English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

Graves

name

A wine-producing region near Bordeaux, France, and its dry white wine; also an English surname.

gravestone

noun

A stone marker placed at the head of a grave, usually carved with the name and dates of the deceased.

graveyard

noun

An area of ground, often next to a church, where the dead are buried.

gravitas

noun

A serious and dignified manner that commands respect.

gravitation

noun

The natural force that pulls objects with mass toward each other, such as the pull that keeps planets in orbit.

gravitational

adj

Relating to gravity or the force of gravitation.

graviton

noun

A theoretical particle that physicists believe would carry the force of gravity, though it has never been directly observed.

gravity

noun

The force that pulls objects toward the center of the earth, or more generally, that pulls masses toward each other.

gravy

noun

A sauce made from the juices and fat that come from cooking meat, often thickened and served over food.

gray

adj

Having a color between black and white, like the color of clouds or ash.

Grayer

name

A surname.

Grays

name

A town in Essex, England, on the north bank of the River Thames, also known as Grays Thurrock.

graze

verb

To eat growing grass, or to let animals feed on pasture.

grazing

noun

The activity of animals feeding on grass in a field or open land.

grease

noun

Melted or soft animal fat, or any thick oily substance used for lubrication.

greaser

noun

Someone whose job involves applying grease, such as a mechanic.

greasing

noun

The act of applying grease to something.

greasy

adj

Covered in or containing a lot of grease or fat.

great

adj

Very large in size, extent, or degree.

greater

adj

Larger in size, amount, or importance than something else being compared.

greatly

adv

To a large extent or degree; very much.

greatness

noun

The quality of being great, distinguished, or exceptional.

Greats

name

A traditional undergraduate course at Oxford University devoted to classical literature, philosophy, and ancient history, formally called Literae Humaniores.

greaves

noun

The solid bits of fat left behind after animal fat has been rendered down.

Grecian

adj

Relating to Greece or ancient Greek style, especially in art and architecture.

Greece

name

A country in southeastern Europe, official name the Hellenic Republic, with Athens as its capital.

greed

noun

An excessive desire for more than one needs, especially money, food, or possessions.

greedy

adj

Wanting or taking more than one needs, especially money, food, or power.

Greek

adj

Relating to Greece, its people, language, or culture.

Greeks

noun

(finance) A set of measures showing how sensitive an option's price is to different market factors, each traditionally named after a Greek letter.

Greeley

name

A city in Colorado, USA, the county seat of Weld County.

Greely

name

A surname.

green

adj

Having the colour of growing grass or leaves.

green screen

noun

A green backdrop used in film, television and photography that lets editors digitally remove the background and replace it with different footage or an image, using a technique called chroma key.

Greenberg

name

A surname of German Jewish origin.

Greendale

name

A common place name for small towns and villages in the United States and Australia.

Greene

name

A surname, a variant of Green, also used as a place name in several U.S. states.

Greener

name

A surname.

greenery

noun

Green plants, foliage, or vegetation.

greenfield

noun

Land that has not previously been developed, often considered for new building projects.

greengrocer

noun

A shopkeeper who sells fresh fruit and vegetables.

greenhorn

noun

A person who is new to a job, activity, or situation and lacks experience.

greenhouse

noun

A glass or plastic-covered building used to grow plants by trapping heat and sunlight.

Greenland

name

A large, largely ice-covered self-governing territory of Denmark, located in North America.

Greenleaf

name

A surname, and the name of several small places in the United States.

Greenpeace

name

An international environmental organisation known for direct-action campaigns.

greens

noun

Leafy green vegetables eaten as food.

Greenspan

name

A surname, notably borne by economist Alan Greenspan.

greenway

noun

A strip of protected open land, often used for walking or cycling paths, set aside from development.

Greenwich

name

A town and borough in south-east London, England, through which the prime meridian passes.

greenwood

noun

A forest that is thick with green, leafy trees, especially in summer.

