English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

change

verb

To become different, or to make something different.

changeable

adj

Likely to change often or unpredictably.

changed

adj

Different from before; having undergone a transformation.

changeling

noun

In folklore, a fairy or troll child secretly swapped for a human baby.

changer

noun

A person or thing that changes or transforms something.

changing

noun

The process of becoming different, or of swapping one thing for another.

channel

noun

A stretch of water connecting two larger bodies of water, or the deeper navigable path through a body of water.

channeled

adj

Cut or shaped with grooves or channels.

channels

noun

The proper, official routes for communication or approval within an organization.

Channing

name

A surname, also used as a unisex given name.

chant

verb

To sing or speak words in a repetitive, rhythmic way, often as a group.

Chantal

name

A feminine given name of French origin, popularized from the surname of Saint Jeanne de Chantal.

Chantelle

name

A feminine given name of French origin, an English variant of Chantal.

chanting

noun

The act of singing or speaking rhythmically and repetitively, especially as a group.

chantry

noun

A fund or chapel endowed to pay a priest to sing masses for the souls of specific people, usually the donor's family.

Chao

name

A Chinese surname, romanized from the name Zhao.

chaos

noun

Complete disorder and confusion.

chaotic

adj

Completely disorganised or in a state of disorder.

chap

noun

Informal British term for a man or fellow.

chapel

noun

A small place of worship, often attached to or part of a larger building such as a school, hospital, or castle.

chaperon

noun

An older or responsible person who accompanies young people at a social event to supervise their behaviour.

chaperone

noun

An adult who accompanies and supervises younger people at a social event, to make sure things stay appropriate.

chaperoning

noun

The act of supervising or accompanying someone, especially a young person or group, at an event or outing to make sure things stay safe and appropriate.

Chapin

name

A surname, of Spanish, French, or English origin, notably borne by singer-songwriter Harry Chapin.

chaplain

noun

A clergy member or spiritual advisor formally attached to a school, hospital, prison, military unit, or similar institution rather than a church congregation.

Chaplin

noun

A type of bacterial protein that assembles into thin fibril structures rather than coiling up.

Chapman

noun

An old-fashioned word for a trader or merchant, especially one who travelled from place to place selling goods.

chapo

noun

An informal, shortened way of saying "chapati," the round flatbread common in South Asian cooking.

chapped

adj

Of skin, dry, cracked, and sore, usually because of cold weather or wind.

Chappell

name

A surname, also the name of a small city in Nebraska.

Chappelle

name

A surname, notably borne by comedian Dave Chappelle.

chappy

noun

Informal, affectionate variant of chap, meaning a man or fellow.

chaps

noun

Sturdy leather leggings, open at the back, worn over trousers to protect the legs, especially by cowboys or motorcyclists.

chapstick

noun

A stick of wax-based balm used to soothe and protect dry or chapped lips.

chapter

noun

One of the main divisions of a book or other written work.

char

verb

To burn something so that its surface turns black, or to burn it down to charcoal.

character

noun

A person portrayed in a book, film, play, or other story.

characteristic

adj

Typical of a particular person or thing; serving to identify it.

characterize

verb

To describe someone or something as having particular qualities.

charade

noun

An act or pretence that is obvious and unconvincing, meant to create a false impression.

charades

noun

A party game in which players act out words or phrases silently for others to guess.

charcoal

noun

A black, carbon-rich material made by burning wood slowly without much oxygen, used as fuel or in cooking.

Charcot

name

A French surname, most notably borne by neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot.

chard

noun

A leafy green vegetable with thick, often colourful stalks, related to beetroot and slightly bitter in taste.

Chardonnay

noun

A variety of green-skinned grape used to make white wine, or the wine made from it.

charge

noun

An amount of money asked for a service or product.

charged

adj

Full of strong emotion or tension.

charger

noun

A device that supplies electricity to recharge a battery.

charging

noun

The process of restoring energy to a battery or device.

