English dictionary — definitions & meanings

Estevez

name

A Spanish surname meaning "son of Esteban (Stephen)."

Esther

name

A female given name, also the name of a book in the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament about a Jewish queen of Persia.

estimable

adj

Worthy of esteem; admirable.

estimate

noun

A rough calculation of a cost, size, or amount, made without exact figures.

estimated

adj

Calculated roughly rather than measured exactly.

estimation

noun

The process of calculating an approximate value.

estoile

noun

A six-pointed star whose rays are wavy, as opposed to the straight lines of a mullet.

Estonia

name

A country in northeastern Europe on the Baltic Sea, north of Latvia.

Estonian

adj

Relating to Estonia, its people, or its language.

estoppel

noun

A legal principle that stops a person from making a claim or denial that contradicts what they previously said or did, when someone else has relied on that earlier position to their cost.

Estrada

name

A Spanish surname, originally denoting someone who lived near a road or highway.

estrange

verb

To cause to feel less close or friendly; alienate. To cease contact with (particularly of a family member or spouse, especially in form estranged).

estranged

adj

No longer close or on speaking terms with someone, especially a family member or spouse, after a falling-out.

estrangement

noun

The act of estranging; the act of alienating; alienation.

estray

noun

An animal that has escaped from its owner; a wandering animal whose owner is unknown. An animal cannot be an estray when on the range where it was raised, and permitted by its owner to run. A lost animal whose owner is known to the party at hand is not an estray.

Estrella

name

A feminine given name and Spanish surname meaning "star."

estrogen

noun

A hormone produced mainly in the ovaries that regulates the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics.

estuary

noun

The wide part of a river where it meets the sea, where fresh water mixes with salt water.

estuate

verb

To swell up or rage; to be agitated.

estuation

noun

An agitation or commotion.

esty

name

An unincorporated community in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States.

esurient

adj

Very greedy or hungry; ravenous; (figuratively) avid, eager.

et al.

abbreviation

And others: used after the first author's name in citations to stand in for the remaining authors of a work.

eta

noun

The seventh letter of the Greek alphabet (Η, η).

etan

name

A male given name from Hebrew.

etc.

abbreviation

And other things of the same kind; used at the end of a list to show it could be continued.

etch

verb

To cut a design or pattern into a hard surface using acid, a needle, or another sharp tool.

etchant

noun

An acid or corrosive chemical used in etching.

etched

adj

Cut or engraved into a surface, as by acid or a sharp tool.

etching

noun

The art of producing an image from a metal plate into which an image or text has been etched with acid.

eternal

adj

Lasting forever, without beginning or end.

eternality

noun

The condition of being eternal; endlessness

eternally

adv

Forever; for all time.

eternity

noun

Time without end; existence that never stops.

ETF

noun

An investment fund that holds a basket of assets such as shares, bonds or commodities, and whose own units are bought and sold on a stock exchange throughout the trading day like an ordinary share.

eth

noun

The letter Ð/ð, used in Old English and modern Icelandic and Faroese to represent a "th" sound, and still used in phonetic alphabets like the IPA.

Ethan

name

A masculine given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "strong" or "firm."

ethanol

noun

A colourless alcohol (CH3CH2OH) made by fermenting sugars, used in drinks, solvents, and fuel.

Ethel

name

A female given name from Old English, popular at the turn of the 20th century.

etheldreda

name

A female given name from Old English.

ether

noun

A sweet-smelling, highly flammable liquid once widely used as an anaesthetic and still used as a solvent.

ethereal

adj

Extremely light, delicate, and seemingly not quite of this world.

ethereality

noun

The quality of being ethereal.

etherealization

noun

The act or process of etherealizing.

etherealness

noun

The state or quality of being ethereal.

Ethereum

proper noun

A public blockchain network, launched in 2015, on which people can run small programs as well as send payments. It is the network most widely used for smart contracts, tokens and NFTs.

Ethernet

noun

The standard system for connecting computers and other equipment to a network using cables, and the family of technical rules that govern how data travels along them.

ethic

noun

A set of moral principles that guides a person's or group's behaviour.

ethical

adj

Relating to principles of right and wrong conduct.

ethically

adv

In a way that follows moral principles of right and wrong.

ethics

noun

The branch of philosophy dealing with what is morally right and wrong.

