English dictionary — definitions & meanings

dialing

noun

The act of entering a telephone number to place a call.

dialled

verb

British and Canadian spelling of the past tense of dial: entered a phone number.

dialog

noun

Uncommon spelling of dialogue.

dialogue

noun

A conversation between two or more people, especially in a book, play, or film.

dialysis

noun

A medical treatment that filters waste from the blood when the kidneys can't do it properly.

diamante

noun

An artificial diamond used as adornment, such as a rhinestone.

diamantine

adj

Consisting of or resembling diamond.

diameter

noun

A straight line passing through the center of a circle, connecting two points on its edge; also, the length of that line.

diamond

noun

An extremely hard, clear crystal form of carbon, prized as a gemstone.

diamonds

noun

The suit of playing cards marked with a red diamond shape.

Diana

name

In Roman mythology, the goddess of the hunt, the moon, and wild animals; counterpart to the Greek goddess Artemis.

Diane

name

A feminine given name, the French form of Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt.

dianna

name

A female given name from Latin, a less common spelling of Diana.

Dianne

name

A feminine given name, an alternate spelling of Diane.

diaper

noun

An absorbent garment worn around a baby's bottom to catch urine and feces.

diaphanous

adj

Transparent or translucent; allowing light to pass through; capable of being seen through.

diaphoresis

noun

The formation and excretion of sweat.

diaphragm

noun

The dome-shaped muscle beneath the lungs that controls breathing.

diarrhea

noun

A digestive condition causing frequent, loose, watery bowel movements.

diary

noun

A book in which someone records their daily thoughts, feelings, or experiences.

diaspora

noun

A population that has spread out from its original homeland, and the dispersal itself — as in the African, Irish or Jewish diaspora.

diastolic

adj

Pertaining to a diastole.

diatonic

adj

Relating to or characteristic of a musical scale which contains seven pitches and a pattern of five whole tones and two semitones; particularly, of the major or natural minor scales.

diatribe

noun

An abusive, bitter verbal or written attack, criticism or denunciation.

Diaz

name

A common Spanish surname meaning "son of Diego."

diazepam

noun

A prescription drug, sold under the brand name Valium, used to relieve anxiety and relax muscles.

dib

verb

To poke a small hole in soil, typically to plant a seed or bulb.

dibber

noun

A tool with a handle on one end and a point on the other, used in the garden to poke holes in preparation for planting seeds, bulbs, etc.

dibble

noun

A pointed hand tool used to poke holes in soil for planting seeds or seedlings.

dibs

noun

An informal claim to have or use something before anyone else.

DiCaprio

name

An Italian surname, notably borne by the actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

dice

noun

Small cubes marked with numbers of dots, used in games of chance; plural of "die."

diced

adj

Cut into small cubes, usually about a quarter to half an inch across.

dicey

adjective

Risky or unpredictable; likely to go wrong.

dichotomy

noun

A division into two parts that are treated as opposed or entirely separate.

dick

noun

Vulgar slang for the penis.

dickason

name

A surname originating as a patronymic.

dickass

noun

A contemptible person.

dickbiscuit

noun

An obnoxious or contemptible person.

dickbreath

noun

A contemptible person; usually used as a disparaging term of address.

dicked

adj

Having a specified kind of penis.

dickel

name

A surname transferred from the given name.

dicken

name

A surname transferred from the given name.

dickens

noun

Used in exclamations as a mild stand-in for "the devil," expressing surprise or frustration.

dickenson

name

A surname originating as a patronymic.

dicker

verb

To bargain, haggle or negotiate over a sale.

Dickerson

name

An English surname meaning "son of Dick," a diminutive of Richard.

dickeson

name

A surname originating as a patronymic.

Dickey

noun

A false shirt front worn to look like a full shirt underneath a jacket or sweater.

dickhead

noun

A highly contemptible or stupid person; a strong insult.

Dickie

noun

Alternate spelling of dickey — a false shirt front.

dickin

name

A surname transferred from the given name.

dicking

noun

Vulgar slang describing being sexually penetrated.

dickings

name

A surname originating as a patronymic.

dickins

name

A surname originating as a patronymic.

Dickinson

name

An English surname meaning "son of Dick," notably borne by the poet Emily Dickinson.

dickison

name

A surname originating as a patronymic.

dickless

adj

Without a penis.

dicklicker

noun

A person who licks penises: one who performs fellatio.

dicknut

noun

An asshole; a stupid, annoying or otherwise undesirable person, especially a man.

Dicks

noun

Plural of dick, in its vulgar or insulting senses.

dickslap

noun

An objectionable person.

Dickson

name

A surname meaning "son of Dick," a diminutive of Richard.

dickwad

noun

A contemptible or foolish person; a jerk.

dickweasel

noun

A rude, obnoxious, or contemptible person.

