English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

Hana

noun

A small town on the island of Maui, Hawaii, known for its remote coastal setting.

Hanako

noun

A Japanese female given name.

hand

noun

The part of the body at the end of the arm, used for grasping and manipulating objects.

Handa

noun

A city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

handbag

noun

A small bag, usually carried by women, used to hold personal items such as a wallet, keys, and makeup.

handbags

interjection

(British, informal, humorous) Said when a heated argument or petty squabble is more show than substance; roughly "calm down."

handball

noun

A team sport in which players throw and bounce a ball, trying to score by throwing it into the opposing goal.

handbook

noun

A concise reference book covering a particular subject, meant to be kept close at hand.

handbrake

noun

A hand-operated brake in a vehicle, used mainly to keep it stationary when parked.

handcrafted

adjective

Made carefully by hand rather than by machine or mass production.

handcuff

noun

One of a pair of metal rings, usually joined by a chain, used to restrain a person's wrists.

handcuffs

noun

A pair of metal restraints joined together, locked around a person's wrists.

handed

adjective

Having a specified number or kind of hands, especially used in compounds like left-handed or right-handed.

Handel

noun

A German surname, most famously borne by composer George Frideric Handel.

handful

noun

The amount that fits in one hand, or a small number of something.

handgun

noun

A firearm small enough to be held and fired with one hand, such as a pistol or revolver.

handicap

noun

A physical or mental condition that limits a person's abilities.

handicapped

adj

Having a physical or mental disability.

handing

noun

The act of passing something to someone with the hand.

handiwork

noun

Something made or done by a particular person, especially with their hands.

handkerchief

noun

A small square of cloth carried for wiping the nose, face, or hands.

handle

noun

The part of an object that is designed to be gripped by hand.

handled

adj

Fitted with a handle or handles.

handler

noun

A person who trains, controls, or works closely with an animal or person in their care.

handling

noun

The way something is managed, dealt with, or physically handled.

handmade

adj

Made by hand rather than by machine.

handout

noun

A printed sheet of information given out, especially in a class or meeting.

handover

noun

The transfer of control, power, or responsibility from one person or group to another.

handpicked

adj

Chosen carefully and deliberately, often by a specific person.

handprint

noun

A mark left on a surface by pressing a hand against it.

Hands

name

An English surname.

handset

noun

The part of a telephone that you hold to talk and listen.

handshake

noun

The act of grasping and shaking someone's hand as a greeting or to seal an agreement.

handsome

adj

Good-looking, especially describing a man's attractive face or build.

handsomely

adv

Generously; in a way that gives more than expected.

handstand

noun

A move in which a person balances upside down on their hands.

handsy

adj

Inclined to touch other people inappropriately or without invitation.

handwriting

noun

Writing done by hand rather than typed or printed.

handwritten

adj

Written by hand rather than typed or printed.

handy

adj

Convenient and useful; easy to use.

handyman

noun

A person who does small repairs and odd jobs, especially around the house.

hang

verb

To attach something at the top so it hangs down freely, or to be suspended in this way.

hangar

noun

A large building used to store or repair aircraft.

hanged

verb

Past tense of "hang" used specifically for execution by the neck.

hanger

noun

A shaped piece of wood, plastic, or wire used to hang clothes on.

hanging

adj

Suspended or dangling from something.

hangman

noun

A person whose job is to execute people by hanging.

hangout

noun

A place where people like to spend time casually and informally.

hangover

noun

The headache, nausea, and other unpleasant effects felt after drinking too much alcohol.

Hangzhou

name

A city in eastern China, the capital of Zhejiang province and a former imperial capital.

Hani

noun

A member of an ethnic group living mainly in Yunnan, China, and parts of Vietnam and Laos.

Hank

noun

A coiled loop or bundle of yarn, twine, or rope.

hankering

noun

A strong craving or longing for something.

Hanks

name

A surname, originally formed as a patronymic meaning "son of Hank."

Hanley

name

A town in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, and one of the historic "Potteries" towns.

Hanlon

name

A surname of Irish origin.

Hanna

name

A feminine given name, a variant spelling of Hannah.

Hannah

noun

A common female given name of Hebrew origin, also the name of the mother of the prophet Samuel in the Old Testament.

Hannibal

noun

A male given name, historically famous as the name of the Carthaginian general who led an army over the Alps to invade Rome.

Hannigan

name

A surname of Irish origin.

Hanoi

noun

The capital city of Vietnam.

Hanover

noun

A city in Lower Saxony, Germany, and the former royal house that ruled Britain from 1714 to 1901.

Hans

noun

A male given name of German origin, a short form of Johannes.

Hansel

name

An anglicized form of the German given name Hänsel, and a character in the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel.

Hansen

name

A surname of Danish and Norwegian origin, and the name of small towns in Idaho and Wisconsin.

Hansson

name

A surname of Swedish origin.

Hanukkah

noun

The eight-day Jewish festival of lights, celebrated in November or December, marking the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees' victory.

Hanuman

noun

In Hindu mythology, a monkey-god known for his devotion and loyalty to the god Rama.

Hanyang

name

A district of Wuhan, China, and a historical name for Seoul, South Korea.

hao

noun

A former Vietnamese unit of currency equal to one-tenth of a dong.

hap

noun

(archaic) Luck or fortune, good or bad; chance.

haphazard

adj

Done without any clear plan or order; disorganized and random.

hapless

adj

Unlucky, especially in a way that invites pity or mild amusement.

