English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

amaze

verb

To fill someone with great surprise or wonder.

amazed

adj

Filled with great surprise or wonder.

amazement

noun

A feeling of great surprise or wonder.

amazing

adj

Causing great surprise or wonder; astonishing.

amazingly

adv

In a way that causes great surprise or wonder.

Amazon

noun

A member of a legendary race of female warriors said to live near the Black Sea in Greek mythology.

Amazonian

adj

Relating to the Amazon River or the surrounding rainforest region in South America.

ambassador

noun

A diplomat of the highest rank sent by one country to represent it in another.

amber

noun

A hard, translucent, yellow-to-brown fossilized tree resin, used in jewellery and sometimes containing preserved insects.

Amberson

name

A surname derived as a patronymic from Ambrose, also a community in Pennsylvania.

ambiance

noun

The particular mood or atmosphere created by a place or its surroundings.

Ambien

noun

A brand name for zolpidem, a prescription drug used short-term to help people fall asleep.

ambient

adj

Surrounding or existing on all sides; relating to the immediate environment.

ambiguity

noun

The quality of having more than one possible meaning or interpretation.

ambiguous

adj

Open to more than one interpretation; unclear in meaning.

ambition

noun

A strong desire to achieve success, power, or a particular goal.

ambitious

adj

Having a strong desire for success, power, or achievement.

ambivalent

adj

Having mixed or contradictory feelings about someone or something.

ambo

noun

A raised platform or podium in a church used for readings, sermons, or homilies.

Ambrose

name

A male given name of Ancient Greek origin, also used as a surname.

ambrosia

noun

In Greek mythology, the food or drink of the gods, said to grant immortality.

ambulance

noun

A vehicle equipped to carry sick or injured people to a hospital, usually with emergency medical staff aboard.

ambush

noun

A surprise attack launched from a hidden position.

ambushed

adj

Caught by a surprise attack.

ambushing

noun

The act of launching a surprise attack from concealment.

Amelia

noun

A rare birth condition in which a baby is born missing one or more limbs.

amen

intj

Said at the end of a prayer to mean "so be it."

amenable

adj

Willing to go along with a suggestion or be persuaded.

amend

verb

To make formal changes to a document, law, or agreement in order to correct or improve it.

amended

adj

Changed from an earlier version, usually to fix or improve it.

amendment

noun

A formal change made to a law, bill, or constitution.

amends

noun

Something done to make up for harm or wrongdoing.

amenities

noun

Features or services that make a place more comfortable or convenient.

America

name

A continent or supercontinent of the Western Hemisphere, or informally the United States of America; also used as a female given name.

American

noun

A citizen or native of the United States.

Americana

noun

Objects, images, or ideas that capture traditional American culture and history.

americano

noun

A coffee made by diluting a shot of espresso with hot water.

Americas

name

The combined landmass of North America, Central America, and South America.

Ames

name

A surname, also a diminutive of the female given name Amy, and the name of a city in Iowa, United States.

amethyst

noun

A purple or violet variety of quartz used as a gemstone.

Amex

noun

Informal short form of American Express, referring to the company or one of its credit cards.

Ami

name

A town in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.

amiable

adj

Friendly, warm, and easy to like.

amicable

adj

Done or carried out in a friendly way, without hostility.

amicably

adv

In a friendly way, without conflict or hostility.

amid

prep

In the middle of; surrounded by.

amidst

prep

In the midst of; surrounded by (a more old-fashioned form of "amid").

amiga

noun

A female friend (a term borrowed from Spanish, often used in English by Spanish speakers or in Spanish-influenced English).

amigo

noun

A friend (a term borrowed from Spanish, also used informally in English).

amin

name

A male given name of Arabic origin, meaning "trustworthy" or "faithful."

Amina

name

A female given name of Arabic origin, meaning "trustworthy" or "faithful."

amino

adj

Relating to or containing an amine group, a nitrogen-based chemical structure found in many biological molecules.

Amir

name

A male given name and title of Arabic origin, meaning "commander" or "prince."

