English dictionary — definitions & meanings

grill

noun

A rack of metal bars used for cooking food over direct heat.

grilled

adj

Cooked on a grill, typically over direct heat.

grilling

noun

The act of cooking food over direct heat.

Grills

name

A surname.

grim

adj

Bleak, gloomy, or discouraging.

grimace

noun

A twisted facial expression, usually showing pain, disgust, or discomfort.

Grimaldi

name

An Italian surname, and the name of the ruling family of Monaco.

grimalkin

noun

A cat, especially an elderly female.

grime

noun

A layer of dirt, soot, or grease that has built up and is hard to remove.

Grimm

name

A German surname, most famously borne by the Brothers Grimm, collectors of German folk tales.

grimoire

noun

A book of magical instructions or spells, often used for summoning or invoking spirits.

Grimsby

name

A large town and seaport in Lincolnshire, England; also a town in Ontario, Canada named after it.

grimy

adj

Covered in dirt or grease.

grin

noun

A wide smile that shows the teeth.

grinch

noun

A grumpy, joyless person who spoils others' fun, especially around the holidays.

grind

verb

To crush or wear something down into smaller pieces through friction, such as grinding coffee beans.

grinder

noun

A device or machine used to crush, grind, or sharpen something, such as a coffee grinder or an angle grinder.

grinding

noun

The action of crushing or wearing something down through friction.

grindstone

noun

A rotating stone wheel used for sharpening or smoothing tools and blades.

gringo

noun

A term, sometimes derogatory, used mainly in Latin America for a white foreigner, especially an American.

grinning

noun

A broad, toothy smile, or the act of smiling that way.

grip

verb

To take hold of something firmly, especially with the hand.

gripe

verb

To complain, often persistently about something minor.

griping

noun

Persistent complaining, usually about small annoyances.

gripped

adj

Completely absorbed or captivated by something.

gripper

noun

A person who or thing which grips something.

gripping

adj

So engaging or exciting that it holds your full attention.

grise

noun

A step (in a flight of stairs); a degree.

Griselda

noun

A woman regarded as remarkably patient and uncomplaining, especially in the face of mistreatment — from the legendary figure of the same name.

Grisham

name

A surname, notably borne by novelist John Grisham.

grisly

adv

In a horrifying or gruesome manner.

Grissom

name

A surname, notably borne by astronaut Gus Grissom.

gristle

noun

Tough cartilage found in meat.

grit

noun

Small, hard particles such as sand, dirt, or grime.

Grits

noun

A porridge made from coarsely ground corn, especially popular in the southern United States.

gritstone

noun

A form of sedimentary rock, similar to sandstone but coarser.

gritty

adj

Containing or covered with sand-like particles.

grizz

noun

An informal, shortened name for a grizzly bear.

grizzle

verb

To make or become grey, as with age.

grizzly

noun

A large, powerful brown bear native to North America, known scientifically as a subspecies of brown bear.

gro

adjective

Slang for disgusting or gross.

groan

noun

A low, drawn-out sound made when someone is in pain, upset, or annoyed.

groaner

noun

One who groans or complains.

groaning

adjective

Making a low sound of pain, strain, or complaint.

groat

noun

A hulled grain, especially oats with the outer husk removed.

groatless

adj

Without a groat; very poor.

grocer

noun

A person or shop that sells food and household supplies.

groceries

noun

Food and other everyday household items bought from a store.

grocery

noun

A store that sells food and everyday household items.

grog

noun

A drink made from rum mixed with water, traditionally given to sailors.

Grogan

noun

A vulgar slang word for a piece of feces.

groggery

noun

An establishment that sells alcoholic beverages.

grogginess

noun

The characteristic or quality of being groggy.

groggy

adjective

Weak, dazed, or unsteady, as from sleepiness, illness, or alcohol.

Grohl

name

A German surname, notably borne by musician Dave Grohl.

groin

noun

The area where the thigh meets the torso, on the front of the body.

grok

verb

To understand (something) intuitively, to know (something) without having to think intellectually.

groom

noun

A man on his wedding day, or about to be married.

groomed

adjective

Neat, tidy, and well cared-for in appearance.

grooming

noun

Taking care of one's appearance and hygiene.

Groot

name

A Dutch surname.

groove

noun

A long, narrow cut or channel in a surface.

grooving

noun

A groove or set of grooves cut into a surface.

groovy

adjective

Cool, stylish, or enjoyable — especially in a retro, 1960s-inspired way.

grope

verb

To feel around with the hands, especially when unable to see clearly.

groping

noun

The act of groping, especially unwanted sexual touching.

gross

adjective

Disgusting or unpleasant.

gross income

noun

The total amount a person earns before tax, pension contributions and any other deductions are taken out.

gross salary

noun

The total amount an employer agrees to pay an employee before any tax, pension contributions or other deductions are taken off.

Grosse

name

A surname of German or French origin.

grossly

adverb

To a very large or serious degree, often in a negative way.

Grossman

name

A surname of German and Ashkenazi Jewish origin, from German Grossmann meaning "big man."

