English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

convent

noun

A community of nuns or monks living together under religious vows, or the building where they live.

convention

noun

A large formal gathering of people who share a profession, interest, or cause.

conventional

adj

Following accepted customs, methods, or standards rather than anything unusual.

converge

verb

To move from different directions toward the same point, gradually getting closer together.

convergence

noun

The act or process of moving toward a common point, or the state of coming together.

converging

adj

Moving toward the same point from different directions.

conversation

noun

A spoken exchange of ideas or information between two or more people.

conversational

adj

Relaxed and informal, as if speaking in ordinary conversation.

conversationalist

noun

Someone who is especially good at making interesting or engaging conversation.

converse

verb

To talk with someone; to have a conversation.

conversely

adv

Looking at the same situation from the opposite point of view.

conversing

noun

The act of talking with someone.

conversion

noun

The act of changing something from one form, use, or state into another.

convert

verb

To change something from one form, substance, or purpose into another.

converted

adj

Changed in form, function, or belief from what it was before.

converter

noun

A device or program that changes something from one form to another.

convertible

adj

Able to be changed or exchanged for something else.

convey

verb

To communicate an idea, feeling, or message.

conveyance

noun

The act of transporting or carrying something.

conveyor

noun

A mechanical belt or system used to move goods or materials from one point to another.

convict

verb

To find someone guilty of a crime in a court of law.

conviction

noun

A strong, firmly held belief.

convince

verb

To make someone believe something, usually through reasoning or evidence.

convinced

adj

Completely certain about something, whether or not the belief is actually true.

convincing

adj

Able to make someone believe something is true; persuasive.

convincingly

adv

In a way that persuades or is believable.

convoluted

adj

Extremely complicated and hard to follow.

convoy

noun

A group of vehicles or ships travelling together, often with an armed escort for protection.

Conway

name

An Irish and Welsh surname, also a masculine given name, derived from a place name meaning "holy river."

coo

verb

To make the soft, murmuring sound typical of a dove or pigeon.

cooch

noun

(vulgar slang) The vagina or vulva.

coochie

noun

(vulgar slang) The vagina or vulva.

Coogan

name

An Irish surname, an Anglicized form of a Gaelic name of uncertain meaning.

cooing

noun

The soft murmuring sound made by doves or pigeons, or by a person speaking affectionately.

cook

noun

A person who prepares food, especially as a job.

cookbook

noun

A book containing recipes and instructions for preparing food.

Cooke

name

An English surname, an occupational name for a cook or seller of prepared food.

cooked

adjective

Prepared by the application of heat.

cookery

noun

The skill or practice of preparing food, especially by heating it.

cookie

noun

(chiefly US) A small, flat, sweet baked treat.

cooking

noun

The activity or process of preparing food by heating it.

cookout

noun

An informal outdoor meal, especially one grilled or barbecued.

Cooks

name

An English surname, a variant of Cook indicating "son of the cook."

cool

adjective

Slightly cold; at a mildly low temperature.

coolant

noun

A liquid or gas used to absorb and carry away heat from a machine or system.

cooled

adjective

Brought down to a lower temperature.

Cooler

name

An English surname derived from an occupational term, though the word more commonly refers to a container for keeping things cold.

Cooley

name

An English and Irish surname, derived from a place name meaning "cool clearing."

Coolidge

name

An English surname, most notably borne by Calvin Coolidge, the 30th U.S. president.

coolie

noun

(dated, now often offensive) An unskilled laborer, historically often of Chinese or Indian descent, especially one working under an indenture system.

cooling

adjective

Producing a lower temperature or a refreshing sense of coldness.

coolio

adjective

Cool, awesome, or good — a playful slang way of saying something is great.

coolly

adverb

In a calm, composed, or unflustered manner.

coolness

noun

A mildly low temperature.

Cools

name

A Dutch and Flemish surname, a variant of Cole or Cool, sometimes an occupational name.

Coombs

name

An English surname, derived from a topographic name for someone living in a valley.

coon

noun

(informal, especially US) A raccoon.

Cooney

name

An Irish surname, an Anglicized form of a Gaelic name meaning "handsome" or "comely."

Coons

name

An English and Dutch surname, derived from a personal name or occupational term.

coop

noun

A small pen or cage for keeping poultry or other small animals.

cooper

noun

A craftsman who makes or repairs wooden barrels, casks, and similar containers.

cooperate

verb

To work together with others toward a shared goal.

cooperation

noun

The act of working together with others toward a common goal.

cooperative

adjective

Willing to work with others; helpful.

coordinate

verb

To organize different people or activities so they work together effectively.

coordinated

adjective

Organized so that different parts work smoothly together.

coordinating

adjective

Organizing people, activities, or things so they work together.

coordination

noun

The act of organizing different people or things so they work together effectively.

coordinator

noun

A person whose job is to organize and manage the different parts of an activity or project.

coot

noun

A dark waterbird with a distinctive white patch on its forehead, often seen on lakes and ponds.

cooter

noun

(US, regional) A freshwater turtle found in the eastern United States.

cop

noun

(informal) A police officer.

Copacabana

name

A famous beachfront neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

copacetic

adjective

(informal) Completely fine, satisfactory, or in good order.

cope

verb

To deal successfully with a difficult situation.

coped

verb

Past tense of cope: dealt successfully with something difficult.

Copeland

name

An English surname, derived from a place name meaning "bought land."

Copenhagen

noun

A sweetened hot drink made with spirits and beaten eggs, similar to eggnog.

