English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

Ashura

name

A day of religious observance on the tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram, marked by fasting among Sunni Muslims and by mourning the death of Husayn ibn Ali among Shia Muslims.

Ashworth

name

An English surname, originally taken from a place name in Lancashire.

Asi

name

A short given name found in Hebrew and other traditions, sometimes a diminutive form.

Asia

name

The world's largest and most populous continent, stretching from the Ural Mountains and the Middle East in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east.

Asian

noun

A person from Asia or of Asian descent — in North America and Australia the word is often used specifically for people of East or Southeast Asian background, while in Britain it more often refers to people of South Asian background.

aside

adv

To one side, or out of the way.

Asif

name

A male given name common among Persian- and Urdu-speaking communities.

asinine

adj

Extremely foolish or lacking common sense.

ask

verb

To put a question to someone, or to request information.

asked

adj

A casual British slang term meaning bothered or willing to make an effort, always used in the negative ("can't be asked").

askew

adj

Not straight; tilted or crooked to one side.

Askin

name

A surname of Turkish and English origin; in Turkish it can mean "love" or "in love".

asking

noun

The act of making a request or posing a question.

Aslan

name

A masculine given name of Turkic origin meaning "lion", also the name of the lion character in the Narnia novels by C. S. Lewis.

asleep

adj

In a state of sleep.

asparagus

noun

A vegetable plant grown for its tender young shoots, eaten as food.

aspect

noun

A particular feature or part of something being considered.

aspen

noun

A type of poplar tree known for its pale bark and leaves that flutter easily in the wind.

asperger

noun

A now-outdated informal term for someone with what was once diagnosed as Asperger's syndrome, a developmental condition on the autism spectrum.

asphalt

noun

A thick, sticky black substance used mainly for surfacing roads, mixed with sand and gravel.

asphyxia

noun

A dangerous medical condition caused by a lack of oxygen reaching the body's tissues, which can lead to unconsciousness or death.

asphyxiation

noun

Death or severe harm caused by being deprived of oxygen.

aspiration

noun

A strong hope or ambition to achieve something, especially something admirable.

aspire

verb

To have a strong ambition or hope to achieve something.

aspirin

noun

A common over-the-counter medicine used to relieve pain, reduce fever, and lower inflammation; also used in low doses to help prevent heart attacks.

aspiring

adj

Hoping or working to become something, typically used before a profession or role.

ass

noun

A donkey, or a related wild species of horse-like animal.

Assad

name

An Arabic surname, most widely known through the Syrian presidents Hafez al-Assad and his son Bashar al-Assad.

assailant

noun

A person who physically attacks another person.

Assange

name

A surname of French origin, most widely known through Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks.

assassin

noun

A person who kills someone deliberately, especially a public or political figure, often for money or political reasons.

assassinate

verb

To murder someone, especially a prominent or political figure, typically in a planned or sudden attack.

assassination

noun

The killing of someone, usually a prominent or public figure, carried out deliberately and often for political motives.

assault

noun

A sudden violent attack, whether physical or verbal.

assemble

verb

To fit or put pieces together to make something whole.

assembling

noun

The act of gathering people or putting parts together; an assembly.

Assembly

noun

A group of people gathered together for a shared purpose, such as a meeting or ceremony.

assemblyman

noun

A member of a legislative assembly, especially the lower house of certain US state legislatures.

assent

verb

To agree to something, especially a proposal or suggestion.

assert

verb

To state something firmly and confidently, as if it were beyond doubt.

asserted

adj

Stated firmly or claimed, often without solid proof behind it.

asserting

noun

The act of stating something firmly or claiming a right.

assertion

noun

A firm, confident statement, especially one made without offering proof.

assertive

adj

Confident and direct in stating opinions or defending one's interests, without being aggressive.

assess

verb

To judge or estimate the value, quality, or extent of something.

assessing

noun

The act of judging or evaluating the value or condition of something.

