English dictionary — definitions & meanings

paradoxical

adj

Having qualities that seem to contradict each other; involving a paradox.

paraffin

noun

A waxy or oily substance derived from petroleum, used as fuel, in candles, or for waterproofing.

paragon

noun

A person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a quality.

paragraph

noun

A distinct section of writing, usually several sentences long, dealing with a single idea and starting on a new line.

Paraguay

name

A landlocked country in South America, whose capital is Asunción.

parakeet

noun

Any of several species of small, often brightly coloured, long-tailed parrots.

paralegal

noun

Someone who assists lawyers with legal research and casework but is not a fully qualified lawyer.

parallel

adj

Running alongside something else, always the same distance apart, never meeting.

parallels

noun

Similarities or points of close resemblance between two things that are otherwise separate.

paralyse

verb

British standard spelling of paralyze.

paralysis

noun

The loss of the ability to move part or all of the body.

paralytic

adj

Affected by or relating to paralysis.

paralytical

adj

Of or pertaining to paralysis.

paralyze

verb

To cause loss of movement or feeling in part of the body.

paralyzed

adj

Unable to move all or part of the body.

paralyzing

adj

Causing an inability to move or act.

paramedic

noun

A medically trained professional who provides emergency care outside a hospital, often responding to 911/999 calls.

paramedical

adj

Of or relating to the provision of emergency medical treatment

parameter

noun

A value kept constant during an experiment, equation, calculation, or similar, but varied over other versions of the experiment, equation, calculation, etc.

parameters

noun

The limits or boundaries that define what is allowed or possible in a situation; the terms you have to work within. Plural of parameter.

paramilitary

noun

An organized group structured and equipped like a military force but not officially part of a country's armed forces.

paramount

adj

Supreme in importance, rank, or authority; overriding everything else.

paramour

noun

A lover, especially one involved in a secret or illicit romantic or sexual relationship.

parang

noun

A short, heavy, straight-edged knife used in Malaysia and Indonesia as a tool and weapon.

paranoia

noun

A mental health condition marked by persistent, irrational feelings of persecution or threat.

paranoid

adj

Suffering from or related to paranoia.

paranormal

adj

Beyond what science can currently explain, especially involving ghosts, telepathy, or similar phenomena.

parapet

noun

A low protective wall along the edge of a roof, bridge, or balcony.

parapherna

noun

A woman's property which was not made a part of her marriage dower, but remained her own.

paraphernal

adj

Of or pertaining to a woman's parapherna

paraphernalia

noun

A miscellaneous collection of items, especially equipment associated with a particular activity.

paraphernals

noun

Synonym of paraphernalia (“married woman’s property besides her dowry”).

paraphrase

noun

A restatement of a passage or idea in different words, usually to make it clearer or shorter.

paraphrasis

noun

The practice of paraphrasing: use of different words.

paraplegic

adj

Relating to or affected by paraplegia, paralysis of the lower body.

parapsychology

noun

The study of alleged paranormal phenomena; psychic or occult phenomena, such as telepathy and ghosts.

parasail

noun

A wing-shaped parachute that lifts a rider in a harness when towed by a motorboat etc

parasite

noun

An organism that lives on or in another species and benefits at that host's expense.

parasitic

adj

Relating to or behaving like a parasite, living off another organism or person.

parasitical

adj

Of, pertaining to, or having the characteristics of a parasite; parasitic.

parasol

noun

A lightweight umbrella carried for shade rather than rain.

paratrooper

noun

A soldier trained to parachute into combat areas from an aircraft.

parcel

noun

A wrapped package prepared for shipping or delivery.

parcelling

noun

One of the long, narrow slips of canvas daubed with tar and wound about a rope like a bandage, before it is served; used also in mousing on the stays, etc.

parcels

noun

Plural of parcel: wrapped packages sent or carried, especially by post.

parch

verb

To burn the surface of, to scorch.

