English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

caseload

noun

The number of cases a person or team is actively working on at one time.

caseworker

noun

A social worker who manages and supports individual clients' cases.

cash

noun

Physical money — banknotes and coins — rather than cheques or card payments.

cashed

adj

Informal: completely worn out, used up, or drained of energy.

cashew

noun

A tropical tree grown for its kidney-shaped nuts and its cashew apple.

cashier

noun

Someone who handles payments at a till, shop, or bank.

cashmere

noun

Soft, fine wool combed from the undercoat of the cashmere goat, or fabric woven from it.

Casimir

name

A male given name of Polish origin.

casing

noun

An outer covering that encloses or protects something.

casino

noun

A venue where people gamble on games of chance.

cask

verb

To store or age something, typically a drink, in a barrel.

casket

noun

A small ornamental box, often used for jewellery or keepsakes.

Caspar

name

Traditionally, one of the three Magi (wise men) who visited the infant Jesus.

Casper

name

A variant spelling of the given name Caspar.

Caspian

adj

Relating to the Caspian Sea or the region surrounding it.

Cass

name

A short form of the female given name Cassandra, and sometimes of Cassidy or Cassiopeia.

Cassandra

name

In Greek myth, a Trojan princess gifted with true prophecy but cursed so no one would believe her.

casserole

noun

A deep dish with a lid used for slow-cooking food in the oven.

cassette

noun

A small plastic case holding a reel of magnetic tape for recording or playing audio or video.

Cassidy

name

A surname of Irish origin, anglicized from Ó Caiside, meaning roughly "descendant of the curly-haired one".

Cassie

name

A short, informal form of the given name Cassandra or Cassidy.

Cassini

name

An Italian surname, notably borne by the astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini.

Cassiopeia

name

In Greek myth, the vain queen of Ethiopia whose boast about her beauty led to her being punished by Poseidon.

Cassius

name

A male given name derived from the ancient Roman family name Cassius.

cassock

noun

A long, close-fitting robe worn by clergy in some Christian traditions.

cast

verb

To throw something, especially with some force or intent.

castaway

noun

A person stranded, typically after a shipwreck, often alone on an island.

caste

noun

One of the hereditary social classes found historically in South Asian societies and elsewhere.

Castel

name

A surname found in several European languages, generally related to the word for "castle" or "fort".

castellan

noun

The official put in charge of guarding and running a castle on behalf of its lord.

castellano

noun

A traditional Spanish unit of weight equal to roughly 4.8 grams, historically used for gold.

caster

noun

A small swivelling wheel fixed to the underside of furniture or equipment so it can roll.

Castiel

name

A male given name, notably used as the name of an angel character in the TV series Supernatural.

Castile

name

A historic kingdom and region at the heart of modern Spain.

Castillo

name

A Spanish surname meaning "castle".

casting

noun

The process of choosing actors, models, or performers for roles in a film, show, or advert.

castle

noun

A large fortified building, historically home to a king or noble, built to withstand attack.

castor

noun

A small swivelling wheel fitted to the leg of a piece of furniture so it can be rolled.

castrate

verb

To surgically remove the testicles (or, in females, the ovaries) of an animal or person.

castrated

adj

Having had the testicles (or ovaries) surgically removed.

castration

noun

The surgical removal of the testicles.

Castro

name

A Spanish surname, and also the name of a historic neighborhood in San Francisco known for its LGBT community.

casual

adj

Relaxed and informal, especially in style, manner, or dress.

casually

adv

In a relaxed, informal, or offhand manner.

cat

noun

A small, domesticated, furry mammal commonly kept as a pet, known for hunting mice and independent behaviour.

cataclysm

noun

A sudden, violent event causing widespread destruction or upheaval.

cataclysmic

adj

Causing or resembling a cataclysm; extremely destructive or disastrous.

Catalan

noun

A native or inhabitant of Catalonia, in north-east Spain.