Amira

name

A female given name of Arabic origin, meaning "princess."

Amis

name

A surname from Old French.

Amish

noun

A traditional Christian community, mostly living in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, known for simple living and limited use of modern technology.

amiss

adj

Wrong or out of order in some way.

amit

name

A male given name, from Sanskrit meaning "limitless" or from Hebrew meaning "friend."

Amitabh

name

A male given name of Indian origin, from Sanskrit meaning "boundless light."

Amjad

name

A surname of Arabic origin, meaning "most glorious."

amma

noun

A word for "mother," used in several South Asian languages and borrowed into English in that context.

Amman

name

The capital city of Jordan.

ammo

noun

Bullets, shells, or other material fired from weapons; ammunition.

ammonia

noun

A colorless gas made of nitrogen and hydrogen (NH3), known for its sharp, unpleasant smell.

ammonium

noun

A positively charged particle (NH4+) formed when ammonia gains an extra hydrogen atom.

ammunition

noun

Bullets, shells, and other projectiles used in firearms and weapons.

amnesia

noun

A partial or total loss of memory, often caused by injury, illness, or trauma.

amnesiac

noun

A person who has lost part or all of their memory.

amnesty

noun

An official pardon granted by a government, especially to a group of people who committed a political offense.

amniotic

adj

Relating to the amnion, the fluid-filled sac that surrounds and protects a developing embryo.

Amo

name

A surname.

amoeba

noun

A single-celled organism that moves and feeds by extending finger-like parts of itself called pseudopodia.

amok

adv

In a wild, uncontrolled, or violent manner (usually in the phrase "run amok").

among

prep

Surrounded by, or in the middle of, a group of people or things.

amongst

prep

A more formal or old-fashioned variant of "among".

Amor

noun

A small asteroid, or a member of a class of asteroids, whose orbit lies between those of Earth and Mars.

amoral

adj

Not concerned with, or not guided by, any sense of right and wrong.

amorous

adj

Showing or feeling strong romantic or sexual desire.

Amory

name

A surname and male given name of Germanic origin, meaning roughly "vigorous ruler".

Amos

name

A male given name of Hebrew origin, also a book of the Old Testament and the prophet who authored it.

amount

noun

A quantity of something, especially something that can't easily be counted as separate units.

amour

noun

A romantic or sexual relationship, often a secret or illicit one.

amp

noun

Short for amplifier: a device that increases the volume or strength of an electronic signal.

amparo

noun

In several Latin American legal systems, a special court proceeding used to protect a person's constitutional rights, similar to habeas corpus.

amped

adj

Very excited or full of energy, sometimes to an extreme degree.

amphetamine

noun

A powerful stimulant drug that speeds up activity in the brain and nervous system, used medically for conditions like ADHD and also misused recreationally.

amphibian

noun

A cold-blooded animal, such as a frog or salamander, that typically starts life in water and can later live on land.

amphibious

adj

Able to live, travel, or operate both on land and in water.

amphitheater

noun

A large, usually open-air, oval or round building with tiered seating around a central performance or arena area.

amphora

noun

A tall, narrow-necked ceramic jar with two handles, used in ancient Greece and Rome for storing wine, oil, or grain.

ample

adj

Enough, or more than enough, for a particular purpose.

amplified

adj

Made louder, stronger, or more intense, especially through electronic means.

amplifier

noun

A device that increases the strength of an electrical signal, especially to make sound louder.

amplify

verb

To increase the strength, volume, or intensity of something, especially a sound or signal.

amply

adv

In a way that is more than sufficient; generously or thoroughly.

AMPS

noun

Plural of amp; short for amperes, the standard unit for measuring electric current.

amputate

verb

To surgically remove all or part of a limb or other body part.

amputated

adj

Describing a limb or body part that has been surgically removed.

amputation

noun

The surgical removal of a limb or other body part.

Amrita

noun

In Hindu mythology, the divine nectar or "water of life" said to grant immortality to the gods.

Amritsar

name

A large city in Punjab, India, home to the Golden Temple.

