English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

Orson

name

A surname and masculine given name.

Ortega

name

A Spanish surname.

orthodontist

noun

A dentist who specializes in straightening teeth and correcting bite problems, often using braces.

orthodox

adj

Following the traditional, widely accepted beliefs or practices of a religion or system of thought.

orthodoxy

noun

Strict adherence to accepted or traditional beliefs, especially religious ones.

orthopedic

adj

Relating to the treatment of bones, joints, and muscles.

Ortiz

name

A Spanish surname.

Orton

name

An English surname, and the name of several villages in England and small communities in North America.

Orville

name

A masculine given name coined by the novelist Fanny Burney for a character in her novel Evelina.

Orwell

name

An English surname taken by the writer George Orwell from the River Orwell in Suffolk, England; also the name of that river and several villages and towns.

os

noun

In anatomy, a bone, or an opening shaped like a mouth — most commonly the opening at either end of the cervix.

Osaka

name

The capital city of Osaka Prefecture on the island of Honshu, Japan, and a Japanese surname.

Osama

name

A masculine given name of Arabic origin.

Osamu

name

A masculine Japanese given name.

Osborn

name

An English surname, a variant of Osborne.

Osborne

name

An English surname and given name of Germanic origin, also the name of several places including a former royal palace on the Isle of Wight.

Oscar

noun

The gold statuette awarded each year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievement in film; by extension, the award itself.

oscillating

adj

Swinging or moving steadily back and forth.

oscillator

noun

An electronic circuit built to produce a continuous, repeating wave signal.

Osgood

name

An English surname, and the name of several small communities in the United States.

Oshima

name

A Japanese surname, literally "big island."

Osiris

name

In ancient Egyptian religion, the god of the dead and ruler of the underworld, closely tied to death, resurrection, and fertility.

Oska

noun

Another name for the Azawakh, a slender sighthound breed originally from West Africa.

Oslo

name

The capital and largest city of Norway, formerly called Christiania.

Osman

name

A male given name, historically borne by the founder of the Ottoman Empire, Osman I.

Osmond

name

A masculine given name and surname of Germanic origin, rare in modern English use.

Oso

noun

A supporter of the short-lived Bear Flag Revolt in 1846 California.

osprey

noun

A large fish-eating bird of prey with a white underside and long, narrow wings, found on coastlines and near lakes worldwide.

oss

verb

To be inclined or minded to do something; to set about doing it.

Ostend

verb

To display, exhibit, or show something openly.

ostensibly

adv

Apparently or supposedly, based on what is claimed — often with the hint that the real reason might be different.

ostentatious

adj

Showy or over-the-top, designed mainly to impress or attract attention.

osteoporosis

noun

A disease in which bones lose density and become fragile and prone to fracture, most common in women after menopause.

Ostia

name

An ancient Roman port city at the mouth of the Tiber, and the modern district of Rome built near its ruins.

ostracized

adj

Excluded or shut out from a group; treated as an outcast.

ostrich

noun

A very large flightless African bird with long legs and neck, the fastest running bird on Earth.

Oswald

name

A masculine given name of Old English origin, borne by two English saints and used as a surname.

Oswin

name

A masculine given name of Old English origin, borne by a seventh-century king of Deira.

ot

noun

The name of a letter (Ѿ / ѿ) that once appeared in the Cyrillic alphabet.

Ota

name

A Japanese surname, and the name of one of Tokyo's twenty-three special wards.

otaku

noun

Someone with an intense, all-consuming interest in a hobby or subject, especially a devoted fan of Japanese anime or manga.

Othello

name

The title character of Shakespeare's tragedy Othello, also a given name and the name of a city in Washington state.

other

adj

Different from the one(s) already mentioned; additional or remaining.

others

noun

People other than oneself or the ones already named.

otherwise

adv

In a different way; differently.

otherworldly

adj

Belonging to, or reminiscent of, a realm beyond the everyday physical world — dreamlike, mystical, or strange.

Otis

name

A masculine given name of Greek origin, meaning "keen of hearing".

oto

noun

A small freshwater algae-eating fish, short for otocinclus, popular in aquariums.

otsu

name

The capital city of Shiga Prefecture in Japan, on the shore of Lake Biwa.

Otsuka

name

A Japanese surname, literally meaning "large mound".

ott

noun

An informal, clipped word for an otter.

Ottawa

noun

The capital city of Canada, located in Ontario, and by extension the country's federal government.

otter

noun

A sleek, semi-aquatic mammal with dense fur that hunts fish and other prey in rivers or coastal waters.

Otto

noun

A male given name of Germanic origin.

ottoman

noun

A low, padded piece of furniture used as a footstool or extra seat, usually without arms or a back.

ou

noun

A now probably extinct Hawaiian honeycreeper bird.

ouch

intj

Used to express sudden physical pain.

ought

verb

Used to express what is the right or sensible thing to do, or what is likely to be true.

oui

intj

The French word for "yes," sometimes used in English for playful or affected effect.

