deci mal ize (BrE also -ise) /'desimalaiz/ verb [VN] 1 to change a system of coins or weights and measurements to a decimal system Jfi (  fl:#r ) &A+^ri!]

2 to express an amount using the decimal system instead of the system it is already expressed in IB A/B ffc: The question asks you to decimalize the fraction 7/&.

► decimalization,

-isa-tion /.desrmalai'zeijn; NAmE -la‘z-/ noun [U] .decimal 'place noun the position of a number after a decimal point /Jn ffc ££: The figure is accurate to two decimal places.      Wfto

.decimal 'point noun a dot or point used to separate the whole number from the tenths, hundredths, etc. of a decimal, for example in 0.61 deci mate /'desimeit/ verb [VN] 1 [usually passive] to kill large numbers of animals, plants or people in a particular area AJi^A, Ajtt^^E (         U

A ) : The rabbit population was decimated by the disease.  2 {informal) to

severely damage sth or make sth weaker   ; A

A M : Cheap imports decimated the British cycle industry.        OftiHgifffelk. ► deci­

mation /.desi’meijn/ noun [U] deci metre (BrE) (/Mmf deci meter) /'desimi:ta(r)/ noun a unit for measuring length. There are 10 decimetres in a metre.

de-cipher /dx'saifo(r)/ verb [VN] to succeed in finding the meaning of sth that is difficult to read or understand $HA ( 2tiA, ) : to decipher a code ®

if 0 Can anyone decipher his handwriting? it — see also indecipherable de-ci-sion 0-w /di^n/ noun

1                  [c] ~ (on/about sth) | ~ (to do sth) a choice or judge­

ment that you make after thinking and talking about what is the best thing to do ( fB/Blft ) :

{BrE) to take a decision (= to decide) fp tb           0      to

make a decision (= to decide) fB iB b We need a decision on this by next week. f£C]#£Tiiliuffc&^l'^IS

#                  tB *£ <, 0 Who took the decision to go ahead with

the project?       ? 0 He is really bad

at making decisions.     0 We finally

reached a decision {= decided after some difficulty).

(H A fB iB T If o 0 We must come to a   decision

about what to do next by tomorrow.    HE

T—'AfB fBo 0 a big (= an important) deci­sion —^SAWJfe^b The final decision is yours.

b It’s a difficult decision for any doctor.

O The editor’s

decision is final. ^     7 tfc X #   7 <> 0Mary is the

decision-maker in the house.

2                  (also de-cisive-ness) [U] the ability to decide sth

clearly and quickly ( h ) ;   This is not a job

for someone who lacks decision.

XfBo EG3 indecision 3 [U] the process of deciding sth fBi&A7 <£3£: The moment of decision had arrived.

de cision-making noun [u] the process of deciding about sth important, especially in a group of people or in an organization de'cision-maker noun de'cision theory noun [U] {mathematics $c) the study of making the best decision according to what you calculate you will lose or gain from each choice de cisive /di'saisiv/ adj. 1 very important for the final result of a particular situation Ai 14          ; AiW:

a decisive factor/victory/battle     aE 'I4 ift ® M / It 4 !j /

$ A o She has played a decisive role in the peace negotiations.        oa decisive

step (= an important action that will change a situ­ation) towards a cleaner environment if] Hr M SlB      — o note at essential 2 able to decide

sth quickly and with confidence MlAW;     <A®t

$]: decisive management   o The govern­

ment must take decisive action on gun control. 3% Jfi

#                  &X % t!i P*r It. ££ o       033 indecisive

► de-cisive-ly adv.

de -cisive-ness /di'saisivnas/ noun [u] = decision(2) deck /dek/ noun, verb

» noun 1 the top outside floor of a ship or boat Bp ft; ffr

517    Declaration of Independence

ffi: I was the only person on deck at that time of night.

I^RWfe—^A&Ep^Ao o As the storm began, everyone disappeared below deck(s). II MM Alim H,     2 one of the floors

of a ship or a bus (    )• —M, Jlffi: the

upperAower/main deck of a ship       / TM/

fio We sat on the top deck of the bus.

^±Mo 0 My cabin is on deck C.  Clfl.

see also double-decker(I), flight deck, single­decker 3 (also .deck of cards) {especially NAmE) = pack n.(8) 4 a wooden floor that is built outside the back of a house where you can sit and relax ( M ffi 1ft ) Ar&JXn —picture o page R24 5 a part of a sound system that records and/or plays sounds on a disc or tape ( Pifllltfj ) £f&s[t2; ( fllttl, ^2: a cassette/tape deck        ^

IB1B1 see clear v., hand n., hit v.

verb [VN] 1 [often passive] ~ sb/sth (out) (in/with sth) to decorate sb/sth with sth   AS;   The room

was decked out in flowers and balloons.

2 (informal) to hit sb very hard so that they fall to the ground fflAMlI; 4T1MMi; deck-chair /'dektj'ea(r); NAmE -tj'er/ noun a folding chair with a seat made from a long strip of material on a wooden or metal frame, used for example on a beach (       — picture o chair

deck-hand /'dekhaend/ noun a worker on a ship who does work that is not skilled ifcMzKX; #il7XX deck-house /‘dekhaus/ noun a small shelter on the deck of a ship, used for navigation or accommoda­tion () TOS

deck ing /'dekirj/ noun [U] wood used to build a floor (called a deck) in the garden/yard next to or near a house ( femm ) X6A1S

'deck quoits noun [U] (BrE) a game in which players try to throw rings of rope over wooden sticks, especially on a cruise ship Bp        iiMfr )

'deck shoe noun a flat shoe made of strong cloth or soft leather, with a soft sole which does not slip ^

miam,       )

'deck tennis noun [U] a game in which players throw a ring of rope or rubber backwards and forwards over a net especially on a cruise ship Bp^^^ (

de-claim /di'kleim/ verb {formal) to say sth loudly; to speak loudly and with force about sth you feel strongly about, especially in public (

mi#, tllStf^is]: [VN ] She declaimed the famous opening speech of the play.

o [V] He declaimed against the evils of alcohol, fife mnmn,  [also V speech, V that]

dec-lam-ation /.dekla'meijn/ noun (formal) 1 [U] the act of speaking or of expressing sth to an audience in a formal way ^ ii ; fife ^ 2 [C] a speech or piece of writing that strongly expresses feelings and opinions

de clama tory /di'klaematari; NAmE -toiri/ adj. (formal) expressing feelings or opinions in a strong way in a speech or a piece of writing 1$$£|$ubJ#J ; declaration /.dekla'reijn/ noun 1 [C, U] an official or formal statement, especially about the plans of a government or an organization; the act of making such a statement A o’; jIl n-; If; to issue/sign a declar­ation A A /        0 the declaration of war 0 the

Declaration of Independence (= of the United States) ( HQ ) 2 [C] a written or spoken statement,

especially about what people feel or believe ft BA ( 45 ) ; H a declaration of love/

faith/guilt £ £ Mlf;   &; s. ^ij ¥ o note at

statement 3 [C] an official written statement giving information ^ flx. ( #- ) : a declaration of income i[4^ ^ IRA o customs declarations {= giving details of goods that have been brought into a country) jft ( A? A it

the Declaration of Inde pendence noun [sing] the document which stated that the US was