blood that cause dilation of the blood vessels and make smooth muscles contract
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kink
a sharp twist or bend in a wire, rope, hair, etc, esp one caused when it is pulled tight
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kinkajou
an arboreal fruit-eating mammal, Potos flavus, of Central and South America, with a long prehensile tail: family Procyonidae (raccoons) order Carnivora (carnivores)
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kinky
given to unusual, abnormal, or deviant sexual practices
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Craig Stevens
Reason for adoption: It describes my true self...
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kinnikinnick
the dried leaves and bark of certain plants, sometimes with tobacco added, formerly smoked by some North American Indians
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kino
a dark red resin obtained from various tropical plants, esp an Indian leguminous tree, Pterocarpus marsupium, used as an astringent and in tanning
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Kinross-shire
a former county of E central Scotland: became part of Tayside region in 1975 and part of Perth and Kinross in 1996
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kinsfolk
one's family or relatives
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Kinshasa
the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre), on the River Congo opposite Brazzaville: became capital of the Belgian Congo in 1929 and of Zaïre in 1960; university (1954). Pop: 5 717 000 (2005 est)
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kinship
blood relationship
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kinsman
a blood relation or a relation by marriage
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Kinyarwanda
one of the official languages of Rwanda, belonging to the Bantu group of the Niger-Congo family and closely related to Kirundi
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kiore
another name for Maori rat
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kiosk
a small sometimes movable booth from which cigarettes, newspapers, light refreshments, etc, are sold
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Kioto
a variant spelling of Kyoto
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kip
sleep or slumber
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kippa
a skullcap worn by orthodox male Jews at all times and by others for prayer, esp a crocheted one worn by those with a specifically religious Zionist affiliation
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kipper
a fish, esp a herring, that has been cleaned, salted, and smoked
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kippered
(of fish, esp herring) having been cleaned, salted, and smoked
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kir
a drink made from dry white wine and cassis
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kirana
(in India) a small, usually family-owned shop selling groceries and other sundries [from Hindi]
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Kirghiz
a variant spelling of Kyrgyz
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Kirghizia
the former Russian name for Kyrgyzstan
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Kiribati
an independent republic in the W Pacific: comprises 33 islands including Banaba (Ocean Island), the Gilbert and Phoenix Islands, and eight of the Line Islands; part of the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands until 1975; became self-governing in 1977 and gained full independence in 1979 as the Republic of Kiribati; a member of the Commonwealth. Official languages: English, I-Kiribati (Gilbertese) is widely spoken. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: Australian dollar. Capital: Bairiki islet, in Tarawa atoll. Pop: 88 000 (2003 est). Area: 684 sq km (264 sq miles)
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kirigami
the art, originally Japanese, of folding and cutting paper into decorative shapes
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Kirin
a variant transliteration of the Chinese name for Jilin
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Kirinyaga
the local name of Mount Kenya
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Kiritimati
an island in the central Pacific, in Kiribati: one of the Line Islands; the largest atoll in the world. Pop: 3225 (1995)
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kirk
a Scottish church
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Kirkby
a town in NW England, in Knowsley unitary authority, Merseyside. Pop: 40 006 (2001)
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Kirkcaldy
a port in E Scotland, in SE Fife on the Firth of Forth. Pop: 46 912 (2001)
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Kirkcudbrightshire
a former county of SW Scotland, part of Dumfries and Galloway since 1975
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Kirklees
a unitary authority in N England, in West Yorkshire. Pop: 391 400 (2003 est). Area: 410 sq km (158 sq miles)
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kirkman
a member or strong upholder of the Kirk
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Kirkpatrick
a mountain in Antarctica, in S Victoria Land in the Queen Alexandra Range. Height: 4528 m (14 856 ft)
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Kirkuk
a city in NE Iraq: centre of a rich oilfield with pipelines to the Mediterranean. Pop: 548 000 (2005 est)
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Kirkwall
a town on the N coast of Mainland in the Orkney Islands: administrative centre of the island authority of Orkney: cathedral built by Norsemen (begun in 1137). Pop: 6206 (2001)
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Kirman
a Persian carpet or rug
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kirmess
a variant spelling of kermis
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Kirov
a city in NW Russia, on the Vyatka River: an early trading centre; engineering industries. Pop: 454 000 (2005 est)
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Kirovabad
the former name (1936--91) of Gandzha
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Kirovograd
a city in S central Ukraine on the Ingul River: manufacturing centre of a rich agricultural area. Pop: 250 000 (2005 est)
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Kirpan
the short sword traditionally carried by Sikhs as a symbol of their religious and cultural loyalty, symbolizing protection for the weak
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Kirsch
a brandy distilled from cherries, made chiefly in the Black Forest in Germany and in the Jura and Vosges districts of France
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kirtan
devotional singing, usually accompanied by musical instruments
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kirtle
a woman's skirt or dress
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Kiruna
a town in N Sweden: iron-mining centre. Pop: 23 273 (2004 est)
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Kirundi
the official language of Burundi, belonging to the Bantu group of the Niger-Congo family and closely related to Rwanda
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Kisangani
a city in the N Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre), at the head of navigation of the River Congo below Stanley Falls: Université Libre du Congo (1963). Pop: 475 000 (2005 est)
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kish
graphite formed on the surface of molten iron that contains a large amount of carbon
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Kishinev
the capital of Moldova on the Byk River: manufacturing centre of a rich agricultural region; university (1945). Pop: 662 000 (2005 est)
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kishke
a beef or fowl intestine or skin stuffed with flour, onion, etc, and boiled and roasted
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Kislev
(in the Jewish calendar) the ninth month of the year according to biblical reckoning and the third month of the civil year, usually falling within November and December
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Kismayu
another name for Chisimaio
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kismet
the will of Allah
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kiss
to touch with the lips or press the lips against as an expression of love, greeting, respect, etc
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr slim barrett
Reason for adoption: love
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kiss-and-tell
denoting the practice of publicizing one's former sexual relationship with a celebrity, esp in the tabloid press
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kissagram
a greetings service in which a person is employed to present greetings by kissing the person celebrating
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kissel
a Russian dessert of sweetened fruit purée thickened with arrowroot
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kisser
a person who kisses, esp in a way specified
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kisspeptin
a protein molecule that is responsible for triggering the onset of puberty in humans
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kissy
showing exaggerated affection, esp by frequent touching or kissing
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kist
a large chest or coffer
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Kistna
another name for the (River) Krishna
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Kisumu
a port in W Kenya, in Nyanza province on the NE shore of Lake Victoria: fishing and trading centre. Pop: 433 000 (2005 est)
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kit
a set of tools, supplies, construction materials, etc, for use together or for a purpose
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Kitakyushu
a port in Japan, on N Kyushu: formed in 1963 by the amalgamation of the cities of Wakamatsu, Yahata, Tobata, Kokura, and Moji; one of Japan's largest industrial centres. Pop: 999 806 (2002 est)
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kitbag
a canvas or other bag for a serviceman's kit
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kitchen
a room or part of a building equipped for preparing and cooking food
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms Ysanne Brooks
Reason for adoption: It's where you'll always find us at parties
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kitchenalia
cooking equipment and other items found in a kitchen
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Kitchener
an industrial town in SE Canada, in S Ontario: founded in 1806 as Dutch Sand Hills, it was renamed Berlin in 1830 and Kitchener in 1916. Pop: 190 399 (2001)
