English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

ensure

verb

To make certain that something happens or is true.

ent

noun

In J. R. R. Tolkien's fiction, one of a race of giant, tree-like beings who guard the forests of Middle-earth.

entail

verb

To involve or require something as a necessary consequence.

entangled

adjective

Twisted together or caught up in something, physically or figuratively.

enter

verb

To go into a place.

entering

noun

The act of going into a place or beginning to take part in something.

enterprise

noun

A business or organization, especially one involved in a significant undertaking.

enterprising

adjective

Showing initiative and a readiness to take on new or difficult projects.

entertain

verb

To hold someone's attention pleasantly; to amuse.

entertained

adjective

Amused or pleasantly occupied.

entertainer

noun

Someone whose profession is to perform for and amuse an audience, such as a singer, actor, or comedian.

entertaining

adjective

Enjoyable and amusing.

entertainment

noun

Activities or performances designed to amuse or interest an audience.

enthralled

adjective

Completely fascinated or captivated.

enthusiasm

noun

Strong excitement and eager interest in something.

enthusiast

noun

A person who is very keen and passionate about a particular subject or activity.

enthusiastic

adjective

Showing strong excitement, interest, or approval.

enthusiastically

adverb

In an eager, excited way.

entice

verb

To tempt or attract someone by offering something appealing.

enticed

adjective

Tempted or drawn in by something appealing.

enticing

adjective

Attractive and tempting.

entire

adjective

Whole; complete, with nothing left out.

entirely

adverb

Completely; wholly, without exception.

entirety

noun

The whole of something; its complete and total amount.

entitled

adjective

Given a particular title, as of a book or piece of writing.

entitlement

noun

The right to receive or do something.

entity

noun

Something that exists as a distinct, separate thing, often an organization rather than a physical object.

entomologist

noun

A scientist who studies insects.

entourage

noun

A group of assistants, friends, or followers who accompany an important or famous person.

entrails

noun

The internal organs of an animal or person, especially the intestines.

entrance

noun

A doorway, gate, or opening through which one enters a place.

entranced

adjective

Held completely spellbound, as if in a trance.

entrap

verb

To catch someone or something in a trap.

entrapment

noun

The act of luring someone, especially by police, into committing a crime so they can be arrested for it.

entreat

verb

To ask someone earnestly or beg them for something.

entrepreneur

noun

A person who starts and runs a business, taking on its financial risk.

entrepreneurial

adjective

Showing the drive, risk-taking, or resourcefulness typical of someone who starts businesses.

entropy

noun

In physics, a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system.

entrust

verb

To give someone responsibility for something valuable or important, trusting them to look after it.

entry

noun

The act of entering, or a means of entering a place.

entwined

adjective

Twisted or wound tightly together.

envelope

noun

A flat paper or cardboard cover used to hold and mail letters or documents.

enveloped

adjective

Completely wrapped, covered, or surrounded.

enviable

adjective

So good or desirable that it makes other people envious.

envied

adjective

Regarded with envy by others.

envious

adjective

Feeling or showing envy toward someone else's success, possessions, or good fortune.

environment

noun

The natural world, including land, water, air, and living things.

environmental

adjective

Relating to the natural world or its protection.

environmentalist

noun

A person who actively works to protect the natural environment.

environmentally

adverb

In a way that relates to or affects the environment.

envision

verb

To imagine something as a future possibility, often in vivid detail.

envy

noun

A feeling of resentful longing for something someone else has.

Enzo

name

A masculine given name, an Italian short form of Vincenzo or Lorenzo.

enzyme

noun

A protein produced by living cells that speeds up a specific chemical reaction in the body without being used up itself.

ep

noun

Short for "episode," as of a TV or podcast series.

Epcot

name

A theme park at Walt Disney World in Florida, its name an acronym for "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow."

Eph

noun

A student or graduate of Williams College in Massachusetts, USA (informal).

ephemeral

adj

Lasting for only a short time; fleeting.

Ephraim

name

A masculine given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "fruitful," and the name of one of Joseph's sons in the Bible.

epi

noun

Informal shorthand for epinephrine (adrenaline), or for an injector device pre-filled with it and used to treat severe allergic reactions.

epic

noun

A long narrative poem or story celebrating the heroic deeds of a legendary figure.

epidemic

noun

An outbreak of a disease that spreads quickly and affects many people in a population at once.

epidural

noun

An injection of anesthetic into the lower spine, commonly used to relieve pain during childbirth.

epilepsy

noun

A neurological condition that causes recurring seizures.

epileptic

adj

Relating to epilepsy or to people who have it.

epilogue

noun

A short closing section added after the main story of a book, play, or film, often showing what happened afterward.

epinephrine

noun

The medical name for adrenaline — a hormone released by the adrenal glands during stress that speeds up the heart and boosts energy, also used as an emergency medicine.

Epiphany

noun

A sudden, striking flash of insight or understanding.

episode

noun

A single installment of a TV or radio series.

epitaph

noun

Words inscribed on a gravestone or tomb in memory of the person buried there.

epitome

noun

A perfect example of a quality or type; the clearest possible embodiment of something.

epoch

noun

A distinct period of time in history, especially one marked by particular events or characteristics.

epoxy

noun

A strong synthetic resin used as glue, coating, or in laminates; the adhesive made from it.

Epps

name

An English surname derived from the given name Epp, a medieval short form of Robert.

Eps

name

A common abbreviation, most often standing for "earnings per share" in finance.

epsilon

noun

The fifth letter of the Greek alphabet (ε, Ε), between delta and zeta.

