English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

crump

noun

A dull, heavy thud, especially the sound of a distant explosion.

crumpet

noun

A soft, round, griddle-cooked cake with small holes in the top, usually toasted and buttered.

crumple

verb

To crush something into creases and wrinkles.

crumpled

adjective

Squashed into creases and wrinkles; no longer smooth.

crunch

verb

To crush something noisily, especially food, making a crackling sound.

crunching

noun

The crackling noise made when something is crushed or chewed.

crunchy

adjective

Making a crunching sound when bitten or crushed; crisp.

crusade

noun

One of the medieval religious wars fought by European Christians, mainly to try to take the Holy Land from Muslim rule.

crusader

noun

A person who took part in the medieval Crusades.

crush

verb

To squeeze or press something so hard that its shape or structure is destroyed.

crushed

adjective

Broken into small pieces by pressure or force.

crusher

noun

A machine used to break rocks or other hard materials into smaller pieces.

crushing

adjective

Overwhelming in force or effect.

Crusoe

name

A surname of French origin, famously used for the title character of Daniel Defoe's novel Robinson Crusoe.

crust

noun

The hard outer layer of something, especially bread or the Earth.

crustacean

noun

A hard-shelled creature such as a crab, lobster, shrimp, or barnacle, mostly living in water.

crusty

adjective

Having a hard, crisp outer layer, especially bread.

crutch

noun

A stick-like support used under the arm to help someone walk when injured.

crux

noun

The most important or decisive point of a matter.

Cruz

name

A surname of Spanish and Portuguese origin, meaning "cross."

cry

verb

To shed tears, usually from sadness, pain, or strong emotion.

crybaby

noun

Someone, often a child, who cries very easily or over small things.

Cryer

noun

A surname derived from the historical occupation of a town crier.

crying

adjective

So urgent or serious that it clearly needs attention.

cryogenic

adjective

Relating to the production and effects of very low temperatures.

crypt

noun

An underground chamber, especially one beneath a church used for burials.

cryptic

adjective

Having a hidden or puzzling meaning that is not immediately clear.

crystal

noun

A solid substance whose atoms are arranged in a regular, repeating pattern, often forming clear geometric shapes.

crystalline

adjective

Made of or resembling crystal, especially having a clear, regular structure.

crystallized

adjective

Formed into crystals, or having taken on a solid, definite form.

Cs

noun

Abbreviation for cirrostratus, a type of high, thin, sheet-like cloud.

CSU

noun

The Christian Social Union, the conservative political party that operates in Bavaria alongside its national sister party.

CT

verb

To scan someone using computed tomography (CT) imaging.

Cuando

name

A river in south-central Africa, flowing through Angola and Namibia into the Linyanti Swamp.

cuatro

noun

A small four-stringed (or sometimes ten-stringed) guitar-like instrument used in Latin American music.

Cub

noun

The young of certain animals, such as lions, bears, or foxes.

Cuba

noun

A country made up of the largest island in the Caribbean, with Havana as its capital.

Cuban

adj

Relating to Cuba, its people, or the Cuban way of speaking Spanish.

cubby

noun

A small, enclosed space just big enough to tuck something into.

cube

noun

A solid shape with six equal square faces.

cubic

adj

Used with units of length to describe a measure of volume (e.g. cubic meter).

cubicle

noun

A small partitioned-off space within a larger room, especially a workspace.

Cubs

noun

Young members of the Cub Scouts youth organization.

cucaracha

noun

A lively Mexican dance performed in ballrooms and nightclubs.

cuckold

noun

A man whose wife or partner has been unfaithful to him.

cuckoo

noun

A gray-brown bird known for its distinctive two-note call and for laying its eggs in other birds' nests.

cucumber

noun

A long green vegetable with crisp white flesh, grown on a vine.

cuddle

verb

To hold someone close in an affectionate, gentle embrace.

cuddling

noun

The act of holding someone close affectionately.

cuddly

adj

Soft and inviting to hug or hold close, or naturally affectionate.

cuddy

noun

A small cabin on a sailing ship, traditionally used by the captain.

cue

noun

A signal or prompt that tells someone it is time to act.

Cuervo

name

A surname of Spanish origin, meaning "crow."

cuesta

noun

A ridge or hill with a gentle slope on one side and a steep drop on the other.

cuff

noun

The end part of a sleeve or pant leg, often folded or fastened around the wrist or ankle.

cuffed

adj

Fitted with a cuff, or wearing handcuffs.

Cui

name

A Chinese surname.

cuisine

noun

A characteristic style of cooking associated with a particular region or culture.

culinary

adj

Relating to cooking or the kitchen.

cull

verb

To select or pick something out from a larger group.

Cullen

name

A surname and male given name of Scottish Gaelic origin, also the name of villages in Scotland and Ireland.

culling

noun

The process of selecting items or animals to remove from a larger group.

cully

noun

Old-fashioned slang for a person who is easily fooled or taken advantage of.

culmination

noun

The final, highest point reached after a series of events or efforts.

culpa

noun

Legal term for fault or negligence, as opposed to intentional wrongdoing.

culpability

noun

The degree to which someone is to blame for a wrongdoing or crime.

culpable

adj

Deserving blame for wrongdoing.

Culpepper

name

An English surname.

culprit

noun

The person or thing responsible for a problem, crime, or wrongdoing.

cult

noun

A group organized around an unconventional set of religious or philosophical beliefs, often isolating members from outside society under a controlling leader.

cultivate

verb

To prepare and use land for growing crops.

cultivated

adj

Well-educated and refined in manner or taste.

cultivation

noun

The process of preparing and farming land to grow crops.