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kitchenette
a small kitchen or part of another room equipped for use as a kitchen
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kitchenware
pots and pans, knives, forks, spoons, and other utensils used in the kitchen
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kite
a light frame covered with a thin material flown in the wind at the end of a length of string
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Kitemark
the official mark of quality and reliability, in the form of a kite, on articles approved by the British Standards Institution
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kitenge
a thick cotton cloth measuring 114 213 cm (45 84 inches), used in making garments
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kitesurfing
the sport of sailing standing up on a surfboard while being pulled along by a large kite
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kith
one's friends and acquaintances (esp in the phrase kith and kin)
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kithara
a variant of cithara
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Kíthira
transliteration of the Modern Greek name for Cythera
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kitsch
tawdry, vulgarized, or pretentious art, literature, etc, usually with popular or sentimental appeal
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kitschness
the quality of being tawdry, vulgarized, or pretentious, and usually with popular or sentimental appeal
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kitset
a piece of furniture supplied in pieces for the purchaser to assemble himself or herself
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kittel
a white garment used as a shroud or worn by traditional Jews on Yom Kippur
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kitten
a young cat
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Lord St. John Wentworth
Reason for adoption: Because it represents her.
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kittenish
like a kitten; lively
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kittiwake
either of two oceanic gulls of the genus Rissa, esp R. tridactyla, having a white plumage with pale grey black-tipped wings and a square-cut tail
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kittle
capricious and unpredictable
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kitty
a diminutive or affectionate name for a kitten
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms emma vick
Reason for adoption: Because they make me laugh.
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kitty-cornered
a variant of cater-cornered
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Kitwe
a city in N Zambia: commercial centre of the Copper Belt. Pop: 545 000 (2005 est)
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Kitzbühel
a town in W Austria, in the Tirol: centre for winter sports. Pop: 8574 (2001)
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Kiushu
a variant spelling of Kyushu
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kiva
a large underground or partly underground room in a Pueblo Indian village, used chiefly for religious ceremonies
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Kivu
a lake in central Africa, between the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre) and Rwanda at an altitude of 1460 m (4790 ft). Area: 2698 sq km (1042 sq miles). Depth: (maximum) 475 m (1558 ft)
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Kiwanis
a North American organization of men's clubs founded in 1915 to promote community service
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kiwi
any nocturnal flightless New Zealand bird of the genus Apteryx, having a long beak, stout legs, and weakly barbed feathers: order Apterygiformes
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Kiwiana
collectable objects, ornaments, etc, esp dating from the 1950s or 1960s, relating to the history or popular culture of New Zealand
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Kiwis
the men's international Rugby League football team of New Zealand
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kiwisports
a fitness programme developed for schools, involving a selection of sports such as rounders, cricket, and netball
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KKK
Ku Klux Klan
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KKt
king's knight
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KKtP
king's knight's pawn
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kl
kilolitre
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Klagenfurt
a city in S Austria, capital of Carinthia province: tourist centre. Pop: 90 141 (2001)
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Klaipeda
a port in Lithuania on the Baltic: shipbuilding and fish canning. Pop: 190 000 (2005 est)
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Klan
short for Ku Klux Klan
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klangfarbe
instrumental timbre or tone colour
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Klanism
A derivative of Klan
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Klansman
a member of the Ku Klux Klan
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klap
to slap or spank (a person)
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Klausenburg
the German name for Cluj
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klaxon
a type of loud horn formerly used on motor vehicles
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klebsiella
a Gram-negative bacteria found in the respiratory, intestinal, and urinogenital tracts of humans and animals, which can cause pneumonia and urinary infections
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Kleenex
a kind of soft paper tissue, used esp as a handkerchief
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kleinhuisie
an outside lavatory
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klepht
any of the Greeks who fled to the mountains after the 15th-century Turkish conquest of Greece and whose descendants survived as brigands into the 19th century
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kleptocracy
a government where officials are politically corrupt and financially self-interested
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kleptocratic
(of a government, state, etc) characterized by corruption amongst those in power
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kleptomania
a strong impulse to steal, esp when there is no obvious motivation
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kletterschuh
a lightweight climbing boot with a canvas or suede upper and Vibram (originally felt or cord) sole
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klezmer
a Jewish folk musician, usually a member of a small band
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klipspringer
a small agile antelope, Oreotragus oreotragus, inhabiting rocky regions of Africa south of the Sahara
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Klondike
a region of NW Canada, in the Yukon in the basin of the Klondike River: site of rich gold deposits, discovered in 1896 but largely exhausted by 1910. Area: about 2100 sq km (800 sq miles)
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klondyker
an East European factory ship
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klong
a type of canal in Thailand
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kloof
a mountain pass or gorge in southern Africa
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klootchman
a North American Indian woman
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klutz
a clumsy or stupid person
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klystron
an electron tube for the amplification or generation of microwaves by means of velocity modulation
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km
kilometre
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km/h
kilometres per hour
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kn
knot
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knack
a skilful, ingenious, or resourceful way of doing something
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knacked
broken
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knacker
a person who buys up old horses for slaughter
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knackered
exhausted; tired out
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knackwurst
a short fat highly seasoned sausage
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knag
a knot in wood
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knap
the crest of a hill
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knapsack
a canvas or leather bag carried strapped on the back or shoulder
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knapweed
any of several plants of the genus Centaurea, having purplish thistle-like flowers: family Asteraceae (composites)
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knar
a variant of knur
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knarly
same as gnarly
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knarred
A derivative of knar
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knarry
A derivative of knar
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knave
a dishonest man; rogue
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knavery
a deceitful or dishonest act
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knawel
any of several Old World caryophyllaceous plants of the genus Scleranthus, having heads of minute petal-less flowers
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knead
to work and press (a soft substance, such as bread dough) into a uniform mixture with the hands
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knee
the joint of the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
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knee-deep
so deep as to reach or cover the knees
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knee-high
as high as the knee
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knee-length
reaching to the knee
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knee-trembling
very exciting
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kneecap
(esp of certain terrorist groups) to shoot (a person) in the kneecap, esp as an act of retaliation
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kneehole
a space for the knees, esp under a desk
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kneel
to rest, fall, or support oneself on one's knees
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kneepad
any of several types of protective covering for the knees
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kneepan
another word for patella
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knees-up
a boisterous dance involving the raising of alternate knees
