English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

ea

noun

An old or dialectal word for a river or watercourse.

each

det

Used to refer to every individual member of a group, considered one at a time.

eager

adj

Keen and enthusiastic to do or have something.

eagerly

adv

In a way that shows keen enthusiasm or desire.

eagerness

noun

A strong, enthusiastic desire to do or have something.

eagle

noun

A large, powerful bird of prey with a hooked beak and excellent eyesight.

Eagles

name

A surname, and a common nickname for sports teams such as the Philadelphia Eagles.

Eagleton

name

A surname, and a suburb of Newcastle, Australia.

Eames

name

A surname of Old English origin, notably borne by designers Charles and Ray Eames.

Eamon

name

A male given name of Irish origin, a variant of Edmund.

ear

noun

The organ used for hearing, including the visible outer part and the internal structures that detect sound.

eardrum

noun

The thin membrane inside the ear that vibrates in response to sound and passes the vibration on to the inner ear bones.

earful

noun

A sharp scolding or telling-off.

Earhart

name

A German surname, notably borne by aviator Amelia Earhart.

earl

noun

A British nobleman ranking above a viscount and below a marquess.

Earle

name

A surname and given name, a variant of Earl, originating as an occupational name.

early

adj

Happening or arriving before the expected or usual time.

earn

verb

To receive money in return for work done.

earned

adj

Gained through one's own effort or merit, rather than given freely.

earner

noun

A person who earns money, especially through employment.

earnest

adj

Serious and sincere in intention or feeling.

earnestly

adv

In a sincere, serious way, with real effort or feeling behind it.

earnings

noun

Money made from work, such as wages or salary.

Earp

name

A surname, notably borne by lawman Wyatt Earp of the American Old West.

earphones

noun

Small speakers worn in or over the ears for listening privately to audio.

earpiece

noun

A small speaker that fits in or against the ear, often part of a headset or hearing aid.

earring

noun

A piece of jewelry worn on or through the ear.

earshot

noun

The distance within which a sound can be heard.

earth

name

The planet we live on, third from the Sun.

earthbound

adj

Stuck on or tied to the Earth, unable to leave it.

Earthling

noun

A person from Earth, especially as imagined from the perspective of aliens.

earthly

adj

Belonging to this world or life, rather than to heaven or the afterlife.

earthquake

noun

A sudden shaking of the ground caused by movement in the Earth's crust.

earthworm

noun

A long, segmented worm that lives in soil and helps aerate it.

earthy

adj

Resembling soil in smell, taste, or appearance.

earwig

noun

A small insect with pincers at the end of its abdomen.

ease

noun

The quality of being simple or effortless.

eased

adj

Made less difficult, painful, or intense.

easel

noun

A stand, usually with three legs, used to hold up a canvas or board for painting or display.

easily

adv

Without difficulty or effort.

easing

noun

The process of making something less severe, tight, or difficult.

east

noun

The direction toward which the Earth rotates, where the sun rises.

eastbound

adj

Traveling or heading toward the east.

Easter

name

The Christian festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, held in spring.

eastern

adj

Located in, facing, or relating to the east.

Eastman

name

A surname, notably borne by George Eastman, founder of Kodak; also a city in Georgia.

Easton

name

A habitational surname of Old English origin, and the name of numerous towns and villages in England and the United States.

eastside

noun

The eastern part or district of a city or area.

eastward

adv

Toward the east.

Eastwood

noun

A brave, tough, hardy man (an informal, jocular usage referencing actor Clint Eastwood).

easy

adj

Requiring little effort or skill; not difficult.

easygoing

adj

Relaxed, tolerant, and not easily upset or worried.

eat

verb

To take food into the mouth and swallow it.

eaten

adj

Consumed as food; the past participle of eat.

eater

noun

A person or animal that eats, especially in a described way.

eatery

noun

A casual restaurant or place to buy and eat food.

eating

noun

The act of consuming food.

Eaton

name

An English habitational surname, and the name of many villages in England and towns in North America.

eats

noun

Food, especially in a casual sense (informal).

eau

noun

Water — used in English mainly in borrowed French phrases.

eaves

noun

The edge of a roof that overhangs the walls of a building.

eavesdrop

verb

To secretly listen in on a conversation you were not meant to hear.

eavesdropping

noun

The act of secretly listening to a conversation that isn't meant for you.

eBay

noun

A well-known online marketplace where people buy and sell items, often through auctions.

ebb

noun

The falling back of the tide as it moves away from the shore.

Eben

name

A male given name, shortened from Ebenezer.

