—n. - thrusting or throwing weapon with a long shaft and a pointed usu. Steel tip.
- a tip and stem of asparagus, broccoli, etc. B blade of grass etc. —v. Pierce or strike (as) with a spear. [old english]
SPECK
—n. - small spot or stain.
- particle. —v. (esp. As specked adj.) Marked with specks. [old english]
SPECS
n.pl. Colloq. Spectacles. [abbreviation]
SPEED
limit n. Maximum permitted speed on a road etc.
- —n. - rapidity of movement.
- rate of progress or motion.
- gear appropriate to a range of speeds of a bicycle.
- photog. A sensitivity of film to light. B light-gathering power of a lens. C duration of an exposure.
- slang amphetamine drug.
- archaic success, prosperity. —v. (past and past part. Sped) 1 go or send quickly.
- (past and past part. Speeded) travel at an illegal or dangerous speed.
- archaic be or make prosperous or successful. at speed moving quickly. Speed up move or work faster. speeder n. [old english]
SPELL
v. (past and past part. Spelt or spelled) 1 (also absol.) Write or name correctly the letters of (a word etc.).
- a (of letters) form (a word etc.). B result in (spell ruin). spell out 1 make out (words etc.) Letter by letter.
- explain in detail. speller n. [french espeller related to *spell2]
- n. - words used as a charm or incantation etc.
- effect of these.
- fascination exercised by a person, activity, etc. [old english]
- n. - short or fairly short period (a cold spell).
- period of some activity or work. [old english, = substitute]
SPELT
past and past part. Of *spell1.
- n. A kind of wheat giving very fine flour. [old english]
SPEND
v. (past and past part. Spent) 1 pay out (money).
- a use or consume (time or energy). B use up (material etc.).
- (as spent adj.) Having lost its original force or strength; exhausted. spend a penny colloq. Go to the lavatory. spender n. [latin: related to *expend]
SPERM
bank n. Store of semen for artificial insemination.
- count n. Number of spermatozoa in one ejaculation or a measured amount of semen.
- n. (pl. Same or -s) 1 = *spermatozoon.
- semen. [greek sperma -mat-]
- whale n. Large whale yielding spermaceti.
SPICE
—n. - aromatic or pungent vegetable substance used to flavour food.
- spices collectively.
- a piquant quality. B (foll. By of) slight flavour or suggestion. —v. (-cing) 1 flavour with spice.
- (foll. By with) enhance (spiced with wit). [french espice]
SPICK
and span adj. - neat and clean.
- smart and new. [earlier span and span new, fresh and new like a shaved chip]
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Crocodiles and alligators are surprisingly fast on land. Although they are rapid, they are not agile; so if you ever find yourself chased by one, run in a zigzag line. You"ll lose him or her every time.