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English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

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A
character
The first letter of the English alphabet.
aa
noun
A type of volcanic lava that cools into a rough, jagged, broken-up surface, as opposed to smooth pahoehoe lava.
AAA
noun
The top tier of minor-league baseball, one level below the major leagues; also used loosely for "top-tier" in other contexts.
aaagh
intj
A stretched-out cry of shock, pain, or fear, longer and more intense than a plain "agh".
aagh
intj
A cry expressing sudden horror, disgust, or frustration.
aah
intj
Used to express amazement, pleasure, or relief.
Aarav
name
A male given name of Indian origin, popular among Hindi speakers.
aardvark
noun
A nocturnal, burrowing African mammal that eats ants and termites and somewhat resembles a pig with a long snout.
Aaron
name
A male given name, from the biblical figure who was the brother of Moses.
aarti
noun
A Hindu ritual of worship in which a small flame, often from a lamp fed with clarified butter, is offered to a deity.
Aaru
name
In ancient Egyptian mythology, the heavenly paradise ruled by Osiris, pictured as endless reed fields like the Nile Delta.
ab
noun
Informal short form of "abdominal muscle", usually used in the plural "abs" for the stomach muscles.
aba
noun
A simple, loose-fitting robe traditionally worn in parts of the Middle East, often made from coarse woven wool or camel hair.
aback
adv
Used in the phrase "taken aback": caught by surprise, startled, or momentarily thrown off guard.
abacus
noun
A manual calculating tool made of a frame with rows of sliding beads, used to add, subtract, and perform other arithmetic.
Abaddon
name
In the Bible, the angel or personification of destruction who rules over the bottomless pit; by extension, the pit itself.
abalone
noun
An edible sea snail with a flattened, ear-shaped shell lined with mother-of-pearl; also, its meat.
abandon
verb
To leave someone or something behind for good, especially when you have a duty to stay.
abandoned
adj
Left behind and no longer cared for, used, or lived in.
abandoning
noun
The act of leaving something or someone behind for good.
abandonment
noun
The act of leaving someone or something behind completely, or the state of having been left that way.
abandons
noun
Children who have been abandoned by their parents or guardians; foundlings.
abate
verb
To become less strong or severe; to die down.
abattoir
noun
A place where animals are killed for food; a slaughterhouse.
abba
noun
An Aramaic word for "father", used as a religious title and, in the New Testament, as an intimate name for God.
Abbas
name
A male given name and surname of Arabic origin.
abbess
noun
A woman who heads a convent of nuns, holding the same authority over her community that an abbot holds over monks.
abbey
noun
A monastery or convent, or the buildings that house it, led by an abbot or abbess.
Abbi
name
A diminutive of the female given name Abigail.
Abbie
name
A unisex nickname, most often short for Abigail, and occasionally for Albert.
abbot
noun
The monk who is head of an abbey or monastery.
Abbott
name
A surname, originally referring to someone who worked for or was connected to an abbot.
abbreviation
noun
A shortened form of a word or phrase, standing in for the full version.
Abbs
name
A surname derived from a short form of the name Abel.
Abby
name
A common diminutive of the given name Abigail, also used as a standalone name.
ABC
noun
The alphabet, or the basics of a subject.
abdicate
verb
To formally give up a position of power, especially a throne.
abdomen
noun
The part of the body between the chest and the pelvis, containing the stomach and other digestive organs.
abdominal
adj
Relating to the abdomen.
abduct
verb
To take a person away by force, usually secretly and against their will; to kidnap.
abducted
adj
Having been taken away by force; kidnapped.
abduction
noun
The crime of taking a person away by force or deception, typically to hold them against their will.
abductor
noun
Someone who unlawfully takes a person away by force; a kidnapper.
Abdul
name
A male given name from Arabic used by Muslims.
Abdullah
name
A male given name of Arabic origin, meaning "servant of God".
Abe
noun
A five-dollar bill, in American slang.
abed
adv
In or on a bed; confined to bed.
Abel
name
A male given name of Hebrew origin, also the name of the biblical son of Adam and Eve killed by his brother Cain.
Abercrombie
name
A Scottish surname, also the name of several small places in Scotland and North America.
Aberdeen
name
A port city and council area in northeastern Scotland, also the name of several towns in the United States and elsewhere.
aberrant
adj
Differing from what is normal or expected; deviating from the usual pattern.
aberration
noun
Something that departs noticeably from what is normal, expected, or typical.
abetting
noun
The act of helping or encouraging someone to do something wrong, especially a crime.
