English dictionary — definitions & meanings

apert

adj

open; uncovered; revealed

apertion

noun

The act of opening.

apertly

adv

Openly, publicly, without secrecy.

aperture

noun

A small opening, gap, or hole, especially one that lets light or something else pass through.

apex

noun

The highest point of something, especially where it comes to a point; the peak or pinnacle.

aphanisis

noun

The disappearance of sexual desire, supposed to be the foundation of all neuroses.

aphasia

noun

A loss of the ability to understand or produce language, usually caused by brain damage such as a stroke.

aphelion

noun

The point in the elliptical orbit of a comet, planet, or other astronomical object, where it is farthest from the Sun.

aphid

noun

A tiny soft-bodied insect that feeds by sucking sap from plants, often clustering in large numbers on new shoots and doing serious damage in gardens and crops.

aphonic

adj

Of, relating to, or exhibiting aphonia; unable to speak.

aphonous

adj

Without a voice; voiceless; aphonic.

aphrodisia

noun

A state of sexual desire.

aphrodisiac

noun

A food, drink, or substance believed to increase sexual desire.

Aphrodite

name

In Greek mythology, the goddess of love and beauty.

API

noun

An agreed set of rules that lets one piece of software ask another for information or actions — what you can request, how to phrase the request, and what you will get back.

apiary

noun

A place where beehives are kept, typically a group of hives managed together for honey or pollination.

apiece

adv

For or to each one; individually.

apish

adj

Resembling or characteristic of an ape.

apizza

noun

A style of pizza endemic to New Haven, Connecticut, incorporating a thin, oblong crust, charring, oregano, and tomato sauce but only a small amount of grated parmesan cheese.

APK

noun

The file format used to distribute and install an app on an Android phone or tablet. A single .apk file is a compressed package containing the app's code, images, sounds and settings, which the system unpacks when installing.

aplenty

adv

In large or generous quantity; in abundance.

aplomb

noun

Self-confidence; poise; composure.

apnea

noun

A temporary pause or stopping of breathing, especially during sleep.

apo

adjective

Describing a protein or molecule that is not currently bound to the partner (like a metal ion or another molecule) it normally works with — its inactive, "empty" form.

apocalypse

noun

A massive, catastrophic event causing widespread destruction; the end of the world.

apocalyptic

adj

Describing or resembling total, world-ending disaster.

apogee

noun

The point, in an orbit about the Earth, that is farthest from the Earth: the apoapsis of an Earth orbiter.

Apollo

name

In Greek and Roman mythology, the god of the sun, music, prophecy, and healing.

apollonian

adj

Of or relating to the ancient Olympian Greek God Apollo.

apologetic

adj

Expressing regret or sorry for a mistake or fault.

apologetics

noun

A systematic defense of a position, or of religious or occult doctrine.

apologia

noun

A written defense of a position or belief.

apologies

noun

Expressions of regret for a fault or mistake (plural of apology).

apologise

verb

Non-Oxford British English standard spelling of apologize.

apologist

noun

One who makes an apology.

apologize

verb

To say sorry; to express regret for a mistake or wrongdoing.

apologizing

noun

The act of saying sorry for a mistake or wrongdoing.

apologue

noun

A short story with a moral, often involving talking animals or objects; a fable.

apology

noun

A statement expressing regret for a mistake or offense.

Apophis

name

In Egyptian mythology, a giant serpent god of chaos who tries to destroy the sun each night.

apoplexy

noun

A sudden loss of consciousness, movement or speech caused by bleeding in or blocked blood flow to the brain; the older medical name for a stroke.

apostasy

noun

The act of giving up or renouncing a religious faith that one previously held.

apostate

noun

A person who has renounced a religion or faith.

aposteme

noun

An abscess; a pustulent swelling.

apostille

noun

An official certificate attached to a public document that confirms the signature, seal or stamp on it is genuine, so the document is accepted in other countries that belong to the Hague Convention.

apostle

noun

One of the twelve original followers of Jesus chosen to spread his teachings.

apostolic

adj

Relating to the apostles or their teachings.

apostrophe

noun

The punctuation mark ( ' ) used to show possession or mark missing letters in a contraction.

apotemnophilia

noun

A psychological disorder characterized by the intense and long-standing desire for amputation of a specific limb.

apotemnophobia

noun

A fear of amputation (afraid that one will lose appendages), fear of amputations (fear of amputations on others), fear of amputees (persons with amputations).

apothecary

noun

Historically, a person who prepared and sold medicines; an old-fashioned term for a pharmacist.

apothecium

noun

A type of fructification of some ascomycete fungi, forming cyst structures of various shapes. Often the fungal components of lichens have this sort of fertile structure.

apothegm

noun

A short, witty, instructive saying; an aphorism or maxim.

apotheosis

noun

The fact or action of becoming or making into a god; deification.

App

noun

A software application, especially one designed for a phone or tablet.

Appalachian

adj

Relating to the Appalachian Mountains or the region and culture of Appalachia in the eastern United States.

appall

verb

To fill with horror or indignation; to dismay.

appalled

adj

Shocked and horrified, usually by something offensive or upsetting.

appalling

adj

Shockingly bad or unpleasant; horrifying.

apparatus

noun

A set of equipment or machinery used for a particular purpose.

apparel

noun

Clothing, especially as a category of goods.

apparency

noun

The quality of being apparent; apparentness.

apparent

adj

Clearly visible or understood; obvious.

apparently

adv

According to what one has heard or read, though not necessarily confirmed.

apparition

noun

A ghost or ghostlike figure; a sudden, strange appearance.

apparitional

adj

Of or pertaining to an apparition or apparitions

appeach

verb

To charge (someone) with a crime; to impeach.

appeal

noun

A formal request to a higher court to review and change a lower court's decision.

