English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

paracetamol

noun

A common over-the-counter drug used to relieve pain and reduce fever (known as acetaminophen in the US).

parachronistic

adj

Belonging to an earlier era and no longer in use.

parachute

noun

A fabric device that fills with air to slow the fall of a person or object dropped from height.

parachuting

noun

The sport or activity of jumping from an aircraft using a parachute.

parachutist

noun

A person who jumps from an aircraft using a parachute, especially as a sport.

paraclinical

adj

Relating to techniques or results, such as those in pathology or radiology, that support but are not purely clinical.

parade

noun

A public procession, often celebratory, held to mark an occasion.

paradigm

noun

A typical pattern or model of how something is done; a framework of ideas or beliefs.

paradigm shift

noun

A fundamental change in the basic assumptions a field works from, so that old questions, methods and evidence are reinterpreted rather than merely added to. It is the difference between refining a theory and replacing the framework the theory sat in.

parading

noun

The act of marching or displaying something in public, as in a parade.

paradise

noun

A place or state of perfect happiness, often associated with heaven or the Garden of Eden.

paradox

noun

A statement or situation that seems to contradict itself yet may still be true.

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.

paragliding

noun

The sport of gliding through the air using a paraglider.

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.

parallelepiped

noun

A solid shape with six faces, each one a parallelogram, and each face parallel and similar to the face opposite it.

parallelogram

noun

A flat four-sided shape in which each pair of opposite sides is parallel and equal in length.

parallels

noun

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

paralyse

verb

A 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

Relating 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

Relating to giving emergency medical care.

parameter

noun

A number or value that stays fixed while you work through one version of a calculation or experiment, but can be different in another version.

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 knife with a straight blade, used as both a tool and a weapon in Malaysia and Indonesia.

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

Property belonging to a married woman that was kept separate from her dowry.

paraphernal

adj

Relating to a married woman's own separate property.

paraphernalia

noun

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

paraphernals

noun

Another term for paraphernalia, a married woman's property apart from her dowry.

paraphrase

noun

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

paraphrasis

noun

The act of paraphrasing, or expressing something using different words.

paraplegic

adj

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

parapsychology

noun

The study of claimed paranormal events, such as telepathy and ghost sightings.

parasail

noun

A parachute shaped like a wing that lifts a person wearing a harness while being towed, usually by a boat.

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

Relating to, or behaving like, a parasite.

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 scorch or burn something on the surface.

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

A friend or companion, used as a friendly form of address.

pardal

noun

A leopard or panther.

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 cut away the outer skin or covering of something, usually with 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

Who a person's parents are, especially whether their birth was legitimate.

parental

adj

Relating to a parent or to parenthood.

parenthesis

noun

A word, phrase or clause inserted into a sentence as an aside or explanation, usually set off by brackets, commas or dashes.

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

The name of 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

A bright spot that appears beside the sun, caused by sunlight bending through ice crystals in the sky.

pariah

noun

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

paries

noun

The wall of a hollow body part or organ.

parietal

adj

Relating to the wall of a body cavity or organ.

paring

noun

A thin piece cut or peeled off something.

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 family name that began 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 soft, traditional cake from the north of England, made with oats and treacle.

parking

noun

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

parkins

name

A family name that came from a first 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

Relating to a park, or looking like one.

parkyn

name

A family name that came from a first name.

parlance

noun

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

parlatic

adj

A 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.

parliamentarian

noun

A member of a parliament or a similar elected national legislature.

parliamentary

adj

Relating to, or carried out by, a parliament.

parlor

noun

A room in a house used for sitting and talking with visitors.

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

Full of danger or risk.

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

An archaic spelling of parakeet.

paroxysm

noun

A sudden worsening of an illness, such as a fit 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 family name that came from a first name.

parrell

name

A family name that came from a first name.

parren

name

A family name that came from a first name.

parrett

name

A family name that came from a first name.

Parrish

name

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

parritt

name

A family name that came from a first name.

parroket

noun

An archaic spelling of parakeet.

parroquet

noun

An 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 family name that came from a first 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 break a sentence down into its grammatical parts and explain how they relate to each other.

parsimonious

adj

Very careful with money, often to an extreme degree.

parsimony

noun

A strong unwillingness to spend money unless it is truly needed.

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 house where a parish minister lives.

part

noun

A piece or portion of something larger.

partage

noun

A portion or share of something.

partake

verb

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

partay

noun

(informal) A lively social gathering with dancing and fun.