English dictionary — definitions & meanings

particular

adj

Specific; referring to one particular thing rather than things in general.

particularise

verb

Non-Oxford British English spelling of particularize.

particularize

verb

To make particular, as opposed to general; to restrict to a specific or individual case, class etc.; to single out.

particularly

adv

Especially; more than usual or more than others.

particulars

noun

The specific details of something.

parting

noun

The act of leaving or separating from someone, or the moment it happens.

partisan

noun

A strong, often unquestioning supporter of a party, cause, or leader.

partisanism

noun

The practices of partisans; partisanship.

partisanship

noun

An inclination to be partisan or biased; partiality.

partition

noun

A wall or screen that divides a room or space into separate sections.

partitioning

noun

The act or result of dividing into partitions; an arrangement of partitions.

partly

adverb

To some extent; not completely.

partner

noun

A spouse or other person with whom someone shares a romantic or domestic relationship.

partnering

noun

The act or process of forming a partnership with someone.

partnership

noun

A relationship in which two or more people or groups work together toward a shared goal.

parton

noun

In particle physics, any of the fundamental particles, such as quarks and gluons, that make up larger particles like protons and neutrons.

partridge

noun

A plump, ground-dwelling game bird related to the pheasant.

partridgeberry

noun

Any of various plants, including:

parts

noun

A region or area.

parturiency

noun

A process or quality that brings forth something new.

parturition

noun

The act or process of a mother giving birth.

partway

adv

To some extent.

party

noun

A social gathering held for enjoyment, often with food, drink, and entertainment.

partying

noun

The activity of attending or holding social gatherings involving drinking, music, and celebration.

Parvati

proper noun

A Hindu goddess associated with love, fertility, and devotion, regarded as a consort of Shiva.

parvenu

noun

A person who has risen, climbed up, or has been promoted to a higher social class, especially through acquisition of wealth, privileges, or political authority but has not gained social acceptance by those within that new class.

pas

noun

A step, especially in dance.

Pasadena

proper noun

A city in Los Angeles County, California, known for the Rose Bowl and its historic architecture.

pascal

noun

The SI unit of pressure, equal to one newton of force per square metre.

pascha

noun

Passover (biblical, Israelite, Jewish, or Christian Passover; this term also includes Quartodeciman Passover, observed on Nisan 14, especially by Christians in Asia Minor)

Paschal

adjective

Relating to Easter.

Pascoe

proper noun

A surname, and occasionally a male given name derived from it.

Pascual

proper noun

A surname of Spanish origin.

paseo

noun

A public path or avenue designed for walking, sometimes for dining or recreation.

pash

verb

To snog, to make out, to kiss.

pasha

noun

A high-ranking title given to officials, governors, or military commanders in the Ottoman Empire.

pashalik

noun

The jurisdiction or the territory of a pasha.

pashmina

noun

A Cashmere; a goat native to Kashmir.

Pashto

proper noun

A language spoken by the Pashtun people, and an official language of Afghanistan and part of Pakistan.

pashtun

adj

Of or relating to the Pashtuns (a segmentary-lineage ethnic group currently numbering some 50 million people, which is the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan and the second largest in Pakistan), or to their culture.

paskudnyak

noun

A nasty or contemptible person.

Paso

noun

Short for Paso Fino, a breed of horse known for its smooth, natural gait.

Pasquale

proper noun

A surname of Italian origin, sometimes used as a given name.

pasquinade

noun

A lampoon, originally as published in public; a satire or libel on someone.

pass

verb

To move from one place, position, or state to another.

passable

adjective

Good enough to be acceptable, though not excellent.

passably

adv

In a passable fashion; moderately; adequately.

passage

noun

A short section of a text, speech, or piece of music.

passagemaker

noun

A vessel designed for, or capable of, making a long-distance voyage.

passageway

noun

A narrow corridor or route allowing movement between places.

passcode

noun

A sequence of characters or numbers used to verify identity and grant access to a device or system.

passed

adjective

Having gone by or finished, especially referring to time.

passementerie

noun

A decorative piece of lace or other cloth on clothes.

passenger

noun

A person travelling in a vehicle who is not driving or working as crew.

passim

adv

Used in citations to indicate that something, as a word, phrase, or idea, is to be found at many places throughout the work cited; here and there, throughout.

passing

adjective

Lasting only briefly; temporary.

passion

noun

An intense feeling or enthusiasm, especially love or strong interest.

passionate

adjective

Showing or feeling very strong emotion or enthusiasm.

passionately

adverb

In a way that shows intense emotion or enthusiasm.

passionateness

noun

The condition of being passionate.

passive

adjective

Accepting what happens without acting to change or resist it.

passive aggressive

adjective

Expressing anger or hostility indirectly rather than saying it outright, through sulking, backhanded compliments, deliberate delay or pretended agreement.

passivity

noun

The state of being passive.

passkey

noun

A key that opens multiple locks in a building, typically held by staff or management.

Passover

proper noun

The Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites' escape from slavery in Egypt.

passphrase

noun

A password that comprises a whole phrase.

passport

noun

An official government document that proves a person's identity and nationality for international travel.

password

noun

A secret word or string of characters used to prove identity and gain access to a place, system, or account.

passwordless

adj

Without a password; not requiring a password.

past

noun

The period of time before the present.

pasta

noun

A food made from a dough of wheat and water, shaped and usually boiled, forming the base of many Italian dishes.

paste

noun

A soft, moist, thick mixture, especially one used as an adhesive or made from crushed food.

pasteboard

noun

A widget allowing multiple users to paste and share text or other items.

pastel

noun

A pale, soft shade of colour.

