English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

Cameron

name

A Scottish surname, later used widely as a unisex given name.

Cameroon

name

A country in Central Africa whose capital is Yaoundé.

cami

noun

A short, informal word for a camisole — a sleeveless, lightweight top or undergarment.

Camilla

name

A female given name of Latin origin.

Camille

name

A unisex given name of French origin.

camino

noun

A long-distance pilgrimage route across Spain, especially the route to Santiago de Compostela.

Cammie

name

A unisex given name, a diminutive of Camilla or Cameron.

camo

verb

To camouflage something, or to dress in camouflage clothing.

Camorra

name

A secretive organized-crime network based in Naples, Italy, comparable to the Sicilian Mafia.

camouflage

noun

A disguise or covering used to blend into surroundings and avoid being noticed.

camouflaged

adjective

Disguised or hidden by camouflage.

camp

noun

A place with tents, cabins, or temporary shelters where people stay, especially outdoors.

campaign

noun

An organized series of actions carried out to achieve a particular goal, such as in politics, marketing, or the military.

campanella

noun

A small hand bell or hanging bell, of the kind traditionally rung in a monastery or convent.

Campari

noun

An Italian bitter-tasting red aperitif, often mixed with soda water or orange juice.

Campbell

noun

A breed of domestic duck bred for heavy egg-laying, developed in England around 1900.

camper

noun

Someone staying outdoors overnight, typically in a tent.

campfire

noun

An outdoor fire built at a campsite for cooking, warmth, light, and gathering around.

campground

noun

A designated outdoor area set up for pitching tents or parking camper vehicles.

camphor

noun

A white, waxy, strong-smelling crystalline compound used in medicine, insect repellents, and traditional remedies.

camping

noun

The activity of sleeping outdoors, usually in a tent, for recreation.

campion

noun

A wildflower of the pink family, such as rose campion or bladder campion, with genera including Lychnis and Silene.

campo

noun

An open field or plain, especially in Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking regions.

Camps

name

A surname.

campsite

noun

A specific spot where a tent can be pitched for the night.

camptown

noun

A South Korean town whose economy depends heavily on a nearby US military base.

campus

noun

The grounds and buildings of a school, college, or university.

Camus

noun

A surname, most famously that of the French novelist and philosopher Albert Camus.

can

verb

To be able to do something, or to know how to do it.

Cana

noun

The biblical village where, according to the Gospel of John, Jesus turned water into wine.

Canaan

noun

An ancient region of the Middle East roughly covering modern Israel and Palestine, referred to often in the Bible.

Canada

noun

A country in North America, with Ottawa as its capital and Toronto as its largest city.

Canadian

adj

Relating to Canada, its people, or its culture.

canal

noun

A man-made waterway built for boats, irrigation, or drainage.

Canaries

noun

Plural of canary; also used as a short name for the Canary Islands.

canary

noun

A small yellow finch popular as a caged songbird.

canasta

noun

A card game related to rummy, played with two decks, where players form sets called melds.

Canberra

noun

The capital city of Australia, located in the Australian Capital Territory.

cancan

noun

A lively, high-kicking chorus-line dance that originated in 19th-century France.

cancel

verb

To call off or stop something planned from happening.

cancellation

noun

The act of calling something off or making it void.

cancelled

adj

No longer going ahead as planned.

cancer

noun

A disease in which abnormal cells grow and divide uncontrollably, often forming tumours.

cancerous

adj

Affected by or related to cancer.

Candace

noun

A female given name of Greek origin.

Candi

noun

A shortened, informal form of the name Candace.

Candice

noun

A female given name, a variant of Candace.

candid

adj

Honest and direct, even when the truth might be uncomfortable.

candidacy

noun

The state or period of being a candidate for a position.

candidate

noun

A person seeking to be elected or appointed to a position.

candidly

adv

In an honest, straightforward manner.

candied

adj

Coated or preserved in sugar.

candle

noun

A stick of wax with a wick that burns to give light.

candlelight

noun

The soft light given off by a burning candle.

candlestick

noun

A holder designed to keep a candle upright.

candor

noun

The quality of being honest and straightforward in what you say, even when the truth is uncomfortable.

candy

noun

Sweet confectionery made mainly from sugar, often flavored with chocolate, fruit, or nuts.

candyman

noun

A man who sells candy or sweets, especially from a small shop or stall.

cane

noun

The tall, jointed stem of plants like bamboo or sugar cane.

canes

noun

Plural of cane; often used specifically for a genus of temperate bamboo native to the Americas.

canine

adj

Relating to or resembling dogs.

canister

noun

A small container, typically metal or plastic, used to store dry goods like tea, flour, or film.

canker

noun

A disease that causes decay in plants, or the damaged area it leaves behind.

Cann

name

An English or Irish surname, and a small village in Dorset, England.

cannabis

noun

The hemp plant, or the dried leaves and flowers of it used as a drug.

Cannae

name

A village in southeastern Italy, famous as the site of Hannibal's decisive victory over Rome in 216 BC.

canned

adj

Sealed and preserved in a can.

cannery

noun

A factory where food is preserved and sealed in cans.

