Jafje's definitions

Decay

1. To rot: To decompose and become soft, crumbly, or liquefied, or make something do this.

2. To decline in quality gradually and steadily, or make something do this.

3. To undergo spontaneous disintegration.

4. To decrease gradually in magnitude.

5. To decrease gradually in altitude.

1. The corpse is in an advanced decay.
2. Because they kept mixing their coke with sugar, the quality decayed.
3. The fosfor decayed.
4. Refers to a physical quantity or effect.
5. When in space, a satellite starts descending, orbit decays.

by Jafje April 15, 2007

Rampant

1. Occurring unchecked: Happening in an unrestrained manner, usually so as to be regarded as a menace
rampant inflation.

2. Botany growing wildly: Growing strongly and to a very large size, or spreading uncontrollably.

3. Fierce: Exhibiting ferocious behavior or fierceness of spirit.

4. Heraldry on hind legs: Describes a heraldic beast depicted rearing up, in profile, and with its forelegs raised, the right one above the left.

5. Construction with unequal supports: Having a support or an abutment that is higher on one side than the other.

1. A rampant action.
2. A rampant plant.
3. A rampant person.

by Jafje April 15, 2007

Amylase

An enzyme which breaks down starch.

There's amylase in your mouth.

by Jafje May 25, 2007

Sombre

1. Dark and gloomy: Lacking light or brightness and producing a dull, dark, or melancholy atmosphere.

2. Dark in color: Having a color or tone that is dark, dull, or suitable for a serious mood or occasion.

3. Serious and melancholy: Marked by or conveying strict seriousness combined with sadness or a troubled state of mind.

NOTE: Sombre is the American version of the word 'Somber'. Somber is Canadian and UK spelling.

A sombre song, depressing and without variety.

by Jafje April 5, 2007

Laden

From the Dutch language;

*In Dutch: Laden (infinitive), (past tense, plural) (be/ge)laden.
*In English: To load (inf.), (past tense)loaded.

In English it's an adjective meaning;

1. Heavily loaded.

2. Oppressed by something: weighed down by a problem or an unpleasant feeling such as doubt or unhappiness.

1. Fruit-laden boughs.
2. Laden with guilt.

by Jafje September 9, 2007

Trowel

1. A small hand tool with a short handle and a flat, usually pointed blade used for spreading, shaping, and smoothing plaster, cement, mortar or dirt.

2. A gardner's hand tool with a short handle and a curved tapering blade, used for making holes to put plants and seedlings in and for other light digging work.

So in fact it's just a small spade-ish tool.

1. Builders use trowels to flatten cement.
2. A gardner uses a trowel to dig SMALL holes.

by Jafje April 15, 2007

Industrialist

A factory owner or other business person.

A factory owner is an industrialist.

by Jafje May 25, 2007