data hierarchy
         n 1: an arrangement of data consisting of sets and subsets such
               that every subset of a set is of lower rank than the set

English Dictionary: deteriorate	by the DICT Development Group
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Datura arborea n a South American plant that is cultivated for its large fragrant trumpet-shaped flowers Synonym(s): angel's trumpet, maikoa, Brugmansia arborea, Datura arborea
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
dehydroretinol n a viscous alcohol that is less active in mammals than is vitamin A1 Synonym(s): vitamin A2, dehydroretinol
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
deteriorate v become worse or disintegrate; "His mind deteriorated" grow worse; "Her condition deteriorated"; "Conditions in the slums degenerated"; "The discussion devolved into a shouting match" Synonym(s): devolve, deteriorate, drop, degenerate Antonym(s): convalesce, recover, recuperate
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
deterioration n a symptom of reduced quality or strength [syn: deterioration, impairment] process of changing to an inferior state Synonym(s): deterioration, decline in quality, declension, worsening
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
dodderer n one who dodders from old age and weakness
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
d8Hydrarthrosis \[d8]Hy`drar*thro"sis\, n. [NL. See {Hydro-}, 1,       and {Arthrosis}.] (Med.)       An effusion of watery liquid into the cavity of a joint.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
d8Hydrorhiza \[d8]Hy`dro*rhi"za\, n.; pl. L. {Hydrorhiz[91]}, E.       {Hydrorhizas}. [NL., fr. E. hydra + Gr. [?] a root.]       (Zo[94]l.)       The rootstock or decumbent stem by which a hydroid is       attached to other objects. See Illust. under {Hydroidea}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Deteriorate \De*te"ri*o*rate\, v. i.       To grow worse; to be impaired in quality; to degenerate.                   Under such conditions, the mind rapidly deteriorates.                                                                               --Goldsmith.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Deteriorate \De*te"ri*o*rate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p.       {Deteriorated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Deteriorating}.] [L.       deterioratus, p. p. of deteriorate to deteriorate, fr.       deterior worse, prob. a comparative fr. de down, away.]       To make worse; to make inferior in quality or value; to       impair; as, to deteriorate the mind. --Whately.                   The art of war . . . was greatly deteriorated.                                                                               --Southey.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Deteriorate \De*te"ri*o*rate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p.       {Deteriorated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Deteriorating}.] [L.       deterioratus, p. p. of deteriorate to deteriorate, fr.       deterior worse, prob. a comparative fr. de down, away.]       To make worse; to make inferior in quality or value; to       impair; as, to deteriorate the mind. --Whately.                   The art of war . . . was greatly deteriorated.                                                                               --Southey.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Deteriorate \De*te"ri*o*rate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p.       {Deteriorated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Deteriorating}.] [L.       deterioratus, p. p. of deteriorate to deteriorate, fr.       deterior worse, prob. a comparative fr. de down, away.]       To make worse; to make inferior in quality or value; to       impair; as, to deteriorate the mind. --Whately.                   The art of war . . . was greatly deteriorated.                                                                               --Southey.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Deterioration \De*te`ri*o*ra"tion\, n. [LL. deterioratio: cf. F.       d[82]t[82]rioration.]       The process of growing worse, or the state of having grown       worse.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Deteriority \De*te`ri*or"i*ty\, n. [L. deterior worse. See       {Deteriorate}.]       Worse state or quality; inferiority. [bd]The deteriority of       the diet.[b8] [R.] --Ray.
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:
data hierarchy          The system of data objects which provide the {method}s for       {information} storage and retrieval.   Broadly, a data       hierarchy may be considered to be either natural, which arises       from the alphabet or syntax of the language in which the       information is expressed, or machine, which reflects the       facilities of the computer, both hardware and software.          A natural data hierarchy might consist of {bits},       {characters}, words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, and       chapters.   One might use components bound to an application,       such as field, record, and file, and these would ordinarily be       further specified by having {data descriptors} such as name       field, address field, etc.   On the other hand, a machine or       software system might use {bit}, {byte}, {word}, {block},       {partition}, {channel}, and {port}.          Programming languages often provide {types} or {objects} which       can create data hierarchies of arbitrary complexity, thus       allowing software system designers to model language       structures described by the linguist to greater or lesser       degree.          The distinction between the natural form of data and the       facilities provided by the machine may be obscure, because       users force their needs into the molds provided, and       programmers change machine designs.   As an example, the       natural data type "character" and the machine type "byte" are       often used interchangably, because the latter has evolved to       meet the need of representing the former.          (1995-11-03)