Abhay
name
A male given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "fearless", used in India.
Abhi
name
A diminutive form of Indian given names such as Abhinav, Abhishek, or Abhilasha.
Abhimanyu
name
A male given name from Sanskrit, borne by a hero of the Mahabharata, son of Arjuna and Subhadra.
abhor
verb
To hate or detest something intensely; to regard it with disgust.
abhorrent
adj
Causing intense disgust or hatred; utterly repugnant.
Abi
name
A diminutive of the female given name Abigail.
abide
verb
To accept and follow a rule, decision, or agreement (used with "by").
abiding
adj
Lasting for a long time; enduring; not fading.
abigail
noun
(dated) A lady's personal maid or servant.
Abilene
adj
Of or relating to Abila
ability
noun
The capacity or power to do something.
abject
adj
Experienced or done in the most extreme or miserable degree, especially poverty or failure.
ablaze
adj
On fire; burning fiercely.
able
adj
Having the power, skill, resources, or opportunity to do something.
Abner
name
A male given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "father of light", borne by a cousin of Saul in the Old Testament.
abnormal
adj
Different from what is usual, expected, or average; not normal.
abnormality
noun
A feature or condition that departs from what is normal or expected.
abnormally
adv
In a way that is not normal; unusually.
aboard
adv
On or into a ship, plane, train, or other vehicle.
abode
noun
A place where someone lives; a home or dwelling.
abolish
verb
To officially end a law, system, or practice.
abolition
noun
The act of officially ending a law, system, or practice, especially slavery.
abominable
adj
Extremely unpleasant or disgusting; causing strong hatred or disapproval.
abomination
noun
Something that causes intense disgust or hatred.
Aboriginal
adj
Relating to the original, native inhabitants of a region, especially before colonization.
aborigines
noun
The original or earliest known inhabitants of a region.
abort
verb
To stop an action, plan, or process before it is finished, usually because of a problem.
aborted
adj
Stopped or ended before completion, usually due to a problem.
abortion
noun
The deliberate ending of a pregnancy before the foetus can survive on its own.
abound
verb
To exist in large numbers or amounts; to be plentiful.
about
prep
Concerning a particular subject; on the topic of.
above
prep
In a position higher than something else; overhead of.
abra
noun
A narrow pass or gap through hills or a mesa.
abracadabra
noun
A magic word traditionally chanted as part of a spell or charm.
Abraham
name
A prophet in the Old Testament, Qur'an and Aqdas; a Semitic patriarch son of Terah who practiced monotheism, father of the Jewish patriarch Isaac by Sarah and the Arab patriarch Ishmael by Hagar.
abram
adj
Auburn.
Abramoff
name
A surname of Russian origin.
Abrams
name
A surname derived as a patronymic from the given name Abraham.
abrasion
noun
A scraped area of skin where the surface has been rubbed or scratched off.
abrasive
adj
Rough enough to grind or wear away a surface through friction.
abreast
adv
Side by side, facing the same direction.
abroad
adv
In or to a foreign country.
abrupt
adj
Happening suddenly and without warning.
abruptly
adv
Suddenly and without warning.
Abs
name
A diminutive of the female given name Abigail.
abscess
noun
A swollen, pus-filled pocket in the body, usually caused by infection.
absence
noun
The state of not being in a place where one is expected.
absent
adj
Not present in a place where one is expected to be.
absentee
noun
Someone who is not present where they are expected to be, such as work or school.
absinthe
noun
A strong, anise-flavoured spirit traditionally distilled with wormwood.
absolute
adj
Complete and total, with no exceptions or limits.
absolutely
adv
Completely and without qualification.
absolution
noun
A formal declaration of forgiveness for sins, especially one given by a priest.
absolve
verb
To officially clear someone of blame, guilt, or responsibility.
absolved
adjective
Formally cleared of blame, guilt, or a wrongdoing.
absorb
verb
To soak up a liquid, gas, or other substance.
absorbed
adj
Completely focused on something, to the exclusion of everything else.
absorbent
adj
Able to soak up liquid easily.
absorbing
adj
Extremely interesting; holding someone's full attention.
absorption
noun
The process of taking in and incorporating a substance, such as light, heat, or liquid.
abstain
verb
To deliberately not take part in something, especially eating, drinking, or voting.
abstinence
noun
The practice of deliberately avoiding something one wants, such as food, alcohol, or sex.
abstract
noun
A short summary of a longer document, especially an academic paper.
abstraction
noun
The process of considering an idea or quality separately from any specific object.
absurd
adj
So unreasonable or illogical that it seems ridiculous.
absurdity
noun
The quality of being absurd or ridiculous.
absurdly
adv
In a way that is ridiculous or illogical.
