English dictionary — definitions & meanings

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.

aaliyah

name

A female given name from Arabic.

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.

aaren

name

A male given name from Hebrew.

Aaron

name

A male given name, from the biblical figure who was the brother of Moses.

aaronson

name

Hebrew patronymic surname of Aaron

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.

abaca

noun

Musa textilis, a species of banana tree native to the Philippines grown for its textile, rope- and papermaking fibre.

abaciscus

noun

One of the tiles or squares of a tessellated pavement; an abaculus.

abacist

noun

One who uses an abacus in casting accounts; a calculator.

aback

adv

Used in the phrase "taken aback": caught by surprise, startled, or momentarily thrown off guard.

abaculus

noun

A small tile of glass, marble, or other substance, of various colors, used in making ornamental patterns in mosaic pavements; abaciscus.

abacus

noun

A manual calculating tool made of a frame with rows of sliding beads, used to add, subtract, and perform other arithmetic.

abada

noun

The rhinoceros.

Abaddon

name

In the Bible, the angel or personification of destruction who rules over the bottomless pit; by extension, the pit itself.

abaft

prep

Behind; toward the stern relative to some other object or position; aft of.

abalienate

verb

To make another's that which was once yours; to transfer the title of from one to another; to alienate.

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.

abase

verb

To lower, as in condition in life, office, rank, etc., so as to cause pain or hurt feelings; to degrade, to depress, to humble, to humiliate.

abased

adj

Humbled; lowered, especially in rank, position, or prestige.

abasement

noun

The act of abasing, humbling, or bringing low.

abash

verb

To make ashamed; to embarrass; to destroy the self-possession of, as by exciting suddenly a consciousness of guilt, mistake, or inferiority; to disconcert; to discomfit.

abashed

adj

Embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed.

abate

verb

To become less strong or severe; to die down.

abated

adj

Lowered, beaten down, or cut away, as the background of an ornamental pattern in relief. Used specifically of stone-cutting; also of metal when the pattern or inscription is to show bright on dark, and the ground is therefore worked out with the graving-tool and left rough or hatched in lines.

abatement

noun

A reduction in the amount, degree or intensity of something, especially something unwanted such as noise, pollution or tax.

abattoir

noun

A place where animals are killed for food; a slaughterhouse.

abaxial

adj

Of a side that is facing away from the axis or central line, such as the underside of a leaf, or the back of an animal.

abba

noun

An Aramaic word for "father", used as a religious title and, in the New Testament, as an intimate name for God.

abbacy

noun

The dignity, estate, term, or jurisdiction of an abbot or abbess.

Abbas

name

A male given name and surname of Arabic origin.

abbatial

adj

Belonging to, relating to, or pertaining to an abbey, abbot, or abbess.

abbee

name

A diminutive of the female given name Abigail.

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.

abbreviate

verb

To shorten by omitting parts or details.

abbreviation

noun

A shortened form of a word or phrase, standing in for the full version.

abbreviature

noun

An abridgment; a compendium; an abstract.

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.

abdal

noun

A religious devotee or dervish in Persia.

abderian

adj

Of or belonging to Abdera or its people.

abdi

name

A male given name, variant of Abdul.

abdicate

verb

To formally give up a position of power, especially a throne.

abdication

noun

The act of disowning or disinheriting a child.

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.

abductee

noun

An abducted person, in particular a person abducted by aliens.

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.

abear

verb

To put up with; to endure; to bear.

abecedarian

noun

Someone who is learning the alphabet.

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.

aberrance

noun

State of being aberrant; a wandering from the right way; deviation from truth, rectitude.

aberrancy

noun

The condition of being aberrant; an aberrance.

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.

abet

verb

To incite; to assist or encourage by aid or countenance in crime.

abetting

noun

The act of helping or encouraging someone to do something wrong, especially a crime.

abettor

noun

One that abets an offender; one that incites; instigates; encourages.

abeyance

noun

Expectancy; a condition when an ownership of real property is undetermined; lapse in succession of ownership of estate, or title.

abeyant

adj

Being in a state of abeyance; suspended.

