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Pocket
OxfordHachette
French Dictionary
Third edition
French > English
English > French
Chief Editor
Marie-Hlne Corrard
1
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Preface
This new edition of the Pocket Oxford- All grammatical terms used are
Hachette French Dictionary has been explained in a glossary at the back of
extensively updated to reflect recent the dictionary, and French verbs are
additions to both the French and cross-referenced to a set of verb tables.
English languages, with the needs of
New features of the dictionary
both the general and school user in
include an expanded and updated A Z
mind. The dictionary provides
of French life and culture, providing
comprehensive coverage of core
information on contemporary French
vocabulary across a broad spectrum
society, a calendar of traditions,
of contemporary written and spoken
festivals and holidays in France, a new
language, incorporating many
section on text messaging, and a
idiomatic phrases and expressions.
practical guide to writing letters in
The wordlist is further enhanced by
French. A series of sample letters
the addition of new words and phrases
illustrates the differences between
generated by recent developments in
French and English usage, highlighting
information technology, science, and
important features of style and format
popular culture, for effective and up-to-
in a variety of situations.
date communication.
Designed to meet the needs of a wide
Essential information on grammar,
range of users, from the student at
style, and pronunciation is provided
intermediate level and above to the
in a convenient and accessible format,
enthusiastic traveller or business
making the dictionary an ideal
professional, the Pocket Oxford-Hachette
reference tool and study aid. The
Dictionary is an invaluable practical
user is guided in selecting appropriate
resource for learners of contemporary,
translations by clear examples of usage
idiomatic French at the start of the
and construction and by information on
twenty-first century.
the register of language, where
required. The Editors
/ ( ) {j } / _ g / / g
............
DDASS /das/ nf (abbr = Direction (b) bon d! (colloq) good riddance!
departementale de l'action debarrasser /debaWase/ [1] 1vtr (a) to
sanitaire et sociale) regional social clear (out)
services department (b) d [qn] de to free [sb] from complex;
de (d' before vowel or mute h) /d@, d/ d qn (de son manteau) to take sb's coat
2 Note You will nd translations for expressions 2se debarrasser v re (+ v etre) se d
such as d'abord, de travers, pomme de terre, de to get rid of; to dispose of
IDIOMS d le plancher (colloq) to clear off
chemin de fer etc, at the entries abord,
travers, pomme and chemin etc. (colloq) d
debat /deba/ nm debate
1prep (a) from; venir d Paris to come from debattre /debatW/ [61] 1vtr to negotiate
Paris; il est d pere italien his father is 2debattre de or sur v+prep (a) d de
Italian or sur to discuss
(b) by; un poeme d Victor Hugo a poem by (b) d de or sur to debate
Victor Hugo 3se debattre v re (+ v etre) to struggle
(c) of; les chapeaux d Paul Paul's hats; le 20
du mois the 20th of the month; deux heures
debauche /deboS/ nf (a) debauchery
(b) profusion
d'attente a two-hour wait; deux heures d
libres two hours free debaucher /deboSe/ [1] vtr (a) to corrupt
(d) than; plus/moins d dix more/less than (b) to lay [sb] off
ten (c) (colloq) to tempt [sb] away
(e) in; d'un ton monocorde in a monotone debile /debil/ 1adj (colloq) daft (colloq)
(f ) with; pousser qch du pied to push sth 2nmf d mental (Med) retarded person
aside with one's foot debilite /debilite/ nf (a) debility
(g) travailler d nuit to work at night; ne rien (b) (colloq) stupidity
faire d la journee to do nothing all day debiner (colloq) /debine/ [1] 1vtr to
(h) etre content d faire to be happy to do badmouth (colloq)
2det de, de l', de la, du some; any; voulez- 2se debiner v re (+ v etre) to clear off
vous d la biere? would you like some beer?; (colloq); to make oneself scarce (colloq)
je n'ai pas d'argent I haven't got any money debit /debi/ nm (a) debit; la somme est
de /de/ nm (a) dice; les ds sont jetes the inscrite au d the sum has been debited
die is cast (b) (when speaking) delivery
(b) d (a coudre) thimble (c) (of river) rate of ow
DEA /de@a/ nm (abbr = diplome (d) (of liquid) ow; (of gas) output
d'etudes approfondies) postgraduate (e) (Comput) haut d broadband
certicate ( prior to doctoral thesis) 2d de boissons bar
deambulateur /deA~bylat9W/ nm debiter /debite/ [1] vtr (a) to debit
zimmer (frame) (b) to reel [sth] off; d des betises to talk a
deambuler /deA~byle/ [1] vi to wander lot of nonsense
