English dictionary — definitions & meanings

embodied

adj

Given a physical or concrete form; experienced through the body rather than purely mentally.

embodiment

noun

A person or thing that represents an idea or quality in physical or concrete form.

embody

verb

To represent an idea or quality in a physical or concrete way; to personify it.

embolden

verb

To render (someone) bolder or more courageous; to encourage, to hearten.

emboldened

adjective

Made braver or more confident, usually by some success, encouragement or a sign that there will be no consequences.

embolism

noun

A blockage in a blood vessel caused by a clot, air bubble, or other matter carried through the bloodstream.

embolus

noun

An obstruction causing an embolism: a blood clot, air bubble or other matter carried by the bloodstream and causing a blockage or occlusion of a blood vessel.

embonpoint

noun

Plumpness, stoutness, especially when voluptuous.

embossed

adj

With raised letters or images on the surface.

embossing

noun

A raised design or symbol that has been embossed.

embossment

noun

The result of embossing; something that has been embossed.

embouchure

noun

The use of the lips, facial muscles, tongue, and teeth when playing a wind instrument.

embrace

verb

To hold someone closely in your arms as a sign of affection; to hug.

embracing

noun

The act of holding someone closely in the arms, or of willingly accepting an idea or situation.

embrasure

noun

Any of the indentations between the merlons of a battlement; an opening in a wall or parapet through which ordnance can be fired.

embrittlement

noun

The process of being embrittled; loss of flexibility or elasticity of a material; the development of brittleness.

embrocate

verb

To rub (a diseased part) with a moistened or liquid substance, usually an oil, on a cloth or sponge.

embroider

verb

To decorate fabric with a needle and coloured thread in a pattern or design.

embroidered

adj

Decorated with stitched thread patterns.

embroidery

noun

The craft or art of decorating fabric by stitching thread or yarn onto it.

embroil

verb

To bring (something) into a state of confusion or uproar; to complicate, to confuse, to jumble.

embrown

verb

To make (something) brown; to brown.

embryo

noun

An organism in the earliest stage of development, before it is recognizably formed — in humans, roughly the first eight weeks after conception.

embryoctony

noun

Deliberate destruction of the unborn fetus; abortion.

embryonic

adj

Relating to an embryo or its stage of development.

emcee

noun

A person who hosts and introduces acts at an event; a master of ceremonies.

emeff

adj

Synonym of motherfucking.

emendation

noun

The act of altering for the better, or correcting what is erroneous or faulty; correction; improvement.

emerald

noun

A precious green gemstone, a variety of beryl, prized for its deep green colour.

emerge

verb

To come out from somewhere hidden or enclosed, becoming visible.

emergence

noun

The process of coming into view, existence, or prominence.

emergency

noun

A sudden, serious situation that requires immediate action.

emergent

adj

Newly coming into existence or prominence.

emerging

adj

Coming into being, prominence, or notice; newly developing.

emeritus

adjective

Retired from a post, especially a university professorship, but allowed to keep the title as an honour.

emerize

verb

To pass (fabric) over emery-covered rollers to give it a soft finish.

emersion

noun

Emergence, especially from the water.

Emerson

name

An English surname meaning "son of Emery," notably borne by essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson.

emersyn

name

A female given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage.

emery

noun

A hard, dark mineral used, in powdered or abrasive form, for grinding, sanding, or polishing.

emesis

noun

The act or process of vomiting.

emigrant

noun

Someone who leaves a country to settle in a new country.

emigrate

verb

To leave one's own country in order to settle permanently in another.

emigration

noun

The act of leaving one's home country to live permanently in another.

emigre

noun

One who has departed their native land, often as a refugee.

Emil

name

A male given name of German and Scandinavian origin, derived from the Latin name Aemilius.

Emile

name

A male given name, the anglicized spelling of the French name Émile.

Emilia

name

A female given name, a variant of Emily derived from Latin.

emilian

adj

Of or relating to Emilia, a historical region of northern Italy.

emiliana

name

A female given name from Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish.

