English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

nestorianism

noun

The Christological doctrine ascribed to Nestorius, condemned as heretical by the Council of Ephesus but later also ascribed to the Church of the East, holding that within Christ there are two distinct hypostases, divine and human.

net

noun

A mesh of woven cord, string, or rope used for catching or trapping things, or as a barrier.

net worth

noun

The total value of everything a person or organisation owns, minus everything it owes; the figure that would be left if all assets were sold and all debts paid off.

netbook

noun

A cheap, small laptop that can connect to the internet.

Netflix

verb

To watch a show or movie on the streaming service Netflix, often used casually for binge-watching.

Netflix and chill

phrase

An invitation to come over ostensibly to watch television together, understood as a proposition for casual sex.

nether

adj

Lower, or situated beneath something else; often used in old or formal phrasing.

Netherlands

noun

A country in Western Europe known for its flat, low-lying land, canals, and the city of Amsterdam.

netherman

noun

A person who lives in low-lying land.

netherness

noun

The quality of being lower or beneath something else; inferiority.

nethers

noun

(Informal) A person's private parts, especially the genitals.

netherstock

noun

A stocking from the 1500s that came up past the knee, worn together with upperstocks.

netherworld

noun

The afterlife or underworld, especially imagined as a place of punishment.

netmail

noun

A type of email used on old bulletin board systems.

netminder

noun

A player whose job is to stop the ball or puck from entering the goal.

netted

adj

Formed in a criss-crossing, grid-like pattern, like a net.

Nettie

noun

A nickname for the female given names Annette or Jeannette.

netting

noun

Material made of woven mesh, or anything resembling a net.

nettle

noun

A plant covered in tiny stinging hairs that cause an itchy rash when touched.

nettles

noun

Short lengths of cord on a sail used to tie down excess fabric after reefing.

netty

adj

Smart and tidy in appearance.

network

noun

A group of interconnected people, systems, or things, such as a social or professional circle.

networked

adj

Connected by, or so as to form, a network.

networking

noun

The use of connected computer systems to share data and resources.

Neumann

name

A German surname meaning "new man," historically given to newcomers to a town.

neural

adj

Relating to nerves or the nervous system.

neuralgia

noun

A sharp, severe pain that comes and goes along the path of a nerve.

neuritis

noun

Swelling or irritation affecting one or more nerves.

neurode

noun

A single unit in a neural network, modelled on a real nerve cell, that takes in several signals and gives out one.

neuroimaging

noun

The use of scans to produce pictures of activity in the nervous system, especially the brain.

neurological

adj

Relating to neurology, the branch of medicine dealing with the nervous system.

neurologist

noun

A doctor who specializes in the nervous system and its disorders.

neurology

noun

The branch of medicine concerned with the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

neuron

noun

A nerve cell that carries electrical and chemical signals through the body.

neuropathologist

noun

A medical professional who specialises in neuropathology.

neuropathy

noun

A disease affecting the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.

neuropsychology

noun

The branch of science that studies how the brain's biology relates to how we think, feel and behave.

neuroright

noun

A right that protects people, and possibly future enhanced humans, from harmful uses of technology that reads or changes the brain, such as having your thoughts read or your personality changed without your consent.

neuroscience

noun

The scientific study of the brain and nervous system.

neurosis

noun

A pattern of excessive anxiety or fear that is not severe enough to be classed as psychosis but still disrupts everyday functioning.

neurosurgeon

noun

A surgeon who operates on the brain, spine, and nervous system.

neurosurgery

noun

The medical specialty focused on surgery of the brain, spine, and nerves.

neurotechnology

noun

Technology designed to work with the brain or nervous system.

neurotic

adj

Excessively anxious or emotionally unstable.

neuroticism

noun

The condition or trait of being neurotic.

neurotoxin

noun

A poison that specifically damages nerve cells or the nervous system.

neurotrophin

noun

One of a family of proteins that encourages nerve cells to grow.

neuston

noun

The community of living things found on the surface of water.

neuter

adj

Not aligned with either side; neither one thing nor the other.

neutered

adj

Having had the reproductive organs surgically removed.

neutral

adj

Not taking sides in a conflict, dispute, or war.

neutralise

verb

A non-Oxford British English standard form of neutralize.

neutrality

noun

The state of not taking sides in a conflict or dispute.

neutralize

verb

To cancel out or remove the effect of something.

neutrino

noun

A tiny subatomic particle with almost no mass and no electric charge that barely interacts with matter.

neutron

noun

A subatomic particle with no electric charge found in the nucleus of an atom.

