English dictionary — definitions & meanings

prop

noun

An object used to support something, or to keep it in place.

propagable

adj

Capable of being propagated.

propaganda

noun

Information, often biased or misleading, spread to influence public opinion or promote a cause.

propagate

verb

To spread or pass something on, such as information, a belief, or a disease.

propagation

noun

The spreading or multiplying of something, such as plants, ideas, or diseases.

propagule

noun

A reproductive particle released by an organism in order to propagate itself, by means such as dispersal or infection, to the next stage in its life cycle e.g., seeds, spores, endospores, microbial cysts, etc.

propane

noun

A flammable gas, C3H8, used as fuel for heating, cooking, and vehicles.

propanone

noun

The systematic name of the simplest ketone with formula C₃H₆O, usually called acetone.

propel

verb

To push or drive something forward.

propellant

noun

A substance burned or released to generate the force that drives something forward, such as fuel in a rocket engine or gas in an aerosol can.

propeller

noun

A device with angled blades that spins on a shaft to push a boat or aircraft through water or air.

propellor

noun

Nonstandard spelling of propeller.

propense

adj

Leaning toward, in a moral sense; inclined; disposed; prone.

propensity

noun

A natural tendency or inclination to behave or think in a particular way.

proper

adj

Right, fitting, or appropriate for a given purpose or situation.

properly

adv

In a correct, suitable, or appropriate manner.

properness

noun

The state or condition of being proper; propriety.

propertied

adj

Owning property, especially land or real estate that yields an income.

properties

noun

The qualities or characteristics that belong to something and help define what it is or how it behaves.

property

noun

Something that a person or organization owns, especially land, buildings, or possessions.

prophecy

noun

A statement about the future, especially one claimed to come from divine or supernatural insight.

prophesier

noun

A person who makes prophecies or foretells the future; a prophet.

prophesy

verb

To predict what will happen, especially by claiming divine or special insight.

prophet

noun

A person believed to speak on behalf of a god or with divinely inspired insight.

prophetic

adj

Accurately predicting what will happen, as if by special foresight.

prophetize

verb

To act as a prophet; to prophesy; to make prophecies.

Prophets

noun

People believed to speak on behalf of a god or to foretell future events, especially in a religious tradition.

prophylactic

noun

A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive.

prophylaxis

noun

The prevention of, or the protective treatment for, disease.

propinquitous

adj

That is in the propinquity; nearby

propinquity

noun

Nearness or proximity

propitiate

verb

To conciliate, appease, or make peace with someone, particularly a god or spirit.

propitiation

noun

In Christian theology, the turning away of divine wrath through a sacrifice, so that God's anger at sin is satisfied and the sinner can be accepted.

propitious

adj

Favorable; advantageous.

propofol

noun

A fast-acting sedative drug given intravenously to put patients to sleep or keep them sedated during medical procedures.

proponent

noun

One who supports something; an advocate.

proportion

noun

The size or amount of one part of something compared with the whole.

proportional

adj

Corresponding in size or degree to something else, changing at a matching rate.

proportionally

adv

In proportion; in due degree; adapted relatively.

proportionate

adj

In proportion; proportional; commensurable.

proportionately

adv

In a proportionate manner; with due proportion; proportionally.

proportions

noun

The overall size, scale, or dimensions of something, especially when notably large.

proposal

noun

A plan or suggestion put forward for others to consider.

propose

verb

To suggest a plan, idea, or course of action for others to consider.

proposed

adj

Suggested or planned, but not yet approved or carried out.

proposition

noun

A suggestion or offer put forward for consideration, especially a business plan or deal.

propound

verb

To put forward; to offer for discussion or debate.

proprietary

adj

Owned exclusively by a company or individual, often protected by patent, trademark, or trade secret.

proprietive

adj

Of or relating to possession or being endowed of.

proprietor

noun

The owner of a business, especially a small or independently run one.

proprietorial

adj

Of or pertaining to ownership.

proprietorship

noun

The state of being a proprietor; ownership.

propriety

noun

Correct or socially acceptable behaviour; good manners and decorum.

proprioceptive

adj

Of or pertaining to proprioception.

props

noun

(informal) Respect, credit, or acknowledgment given to someone for an achievement.

propulsion

noun

The force or process that drives something forward.

prorated

adjective

Calculated in proportion to the part of a billing period, salary period or quantity that actually applies, instead of the full amount.

prorogation

noun

Causing something to last longer or remain in effect longer; prolongation, continuance.

prorogue

verb

To suspend (a parliamentary session) or to discontinue the meetings of (an assembly, parliament etc.) without formally ending the session.

prosaic

adj

Plain, ordinary, or dull, lacking imagination or excitement.

prosaically

adv

In a prosaic manner; straightforwardly.

prosaicness

noun

The characteristic of being prosaic.

proscenium

noun

The stage area between the curtain and the orchestra.

prosciutto

noun

A dry-cured Italian ham, typically sliced very thin and served uncooked.

proscribe

verb

To forbid or prohibit.

proscription

noun

A prohibition.

prose

noun

Ordinary written or spoken language, as opposed to poetry.

prosecco

name

A variety of white grape grown in the Veneto region of Italy.

prosect

verb

To dissect beforehand, as in preparation for an anatomical lecture.

prosecute

verb

To formally charge someone with a crime and pursue legal action against them in court.

prosecution

noun

The legal process of charging and trying someone for a crime in court.

prosecutor

noun

A lawyer who represents the state in bringing criminal charges against someone.

proselytize

verb

To advertise one’s religious beliefs; to convert (someone) to one’s own faith or religious movement or encourage them to do so.

prosit

intj

Toast to indicate one is drinking to someone's, or to each other's, health.

