English dictionary — definitions & meanings

mage

noun

A magician, wizard, or sorcerer, especially in fantasy fiction and games.

Magee

name

A surname, an Anglicized variant of McGee.

Magellan

name

Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer whose expedition made the first circumnavigation of the globe.

magenta

noun

A vivid pinkish-purple color, one of the primary colors used in color printing.

Maggie

noun

An informal name for a magpie or a similar-looking Australian bird such as the Australian magpie.

maggot

noun

The soft, legless larva of a fly, often found in decaying matter.

maggoted

adj

Affected (partially eaten) by maggots.

Maggy

name

A pet form of the name Margaret.

Magi

noun

The wise men from the East, traditionally three, said to have visited the infant Jesus bearing gifts.

magic

noun

The use of rituals, spells, or supernatural forces believed to influence events or beings beyond normal explanation.

magic spell

noun

A set of words, and sometimes actions or ingredients, believed to produce a supernatural effect when spoken or performed.

magical

adj

Relating to or produced by magic.

magically

adv

By or as if by magic.

magician

noun

A performer of illusions and tricks designed to look like magic.

magister

noun

A historical title of respect or authority, especially for a licensed university teacher of philosophy or the liberal arts in the Middle Ages.

magisterial

adj

Befitting the status or skill of a magister or master; authoritative, masterly.

magistrate

noun

A judicial officer with limited authority who hears minor civil or criminal cases.

magma

noun

Molten rock beneath the Earth's surface, which becomes lava when it erupts.

Magna

name

A city in Salt Lake County, Utah.

magnanimity

noun

The quality of being magnanimous; kindness of nature; generosity.

magnanimous

adj

Generous and noble-minded, especially in forgiving an insult or overlooking a wrong.

magnanimousness

noun

The quality of being magnanimous.

magnate

noun

A wealthy and powerful person in business or industry.

magnesium

noun

A light, silvery-white metallic chemical element (atomic number 12) that burns with an intense white flame.

magnetic

adj

Having the properties of a magnet, especially the ability to attract iron or steel.

magnetics

noun

The science or study of magnets and magnetism.

magnetism

noun

The physical property or force by which magnets attract or repel certain materials.

magneto

noun

A small generator that uses a rotating magnet to produce electric current, used to fire the spark plugs in some small engines (still common on aircraft).

magnification

noun

The act or process of making something look bigger, or the amount by which it is enlarged.

magnificence

noun

Great and impressive beauty, grandeur, or splendour.

magnificent

adj

Extremely beautiful, grand, or impressive in appearance.

magnificently

adv

In a grand, splendid, or highly impressive way.

magnifico

noun

A historical title for a nobleman or grandee of the old Republic of Venice.

magnified

adj

Made to look larger than actual size, typically through a lens or optical device.

magnifier

noun

That which magnifies.

magnify

verb

To make something look bigger, usually with a lens, microscope, or similar device.

magnitude

noun

The size, scale, or importance of something.

magnolia

noun

A tree or shrub with large, often fragrant flowers and simple leaves.

magnum

noun

A large wine bottle holding about 1.5 litres, twice the size of a standard bottle.

magnum opus

noun

The greatest and most important work produced by an artist, writer or composer, usually the one they are remembered for.

Magnus

name

A male first name, especially common in Scotland and Scandinavia.

Magog

name

A figure in the Bible, one of the sons of Japheth.

magpie

noun

A black-and-white bird of the crow family, known for its chattering call and reputed liking for shiny objects.

Mags

name

A pet form of the name Maggie, itself short for Margaret.

maguey

noun

Any of various large agaves of Mexico and the southern US, especially the American aloe, Agave americana.

Maguire

name

An Irish surname.

magus

noun

A magician or sorcerer, sometimes used disapprovingly to mean a fraud or trickster.

magyar

name

The Uralic language of the Hungarians.

mah

particle

A sentence-final particle (used in some varieties of English influenced by Cantonese) implying something is obvious.

maha

noun

Another name for the wanderoo, a species of monkey.

mahal

noun

A grand residence, mansion, or palace (as in the name Taj Mahal).

mahalo

intj

Thank you (used in Hawaiian and Hawaiian English).

mahar

noun

A member of an Indian community found largely within Maharashtra and historically identified as untouchables.

Maharaj

name

A surname found especially among South Asian and Indo-Caribbean families.

maharaja

noun

A Hindu prince or king of high rank, especially in historical India, ranking above an ordinary raja.

maharani

noun

The wife of a maharajah; approximately, a queen consort.

Maharashtra

noun

A large state in western India, home to the city of Mumbai.

mahasattva

noun

A bodhisattva who attains a high degree on the path of consciousness awakening.

mahatma

noun

A title of deep respect given in India to someone regarded as having great wisdom and love for humanity.

Mahdi

noun

In Islamic belief, a foretold guided leader expected to appear and restore justice before the end of the world.

mahdism

name

Islamic messianism regarding the coming of the Mahdi

Mahendra

name

A male first name of Sanskrit origin.

Maher

name

A surname of Irish origin.

Mahesh

name

A male given name of Sanskrit origin, also used as a title of the Hindu god Shiva.

mahi

noun

Work needed to get a task done (used especially in New Zealand English).

mahjong

noun

A tile-based game, originally from China, usually played by four people with tiles divided into several suits.

Mahler

name

A surname, most famously borne by the composer Gustav Mahler.

Mahmud

name

A male given name of Arabic origin, meaning "praised" or "praiseworthy".

mahogany

noun

A hard, reddish-brown tropical wood prized for furniture-making, or the tree it comes from.

mahon

name

A surname from Irish.

mahone

noun

A large armed ship historically used by the Ottoman Turks.

