English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

programmed

adj

Set up in advance to follow a particular schedule or set of instructions.

programmer

noun

Someone who writes computer software.

programming

noun

The act of writing computer code.

progress

noun

Forward movement or development toward a goal.

progression

noun

A gradual movement or development from one stage to the next.

progressive

adj

Favoring new ideas, reform, or gradual improvement in society.

progressively

adv

In a gradually increasing or developing way.

progressivism

noun

A set of political beliefs that support changing society for the better.

progressivist

noun

A person who supports progressivism.

prohibit

verb

To forbid something officially, usually by law or rule.

prohibited

adj

Officially forbidden or banned.

prohibition

noun

An act of forbidding something, or a rule that forbids it.

project

noun

A planned piece of work with a specific goal, carried out in stages.

projected

adj

Forecast or estimated for the future.

projectile

noun

An object fired or thrown through the air, especially from a weapon.

projecting

adj

Sticking out or extending beyond a surface.

projection

noun

A forecast or estimate based on current data.

projectionist

noun

A person who operates a film projector, especially at a cinema.

projector

noun

A device that projects an image or light onto a screen or surface.

projects

noun

Public, high-density housing developments for low-income residents.

prole

noun

(informal) A working-class person.

prolegate

noun

A person who acts as deputy in place of a legate.

proletarian

adj

Relating to the working class, especially wage laborers.

proletarianise

verb

A non-Oxford British English standard spelling of proletarianize.

proletarianism

noun

The political beliefs and actions carried out on behalf of working-class people.

proletarianize

verb

To make a person or group become part of the working class.

proletariat

noun

The working class as a whole, especially wage earners without capital of their own.

proliferate

verb

To grow quickly in number or amount.

proliferation

noun

A rapid increase in the number or spread of something.

prolific

adj

Producing a large amount of something, especially offspring, fruit, or creative work.

prolificacy

noun

The ability to produce a great deal, especially offspring.

prolix

adj

Using far more words than needed and going on for too long, often about unimportant details.

prolixity

noun

The habit of using far more words than are needed, making something dull to read or hear.

prologue

noun

An introductory section that comes before the main part of a play, book, or story.

prolong

verb

To make something last longer than it otherwise would.

prolongation

noun

The act of making something last longer.

prolonged

adj

Lasting for a long time; extended well beyond what is normal.

prolonging

noun

The act of making something last longer.

prolusion

noun

A short piece performed before the main event.

prom

noun

A formal dance held by a high school or college, typically near the end of the school year.

promenade

noun

A paved walkway, especially one along a seafront, used for strolling.

promethean

adj

Relating to Prometheus, the figure from Greek myth who made the first humans out of clay, gave them fire taken from the gods, and was punished for it by being chained to a rock.

Prometheus

name

In Greek mythology, the Titan who stole fire from Zeus and gave it to humanity; also a moon of Saturn.

promethium

noun

A metallic chemical element with the symbol Pm and the atomic number 61.

prominence

noun

The state of being well known, important, or noticeable.

prominent

adj

Important, well known, or widely respected.

prominently

adv

In a way that is noticeable or important; conspicuously.

promiscuity

noun

The practice of having many different sexual partners, often without much selectivity.

promiscuous

adj

Having sexual relationships with many different partners, often casually.

promiscuousness

noun

The state of being promiscuous.

promise

noun

A firm statement that you will or will not do something.

promised

adj

Committed to happening, based on an earlier promise.

promising

adj

Likely to turn out well or succeed; showing good early signs.

promissory

adj

Containing or amounting to a formal promise, especially to pay money.

promnesia

noun

A feeling that something happening now has already happened before, even though it has not.

promo

noun

An advertisement or short piece of publicity for a product, event, or show.

promontory

noun

A piece of high land or cliff that sticks out into the sea or a lake.

promote

verb

To raise someone to a higher rank or more important job.

promoter

noun

A person who organizes and publicizes an event, especially a concert or sports match.

promotion

noun

A move to a higher rank, job, or position.

promotional

adj

Relating to advertising or publicity meant to sell or popularize something.

prompt

adj

Done quickly, without delay.

prompter

noun

A person, or device such as a teleprompter, that feeds lines to a speaker or performer.

prompting

noun

The act of encouraging or reminding someone to do or say something.

promptly

adv

Without delay; quickly and immediately.

promptness

noun

The quality of getting things done quickly, without wasting time.

promulgate

verb

To make something known or public.

promulgation

noun

The act of officially announcing something, especially a new law.

promulge

verb

To make something known, publish it or teach it.

pron

noun

A filter-avoidance spelling of porn.

prone

adj

Likely to suffer from or do something, usually something negative.

prong

noun

One of the thin, pointed parts that stick out from something like a fork or an antler.

pronoun

noun

A word used in place of a noun, such as I, you, she, it, they, this or who, so you do not have to repeat the name.

pronounce

verb

To make the sound of a word or letter in speech.

pronounced

adj

Very noticeable or clearly marked.

pronouncement

noun

A formal statement made in public, often by someone in authority.

pronouncing

noun

The act of saying a word aloud, or of declaring something formally.

pronto

adv

Quickly, right away.

pronunciation

noun

The way a word or language is spoken aloud.

proof

noun

Evidence or facts that show something is true.

proofread

verb

To carefully check a piece of writing for spelling, grammar, and other errors.

prop

noun

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

propagable

adj

Able to be 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 small part released by a living thing, such as a seed or spore, that lets it spread and grow into a new one.

propane

noun

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

propanone

noun

(chemistry) The scientific name for acetone, the simplest ketone, with the formula C₃H₆O.

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

A nonstandard spelling of propeller.

propense

adj

(old-fashioned) Naturally inclined to think or act in a certain way.

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 quality of being correct, suitable or well-behaved.

propertied

adj

Owning land or property that brings in money.

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

Someone who predicts what will happen in the future.

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 predict future events, like a prophet.

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 taken to stop a disease from happening.

prophylaxis

noun

Treatment or action taken to stop an illness from occurring.

propinquitous

adj

(formal) Situated close by.

propinquity

noun

The state of being close to something in distance.

propitiate

verb

To calm, satisfy or make peace with someone, especially a deity 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

Likely to bring a good result; favourable.

propofol

noun

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

proponent

noun

A person who supports and speaks up for an idea or plan.

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 a way that matches or relates correctly to something else in size or amount.

proportionate

adj

Matching in size or amount to something else.

proportionately

adv

In a way that keeps a fair or matching balance with something else.

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 suggest an idea so that people can think and talk about it.

proprietary

adj

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

proprietive

adj

Relating to owning or having something.

proprietor

noun

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

proprietorial

adj

Relating to ownership.

proprietorship

noun

The fact of owning a business or property.

propriety

noun

Correct or socially acceptable behaviour; good manners and decorum.

proprioceptive

adj

(physiology) Relating to the body's sense of its own position and movement.

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

The act of making something continue for longer than planned.

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 plain, matter-of-fact way.

prosaicness

noun

The quality of being plain and unimaginative.

proscenium

noun

The area of a stage that lies between the curtain and where the orchestra is positioned.

prosciutto

noun

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

proscribe

verb

To ban something officially.

proscription

noun

An official ban on something.

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 cut open a body in advance, ready for an anatomy lesson.