English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

Qasim

name

A male given name of Arabic origin, also the name of the eldest son of the prophet Muhammad.

Qatar

noun

A small, wealthy country on a peninsula in the Persian Gulf, officially the State of Qatar, with Doha as its capital.

QED

abbreviation

Written at the end of a mathematical proof or logical argument to mark that the thing set out to be proved has now been proved.

Qi

name

An ancient Chinese duchy and kingdom under the Zhou dynasty; also a Chinese surname.

Qian

name

A Chinese surname.

Qiang

noun

An ethnic group native to a mountainous region of Sichuan province in western China.

qiangic

adj

Belonging to or pertaining to a group of related Sino-Tibetan languages, spoken in southwestern China and Tibet, which include Ersu and the extinct language Tangut.

Qiao

name

A Chinese surname.

qin

noun

A traditional Chinese plucked string instrument, most often the seven-stringed guqin.

qing

name

The last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 until 1912.

Qiu

name

A Chinese surname.

QR code

noun

A square, two-dimensional barcode made up of a pattern of black and white squares, typically scanned with a smartphone camera to open a website or other digital information.

Qt

name

A widely used free and open-source framework for building graphical software interfaces across different operating systems.

qu

noun

In China's administrative system, a district-level division used mainly for urban areas, as distinct from the more rural county-level "xian".

qua

preposition

In the role or capacity of; as.

quack

noun

The harsh, honking sound a duck makes.

quackery

noun

Dishonestly claiming to offer medical treatment, usually to gain money or status.

quacking

noun

The repeated honking calls made by ducks.

quacksalver

noun

Someone who falsely claims medical or other abilities, especially by selling potions, ointments and the like said to have curative powers; a quack.

quad

noun

Short for a quadrangle — an open, often grassy square surrounded by buildings, especially on a college campus.

quadfecta

noun

A bet where you must correctly pick the first four finishers of a race, in order.

quadrad

noun

A group of four items or people.

quadragenarian

noun

A person in their forties, aged somewhere from forty to forty-nine.

quadrangle

noun

A shape with four straight sides, another word for quadrilateral.

quadrangular

adj

Shaped like a quadrangle, with four sides.

quadrangulation

noun

A graph drawn on a surface so that every face has four sides.

quadrant

noun

One of four sections created when an area is divided by two perpendicular lines.

quadratic

adjective

Quadratic means square-shaped.

quadriceps

noun

A large muscle made up of four sections, especially the one running down the front of the thigh that straightens the leg.

quadricycle

noun

A pedal-powered vehicle with four wheels.

quadrilateral

noun

A flat shape with four straight sides.

quadrille

noun

An old dance from the 1700s performed by four couples arranged in a square, similar to a square dance.

quadrillion

num

The number one followed by fifteen zeros: a thousand trillion.

quadriplegic

noun

A person who has lost movement and feeling in both arms and both legs, usually because of an injury to the spinal cord in the neck.

quadruped

noun

An animal that walks on four feet or legs.

quadruple

adjective

Four times as large, as many, or as much.

quadruplet

noun

A group or set of four items.

quadruplex

adj

Made up of four parts.

quads

noun

The large muscles at the front of the thigh (quadriceps), or four cards of the same rank in poker.

quaff

verb

To drink something eagerly, taking large gulps.

quagga

noun

A subspecies of plains zebra from southern Africa, Equus quagga quagga, that died out in 1883. Its back was reddish-brown, growing paler towards the rear and underneath, while its face, neck and the front part of its body carried dark stripes.

quagmire

noun

An area of soft, wet, boggy ground that traps anything that steps into it.

quahog

noun

A hard-shelled edible clam found along the Atlantic coast of North America.

Quaid

name

A surname of Irish origin.

quail

noun

A small, plump game bird related to pheasants and partridges.

quaint

adjective

Attractively unusual or old-fashioned, especially in a charming way.

quaintly

adv

In an odd or strange manner.

quake

noun

Short for earthquake — a sudden violent shaking of the ground.