Mahoney

name

A surname of Irish origin.

mahoosive

adj

Massive; huge; very large.

Mai

name

A female given name, sometimes a variant spelling of "May" or "Mae".

Maia

name

In Greek mythology, the daughter of Atlas and mother of the god Hermes.

maid

noun

A woman employed to clean a house or do domestic work.

maiden

adj

Describing the first occurrence of something, such as a journey, speech, or attempt.

maiden name

noun

The family name a woman was born with, before taking a spouse's surname on marriage.

maidenhead

name

A town in Windsor and Maidenhead borough, Berkshire, England (OS grid ref SU8881).

maidenly

adj

Of or pertaining to a maiden.

Maidens

name

A coastal village in South Ayrshire, Scotland.

maidservant

noun

A female servant; a maid.

maiko

noun

A young woman training to become a geisha in Japan.

mail

noun

Letters, parcels, and other items sent through the postal system.

mailbox

noun

A box where mail is delivered or collected.

mailed

adj

Protected by or covered in armor made of metal rings.

mailer

noun

A piece of advertising or promotional material sent by post or email.

mailing

noun

A piece of mail or a batch of mail sent out to many recipients at once.

mailman

noun

A person whose job is delivering mail to homes and businesses.

mailroom

noun

A room in an office or building where incoming and outgoing mail is sorted.

mailshot

noun

Bulk advertising sent through the mail.

maim

verb

To injure someone so severely that part of their body is permanently damaged or disabled.

maimed

adj

Permanently injured, especially having lost the use of a limb.

main

adj

Most important; primary or chief.

Maine

name

A U.S. state in New England, known for its rocky coastline and lobster industry.

mainframe

noun

A large, powerful computer used by big organizations to handle huge volumes of data and many users at once.

mainland

noun

The main continuous landmass of a country or region, as opposed to its islands.

mainline

adj

Belonging to the principal, standard, or most widely accepted version of something.

mainly

adv

For the most part; chiefly.

mains

noun

The main electrical power supply connected to the public grid.

mainsail

noun

The largest sail on a sailboat, set on the main mast.

mainsheet

noun

The rope connected to and controlling the mainsail.

mainstay

noun

A chief support.

mainstream

adj

Widely accepted as normal or conventional, rather than niche or fringe.

mainstreamer

noun

Someone in the mainstream.

maintain

verb

To keep something in its current, good condition over time.

maintained

adj

Kept in good condition through regular care.

maintaining

noun

The ongoing act of keeping something working, in good repair, or unchanged.

maintenance

noun

The work of keeping a building, machine or system in good condition by checking, cleaning and repairing it regularly.

Mainwaring

name

A surname of Norman origin.

mair

noun

One of various former royal officials in the Kingdom of Scotland.

maire

name

A female given name from Irish.

Mais

name

A surname, found in both English and German contexts.

Maisie

name

A pet form of the name Margaret.

Maison

name

A surname originally denoting someone connected to a house or household.

maisonette

noun

A small house.

Maitland

name

A surname of Anglo-Norman origin.

maize

noun

A tall cereal plant with large ears of kernels; known as "corn" in American English.

majestic

adj

Impressively grand, dignified, or beautiful.

majesty

noun

Grandeur or impressive dignity, especially of something powerful or royal.

majid

name

A surname of Arabic origin.

major

adj

Of great importance, size, or seriousness.

majordomo

noun

The head servant or official in a royal Spanish or Italian household; later, any head servant in a wealthy household in a foreign country; a leading servant or butler.

majority

noun

More than half of a group or total.

majorly

adv

Very much; to a great extent (informal).

majuscule

noun

A capital letter, especially one used in ancient manuscripts.

Mak

name

A surname of Chinese, Polish, Ukrainian, or Hungarian origin, depending on family background.

makayla

name

A female given name from Hebrew, of modern usage, variant of Michaela.

make

verb

To create, produce, or build something.

make out

verb

To kiss and embrace someone for a sustained period, in a romantic or passionate way.

make sure

phrase

To take action to confirm that something is true or that something happens as intended.

makeaway

noun

A kit containing the ingredients for a meal, delivered by a restaurant to the diner's home for them to cook.

makebate

noun

One who excites contentions and quarrels; an instigator.

makenna

name

A female given name transferred from the surname.

makenzie

name

A female given name transferred from the surname, of 1990s and later usage, variant of MacKenzie.

makeover

noun

A complete change to someone's or something's appearance or style.

maker

noun

A person, company, or thing that makes or produces something.

makes sense

phrase

Is easy to understand, or fits logically with what is already known. The base form is "make sense".

makeshift

adj

Put together quickly as a temporary, improvised solution.

makeunder

noun

A makeover in which the quality, flashiness or value of something is downgraded.

makeup

noun

The way something is put together; its composition or make-up of parts.

makeweight

noun

Something of inferior quality which is included in a shipment to make up the weight.

maki

noun

Another name for the ring-tailed lemur.

making

noun

The act or process of creating, building, or producing something.

making money

verb

Earning income, especially by working, selling or running a business.

makings

noun

The essential ingredients, qualities, or materials needed to become or produce something.

Mako

name

A surname of Hungarian origin.

Maksim

name

A male first name, a Slavic form of Maximus.

mal

noun

Illness or affliction (used in medical and legal phrases borrowed from French, such as "mal de mer").

mala

noun

A string of prayer beads used in Hindu and Buddhist practice for counting repetitions of a mantra or chant.