assessment

noun

A judgment or evaluation of something, or the amount of tax or duty charged.

assessor

noun

A person whose job is to evaluate the value of property, damage, or a claim, especially for tax or insurance purposes.

asset

noun

Something valuable that a person, company, or country owns or controls.

assets

noun

Everything of value that a person or company owns, especially as it relates to paying off debts.

asshole

noun

A vulgar term for the anus.

assign

verb

To give a specific task, role, or place to someone.

assigned

adj

Given or designated for a particular purpose or person.

assignment

noun

A task given to someone, especially a piece of schoolwork or a work project.

assimilate

verb

To take in and fully understand new information or ideas.

assimilation

noun

The process of taking in and absorbing something, whether ideas, nutrients, or a group of people into a wider culture.

Assisi

name

A town in central Italy, birthplace of Saint Francis of Assisi.

assist

verb

To help someone do something.

assistance

noun

Help given to someone, or the act of helping.

assistant

noun

A person who helps someone else with their work.

assisting

noun

Help given to someone; the act of assisting.

associate

verb

To connect one thing or idea with another in your mind.

associated

adj

Connected or linked with something else, such as another person, idea, or company.

association

noun

A group of people organized for a shared purpose, such as a club or professional body.

assorted

adj

Made up of various different kinds mixed together.

assortment

noun

A varied collection of related items.

assuage

verb

To make an unpleasant feeling, such as fear, guilt, or grief, less intense.

assume

verb

To accept something as true without proof.

assumed

adj

Taken as true or accepted without being proven.

assuming

adj

Arrogant or overly confident; taking too much for granted.

assumption

noun

Something accepted as true without proof, or the act of accepting it as true.

assurance

noun

A confident promise or statement meant to remove doubt.

assure

verb

To tell someone something confidently in order to remove their doubt or worry.

assured

adjective

Confident and self-possessed, without any nervousness or doubt.

assuredly

adverb

Without doubt; certainly.

assuring

adjective

Giving confidence or comfort; reassuring.

asswipe

noun

A vulgar insult for someone considered annoying, worthless, or contemptible.

Ast

name

A short surname of German origin, also used as an abbreviation in other contexts.

Asta

name

A feminine given name of Scandinavian origin, a short form of names like Astrid.

Astaire

name

A surname best known through American dancer and actor Fred Astaire.

aster

noun

A garden plant with daisy-like flowers, typically purple, pink, or white, that bloom in late summer and autumn.

asterisk

noun

The star-shaped symbol (*) used in writing to mark a footnote, show an omission, or flag something as an exception.

Asterix

name

The title character of a French comic book series about an Ancient Gaulish warrior, created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo.

astern

adverb

Behind a ship or boat, or moving backward.

asteroid

noun

A rocky body, smaller than a planet, that orbits the sun, mostly found in the belt between Mars and Jupiter.

asthma

noun

A chronic condition in which the airways narrow and swell, causing wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath, often triggered by allergens, cold air, or exercise.

asthmatic

adjective

Relating to or affected by asthma.

Aston

noun

Informal shorthand for a car made by Aston Martin.

astonish

verb

To surprise someone so much that they are left amazed.

astonished

adjective

Filled with great surprise; amazed.

astonishing

adjective

So surprising or impressive that it causes amazement.

astonishingly

adverb

In a way that causes great surprise or amazement.

astonishment

noun

A feeling of great surprise or amazement.

Astor

name

An English surname, made famous by the wealthy Astor family of New York.

Astoria

name

A place name used for several towns in the United States and a neighbourhood of Queens, New York City, most named after John Jacob Astor.

astound

verb

To shock or amaze someone so much that they are left almost speechless.

astounded

adjective

Overwhelmed with shock or amazement.

astounding

adjective

So impressive or surprising that it leaves people stunned.

astral

adjective

Relating to or resembling stars.

astray

adverb

Away from the correct path or intended route.

Astrid

name

A feminine given name of Germanic origin, popular in Scandinavia.

astride

adverb

With one leg on each side of something.

