English dictionary — definitions & meanings

kenzie

name

A female given name, short form of MacKenzie

Kenzo

name

A masculine Japanese given name, often meaning "strong and healthy third son"; also a French fashion house founded by designer Kenzo Takada.

Keo

name

A given name and surname of Southeast Asian origin, particularly common among Lao and Cambodian communities.

Kepler

name

A German surname, most famously borne by the astronomer Johannes Kepler, who formulated the laws of planetary motion.

Kepner

name

A surname of German origin, an Americanized spelling of Köppner or a related occupational name.

Keppel

name

A Dutch and English surname, historically borne by a noble family and used in various place names.

Keppler

name

A surname of German origin, a variant spelling of Kepler.

Kerala

name

A state on the southwestern coast of India, known for its backwaters, beaches, and high literacy rate.

keratectasia

noun

An abnormal bulging of the cornea due to thinning and scarring.

keratin

noun

A tough, fibrous protein that forms the main structural material of hair, nails and the outer layer of skin, and of horns, hooves and feathers in animals. Its strands pack together tightly, which is what makes these tissues hard and water-resistant.

kerb

noun

The raised edge of a pavement or footpath where it meets the road (British spelling of "curb").

kerchief

noun

A square of cloth worn over the head or tied around the neck.

kerching

intj

Suggesting the arrival of a large amount of money.

kerf

noun

The act of cutting or carving something; a stroke or slice.

kerfuffle

noun

A disorderly outburst, disturbance, commotion, or tumult.

Keri

name

A feminine given name, a variant spelling of Carrie or Kerry.

Kermit

name

A masculine given name of Irish origin, related to Cormac; widely known today as the name of the Muppet frog character Kermit the Frog.

kern

noun

Typography: the part of a printed letter that overhangs its own slot, or the adjustment of spacing between specific letter pairs.

kernel

noun

The soft, edible part inside a nut or seed, once the hard shell or husk is removed.

kerosene

noun

A light petroleum-based fuel used for jet engines, heating, and lighting, thinner than diesel but heavier than petrol.

Kerouac

name

A surname of French-Canadian origin, borne by the American writer Jack Kerouac, a leading figure of the Beat Generation.

Kerr

name

A Scottish and English surname, originally derived from a topographic term for marshy or wet ground.

Kerri

name

A feminine given name, a variant spelling of Kerry.

Kerrigan

name

An Irish surname, from a Gaelic name meaning "little dark one."

Kerry

noun

A small, hardy breed of dairy cattle originally from Ireland, known for producing rich milk on poor pasture.

kersey

noun

A coarse, ribbed woollen cloth traditionally used for heavy outer clothing such as coats and uniforms.

Kershaw

name

An English surname, originally from a place name meaning "church wood."

kes

noun

Informal short form of "kestrel", a small falcon.

kessel

name

An unincorporated community in Hardy, West Virginia, United States.

Kessler

name

A German and Jewish surname, an occupational name for a maker of kettles or pots.

Kester

name

An English surname and given name, a variant of Christopher.

ket

noun

A column vector, in Hilbert space, especially as representing the state of a quantum mechanical system; the complex conjugate transpose of a bra (a row vector); a ket vector. Symbolised by |...〉.

ketamine

noun

A synthetic drug used medically as an anaesthetic and painkiller, and sometimes taken illegally for its dissociative, hallucinogenic effects.

ketchup

noun

A thick, tangy tomato-based sauce commonly used as a condiment.

Kettering

name

A market town in Northamptonshire, England, and a city in Ohio named after it.

kettle

noun

A container with a spout used for boiling water.

kettlebell

noun

A weight consisting of a cast iron ball with a single handle for gripping the weight during exercise.

kettledrum

noun

A large percussion instrument with a drumhead that is stretched over a hemispherical metal bowl.

kettleful

noun

An amount sufficient to fill a kettle, particularly of a kettle used for cooking.

Kev

noun

British slang, often mildly mocking: a stereotypically unsophisticated working-class young man.

Kevin

noun

British slang, often disparaging: a stereotype of an unsophisticated or unfashionable young working-class man.

