English dictionary — definitions & meanings

breathed

adj

Voiceless, as opposed to voiced, when describing a speech sound.

breather

noun

A short break or pause to rest.

breathing

noun

The process of drawing air into and out of the lungs.

breathless

adj

Unable to breathe easily, especially from exertion.

breathlessly

adv

In a breathless way, usually from excitement or physical effort.

breathlessness

noun

The state of being breathless or out of breath, especially merely temporarily from exertion.

breathtaking

adjective

So beautiful or spectacular that it leaves you momentarily stunned.

Breck

name

A surname, also occasionally used as a given name.

bredrin

noun

A close male friend, family member, or comrade.

bree

noun

A dialect word for the eyebrow or brow.

breech

noun

The back part of a gun barrel, where the ammunition is loaded, behind the firing chamber.

breechcloth

noun

An apron-like garment held on by a belt tied around the waist to cover the loins; a loincloth.

breechclout

noun

A breechcloth or loincloth.

breeches

noun

Trousers that end at or just below the knee, historically menswear, now mostly seen in riding and formal military dress.

breed

verb

To produce offspring, especially of animals reproducing.

breedbate

noun

Someone who causes quarrels; a quarreler

breeder

noun

A person who breeds plants or animals (professionally).

breeding

noun

The controlled mating of animals or plants to produce or improve particular characteristics.

Breeland

name

A surname.

Breen

name

A surname of Irish origin, also the name of small communities in Colorado and Michigan.

breeze

noun

A light, pleasant wind.

breezy

adjective

Pleasantly windy.

Bremen

name

A city in northwest Germany on the Weser river, and the German state it belongs to.

Bremer

noun

Someone who was born in, or lives in, the German city of Bremen.

bren

verb

(archaic, dialectal) To burn or set ablaze.

Brenda

name

A female given name, sometimes used as a nickname for Queen Elizabeth II in British satire.

Brendan

name

A male given name of Irish origin, borne by several early Irish saints.

Brendon

name

A male given name, and the name of small villages in Devon, England.

Brenna

name

A female given name, and an Italian surname.

Brennan

name

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

Brent

name

An English surname and male given name, and a London borough in Greater England.

brenton

name

A habitational surname from Old English.

Brentwood

name

A town and district in Essex, England, and the name of several towns in the United States.

Brer

name

An informal title for a man, used before another name, as in the Brer Rabbit folk tales.

Brest

name

A port city in Brittany, France, and a city in Belarus near the Polish border.

Bret

name

A male given name, a variant of Brett, ultimately meaning "a Breton."

brethren

noun

An old-fashioned or formal plural of "brother", used especially for members of a religious, fraternal, or shared community.

Breton

noun

A person from Brittany, the region in northwest France.

brett

noun

Short for Brettanomyces, a type of yeast that can add funky, barnyard-like flavors to beer and wine.

breviate

noun

A short account, brief statement; a summary, abridgement or precis

brevity

noun

The quality of using few words; concise and economical expression.

brew

verb

To make a drink such as tea, coffee, or beer by steeping or fermenting ingredients in hot water.

brewer

noun

A person or company whose job is producing beer.

brewery

noun

A place or company where beer is made and often sold.

brewhouse

noun

The part of a brewery where the wort is made, as contrasted with the cellars and warehouses; a brewery (sometimes synonymous in cases involving a single building).

brewing

noun

The process or business of making beer or other fermented drinks.

brewis

noun

a kind of broth thickened with bread or meal

brewmaster

noun

A person in charge of beer production at a brewery

brewster

noun

An old term for a female brewer, now mostly seen as a surname or historical term.

Brexit

noun

The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, completed in 2020 after a 2016 referendum.

Brezhnev

name

A Russian surname, most famously borne by Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.

Bri

name

A short form of the given names Brianna, Bridget, Britney, or Brian.

Brian

name

A male given name of Irish origin, one of the most common English first names for men.

Briana

name

A female given name of Irish origin, the feminine equivalent of Brian.

Brianna

name

A female given name, a variant of Briana.

brianne

name

A female given name from the Celtic languages.

briar

noun

A wild, thorny shrub or vine, such as a wild rose or bramble, that grows in tangled clumps.

bribe

noun

Money or a favor given to someone to influence their decision dishonestly.

bribery

noun

The act of giving money or a favour to someone in a position of power in order to influence their decision.

bribing

noun

The act or practice of offering money or favours to influence someone dishonestly; bribery.

Brice

name

A male given name and surname, a variant of Bryce, of Celtic and French origin.

brick

noun

A hard rectangular block of baked clay or similar material, used for building walls.

brickbatting

noun

The act of attacking by swinging or throwing brickbats.

brickhead

noun

A stubbornly stupid person.

bricklayer

noun

A tradesperson who builds walls and structures out of bricks.

bricolage

noun

Construction using whatever materials were available at the time.

bricole

noun

A kind of traces with hooks and rings, used to drag manoeuvre guns where horses cannot be used.

bridal

adj

Relating to a bride or to a wedding.

bride

noun

A woman who is getting married or has just married.

bridegroom

noun

A man who is getting married or has just married.

bridelock

noun

Marriage; marriage ceremony; nuptials.

bridesmaid

noun

A woman who assists and accompanies the bride during a wedding.

bridewell

noun

A small prison, or a police station that has cells.

bridey

adj

Having the qualities typically associated with a bride, especially around a wedding.

bridge

noun

A structure built to carry a road, railway, or path across a river, valley, or other obstacle.

bridgehead

noun

An area around the end of a bridge.

Bridgeport

name

A large port city in Connecticut, United States, and the name of several other towns in the U.S. and Canada.

bridger

noun

Someone whose job is building bridges.

Bridget

name

A female given name of Irish origin, from the saints' name Brighid/Brigid.

Bridgette

name

A female given name, a variant of Bridget.

bridgework

noun

A partial denture that is anchored to existing teeth.

bridging

adj

That acts as a bridge (in many contexts)

bridie

noun

A Scottish savoury pastry filled with meat and onion, similar to a Cornish pasty.

bridle

noun

The straps and bit fitted to a horse's head to guide and control it.

brie

noun

A soft, mild French cheese made from cow's milk with a white rind.

brief

adj

Lasting only a short time.

briefcase

noun

A rigid rectangular case, usually with a handle, used to carry documents and papers.

briefed

adj

Having been given instructions or a summary of information beforehand.

briefer

noun

One who provides a briefing.

briefing

noun

A short meeting or statement giving someone the essential information they need, often before an operation or event.

briefly

adv

For a short time.

briefness

noun

The characteristic of being brief.

briefs

noun

Short, close-fitting underpants.

brifka

noun

a small folding envelope used for keeping diamonds or other gemstones in

brig

noun

A sailing ship with two masts, both square-rigged.

brigade

noun

A large military unit made up of several battalions or regiments.

brigadier

noun

An army rank; an officer commanding a brigade.

brigand

noun

An outlaw or bandit, especially one operating in a gang.

Briggs

name

An English surname, originally denoting someone who lived near a bridge, also the name of several small communities in the United States.

Brigham

name

A surname, and the name of villages in England and towns in Wisconsin and Quebec.

bright

adj

Giving off or full of strong light.

brighten

verb

To make or become lighter or more vivid in colour.

brightly

adv

In a way that gives off strong light, or cheerfully.

brightness

noun

The quality or degree of giving off or reflecting light.

Brighton

name

A coastal city in East Sussex, England, popular as a seaside resort, and the name of many places in Canada, the United States, and Australia.

brightwork

noun

Polished metal fixtures, especially aboard a boat.

brigid

name

The goddess of the Sacred Flame of Kildare and the patron goddess of the Druids. Daughter of Dagda of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

brill

noun

A European flatfish similar to a small turbot, prized as a food fish.

brilliance

noun

The quality of shining very brightly.

brilliancy

noun

A shining quality; brilliance.

brilliant

adj

Shining very brightly.

brilliantine

noun

A hair pomade, making the hair shine brilliantly.

brilliantly

adv

In a very skilful, impressive, or bright manner.

brilliantness

noun

The state or quality of being brilliant.

brim

noun

The upper rim or edge of a cup, bowl, or similar container.

brimful

adj

Filled to maximum capacity.

brimmer

noun

A cup or glass filled right to the top.

brimming

adj

Filled right up to the top edge; so full that the contents nearly spill over.

brimstone

noun

An old-fashioned name for sulfur, especially as used in religious writing to describe the fire and punishment of hell.

brina

name

A diminutive of the female given name Sabrina.

brine

noun

Water that has a lot of salt dissolved in it, used for pickling or preserving food.

bring

verb

To carry or take someone or something to a place.

bringer

noun

A person or thing that brings something.

bringing

noun

The act of carrying or delivering something to a place.

brinjal

noun

An aubergine or eggplant.

brink

noun

The edge of something steep or dangerous, such as a cliff.

Brinkley

name

An English surname.

Brinkman

noun

A person who practices brinkmanship — pushing a dangerous situation to the very edge before backing off, especially in politics or negotiation.

briny

adj

Salty, or tasting or smelling like sea water.

brioche

noun

A soft, slightly sweet French bread or bun made rich with butter and eggs.

bris

noun

The Jewish ritual of circumcising a baby boy, along with the ceremony held to mark it.

Brisbane

name

The capital city of Queensland, Australia, and the river that flows through it.

Briscoe

name

A surname of Old Norse origin, and the name of small communities in England and the United States.

brisk

adj

Quick and energetic; done at a lively pace.

brisket

noun

A cut of beef taken from the chest area of the animal, often slow-cooked or smoked.

briskness

noun

The property of being brisk.

Bristol

name

A city in southwest England, and by extension numerous smaller towns of the same name in the US, Canada, and elsewhere.

bristole

name

Bristol, a city, county, and unitary authority in southwest England.

Bristow

name

A surname, also an old variant spelling of Bristol, England, and the name of several places in the United States.

Brit

noun

An informal word for a British person.

Britain

name

The island made up of England, Scotland, and Wales, or (loosely) the United Kingdom as a whole.

British

adj

Relating to Britain, its people, or its culture.

Britney

name

A female given name, a variant of Brittany.

briton

noun

An inhabitant of Great Britain, particularly (historical) a Celt from the area of Roman Britain or (obsolete) a Welshman; a British person.

Brits

name

The Brit Awards, Britain's major annual music awards ceremony.

Britt

name

A surname and female given name, and a city in Iowa.

brittain

name

A surname from Anglo-Norman.

Brittany

name

A region in northwest France, known for its coastline and Celtic heritage.

Britten

name

A surname, most famously belonging to the English composer Benjamin Britten.

brittle

adj

Hard but easily broken, snapped, or shattered.