Astro

noun

Informal name for a player on the Houston Astros baseball team.

astrologer

noun

A person who studies or practices astrology, interpreting the positions of stars and planets to predict events or personality traits.

astrological

adjective

Relating to astrology.

astrology

noun

The belief system that studies the positions of stars and planets in order to predict human affairs or personality traits.

astronaut

noun

A person trained to travel and work in a spacecraft beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

astronomer

noun

A scientist who studies stars, planets, and the wider universe.

astronomical

adjective

Relating to astronomy or to space and celestial objects.

astronomy

noun

The scientific study of stars, planets, and the wider universe, including their positions, motion, and physical properties.

astrophysicist

noun

A scientist who studies the physical properties and behavior of stars, planets, and other celestial bodies.

astrophysics

noun

The branch of science that applies the laws of physics to study stars, planets, and other objects in space.

astute

adjective

Quick to notice things and judge situations accurately; sharp-witted.

Asu

name

A name used for either of two unrelated African languages: a Nupoid language of Nigeria and a Bantu language (also called Pare) of Tanzania.

Asuka

name

A feminine Japanese given name.

asunder

adverb

Torn or broken into separate pieces, especially violently.

Aswell

name

An English surname, a variant of Haswell.

asylum

noun

Protection given by a country to someone fleeing danger or persecution in their own country.

asymmetrical

adjective

Not identical or balanced on both sides; lacking symmetry.

asystole

noun

A medical condition in which the heart stops contracting entirely, showing no electrical activity.

at

preposition

Indicating a specific location or place.

ATA

noun

A computer interface standard (Advanced Technology Attachment) used to connect hard drives to a computer.

atari

noun

In the board game Go, a position where a stone or group of stones is one move away from being captured.

ate

noun

An older sister, or a respectful way of addressing a woman who is older than you, even if she is not a blood relative.

atelier

noun

A workshop or studio, especially one used by an artist, designer, or fashion house.

ATF

phrase

An abbreviation meaning "as trustee for," used in legal and financial documents to show that an account or asset is held by one person on behalf of another.

atheism

noun

The belief that no gods or deities exist, or the absence of belief in any deity.

atheist

noun

A person who does not believe that any gods or deities exist.

Athelstan

name

A masculine given name and surname, historically borne by Æthelstan, the first king of a unified England.

Athena

noun

Slang for a woman regarded as supporting or upholding patriarchal norms rather than opposing them.

Athenian

noun

A person from Athens, Greece.

Athens

name

The capital city of Greece, and by extension its national government; also used as a place name for several towns in the United States.

Atherton

name

An English habitational surname, and a place name for towns in England, Australia, and the United States.

athlete

noun

A person who competes in sports, especially one who trains and performs at a high level.

athletic

adjective

Relating to athletes or physical sports.

athletics

noun

Track and field sports such as running, jumping, and throwing.

Athos

name

A peninsula in Greece, home to Mount Athos; in Greek mythology, one of the Gigantes.

Atlanta

name

The capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Georgia.

Atlantic

adj

Relating to the Atlantic Ocean or to the countries and coastlines that border it.

Atlantis

name

A legendary island or continent said to have sunk beneath the Atlantic Ocean.

atlas

noun

A book of maps, often with extra tables, charts, or explanatory text.

atmosphere

noun

The layer of gases surrounding a planet, especially Earth.

atmospheric

adjective

Relating to or coming from the atmosphere.

atoll

noun

A ring-shaped coral island or string of islands surrounding a central lagoon.

atom

noun

The smallest unit of a chemical element that retains its properties, made up of a nucleus and surrounding electrons.

atomic

adjective

Relating to atoms.

atone

verb

To make amends for a wrongdoing or mistake.

atonement

noun

The act of making amends for wrongdoing.

atop

preposition

On top of.

atrium

noun

A large open central hall or courtyard in a building, often glass-roofed.