English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

airlift

noun

The transport of people or supplies by aircraft, especially in an emergency.

airline

noun

A company that operates aircraft to carry passengers or cargo.

airliner

noun

A large passenger aircraft, typically operated by a commercial airline.

airlock

noun

A sealed chamber with two doors that lets people or objects pass between areas of different air pressure, such as on a spacecraft or submarine, without letting the pressure equalize suddenly.

airman

noun

A pilot or crew member of an aircraft.

airplane

noun

A powered aircraft with fixed wings and at least one engine, capable of carrying passengers or cargo.

airport

noun

A facility with runways and terminals where aircraft take off, land, and where passengers and cargo are handled.

airship

noun

A powered, steerable aircraft that is lighter than air, kept aloft by a gas-filled envelope rather than wings.

airspace

noun

The portion of sky above a country or region that falls under its legal control, especially for aviation purposes.

airspeed

noun

An aircraft's speed measured relative to the air it is moving through, rather than relative to the ground.

airstrip

noun

A basic runway for aircraft, usually without a terminal or major facilities.

airtight

adj

Sealed so tightly that no air or gas can pass in or out.

airtime

noun

The amount of time a program, segment, or advertisement is broadcast on radio or television.

airwaves

noun

Radio frequencies used for broadcasting, or radio and television broadcasting in general.

airway

noun

The passage in the body, especially the throat and windpipe, through which air travels to the lungs.

airy

adj

Open, spacious, and well ventilated.

Aisha

name

A female given name of Arabic origin, historically borne by one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad.

Aishwarya

name

A female given name of Sanskrit origin used mainly in India, from a word meaning wealth, splendour, or lordship.

aisle

noun

A long, narrow passage between rows of seats, shelves, or pews.

aitu

noun

A spirit or ghost, often regarded as dangerous, in Polynesian folklore.

aiyo

intj

An exclamation of distress, frustration, or worry.

Aizu

name

A historic region in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, centred on the city of Aizuwakamatsu.

Aja

noun

A member of an ethnic group living in parts of Benin and Togo, or the Gbe language spoken by that group.

ajar

adj

Slightly open, not fully shut.

Ajax

name

A hero of Greek mythology who fought in the Trojan War, known for his great strength.

Ajay

name

A male given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "unconquered" or "invincible."

Ajit

name

A male given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "unconquerable."

ajumma

noun

A married, middle-aged Korean woman, sometimes used as a respectful or familiar form of address.

ak

noun

Informal shorthand for an AK-47 or similar Kalashnikov-pattern assault rifle.

AKA

adv

Used to introduce another name someone or something is known by; also known as.

Akane

name

A Japanese female given name, often associated with the word for "deep red" or madder (a red dye plant).

Akash

name

A male given name of Sanskrit origin meaning "sky" or "space."

Akashi

name

A city in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, known for its bridge across the Akashi Strait.

Akbar

name

A word meaning "greatest," used in Arabic phrases such as "Allahu akbar" ("God is greatest"), and also used as a given name and surname.

ake

adv

Forever; continually. (archaic or dialectal)

Akhenaten

name

An ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the 14th century BCE, known for promoting worship of the sun disk Aten and for being the father of Tutankhamun.

Aki

name

A city in Kōchi Prefecture, Japan.

Akiba

name

A Japanese surname.

Akiko

name

A Japanese female given name.

akin

adj

Similar in nature, quality, or character; comparable.

Akio

name

A Japanese male given name.

Akira

name

A Japanese given name, most often used for males, and occasionally for females.

Akita

noun

A large, powerfully built dog breed originating in the mountainous northern regions of Japan, known for its dense double coat and curled tail.

Akiyama

name

A Japanese surname, literally combining characters for "autumn" and "mountain."

Akron

name

A city in northeastern Ohio, once the centre of the American rubber and tyre industry, and the county seat of Summit County.

Akshay

name

A male given name of Sanskrit/Hindi origin meaning "indestructible" or "imperishable."

al

noun

The Indian mulberry tree (Morinda citrifolia), or the dye traditionally made from its roots.

ala

noun

A wing-shaped part or structure, especially of a bone.