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.

abhorred

adj

Strongly disliked: hated, despised.

abhorrence

noun

Extreme aversion or detestation; the feeling of utter dislike or loathing; a visceral revulsion toward something repugnant.

abhorrency

noun

Quality of being abhorrent; feeling of abhorrence.

abhorrent

adj

Causing intense disgust or hatred; utterly repugnant.

abhorrently

adv

In a manner, or to a degree, that is abhorrent; with abhorrence.

abhorrer

noun

One who abhors.

abhorring

noun

Detestation.

Abi

name

A diminutive of the female given name Abigail.

abidance

noun

The act of abiding or continuing; abode; stay; continuance; dwelling.

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.

abigeat

noun

Theft of cattle by driving it away with the intention of feloniously appropriating it.

Abilene

adj

Of or relating to Abila

ability

noun

The capacity or power to do something.

abiogenetic

adj

Of or pertaining to abiogenesis, originated by abiogenesis.

abiotic

adj

Nonliving, inanimate, characterised by the absence of life; of inorganic matter.

abject

adj

Experienced or done in the most extreme or miserable degree, especially poverty or failure.

abjection

noun

A low or downcast condition; meanness of spirit; abasement; degradation.

abjuration

noun

A solemn recantation or renunciation on oath; as, an abjuration of heresy.

abjure

verb

To solemnly reject (someone or something); to abandon (someone or something) forever; to disavow, to disclaim, to repudiate.

ablactation

noun

The weaning of a child from the breast, or of young animals from their dam.

ablation

noun

A medical procedure that destroys a small amount of tissue deliberately, usually with heat, cold or a laser, to treat a condition such as an irregular heartbeat or a tumour.

ablaze

adj

On fire; burning fiercely.

able

adj

Having the power, skill, resources, or opportunity to do something.

abled

adj

Having a range of physical powers as specified.

ableism

noun

Discrimination or prejudice against individuals with physical, intellectual, psychiatric, or other disabilities.

ableist

adjective

Discriminating against disabled people, or assuming that being non-disabled is the normal and superior state.

ablepsia

noun

Lack of sight; blindness.

ablow

adj

Blossoming, blooming, in blossom.

ably

adv

In an able manner; with great ability.

abm

name

Ellipsis of ABM Treaty or Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

abnegate

verb

To deny (oneself something); to renounce or give up (a right, a power, a claim, a privilege, a convenience).

abnegation

noun

A denial; a renunciation; denial of desire or self-interest.

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.

abo

noun

Alternative letter-case form of abo

aboard

adv

On or into a ship, plane, train, or other vehicle.

abode

noun

A place where someone lives; a home or dwelling.

abogado

noun

Counsel; advisor; counselor; barrister.

aboil

adj

In a boil; boiling.

abolish

verb

To officially end a law, system, or practice.

abolishment

noun

The act of abolishing; abolition; destruction.

abolition

noun

The act of officially ending a law, system, or practice, especially slavery.

abolitionist

noun

A person who campaigns to abolish something, historically and most often the slave trade and slavery.

abominable

adj

Extremely unpleasant or disgusting; causing strong hatred or disapproval.

abominably

adv

In an abominable manner; very odiously; detestably.

abominate

verb

To feel disgust towards; to loathe or detest thoroughly; to hate in the highest degree, as if with religious dread.

abomination

noun

Something that causes intense disgust or hatred.

Aboriginal

adj

Relating to the original, native inhabitants of a region, especially before colonization.

aborigine

noun

An Aboriginal person from Australia (descending from, or a member of, one of the indigenous people(s) before British colonisation), Aboriginal Australian.

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.

aborticide

noun

The act of destroying a fetus in the womb; feticide.