Quaker

noun

A member of the Religious Society of Friends, a Christian group known for pacifism and simple worship without clergy.

quakerish

adj

Like the Quakers, or connected with them.

quaking

adjective

Shaking uncontrollably, typically from fear, cold, or shock.

qualification

noun

A skill, degree, or credential that shows someone is suitably trained for a role.

qualified

adjective

Having the necessary skills, training, or credentials for a role.

qualifier

noun

A person who earns the right to take part in something, especially the next round of a competition.

qualify

verb

To meet the requirements needed for something, such as a job, benefit, or competition stage.

qualifying

noun

A condition or requirement that is added to something.

qualitative

adjective

Concerned with the nature, character or quality of something rather than with amounts that can be counted or measured.

quality

noun

The overall standard or excellence of something, as opposed to how much of it there is.

qualm

noun

A feeling of worry, doubt or fear.

Quan

name

A surname of Vietnamese or Chinese origin, also used as a male given name.

quandary

noun

A state of being unsure what to do, especially when facing a difficult choice.

quander

verb

To think or wonder about something.

quant

noun

Analysis or research based on numbers and statistics.

Quantico

name

A town in Virginia, home to a major U.S. Marine Corps base and FBI training academy.

quantification

noun

The process of working out or expressing an amount as a number.

quantifier

noun

A word, like 'all' or 'many', that shows how much or how many of something there is.

quantify

verb

To measure or express something as a specific amount or number.

quantitative

adjective

Concerned with amounts and numbers rather than qualities — measured, counted or expressed as a figure.

quantity

noun

An amount of something that can be measured or counted.

quantum

noun

The smallest discrete amount of something, especially a fixed unit of energy in physics.

quarantine

noun

A period of enforced isolation imposed on people, animals, or goods to stop a disease from spreading.

quarantined

adj

Placed in isolation to prevent the spread of disease or contamination.

quark

noun

In particle physics, one of the fundamental building blocks that combine to form protons, neutrons, and similar particles.

quarrel

noun

An angry argument or dispute, especially between people who know each other.

quarrelling

noun

The act of arguing angrily, especially repeatedly.

quarry

noun

A large open pit where stone, sand, or similar material is dug out of the ground.

quarrying

noun

The digging of stone or other material out of a quarry.

quart

noun

A unit of liquid measure equal to a quarter of a gallon, or two pints.

quarta

noun

An old Portuguese measure of volume for dry goods, equal to roughly 3.2 to 4.8 litres depending on the period.

quarter

noun

One of four equal parts into which something is divided.

quarterback

noun

In American football, the player who leads the offense and typically throws or hands off the ball at the start of each play.

quarterfinal

noun

In sport, a quarterfinal is one of the four fixtures that make up the last-eight stage of a knockout competition, with each winner progressing to a semifinal.

quarterly

adj

Happening once every three months.

quartermaster

noun

A military officer responsible for supplying troops with food, clothing, fuel, and other equipment.

quartern

noun

One fourth of something.

quarters

noun

Living accommodation, especially for soldiers or staff.

quartet

noun

A group of four musicians performing together, or a piece of music written for four parts.

quartile

noun

One of the three values that split a set of ordered data into four equal-sized groups.

quartz

noun

A very common, hard mineral made of silicon and oxygen, found in many types of rock.

quasar

noun

An extremely bright and distant celestial object, powered by a supermassive black hole, that appears starlike from Earth.

quash

verb

To officially cancel or reject a legal decision, charge, or order.

quashing

noun

The act of stopping or cancelling something completely.

Quasimodo

noun

The first Sunday after Easter.

quasiregular

adj

Having a few qualities that are regular, without being fully regular.

quat

noun

(informal) An irritating and worthless person.

quatern

adj

Made up of, or arranged in, groups of four.

quaternary

adj

Fourth in order or rank.

quaternion

noun

A group of four people or things.

quaternity

noun

A group of four things or people.

quatrain

noun

A short poem or a stanza made up of four lines.

quaver

noun

A shaking, trembling movement.

quay

noun

A stone or concrete platform built along water where boats load and unload.