parched

adj

Dried out from heat or lack of moisture.

parchment

noun

A writing material made from treated animal skin, used before paper became common.

pard

noun

Partner; fellow; Used as a friendly appellation

pardal

noun

A pard; a panther or leopard.

pardner

noun

An informal, dialectal pronunciation of "partner," often used as a friendly form of address.

pardon

noun

Forgiveness for an offence.

pardoned

adj

Officially forgiven for a wrongdoing, especially a crime.

pare

verb

To remove the outer covering or skin of something with a cutting device, typically a knife.

paree

name

Deliberate misspelling of Paris, the capital city of France.

pareidolia

noun

The tendency to see a meaningful image, especially a face, in a random or ambiguous pattern such as clouds, wood grain or burnt toast.

parent

noun

A person who raises, cares for, or has legal responsibility for a child.

parentage

noun

The identity and nature of one's parents, and in particular, the legitimacy of one's birth.

parental

adj

Relating to a parent or to parenthood.

parenthood

noun

The state or experience of being a parent.

parenting

noun

The activity and approach of raising and guiding a child.

parer

noun

A small knife or hand tool used to trim the skin or outer layer from fruit and vegetables.

pares

name

A village in central Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda, an estate established by John Pare in 1750.

parfait

noun

A layered dessert, typically made with fruit, ice cream, or whipped cream and served in a tall glass.

parhelion

noun

Synonym of sun dog (“a bright spot in the sky, usually one of two on the parhelic circle on both sides of the sun (or occasionally above and below it), caused by the refraction of the sun's image through ice crystals”).

pariah

noun

A person, group or country that everyone else rejects and refuses to associate with.

paries

noun

The wall of any cavity or organ.

parietal

adj

Relating to the wall of a body cavity or organ.

paring

noun

A fragment or shaving that has been pared.

Paris

name

The capital city of France, known as a global center of art, fashion, and culture.

parish

noun

A local church community and the district it serves.

parishioner

noun

A member of a particular parish.

Parisian

noun

A native or resident of Paris.

parity

noun

The state of being equal, especially in status, pay or rights.

park

noun

An area of land, often in or near a town, set aside for recreation or preserved in a natural state.

parka

noun

A heavy, hooded jacket designed to protect against cold, wind, and rain.

parked

adj

Left standing in a particular spot while not in use.

Parker

noun

Someone who parks a vehicle, especially described by how well or badly they do it.

parkerson

name

A surname originating as a patronymic.

Parkes

name

An English surname and place name, a variant of Parks, denoting someone who lived near a park.

parkin

noun

A traditional soft cake of Northern England, usually made with oatmeal and treacle.

parking

noun

The act of stopping and leaving a vehicle in a location.

parkins

name

A surname transferred from the given name.

Parkinson

name

An English surname meaning "son of Parkin"; notably borne by physician James Parkinson, for whom Parkinson's disease is named.

Parkman

name

An English surname, an occupational name for a gamekeeper or park-keeper.

parkour

noun

An athletic discipline of moving efficiently through an environment using running, jumping, vaulting, and climbing.

parkway

noun

A broad road with trees or landscaping along it, or running through a park.

parky

adj

Of, from, or related to a park or parks generally, especially parklike.

parkyn

name

A surname transferred from the given name.

parlance

noun

The particular way of speaking or set of terms used by a certain group, trade, or field.

parlatic

adj

Syncopic form of paralytic (“very drunk”).

parlay

noun

A bet in which the original stake and all its winnings are rolled forward into further bets.

parley

noun

A meeting to discuss terms, especially between opposing sides or enemies.

parliament

noun

A country's elected law-making body, which debates issues, passes laws, and oversees government spending.

parliamentary

adj

Relating to, or carried out by, a parliament.

parlor

noun

The living room of a house, or a room for entertaining guests; a room for talking; a sitting-room or drawing room.

parlour

noun

A sitting room in a house set aside for receiving guests, or a shop offering a particular service (British spelling of "parlor").

parlous

adj

Attended with peril; dangerous, risky.

parm

noun

Informal short form of "parmesan," or a dish made in the parmigiana style, breaded and baked with cheese and tomato sauce.

parma

noun

A dish of meat or vegetables cooked in the parmigiana style, coated in tomato sauce and cheese.

parmesan

noun

A hard, aged Italian cheese with a strong, salty flavour, traditionally made near Parma.