Nev

name

A shortened, informal form of the given name Neville.

neva

adv

A pronunciation spelling of never.

Nevada

name

A state in the western United States, known for Las Vegas and its desert landscape.

neve

noun

An old, now largely obsolete word for a nephew, grandson, or male cousin.

neveling

adv

Face down, lying on one's front.

never

adv

At no time; not on any occasion.

never-ending

adjective

Seeming to continue for ever, usually because it is tedious or exhausting.

neverland

noun

An imaginary, dreamlike place that does not really exist.

nevermind

noun

Attention or concern paid to something (mostly used in the phrase "never mind").

nevermore

adv

Never again; at no future time.

Nevers

name

A town in central France, historically the capital of the Nivernais region.

nevertheless

adv

In spite of what was just said; even so.

Nevins

name

An Irish surname, an anglicized form of Ó Cnáimhín or related names.

nevus

noun

A birthmark or mole: an unusual mark on the skin, often coloured or raised, that is usually harmless.

new

adj

Made, created, or introduced recently.

newall

name

A suburban area in Otley parish, Metropolitan Borough of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, with some overspill into Farnley parish, North Yorkshire, on the north side of the River Wharfe (OS grid ref SE2046).

Newark

name

A city in New Jersey, United States, and the name of towns in England and elsewhere.

newb

noun

A newbie: a person who has just started playing a game, or who has a freshly created character.

Newberg

name

A city in Oregon, United States.

Newberry

name

An English surname and place name, and the name of several towns in the United States.

newbie

noun

Someone who is new to a particular activity, community, or skill.

newborn

adj

Very recently born.

Newcastle

name

A city in northeast England, historically known for coal mining and shipbuilding.

newcomer

noun

A person who has recently arrived in a place or community.

newel

noun

One of two types of post that support a staircase.

Newell

name

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "new hall" or "new spring."

newfag

noun

A newcomer to an online community with little experience, particularly on 4chan; a newbie.

newfangle

adj

(old-fashioned) Keen on new things and fond of change.

newfangled

adj

New in a way seen as unnecessary, trendy, or gimmicky rather than a real improvement.

newfound

adj

Discovered or gained only recently.

Newfoundland

noun

A giant working dog breed with a thick, usually black coat, prized for its strength, calm temperament, and natural swimming ability.

newfriend

noun

(informal) Another word for newfag: an inexperienced newcomer to an online community.

Newgate

name

A former gate and notorious prison in the City of London, demolished in the early 20th century.

Newhouse

name

An English surname, originally denoting someone who lived in a newly built house.

Newkirk

name

An English and Dutch surname meaning "new church."

newling

noun

One who is new (to something); a newcomer; a novice; a newbie.

newly

adv

Very recently; not long ago.

newlywed

noun

A person who has just gotten married.

newlyweds

noun

A couple who have recently gotten married.

Newman

name

An English surname, originally denoting a newcomer to a village or town.

newmarket

name

A market town and civil parish in West Suffolk district, Suffolk, England, previously in Forest Heath district, with a famous racecourse (OS grid ref TL6463).

newness

noun

The state of being new or recent.

Newport

name

A place name shared by several port towns and cities in England, Wales, and the United States.

news

noun

Fresh information about something that has just happened.

newsbreak

noun

A single broadcast of news.

newscast

noun

A televised or broadcast report of current news.

newscaster

noun

A person who presents the news on television or radio.

newscasting

noun

The making and broadcasting of news programmes.

newsflash

noun

A short urgent news bulletin interrupting regular programming to report something important.

newsgathering

noun

The work of gathering information about current events for the news.

newshound

noun

(informal) A journalist who works hard to dig out news stories.

newsletter

noun

A regularly issued publication, often emailed or mailed, giving updates on a particular topic, group, or organisation.

newsman

noun

A male journalist or reporter.

