English dictionary — definitions & meanings

coup

noun

A sudden, illegal seizure of power from a government, often by the military.

coupe

noun

A stemmed glass or dish used for serving sparkling wine, champagne cocktails, or desserts like ice cream sundaes.

couple

noun

Two people who are in a romantic relationship or married.

coupler

noun

Someone who couples things together, especially someone whose job it is to couple railway carriages.

couplet

noun

A set of two things, particularly.

coupling

noun

A mechanical device or fitting that joins two parts together, such as two pipes, train cars, or machine components.

coupon

noun

A printed or digital voucher that gives the holder a discount on a purchase.

cour

noun

A three-month unit of television broadcasting, corresponding to one of the four seasons.

courage

noun

The ability to face danger, pain, or difficulty without being overcome by fear.

courageous

adj

Brave; willing to face danger, pain, or difficulty.

courageously

adv

In a brave manner; without giving in to fear.

courageousness

noun

the state of being courageous

courgette

noun

A particular variety of Cucurbita pepo, a small marrow/squash.

courier

noun

A person or company that delivers messages, documents, or packages, often quickly or directly.

course

noun

A structured series of lessons or lectures on a subject, often part of a qualification.

coursebook

noun

A textbook, a book designed to accompany a specific academic course, or one specified by the writers of the course to be read by its students.

coursemate

noun

One who is taking the same academic course.

courses

noun

A somewhat dated or clinical way of referring to a woman's menstrual period.

coursework

noun

An assignment, project or task that a student is required to complete as part of a particular course, which is then assessed and counts towards the grade given.

coursing

noun

A sport in which dogs chase wild animals, especially hares, by sight rather than by scent.

court

noun

A place where legal cases are heard and judged, or the judge and officials who preside over such cases.

courted

adj

Pursued romantically; wooed.

courtenay

name

A female given name.

courteous

adj

Polite and considerate toward others.

courteously

adv

In a courteous manner; with obliging civility or condescension; politely.

courter

noun

One who courts; one who plays the lover, or solicits in marriage.

courtesan

noun

Historically, a woman — often glamorous and educated — who had wealthy or high-status men as lovers or clients, sometimes at a royal court.

courtesy

noun

Polite, respectful behavior toward others.

courthouse

noun

A building where court cases are heard, and often where local government offices are based.

courtier

noun

A person who attends a royal court, often trying to gain favor with the monarch.

courting

noun

The act of romantically pursuing someone, typically with the aim of marriage; old-fashioned dating.

Courtland

name

A masculine given name and surname, derived from a place name meaning "court land" or "short land."

Courtney

name

A given name and surname of French origin, derived from a place name meaning "domain of Curtius."

courtroom

noun

The room in which a judge hears and decides legal cases, often with a jury present.

Courts

noun

Plural of court: legal tribunals, sports playing areas, or enclosed yards.

courtship

noun

The period or process of romantically pursuing someone, usually before marriage.

courtside

adj

Located right next to a sports court, especially in basketball or tennis.

courtyard

noun

An open area, uncovered by a roof, that is surrounded by walls or buildings.

couscous

noun

A North African food made from tiny steamed granules of crushed semolina wheat, often served with stew or vegetables.

cousin

noun

The child of one's aunt or uncle.

cousins

noun

Plural of cousin: the children of one's aunts and uncles, or more broadly, extended family members.

couture

noun

The design and creation of high-end, custom-made fashion, or such clothing collectively.

couturier

noun

A person who designs haute couture (high fashion).

cove

noun

A small, sheltered inlet along a coastline, often bordered by cliffs or rocks.

coven

noun

A group or gathering of witches.

covenant

noun

A formal, binding agreement between two or more parties, often with religious or legal weight.

covent

noun

An older form of the word "convent" — a religious community, especially of nuns.