Ebenezer

name

A male given name from Hebrew, popularised by English Puritans in the 1600s and meaning "stone of help."

Ebert

name

A German surname, notably borne by film critic Roger Ebert.

Ebola

noun

A severe, often fatal viral disease causing fever and internal bleeding, first identified near the Ebola River in Central Africa.

ebony

noun

A hard, dense, nearly black wood from certain tropical trees, prized for furniture and instruments.

Eby

name

A surname of German origin.

eccentric

adj

Behaving in an unconventional or slightly odd way; not following normal habits.

ecclesiastical

adj

Relating to a church or its organisation and clergy.

echelon

noun

A level or rank within an organisation, especially one of importance or seniority.

echidna

noun

A small, spiny, egg-laying mammal native to Australia and New Guinea, related to the platypus.

echo

verb

Of a sound, to bounce off a surface and be heard again; to reverberate.

echoing

noun

The repeated sound of something reverberating.

eclectic

adj

Drawing from many different sources, styles, or ideas rather than sticking to one.

eclipse

noun

An event where one astronomical body passes in front of another, blocking it from view, such as the Moon passing in front of the Sun.

eclipsed

adj

Overshadowed or surpassed by something greater in importance, achievement, or attention.

eco

noun

A shortened, informal form used to mean anything relating to ecology or the environment, often used as a prefix (eco-friendly, eco-tourism).

ecological

adj

Relating to ecology — the study of how living things interact with their environment.

ecology

noun

The branch of biology that studies how living things relate to each other and to their environment.

economic

adj

Relating to money, trade, industry, or the management of an economy.

economical

adj

Careful with money or resources; not wasteful.

economically

adv

In a way that avoids waste; thriftily or efficiently.

economics

noun

The academic and social science studying how resources, wealth, goods, and money are produced, distributed, and consumed.

economist

noun

A person who studies or is an expert in economics.

economy

noun

The system of production, trade, and consumption within a country, region, or community.

ecosystem

noun

A community of living things together with the physical environment they interact with.

ecstasy

noun

A feeling of intense joy or pleasure, often so strong it overwhelms rational thought.

ecstatic

adj

Extremely happy or joyful; overjoyed.

ectoplasm

noun

In spiritualism, a mysterious substance said to be given off by a medium's body during a séance.

Ecuador

noun

A country on the northwestern coast of South America, home to the Galápagos Islands and named for the equator, which passes through it.

eczema

noun

A skin condition causing red, itchy, inflamed patches that can become scaly or weep fluid.

ed

noun

A short informal way of saying "education," especially in school or course names.

Eda

name

A female given name of Old English origin, and a municipality in Sweden.

Eddie

name

A familiar short form of male names such as Edward, Edgar, or Edwin.

Eddington

name

A habitational surname of Old English origin, and the name of several English villages, notably borne by physicist Arthur Eddington.

eddy

noun

A swirl of water or air that spins in the opposite direction to the main flow around it.

Edelstein

name

A German surname, meaning "gemstone".

edelweiss

noun

A small alpine flower with woolly, star-shaped white blooms and silvery-grey leaves, found high in mountain ranges like the Alps.

edema

noun

Swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body's tissues.

Eden

name

A garden built by God as the home for Adam and Eve; sometimes identified as part of Mesopotamia.

Edgar

name

A male given name from Old English, meaning roughly "rich spear."

edge

noun

The outer boundary or line where something ends.

edged

adj

Having a sharp, defined edge or surface.

Edgehill

name

An English surname, also the name of a village in Warwickshire and the site of the first major battle of the English Civil War.

edging

noun

A strip, border, or trim that marks the outer edge of something.

edgy

adj

Tense, nervous, or on the verge of losing patience.

Edi

name

A short feminine given name, sometimes used as a nickname for Edith or Edwina.

edible

adj

Safe and fit to eat.

edict

noun

An official order or proclamation issued by someone in authority.

Edie

name

A feminine given name, commonly used as a diminutive of Edith.

edifice

noun

A large, imposing building, especially one of architectural significance.

Edison

name

An English surname and masculine given name, historically meaning "son of Adam" or "son of Eden," and famously associated with inventor Thomas Edison.

edit

verb

To change, correct, or improve a piece of writing, video, or other content.

edited

adj

Changed or revised from an original version.

Edith

name

A feminine given name of Old English origin, meaning "prosperous in war" or "riches, blessed."

editing

noun

The process of reviewing and revising written or recorded material.

edition

noun

A particular version of a published work, issued at a specific time or in a specific format.

editor

noun

A person who reviews and revises written material before publication.

editorial

noun

An article expressing the opinion of a publication's editors on a current issue.

Edmond

name

A masculine given name, a variant spelling of Edmund, meaning "wealthy protector."

Edmonds

name

An English surname meaning "son of Edmund," and the name of a city in Washington state.

Edmonton

name

The capital city of Alberta, Canada, and also a district in North London.

Edmund

name

A masculine given name of Old English origin, meaning "wealthy protector."

Edmunds

name

An English surname meaning "son of Edmund."

Edna

name

A feminine given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "delight" or "pleasure."

Edo

name

The former name of Tokyo, Japan, used during the Edo period (1603-1868), and also a masculine given name.

edu

noun

Informal short form of "education."

Eduard

name

A masculine given name, a European variant of Edward, meaning "wealthy guardian."

Eduardo

name

A masculine given name, the Spanish and Portuguese form of Edward, meaning "wealthy guardian."

educate

verb

To teach or train someone, giving them knowledge or skills.

educated

adj

Having received a significant level of schooling or training.

educating

adj

Serving to teach or inform; having an educational effect.

education

noun

The process of teaching or learning, especially in schools.

educational

adj

Relating to education or teaching.

educator

noun

A person who teaches, especially one recognized for skill in the profession.

Edward

name

A male given name from Old English, borne by numerous kings of England.

Edwardian

adj

Relating to the period of British history from about 1901 to 1910, during the reign of King Edward VII.

Edwards

name

An English and Welsh surname, originally meaning "son of Edward."

Edwin

name

A male given name of Old English origin, roughly meaning "wealthy friend."

Edwina

name

A female given name, the feminine form of Edwin.

ee

intj

A dialectal or informal exclamation used much like "eh" or "oh," often in Scottish or Northern English speech.

eee

intj

An excited exclamation of happiness, similar to "yay!"

eek

intj

An exclamation representing a sudden scream, especially one of surprise or mild fear.

eel

noun

A long, snake-like fish with a smooth body and no obvious scales.

een

adv

A dialectal shortening of "even," used in older or regional English.

eeny

adj

Tiny; extremely small.

eep

intj

A small exclamation of surprise or embarrassment.

eerie

adj

Strange and unsettling in a way that suggests something mysterious or supernatural.

eerily

adv

In a way that is strange and unsettling, as if something is not quite right.

Eeyore

noun

A person who is chronically gloomy, pessimistic, or low-energy.

ef

noun

The name of the letter F.

eff

verb

A euphemistic stand-in for "fuck," used to swear without saying the word outright.

effect

noun

A change that is the result or consequence of something else.

effected

adj

Brought about or made to happen; put into effect.

effective

adj

Producing the intended result; actually working.

effectively

adv

In a way that produces the intended result; successfully.

effectiveness

noun

The degree to which something achieves the result it is meant to.

effeminate

adj

Of a man or boy, having qualities or mannerisms traditionally associated with women.

effendi

noun

A title of respect for an educated or distinguished man, historically used in Turkey and other parts of the former Ottoman Empire.

efficacy

noun

The power to produce a desired result, especially under controlled or ideal conditions.

efficiency

noun

The quality of using time, energy, or resources well without unnecessary waste.

efficient

adj

Achieving maximum results with minimum wasted time, effort, or resources.

efficiently

adv

In a way that avoids wasting time, effort, or resources.

Effie

name

A short form of the female given name Euphemia, sometimes used as a name in its own right.

effigy

noun

A crude model or figure made to represent a person or group, often so it can be mocked, burned, or destroyed in protest.

effing

adj

A euphemistic substitute for "fucking," used as a mild intensifier or curse.

effort

noun

Physical or mental energy put into doing something.

effortless

adj

Done with ease, requiring little or no visible effort.

effortlessly

adv

Without visible effort or strain; with ease.

effusion

noun

A sudden, uncontrolled outpouring of speech or emotion.

egad

intj

An old-fashioned exclamation of surprise, dismay, or mild outrage.

Egan

name

A surname of Irish origin.

Egbert

name

A male given name of Old English origin, historically borne by early English kings.

egg

noun

An oval or round body laid by birds, reptiles, and many other animals, usually containing a developing embryo.

egged

adj

Coated with or containing egg.

egghead

noun

An intellectual or highly educated person, especially one seen as impractical or out of touch.

egging

noun

The act of throwing eggs at someone or something, often as vandalism or a prank.

eggman

noun

A person whose job is delivering eggs.

eggnog

noun

A rich, chilled drink made from milk or cream, beaten eggs, sugar, and spices like nutmeg, often spiked with rum, brandy, or whisky.

eggplant

noun

A vegetable with smooth, glossy purple (or sometimes white) skin, also called an aubergine.

eggshell

noun

The thin, hard outer covering of an egg.

eggy

adj

Tasting, smelling, or looking of egg, or coated in egg.

ego

noun

A person's sense of their own importance and self-worth.

egocentric

adj

Focused on oneself, one's own needs, or one's own point of view; self-centered.

egoist

noun

Someone who believes that self-interest is, or should be, the basis of moral action.

egomaniac

noun

Someone with an extreme, obsessive sense of their own importance.

egotistical

adj

Excessively self-important, boastful, or preoccupied with oneself.

egregious

adj

Shockingly bad or blatant; standing out in a negative way.

egress

noun

A way out, or the act of leaving a place.

Egypt

name

A country in northeastern Africa, home to one of the world's oldest civilizations, with its capital at Cairo.

Egyptian

adj

Relating to Egypt, its people, or its language.

eh

intj

Added to the end of a statement to invite agreement or a reaction, similar to "right?" or "isn't it?"

ehm

intj

A filler sound used when hesitating or pausing while speaking, similar to "um" or "er."

Ehrlich

name

A German and Jewish surname meaning "honest" or "honorable," notably borne by bacteriologist Paul Ehrlich.

Eichmann

noun

A person who carries out immoral or destructive orders without objection because society or their institution accepts them.

Eid

noun

Any of several major Islamic religious festivals, especially Eid al-Fitr (marking the end of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha.

Eiffel

name

A French surname, most associated with engineer Gustave Eiffel, designer of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

eight

num

The number 8, one more than seven.

eighteen

num

The number 18, one more than seventeen.

eighteenth

adj

Coming after seventeen others in a sequence; number 18 in an ordered list.

eighth

adj

Coming after seven others in a sequence; number 8 in an ordered list.

eighties

noun

The decade running from 80 to 89 in a century, especially the 1980s.

eights

noun

The plural of eight; also used loosely for a group or set of eight things, such as a rowing crew of eight.

eighty

num

The number 80, one more than seventy-nine.

Eiko

name

A feminine given name of Japanese origin, often meaning "long-lived child" or "radiant child" depending on the characters used.

Eileen

name

A feminine given name, the Irish English form of Eibhlín, related to Evelyn or Helen.

Eine

name

A surname and pseudonym, notably used by British street artist Ben Flynn, known professionally as Eine.

Einstein

noun

A very intelligent or brilliant person, used as an admiring or sarcastic comparison to Albert Einstein.

Eisenhower

name

A German-derived surname, famously borne by Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. general and 34th president.

Eisenstein

name

A German and Jewish surname meaning "iron stone," notably borne by Soviet filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein.

either

det

One or the other of two options; whichever of two.

ejaculate

verb

To release semen or vaginal fluid from the body during sexual climax.

ejaculation

noun

The release of semen or vaginal fluid from the body at sexual climax.

eject

verb

To force someone to leave a place.

ejection

noun

The act of forcing something or someone out.

ejector

noun

A device or mechanism that forcefully pushes something out.

Ek

name

A surname found in Swedish and other Scandinavian families, and a common surname element in South and Southeast Asia.

EKG

noun

An electrocardiogram — a test that records the electrical activity of the heart; also written ECG.

el

noun

The letter L or l, as used in the Latin alphabet.

Ela

name

A feminine given name used in several European languages, often as a short form of names like Elizabeth or Eleanor.

elaborate

adjective

Worked out with great care and detail; intricate or highly developed.

Elaine

noun

A female given name of Old French origin, related to the name Helen.

Elam

noun

An ancient civilization and kingdom located in what is now southwestern Iran, with its capital at Susa.

elastic

adjective

Able to stretch and then spring back to its original shape.

elasticity

noun

The ability of a material to return to its original shape after being stretched or compressed.

elated

adjective

Extremely happy and excited.

elation

noun

A feeling of great happiness, pride, and excitement.

Elba

noun

An Italian island off the coast of Tuscany, known historically as the place where Napoleon was first exiled.

Elbe

noun

A major river running through the Czech Republic and Germany into the North Sea.

elbow

noun

The joint connecting the upper arm to the forearm.

elder

noun

A respected older member of a community, often looked to for guidance or leadership.

elderly

adjective

Old, especially having reached an advanced age.

elderman

noun

A male elder or senior leader within a tribe or community.

eldest

adjective

Oldest, especially among siblings or a group.

Eldon

noun

A place name, including a village in County Durham, England.

Eldorado

noun

A place name used for several towns across different countries, related to the legendary golden city El Dorado.