Kevlar

noun

A very strong, lightweight synthetic fiber used to reinforce protective gear, tyres, and cables.

kevvy

name

A diminutive of the male given name Kevin.

kevy

name

A diminutive of the male given name Kevin.

kew

noun

The name of the letter "Q" in the Latin alphabet.

key

noun

A shaped piece of metal used to open or lock a particular lock.

keyaki

noun

An Asian tree, Zelkova serrata.

keyboard

noun

The set of keys used to type on a computer or typewriter.

keyboarding

noun

The act of typing at a keyboard (with or without a mouse or other pointing device)

keycard

noun

A plastic card with a stored digital code, used instead of a metal key to open electronic locks, such as hotel room doors.

keychain

noun

A small chain or ring used to hold keys together.

keyed

adj

Fitted with a mechanism, such as a groove or ridge, that locks parts together or restricts movement.

Keyes

name

An Irish and English surname, derived from the given name Kay.

keyhole

noun

The opening in a lock where the key is inserted.

keying

noun

In the sociology of Erving Goffman, an action or utterance that signals the meaning of interaction to participants.

Keynes

name

An English surname, most famously associated with the economist John Maynard Keynes.

keynote

noun

A major speech that sets out the central theme of a conference or event.

keypad

noun

A small set of buttons used to enter numbers or commands into a device.

keyring

noun

A ring, normally of metal or plastic, for holding keys together.

keys

phrase

An intentionally garbled spelling of "kys" ("kill yourself"), used online to dodge automatic word filters.

keystone

noun

The central wedge-shaped stone at the top of an arch that locks the other stones in place.

keyword

noun

An important word used to represent or search for a topic, especially online.

KGB

noun

The former Soviet security and intelligence agency, responsible for both foreign espionage and internal surveillance.

kha

noun

The name of the Cyrillic letter Х/х, pronounced roughly like the "ch" in the Scottish word "loch."

khakan

noun

Synonym of khan (“Tartar ruler”).

khaki

noun

A dull yellowish-brown colour, similar to dry dust or sand.

khakis

noun

Casual trousers made from sturdy cotton fabric, typically in a tan or beige colour.

Khaled

name

A masculine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "eternal" or "immortal."

Khaleesi

name

A given name popularized by the television series Game of Thrones, from a fictional Dothraki title meaning "queen."

khalessi

name

A female given name from fiction or popular culture, variant of Khaleesi

Khalid

name

A masculine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "eternal" or "immortal."

Khalifa

noun

A member of a mainly Muslim caste found in the Gujarat region of India, traditionally associated with tailoring and other skilled trades.

Khalil

name

A masculine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "friend" or "companion," traditionally an epithet of the prophet Abraham.

khan

noun

A historical title for a ruler or nobleman among Turkic and Mongol peoples, most famously Genghis Khan.

Khanna

name

A surname of Indian origin, common among Punjabi Hindu and Sikh families.

Khartoum

name

The capital and largest city of Sudan, located at the confluence of the Blue and White Nile.

kharun

name

A surname from Arabic via French.

khat

noun

A shrub, Catha edulis, whose leaves are used as a mild stimulant when chewed or brewed as tea; also a drug produced from this plant.

khazi

noun

An outhouse or lavatory: a place used for urination and defecation.

Khloe

name

A feminine given name, a variant spelling of Chloe, from the Greek word for "green shoot."

Khmer

noun

A person belonging to the largest ethnic group in Cambodia.

Khomeini

name

A surname most associated with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Iranian religious and political leader.

Khrushchev

name

A Russian surname most associated with Nikita Khrushchev, leader of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964.

Khun

name

A Thai honorific title used before a person's given name, roughly equivalent to "Mr." or "Ms."

Khurana

name

A surname of Indian origin, common among Punjabi families.

Khyber

name

A mountain pass on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, historically an important trade and invasion route.

kI

noun

The life force or inner energy said to flow through the body, central to martial arts such as aikido and karate.

KIA

noun

Abbreviation for "killed in action," used to describe a soldier who died in combat.

Kiara

name

A feminine given name, an English variant of the Italian name Chiara, meaning "clear" or "bright."

kibble

noun

Dry pellet-shaped food made for pets, especially dogs and cats.

kibbutz

noun

A communal settlement in Israel, traditionally centred on agriculture, where members share property, work, and decision-making.