Quayle

name

A surname of Manx origin.

quayside

noun

The area next to a quay.

qubit

noun

The basic unit of information in a quantum computer, which can hold more than one value at the same time.

Que

name

A surname of either Chinese Hokkien or Catalan origin.

qué pasa

phrase

A Spanish greeting meaning 'what's happening?' or 'what's up?', used in English as a casual hello.

qué pasó

phrase

A Spanish question meaning 'what happened?', asking about something that has already taken place.

que sera sera

phrase

Whatever will be, will be — said to express calm acceptance that the future cannot be controlled and there is no use worrying about it.

qué tal

phrase

A Spanish greeting meaning 'how are you?' or 'how's it going?'

quean

noun

(dated) A woman seen as bold or of low reputation, or a prostitute.

queasiness

noun

A feeling of sickness in the stomach, as if you might be sick.

queasy

adj

Feeling sick to one's stomach, as if about to vomit.

Quebec

name

A province of eastern Canada, whose capital is Quebec City; also the name of that city.

queen

noun

A female monarch who rules a country, or the wife of a king.

Queenie

noun

An informal or affectionate nickname, sometimes used for an effeminate man.

Queens

noun

The plural of queen; also, in card games, a pair of queen cards.

Queensland

name

A state in northeastern Australia, whose capital is Brisbane.

queep

intj

Used to show the sound made by a bird, like a peep or a chirp.

queer

adj

Relating to a sexual orientation or gender identity that isn't exclusively heterosexual or cisgender; used both as a reclaimed identity term and, historically, as a slur.

queerhood

noun

The fact or condition of being queer.

queerly

adv

In a strange or odd way.

queerness

noun

The quality of being strange or unusual.

quell

verb

To bring a disturbance, rebellion, or strong feeling under control; to suppress it.

quench

verb

To satisfy thirst, or more broadly, a strong desire.

quenelle

noun

A light dumpling made from finely minced meat or fish, mildly seasoned and held together with egg, then poached.

Quentin

name

A male given name (occasionally female) of Latin origin, meaning "fifth"; also a surname.

querida

noun

Darling or sweetheart — a term of endearment.

querk

verb

(dialect) To choke or strangle someone.

quern

noun

A simple mill for grinding corn, especially a handmill made of two circular stones.

querulous

adj

Complaining a lot, or sounding irritable and whiny.

query

noun

A question, especially one asking for information or clarification.

quesadilla

noun

A Mexican dish made by folding a tortilla around melted cheese, often with other fillings, and cooking it until crisp.

quest

noun

A long or difficult search or journey undertaken to achieve a goal.

Questa

name

A surname of Spanish origin, also a village in New Mexico.

quester

noun

Someone who is on a quest.

question

noun

A sentence or phrase used to ask for information or a response.

questionable

adj

Open to doubt; not clearly true, sound, or reliable.

questioner

noun

A person who asks questions, especially one who challenges or expresses doubt about something.

questioning

noun

The act of asking questions, especially formally, as in an investigation.

questionlessly

adv

(formal) Without any doubt; certainly.

questionnaire

noun

A written set of questions used to collect information from people, often for research or feedback.

questions

noun

A party game in which players must respond only with questions, and drop out (or lose a point) if they answer with a statement instead.

queue

noun

A line of people or vehicles waiting their turn, served in the order they arrived.

queuing

noun

The act of standing in line, or of adding something to a waiting list.

quibble

noun

A minor, often pedantic objection or complaint about a small detail.

quiche

noun

A savoury baked tart made from eggs and cream in a pastry crust, often with added vegetables, cheese, or meat.

quick

adj

Moving or happening fast.

quicken

verb

To make something happen faster or more quickly.

quickening

noun

A speeding up of something.