Word
DEA
Phoneticsdea
/ˈdi/
Definitions
01U.S. drug agency
n. Stands for Drug Enforcement Administration. It is the American government group that stops illegal drugs from being sold or moved.
n. Abbreviation for Drug Enforcement Administration. A United States federal law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing the Controlled Substances Act.
“The DEA worked with local police to stop the illegal drug shipment at the border.”
“The DEA conducted a multi-state investigation into the pharmaceutical supply chain to identify points of diversion for controlled substances.”
American English · Technical
Usage
Usually preceded by 'the' when referring to the agency as a whole.
Teaching tip
Learners should recognize this as a specific U.S. agency; in other countries, terms like 'narcotics squad' or 'anti-drug unit' are more common.
02chemical compound
n. A chemical used in some soaps and shampoos to make them thick or foamy.
n. Abbreviation for diethanolamine. An organic compound used as a surfactant, pH adjuster, or thickening agent in industrial and consumer products.
“Check the label on your shampoo to see if it contains DEA.”
“The laboratory report indicated that the concentration of DEA in the industrial solvent exceeded safety guidelines.”
Technical
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the chemical substance.
Teaching tip
This is a highly specialized chemical term; unless the student is a chemist or reading ingredient labels, the law enforcement sense is far more common.
Synonyms