appealing

adj

Attractive or interesting; likely to draw someone's interest.

appealingness

noun

The state or quality of being appealing.

appear

verb

To come into view; to become visible.

appearance

noun

The way someone or something looks.

appearing

noun

The act of becoming visible or showing up.

appease

verb

To calm someone down or make them less angry, especially by giving them what they want.

appeasement

noun

The act of calming someone, especially by giving in to their demands to avoid conflict.

appellant

adj

Of or relating to appeals; appellate.

appellate

adjective

Relating to appeals, or to a court that has the power to review and overturn decisions made by a lower court.

appellation

noun

A name or title by which someone is addressed or identified; a designation.

appellative

adj

Of or pertaining to an appellative noun or common noun.

append

verb

To hang or attach to, as by a string, so that the thing is suspended.

appendage

noun

A part, especially a limb or similar structure, that sticks out from the main body of an animal or plant.

appendectomy

noun

A surgical operation to remove the appendix.

appendicectomy

noun

the surgical procedure for the removal of the vermiform appendix

appendicitis

noun

Painful swelling and inflammation of the appendix.

appendix

noun

Extra material added at the end of a book or document, giving background or supporting details.

appertain

verb

To belong to or be a part of, whether by right, nature, appointment, or custom; to relate to.

appetency

noun

Strong desire; craving; powerful instinct.

appetite

noun

A desire to eat.

appetition

noun

A desire, longing for, or seeking after of something.

appetizer

noun

A small dish served before the main course of a meal.

appetizing

adjective

Looking or smelling good enough to make you want to eat.

applaud

verb

To clap your hands to show approval or enjoyment.

applauding

verb

Clapping the hands to show approval or praising something openly; the present participle of applaud.

applause

noun

Clapping and cheering used to show approval, usually after a performance or speech.

apple

noun

A round, firm fruit with red, green, or yellow skin and crisp white flesh, grown on trees.

Applebee

name

An English surname, also known from the Applebee's restaurant chain in the United States.

Appleby

name

An English surname and place name, from a market town in Cumbria.

Applegate

name

An English surname, originally denoting someone who lived near an orchard gate.

applejack

noun

A strong alcoholic drink made from apple cider, traditionally concentrated by partly freezing it.

apples

adjective

Fine or good; used informally, mainly in Australian English.

applesauce

noun

A soft, smooth food made from cooked, mashed apples.

applesaucey

adj

Resembling or characteristic of applesauce.

Appleton

name

An English surname and place name meaning "apple orchard town".

appliance

noun

A device, usually electrical, designed to perform a specific household or office task.

applicability

noun

The degree to which a thing is applicable.

applicable

adjective

Relevant or suitable to a particular situation.

applicant

noun

Someone who formally requests something, such as a job, loan, or place at a school.

application

noun

A formal request for something, such as a job, place at university, or a document.

applied

adjective

Put into practical, real-world use, rather than purely theoretical.

apply

verb

To formally request something, such as a job or place at a school.

applying

verb

Making a formal request, putting something to use, or being relevant; the present participle of apply.

appoint

verb

To choose someone officially for a job or role.

appointed

adjective

Chosen officially for a role, rather than elected.

appointee

noun

a person who is appointed

appointment

noun

A prearranged meeting at a specific time.

apportion

verb

To divide and distribute portions of a whole.

apportioned

adj

Assigned as somebody's portion; allotted.

apportionment

noun

The act of apportioning or the state of being apportioned.

apposable

adj

Capable of being apposed, or applied one to another, as the thumb to the fingers of the hand; able to be brought into direct spatial opposition.

apposite

adjective

Very suitable to the particular situation or point being made; strikingly to the point.

apposition

noun

A construction in which one noun or noun phrase is placed with another as an explanatory equivalent, both of them having the same syntactic function in the sentence.

appraisal

noun

A formal assessment of the value, quality, or performance of something or someone.

appraise

verb

To assess the value or worth of something, often officially.

appraiser

noun

A person whose job is to officially assess the value of something, such as property or antiques.

appreciable

adj

Both detectable and at least modestly substantial: large enough to be estimated and to be of practical relevance.

appreciably

adv

In an appreciable manner; to a large extent; considerably.

appreciate

verb

To be grateful for something.

appreciated

adjective

Recognized and valued, especially with gratitude.

appreciating

verb

Being grateful for something, or recognizing its true value; the present participle of appreciate.

appreciation

noun

A feeling of gratitude or recognition of something's value.

appreciative

adjective

Feeling or showing gratitude and recognition of value.

appreciatively

adv

In an appreciative manner.

apprehend

verb

To arrest someone, especially a suspected criminal.

apprehended

adjective

Caught or arrested.

apprehending

verb

Arresting someone, or grasping something mentally; the present participle of apprehend.

apprehensible

adj

Which can be apprehended (usually in the sense of being understood).

apprehensibly

adv

Such that it can be apprehended; understandably.

apprehension

noun

A worried feeling that something bad might happen; anxiety about the future.

apprehensive

adj

Nervous or worried about something that might happen.

apprehensively

adv

in an apprehensive manner; with apprehension

apprentice

noun

Someone learning a skilled trade by working under an experienced person.

apprenticeship

noun

A period of time spent training in a trade under an experienced worker, often combining paid work with study.

apprisal

noun

The act of apprising, of making aware, of informing.

apprise

verb

To make (someone or oneself) aware of some information; to inform, to notify.

apprised

adj

Told or informed about something, usually kept up to date.

apprize

verb

Archaic form of appraise.

approach

verb

To move closer to something or someone.

approachability

noun

The characteristic of being approachable; the ability to be approached.

approachable

adj

Friendly and easy to talk to.

approaches

noun

Different methods or ways of handling something (plural of approach).