Alabama

noun

A Muscogee-speaking Indigenous people originally from central Alabama, or a member of that people.

alabaster

noun

A soft, fine-grained white or pale-tinted stone (a form of gypsum) often carved into ornaments and small sculptures.

alack

interjection

An old-fashioned exclamation expressing sorrow, regret, or dismay.

Alai

name

A surname of uncertain or varied origin.

Alain

name

A French male given name, equivalent to the English name Alan.

alameda

noun

A tree-lined avenue or promenade, especially one found in Spain, Portugal, or Spanish-speaking countries.

alamo

noun

A poplar or cottonwood tree native to the southwestern United States.

Alan

noun

A member of the Alans, a nomadic Iranian-speaking people who roamed the Eurasian steppe in the first millennium AD.

Alana

name

A female given name derived from the Celtic name Alan, in wide use since the 20th century.

Alaric

name

A king of the Visigoths who sacked Rome in 410 CE.

alarm

noun

A sound, signal, or device that warns of danger or draws attention to something needing action.

alarmed

adjective

Feeling worried or frightened because of a possible danger or problem.

alarming

adjective

Causing worry or fear; disturbing enough to make people take notice.

alarmingly

adverb

In a way that causes worry or fear; to a degree that is troubling.

alas

interjection

Used to express sadness, regret, or disappointment about something.

Alaska

name

The largest U.S. state by area, located in the far northwest of North America, with its capital at Juneau.

Alaskan

adjective

Relating to Alaska, its people, or its culture.

Alastair

name

A male given name from Scottish Gaelic, a variant spelling of Alistair, both derived from Alexander.

alba

noun

A traditional form of lyric poetry, often Provençal in origin, describing lovers parting at daybreak.

Alban

adjective

Relating to the ancient Latin city of Alba Longa, or, in a separate historical sense, to Alba, an old name for Scotland.

Albania

name

A country in Southeast Europe on the Adriatic coast, with its capital at Tirana.

Albanian

adjective

Relating to Albania, its people, or its language.

Albany

name

The capital city of New York State, in the United States.

albatross

noun

A large seabird with long narrow wings and a hooked beak, found mainly over the Southern Ocean and North Pacific, famous for gliding vast distances without flapping.

albeit

conjunction

Even though; although.

Albert

name

A male given name of Germanic origin, meaning roughly "noble and bright."

Alberta

name

A province in western Canada, with Edmonton as its capital and Calgary as its largest city.

Albertine

name

A female given name of Germanic origin, a variant of Albertina, ultimately related to Albert.

Alberto

name

A male given name used in Italian and Spanish, equivalent to English Albert.

Albie

noun

A false albacore, a fast-swimming game fish related to tuna.

Albin

name

A male given name derived from the Latin word for "white," historically also linked to a Germanic name meaning "elf friend."

albino

adjective

Lacking the usual pigment in skin, hair, feathers, or eyes from birth.

Albion

name

A poetic or archaic name for Great Britain, sometimes used more narrowly for England.

Albright

name

A surname of English origin, historically a variant form of Albert.

album

noun

A collection of music released together as one unit, usually enough to fill a full-length record or its digital equivalent.

Albuquerque

name

The largest city in New Mexico, USA, and the seat of Bernalillo County.

Alby

name

A given name, mainly used as a nickname, and also found as a surname of English origin.

alcazar

noun

A fortified palace built by Moorish rulers in Spain.

alchemist

noun

Someone who practises alchemy, the early forerunner of chemistry that sought to turn base metals into gold.

alchemy

noun

The early, part-mystical, part-scientific study that aimed to transform base metals into gold and find an elixir of eternal life, and which later grew into modern chemistry.

Alcide

name

A surname of French origin, most common in Haiti.

alcohol

noun

Ethanol, the intoxicating chemical found in beer, wine, and spirits.

alcoholic

noun

A person who is addicted to alcohol.

alcoholism

noun

A chronic condition caused by compulsive drinking, leading to physical dependence and damage to health and daily life.

alcove

noun

A small recessed space set into the wall of a larger room.

Alda

name

A surname, of Spanish and Basque origin.

