English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

gamut

noun

A complete range of something.

gan

name

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

ganapati

name

Another name for the Hindu deity Ganesha.

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.

gangboard

noun

A plank used as a temporary bridge, for example between a ship and the dock.

gangbusters

adj

Extremely successful or thriving.

gangdom

noun

The world of criminal gangs.

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.

gannet

noun

A large seabird with a black and white body and long, pointed wings, that dives into the sea to catch fish.

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."

gaol

noun

The British spelling of jail, a building where people are held as punishment for a crime or while awaiting trial.

gaolbait

noun

A dated spelling of jailbait.

gaolbird

noun

A dated spelling of jailbird.

gaolbreak

noun

A dated spelling of jailbreak (“escape from prison”).

gaoler

noun

A dated spelling of jailer.

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.

garagelike

adj

Looking or seeming like a garage.

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.

garble

verb

To choose only parts of a text so as to twist its original meaning.

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.

garfish

noun

A long, thin fish with narrow, needle-like jaws, found especially in European waters.

Garfunkel

name

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

garganey

noun

A small dabbling duck found breeding widely across Europe and western Asia, and wintering in Africa.

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.

garishness

noun

The state of being too bright, showy or gaudy.

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.

garnishee

noun

(law) A person whose wages or money are taken to pay off a debt they owe.

garnishment

noun

(law) A court order requiring someone who owes a defendant money to pay it straight to the plaintiff.

garnison

noun

Another word for a garrison: a military base, or the soldiers stationed there.

garniture

noun

Something added to decorate or finish off an outfit or object.

garpike

noun

Another name for a gar or garfish.

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.

Garrick

noun

A large predatory fish, also called the leerfish, found along African and Mediterranean coasts.

Garrido

name

A Spanish and Portuguese surname meaning "handsome" or "elegant."

garrison

noun

A permanent military post, or the troops stationed there.

Garrity

name

An Irish surname anglicized from Gaelic.

garroter

noun

A person who employs a garrote.

garrow

noun

Garo people

garrulous

adj

Talking far too much, in a way that becomes tiring for others.

Garry

name

A masculine given name, a variant spelling of Gary.

Garson

name

A surname and given name, notably borne by actress Greer Garson.

garter

noun

A band worn around the leg to hold up a sock or stocking.

garth

noun

A small enclosed yard or garden, especially one surrounded by a cloister or attached to a house.

garuda

noun

A giant bird-like figure from Hindu and Buddhist mythology, often shown as part man and part eagle.

garvey

noun

A flat-bottomed boat, traditionally used along the New Jersey shore.

Garvin

name

An Irish surname and given name, a variant of Galvin.

Garwood

name

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "triangular wood."

Gary

noun

Used as a slang term for "anus", after the name Gary Glitter.

Garza

name

A Spanish surname derived from a word for "heron."

gas

noun

A state of matter, like air, that has no fixed shape or volume and spreads to fill its container.

gas fee

noun

The charge paid to have a transaction processed and recorded on a blockchain, covering the computing work involved. It rises when the network is busy and is paid in that network's own currency.

gasbag

noun

A large bag that holds gas, for example inside a hot-air balloon.

Gascoigne

name

An English surname derived from Gascony, a historical region of southwestern France, notably borne by footballer Paul Gascoigne.

gasconade

adj

Full of exaggerated boasting.

gascoyne

name

A surname of English origin from Old French, a variant of Gascoigne.

gaseous

adj

Existing in the form of a gas.

gash

noun

A long, deep cut in the skin or in a surface.

gasholder

noun

A large cylindrical tank used for storing gas, such as town gas or natural gas.

gasifier

noun

A device used to carry out gasification.

gasiform

adj

Having the form of a gas; gaseous.

gasify

verb

To turn something into a gas, usually by heating it or through a chemical process, or to become a gas.

gasket

noun

A thin piece of material, such as rubber or metal, placed between two surfaces to stop gas or liquid from leaking out.

gaslight

noun

A lamp that produces light by burning piped gas.

gaslighting

noun

Manipulating someone into doubting their own memory, perception or sanity, usually by repeatedly denying things they know to be true.

gasoline

noun

(US) A flammable liquid fuel refined from petroleum, used mainly to power car engines; petrol.

gasp

verb

To suddenly draw in breath, usually from shock or surprise.

Gaspar

name

A masculine given name, a variant of Caspar, traditionally one of the three biblical Magi.

gasper

noun

A person or animal that takes a sudden, sharp breath.

gasping

adj

Struggling to breathe, especially from exertion or shock.

gassed

adj

Poisoned or harmed by exposure to toxic gas.

gassing

noun

The act of poisoning someone with toxic gas.

gassy

adj

Full of gas, or likely to produce gas in the stomach.

Gaston

noun

In rock climbing, a move where a climber pushes sideways on a hold with the thumb pointing down and the elbow out, rather than pulling.

gastric

adj

Relating to the stomach.

gastritis

noun

A condition in which the stomach's inner wall becomes sore and swollen, causing nausea, loss of appetite and upper belly pain.

gastroenterology

noun

The branch of medicine dealing with the gut and digestion, from the mouth right through to the end of the bowel, and sometimes its related organs such as the liver and pancreas.

gastronome

noun

Someone who loves good food and knows a lot about it.

gastronomic

adj

Relating to gastronomy.

gastronomy

noun

The skill of cooking and enjoying fine food.

gastropodous

adj

Relating to gastropods, the animal group that includes snails.

gat

noun

Slang for a handgun.

gate

noun

A movable barrier that closes an opening in a wall, fence, or entrance.

gatecrash

verb

To go to a party or event that you have not been invited to, or without paying to get in.

gatecrasher

noun

Someone who gets into an event lacking a ticket or invitation, by sneaking in or through deception.

gated

adj

Fitted with a gate, or having restricted, controlled access.

gatekeeper

noun

A person or group that controls who or what gets access to something.

gates

name

A family name of the topographic type.

gateway

noun

An entrance or opening that can be closed with a gate.

Gath

name

One of the five ancient Philistine city-states, mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as the hometown of Goliath.

gather

verb

To bring separate things or people together in one place.

gathered

verb

Past tense and past participle of "gather" — to bring together or collect, or to come together as a group.

gatherer

noun

Someone who collects or picks things up.

gathering

noun

A meeting or get-together of people, often social.

Gatling

noun

A rapid-fire gun with several rotating barrels, an early forerunner of the modern machine gun.

gato

noun

Spanish word for "cat," sometimes borrowed casually into English speech or writing.

gator

noun

(informal) An alligator.

Gatorade

noun

A brand-name sports drink designed to replace fluids, sugar, and salts lost through sweat during exercise.

gatsby

noun

In South African English, a large sandwich made from a whole loaf filled with fries, meat, and sauce.

Gatwick

name

A major international airport located south of London, England.

gau

noun

A small box worn as jewellery that holds a prayer or lucky charm.

gauche

adj

Socially awkward or clumsy; lacking tact or polish, and prone to embarrassing missteps.