English dictionary — definitions & meanings

jud

noun

A block of coal cut or undercut so it can be brought down with wedges (a mining term).

Judah

name

In the Bible, the fourth son of Jacob, and also the name of the Israelite tribe and ancient kingdom descended from him.

judahite

noun

A descendant of Judah (the patriarch).

judaic

adj

Pertaining to the Jews, their culture or their religion.

Judaism

noun

The monotheistic religion and culture of the Jewish people, based on the Hebrew Bible and later religious writings.

judaist

noun

One who believes and practices Judaism.

judaize

verb

To impose Jewish beliefs or customs on someone; to convert to Judaism; to make Jewish.

Judas

intj

An exclamation of shock or surprise at something bad, similar to "Jesus!"

judaslike

adj

Resembling or characteristic of Judas Iscariot; traitorous.

judasly

adv

In a manner resembling Judas Iscariot; traitorously.

Judd

name

A surname, also used as a male given name.

judder

noun

A spasmodic shaking.

Jude

name

A male given name of Hebrew origin, also the name of a short book near the end of the New Testament.

Judea

name

The Roman-era name for the historical region of Judah, in what is now Israel and Palestine.

judean

adj

Of or pertaining to Judea.

judge

noun

A public official who presides over court cases and delivers rulings.

Judges

name

A book of the Old Testament that tells the story of Israel's early leaders, called judges.

judging

noun

The act of forming an opinion or deciding a ruling or contest outcome.

judgment

noun

The ability to make sensible decisions; good sense.

judgmental

adj

Quick to criticize or disapprove of others.

judgy

adj

Informal for judgmental; quick to disapprove.

Judi

name

A short, informal form of the female given name Judith.

judicate

noun

Any of the independent states that took power in Sardinia in the Middle Ages.

judicatory

adj

Pertaining to judgement, or to passing a sentence.

judicature

noun

The administration of justice by judges and courts; judicial process.

judicial

adj

Relating to courts of law, judges, or the administration of justice.

judiciary

noun

The branch of government made up of courts and judges.

judicious

adjective

Showing good sense and careful judgement in making a decision.

Judith

name

A female given name of Hebrew origin, meaning roughly "woman of Judea."

judo

noun

A Japanese martial art and Olympic sport focused on throws, holds, and grappling rather than striking.

Judson

name

A surname, and also a male given name derived from it.

Judy

name

A female given name, a shortened, informal form of Judith.

jug

noun

A container for liquids with a handle and a narrow opening, used for pouring.

jugate

noun

A portrait which depicts two side-by-side subjects with relative proximity.

juger

noun

A Roman unit of area, equivalent to rectangle with sides of 240×120 Roman feet (2 acti or about ¼ ha).

jugful

noun

As much as a jug will hold.

juggernaut

noun

A huge, unstoppable force, organization, or object that crushes everything in its way.

juggins

noun

A fool; someone very credulous or easily fooled.

juggle

verb

To keep several objects moving through the air by tossing and catching them in sequence.

jugglery

noun

Witchcraft, sorcery; magical trickery, legerdemain.

juggling

noun

The skill or act of keeping several objects moving through the air by tossing and catching them.

jughead

noun

An informal, mildly insulting term for a foolish or stupid person.

juglans

noun

The walnut and similar trees of the genus Juglans

jugoslav

name

A male given name from the Slavic languages.

jugoslavian

adj

Dated form of Yugoslavian.

jugular

adjective

Relating to the neck or throat, especially the large jugular veins that carry blood from the head back to the heart.

juice

noun

The natural liquid found in fruit, vegetables, or meat, or a drink made from it.

juiced

adjective

Informal: excited or enthusiastic.

juicer

noun

A kitchen appliance or hand tool used to extract juice from fruit or vegetables.

juicing

noun

The practice of extracting juice from fruit and vegetables, often as part of a health or diet trend.

juicy

adjective

Full of juice.

jujitsu

noun

A Japanese martial art that focuses on grappling, holds, and throws, using an opponent's own force against them rather than relying on brute strength.

juju

noun

A charm or object believed, in some West African traditions, to hold magical or protective power.

juke

verb

To fake a move in one direction to trick an opponent, especially in sports like football.

jukebox

noun

A coin-operated machine that plays a chosen song from its collection of records or discs.