Happ

name

A surname of German origin.

happen

verb

To take place; to occur.

happening

noun

An event or occurrence, especially something unusual or notable.

happily

adv

In a happy, contented, or cheerful way.

happiness

noun

The state of feeling joyful, content, or satisfied with life.

happy

adj

Feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.

har

noun

(archaic, dialectal) A hinge.

Hara

name

An epithet of the Hindu god Shiva, and a Japanese surname.

Harada

name

A Japanese surname.

haram

adj

Forbidden under Islamic law.

harass

verb

To repeatedly trouble, pester, or intimidate someone, especially in a way that is unwanted or illegal.

harassed

adj

Worn out or stressed by repeated pressure, demands, or attacks.

harassing

adj

Involving repeated, unwanted pestering, intimidation, or attacks.

harassment

noun

Repeated unwanted behavior intended to disturb, intimidate, or upset someone.

Harbin

noun

The capital city of Heilongjiang province in northeastern China, known for its ice and snow festival.

harbinger

noun

A person or sign that shows something is about to happen, especially something important.

harbor

noun

A sheltered area of water where ships can dock or anchor safely.

harbour

noun

British spelling of harbor: a sheltered area of water where ships can dock.

Harcourt

name

An English surname, and the name of several places in France, England, Canada, and Australia.

hard

adj

Solid and firm; not easily broken, cut, or dented.

hardball

noun

Baseball, as distinguished from softball — or, more commonly, tough, uncompromising tactics.

Hardcastle

name

An English surname.

hardcore

adj

Deeply committed or dedicated to something, often to an extreme degree.

harden

verb

To become hard, or to make something hard or harder.

hardened

adj

Made physically hard or tough, often through a deliberate process.

hardening

noun

The process of becoming, or making something, harder or tougher.

Harder

name

A surname, often of German or Dutch origin.

hardheaded

adj

Stubborn and unwilling to change one's mind.

Hardin

name

A surname and male given name, also the name of towns in several U.S. states, including the county seat of Big Horn County, Montana.

Harding

name

An English and Irish surname, notably borne by U.S. President Warren G. Harding, and the name of several places in the United States.

Hardison

name

A surname, likely a variant of Hardison or Harrison.

hardly

adv

Barely; only just; almost not at all.

hardman

noun

A tough, physically imposing man, especially one known for using or threatening violence.

hardness

noun

The quality of being physically hard or resistant to scratching, cutting, or denting.

hardship

noun

A period of severe difficulty, suffering, or lack; hard times.

hardsub

noun

A subtitle that is permanently burned into a video's picture, so it can't be turned off.

Hardwick

name

An English surname, and a common place name for villages and suburbs throughout England and the United States.

Hardwicke

name

An English surname, and the name of villages in Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, England.

hardwired

adj

Built into a device's physical circuitry, so its function can't be changed by software.

hardwood

noun

Wood from broad-leaved trees such as oak or maple, often prized for furniture and flooring.

hardworking

adj

Putting in a lot of effort and diligence at one's job or tasks.

hardy

adj

Able to endure difficult conditions, fatigue, or hardship; tough and resilient.

hare

noun

A fast-running, long-eared mammal related to the rabbit but generally larger, with longer legs.

harebrained

adj

Foolish, reckless, or poorly thought out.

harem

noun

Historically, the private living quarters reserved for the women of a household, especially in a Muslim family, off-limits to men outside the family.

Hargreaves

name

An English surname.

Hargrove

name

An English surname derived from a place name.

Hari

name

An epithet of the Hindu god Vishnu, and a male given name and surname from Sanskrit used in India.

harish

adj

Resembling a hare in appearance or behaviour.

Harishchandra

name

A legendary Indian king celebrated in Hindu tradition for his unwavering commitment to truth.

hark

verb

To listen attentively, typically used in the old-fashioned command "hark!"

Harken

name

A surname of German origin.

Harker

name

An English surname, notably borne by Jonathan Harker in Bram Stoker's novel Dracula.

Harkness

name

A surname, and a suburb of Melbourne, Australia.

Harlan

name

A surname and male given name, and the name of the county seat of Harlan County, Kentucky.

Harland

name

An English surname.

Harlee

name

A male given name, a fanciful spelling variant of Harley.

harlequin

noun

A comic pantomime character traditionally dressed in a diamond-patterned, multicoloured costume.

Harley

noun

Informal shorthand for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

harlot

noun

An old-fashioned, disapproving term for a prostitute or a woman considered sexually promiscuous.

Harlow

name

A town in Essex, England, and a surname and unisex given name derived from it.

harm

noun

Physical injury or damage.

Harman

noun

Old-fashioned British slang for a police officer.

harmful

adj

Likely to cause harm, injury, or damage.

harmless

adj

Not capable of causing injury or harm; safe.

Harmon

name

An English or Irish surname, and the name of several small U.S. communities.

harmonic

adj

Relating to harmony; pleasant and well-balanced in sound.

harmonica

noun

A small handheld wind instrument played by blowing and drawing air across a row of metal reeds.

harmonious

adj

Free of conflict; showing agreement and cooperation.

harmonium

noun

A keyboard instrument that produces sound by pushing air through small reeds, worked with foot pedals or a hand pump.

harmonize

verb

To make things agree or fit together smoothly.

harmony

noun

A state of peaceful agreement, cooperation, or balance.

Harms

name

A surname, often of German or Dutch origin.

harness

noun

A set of straps used to control or support an animal, person, or piece of equipment.

harnessing

noun

The straps and equipment used to fit a harness onto an animal.

Harold

noun

In improvised comedy theatre, a long-form structure in which several scenes, characters, and themes are set up early and then woven back together throughout the show.

harp

noun

A large stringed musical instrument played by plucking strings stretched across an open frame.