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kneidel
(in Jewish cookery) a small dumpling, usually served in chicken soup
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knell
the sound of a bell rung to announce a death or a funeral
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knelt
a past tense and past participle of kneel
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Knesset
the unicameral parliament of Israel
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knew
the past tense of know
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knick-knack
a cheap ornament; trinket
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knicker
of or relating to knickers
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Knickerbocker
a descendant of the original Dutch settlers of New York
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knickerbockers
baggy breeches fastened with a band at the knee or above the ankle
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knickers
an undergarment for women covering the lower trunk and sometimes the thighs and having separate legs or leg-holes
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Neil Okninski
Reason for adoption: Because it's my Mum's favourite non-expletive
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knickpoint
a break in the slope of a river profile caused by renewed erosion by a rejuvenated river
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knife
a cutting instrument consisting of a sharp-edged often pointed blade of metal fitted into a handle or onto a machine
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knife-point
the tip of a knife blade
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knifeman
a man who is armed with a knife, esp unlawfully
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kniferest
a support on which a carving knife or carving fork is placed at the table
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knight
(originally) a person who served his lord as a mounted and heavily armed soldier
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Hannah Ablett
Reason for adoption: Because you saved me!!! and continue to keep me safe :-)
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knighthead
either of a pair of vertical supports for each side of the bowsprit
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knighthood
the order, dignity, or rank of a knight
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knightly
of, relating to, resembling, or befitting a knight
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kniphofia
any plant of the perennial southern African genus Kniphofia, some species of which are cultivated for their conical spikes of bright red or yellow drooping tubular flowers: family Liliaceae
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knish
a piece of dough stuffed with potato, meat, or some other filling and baked or fried
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knit
to make (a garment, etc) by looping and entwining (yarn, esp wool) by hand by means of long eyeless needles (knitting needles) or by machine (knitting machine)
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Karen Cook
Reason for adoption: I knit therefore I am
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knitting
knitted work or the process of producing it
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knitwear
knitted clothes, esp sweaters
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knives
the plural of knife
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knob
a rounded projection from a surface, such as a lump on a tree trunk
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knobbly
having or covered with small knobs; bumpy
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knobby
having or covered with small knobs; knobbly
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knobhead
a stupid person
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr James Johnson
Reason for adoption: Because there is no better way to sum up a stupid person!
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knobkerrie
a stick with a round knob at the end, used as a club or missile by South African tribesmen
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knock
to give a blow or push to; strike
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knock-for-knock
designating an agreement between vehicle insurers that in the event of an accident each will pay for the damage to the vehicle insured with him without attempting to establish blame for the accident
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knock-knee
a condition in which the legs are bent inwards causing the knees to touch when standing
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knock-on
resulting inevitably but indirectly from another event or circumstance
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knocker
an object, usually ornamental and made of metal, attached to a door by a hinge and used for knocking
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knocking-shop
a slang word for brothel
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knockout
the act of rendering unconscious
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms Karen Knepper
Reason for adoption: because you enjoy using "knockout" sooo much
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knockwurst
a variant spelling of knackwurst
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Knole
a mansion in Sevenoaks in Kent: built (1454) for Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury; later granted to the Sackville family, who made major alterations (1603--08)
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knoll
a small rounded hill
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knoller
A derivative of knoll
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knop
a knob, esp an ornamental one
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Knossos
a ruined city in N central Crete: remains of the Minoan Bronze Age civilization
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knot
any of various fastenings formed by looping and tying a piece of rope, cord, etc, in upon itself, to another piece of rope, or to another object
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knotgrass
a polygonaceous weedy plant, Polygonum aviculare, whose small green flowers produce numerous seeds
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knothole
a hole in a piece of wood where a knot has been
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knotted
(of wood, rope, etc) having knots
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knotting
a sealer applied over knots in new wood before priming to prevent resin from exuding
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knotty
(of wood, rope, etc) full of or characterized by knots
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knotweed
any of several polygonaceous plants of the genus Polygonum, having small flowers and jointed stems
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knotwork
ornamentation consisting of a mass of intertwined and knotted cords
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knout
a stout whip used formerly in Russia as an instrument of punishment
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know
to be or feel certain of the truth or accuracy of (a fact, etc)
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know-all
a person who pretends or appears to know a great deal
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know-how
ingenuity, aptitude, or skill; knack
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know-nothing
an ignorant person
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knowing
suggesting secret information or knowledge
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knowledge
the facts, feelings or experiences known by a person or group of people
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Fingertips News
Reason for adoption: Knowledge is everything, without it everything is nothing
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knowledgeable
possessing or indicating much knowledge
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known
specified and identified
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Knowsley
a unitary authority of NW England, in Merseyside. Pop: 150 200 (2003 est). Area: 97 sq km (38 sq miles)
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Knoxville
an industrial city in E Tennessee, on the Tennessee River: state capital (1796--1812; 1817--19). Pop: 173 278 (2003 est)
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KNP
king's knight's pawn
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Knt
Knight
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knuckle
a joint of a finger, esp that connecting a finger to the hand
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knuckle-duster
a metal bar fitted over the knuckles, often with holes for the fingers, for inflicting injury by a blow with the fist
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knucklebone
any bone forming part of a knuckle or knuckle joint
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knucklebones
a less common name for jacks
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knucklehead
fool; idiot
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knur
a knot or protuberance in a tree trunk or in wood
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knurl
to impress with a series of fine ridges or serrations
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knurly
a rare word for gnarled
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KO
a slang term for knock out
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Ko
a city in E Slovakia: passed from Hungary to Czechoslovakia in 1920 and to Slovakia in 1993. Pop: 236 093 (2001)
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koa
a Hawaiian leguminous tree, Acacia koa, yielding a hard wood
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koala
a slow-moving Australian arboreal marsupial, Phascolarctus cinereus, having dense greyish fur and feeding on eucalyptus leaves and bark
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koan
(in Zen Buddhism) a problem or riddle that admits no logical solution
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koap
(in Papua New Guinea) sexual intercourse
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kob
any of several species of African antelope, esp Kobus kob: similar to waterbucks
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Kobarid
a village in Slovenia on the Isonzo River: part of Italy until 1947; scene of the defeat of the Italians by Austro-German forces (1917)
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Kobe
a port in S Japan, on S Honshu on Osaka Bay: formed in 1889 by the amalgamation of Hyogo and Kobe; a major industrial complex, producing ships, steel, and rubber goods. Pop: 1 478 380 (2002 est)
