(law) a way of dealing with offenders without imprisoning them; a defendant found guilty of a crime is released by the court without imprisonment subject to conditions imposed by the court; "probation is part of the sentencing process"
a trial period during which an offender has time to redeem himself or herself
a trial period during which your character and abilities are tested to see whether you are suitable for work or for membership
the reason for a court's judgment (as opposed to the decision itself)
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty; "my opinion differs from yours"; "what are your thoughts on Haiti?"
the legal document stating the reasons for a judicial decision; "opinions are usually written by a single judge"
a message expressing a belief about something; the expression of a belief that is held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof; "his opinions appeared frequently on the editorial page"
aware intuitively or intellectually of something sensed; "made sensible of his mistakes"; "I am sensible that the mention of such a circumstance may appear trifling"- Henry Hallam; "sensible that a good deal more is still to be done"- Edmund Burke
readily perceived by the senses; "the sensible universe"; "a sensible odor"
able to feel or perceive; "even amoeba are sensible creatures"; "the more sensible parts of the skin"
(American football) a complete play to advance the football; "you have four downs to gain ten yards"
soft fine feathers
fine soft dense hair (as the fine short hair of cattle or deer or the wool of sheep or the undercoat of certain dogs)
(usually plural) a rolling treeless highland with little soil
English physician who first described Down's syndrome (1828-1896)
not functioning (temporarily or permanently); "we can't work because the computer is down"
shut; "the shades were down"
understood perfectly; "had his algebra problems down"
being or moving lower in position or less in some value; "lay face down"; "the moon is down"; "our team is down by a run"; "down by a pawn"; "the stock market is down today"
spatially or metaphorically from a higher to a lower level or position; "don't fall down"; "rode the lift up and skied down"; "prices plunged downward"
away from a more central or a more northerly place; "was sent down to work at the regional office"; "worked down on the farm"; "came down for the wedding"; "flew down to Florida"
paid in cash at time of purchase; "put ten dollars down on the necklace"
in an inactive or inoperative state; "the factory went down during the strike"; "the computer went down again"
to a lower intensity; "he slowly phased down the light until the stage was completely black"
from an earlier time; "the story was passed down from father to son"
bring down or defeat (an opponent)
cause to come or go down; "The policeman downed the heavily armed suspect"; "The mugger knocked down the old lady after she refused to hand over her wallet"
shoot at and force to come down; "the enemy landed several of our aircraft"
marked by immorality; deviating from what is considered right or proper or good; "depraved criminals"; "a perverted sense of loyalty"; "the reprobate conduct of a gambling aristocrat"
completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose; "something cowardly and ignoble in his attitude"; "I think it a less evil that some criminals should escape than that the government should play an ignoble part"- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
not of the nobility; "of ignoble (or ungentle) birth"; "untitled civilians"
the occurrence of incoming water (between a low tide and the following high tide); "a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune" -Shakespeare