English dictionary — definitions & meanings

doctoral

adj

Relating to a doctorate or the degree of doctor.

doctorate

noun

The highest academic degree awarded by a university.

doctored

adj

Altered or tampered with, especially to mislead.

doctoring

noun

The practice of treating patients as a medical doctor.

doctrinaire

noun

A person who stubbornly holds to a philosophy or opinion regardless of its feasibility.

doctrinal

adj

Of, relating to, involving, belonging to or concerning a doctrine.

doctrine

noun

A set of beliefs or principles held and taught by a religion, philosophy, or organization.

docufilm

noun

A film or video production, presenting personal, social, political or historical subject matter in a factually accurate and informative or entertaining manner that often consists of archival footage and/or interviews supported by narration.

document

noun

A piece of written, printed, or electronic material that provides information or serves as proof.

documentary

noun

A film or program that presents facts about a real subject.

documentation

noun

Written material that explains, records, or proves something, such as instructions for software or supporting paperwork.

documents

noun

Plural of document: written, printed or digital items that record information, such as contracts, reports, certificates or files.

DOCX

noun

The standard file format for word-processed documents used by Microsoft Word since 2007, based on the Office Open XML standard. A .docx file is really a compressed package holding several smaller files that describe the text, the formatting and any pictures separately.

dod

verb

A dialect word meaning to clip or cut off, such as trimming wool or horns from livestock.

Dodd

noun

In northern English dialect, a rounded hilltop or a lower summit jutting from a larger hill.

dodder

verb

To shake or tremble as one moves, especially as of old age or childhood; to totter.

doddle

noun

A job, task, or other activity that is easy to complete or simple.

Dodds

name

An English and Scottish surname, a patronymic form of Dodd.

dodge

verb

To avoid something by moving quickly out of its way.

dodgeball

noun

A team game in which players try to hit opponents with a thrown ball while avoiding being hit themselves.

dodger

noun

Someone who avoids something, especially a duty or responsibility.

dodging

noun

The act of avoiding something by moving quickly or evasively.

dodgson

name

A surname originating as a patronymic.

dodgy

adj

Dishonest or unreliable; not to be trusted.

Dodie

noun

A baby's pacifier or dummy, used mainly in some regional and family dialects.

dodo

noun

A large flightless bird from Mauritius that became extinct in the 1600s.

dods

name

A surname originating as a patronymic.

Dodson

name

An English surname meaning "son of Dodd."

doe

noun

A female deer, or a female of certain other animals such as a rabbit, hare, or kangaroo.

doer

noun

Someone who takes action and gets things done, rather than just talking or planning.

doey

adj

Resembling or characteristic of a doe.

doff

verb

To remove or take off (something worn on the body such as armour or clothing, or something carried).

dog

noun

A domesticated mammal (Canis familiaris) kept as a pet or working animal, closely related to wolves.

dogback

noun

The back of a dog (for riding upon).

doge

noun

The elected chief magistrate who historically led the republics of Venice or Genoa.

dogface

noun

A foot soldier, especially during World War II.

dogfight

noun

A close, fast-moving aerial battle between fighter aircraft.

Dogg

name

An alternative spelling of "dog," used as part of nicknames, especially in rap and hip-hop stage names.

dogged

adj

Persistent and determined, refusing to give up despite difficulty.

doggedness

noun

The state of being dogged; persistence; perseverance; tenacity; stubbornness.

dogger

noun

A two-masted fishing vessel, used by the Dutch until around the 18th century.

doggerel

adj

Of a crude or irregular construction.

