English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

eep

intj

A small exclamation of surprise or embarrassment.

eerie

adj

Strange and unsettling in a way that suggests something mysterious or supernatural.

eerily

adv

In a way that is strange and unsettling, as if something is not quite right.

Eeyore

noun

A person who is chronically gloomy, pessimistic, or low-energy.

ef

noun

The name of the letter F.

eff

verb

A euphemistic stand-in for "fuck," used to swear without saying the word outright.

effect

noun

A change that is the result or consequence of something else.

effected

adj

Brought about or made to happen; put into effect.

effective

adj

Producing the intended result; actually working.

effectively

adv

In a way that produces the intended result; successfully.

effectiveness

noun

The degree to which something achieves the result it is meant to.

effeminate

adj

Of a man or boy, having qualities or mannerisms traditionally associated with women.

effendi

noun

A title of respect for an educated or distinguished man, historically used in Turkey and other parts of the former Ottoman Empire.

efficacy

noun

The power to produce a desired result, especially under controlled or ideal conditions.

efficiency

noun

The quality of using time, energy, or resources well without unnecessary waste.

efficient

adj

Achieving maximum results with minimum wasted time, effort, or resources.

efficiently

adv

In a way that avoids wasting time, effort, or resources.

Effie

name

A short form of the female given name Euphemia, sometimes used as a name in its own right.

effigy

noun

A crude model or figure made to represent a person or group, often so it can be mocked, burned, or destroyed in protest.

effing

adj

A euphemistic substitute for "fucking," used as a mild intensifier or curse.

effort

noun

Physical or mental energy put into doing something.

effortless

adj

Done with ease, requiring little or no visible effort.

effortlessly

adv

Without visible effort or strain; with ease.

effusion

noun

A sudden, uncontrolled outpouring of speech or emotion.

egad

intj

An old-fashioned exclamation of surprise, dismay, or mild outrage.

Egan

name

A surname of Irish origin.

Egbert

name

A male given name of Old English origin, historically borne by early English kings.

egg

noun

An oval or round body laid by birds, reptiles, and many other animals, usually containing a developing embryo.

egged

adj

Coated with or containing egg.

egghead

noun

An intellectual or highly educated person, especially one seen as impractical or out of touch.

egging

noun

The act of throwing eggs at someone or something, often as vandalism or a prank.

eggman

noun

A person whose job is delivering eggs.

eggnog

noun

A rich, chilled drink made from milk or cream, beaten eggs, sugar, and spices like nutmeg, often spiked with rum, brandy, or whisky.

eggplant

noun

A vegetable with smooth, glossy purple (or sometimes white) skin, also called an aubergine.

eggshell

noun

The thin, hard outer covering of an egg.

eggy

adj

Tasting, smelling, or looking of egg, or coated in egg.

ego

noun

A person's sense of their own importance and self-worth.

egocentric

adj

Focused on oneself, one's own needs, or one's own point of view; self-centered.

egoist

noun

Someone who believes that self-interest is, or should be, the basis of moral action.

egomaniac

noun

Someone with an extreme, obsessive sense of their own importance.

egotistical

adj

Excessively self-important, boastful, or preoccupied with oneself.

egregious

adj

Shockingly bad or blatant; standing out in a negative way.

egress

noun

A way out, or the act of leaving a place.

Egypt

name

A country in northeastern Africa, home to one of the world's oldest civilizations, with its capital at Cairo.

Egyptian

adj

Relating to Egypt, its people, or its language.

eh

intj

Added to the end of a statement to invite agreement or a reaction, similar to "right?" or "isn't it?"

ehm

intj

A filler sound used when hesitating or pausing while speaking, similar to "um" or "er."

Ehrlich

name

A German and Jewish surname meaning "honest" or "honorable," notably borne by bacteriologist Paul Ehrlich.

Eichmann

noun

A person who carries out immoral or destructive orders without objection because society or their institution accepts them.

