English dictionary — definitions & meanings

Ga

noun

The Ga language, spoken by the Ga people mainly around Accra in Ghana.

gab

noun

Idle talk or chatter.

gabardine

noun

A type of woolen cloth with a diagonal ribbed texture on one side.

gabber

noun

A liar; a deceiver.

gabble

verb

To talk fast, idly, foolishly, or without meaning.

gabbler

noun

One who gabbles, or prates loquaciously on a trifling subject.

Gabby

adjective

Talking a great deal, especially about unimportant things.

Gabe

name

A short form of the male given name Gabriel.

gabfest

noun

An occasion (such as a meeting) where people talk at length.

gabi

noun

Taro, a tropical plant grown for its starchy underground corm, which looks a bit like a potato.

gable

noun

The triangular section of wall at the end of a pitched roof, formed where two roof slopes meet.

Gables

name

A surname and place name element, most familiar from the Florida city of Coral Gables.

Gabor

name

A surname of Hungarian origin.

Gabriel

name

A male given name of Hebrew origin, meaning roughly "God is my strength."

Gabriela

name

A female given name, the Latinate feminine form of Gabriel.

Gabriele

name

A male given name used in Italian, equivalent to the English name Gabriel.

Gabriella

name

A female given name, the Italian feminine form of Gabriel.

Gabrielle

name

A female given name of French origin, the feminine form of Gabriel.

Gaby

name

A short form of the female given name Gabrielle, or occasionally a French surname.

Gacy

name

A surname.

gad

interjection

An old-fashioned exclamation of surprise, similar to "goodness!" or "by God!"

gadaafi

name

Rare spelling of Gaddafi.

gadaffy

name

Uncommon spelling of Gaddafi.

gaddaffy

name

Rare spelling of Gaddafi.

Gaddafi

name

A surname, an English transliteration of the Arabic name al-Qaḏḏāfiyy.

gaddhafi

name

Uncommon spelling of Gaddafi.

gaddis

name

A surname from Scottish Gaelic, variant of Geddes.

gadfly

noun

Any dipterous (“two-winged”) insect or fly of the family Oestridae (commonly known as a botfly) or Tabanidae (horsefly), noted for irritating animals by buzzing about them, and biting them to suck their blood; a gadbee.

gadget

noun

A small mechanical or electronic device, especially a clever or useful one.

gadgie

noun

A person who is poorly educated and engages in hooliganism, petty criminality or loutish behaviour. This usage sometimes carries the connotation of youth.

gadhaffi

name

Uncommon spelling of Gaddafi.

gadling

noun

A companion in arms; fellow; comrade.

gadsbud

intj

An expression of surprise, shock, pleasure etc.

gadzooks

intj

An expression of surprise, shock, etc.

Gael

noun

A member of the Gaelic-speaking peoples native to Ireland, Scotland, or the Isle of Man.

Gaelic

noun

Any of the Goidelic languages, especially Irish, Scottish, or Manx Gaelic.

Gaeta

name

A coastal town in the Lazio region of Italy.

gaff

noun

A pole with a large hook on the end, used to pull large fish out of the water.

gaffe

noun

An embarrassing mistake made in public, especially something tactless said in front of the wrong people.

gaffer

noun

The chief lighting technician on a film or television set.

gaffle

noun

A lever used to bend a crossbow.

Gaffney

name

A surname of Irish origin.

gag

noun

Something placed in or over the mouth to prevent someone from speaking or crying out.

gaga

adjective

Mentally confused, especially due to old age.

Gagarin

name

A Russian surname, most famously belonging to Yuri Gagarin, the first person in space.

gage

noun

Something given as a pledge or security, often as a challenge to a duel or contest.

gagged

adjective

Prevented from speaking, either literally by a physical gag or figuratively by a restriction.

gagging

noun

The act of retching, or of preventing someone from speaking.

gaggle

noun

A flock of geese, especially on the ground rather than in flight.

gagman

noun

A writer or performer of gags.

Gagnon

name

A French-Canadian surname, one of the most common family names in Quebec.

gah

intj

Used to express sudden frustration or annoyance.

Gaia

noun

A way of describing the whole Earth as a single living, self-regulating system.

gaiety

noun

A cheerful, lighthearted mood; happiness.

gaijin

noun

A non-Japanese person.

gail

name

A female given name, a diminutive of Abigail.

gaily

adv

In a cheerful, carefree way.

gain

verb

To get or come to have something, especially something useful or valuable.

gained

verb

Past tense and past participle of gain: obtained or acquired something, especially something desirable, over time or through effort.

Gaines

name

An English surname, an occupational name related to a steward or one who collects rents, and also used as a given name.

gainful

adj

Disposed to taking advantage of.

gaining

noun

The act of acquiring or profiting; a gain.

gainless

adj

Not producing gain; not bringing advantage; unprofitable.

gainsay

verb

To say something in contradiction to.

gainstay

verb

To stand against or in opposition to; resist; oppose.

gainstrife

noun

Contention; striving against.

gainstriving

noun

A striving against; contention.

gait

noun

A person's particular manner or pattern of walking.

gajanana

name

Ganesha (Hindu deity).

gal

noun

An informal word for a girl or young woman.

gala

noun

A large, festive public celebration or event.

galactic

adj

Relating to a galaxy, especially the Milky Way.

Galahad

name

In Arthurian legend, a knight famed for his purity who succeeded in finding the Holy Grail.

galalith

name

A product, resembling celluloid and made from casein, that was an early substitute for ivory.

Galan

name

A Spanish surname derived from a word meaning "gallant" or "elegant."

galaxy

noun

A massive system of stars, gas, dust, and often a central black hole, held together by gravity.

gale

noun

A very strong wind, stronger than a breeze but not as violent as a storm.

