English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

Arlen

name

A given name and surname, possibly derived from a Gaelic word meaning "pledge".

Arlena

name

A feminine given name, a variant of Arlene.

Arlene

name

A feminine given name of uncertain origin, popularized in the early twentieth century, possibly related to Charlene.

arline

name

A female given name, a variant of Arlene, originating as a coinage and of older usage.

Arlington

name

A place name shared by several towns in the United States, most notably Arlington, Virginia, home to Arlington National Cemetery.

Arlo

name

A masculine given name of uncertain origin, possibly related to the Spanish word "Carlos" or a Germanic root meaning "army".

arm

noun

The part of the human body running from the shoulder down to the hand.

armada

noun

A large fleet of warships, especially one sent out on a major campaign.

armadillo

noun

A burrowing mammal native to the Americas, covered in tough, jointed armor-like plates.

Armageddon

noun

A final, decisive battle on a massive scale, especially one imagined as ending the world.

armament

noun

Weapons and military equipment, especially considered collectively.

Armand

name

A masculine given name, the French form of Herman, meaning "army man".

Armando

name

A masculine given name, the Italian and Spanish form of Armand.

Armani

noun

A garment or accessory made by the Italian fashion house Armani, often used loosely to mean any expensive, designer clothing.

armband

noun

A band worn around the upper arm, often as a symbol (mourning, protest) or to mark a team captain.

armchair

noun

A chair with side supports for resting the arms.

armed

adjective

Carrying or equipped with a weapon.

Armenia

name

A landlocked country in the South Caucasus region, capital Yerevan.

Armenian

adjective

Relating to Armenia, its people, language, or alphabet.

Armin

name

A male given name of German origin, derived from the Latin name Arminius.

arming

noun

The act of equipping oneself or others with weapons or armour in preparation for conflict.

armistice

noun

A formal agreement between opposing sides to stop fighting.

Armitage

name

An English surname, originally referring to someone who lived near a hermitage.

armlet

noun

A decorative or identifying band worn around the upper arm.

armoire

noun

A tall, freestanding cupboard or wardrobe, often ornately built, used for storing clothes or other items.

armor

noun

A protective covering, worn or fitted, that shields a body, vehicle, or object from damage.

armored

adj

Fitted or covered with a protective layer of armor.

armory

noun

A building where weapons are stored, made, or kept for training; also, a collection of weapons.

armour

noun

British spelling of armor: a protective covering for a person, vehicle, or object.

armoured

adj

British spelling of "armored": fitted or covered with protective armor.

armoury

noun

British spelling of "armory": a place where weapons are stored, made, or kept, or a collection of weapons.

armpit

noun

The hollow under the shoulder where the arm joins the body.

armrest

noun

The part of a chair or seat that supports a person's arm.

arms

noun

Weapons, especially firearms, considered collectively.

Armstrong

name

A surname of Scottish and English origin, meaning "strong in the arm", notably borne by astronaut Neil Armstrong.

army

noun

A large organized force trained and equipped for warfare, especially on land.

Arn

name

A short masculine given name of Scandinavian origin, related to Arnold.

Arne

name

A masculine given name common in Scandinavia, derived from an Old Norse word meaning "eagle".

Arnett

name

An English surname, likely derived from a place name meaning "eagle's nest".

Arnie

name

A masculine given name, an informal short form of Arnold.

Arno

name

A given name and also the name of a river in Tuscany, Italy, that runs through Florence and Pisa.

Arnold

name

A masculine given name and surname of Germanic origin, meaning "ruler with eagle-like strength".

Arnott

name

A Scottish surname, also known from the Australian biscuit company Arnott's.

aroma

noun

A distinctive, usually pleasant smell.

aromatherapy

noun

The use of scented plant oils, believed to improve mood or wellbeing, typically through massage or inhalation.

aromatic

adj

Having a strong, usually pleasant smell; fragrant or spicy.