Jule

name

A male given name, sometimes used as a short form of Julius.

Jules

name

A male given name from French, and a nickname for Julian or Julius.

Julia

name

A feminine given name derived from the Roman family name Julius.

Julian

noun

A male given name, from a Latin family name meaning "of Julius."

Juliana

name

A feminine given name, a Latinate form of Julia.

Julianna

name

A feminine given name, a variant spelling of Juliana.

Julianne

name

A feminine given name, a blend of Julia and Anne.

Julie

name

A feminine given name, a French and English short form of Julia or Juliet.

Julien

name

A masculine given name, the French form of Julian.

julienne

noun

Vegetables (or sometimes other food) cut into long, thin, matchstick-like strips.

Juliet

name

A feminine given name, an English form of Julia, famously the heroine of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet."

Juliette

name

A feminine given name, the French form of Juliet, ultimately from the Roman family name Julius.

julio

noun

A small silver coin once minted in Italy, first issued under Pope Julius II in the early 1500s.

Julius

name

A masculine given name of Latin origin, borne famously by the Roman general and statesman Julius Caesar.

July

noun

The seventh month of the year, between June and August.

Juma

name

A masculine given name of Swahili and Arabic origin, meaning "Friday," traditionally given to boys born on that day.

jumba

noun

A traditional Malay unit of land area equal to one twentieth of an orlong.

jumble

verb

To mix things up in a disorganised or confused way.

jumbled

adjective

Mixed up or in a disorganised, confusing state.

jumbo

adjective

Very large, especially compared to the usual size.

jumbomania

noun

Public enthusiasm for Jumbo (c.1860–1885), the first African elephant to be brought to modern Europe alive.

jump

verb

To push off the ground with your legs so your whole body leaves the surface briefly.

jumper

noun

British English: a knitted sweater or pullover worn over a shirt.

jumpiness

noun

The state of being jumpy.

jumping

noun

The act of leaping into the air.

jumps

noun

Informal: a nervous, jittery feeling (usually "the jumps").

jumpsuit

noun

A one-piece garment combining a top and trousers, worn for style, work, or as a uniform.

jumpy

adjective

Nervous, easily startled, or on edge.

jun

noun

A small monetary unit used in North Korea, and formerly in South Korea, worth one hundredth of a won.

junction

noun

A point where two or more things meet or join, especially roads or railway lines.

juncture

noun

A particular point in time, especially a critical or important one.

June

noun

The sixth month of the year, between May and July, marking the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

Jung

name

A Korean and German surname, most famously borne by the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, founder of analytical psychology.

jungian

adj

Of or pertaining to the psychology of Carl Jung.

jungle

noun

A dense tropical forest thick with trees, vines, and wildlife.

Junie

name

A feminine given name, typically used as a diminutive of June or Juniper.

junior

adj

Lower in rank, position, or seniority.

juniper

noun

An evergreen shrub or small tree with needle-like leaves and small, berry-like cones, often used to flavour gin.

junk

noun

Old or unwanted items regarded as clutter or of little value.

junket

noun

A trip, especially one paid for by an employer, government, or organisation, that mixes official business with leisure.

junkie

noun

Someone addicted to a drug, especially heroin.

Junko

name

A feminine Japanese given name, often meaning "pure child."

junky

adj

Cheap, worthless, or poorly made.

junkyard

noun

A place, usually outdoors, where old and discarded items — especially cars and scrap metal — are dumped or sold for parts.

