M Set3

metamorphosis	n. (fml) change of form or nature, eg by natural growth or development
metaphor	n. use of a word or phrase to indicate sth different from (though related in some way to) the literal meaning, as in `I'll make him eat his words' or `She has a heart of stone' I'll make him eat his wordsShe has a heart of stone
metaphysical	adj. of metaphysics
mete	v. mete sth out (to sb) (fml ) give or administer (punishment, rewards, etc)
meteoric	adj. of meteors
meter	n. device that measures the volume of gas, water, etc passing through it, time passing, electrical current, distance, etc
methodical	adj. done in an orderly, logical way
meticulous	adj. ~ giving or showing great precision and care; very attentive to detail
metrical	adj. of or composed in verse, not prose
metropolis	n. chief city of a region or country; capital
mettle	n. quality of endurance or courage, esp in people or horses
miasma	n. (fml ) unhealthy or unpleasant mist, etc
microcosm	n. thing or being regarded as representing the universe, or mankind, on a small scale; miniature representation
migrant	n, adj person or animal who migrates
migratory	adj. having or of the habit of migrating
milieu	n. (usu sing ) social surroundings; environment
militant	adj. using force or strong pressure, or supporting their use, to achieve one's aims
militate	v. ~ against sth (of evidence, facts, etc) have great force or influence to prevent sth
militia	n. force of civilians who are trained as soldiers and reinforce the regular army in the internal defence of the country in an emergency
millennium	n. period of 1000 years
millinery	n. (trimmings for) women's hats
mime	n. (in the theatre, etc) use of only facial expressions and gestures to tell a story
mimicry	n. mimicking
minatory	adj. threatening
mincing	adj. affected
mingle	v. ~ with sth/~ (together) form a mixture with sth; combine
miniature	n. very small detailed painting, usu of a person
minion	n. (derog or joc ) subordinate or assistant, esp one who tries to win favour by obeying a superior slavishly
minuscule	adj. very small; tiny ;
minute	n. one sixtieth part of an hour, equal to 60 seconds , 60
minutiae	n. very small or unimportant details
mirage	n. optical illusion caused by hot air conditions, esp that of a sheet of water seeming to appear in the desert or on a hot road
mire	n. swampy ground or bog; soft deep mud
mirth	n. merriment orhappiness; laughter
misadventure	n. (piece of) bad luck; misfortune
misanthrope	a person who hates or distrusts mankind
misapprehension	n. under a misappre`hension not understanding correctly
miscellaneous	adj. of various kinds
miscellany	n. ~ varied collection of items
mischance	n. (piece of) bad luck
mischief	n. behaviour that is annoying or does slight damage, but is not malicious (used esp as in the expressions shown)
misconduct	n. (esp law ) improper behaviour, esp of a sexual or professional kind
misconstrue	v. get a wrong idea of or misinterpret (sb's words, acts, etc)
miscreant	n. villain; wrongdoer ;
misdemeanor	a crime less serious than a felony
miserly	adj. like a miser; mean or selfish
misgivings	[ misgiving: ] a feeling of uncertainty, apprehension, or doub
mishap	n. unlucky accident(usu not serious)
misnomer	n. wrong use of a name, word or description
misogamy	hatred of marriage
misogynist	n. person who hates women
missile	n. object or weapon that is thrown or fired at a target
missive	n. letter, esp a long or official one
mite	n. very small or modest contribution or offering
mitigate	v. make (sth) less severe, violent or painful; moderate
mnemonic	adj. of or designed to help the memory
mobile	adj. that can move or be moved easily and quickly from place to place
mock	v. ~ makefun of (sb/sth), esp by mimicking him/it contemptuously; ridicule
mode	n. ~ (fml ) way or manner in which sth is done
modicum	n. ~ small or moderate amount of sth
modish	adj. fashionable
modulate	v. vary the strength, volume or pitch of
modulation	toning down; changing from one key to another
mogul	n. very rich, important or influential person
molecule	n. smallest unit into which a substance can be divided without a change in its chemical nature
mollify	v. lessen the anger of (sb); make calmer; soothe
mollycoddle	v. treat (sb) with too much kindness and protection; pamper
molt	the act or process of sheding hair, feathers, shell, horns, or an outer layer periodically; specifically :ECDYSIS
molten	adj. melted or made liquid by heating to a very high temperature
momentous	adj. very important; serious
momentum	n. force that increases the rate of development of a process; impetus
monarchy	n. system of government by a monarch
monastic	adj. of or relating to monks or monasteries
monetary	adj. of money or currency
mongrel	n. dog of mixed breed
monochromatic	having or consisting of one color or hue
monochrome	adj. having or using images in black, white and shades of grey; black and white
monogram	n. two or more letterscombined in one design and marked on handkerchiefs, notepaper, etc ,
monograph	n. detailed scholarly study of one subject
monolithic	adj. consisting of one or more monoliths
monotheism	n. belief that there is only one God
monotony	n. state of being monotonous; lack of variety that causes weariness and boredom
monumental	adj. of, related to or serving as a monument
moodiness	n.
moratorium	n. ~ (on sth) temporary stopping of an activity, esp by official agreement
morbid	adj. having or showing an interest in gloomy or unpleasant things, esp disease or death
mordant	adj. very sarcastic; biting
mores	n. customs or conventions considered typical of or essential to a group or communtiy
morgue	n. building in which dead bodies are kept before being buried or cremated; mortuary ;
moribund	adj. at the point of death; about to come to an end
morose	adj. very unhappy, bad-tempered and silent; sullen
mortar	n. mixture of lime or cement, sand and water, used to hold bricks, stones, etc together in building
mortician	n. =undertaker
mortify	v. cause (sb) to be very ashamed or embarrassed
mosaic	n. picture or pattern made by placing together small pieces of glass, stone, etc of different colours
mote	n. small particle, usu of dust; speck ;
motif	n. decorative design or pattern
motility	ability to move spontaneously and independently
motley	adj. of many different types of people or things
mottled	adj. marked with patches of different colours without a regular pattern
motto	n. short sentence or phrase chosen and used as a guide or rule of behaviour or as an expression of the aims or ideals of a family, a country, an institution, etc
mountebank	n. person who tries to cheat others by clever talk; swindler
muddle	v. ~ sth (up) put sth into disorder; mix sth up
muggy	adj. (of weather) oppressively warm and damp
mulct	defraud a person of something; fine
multifarious	adj. of many different kinds; having great variety
multiform	having many forms
multilingual	adj. speaking or using many languages
multiplicity	n. ~ of sth large number or great variety of things
mundane	adj. ordinary and typically unexciting
munificent	adj. extremely generous; (of sth given) large in amount or splendid in quality
mural	n. painting done on a wall
murky	adj. unpleasantly dark; gloomy
murmur	n. low continuous indistinct sound
muse	n. the Muses the nine goddesses, daughters of Zeus or Jupiter, who protected and encouraged poetry, music, dancing, history and other branches of art and literature ,
musky	adj. (smelling) like musk
muster	n. assembly or gathering of people or things, esp for review or inspection
musty	adj. smelling or tasting stale, mouldy and damp
mutable	adj. liable to change; likely to change ;
mutablility
mute	adj. silent; making no sound
muted	(of a sound or colour) softened
mutilate	v. injure, damage or disfigure by breaking, tearing or cutting off a necessary part
mutinous	adj. guilty of mutiny; refusing to obey; rebellious
mutter	v. ~ (to sb) (about sth) speak or say (sth) in a low voice that is hard to hear
myopic	adj. short-sighted
myriad	n. extremely large number
mystic	adj. of hidden meaning or spiritual power, esp in religion