English dictionary — definitions & meanings

crick

noun

A sudden, painful stiffness in a muscle, usually in the neck or back, that makes it hard to move for a while.

cricket

noun

A small jumping insect related to grasshoppers, known for the chirping sound the males make by rubbing their wings together.

cricketer

noun

Someone who plays cricket, especially at a serious or professional level.

crickets

intj

Used to point out an awkward silence or lack of response, as if only the sound of insects can be heard.

crier

noun

A person, historically, employed to announce public news or official notices aloud in a town.

crikey

intj

An exclamation of surprise or astonishment.

crime

noun

An act that breaks the law and is punishable by the state.

Crimean

adj

Relating to Crimea, the peninsula on the Black Sea.

crimefighter

noun

Any person who attempts to prevent crime or apprehend criminals.

crimes

intj

A mild exclamation of surprise, shock, or annoyance.

criminal

adj

Involving or relating to crime, or against the law.

criminalise

verb

Non-Oxford British English standard spelling of criminalize.

criminalism

noun

Criminal behaviour or tendencies.

criminality

noun

The quality or state of being criminal, or the general level of criminal activity in a place.

criminalize

verb

To make (something) a crime; to make illegal under criminal law; to ban.

criminally

adv

In a way that breaks the law.

criminalness

noun

The state or quality of being criminal.

criminate

verb

To accuse (someone) of a crime; to incriminate.

crimination

noun

An accusation of wrongdoing, a recrimination

criminology

noun

The academic study of crime, criminals, and why crime happens.

criminy

intj

Expressing surprise or impatience.

crimp

verb

To press or bend something into small folds or ridges.

crimper

noun

A small climbing hold that can only be held with the tips of a person's fingers.

crimson

noun

A deep, rich red colour with a hint of blue or purple in it.

cringe

verb

To flinch or shrink back in embarrassment, disgust, or fear.

cringeworthy

adj

That causes or may cause one to cringe with disgust, embarrassment (often vicarious embarrassment), etc.; awkward, disgusting, embarrassing.

cringey

adj

Characterised by causing feelings of embarrassment; embarrassing.

crinkle

verb

To fold, crease, crumple, or wad.

cripes

intj

A mild exclamation of surprise or shock.

cripple

noun

An outdated and now offensive term for a person with a serious physical disability.

crippled

adj

Badly damaged, weakened, or unable to function normally.

crippling

adj

Causing severe damage, weakness, or hardship.

Cris

name

A village and a river in Mureș County, Romania.

crisis

noun

A time of intense difficulty, danger, or instability that demands urgent action.

crisp

adj

Firm and easily broken, in a satisfying way (used for food, fabric, or air).

Crispin

name

A male given name, from Latin, also the name of the patron saint of shoemakers.

crispy

adj

Firm and brittle in a pleasing way, especially when describing cooked food.

crisscross

verb

To cross something repeatedly in different directions.

cristal

adj

An uncommon word relating to a crest (mainly seen as a proper name or brand name today).

Cristian

name

A male given name derived from the Greek word for "follower of Christ."

Cristina

name

A female given name, the Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish form of "Christina."

Cristo

name

A surname found in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian, meaning "Christ."

Cristobal

name

A male given name, the anglicized form of the Spanish name Cristobal (equivalent to "Christopher").

crit

noun

Informal short form of "criticism" or "critique," especially in creative or academic settings.

criteria

noun

The plural of "criterion" — standards or requirements used to judge something.

criterion

noun

A single standard or rule used to judge or decide something.

critic

noun

A person who evaluates and comments on the quality of something, such as art, film, or books.

critical

adj

Extremely important, often because a lot depends on it.

critical thinking

noun

The practice of examining information, arguments and assumptions carefully before accepting a conclusion, weighing the evidence and reasoning rather than taking a claim at face value.

critically

adv

In a way that involves careful judgment or analysis.

criticise

verb

Non-Oxford British English standard spelling of criticize.

criticism

noun

A statement or judgment pointing out faults or problems.

criticize

verb

To point out faults or problems in something or someone.

critique

noun

A detailed, thoughtful assessment of something, pointing out both strengths and weaknesses.

critter

noun

An informal word for a living creature, especially an animal.

crivvens

intj

An exclamation of astonishment or horror.

croak

noun

A low, rough sound made in the throat, especially the call of a frog.

croaking

noun

The rough, repeated sound made by frogs or a hoarse voice.

croat

noun

A native or inhabitant of Croatia; a person of Croatian ethnicity.