Coventry

name

A city in the West Midlands of England, known for its medieval cathedral and the legend of Lady Godiva.

cover

verb

To place something over another thing to protect, conceal, or shield it.

coverage

noun

The amount and depth of attention a topic or event receives in the news or other media.

coverall

noun

A loose-fitting jumpsuit-style protective garment worn over other clothing.

coveralls

noun

A one-piece protective garment covering the body and legs, worn over regular clothes for dirty or hazardous work.

covered

adj

Having something placed over it, or enclosed within a protective layer.

covering

noun

Something that is spread, laid, or wrapped over something else to protect or conceal it.

coverlet

noun

A blanket used as a bed covering, usually quilted.

covers

noun

The sheets, blankets, and other bedding used on top of a bed.

covert

adjective

Secret or hidden; done in a concealed way.

covertly

adverb

In a secret or hidden manner.

covet

verb

To want something very badly, often something that belongs to someone else.

coveted

adjective

Wanted eagerly by many people; highly desired.

covetous

adj

Distastefully desirous or keen, especially for something belonging to someone else; avaricious.

covetousness

noun

Immoderate desire for the possession of something, especially for wealth.

covey

noun

A brood or family of partridges (family Phasianidae), which includes game birds such as grouse (tribe Tetraonini) and ptarmigans (tribe Tetraonini, genus Lagopus).

cow

noun

An adult female of domestic cattle, especially one that has given birth to a calf.

cowabunga

interjection

An exclamation of excitement, triumph, or enthusiasm.

cowan

noun

A stonemason who builds with unmortared, dry stone and never trained as a formal apprentice.

coward

noun

A person who lacks courage, especially someone who avoids danger or difficulty out of fear.

cowardice

noun

A lack of courage; the quality of being too afraid to do what is right or necessary.

cowardliness

noun

The characteristic of being cowardly.

cowardly

adjective

Lacking courage; showing fear when bravery is called for.

cowboy

noun

A person, especially in the American West, who herds and tends cattle, traditionally on horseback.

Cowboys

noun

Plural of cowboy; also used as the name of sports teams, most famously the Dallas Cowboys NFL team.

cowcatcher

noun

A plough-shaped device affixed to the front of a locomotive (or other large vehicle), usually wedge or V-shaped so as to push or deflect objects on the tracks out of the way, to clear out the train's path and prevent the risk of derailment or major damage to it.

cowed

adj

Frightened into submission.

Cowell

name

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

cower

verb

To crouch down or shrink back in fear.

cowgirl

noun

A woman who herds and tends cattle, especially in the American West.

cowhand

noun

One who tends free-range cattle, especially in the American West.

cowherd

noun

One who herds cattle; a cowboy.

cowl

noun

A hood, especially the large loose hood of a monk's robe.

cowlet

noun

A young or little cow; a female calf.

Cowley

proper noun

A place name used for several towns and suburbs in England, Canada, the US, and Australia, and also a surname.

cowling

noun

A young or little cow; calf.

cowman

noun

A man involved in a free-range cattle business, in either ownership or hired hand roles.

coworker

noun

A person one works with, especially in the same organization.

cowpoke

noun

A cowhand (one who tends free-range cattle)

cowslip

noun

A low-growing plant, Primula veris, with yellow flowers.

cowson

noun

An objectionable, contemptible, unfortunate or stubborn person, place or situation (sometimes used ironically or humorously); bastard; git.

cox

noun

Short for coxswain: the person who steers a rowing boat and calls the stroke rate for the crew.

coxa

noun

The basal segment of a limb of various arthropods (insects and spiders, for example).

coxcomb

noun

The cap of a court jester, adorned with a red stripe.

coxswain

noun

In a ship's boat, the helmsman given charge of the boat's crew.

coy

adjective

Shy or modest, especially in a deliberately playful or teasing way.

Coyle

name

An Irish surname, an Anglicized form of a Gaelic name meaning "battle follower."

coyote

noun

A wild dog-like animal native to North America, smaller than a wolf.

coyotillo

noun

A low rhamnaceous shrub (Karwinskia humboldtiana) of the southwestern United States and Mexico, with poisonous berries.

coz

noun

An informal, affectionate short form of "cousin," often used to address someone.

cozen

verb

To become cozy; (by extension) to become acquainted, comfortable, or familiar with.

cozy

adjective

Warm, comfortable and sheltered, in a way that makes you feel relaxed. The usual American spelling of cosy.

cpc

name

CPC Corporation, the state-owned oil and gas company of Taiwan (originally an initialism of Chinese Petroleum Corporation).

