English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
Login Flashcards

English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

Look up the definition and meaning of any English word. Every entry includes pronunciation, example sentences, synonyms, word origin and translations. Browse the dictionary A–Z or search for a word.

Browse the Dictionary by Letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

“A” Words

avenue
noun
A wide street, often lined with trees.
aver
verb
To state something firmly and confidently as being true.
average
noun
A single value that represents the typical or central figure in a set of numbers, usually found by adding them up and dividing by how many there are.
averaging
noun
The process of working out an average from a set of numbers.
averse
adjective
Strongly disliking or opposed to something.
aversion
noun
A strong feeling of dislike or unwillingness toward something.
avert
verb
To prevent something bad from happening.
averted
adjective
Turned away, especially to avoid looking at something or showing an emotion.
Avery
name
A surname and a given name used for both sexes, derived from Old French.
Avi
noun
An image a user chooses to represent themselves on a social media profile; short for "avatar."
avian
adjective
Relating to or characteristic of birds.
aviation
noun
The design, building, and flying of aircraft, or the industry built around it.
aviator
noun
A pilot of an aircraft, especially in a military or early-flight context.
avid
adj
Extremely enthusiastic and eager about something.
Avignon
name
A historic city in southern France, on the Rhône, once the seat of the medieval popes.
Avinash
name
A male given name of Hindi origin, meaning "indestructible".
avocado
noun
A pear-shaped fruit with rich, buttery green flesh and a large central stone, eaten as a savoury food.
avoid
verb
To keep away from someone or something, especially something unwanted or harmful.
avoidance
noun
The act of keeping away from something, or the habit of doing so.
avoiding
noun
The act of staying away from or steering clear of something; avoidance.
Avon
name
The name of several rivers in the UK and elsewhere, most famously the river running through Stratford-upon-Avon and Bristol.
Avram
name
A male given name of Hebrew origin, equivalent to Abraham.
Avril
name
A female given name of French origin, equivalent to April.
aw
intj
Used to express disappointment, sympathy, or mild protest.
awa
noun
Kava, a plant used to make a traditional mildly intoxicating Pacific Island drink, or the drink itself.
await
verb
To wait for something or someone, often with a sense of expectation.
awake
adj
Not asleep; conscious.
awakened
adj
Having been roused from sleep; also, having become alert or aware of something.
awakening
noun
The act or moment of waking up, or of suddenly becoming aware of something.
award
noun
A prize or honour given for merit or achievement.
awarding
noun
The act of officially giving or granting something, such as a prize or contract.
aware
adj
Having knowledge or realisation of something.
awareness
noun
Knowledge or perception of a situation or fact.
awash
adj
Covered or flooded with water, so that waves wash over the surface.
away
adv
From this place or position; to or at a distance.
awe
noun
A powerful feeling of respect mixed with wonder or fear.
awed
adj
Filled with a feeling of awe.
awesome
adj
Extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring a sense of wonder.
awesomeness
noun
The quality of being awesome; greatness or excellence.
awful
adj
Very bad or unpleasant.
awfully
adv
Very or extremely.
awhile
adv
For a short time.
awkward
adj
Causing or feeling embarrassment or discomfort, especially in a social situation.
awkwardly
adv
In a clumsy, uncomfortable, or embarrassed way.
awkwardness
noun
The quality of being awkward; clumsiness or social discomfort.
awning
noun
A sheet of canvas or similar material fixed over a window, door, or deck to give shelter from sun or rain.
AWOL
adj
Absent without official permission, especially from military duty.
awry
adj
Turned or twisted to one side; crooked or out of the expected position.
aww
intj
An elongated, more emphatic form of "aw", used to express sympathy or affection.
Ax
noun
US spelling variant of axe: a tool with a heavy blade and long handle used for chopping wood.
axe
noun
A tool with a heavy blade on one side of the head and a long handle, used for chopping wood.
axed
adj
Cut, cancelled, or dismissed abruptly.
axel
noun
A figure-skating jump in which the skater takes off from the outside edge of one skate, rotates one and a half times (or more) in the air, and lands on the opposite foot.
Axelrod
name
A surname, often of Ashkenazi Jewish origin.
axis
noun
An imaginary straight line around which something rotates or is arranged symmetrically.
Axl
name
A masculine given name, notably borne by musician Axl Rose.
axle
noun
The rod or shaft that a wheel turns on, or that turns together with a pair of wheels.
ay
intj
An exclamation of pain, dismay, or distress.
aya
adv
A dialectal or archaic form of "yes" or "aye."
ayahuasca
noun
A South American vine used to make a traditional psychoactive brew, or the brew itself.
Ayako
name
A feminine Japanese given name.
Ayala
name
A Spanish surname of Basque origin.
Ayano
name
A feminine Japanese given name, also used as a surname.
ayatollah
noun
A high-ranking religious leader and scholar in Shia Islam.
aye
intj
Yes (used especially in voting, formal agreement, or nautical/military commands).
Ayers
name
An English surname, sometimes derived from the town of Ayr in Scotland.
Ayesha
name
A feminine given name of Arabic origin, a variant spelling of Aisha.
Ayn
noun
The letter representing the guttural consonant sound written ع in Arabic and similar letters in other Semitic languages.
Ayodhya
name
A city in Uttar Pradesh, India, revered in Hinduism as the birthplace of the deity Rama.
Ayres
name
An English surname.
Ayrton
name
A surname, notably borne by the Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna.
Ayumi
name
A feminine Japanese given name.
azalea
noun
A flowering shrub, a type of rhododendron, prized for its brightly colored blossoms in spring.
Azhar
name
A surname of Arabic origin, meaning "shining" or "radiant", found mostly in Pakistan.
Aziz
name
A masculine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "dear" or "beloved".
Azrael
name
The angel of death in Islamic and some Christian traditions.
Aztec
adj
Relating to the Aztecs, the Nahuatl-speaking people who built a powerful empire in central Mexico before the Spanish conquest, or to their language and culture.
azure
noun
A bright blue color, like a clear sky.
Azusa
name
A city in Los Angeles County, California.