Galen

name

A celebrated Greek physician and philosopher of ancient Rome whose ideas shaped Western medicine for over a thousand years.

Galia

noun

A type of hybrid melon with sweet, greenish flesh and a netted rind.

Galicia

name

A region and autonomous community in northwestern Spain known for its rugged coastline and Celtic heritage.

galilee

name

A hilly region in northern Israel, prominent in the biblical accounts of Jesus' life.

galileo

name

Galileo Galilei, the Italian astronomer and physicist who improved the telescope and championed the idea that Earth orbits the Sun.

galimatias

noun

Nonsense, gobbledygook.

Galina

name

A female given name common in Russian and Bulgarian, meaning roughly "calm."

gall

noun

Bold, brazen nerve; shameless audacity.

Gallagher

name

An Irish surname, anglicized from Gaelic, meaning "foreign helper."

gallant

adj

Brave and honorable, especially in the face of danger.

gallanthood

noun

The condition of being gallant, gallantry.

gallantness

noun

The quality of being gallant.

gallantry

noun

Great courage, especially in battle or under difficult circumstances.

galleon

noun

A large, multi-decked sailing ship with square rigging, used mainly from the 15th to 17th centuries for war and trade.

galleria

noun

A covered shopping arcade or indoor space lined with stores.

gallerist

noun

The owner or operator of an art gallery

gallery

noun

A room or building used to display works of art.

galley

noun

The kitchen area on a ship or aircraft.

Gallipoli

name

A peninsula in Turkey where a major, costly Allied campaign was fought during World War I.

gallipot

noun

A small, glazed earthenware jar once used by apothecaries for holding medicine and ointment.

gallivant

verb

To roam about for pleasure without any definite plan.

gallivanting

noun

Wandering around from place to place in search of fun, often without much purpose.

Gallo

name

A minority Romance language spoken in northwestern France, alongside Breton.

gallon

noun

A unit of liquid volume, roughly 3.8 liters in the US and 4.5 liters in the UK.

gallop

noun

A horse's fastest gait, where all four hooves leave the ground at once.

gallophone

adj

Describing a speaker of French or their culture

galloping

noun

Movement at a gallop; running very fast.

gallovidian

adj

Of or relating to Galloway, Scotland.

Galloway

name

A historic region in southwestern Scotland.

gallows

noun

A wooden frame used for hanging condemned prisoners.

Gallup

name

An English surname, widely known from the Gallup organization famous for public opinion polling, and also a city in New Mexico.

gallus

noun

One strap of a pair of galluses (suspenders).

galoot

noun

A clumsy or uncouth person.

galore

adj

In great abundance (always placed after the noun it describes).

galosh

noun

An overshoe or boot worn in wet weather:

Galt

name

A Scottish surname, also notable as the name of the character John Galt in Ayn Rand's novel "Atlas Shrugged."

Galvan

name

A Spanish surname derived from a personal name related to Galvano, meaning "white hawk."

galvanised

adj

Of metal, coated with zinc as a form of protection against rust.

galvanize

verb

To coat with a layer of metal by electrochemical means.

Galvin

name

An Irish surname anglicized from Gaelic, also used as a given name.

Galway

name

A city and county on the west coast of Ireland, known for its arts scene and Atlantic coastline.

gam

noun

A person's leg, especially a shapely one — a dated, informal usage.

gama

noun

Short for gama grass, a tall wild grass used as forage.

gambade

noun

The leap of a horse.

gambit

noun

In chess, an opening move where a player deliberately gives up a pawn or piece to gain a stronger position.

gamble

verb

To bet money or stake something valuable on an uncertain outcome, especially in games of chance.

gambler

noun

A person who bets money on games of chance or uncertain outcomes.

gambling

noun

The activity of betting money on games, sports, or other uncertain events, mixing skill and luck.

Gamboa

name

A Spanish and Portuguese surname originating from a place name in the Basque Country.

gambol

verb

To move about playfully; to frolic.

Gambon

name

A surname of Irish origin, notably borne by the actor Sir Michael Gambon.

game

noun

An activity played for entertainment or competition, following a set of rules.

gameboard

noun

A portable surface marked for playing a game, and on which the counters or other pieces are placed and moved.

gamebreaking

adj

Who or which breaks a game, rendering it unchallenging by altering its rules or exploiting loopholes or weaknesses.

gamekeeper

noun

A person responsible for protecting and managing wildlife on an estate, especially game animals raised for hunting.

gameness

noun

The quality of being game; bravery, courage or pluck

gamepad

noun

A type of game controller held in both hands and controlled with the thumbs.

gamer

noun

A person who plays video games regularly, often as a serious hobby.

Games

noun

The Olympic Games, or a similarly large multi-sport competition.

gamesman

noun

One who engages in gamesmanship.

gamester

noun

A person who plays games.

gamine

noun

A (usually female) street urchin; a homeless girl.

gaming

noun

The playing of a game.

gamma

noun

The third letter of the Greek alphabet (Γ, γ).

gammon

noun

A cut of quick-cured pork leg.

gammy

adj

Injured or not working properly, especially describing a leg.

gamp

noun

A gynandromorphophile, a tranny chaser.

gamut

noun

A (normally) complete range.

gan

name

One of the major groups of Chinese dialects, spoken mainly in Jiangxi province.

ganapati

name

Ganesha (Hindu deity).

Gandalf

name

A wizard character in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings."

gander

noun

An adult male goose.

Gandhi

name

Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian independence leader famous for his philosophy of nonviolent resistance.