Aron

noun

The cabinet used in a synagogue to house the Torah scrolls.

Arora

noun

A member of a Sindhi or Punjabi subcaste within the kshatriya group.

around

prep

Positioned so as to surround or encircle something.

arousal

noun

The state of being stimulated or excited, whether emotionally, mentally, or sexually.

arouse

verb

To stir up or bring about a feeling, reaction, or interest.

aroused

adj

Sexually excited.

arousing

adj

Causing excitement, interest, or sexual stimulation.

arpent

noun

An old French unit of length, used before the metric system, equal to somewhere between 58 and 72 metres.

arr

intj

An exclamation used to imitate the way pirates supposedly talk, often as a stand-in for "yes" or a growl of agreement.

arraign

verb

(law) To formally accuse someone of a crime in court.

arraignment

noun

A court hearing where a defendant is formally told the charges against them and enters a plea.

arran

name

A shortened form of Isle of Arran, Scotland.

arrange

verb

To put things into a particular order or position.

arranged

adj

Set up or organized beforehand, especially describing a marriage decided by family rather than the couple.

arrangement

noun

The way something is organized, positioned, or laid out.

arranger

noun

A person who arranges something, especially music.

arranging

noun

The act of organizing or putting things into order, or of adapting music for other instruments.

arrant

adj

Absolute, total and out-and-out.

arras

noun

A large, decorative tapestry, especially one hung on a wall.

arratel

noun

An old Portuguese unit of weight, roughly equal to 459 grams.

array

noun

A large, impressive, or organized collection of things.

arread

verb

(archaic) To state, explain or make something clear.

arrears

noun

Money that is owed and overdue, especially rent, wages, or payments.

arrest

verb

To take someone into custody under legal authority, typically on suspicion of a crime.

arrested

adj

Taken into police custody, or charged with a crime.

arresting

adj

Very striking or attention-grabbing.

arrhythmia

noun

An irregular or abnormal heartbeat, where the heart beats too fast, too slow, or unevenly.

arrival

noun

The act of reaching a place or the moment someone or something gets there.

arrive

verb

To reach a place after travelling.

arrivederci

intj

An Italian way of saying goodbye, used in English to mean "see you again" or "until we meet."

arriver

noun

A person who arrives, often in a particular manner.

arriviste

noun

Someone who has recently gained wealth or status and is seen as pushy or not yet accepted by their new social circle.

arrogance

noun

An excessive sense of one's own importance, often shown through disrespect for others.

arrogant

adj

Having an inflated opinion of oneself, usually paired with contempt for others.

arrogate

verb

To take or claim something for yourself without having any right to it.

arrogation

noun

The act of unfairly taking rights or privileges that are not yours.

arron

name

A male first name of Hebrew, a less common spelling of Aaron origin.

arrow

noun

A thin, pointed shaft shot from a bow.

arrowhead

noun

The sharpened tip of an arrow.

arrowsmith

noun

A craftsman who made metal arrowheads.

arroyo

noun

A dry streambed or gully that only fills with water after heavy rain.

arsacia

name

Synonym of Ray (“a region and satrapy in ancient Iran located between the Alborz and Zagros mountain ranges and the Dasht-e Kavir desert.”)

arse

noun

The buttocks; the backside.

arsed

adj

Bothered enough to make the effort (almost always used in the negative, "can't be arsed").

arsehole

noun

The anus (a coarse term).

arselong

adv

(informal) Backwards, or falling on one's bottom.

arsenal

noun

A place where weapons and ammunition are made, stored, or repaired.

arsenic

noun

A toxic grey chemical element, long associated with poisoning.

arsenical

adj

Containing or related to arsenic.

arsenous

adj

(chemistry) Containing arsenic, especially in its lower oxidation state.

arson

noun

The crime of deliberately setting fire to property.

arsonist

noun

A person who deliberately sets fire to property.

arsphenamine

noun

A chemical compound containing arsenic that was once used as a treatment for syphilis.

art

noun

Creative work — such as painting, music, or sculpture — made to be beautiful or to express emotion.

artagnan

name

A commune of Vic-en-Bigorre canton, Tarbes arrondissement, Hautes-Pyrénées department, Occitania, France.

artaxerxes

name

A name shared by several Achaemenid kings of Persia.

artefact

noun

An object made by a person, especially one of historical or cultural interest.