Abu
name
A language of Papua New Guinea.
abuela
noun
A grandmother, especially in a Spanish-speaking or Hispanic family.
abundance
noun
A very large supply of something; more than enough.
abundant
adj
Existing in large quantities; plentiful.
abundantly
adv
In large quantities; plentifully.
abuse
noun
Cruel or violent treatment of a person, often repeated.
abused
adj
Having suffered mistreatment, especially violence or cruelty.
abuser
noun
A person who mistreats or is violent toward another person.
abusive
adj
Behaving in a cruel, violent, or insulting way toward someone.
abut
verb
To share a border with, or be right next to, something else.
abysmal
adj
Extremely bad; of very poor quality.
abyss
noun
A very deep, seemingly bottomless chasm or void.
ac
noun
Common abbreviation for air conditioning or an air conditioner.
acacia
noun
A tree or shrub with feathery leaves and small clustered flowers, common in warm and dry climates.
academia
noun
The world of universities, teaching, and scholarly research, considered as a whole.
academic
adj
Relating to schools, universities, or formal education and scholarship.
academically
adv
In a way that relates to school or university study and performance.
academics
noun
Schoolwork and scholarly study, especially as distinct from sports or social activities.
academy
noun
A school, college, or institution devoted to a particular subject or level of education.
Acapulco
name
A port city on the Pacific coast of Mexico, known as a beach resort destination.
accelerant
noun
A substance, especially a flammable one, used to speed up a fire or chemical reaction.
accelerate
verb
To go faster, or to make something go faster.
accelerated
adj
Moving or happening faster than normal.
accelerating
adj
Becoming faster over time.
acceleration
noun
An increase in speed, or the rate at which speed increases.
accelerator
noun
The pedal in a vehicle that controls speed.
accent
noun
A distinctive way of pronouncing a language, typical of a region, country, or social group.
accentuate
verb
To make something more noticeable or prominent; to emphasize.
accept
verb
To agree to receive or take something that is offered.
acceptable
adj
Good enough to be approved of or allowed; satisfactory.
acceptance
noun
The act of agreeing to receive, believe, or approve of something.
accepted
adj
Generally agreed upon, approved, or recognized as standard.
accepting
adj
Willing to tolerate or approve of people or ideas without judgment.
access
noun
The right or ability to enter, use, or obtain something.
accessible
adj
Easy to reach, enter, or obtain.
accessory
noun
An additional item that complements or completes something, especially an outfit.
accident
noun
An unplanned event, often unfortunate, that happens without anyone intending it.
accidental
adj
Happening by chance rather than on purpose.
accidentally
adv
By chance or mistake, without intending to.
accidently
adv
Nonstandard spelling of accidentally.
acclaim
verb
To praise enthusiastically and publicly.
acclaimed
adj
Widely praised and admired.
accommodate
verb
To provide someone with a place to stay or space to fit.
accommodating
adj
Willing to help or go along with what someone wants; obliging.
accommodation
noun
A place to stay, such as a room or house, especially for travellers or students.
accommodations
noun
Places to stay, or the arrangements made to meet someone's needs.
accompanied
adj
Having someone or something else present alongside; joined by a companion.
accompaniment
noun
Music played to support a main singer or instrument.
accompany
verb
To go somewhere with someone, or to be present alongside them.
accompanying
adj
Attached to or provided together with something else.
accomplice
noun
A person who helps someone else commit a crime.
accomplish
verb
To succeed in doing or finishing something, especially something difficult.
accomplished
adj
Highly skilled, especially through training or practice.
accomplishment
noun
Something achieved through effort; an achievement.
accord
noun
A formal agreement, especially between countries or groups.
accordance
noun
Agreement or conformity, especially with a rule or plan.
according
adv
Used before "to" to show where information comes from, or to mean "depending on."
accordingly
adv
In a way that fits the situation just described; as a result.
accordion
noun
A boxy musical instrument with folding bellows, played by pressing buttons or keys while squeezing air through it.
accosted
adj
(heraldry) Placed side by side, or supported on both sides.
