English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

comparable

adjective

Similar enough to something else that a meaningful comparison can be made.

comparative

adjective

Measured or judged by comparison rather than in absolute terms.

comparatively

adverb

In relation to something else; relatively.

compare

verb

To examine two or more things together to note their similarities and differences.

comparison

noun

An act of comparing two or more things, or the result of doing so.

compartment

noun

A separate section or space within a larger structure, especially a vehicle.

compass

noun

A device with a magnetic needle (or an electronic equivalent) that points to show direction, especially north.

compassion

noun

A deep sense of concern for someone else's suffering, strong enough to make you want to help.

compassionate

adj

Showing genuine concern and kindness toward someone who is suffering.

compatibility

noun

The ability of two or more things to exist, work, or get along together without problems.

compatible

adj

Able to exist, work, or function together without conflict.

compatriot

noun

A person who comes from the same country as you.

compel

verb

To force or pressure someone into doing something.

compelled

adj

Forced or strongly obligated to do something.

compelling

adj

So interesting or convincing that it grabs and holds your attention.

compensate

verb

To pay someone money to make up for a loss, injury, or inconvenience.

compensated

adj

Having received payment or adjustment to make up for a loss or imbalance.

compensating

adj

Making up for a fault, loss, or imbalance elsewhere.

compensation

noun

Money or another benefit given to make up for a loss, injury, or inconvenience.

compete

verb

To try to win or do better than others in a contest, market, or rivalry.

competence

noun

The skill and ability needed to do something well.

competency

noun

The ability or skill needed to perform a particular task; near-identical to competence.

competent

adj

Having enough skill, knowledge, or ability to do something properly.

competing

adj

In a state of rivalry, or conflicting with something else.

competition

noun

A contest in which people or organizations try to win a prize or come out on top.

competitive

adj

Relating to or involving competition.

competitor

noun

A person or organization competing against another for the same goal.

compilation

noun

A collection of things gathered together from different sources into one place.

compile

verb

To gather information or material from various sources and put it together.

compiling

noun

The act or process of gathering material together, or of converting code into an executable program.

complacency

noun

A feeling of comfortable self-satisfaction that makes someone unaware of a coming problem.

complacent

adj

Too pleased with oneself or one's situation, especially in a way that ignores real risks.

complain

verb

To express dissatisfaction, annoyance, or pain about something.

complainant

noun

A person who makes a formal complaint, especially in a legal or official setting.

complaining

adj

Frequently expressing dissatisfaction or annoyance.

complaint

noun

A statement expressing dissatisfaction or a problem.

complement

noun

Something that completes or goes well with something else.

complementary

adj

Combining well with something else so that together they form a complete or improved whole.

complete

verb

To finish something so that nothing more remains to be done.

completed

adj

Finished; brought to an end.

completely

adv

Totally or fully, with nothing left out.

completion

noun

The state of being finished, or the act of finishing something.

complex

adj

Made up of many interconnected parts; not simple.

complexion

noun

The natural color and texture of a person's facial skin.

complexity

noun

The state of having many interconnected parts, making something hard to understand or manage.

compliance

noun

The act of following rules, laws, or requests set by others.

compliant

adj

Willing to go along with rules or another person's wishes.

complicate

verb

To make something more difficult or intricate than it needs to be.

complicated

adjective

Made up of many interconnected parts, making it hard to understand or deal with.

complication

noun

A problem or difficulty that makes a situation harder to deal with.

complicit

adjective

Involved in a wrongful act along with others, even if only by staying silent or looking the other way.

complicity

noun

Involvement in wrongdoing alongside someone else, as a partner or accomplice.

complimentary

adjective

Expressing praise or admiration.

complimenting

verb

Praising someone or saying something nice about them (the -ing form of "compliment").

comply

verb

To act in accordance with a rule, request, or law.

complying

verb

Acting in accordance with a rule or request (the -ing form of "comply").

component

noun

One of the individual parts that make up a larger whole.

compose

verb

To make up or form the parts of something.

composed

adjective

Calm and in control of one's emotions.

composer

noun

A person who writes music.

composing

adjective

Having a calming or soothing effect.

composite

adjective

Made up of several distinct parts combined together.

composition

noun

The way in which the different parts of something are arranged or combined.

compost

noun

Decayed organic matter, such as food scraps and garden waste, used to enrich soil.

composure

noun

A calm and controlled state of mind, especially under pressure.

compote

noun

A dessert of fruit cooked slowly in a sugary syrup.

compound

noun

A fenced or walled area containing a group of buildings, often used for security or living quarters.

compounded

adjective

Made up of combined parts, or increased through repeated combination.

comprehend

verb

To understand something fully.

comprehension

noun

The ability to understand something, or the act of understanding it.

comprehensive

adjective

Covering something completely or including nearly all relevant parts.

compress

verb

To squeeze or press something into a smaller space.

compressed

adjective

Pressed or squeezed tightly into a smaller space.

compression

noun

The act of pressing something together, or the state of being pressed together.

compressor

noun

A machine that increases the pressure of a gas, such as air, by reducing its volume.

comprise

verb

To consist of or be made up of particular parts.

compromise

noun

An agreement reached when each side gives up part of what it wants.

compromised

adjective

Weakened, damaged, or exposed to risk.

compromising

adjective

Damaging to one's reputation, or revealing something embarrassing or incriminating.

