English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

hurrying

noun

Fast, hasty movement or action.

hurst

noun

A wood, thicket, or small wooded hill (chiefly found today in place names).

hurt

verb

To cause physical pain or injury.

hurtful

adj

Causing emotional pain, especially by being unkind or insulting.

hurting

adj

Experiencing pain or distress, physical or emotional.

hurtling

noun

The act of moving forcefully and rapidly, often out of control.

Hus

name

A surname of Czech origin, notably borne by the religious reformer Jan Hus.

husband

noun

A man who is married to someone.

Husbands

name

An English surname.

hush

verb

To become quiet, or to make someone or something quiet.

hushed

adj

Very quiet; spoken softly.

husk

noun

The dry outer covering of certain fruits, seeds, or vegetables, such as corn.

husky

adj

Describing a voice that is low, rough, and slightly hoarse.

Hussain

name

A male given name and surname of Arabic origin, a variant spelling of Husayn, meaning "handsome" or "good."

Hussein

name

A male given name of Arabic origin, another common spelling of Husayn.

hussy

noun

A woman regarded as behaving in a sexually inappropriate or overly bold way (dated, disapproving).

hustle

verb

To push, shove, or move someone quickly and often roughly.

hustler

noun

A person who works energetically and resourcefully, especially to make money.

hustling

noun

The act of working hard and fast to get something done, often to earn money quickly or through a side venture.

Huston

name

A surname, notably borne by the film director John Huston.

hut

noun

A small, simple shelter, usually just one room, built from whatever materials are on hand.

hutch

noun

A cage or coop for keeping small animals such as rabbits.

Hutchins

name

An English surname, also the name of a city in Texas, United States.

Hutton

name

An English habitational surname, and the name of several villages in England and Scotland.

Hutu

noun

A member of an ethnic group found mainly in Rwanda and Burundi.

Huw

name

A Welsh male given name, equivalent to the English name Hugh.

Huxley

name

An English surname, notably borne by biologist Thomas Henry Huxley and writer Aldous Huxley; also a village in Cheshire, England.

Huxtable

name

An English surname, particularly associated in popular culture with the fictional family on The Cosby Show.

Huygens

name

A Dutch surname, notably borne by physicist Christiaan Huygens.

huzzah

intj

An old-fashioned cheer of triumph, joy, or approval.

hwan

noun

The unit of currency used in South Korea between 1953 and 1962, before it was replaced by the won.

Hwang

name

A Korean surname.

Hy

name

A surname, and also a male given name used as a short form of Hyman.

hyacinth

noun

A bulb plant with clusters of small, fragrant, brightly coloured flowers, native to the Mediterranean region.

hyah

intj

A shout used to urge a horse or other animal to move forward.

Hyatt

name

An English surname, from a Hebrew word for "tailor" or a variant of Highet.

hybrid

noun

The offspring produced by crossing two different species, breeds, or varieties.

Hyde

name

An English topographic surname for someone living on a "hide" of land, also the name of a town in Greater Manchester and several other English places.

Hyderabad

name

The capital city of Telangana, India, also the name of a city in Sindh, Pakistan.

hydra

noun

A many-headed serpent from Greek mythology that grew two new heads whenever one was cut off.

hydrant

noun

An upright pipe connected to a water main, fitted with a valve so firefighters (or others) can tap into the water supply.

hydrate

noun

A chemical compound that has water molecules bound into its structure.

hydrated

adj

Containing water as part of its chemical makeup.

hydration

noun

The process of giving the body (or another substance) an adequate supply of water.

hydraulic

adj

Operated by the pressure of a liquid moving through pipes or cylinders.

hydraulics

noun

The branch of engineering concerned with how liquids move and can be used to transmit force or energy.

hydrochloric

adj

Relating to hydrochloric acid, a strong acid made from hydrogen and chlorine.

hydroelectric

adj

Generating electricity from the energy of moving water.

hydrogen

noun

The lightest chemical element, with the symbol H and atomic number 1.

hydroponic

adj

Grown in water containing dissolved nutrients, without using soil.

hydroxide

noun

A negatively charged ion made of one oxygen and one hydrogen atom (OH⁻), or any compound containing it.

hyena

noun

A medium-to-large carnivorous mammal native to Africa and Asia, known for a call that sounds like laughing.

hygiene

noun

The practices and conditions that keep people healthy and clean, especially by preventing disease.

hygienic

adj

Clean and free from anything that could spread disease.

hygienist

noun

A trained professional in hygiene, especially a dental worker who cleans teeth and checks gum health.

hymen

noun

A thin membrane that partly covers the opening of the vagina.

