English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

hemorrhaging

noun

The act of bleeding heavily; ongoing severe blood loss.

hemorrhea

noun

A free flow of blood; a haemorrhage.

hemorrhoid

noun

A swollen, often painful blood vessel around the anus, commonly known as piles.

hemovore

noun

An animal that feeds mainly on blood, such as a leech, tick or vampire bat.

hemp

noun

A tall plant in the cannabis family grown for its strong fiber and seeds rather than as a drug.

hen

noun

An adult female chicken, especially one kept for laying eggs.

henbane

noun

A poisonous plant of the genus Hyoscyamus, especially Hyoscyamus niger, that has been used as a drug.

hence

adverb

For this reason; therefore.

henceforth

adverb

From this point in time onward.

henceforward

adv

From this moment onwards.

henceforwards

adv

From now on.

hencefrom

adv

From this place.

hench

noun

The narrow side of a chimney stack.

henchman

noun

A loyal follower or subordinate who carries out orders, often without question — frequently used of a villain's or gang leader's helpers.

hencoop

noun

A small enclosure where hens are kept.

hendecagon

noun

A shape with eleven straight sides and eleven angles.

Henderson

name

A surname of Scottish origin, meaning roughly "son of Henry"; also used as a place name in several countries.

Hendricks

name

A surname originating as a patronymic form of Hendrick.

Hendrix

name

A surname, a variant spelling of Hendricks, made famous by guitarist Jimi Hendrix.

heng

adj

Chinese: lucky or fortunate (as a loanword sometimes used in English contexts).

henhouse

noun

A small shed or coop where chickens are kept and lay their eggs.

Henk

name

A male given name, common in the Netherlands, and a surname.

henley

noun

A pullover knit shirt with a buttoned placket at the neck but no collar.

henna

noun

A reddish-brown dye made from a flowering shrub, used to color hair or create temporary tattoos on skin.

Hennessey

name

A surname of Irish origin.

Hennessy

name

A surname of Irish origin, also the name of a well-known French cognac brand.

Henny

noun

Informal, slang: Hennessy cognac.

henotheism

noun

Belief in or worship of one deity while accepting that other deities exist.

henpecked

adjective

Constantly nagged and dominated by a wife, girlfriend or other partner, especially said of a man.

Henri

name

A male given name, the French form of Henry.

Henrickson

name

A surname of Scandinavian origin meaning "son of Henrik."

Henrietta

name

A female given name, the feminine form of Henry.

Henriette

name

A female given name of French origin, the feminine form of Henri.

henry

noun

The SI unit of electrical inductance, symbol H.

Henshaw

name

A surname of English origin, originally describing someone from a place called Henshaw.

Henson

name

A surname meaning "son of Henry", notably borne by puppeteer Jim Henson.

hentai

noun

(informal) Anime or manga, or similar artwork, with strongly sexual or pornographic content.

Heo

name

A Korean surname, also romanized as Hŏ or Huh.

heortology

noun

The branch of study concerned with religious festivals.

hep

adjective

Fashionably aware and up-to-date; an older, jazz-era word for "hip".

heparin

noun

A naturally occurring substance that prevents blood from clotting, used medically to treat and prevent blood clots.

hepatectomy

noun

The surgical removal of all or part of the liver.

hepatic

adjective

Relating to, or affecting, the liver.

hepatica

noun

Any non-woody plant of the genus Hepatica in the buttercup family, especially the common hepatica.

hepatitis

noun

Inflammation of the liver, often caused by a viral infection but sometimes by alcohol, toxins, or an autoimmune reaction.

Hepburn

noun

A system for writing Japanese words using the Latin alphabet, the one most commonly seen in Western books and signage.

hepcat

noun

(informal) A jazz musician, particularly from the 1940s or 1950s.