Ouija

noun

A flat board printed with letters, numbers, and "yes"/"no," used with a small pointer during a séance in an attempt to receive messages from spirits.

ounce

noun

A unit of weight equal to one sixteenth of a pound (about 28.3 grams), used for everyday measurements like food or mail.

our

det

Belonging to or associated with the speaker and at least one other person.

ours

pron

The thing or things belonging to the speaker and others, used without a following noun.

ourselves

pron

Used to refer back to the speaker and others as the same people affected by the action, or to emphasize that group.

oust

verb

To force someone out of a position of power or place, often against their will.

out

adv

Away from the inside, a home, or a central point.

outa

noun

In South African English, a respectful or affectionate term for an older Black man.

outage

noun

A period during which a service, especially electricity, is not working.

outback

noun

Australia's vast, sparsely populated interior, much of it arid desert far from major cities.

outbid

verb

To offer a higher amount than another bidder at an auction or in a competitive sale.

outboard

adj

Positioned on the outside of a boat or aircraft, or away from its centerline.

outbreak

noun

A sudden start or spread of something unwelcome, such as a disease or violence.

outburst

noun

A sudden, forceful release of emotion, especially anger.

outcast

noun

A person who has been rejected or excluded by a group or society.

outcome

noun

The result or effect of an action, event, or process.

outcry

noun

A strong, public expression of protest or anger.

outdated

adj

No longer current, useful, or fashionable; old-fashioned.

outdo

verb

To do better than someone else; to surpass.

outdoor

adj

Existing, happening, or used in the open air rather than inside a building.

outdoors

adv

Not inside a building; in the open air.

outer

adj

Farther from the center; on the outside.

outfield

noun

In baseball or cricket, the larger, more distant part of the playing field beyond the infield.

outfit

noun

A set of clothes worn together, often for a particular occasion.

outgoing

adj

Friendly, sociable, and comfortable meeting new people.

outgrow

verb

To become too old, big, or mature for something once wanted or needed.

outgunned

adj

Having fewer or weaker weapons than an opponent; more broadly, badly outmatched.

outhouse

noun

A small outdoor toilet built as a separate structure, typically without plumbing.

outing

noun

A short trip taken for pleasure or a special occasion.

outlandish

adj

Extremely unusual, bizarre, or far removed from normal experience.

outlast

verb

To last or continue existing longer than someone or something else.

outlaw

noun

A person who has broken the law and is hiding or on the run from it.

outlawed

adj

Made illegal; banned by law.

outlet

noun

A wall socket that supplies electric power to plugged-in devices.

outline

noun

The line or shape marking the edge of something.

outlined

adj

Having its edge or main points marked out.

outlive

verb

To live longer than someone or something else; to survive past it.

outlook

noun

A person's general attitude or view of life and the future.

outlying

adj

Situated far from the main center; remote.

outmoded

adj

No longer fashionable or in use; outdated.

outnumber

verb

To be greater in number than another group.

outpatient

noun

A patient who is treated at a hospital or clinic but does not stay overnight.

outpost

noun

A small military post set apart from the main force, or a remote settlement.

outpouring

noun

A sudden, large release of feeling, support, or words.

output

noun

The amount of something produced, especially over a given period.

outrage

noun

Strong anger or indignation caused by something shocking or unfair.

outrageous

adj

Shockingly excessive, unacceptable, or unjust.

outrageously

adv

In a shockingly excessive or extreme way.

outrank

verb

To hold a higher rank or position than someone else.

outreach

noun

Efforts by an organization to connect with and provide services to people in the community.

outright

adv

Completely and without reservation; entirely.

outrun

verb

To run faster than someone or something, or to escape by outpacing it.

outset

noun

The very beginning of something.

outshine

verb

To be noticeably better or more impressive than someone or something else.

outside

noun

The outer part or surface of something; the area beyond its boundary.

outsider

noun

A person who does not belong to a particular group or community.

outsiders

noun

People who do not belong to a particular group, community, or place.

outskirts

noun

The outer areas of a town or city, away from its center.

outsmart

verb

To defeat someone by being cleverer or more cunning.

outsourcing

noun

The practice of paying an outside company to handle work that could be done in-house.

outspoken

adj

Direct and honest in expressing opinions, even if controversial.

outstanding

adj

Exceptionally good; far better than average.

outstretched

adj

Extended or reached out, especially an arm or hand.

outta

prep

An informal spelling of "out of," used to reflect casual speech.

outward

adj

Relating to the outside or exterior; visible on the surface.

outwardly

adv

On the surface or in appearance, as opposed to internally.

outwards

adv

In a direction away from the center; toward the outside.

outweigh

verb

To be more important, significant, or valuable than something else.

outwit

verb

To beat someone by being cleverer than them.

outwith

prep

Outside of; beyond.

Ouyang

name

A Chinese surname, from Mandarin Ouyang.

ouzo

noun

A clear, anise-flavoured Greek liqueur, usually drunk as an aperitif.

oval

noun

A rounded, elongated shape like an egg or a flattened circle.

ovarian

adj

Relating to the ovaries.

ovary

noun

A reproductive organ in females that produces eggs and, in mammals, hormones such as estrogen.

ovation

noun

Loud, sustained applause given in appreciation of something.

oven

noun

An enclosed chamber used for baking, roasting, or heating food.

Ovens

name

An English surname, an occupational name for a baker.

over

adj

Finished; ended.

overactive

adj

More active than is normal or healthy.

overall

adj

Taking everything into account; general.

overalls

noun

A loose garment worn over normal clothing to protect it during dirty or heavy work.

overbearing

adj

Excessively controlling, bossy, or forceful in manner.

overblown

adj

Exaggerated or given far more importance than it deserves.

overboard

adv

Over the side of a boat and into the water.

overbooked

adj

Having sold more seats, rooms, or reservations than are actually available.

overcast

noun

A sky completely covered by cloud.

overcoat

noun

A heavy coat worn over other clothing for warmth outdoors.

overcome

verb

To successfully deal with or defeat a difficulty or obstacle.

overcoming

noun

The act of successfully dealing with or defeating a difficulty.

overconfident

adj

Excessively sure of oneself, often to the point of being careless or arrogant.