Catalina

noun

A twin-engined amphibious aircraft widely used during the Second World War.

catalogue

noun

An organised list of items, such as books, products, or artworks, often arranged alphabetically or by category.

catalogued

adj

Recorded or listed within a catalogue.

Catalonia

name

An autonomous region in north-eastern Spain, with Barcelona as its capital.

catalyst

noun

In chemistry, a substance that speeds up a reaction without being used up itself.

Catania

name

A port city on the east coast of Sicily, Italy.

catapult

noun

A device for hurling or launching objects, historically used as a weapon.

cataract

noun

A large waterfall, especially one that plunges over a steep drop.

cataracts

noun

Plural of cataract; multiple waterfalls, or (medically) clouded lenses affecting both eyes.

catastrophe

noun

A sudden, large-scale disaster with severe consequences.

catastrophic

adj

Extremely harmful or disastrous, often on a scale from which recovery is difficult.

catatonic

adj

In a state of near-total unresponsiveness and stillness, as from shock or a psychiatric condition.

catch

verb

To capture or seize something moving, such as a ball or a fleeing person.

catching

adj

Able to spread from person to person; contagious.

catchphrase

noun

A memorable phrase repeated often enough to become associated with a particular person, show, or trend.

catchy

adj

Easy to remember and instantly appealing, especially describing music or slogans.

cate

noun

A delicacy or fine item of food (now archaic or literary).

catechism

noun

A book that summarises the basic teachings of a religion, typically in question-and-answer form.

categorically

adv

In absolute terms, without exception or qualification.

categorize

verb

To sort or classify something into groups based on shared characteristics.

category

noun

A group or class into which things are sorted based on shared features.

cater

verb

To provide food and drink, typically for an event, as a professional service.

catered

adj

Having food and drink professionally provided.

caterer

noun

A person or company that supplies and serves food, typically for events.

catering

noun

The business or act of providing food and drink, especially for events.

caterpillar

noun

The wormlike larval stage of a butterfly or moth.

caters

verb

Third-person singular of cater: provides food, or meets the needs of a group.

cates

noun

(archaic) Food, especially fine or special dishes; delicacies.

catfight

noun

A physical fight between cats.

catfish

noun

A whiskered, scaleless freshwater fish of the order Siluriformes.

Cath

name

A diminutive of the feminine given name Catherine.

catharsis

noun

A powerful release of pent-up emotion, often triggered by a dramatic experience like a film, book, or performance.

cathartic

adj

Producing an intense emotional release, especially after built-up tension or distress.

Cathcart

name

A Scottish surname and the name of a suburb of Glasgow, Scotland.

cathedral

noun

The main church of a diocese, home to a bishop's official seat.

Catherine

name

A feminine given name of Ancient Greek origin, one of the most enduring names in the English-speaking world.

catheter

noun

A thin flexible tube inserted into the body to drain fluid, deliver medicine, or open a passage.

Catholic

noun

A member of the Roman Catholic Church or another Catholic denomination.

Catholicism

noun

The beliefs, practices, and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church.

cathouse

noun

A slang term for a brothel.

Cathy

name

A diminutive of the feminine given name Catherine, also used as a formal given name.

catnip

noun

A minty plant (Nepeta cataria) whose scent triggers playful, euphoric behavior in cats.

Cato

name

A masculine given name and surname of Latin origin, most famously borne by the Roman statesmen Cato the Elder and Cato the Younger.

CATS

noun

Plural of "cat": small domesticated animals kept as pets, or wild members of the cat family.

Catskills

name

A mountain range in southeastern New York State, part of the Appalachians.

cattle

noun

Domesticated cows and bulls raised for milk, meat, or labor.

cattleman

noun

A person who raises or manages cattle for a living.

catty

adj

Deliberately spiteful or snide in a subtle, needling way.

catwalk

noun

A narrow raised platform that models walk along during a fashion show.

catwoman

noun

A woman dressed in a cat-themed costume, most famously the comic-book character.