Newsome

name

An English surname, a variant of Newsham, derived from a place name.

newspaper

noun

A regularly printed or published set of pages reporting news, opinion, and other articles.

newspaperman

noun

A man who works in journalism, especially in writing or editing for a newspaper.

newspaperwoman

noun

A woman who writes or edits for a newspaper, such as a reporter or editor.

newsperson

noun

Someone who collects or presents the news, such as a reporter or journalist.

newsprint

noun

A cheap type of paper that newspapers are printed on.

newsreader

noun

A presenter who reads out the news on television or radio.

newsreel

noun

A short film reporting current events, once shown in cinemas before the main feature.

newsroom

noun

The office or department of a media organisation where journalists write and prepare news stories.

newsstand

noun

A stall or small kiosk, often on a street corner, that sells newspapers and magazines.

newsworthy

adj

Significant or interesting enough to be reported as news.

newswriter

noun

A journalist who writes the words that a newsreader will read out.

newt

noun

A small amphibian, related to salamanders, that lives partly in water as an adult and has a slender body and tail.

newton

noun

The SI unit of force, equal to the force needed to accelerate one kilogram by one metre per second every second.

next

adj

Coming immediately after the current one, in place, time, or order.

nexus

noun

A connection or link between things, people, or ideas.

ney

noun

An end-blown reed flute used in traditional Middle Eastern and Central Asian music.

NFC

noun

A short-range wireless technology that lets two devices exchange a small amount of data when they are touching or held within a few centimetres of each other, used for things like tap-to-pay cards, travel passes and electronic door keys.

NFP

noun

Not-for-profit: an organisation that puts any surplus back into its work instead of distributing it to owners or shareholders.

NFT

noun

A unique digital record on a blockchain showing who owns a particular item, most often a picture, video, collectible or piece of music. The record is the NFT; the artwork itself is normally stored elsewhere.

Ng

name

A Chinese surname, a romanization of a character meaning "yellow" or, in Cantonese, "fish," depending on the character used.

Ngai

name

A Chinese surname, also a Maori tribal-name prefix meaning "the people of."

Ngan

name

A Chinese and Vietnamese surname.

NGF

noun

A protein that keeps certain nerve cells alive, encourages them to grow and directs the sprouting of their fibres; short for nerve growth factor.

ngl

abbreviation

Not gonna lie; used to flag that what follows is a frank or slightly unflattering opinion.

Ngo

name

A Vietnamese surname, one of the most common family names in Vietnam.

Nguyen

name

A Vietnamese surname, the most common family name in Vietnam, historically linked to the Nguyễn dynasty.

Ni

name

A Chinese surname, romanized from a character used in several Chinese family names.

nia

particle

Used at the end of a sentence to stress that something is small, trivial, or no big deal.

niacinamide

noun

A form of vitamin B3, widely used as an ingredient in skincare products and also present in foods and supplements. It is water-soluble and appears on cosmetic ingredient lists under this name or as nicotinamide.

Niagara

noun

A powerful, overwhelming flow or outpouring of something, likened to a waterfall.

Niall

name

A masculine given name of Irish origin, meaning "champion" or "cloud," the source of the English name Neil.

Niang

name

A surname and given-name element found in Chinese and West African naming traditions.

nib

noun

The point of a pen or implement that meets the surface and passes ink onto paper.

nibble

verb

To eat something by taking small, repeated bites.

nibbleable

adj

Suitable for nibbling; easy to nibble on.

nibbles

noun

Small snack foods, such as nuts or crisps, put out for people to pick at, often alongside drinks.

nibbling

noun

The act of taking small, quick bites, or the sound this makes.

nibs

noun

An important, or self-important, person — often used sarcastically as "his nibs".

nic

noun

Informal short form of nicotine.

Nicaragua

name

A country in Central America, officially the Republic of Nicaragua, with its capital at Managua.