Copernicus

name

A surname, most notably that of Nicolaus Copernicus, the astronomer who proposed the heliocentric model of the solar system.

copier

noun

A machine that reproduces documents by duplicating text and images onto paper.

copilot

noun

The second pilot on an aircraft, who assists and can take over flying duties.

coping

noun

The way someone deals with stress, hardship, or a difficult situation.

copious

adj

Very large in amount; plentiful.

copped

adjective

Rising to a point; having a peak, cone shape, or crest.

copper

noun

A reddish-brown metal, chemical symbol Cu, widely used in wiring and pipes for its conductivity.

Copperfield

name

A surname, famously associated with the fictional character David Copperfield and the illusionist David Copperfield.

Copping

name

An English surname, derived from a place name meaning "hilltop."

Coppola

name

An Italian surname, most notably associated with filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola.

cops

noun

Plural of cop: police officers.

copter

noun

A helicopter (informal, shortened form).

copulate

verb

To have sexual intercourse (often used of animals in biological or clinical contexts).

copulation

noun

The act of sexual intercourse or mating.

copy

noun

A duplicate of something original.

copycat

noun

A person who imitates someone else, often in an unoriginal or shameless way.

copying

noun

The act or process of making a copy of something.

copyright

noun

The legal right to control who may reproduce, publish, or distribute a creative work.

copyrighted

adj

Protected by copyright law; not free to copy or reuse without permission.

coq

noun

A trimming or plume made from cock (rooster) feathers, once used to decorate women's hats.

cor

intj

An informal British exclamation of surprise.

Cora

noun

A member of the Cora, an Indigenous people of west-central Mexico.

coral

noun

A hard, often colourful structure built by tiny marine animals, or the animals themselves, that forms reefs in warm seas.

Coraline

name

A feminine given name, popularized by the fantasy novel and film Coraline, likely a variant of Caroline.

Corbett

name

An English surname, derived from a Norman nickname meaning "little crow."

Corbin

name

A masculine given name and surname of French origin, meaning "little crow" or "raven."

Corby

name

An English surname and place name, derived from Old Norse meaning "settlement of Kori."

Corbyn

name

A masculine given name and surname, a variant of Corbin, also notably a British politician's surname.

Corcoran

name

An Irish surname, an Anglicized form of a Gaelic name meaning "purple" or "ruddy complexion."

cord

noun

A length of thin rope, string, or flexible cable.

Cordelia

name

A feminine given name of uncertain origin, famously borne by King Lear's youngest daughter in Shakespeare's play.

Cordell

name

An English surname and masculine given name, derived from Old French meaning "ropemaker."

Cordero

name

A Spanish surname, derived from a word meaning "lamb."

cordial

adj

Warm and friendly, though often in a polite or formal way.

cordially

adv

In a warm, friendly, and sincere manner.

cordless

adj

Operating without a power cord, typically running on a battery instead.

cordon

noun

A line of people, vehicles, or barriers set up to prevent access to or from an area.

Cordova

name

A surname and place name, an Anglicized spelling of Córdoba, a city in Spain.

cords

noun

Corduroy trousers (informal, plural).

corduroy

noun

A heavy, ribbed cotton fabric with fine raised, parallel lines running down it.

cordy

adj

Made of cord, or resembling cord in texture or shape.

core

noun

The central or most essential part of something.

Corey

name

A given name, used for both men and women, derived from an old Irish or Norse surname.

Corfu

name

A Greek island in the Ionian Sea, known for its beaches and Venetian architecture.

Cori

name

A feminine given name, a short form of Cora or Corinne.

coriander

noun

An herb whose fresh leaves are used to add flavour in many cuisines (also called cilantro).

Corinna

name

A feminine given name of Greek origin, meaning "maiden."

Corinne

name

A female given name derived from the Ancient Greek word for "maiden" or "girl."

Corinth

name

An ancient and modern port city in Greece, historically famous for its wealth and trade.

Corinthians

name

Either of two New Testament epistles addressed to the early Christian community in Corinth, traditionally attributed to Paul.

cork

noun

The light, spongy bark of the cork oak, used to make bottle stoppers, flooring, and insulation.

corkscrew

noun

A tool with a metal spiral used for pulling corks out of bottles.

corky

adj

Describing wine that has been spoiled by a faulty cork, giving it a musty taste.

Corman

name

A surname, most notably associated with filmmaker Roger Corman.

corn

noun

A tall cereal plant grown for its large yellow kernels, called maize outside North America.

cornbread

noun

A dense bread made mainly from cornmeal, popular in Southern American cooking.

cornea

noun

The clear, curved outer layer covering the front of the eye, over the iris and pupil.

corned

adj

Preserved in salt or brine, especially of meat.

Cornelia

name

A feminine given name of Latin origin, the feminine form of Cornelius, meaning "horn."

Cornelius

name

A masculine given name of Latin origin, derived from an old Roman family name possibly meaning "horn."

Cornell

name

A surname and masculine given name, also the name of an American Ivy League university founded by Ezra Cornell.

corner

noun

The point where two lines, edges, or walls meet.

cornered

adj

Trapped in a difficult situation with no way out.

cornering

noun

The act or skill of a vehicle turning around a bend or curve.

cornerstone

noun

A stone set at the base corner of a building, sometimes laid ceremonially with an inscription.

cornet

noun

A brass instrument similar to, but slightly smaller and mellower than, a trumpet.

cornfed

adj

Raised or fattened on a diet of corn, said especially of livestock.

cornfield

noun

A field where corn (maize or another cereal crop) is grown.

cornflakes

noun

A breakfast cereal made of toasted, flattened flakes of maize.

Corning

name

An English surname and place name, also a city in New York known for its glassmaking industry.

Cornish

adj

Relating to Cornwall, a county in southwest England, or its people or culture.

cornucopia

noun

A curved, horn-shaped container overflowing with fruit, flowers, and grain, symbolizing abundance.