prosocial

adj

Beneficial to all parties and consistent with community laws and mores.

prosody

noun

The study of rhythm, intonation, stress, and related attributes in speech.

prosoma

noun

The front segment of a body which is divided into two or more segments, especially the cephalothorax of an arachnid or crustacean.

prosopopoeia

noun

An act of personifying a person or object when communicating to an audience; a figure of speech involving this.

prospect

noun

The possibility or likelihood of something happening in the future.

prospecting

noun

The activity of searching an area for valuable minerals such as gold, oil, or gemstones.

prospective

adj

Likely to happen or become something in the future; potential.

prospector

noun

A person who searches an area for valuable minerals, such as gold or oil.

prospectus

noun

A printed document describing a business, investment, university, or publication, meant to inform potential buyers or applicants.

prosper

verb

To succeed or do well, especially financially.

prosperity

noun

The state of being successful and financially well-off.

Prospero

name

A moon of Uranus, and the name of the exiled sorcerer-duke in Shakespeare's "The Tempest".

prosperous

adj

Financially successful and thriving.

pross

verb

To sponge or scrounge; to take advantage of a person's generosity.

Prost

name

A surname of French origin.

prostate

noun

A small gland in male mammals, located below the bladder, that produces part of the fluid in semen.

prostatic

adj

Relating to the prostate gland.

prosthesis

noun

An artificial device that replaces a missing body part.

prosthetic

adj

Serving as an artificial replacement for part of the body.

prosthetics

noun

The branch of medicine concerned with designing and fitting artificial body parts.

prosthodontics

noun

Prosthetic dentistry: a specialty of dentistry concerned with the restoration or replacement of damaged or missing teeth or portions thereof.

prostitot

noun

A prepubescent girl who emulates the overtly sexual fashions and attitudes of twentysomething women such as pop stars.

prostitute

noun

A person who has sex with others in exchange for money.

prostitution

noun

The practice of engaging in sex in exchange for money or other payment.

prostitutor

noun

A person who prostitutes him- or herself or another person.

prostrate

adj

Lying flat on the ground, typically face down.

prostration

noun

The act or condition of prostrating oneself (lying face-down), as a sign of humility.

prosy

adj

Unpoetic; dull and unimaginative.

protactinium

noun

A chemical element (symbol Pa) with atomic number 91. A dense, silvery-gray actinide metal.

protagonist

noun

The main character in a story, film, or play.

protean

adj

Exceedingly variable; readily assuming different shapes or forms.

protect

verb

To keep someone or something safe from harm or damage.

protected

adj

Kept safe from harm, damage, or destruction.

protection

noun

The act of keeping someone or something safe, or the state of being safe.

protectionism

noun

A system or policy of protecting the domestic producers of a product from foreign competition by imposing tariffs, quotas, duties or other barriers on importations.

protective

adj

Designed or intended to protect.

protector

noun

A person who guards or defends someone or something.

protectorate

noun

A weaker state placed under the formal protection and partial control of a stronger one.

protege

noun

A person who is taught, guided and helped forward in their career by someone more experienced and influential.

protein

noun

A large biological molecule made of chains of amino acids, essential to the structure and function of living cells.

protest

verb

To express strong objection to something.

Protestant

noun

A member of one of the Christian churches that broke away from the Roman Catholic Church during the Reformation.

protestation

noun

A formal solemn objection or other declaration.

protester

noun

A person who takes part in a protest.

protesting

noun

The act of publicly objecting to something.

Proteus

name

A Greek sea god famed for changing shape at will.

prothesis

noun

The prepending of phonemes at the beginning of a word without changing its morphological structure, as in Spanish esfera from Greek (via Latin) sphaera (“sphere”) (without prothesis the word would have become *sfera).

protoactinium

noun

Dated form of protactinium.

protocol

noun

The official rules of correct conduct in formal or diplomatic situations.

proton

noun

A positively charged particle found in the nucleus of every atom.

prototype

noun

An early working model built to test an idea before full production.

prototypical

adj

Constituting or representing an original type of something that others are modelled on or derived from.

prototyping

noun

The rapid creation of prototypes of a new product for demonstration and research purposes.

protract

verb

To draw out; to extend, especially in duration.

protracted

adj

Lasting much longer than expected or wanted.

protrude

verb

To cause (something) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface; to cause (something) to project or stick out.

protrusion

noun

The act of protruding.

protuberance

noun

A bulge, knob, swelling, spine, or anything that protrudes.

proud

adj

Feeling pleased and satisfied about something one has done or achieved.

proudly

adv

In a manner showing pride or satisfaction.

Proust

name

A French surname, most famously borne by novelist Marcel Proust, author of "In Search of Lost Time."

prove

verb

To show, by evidence or argument, that something is true.

proven

adj

Shown by evidence to be true, effective, or reliable.

provenance

noun

The place of origin or history of ownership of something, especially a work of art or artifact.

provenantial

adj

Pertaining to the provenance of something.

Provence

name

A region in southeastern France on the Mediterranean coast, known for lavender fields and hilltop villages.

provender

noun

Food, especially for livestock.

provene

verb

To originate, stem (from)

provenience

noun

source; findspot; origin

proverb

noun

A short, well-known saying that expresses a piece of common wisdom or advice.

proverbial

adj

Referred to in, or resembling, a well-known proverb or saying.

Proverbs

name

A book of the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament made up of short sayings offering practical and moral wisdom.

proverse

adj

Describing the tendency of a plane to roll in the same direction as yaw.

provide

verb

To supply someone with something they need or want.

provided

conj

On the condition that; only if.

Providence

name

Divine guidance or protective care, often attributed to God or fate.