(about) (c) to cut [sth] up
debacle /debAkl/ nf (a) (Mil) rout debiteur, -trice /debit9W, tWis/ 1adj
(b) (gurative) collapse compte d debit account; pays d debtor
nation
deballage /debalaZ/ nm (colloq) jumble; 2nm,f debtor
outpouring
deblayer /debleje/ [21] vtr (a) to clear
deballer /debale/ [1] vtr (a) to unpack away earth, snow
(b) to display
(b) to clear place
debandade /debA~dad/ nf (a) stampede debloquer /deblOke/ [1] 1vtr (a) to
(b) disarray unlock steering wheel; to unjam
debarbouiller /debaWbuje/ [1] 1vtr to mechanism
wash (b) to unfreeze prices; to end the deadlock
2se debarbouiller v re (+ v etre) to in situation
wash one's face (c) to make [sth] available credit
debarcadere /debaWkadEW/ nm jetty 2vi (colloq) to be off one's rocker (colloq)
debardeur /debaWd9W/ nm tank top deboires /debwaW/ nm pl
debarquement /debaWk@mA~/ nm (a) disappointments
(a) (of goods) unloading (b) trials, difculties
(b) (of passengers) disembarkation (c) setbacks
(c) (Mil) landing deboiser /debwaze/ [1] vtr to deforest
debarquer /debaWke/ [1] 1vtr to unload deboter /debwate/ [1] 1vtr to
goods disconnect tubes
2vi (a) to disembark 2vi car to pull out
(b) (Mil) to land 3se deboter v re (+ v etre) se d le
(c) (colloq) to turn up (colloq) (chez qn at sb's genou to dislocate one's knee
place) debonnaire /debOnEW/ adj good-
debarras /debaWa/ nm inv (a) junk room humoured (GB); kindly
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Culture
salary earned by the job seeker and the duration of his/her period of
unemployment. In the initial period of unemployment, a job seeker
receives a high percentage of his/her last salary. This figure is gradually
reduced to the point where the job seeker no longer qualifies for benefits
and is known as a chmeur/-euse en fin de droits.
antismitisme O RACISME
Arc de Triomphe This Paris monument stands at the centre of
the radiating spokes formed by 12 avenues including the
champs-lyses. It was commissioned by napolon to
commemorate his victories, and completed in 1836. In 1921 it
became a war memorial, and the site of the tomb of the
unknown soldier ; a flame is lit there every evening in
memory of those who have fallen in battle.
architecture Since the 1970s, the French state has promoted
several major architectural projects, particularly in Paris,
including the 1977 Pompidou Centre (also known as
BEAUBOURG), the glass pyramid of the Louvre designed by American
architect I. M. Pei and built in 1989, the Grande Arche de la Dfense in
western Paris, and the Institut du Monde Arabe, designed by Jean Nouvel.
In 2004 the Millau viaduct, the tallest in the world, was opened by the
French president, Jacques Chirac. Designed by English architect Lord
Norman Foster, the 2.5 km (1.6 mile) long, 340 m (1,122 ft) high structure
was dubbed the bridge in the clouds.
Ariane The name of the European Space Agencys rockets, produced and
operated by the private company Ariane Espace and launched from Kourou
in French Guiana (Guyane franaise). The Ariane rockets have been used to
put commercial satellites into space, but have met with mixed fortunes.
Ariane 5-ECA, whose maiden flight ended in an explosion, is being
relaunched; it can carry 10 tonnes of payload into geostationary orbit.
Armistice O FRENCH TRADITIONS, FESTIVALS, AND HOLIDAYS
arrondissement A subdivision of a DPARTEMENT. Each arrondissement
has a sous-prfet representing the state administration at local level. In
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510
Letter-writing in French
Holiday postcard
Beginnings (informal): Cher is used for a Address: On an envelope Mr, Mrs and Miss
man, Chre for a woman. A letter to two can be abbreviated to M., Mme, Mlle,
males or to a male and female begins with although the full forms are considered
Chers. For two female correspondents: preferable in more formal letters. There is
Chres Madeleine et Hlne. For friends and no direct equivalent for Ms. If you do not
relatives: Chers amis, Chers cousins, etc. know a womans marital status use
For a family: Chers tous. Madame (Mme).
Road names such as rue, avenue, place
are not generally given capital letters.
The name of the town comes after the
postcode and on the same line.
Letters
14.7.2005
Cher Alexandre,
Grosses bises dEdimbourg! Cela fait trois jours M. A. Pilnard
que nous sommes ici et nous navons pas encore vu
la pluie! Esprons que a va durer. La vieille 38 rue Glacire
ville est trs belle et du chteau on a une vue 75013 Paris
splendide jusqu lestuaire. Et en Normandie,
comment a va?
A bientt pour des retrouvailles parisiennes,
Marie et Dominique
Endings (informal):
Bien amicalement,
Amitis; A bientt =
see you soon.