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Koblenz
a city in W central Germany, in the Rhineland-Palatinate at the confluence of the Rivers Moselle and Rhine: ruled by the archbishop-electors of Trier from 1018 until occupied by the French in 1794; passed to Prussia in 1815, becoming capital of the Rhine Province (1824--1945) and of the Rhineland-Palatinate (1946--50); wine trade centre. Pop: 107 608 (2003 est)
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kobold
a mischievous household sprite
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Kochi
a port in SW Japan, on central Shikoku on Urado Bay. Pop: 326 490 (2002 est)
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kochia
any plant of the widely distributed annual genus Kochia, esp K. Scoparia trichophila, grown for its foliage, which turns dark red in the late summer: family Chenopodiaceae
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Kodiak
an island in S Alaska, in the Gulf of Alaska: site of the first European settlement in Alaska, made by Russians in 1784. Pop: 13 466 (2004 est). Area: 8974 sq km (3465 sq miles)
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Kodok
the modern name for Fashoda
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koekoea
a common New Zealand cuckoo, Eudynamis taitensis, found in forest areas
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koeksister
a plaited doughnut deep-fried and soaked in syrup
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koel
any of several parasitic cuckoos of the genus Eudynamys, esp E. scolopacea, of S and SE Asia and Australia
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kofta
an Indian dish of seasoned minced meat shaped into small balls and cooked
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koftgar
(in India) a person skilled in the art of inlaying steel with gold (koftgari)
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Kofu
a city in central Japan, on S Honshu: textiles. Pop: 190 098 (2002 est)
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kogal
(in Japan) a teenage girl or young woman noted for her busy social life and her purchase of expensive designer clothes and accessories and the latest electronic gadgets
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Kogi
a state of W Nigeria. Capital: Lokoja. Pop: 2 346 946 (1995 est)
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Koh-i-noor
a very large oval Indian diamond, part of the British crown jewels since 1849, weighing 108.8 carats
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koha
a gift or donation, esp of cash
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kohekohe
a New Zealand tree, Dysoxylum spectabile, with large glossy leaves and reddish wood
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Koheleth
Ecclesiastes or its author, traditionally believed to be Solomon
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Kohen
a member of the priestly family of the Tribe of Levi, descended from Aaron, who has certain ritual privileges in the synagogue service
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Kohima
a city in NE India, capital of Nagaland, near the Burmese border: centre of fierce fighting in World War II, when it was surrounded by the Japanese but not captured (1944). Pop: 78 584 (2001)
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kohl
a cosmetic powder used, originally esp in Muslim and Asian countries, to darken the area around the eyes. It is usually powdered antimony sulphide
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kohlrabi
a cultivated variety of cabbage, Brassica oleracea caulorapa (or gongylodes), whose thickened stem is eaten as a vegetable
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Kohoutek
a comet of almost parabolic orbit that reached its closest approach to the sun in Dec 1973
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kohutuhutu
another name for kotukutuku
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koi
any of various ornamental forms of the common carp
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koine
a common language among speakers of different languages; lingua franca
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kokako
a dark grey long-tailed wattled crow of New Zealand, Callaeas cinerea
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Kokand
a city in NE Uzbekistan, in the Fergana valley. Pop: 211 000 (2005 est)
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kokanee
a landlocked salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka kennerlyi, of lakes in W North America: a variety of sockeye
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kokiri
a rough-skinned New Zealand triggerfish, Parika scaber, known also as leatherjacket
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kokobeh
(of certain fruit) having a rough skin
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kokopu
another name for cockabully
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kokowai
a type of clay used in decoration because of its red colour
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Kokura
a former city in SW Japan, on N Kyushu: merged with adjacent townships in 1963 to form the new city of Kitakyushu
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kola
a variant spelling of cola
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Kolding
a port in Denmark, in E Jutland at the head of Kolding Fjord (an inlet of the Little Belt). Pop: 54 941 (2004 est)
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Kolhapur
a city in W India, in S Maharashtra: university (1963). Pop: 485 183 (2001)
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kolinsky
any of various Asian minks, esp Mustela sibirica of Siberia
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Kolkata
the official name of Calcutta
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kolkhoz
a Russian collective farm
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Kollywood
the Tamil-language film industry, based at Kodambakkam in S India [a blend of Kodambakkam + Hollywood; compare Bollywood]
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Kolmar
the German name for Colmar
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kolo
a Serbian folk dance in which a circle of people dance slowly around one or more dancers in the centre
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Kolomna
a city in the W central Russia, at the confluence of the Moskva and Oka Rivers: railway engineering centre. Pop: 151 500 (1999 est)
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Kolozsvár
the Hungarian name for Cluj
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Kolyma
a river in NE Russia, rising in the Kolyma Mountains north of the Sea of Okhotsk and flowing generally north to the East Siberian Sea. Length: 2600 km (1615 miles)
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Komati
a river in southern Africa, rising in E South Africa and flowing east through Swaziland and Mozambique to the Indian Ocean at Delagoa Bay. Length: about 800 km (500 miles)
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komatik
a sledge having wooden runners and crossbars bound with rawhide, used by the Inuit and other related peoples
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kombu
a dark brown seaweed of the genus Laminaria (class Phaeophyceae) the leaves of which are dried and used esp in Japanese cookery
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Komi
a member of a Finno-Ugric people living chiefly in the Komi Republic, in the NW Urals
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Kommunarsk
the former name (until 1992) of Alchevsk
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komondor
a large powerful dog of an ancient Hungarian breed, originally used for sheep herding. It has a very long white coat that hangs in woolly or matted locks
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Komsomol
(formerly) the youth association of the Soviet Union for 14- to 26-year-olds
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Komsomolsk
an industrial city in W Russia, on the Amur River: built by members of the Komsomol (Communist youth league) in 1932. Pop: 275 000 (2005 est)
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Konakry
variant spellings of Conakry
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konbu
a variant of kombu
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kondo
(in Uganda) a thief or armed robber
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koneke
a farm vehicle with runners in front and wheels at the rear
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Kongo
a member of a Negroid people of Africa living in the tropical forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre), Congo Brazzaville, and Angola
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kongoni
an E African hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus
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konimeter
a device for measuring airborne dust concentration in which samples are obtained by sucking the air through a hole and allowing it to pass over a glass plate coated with grease on which the particles collect
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konini
the edible dark purple berry of the kotukutuku (tree fuchsia)
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koniology
the study of atmospheric dust and its effects
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Konstanz
the German name for Constance
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Konya
a city in SW central Turkey: in ancient times a Phrygian city and capital of Lycaonia. Pop: 883 000 (2005 est)
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koodoo
a variant spelling of kudu
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kook
an eccentric, crazy, or foolish person
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Charles Simpson
Reason for adoption: Too many kooks spoil the broth
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kookaburra
a large arboreal Australian kingfisher, Dacelo novaeguineae (or gigas), with a cackling cry
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kooky
crazy, eccentric, or foolish
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Diana Law
Reason for adoption: because I love the way he says it
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koori
a native Australian
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Kootenay
a river in W North America, rising in SE British Columbia and flowing south into NW Montana, then north into Idaho before re-entering British Columbia, broadening into Kootenay Lake, then flowing to the Columbia River. Length: 655 km (407 miles)
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kop
a prominent isolated hill or mountain in southern Africa
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Tim Parker-Smith
Reason for adoption: I chose this as it has just been his birthday and he is Liverpool's greatest fan.