Hephaestus

noun

In Greek mythology, the god of fire, metalworking, and craftsmen, who forged weapons and tools for the other gods.

heptadecagon

noun

A polygon with seventeen sides and seventeen angles.

heptagon

noun

A shape with seven straight sides and seven angles.

heptathlon

noun

An athletics competition made up of seven different events, mainly contested by women as an Olympic sport.

her

det

Belonging to her — used before a noun to show something is owned by or associated with a particular woman, girl, or (in older or poetic use) a ship, country, etc.

Hera

name

In Greek mythology, the queen of the gods and goddess of marriage, married to Zeus.

herald

noun

A person or thing that announces or signals that something is coming.

heraldry

noun

The art or profession of designing, granting and describing coats of arms, and of recording family lines and settling matters of rank and protocol.

heramba

name

A form taken by the Hindu deity Ganesha.

herb

noun

A plant used to flavour food, especially the leaves.

herbage

noun

Herbs, considered together as a group.

herbal

adj

Made from or relating to herbs and plants, rather than manufactured chemicals.

herbalist

noun

A person who treats illness using plants and plant-based remedies.

herbarium

noun

A collection of dried plants that have been preserved for study.

Herbert

name

A male given name of Germanic origin.

Herbie

name

A diminutive (nickname) form of the name Herbert.

herbivore

noun

An animal that feeds on plants rather than on other animals.

Herc

noun

Informal name for the Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft.

herculean

adj

Extremely strong or powerful, like the legendary hero Hercules.

Hercules

name

In Roman mythology, a hero of enormous strength, known for completing twelve immense labours; the Roman version of the Greek hero Heracles.

herd

noun

A large group of animals of one kind that live, feed, or move together.

herder

noun

A person whose job is to look after and manage a herd of animals.

herding

noun

The activity of gathering and moving animals together as a group.

herdsman

noun

A person whose job is looking after farm animals such as cattle or sheep, especially the most experienced worker in charge of a group of them.

here

adv

At, in, or to this place — the place where the speaker is.

hereabout

adv

(old-fashioned) Concerning this matter.

hereabouts

adv

Somewhere near this place; in this general area.

hereabove

adv

Meaning the same as hereinabove: earlier in this document.

hereafter

adv

From this point onward; in the future.

hereagainst

adv

(old-fashioned) Against this; in opposition to it.

hereat

adv

(old-fashioned) At this moment, right after something has happened.

herebefore

adv

(old-fashioned) Earlier in this document.

hereby

adv

By means of this statement or action; used especially in formal or legal declarations.

hereditarily

adv

In a way that is passed down from parent to child.

hereditary

adj

Passed down from parent to child, especially through genes.

heredity

noun

The passing of physical or genetic traits from parents to their children.

Hereford

name

A cathedral city in the west of England, and the county town of Herefordshire.

herein

adv

In this document, matter, or context.

hereness

noun

The quality of being present in a particular place.

heresiarch

noun

A person who starts a heresy or becomes a leading figure within one.

heresy

noun

A belief that goes against the official teachings of a religion.

heretic

noun

A person whose beliefs conflict with the official teachings of their religion.

heretical

adj

Involving or characteristic of heresy; contrary to accepted religious teaching.

hereto

adv

To this document or matter; attached to this.

heretofore

adv

Up until now; at any time before this.

heretoforetime

adv

(old-fashioned) Before this; at an earlier time.

hereunto

adv

(old-fashioned) Up to this point; to this.

herewith

adv

Along with this; enclosed with this letter or document.

heritable

adj

(law) Able to be passed on to someone else after a person's death.

heritage

noun

Traditions, buildings, culture, or values passed down from earlier generations.

Herman

name

A male given name of Germanic origin, and a common surname.

Hermann

name

A male given name and surname of German origin, equivalent to English Herman.

hermaphrodite

noun

An organism, such as certain plants or animals, possessing both male and female reproductive organs.

hermaphroditic

adj

Relating to having both male and female characteristics.

hermeneutics

noun

The study of interpretation, especially of texts, meaning and understanding.

