English dictionary — definitions & meanings

crampfish

noun

A type of electric ray

cramping

noun

Painful muscle tightening, especially in the stomach or legs.

crampon

noun

An attachment to a shoe or boot that provides traction by means of spikes for climbing or walking on slippery surfaces, especially ice.

crampoon

noun

A clutch formed of hooked pieces of iron, like double calipers, for raising stones, lumber, blocks of ice, etc.

cramps

noun

Sudden, painful muscle spasms, especially in the abdomen or legs.

cranberry

noun

A small, tart red berry that grows on a low shrub, often eaten dried, juiced, or as a sauce.

crandall

noun

A hand tool with a bundle of pointed steel bars at the head, used for roughening the face of stone before it is set.

crane

noun

A large wading bird with long legs and a long neck.

Cranford

name

A surname, and the name of several towns and villages in England, Ireland, Canada, and the United States.

cranial

adjective

Relating to the skull or cranium.

cranium

noun

The bony part of the skull that encloses and protects the brain.

crank

noun

A handle or arm turned to operate a machine or mechanism.

cranked

adjective

Bent or shaped with an angle, like a crank.

cranking

noun

The action of turning a crank to operate or start something.

cranky

adjective

Easily irritated; grumpy and bad-tempered.

cranny

noun

A small, narrow gap or opening, such as a crack in a wall.

Cranston

name

A habitational surname from Old English, also the name of a city in Rhode Island and a parish in Scotland.

crap

noun

Something of poor quality; nonsense or worthless material.

crape

noun

Mourning garments, especially an armband or hatband.

crapface

noun

A contemptible or undesirable person.

crapflood

noun

A large amount.

craphead

noun

An undesirable or stupid person.

craphole

noun

A contemptible person.

craphouse

noun

An outhouse: an outbuilding used as a lavatory.

crapload

noun

A large amount, especially of something worthless.

crapper

noun

A toilet (slang).

crappy

adjective

Of very poor quality; unpleasant or disappointing.

craps

noun

A dice game, popular in casinos, where players bet on the outcome of the roll.

crapulence

noun

Sickness or indisposition caused by excessive eating or drinking.

crapulous

adj

Characterized by excessive eating or drinking.

crash

noun

A violent collision, especially involving a vehicle.

crasher

noun

Someone who attends an event without being invited.

crashing

adjective

Extreme or overwhelming, often used to intensify a negative quality.

crass

adj

Coarse, crude, or insensitive, showing a lack of tact or refinement.

Crassus

name

The cognomen of Marcus Licinius Crassus, a wealthy Roman general and statesman.

crate

noun

A large, sturdy box or open frame used to pack and transport goods.

crateful

noun

As much as a crate would hold

crater

noun

A bowl-shaped hollow in the ground, caused by an explosion, impact, or volcanic activity.

cravat

noun

A band of fabric worn around the neck, tied at the front, as an old-fashioned or formal alternative to a necktie.

crave

verb

To have an intense desire for something, especially food, comfort, or attention.

craven

adj

Completely lacking courage; cowardly, especially in a shameful way.

craving

noun

A strong, persistent desire for something.

craw

noun

The crop or stomach-like pouch of a bird or animal, used in the idiom "stick in one's craw" for something that causes lasting resentment.

crawfish

noun

A freshwater crustacean similar to a small lobster, also called a crayfish, often eaten as seafood.

crawl

verb

To move on hands and knees, or drag the body low along a surface.

crawler

noun

A baby or young child who can move on hands and knees but not yet walk.

Crawley

name

A surname, and the name of a large town in West Sussex, England, among other places.

crawling

noun

The action or motion of moving on hands and knees, or moving very slowly.

cray

noun

Informal short form of crayfish.

crayfish

noun

A small, freshwater crustacean resembling a miniature lobster, often eaten as food or kept in aquariums.

crayon

noun

A stick of colored wax or chalk used for drawing.

craze

noun

A brief but intense popular enthusiasm for something, a fad.

crazed

adj

Wild, frantic, or seemingly insane, often through fear, anger, or obsession.

Crazies

name

An informal name for the Crazy Mountains, a mountain range in Montana.

crazily

adv

In a wild, irrational, or reckless manner.

craziness

noun

The quality or state of being crazy; wild or irrational behavior.

crazy

adj

Mentally unstable or irrational; behaving in a wild or nonsensical way.

creak

verb

To make a harsh, grating, or squeaking sound, typically from friction between hard surfaces.

creaking

noun

A repeated grating or squeaking sound.

creaky

adj

Tending to creak, especially from age or wear.

cream

noun

The rich, fatty part of milk that rises to the top, or a dairy product made from it.

creamcups

noun

Platystemon californicus, an ornamental flowering plant in the Papaveraceae family, found growing wild throughout the American southwest and especially on the Pacific Coast.

creamed

adj

Prepared or mixed with cream, or cooked in a creamy sauce.

creamer

noun

A small pitcher used for serving cream or milk.

creamery

noun

A place where dairy products are prepared or sold.

creaming

noun

A cookery technique in which fat and sugar are mixed together with the incorporation of air to form a cream.

creamy

adj

Having the smooth, rich texture or taste of cream.

creance

noun

faith; belief; creed

crease

noun

A line or fold made by pressing, bending, or wrinkling fabric or paper.

creased

adj

Having a crease or creases.

creasing

noun

The act by which something creases.

creasy

adj

Full of creases or wrinkles.

creatableness

noun

The state of being creatable.

create

verb

To bring something into existence; to make something new.

created

adj

Brought into existence by making.

creating

noun

The ongoing act of making something new; creation.

creation

noun

Something that has been made, especially an original work of art, invention, or design.

creationarily

adv

In a creationary manner.

creationistic

adj

Of or pertaining to creationism.

creative

adj

Involving original ideas or imagination; inventive.

creatively

adv

In an imaginative or inventive way.

creativeness

noun

The state of being creative; creativity.

creativity

noun

The ability to produce original and imaginative ideas or work.

