English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

collie

noun

A breed of dog, originally bred in Scotland and England to herd sheep, known for its long coat and intelligence.

collier

noun

Someone who mines or sells coal for a living.

Collins

noun

A tall mixed drink made with a spirit, lemon juice, sugar, and soda water, served over ice.

colluding

adjective

Secretly cooperating with someone else, typically for a dishonest purpose.

collusion

noun

A secret agreement between people or groups to work together dishonestly, often while pretending to be rivals.

Colm

name

A masculine given name of Irish origin, an Anglicized form of Colm meaning "dove."

Cologne

noun

A light, fragrant liquid, weaker than perfume, used to give a pleasant scent to the skin.

Colombia

name

A country in northwestern South America, named after Christopher Columbus.

Colombian

noun

A person from Colombia, the country in South America.

Colombo

name

The largest city and former capital of Sri Lanka.

colon

noun

The punctuation mark ":", used to introduce a list, explanation, or quotation.

colonel

noun

A senior military officer rank, typically just below a general.

colonial

adjective

Relating to a colony, or to the era when a territory was ruled as one.

colonialism

noun

The practice of one country controlling another territory and its people, typically to extract resources or labor for its own benefit.

colonic

adjective

Relating to the colon, the main section of the large intestine.

colonization

noun

The act of settling and taking control of a territory, especially one already inhabited by another people.

colonize

verb

To settle in and take control of a territory, typically one that already has its own inhabitants.

Colonna

name

An Italian surname, historically belonging to a powerful noble Roman family.

colonoscopy

noun

A medical exam that uses a thin, flexible camera to look inside the colon.

colony

noun

A territory controlled by another, usually distant, country.

color

noun

The visual quality of light that lets us tell red from blue, green from yellow, and so on.

Colorado

name

A state in the western United States, known for the Rocky Mountains; its capital is Denver.

colored

adjective

Having a particular color, especially a color other than plain black, white, or gray.

colorful

adjective

Full of bright or varied colors.

coloring

noun

The act of adding color to something, such as a picture.

colossal

adjective

Extremely large in size or scale.

Colosseum

noun

A large ancient Roman amphitheater in Rome used for gladiator fights and public spectacles; more broadly, any large stadium built in a similar style.

colossus

noun

A statue of enormous size, especially referring to famous ancient examples like the Colossus of Rhodes.

colostomy

noun

A surgical procedure that creates an opening from the colon to the surface of the abdomen, allowing waste to leave the body without passing through the rectum.

colour

noun

British spelling of color: the visual quality that separates red from blue, green from yellow, and so on.

coloured

adjective

British spelling of colored.

colourful

adjective

British spelling of colorful.

colouring

noun

British spelling of coloring.

colours

noun

A flag representing a ship, nation, or team, often flown or worn as a symbol of identity.

Colson

name

An English surname and masculine given name, originally meaning "son of Nicholas."

colt

noun

A young male horse.

Colter

name

An English surname and masculine given name, originally an occupational name for a colt herder.

Colton

name

A masculine given name and English surname, originally meaning "coal town" or "dark town."

Coltrane

name

An English surname, most famously associated with jazz musician John Coltrane.

columbine

noun

A garden plant of the genus Aquilegia, known for its delicate, bell-shaped flowers with backward-pointing spurs.

Columbo

name

A surname of Italian origin, popularly known from the fictional television detective Columbo.

Columbus

name

Christopher Columbus, the Italian explorer whose 1492 voyage across the Atlantic opened up European contact with the Americas.

column

noun

An upright supporting structure, often cylindrical, that holds up part of a building.

columnist

noun

A writer who regularly contributes a signed opinion or feature piece to a newspaper or magazine.

Colvin

name

An English surname, derived from a personal name meaning "friend of the ship" or a place name.

coma

noun

A deep, prolonged state of unconsciousness from which a person cannot be woken, usually caused by severe illness or injury.

Comanche

noun

A member of a Native American nation historically based in Texas and Oklahoma, known for their skill as horseback warriors and buffalo hunters.

comandante

noun

A commanding officer, especially in a Spanish-speaking military or revolutionary context.

comatose

adj

In a coma; deeply and completely unconscious.

comb

noun

A flat toothed tool used for untangling, styling, or holding hair in place.

combat

noun

Fighting between armed opponents, especially as part of a war.

combatant

noun

A person who takes part in fighting, especially as an armed member of a military force.

combative

adj

Eager to fight or argue; aggressively confrontational.

combed

adj

Neatly arranged or groomed with a comb.

combination

noun

The act of joining two or more things together, or the result of doing so.

combine

verb

To bring two or more things together so they form or work as one.

combined

adj

Formed by joining several parts, sources, or elements together.

combing

noun

The act of running a comb through hair, fur, or fiber to untangle or arrange it.

combining

noun

The act of bringing separate things together into one.

combo

noun

A small group of musicians, especially in jazz.

combs

noun

Plural of comb: multiple toothed grooming tools, crests, or honeycomb structures.

combustible

adj

Capable of catching fire and burning easily.

combustion

noun

The chemical process of burning, in which a substance reacts with oxygen to release heat and light.

come

verb

To move toward the speaker, a particular place, or a point of reference.

comeback

noun

A return to success or popularity after a period of decline or absence.

comedian

noun

A performer who entertains audiences with jokes and humor.

comedic

adj

Relating to comedy or intended to be funny.

comedy

noun

A form of entertainment, especially a play, film, or performance, meant to amuse and often ending happily.

comely

adj

Pleasant to look at; attractive, especially in a wholesome or modest way.

comer

noun

A person or competitor who is quickly gaining ground and shows real promise.

comes

noun

In a fugue, the melodic answer that responds to the opening theme (the "dux"), usually entering in a different voice a few beats later.

