English dictionary — definitions & meanings

huff

noun

A fit of annoyance or offended pride.

huffing

noun

The act of inhaling a substance, especially an aerosol or solvent, to get high.

huffy

adjective

Annoyed and sulky, often over something small; easily offended.

hug

verb

To wrap your arms around someone and hold them close, usually to show affection or comfort.

huge

adjective

Extremely large in size, amount, or degree.

hugely

adverb

To a very great extent; enormously.

hugger

noun

A person who likes to hug, or who is hugging someone.

hugging

noun

The act of embracing someone with your arms.

Huggins

name

An English surname.

huggy

adjective

Fond of hugging; physically affectionate.

Hugh

name

A male given name of Germanic origin, also used as a surname.

Hughes

name

A Welsh and English surname derived from the given name Hugh, also the name of a suburb of Canberra, Australia.

Hughie

name

A diminutive of the male given name Hugh, also used informally as an imaginary figure blamed for rain or good surf.

Hugo

name

A male given name from the Germanic languages, a Latinized form of Hugh.

huh

interjection

Used to show confusion, surprise, or to ask someone to repeat what they said.

hui

noun

A Māori gathering or meeting, often used in New Zealand English for any formal group meeting or assembly.

hula

noun

A traditional Hawaiian dance performed with rhythmic hip movements, often accompanied by chanting or song.

hulk

noun

A large, bulky ship, especially an old one that is no longer seaworthy.

hulking

adj

Large and bulky, heavily built; massive.

hull

noun

The main body of a ship, boat, or aircraft.

hullabaloo

noun

A loud commotion or uproar, often over something minor.

hulled

adj

Deprived of the hulls.

hum

verb

To sing a tune with your lips closed, without forming words.

human

adjective

Relating to people, or having the qualities typical of people.

human capital

noun

The knowledge, skills, health and experience of the people in a workforce or a population, treated as an economic asset that produces value.

human rights

noun

The basic freedoms and protections that every person is entitled to simply for being human, such as the right to life, liberty, a fair trial, free expression and freedom from torture or slavery — regardless of nationality, sex, religion or any other status.

humane

adj

Having or showing concern for the pain or suffering of another; compassionate.

humaneness

noun

The property of being humane.

humanism

noun

A way of thinking that bases morality and meaning on human reason, evidence and compassion rather than on religious belief.

humanist

noun

Someone who believes in humanism — the idea that people can lead ethical, meaningful lives through reason and compassion, without relying on religion.

humanistic

adj

Of or pertaining to humanism.

humanitarian

adjective

Concerned with improving people's welfare and reducing suffering.

humanities

noun

Academic subjects that study human culture, such as literature, history, philosophy, and languages, as opposed to the sciences.

humanity

noun

People as a whole; the human race.

humanization

noun

The act of humanizing.

humankind

noun

The human race considered as a whole.

humanlike

adj

Having characteristics of a human.

humanly

adverb

Within the limits of human ability or power.

humanness

noun

The condition or quality of being human.

humanoid

adjective

Having a form or characteristics similar to a human being.

humble

adjective

Not proud or arrogant; modest about one's own importance or abilities.

humbled

adjective

Made to feel less important or proud, often after a defeat or setback.

humbleness

noun

Modesty, humility; the property of being humble.

humbling

adjective

Making someone realize their own limitations; causing a loss of pride.

humbly

adverb

In a modest, unassuming way, without pride or arrogance.

Humboldt

name

A German surname, notably borne by naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, and the name of several places in the United States and Canada named in his honor.

humbug

noun

Nonsense, deception, or something meant to trick or mislead people.

humdrum

adjective

Dull, monotonous, and lacking excitement.

Hume

name

A Scottish surname, notably borne by philosopher David Hume; also the name of a region in Victoria, Australia.

humerus

noun

The long bone that runs from the shoulder to the elbow in humans and other vertebrates.

humid

adjective

Containing a lot of moisture in the air; damp and often warm.

humidity

noun

The amount of moisture present in the air.

humiliate

verb

To make someone feel ashamed or foolish, often publicly.

humiliated

adjective

Made to feel deeply ashamed or embarrassed, often in front of others.

humiliating

adjective

Causing someone to feel deeply ashamed or embarrassed.

humiliation

noun

The act of making someone feel ashamed or beneath others.

humility

noun

The quality of being modest and not thinking too highly of yourself.

Hummel

noun

An animal, such as a stag or cow, that lacks the horns or antlers normally expected of its kind.

hummer

noun

Informal name for a Humvee or similar large, boxy off-road vehicle.

humming

adjective

Making a continuous low buzzing or droning sound.

hummingbird

noun

A tiny, fast-flying bird that can hover in place by beating its wings extremely quickly.

hummock

noun

A small hill; a hillock; a knoll.

hummus

noun

A creamy dip made from mashed chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil.

humongous

adjective

Extremely large; huge.

humor

noun

The quality that makes something funny, or the ability to find and enjoy what is funny.

humorist

noun

Someone who believes that health and temperament are determined by bodily humours; a humoralist.

humorless

adj

Lacking humor or levity; serious; not funny, amusing, amused, or lighthearted.

humorous

adjective

Funny or amusing; intended to make people laugh.

humour

noun

(UK) The quality of being funny, or the ability to find things funny.

hump

noun

A rounded raised lump or bulge, such as on a camel's back or in a road.

humpable

adj

That can be humped; sexually attractive.

humpback

noun

Short for humpback whale, a large baleen whale known for its long fins and acrobatic breaching.

humpbacked

adj

Having a hump on the back, either naturally or due to a medical condition.

humped

adjective

Having a hump or humps.

humph

interjection

A grunted sound made to show annoyance, doubt, or disapproval.

