English dictionary — definitions & meanings

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.

ericka

name

A female given name from the Germanic languages, a less common spelling of Erica and Erika.

Erickson

name

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

ericson

name

A surname originating as a patronymic.

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.

erinaceous

adj

Of, pertaining to, or resembling a hedgehog.

erk

noun

A member of the groundcrew in the RAF.

erm

interjection

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

erma

name

A female given name from the Germanic languages, of rare usage, variant of Irma.

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.

erne

noun

A sea eagle (Haliaeetus), especially the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)

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.

erratum

noun

A published notice reporting an error belatedly discovered in a previous publication.

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.

erroneity

noun

The state or quality of being erroneous; incorrectness.

erroneous

adj

Based on or containing a mistake; not correct.

erroneously

adv

In an erroneous manner.

error

noun

A mistake, especially one made unintentionally.

errorful

adj

Full of error; wrong.

errorless

adj

Free from errors; accurate, correct.

ersatz

adj

An inauthentic or inadequate substitute or imitation.

erse

noun

Either of the Gaelic languages of Ireland and Scotland.

Erskine

name

A Scottish surname and place name, originally from a village on the River Clyde.

erstwhile

adjective

Former; belonging to an earlier time and no longer holding the position or relationship described.

eructation

noun

The act of belching, of expelling gas from the stomach through the mouth.

erudite

adj

Having or showing deep knowledge gained through extensive reading and study.

erudition

noun

Profound knowledge acquired from learning and scholarship.

erupt

verb

To violently throw out material, especially lava, ash, or steam from a volcano.

eruption

noun

A sudden, forceful discharge of material, especially lava or ash from a volcano.

eruptive

adj

That erupts or bursts forth.

erw

noun

A medieval Welsh unit of surface area equal to 11664 sq ft, or about ¼ acre.

Erwin

name

A masculine given name of Germanic origin, related to Irwin, meaning "boar friend."

erythema

noun

Abnormal redness and inflammation of the skin, due to vasodilation.

erythrite

noun

Red cobalt, a secondary hydrated arsenate of cobalt minerals with the formula (Co₃(AsO₄)₂·8H₂O).

es

noun

The name of the Cyrillic letter С (lowercase с), used in Russian and other Slavic alphabets.

escalade

noun

The act of climbing over a wall or fortification, especially using ladders during an assault.

Escalante

name

A Spanish surname meaning "climber" or "one who scales," and the name of a town in Utah.

escalate

verb

To increase in intensity, size, or seriousness.

escalation

noun

A rapid increase in the size, intensity, or seriousness of something.

escalator

noun

A moving staircase made of a continuous loop of steps that carries people between floors.

escalatory

adj

Involving or relating to escalation.

escallop

noun

A bearing or charge consisting of an escalop shell, considered as a sign that the bearer had been on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

escapable

adj

Able to be escaped, fled or run from.

escapade

noun

A reckless, adventurous, or mischievous act, often one that breaks the rules.

escape

verb

To get free from confinement, danger, or an unpleasant situation.

escaped

adj

Having broken free from confinement, especially prison.

escapee

noun

A person who has escaped from prison or another form of confinement.

escaping

noun

The act of getting free from confinement or an unwanted situation.

escapist

adj

Intended for or tending toward escape; especially, used to avoid, deny, or forget about reality, as through fantasy.

escargot

noun

A dish of cooked edible snails, typically served in the shell with garlic butter, associated with French cuisine.

escarpment

noun

A steep descent or declivity; steep face or edge of a ridge; ground about a fortified place, cut away nearly vertically to prevent hostile approach.

eschatology

noun

A system of doctrines concerning final matters, such as death.

eschaton

noun

The apocalypse; the approach of Christ’s reign immediately preceding the end of the world; a conception of or circumstance pertaining to this era.

Escher

name

A Dutch surname, most associated with graphic artist M. C. Escher, known for mathematically inspired prints.

eschew

verb

To deliberately avoid or keep away from something, usually on moral or practical grounds.

eschscholzia

noun

Any of the flowers in the Eschscholzia genus, especially the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

Escobar

name

A Spanish surname meaning "bramble patch" or "thicket," notably borne by Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.

escort

noun

A person or group accompanying someone to protect or guide them.

escorted

adj

Accompanied by a guide, guard, or companion.

escorting

noun

The act of accompanying someone, especially to protect or guide them.

escrow

noun

Money or property held by a neutral third party until agreed conditions are met.

esculent

adj

Suitable for eating; eatable, edible.

escutcheon

noun

The shield on which a coat of arms is displayed, or, by extension, the coat of arms itself.

ese

noun

An informal, chiefly Mexican-American term of address for a man, roughly equivalent to "dude" or "man."

esker

noun

A long, narrow, sinuous ridge created by deposits from a stream running beneath a glacier.