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kopeck
a monetary unit of Russia and Belarus worth one hundredth of a rouble: coins are still used as tokens for coin-operated machinery although the kopeck itself is virtually valueless
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Kopeisk
a city in SW central Russia, in Chelyabinsk province: lignite mining. Pop: 24 000 (2005 est)
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koph
the 19th letter in the Hebrew alphabet () transliterated as q, and pronounced as a velar or uvular stop
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kopiyka
a monetary unit of Ukraine, worth one hundredth of a hryvna
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kopje
a small isolated hill
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koppa
a consonantal letter in the Greek alphabet pronounced like kappa (K) with the point of articulation further back in the throat. It became obsolete in classical (Attic) Greek orthography, but was passed on to the Romans who incorporated it into their alphabet as Q
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kora
a West African instrument with twenty-one strings, combining features of the harp and the lute
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Koran
the sacred book of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the infallible word of God dictated to Mohammed through the medium of the angel Gabriel
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korari
a native New Zealand flax plant, Phormium tenax
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Korçë
a market town in SE Albania. Pop: 67 100 (1991 est)
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Kordofan
a region of the central Sudan: consists of a plateau with rugged uplands (the Nuba Mountains). Area: 380 548 sq km (146 930 sq miles)
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Kordofanian
a group of languages spoken in the Kordofan and Nuba Hills of the S Sudan: classed as an independent family, probably distantly related to Niger-Congo
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Korea
a former country in E Asia, now divided into two separate countries, North Korea and South Korea. Korea occupied the peninsula between the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea: an isolated vassal of Manchu China for three centuries until the opening of ports to Japanese trade in 1876; gained independence in 1895; annexed to Japan in 1910 and divided in 1945 into two occupation zones (Russian in the north, American in the south), which became North Korea and South Korea in 1948
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Korean
of or relating to Korea, its people, or their language
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korero
a talk or discussion; meeting
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korfball
a game similar to basketball, in which each team consists of six men and six women
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korimako
another name for bellbird
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Kórinthos
transliteration of the Modern Greek name for Corinth
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korma
any of a variety of Indian dishes consisting of meat or vegetables braised with water, stock, yogurt, or cream
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koro
an elderly Maori man
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koromiko
a flowering New Zealand shrub, Hebe salicifolia
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korora
another name for fairy penguin
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korowai
a decorative woven cloak worn by a Maori chief
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Korsakoffian
relating to or suffering from Korsakoff's psychosis
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Kortrijk
the Flemish name for Courtrai
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koru
a stylized curved pattern used esp in carving
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koruna
the standard monetary unit of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, divided into 100 hellers
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kos
an Indian unit of distance having different values in different localities. It is usually between 1 and 3 miles or 1 and 5 kilometres
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Kosciuszko
a mountain in Australia, in SE New South Wales in the Australian Alps: the highest peak in Australia. Height: 2230 m (7316 ft)
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kosher
conforming to religious law; fit for use: esp, (of food) prepared in accordance with the dietary laws
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Kosovo
an autonomous province of Serbia and Montenegro, in SW Serbia: chiefly Albanian in population since the 13th century, it declared independence in 1990; Serb suppression of separatists escalated to a policy of ethnic cleansing in 1998, provoking NATO airstrikes against Serbia in 1999: now under UN administration: mainly a plateau. Capital: Pristina. Pop: 2 325 000 (2001 est). Area: 10 887 sq km (4203 sq miles)
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Kostroma
a city in W central Russia, on the River Volga: fought over bitterly by Novgorod, Tver, and Moscow, until annexed by Moscow in 1329; textile centre. Pop: 280 000 (2005 est)
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Kota
a city in NW India, in Rajasthan on the Chambal River: textile industry. op.: 695 899 (2001)
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Kotabaru
a former name of Jayapura
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kotahitanga
unity or solidarity
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kotare
a small greenish-blue kingfisher, Halcyon sanctus, found in New Zealand, Australia, and some Pacific islands to the north
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kotch
to vomit
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koto
a Japanese stringed instrument, consisting of a rectangular wooden body over which are stretched silk strings, which are plucked with plectrums or a nail-like device
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kotuku
the white heron, Egretta alba, having brilliant white plumage, black legs and yellow eyes and bill
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kotukutuku
a New Zealand forest tree, Fuchsia excorticata, with dark purple fruit called konini
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koulibiaca
a Russian baked dish consisting of flaked fish mixed with semolina encased in pastry
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koumis
a variant spelling of kumiss
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kouprey
a large wild member of the cattle tribe, Box sauveli, of SE Asia, having a blackish-brown body and white legs: an endangered species
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koura
either of two New Zealand freshwater crayfish of the genus Paranephrops
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Kourou
a town in N central French Guiana; site of the European Space Agency's launch and research base. Pop: 19 107 (1999)
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Kovno
transliteration of the Russian name for Kaunas
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Kovrov
a city in W central Russia, on the Klyazma River: textiles and heavy engineering. Pop: 155 000 (2005 est)
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Kowaiti
a variant of Kuwaiti
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Koweit
a variant of Kuwait
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kowhai
a small leguminous tree, Sophora tetraptera, of New Zealand and Chile, with clusters of yellow flowers
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kowhaiwhai
a type of ornamental Maori art that uses elaborate scroll patterns
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Kowloon
a peninsula of SE China, opposite Hong Kong Island: part of the former British colony of Hong Kong. Area: 10 sq km (3.75 sq miles)
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kowtow
to touch the forehead to the ground as a sign of deference: a former Chinese custom
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Kozhikode
a port in SW India, in W Kerala on the Malabar coast: important European trading post (1511--1765): formerly calico-manufacturing. Pop: 436 527 (2001)
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kp
Democratic Republic of Korea
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kph
kilometres per hour
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kr
Republic of Korea
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kr.
