English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

Genoa

name

A major port city in northwestern Italy, capital of the Liguria region.

genocide

noun

The deliberate, large-scale killing of people from a particular ethnic, national, or religious group with the intent to destroy it.

genome

noun

The complete set of genetic material of an organism.

Genovese

adj

Relating to Genoa or its people.

genre

noun

A category of artistic work, especially literature, music, or film, defined by a shared style or subject matter.

gent

noun

(informal) A man, especially one who is polite or well-mannered; short for gentleman.

genteel

adj

Polite, refined, and well-mannered, sometimes to an exaggerated or old-fashioned degree.

gentile

adj

Not Jewish.

gentle

adj

Kind, mild, and careful, especially in dealing with others.

gentleman

noun

A polite, well-mannered, or honorable man.

gentlemanly

adj

Behaving with the courtesy and manners expected of a gentleman.

gentleness

noun

A soft, mild, and considerate manner or nature.

gently

adv

Softly or lightly, without force or roughness.

gentry

noun

People of high social standing and good breeding, especially landowners ranked just below the nobility.

gents

noun

A men's public toilet.

genuine

adj

Real and authentic, not fake or imitation.

genuinely

adv

In a truly sincere or authentic way.

genus

noun

A biological classification rank grouping closely related species, sitting below family and above species.

geo

noun

A narrow inlet or gully cut into a sea cliff, especially in Scotland.

Geoff

name

A short, informal form of the male name Geoffrey.

Geoffrey

name

A male given name of Germanic origin, especially popular in Britain during the 20th century.

geographic

adj

Relating to geography, or to the physical features and location of places.

geographical

adj

Relating to geography; an alternative form of geographic.

geographically

adv

In terms of location or physical geography.

geography

noun

The study of the earth's physical features and how people interact with them.

geological

adj

Relating to geology, or to the physical structure and history of rock formations.

geologist

noun

A scientist who studies the structure, history, and processes of the earth.

geology

noun

The scientific study of the earth's structure, materials, and history, especially through its rocks.

geometric

adj

Relating to geometry, or made up of simple shapes like circles, triangles, and lines.

geometry

noun

The branch of mathematics concerned with points, lines, shapes, and space.

Geordie

name

A nickname for someone named George, or informally for Georgia, Georgiana, Georgette, or Georgina.

Georg

name

A Scandinavian and German form of the male name George.

George

name

A common male given name of ancient Greek origin, meaning "farmer" or "earth-worker."

Georges

name

A French male given name equivalent to English George.

Georgetown

name

The capital city of Guyana, named after King George III.

georgette

noun

A lightweight, slightly crinkled silk or synthetic fabric with a dull finish.

Georgi

name

A German surname.

Georgia

name

A country in the Caucasus region between Europe and Asia, on the Black Sea, with Tbilisi as its capital.

Georgian

adj

Relating to the country of Georgia, its people, or its language.

Georgiana

name

A female given name derived from George.

Georgie

name

A diminutive nickname for George or Georgina.

Georgina

name

A female given name derived from George, of ancient Greek origin.

Georgy

name

A diminutive nickname for George.

geothermal

adj

Relating to heat that comes from deep inside the earth.

Geppetto

name

The fictional woodcarver in Carlo Collodi's story who creates the puppet Pinocchio.

ger

noun

A traditional Mongolian round tent, also known as a yurt.

Gerald

name

A male given name of Germanic origin, meaning roughly "spear-rule."

Geraldine

name

A female given name derived from Gerald.

Geraldo

name

A Portuguese and Spanish surname.

geranium

noun

A garden plant, often with pink, red, or white flowers, commonly grown in pots and borders.

Gerard

name

A male given name of Germanic origin, meaning roughly "brave with the spear."

Gerber

name

A surname of German origin.

gerbil

noun

A small, jumping, mouse-like rodent, often kept as a pet, native to Africa and parts of Asia and Europe.

Gerda

name

A female first name from Scandinavian roots, briefly popular in English around the turn of the 20th century.

