English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

allude

verb

To mention something in an indirect way, without stating it outright.

allure

noun

A powerful, attractive charm or appeal that draws people in.

allurement

noun

The quality of being attractive or fascinating; charm.

alluring

adj

Highly attractive or tempting; having a strong pull.

allusion

noun

An indirect reference to something — a person, event or work — that the audience is expected to recognise without it being named outright.

alluvion

noun

(law) Land that gets bigger over time as a river deposits soil and mud on its banks.

alluvium

noun

Sand, mud or small stones left behind by a river as its flow slows, for example in a delta or flood plain.

ally

noun

A person, group, or country that supports and cooperates with another, especially against a common opponent.

allyl

noun

(Chemistry) The chemical group CH₂=CH-CH₂-, found for example in garlic and mustard oils.

Allyson

name

A female given name of Germanic origin, a variant of Alison.

alma

noun

A historical term for a professional Egyptian singer or dancer hired for entertainment.

alma mater

noun

The school, college or university a person attended.

almah

noun

A woman in Egypt hired to sing or dance for entertainment, sometimes also working as a prostitute.

almanac

noun

An annual publication listing dates, astronomical events, weather predictions, and other useful yearly information.

Almeida

name

A Portuguese surname.

almeyda

name

A surname of Portuguese origin.

almighty

adj

Having unlimited power; all-powerful.

almond

noun

The edible seed of the almond tree, eaten as a nut, or the tree itself.

almost

adv

Very close to a state or amount, but not quite reaching it.

alms

noun

Money, food, or other help given to the poor as charity.

almsless

adj

Having no charity given to them; poor.

almsman

noun

A person who lives on charity given to them; a beggar.

almswoman

noun

A woman who lives on charity given to her; a female beggar.

aloe

noun

A succulent plant, especially aloe vera, whose gel is used to soothe skin, or the plant genus itself.

aloft

adv

Up in the air or sky; overhead, in a high place.

aloha

intj

A Hawaiian greeting or farewell, expressing warmth and goodwill; used for both "hello" and "goodbye".

alon

name

A male first name of Hebrew, variant of Elon origin.

alone

adj

By oneself, without other people present.

aloneness

noun

The condition of being on one's own; solitude.

along

prep

Following the length of something; from one end toward the other.

alongside

prep

Next to, beside, or together with.

Alonso

name

A male given name and surname of Spanish origin, a variant of Alfonso.

Alonzo

name

A male given name, a variant of Alfonso.

aloof

adj

Distant or reserved in manner, keeping oneself apart emotionally or socially.

aloud

adv

Using a spoken, audible voice rather than silently.

alow

adv

(Nautical) Down towards the bottom of a ship, near the lower deck or rigging.

Aloysius

name

A male given name, associated with the 16th-century Italian saint Aloysius Gonzaga.

alp

noun

A tall mountain, or, written with a capital letter, one of the Alps in Europe.

alpaca

noun

A domesticated South American animal related to the llama, valued for its soft wool, or the wool/fabric made from it.

Alpha

noun

The first letter of the Greek alphabet, often used to mean "first" or "primary".

alpha male

noun

A man seen as dominant, assertive and socially in charge, who takes the lead in a group and expects others to follow.

alphabet

noun

The full set of letters used to write a language, usually arranged in a fixed order.

alphabetarian

noun

Someone who is still learning their letters.

alphabetic

adj

Belonging to or connected with an alphabet, in particular the letters A to Z, in either case.

alphabetical

adj

Arranged in the order of the letters of the alphabet, from A to Z.

alphabetically

adv

In alphabetical order, following the A-to-Z sequence of letters.

alphabetize

verb

To put words or items into the order the alphabet follows, starting with their first letters.

alphanumeric

adjective

Made up of both letters and numbers, and sometimes other keyboard characters.

Alphonse

name

A male given name of Germanic origin, the French form of Alfonso.

alphonso

name

A rare male given name coming from Italian or Spanish (ultimately from the Germanic languages), a variant of Alfonso.

alpine

adj

Relating to the Alps or to high mountains in general.

Alps

name

A major mountain range in Western Europe stretching from France to Slovenia, home to Mont Blanc, its highest peak.

already

adv

By this time, or by a specified earlier time; previously.

alright

intj

Used to show agreement, acceptance, or acknowledgement; okay.

alrighty

intj

A cheerful, informal way of saying "okay" or "alright".

Alsace

name

A historical and cultural region in northeastern France, on the border with Germany, known for its wine and distinct Franco-German heritage.

Alsatian

adj

Relating to Alsace, the region in northeastern France.

also

adv

In addition; as well; too.

alt

noun

A keyboard modifier key used together with other keys to trigger alternate commands.

altadena

name

The name of a census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States.

altar

noun

A raised table or structure used for religious ceremonies, offerings, or worship.

altcoin

noun

Any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin.

alter

verb

To change something, especially in a fairly small or specific way.

alteration

noun

A change made to something, or the act of making that change.

altercate

verb

To have a heated argument or dispute with someone.

altercation

noun

A noisy or angry argument, often in public.

altercative

adj

Involving or marked by a quarrel.

altered

adj

Changed from its original form or condition.

altering

verb

Present participle of "alter" — in the process of changing something.

alternate

adj

Happening in turns, first one thing then the other, repeatedly.

alternately

adverb

Taking turns, one after the other in a repeating order.

alternating

adj

Switching back and forth between two states or values in a repeating pattern.

alternation

noun

The way two (or occasionally more) things take turns happening, one after the other, again and again.

alternative

adj

Offering a different choice from what is usual or expected.

alternatively

adv

Used to introduce a different option or possibility.

alternator

noun

A device that generates alternating electrical current, typically by mechanical rotation.

althaea

noun

Any plant belonging to the genus Althaea.

althea

noun

Any of several flowering plants related to the hollyhock and mallow.

although

conj

Despite the fact that; used to introduce a contrast or concession.

altimeter

noun

An instrument used to measure altitude, especially in aircraft.

altitude

noun

The height of something above sea level or the ground.

Altman

name

A surname of German or Jewish origin.

alto

noun

A singing voice or vocal part that sits between tenor and soprano.

altogether

adv

Completely; entirely.

Alton

name

An English surname and male given name, also the name of numerous towns in England and the United States.

altruism

noun

Selfless concern for the wellbeing of others, often shown through helpful action.

altruist

noun

A person who acts with altruism; someone unselfish.

altruistic

adj

Showing genuine concern for others rather than oneself; unselfish.

altruistically

adv

In a way that shows concern for other people's wellbeing.

Alucard

name

A male given name coined for fiction, commonly used for vampire or Dracula-related characters.

alum

noun

A crystalline mineral salt of aluminium, traditionally used in dyeing, tanning, and as an astringent.

aluminised

adj

Covered with a thin layer of aluminium.

aluminium

noun

A lightweight, silvery-white metallic chemical element, symbol Al, widely used in packaging, construction, and vehicles.

aluminized

adj

US, Canada, and Oxford British English standard spelling of aluminised.

aluminum

noun

The American, Canadian, and Philippine spelling of aluminium, the lightweight silvery metal.

alumna

noun

A female student, especially one at a university or college.

alumni

noun

Former students or graduates of a school, college, or university, considered as a group.

alumnus

noun

A boy or man who is a pupil or student.

Alva

name

A male given name, also a small town in Scotland and the name of several places in the United States.

Alvarado

name

A Spanish surname, also the name of several places in the Americas named after Spanish settlers.

Alvarez

name

A Spanish surname.

Alvey

name

A surname.

Alvin

name

A male given name of Old English origin, meaning "elf friend", also the name of several towns in the United States.

always

adv

At all times; on every occasion, without exception.

alwaysness

noun

The quality of carrying on without end; a lasting, permanent continuity.

alwin

name

A male forename of Old English origin, always fairly uncommon in English.

alwyn

name

A male first name of Old English, of rare usage, variant of Alwin origin.

Aly

name

A diminutive of the female given name Alison or Alyssa, or a variant of the male given name Ali.

Alyona

name

A female given name of Russian or Ukrainian origin.

Alyson

name

A female given name, a variant of Alison.

Alyssa

name

A female given name popular in the United States during the 1990s and 2000s.

Alzheimer

noun

Informal short form referring to someone diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Am

verb

The first-person singular present form of "to be," used with "I."

ama

noun

A traditional Japanese diver, typically a woman, who free-dives for pearls, shellfish, or seaweed.

amabel

name

A female first name of Latin origin.

Amadeus

name

A male given name of Latin origin, meaning "love of God", notably a middle name of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Amador

name

A surname of Spanish origin.

amah

noun

A woman whose job is looking after children, or, in the past, one who breastfed another family's baby.

Amal

name

A male first name.

Amalfi

name

A coastal town in Campania, Italy, known for its scenic coastline.

amalgam

noun

A metal mixture that has mercury in it.

amalgamate

verb

To join or mix separate things together into one.

amalgamated

adj

Formed by joining two or more separate things into one, while each part still keeps its own features.

amalgamation

noun

The act of combining things into one, or the merger this produces.

Amalia

name

A female given name of Germanic origin, a less common variant of Amelia.

Amamiya

name

A Japanese surname.

Aman

name

A surname, also used as a given name in several cultures.

Amanda

name

A female given name of Latin origin, meaning "she who must be loved", also the name of several townships in Ohio.

amandine

noun

A skin cream made from almonds.

amanita

noun

Any mushroom of the genus Amanita, a large group most of whose members are highly poisonous.

Amano

name

A Japanese surname.

amanuensis

noun

A person hired to write down what someone else says, or to copy out documents by hand.

Amar

name

A male given name and surname of Sanskrit origin, meaning "undying, immortal".

Amara

name

A female given name of modern coinage popularised by fantasy fiction, often explained as meaning "eternal".

amaranthine

noun

A deep purplish-red colour.

Amarillo

name

A city in the Texas panhandle, United States, the county seat of Potter County.

amaro

noun

A bittersweet Italian herbal liqueur, typically drunk after a meal to aid digestion.

amaru

noun

A mythical double-headed serpent from Inca and other Andean legends.

amass

verb

To gather a large amount of something over time, often wealth, possessions, or information.

amassed

adj

Gathered together in a large quantity or group.

amastia

noun

(medicine) A condition in which the breast tissue, nipple and areola are missing.

amata

name

A female given name of Latin origin, always uncommon in English.

amateur

noun

Someone who takes part in an activity, sport, or art for enjoyment rather than as a paid profession.

amateurish

adj

Lacking skill or polish; looking like the work of a beginner rather than a professional.

amati

noun

A violin crafted by someone from the Amati family of instrument-makers.

amativeness

noun

A strong tendency to feel love or sexual desire.

Amaya

name

A female given name of Spanish and Basque origin, popularised in the 1990s.

amaze

verb

To fill someone with great surprise or wonder.

amazed

adj

Filled with great surprise or wonder.

amazement

noun

A feeling of great surprise or wonder.