English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

hoarder

noun

Someone who compulsively collects and keeps things, often far beyond what is useful or necessary.

hoarding

noun

A large outdoor advertising board; a billboard.

hoarse

adj

Having a rough, strained voice, often from shouting, a sore throat, or overuse.

hoarsely

adv

In a rough, strained voice.

hoax

noun

Something made up on purpose to trick or deceive people.

Hobart

name

The capital city of Tasmania, Australia; also an English surname derived from Hubert.

Hobbes

name

An English surname, most famously borne by the philosopher Thomas Hobbes.

hobbit

noun

In fantasy fiction, a member of a small, human-like race with hairy feet, known for enjoying comfort and quiet living.

hobble

verb

To walk with difficulty, typically because of an injury or pain.

Hobbs

name

An English surname, also the name of a city in New Mexico, United States.

hobby

noun

An activity someone does regularly for pleasure in their free time, not for work.

hobo

noun

A homeless person who travels from place to place, historically often by illegally hopping freight trains.

Hoboken

name

A city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, and a district of Antwerp, Belgium.

Hobson

name

An English surname, also the name of small communities in Alabama, Montana, and Texas.

hock

noun

The joint on the hind leg of an animal such as a horse, dog, or pig, roughly equivalent to an ankle.

hocked

adj

Having a particular kind of hock (leg joint), as in an animal's description.

hockey

noun

A team sport in which players use curved sticks to hit a ball or puck into a goal.

Hockney

name

An English surname, notably borne by the painter David Hockney.

hocus

verb

To trick or deceive someone.

Hodge

name

A surname originating as a patronymic.

Hodges

name

An English surname, also the name of small towns in Alabama and South Carolina.

Hodgins

name

An English surname.

hodja

noun

A Muslim teacher or religious scholar, especially one who teaches at a traditional school.

hoe

noun

A hand tool with a long handle and flat blade, used for weeding and turning soil.

hoedown

noun

A lively social gathering featuring American folk or square dancing.

Hofer

noun

Informal slang for someone inducted into a hall of fame; a hall-of-famer.

Hoff

name

An informal nickname for the actor David Hasselhoff.

Hoffa

name

An American surname, notably borne by labor leader Jimmy Hoffa.

Hoffman

name

A surname of German and Ashkenazi Jewish origin, also the name of small communities in several U.S. states.

hog

noun

A domestic pig, especially a full-grown one raised for meat.

hogan

noun

A traditional Navajo dwelling, typically a single round or many-sided room built from logs and earth.

Hogarth

name

A surname.

hogg

noun

A young sheep, before it has grown its first pair of permanent teeth.

hogging

noun

The act of taking up so much of something that others can't use or enjoy it.

Hogwarts

noun

The fictional boarding school for young witches and wizards in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels.

hogwash

noun

Nonsense; talk or writing that is foolish or untrue.

Hoh

name

A surname of German or Chinese origin.

hoist

verb

To raise or lift something up, often using ropes, pulleys, or machinery.

Hojo

name

A Japanese surname, historically borne by a powerful regent clan of medieval Japan.

hoke

verb

To fake or exaggerate something to make it seem more dramatic, sentimental, or impressive than it really is (usually "hoke up").

hokey

adjective

Corny or overly sentimental in a way that feels fake or old-fashioned.

Hokkaido

noun

Japan's northernmost and second-largest main island, known for its cold winters and capital city Sapporo.

Hol

name

A municipality in Buskerud, Norway.

hola

interjection

An informal greeting meaning "hello" or "hi," borrowed from Spanish.

Holbrook

name

An English habitational surname, and the name of several villages in England and towns in the United States.

hold

verb

To grasp, carry, or support something with your hands or arms.

Holden

name

A surname.

holder

noun

A person who owns, possesses, or is entitled to something, such as a ticket, title, or account.

holding

noun

Something owned, especially investments such as stocks, property, or bonds.

hole

noun

A hollow space or opening in something solid, or a gap that goes all the way through.

holed

adjective

Having a hole or holes in it.

Holes

name

An English surname, a variant of Hole.

Holi

noun

A Hindu spring festival celebrated by throwing colored powders and water at friends and strangers alike.

holiday

noun

A day set aside for a religious, cultural, or national celebration, often free from work.

holidays

noun

Chiefly British: time off work or school, especially for travel or relaxation (usually plural).

holiness

noun

The quality or state of being holy or sacred.

holistic

adjective

Considering something as a complete, interconnected whole rather than breaking it into separate parts.

Holl

name

A German, Dutch, or English surname.

holla

verb

Informal: to shout or call out, especially as a casual greeting.

Holland

noun

A common informal name for the Netherlands, technically referring to just two of its provinces (North and South Holland).

hollandaise

noun

A rich, creamy sauce made from egg yolks, melted butter, and lemon juice, often served over eggs or vegetables.

Hollander

name

A surname meaning "a person from Holland."

holler

verb

To shout loudly, often to get attention or express strong feeling.

hollering

noun

Loud shouting or yelling.

Holli

name

A rare feminine given name, a spelling variant of Holly.

Holliday

name

An English surname derived from the word holiday, notably borne by the gambler and gunfighter Doc Holliday; also the name of small communities in Kansas, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Hollingsworth

name

An English surname, also the name of a small community in Georgia, United States.

Hollis

name

An English surname derived from the word holly, also the name of a neighborhood in Queens, New York, and small towns in Maine, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma.

Hollister

name

An English surname, also the name of cities in California, Idaho, Missouri, and Oklahoma, and a well-known American clothing brand.

hollow

noun

A small valley or dip between hills, or a sunken area on a surface.