Eid

noun

Any of several major Islamic religious festivals, especially Eid al-Fitr (marking the end of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha.

Eiffel

name

A French surname, most associated with engineer Gustave Eiffel, designer of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

eight

num

The number 8, one more than seven.

eighteen

num

The number 18, one more than seventeen.

eighteenth

adj

Coming after seventeen others in a sequence; number 18 in an ordered list.

eighth

adj

Coming after seven others in a sequence; number 8 in an ordered list.

eighties

noun

The decade running from 80 to 89 in a century, especially the 1980s.

eights

noun

The plural of eight; also used loosely for a group or set of eight things, such as a rowing crew of eight.

eighty

num

The number 80, one more than seventy-nine.

Eiko

name

A feminine given name of Japanese origin, often meaning "long-lived child" or "radiant child" depending on the characters used.

Eileen

name

A feminine given name, the Irish English form of Eibhlín, related to Evelyn or Helen.

Eine

name

A surname and pseudonym, notably used by British street artist Ben Flynn, known professionally as Eine.

Einstein

noun

A very intelligent or brilliant person, used as an admiring or sarcastic comparison to Albert Einstein.

Eisenhower

name

A German-derived surname, famously borne by Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. general and 34th president.

Eisenstein

name

A German and Jewish surname meaning "iron stone," notably borne by Soviet filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein.

either

det

One or the other of two options; whichever of two.

ejaculate

verb

To release semen or vaginal fluid from the body during sexual climax.

ejaculation

noun

The release of semen or vaginal fluid from the body at sexual climax.

eject

verb

To force someone to leave a place.

ejection

noun

The act of forcing something or someone out.

ejector

noun

A device or mechanism that forcefully pushes something out.

Ek

name

A surname found in Swedish and other Scandinavian families, and a common surname element in South and Southeast Asia.

EKG

noun

An electrocardiogram — a test that records the electrical activity of the heart; also written ECG.

el

noun

The letter L or l, as used in the Latin alphabet.

Ela

name

A feminine given name used in several European languages, often as a short form of names like Elizabeth or Eleanor.

elaborate

adjective

Worked out with great care and detail; intricate or highly developed.

Elaine

noun

A female given name of Old French origin, related to the name Helen.

Elam

noun

An ancient civilization and kingdom located in what is now southwestern Iran, with its capital at Susa.

elastic

adjective

Able to stretch and then spring back to its original shape.

elasticity

noun

The ability of a material to return to its original shape after being stretched or compressed.

elated

adjective

Extremely happy and excited.

elation

noun

A feeling of great happiness, pride, and excitement.

Elba

noun

An Italian island off the coast of Tuscany, known historically as the place where Napoleon was first exiled.

Elbe

noun

A major river running through the Czech Republic and Germany into the North Sea.

elbow

noun

The joint connecting the upper arm to the forearm.

elder

noun

A respected older member of a community, often looked to for guidance or leadership.

elderly

adjective

Old, especially having reached an advanced age.

elderman

noun

A male elder or senior leader within a tribe or community.

eldest

adjective

Oldest, especially among siblings or a group.

Eldon

noun

A place name, including a village in County Durham, England.

Eldorado

noun

A place name used for several towns across different countries, related to the legendary golden city El Dorado.

Eldridge

noun

An English surname.

ele

noun

Informal shortening of "elephant."

Eleanor

noun

A female given name, made famous historically by Eleanor of Aquitaine.

elect

verb

To choose someone for a position through a vote.

elected

adjective

Chosen for a position through a vote.

election

noun

A formal process in which people vote to choose leaders or representatives.

elective

adjective

Chosen voluntarily rather than required.

electoral

adjective

Relating to elections or to the people who vote in them.

electorate

noun

The body of people in a country or district who are entitled to vote.