krona
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Kra
an isthmus of SW Thailand, between the Bay of Bengal and the Gulf of Siam: the narrowest part of the Malay Peninsula. Width: about 56 km (35 miles)
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kraal
a hut village in southern Africa, esp one surrounded by a stockade
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kraft
strong wrapping paper, made from pulp processed with a sulphate solution
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Kragujevac
a town in E central Serbia and Montenegro, in Serbia; capital of Serbia (1818--39); automobile industry. Pop: 145 890 (2002)
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krait
any nonaggressive brightly coloured venomous elapid snake of the genus Bungarus, of S and SE Asia
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Krakatoa
a volcanic island in Indonesia, in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra: partially destroyed by its eruption in 1883, the greatest in recorded history. Further eruptions 44 years later formed a new island, Anak Krakatau (``Child of Krakatau'')
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Krakau
the German name for Cracow
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kraken
a legendary sea monster of gigantic size believed to dwell off the coast of Norway
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Kraków
the Polish name for Cracow
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Kramatorsk
a city in Ukraine: a major industrial centre of the Donets Basin. Pop: 177 000 (2005 est)
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krameria
another name for rhatany
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Kranj
the Slovene name for Carniola
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krans
a sheer rock face; precipice
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Krasnodar
an industrial city in SW Russia, on the Kuban River. Pop: 650 000 (2005 est)
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Krasnoyarsk
a city in E central Russia, on the Yenisei River: the country's largest hydroelectric power station is nearby. Pop: 912 000 (2005 est)
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Kraut
a derogatory word for German
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Krefeld
a city in Germany, in W North Rhine-Westphalia: textile industries. Pop: 238 565 (2003 est)
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Kremenchug
an industrial city in E central Ukraine on the Dnieper River. Pop: 234 000 (2005 est)
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kremlin
the citadel of any Russian city
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Kremlinology
(formerly) the study and analysis of the policies and practices of the Soviet government
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Krems
a town in NE Austria, in Lower Austria on the River Danube. Pop: 23 713 (2001)
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kreplach
small filled dough casings usually served in soup
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kreutzer
any of various former copper and silver coins of Germany or Austria
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kriegspiel
a form of war game in which symbols representing military formations are moved about on maps
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Kriemhild
(in the Nibelungenlied) the wife of Siegfried. She corresponds to Gudrun in Norse mythology
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krill
any small shrimplike marine crustacean of the order Euphausiacea: the principal food of whalebone whales
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krimmer
a tightly curled light grey fur obtained from the skins of lambs from the Crimean region
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Krio
the English-based creole widely used as a lingua franca in Sierra Leone. Its principal language of admixture is Yoruba
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Kriol
a creole language used by Aboriginal communities in the northern regions of Australia, developed from Northern Territory pidgin
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kris
a Malayan and Indonesian stabbing or slashing knife with a scalloped edge
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Krishna
a river in S India, rising in the Western Ghats and flowing generally southeast to the Bay of Bengal. Length: 1300 km (800 miles)
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Kristiania
a former name (1877--1924) of Oslo
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Kristiansand
a port in S Norway, on the Skagerrak: shipbuilding. Pop: 75 280 (2004 est)
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Kristianstad
a town in S Sweden: founded in 1614 as a Danish fortress, it was finally acquired by Sweden in 1678. Pop: 75 590 (2004 est)
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Kríti
transliteration of the Modern Greek name for Crete
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KRL
knowledge representation language (in artificial intelligence)
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kromesky
a croquette consisting of a piece of bacon wrapped round minced meat or fish
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krona
the standard monetary unit of Sweden, divided into 100 öre
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krone
the standard monetary unit of Denmark, the Faeroe Islands, and Greenland, divided into 100 øre
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Kronos
a variant of Cronus
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Kronstadt
a port in NW Russia, on Kotlin island in the Gulf of Finland: naval base. Pop: 44 400 (1994 est)
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kroon
the standard monetary unit of Estonia, divided into 100 senti
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KRP
king's rook's pawn
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Krugerrand
a South African coin used for investment only and containing 1 troy ounce of gold
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Krugersdorp
a city in NE South Africa, on the Witwatersrand, at an altitude of 1720 m (5650 ft): a gold-, manganese-, and uranium-mining centre. Pop: 86 618 (2001)
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kruller
a variant spelling of cruller
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krummholz
another name for elfin forest
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krummhorn
a variant spelling of crumhorn
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krumping
a type of dancing in which participants, often wearing face paint, dance with one another in a fast and aggressive style mimicking a fight but without any physical contact
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Krym
transliteration of the Russian name for Crimea
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krypton
an inert gaseous element occurring in trace amounts in air and used in fluorescent lights and lasers. Symbol: Kr; atomic no: 36; atomic wt: 83.80; valency: 0; density: 3.733 kg/m3; melting pt: --157.37°C; boiling pt: --153.23±0.10°C
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krytron
a type of fast electronic gas-discharge switch, used as a trigger in nuclear weapons
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KS
Kansas
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KSG
Knight of the Order of St Gregory the Great (a Papal honorary title)
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Kshatriya
a member of the second of the four main Hindu castes, the warrior caste
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KStJ
Knight of the Order of St John
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kt
karat
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Kuban
a river in SW Russia, rising in the Caucasus Mountains and flowing north and northwest to the Sea of Azov. Length: 906 km (563 miles)
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kuchen
a breadlike cake containing apple, nuts, and sugar, originating from Germany
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Kuching
a port in E Malaysia, capital of Sarawak state, on the Sarawak River 24 km (15 miles) from its mouth. Pop: 152 310 (2000)
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kudlik
an Inuit soapstone seal-oil lamp
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kudos
acclaim, glory, or prestige
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kudu
either of two spiral-horned antelopes, Tragelaphus strepsiceros (greater kudu) or T. imberbis (lesser kudu), which inhabit the bush of Africa
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kudzu
a hairy leguminous climbing plant, Pueraria thunbergiana, of China and Japan, with trifoliate leaves and purple fragrant flowers
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kueh
(in Malaysia) any cake of Malay, Chinese, or Indian origin
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Kuenlun
a variant spelling of Kunlun
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Kufic
of, relating to, or denoting an early form of the Arabic alphabet employed in making copies of the Koran
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kufiyah
a variant of keffiyeh
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kuia
a Maori female elder or elderly woman
