English dictionary — definitions & meanings

enunciation

noun

The way a person pronounces words, especially how clearly and distinctly each sound is formed.

envelop

verb

To surround, enclose or enfold.

envelope

noun

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

enveloped

adjective

Completely wrapped, covered, or surrounded.

envenom

verb

To inject or put venom onto or into (someone or something).

envenomation

noun

The injection of a venom by means of a sting, etc.

envenomed

adj

Poisonous, noxious; embittered.

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.

enviously

adv

in an envious manner or to an envious degree

environ

adv

In the neighbourhood; around.

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.

envisage

verb

To conceive or see something within one's mind; to imagine or envision.

envisaged

verb

Imagined or pictured something as a future possibility; formed a mental picture of how something would be.

envision

verb

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

envoy

noun

A person sent by a government or organisation to represent it in dealings with another, especially on a specific mission.

envy

noun

A feeling of resentful longing for something someone else has.

enwrap

verb

To wrap around, surround; to envelop.

enya

name

A female given name from Irish; the phoneticised form of the Irish Eithne.

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.

eonism

noun

The pretence of being the opposite sex, especially that by a man of being a woman; transvestism.

eonist

noun

A person who exhibits or engages in eonism.

ep

noun

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

epanorthosis

noun

A rhetorical device or element in which a speaker or writer retracts a word that has been spoken and substitutes a stronger or more suitable word; often done for emphasis or sarcasm.

Epcot

name

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

epenthetic

adj

Of or pertaining to epenthesis.

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.

ephraimite

noun

An allegiant of the Israelite tribal patriarch Ephraim, a member of the tribe purportedly descended from him, or an inhabitant of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (930–720 B.C.), in which the tribe of Ephraim was preëminent.

ephrem

name

A male given name from Classical Syriac, of historical usage, equivalent to English Ephraim, notably held by Ephrem the Syrian.

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.

epicene

adj

Of or relating to a class of Greek and Latin nouns that may refer to males or females but have a fixed grammatical gender (feminine, masculine, neuter, etc.).

epicenter

noun

The point on the earth's surface directly above the underground spot where an earthquake begins.

epicure

noun

A person who takes particular pleasure in fine food and drink.

epicurean

adj

Pursuing pleasure, especially in reference to food or comfort.

epicureanism

noun

The philosophical belief that pleasure is the highest good, particularly as advocated by Epicurus with a focus on mental pleasures and on avoidance of pain (ataraxia) through moderation and common virtue.

epidemic

noun

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

epidemiology

noun

The branch of medicine that studies how often diseases occur in populations, who they affect and why, and how they can be controlled.

epidural

noun

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

epigonation

noun

A stiff, lozenge-shaped cloth hanging at the right thigh worn as a vestment by bishops and some priests in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

epigonic

adj

Being or relating to an epigone or disciple; imitative.

epigonous

adj

Following and modelling after another thing.

epigrammatic

adj

having the characteristics of an epigram

epigraph

noun

An inscription, especially on a building.

epigraphy

noun

Inscriptions collectively.

epilate

verb

To remove hair from the skin in such a way that removes or destroys the root, especially by plucking it out.

epilation

noun

The removal of hair from the skin in such a way that removes or destroys the root.

epilator

noun

An electrically-powered device used for hair removal by mechanically grasping multiple hairs simultaneously and pulling them out.

epilepsy

noun

A neurological condition that causes recurring seizures.

epileptic

adj

Relating to epilepsy or to people who have it.

epilog

noun

Uncommon spelling of epilogue.

epilogue

noun

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

epimanikion

noun

A cuff worn over the sticharion by clergy in the Greek Orthodox Church, corresponding to a maniple in other Catholic churches.

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.

epiphytic

adj

Of or pertaining to an epiphyte.

episcopate

noun

Bishops seen as a group.

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.

epithet

noun

A term used to characterize a person or thing.

epithite

noun

A lazy, worthless fellow; a vagrant.

epitomator

noun

Synonym of epitomizer, a writer of epitomes.

epitome

noun

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

epitomizer

noun

One who epitomizes, a writer of epitomes, a summarizer.

epitrachelion

noun

The liturgical vestment worn by priests and bishops of the Eastern Orthodox Church as the symbol of their priesthood, corresponding to the Western stole.

epoch

noun

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

epochal

adj

Of or pertaining to an epoch.

epoche

noun

Moment of theoretical suspension of all action.

epochless

adj

Of no particular epoch; eternal; timeless.

eponym

noun

A person who gave or supposedly gave their name to a people, place, institution, etc.

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.

EPUB

noun

An open standard file format for digital books, in which the text reflows to fit whatever screen it is being read on, so that page breaks and line lengths change with the device and the chosen type size.

EQ

noun

A measure of a person's emotional intelligence: how well they recognise, understand and manage their own feelings and those of other people.

equable

adj

Unvarying, calm and steady; constant and uniform.

equal

adj

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

equalise

verb

Non-Oxford British English standard form of equalize.

equaliser

noun

Non-Oxford British English standard spelling of equalizer.

equalitarian

adj

Characterized by social equality and equal rights for all people.

equality

noun

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

equalize

verb

To make equal; to cause to correspond in amount or degree.

equalizing

adj

Serving to balance the score; capable of making both sides equal or evenly matched.

equally

adv

In equal shares, amounts, or degree; evenly.

equals

noun

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

equanimity

noun

A calm, steady state of mind that holds up under strain, so that difficulty or provocation does not throw the person off balance.

equanimous

adj

Calm and composed; of stable disposition.

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.

equilibrate

verb

To balance, or bring into equilibrium.

equilibrium

noun

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

equilibrize

verb

To balance, or bring into equilibrium.

equilux

noun

A day in which the durations of light and darkness are equal, contrasted with an equinox, where they may differ slightly due to the angular diameter of the sun and atmospheric refraction.

equine

adj

Relating to or resembling horses.

equinoctial

adj

Of or relating to the spring or autumnal equinox.

equinoctially

adv

In an equinoctial manner; relative to the equinox.

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.

equipoise

noun

A state of balance; equilibrium.

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.

equitation

noun

The art, practice or act of horseriding.

equity

noun

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

equivalence

noun

The condition of being equivalent or essentially equal.

equivalent

adj

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

equivalently

adv

In an equivalent manner; equally.

equivocal

adjective

Open to more than one interpretation, often deliberately so, and therefore hard to pin down.

equivocally

adv

With ambiguity; with uncertainty.

equivocate

verb

To speak using double meaning; to speak ambiguously, unclearly or doubtfully, with intent to deceive; to vacillate in one's answers, responding with equivoques.

equivocation

noun

A logical fallacy resulting from the use of multiple meanings of a single expression.

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.

eradicable

adj

Capable of being eradicated.

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.

eradicative

adj

Tending or serving to eradicate; curing or destroying thoroughly, as a disease or any evil.

eradicator

noun

A person who, or thing that eradicates.

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.

erasmian

adj

Of or pertaining to Erasmus (Catholic priest and theologian).

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.

erenow

adv

Before now; prior to this point in time.

erewhile

adv

Some time ago; beforehand; formerly.

ereyesterday

adv

On the day before yesterday.

ergo

adverb

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

ergonomic

adjective

Designed to fit the human body so that it can be used comfortably and without strain or injury.

ergonomics

noun

The study of how equipment, furniture and workplaces should be designed so that people can use them comfortably, safely and efficiently.

Eri

name

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