Gere

name

A surname with separate German, English, and Hungarian origins.

Gerhardt

name

A surname of German origin.

Geri

name

A short, friendly form of the female name Geraldine, also used on its own as a full first name.

geriatric

adj

Relating to elderly people or to the medical care of old age.

germ

noun

A microorganism, especially one that causes disease, such as a bacterium or virus.

Germain

name

A male first name from French, also used as a surname.

Germaine

name

A female first name from Latin roots, popular partly through modern French usage.

German

noun

A native or citizen of Germany.

Germanic

adj

Relating to the Germanic peoples, such as Germans, Scandinavians, or Anglo-Saxons, or to their family of languages.

Germany

name

A country in Central Europe; official name Federal Republic of Germany, capital Berlin.

geronimo

intj

A shout made just before leaping — off a diving board, out of a plane, into water — popularised by paratroopers.

Gerrard

name

A surname, and less commonly a male first name, from Germanic roots.

Gerry

name

A casual short form of the male names Gerald or Gerard, or the female name Geraldine.

Gershwin

name

A surname, best known from the American composer George Gershwin.

Gerson

name

A surname found in several European and Jewish family traditions.

gert

adj

(regional British dialect, especially West Country) Big or great in size.

Gertie

name

A warm, informal short form of the name Gertrude.

Gertrude

name

A female first name with old Germanic roots.

Gervais

name

A French surname.

Gervase

name

A male first name from Germanic roots, common in medieval times but rare today.

Gestapo

name

The secret state police of Nazi Germany, notorious for surveillance, terror, and persecution.

gestation

noun

The period during which an unborn baby or animal develops inside the mother before birth.

gesture

noun

A movement of the hands, arms, or body used to express or emphasise a meaning.

gesundheit

intj

Said to someone right after they sneeze, wishing them good health.

get

verb

To come to have or receive something; to obtain.

geta

noun

A traditional Japanese wooden sandal raised on two supports, traditionally worn with a kimono.

getaway

noun

An escape, especially a quick one after a crime.

getting

noun

The act of obtaining or acquiring something.

Getty

name

A surname, notably associated with the wealthy Getty family and oil magnate J. Paul Getty.

Gettysburg

name

A town in Pennsylvania, site of a pivotal 1863 Civil War battle and Abraham Lincoln's famous address.

geum

noun

Any plant of the genus Geum, a group of perennial flowering herbs also known as avens.

geyser

noun

A hot spring that periodically shoots a column of water and steam into the air.

gg

noun

(gaming slang) "Good game" — said at the end of a match, win or lose, as a sign of sportsmanship.

Ghana

name

A country in West Africa; official name Republic of Ghana.

ghastly

adj

Extremely unpleasant, shocking, or horrifying.

ghee

noun

A type of clarified butter widely used in South Asian cooking.

ghetto

noun

A part of a city, historically often walled or enclosed, where a minority group — especially Jews — was forced to live.

ghost

noun

The soul of a dead person believed to appear to or haunt the living.

ghostly

adjective

Resembling or suggestive of a ghost; eerie and pale.

ghoul

noun

A legendary demon or evil spirit said to rob graves and feed on corpses.

ghoulish

adjective

Showing a morbid delight in death, gore, or suffering.

gi

noun

The loose-fitting uniform worn for martial arts such as judo or karate.

Gia

name

A feminine given name, often used as a short form of Gianna or Giovanna, of Italian origin.

Giancarlo

name

A masculine Italian given name combining Gianni and Carlo.

Gianluca

name

A masculine Italian given name combining Gianni and Luca.

Gianna

name

A feminine Italian given name, a form of Giovanna meaning "God is gracious."

giant

noun

A legendary humanlike being of enormous size and strength.

gib

noun

A castrated male cat.

Gibb

name

A Scottish surname, notably borne by the Gibb brothers of the band Bee Gees.

gibbering

adjective

Talking rapidly and unintelligibly, often out of fear or confusion.

gibberish

noun

Speech or writing that makes no sense or is impossible to understand.

gibbon

noun

A small, long-armed ape that swings rapidly through trees using its arms.