/ ( ) {j } / g _ / / g
.......................................
d about sth reserver son jugement sur qch; (b) sounds se confondre (with a); smells,
to know one's own d avoir des idees bien a feelings se meler (with a)
soi; to speak one's d dire ce qu'on a a dire miniature 1n miniature f
2vtr (a) surveiller manners, language; 2adj (gen) miniature; dog, horse nain/-e
faire attention a hazard minicab n (GB) taxi m (non agree)
(b) I don't d ca m'est egal, ca ne me minidisc n minidisque m
derange pas; I don't d the cold le froid ne
me derange pas; I don't d cats, but I prefer minimalist adj minimaliste
dogs je n'ai rien contre les chats, mais je minimum 1n minimum m (of de)
prefere les chiens; will they d us being late? 2adj minimum, minimal/-e
est-ce qu'ils seront faches si nous sommes mining 1n exploitation f miniere
en retard?; would you d keeping my seat for 2adj industry, town minier/-iere;
me? est-ce que ca vous ennuierait de garder accident de mine
ma place?; I wouldn't d a glass of wine je mini-skirt n mini-jupe f
prendrais volontiers un verre de vin; if you minister 1n (a) (GB) ministre m; d of or
don't d si cela ne vous fait rien; never d for Defence, Defence d ministre de la
(don't worry) ne t'en fais pas; (it doesn't matter) Defense
peu importe; he can't afford an apartment, (b) (clergyman) ministre m du culte
never d a big house il ne peut pas se 2vi to d to donner des soins a person; to
permettre un appartement encore moins d to sb's needs pourvoir aux besoins de qn
une grande maison minister of state n (GB) ministre m
(c) s'occuper de animal, children; tenir delegue
shop
ministry n (GB) ministere m
3in mind phr I have something in d for
this evening j'ai une idee pour ce soir; to mink n vison m
bear sth in d (remember) ne pas oublier qch; minor 1n (Law) mineur/-e m/f
(take into account) prendre qch en compte 2adj (gen, Mus) mineur/-e; injury, burn
IDIOMS to read sb's d lire dans les pensees leger/-ere; d road route secondaire
de qn; to see sth in one's d's eye imaginer minority n minorite f; to be in the d etre
qch; to have a d of one's own savoir ce
qu'on veut
en minorite
minstrel n menestrel m
m
mind-blowing adj (colloq) mint 1n (a) (herb) menthe f
epoustouant/-e (colloq) (b) (sweet) bonbon m a la menthe
mind-boggling adj (colloq) stupeant/-e (c) (for coins) hotel m des Monnaies
2adj in d condition a l'etat neuf
mindless adj person, programme bete; 3vtr (a) frapper coin
work abrutissant/-e; vandalism (b) forger word, expression
gratuit/-e; task machinal/-e
minuet n menuet m
mine1 pron minus 1n (a) (in mathematics) moins m
2 Note In French, possessive pronouns reect (b) (drawback) inconvenient m
the gender and number of the noun they are 2adj symbol, button moins; number,
standing for. So mine is translated by le mien, la quantity, value negatif/-ive; d sign signe
mienne, les miens, les miennes, according to moins
what is being referred to. 3prep (a) moins; what is 20 d 8? combien
font 20 moins 8?; it is d 15 (degrees) il fait
his car is red but d is blue sa voiture est
moins 15 (degres)
rouge mais la mienne est bleue; which
(glass) is d? lequel (de ces verres) est le
(b) (without) sans
mien or est a moi?; his children are older minuscule adj minuscule
than d ses enfants sont plus ages que les minute1 1n minute f; ve ds past ten
miens; the blue car is d la voiture bleue est dix heures cinq; it's ve ds' walk away c'est
a moi; she's a friend of d c'est une amie a a cinq minutes a pied; the d I heard the
moi; it's not d ce n'est pas a moi news des que j'ai appris la nouvelle; any d
now d'une minute a l'autre; at the last d a
mine2 1n mine f
la derniere minute
2vtr (a) extraire gems, mineral; exploiter
area
2minutes n pl compte-rendu m
(b) (Mil) miner area minute2 adj particle minuscule;
quantity inme; risk, variation minime
mineeld n champ m de mines; (gurative)
terrain m mine minute hand n aiguille f des minutes
miner n mineur m miracle n miracle m; to work or perform
ds faire des miracles
mineral 1n (substance, class) mineral m; miraculous adj (a) escape, recovery
(for extraction) minerai m miraculeux/-euse
2adj mineral/-e; d ore minerai m (b) speed, strength prodigieux/-ieuse
mineral water n eau f minerale mirror 1n (a) (gen) miroir m, glace f; (Aut)
mingle vi (a) to d with se meler a crowd, retroviseur m
guests (b) (gurative) reet m >
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