Electra

noun

A figure from Greek mythology, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, known for avenging her father's death.

electric

adjective

Powered by or relating to electricity.

electrical

adjective

Relating to electricity or its use in devices and systems.

electrically

adverb

By means of electricity.

electrician

noun

A skilled tradesperson who installs and repairs electrical wiring and equipment.

electricity

noun

A form of energy caused by the movement of charged particles, used to power lights, appliances, and machines.

electrics

noun

The electrical wiring and components of a machine, vehicle, or building.

electrified

adjective

Converted to run on electricity, especially referring to rail lines.

electrifying

adjective

Extremely exciting or thrilling.

electro

noun

A genre of electronic dance music with strong bass and synthesized beats.

electrocute

verb

To kill someone using an electric shock.

electrocution

noun

Death caused by electric shock, whether by accident or execution.

electrode

noun

A conductor through which electricity enters or leaves a device, battery, or circuit.

electromagnetic

adj

Relating to the combined force of electricity and magnetism, or to the fields they produce.

electromagnetism

noun

The fundamental force that combines electricity and magnetism into a single phenomenon.

electron

noun

A tiny particle with a negative electric charge that orbits the nucleus of an atom; the flow of electrons through a conductor is what we call electricity.

electronic

adj

Relating to electrons or the devices that control their flow, such as computers, phones, and circuit boards.

electronically

adv

Using electronic devices, circuits, or digital technology.

electronics

noun

The branch of science and engineering concerned with devices that control the flow of electrons, such as circuits and semiconductors.

electroshock

noun

An electric shock delivered to the body, or more specifically, a controlled medical treatment (electroconvulsive therapy) that passes current through the brain to treat severe depression.

elegance

noun

Graceful, refined beauty in appearance, movement, or manner.

elegant

adj

Graceful and stylish in appearance or manner.

elegantly

adv

In a graceful, stylish, or refined way.

element

noun

A basic or essential part of something larger.

elemental

adj

Basic and fundamental, related to a core building block rather than something complex or refined.

elementary

adj

Simple and basic; easy to understand.

elements

noun

The weather, especially rough conditions like wind, rain, or cold, viewed as something a person is exposed to.

Elena

name

A female given name, common in Italian, Spanish, and other European languages, related to the English name Helen.

Eleni

name

A Greek female given name, equivalent to Helen.

Eleonora

name

A female given name, a variant of Eleanor.

elephant

noun

A very large mammal with a long trunk, big ears, and tusks, native to Africa and Asia.

Elephants

noun

The plural of "elephant," large plant-eating mammals with a trunk and tusks, native to Africa and Asia.

elevate

verb

To physically raise something to a higher position.

elevated

adj

Raised above the surrounding area or the ground.

elevation

noun

The height of a place above sea level.

elevator

noun

A machine that carries people or goods up and down between floors of a building.

eleven

num

The number after ten and before twelve; 11.

eleventh

adj

Coming after the tenth and before the twelfth in a sequence; 11th.

elf

noun

A small, magical humanlike creature from folklore, often mischievous; in modern fantasy, a tall, graceful, immortal being.

Elgar

name

A surname, most famously borne by the English composer Edward Elgar.

Elgin

name

A surname and place name, most notably a town in Moray, Scotland, and the earldom associated with it.

Eli

name

A male given name of Hebrew origin, also the name of a biblical priest.

Elias

name

A male given name, the New Testament Greek form of Elijah.

elicit

verb

To draw out a response, reaction, or piece of information from someone, often through careful questioning.

elif

noun

In computer programming, a keyword meaning "else if," used to check another condition if an earlier one was false.

eligibility

noun

The state of meeting the requirements needed to qualify for something.

eligible

adj

Meeting the requirements needed to take part in, apply for, or receive something.

Elijah

name

A Hebrew prophet in the Bible known for his miracles and confrontations with false prophets; also a common male given name.

eliminate

verb

To completely remove or get rid of something.

elimination

noun

The act of completely getting rid of something or removing someone from a competition.

Elina

name

A female given name.