Caucasian

adj

Relating to people classified by an older racial system as white or of European descent.

Caucasus

name

A mountain range and surrounding region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, spanning Russia, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

caucus

noun

A meeting of members of a political party to choose candidates or decide on policy.

caught

verb

Past tense and past participle of catch — to have taken hold of something, or to have been discovered or trapped.

cauldron

noun

A large round pot used for boiling liquids over a fire.

Caulfield

name

An English surname, also the name of a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, known for its racecourse.

cauliflower

noun

A vegetable related to cabbage, grown for its dense white head of edible flower buds.

cause

noun

The thing that makes something happen; the origin of an effect.

causeway

noun

A raised road or path crossing water, marsh, or other low ground.

caustic

adj

Capable of burning or chemically eating away living tissue or other material.

Causton

name

An English surname.

cauterize

verb

To seal a wound by burning it with heat or a chemical agent, usually to stop bleeding or prevent infection.

caution

noun

Careful attention to avoid danger or mistakes.

cautionary

adj

Serving as a warning.

cautioned

adj

Having been formally warned, especially by police.

cautious

adj

Careful to avoid risk, mistakes, or danger.

cautiously

adv

In a careful, risk-avoiding manner.

Cava

noun

A Spanish sparkling white wine made using the same traditional method as champagne.

cavalier

adj

Careless or dismissive about something that actually matters; offhand to the point of recklessness.

Cavaliere

name

An Italian surname, related to the word for "knight" or "gentleman."

cavalry

noun

Soldiers who fight from horseback, or, in modern armies, troops who move by fast, light vehicles.

Cavanaugh

name

An Irish surname, a variant of Kavanagh.

cave

noun

A natural hollow space underground or in the side of a cliff or hill.

caveat

noun

A warning or condition attached to a statement, agreement, or piece of advice.

caveman

noun

A prehistoric human popularly imagined as living in caves.

Cavendish

noun

A type of leaf tobacco that's been sweetened and pressed into cakes or plugs.

cavern

noun

A large cave, especially one with a spacious underground chamber.

caviar

noun

The salted roe (eggs) of the sturgeon, eaten as a luxury food.

caving

noun

The recreational activity of exploring caves.

cavity

noun

A hollow space or hole inside something solid.

cavorting

noun

Playful, lively, or boisterous behaviour, often frisky or a bit reckless.

caw

noun

The harsh, croaking cry made by a crow or similar bird.

Cawdor

name

A village and castle in the Scottish Highlands, famous as a setting in Shakespeare's Macbeth.

cawing

noun

The harsh, repeated cry made by crows or similar birds.

Caws

name

A surname.

Cayenne

noun

A hot ground spice made from dried red chilli peppers.

Cayman

adj

Relating to the Cayman Islands, a Caribbean territory known as an offshore banking and tax haven.

Caymans

name

An informal name for the Cayman Islands, a British overseas territory in the Caribbean Sea.

cD

noun

A compact disc: a small plastic disc used to store and play back digital audio or data.

Ce

name

A diminutive of the feminine given name Celia.

cease

verb

To stop happening or existing; to come to an end.

ceasefire

noun

A formal agreement between opposing sides to stop fighting, usually temporary.

ceaseless

adj

Never stopping; going on constantly without a break.

Ceausescu

name

A Romanian surname, most notably borne by Nicolae Ceaușescu, the communist dictator of Romania.

Cece

name

A diminutive of the feminine given name Cecilia.

Ceci

name

An Italian surname.

Cecil

noun

A small fried patty made of minced meat, breadcrumbs, and onions.

Cecile

name

A feminine given name of Latin origin, the French form of Cecilia.

Cecilia

name

A feminine given name of Latin origin, popularized by Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music.

Cecily

name

A feminine given name of Latin origin, a medieval English form of Cecilia.

cedar

noun

A large coniferous evergreen tree prized for its fragrant, durable wood.

cede

verb

To formally give up land, rights, or power to someone else.