Pasteur

name

A French surname, notably borne by chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur.

pasteurized

adjective

Of milk, juice or another liquid food: heated to a controlled temperature for a set time to kill harmful bacteria, then cooled, so that it keeps longer and is safe to drink.

pastiche

noun

A work of art, drama, literature, music, or architecture that imitates the work of a previous artist, usually in a positive or neutral way.

pastime

noun

An activity you do purely for enjoyment or to fill spare time.

pasting

noun

The act of sticking something down with paste or glue.

pastis

noun

An anise-flavoured French liqueur, usually served with water.

pastor

noun

A minister or priest who leads a church congregation.

pastoral

adj

Relating to shepherds, farming, or peaceful rural life.

pastrami

noun

A heavily seasoned, smoked cut of beef, usually sliced thin for sandwiches.

pastry

noun

A dough made from flour and fat, used as the base for pies, tarts, and similar baked goods.

pasturage

noun

A pasture; land that is used for pasture.

pasture

noun

Land covered in grass used for grazing livestock.

pastureland

noun

Land used for pasture, on which livestock can graze.

pasty

adj

Unhealthily pale in complexion.

pat

verb

To tap gently with the flat of the hand.

Patagonia

name

A sparsely populated region at the southern tip of South America, spanning Argentina and Chile.

patater

noun

Pronunciation spelling of potato.

patch

noun

A piece of material used to mend or cover a hole or damaged area.

patchboard

noun

A component of a manual telephone switchboard, or of various early data processing equipment, in which circuits are completed with cords on a matrix of connections.

patched

adj

Repaired with one or more patches.

patching

noun

The act or process of mending or fixing something with a patch.

patchouli

noun

A bushy plant whose leaves yield a strong, earthy fragrant oil.

patchwork

noun

Fabric made by sewing together many small pieces of different colours or shapes.

patchy

adj

Occurring unevenly or in scattered patches, not consistent throughout.

pate

noun

The top of a person's head, especially when bald.

Patel

noun

In parts of India, a village headman or local chief.

patella

noun

The sesamoid bone of the knee; the kneecap.

patency

noun

The condition or state of being patent.

patent

noun

An official government grant giving an inventor sole rights to make, use, or sell an invention for a set period.

patented

adj

Protected by an official patent.

patently

adv

Clearly and obviously.

pater

noun

An old-fashioned or humorous British term for one's father.

paterfamilias

noun

A man who is the head of a household, family or tribe.

paternal

adj

Relating to a father, or inherited through the father's side of the family.

paternity

noun

The state of being a father, especially the legal or biological fact of fatherhood.

Paterno

name

An Italian surname, notably borne by American football coach Joe Paterno.

Paterson

name

A Scottish surname meaning "son of Patrick"; also a city in New Jersey, USA.

path

noun

A track or trail made for walking.

Pathan

noun

A member of the Pashto-speaking people of Afghanistan and north-west Pakistan; another name for Pashtun.

pathetic

adj

Arousing pity or sadness.

pathetically

adv

In a way that is pitiable or contemptibly feeble.

pathetisad

adj

Pathetic: arousing scornful pity or contempt.

pathfinder

noun

One who discovers or makes a new path or way through an untraversed region.

pathic

noun

Synonym of bottom: a passive usually-male partner in homosexual anal intercourse.

pathline

noun

The path taken by an individual fluid particle over a given time period.

pathogen

noun

A microorganism, such as a bacterium or virus, that causes disease.

pathogenesis

noun

The origin and development of a disease.

pathogenic

adj

Able to cause (harmful) disease.

pathologic

adj

Caused by or related to disease, pathology.

pathological

adj

Relating to disease or the study of disease.

pathologist

noun

A doctor or scientist who studies diseased tissue to diagnose illness or determine cause of death.

pathology

noun

The scientific study of the causes and effects of disease.

pathophysiology

noun

The study of how disease disturbs the normal working of the body, and the disordered processes themselves.

pathos

noun

A quality in something that stirs feelings of pity or sadness.

pathway

noun

A path or track, especially one leading somewhere specific.

patience

noun

The ability to wait calmly or endure difficulty without becoming frustrated.

patient

adj

Able to wait calmly without becoming annoyed or anxious.

patiently

adverb

In a patient way; without complaining or losing your temper while waiting or enduring something.

Patil

name

An Indian surname, historically a title for a village headman in Maharashtra.

patina

noun

A thin green or brown film that forms on the surface of copper, bronze or brass after long exposure to the air.

patio

noun

A paved outdoor area next to a house, used for sitting outside, dining, or relaxing.

Patmore

name

An English surname, notably borne by Victorian poet Coventry Patmore.

patois

noun

A regional dialect (usually one considered substandard) of a language (especially French).

paton

name

A surname transferred from the given name.

patriarch

noun

A senior bishop who ranks above others, especially in Orthodox or Catholic church hierarchy.

patriarchal

adjective

Relating to or resembling a patriarch; dignified in the manner of a respected elder.

patriarchial

adj

Characteristic of or pertaining to a patriarchy.

patriarchy

noun

A social system in which men hold most of the power, and in which authority, property and status pass primarily through men.

Patrice

name

A given name of French origin, derived from the Latin "patricius", meaning "nobleman".

Patricia

name

A feminine given name derived from the Latin "patricius", meaning "noble" or "of noble birth".

patrician

noun

A member of any of the families constituting the populus Romanus, or body of Roman citizens, before the development of the plebeian order; later, one who, by right of birth or by special privilege conferred, belonged to the senior class of Romans, who, with certain property, had by right a seat in the Roman Senate.

patrick

name

A male given name.

patrimony

noun

A right or estate inherited from one's father; or, in a larger sense, from any male ancestor.

patriot

noun

A person who loves their country and is strongly devoted to supporting and defending it.

patrioteer

noun

A vehemently patriotic person; a jingoist.

patriotic

adjective

Showing strong love and support for one's country.