Humphrey

name

A male given name of Germanic origin, also used as a surname.

Humphreys

name

An English surname, also the name of a small village in Missouri, United States.

Humphries

name

An English surname.

humping

noun

The act of thrusting the hips rhythmically, often in a sexual or mock-sexual way.

humpty

adjective

(informal) Short and stocky; dumpy.

humpy

adj

Characterised by humps, uneven.

humus

noun

The dark, crumbly material in soil formed as dead leaves, plants and animals break down, which holds water and feeds growing plants.

Humvee

noun

A rugged, four-wheel-drive military vehicle used to transport troops and equipment.

hun

noun

A member of the nomadic people who invaded Europe from Central Asia in the 4th and 5th centuries.

Hunan

name

A province in south-central China, known for its spicy cuisine, with its capital at Changsha.

hunch

noun

A feeling or guess based on instinct rather than solid evidence.

hunchback

noun

A person whose spine curves abnormally, giving their back a rounded, raised shape.

hundo

noun

Synonym of 100%.

hundred

numeral

The number 100, following ninety-nine.

hundredth

adjective

Coming after ninety-ninth in a sequence; the ordinal form of 100.

hung

adjective

Suspended or attached from above.

Hungarian

adjective

Relating to Hungary, its people, or its language.

Hungary

name

A landlocked country in Central Europe whose capital is Budapest.

hunger

noun

The physical need or desire to eat.

hungover

adjective

Suffering the after-effects of drinking too much alcohol, such as headache and nausea.

hungree

adj

Eye dialect spelling of hungry.

hungriness

noun

The characteristic of being hungry; hunger.

hungry

adjective

Feeling the need or desire to eat.

hunk

noun

A large, thick piece of something.

hunker

verb

To crouch or squat down close to the ground.

hunks

noun

(dated) A bad-tempered or stingy person.

hunky

adjective

(informal) Muscular and attractive, in a masculine way.

Hunnicutt

name

An American surname.

hunt

verb

To chase and kill wild animals for food or sport.

hunted

adjective

Being chased or pursued, or having the fearful look of someone being pursued.

hunter

noun

A person who tracks and kills wild animals for food or sport.

hunting

noun

The activity of pursuing and killing wild animals for food, sport, or their parts.

Huntington

name

An English habitational surname, and the name of many towns across England and the United States, including the city in West Virginia named for railroad magnate Collis P. Huntington.

Huntley

name

An English surname, also the name of villages and towns in England, Canada, and the United States.

huntress

noun

A woman who hunts.

huntsman

noun

A man who hunts, especially one who manages the hounds during a traditional hunt.

Huntsville

name

The name of several towns and cities in the United States and Canada, most notably Huntsville, Alabama, a major center for aerospace and rocket research.

Huo

name

A Chinese surname.

hup

intj

A shouted command used to start a marching step or spur a horse into action, especially to turn right.

Hur

name

A surname of Korean origin.

hurdle

noun

A barrier that a runner or horse must jump over during a race.

hurdles

noun

A track and field event in which runners sprint while jumping over a series of barriers.

hurl

verb

To throw something with great force.

hurley

noun

The curved wooden stick used to hit the ball in hurling.

hurling

noun

A fast Irish team sport played with a wooden stick called a hurley and a small leather ball called a sliotar.

Huron

noun

A member of the Wyandot, an Indigenous people originally from the Great Lakes region of North America.

hurrah

intj

An exclamation of approval, joy, or celebration.

hurray

intj

An exclamation of joy or approval; a cheer.

hurricane

noun

A powerful rotating tropical storm with sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour, typically forming over the Atlantic or eastern Pacific.

hurried

adj

Done quickly, often too quickly, because of a lack of time.

hurriedly

adv

In a rushed or hasty way.

hurriedness

noun

The state of being hurried.

hurry

verb

To move or act with speed, or to make someone or something move faster.

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.

hurtfulness

noun

The state or quality of being hurtful.

hurting

adj

Experiencing pain or distress, physical or emotional.

hurtle

verb

To propel or throw (something) hard or violently; to fling, to hurl.

hurtling

noun

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

hurty

adj

Semé (strewn) with hurts (roundels azure).

Hus

name

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

husayn

name

A son of Ali and brother of Hassan; a martyr, and Shi'a Imam.

husband

noun

A man who is married to someone.

husbandly

adj

Characteristic of a husband; proper and fitting for a husband; marital.

husbandman

noun

a person who raises crops and tends animals; a farmer

husbandry

noun

The occupation or work of a husbandman or farmer; the cultivation of crops and the raising of livestock; agriculture.

Husbands

name

An English surname.

hush

verb

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

hushed

adj

Very quiet; spoken softly.

hushing

noun

The act of one who hushes, or calls for silence.

husk

noun

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

huskiness

noun

The property of being husky.

husking

noun

Removal of a husk; usually: