English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

adjure

verb

To strongly order someone to do something, often by calling on a god or threatening punishment if they refuse.

adjust

verb

To change something slightly so it works better or fits new circumstances.

adjustable

adj

Able to be changed or fine-tuned, especially in size or position.

adjusted

adj

Changed or corrected to account for a particular factor, such as bias or inflation.

adjuster

noun

Someone who investigates and settles insurance claims.

adjusting

noun

The process of making changes to fit new needs or correct something.

adjustment

noun

A small change made to improve or correct something.

adjutant

noun

A military officer who handles administrative duties for a senior commander.

Adlai

name

A masculine given name of Hebrew biblical origin.

Adler

name

A surname of German origin.

admeasure

verb

(law) To measure out and give someone their proper share, such as of land held jointly.

admin

noun

Administrative work, such as paperwork, scheduling, or record-keeping.

administer

verb

To manage, oversee, or run something, such as an organization, program, or set of rules.

administering

noun

The act of managing something or giving out a treatment.

administration

noun

The management of an organization, business, or set of tasks.

administrative

adj

Relating to the management or organization of something, especially paperwork and processes.

administrator

noun

A person who manages or directs the affairs of an organization, department, or estate.

administrivia

noun

(informal) Small administrative jobs that take up a lot of time.

admirable

adj

Deserving respect or approval; impressive in a positive way.

admirably

adv

In a way that deserves respect or praise; excellently.

admiral

noun

A senior naval officer who commands a fleet or squadron.

admiralty

noun

The government department or authority in charge of naval affairs.

admiration

noun

A feeling of respect and warm approval for someone or something impressive.

admire

verb

To regard someone or something with respect and approval.

admirer

noun

Someone who respects and approves of another person or thing.

admiring

adj

Showing or feeling admiration.

admissibility

noun

The quality of being acceptable or allowed.

admissible

adj

Allowed to be accepted or considered, especially in a court of law.

admission

noun

Permission or the right to enter a place or join a group.

admit

verb

To allow someone or something to enter.

admittance

noun

Permission or the right to enter a place.

admitted

adj

Allowed in or accepted, especially into a place, group, or profession.

admittedly

adv

Used to acknowledge that something is true, often before making a contrasting point.

admitting

verb

Letting someone or something in, or acknowledging something as true.

admix

verb

To mix something in with something else.

admixture

noun

An act of mixing one thing into another.

admonish

verb

To tell someone firmly that they have done wrong, or to warn or urge them seriously.

admonition

noun

A warning from someone in authority that you have done wrong and must stop.

Adnan

name

A masculine given name of Arabic origin.

adnoun

noun

(grammar) An adjective that is used as if it were a noun.

ado

noun

Unnecessary fuss, bother, or commotion over something.

adobe

noun

A brick made from mud or clay and dried hard in the sun rather than fired in a kiln.

adolescence

noun

The stage of life between childhood and adulthood, roughly spanning the teenage years.

adolescent

noun

A young person who is no longer a child but not yet fully an adult, typically a teenager.

Adolf

name

A masculine given name of Germanic origin, a variant of Adolph.

Adolfo

name

A masculine given name from Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish, equivalent to the English name Adolph.

Adolph

name

A masculine given name of Germanic origin, a variant spelling of Adolf.

Adolphe

name

A surname of French origin, most common in Haiti.

adolphus

name

A given name for males, derived from the Germanic languages as a Latinized variant of Adolph.

Adonai

name

A Hebrew title for God, meaning "my Lord," traditionally spoken aloud in place of the sacred name YHWH.

Adonis

noun

An extremely handsome young man.

adopt

verb

To legally take a child into your family as your own.

adopted

adj

Taken into a family and brought up as one's own child, rather than born into it.

adoption

noun

The legal process of taking a child into your family as your own.

adoptive

adj

Related by adoption rather than by birth.

adorable

adj

So cute or charming that it inspires affection.

adoration

noun

Deep love, admiration, or worship.

adore

verb

To love someone or something very deeply.

adorer

noun

A person who loves and admires someone deeply.

adoring

adj

Showing great love or admiration.

adorn

verb

To decorate something to make it more attractive.

adorned

adj

Decorated with additional ornamental details.

adornment

noun

An object used to make something look more attractive.

adr

name

The name of the Agreement of 30 September 1957 on the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road, previously known as the European Agreement on the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road.

adrenal

adj

Relating to the adrenal glands, small organs that sit above the kidneys and release hormones like adrenaline.

adrenaline

noun

A hormone released in response to stress or excitement that speeds up the heart and boosts energy.

adria

name

A town and comune of Rovigo, Veneto, Italy, situated on the site of an Etruscan city of the same name.

Adrian

name

A masculine given name of Latin origin, referring to someone from the region of Hadria.

Adriana

name

A feminine given name from Latin, the feminine form of Adrian.

Adrianna

name

A feminine given name, a variant spelling of Adriana.

Adriatic

name

The Adriatic Sea, a branch of the Mediterranean lying between Italy and the Balkan Peninsula.

adriatical

adj

An archaic form of Adriatic.

adriatick

adj

An archaic form of Adriatic.

Adrien

name

A surname of French origin, common in Haiti.