Creator

noun

A person who makes or invents something, especially an original work.

creatorship

noun

State or condition of a creator.

creature

noun

A living being, especially an animal.

crèche

noun

A place where babies and young children are looked after while their parents are at work or otherwise occupied.

cred

noun

Respect or status earned within a particular group, especially for being genuine or knowledgeable.

credence

noun

Acceptance of something as true or trustworthy, usually because there is evidence for it.

credential

adj

Pertaining to or serving as an introduction or recommendation (to someone).

credentials

noun

Documents or qualifications that prove a person is who they claim to be or is qualified for a role.

credenza

noun

A sideboard or buffet.

credibility

noun

The quality of being believable or trustworthy.

credible

adj

Able to be believed; convincing.

credibly

adv

In a credible manner; believably.

credit

noun

Recognition or praise given for something a person has done.

creditable

adj

Credible or believable.

credited

adj

Given recognition or acknowledgment for something.

creditor

noun

A person or organisation that is owed money.

creditworthy

adj

Deemed likely to repay debts.

credo

noun

A statement of core beliefs or guiding principles.

credulity

noun

A willingness to believe in someone or something in the absence of reasonable proof; credulousness.

credulous

adj

Excessively ready to believe things; gullible.

Cree

name

An Indigenous North American people, and the group of related languages they speak.

creed

noun

A formal statement of religious or personal belief.

Creegan

name

A surname of Irish origin.

creek

noun

A small stream, narrower than a river.

creel

noun

A wicker basket, especially one used by anglers to carry fish.

creep

verb

To move slowly, quietly, or close to the ground.

creeper

noun

A plant that grows along the ground or up surfaces by trailing or climbing.

creepers

intj

An old-fashioned exclamation of surprise or alarm.

creeping

adj

Happening very gradually, often in a way that is barely noticed until it becomes serious.

creeps

noun

A feeling of fear, unease, or revulsion.

creepy

adj

Causing an unpleasant feeling of fear or unease.

Creighton

name

A male given name and surname, also the name of towns in Canada, South Africa, and the United States.

cremate

verb

To reduce a dead body to ashes by burning, as an alternative to burial.

cremation

noun

The act of disposing of a dead body by burning.

crematorium

noun

A building where dead bodies are cremated.

crematory

adj

Pertaining to the act of cremating bodies.

crempog

noun

A Welsh pancake made with self-raising flour, salt, eggs, milk and salted butter.

crenation

noun

The contraction of, or formation of abnormal notchings around, the edges of a cell after exposure to a hypertonic solution, due to the loss of water through osmosis, especially noticeable in red blood cells.

crenature

noun

A rounded tooth or notch of a crenate leaf, or any part that is crenate; a crenelle.

crenel

noun

The space between merlons in a crenelated battlement.

Crenshaw

noun

A variety of melon with sweet orange flesh and a smooth, hard rind.

Creole

noun

A language that develops naturally from the mixing of two or more languages, typically becoming the native tongue of a community.

creosote

noun

A pale yellow oily liquid, containing phenols and similar compounds, obtained by the destructive distillation of wood tar, once used medicinally.

crepe

noun

A thin, light pancake, typically served rolled or folded with a filling.

crepitate

verb

To crackle, to make a crackling sound.

crepitation

noun

The act of crepitating or crackling.

crepuscular

adj

Of or resembling twilight; dim.

crepusculum

noun

crepuscule; twilight; dusk

crescendo

noun

A gradual increase in intensity, loudness, or excitement, often building to a peak.

crescent

noun

The curved shape of the moon when it is partly illuminated, narrowing to points at each end.

crest

noun

The highest point of something, such as a hill or wave.

crestfallen

adj

Sad because of a disappointment.

crestfallenness

noun

The quality of being crestfallen.

Cretaceous

name

The geological period from about 146 to 66 million years ago, ending with the extinction of the dinosaurs.

cretan

adj

Of or relating to Crete or its inhabitants.

Crete

name

The largest Greek island, located in the eastern Mediterranean.

cretin

noun

An insulting term for a stupid or foolish person.

cretinous

adj

Characteristic of a cretin; very stupid.

crevice

noun

A narrow crack or opening, especially in rock or a wall.

crew

noun

A group of people working together, especially those operating a ship, aircraft, or production.

Crewe

name

A town in Cheshire, England, known as a major railway junction.

crewman

noun

A member of a crew, especially on a ship, aircraft, or vehicle.

Crews

name

An English surname.

crib

noun

A baby's bed with high sides, used before a child moves to a regular bed.

cribbage

noun

A point-counting card game for two players, with variants for three or four players; the cribbage board used for scoring to 61 or 121 points in numerous small increments is characteristic.

cribber

noun

One who cribs from others; a plagiarist.

Crichton

name

A habitational surname from Scotland, taken from a village in Midlothian.