Kibby

name

An English surname and informal masculine given name.

kibitzer

noun

A person who offers unsolicited views, advice, or criticism; one who kibitzes.

kibitzing

noun

The action of the verb to kibitz.

kibty

noun

Deliberate misspelling of kitty.

kibun

noun

emotion; feeling; mood

Kibworth

name

An area of Harborough district, Leicestershire, England, including the two villages of Kibworth Beauchamp and Kibworth Harcourt.

kick

verb

To hit or strike something with the foot.

kick off

verb

To begin something, especially an event, campaign or meeting.

kickback

noun

A secret, illegal payment made in return for helping arrange a deal or contract — a type of bribe.

kickball

noun

A playground game like baseball, but players kick a large rubber ball instead of hitting it with a bat.

kickboxing

noun

A combat sport that combines punches from boxing with kicks, developed from martial arts like Muay Thai and karate.

kicked

adj

Slang for a smoking supply, especially cannabis, that has been fully used up, leaving nothing but ash or residue.

kicker

noun

A player, especially in American football, whose job is to kick the ball for field goals, extra points, or kickoffs.

kicking

adj

Still lively, active, or in good working order — often in the phrase "alive and kicking."

kicks

noun

Informal word for shoes, especially stylish sneakers.

kickshaw

noun

A dainty or delicacy.

kicky

adj

Lively, exciting, thrilling.

kid

noun

A child or young person; informally, anyone's son or daughter regardless of their age.

Kidd

name

A surname.

kidder

noun

A person who jokes or teases others in a light-hearted way.

kiddie

noun

An informal, often affectionate word for a young child.

kidding

noun

Joking around or teasing someone in a playful, non-serious way.

kiddish

adj

Childish; immature.

kiddo

noun

An informal, friendly way to address a child or a younger person, often used affectionately even with adults.

kiddy

adj

Childish, or intended for young children.

Kidman

name

A surname of English origin, originally referring to someone who tended goats or young livestock.

kidnap

verb

To unlawfully seize and hold a person captive, often to demand a ransom.

kidnapped

adj

Describes someone who has been unlawfully seized and held captive.

kidnapper

noun

A person who unlawfully seizes and holds someone captive.

kidnapping

noun

The crime of illegally seizing and holding a person against their will, often for ransom.

kidney

noun

One of two bean-shaped organs in the body that filter waste from the blood and produce urine.

kidskin

noun

The skin or hide of a kid, i.e., a young goat.

Kiefer

name

A surname of German origin.

kielbasa

noun

A spicy, smoked sausage of a particular kind from Eastern Europe.

Kiera

name

A female given name, a variant of "Keira," of Celtic origin.

Kieran

name

A unisex given name, the anglicized form of the Irish name "Ciarán," meaning "little dark one."

Kierkegaard

name

A Danish surname, best known as that of the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard.

Kiev

name

An older English spelling of Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine.

kif

noun

A form of cannabis traditionally smoked in North Africa, or the relaxed, hazy state it produces.

kike

noun

A highly offensive ethnic slur used against Jewish people.

kiki

noun

An informal, lively get-together with friends to chat and gossip, with no particular agenda.

Kiko

name

A female given name from Japanese.

Kikuchi

name

A Japanese surname, meaning "chrysanthemum pond" or "chrysanthemum moon."

Kiley

name

A given name and surname of Irish origin, an anglicized form of a Gaelic surname.

kilian

name

A male given name from Irish, variant of Killian.

Kilimanjaro

name

A dormant volcano in Tanzania, the highest mountain in Africa.

kill

verb

To cause the death of a person, animal, or living thing.

killed

adj

Describes something or someone that has died as a result of an action or event.

killer

noun

A person or animal that kills, especially one who murders someone.

Killian

name

A masculine given name of Irish origin, meaning "little church" or derived from a word for strife.

Killin

name

A village in Stirling, Scotland, at the western end of Loch Tay.

killing

noun

An act in which someone or something is killed.

killjoy

noun

Someone who spoils other people's fun or enjoyment.

Kilmer

name

An English surname, most associated with the American actor Val Kilmer.

kiln

noun

A heated chamber or oven used to bake, dry, or harden materials — used for firing pottery, drying grain or timber, or curing tobacco.

kilo

noun

Clipping of kilogram.

kilocalorie

noun

A non-SI unit of energy equal to 1,000 calories (small calories), used (now rare) in chemistry or physics; equal to 1 calorie as used in nutrition. Symbol kcal.

kilocycle

noun

A thousand cycles (of any periodic phenomenon).

kilogram

noun

The base unit of mass in the metric system, equal to 1,000 grams and officially defined today through a fixed value of the Planck constant.