English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

Qasim

name

A male given name of Arabic origin, also the name of the eldest son of the prophet Muhammad.

Qatar

noun

A small, wealthy country on a peninsula in the Persian Gulf, officially the State of Qatar, with Doha as its capital.

Qi

name

An ancient Chinese duchy and kingdom under the Zhou dynasty; also a Chinese surname.

Qian

name

A Chinese surname.

Qiang

noun

An ethnic group native to a mountainous region of Sichuan province in western China.

Qiao

name

A Chinese surname.

qin

noun

A traditional Chinese plucked string instrument, most often the seven-stringed guqin.

qing

name

The last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 until 1912.

Qiu

name

A Chinese surname.

Qt

name

A widely used free and open-source framework for building graphical software interfaces across different operating systems.

qu

noun

In China's administrative system, a district-level division used mainly for urban areas, as distinct from the more rural county-level "xian".

qua

preposition

In the role or capacity of; as.

quack

noun

The harsh, honking sound a duck makes.

quacking

noun

The repeated honking calls made by ducks.

quad

noun

Short for a quadrangle — an open, often grassy square surrounded by buildings, especially on a college campus.

quadrant

noun

One of four sections created when an area is divided by two perpendicular lines.

quadruple

adjective

Four times as large, as many, or as much.

quads

noun

The large muscles at the front of the thigh (quadriceps), or four cards of the same rank in poker.

quagmire

noun

An area of soft, wet, boggy ground that traps anything that steps into it.

quahog

noun

A hard-shelled edible clam found along the Atlantic coast of North America.

Quaid

name

A surname of Irish origin.

quail

noun

A small, plump game bird related to pheasants and partridges.

quaint

adjective

Attractively unusual or old-fashioned, especially in a charming way.

quake

noun

Short for earthquake — a sudden violent shaking of the ground.

Quaker

noun

A member of the Religious Society of Friends, a Christian group known for pacifism and simple worship without clergy.

quaking

adjective

Shaking uncontrollably, typically from fear, cold, or shock.

qualification

noun

A skill, degree, or credential that shows someone is suitably trained for a role.

qualified

adjective

Having the necessary skills, training, or credentials for a role.

qualify

verb

To meet the requirements needed for something, such as a job, benefit, or competition stage.

quality

noun

The overall standard or excellence of something, as opposed to how much of it there is.

Quan

name

A surname of Vietnamese or Chinese origin, also used as a male given name.

quandary

noun

A state of being unsure what to do, especially when facing a difficult choice.

Quantico

name

A town in Virginia, home to a major U.S. Marine Corps base and FBI training academy.

quantify

verb

To measure or express something as a specific amount or number.

quantity

noun

An amount of something that can be measured or counted.

quantum

noun

The smallest discrete amount of something, especially a fixed unit of energy in physics.

quarantine

noun

A period of enforced isolation imposed on people, animals, or goods to stop a disease from spreading.

quarantined

adj

Placed in isolation to prevent the spread of disease or contamination.

quark

noun

In particle physics, one of the fundamental building blocks that combine to form protons, neutrons, and similar particles.

quarrel

noun

An angry argument or dispute, especially between people who know each other.

quarrelling

noun

The act of arguing angrily, especially repeatedly.

quarry

noun

A large open pit where stone, sand, or similar material is dug out of the ground.

quart

noun

A unit of liquid measure equal to a quarter of a gallon, or two pints.

quarter

noun

One of four equal parts into which something is divided.

quarterback

noun

In American football, the player who leads the offense and typically throws or hands off the ball at the start of each play.

quarterly

adj

Happening once every three months.

quartermaster

noun

A military officer responsible for supplying troops with food, clothing, fuel, and other equipment.

quarters

noun

Living accommodation, especially for soldiers or staff.

quartet

noun

A group of four musicians performing together, or a piece of music written for four parts.

quartz

noun

A very common, hard mineral made of silicon and oxygen, found in many types of rock.

quasar

noun

An extremely bright and distant celestial object, powered by a supermassive black hole, that appears starlike from Earth.

quash

verb

To officially cancel or reject a legal decision, charge, or order.

Quasimodo

noun

The first Sunday after Easter.

quay

noun

A stone or concrete platform built along water where boats load and unload.

Quayle

name

A surname of Manx origin.

Que

name

A surname of either Chinese Hokkien or Catalan origin.

queasy

adj

Feeling sick to one's stomach, as if about to vomit.

Quebec

name

A province of eastern Canada, whose capital is Quebec City; also the name of that city.

queen

noun

A female monarch who rules a country, or the wife of a king.

Queenie

noun

An informal or affectionate nickname, sometimes used for an effeminate man.

Queens

noun

The plural of queen; also, in card games, a pair of queen cards.

Queensland

name

A state in northeastern Australia, whose capital is Brisbane.

queer

adj

Relating to a sexual orientation or gender identity that isn't exclusively heterosexual or cisgender; used both as a reclaimed identity term and, historically, as a slur.

quell

verb

To bring a disturbance, rebellion, or strong feeling under control; to suppress it.

quench

verb

To satisfy thirst, or more broadly, a strong desire.

Quentin

name

A male given name (occasionally female) of Latin origin, meaning "fifth"; also a surname.

querida

noun

Darling or sweetheart — a term of endearment.

query

noun

A question, especially one asking for information or clarification.

quesadilla

noun

A Mexican dish made by folding a tortilla around melted cheese, often with other fillings, and cooking it until crisp.

quest

noun

A long or difficult search or journey undertaken to achieve a goal.

Questa

name

A surname of Spanish origin, also a village in New Mexico.

question

noun

A sentence or phrase used to ask for information or a response.

questionable

adj

Open to doubt; not clearly true, sound, or reliable.

questioning

noun

The act of asking questions, especially formally, as in an investigation.

questionnaire

noun

A written set of questions used to collect information from people, often for research or feedback.

questions

noun

A party game in which players must respond only with questions, and drop out (or lose a point) if they answer with a statement instead.

queue

noun

A line of people or vehicles waiting their turn, served in the order they arrived.

queuing

noun

The act of standing in line, or of adding something to a waiting list.

quibble

noun

A minor, often pedantic objection or complaint about a small detail.

quiche

noun

A savoury baked tart made from eggs and cream in a pastry crust, often with added vegetables, cheese, or meat.

quick

adj

Moving or happening fast.

quicken

verb

To make something happen faster or more quickly.

quickens

verb

Third-person singular present tense of quicken: makes or becomes faster.

quickfire

noun

A fast-moving fire that spreads rapidly through dry vegetation.

quickie

noun

Something done or made in a short amount of time.

quickly

adv

Rapidly; at speed.

quicksand

noun

Wet, loose sand that looks solid but gives way and traps anything that steps into it, often found near rivers or shorelines.

quicksilver

noun

An old name for the metal mercury.

quid

noun

Informal British term for one pound sterling.

quiet

adj

Making little or no sound.

quieten

verb

To make quiet, or to become quiet.

quieter

adj

Comparative form of \"quiet\": having less noise or activity than something else.

quietly

adv

In a manner that makes little noise or draws little attention.

Quigley

name

A surname of Irish origin.

quill

noun

The hollow central shaft of a bird's feather.

quilt

noun

A bed covering made of two layers of fabric stitched together with padding in between, often patterned.

Quimby

name

An English surname.

quince

noun

A hard, pear-shaped fruit related to apples and pears, usually cooked before eating.

Quincey

name

An English surname, a variant of Quincy.

Quincy

noun

A dry white wine made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown near Quincy in France's Loire Valley.

quinine

noun

A bitter compound extracted from cinchona bark, used to treat malaria and to flavour tonic water.

Quinlan

name

A surname of Irish origin; also a city in Texas.

Quinn

name

A surname of Irish origin, meaning "descendant of Chief"; also used as a male or female given name.

quinoa

noun

A grain-like plant native to the Andes, grown for its edible seeds.

quint

noun

Short for quintuplet: one of five children born in the same birth.

Quintana

name

A surname of Spanish origin.

quintessential

adj

Representing the most perfect or typical example of something.

Quinton

noun

A now largely obsolete stringed instrument with five strings, related to the violin.

quintus

noun

In early vocal music, a fifth voice part added above or alongside the standard four-part texture of superius, altus, tenor, and bassus.

quirk

noun

An odd or unusual habit, feature, or trait.

Quirke

name

A family name of Irish and Manx origin.

quirky

adj

Unusual or eccentric in an appealing, offbeat way.

quirt

noun

A short riding whip made of braided leather.

quit

verb

To resign from a job or position.

quite

adv

Completely or entirely.

Quito

name

The capital city of Ecuador.

quits

adjective

Even with someone, with no debt or grudge left on either side.

quitter

noun

Someone who gives up too easily instead of finishing what they started.

quitting

noun

The act of stopping or leaving something for good.

quiver

noun

A case for carrying arrows.

quivering

adjective

Shaking with small, rapid movements.

Quixote

noun

A person who is idealistic and chivalrous to the point of being impractical.

quiz

noun

A short test of knowledge, often informal or for fun.

quo

noun

The "that" half of the phrase "quid pro quo" — something given in return for something else.

quorum

noun

The minimum number of members who must be present for a group to conduct official business or hold a valid vote.

quota

noun

A fixed share or amount that someone is required, allowed, or expected to reach.

quotation

noun

Someone else's words repeated exactly, usually from a book, speech, or famous person.

quote

noun

A short passage of words repeated from someone else.

quoting

noun

A statement repeated word for word from another source.

Qureshi

name

A surname of Arabic origin.