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Kuibyshev
the former name (until 1991) of Samara
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kukri
a knife with a curved blade that broadens towards the point, esp as used by Gurkhas
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kuku
a mussel
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kula
a ceremonial gift exchange practised among a group of islanders in the W Pacific, used to establish relations between islands
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kulak
(in Russia after 1906) a member of the class of peasants who became proprietors of their own farms. After the October Revolution the kulaks opposed collectivization of land, but in 1929 Stalin initiated their liquidation
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kulan
the Asiatic wild ass of the Russian steppes, probably a variety of kiang or onager
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kulbasa
a traditional garlic sausage of Eastern European origin [from Polish kie_basa, Ukrainian kovbasa]
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kulfi
an Indian dessert made by freezing milk which has been concentrated by boiling away some of the water in it, and flavoured with nuts and cardamom seeds
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Kultur
(often used ironically) German civilization, esp as characterized by authoritarianism and earnestness
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Kulturkampf
the struggle of the Prussian state against the Roman Catholic Church (1872--87), which took the form of laws designed to bring education, marriage, etc, under the control of the state
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Kulun
the Chinese name for Ulan Bator
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Kumamoto
a city in SW Japan, on W central Kyushu: Kumamoto Medical University (1949). Pop: 653 835 (2002 est)
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kumara
a convolvulaceous twining plant, Ipomoea batatas, of tropical America, cultivated in the tropics for its edible fleshy yellow root
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kumarahou
a shrub, Pomaderris kumeraho, found in the north of New Zealand's North Island, the flowers of which produce a soap-like lather when rubbed
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Kumasi
a city in S Ghana: seat of Ashanti kings since 1663; university (1961); market town for a cocoa-producing region. Pop: 862 000 (2005 est)
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Kumayri
a city in NW Armenia: textile centre. Pop: 144 000 (2005 est)
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kumbaloi
another name for worry beads
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kumikumi
another name for kamokamo
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kumiss
a drink made from fermented mare's or other milk, drunk by certain Asian tribes, esp in Russia or used for dietetic and medicinal purposes
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kumite
freestyle sparring or fighting
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kummerbund
a variant spelling of cummerbund
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Kumon
a method of teaching mathematics, reading, and languages in which students start at a level of work at which they have a firm grasp of facts and concepts and then, working at their own pace in an individualized study programme of problem-solving on worksheets, progress by small steps to more advanced levels of knowledge
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kumquat
any of several small Chinese trees of the rutaceous genus Fortunella
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Jonathan Frawley
Reason for adoption: I like the way it sounds.
View the word page here.
kuna
the standard monetary unit of Croatia, divided into 100 lipa
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kundalini
(in yoga) the life force that resides at the base of the spine
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kunekune
a feral pig
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kung fu
any of various Chinese martial arts, some focusing on unarmed combat, others involving the use of weapons
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Kungur
a variant transliteration of the Chinese name for Kongur Shan
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kunjoos
mean or stingy
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Kunlun
a mountain range in China, between the Tibetan plateau and the Tarim Basin, extending over 1600 km (1000 miles) east from the Pamirs: the largest mountain system of Asia. Highest peak: Ulugh Muztagh, 7723 m (25 338 ft)
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Kunming
a city in SW China, capital of Yunnan province, near Lake Tien: important during World War II as a Chinese military centre, American air base, and transport terminus for the Burma Road; Yunnan University (1934). Pop: 1 748 000 (2005 est)
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kunzite
a pink-coloured transparent variety of the mineral spodumene: a gemstone
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Kuomintang
the political party founded by Sun Yat-sen in 1911 and dominant in China from 1928 until 1949 under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek. Since then it has been the official ruling party of Taiwan
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Kuopio
a city in S central Finland. Pop: 88 250 (2003 est)
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Kura
a river in W Asia, rising in NE Turkey and flowing across Georgia and Azerbaijan to the Caspian Sea. Length: 1515 km (941 miles)
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kurchatovium
another name for rutherfordium, esp as used in the former Soviet Union
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Kurd
a member of a nomadic people living chiefly in E Turkey, N Iraq, and W Iran
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kurdaitcha
(in certain Central Australian Aboriginal tribes) the man with the mission of avenging the death of a tribesman
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Kurdish
the language of the Kurds, belonging to the West Iranian branch of the Indo-European family
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Kurdistan
a large plateau and mountainous region, between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea, south of the Caucasus. Area: over 29 000 sq km (74 000 sq miles)
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Kure
a port in SW Japan, on SW Honshu: a naval base; shipyards. Pop: 202 628 (2002 est)
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Kurgan
a city in W Russia, on the Tobol River: industrial centre for an agricultural region. Pop: 344 000 (2005 est)
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kuri
a mongrel dog
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Kurland
a variant spelling of Courland
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Kuroshio
another name for Japan Current
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kurrajong
any of various Australian trees or shrubs, esp Brachychiton populneum, a sterculiaceous tree that yields a tough durable fibre
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kursaal
a public room at a health resort
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Kursk
a city in W Russia: industrial centre of an agricultural region: scene of a major Soviet victory (1943). Pop: 410 000 (2005 est)
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kurta
a long loose garment like a shirt without a collar worn in India
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kurtosis
a measure of the concentration of a distribution around its mean, esp the statistic B2 = m4/m22 where m2 and m4 are respectively the second and fourth moment of the distribution around the mean. In a normal distribution B2 = 3
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kuru
a degenerative disease of the nervous system, restricted to certain tribes in New Guinea, marked by loss of muscular control and thought to be caused by a slow virus
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kuru
a Turkish monetary unit worth one hundredth of a lira
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Kurzeme
the Latvian name for Courland
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Kush
a variant spelling of Cush
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Kuskokwim
a river in SW Alaska, rising in the Alaska Range and flowing generally southwest to Kuskokwim Bay an inlet of the Bering Sea. Length: about 970 km (600 miles)
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kuta
a male dog
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Kutaisi
an industrial city in W Georgia on the Rioni River: one of the oldest towns of the Caucasus. Pop: 175 000 (2005 est)
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Kutch
a former state of W India, on the Gulf of Kutch (an inlet of the Arabian Sea): part of Gujarat state since 1960
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kuti
a female dog; bitch
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kutu
a body louse
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Kuwait