Doggett

name

An English surname derived from a medieval given name related to Dodge or Roger.

dogging

noun

The act of following, harassing, or pursuing someone or something persistently.

doggo

adv

Only used in lie doggo and play doggo.

doggone

adj

Used as a mild, old-fashioned way of expressing annoyance, similar to "damned."

doggy

noun

A childish or affectionate word for a dog.

doghole

noun

A place regarded as fit only for dogs: a horrid, mean habitation.

doghouse

noun

A small outdoor shelter built for a pet dog.

dogi

noun

A judo or karate uniform.

dogleg

noun

Something (such as a canyon or road) with a sharp bend or turn in it.

dogma

noun

A belief or principle put forward as absolute truth, expected to be accepted without question.

dogmatic

adj

Adhering only to principles which are true a priori, rather than truths based on evidence or deduction.

dogmatism

noun

The manner or character of a dogmatist; arrogance or positiveness in stating opinion.

dogmatist

noun

A stubborn, assertive, opinionated person.

dogoodery

noun

Acts of beneficence; habitual beneficent behavior or behavior undertaken (ostensibly) for good reasons.

dogs

noun

British slang: feet, from Cockney rhyming slang ("dog's meat" = "feet").

dogsit

verb

To babysit for (take care of) a dog in its owner's absence.

dogsitter

noun

One who acts as babysitter for a dog in the owner's absence.

dogsled

noun

A sled, pulled by dogs over ice and snow.

dogtooth

noun

Synonym of cuspid, a pointed tooth between the incisors and premolars.

doh

noun

The first note of the musical scale in solfège (do-re-mi).

Doherty

name

A surname of Irish origin, anglicized from Ó Dochartaigh, meaning "descendant of Dochartach."

dohyo

noun

The ring, made of compacted clay, in which a sumo wrestling match is held.

doily

noun

A small decorative mat, usually of lace, linen, or paper, placed under dishes or ornaments.

doing

noun

An action or deed, especially one someone is held responsible for.

doings

noun

deeds, achievements

dojigger

noun

A thing whose name is not known; a whatsit or doohickey.

dojo

noun

A hall or room used for practicing martial arts, usually under an instructor.

dojocho

noun

The head of a Japanese dōjō (“martial arts training facility”).

dol

noun

A unit once proposed for measuring the intensity of pain.

Dolan

name

A surname of Irish origin.

doland

name

A city in Spink County, South Dakota, United States.

Dolby

name

An English surname, notably borne by Ray Dolby, inventor of the Dolby noise-reduction audio system.

dolce

noun

A soft, mellow-toned organ stop used to give a gentle, muted quality to the sound.

doldrum

noun

A slothful or stupid person.

doldrums

noun

Usually preceded by the: a state of apathy or lack of interest; a situation where one feels boredom, ennui, or tedium; a state of listlessness or malaise.

dole

noun

British informal: state unemployment benefit payments.

doleful

adj

Filled with grief, mournful, bringing feelings of sadness.

dolefulness

noun

The characteristic of being doleful; sadness.

dolesome

adj

Characterised or marked by sorrow and grief; doleful; dismal; gloomy.

doll

noun

A toy made in the likeness of a human figure, often a child's plaything.

dollar

noun

The main unit of currency in the United States, Canada, Australia, and several other countries, symbolized by $.

dollop

noun

A small, shapeless lump or spoonful of something soft, especially food.

dolly

noun

A wheeled platform or cart used to move heavy objects, or to move a camera smoothly during filming.

dollymop

noun

An amateur, often part-time, female prostitute in 19th-century London.

Dolores

name

A feminine given name of Spanish origin, meaning "sorrows," from Maria de los Dolores.

Dolph

name

A masculine given name, a short form of Adolph or Rudolph.

dolphin

noun

A highly intelligent, social marine mammal with a beak-like snout, known for its playfulness.

dolt

noun

A stupid or slow-witted person.

doltish

adj

Like a dolt; dull in intellect; stupid.

dom

noun

Informal: the dominant partner in a BDSM relationship or sexual dynamic.

domain

noun

A field or area of activity, knowledge, or control.

dome

noun

A rounded, hemispherical roof or ceiling.

domestic

adj

Relating to the home or family life.

domesticate

verb

To make domestic.

domesticated

adj

Bred or adapted over generations to live alongside and be useful to humans.