Dicky

adjective

In poor or unreliable condition; shaky, unsound.

dict

noun

An informal written shortening of dictionary, common in file names, software packages and note-taking.

dictate

verb

To say words aloud for someone else to write down.

dictation

noun

The act of speaking words aloud for someone to write down, or the words produced this way.

dictator

noun

An authoritarian leader of a country, nation, or government.

dictatorial

adj

of or pertaining to a dictator

dictatorship

noun

A form of government in which one person or small group holds total, unchecked power.

diction

noun

The choice and arrangement of words used in speaking or writing.

dictionary

noun

A reference book that lists words alphabetically along with their meanings, pronunciations, and other details.

dictum

noun

An authoritative statement; a dogmatic saying; a maxim, an apothegm.

didactic

adjective

Intended to teach something, especially a moral lesson, as well as to inform or entertain.

didactics

noun

The art and science of teaching.

diddle

verb

To cheat or swindle someone, especially out of money.

diddly

noun

Informal word for nothing at all, or an amount of no real value.

diddy

adjective

Very small; tiny (chiefly British informal usage).

didi

noun

A respectful term of address for an older female relative or family friend, used in South Asian English.

didine

adj

Of, or pertaining to dodos

didnae

contraction

Scots dialect contraction meaning "did not."

dido

noun

A mischievous prank or antic (old-fashioned usage).

die

verb

To stop living; to reach the end of life.

Diego

noun

Informal term (sometimes used loosely or stereotypically) for a Spanish-speaking person, especially from Latin America.

diehard

adj

Unreasonably or stubbornly resisting change.

Diem

name

A Vietnamese given name, notably borne by the South Vietnamese president Ngô Đình Diệm.

dierdre

name

A female given name, variant of Deirdre.

dies

verb

The third-person singular present form of "die".

diesel

noun

A heavy fuel oil used in engines that ignite fuel through compression rather than a spark.

diet

noun

The food and drink a person or animal regularly consumes.

dietary

adjective

Relating to diet or to what someone eats.

dieter

noun

A person who is following a diet, typically to lose weight.

dietician

noun

Nonstandard spelling of dietitian.

dieting

noun

The practice of following a controlled eating plan, usually to lose weight or improve health.

dietitian

noun

A person who studies or practices dietetics.

Dietrich

name

A German given name and surname meaning "ruler of the people," notably borne by actress Marlene Dietrich.

Dietz

name

A German surname, a shortened form of Dietrich.

diff

verb

To compare two files or pieces of text and highlight what’s different between them.

differ

verb

To be unlike something else in one or more ways.

difference

noun

The way in which two or more things are unlike each other.

different

adjective

Not the same as something else; distinct.

differential

adjective

Relating to or based on a difference between things.

differentiate

verb

To recognize, show, or create a difference between things.

differentiation

noun

The act or process of differentiating (generally, without a specialized sense).

differentiator

noun

Anything that differentiates, or causes differentiation (in any sense); a distinguishing feature.

differently

adverb

In a way that is not the same; not in the same manner.

differentness

noun

The state or quality of being different.

differing

adjective

Not alike; distinct from one another.

difficult

adjective

Hard to do; requiring a lot of effort, skill, or thought.

difficulties

noun

Problems or troubles that make something hard to achieve or manage.

difficulty

noun

The state or quality of being hard to do, understand, or manage.

diffident

adj

Lacking confidence in others; distrustful.

diffuse

verb

To spread something out through a substance or space, or to spread out that way.

diffusion

noun

The movement of particles from a region where they are more concentrated to one where they are less concentrated, until they are evenly spread out.

dig

verb

To move earth aside, typically with a tool, in order to make a hole.

dig in

phrasal verb

To start eating, especially eagerly. Often said as an invitation at the table.

Digby

name

An English surname and given name, originally a place name meaning "settlement by the ditch."

digest

verb

To break food down in the stomach and intestines so the body can absorb its nutrients.

digester

noun

One who, or that which, digests.

digestible

adj

Capable of being digested.

digestion

noun

The bodily process of breaking food down so it can be absorbed and used.

digestive

adjective

Relating to or helping the process of digestion.

digger

noun

A machine used for digging, such as an excavator.

diggety

adv

A general intensifier.

Diggin

name

A rare surname, a variant spelling related to Diggins or Duggan.

digging

noun

The act of making holes or excavating earth.

diggity

noun

(slang) A playful, sing-song filler word used in phrases and word games, often for rhythm or emphasis.

Diggle

name

An English surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire.

Diggs

name

An English surname, a variant of Diggs or Diggle.

dight

adj

Adorned, decorated, or furnished (with); dressed, arrayed, or decked out.

digit

noun

Any of the ten Arabic numerals (0–9), or a single symbol in a number system.

digital

adjective

Using or storing information as discrete numerical values rather than a continuous signal, as computers do.

digitalin

noun

Any of a mixture of glycosides, extracted from the foxglove plant, that are used as cardiotonics.

digitalis

noun

A plant of the foxglove genus, or a heart medication extracted from it.

digitality

noun

The quality of being digital.

digitalize

verb

Synonym of digitize.

digitally

adverb

In a digital way; using computer or digital technology.

digitate

adj

Having digits, fingers or things shaped like fingers; fingerlike

digitigrade

adj

Of an animal: walking on the toes, putting the weight of the body mainly on the ball of the foot, with the back of the foot, or heel, raised.

digits

noun

(informal, plural) A telephone number, especially one exchanged with a romantic prospect.

dignification

noun

The act of dignifying or making dignified

dignified

adjective

Showing calm, self-respecting seriousness; behaving in a way that commands respect.

dignify

verb

To give something an air of importance or worth it may not really deserve.

dignitary

noun

A person of high rank, office, or importance.

dignity

noun

The quality of being worthy of respect; a calm, composed sense of self-worth.

digress

verb

To wander away from the main topic when speaking or writing.

digression

noun

An aside, an act of straying from the main subject in speech or writing.

digressive

adj

Marked by digression; rambling