Alden

name

A male given name and surname of Old English origin, also the name of several small towns in the United States.

alder

noun

A tree or shrub of the genus Alnus, related to the birch, often found near rivers and wet ground.

alderman

noun

An elected member of a city or town council.

Aldo

name

A male given name of Italian origin.

Aldous

name

A male given name and surname of Old English origin, most famously borne by the novelist Aldous Huxley.

Aldrich

name

A surname of Old English origin, also used as a place name in parts of the United States.

Aldridge

name

A town in the West Midlands, England, and a surname derived from it.

aldrin

noun

A now largely banned insecticide that persists in the environment for a long time.

ale

noun

A type of beer, traditionally brewed without hops and fermented at warmer temperatures than lager.

Alec

name

A short form of the name Alexander.

Aleck

name

A variant spelling of the nickname Alec, short for Alexander, best known today in the phrase "smart aleck."

Aleister

name

A male given name, a rare variant of Alastair, most famously borne by the occultist Aleister Crowley.

Alejandra

name

A female given name from Spanish, equivalent to Alexandra.

Alejandro

name

A male given name from Spanish, equivalent to Alexander.

Alek

name

A short form of the name Alexander.

Aleksandr

name

The Russian form of the name Alexander.

Aleppo

name

A major city in northern Syria, and the region surrounding it.

alert

adj

Watchful and paying close attention; ready to notice or react quickly.

alerted

adj

Having been warned or made aware of something, and now on guard.

Alessandra

name

A female given name from Italian, equivalent to Alexandra.

Alessandro

name

A male given name from Italian, equivalent to Alexander.

Alex

name

A unisex given name, most often used as a short form of Alexander or Alexandra.

Alexander

name

A male given name of Ancient Greek origin, most famously borne by Alexander the Great.

Alexandra

name

A female given name of Ancient Greek origin, the feminine form of Alexander.

Alexandre

name

A male given name from French or Portuguese, equivalent to Alexander.

Alexei

name

The Russian male given name equivalent to Alexius.

Alexey

name

An alternative transliteration of the Russian male given name equivalent to Alexis.

Alexis

name

A given name of Ancient Greek origin, used for both men and, since the mid-20th century, women.

alf

noun

An elf-like supernatural creature in Norse folklore.

alfa

noun

A Muslim religious teacher or cleric in parts of West Africa.

alfalfa

noun

A leafy green plant grown as livestock feed and cover crop, also called lucerne.

Alfie

name

A short form of Alfred or Alfonso, also used as a given name in its own right.

Alfonse

name

A male given name, a variant spelling of Alphonse.

Alfonso

name

A male given name of Germanic origin, common in Spanish- and Italian-speaking cultures.

Alfred

name

A male given name of Old English origin, historically borne by Alfred the Great.

Alfredo

noun

A creamy pasta sauce made from butter and Parmesan cheese.

algae

noun

Simple, mostly aquatic plant-like organisms that photosynthesize, ranging from single-celled forms to seaweed.

algebra

noun

The branch of mathematics that uses letters and symbols to stand for numbers in equations and formulas.

Algeria

name

A large country in North Africa, whose capital is Algiers.

Algerian

adj

Relating to Algeria or its people.

Algernon

name

A male given name of French origin.

Algiers

name

The capital and largest city of Algeria.

Algonquin

noun

A member of an Indigenous North American people living mainly in Quebec, related to the Odawa and Ojibwe.

algorithm

noun

A precise, step-by-step set of instructions for solving a problem or completing a task, especially in computing.

Algy

name

A short form of the name Algernon.

Alhambra

name

A historic fortress and palace complex in Granada, Spain.

Ali

name

A male given name of Arabic origin, also a common surname.

Alia

name

A female given name of Arabic origin, the feminine form of Ali.

alias

noun

A false or assumed name used instead of a person's real one.

alibi

noun

A claim or proof that someone was somewhere else when a crime took place.

Alice

name

A female given name of Germanic origin, popular in England since the Middle Ages.

Alicia

name

A female given name, a Latinised form of Alice.

alien

noun

A being from another planet.

alienate

verb

To make someone feel isolated, unwelcome, or estranged.

alienated

adj

Feeling isolated, excluded, or disconnected from others.

alienating

adj

Causing someone to feel isolated or excluded.