English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

Hays

name

An English and Scottish surname, a variant of Hay, often referring to an enclosed field.

hayseed

noun

Seeds that come from dried grass, or hay.

haystack

noun

A large stacked pile of hay left out in a field.

hayti

name

The name of a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri.

hayward

noun

Historically, an official responsible for overseeing crops and keeping livestock out of the fields.

haywire

noun

Thin, flexible wire originally used to bind bales of hay.

Haywood

name

An English surname and place name meaning "enclosed wood" or "hedged forest."

Hayworth

name

An English surname, best known through actress Rita Hayworth.

hazard

noun

A source of danger or risk of harm.

hazarding

noun

A guess or suggestion that someone puts forward.

hazardous

adj

Dangerous; likely to cause harm.

hazards

noun

A short form of ‘hazard lights’.

haze

noun

A thin layer of smoke, dust, or moisture in the air that slightly blurs visibility.

hazed

adj

Covered or dimmed by haze; misty.

hazel

noun

A small tree or shrub (genus Corylus) that produces edible nuts.

hazelnut

noun

The edible nut of the hazel tree.

Hazelwood

noun

The pale, springy wood of the hazel tree, often used for walking sticks, fencing, and traditionally for divining rods.

hazing

noun

The practice of subjecting someone, often a new member of a group, to humiliating, harsh, or abusive rituals.

hazmat

noun

Hazardous materials, or gear used to handle them.

hazy

adj

Covered or dulled by haze; not clear.

Hazzard

name

An English surname, a variant spelling of Hazard, and a fictional county name popularized by the television show "The Dukes of Hazzard."

HBCU

noun

A college or university in the United States that was founded before 1964 with the primary mission of educating Black Americans, at a time when most other institutions excluded them.

HBD

phrase

Happy birthday — used in text messages, comments and social media posts as a short birthday greeting.

HBU

phrase

How about you — used in texting to turn a question back on the person you are messaging.

HD

adjective

Describing video, screens or images with a much higher pixel resolution than the older standard, giving a sharper and more detailed picture.

HDD

noun

A storage device that records data magnetically on rapidly spinning metal or glass discs, read and written by an arm that moves across their surface, and that keeps its contents when the power is off.

he

pron

Used to refer to a male person or animal already mentioned or understood.

hea

adverb

A casual, dialectal way of saying "here" (chiefly Northern English/Scots usage).

head

noun

The part of the body containing the brain, eyes, and mouth.

headache

noun

A pain in the head.

headband

noun

A strip of fabric or flexible material worn around the head, often to hold back hair.

headboard

noun

A vertical panel at the head end of a bed.

headbutt

noun

A sharp blow made by driving the head into someone or something.

headcount

noun

The action of counting the number of people present in a group.

headdress

noun

A decorative covering or ornament worn on the head.

headed

adj

Moving or directed toward a particular place.

header

noun

Text or information placed at the top of a page, document, or section.

headfirst

adv

With the head leading; headlong.

headgear

noun

Anything worn on the head, such as a hat, helmet, or hood.

headhunt

verb

To behead an enemy and keep the head as a trophy.

headhunter

noun

A recruiter who seeks out and approaches skilled professionals, especially executives, to fill jobs at other companies.

headhunting

noun

The custom of beheading an enemy and keeping the head.

heading

noun

The title or short label at the top of a document, chapter, or section.

headlamp

noun

One of the lights fitted to the front of a vehicle, such as a car.

headland

noun

An area of coastal land projecting into the sea.

headless

adj

Having no head, literally — a body without its head.

headlight

noun

A lamp mounted on the front of a vehicle to light the road ahead when driving in the dark.

headline

noun

The bold title printed above a newspaper or magazine article, summarizing its content.

headliner

noun

The best-known performer at a concert or show, usually appearing last on the bill.

headlock

noun

A wrestling hold in which one person clamps an arm tightly around another's head so they can't easily break free.

headlong

adv

Head first, or with reckless, unrestrained speed.

Headman

noun

The recognized leader of a village, tribe, or small community, especially in traditional or tribal societies.

headmaster

noun

A man who is the head teacher in charge of running a school.

headmistress

noun

A woman who is the head teacher in charge of running a school.

headphones

noun

A pair of small speakers worn over or in the ears so only the wearer hears the sound.

headpiece

noun

A decorative or protective covering worn on the head, such as part of a costume or a helmet.

headpin

noun

Another word for kingpin.

headquarter

verb

To give an organization or operation its main base of operations in a particular place.

headquarters

noun

An organization's main office, from which its operations or leadership are run.

headrest

noun

The part of a seat that supports your head.

headroom

noun

The amount of space above someone's head, for example in a doorway or tunnel.

heads

intj

A shouted warning that something is falling or about to hit someone from above.

heads-up

noun

An advance warning or piece of information given so that someone can prepare.

headscarf

noun

A roughly square piece of fabric worn on the head, usually by women, often to cover the hair or for religious purposes.

headset

noun

A combined pair of headphones and a microphone, worn on the head for calls, gaming, or broadcasting.

headshot

noun

A close-up photograph of a person's face and shoulders, often used professionally.

headsman

noun

A person who leads or is in charge; a leader.

headspace

noun

A person's mental or emotional state, especially their capacity to cope with something at a particular moment.

headstall

noun

The section of a bridle that goes over a horse's head and holds the other parts in place.

headstone

noun

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

headstrong

adj

Stubbornly determined to do things one's own way, ignoring advice or objections.

headwaiter

noun

The senior waiter in a restaurant, who is in charge of the rest of the waiting staff.

headway

noun

Progress made toward completing something.

headwear

noun

Anything worn on the head, such as a hat, helmet or headscarf.

headwind

noun

Wind blowing straight towards a moving vehicle, opposing its direction of travel, as with an aircraft, train or ship.

heady

adj

Strongly affecting the senses or mind, as with a powerful drink or an exciting situation.

heal

verb

To make well again after illness or injury; to recover.

healer

noun

A person who treats or cures illness, especially through non-conventional or spiritual means.