Croatia

name

A country in southeastern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula, with its capital at Zagreb; formerly part of Yugoslavia until 1991.

Croatian

adj

Relating to Croatia, its people, or its language.

Croatoan

noun

An older spelling referring to a member of the Croatan people, a Native American group of the eastern coast of North America.

croc

noun

A shortened, informal word for a crocodile.

crocein

noun

Any of several synthetic yellow or scarlet dyestuffs that are diazo and sulphonic acid derivatives of benzene and naphthol.

crochet

noun

A craft in which yarn or thread is looped together using a single hooked needle to form fabric.

crocheting

noun

A form of needlework that is made using a crochet.

crock

noun

A container made of stoneware or earthenware, such as a jar or pot.

crocked

adj

injured (of a person)

crocker

noun

An old word for a potter, someone who makes earthenware.

crockery

noun

Plates, dishes, cups, and similar tableware, usually made of ceramic material.

Crockett

name

A surname and male given name, most famously associated with American frontiersman Davy Crockett.

crocodile

noun

A large predatory reptile with a long snout and powerful jaws that lives in rivers and lakes in warm climates.

crocodilian

noun

Any reptile of the order Crocodilia; a crocodile, alligator, caiman or gavial.

crocoite

noun

A rare red mineral; lead chromate, PbCrO₄.

crocus

noun

A perennial flowering plant (of the genus Crocus in the Iridaceae family). Saffron is obtained from the stamens of Crocus sativus.

croft

noun

A small enclosed field or piece of farmland, especially one rented out for small-scale farming, particularly in Scotland.

croissant

noun

A flaky, buttery pastry shaped like a crescent, typically eaten for breakfast.

Cromwell

name

An English habitational surname, most famously that of Oliver Cromwell, the English military and political leader who ruled as Lord Protector.

crone

noun

An old woman, especially one seen as withered, unpleasant, or witch-like.

cronk

noun

The honking sound of a goose.

Cronkite

name

A surname, most notably that of Walter Cronkite, an American broadcast journalist.

crony

noun

A close friend.

croodle

verb

To cower or cuddle together, as from fear or cold; to lie close and snug together, as pigs in straw.

crook

noun

A dishonest person, especially a criminal or swindler.

crookback

noun

A crooked back, or a person with such a back; a hunchback.

crooked

adj

Bent or twisted rather than straight.

crookesite

noun

A tetragonal-disphenoidal mineral containing copper, selenium, silver, and thallium.

Crooks

noun

Plural of crook: dishonest people, especially criminals.

croon

verb

To sing or hum softly and gently, typically in a low, sentimental voice.

crooner

noun

A singer, typically male, known for singing popular songs in a smooth, low voice.

crop

noun

A plant grown and harvested for food, feed, or other economic use.

cropped

adj

Cut short, or trimmed so the outer edges are removed.

cropping

noun

The act by which something is cut short or truncated.

croquet

noun

A lawn game in which players use mallets to hit balls through a series of hoops.

crore

noun

In South Asian numbering, a unit equal to ten million (10,000,000).

crosbie

name

A surname, variant of Crosby.

Crosby

name

A surname of Old Norse origin, and a male given name, also the name of numerous towns in England and North America.

cross

noun

A shape formed by two intersecting lines, or an upright post with a crossbar, especially as a religious symbol.

crossbeam

noun

A horizontal structural beam that runs perpendicular to the primary support beams; a girder.

crossbencher

noun

A member of a legislature who belongs to a political party or coalition that is not in government or official opposition (the largest party or coalition not in government), or is independent; a member of the crossbench.

crossbow

noun

A weapon that shoots short arrows called bolts, made from a bow mounted crosswise on a stock.

crossby

name

A surname, variant of Crosby.

crossed

adj

Having lines or elements that intersect; marked with a crossing line.

crossfire

noun

Gunfire coming from two or more directions, especially endangering anyone caught between the shooters.

crossfit

noun

A high-intensity fitness program combining weightlifting, cardio, and gymnastics-style movements, and the brand associated with it.

crosshatch

noun

A pattern of crossing lines.

crossing

noun

A place where a road, river, or railway can be crossed.

crossness

noun

the state of being cross; mild anger

crossover

noun

A blend of two different styles, genres, or fields, especially in music or entertainment.

crosspatch

noun

A grumpy, bad-tempered or irascible person.

crosspiece

noun

A horizontal or transverse beam or similar member that extends across or perpendicular to something.

crossrail

noun

A commuter railway that runs through the center of a city in a tunnel and continues into the surrounding suburbs.

crossroad

noun

A road that crosses another, or (usually plural) a place where roads intersect.

crossroads

noun

A place where two or more roads meet.

crosswalk

noun

American English: a marked path across a street where pedestrians are meant to cross.

crossways

name

A place in Britain:

crosswise

adv

transversely; so as to lie across

crossword

noun

A word puzzle in which answers are filled into a grid of squares based on numbered clues, reading across and down.

crotch

noun

The area of the body where the legs meet the torso, around the genitals.

crotchet

noun

A musical note one beat long in 4/4 time.

crotchety

adj

Cranky, disagreeable, or stubborn, especially if prone to odd whims or fancies.

crotchless

adj

Lacking coverage over the area of the crotch.

crouch

verb

To bend the knees and lower the body close to the ground, often to hide, prepare to spring, or avoid being seen.

crouched

adj

In a crouching position; bent low with the knees drawn up.

crouching

adj

Bending low with the knees drawn up, typically to hide or prepare to move quickly.

croup

noun

A childhood respiratory illness that causes a harsh, barking cough and breathing difficulty.

croupier

noun

The casino employee who runs a gambling table, dealing cards, spinning the wheel, and paying out winnings.

crow

noun

A large black bird with a harsh, cawing call.

crowbar

noun

A steel bar, usually with a curved, flattened end, used as a lever to pry things apart or force them open.

crowbill

noun

A kind of forceps for extracting bullets, etc., from wounds.

crowd

noun

A large number of people gathered closely together.

crowded

adj

Filled with a large number of people or things, often uncomfortably so.

crowder

noun

Someone who plays the crwth, an old Welsh bowed string instrument; more loosely, a fiddler.

crowding

noun

The act or state of pressing closely together in a limited space.

Crowe

name

An English surname.

crowing

noun

A triumphant cry of joy or satisfaction, or the loud call of a rooster.

crowkeeper

noun

A person employed to scare off crows.

crown

noun

An ornamental headpiece worn by a monarch as a symbol of royal power.

crowned

adj

Wearing a crown, or having been formally made a monarch.

crowning

adj

Representing the highest point or greatest achievement of something.

crownwork

noun

A type of fortification, like a hornwork, but consisting of a full bastion with the walls on either side ending in half-bastions from which longer flank walls run back towards the main fortress.

Croydon

name

A large town and borough in south London, England.

Crozier

name

A surname, originally an occupational name for someone who carried a bishop's staff.

crt

noun

A display device using a cathode ray tube, such as early televisions or monitors.

cru

noun

A vineyard, or group of vineyards, especially one recognised for producing high-quality wine.

crucial

adj

Extremely important; essential to the outcome of something.

crucially

adv

In a way that is essential to the outcome; most importantly.

cruciate

adj

In the form of a cross.

crucible

noun

A heat-resistant container used to melt metals or heat chemicals at very high temperatures.

crucified

adj

Put to death by being nailed or bound to a cross.