Parnell

name

A surname, and a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand named after that surname.

Paro

name

A town and district in Bhutan, and a female given name.

parochial

adj

Relating to a parish, the local area a church serves.

parody

noun

A piece of writing, music, or performance that imitates something else for comic or mocking effect.

parole

noun

The early, conditional release of a prisoner who agrees to follow certain rules and report to an officer.

parolee

noun

Someone who has been released from prison on parole.

paroquet

noun

Archaic spelling of parakeet.

paroxysm

noun

A period (especially one of several recurring periods) during the course of an illness when symptoms worsen; a sudden attack of a disease symptom, such as a bout of coughing or a seizure.

parr

noun

A young salmon at the stage between hatching and heading out to sea, marked with dark side-bars.

parratt

name

A surname transferred from the given name.

parrell

name

A surname transferred from the given name.

parren

name

A surname transferred from the given name.

parrett

name

A surname transferred from the given name.

Parrish

name

A surname, and the name of several small towns in the United States.

parritt

name

A surname transferred from the given name.

parroket

noun

Archaic spelling of parakeet.

parroquet

noun

Archaic spelling of parakeet.

parrot

noun

A brightly coloured tropical bird known for its curved beak and ability to mimic human speech.

parrott

name

A surname transferred from the given name.

parry

verb

To block or deflect a blow, attack, or difficult question.

parsa

noun

An old unit of distance used in Hebrew and Persian texts, roughly the distance a person can walk in about an hour and a quarter — close to four kilometers.

parse

verb

To resolve (a sentence, etc.) into its elements, pointing out the several parts of speech, and their relation to each other by agreement or government; to analyze and describe grammatically.

parsimonious

adj

Exhibiting parsimony; sparing in the expenditure of money; frugal, possibly to excess.

parsimony

noun

Great reluctance to spend money unnecessarily.

parsley

noun

A leafy green herb used to flavour or garnish food.

parsnip

noun

A pale, sweet-tasting root vegetable related to the carrot.

parson

noun

A member of the clergy, especially one in charge of a parish.

parsonage

noun

The residence of the minister of a parish.

part

noun

A piece or portion of something larger.

partage

noun

A part, portion or share.

partake

verb

To take part in an activity, or to have some of something being shared, especially food or drink.

partay

noun

A party (organised gathering of people for dancing and having fun).

parted

adj

Separated or divided, or (of hair) combed to one side to form a visible line.

Parthenon

name

The famous ancient temple to the goddess Athena on the Acropolis in Athens.

parthenope

name

One of the sirens, daughter of the god Achelous and the Muse Terpsichore.

partial

adj

Not complete; only affecting or including part of something.

partiality

noun

Preference, bias in favor of, tendency.

partially

adv

To some extent, but not completely.

partialness

noun

The condition of being partial; partiality

participant

noun

A person who takes part in an activity, event, or study.

participate

verb

To take part in or become involved in something.

participation

noun

The act of taking part in something.

participative

adj

That participates, or is capable of participating

participator

noun

one who participates, a participant

participatory

adj

Relating to participation.

participial

adj

Of, relating to, or being a participle.

participialize

verb

To form into, or put in the form of, a participle.

participle

noun

A form of a verb that may function as an adjective, noun or adverb. English has two types of participles: the present participle and the past participle. In other languages, there are others, such as future, perfect, and future perfect participles.

particle

noun

A very small piece or amount of matter.