Hymie

name

A diminutive of the male given name Hyman.

hymn

noun

A song sung in praise or worship, typically in a religious setting.

hyoid

adjective

Shaped like the letter U, or resembling a small U-shaped bone in the throat.

hype

noun

Exaggerated promotion or buzz around something, often overselling how good it really is.

hyped

adjective

Promoted with exaggerated enthusiasm, often beyond what the thing deserves.

hyper

adjective

Informal: overly excited, energetic, or wound up.

hyperactive

adjective

Unusually restless and constantly in motion, more active than is typical or healthy.

hyperbole

noun

Exaggeration used for effect, not meant to be taken literally.

hyperdrive

noun

In science fiction, an engine that lets a spaceship travel faster than light by entering hyperspace.

Hyperion

name

A Titan in Greek mythology, father of Helios, Selene, and Eos, and also the name of one of Saturn's moons.

hyperspace

noun

In science fiction, an alternate dimension used for faster-than-light travel.

hypertension

noun

A medical condition of persistently high blood pressure.

hypnosis

noun

A trance-like state, usually brought on deliberately, in which a person becomes highly open to suggestion.

hypnotic

adjective

Relating to hypnosis, or having a trance-like, mesmerizing effect.

hypnotism

noun

The practice or technique of inducing hypnosis in someone.

hypnotist

noun

Someone who practices hypnotism, whether for entertainment or therapy.

hypnotize

verb

To put someone into a state of hypnosis.

hypnotized

adjective

In a state of hypnosis.

hypo

noun

Informal short form of "hypodermic," referring to a syringe or injection.

hypochondriac

noun

A person who is excessively and persistently worried about having a serious illness, despite little or no medical evidence.

hypocrisy

noun

Claiming to have beliefs, standards, or virtues that one's own actions contradict.

hypocrite

noun

Someone whose actions contradict the beliefs or values they claim to hold.

Hypocrites

name

The sixty-third sura (chapter) of the Qur'an.

hypocritical

adjective

Showing hypocrisy; saying one thing while doing another.

hypodermic

adjective

Relating to the area just beneath the skin, especially injections given there.

hypotensive

adjective

Relating to or causing abnormally low blood pressure.

hypotenuse

noun

The longest side of a right triangle, opposite the right angle.

hypothalamus

noun

A small region of the brain, below the thalamus, that regulates body temperature, hunger, and other basic functions.

hypothermia

noun

A dangerously low body temperature, typically caused by prolonged exposure to cold.

hypothermic

adjective

Suffering from hypothermia; having a dangerously low body temperature.

hypothesis

noun

A proposed explanation for something that can be tested through further study or experiment.

hypothetical

adjective

Based on a supposition rather than actual fact; imagined for the sake of argument.

hypothetically

adverb

In a way based on supposition rather than fact; as a "what if."

hypoxia

noun

A condition in which the body's tissues don't get enough oxygen.

hysterectomy

noun

A surgical operation to remove all or part of the uterus.

hysteria

noun

A state of extreme, uncontrollable emotion, ranging from panic to wild excitement.

hysterical

adjective

Overcome with extreme, uncontrollable emotion, especially fear or distress.

hysterically

adverb

In an uncontrollably emotional way.

hysterics

noun

A fit of uncontrollable emotion, especially crying, laughing, or panic.

Hyun

name

A Korean surname.

Hyundai

noun

A South Korean car brand, or a vehicle made by that company.

hyung

noun

A Korean term used by a man to address or refer to an older brother or a close older male friend.