Eldridge

noun

An English surname.

ele

noun

Informal shortening of "elephant."

Eleanor

noun

A female given name, made famous historically by Eleanor of Aquitaine.

elect

verb

To choose someone for a position through a vote.

elected

adjective

Chosen for a position through a vote.

election

noun

A formal process in which people vote to choose leaders or representatives.

elective

adjective

Chosen voluntarily rather than required.

electoral

adjective

Relating to elections or to the people who vote in them.

electorate

noun

The body of people in a country or district who are entitled to vote.

Electra

noun

A figure from Greek mythology, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, known for avenging her father's death.

electric

adjective

Powered by or relating to electricity.

electrical

adjective

Relating to electricity or its use in devices and systems.

electrically

adverb

By means of electricity.

electrician

noun

A skilled tradesperson who installs and repairs electrical wiring and equipment.

electricity

noun

A form of energy caused by the movement of charged particles, used to power lights, appliances, and machines.

electrics

noun

The electrical wiring and components of a machine, vehicle, or building.

electrified

adjective

Converted to run on electricity, especially referring to rail lines.

electrifying

adjective

Extremely exciting or thrilling.

electro

noun

A genre of electronic dance music with strong bass and synthesized beats.

electrocute

verb

To kill someone using an electric shock.

electrocution

noun

Death caused by electric shock, whether by accident or execution.

electrode

noun

A conductor through which electricity enters or leaves a device, battery, or circuit.

electromagnetic

adj

Relating to the combined force of electricity and magnetism, or to the fields they produce.

electromagnetism

noun

The fundamental force that combines electricity and magnetism into a single phenomenon.

electron

noun

A tiny particle with a negative electric charge that orbits the nucleus of an atom; the flow of electrons through a conductor is what we call electricity.

electronic

adj

Relating to electrons or the devices that control their flow, such as computers, phones, and circuit boards.

electronically

adv

Using electronic devices, circuits, or digital technology.

electronics

noun

The branch of science and engineering concerned with devices that control the flow of electrons, such as circuits and semiconductors.

electroshock

noun

An electric shock delivered to the body, or more specifically, a controlled medical treatment (electroconvulsive therapy) that passes current through the brain to treat severe depression.

elegance

noun

Graceful, refined beauty in appearance, movement, or manner.

elegant

adj

Graceful and stylish in appearance or manner.

elegantly

adv

In a graceful, stylish, or refined way.

element

noun

A basic or essential part of something larger.

elemental

adj

Basic and fundamental, related to a core building block rather than something complex or refined.

elementary

adj

Simple and basic; easy to understand.

elements

noun

The weather, especially rough conditions like wind, rain, or cold, viewed as something a person is exposed to.

Elena

name

A female given name, common in Italian, Spanish, and other European languages, related to the English name Helen.

Eleni

name

A Greek female given name, equivalent to Helen.

Eleonora

name

A female given name, a variant of Eleanor.

elephant

noun

A very large mammal with a long trunk, big ears, and tusks, native to Africa and Asia.

Elephants

noun

The plural of "elephant," large plant-eating mammals with a trunk and tusks, native to Africa and Asia.

elevate

verb

To physically raise something to a higher position.

elevated

adj

Raised above the surrounding area or the ground.

elevation

noun

The height of a place above sea level.

elevator

noun

A machine that carries people or goods up and down between floors of a building.

eleven

num

The number after ten and before twelve; 11.

eleventh

adj

Coming after the tenth and before the twelfth in a sequence; 11th.

elf

noun

A small, magical humanlike creature from folklore, often mischievous; in modern fantasy, a tall, graceful, immortal being.

Elgar

name

A surname, most famously borne by the English composer Edward Elgar.

Elgin

name

A surname and place name, most notably a town in Moray, Scotland, and the earldom associated with it.

Eli

name

A male given name of Hebrew origin, also the name of a biblical priest.

Elias

name

A male given name, the New Testament Greek form of Elijah.

elicit

verb

To draw out a response, reaction, or piece of information from someone, often through careful questioning.

elif

noun

In computer programming, a keyword meaning "else if," used to check another condition if an earlier one was false.

eligibility

noun

The state of meeting the requirements needed to qualify for something.

eligible

adj

Meeting the requirements needed to take part in, apply for, or receive something.

Elijah

name

A Hebrew prophet in the Bible known for his miracles and confrontations with false prophets; also a common male given name.

eliminate

verb

To completely remove or get rid of something.

elimination

noun

The act of completely getting rid of something or removing someone from a competition.

Elina

name

A female given name.