English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

auspicial

adj

Relating to a good sign, or showing that something will turn out well.

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

Southern, 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.

autarky

noun

A national policy of economic self-sufficiency that aims to end reliance on foreign imports.

auteur

noun

A film director, or other artist, whose personal style is so strong that they are treated as the true creator behind their work.

authentic

adj

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

authentically

adv

In a genuine, true-to-life way.

authenticate

verb

To prove that something is genuine or real.

authentication

noun

The process of proving that something is genuine.

authenticator

noun

A person or thing that confirms that something is real or true.

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

A non-Oxford British English standard spelling of authorization.

authorise

verb

A non-Oxford British English standard spelling of authorize.

authoritarian

adj

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

authoritarianism

noun

A system of government in which those in power hold almost total control, often enforced by force with little regard for public opinion or the courts.

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 fact or status of having written or created a piece of work.

autism

noun

A condition where a person finds social communication difficult, sticks strongly to routine and predictability, processes sensory input differently, and may have intense interests or repeat certain behaviours; it covers what used to be seen as separate conditions, such as Asperger's syndrome.

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

Another word for 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

An engine-powered bus, unlike the horse-drawn buses that came before it.

autochthon

noun

The first or native inhabitant of a place.

autochthonous

adj

Belonging naturally to the place where it is found.

autoclave

noun

A tough, sealed container that uses heat and high pressure, used for jobs such as sterilising instruments or cooking.

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

A ruler who holds complete and unlimited power.

autocratic

adj

Having complete, unchecked control over how a country or group is governed.

autocue

noun

A screen that shows a speaker their words so they can read them out while facing the camera or audience.

autodidact

noun

A person who has taught themselves rather than learning through formal instruction.

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 killing yourself.

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 machine that sells food when you put money into it.

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 by which an action becomes automatic for an animal, so it is done without thinking.

automatize

verb

To make something automatic, or to turn into something that happens by itself.

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

A person who drives a car.

automotive

adjective

Relating to cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles.

autonoesis

noun

The mental ability to recall your own past and picture your future as personal moments in time.

autonoetic

adj

Relating to the ability to experience your own past and future as personal moments.

autonomous

adjective

Governing or managing itself without outside control.

autonomously

adv

Independently, without being controlled or directed by anyone else.

autonomy

noun

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

autophagy

noun

The process by which a cell breaks down its own components using enzymes it produces itself, often as a way of protecting or maintaining itself.

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 act of eating your own flesh.

autosexuality

noun

Being sexually attracted to yourself.

autosled

noun

A sledge fitted with its own engine.

autotomy

noun

The automatic shedding of a body part, such as a tail or limb, that some animals use to escape a predator.

autumn

noun

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

autumnal

adjective

Relating to or characteristic of autumn.

aux

noun

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

auxesis

noun

A way of speaking that makes something sound bigger or more important than it really is.

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

The name of an ancient Indian kingdom that roughly matches the present-day Malwa region.

avarice

noun

An excessive, greedy desire for wealth or possessions.

avaricious

adj

Extremely greedy for money or possessions.

avariciousness

noun

Greed; a strong desire for wealth or possessions.

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.

aventurine

noun

A brownish glass containing small gold-coloured flecks.

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 a way that is neither especially good nor bad; moderately.

averageness

noun

The fact of being ordinary or typical, with nothing unusual about it.

averaging

noun

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

averie

name

A female given name in modern use.

averment

noun

A firm, definite statement that something is true.

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 large cage or building where birds are kept.

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.

avidity

noun

A strong, greedy appetite for something.

avidly

adv

Eagerly and with great enthusiasm.

avidness

noun

The quality of being eager or enthusiastic.

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".

avionics

noun

The branch of technology dealing with the electronic equipment used in aircraft.

avocado

noun

A pear-shaped fruit with rich, buttery green flesh and a large central stone, eaten as a savoury food.

avocation

noun

Something that pulls your attention away from your main task.

avocational

adj

Connected with a hobby rather than a main job.

avoid

verb

To keep away from someone or something, especially something unwanted or harmful.

avoidable

adj

(law) Able to be cancelled or made legally invalid.

avoidably

adv

In a way that could have been prevented.

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.

avouch

verb

To state something firmly and openly.

avouchment

noun

The act of declaring or confirming something firmly.

avow

verb

To state something openly and confidently, admitting it is true.

avowal

noun

An open statement admitting or confirming something.

avowed

adj

Admitted publicly and openly.

avraham

name

A male first name of Hebrew origin.

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.

awaken

verb

To make someone wake up.

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.