Juno

noun

In Roman mythology, the queen of the gods, goddess of marriage and childbirth, equivalent to the Greek Hera.

junta

noun

A group, typically of military officers, that rules a country after taking power by force.

junto

noun

A group of men assembled for some common purpose; a club, or cabal.

Jupiter

noun

The largest planet in the Solar System, a gas giant known for its Great Red Spot and many moons.

Jura

name

A mountain range and department in France and Switzerland, also the name of a Scottish island in the Inner Hebrides.

juramentado

noun

A Moro swordsman who attacked and killed occupying and invading police and soldiers, expecting to be killed himself.

Jurassic

adj

Relating to the geological period from about 201 to 145 million years ago, when dinosaurs dominated the Earth.

jurat

noun

A sworn statement concerning where, when, and before whom an oath has been made.

Jurek

name

A masculine given name, a Polish diminutive of Jerzy (the Polish form of George).

juridical

adj

Pertaining to the law or rule of law, legal; judicial, related to the administration of justice (as to jurisprudence, or to the function of a judge or court).

juridicial

adj

Of or pertaining to matters of law and justice or the office of a judge.

jurisdiction

noun

The official authority to make legal decisions and judgments over a particular area, group of people, or type of case.

jurisdictional

adj

Relating to jurisdiction, or to the boundaries of legal authority.

jurisprude

noun

One who studies jurisprudence.

jurisprudence

noun

The theoretical study of law and the principles underlying legal systems.

jurisprudent

adj

Understanding law; skilled in jurisprudence.

jurist

noun

An expert of law or someone who researches jurisprudence.

juristic

adj

legal, juridical, pertaining to the law and jurisprudence

juror

noun

A member of a jury, sworn to decide the facts of a court case.

jury

noun

A group of people selected to hear evidence in a court case and decide on a verdict.

juryman

noun

One who is impaneled on a jury, or who serves as a juror.

jus

noun

A light sauce or gravy made from the natural juices released while cooking meat.

just

adj

Fair, morally right, and reasonable.

just like

preposition

Exactly the same as, or in exactly the same way as; used to draw a close comparison.

justice

noun

Fair treatment and the quality of being morally right, especially in how people are punished or rewarded.

justicer

noun

One who administers justice, particularly a judge.

justiciable

adj

Of or pertaining to justiciability; able to be evaluated and resolved by the courts; that can be adjudicated.

justiciar

noun

One who administers justice

justiciary

noun

A judgeship: a judge's jurisdiction, power, or office.

justifiable

adj

Able to be shown as reasonable, right, or excusable.

justifiably

adv

in a justifiable manner; with justification

justification

noun

A reason or explanation that shows an action or belief to be reasonable or acceptable.

justified

adj

Having a good reason; shown to be right or reasonable.

justifiedly

adv

In a justified manner; with good cause.

justify

verb

To give a good reason or explanation for something.

justifying

noun

The act or process of giving reasons or evidence to show that something is right, fair, or reasonable.

Justin

name

A masculine given name derived from the Latin "Justinus," meaning "just" or "fair."

Justine

name

A feminine given name, the French feminine form of Justin, meaning "just" or "fair."

justly

adv

In a fair or morally right way.

justness

noun

the state of being just; fairness

Justus

name

A masculine given name of Latin origin, meaning "just" or "righteous."

jut

verb

To stick out or project sharply from a surface or surrounding area.

Jutland

name

A peninsula in Northern Europe forming the mainland of Denmark, also the site of a major World War I naval battle.

jutting

noun

That which juts or protrudes.

juve

noun

Informal short form of "juvenile," especially a young offender or young actor.

juvenile

adj

Young or not yet fully grown; relating to young people.

juvenility

noun

The state or quality of being juvenile.

juvie

noun

Informal term for a juvenile detention centre, where young offenders are held.

juxtapose

verb

To place two or more things side by side, especially so that the contrast between them becomes clear.

juxtaposition

noun

The placing of two things side by side, especially so that the contrast or connection between them stands out.

Jyoti

name

A feminine given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "light" or "flame."