Ethiopia

name

A country in East Africa, one of the oldest continuously independent nations in the world.

Ethiopian

adj

Relating to Ethiopia, its people, or its culture.

ethnic

adj

Relating to a group of people sharing a common ancestry, culture, language, or nationality.

ethnical

adj

Of or relating to ethnology.

ethnicity

noun

The fact of belonging to a group defined by shared ancestry, culture, or nationality; or that group itself.

ethnology

noun

The branch of anthropology that compares and analyzes different human cultures and the relationships between them.

ethogram

noun

A catalogue of the typical behaviour patterns of a species.

ethography

noun

The study and recording of moral behaviour and human manners

ethological

adj

Of or pertaining to ethology.

ethologist

noun

A person who studies ethology.

ethology

noun

The scientific study of animalian behavior, especially that of nonhuman animals.

ethos

noun

The characteristic spirit, values, or beliefs of a person, culture, or organisation.

ethosed

adj

Possessed of a particular ethos.

ethyne

noun

The organic compound acetylene. The simplest alkyne, a colorless gaseous (at room temperature and pressure) hydrocarbon with the chemical formula HC≡CH or C₂H₂.

etiology

noun

The cause or set of causes of a disease or condition.

etiquette

noun

The accepted rules of polite, correct behaviour in social or professional situations.

etna

name

An active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, between Messina and Catania.

etomidate

noun

A fast-acting anaesthetic drug given by injection, often used to sedate patients briefly before a medical procedure.

Etsuko

name

A Japanese feminine given name, often interpreted as meaning "joyful child."

Etta

name

A feminine given name, often used as a short form of names ending in "-etta" or "-ette."

ettie

name

A diminutive of the female given name Esther.

ettle

verb

To propose, intend.

etymology

noun

The origin and history of a word, including the earlier forms and languages it came from and how its meaning has shifted.

etymon

noun

The original or earlier form of an inherited or borrowed word, affix, or morpheme either from an earlier period in a language's development, from an ancestral language, or from a foreign language.

euan

name

A male given name from Scottish Gaelic.

EUC

noun

A common blood test measuring electrolytes, urea and creatinine, used mainly to check kidney function and fluid balance. Standard usage in Australian and New Zealand medicine.

eucalypt

noun

Any tree of the genus Eucalyptus.

eucalyptus

noun

A tall evergreen tree, mostly native to Australia, valued for its aromatic oil-bearing leaves.

Euclid

noun

Refers to Euclid of Alexandria, the ancient Greek mathematician known as the father of geometry, or to the traditional geometry based on his work.

eudaemon

noun

A good or benevolent spirit.

eudaemonically

adv

Happily; in such a way as to lead to happiness.

eudaimonia

noun

In Aristotelian ethics, a condition of living a life of the highest virtue; the state of human flourishing, which is desirable in and of itself, rather than as a means towards some other end.

eudo

name

A male given name of historical usage.

Eugene

name

A masculine given name of Greek origin, meaning "well-born" or "noble."

Eugenia

name

A female given name from Ancient Greek. Variant: Eugenie.

eugenics

noun

A discredited social philosophy that sought to \"improve\" the human population through selective breeding or by restricting who could reproduce.

Eugenie

name

A feminine given name, the French and English female form of Eugene, meaning "well-born."

eugenius

name

A male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek].

eulogise

verb

To praise, celebrate or pay homage to someone, especially in an eloquent formal eulogy.

eulogize

verb

To praise, celebrate or pay homage to (someone), especially in an eloquent formal eulogy.

eulogy

noun

A speech given to honour someone who has died, typically at their funeral.

Eunice

name

A feminine given name of Greek origin, meaning "good victory."

eunuch

noun

A man who has been castrated, historically often so he could serve as a guard or official in a royal household.

eupeptically

adv

In a eupeptic or cheerful manner; cheerfully.

euphemia

name

A female given name from Ancient Greek.

euphemism

noun

A mild or indirect word or phrase used in place of one considered too harsh, blunt, or unpleasant.

euphony

noun

A pronunciation of letters and syllables which is pleasing to the ear.

euphoria

noun

A feeling of intense happiness and excitement, often sudden and short-lived.

euphoric

adj

Feeling or expressing intense happiness and excitement.

Euphrates

noun

A major river in West Asia that flows through Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, historically forming the western boundary of Mesopotamia.

Eurasian

adj

Relating to Eurasia, the combined landmass of Europe and Asia.

eurasiatic

name

A hypothetical superfamily of languages proposed by Joseph Greenberg that groups together several language families of Europe, Asia, and North America, namely Etruscan, Indo-European, Uralic-Yukaghir, Altaic, Korean-Japanese-Ainu, Nivkh, Chukotian and Eskimo-Aleut.

eureka

intj

An exclamation of triumph on making a discovery or solving a problem.

eurgh

intj

An exclamation expressing disgust or distaste.

euro

noun

The official currency shared by many European Union countries.

Europa

noun

One of Jupiter's largest moons, known for its icy surface and the possibility of a subsurface ocean.

Europe

name

The continent bordered by the Atlantic to the west, Asia to the east (roughly along the Urals), and the Mediterranean to the south.

European

adj

Relating to Europe or its people, culture, or institutions.

Euros

name

A Welsh masculine given name, also the plural of "euro," the European currency.

Eurovision

name

The annual televised song contest in which countries across Europe (and a few beyond) compete with original songs.

Eurydice

name

A figure in Greek mythology, the wife of Orpheus who died and was nearly rescued from the underworld.

eurytopic

adj

Describing a plant or animal that is found in a wide range of environments, and is thus widely distributed

Eustace

name

A masculine given name of Greek origin, meaning "fruitful" or "productive."

Euston

name

A district and major railway station in London, England.

euthanasia

noun

Deliberately ending a life, human or animal, to relieve suffering from an incurable condition.

euthanized

verb

Put to death painlessly, usually by injection, to end suffering from illness or injury. Used chiefly of animals.

Eva

name

A feminine given name, a variant of Eve, of Hebrew origin meaning "life."

evacuate

verb

To leave a dangerous place, or move people out of one, for their safety.

evacuated

adj

Describing a place whose population has been moved out for safety.

evacuation

noun

The organized removal of people from a dangerous place.

evacuee

noun

A person who has been evacuated, especially a civilian evacuated from a dangerous place in time of war

evade

verb

To cleverly avoid or escape something, such as a person, question, or duty.

eval

verb

To run a piece of program code that is stored as a text string, rather than as compiled instructions.

evaluate

verb

To carefully judge the value, quality, or significance of something.

evaluated

verb

Judged or assessed the quality, importance or value of something after examining it carefully.

evaluation

noun

A formal assessment of someone or something's quality or performance.

evaluative

adj

Relating to the assignment of value to a person, thing, or event.

evalyn

name

A female given name originating as a coinage.

Evan

name

A masculine given name of Welsh origin, a form of John meaning "God is gracious."

Evander

name

A masculine given name of Greek origin, meaning "good man."

evanescent

adj

Disappearing, vanishing.

evangel

noun

The Christian gospel.

evangelical

adjective

Relating to the teachings and message of the Christian gospel.

evangelina

name

A female given name originating as a coinage.

Evangeline

name

A feminine given name of Greek origin, meaning "bearer of good news."

evangelist

noun

A person who preaches the Christian gospel, especially one who travels to hold public meetings and win converts.

evaporate

verb

To turn from a liquid into a vapor or gas.

evaporation

noun

The process by which a liquid turns into vapor.

evaporator

noun

A piece of equipment used to evaporate the solvent from a solution.

evasion

noun

The act of avoiding something, especially a direct answer, duty, or obligation, often through trickery.

evasive

adj

Avoiding direct answers or clear commitment.

evasiveness

noun

The quality of being evasive.

eve

noun

The day or evening before an event, especially a holiday.

eveleen

name

A female given name from the Germanic languages, variant of Evelyn.

eveline

name

A female given name from the Germanic languages, variant of Evelyn.

Evelyn

name

A given name, used for both men and women, of Norman French origin.

Evelyne

name

A feminine given name, a French spelling variant of Evelyn.

even

adj

Flat, level, or smooth.

even if

conjunction

Used to say that something will be true or will happen regardless of another circumstance, whether or not that circumstance turns out to be the case.