English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

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.

airmail

noun

The system of sending mail by aircraft.

airman

noun

A pilot or crew member of an aircraft.

airmanship

noun

Skill and knowledge needed to fly and operate an aircraft well.

airplane

noun

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

airplane mode

noun

A setting on a phone, tablet or laptop that switches off all wireless transmission — mobile signal, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth — so the device can be used safely on an aircraft.

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.

airsoft

noun

A modern combat sport in which participants eliminate their opponents by hitting them with spherical non-metallic pellets launched from a type of air gun running compressed air or similar compressed gas (e.g., carbon dioxide).

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.

airstream

noun

A moving current of air.

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.

airwoman

noun

A woman who flies aircraft; a female pilot.

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.

aitch

noun

The name of the letter H, or h.

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.

akademi

name

The word for an academy, a particular society of scholars or artists.

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)

akha

noun

A member of a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group inhabiting the mountainous regions of southwestern China, eastern Myanmar, western Laos and northern Thailand.

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.

akilter

adj

Crooked or not in line; askew.

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.

akiva

name

A male first name of Hebrew origin.

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."

aktionsart

noun

(grammar) The way a verb shows the timing or shape of an action, such as whether it is finished or ongoing.

akum

noun

A person who worships idols or has no religious belief.

al

noun

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

al fresco

adverb

Outdoors, in the open air, especially when eating or drinking.

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.

alabastrine

adj

Made of, or similar to, alabaster.

alack

interjection

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

alacritous

adj

Quick, eager and full of energy.

alacrity

noun

Eager and enthusiastic willingness to do something.

Alai

name

A surname of uncertain or varied origin.

Alain

name

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

alaina

name

A given name for females, originating in the Celtic languages.

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.

alamort

adj

Looking half-dead; very low in spirits.

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.

alanine

noun

A nonessential amino acid that occurs in most animal proteins.

alanna

name

A female given name originating in the Celtic languages.

alannah

name

A female forename with origins in the Celtic languages.

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.

alb

noun

A long, white gown that priests and other ministers wear under their main vestments.

alba

noun

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

albacore

noun

A type of tuna with long fins, found in warm seas, whose flesh is eaten as food.

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.

albertina

name

A female forename originating from the Germanic languages.

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.

albi

name

The name of a town and commune in southern France's Occitania region, serving as prefecture of the Tarn department.

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."

albina

name

A female first name of Latin origin.

albinism

noun

A condition present from birth in which the body produces little or no pigment, leaving the skin, eyes and hair or feathers pale, or in rarer cases affecting only the eyes.

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.

albumen

noun

Another word for egg white, the clear liquid inside an egg that turns solid and white when cooked.

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.

albyn

name

A name for Scotland, particularly the Highlands.

alcatraz

name

An island in San Francisco Bay California, United States, formerly the site of a famous prison; in full, Alcatraz Island.

alcazar

noun

A fortified palace built by Moorish rulers in Spain.

alce

noun

A legendary creature that looks like a wingless griffin, usually said to be male.

alchemical

adj

Relating to alchemy, the early form of chemistry studied in the Middle Ages.

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.

alco

noun

A small breed of dog once kept by native South Americans, now believed extinct.

alcohol

noun

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

alcoholic

noun

A person who is addicted to alcohol.

alcoholically

adv

In the way that an alcoholic behaves.

alcoholicity

noun

How much alcohol something contains.

alcoholism

noun

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

alcoholist

noun

A person who has alcoholism; someone addicted to alcohol.

alcoholize

verb

To turn into alcohol through fermentation, or to make something stronger in alcohol.

alcove

noun

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

Alda

name

A surname, of Spanish and Basque origin.

aldehyde

noun

An aldehyde is any of a group of reactive organic compounds with a carbonyl group attached to a hydrocarbon group and a hydrogen atom.

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.

aldrige

name

A surname that is a variant of Aldridge.

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.

aleah

name

A female first name of Arabic origin.

aleatory

adj

Decided by chance, like the roll of a dice, rather than by plan or skill.

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."

aleconner

noun

An official once appointed each year to check that ale and bread were of good quality.

alee

adv

On the side of a ship that is sheltered from the wind.

alehouse

noun

A pub or inn where beer is sold and drunk.

Aleister

name

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