Charing

name

A village in Kent, England, and part of the name Charing Cross, a famous location in central London.

chariot

noun

A light, open, two-wheeled vehicle drawn by horses, used in ancient warfare, racing, and ceremonies.

charisma

noun

A compelling personal charm or magnetism that draws people in and inspires devotion or enthusiasm.

charismatic

adj

Having a compelling charm that attracts and inspires other people.

Charissa

name

A feminine given name.

charitable

adj

Generous in giving help or money to those in need.

charity

noun

An organization set up to help people in need or support a cause, rather than to make a profit.

Charla

name

A feminine given name, a modern feminine form of Charles.

charlatan

noun

A person who pretends to have skill or knowledge they don't actually have, usually to trick people out of money.

Charlemagne

name

King of the Franks who was crowned the first Holy Roman Emperor in 800 AD, ruling a vast empire across much of Western Europe.

Charlene

name

A female given name, a feminine form of Charles, especially popular in the mid-20th century.

Charles

name

A male given name meaning "free man," one of the most enduring names in the English-speaking world.

Charleston

noun

A lively, energetic dance from the 1920s, danced with fast kicks and swinging arms, named after the city in South Carolina.

Charley

name

A given name used for both men and women, a shortened, informal form of Charles or Charlotte.

Charlie

name

A given name used for both men and women, an informal short form of Charles, Charlotte, or Charlene.

Charlotte

name

A female given name, a feminine form of Charles.

Charlottesville

name

A city in Virginia, USA, home to the University of Virginia, named after Queen Charlotte.

Charlton

name

A place name found in numerous English towns and villages, and a surname derived from it.

Charly

name

A given name used for both men and women, a variant spelling of Charlie.

charm

noun

A quality that makes someone likeable, attractive, or persuasive.

Charmaine

name

A female given name, likely inspired by the word "charm."

charmed

adj

Protected or blessed as if by magic; extremely fortunate.

charmer

noun

A person who is very charming, especially one who uses charm to win people over.

charming

adj

Pleasant, attractive, and likeable.

charmingly

adv

In a pleasant, attractive, or likeable way.

Charo

name

A Spanish surname, also known as the stage name of Spanish-American entertainer Charo.

Charon

name

In Greek mythology, the ferryman who carried the souls of the dead across the river Styx.

charred

adj

Burnt black on the surface; scorched.

chart

noun

A diagram, graph, or table used to display data or information clearly.

charted

adj

Recorded, mapped, or plotted.

charter

noun

An official document that creates an organisation or grants specific rights, freedoms, or powers.

chartered

adj

Established or authorised by an official charter.

charting

noun

The process of recording, mapping, or plotting something systematically.

chartreuse

noun

A pale yellow-green colour, named after the French liqueur.

Charu

name

A given name of Sanskrit origin, used for both men and women, meaning "beautiful" or "pleasing."

Chas

name

A short, informal form of the name Charles.

chase

verb

To run after someone or something in order to catch them.

chased

adj

Pursued or followed at speed.

chaser

noun

A person, animal, or vehicle that chases something or someone.

chasing

noun

The art of decorating metal by engraving or hammering patterns into its surface.

chasm

noun

A deep, steep-sided crack or gap in the earth.

chassis

noun

The supporting frame of a vehicle, onto which the body, engine, and wheels are mounted.

chaste

adj

Not engaging in sexual activity, especially outside marriage or before it.

chastise

verb

To criticise or scold someone sharply for something they did wrong.

chastity

noun

The state of not engaging in sexual activity, often for religious or moral reasons.

chat

verb

To talk with someone in a relaxed, informal way.

Chatham

name

A port town in Kent, England, home to the Royal dockyard; also the name of many towns in the US and Canada.

Chats

name

An informal shortening of Chatham.

Chatsworth

name

A civil parish in Derbyshire, England, home to Chatsworth House, a famous stately home; also several towns elsewhere.