Holloway

noun

A sunken path or lane, worn down below the level of the surrounding land, usually by centuries of foot and cart traffic.

holly

noun

A prickly-leaved evergreen shrub or small tree with bright red berries, often used as Christmas decoration.

Hollywood

name

A neighbourhood of Los Angeles that has become world-famous as the centre of the American film industry.

holm

noun

A small island, especially a low one in a river, lake, or estuary.

Holman

name

An English surname, also the name of small communities in Missouri, Texas, and West Virginia.

Holmes

noun

Informal, friendly term of address for a man, similar to "man" or "dude."

holocaust

name

(historical, capitalised) The mass murder of around six million European Jews by Nazi Germany during World War II.

holodeck

noun

A fictional room that generates realistic holographic simulations for training or entertainment.

hologram

noun

A three-dimensional image produced using laser light (holography).

holographic

adj

Relating to or in the form of a hologram.

holster

noun

A holder, typically worn on a belt, for carrying a handgun.

holt

noun

A small wood or wooded hill.

Holtz

name

A German surname.

holy

adj

Regarded as sacred or dedicated to a god or religious purpose.

Hom

name

A Chinese surname, and also the station code of Ho Man Tin in Hong Kong.

homage

noun

A show of special respect or honour towards someone.

hombre

noun

A man, especially used informally, often implying a tough or rugged character.

home

noun

The place where someone lives, especially with their family.

homeboy

noun

A close male friend, especially one from the same neighbourhood or hometown.

homegirl

noun

A close female friend, especially one from the same neighbourhood.

homegrown

adj

Grown or produced at home, locally, or within one's own country rather than imported.

homeland

noun

The country a person considers home, often their country of birth or ancestry.

homeless

adj

Without a permanent place to live.

homelessness

noun

The condition of not having a permanent place to live.

homely

adj

Simple, cosy, and comfortable, in the way of a family home.

homemade

adj

Made at home rather than bought ready-made or produced in a factory.

homemaker

noun

A person, often not working outside the home, who runs a household and looks after its members.

homeopathic

adj

Relating to homeopathy, an alternative medicine system using heavily diluted substances.

homeowner

noun

A person who owns the house or property they live in.

homer

noun

A home run in baseball.

homeroom

noun

A classroom where a fixed group of students meets each day for registration or announcements, separate from regular lessons.

homesick

adj

Sad and longing for home while away from it.

homestead

noun

A house along with its land and outbuildings, especially a farm.

hometown

noun

The town or city where a person was born or grew up.

homeward

adv

In the direction of home.

homework

noun

Schoolwork assigned to be done outside of class.

homeworld

noun

The planet or world where a person, species, or civilisation originated.

homey

adj

Cosy and comfortable, like home.

homicidal

adj

Having a dangerous urge or intent to kill someone.

homicide

noun

The killing of one person by another, whether it was planned or accidental.

homie

noun

A close friend, especially one from the same neighborhood.

homing

adj

Able to automatically adjust course toward a target.

homo

noun

Whole or full-fat milk that has been processed so the fat is evenly distributed.

homophobe

noun

Someone who is prejudiced against gay people or the LGBTQ community.

homophobia

noun

Prejudice, fear, or hostility directed at gay people or the LGBTQ community.

homophobic

adj

Showing prejudice or hostility toward gay people.

homosexual

adj

Attracted romantically or sexually to people of the same sex.

homosexuality

noun

Romantic or sexual attraction to people of one's own sex.

homunculus

noun

A small, human-like figure, especially one imagined as artificially created.

hon

noun

An affectionate way of addressing someone; short for "honey".

honcho

noun

The person in charge; the boss.

honda

noun

The loop at the end of a lasso that the rope's other end slides through to form the noose.

Hondo

name

A city in Medina County, Texas, and the name of communities in Alberta, Canada and New Mexico, United States.

Honduras

name

A country in Central America, capital Tegucigalpa.

hone

verb

To sharpen, especially a blade, using a fine stone.

honed

adj

Made sharp or refined through careful practice.

honest

adj

Telling the truth and not inclined to lie, cheat, or steal.

honestly

adv

In a truthful, sincere manner.

honesty

noun

The quality of being truthful and sincere.

honey

noun

A sweet, thick golden liquid made by bees from flower nectar.

honeycomb

verb

To riddle something with small holes or tunnels, as bees do with a hive.

Honeycutt

name

A surname of English origin.

honeydew

noun

A variety of melon with smooth pale green flesh and a light-colored rind.

honeymoon

noun

A vacation taken by a couple right after their wedding.

honeysuckle

noun

A climbing shrub with fragrant, tube-shaped flowers.

hong

noun

A historical foreign trading company or firm in China.

Hongkong

name

An older spelling of Hong Kong, the city and special administrative region in southern China.

honing

noun

The process of sharpening or refining something.

honk

verb

To sound a car horn, or to make a similar loud, harsh noise.

honking

noun

The act or sound of repeated honks.

honky

noun

A slang, often derogatory, term for a white person, used especially in African-American vernacular.

Honnold

name

A surname of German origin.

Honolulu

name

The capital and largest city of Hawaii, located on the island of Oahu.

honor

noun

Great respect or high regard, often earned through integrity or achievement.

honorable

adj

Acting with integrity and deserving respect.

honorary

adj

Given as a mark of respect, without the usual requirements or payment attached.

Honore

name

A surname of French origin, also a former name of the Indian town of Honnavar.

Honoria

name

A feminine given name of Latin origin, the feminine form of Honorius.

honors

adj

Studying or graded at an advanced, high-achieving academic level.

honour

noun

The British spelling of honor — high respect, or a sense of what is morally right.