English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

OA

name

Abbreviation for the Order of the Arrow, an honor society within the Boy Scouts of America.

oaf

noun

A clumsy, foolish, or unrefined person.

Oahu

name

The third-largest Hawaiian island, home to Honolulu and most of the state's population.

oak

noun

A large deciduous tree with lobed leaves and acorns, valued for its strong wood.

Oakes

name

An English surname, and also the name of towns in England and North Dakota.

Oakland

name

The eighth-largest city in California, seat of Alameda County, and also the name of several smaller towns across the United States and Canada.

Oakley

name

An English surname derived from several English place names meaning a clearing in an oak wood, and the name of numerous villages in England and towns in the United States.

oaks

noun

A famous horse race for three-year-old fillies, run each year at Epsom in England.

oakwood

noun

A wood or forest made up mainly of oak trees.

oar

noun

A long pole with a flat blade used to row or steer a boat.

oasis

noun

A fertile spot with water in the middle of a desert.

oat

noun

A cereal grass grown for its edible grain.

Oates

name

An English and Irish surname, and the name of a small community in Missouri.

oath

noun

A solemn formal promise, often invoking something sacred, to tell the truth or keep a commitment.

oatmeal

noun

Ground or rolled oats, or the porridge made by cooking them.

oats

noun

The grains harvested from the oat plant, used as food or livestock feed.

Oaxaca

noun

A soft, stringy white cheese from the Oaxaca region of Mexico, similar to mozzarella and often used melted.

ob

noun

A short informal way of saying "observation," especially in medical or scientific settings.

Obama

name

A Luo surname, notably borne by Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States, and also the name of a Japanese city and samurai clan.

obedience

noun

The act of following instructions, rules, or authority.

obedient

adjective

Willing to follow instructions or do what someone in authority says.

obediently

adverb

In a way that follows instructions or authority without resistance.

obelisk

noun

A tall, four-sided stone pillar that narrows to a pointed top, often built as a monument.

Oberoi

name

A Punjabi surname.

Oberon

name

The king of the fairies in medieval and Renaissance literature, notably in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream; also the outermost major moon of Uranus.

obese

adjective

Very overweight, to a degree that is unhealthy.

obesity

noun

The condition of carrying an unhealthy amount of body fat.

obey

verb

To do what someone in authority tells you to do.

obi

noun

A wide sash tied around the waist of a kimono.

obit

noun

A short published account of a person's death and life, especially in a newspaper; short for obituary.

obituary

noun

A published notice of someone's death, often with a summary of their life, usually appearing in a newspaper.

object

noun

A physical thing that can be seen or touched.

objection

noun

A statement of disagreement or opposition, often with a reason attached.

objectionable

adjective

Likely to cause disapproval or offence.

objective

adjective

Based on facts rather than personal feelings or opinions.

objectively

adverb

In a way based on facts rather than personal feelings.

objectivity

noun

The quality of being fair and fact-based rather than influenced by personal feelings.

obligated

adjective

Required to do something because of a duty, promise, or rule.

obligation

noun

A duty or requirement to do something, often because of a promise, law, or moral sense.

obligatory

adjective

Required by rule, law, or custom; compulsory.

oblige

verb

To require someone to do something, by law, duty, or circumstance.

obliged

adjective

Required to do something.

obliging

adjective

Willing and ready to help or do favours for others.

oblique

adjective

Slanting; not straight up-and-down or side-to-side.

obliterate

verb

To destroy something completely, leaving no trace.

obliterated

adjective

Destroyed completely or beyond repair.

oblivion

noun

A state of being completely forgotten or no longer existing.

oblivious

adjective

Not aware of something happening around you.

obnoxious

adjective

Extremely unpleasant, rude, or annoying.

oboe

noun

A slender wooden wind instrument with a double reed, played in orchestras and bands.

obscene

adjective

Offensive to accepted standards of decency, often in a sexual way.

obscenity

noun

Language or behaviour that is offensive to standards of decency.

obscure

adjective

Not well known.

obscured

adjective

Hidden from view or made unclear.

obscurity

noun

The state of being unknown or not noticed.

observant

adjective

Quick to notice things; alert and watchful.

observation

noun

The act of watching something carefully.

observational

adjective

Relating to watching and recording, especially in science.

observatory

noun

A building equipped for watching the stars and other astronomical events, usually with a telescope.

observe

verb

To watch someone or something carefully.

observed

adj

Noticed or watched; seen and taken note of.

observer

noun

Someone who watches, notices, or pays close attention to something.

observing

noun

The act of watching something closely, or of noting and recording what happens.

obsess

verb

To think about someone or something constantly, to the point where it takes over your mind.

obsessed

adj

Completely preoccupied with one thing, to an unhealthy or extreme degree.

obsession

noun

A single idea, activity, or interest that dominates someone's thoughts far more than is normal or healthy.

obsessive

adj

Showing an extreme, excessive focus on one thing, often in an unhealthy way.

obsessively

adv

In a way that shows an extreme or unhealthy focus on one thing.

obsidian

noun

A smooth, glassy black rock formed when lava cools very quickly.

obsolete

adj

No longer used because something newer or better has replaced it.

obstacle

noun

Something that blocks progress or makes it harder to move forward, whether physical or figurative.

obstetrician

noun

A doctor who specialises in pregnancy, labour, and childbirth.

obstetrics

noun

The branch of medicine dealing with pregnancy, labour, and the period just after birth.

obstinacy

noun

Stubborn refusal to change one's mind or course of action.

obstinate

adj

Refusing to change one's opinion or course of action, often unreasonably so.

obstruct

verb

To block a path or passage so that things can't get through.

obstruction

noun

Something that blocks a path, passage, or process.

obtain

verb

To get or acquire something, often through effort or a formal process.

obtuse

adj

Slow to understand or notice things that seem obvious to others.

obvious

adj

Easy to see or understand; not needing explanation.

obviously

adv

Clearly; in a way that's easy to see or understand.

OC

adj

Informal shorthand meaning "of color", used to describe people who are not white.

occasion

noun

A particular time when something happens, especially something notable.

occasional

adj

Happening from time to time, but not regularly or often.

occasionally

adv

Now and then; sometimes, but not often.

occipital

adj

Relating to or located at the back of the head.

occult

adj

Relating to magic, mysticism, or supernatural practices.

occupancy

noun

The act of living in or using a place, or the state of being occupied.

occupant

noun

A person who lives in, uses, or is present in a place.

occupation

noun

A person's job or profession.

occupational

adj

Relating to a person's job or work.

occupied

adj

Currently in use or taken, such as a seat, room, or toilet.

occupy

verb

To live in, use, or take up a space.

occur

verb

To happen or take place.

occurrence

noun

Something that happens; an event or instance.

occurring

adj

Happening, especially in a specified way or place.

OCD

adj

Showing obsessive, perfectionistic tendencies, often used loosely to describe someone who likes things a certain way (informally referencing obsessive-compulsive disorder).

ocean

noun

One of the huge bodies of salt water that cover most of the Earth's surface.

oceanic

adj

Relating to, found in, or resembling the ocean.

och

intj

A Scottish and Irish exclamation used to show agreement, mild annoyance, or resignation.

Ochoa

name

A Spanish surname of Basque origin, meaning "wolf."

ock

noun

A slang, and now dated, New York term for a Middle Eastern deli or bodega owner.

octagon

noun

A shape with eight straight sides and eight angles.

octave

noun

The musical distance between one note and another note with double or half its pitch frequency, spanning eight notes of the scale.

Octavia

name

A feminine given name of Latin origin, from the Roman family name Octavius, meaning "eighth."

Octavian

name

A masculine given name of Latin origin, historically borne by Augustus Caesar before he took the name Augustus.

Octavius

name

A masculine given name of Latin origin, meaning "eighth," from a prominent Roman family name.

October

name

The tenth month of the year, between September and November, associated in the northern hemisphere with autumn and falling leaves.

octopus

noun

A soft-bodied sea creature with eight arms lined with suckers and no internal shell.

ocular

adj

Relating to the eye or to eyesight.

od

verb

To take a dangerous excess of a drug; to overdose.

oda

noun

A private room set aside for women within a harem.

odd

adj

Strange, unusual, or not what you would expect.

oddball

noun

A person who behaves in a strange or eccentric way.

oddity

noun

A strange or unusual thing, person, or detail.

oddly

adv

In a strange or unexpected way.

odds

noun

The likelihood of something happening, especially as expressed in betting.

ode

noun

A poem, often meant to be sung, that expresses strong feeling or praise for its subject.

Odell

name

A given name and surname, also the name of a village in England and several small towns in the United States.

Oder

name

A river running through central Europe, forming part of the border between Germany and Poland before reaching the Baltic Sea.

Odessa

name

A major port city in Ukraine on the Black Sea coast.

Odie

name

A diminutive of several given names such as Odell, Odin, or Otis, also used as a formal given name and surname.

Odin

name

In Norse mythology, the chief god, associated with wisdom, war, and poetry.

odious

adj

Deeply unpleasant; causing strong dislike or disgust.

Odo

name

A masculine given name of historical usage, derived from Latin Otho.

odor

noun

A smell, whether pleasant or unpleasant.

odorless

adj

Having no smell at all.

odour

noun

A smell, whether pleasant or unpleasant — the standard British spelling of "odor".

ods

intj

An old-fashioned mild oath, a euphemistic shortening of "God's" used in exclamations like "Ods bodkins!"

odum

noun

Another name for the iroko tree, a large West African hardwood tree valued for its durable timber.

Odysseus

name

A legendary Greek king and hero known for his cunning, famous for devising the Trojan Horse and for his long journey home after the Trojan War.

odyssey

noun

A long, eventful journey, especially one full of challenges.

OE

noun

A small island, especially in Scandinavian place names.

Oedipus

name

A figure from Greek mythology who unknowingly killed his father and married his mother, later the subject of Sophocles's tragedies.

of

prep

Used to show that something belongs to, or is a part of, something else.

off

adv

Away from a place, position, or reference point.

offal

noun

The internal organs of a butchered animal, such as liver or kidney, eaten as food.

offence

noun

British spelling of "offense" — a crime or breach of the law, or a feeling of being hurt or insulted.

offend

verb

To hurt someone's feelings or upset them, often unintentionally.

offender

noun

A person who commits a crime or breaks the law.

offending

adj

Guilty of a wrongdoing; the one responsible for a problem.

offense

noun

A wrongdoing, crime, or breach of a rule.

offensive

adj

Causing anger, disgust, or hurt feelings.

offer

verb

To present something for someone to accept or refuse.

offering

noun

Something given, presented, or put up for consideration, especially as a gift, contribution, or for sale.

offhand

adj

Said or done without preparation or careful thought.

office

noun

A room or building where people do administrative or professional work.

officer

noun

Someone holding a position of authority, especially in the military, police, or government.

official

adj

Approved by, or coming from, a proper authority.

officially

adv

According to official rules, procedures, or authority.

officiate

verb

To perform the official duties of a position, especially presiding over a ceremony.

offing

noun

The near future, especially something expected soon. Chiefly used in the phrase "in the offing".

offline

adj

Not connected to a network, especially the internet.

offload

verb

To remove a load or cargo from a vehicle.

offscreen

adj

Happening outside the visible frame of a film or television screen.

offset

noun

Something that balances out or compensates for something else.

offshore

adj

Located in the sea some distance from the coast.

offside

adj

In an illegal position ahead of the ball or play, according to the rules of a sport such as soccer or hockey.

offspring

noun

A person's child, or an animal's or plant's young.

offstage

adj

Happening in the part of a theater not visible to the audience.

oft

adv

Often; frequently. Now mostly literary or used in compound words.

often

adv

Frequently; many times.

oftentimes

adv

Often; frequently. A slightly old-fashioned or formal variant of "often".

OG

adj

Original, authentic, or old-school; the real or first version of something.

Ogata

name

A Japanese surname.

Ogawa

name

A Japanese surname, literally "small river."

Ogden

name

An English habitational surname and given name, and the name of a city in Utah and several other places in the United States and Canada.

ogle

verb

To stare at someone or something in an obvious, often lustful or admiring way.

ogling

noun

The act of staring at someone in an obvious, often lustful way.

ogre

noun

A large, ugly, monstrous creature in folklore, known for its brutish strength and appetite for humans.

OH

intj

Used to express surprise, realization, understanding, or emotion.

ohm

noun

The standard unit of electrical resistance.

oho

intj

Used to express surprise or a triumphant realization, similar to "aha".

oi

intj

Used to get someone's attention, often sharply, or to express annoyance or surprise.

oil

noun

A thick, greasy liquid, either from plants, animals, or petroleum, used for cooking, fuel, or lubrication.

oiled

adj

Coated or treated with oil.

oily

adj

Covered with, containing, or resembling oil.

oink

noun

The grunting sound a pig makes.

ointment

noun

A thick, oily paste, often medicated, applied to the skin to treat or soothe it.

Oishi

name

A Japanese surname, literally "big stone."

Ojai

name

A small city in Ventura County, California, known for its arts community.

OK

adj

All right; acceptable, permitted, or satisfactory.

oka

noun

An old unit of weight used historically in Turkey, Egypt, Hungary, and Romania, equal to a little more than a kilogram.

Okada

noun

A motorcycle used as a taxi, especially common in West African cities such as Lagos, Nigeria.

Okamoto

name

A Japanese surname.

okey

noun

A Turkish tile game similar to rummy, played with numbered tiles.

Oki

name

A Japanese surname.

Okie

noun

Someone from Oklahoma, especially used historically for Dust Bowl-era migrants who left the state for California.

Okinawa

name

A prefecture and island chain of Japan, and the main island within it, notable as the site of a major World War II battle.

Oklahoma

name

A state in the south-central United States; its capital is Oklahoma City.

okra

noun

A green, ridged vegetable pod eaten cooked, known for its sticky texture when cut and used to thicken stews.

Oksana

name

A feminine given name, a transliteration of the Russian or Ukrainian Оксана.

Oktoberfest

noun

A large beer festival held in Munich, Germany, each year in late September and early October, famous for its beer tents and traditional food.

Okuda

name

A Japanese surname.

OL

adj

Informal spelling of "old", used to imitate casual speech.

Ola

name

A given name of Yoruba or Scandinavian origin, also used as a surname.

Olaf

name

A masculine given name of Old Norse origin.

old

adj

Having existed for a long time; not new or young.

olden

adj

Belonging to an earlier, often romanticized, era; used mainly in the phrase "olden days".

older

adj

Comparative form of "old"; greater in age or having existed longer.

oldest

noun

The person or thing that has existed longest among a group, especially the eldest child in a family.

oldie

noun

A song, film, or other piece of media from an earlier era, especially one still fondly remembered.

Oldman

name

An English surname.

Olds

noun

Informal, plural term for one's parents.

ole

intj

An exclamation shouted to cheer on a performer, bullfighter, or sports team.

Oleg

name

A masculine given name common among Slavic-speaking peoples, derived ultimately from a Norse name meaning "holy."

olfactory

adj

Relating to the sense of smell.

Olga

name

A feminine given name common in Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian, derived from a Norse word meaning "holy."

Oli

name

A diminutive of the masculine given name Oliver.

Olin

name

A masculine given name, and the name of a city in Iowa and a village in Poland.

olive

noun

A small oval fruit, usually eaten pickled or pressed for its oil, that grows on a Mediterranean tree.

Oliver

noun

A given name, historically also used as a common English male first name and surname.

Olivia

noun

A female given name, ultimately from Latin, and one of the most popular girls' names in English-speaking countries today.

Olivier

name

A French surname and given name, equivalent to the English Oliver.

ollie

noun

A skateboarding trick where the rider and board leap into the air together without using the hands.

Olly

name

A diminutive of the given names Oliver or Olivia.

Olmedo

name

A Spanish surname.

Olsen

name

A Scandinavian patronymic surname meaning "son of Ole."

Olson

name

A Swedish patronymic surname meaning "son of Olaf," common among Scandinavian-Americans.

Olsson

name

A Swedish surname meaning "son of Olaf."

Olya

name

A feminine given name, a diminutive transliteration of the Russian or Ukrainian Оля, from Olga.

Olympia

name

An ancient Greek city that hosted the original Olympic Games; also the capital of Washington state and a feminine given name.

Olympiad

noun

The four-year period between one Olympic Games and the next, or, loosely, the Games themselves.

Olympian

adj

Godlike, majestic, or far above ordinary human concerns — originally describing the gods said to live on Mount Olympus.

Olympic

adj

Relating to the Olympic Games, or of a scale and standard associated with them.

Olympics

name

The Olympic Games, the major international multi-sport competition held every four years.

Olympus

name

The highest mountain in Greece, regarded in Greek mythology as the home of the gods.

om

noun

A sacred syllable chanted in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain meditation and prayer.

Oma

noun

An informal word for grandmother, used especially in German-influenced English.

Omaha

name

The largest city in Nebraska, United States.

Oman

name

A country on the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia, whose capital is Muscat.

Omar

name

A male given name of Arabic origin, historically borne by the second caliph of Islam.

ome

noun

The complete set of a particular kind of biological molecule or feature in an organism, as in "genome" or "proteome."

omega

noun

The final letter of the Greek alphabet, symbolizing an ending or the last in a series.

omelette

noun

A dish of beaten eggs cooked flat in a pan, often folded over a filling like cheese or vegetables.

omen

noun

A sign believed to foretell a future event, whether good or bad.

omer

noun

An ancient Hebrew unit of dry measure, roughly equal to 2.3 liters, historically used for grain.

OMG

intj

An exclamation of surprise, shock, or excitement — short for "oh my God."

omi

noun

A man (informal/slang term, historically used in Polari and some British underworld slang).

omicron

noun

The 15th letter of the Greek alphabet.

ominous

adj

Suggesting that something bad is about to happen; threatening or foreboding.

omission

noun

The act of leaving something out, or something that has been left out.

omit

verb

To leave something out or exclude it.

omitted

adj

Left out; not included, whether by accident or on purpose.

omni

noun

Informal shorthand for "omnivore" — someone who eats both plant and animal foods, as opposed to a vegan or vegetarian.

omnibus

noun

A large public bus, especially historically.

omnipotent

adj

Having unlimited power or authority; all-powerful.

omnipresent

adj

Present everywhere at the same time.

omniscient

adj

Knowing everything; having complete or unlimited knowledge.

on

prep

Positioned at, upon, or touching the surface of something.

Ona

name

A Spanish surname; also the name of an indigenous language spoken in Tierra del Fuego.

onboard

adv

On or inside a ship, aircraft, train, or other vehicle.

once

adv

On one occasion only; a single time.

oncologist

noun

A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer.

oncology

noun

The branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis, treatment, and study of cancer.

oncoming

adj

Approaching or coming closer, especially traffic moving toward you.

one

num

The number 1; the first positive whole number.

oneness

noun

The state of being unified or whole; a sense of complete togetherness.

ones

noun

A team's first-choice or senior squad, as opposed to reserves.

onesie

noun

A one-piece garment, especially a snap-up outfit for a baby worn over a diaper.

Ong

name

A Chinese surname common among Hokkien, Taishanese, and Vietnamese speakers.

ongoing

adj

Currently happening or still in progress; not yet finished.

oni

noun

A demon or ogre-like spirit from Japanese folklore, often shown with horns and a fearsome face.

Onion

noun

An informal term for someone from Bermuda, referencing the island's once-famous onion crop.

Onions

name

A Welsh surname originating as a patronymic form of the given name Einion.

online

adj

Connected to the internet or another network, and actively available or in use.

only

adj

Being the single one of its kind; sole.

ono

adj

Hawaiian slang for delicious or great-tasting.

Ons

name

A feminine given name of Arabic origin.

onscreen

adj

Appearing on a screen, such as film, television, or a computer display, as opposed to in real life.

onset

noun

The point at which something, especially an illness or a change, first begins.

onslaught

noun

A fierce, forceful attack.

Onslow

name

A surname and given name originating as a patronymic, also the name of an English earldom.

onstage

adj

Taking place on the visible part of a stage, in front of an audience.

onto

prep

Moving to a position on top of or upon something.

onward

adj

Moving or directed forward, or further ahead in time.

onwards

adv

British spelling variant of onward, meaning continuing forward or from a point in time.

onyx

noun

A banded gemstone form of quartz, often black and white, used in jewelry and carvings.

oo

noun

The Greek letter omega (Ω, ω), sometimes written this way to show its long "o" sound.

oodles

noun

An informal word for a very large, unspecified amount of something.

oof

intj

An exclamation imitating the sound of air being forced out, as if someone has been struck or startled.

ooh

intj

An exclamation expressing surprise, delight, or awe.

ook

intj

Used to represent the sound of an ape or monkey's cry.

oolong

noun

A partially fermented Chinese tea that sits between green and black tea in flavor and processing.

oom

noun

A respectful South African term for an older man, especially an uncle.

oomph

noun

Energy, force, or appeal that makes something impressive or effective.

Oona

name

A feminine given name of Irish origin, a variant of Una.

ooo

phrase

A written stand-in for "hugs," typically added at the end of a text message or letter, often paired with "xxx" for kisses.

oooh

intj

A stretched-out version of "ooh," used to show strong surprise, admiration, or interest.

ooooh

intj

An even longer, more emphatic stretch of "ooh" or "oh," used for heightened surprise, teasing, or excitement.

OOP

verb

To write code using an object-oriented programming approach.

oops

intj

Used to acknowledge a small mistake or accident.

oot

pron

Anything at all (used in older or dialectal English, roughly like modern "aught" or "anything").

Ooty

name

A common nickname for Udhagamandalam, a hill city in Tamil Nadu, India.

ooze

verb

To leak or flow out slowly, especially a thick or sticky substance.

oozing

noun

A slow leak or seepage of liquid.

op

verb

Informal term meaning to promote someone to administrator or operator status in an online chat or game.

opa

noun

An informal, affectionate word for grandfather.

opal

noun

A gemstone form of silica that often displays a shifting play of rainbow colors within it.

opaque

adj

Not allowing light to pass through; not transparent or translucent.