Epsom

name

A town in Surrey, England, known for its racecourse and for the mineral salt named after it.

Epstein

name

A surname from German, notably borne by American-British sculptor Jacob Epstein and American sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein; variant form Eppstein.

equal

adj

The same in amount, value, size, status, or rights.

equality

noun

The state of being equal, especially in rights, status, or opportunities.

equally

adv

In equal shares, amounts, or degree; evenly.

equals

noun

The "=" symbol, used to show that two things have the same value.

equate

verb

To regard or treat two things as the same or equivalent.

equation

noun

A mathematical statement that two expressions are equal, usually written with an equals sign.

equator

noun

The imaginary line around the middle of the Earth, equally distant from the North and South Poles, dividing it into two hemispheres.

equatorial

adj

Relating to, near, or typical of the equator.

equestrian

adj

Relating to horse riding.

equilibrium

noun

A state of balance between opposing forces or influences, where nothing is changing.

equine

adj

Relating to or resembling horses.

equinox

noun

Either of the two times a year (around March 20 and September 22) when day and night are of roughly equal length everywhere on Earth.

equip

verb

To supply someone or something with the items needed for a particular purpose.

equipment

noun

The tools, machinery, or gear needed for a particular activity or purpose.

equipped

adj

Having the necessary tools, resources, or skills for a task.

equitable

adj

Fair and just, especially in treating people according to what they need or deserve.

equity

noun

Fairness and impartiality, especially in the way people are treated.

equivalent

adj

Equal in value, meaning, or effect, though not necessarily identical.

er

intj

Used to fill a pause while thinking of what to say next.

era

noun

A period of time marked out by particular events, developments, or characteristics.

eradicate

verb

To destroy or get rid of something completely, especially a disease or problem.

eradicated

adj

Completely destroyed or wiped out.

eradication

noun

The complete removal or destruction of something, especially a disease or social problem.

erase

verb

To remove marks, writing, or recorded information completely.

erased

adj

Removed or wiped away so that nothing remains.

eraser

noun

A small block of rubber or similar material used to remove pencil or chalk marks.

Erasmus

noun

A student taking part in the Erasmus exchange programme, which lets European university students study abroad for part of their course.

ere

preposition

Before; earlier than (an old-fashioned or literary word).

erect

adjective

Standing straight up; upright rather than leaning or bent over.

erected

adjective

Built or put up; already standing (the past-tense/participle form of "erect").

erectile

adjective

Able to become rigid and swollen by filling with blood, as certain body tissue does.

erection

noun

The act of building or putting something up.

erectus

noun

Short for Homo erectus, an extinct early human species known for walking fully upright.

ergo

adverb

Therefore; as a result — used to introduce a logical conclusion.

Eri

name

A short feminine given name of Japanese origin, often meaning "logical" or "blessed" depending on the characters used.

eric

name

A male given name of Germanic and Old Norse origin, traditionally meaning something like "ever-ruler" or "sole ruler."

Erica

name

A female given name, the feminine form of Eric.

Erich

name

A German form of the given name Eric, also used as a surname.

Erick

name

A male given name, a variant spelling of Eric.

Erickson

name

A surname meaning "son of Eric," anglicized from Scandinavian forms such as Eriksen or Eriksson.

Ericsson

name

A Swedish surname meaning "son of Eric," also the name of a major Swedish telecommunications company.

Erie

name

One of the five Great Lakes, located between the United States and Canada.

Erik

name

A male given name, the Scandinavian spelling of Eric.

Erika

name

A female given name, a spelling variant of Erica.

Eriko

name

A feminine given name of Japanese origin, often meaning "child of logic" or "blessed child."

Eriksen

name

A Scandinavian surname meaning "son of Erik."

Erin

name

A poetic name for Ireland.

erm

interjection

A filler sound used when hesitating or thinking of what to say next.

ermine

noun

A small weasel found in cold northern regions, whose brown fur turns white in winter except for a black-tipped tail.

ern

name

A short, informal form of the male given name Ernest.

Ernest

name

A male given name of Germanic origin, especially popular in the 19th century.

Ernestine

name

A female given name, the feminine form of Ernest.

Ernesto

name

A male given name, the Spanish and Italian form of Ernest.

ERNIE

name

A short, informal form of the male given name Ernest.

Ernst

name

A German male given name and surname, equivalent to Ernest.

erode

verb

To gradually wear away, especially by water, wind, or chemical action.

eroded

adjective

Worn away gradually, as by water, wind, or chemical action.

erogenous

adjective

Sensitive to sexual stimulation.

eros

name

The Greek god of love and desire, often depicted as a winged youth; the Roman equivalent is Cupid.

erosion

noun

The gradual wearing away of land or rock by water, wind, or ice.

erotic

adjective

Relating to or arousing sexual desire.

erotica

noun

Literature, art, or other creative work with sexual content intended to arouse.

eroticism

noun

Sexual desire, excitement, or the quality of being sexually suggestive.

err

verb

To make a mistake; to be wrong.

errand

noun

A short trip made to complete a specific, usually minor, task.

errant

adjective

Straying from what is normal, expected, or proper; behaving badly.

erratic

adj

Unpredictable and inconsistent; changing without any clear pattern.

erratically

adv

In an unpredictable, unsteady way, without a consistent pattern.

erred

verb

Made a mistake; acted or judged incorrectly (past tense of "err").

Errol

name

A masculine given name of Scottish origin, notably borne by actor Errol Flynn.

erroneous

adj

Based on or containing a mistake; not correct.

error

noun

A mistake, especially one made unintentionally.