Amsterdam

name

The capital city of the Netherlands, also the name of several smaller places in the United States named after it.

Amtrak

name

The national passenger railway of the United States.

amulet

noun

A small charm, symbol, or piece of jewellery worn or carried in the belief that it protects the wearer from harm or bad luck.

Amun

name

An ancient Egyptian deity, later worshipped as a creator god, often depicted with ram's horns.

Amundsen

name

A surname of Norwegian and Danish origin, borne by explorer Roald Amundsen, the first person to reach the South Pole.

amuse

verb

To entertain someone or make them laugh or smile.

amused

adj

Feeling entertained or finding something funny.

amusement

noun

A feeling of being entertained or finding something funny.

amusing

adj

Funny or entertaining; causing laughter or light enjoyment.

Amy

name

A female given name of Latin origin, meaning "beloved".

amygdala

noun

An almond-shaped cluster of nerve tissue deep in the brain that plays a central role in processing emotions such as fear and pleasure.

an

article

The form of "a" used before a word that starts with a vowel sound.

ana

noun

A collection of things associated with a person or place, especially a personal collection of anecdotes or conversations at table

Anabel

name

A female given name of Latin origin, a rare variant of Annabel.

anaconda

noun

A very large, non-venomous South American snake that kills prey by constriction.

anagram

noun

A word or phrase made by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase.

Anaheim

noun

A long, mild variety of green or red chilli pepper.

Anakin

name

A male given name coined for fiction, borne by the character Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars.

anal

adj

Relating to or involving the anus.

analog

adj

Representing information as a continuously variable signal rather than as digital data, such as the hands of a clock or an old vinyl recording.

analogy

noun

A comparison between two things to explain or clarify an idea, based on some shared feature.

analyse

verb

British spelling of "analyze": to examine something closely to understand its parts or meaning.

analysis

noun

A careful, detailed examination of something in order to understand it or explain its parts.

analyst

noun

A person whose job is to study data, systems, or situations closely and draw conclusions from them.

analytical

adj

Skilled at or relating to breaking problems down logically and examining them carefully.

analyze

verb

To examine something carefully, breaking it into parts to understand it better.

analyzed

adj

Having been examined and broken down for study.

analyzer

noun

A device or program used to examine and break down data or substances.

Anamika

name

A female given name of Sanskrit origin, used in India.

Anand

name

A male given name and surname of Sanskrit origin, meaning "joy" or "delight", also a city in Gujarat, India.

anaphylactic

adj

Relating to a severe, sudden allergic reaction that can affect breathing and blood pressure.

anarchist

noun

A person who believes that government and formal authority should be abolished in favour of voluntary cooperation.

anarchy

noun

A state in which there is no government or ruling authority.

Anasazi

noun

An older term for the Ancestral Puebloans, the Indigenous people who built the cliff dwellings of the American Southwest.

Anastasia

name

A female given name of Ancient Greek origin, meaning "resurrection".

anathema

noun

Something or someone intensely disliked or considered completely unacceptable.

Anatole

name

A male given name of Ancient Greek origin, meaning "sunrise".

Anatolia

name

The peninsula comprising most of modern Turkey, bounded by the Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean seas.

anatomical

adj

Relating to the structure of the body or to anatomy.

anatomically

adv

In a way that relates to the structure of the body.

anatomy

noun

The scientific study of the structure of living things, especially their bodies.

Anbu

name

A town in Chaozhou, Guangdong, China.

ancestor

noun

A person from whom one is descended, further back than a grandparent; a forebear.

ancestral

adj

Belonging to, inherited from, or associated with one's ancestors.

ancestry

noun

The line of ancestors a person descends from; one's family origins or heritage.

anchor

noun

A heavy metal device lowered from a boat to grip the seabed and keep the vessel in place.

anchorage

noun

A place where ships can safely anchor, such as a sheltered bay or harbor.

anchored

adj

Firmly fixed or held in place, so it cannot easily move or drift.

anchorman

noun

The main presenter of a news broadcast.