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 woollen fabric with a diagonal ribbed pattern on one face.

gabber

noun

(informal) Someone who lies or tries to trick people.

gabble

verb

To speak quickly and carelessly, often without making much sense.

gabbler

noun

Someone who chatters on and on about something unimportant.

Gabby

adjective

Talking a great deal, especially about unimportant things.

Gabe

name

A short form of the male given name Gabriel.

gabfest

noun

An event, such as a meeting, at which people converse for a long time.

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

An uncommon spelling of Gaddafi.

gadaffy

name

An unusual spelling of Gaddafi.

gaddaffy

name

An uncommon spelling of Gaddafi.

Gaddafi

name

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

gaddhafi

name

An unusual spelling of Gaddafi.

gaddis

name

A surname of Scottish Gaelic, variant of Geddes origin.

gadfly

noun

A fly, such as a botfly or horsefly, that bites animals and feeds on their blood, irritating them.

gadget

noun

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

gadgie

noun

A person with little education who behaves like a hooligan, commits petty crime or acts loutishly; the word can also suggest youth.

gadhaffi

name

An uncommon spelling of Gaddafi.

gadling

noun

A close companion, especially one who fights alongside you.

gadolinium

noun

A chemical element with the symbol Gd and the atomic number 64, which is a ductile, silvery-white metal.

gadsbud

intj

(dated) An exclamation showing surprise, shock or delight.

gadwall

noun

A dabbling duck that breeds widely across the northern hemisphere.

gadzooks

intj

(dated) An exclamation of surprise or shock.

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 employed 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

Someone who writes or performs comic jokes.

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 person who is not Japanese.

gail

name

A female given name, short for 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

Inclined to take advantage of others.

gaining

noun

The act of acquiring or profiting; a gain.

gainless

adj

Bringing no profit or benefit; not worthwhile.

gainsay

verb

To speak against something, or deny that it is true.

gainstay

verb

To resist or stand in opposition to something.

gainstrife

noun

A struggle or fight against something.

gainstriving

noun

The act of struggling or fighting against something.

gait

noun

A person's particular manner or pattern of walking.

gajanana

name

Another name for Ganesha, a 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

The name of a material similar to celluloid and made from casein, once used as 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

Confused talk or writing that makes no sense.

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 state of being gallant; gallantry.

gallantness

noun

The characteristic 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

Someone who owns or runs 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 pot that pharmacists once used to store medicine or ointment.

gallium

noun

A soft, bluish metallic chemical element with the symbol Ga and atomic number 31.

gallivant

verb

To travel or wander around for fun, with no fixed 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

Relating to someone who speaks French, or to French culture.

galloping

noun

Movement at a gallop; running very fast.

gallovidian

adj

Belonging to or connected with Galloway, in Scotland.

Galloway

name

A historic region in southwestern Scotland.

gallows

noun

A wooden frame used for hanging condemned prisoners.

gallstone

noun

A small hard lump made of cholesterol and other substances that can build up inside the organ that stores bile.

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

A single strap of a pair of braces worn to hold up trousers.

galoot

noun

Someone who is clumsy or lacks manners.

galore

adj

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

galosh

noun

A shoe or boot put on over ordinary footwear to keep it dry 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."

galvanic

adjective

Relating to electricity produced by a chemical reaction.

galvanised

adj

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

galvanize

verb

To cover something with a layer of metal using an electric current.

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

A jump made by 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 run and jump about happily, in a playful way.

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 flat surface marked out for a game, on which pieces are placed and moved.

gamebreaking

adj

Describes something that ruins a game by using a flaw or loophole to make it too easy.

gamekeeper

noun

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

gameness

noun

Willingness to keep trying despite difficulty; courage or pluck.

gamepad

noun

A handheld device for controlling video games, operated 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

A person skilled at gaining an unfair edge through clever or borderline tactics.

gamester

noun

Someone who plays games.

gamete

noun

A reproductive cell, such as a sperm or egg, that carries half the normal number of chromosomes.

gamine

noun

A girl, often homeless, who lives and wanders on the streets.

gaming

noun

The activity of playing a game.

gamma

noun

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

gammon

noun

A joint of pork leg that has been lightly cured.

gammy

adj

Injured or not working properly, especially describing a leg.

gamp

noun

(informal, dated) A man who is sexually attracted to transgender women.