English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

cleaners

noun

A shop offering laundering or dry-cleaning services.

cleaning

noun

The process or activity of removing dirt and mess from something.

cleanliness

noun

The state or habit of keeping oneself or one's surroundings clean.

cleanly

adv

In a clean, neat manner, without mess.

cleanse

verb

To make thoroughly clean or free of impurities.

cleanser

noun

A substance, especially for skin or surfaces, used to clean thoroughly.

cleansing

noun

The act or process of removing dirt, impurities, or unwanted elements.

cleanup

noun

The act of tidying up or clearing away mess, often after a specific event.

clear

adj

Transparent, or free of clouds, mist, or obstruction.

clearance

noun

Official permission to proceed, access something, or travel.

clearer

noun

Someone or something that clears, especially a laborer who removes debris.

clearing

noun

An open area within a forest or wooded area with no trees.

clearly

adv

In a way that is easy to see, hear, or understand.

clears

noun

A strong, coarse type of flour that has been sifted only once, leaving more of the wheat behind than finer flours.

clearwater

adj

Describing a river or lake with clear, relatively unmuddied water.

cleary

noun

A plain, undecorated marble used in children's marble games.

cleats

noun

Athletic shoes with studs or ridges on the sole for grip on grass or turf; also the studs themselves.

cleavage

noun

The visible gap between a woman's breasts, especially when shown by a low neckline.

cleave

verb

To split something apart, typically with a sharp tool or a forceful blow.

cleaver

noun

A heavy, wide-bladed knife used mainly by butchers for chopping through meat and bone.

Cleese

name

An English surname.

cleft

noun

A narrow opening, crack, or V-shaped gap, especially in rock or in part of the body.

Clegg

name

An English surname, also a small community in North Carolina.

clem

verb

(dialect, chiefly northern English) To go hungry or starve.

clemence

noun

An older word for clemency — mercy or leniency shown by someone in power.

clemency

noun

Mercy or leniency shown toward someone who could rightfully be punished.

Clemens

name

A surname and male given name equivalent to Clement.

clement

adj

Merciful or lenient in judging or punishing others.

clementine

noun

A small, sweet, easy-to-peel citrus fruit, a cross between a mandarin and a sweet orange.

Clements

name

An English surname, also the name of several small communities in the United States.

clenched

adj

Shut or gripped tightly, as a fist, jaw, or teeth.

clenching

noun

The act of gripping or closing something tightly, such as a fist or jaw.

Cleo

noun

A given name, often used as a short form of Cleopatra or Cleon.

Cleopatra

noun

A woman regarded as strikingly and seductively beautiful, in reference to the famous Egyptian queen.

clergy

noun

People who are formally trained and ordained to lead religious services, such as priests, ministers, and rabbis.

clergyman

noun

A man who is an ordained member of the clergy, such as a priest or minister.

cleric

noun

A member of the clergy, such as a priest, imam, or minister.

clerical

adj

Relating to routine office work, such as filing, typing, or record-keeping.

clerk

noun

An office worker who handles records, correspondence, or accounts.

Cletus

name

A male given name of Greek origin, a short form of Anacletus.

cleve

noun

An old word for a small room or chamber.

Cleveland

noun

A major city in Ohio, on the shore of Lake Erie, and the name of an area in North Yorkshire, England.

clever

adj

Mentally quick, smart, and good at coming up with ideas or solving problems.

cleverly

adv

In a smart, skillful, or ingenious way.

cleverness

noun

The quality of being intelligent, quick-witted, or resourceful.

click

noun

A short, sharp sound, like that made by a switch, latch, or a mouse button.

clicking

noun

The sound or repeated action of something clicking.

clientele

noun

The customers or clients of a business, especially considered as a group with shared habits or tastes.

cliff

noun

A high, steep face of rock, often found along a coastline.

Cliffie

noun

A student or graduate of Radcliffe College.

Clifford

noun

A surname and given name, originally an English place name meaning roughly "ford by the cliff."

Cliffs

noun

The plural of cliff: steep, high rock faces, often along a coastline.

Clifton

noun

A surname and given name, originally an English place name meaning "town by the cliff."

climate

noun

The typical weather patterns of a region, measured over a long period of time.

climatic

adj

Relating to or caused by climate.

climax

noun

The most intense, exciting, or important point in a story, event, or series of events.

climb

verb

To move upward, especially using effort — going up a hill, ladder, stairs, or rock face.

climber

noun

A person who climbs, especially as a sport or hobby, such as mountains or rock faces.

climbing

noun

The sport or activity of ascending rock, walls, or mountains using holds, often with ropes for safety.

clinch

verb

To settle something definitely, or make a deal or victory certain.

clincher

noun

A fact, event, or argument that settles something once and for all.

cline

noun

A gradual change in a trait across a range of related populations or forms.

cling

verb

To hold on tightly to something so as not to fall or be separated.

clinging

adj

Tending to hold on tightly, or emotionally dependent to an uncomfortable degree.

clingy

adj

Overly dependent on or attached to another person, especially a partner.

clinic

noun

A medical facility, often smaller than a hospital, that treats outpatients for a particular condition or type of care.

clinical

adj

Relating to the direct treatment and observation of patients, as opposed to theoretical research.

clinically

adv

In a way that relates to medical treatment or diagnosis.

clink

noun

A short, sharp ringing sound, as of glass or metal striking together.

clinking

noun

A repeated light ringing noise, as of glasses or coins striking together.

Clint

noun

A flat block of exposed limestone between the cracks (grikes) of a limestone pavement.

Clinton

name

A surname and male given name, also the name of numerous towns across the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Clio

noun

A trophy statuette awarded at the Clio Awards, which honour creative excellence in advertising and design.

clip

noun

A device used to fasten or hold things together.

clipboard

noun

A flat board with a clip at the top for holding paper steady while writing.

clipped

adj

Cut short or trimmed neatly.

clipper

noun

A fast sailing ship with a long, narrow hull, built for speed in the 19th century.

clippers

noun

A hand or electric tool with blades used for cutting hair, nails, or hedges.

clipping

noun

A small piece cut from something larger, especially an article cut from a newspaper.

clique

noun

A small, exclusive group of people who spend time together and often exclude others.

clit

verb

To sexually stimulate the clitoris.

clitoris

noun

A small, highly sensitive erectile organ located at the front of the vulva in female mammals, including humans.

Clive

verb

An old or dialect word meaning to climb or go upward.

cloak

noun

A long, loose outer garment that hangs from the shoulders, often without sleeves.

cloaked

adj

Wearing a cloak, or covered and hidden from view.

cloaking

noun

The act of covering or hiding something, including, in web search, showing search engines different content than users see.

cloakroom

noun

A room where coats and bags can be left, such as at a theatre or event venue.

clobber

verb

To hit or defeat someone or something forcefully and decisively.

clobbered

adj

British slang for very drunk.

clock

noun

A device that displays or measures the time of day.

clocked

adj

Set or running at a specific speed, such as a computer processor.

clocking

noun

A measurement of time or speed taken with a clock or timer.

clockwise

adv

In the same direction that the hands of a clock move.

clockwork

noun

A mechanism driven by a wound spring and gears, used in clocks, toys, and other devices.

clod

noun

A lump of earth, clay, or turf.

clog

noun

A type of shoe with a thick, stiff sole, traditionally made of wood.

clogged

adj

Blocked up so nothing can flow through properly.

clogging

noun

The state of being blocked up.

cloister

noun

A covered walkway bordering a courtyard, typically in a monastery or similar religious building.

cloistered

adj

Living in seclusion, shut away from ordinary life.

clone

noun

A living thing produced from a single ancestor so that it is genetically identical to it.

Clones

name

A small town in County Monaghan, Ireland.

cloning

noun

The process of producing an exact genetic copy of a living thing.

Clooney

name

An Irish surname, a variant of Cloney.

clop

noun

The sound made by a horse's hoof hitting the ground.

close

verb

To shut something, removing a gap or opening.

closed

adj

Not open to entry, use, or trade.

closely

adv

In a careful, detailed, or near manner.

closeness

noun

The state of being near in distance, time, or relationship.

closer

adv

Nearer than before; comparative of "close."

closet

noun

A small enclosed storage space, especially for clothes (mainly American usage).

closeted

adj

Not open about one's sexual orientation or gender identity.

closing

noun

The act of shutting something, or the final part of an event.

closure

noun

The permanent or temporary shutting of a place or operation.

clot

noun

A thickened, partly solid lump formed from a liquid, especially blood.

cloth

noun

Woven, knitted, or felted material used for clothing, furnishing, or cleaning.

clothe

verb

To dress someone, or to supply them with clothing.

clothed

adj

Wearing clothes; dressed.

clothesline

noun

A rope or cord strung up outdoors for hanging washing to dry.

clothing

noun

Garments worn to cover the body.

Clotilde

noun

A female given name, of French, Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish origin.

clotted

adj

Thickened into lumps; coagulated.

clotting

noun

The material or process resulting from clotting; matter that has thickened into a clot.

cloud

noun

A visible mass of water droplets floating in the sky.

clouded

adj

Covered with clouds, or made unclear and hard to see through.

clouding

noun

A hazy or blurred appearance, or the process of becoming that way.

cloudy

adj

Covered with or full of clouds.

clough

noun

A narrow, steep-sided valley or ravine (chiefly British, especially in northern England).

Clouseau

noun

A French surname, familiar chiefly from the fictional bumbling detective Inspector Clouseau.

clout

noun

Influence or power, especially in politics or business.

clove

noun

A strong, aromatic spice made from the dried flower bud of the clove tree.

clover

noun

A small plant with leaves usually divided into three leaflets, often found in lawns and fields.

Clovis

noun

A male given name, historically borne by early Frankish kings.

clown

noun

A comic performer, often in bright costume and makeup, known for slapstick and silly antics.

clowning

noun

Silly, playful behavior, often for laughs or attention.

club

noun

A group of people who join together for a shared interest or purpose, such as sport or recreation.

clubbed

adj

Shaped like a club, or thickened at one end.

clubbing

noun

The activity of going out to nightclubs to dance and socialize.

clubhouse

noun

A building used by members of a club for meetings, socializing, or changing before and after playing sport.

cluck

noun

The short, clicking sound a hen makes.

clucking

noun

The sound made by clucking; a series of clucks.

clue

noun

A piece of information or evidence that helps solve a problem or mystery.

clueless

adj

Having no understanding of a situation; completely uninformed.

clump

noun

A small, dense cluster of things, especially plants or hair.

clumps

noun

Plural of clump — several small dense clusters.

clumsiness

noun

A lack of physical grace or coordination.

clumsy

adj

Awkward in movement; lacking grace or coordination.

clung

verb

Past tense and past participle of cling — held on tightly.

clunk

noun

A dull, heavy sound, as of two solid objects knocking together.

clunking

adj

Making a series of dull, heavy thuds; clumsy or ungainly.