account
noun
A written or spoken description of events; a report.
accountability
noun
Being responsible for one's actions and expected to explain or answer for them.
accountable
adj
Required to explain or answer for one's actions; responsible.
accountancy
noun
The professional practice of preparing and analysing financial records.
accountant
noun
A professional who prepares, checks, and manages financial records for a person or business.
accounting
noun
The system and practice of recording and analysing a business's or person's finances.
accredited
adj
Officially recognised as meeting a required standard.
accumulate
verb
To gradually gather or build up over time.
accumulation
noun
The gradual gathering of something into a larger amount; also the resulting mass.
accuracy
noun
The quality of being correct or exact, free from error.
accurate
adj
Correct and free from error; exact.
accurately
adv
In a correct or exact way; without error.
accursed
adj
Deeply hated or thought to be under a curse; wretched.
accusation
noun
A claim that someone has done something wrong.
accuse
verb
To claim that someone has done something wrong or committed a crime.
accused
noun
A person formally charged with a crime; the defendant.
accuser
noun
A person who accuses someone of wrongdoing.
accusing
adj
Suggesting blame; expressing an accusation.
accustomed
adj
Used to something through experience or habit.
ace
noun
A playing card marked with a single symbol, usually ranked highest or lowest in a game.
aces
intj
Used to say something is excellent or great.
acetone
noun
A colourless, strong-smelling liquid solvent that evaporates quickly; used to remove nail polish and to thin paints and resins.
acetylene
noun
A colourless, highly flammable gas made of two carbon and two hydrogen atoms, burned with oxygen to produce an extremely hot flame used for welding and cutting metal.
ach
noun
An old name for parsley or related plants such as wild celery and smallage.
ache
verb
To feel a dull, ongoing pain rather than a sharp, sudden one.
achieve
verb
To succeed in doing or reaching something, usually after effort.
achieved
adjective
Reached, completed, or accomplished successfully.
achievement
noun
Something accomplished through effort, skill, or courage; a notable success.
achieving
noun
The act of successfully reaching a goal or completing something difficult.
Achilles
name
The greatest warrior on the Greek side in Homer's Iliad, famous for his near-invulnerability except for his heel.
Achim
name
A male given name of German origin, also a town in Lower Saxony, Germany.
aching
adjective
Feeling or causing a continuous dull pain.
achoo
interjection
Used to represent the sound of a sneeze.
achy
adjective
Suffering from aches; sore all over.
acid
noun
In chemistry, a substance that reacts with a base, tastes sour, and can turn litmus paper red; on the pH scale it measures below 7.
acidic
adjective
Having the properties of an acid; sour or having a pH below 7.
acidity
noun
The quality or level of being acidic; sourness.
ACK
interjection
Used to express disgust, alarm, or annoyance.
acker
noun
A ripple or small wave on the surface of a river or lake.
Ackerman
name
A surname of occupational origin, denoting a farmer, also a town in Mississippi, United States.
acknowledge
verb
To accept or admit that something is true.
acknowledged
adjective
Widely accepted or recognized as true.
acknowledging
adjective
Recognizing or admitting something, often with a nod or gesture.
acknowledgment
noun
The act of admitting or recognizing something as true.
Ackroyd
name
An English surname of topographic origin, meaning someone who lived near an oak clearing.
Acme
noun
The highest point of achievement or development; the peak.
acne
noun
A skin condition, common in teenagers, causing spots and pimples from blocked and inflamed pores.
acorn
noun
The nut of the oak tree, oval-shaped and sitting in a small woody cup.
Acosta
name
A Spanish surname of Catalan origin.
acoustic
adjective
Relating to sound or the sense of hearing.
acoustics
noun
The scientific study of sound.
acquaint
verb
To make someone familiar with something, or to introduce people to each other.
acquaintance
noun
A person you know slightly, but who is not a close friend.
acquainted
adjective
Familiar with someone or something, usually not deeply.
acquire
verb
To get or obtain something, often through effort, purchase, or over time.
acquired
adjective
Developed during a person's life rather than present from birth.
acquisition
noun
The act of getting or gaining something, especially when a company buys another business.
acquittal
noun
A court decision that a person is not guilty of the crime they were charged with.
acquitted
adjective
Formally cleared of a criminal charge by a court.
acre
noun
A unit of land area equal to 4,840 square yards (about 4,047 square metres), historically the amount of land a team of oxen could plough in a day.
acreage
noun
The total size of an area of land, measured in acres.
acrobat
noun
A performer skilled in feats of balance, flexibility, and coordination, such as tumbling or tightrope walking.
acrobatic
adj
Relating to acrobats or the skills they use.
acrobatics
noun
The performance of gymnastic feats requiring balance, flexibility, and coordination.
acronym
noun
A word formed from the first letters of a longer phrase, especially one pronounced as a single word rather than spelled out.
