English dictionary — definitions & meanings

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."

hussar

noun

A member of the national cavalry of Hungary, Croatia and Poland.

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.

huswifely

adj

housewifely, i.e. capable, economical, prudent.

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.

hutchinsonite

noun

A rare sulfosalt mineral of thallium, arsenic and lead.

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.

huynh

name

A surname from Vietnamese.

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.

hyaenid

noun

Any member of the Hyaenidae; an aardwolf or hyena.

hyah

intj

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

hyaline

adj

Glassy, transparent; amorphous.

hyaluronan

noun

The polysaccharide hyaluronic acid.

hyaluronic acid

noun

A substance that occurs naturally in skin, joints and eyes, made of long chains of sugar molecules, and able to hold a large amount of water relative to its weight. It is widely added to skincare products and is also used in medicine, including in injectable fillers.

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.

hydrargyrum

noun

Mercury (chemical element).

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.

hydro

adj

Clipping of hydroelectric.

hydrochloric

adj

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

hydroelectric

adj

Generating electricity from the energy of moving water.

hydroforming

noun

A cost-effective way of shaping malleable metals into lightweight, stiff pieces by means of high-pressure hydraulic fluid

hydrogen

noun

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

hydrogenium

noun

Hydrogen, especially when formerly considered as a metal.

hydrometeor

noun

Rain, snow and other precipitation products of the condensation of atmospheric water vapour

hydronium

noun

The hydrated hydrogen ion, H₃O⁺.

hydrophilic

adjective

Attracted to water: readily mixing with, dissolving in or absorbing water.

hydrophobia

noun

An aversion to water, as a symptom of rabies; the disease of rabies itself.

hydrophobic

adj

Of, or having, hydrophobia (rabies); rabid.

hydroplane

verb

To skim the surface of a body of water while moving at high speed.

hydroponic

adj

Grown in water containing dissolved nutrients, without using soil.

hydrops

noun

The abnormal accumulation of serous fluid in a tissue or cavity.

hydroxide

noun

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

hydroxy

adj

Being, or containing a hydroxyl radical.

hydroxyl

noun

A univalent radical or functional group (–OH) in organic chemistry; present in alcohols, phenols, carboxylic acids and certain other classes of compounds.

hyena

noun

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

hygge

noun

A feeling of warm, cosy contentment, especially one created by simple pleasures such as candlelight, soft blankets, good food and the company of people you like.

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.

hyle

noun

Synonym of matter, physical substance.

hylic

adj

Synonym of physical, material, or base.

hylical

adj

Synonym of physical or material.

hymen

noun

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

hymn

noun

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

hynes

name

A surname from Irish.

hyoid

adjective

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

hyoscine

noun

An oily alakoid liquid, formerly used as a sedative; scopolamine.

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.

hyperbola

noun

A conic section formed by the intersection of a cone with a plane that intersects the base of the cone and is not tangent to the cone. The function y(x) = 1/x draws a hyperbola.

hyperbole

noun

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

hyperbolic

adj

Of or relating to hyperbole.

hyperbolize

verb

To exaggerate, use hyperbole.

hypercapnia

noun

The condition of abnormally elevated carbon dioxide in the blood.

hypercritical

adj

Meticulously or excessively critical.

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.

hyperlexia

noun

The precocious ability to read single words at a very early age.

hypermarket

noun

A shop combining elements of a department store and a supermarket.

hypermetropic

adj

Exhibiting or relating to hypermetropia.

hyperopia

noun

A disorder of the vision where the eye focuses images behind the retina instead of on it, so that distant objects can be seen better than near objects.

hyperopic

adj

Farsighted; of, having, or pertaining to hyperopia.

hyperoxemia

noun

A high level of oxygen in the blood.

hypersensitive

adj

Highly or abnormally sensitive to some substances or agents, especially to some allergen.

hypersexuality

noun

Excessive desire for sexual activity, especially when considered high enough to be clinically significant.

hyperspace

noun

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

hyperspatial

adj

Pertaining to hyperspace.

hypertapping

noun

A technique in which the player flexes their biceps until it vibrates, and taps the D-pad at a speed of over 10 taps per second, allowing them to move falling blocks to the side faster than would be possible by holding down the button.

hypertension

noun

A medical condition of persistently high blood pressure.

hypertensive

adj

Of, pertaining to, or causing hypertension.

hypertonic

adj

Having a greater osmotic pressure than another.

hypertrophy

noun

An increase in the size of a tissue or organ caused by its cells growing larger rather than multiplying — in everyday use, the growth of muscle in response to training.

hyperventilating

verb

Breathing faster and more deeply than the body needs, so that too much carbon dioxide is lost — often during panic or anxiety, causing dizziness, tingling in the hands and a feeling of breathlessness.

hyphen

noun

The symbol "‐", typically used to join two or more words to form a compound term, or to indicate that a word has been split at the end of a line.

hypnopompic

adj

Relating to the state of consciousness before becoming completely awake.

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.

hypnotise

verb

To induce a state of hypnosis in.

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.

hypnotizer

noun

One who, or that which, hypnotizes.

hypo

noun

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

hypoactive

adj

Less than normally active.

hypocaust

noun

An underfloor space or flue through which heat from a furnace passes to heat the floor of a room or a bath.

hypochondriac

noun

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

hypocorism

noun

A term of endearment, often a diminutive; a pet name.

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.

hyponym

noun

A more specific term; a subordinate grouping word or phrase; a term designating a subclass of another more general class described by the given word.

hypophysis

noun

The pituitary gland.

hypotension

noun

The disease or disorder of abnormally low blood pressure.

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.

hypothec

noun

In Scotland, a landlord's right over the stocking (cattle, implements, etc.), and crops of his tenant, as security for payment of rent.

hypothecate

verb

To pledge (something) as surety for a loan; to pawn, mortgage.

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.

hypothesise

verb

Non-Oxford British English standard spelling of hypothesize.

hypothesize

verb

To assume or assert tentatively on uncertain grounds.

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."

hypotonic

adj

Having a lower osmotic pressure than another.

hypotrophy

noun

A degeneration in the functioning of an organ due to the reduction of the volume of the cells.

hypoxemia

noun

An abnormal deficiency in the concentration of oxygen in the blood, whether the partial pressure of oxygen (mm Hg), the content of oxygen (ml oxygen per dl of blood) or the per cent saturation of the blood's hemoglobin, singly or in combination.

hypoxia

noun

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

hypoxic

adj

Of, pertaining to, or suffering from hypoxia.

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.

hysteric

adj

Hysterical; relating to hysteria.

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.