English dictionary — definitions & meanings

Augello

name

An Italian surname.

auger

noun

A tool with a spiralling metal shaft used for boring holes in wood, ice or ground, turned by hand with a brace or driven by a machine.

aught

pron

Anything at all (an old-fashioned or literary word).

aughts

noun

The first decade of a century, such as 1900 to 1909 or 2000 to 2009, whose digit in the tens place is zero; the noughties.

Augie

name

A diminutive of the masculine given name Augustus.

augment

verb

To make something larger or stronger by adding to it.

augmentation

noun

The act or process of augmenting.

augmented

adj

Made larger, stronger, or more complete by adding something.

augur

noun

A person in ancient Rome who interpreted omens and signs, especially from the behaviour of birds, to predict the future.

augurate

noun

The position or office of an augur.

augurous

adj

Full of augury; foreboding.

augury

noun

A divination based on the appearance and behaviour of animals.

august

adj

Deeply respected and impressive; dignified and grand.

Augusta

name

A feminine given name of Latin origin, and a place name for several cities, including the capital of Maine.

auguste

noun

A type of clumsy, red-nosed circus clown who plays the troublemaker against the more composed whiteface clown.

Augustin

noun

A traditional 14-point printing type size, especially in French typography.

Augustine

noun

A member of a religious order that follows the rule attributed to Saint Augustine of Hippo; an Augustinian.

augustinian

adj

Of, or relating to St Augustine of Hippo or his doctrines, especially on predestination and grace.

Augustus

name

The first Roman emperor, born Gaius Octavius; also a masculine given name derived from his title.

aukus

name

A security treaty between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States; for the construction of nuclear submarines in Australia, and cooperation on cybersecurity and espionage technology; to contain the rise of China in the Indo-Pacific region.

auld

adj

Old (a Scots and Northern English word).

aunt

noun

The sister of one's mother or father, or the wife of one's uncle.

auntie

noun

An affectionate, informal way of saying "aunt."

aunty

noun

An affectionate word for an aunt, the sister of one's mother or father, or the wife of one's uncle.

auntyji

noun

aunt or older woman (as a respectful term of address)

aura

noun

A distinctive feeling or atmosphere that seems to surround a person or place.

aural

adj

Of or pertaining to the ear.

Aurelia

name

A feminine given name of Latin origin, related to the word for "golden."

Aurelius

name

A masculine given name of Latin origin, historically linked to Roman nobility.

aureole

noun

A circle of light or halo around the head of a deity or a saint.

aurigal

adj

Of or pertaining to a chariot.

aurochs

noun

An extinct European mammal, Bos primigenius, the ancestor of domestic cattle.

aurora

noun

A natural display of shifting coloured lights in the night sky near the polar regions, caused by charged particles from the sun.

Auschwitz

name

The site in occupied Poland of the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp during World War II, now used as shorthand for the Holocaust itself.

auspex

noun

An officiating priest in Ancient Rome.

auspicate

verb

To foreshow; to foretoken.

auspice

noun

Patronage or protection.

auspicial

adj

Of or pertaining to auspices; auspicious.

auspicious

adj

Suggesting a good outcome; promising or favourable.

Aussie

noun

(informal) An Australian person.

Austen

name

An English surname, most famously associated with the novelist Jane Austen.

austere

adj

Plain, strict, and without luxury or decoration.

austerity

noun

Extreme plainness and self-discipline, with no luxuries.

Austin

name

A masculine given name and surname, ultimately from "Augustine."

austral

adj

Of, relating to, or coming from the south.

Australia

name

The country and continent occupying the Australian mainland, Tasmania, and nearby islands, with its capital at Canberra.

Australian

adj

Relating to Australia, its people, or its languages.

Austria

name

A landlocked country in Central Europe, with its capital at Vienna.

Austrian

adj

Relating to Austria or its people and culture.

auteur

noun

A creative artist, especially a film director, seen as having a specific, recognisable artistic vision, and who is seen as the single or preeminent ‘author’ of their works.

authentic

adj

Genuine and exactly what it claims to be, not fake or copied.

authentically

adv

In an authentic manner; genuinely

authenticate

verb

To prove that something is genuine or real.

authentication

noun

The process of proving that something is genuine.

authenticator

noun

One who, or something which, authenticates, as

authenticity

noun

The quality of being genuine, real, and true to its origin.

author

noun

A person who writes a book, article, or other original work.

authorisation

noun

Non-Oxford British English standard spelling of authorization.

authorise

verb

Non-Oxford British English standard spelling of authorize.

authoritarian

adj

Demanding strict obedience and control, at the expense of individual freedom.

authoritative

adj

Recognised as reliable, accurate, and worth trusting because of its expertise.

authorities

noun

The official organisations or officials with power to govern or enforce rules in a given area.

authority

noun

The power or right to give orders, make decisions, or enforce obedience.

authorization

noun

Official permission to do something.

authorize

verb

To give someone official permission or power to do something.

authorized

adj

Officially permitted or approved.

authorship

noun

The quality or state of being an author; the function or dignity of an author.

