English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

OA

name

Abbreviation for the Order of the Arrow, an honor society within the Boy Scouts of America.

oaf

noun

A clumsy, foolish, or unrefined person.

oafish

adj

Clumsy and not very intelligent, like an oaf.

Oahu

name

The third-largest Hawaiian island, home to Honolulu and most of the state's population.

oak

noun

A large deciduous tree with lobed leaves and acorns, valued for its strong wood.

Oakes

name

An English surname, and also the name of towns in England and North Dakota.

Oakland

name

The eighth-largest city in California, seat of Alameda County, and also the name of several smaller towns across the United States and Canada.

oakleigh

name

The name of a suburb in south-east Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Oakley

name

An English surname derived from several English place names meaning a clearing in an oak wood, and the name of numerous villages in England and towns in the United States.

oaks

noun

A famous horse race for three-year-old fillies, run each year at Epsom in England.

oakum

noun

Rough fibres combed out of flax or hemp while preparing it for spinning.

oakwood

noun

A wood or forest made up mainly of oak trees.

oar

noun

A long pole with a flat blade used to row or steer a boat.

oarlock

noun

A U-shaped fitting on the side of a rowing boat that holds an oar in place.

oasis

noun

A fertile spot with water in the middle of a desert.

oat

noun

A cereal grass grown for its edible grain.

Oates

name

An English and Irish surname, and the name of a small community in Missouri.

oath

noun

A solemn formal promise, often invoking something sacred, to tell the truth or keep a commitment.

oatmeal

noun

Ground or rolled oats, or the porridge made by cooking them.

oats

noun

The grains harvested from the oat plant, used as food or livestock feed.

Oaxaca

noun

A soft, stringy white cheese from the Oaxaca region of Mexico, similar to mozzarella and often used melted.

ob

noun

A short informal way of saying "observation," especially in medical or scientific settings.

Obama

name

A Luo surname, notably borne by Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States, and also the name of a Japanese city and samurai clan.

obdurate

adj

Stubbornly refusing to change your bad behaviour or feel sorry for it.

obdurately

adv

In a stubborn and unbending way.

OBE

noun

Officer of the Order of the British Empire, an honour awarded by the British monarch for a significant contribution in a national or regional field; also the letters placed after the recipient's name.

obeah

noun

A form of folk magic, medicine or witchcraft originating in Africa and practised in parts of the Caribbean.

obeche

noun

A tropical African tree, also known as Triplochiton scleroxylon.

obedience

noun

The act of following instructions, rules, or authority.

obedient

adjective

Willing to follow instructions or do what someone in authority says.

obediently

adverb

In a way that follows instructions or authority without resistance.

obeisance

noun

A show of submissiveness, especially through a deep bow; such a bow itself.

obelisk

noun

A tall, four-sided stone pillar that narrows to a pointed top, often built as a monument.

Oberoi

name

A Punjabi surname.

Oberon

name

The king of the fairies in medieval and Renaissance literature, notably in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream; also the outermost major moon of Uranus.

obese

adjective

Very overweight, to a degree that is unhealthy.

obesity

noun

The condition of carrying an unhealthy amount of body fat.

obey

verb

To do what someone in authority tells you to do.

obfuscate

verb

To make something unclear or hard to understand, usually on purpose and in order to hide the truth.

obfuscated

adj

Made deliberately unclear or hard to understand.

obfuscatory

adj

Designed to confuse people so that the truth is hidden.

obi

noun

A wide sash tied around the waist of a kimono.

obit

noun

A short published account of a person's death and life, especially in a newspaper; short for obituary.

obital

adj

Relating to an obituary.

obituary

noun

A published notice of someone's death, often with a summary of their life, usually appearing in a newspaper.

object

noun

A physical thing that can be seen or touched.

objectify

verb

To turn an idea or feeling into something people can see or sense.

objection

noun

A statement of disagreement or opposition, often with a reason attached.

objectionable

adjective

Likely to cause disapproval or offence.

objective

adjective

Based on facts rather than personal feelings or opinions.

objectively

adverb

In a way based on facts rather than personal feelings.

objectiveness

noun

The quality of judging without bias; impartiality.

objectivity

noun

The quality of being fair and fact-based rather than influenced by personal feelings.

objector

noun

Someone who disagrees with something and says so.

objurgate

verb

To scold someone very strongly.

objurgation

noun

A harsh telling-off given to someone.

oblast

noun

An administrative area found in Russia and some other countries with a Slavic background.

oblate

noun

Someone who has devoted their life to religion, often living by a monastic rule without taking full vows.

oblation

noun

An act of worship or thanks offered to a god.

obligate

verb

To force or require someone to do something because of a duty, law or moral rule.

obligated

adjective

Required to do something because of a duty, promise, or rule.

obligation

noun

A duty or requirement to do something, often because of a promise, law, or moral sense.

obligatory

adjective

Required by rule, law, or custom; compulsory.

oblige

verb

To require someone to do something, by law, duty, or circumstance.

obliged

adjective

Required to do something.

obligee

noun

(law) The person to whom another owes a duty.

obliging

adjective

Willing and ready to help or do favours for others.

obligor

noun

(law) The person who owes a duty to someone else.

oblique

adjective

Slanting; not straight up-and-down or side-to-side.

obliquely

adv

At a slant, rather than straight on.