Hermes

name

In Greek mythology, the messenger god associated with travel, trade, and communication.

hermetic

adj

Relating to Hermes, a god in ancient Greek mythology.

Hermia

name

A female given name, best known as a character in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

hermie

noun

Informal, shortened form of "hermit crab".

Hermione

name

A female given name of Greek origin, historically the daughter of Helen of Troy, and today widely associated with the Harry Potter character Hermione Granger.

hermit

noun

A person who lives alone, away from other people, often by choice.

hermitage

noun

A secluded dwelling where a hermit lives, or more generally, any place of quiet retreat.

hern

noun

(dialect) A corner or small hidden space.

Hernandez

name

A common surname of Spanish origin, meaning "son of Hernando".

Hernando

name

A masculine given name of Spanish origin, a variant of Fernando, meaning "brave" or "adventurous."

herne

name

Herne the Hunter, an English mythological figure; an antlered ghost associated with Windsor Forest and Great Park in the English county of Berkshire.

hernia

noun

A condition in which an internal part of the body, often a loop of intestine, pushes through a weak spot or tear in the surrounding muscle wall, most commonly around the abdomen or groin.

herniation

noun

The process of developing a hernia.

hero

noun

A person admired for great courage, noble actions, or outstanding achievement.

Herod

name

A name borne by several rulers of ancient Judea, most notably Herod the Great, mentioned in the New Testament.

heroic

adj

Showing great courage, self-sacrifice, or exceptional bravery.

heroically

adv

In a brave, self-sacrificing way, like a hero.

heroics

noun

Bold, impressive actions that show unusual courage or skill.

heroin

noun

A highly addictive illegal drug made from morphine, known for producing an intense rush of euphoria.

heroine

noun

A woman admired for exceptional courage or achievement.

heroism

noun

Great courage or selflessness, especially in the face of danger.

herolike

adj

Like a hero; brave and admirable.

heron

noun

A tall wading bird with long legs, a long neck, and a spear-like bill, often seen standing still at the edge of water.

herpes

noun

A viral infection that causes painful, fluid-filled blisters on the skin, mouth, or genitals.

herpetology

noun

The scientific study of reptiles and amphibians.

Herr

noun

A polite title used before a German man's surname, equivalent to "Mr."

Herrera

name

A Spanish surname, originally denoting someone from a place with ironworks or a blacksmith's forge.

Herrick

name

An English surname and given name, notably borne by poet Robert Herrick.

herriman

name

The name of a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States.

herring

noun

A small, oily silver fish found in large schools in northern seas, widely eaten fresh, smoked, or pickled.

Herriot

name

An English surname, best known as the pen name of James Herriot, author of veterinary memoirs.

Herrmann

name

A German surname, a variant spelling of Hermann, meaning "army man."

hers

pron

The thing or things belonging to her; used in place of "her" plus a noun.

Herschel

name

A family name.

herself

pron

Used to refer back to a female subject already mentioned in the sentence.

Hershel

name

A masculine given name of Yiddish origin, meaning "deer."

Hershey

name

A family name.

Hertfordshire

name

A county in southeastern England, north of London.

hertz

noun

The standard unit of frequency, equal to one cycle per second.

Herzog

noun

A German duke; a title of high nobility in German-speaking lands.

hes

pronoun

A gender-neutral pronoun blending "he" and "she," used for a person of unspecified or non-binary gender.

hesitance

noun

The state of feeling unsure or reluctant to act.

hesitancy

noun

A short delay before starting something, usually caused by doubt or worry about how it will turn out.

hesitant

adj

Slow to act or decide because of uncertainty, nervousness, or reluctance.

hesitate

verb

To pause before doing or deciding something because of doubt or reluctance.

hesitating

adj

Pausing or acting slowly because of uncertainty or reluctance.

hesitation

noun

A brief pause caused by uncertainty or reluctance before acting or deciding.

hesitative

adj

Showing hesitation; unsure or reluctant.