Chattanooga

name

A city in Tennessee, United States, near the Georgia border, known for its Civil War history.

chatter

noun

Talk that goes on and on without saying much of substance.

chatterbox

noun

A person who talks a great deal, often more than others want to hear.

chattering

adj

Talking rapidly and continuously about trivial things.

Chatterjee

name

A Bengali surname.

chatting

noun

Casual, friendly conversation.

chatty

adj

Talkative and fond of casual conversation.

Chaucer

name

A rare medieval English surname, most famously borne by Geoffrey Chaucer, author of The Canterbury Tales.

Chaudhary

name

A South Asian surname.

chauffeur

noun

Someone employed to drive a car for another person, often in a formal or luxury setting.

Chauhan

name

A surname of Hindi origin, associated with a prominent Rajput clan.

Chauncey

name

An American surname of Norman French origin, also used as a given name.

chauvinist

noun

A person with an exaggerated, biased belief in the superiority of their own group, often used specifically for someone with sexist attitudes toward the opposite sex.

Chavez

name

A Spanish surname, notably borne by labor leader Cesar Chavez and Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

Chaz

name

A diminutive of the given names Charles or Charlotte.

che

noun

The Cyrillic letter Ч, ч, used in Russian and other Slavic languages.

cheap

adj

Costing little money.

cheaply

adv

At a low cost; without spending much money.

cheapskate

noun

A person who is reluctant to spend money, even when they can afford to.

cheat

verb

To break rules in order to gain an unfair advantage.

cheated

adj

Deceived or unfairly deprived of something.

cheater

noun

Someone who cheats, especially by breaking rules for an unfair advantage.

cheaters

noun

An informal term for reading glasses, especially cheap, non-prescription ones.

cheating

noun

The act of deceiving or breaking rules for unfair gain, or being unfaithful to a partner.

Chechen

noun

A person from the Nakh ethnic group native to the northern Caucasus, most of whom live in the Russian republic of Chechnya.

Chechens

name

A Nakh people of the northeastern Caucasus, mostly Sunni Muslim, and the majority population of Chechnya.

Chechnya

name

A republic within Russia, located in the northern Caucasus mountains, with Grozny as its capital.

check

noun

An inspection to make sure something is correct, safe, or working.

checked

adj

Having a pattern of squares.

checker

noun

A person or thing that checks or verifies something.

checkered

adj

Patterned with a grid of alternating light and dark squares.

checkers

noun

A board game for two players who try to capture all of the opponent's pieces by jumping over them.

checking

noun

The act of examining or verifying something.

checklist

noun

A list of tasks, items, or conditions to be reviewed one by one.

checkmate

noun

In chess, the winning move that traps the opponent's king with no way to escape capture.

checkout

noun

The counter or area where customers pay for items in a shop.

checkpoint

noun

A location where people or vehicles are stopped for inspection, such as at a border or on a road.

checkup

noun

A routine visit to a doctor or dentist to make sure everything is healthy.

Cheddar

noun

A firm, pale yellow cheese, originally from the English village of the same name.

chee

noun

A traditional Chinese unit of weight, also called a mace.

Cheech

name

An informal nickname for Christchurch, New Zealand.

cheek

noun

The soft, fleshy part on either side of the face, below the eye.

cheekbone

noun

The bone that forms the upper part of the cheek, just below the eye.

cheeky

adj

Disrespectful or bold in a way that's often seen as playful or amusing rather than truly rude.

cheep

verb

To make the short, high-pitched sound of a small bird or chick.

cheer

noun

A shout of approval, encouragement, or celebration.

cheerful

adj

Visibly happy and full of good spirits.

cheerfully

adv

In a happy, upbeat way.

cheering

noun

Loud shouting in support or celebration, typically from a crowd.

cheerio

intj

Goodbye, used mainly in British English.

Cheerios

name

A brand of ring-shaped toasted oat cereal made by General Mills.

cheerleader

noun

A person who performs organized chants, dance, and stunts to encourage fans at a sports game.