Acropolis
noun
A fortified hill at the center of an ancient Greek city, used as a defensive stronghold and often home to major temples.
across
prep
From one side of something to the other.
acrylic
adj
Made from a synthetic resin or fiber derived from acrylic acid.
act
verb
To do something; to take action.
actin
noun
A protein that forms thin filaments inside cells, essential for muscle contraction and cell movement.
acting
adj
Temporarily performing the duties of another role or position.
action
noun
The process of doing something, especially to achieve a purpose.
actionable
adj
Able to be acted on immediately, especially with practical steps.
activate
verb
To make something start working or become active.
activation
noun
The act of making something active or bringing it into use.
active
adj
Engaging in physical movement or exercise regularly.
actively
adv
In a way that involves energetic or deliberate effort, rather than passively.
activism
noun
The use of vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change.
activist
noun
A person who campaigns energetically for social or political change.
activity
noun
The state of being busy or full of movement and action.
actor
noun
A person who performs roles in plays, films, or television shows.
actress
noun
A woman who performs roles in plays, films, or television shows.
actual
adj
Existing in reality; real, not just imagined or planned.
actuality
noun
The fact or quality of being real, rather than theoretical or imagined.
actually
adv
In fact; used to indicate that something is true, especially when it may be surprising.
acumen
noun
The ability to make quick, accurate judgments and decisions, especially in a particular field.
acupuncture
noun
A traditional Chinese medical treatment involving inserting thin needles into specific points on the body, often used for pain relief.
acute
adj
Sudden and severe, especially describing an illness or pain.
acutely
adv
To a severe or intense degree.
ad
noun
An advertisement.
Ada
name
A female given name of Germanic origin, also an object-oriented programming language named after Ada Lovelace.
Adachi
name
A Japanese surname, also a special ward of Tokyo, Japan.
adage
noun
A short, well-known saying that expresses a general truth or piece of wisdom.
Adair
name
A male given name and Scottish surname derived from Scottish Gaelic, equivalent to English Edgar.
Adam
name
In the Bible, the first man created by God.
Adama
name
A city in Ethiopia, formerly the capital of the Oromia Region.
adamant
adj
Refusing to change one's mind or position; firmly determined.
Adams
noun
A style of dry fishing fly commonly used to catch trout.
Adamson
name
A surname derived as a patronymic, meaning "son of Adam".
adapt
verb
To change something so it becomes suitable for a new purpose or situation.
adaptability
noun
The capacity to adjust easily to new conditions or requirements.
adaptable
adjective
Able to be changed or adjusted to fit new conditions.
adaptation
noun
The process of adjusting something, or of adjusting to a new situation.
adapted
adjective
Changed or modified to suit a new purpose, audience, or environment.
adaptive
adjective
Able to adjust or change in response to new conditions.
add
verb
To combine numbers or amounts to get a total.
Addams
name
A surname derived as a patronymic, a rare spelling variant of Adams.
addendum
noun
Something added on afterward, especially extra text attached to a document.
adder
noun
A small venomous snake found across Europe, including Britain, marked with a dark zigzag pattern down its back.
Adderall
name
A brand name for a prescription stimulant medication used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy.
addict
noun
A person who is dependent on a harmful substance and cannot easily stop using it.
addicted
adjective
Physically or psychologically dependent on a substance, unable to stop easily.
addiction
noun
A strong, often harmful, compulsion to keep using a substance or repeating a behavior, even when it causes problems.
addictive
adjective
Causing a strong dependency, so that a person finds it hard to stop.
Addie
name
A diminutive of the female given names Adele, Adeline, Adelaide, or Addison or other names beginning with Ad-.
adding
noun
The act of combining numbers or things to increase a total.
Addis
name
A surname derived as a patronymic from a diminutive of Adam.
Addison
name
A surname and, in modern use, a popular given name for both sexes, also the name of several towns in the United States.
addition
noun
The arithmetic operation of combining numbers to find a total.
additional
adjective
Extra; added on top of what already exists.