comet

noun

A small body of ice, dust, and rock that orbits the Sun and develops a glowing tail when it passes close enough for its ice to vaporize.

comfort

noun

A state of physical ease and freedom from pain or worry.

comfortable

adj

Providing physical ease; free from pain, stress, or awkwardness.

comfortably

adv

In a way that provides physical or emotional ease.

comforted

adj

Having been soothed, reassured, or given relief from distress.

comforter

noun

Someone who offers comfort or consolation to a person who is suffering.

comforting

adj

Bringing relief from worry, sadness, or pain; soothing.

comfy

adj

Comfortable; cozy and relaxing (informal).

comic

adj

Funny or intended to amuse; relating to comedy.

comical

adj

Funny in a light, whimsical, or ridiculous way.

comics

noun

Comic books, comic strips, and similar picture-story media as a whole.

coming

adj

Approaching; happening soon, especially referring to the near future.

comma

noun

The punctuation mark ( , ) used to separate parts of a sentence or items in a list.

command

noun

An order given with authority.

commandant

noun

An officer in charge of a particular military unit, base, or academy.

commandeer

verb

To seize property or people for military or official use, usually by force.

commander

noun

A person who leads and directs a military force or unit.

commanding

adj

Having an air of authority; impressive and dominant.

commandment

noun

A rule regarded as issued with divine or absolute authority, especially one of the biblical Ten Commandments.

commando

noun

A soldier trained for fast, aggressive raids, often as part of a small specialized unit.

commemorate

verb

To honor the memory of a person or event, typically with a ceremony, object, or tradition.

commemoration

noun

A ceremony, event, or object that honors the memory of a person or event.

commemorative

adj

Made or done in order to honor the memory of a person or event.

commence

verb

To begin or start (formal).

commencement

noun

The beginning or start of something (formal).

commend

verb

To praise someone formally for doing something well.

commendable

adj

Deserving of praise; admirable.

commendation

noun

Formal praise, or an official award recognizing achievement.

comment

noun

A spoken or written remark, often giving an opinion.

commentary

noun

A set of explanatory notes or opinions on a text, event, or situation.

commentator

noun

A person who provides live spoken analysis of an event, especially in broadcasting.

commenting

noun

The act of making a comment or comments.

commerce

noun

The large-scale buying and selling of goods and services, especially between businesses or regions.

commercial

noun

A paid advertisement broadcast on television or radio.

commercially

adv

In a way related to trade or making a profit.

commie

noun

A communist, or someone suspected of communist sympathies (informal, often used disparagingly).

commissar

noun

A Communist Party official, especially one assigned to a military unit to oversee political loyalty and ideology.

commissary

noun

A store that sells food and supplies to people in an institution, such as soldiers or prisoners.

commission

noun

A fee paid to someone, usually a percentage, for completing a sale or transaction.

commissioned

adj

Holding an official rank or authority granted through a formal appointment.

commissioner

noun

A member of a commission, or an official put in charge of a government department or agency.

commit

verb

To carry out a crime, mistake, or wrongdoing.

commitment

noun

A promise or pledge to do something, or a strong dedication to a cause, relationship, or goal.

committed

adj

Dedicated to a cause, goal, or course of action.

committing

noun

The act of doing or carrying out something, especially a crime or wrongdoing.

commode

noun

A chair-like piece of furniture with a hinged seat concealing a chamber pot, used as a toilet substitute.

commodity

noun

A raw material or basic good that is bought and sold in bulk, such as oil, wheat, or gold.

Commodore

noun

A naval officer ranking above a captain and below a rear admiral, often commanding a group of ships.

Commodus

name

A masculine given name, most notably that of a Roman emperor who reigned in the 2nd century AD.

common

adjective

Happening often, or found in large numbers; not rare.

commonality

noun

A trait, feature, or interest that two or more things or people share.

commoner

noun

A person who does not hold a noble title or rank.

commonly

adverb

Usually; in most cases.

commonplace

adjective

Ordinary; lacking anything unusual or noteworthy.

commons

noun

A shared public space, such as a dining hall at a university or a central green in a town.

commonwealth

noun

A self-governing political community, especially one organized for the general good of its members.

commotion

noun

A sudden burst of noisy confusion or disturbance.

communal

adjective

Shared by everyone in a group or community; not privately owned.

commune

noun

A small community, often rural, whose members share property, work, and living costs.

communicate

verb

To share information or ideas with someone, whether by speaking, writing, or gesture.

communicating

adjective

Describing a door or opening that connects two rooms directly.

communication

noun

The act of sharing or exchanging information, ideas, or feelings.

communications

noun

The technology and systems used to transmit information, such as phone, internet, or broadcast networks.

communicator

noun

A person who conveys information or ideas, especially well.

communion

noun

A deep, often spiritual, sense of connection or shared understanding between people.

communism

noun

A political and economic system in which property and the means of production are owned collectively rather than by individuals.

communist

noun

A person who supports or advocates communism.

community

noun

A group of people who live in the same area, or who share interests, background, or identity.

commute

verb

To travel regularly between home and one's place of work or study.

commuter

noun

A person who regularly travels a distance between home and work.

commuting

noun

The act of regularly traveling between home and one's workplace.

Como

name

A city and lake in northern Italy, and also an Italian surname.

Comp

noun

Something given free of charge, especially as a courtesy, such as a free hotel room or meal.

compact

adjective

Taking up little space; neatly and efficiently arranged.

compactor

noun

A machine that crushes or presses waste or material into a smaller volume.

compadre

noun

A close friend or companion, especially used informally.

companion

noun

A person who accompanies or spends time with another; a friend or partner.

companionship

noun

The feeling or state of having friendly company; fellowship.

company

noun

A business organization that sells goods or provides services.