noun

1. any of various more-or-less horizontal spars or poles used to extend the foot of a sail or for handling cargo or in mooring

2. a pole carrying an overhead microphone projected over a film or tv set

Synonym: microphone boom

3. a deep prolonged loud noise

Synonym: roarroaringthunder

4. a sudden happening that brings good fortune (as a sudden opportunity to make money)

e.g. the demand for testing has created a boom for those unregulated laboratories where boxes of specimen jars are processed like an assembly line

Synonym: bonanzagold rushgravygodsendmanna from heavenwindfallbunce

5. a state of economic prosperity

noun

1. a change for the better as a result of correcting abuses

e.g. justice was for sale before the reform of the law courts

2. self-improvement in behavior or morals by abandoning some vice

e.g. the family rejoiced in the drunkard's reform

3. a campaign aimed to correct abuses or malpractices

e.g. the reforms he proposed were too radical for the politicians

noun

1. official permission or approval

e.g. authority for the program was renewed several times

Synonym: authorizationauthorisationsanction

2. the power or right to give orders or make decisions

e.g. he has the authority to issue warrants
deputies are given authorization to make arrests
a place of potency in the state

Synonym: authorizationauthorisationpotencydominancesay-so

3. freedom from doubt
belief in yourself and your abilities

e.g. his assurance in his superiority did not make him popular
after that failure he lost his confidence
she spoke with authority

Synonym: assuranceself-assuranceconfidenceself-confidencesureness

4. an authoritative written work

e.g. this book is the final authority on the life of Milton

5. an administrative unit of government

e.g. the Central Intelligence Agency
the Census Bureau
Office of Management and Budget
Tennessee Valley Authority

Synonym: agencyfederal agencygovernment agencybureauoffice

6. an expert whose views are taken as definitive

e.g. he is an authority on corporate law

7. (usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative) control over others

e.g. the authorities have issued a curfew

noun

1. a device designed to transmit electricity, heat, etc.

2. the person who leads a musical group

Synonym: music directordirector

3. the person who collects fares on a public conveyance

4. a substance that readily conducts e.g. electricity and heat

noun

1. an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

e.g. bad luck caused his downfall
we ran into each other by pure chance

Synonym: luckchancehazard

2. an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that leads to a favorable outcome

e.g. it was my good luck to be there
they say luck is a lady
it was as if fortune guided his hand

Synonym: luck

3. a large amount of wealth or prosperity

4. your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

e.g. whatever my fortune may be
deserved a better fate
has a happy lot
the luck of the Irish
a victim of circumstances
success that was her portion

Synonym: destinyfatelucklotcircumstancesportion

noun

1. money collected under a tariff

Synonym: customs dutycustomimpost

adj

1. established by authority
given authoritative approval

e.g. a list of approved candidates

Synonym: sanctioned