CPD

noun

Continuing professional development: the training, courses and structured learning that people in a regulated profession must undertake to keep their skills and registration current.

CPI

noun

Consumer Price Index: a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by households for a fixed basket of goods and services, used as the main gauge of inflation.

CPU

noun

The main chip inside a computer that carries out the instructions of a program, performing the calculations and logical decisions that make software run.

CQ

noun

An abbreviation used by radio operators meaning "calling any station" — a general call inviting any listener to respond.

CR

noun

An abbreviation for "credit", used in accounting to mark an entry that increases income or reduces what is owed.

crab

noun

A sea creature with a hard shell, pincers, and a sideways walk.

Crabb

name

An English and Scottish surname, from the noun "crab."

crabby

adjective

Irritable, grumpy, or easily annoyed.

crablike

adj

Having some characteristics of a crab

crabs

noun

Plural of crab: the sea creatures.

Crabtree

proper noun

A surname, and a place name used for several towns and villages in England, the US, Canada, and Australia.

crabwise

adj

In the manner of a crab; sideways.

crack

verb

To break, split, or form a line of damage without falling completely apart.

crackdown

noun

A sudden, strict effort to enforce rules or stop unwanted behavior.

cracked

adjective

Broken so that a line or split has formed, without falling completely apart.

cracker

noun

A thin, crisp, usually savory baked snack.

crackerjack

adjective

Exceptionally skilled or excellent.

crackers

adjective

British informal: crazy or insane.

crackhead

noun

A person addicted to crack cocaine.

cracking

noun

The industrial process of breaking down large molecules, such as crude oil, using heat, to produce fuels like gasoline.

crackle

noun

A series of small, sharp popping or snapping sounds.

crackleware

noun

Articles made with a crackle glaze.

crackling

noun

The crisp, crunchy rind left on roast pork after cooking.

cracknel

noun

A hard, crisp or crunchy cake or biscuit.

crackpot

noun

Someone seen as eccentric or foolish, especially for holding strange or unfounded beliefs.

cracksman

noun

A burglar or safebreaker.

Craddock

name

A surname of Welsh origin.

cradle

noun

A small bed for a baby that rocks or swings gently.

craft

noun

Skill in making something by hand, especially using traditional or artistic techniques.

crafted

adjective

Made carefully and skillfully, often by hand.

crafter

noun

Someone who participates in a particular handicraft, either as a hobby or as a small business

craftiness

noun

Skill in deception, slyness.

crafting

noun

The activity of making things by hand, often as a hobby.

Crafts

name

An English surname.

craftsman

noun

A person highly skilled at a trade, especially one who makes things by hand.

craftsmanship

noun

The skill and care shown in making something, or the quality of a piece of skilled work.

craftsperson

noun

Someone who is highly skilled at their trade; an artificer.

craftswomanship

noun

The body of skills, techniques, and expertise of (a) feminine craft(s).

crafty

adjective

Clever in a sly or deceptive way; skilled at tricking others.

crag

noun

A rocky outcrop; a rugged steep cliff or rock.

craggy

adj

Characterized by rugged, sharp, or coarse features.

Craig

noun

A steep rocky outcrop or crag, chiefly in Scottish and northern English usage.

craigslist

verb

To sell, buy, or advertise something through the Craigslist website.

Crain

name

An English surname.

cram

verb

To force or squeeze something into a tight space.

Cramer

name

A surname of German origin.

crammer

noun

One who crams or stuffs.

cramming

noun

The act of studying intensively over a short period, usually right before a test.

cramp

noun

A sudden, painful, involuntary tightening of a muscle.

cramped

adjective

Uncomfortably small or tight, lacking enough room.