Adrienne

name

A feminine given name of French origin, equivalent to the English name Adrian.

adrift

adj

Drifting without control or direction, especially on water.

adrip

adj

So wet with a liquid that it is dripping.

adroit

adj

Clever and skilful, especially in using your hands or mind quickly.

adroitness

noun

Skill and ease in doing something.

Ads

noun

Plural of "ad" — short for advertisements.

adscititious

adj

(formal) Added on from outside, rather than being a natural or essential part of something.

adsorption

noun

The process by which a thin layer of liquid or gas sticks to the surface of a solid.

adulation

noun

Excessive praise or admiration, often insincere.

adulator

noun

Someone who praises or flatters another person far too much.

adult

noun

A person who has reached the age of legal maturity, typically 18 or older.

adulter

noun

A person who commits adultery, usually a man.

adulterant

noun

A substance mixed into something else that makes it less pure.

adulterate

adj

Made less pure because another substance has been mixed into it.

adulterated

adj

Deliberately mixed with impure substances, often to cut the cost of making food or to strengthen the effect of an illegal drug.

adulteration

noun

The act of making something impure by adding another substance to it.

adulterer

noun

A person, especially a man, who has sex with someone other than their spouse.

adulteress

noun

A married woman who has sex with someone other than her spouse.

adulterous

adj

Involving or characterised by adultery.

adultery

noun

Sexual activity between a married person and someone who is not their spouse.

adulthood

noun

The state or period of being an adult.

adultish

adj

Like an adult, or right for one.

adultlike

adj

Similar to, or typical of, a grown-up person.

adumbrate

verb

To hint that something will happen, without saying so clearly.

adumbration

noun

The condition of being in shade, or, as a countable noun, a shadow itself.

aduwallah

name

A name meaning the Enemy of God, referring to Satan or Iblis.

advance

verb

To move forward, or to help something make progress.

advanced

adj

At a high level of skill, complexity, or development; going beyond the basics.

advancement

noun

Progress or improvement, especially a move up to a higher position or level.

advancing

noun

The ongoing act of moving forward or making progress.

advantage

noun

Something that puts you in a better or more favorable position than others.

advantaged

adj

Given an unfair benefit, for example by referees who favour one side in a contest.

advantageous

adj

Providing a benefit; favorable to one's interests.

advene

verb

To join or be added to something else, without being a necessary part of it.

advent

noun

The arrival or beginning of something significant, especially something that changes things.

adventitia

noun

The outermost layer of epithelial tissue encasing a visceral organ.

adventitious

adj

Coming from outside, rather than being a natural part of something.

adventitiously

adv

In a way that happens by chance, now and then.

adventure

noun

An exciting or unusual experience, often involving some risk or the unknown.

adventurer

noun

Someone who seeks out exciting, risky experiences or ventures.

adventuresome

adj

Full of adventure.

adventuress

noun

A woman who looks for adventure.

adventurism

noun

Behaviour typical of an adventurer; a willingness to take risks.

adventurous

adj

Willing to take risks and try new, exciting things.

adventurously

adv

In a bold, adventurous way.

adventurousness

noun

The quality of enjoying adventure and being willing to take risks.

adverb

noun

A word that modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb, describing how, when, where or to what degree something happens — such as quickly, yesterday, here or very.

adversarial

adj

Behaving like an opponent; hostile and combative.

adversary

noun

An opponent or rival, especially one you compete or fight against.

adverse

adj

Unfavorable or harmful; working against someone's interests.

adversity

noun

Difficult or unfortunate circumstances; hardship.

advert

noun

British informal term for an advertisement.

advertence

noun

The quality of paying attention to something on purpose.

advertency

noun

The state of being deliberately attentive.

advertent

adj

Done on purpose, not by accident.

advertently

adv

On purpose; intentionally.

advertise

verb

To promote a product, service, or event publicly in order to attract interest or sales.

advertisement

noun

A public notice or message designed to sell or promote a product, service, or idea.

advertising

noun

The activity or industry of promoting products and services to the public.

advice

noun

A suggestion or opinion offered to help someone decide or act.

Advil

name

A brand name for ibuprofen, a common over-the-counter pain and inflammation reliever.

advisable

adj

Sensible or wise to do; recommended.

advise

verb

To give someone guidance or a recommendation about what to do.

advised

adj

Carefully thought through; the result of deliberation.

advisedly

adv

Deliberately, and after careful thought.

advisement

noun

Careful consideration or deliberation, especially before making a decision.

adviser

noun

Someone who gives advice.

advising

noun

The act of giving advice or guidance, especially in an academic or professional setting.

advisor

noun

A person who gives expert guidance or recommendations in a particular field.

advisory

adj

Giving advice or recommendations rather than making binding decisions.

advocacy

noun

Public support for a cause, policy, or group of people.

advocate

noun

A person who publicly supports or argues in favor of a cause, policy, or another person.

advocated

adj

Argued for or supported publicly.

advowrer

noun

(archaic) Someone who protects a person or place, especially a patron saint.

adynaton

noun

A type of exaggeration so extreme that it describes something impossible.

adze

noun

A hand tool for shaping wood, whose arched blade is mounted across the end of the handle rather than in line with it.