domestication

noun

The act of domesticating, or accustoming to home; the action of taming wild animals or breeding plants.

domesticity

noun

Life at home; homelife.

domesticize

verb

To make domestic; domesticate.

domestique

noun

A cyclist on a cycle racing team whose role is to assist the team's designated leaders (for example, by riding in front of them to create a slipstream, or to set the pace), even if at the expense of their own individual performance.

domhnall

name

A male given name from Irish.

domicile

noun

A person's permanent home or legal place of residence.

domiciliary

noun

A person who legally resides in a particular place.

domiciliate

verb

To establish a permanent residence.

domina

noun

The head of a nunnery.

dominance

noun

The state of being the most powerful, important, or influential.

dominant

adj

More powerful, important, or noticeable than others in the same category.

dominate

verb

To have controlling power or influence over someone or something.

domination

noun

Control or power over someone or something, especially when total or overwhelming.

dominator

noun

One who, or that which, dominates.

dominatrix

noun

A woman who takes the controlling, dominant role in a sexual relationship or encounter, especially as a professional role.

domine

noun

An old-fashioned or formal title meaning "lord" or "master."

dominee

noun

A minister of the Dutch Reformed Church; a predikant.

domineering

adj

Behaving in an overbearing, controlling way toward other people.

Dominguez

name

A Spanish surname meaning "son of Domingo."

Domini

name

A feminine given name, a variant related to Dominique, from the Latin "of the Lord."

Dominic

name

A masculine given name of Latin origin, meaning "belonging to the Lord."

Dominican

noun

A person from the Dominican Republic.

Dominick

name

A masculine given name, a variant spelling of Dominic.

dominie

noun

A schoolmaster, teacher.

dominion

noun

Supreme power or authority over a territory or group of people.

Dominique

noun

An old American chicken breed known for its rose comb and black-and-white barred feathers.

domino

noun

A small rectangular tile marked with dots, used in the game of dominoes.

dominoes

noun

A tile game played by matching the numbered ends of small rectangular pieces.

dominus

noun

A historical title of respect meaning "master" or "lord," once used for knights, clergymen, or the lord of a manor.

domitable

adj

Able to be tamed or bent to one's will; tamable, subduable.

domme

noun

A female dominant in a sadomasochistic relationship.

don

noun

A senior member of the teaching staff at a British university, especially Oxford or Cambridge.

Dona

name

A feminine given name, a short form of Donna, and also a Spanish honorific title for a woman.

donaghey

name

A village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

Donaghy

name

A surname of Irish origin, anglicized from Ó Donnchadha, meaning "descendant of Donnchadh."

Donahue

name

A surname of Irish origin, anglicized from Ó Donnchadha, notably borne by talk-show host Phil Donahue.

Donald

name

A masculine given name of Scottish Gaelic origin, meaning "world ruler."

Donaldson

name

A surname meaning "son of Donald."

donate

verb

To give money, goods, or time freely to help a cause or another person.

donated

adj

Given freely as a gift rather than bought or paid for.

Donatello

name

An Italian masculine given name, notably borne by the Renaissance sculptor Donatello.

donation

noun

Something given freely, usually money or goods, to support a cause or help someone.

donative

adj

Being or relating to a donation.

Donato

name

An Italian masculine given name meaning "given" or "gift," from the Latin donatus.

Doncaster

name

A town in South Yorkshire, England, known for its racecourse.

done

adjective

Finished or completed.

donee

noun

Someone who receives a gift from a donor.

doneness

noun

The extent to which a food has been cooked.

dong

noun

The basic unit of currency in Vietnam.

dongbei

name

Synonym of Manchuria: the Mandarin Chinese-derived name.

donger

noun

A donga (transportable cabin or tourist accommodation).

dongle

noun

Any small device that plugs into an electronic device, typically a computer, and alters its functionality. Common examples include wireless modems, digital media players, software copy protect devices, and adapters.

donjon

noun

The fortified tower and main residence of a motte or early castle; a keep.