Greer

name

A Scottish surname derived from Gregory, also used as a unisex given name and as a place name in several U.S. states.

greet

verb

To welcome someone in a friendly way, in person or otherwise.

greeting

noun

A word or phrase used to acknowledge someone's arrival, or to open a letter, message, or conversation.

greetings

intj

Used as a friendly or formal way of saying hello.

greets

verb

Third-person singular of greet: says hello to, or welcomes someone.

Greg

name

A diminutive of the masculine given names Gregory or Gregor.

Gregg

name

A surname and given name derived from Gregory, also used as a place name in several U.S. states.

Gregoire

name

A French surname and given name.

Gregor

name

A masculine given name, the Scottish form of Gregory.

Gregorian

adj

Relating to the calendar system introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, now the standard civil calendar in most of the world.

Gregorio

name

An Italian surname, a doublet of Gregory.

Gregory

name

A male given name from Ancient Greek.

Gregson

name

A surname originating as a patronymic meaning "son of Greg."

gremlin

noun

A mischievous imaginary creature blamed for mechanical faults or malfunctions, especially in machinery or aircraft.

Grenada

name

An island country in the Caribbean, also the name of small towns in California and Mississippi.

grenade

noun

A small explosive device, thrown by hand or fired from a launcher, designed to burst apart on impact or after a timed fuse.

Grendel

name

A monster slain by the hero Beowulf in the Anglo-Saxon epic poem "Beowulf"; also used as a masculine given name.

Grenoble

name

A city in the French Alps, in the Isère department.

Gresham

name

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "grass homestead," also the name of towns in England, the United States, and elsewhere.

Greta

name

A feminine given name derived from Margaret; also the name of several rivers in England, and towns in Australia named after them.

Gretchen

name

A feminine given name of German origin, a pet form of Margaret; also the heroine of Goethe's play "Faust."

Gretel

name

A feminine given name of German origin, a diminutive of Margarete, best known as one of the title characters in the German fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel."

Gretzky

name

A Belarusian surname, most famously borne by ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky.

Grew

verb

Past tense of "grow": became bigger, older, or more developed over time.

grey

adj

The color between black and white, as of storm clouds or ash; the standard British/Commonwealth spelling of "gray."

greyhound

noun

A slender, long-legged breed of dog bred for speed, used in hunting and racing.

greys

noun

Grey uniform clothing — trousers or jackets — worn by prisoners, typically for more formal occasions than everyday prison dress.

gribble

noun

A small marine crustacean that bores into submerged wood, damaging piers, boats, and other wooden structures.

grid

noun

A pattern of evenly spaced lines crossing to form squares, such as on graph paper or a map.

griddle

noun

A flat metal surface used for cooking food like pancakes, eggs, or burgers.

gridlock

noun

A traffic jam so severe that vehicles cannot move in any direction; also used for a complete standstill in progress or negotiations.

grief

noun

Deep sorrow, especially caused by loss or bereavement.

Grier

name

A surname, also used as a masculine given name.

grievance

noun

A formal complaint, especially about unfair treatment at work.

grieve

verb

To feel deep sorrow, especially after a loss.

grieved

adj

Deeply saddened or distressed.

Grieves

verb

Third-person singular of "grieve": feels deep sorrow or causes distress.

grieving

adj

Feeling or showing deep sorrow, especially after a death.

grievous

adj

Very serious or severe, especially describing harm, pain, or wrongdoing.

Griff

noun

A firm hold or grasp on something.

griffin

noun

A legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.

Griffith

name

A masculine given name and surname of Welsh origin, originating as a patronymic; also the name of towns in Australia and the United States.

Griffiths

name

A Welsh surname, a variant of Griffith.

grift

noun

A scheme for swindling people out of money, usually through trickery rather than force.

grifter

noun

A con artist who makes a living by scamming or manipulating people.

Griggs

name

A surname.

Grigory

name

A Russian masculine given name, equivalent to Gregory.

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.

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.

gripping

adj

So engaging or exciting that it holds your full attention.

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.

gritty

adj

Containing or covered with sand-like particles.

grizz

noun

An informal, shortened name for a grizzly bear.

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.

groaning

adjective

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

groat

noun

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

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.

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.

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.