| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | condense |
| Synonyms: | abate, abbreviate, abridge, become smaller, clench, compress, confine, constrict, consume, curtail, decline, decrease, deflate, draw in, dwindle, ebb, edit, epitomize, evaporate, fall away, fall off, grow less, lessen, lose, narrow, omit, purse, recede, reduce, shrink, shrivel, subside, syncopate, take in, tighten, wane, waste, weaken, wither, wrinkle |
| Notes: | a compact is a formal agreement on rights and conduct, a treaty is a compact between nations, and a contract is a compact between two business entities |
| Antonyms: | amplify, dilate, enlarge, expand, extend, increase, lengthen, spread, stretch |
| Main Entry: | cramp |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hinder, restrain |
| Synonyms: | bottle up, box up, check, circumscribe, clamp, clasp, clog, confine, constrain, coop up, encumber, fasten, grip, hamper, hamstring, handicap, impede, inhibit, limit, object, obstruct, restrict, shackle, stymie, thwart |
| Antonyms: | allow, let go, release |
| Main Entry: | dam |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hold back; block |
| Synonyms: | bar, barricade, brake, check, choke, clog, close, confine, hinder, hold in, impede, obstruct, repress, restrain, restrict, retard, slow, stop up, suppress |
| Notes: | a dam is a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water while damn is used as an expletive meaning cursed, condemned to hell |
| Antonyms: | free, let go, liberate, release, unblock, unclog, unloose |
| Main Entry: | define |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | delimit, outline |
| Synonyms: | belt, border, bound, circumscribe, compass, confine, curb, delineate, demarcate, distinguish, edge, encircle, enclose, encompass, envelop, establish, fence in, fix, flank, gird, girdle, limit, mark, mark out, rim, set, set bounds to, settle, stake out, surround, verge, wall in |
| Main Entry: | delay |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | cause stop in action |
| Synonyms: | adjourn, arrest, bar, bide time, block, check, choke, clog, confine, curb, dawdle, defer, detain, deter, dilly-dally, discourage, drag, encumber, filibuster, gain time, hamper, hold, hold over, impede, inhibit, interfere, intermit, keep, keep back, lag, lay over, linger, loiter, obstruct, postpone, prevent, procrastinate, prolong, prorogue, protract, put off, remand, repress, restrict, retard, shelve, slacken, stall, stave off, stay, suspend, table, tarry, temporize, withhold |
| Notes: | various things may cause a delay, but a postponement will result from the action of a person |
| Antonyms: | advance, dispatch, expedite, further, hasten, hurry, rush, speed |
| Main Entry: | demarcation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | boundary, division |
| Synonyms: | bound, confine, delimitation, differentiation, distinction, enclosure, limit, margin, separation, split, terminus |
| Main Entry: | detain |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hold, keep back; arrest |
| Synonyms: | apprehend, bog down, bust, buttonhole, check, confine, constrain, decelerate, delay, hang up, hinder, hold up, ice*, impede, inhibit, intern, jail, mire, nab, pick up, pinch*, pull in, put away, reserve, restrain, retard, run in, send up, set back, slow down, slow up, withhold |
| Antonyms: | free, let go, liberate, release |
| Main Entry: | enclose |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | put inside, surround |
| Synonyms: | block off, blockade, bound, box up, cage, circle, circumscribe, close in, confine, coop, corral, cover, encase, encircle, encompass, enfold, enshroud, environ, fence, fence off, hedge, hem in, imbue, immure, implant, impound, imprison, include, induct, insert, intern, jail, limit, lock in, lock up, mew, mure, pen, restrict, set apart, shut in, veil, wall in, wrap |
| Antonyms: | free, let go, release, unloose |
| Main Entry: | end |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | extreme, limit |
| Synonyms: | borderline, bound, boundary, butt end, confine, cusp, deadline, edge, extent, extremity, foot, head, heel, limitation, neb, nib, point, prong, spire, stub, stump, tail, tail end, term, terminal, termination, terminus, tip, top, ultimate |
| Antonyms: | beginning, cause, foundation, origin |