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.

Gabby

adjective

Talking a great deal, especially about unimportant things.

Gabe

name

A short form of the male given name Gabriel.

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!"

Gaddafi

name

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

gadget

noun

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

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.

gaffer

noun

The chief lighting technician on a film or television set.

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.

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.

gaily

adv

In a cheerful, carefree way.

gain

verb

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

Gaines

name

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

gaining

noun

The act of acquiring or profiting; a gain.

gait

noun

A person's particular manner or pattern of walking.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

galloping

noun

Movement at a gallop; running very fast.

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.

galore

adj

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

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."

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.

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.

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.

gamekeeper

noun

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

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.

gamma

noun

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

gammy

adj

Injured or not working properly, especially describing a leg.

gan

name

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

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.

Ganesha

name

The elephant-headed Hindu god of wisdom, intellect, and new beginnings, son of Shiva and Parvati.

gang

noun

A group of people, often criminals, who band together and share an identity or purpose.

ganga

name

The river Ganges, personified as a goddess in Hinduism.

gangbanger

noun

A member of a street gang, especially one involved in gang violence.

gangbusters

adj

Extremely successful or thriving.

Ganges

name

A major river flowing through India and Bangladesh, considered sacred in Hinduism.

ganging

noun

In fishing, a short length of line used to attach a hook to the main fishing line.

gangland

noun

The world of organized crime and criminal gangs.

Gangnam

name

A wealthy, fashionable district of Seoul, South Korea.

gangplank

noun

A movable board or ramp used as a bridge between a ship and the dock.

gangrene

noun

The death and decay of body tissue, usually caused by a lost or blocked blood supply, or infection.

gangster

noun

A member of an organized criminal gang.

gangway

noun

A narrow passage or aisle used to enter or exit somewhere, such as between seats or buildings.

ganja

noun

Marijuana, especially as smoked for its intoxicating effect.

Gannon

name

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

Gant

name

A surname, a variant of Gaunt, historically associated with the city of Ghent.

gantry

noun

A large overhead framework used to support equipment, signage, or a crane, often spanning a road or railway.

Ganymede

name

In Greek mythology, a beautiful youth carried off to serve as cupbearer to the gods on Olympus.

Ganz

name

A German and Jewish surname meaning "whole" or "entire."

Gao

name

A common Chinese surname meaning "tall" or "high."

gap

noun

An empty space or opening between two things, or a break in something continuous.

gape

verb

To stare with your mouth open wide, usually in shock or amazement.

gaping

adj

Wide open, especially describing a large hole, wound, or crack.

gar

noun

A long, slender freshwater fish with narrow, tooth-filled jaws, found mainly in North America.

garage

noun

A building, or part of one, used to store a car or other vehicle.

garb

noun

A style of clothing, especially one associated with a particular role, place, or era.

garbage

noun

Waste material, especially food scraps and household rubbish, thrown away as useless.

Garber

name

A German and Jewish surname, an occupational name for a tanner.

garbled

adj

Distorted or scrambled to the point of being unclear or hard to understand.

garbo

noun

Australian informal term for a garbage collector.

Garcia

name

A very common Spanish surname of uncertain but ancient origin, possibly from a Basque or pre-Roman personal name.

garden

noun

An outdoor area, often next to a house, where flowers, vegetables, or other plants are grown.

gardener

noun

A person who grows and tends plants, either as a job or a hobby.

gardenia

noun

A shrub or small tree with glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers, or the flower itself.

gardening

noun

The activity of growing and tending plants, especially in a garden.

Gardiner

name

An English surname, a variant spelling of Gardner, originally an occupational name for a gardener.

Gardner

name

An English surname, an occupational name for someone who tended a garden.

gare

noun

The coarse, wiry wool that grows on a sheep's legs, of lower quality than the wool on its body.

Gareth

name

A male given name of Welsh origin, borne by a knight in Arthurian legend.

Garfield

name

A male given name and surname; also the name of a famous orange cartoon cat.

Garfunkel

name

A Jewish surname, notably borne by musician Art Garfunkel of the duo Simon and Garfunkel.

gargantuan

adj

Enormous in size, extent, or amount.

gargle

verb

To rinse the mouth or throat with liquid, tilting the head back and pushing air through it to make a bubbling sound.

gargling

noun

The act of rinsing the throat with a liquid held at the back of the mouth while exhaling air through it.

gargoyle

noun

A carved stone figure, often grotesque, that projects from a building and channels rainwater away from the walls.

garibaldi

noun

A flat biscuit made of currants pressed between two thin layers of pastry.

garish

adj

Unpleasantly bright or showy, in a tasteless way.

garland

noun

A decorative ring or chain of flowers, leaves, or other material, worn or hung as a decoration.

garlic

noun

A plant related to the onion, grown for its strong-smelling, pungent bulb used widely in cooking.

garment

noun

An item of clothing.

garner

verb

To gather or collect something, especially over time and through effort, such as support, praise, or information.

garnet

noun

A hard, deep red mineral used as a gemstone or as an abrasive.

garnett

verb

To shred and separate waste textile fibers, such as old rags, so they can be reprocessed into new yarn.

Garnier

name

A French surname, also a well-known cosmetics and hair care brand founded by Alfred Garnier.

garnish

verb

To decorate a dish of food with a small extra item, or more generally to decorate or embellish something.

garret

noun

A small room at the top of a house, just under the roof, often used as a cramped living space.

Garrett

name

A masculine given name and surname derived from the Norman French form of Gerard.