Grosvenor

name

An English surname, historically borne by the Dukes of Westminster.

grot

noun

Any unpleasant substance or material.

grotch

verb

To annoy; to irritate.

grotchy

adj

Tending to complain; irritable.

grotesque

adjective

Strange, distorted, or unnatural, often in a disturbing or ugly way.

grotto

noun

A small cave, or an artificial structure built to look like one.

grotty

adj

Unpleasant, dirty, slovenly or offensive.

grouch

noun

A person who complains often or is easily irritated.

grouchy

adjective

Easily irritated and inclined to complain.

grough

noun

A natural channel or gully in a peat moor, sometimes very steep and deep, and through which water sometimes flows. (Compare hag.)

ground

noun

The solid surface of the earth.

groundbreaker

noun

First person to do, make or fight for something. A pioneer; a seminal person.

groundbreaking

adjective

New and innovative; doing something that hasn't been done before.

grounded

adjective

Sensible, realistic, and emotionally stable.

grounder

noun

In baseball or cricket, a ball hit so that it rolls or bounces along the ground.

grounders

noun

A children's playground game where one player, with eyes shut, tries to tag others who must stay off the ground.

groundhog

noun

A stocky, burrowing rodent native to North America, also called a woodchuck.

Groundhog Day

noun

A situation in which the same events repeat over and over with no progress and no escape.

grounding

noun

Basic knowledge or training in a subject.

groundlaying

noun

The creation of a foundation or base.

groundless

adjective

Not based on any real evidence or reason; baseless.

groundlessness

noun

The state or condition of being groundless.

groundly

adj

Firmly grounded; solid; of education: complete, thorough, well-grounded.

groundnut

noun

A climbing vine, Apios americana, of eastern North America, having fragrant brownish flowers and small edible tubers.

grounds

noun

Reasons or justification for something.

groundscraper

noun

A relatively short but extremely wide or long building.

groundskeeper

noun

Someone whose job is to maintain grounds, such as a sports field or park.

groundwater

noun

Water held underground in the soil or in cracks and pores of rock, feeding wells, springs, and rivers.

groundwork

noun

The basic preparatory work that everything else is built on.

group

noun

A number of people or things considered together because of some shared connection.

grouper

noun

A large, heavy-bodied fish found in warm seas, popular both as a game fish and as food.

groupie

noun

An enthusiastic fan who follows a band or celebrity closely, sometimes seeking a personal connection with them.

grouping

noun

A set of people or things gathered together under some shared category.

groupthink

noun

A process of reasoning or decision-making by a group, especially one characterized by uncritical acceptance of or conformity to a perceived majority view.

grouse

noun

A plump game bird found in moorland and northern regions, often hunted for sport and food.

grousing

noun

Peevish complaining.

grout

noun

A thin, fluid mortar used to fill the joints between tiles or gaps in masonry.

grouts

noun

Tea leaves left in the bottom of the cup after drinking tea.

grove

noun

A small group of trees, often planted or kept clear of undergrowth.

grovel

verb

To lie or crawl face-down on the ground, often out of fear or submission.

groveling

adj

Excessively submissive or fawning, especially to gain favor.

Grover

name

An English surname originally describing someone who lived near a grove, and a male given name popularized by U.S. President Grover Cleveland.

Groves

name

An English surname, and a city in Texas.

grovy

adj

Full of groves, or having the character of a grove — used to describe leafy, tree-lined land.

grow

verb

To increase in size, amount, or extent over time.

grower

noun

A person or business that cultivates plants or crops.

growing

noun

The process of increasing, developing, or cultivating.

growl

noun

A low, rumbling, threatening sound, especially one made by an animal.

growler

noun

A person, creature or thing that growls.

growling

noun

A sustained series of low, rumbling sounds.

grown

adj

Having reached adulthood or full physical maturity.

growth

noun

An increase in size, amount or value over time.

growth mindset

noun

The belief that ability and intelligence can be improved through effort, good strategies and feedback, rather than being fixed at birth.

groyne

noun

An often wooden structure that projects from a coastline to prevent erosion, longshore drift etc.; a breakwater.

grr

intj

Used to represent a growling sound or to express anger or frustration.

grrr

intj

A stretched-out version of grr, showing stronger frustration or anger.

GRU

name

The abbreviated name of the GRU, the Russian (formerly Soviet) military intelligence agency.

grub

noun

The soft, worm-like larva of certain insects, especially beetles.

grubby

adj

Dirty or unwashed, especially in a grimy, unpleasant way.

Gruber

name

A surname of German origin.

grudge

noun

A long-held feeling of resentment or ill will toward someone, usually because of a past wrong.

grudging

adj

Unwilling or with reluctance.

gruel

noun

A thin, watery porridge, historically associated with poverty or illness.

gruelling

adj

Extremely demanding, exhausting, or difficult to endure.

gruesome

adj

Causing horror or disgust, especially through graphic violence or death.

gruff

adj

Rough or brusque in manner or speech, though not necessarily unkind underneath.

gruffness

noun

The characteristic or quality of being gruff

grumble

verb

To complain in a low, muttering, discontented way.

grumbler

noun

A person who persistently grumbles; a complainer.

Grumbles

name

An English surname.

grumbling

noun

Persistent, low-level complaining.

grump

noun

A person who is habitually irritable or complaining.

grumpy

adj

Easily annoyed and bad-tempered.

grundy

noun

A person who is excessively concerned with policing other people's morals or manners; a prude.

grunge

noun

Dirt or grime, especially the kind that's hard to clean.

grunt

noun

A short, low, snorting sound, often expressing effort, annoyance, or reluctance.

grunter

noun

One who grunts.

grunting

noun

A series of short, low, snorting sounds.