a state on the NW coast of the Persian Gulf: came under British protection in 1899 and gained independence in 1961; invaded by Iraq in 1990; liberated by US-led UN forces 1991 in the Gulf War: mainly desert. The economy is dependent on oil. Official language: Arabic. Official religion: Muslim. Currency: dinar. Capital: Kuwait. Pop: 2 595 000 (2004 est). Area: 24 280 sq km (9375 sq miles)
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Kuwaiti
of or relating to Kuwait or its inhabitants
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kV
kilovolt
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Kvaløy
two islands in the Arctic Ocean, off the N coast of Norway: North Kvaløy, 329 sq km (127 sq miles), and South Kvaløy, 735 sq km (284 sq miles)
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kvass
an alcoholic drink of low strength made in Russia and E Europe from cereals and stale bread
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kvell
to be happy or show satisfaction
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kvetch
to complain or grumble, esp incessantly
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kvetchy
tending to grumble or complain; complaining
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kw
Kuwait
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Kwa
a group of languages, now generally regarded as a branch of the Niger-Congo family, spoken in an area of W Africa extending from the Ivory Coast to E Nigeria and including Akan, Ewe, Yoruba, and Ibo
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kwacha
the standard monetary unit of Zambia, divided into 100 ngwee
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kwaito
a type of South African pop music with lyrics spoken over an instrumental backing usually consisting of slowed-down house music layered with African percussion and melodies
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Kwajalein
an atoll in the W Pacific, in the W Marshall Islands, in the central part of the Ralik Chain. Length: about 125 km (78 miles)
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Kwakiutl
a member of a North American Indian people of N Vancouver Island and the adjacent mainland
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Kwangchow
a variant transliteration of the Chinese name for Canton
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Kwangchowan
a territory of SE China, in SW Kwantung province: leased to France as part of French Indochina from 1898 to 1945. Area: 842 sq km (325 sq miles)
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Kwangju
a city in SW South Korea: an important military base during the Korean War; cotton textile industry. Pop: 1 448 000 (2005 est)
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Kwangtung
a variant transliteration of the Chinese name for Guangdong
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kwanza
the standard monetary unit of Angola, divided into 100 lwei
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Kwanzaa
a seven-day festival beginning on Dec 26 when African-Americans celebrate family, community, and culture
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Kwara
a state of W Nigeria: mainly wooded savanna. Capital: Ilorin. Pop: 1 751 464 (1995 est). Area: 36 825 sq km (14 218 sq miles)
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kwashiorkor
severe malnutrition of infants and young children, esp soon after weaning, resulting from dietary deficiency of protein
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KwaZulu
(formerly) a Bantu homeland in South Africa, in Natal: abolished in 1993 and became part of the new province of KwaZulu/Natal in 1994. Capital: Ulundi
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KwaZulu/Natal
a province of NE South Africa; replaced the former province of Natal in 1994: service industries. Capital: Pietermaritzburg. Pop: 9 665 875 (2004 est). Area: 92 180 sq km (35 591 sq miles)
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Kwedien
a young African boy, esp one who has not yet undergone the rites of initiation
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Kweichow
a variant transliteration of the Chinese name for Guizhou
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Kweilin
a variant transliteration of the Chinese name for Guilin
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Kweisui
the former name of Hohhot
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Kweiyang
a variant transliteration of the Chinese name for Guiyang
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kwela
a type of pop music popular among the Black communities of South Africa
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kWh
kilowatt-hour
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KWIC
key word in context (esp in the phrase KWIC index)
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KWOC
key word out of context
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KWT
Kuwait
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ky
Cayman Islands
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Ky.
Kentucky
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kyanite
a grey, green, or blue mineral consisting of aluminium silicate in triclinic crystalline form. It occurs in metamorphic rocks and is used as a refractory. Formula AL2SiO5
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kyanize
to treat (timber) with corrosive sublimate to make it resistant to decay
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kyat
the standard monetary unit of Myanmar, divided into 100 pyas
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kybo
a temporary lavatory constructed for use when camping
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kybosh
a variant spelling of kibosh
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kye
a Scottish and Northern English variant of kine
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kyle
(esp in place names) a narrow strait or channel
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kylie
a boomerang that is flat on one side and convex on the other
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kylin
(in Chinese art) a mythical animal of composite form
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kylix
a shallow two-handled drinking vessel used in ancient Greece
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kyloe
a breed of small long-horned long-haired beef cattle from NW Scotland
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kümmel
a German liqueur flavoured with aniseed and cumin
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kymograph
a rotatable drum for holding paper on which a tracking stylus continuously records variations in blood pressure, respiratory movements, etc
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Kymric
a variant spelling of Cymric
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Kymry
a variant spelling of Cymry
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Kyongsong
another name for Seoul
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Kyoto
a city in central Japan, on S Honshu: the capital of Japan from 794 to 1868; cultural centre, with two universities (1875, 1897). Pop: 1 387 264 (2002 est)
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kype
the hook on the lower jaw of a mature male salmon
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kyphosis
backward curvature of the thoracic spine, of congenital origin or resulting from injury or disease; hunchback
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Kyrgyz
a member of a Mongoloid people of central Asia, inhabiting Kyrgyzstan and a vast area of central Siberia
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Kyrgyzstan
a republic in central Asia: came under Russian rule in the 19th century, became a Soviet republic in 1936 and gained independence in 1991; it has deposits of minerals, oil, and gas. Official languages: Kyrgyz and Russian. Religion: nonreligious, Muslim. Currency: som. Capital: Bishkek. Pop: 5 208 000 (2004 est). Area: 198 500 sq km (76 460 sq miles)
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kyte
the belly
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Kythera
a variant spelling of Cythera
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kyu
one of the five student grades for inexperienced competitors
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Kyushu
an island of SW Japan: the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, with over 300 surrounding small islands; coalfield and chemical industries. Chief cities: Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, and Nagasaki. Pop: 14 786 000 (2002 est). Area: 35 659 sq km (13 768 sq miles)
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kz
Kazakhstan
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KZN
KwaZulu/Natal
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Kärnten
the German name for Carinthia
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Köchel
See K
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Köln
the German name for Cologne
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Königgrätz
the German name for Hradec Králové
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Königsberg
the former name (until 1946) of Kaliningrad
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Königshütte
the German name for Chorzów
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København
the Danish name for Copenhagen
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