Cults

name

A western suburb of Aberdeen, Scotland, also the name of a hamlet and a parish elsewhere in Scotland.

cultural

adj

Relating to the customs, arts, and shared ideas of a society.

culturally

adv

In a way that relates to culture or the customs of a society.

culture

noun

The shared customs, beliefs, arts, and way of life of a particular group of people.

cultured

adjective

Well-educated and refined in manner, taste, or knowledge of the arts.

culver

noun

An old word for a wood pigeon or dove.

cum

preposition

Combined with; serving as both one thing and another.

Cumberland

name

A historic county in northwest England, now largely part of Cumbria.

cumbersome

adjective

Awkward or difficult to handle, carry, or manage because of size, weight, or complexity.

cumin

noun

A flowering plant grown for its aromatic seeds.

Cummings

name

A surname of Scottish Gaelic origin.

cumulative

adjective

Increasing or building up in stages, with each addition adding to what came before.

cunning

adjective

Clever in a sly or deceptive way, skilled at getting what you want through trickery.

Cunningham

name

A Scottish surname, originally from a district in Ayrshire.

cunt

noun

A crude, highly offensive term for the vulva or female genitals.

cup

noun

A small open container, usually with a handle, used for drinking.

cupboard

noun

A cabinet or small closet with doors and shelves, used to store dishes, food, or other household items.

cupcake

noun

A small individual cake, usually baked in a paper or foil cup and topped with icing.

Cupid

noun

The Roman god of love and desire, usually shown as a winged boy with a bow and arrows; the counterpart of the Greek Eros.

cur

noun

A mongrel or low-quality dog, especially one seen as vicious or worthless.

curable

adjective

Able to be treated and cured.

curare

noun

A toxic plant extract traditionally used by South American peoples to poison arrows and darts.

curate

noun

A member of the clergy who assists a parish priest or vicar.

curator

noun

Someone who manages, organizes, and oversees a collection, such as at a museum, gallery, or archive.

curb

noun

The raised edge of a sidewalk or pavement bordering a street.

curd

noun

The thickened part of milk that separates out when it sours or is treated with enzymes, used to make cheese.

cure

noun

A treatment or remedy that restores health or solves a problem.

curfew

noun

An official rule requiring people to be indoors by a set time.

curia

noun

A subdivision of the ancient Roman people, or the senate of Rome during the republic.

curie

noun

A unit of radioactivity, equal to 37 billion decays per second.

curing

noun

The process of treating or preserving something, especially food, or of healing.

curiosity

noun

A strong desire to learn, know, or explore something.

curious

adjective

Eager to learn or know more about something.

curiously

adverb

In a way that shows curiosity or interest.

curl

noun

A spiral or ring-shaped lock of hair.

curled

adjective

Twisted into curls or a spiral shape.

Curley

name

A surname of Irish origin.

curling

noun

A winter sport in which players slide heavy stones across ice toward a circular target.

curls

noun

Ringlets or spirals of hair.

curly

adjective

Formed into curls or ringlets; not straight.

Curran

name

A surname of Irish origin.

currency

noun

The system of money used in a particular country.

current

adjective

Happening or existing right now.

currently

adverb

At this moment; now.

curriculum

noun

The full set of courses and material taught at a school or university.

curry

noun

A dish, originally from South Asian cooking, made with a spiced sauce.

curse

noun

A spell or supernatural force believed to bring harm or bad luck.

cursed

adj

Affected by a curse; suffering from bad luck believed to be supernatural.

curses

intj

An old-fashioned exclamation of frustration or annoyance.

cursing

noun

The act of using swear words or calling down a curse.

cursory

adj

Done quickly and without much attention to detail; hasty.

curt

adj

Speaking briefly to the point of seeming rude; short and blunt.

curtain

noun

A hanging piece of fabric used to cover a window or separate spaces.

curtains

noun

Informal: the end, especially death or ruin.

Curtis

name

An English surname and later a given name, originally a nickname for someone considered courteous or refined.

curvature

noun

The degree or amount to which something curves or bends.

curve

noun

A smoothly bending line, with no sharp corners.

curveball

noun

In baseball, a pitch thrown with spin that makes it swerve as it approaches the batter.

curved

adj

Having a smooth bend rather than straight lines or sharp angles.

curvy

adj

Having noticeable curves; full of bends.

Curzon

name

An English surname.

CuSe

noun

A rare mineral name for a copper-selenium compound (klockmannite); not used in everyday English.

Cushing

name

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

cushion

noun

A soft fabric pad used for comfort when sitting or leaning.

cushy

adj

Informal: comfortable and undemanding, especially of a job.

cusp

noun

A critical point where something is about to change or begin.

cuss

verb

Informal: to swear or use bad language.

cussing

noun

Informal: the act of swearing.

custard

noun

A sweet sauce or dessert made from milk, eggs, and sugar, thickened with heat.

Custer

name

A surname, most notably associated with U.S. Army officer George Armstrong Custer; also the name of several small U.S. towns.

custodial

adj

Relating to the legal care and guardianship of someone, especially a child.

custodian

noun

A person responsible for looking after or protecting something.

custody

noun

The legal right and responsibility to care for someone, especially a child.

custom

noun

A long-established practice or tradition within a group or society.

customary

adj

Usual, in keeping with normal practice or habit.

customer

noun

A person or business that buys goods or services from a seller.

customs

noun

Taxes charged on goods brought into or out of a country, or the government department that collects them.