Cannes

name

A city on the French Riviera, famous for its international film festival.

cannibalism

noun

The practice of eating the flesh of one's own species.

canning

noun

The process of preserving food by sealing it in airtight cans or jars and heating it.

cannoli

noun

A Sicilian pastry consisting of a fried tube shell filled with sweetened ricotta or a similar cream.

cannon

noun

A large, mounted gun that fires heavy projectiles, historically used in warfare.

cannonball

noun

A round metal projectile fired from a cannon.

cannot

verb

Unable to; not able to.

canny

adj

Shrewd and clever, especially in practical or business matters.

canoe

noun

A narrow boat, pointed at both ends, propelled with single-bladed paddles.

canoeing

noun

The activity or sport of traveling or racing in canoes.

canon

noun

A collection of works or rules officially accepted as genuine or authoritative, such as the accepted body of a writer's work or a set of religious texts.

canopy

noun

A covering suspended or supported above something, such as a bed or entrance.

cant

noun

The specialized jargon of a particular trade, class, or group.

cantaloupe

noun

A type of muskmelon with sweet orange flesh and a rough, netted or ribbed rind.

canteen

noun

A small, often flask-shaped container for carrying drinking water, especially used by soldiers or campers.

canter

noun

A horse's gait that is faster than a trot but slower than a gallop.

Canterbury

noun

A stand or rack with dividers, used to hold magazines, sheet music, or loose papers upright.

cantina

noun

A small bar or saloon, especially one found in Latin American countries.

canto

noun

One of the main sections into which a long poem is divided.

canton

noun

A political or administrative division of a country, such as one of the states of Switzerland.

Cantonese

adj

Relating to the city of Guangzhou (historically called Canton), its people, language, or cuisine.

cantor

noun

A person who leads the singing in a religious service, especially in a Jewish synagogue.

Cantrell

name

An English surname, possibly an occupational name for a bellmaker.

Cantwell

name

A surname, and a small community in Alaska.

canvas

noun

A heavy, coarse woven fabric traditionally made from hemp or cotton, used for sails, tents, and painting surfaces.

canvass

verb

To go around asking people for their opinions, support, or votes.

canvassing

noun

The activity of going around asking people for votes, opinions, or support.

canyon

noun

A deep, narrow valley with steep sides, usually carved out by a river over a long time.

Cao

name

A Chinese surname, and a state of ancient China during the Zhou dynasty.

cap

noun

A soft, close-fitting hat, often with a brim or peak, and no full brim all the way round.

capa

noun

A traditional Spanish cloak, often worn draped over the shoulders.

capability

noun

The power, skill, or resources needed to do something.

capable

adj

Having the skill, ability, or qualities needed to do something well.

capacitor

noun

An electronic component that stores electrical energy, typically made from two conductive plates separated by an insulating layer.

capacity

noun

The greatest amount that something can hold, contain, or produce.

cape

noun

A sleeveless outer garment that hangs from the shoulders and covers the back and arms.

caped

adj

Wearing a cape.

Capella

noun

A very bright star in the constellation Auriga, one of the brightest stars visible from Earth.

caper

noun

A playful, high-spirited jump or leap.

capisce

intj

Informal: "understand?" or "got it?" — used to check someone has understood, often with a hint of warning.

capita

noun

Heads, or individual persons — almost always seen in the fixed phrase "per capita," meaning "for each person."

capitaine

noun

French word for "captain," occasionally used in English for flavor.

capital

noun

The city where a country's or region's government is based.

capitalism

noun

An economic system in which businesses and resources are privately owned and run for profit, with prices largely set by supply and demand rather than the state.

capitalist

noun

A person who owns or invests significant wealth in businesses to earn a profit.

capitalize

verb

To write a letter or word in uppercase.

capitan

noun

Spanish for "captain," sometimes borrowed into English for local flavor.

Capitol

noun

The building in which a country's or state's legislature meets.

capitulate

verb

To stop resisting and agree to the other side's terms; to surrender.

Caplan

name

A surname, and a municipality in Quebec, Canada.

capo

noun

A clamp placed across a guitar's fingerboard to raise the pitch of all the strings at once.

capoeira

noun

A Brazilian martial art that blends dance-like movements, acrobatics, and music.

Capone

name

An Italian surname, most famously borne by American gangster Al Capone.

capote

noun

A long, hooded coat or cloak.

Capp

name

A surname, notably borne by cartoonist Al Capp.

capped

adj

Fitted with, or having, a cap or cover; also, having an upper limit set.

Cappella

name

An Italian surname.

Cappie

noun

Informal term for a capitalist, or someone seen as pro-business or pro-establishment.

cappuccino

noun

An Italian coffee drink made from espresso topped with steamed and frothed milk.

cappy

adj

Resembling or related to a cap.

Capri

noun

A deep shade of sky blue, named after the Italian island of Capri.

caprice

noun

A sudden, impulsive change of mind or behavior with no clear reason.

capricious

adj

Changing mood or behavior suddenly and unpredictably, without an obvious reason.

Capricorn

noun

The zodiac sign of the goat, covering roughly late December to mid-January, or a person born under it.

caps

noun

Capital letters.

capsize

verb

To turn over or roll over in the water, or to cause a boat to do so.

capsule

noun

A small container, often plastic or made of gelatin, holding a dose of medicine.

captain

noun

The person in charge of a ship, aircraft, or team.

caption

noun

A short piece of text that explains or accompanies an image, video, or on-screen dialogue.

captioned

adj

Having a caption or captions attached.

captioning

noun

The process of adding text captions to images, video, or broadcasts.

captivated

adj

Completely fascinated or charmed; unable to look away.

captivating

adj

So interesting, charming, or beautiful that it holds someone's full attention.

captive

noun

A person who has been captured and is being held prisoner.

captivity

noun

The state of being held prisoner or kept confined.

captor

noun

A person who has captured or is holding someone prisoner.

capture

verb

To take hold of or seize something or someone by force.

captured

adj

Seized, taken prisoner, or recorded.

Capua

name

A town in the Campania region of southern Italy.

Capulet

noun

A member of one side of a bitter, long-running feud between two families or factions, drawing on the Capulets in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (the other side being the Montagues).

Caputo

name

An Italian surname.

car

noun

A road vehicle with an engine, wheels, and seats, used to carry a small number of people.