adrenocortical
- a of or derived from the cortex of the adrenal glands
ad-lib
- n remark made spontaneously without prior preparation
his ad-libs got him in trouble with the politicians - v perform without preparation
- s with little or no preparation or forethought
his ad-lib comments showed poor judgment - s said or done without having been planned or written in advance
he made a few ad-lib remarks
ad hoc
- s often improvised or impromptu
- s for or concerned with one specific purpose
- r for one specific case
ad hominem
- s appealing to personal considerations (rather than to fact or reason)
actual
- a presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
the predicted temperature and the actual temperature were markedly different
actual and imagined conditions - s taking place in reality; not pretended or imitated
we saw the actual wedding on television
filmed the actual beating - s being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something
her actual motive - s existing in act or fact
rocks and trees...the actual world
actual heroism
the actual things that produced the emotion you experienced - s being or existing at the present moment
the ship's actual position is 22 miles due south of Key West
actuated
- v put in motion or move to act
- v give an incentive for action
- s moved to action
a man actuated by unworthy desired
actuating
- v put in motion or move to act
- v give an incentive for action
- s causing motion or action or change
aculeate
- a having or resembling a stinger or barb
aculeate insects such as bees and wasps
acuminate
- v make sharp or acute; taper; make (something) come to a point
- s (of a leaf shape) narrowing to a slender point
acute
- n a mark (') placed above a vowel to indicate pronunciation
- a having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course
acute appendicitis
the acute phase of the illness
acute patients - s extremely sharp or intense
acute pain
felt acute annoyance - s having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
an acute observer of politics and politicians - a of an angle; less than 90 degrees
- s ending in a sharp point
- s of critical importance and consequence
an acute (or critical) lack of research funds