Artemis

name

The Greek goddess of the hunt, wild animals, and the moon, sister of Apollo.

arterial

adj

Relating to an artery, or (of blood) carried by arteries.

artery

noun

A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.

artful

adj

Clever and skilful, often in a way that shows careful thought or design.

arthritis

noun

Painful inflammation and stiffness in one or more joints.

arthropod

noun

An invertebrate animal with a hard outer exoskeleton and several jointed legs or limbs.

Arthur

name

A male given name, traditionally linked to the legendary King Arthur of British folklore.

artichoke

noun

A thistle-like plant whose unopened flower bud is eaten as a vegetable.

article

noun

A piece of writing on a particular topic, published in a newspaper, magazine, or online.

articles

noun

A formal legal or contractual document setting out specific terms, often used of training agreements.

articulacy

noun

The ability to express yourself clearly in words.

articular

adj

Belonging to, situated at, or connected with a joint of the body.

articulate

adj

Able to express thoughts clearly and fluently in speech or writing.

articulated

adj

Built with a joint or hinge that allows bending, especially describing vehicles made of linked sections.

articulation

noun

A joint, or set of joints, where something bends or hinges.

Artie

name

A casual short form of the name Arthur.

artifact

noun

An object made or shaped by a person, especially a tool, ornament or vessel from the past that is studied for what it reveals about a culture.

artifice

noun

A clever but dishonest trick.

artificer

noun

Someone who is highly skilled at a craft or trade.

artificial

adj

Made by humans rather than occurring naturally.

artificially

adv

In a manner that is man-made or not natural.

artificious

adj

Done cleverly and skilfully.

artillery

noun

Large guns used in warfare, or the branch of an army that operates them.

artilleryman

noun

A soldier who serves in, or operates, artillery guns.

artiodactyl

noun

A hoofed mammal, such as a pig, sheep, deer or cow, that has an even number of toes on each foot.

artisan

noun

A skilled worker who makes things by hand using traditional techniques.

artisanal

adj

Made by hand using traditional skills, typically in small quantities.

artist

noun

A person who creates art, such as paintings, drawings, or sculpture.

artiste

noun

A professional performer, especially a singer, dancer, or entertainer.

artistic

adj

Relating to art, or showing creative skill and good taste.

artistically

adv

In a way that shows artistic skill or creative flair.

artistry

noun

Great skill and creativity in a craft or art form.

artless

adj

Honest and open, without any trickery.

artlessness

noun

The quality of being simple and honest, without any trickery.

Artois

name

A historical region in northern France, also known from the Stella Artois beer brand.

arts

noun

The academic subjects that study human culture, thought, and expression — languages, literature, history, and philosophy — as opposed to the sciences.

artsy

adjective

Having an obvious artistic style or interest in the arts, especially in a self-conscious or slightly affected way.

Artur

name

A masculine given name, a Central and Eastern European form of Arthur.

artwork

noun

A piece of visual art, such as a painting, drawing, or sculpture.

arty

adj

Having a strong interest in or affinity for the arts.

Aruba

name

A small Caribbean island and constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

arugula

noun

A peppery salad green, also called rocket, with a distinctive sharp, slightly bitter flavor.

Arun

name

A masculine given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "dawn" or "reddish-brown".

Arvid

name

A masculine given name of Scandinavian origin, meaning "eagle tree".

Arvin

name

A masculine given name, an American variant of Arvind or Erwin.

Arvind

name

A masculine given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "lotus".

arvinda

name

A male first name of Sanskrit used in India origin.