obliquity

noun

The state of being at a slant rather than upright or level, or the size of that slant.

obliterate

verb

To destroy something completely, leaving no trace.

obliterated

adjective

Destroyed completely or beyond repair.

obliteration

noun

The complete destruction of something, so that nothing is left.

obliviate

verb

To make someone forget something, or to erase it completely.

oblivion

noun

A state of being completely forgotten or no longer existing.

oblivious

adjective

Not aware of something happening around you.

obliviousness

noun

The state of not noticing or being aware of what is going on around you.

oblong

adj

Longer in one direction than the other, rather than square or round.

obloquy

noun

(formal) Harsh, insulting language aimed at someone.

obnoxious

adjective

Extremely unpleasant, rude, or annoying.

obnubilate

adj

Hidden or made dim, as if by cloud or mist.

oboe

noun

A slender wooden wind instrument with a double reed, played in orchestras and bands.

oboist

noun

An oboist is a person who plays the oboe.

obscene

adjective

Offensive to accepted standards of decency, often in a sexual way.

obscenity

noun

Language or behaviour that is offensive to standards of decency.

obscure

adjective

Not well known.

obscured

adjective

Hidden from view or made unclear.

obscureness

noun

The quality of being hard to see, understand or notice.

obscurity

noun

The state of being unknown or not noticed.

obsequious

adjective

Excessively eager to please or obey, in a way that seems insincere and self-serving.

observable

adj

Able to be seen or noticed.

observably

adv

To a degree clear enough for someone to notice.

observance

noun

The act of following a law, custom or rule.

observant

adjective

Quick to notice things; alert and watchful.

observation

noun

The act of watching something carefully.

observational

adjective

Relating to watching and recording, especially in science.

observative

adj

Careful to notice things; watchful.

observatory

noun

A building equipped for watching the stars and other astronomical events, usually with a telescope.

observe

verb

To watch someone or something carefully.

observed

adj

Noticed or watched; seen and taken note of.

observer

noun

Someone who watches, notices, or pays close attention to something.

observing

noun

The act of watching something closely, or of noting and recording what happens.

obsess

verb

To think about someone or something constantly, to the point where it takes over your mind.

obsessed

adj

Completely preoccupied with one thing, to an unhealthy or extreme degree.

obsession

noun

A single idea, activity, or interest that dominates someone's thoughts far more than is normal or healthy.

obsessionally

adv

In a way that shows an obsession; excessively and repeatedly.

obsessive

adj

Showing an extreme, excessive focus on one thing, often in an unhealthy way.

obsessively

adv

In a way that shows an extreme or unhealthy focus on one thing.

obsidian

noun

A smooth, glassy black rock formed when lava cools very quickly.

obsolete

adj

No longer used because something newer or better has replaced it.

obstacle

noun

Something that blocks progress or makes it harder to move forward, whether physical or figurative.

obstetrician

noun

A doctor who specialises in pregnancy, labour, and childbirth.

obstetrics

noun

The branch of medicine dealing with pregnancy, labour, and the period just after birth.

obstinacy

noun

Stubborn refusal to change one's mind or course of action.

obstinance

noun

The quality of refusing to change your mind or give in.

obstinate

adj

Refusing to change one's opinion or course of action, often unreasonably so.

obstreperous

adj

Loud, unruly and difficult to control.

obstruct

verb

To block a path or passage so that things can't get through.

obstruction

noun

Something that blocks a path, passage, or process.

obtain

verb

To get or acquire something, often through effort or a formal process.

obtainability

noun

How easy or possible something is to get hold of.

obtained

verb

Past tense and past participle of obtain: got or acquired something, usually through effort, request or a formal process.

obtainment

noun

The act of getting or gaining something.

obtrude

verb

To push or force something on someone, or into a place, without being asked.

obtrusive

adj

(of a person) Too forceful, bold or showy in a way that draws unwanted attention.

obturate

verb

To close up or block a passage or opening.

obtuse

adj

Slow to understand or notice things that seem obvious to others.

obtuseness

noun

The characteristic of being obtuse.

obverse

adj

Facing towards you, the person looking at it.

obviate

verb

To deal with something early on so that it never becomes a problem at all.

obvious

adj

Easy to see or understand; not needing explanation.

obviously

adv

Clearly; in a way that's easy to see or understand.

OC

adj

Informal shorthand meaning "of color", used to describe people who are not white.

ocarina

noun

A small wind instrument, closed at both ends, that is played by blowing into it and covering finger holes to change the note.

occasion

noun

A particular time when something happens, especially something notable.

occasional

adj

Happening from time to time, but not regularly or often.

occasionally

adv

Now and then; sometimes, but not often.

occipital

adj

Relating to or located at the back of the head.

occlude

verb

To block or cover something, such as a gap or part of a picture.

occluded

adj

Blocked or closed off.

occlusion

noun

The act of blocking something, or the thing that does the blocking.

occult

adj

Relating to magic, mysticism, or supernatural practices.

occultation

noun

An astronomical event in which one celestial body passes in front of another, hiding it from an observer.

occulted

adj

Kept hidden or secret.

occupancy

noun

The act of living in or using a place, or the state of being occupied.

occupant

noun

A person who lives in, uses, or is present in a place.

occupation

noun

A person's job or profession.

occupational

adj

Relating to a person's job or work.

occupationless

adj

Without a job; not working.