n. - small hard round growth on the skin.

- protuberance on the skin of an animal, surface of a plant, etc. warts and all colloq. With no attempt to conceal blemishes. warty adj. [old english]

adj. (-ier, -iest) 1 on one's guard; circumspect.

- (foll. By of) cautious.

- showing caution. warily adv. Wariness n. [ware look out for, avoid]

—v. - cleanse with liquid, esp. Water.

- (foll. By out, off, away, etc.) A remove (a stain) in this way. B (of a stain etc.) Be removed by washing.

- wash oneself or one's hands and face.

- wash clothes, dishes, etc.

- (of fabric or dye) bear washing without damage.

- (of an argument etc.) Stand scrutiny; be believed or acceptable.

- (of a river, waters, etc.) Touch.

- (of liquid) carry along in a specified direction (was washed overboard; washed up on the shore).

- (foll. By over, along, etc.) Sweep, move, or splash. 10 (foll. By over) occur all around without greatly affecting (a person). 11 sift (ore) by the action of water. 12 brush watery paint or ink over. 13 poet. Moisten, water. —n. - a washing or being washed. B (prec. By the) a laundry etc. (sent them to the wash).

- clothes etc. For washing or just washed.

- motion of agitated water or air, esp.

n. (also wasp) us usu. Derog. Middle-class american white protestant. [white anglo-saxon protestant]

- n. Stinging insect with black and yellow stripes. [old english]

n. Si unit of power, equivalent to one joule per second, corresponding to the rate of energy in an electric circuit where the potential difference is one volt and the current one ampere. [watt, name of an engineer]

machine n. Device at a swimming-pool producing waves.

- —v. (-ving) 1 a (often foll. By to) move a hand etc. To and fro in greeting or as a signal. B move (a hand etc.) In this way.

- a show a sinuous or sweeping motion as of a flag, tree, corn, etc. In the wind. B impart a waving motion to.

- direct (a person) by waving (waved them away; waved them to follow).

- express (a greeting etc.) By waving.

- give an undulating form to (hair etc.).

- (of hair etc.) Have such a form. —n. - ridge of water between two depressions.

- long body of water curling into an arch and breaking on the shore.

- thing compared to this, e.g. A body of persons in one of successive advancing groups.

- gesture of waving.

- a process of waving the hair. B undulating form produced by this.

- temporary occurrence or increase of a condition or influence (wave of enthusiasm; heat wave).

- physics a disturbance of the particles of esp. A fluid medium for the propagation or direction of motion, heat, light, sound, etc. B single curve in this motion.

- undulating line or outline. make waves colloq. Cause trouble. Wave aside dismiss as intrusive or irrelevant. Wave down wave to (a vehicle or driver) to stop. [old english]

adj. (-ier, -iest) having waves or alternate contrary curves. waviness n.

and means n.pl. - methods of achieving something.

- methods of raising government revenue.

- suffix forming adjectives and adverbs of direction or manner (sideways).

Abbr. Wing commander.

adj. - deficient in strength, power, vigour, resolution, or number.

- unconvincing.

- gram. (of a verb) forming inflections by the addition of a suffix to the stem. weakish adj. [old norse]

- moment n. Time when one is unusually compliant or susceptible.

- point n. (also weak spot) 1 place where defences are assailable.

- flaw in an argument or character or in resistance to temptation.