Emiliano

name

A male given name of Spanish and Italian origin, related to Emil and Emily.

Emily

name

A common female given name derived from the Latin name Aemilia.

Eminem

name

The stage name of American rapper Marshall Mathers, known for his rapid, technical rhyming style.

eminence

noun

High rank, fame, or distinction within a particular field.

eminent

adj

Famous and respected, especially in a particular profession.

eminently

adv

To a notable or high degree; very.

emir

noun

A ruler, prince, or military commander in certain Muslim countries, especially in the Gulf region.

emissary

noun

A person sent on a mission to represent or negotiate on behalf of someone else.

emission

noun

Something released or given off, such as gas, light, or radiation.

emit

verb

To send out or release something, such as light, sound, heat, or a substance.

emitter

noun

A device or thing that gives off something, such as light, heat, or a signal.

Emma

name

A female given name of Germanic origin, long popular across Europe and North America.

Emmanuel

noun

A Hebrew name meaning 'God with us', used in the Book of Isaiah as the name of a promised child and applied in the New Testament to Jesus; it is a common title for Christ, especially in Christmas hymns and readings.

Emme

name

A short feminine given name, sometimes used as a nickname for Emma or Emily.

Emmeline

name

A feminine given name of Germanic origin related to Emma, notably borne by suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.

emmerson

name

A surname originating as a patronymic.

emmet

noun

An ant (used in some regional English dialects, especially in the West Country).

Emmett

name

A masculine given name and surname of English origin, related to Emma.

Emmie

name

A feminine given name, a diminutive of Emma or Emily.

emmitt

name

A surname transferred from the given name.

Emmy

noun

A television award given in the United States for excellence in the industry, similar to the Oscars for film.

emo

noun

A style of guitar-driven rock music known for emotional, often confessional lyrics, along with the subculture and fashion associated with it.

emoji

noun

A small digital icon used in texts and online messages to represent an emotion, object, or idea.

emolliate

verb

To soften (e.g. pain), or to render effeminate.

Emory

name

A surname and given name of English origin, related to Emery, and the name of Emory University in Atlanta.

emotion

noun

A strong feeling, such as joy, anger, fear, or sadness, often accompanied by physical changes in the body.

emotional

adj

Relating to feelings rather than logic or fact.

emotionally

adv

In a way that involves or shows emotion.

emotionless

adj

Showing no feeling or emotion; blank or detached.

emotionlessness

noun

The property of being emotionless.

emotive

adj

Of or relating to emotion.

EMP

noun

Electromagnetic pulse: a short, intense burst of electromagnetic energy that can induce damaging surges of current in electronics and power lines, produced by a nuclear detonation, a specialised weapon or a severe solar storm.

empanada

noun

Any of a variety of stuffed pastries found in Spanish, Filipino, and Latin American cuisine.

empanel

noun

A list of jurors; a panel.

empath

noun

Someone with an extraordinarily high capability of sensing the emotions of others.

empathetic

adj

Showing an understanding of and sensitivity toward other people's feelings.

empathic

adj

Showing or expressing empathy.

empathise

verb

Non-Oxford British English standard spelling of empathize.

empathize

verb

To understand and share the feelings of another person.

empathy

noun

The ability to understand and share someone else's feelings.

emperor

noun

A male ruler of an empire, typically ranking above a king.

emphasis

noun

Special importance or weight placed on something.

emphasise

verb

British spelling of emphasize: to give special importance or stress to something.

emphasize

verb

To give special importance or extra stress to something.

emphasized

adj

Given extra stress, importance, or attention.

emphatic

adj

Expressed forcefully and with strong conviction.

emphatically

adv

In a forceful, definite manner that leaves no doubt.

empire

noun

A large political unit made up of many territories or peoples, usually ruled over by a single powerful authority.

empiric

noun

A member of a sect of ancient physicians who based their theories solely on experience.