autism

noun

Autism spectrum disorder, a condition characterized by impairment in social communication and interaction, as well as a need or strong preference for predictability and routine, sensory processing differences, focused interests, or repetitive behaviours. This includes classic autism as well as other, previously distinct disorders such as Asperger's syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and

autistic

adj

Having autism, a developmental condition affecting communication, social interaction, and behaviour.

auto

noun

(informal, especially US) A car; short for automobile.

autobahn

noun

A German or Austrian motorway, some sections of which have no general speed limit.

autobiographic

adj

Synonym of autobiographical.

autobiographical

adj

Based on or relating to the story of one's own life.

autobiography

noun

An account of a person's life written by that person.

autobus

noun

A motorbus, as opposed to earlier horse-drawn buses.

autochthon

noun

The earliest inhabitant of an area; an indigenous person.

autochthonous

adj

Native to the place where found; indigenous.

autoclave

noun

A strong, pressurized, heated vessel, as for laboratory experiments, sterilization, cooking or mineral processing.

autocracy

noun

A system of government in which one person holds complete power and is not meaningfully answerable to voters, courts or a parliament.

autocrat

noun

An absolute ruler with infinite power.

autocratic

adj

Of or pertaining to autocracy or to an autocrat; absolute; holding independent and arbitrary powers of government.

autocue

noun

Any of several devices that display words for a person to read aloud.

autograph

noun

A famous person's signature, especially one given to a fan as a keepsake.

autographed

adj

Signed with someone's autograph, especially a celebrity's.

autohomicide

noun

The act of suicide; the act of taking one's own life.

autoimmune

adj

Relating to a condition in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells.

Autolycus

name

In Greek mythology, a cunning thief and son of Hermes, said to be able to change shape and disguise stolen goods.

automat

noun

A vending machine for food.

automated

adj

Operated by machines or computer systems rather than by people.

automatic

adj

Operating by itself, without a person directly controlling it.

automatically

adverb

In a way that happens by itself, without a person having to control or think about it.

automation

noun

Using machines, computers, or other technology to do tasks that people used to do by hand.

automatization

noun

The process of making an action of a higher animal reflexive.

automatize

verb

To make or become automatic.

automaton

noun

A mechanical device built to carry out a fixed set of movements or instructions on its own.

automobile

noun

A wheeled motor vehicle built to carry a driver and a few passengers under its own power.

automobilist

noun

The driver of an automobile.

automotive

adjective

Relating to cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles.

autonoesis

noun

The neurocognitive ability to experience time as a series of subjective episodes.

autonoetic

adj

Of or relating to autonoesis.

autonomous

adjective

Governing or managing itself without outside control.

autonomously

adv

In an autonomous or self-governing manner.

autonomy

noun

The freedom to govern or manage oneself independently, without control from others.

autopilot

noun

A system that automatically steers a vehicle, aircraft, or ship without a person actively controlling it.

autopsy

noun

A medical examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death.

autosarcophagy

noun

The eating of one's own flesh.

autosexuality

noun

Sexual attraction toward oneself.

autosled

noun

A motorized sled.

autumn

noun

The season between summer and winter, when leaves fall and temperatures start to drop.

aux

noun

An auxiliary input on a sound system, used to plug in an external audio device.

auxesis

noun

A rhetorical device whereby the subject matter is made greater, particularly

auxiliary

adjective

Providing extra help or support to something else, rather than being the main part.

av

verb

A dialectal or informal way of saying "have," as in some regional English speech.

Ava

name

A popular female given name, used as a variant of Eva or as an independent name in its own right.

avail

verb

To make use of an opportunity or resource, usually for one's own benefit.

availability

noun

The state of being available or obtainable, or the times someone is free.

available

adjective

Able to be obtained, used, or accessed.

avalanche

noun

A large mass of snow and ice that suddenly breaks loose and slides down a mountainside.

Avalon

name

A legendary island paradise in Arthurian legend where King Arthur was taken after his death; also used as a real place name.

avant

noun

The leading or front section of an army; the vanguard.

avant garde

adjective

Strikingly new and experimental, especially in art, music, fashion or film, and ahead of what most people are used to.

Avanti

name

An ancient Indian realm roughly corresponding to the present-day Malwa region.

avarice

noun

An excessive, greedy desire for wealth or possessions.

avaricious

adj

Actuated by avarice; extremely greedy for wealth or material gain; immoderately desirous of accumulating property.

avariciousness

noun

The state or quality of being avaricious.

avast

interjection

A command meaning "stop" or "hold on," traditionally associated with sailors and pirates.

avatar

noun

A small picture or digital figure that represents a person online, such as on a forum or social media profile.

ave

noun

Short for "Ave Maria," the Catholic prayer to the Virgin Mary.

avenge

verb

To get retribution for a wrong or injury done to oneself or someone else.

avenger

noun

Someone who avenges a wrong, especially by punishing the person responsible.

avenging

noun

The act of getting revenge for a wrong done to someone.

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.

averagely

adv

In an average manner.

averageness

noun

The state or quality of being average.

averaging

noun

The process of working out an average from a set of numbers.

averie

name

A female given name of modern usage.

averment

noun

The act of averring, or that which is averred; positive assertion.

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.

aviary

noun

A house, enclosure, large cage, or other place for keeping birds confined; a birdhouse.

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.