English dictionary — definitions & meanings

muster

verb

To gather or summon up, especially strength, courage, or support.

musty

adj

Having a stale, damp smell, often from mould or lack of fresh air.

mutable

adj

Changeable, dynamic, evolutive; inclined to change, evolve, mutate.

mutagen

noun

Any substance or agent that can cause a change in an organism's genetic material.

mutant

noun

An organism or thing that has changed due to a mutation, showing new characteristics.

mutate

verb

To change or cause to change due to a mutation.

mutated

adj

Having undergone a genetic change; altered by mutation.

mutating

adj

In the process of undergoing mutation, or tending to cause it.

mutation

noun

A change or alteration, especially a permanent change in an organism's genetic material.

mute

adj

Unable or unwilling to speak; silent.

muted

adj

Quiet, subdued, or not expressed strongly.

mutha

noun

Pronunciation spelling of mother.

mutilate

verb

To severely damage or disfigure something, often by cutting off a part.

mutilated

adj

Severely damaged or disfigured.

mutilation

noun

The act of severely damaging or disfiguring something, or the resulting damage.

mutineer

noun

Someone who participates in mutiny.

mutinous

adj

Likely to commit mutiny.

mutiny

noun

An open rebellion against authority, especially by soldiers or sailors against their officers.

Muto

name

A surname.

mutt

noun

A dog of mixed or uncertain breed.

mutter

verb

To speak quietly and indistinctly, especially in complaint or annoyance.

muttering

noun

Quiet, indistinct speech, especially of complaint or discontent.

mutton

noun

The meat of an adult sheep, used as food.

muttonhead

noun

A stupid or foolish person.

muttonheaded

adj

Being a muttonhead; stupid or foolish.

muttonmonger

noun

A frequent customer of prostitutes.

mutual

adj

Felt or done equally by both sides; shared between two or more people.

mutual fund

noun

An investment company that gathers money from many investors and puts it into a shared portfolio of shares, bonds or other assets; each investor owns units of the whole pool rather than any particular holding in it. Chiefly North American; the nearest British equivalents are the unit trust and the open-ended investment company.

mutualism

noun

Any interaction between two species that benefits both; typically involves the exchange of substances or services.

mutualist

adj

Of, supporting, pertaining to, or advocating mutualism.

mutuality

noun

The property of being mutual.

mutually

adv

In a way that applies equally to both or all sides; reciprocally.

mutually exclusive

adjective

Unable to be true, chosen or to happen at the same time, so that accepting one rules out the other.

muumuu

noun

A long loose-fitting dress made of lightweight fabric printed with bright, stylized Hawaiian themes (such as flowers and palm branches).

muy

adv

Very (used in Spanish loanwords or phrases within English text).

Muzak

noun

Bland, easy-listening background music, especially the kind played in shops, offices, or lifts.

muzzie

noun

Alternative letter-case form of muzzie.

muzzle

noun

An animal's nose and mouth area, or a strap-on device fitted over it to stop biting or eating.

muzzling

noun

The act of placing a muzzle on an animal.

muzzy

adj

Mentally unclear or foggy; unable to think or see straight.

MV

name

An abbreviation for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a federal state of Germany.

MVP

abbreviation

Most valuable player, the competitor judged to have contributed most to a team's performance in a game, season or tournament.

mwah

intj

Used to represent the sound of a kiss, often when blowing one to someone.

my

det

Belonging to or associated with the speaker.

my bad

phrase

A casual admission that you made a mistake.

my love

noun

An affectionate way of addressing a romantic partner.

my pleasure

phrase

A warm reply to thanks, indicating that the speaker was glad to help.

MYA

symbol

Abbreviation for "million years ago," used in geology and paleontology.

Myanmar

name

A country in Southeast Asia, formerly known as Burma, with its capital at Naypyidaw.

Mycroft

name

A surname of English origin.

Myer

name

A surname, and occasionally a male given name, of English or German origin.

Myers

name

A surname of English, Irish, Dutch, or German origin.

Mykonos

name

A Greek island in the Cyclades, known for its beaches and nightlife.

Myles

name

A male given name, an alternative spelling of Miles.

myna

noun

One of the South and East Asian birds of the starling family Sturnidae.

myocardial

adj

Relating to the myocardium, the muscular wall of the heart.

myocardiopathy

noun

Any disease of the myocardium

myocardium

noun

The muscular substance of the heart; the middle of the three layers forming the outer wall of the human heart.

myology

noun

The physiological study of muscles.

myopia

noun

A disorder of the vision where distant objects appear blurred because the eye focuses their images in front of the retina instead of on it.

myopic

adjective

Focused only on immediate concerns and failing to consider the longer term.

myosin

noun

Any of a large family of motor proteins found in eukaryotic tissues, allowing mobility in muscles.

myotomy

noun

The surgical procedure of cutting or making an incision in a muscle or muscular organ.

Myra

name

A female given name, believed to have been invented by a poet as a possible anagram of "Mary."

myriad

noun

A huge or countless number of something.

Myriam

name

A female given name, a variant spelling of Miriam.

myriapod

noun

Any arthropod (such as centipedes and millipedes) of the subphylum Myriapoda.

Myrna

name

A female given name of Irish origin, popularized by the American actress Myrna Loy.

Myron

name

A male given name of Ancient Greek origin, and also a surname.

myrrh

noun

A fragrant reddish-brown resin from certain trees, used in perfume, incense, and traditional medicine.

myrt

name

A diminutive of the female given name Myrtle.

myrtle

noun

An evergreen shrub with fragrant leaves and white flowers, native to southern Europe and North Africa.

myself

pron

Used as the object of a verb or preposition when the speaker is also the subject.

mysore

name

A large city, district, and division of Karnataka, India.

myspace

noun

A person's profile page on the MySpace social networking website.

mysteries

noun

Plural of mystery — puzzling or unexplained things, or secret rites and societies.

mysterious

adj

Difficult to understand or explain; hard to figure out.

mysteriously

adv

In a way that is puzzling, unexplained, or secretive.

mystery

noun

Something unexplained, unknown, or puzzling.

mystic

adj

Relating to spiritual or supernatural experiences beyond ordinary understanding.

mystical

adj

Relating to mysticism or spiritual experience beyond normal understanding.

mysticism

noun

Belief in or pursuit of direct spiritual knowledge or union with the divine, beyond ordinary reasoning.

mystified

adj

Puzzled or completely confused, unable to understand what is happening.

mystifier

noun

A person who obscures or muddles information, making something appear to be a mystery.

mystify

verb

To thoroughly confuse, befuddle, or bewilder.

mystifying

adj

Very hard to understand; baffling.

mystique

noun

An air of fascinating mystery or glamour surrounding a person or thing.

myth

noun

A traditional story, often about gods or heroes, that explains the origins of the world or a people.

mythic

adj

Belonging to or resembling myth; legendary.

mythical

adj

Existing only in myth or legend, not in reality.

mythological

adj

Relating to myths or the study of mythology.

mythology

noun

A traditional body of myths belonging to a particular culture, explaining its origins, gods, ancestors, and heroes.

Myung

name

A Korean surname.