Gibbons

name

An English surname derived from the given name Gibb, a pet form of Gilbert.

Gibbs

name

An English surname derived from the given name Gibb, a pet form of Gilbert.

Gibby

noun

Informal name for a Gibson-brand guitar.

giblets

noun

The edible internal organs of a bird, such as the heart, liver, and gizzard.

Gibraltar

noun

A small coffee drink made by serving a cortado-style espresso and milk in a short glass.

Gibson

noun

A cocktail made from gin (or sometimes vodka) and dry vermouth, garnished with a pickled cocktail onion instead of an olive.

giddy

adjective

Feeling dizzy or unsteady, as if the head is spinning.

giddyup

interjection

A command used to tell a horse to start moving or go faster.

Gideon

noun

A member of the Gideons, a Christian organisation known for placing free copies of the Bible in hotel rooms and giving them to travellers and students.

Gifford

name

A surname of English/Norman origin.

gift

noun

Something given to someone freely, without payment expected in return.

gifted

adjective

Having an unusually strong natural talent or ability, especially intellectual.

gig

noun

A single performance booking for a musician or entertainer.

gigantic

adjective

Extremely large in size.

giggle

verb

To laugh quietly in a light, often nervous or amused way.

giggles

noun

A spell of uncontrollable light laughter.

giggling

noun

Light, high-pitched laughter, often hard to suppress.

Gigi

name

A feminine given name, often a pet form of Gina, Georgina, or Virginia.

gigolo

noun

A man who is paid or financially supported by a woman in exchange for companionship or romantic attention.

Gil

name

A masculine given name and surname, often a short form of Gilbert, and also a common Spanish and Hebrew name.

gila

noun

Short for Gila monster, a large venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and Mexico.

Gilbert

noun

A unit of magnetomotive force in the older CGS system of measurement, used in physics and electrical engineering.

Gilchrist

name

A Scottish surname meaning "servant of Christ."

gilda

noun

A Basque-style pintxo made by skewering olives, a pickled chili pepper, and an anchovy fillet on a small stick.

gilded

adjective

Covered with a thin layer of gold, or having the appearance of gold.

Giles

name

A masculine given name and surname derived from the Greek name Aegidius.

Gilfoyle

name

An Irish surname, notably the name of a character in the television series "Silicon Valley."

Gilgamesh

name

The legendary king of Uruk and hero of the ancient Mesopotamian "Epic of Gilgamesh," one of the earliest known works of literature.

gill

noun

The breathing organ on the side of a fish or other water-dwelling animal, used to take oxygen from the water.

Gilles

noun

One of the traditional costumed performers who lead the Carnival of Binche in Belgium, known for their wax masks, feather headdresses, and orange-throwing.

Gillespie

name

A Scottish and Irish surname meaning "servant of the bishop," notably borne by jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie.

Gillette

name

A French-derived surname, widely known as a razor and shaving brand founded by King Camp Gillette.

Gilliam

name

An English surname, a variant of William, notably borne by filmmaker Terry Gilliam of Monty Python.

Gillian

noun

(dated, informal) A girl or young woman, especially one seen as flirtatious or promiscuous.

Gillies

name

A Scottish surname derived from a Gaelic personal name meaning "servant."

Gilligan

name

An Irish surname, widely known from the television series "Gilligan's Island" and from screenwriter Vince Gilligan.

Gillis

name

A Scottish surname, a variant of Gillies, derived from a Gaelic word for "servant."

gilly

noun

(slang) Torpedo juice, a crude alcoholic drink historically improvised by sailors from torpedo fuel alcohol.

Gilman

name

An English surname.

Gilmore

name

A Scottish surname, later also used as a given name.

Gilroy

name

A surname, and the name of a city in California known for growing garlic.

gilt

adj

Covered with a thin layer of gold or gold-coloured material.

gim

noun

Dried edible seaweed used in Korean cooking, often as thin toasted sheets.

Gimbert

name

A French surname, a variant related to the Germanic name Gilbert.