Eskimo

noun

A member of the indigenous peoples of the Arctic regions of Siberia, Alaska, Canada, and Greenland, including the Inuit and Yupik.

esky

noun

An insulated picnic cooler, using ice or refrigerated blocks to keep food and drinks cool.

ESL

noun

The teaching or learning of English by people whose first language is something else, especially while they are living in an English-speaking country.

Esme

name

A feminine given name derived from the French "aimé," meaning "esteemed" or "loved."

Esmeralda

name

A feminine given name derived from the Spanish word for "emerald."

ESOL

noun

English language teaching provided to people living in an English-speaking country whose first language is not English; also the subject or qualification itself.

esoteric

adj

Understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge or interest.

esoterica

noun

Things that are esoteric; things that are impractical or specialised.

esotericism

noun

The tendency to promote or desire the esoteric.

esotericist

noun

One who appreciates, promotes or desires the esoteric.

esoterism

noun

The inward forms of faith and religion; transcendence, mystic experience, and internal realizations of the Divine.

ESP

noun

The supposed ability to gain information without using the ordinary senses, for example by telepathy, clairvoyance or precognition.

espada

noun

A bullfighter who delivers the final sword thrust; a matador.

Esparza

name

A Spanish and Basque surname, originally denoting someone from a place called Esparza.

especial

adj

Exceptional in importance or significance; special.

especially

adv

To a greater degree than usual; particularly.

esperanza

noun

yellow bells (Tecoma stans)

espial

noun

An act of noticing or observing.

Espinosa

name

A Spanish surname meaning "thorny" or "place of thorns."

espionage

noun

The practice of spying or using spies to gather secret information, especially for a government or organization.

esplanade

noun

A clear space between a citadel and the nearest houses of the town.

Esposito

name

An Italian surname historically given to foundlings, from a word meaning "exposed" or "abandoned."

espousal

noun

A betrothal.

espouse

verb

To adopt a belief, cause or way of life and openly support it.

espresso

noun

A strong, concentrated coffee made by forcing hot water through finely ground beans under high pressure.

esprit

noun

Spirit, enthusiasm.

espy

verb

To find out or observe (someone or something, especially if not easy to see) by spying or looking; to catch sight of; to see; to spot.

esquamulose

adj

Not covered in scales or scale-like objects; having a smooth skin or outer covering.

esquire

noun

A title placed after a lawyer's name in the US, often abbreviated "Esq."

ess

noun

The name of the letter S.

essay

noun

A short piece of writing that explores or argues a particular topic.

essayer

noun

One who performs an essay; an experimenter.

essayist

noun

One who composes essays; a writer of short compositions.

Essen

name

A large industrial city in western Germany, historically important for coal and steel production.

essence

noun

The most basic, defining quality of something — what makes it what it truly is.

essential

adj

Absolutely necessary; unable to be done without.

essentially

adv

Basically, or in the most important respects.

essentials

noun

The basic facts or items needed to understand or get by in a situation.

Essex

name

A county in eastern England, on the North Sea coast northeast of London.

Essie

name

A feminine given name, a diminutive of Esther or Estelle.

est

noun

Grace or favour shown to someone; goodwill.

establish

verb

To set something up so firmly that it becomes permanent or generally accepted.

established

adjective

Widely recognized and accepted because it has existed for a long time.

establishing

noun

The process of setting something up so it becomes permanent or accepted.

establishment

noun

A business, organization, or institution, especially one with a physical location.

estacade

noun

A dyke of piles in the sea, a river, etc., to hinder the approach of an enemy.

estancia

noun

A large rural estate in Latin America; a kind of ranch.

estate

noun

A large area of land, usually with a big house, owned by one person or family.

Este

name

An Italian noble family name, historically rulers of Ferrara, Modena, and Reggio.

Esteban

name

A masculine given name, the Spanish form of Stephen, meaning "crown" or "garland."

esteem

noun

Respect and admiration for someone or something.

esteemed

adj

Widely respected or admired.

Estella

name

A feminine given name meaning "star," related to Estelle and Stella.

Estelle

name

A feminine given name derived from the French and Latin word for "star."

Estep

name

An American surname, likely an anglicized form of a German or French name.

ester

noun

A type of chemical compound formed when an acid and an alcohol react together, releasing water; many esters give fruits and flowers their smell.

Estes

name

An English surname, and the name of Estes Park, a town in Colorado near Rocky Mountain National Park.