empirical

adj

Based on observation, experiment, or experience rather than pure theory.

empirically

adv

Based on experience as opposed to theoretical knowledge.

employ

verb

To hire someone and pay them to do work.

employed

adj

Having a paid job; currently working.

employee

noun

A person who is paid to work for a company or another person.

employee retention

noun

An organisation's ability to keep its staff over time, and the set of practices used to reduce the number who leave voluntarily.

employer

noun

A person, company, or organization that pays others to work for them.

employment

noun

A paid job or work that someone does regularly.

emporetic

adj

Relating to an emporium, or to merchandise.

emporium

noun

A large shop selling a wide range of goods, or a major center of trade and commerce.

empower

verb

To give someone the authority or legal right to do something.

empowered

adj

Given the authority, confidence, or power to act.

empowering

adj

Giving someone a greater sense of confidence, control, or authority.

empowerment

noun

The process of gaining greater confidence, control, or power over one's own life or circumstances.

empress

noun

A female ruler of an empire.

emptiness

noun

The state of containing nothing; being empty.

emption

noun

The act of buying; purchase.

empty

adj

Containing nothing; not filled or occupied.

empyreal

adj

Pertaining to the highest heaven or the empyrean.

empyrean

noun

The highest heaven, supposed by the ancients to be a region of pure light and fire or else composed of ether, and sometimes seen as the dwelling-place of God or other divine beings; the highest celestial sphere according to ancient and medieval astronomy.

Ems

name

A river in northwestern Germany, and also a common abbreviation for "emergency medical services."

EMT

noun

A trained responder who gives emergency medical care at the scene of an accident or illness and during the journey to hospital, usually working on an ambulance.

emu

noun

A large flightless Australian bird, second only to the ostrich in height, with shaggy grey-brown feathers.

emulate

verb

To try to match or surpass someone by copying their behaviour or achievements.

emulation

noun

The endeavor or desire to equal or excel someone else in qualities or actions.

emulative

adj

Having a tendency to emulate others; imitative.

emulator

noun

A person or thing that emulates.

emulous

adj

Ambitious or competitive.

emulsify

verb

To combine two liquids that do not normally mix, such as oil and water, into a smooth, stable mixture by breaking one into tiny droplets suspended in the other.

emulsion

noun

A mixture in which tiny droplets of one liquid are spread evenly through another liquid that would not normally blend with it, such as oil in water.

en

noun

A printing and typography unit of measurement equal to half the width of an em, roughly the width of the letter "n" in a given typeface.

en route

adverb

On the way to a place; during a journey.

enable

verb

To give someone the ability, means, or authority to do something.

enabled

adj

Switched on or made active, especially referring to a device feature or setting.

enablement

noun

In business, the practice of giving a team the training, content, tools and information they need to do their job well, most often used of sales teams.

enabling

noun

The act of giving someone or something the means or permission to function or act.

enact

verb

To officially pass a bill into law.

enactment

noun

The act of enacting, or the state of being enacted.

enamel

noun

A hard, glossy protective coating fused onto metal, ceramic or another surface.

enamor

verb

To cause to be in love.

enamorado

noun

A lover; a person in love.

enamored

adj

Deeply in love with, or very taken with, someone or something.

enamour

verb

Standard spelling of enamor.

enby

noun

A person whose gender is not exclusively male or female; a non-binary person.

enbyphobia

noun

The fear, dislike, or hatred of non-binary people or of non-binariness.

encamp

verb

To establish a camp or temporary shelter.

encampment

noun

A place where people are staying temporarily in tents or similar shelters, such as a camp for soldiers, refugees, or travelers.

encanker

verb

To canker (corrode or corrupt).

encanto

noun

The 2021 Walt Disney animated film set in Colombia, in which a family living in an enchanted house each receive a magical gift.

encase

verb

To enclose, as in a case.

encased

adj

Fully enclosed or sealed within a covering or container.