Healey

name

An Irish and English surname, an anglicized form of a Gaelic name meaning "ingenious."

healing

noun

The body's process of repairing itself after injury or illness.

health

noun

The condition of being free from illness or injury; overall physical or mental well-being.

health and wellness

noun

The broad field concerned with keeping the body and mind in good condition, covering fitness, diet, sleep, mental health and preventive care rather than the treatment of disease alone.

healthful

adj

Good for your physical health.

healthiness

noun

The condition of being healthy.

healthy

adj

In good physical or mental condition; free from illness.

Healy

name

An Irish surname, a variant spelling of Healey, from the Gaelic Ó hÉalaithe.

heap

noun

A pile of things gathered or thrown together.

heaped

adj

Piled up, or filled generously above the rim.

heaps

adv

Informal: very much, or a large amount.

hear

verb

To perceive sound through the ears.

hearable

adj

Able to be heard.

heard

adj

Past tense and past participle of hear; perceived by ear.

hearer

noun

A person who hears something.

hearership

noun

The condition of being a hearer, or all the listeners to something, seen as a group.

hearing

noun

The sense used to perceive sound.

hearken

verb

To listen to something carefully and take notice of it.

Hearn

name

An English and Irish surname, often derived from a place name meaning "heron" or a personal name.

hearne

name

The name of a city in Robertson County, Texas, United States.

hearsay

noun

Information passed along secondhand that hasn't been confirmed or verified.

hearse

noun

A vehicle specially built to carry a coffin to a funeral or burial.

hearsomeness

noun

Willingness to obey and follow those in charge.

Hearst

noun

(archaic, hunting) A female deer in her second or third year.

heart

noun

The muscular organ that pumps blood through the body, traditionally seen as the seat of emotion.

heartache

noun

Deep emotional pain or sorrow, especially from losing or being separated from someone you love.

heartbeat

noun

A single pulse of the heart, or the steady rhythm of the heart pumping.

heartbreak

noun

Intense sadness or grief, especially after losing someone or something you loved deeply.

heartbreaker

noun

Someone who attracts romantic interest but doesn't return it, leaving others hurt.

heartbreaking

adj

Causing intense sadness or grief.

heartbroken

adj

Overwhelmed with grief, especially after a relationship ends or a loss occurs.

heartburn

noun

A burning sensation in the chest caused by stomach acid rising into the throat.

hearted

adj

Having a particular kind of heart or disposition (used in combination, as in "kind-hearted" or "cold-hearted").

hearten

verb

To make someone feel more confident, cheerful or encouraged.

heartfelt

adj

Sincerely and deeply felt.

heartful

noun

A quantity of feeling that someone is thought to be carrying inside them.

hearth

noun

The floor or area around a fireplace, often used to represent home and family life.

heartily

adv

In a warm, enthusiastic, or wholehearted way.

heartiness

noun

The state or condition of being hearty.

heartland

noun

The central region of a country or area, especially one seen as culturally or politically central.

heartless

adj

Lacking compassion or feeling for others; cruel.

heartling

noun

An affectionate way of addressing someone, similar to 'darling'.

heartrending

adj

Causing great sadness or suffering.

hearts

noun

One of the four suits in a standard deck of playing cards, marked with a red heart symbol.

heartsease

noun

A small wild flower found across Europe, also known as the wild pansy.

heartsick

adj

Extremely sad or unhappy.

heartsore

noun

A deep feeling of sadness or emotional pain.

heartspent

adj

Having felt an emotion as strongly as it can be felt.

heartstopping

adj

So exciting or shocking that it feels as though your heart has skipped a beat.

heartstring

noun

singular of heartstrings

heartstrings

noun

A person's deepest emotions, especially feelings of love or compassion.

heartthrob

noun

A very attractive, famous person, especially an actor or singer, who is widely admired romantically.

heartwarming

adjective

Causing a feeling of quiet happiness and affection, usually by showing kindness, generosity or love between people.

heartwood

noun

The older wood at the centre of a tree trunk or branch, which is a different colour from the sapwood around it.

hearty

adj

Warm, enthusiastic, and genuine.

heat

noun

The energy or sensation of high temperature; warmth.

heated

adj

Made warm, often by a built-in system.

heater

noun

A device that produces warmth, used to heat a room, building, or object.

heath

noun

An open, uncultivated stretch of land, typically with sandy soil and low shrubs like heather.

Heathcliff

name

A masculine given name, famous as the brooding romantic hero of Emily Brontë's novel "Wuthering Heights."

Heathen

noun

Historically, a person who does not follow one of the major world religions; more recently, a follower of modern pagan Heathenry.

heathenism

noun

The beliefs and way of life associated with heathens.

heathenous

adj

Typical of a heathen.

heather

noun

A low evergreen shrub with small purple, pink, or white flowers, common on moorland.

Heathrow

name

A major international airport west of London.

heating

noun

A system used to warm a building or room.

heats

noun

A spell of hot weather.

heave

verb

To lift, pull, or throw something heavy with a lot of effort.

heaven

noun

In many religions, the place where God, gods, or the blessed dead are believed to dwell.

heavenlike

adj

Like heaven, or having the qualities of heaven.

heavenly

adj

Relating to heaven or the sky.

heavens

intj

An exclamation of surprise or exasperation.