Compton

name

An English surname and place name, also a city in California, originally meaning "valley settlement."

comptroller

noun

A senior official responsible for overseeing an organization's financial accounts, especially in government.

compulsion

noun

A strong, often irrational urge to do something, even against one's better judgment.

compulsive

adjective

Resulting from an urge that is difficult or impossible to resist.

compulsory

adjective

Required by a rule, law, or authority; mandatory.

computation

noun

The act of calculating something, or the result of that calculation.

compute

verb

To calculate a numerical value or result.

computed

adjective

Worked out by calculation rather than measured directly.

computer

noun

An electronic device that processes data, runs programs, and carries out calculations — from a desktop or laptop to the machine running behind a phone app.

computerized

adj

Run by, converted to, or managed using computers, rather than done manually.

computing

noun

The field or activity of using computers — programming, processing data, and building software and systems.

comrade

noun

A close companion or fellow member of a group, especially one who shares the same struggle or cause.

Comstock

noun

A censor, or someone who campaigns to suppress material they consider obscene or morally objectionable.

comte

noun

The French title equivalent to "count" — a hereditary noble rank.

comtesse

noun

The French title equivalent to "countess" — the wife or holder of the rank of comte.

con

noun

A dishonest scheme designed to trick someone, usually to take their money.

Conan

name

A masculine given name of Celtic origin, meaning "little wolf" or "hound."

conceal

verb

To hide something from sight or keep it secret from others.

concealed

adj

Hidden from view or kept secret.

concealment

noun

The act of hiding something, or the state of being hidden.

concede

verb

To admit, often reluctantly, that something is true.

conceit

noun

An excessively high opinion of oneself; vanity.

conceited

adj

Having an excessively high opinion of oneself; vain and self-important.

conceivable

adj

Capable of being imagined, believed, or understood as possible.

conceivably

adv

In a way that is possible to imagine or believe; possibly.

conceive

verb

To become pregnant.

conceiving

noun

The act of becoming pregnant, or of forming an idea or plan.

concentrate

verb

To focus one's full attention on something.

concentrated

adj

Made stronger by having water or bulk removed; not diluted.

concentration

noun

The ability to focus one's attention on a single task.

concept

noun

A general idea or notion formed in the mind, especially an abstract one.

conception

noun

The moment an egg is fertilized, marking the start of a pregnancy.

conceptual

adj

Relating to ideas, concepts, or abstract thinking rather than concrete details.

concern

noun

A feeling of worry about something.

concerned

adj

Worried or troubled about something.

concerning

prep

About; regarding; on the subject of.

concert

noun

A live musical performance, usually in front of an audience.

concerted

adj

Carried out through combined, deliberate effort; jointly planned.

concerto

noun

A piece of orchestral music that features one or more solo instruments.

concession

noun

Something given up or granted, especially as a compromise.

conch

noun

A large sea snail with a spiral shell, or the shell itself.

concierge

noun

A hotel employee who helps guests with reservations, directions, and other requests.

concise

adj

Giving all the necessary information in few words; brief and to the point.

conclave

noun

A private, closed meeting, especially the assembly of cardinals that elects a new pope.

conclude

verb

To bring something to an end; to finish.

concluding

adj

Coming at the end; final.

conclusion

noun

The end or final part of something.

conclusive

adj

Serving to settle a question completely, leaving no room for doubt.

conclusively

adverb

In a way that settles the matter for good; decisively, with no room for doubt.

concoct

verb

To make something, especially food or a drink, by combining different ingredients.

concocted

adjective

Invented or made up, rather than genuine.

concoction

noun

A mixture made by combining several ingredients, especially an unusual food or drink.

concord

noun

A state of peaceful agreement or harmony between people or groups.

Concorde

noun

The supersonic passenger aircraft jointly built by Britain and France, which flew commercially until 2003.

concourse

noun

A large open area inside or in front of a building, especially one linking routes such as platforms in a station or terminal.

concrete

noun

A hard building material made by mixing cement, water, sand, and gravel, which sets solid.

concretely

adverb

In a specific, real, and clearly defined way, rather than vaguely.

concubine

noun

Historically, a woman who lived with a man in a sexual relationship without being his wife, often with lower social status.

concur

verb

To agree with an opinion, decision, or statement.

concussed

adjective

Suffering from a concussion; dazed or knocked unconscious by a blow to the head.

concussion

noun

A brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head, usually causing temporary confusion or loss of consciousness.

condemn

verb

To strongly criticise something as wrong or unacceptable.

condemnation

noun

Strong public criticism or disapproval of something.

condemned

adjective

Officially declared unfit for use or habitation.

condemning

adjective

Expressing strong criticism or blame.

condensation

noun

Water droplets that form when warm, moist air touches a cooler surface.

condense

verb

To make something shorter or more compact by removing unnecessary parts.

condensed

adjective

Made shorter, more compact, or more concentrated.

condenser

noun

A device that turns a gas into a liquid, often part of a cooling or refrigeration system.

condescend

verb

To treat someone as though they are inferior; to talk down to them.

condescending

adjective

Showing a superior, patronising attitude toward someone.