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.

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

The practice of fraudulent medicine, usually in order to make money or for ego gratification and power; health fraud.

quacking

noun

The repeated honking calls made by ducks.

quacksalver

noun

One falsely claiming to possess medical or other skills, especially one who dispenses potions, ointments, etc., supposedly having 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 in which the bettor must select the winners of the first four places (i.e., first, second, third, and fourth) of a race in the correct order.

quadrad

noun

A tetrad; a group of four.

quadragenarian

noun

Synonym of fortysomething: a person between 40 and 49 years old.

quadrangle

noun

Synonym of quadrilateral (“a polygon with four sides”).

quadrangular

adj

Having the shape of a quadrangle; in the shape of a quadrangle.

quadrangulation

noun

A graph embedded in a surface such that every face is a quadrangle.

quadrant

noun

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

quadriceps

noun

A muscle having four heads, especially the large extensor at the front of the thigh.

quadricycle

noun

A four-wheeled pedal cycle.

quadrilateral

noun

A polygon with four sides.

quadrille

noun

A dance originating in the mid-1700s with four couples forming a square, rather much like the modern square dance.

quadrillion

num

A thousand trillion (logic: 1,000 × 1,000⁴): 1 followed by fifteen zeros, 10¹⁵.

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.

quadruple

adjective

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

quadruplet

noun

A set of four, particularly

quadruplex

adj

Having four components.

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 or imbibe with vigour or relish; to drink copiously; to swallow in large draughts.

quagga

noun

A southern-African subspecies of plains zebra, Equus quagga quagga, which went extinct in 1883. The upper parts of the animal were reddish brown, becoming paler behind and beneath, while the face, neck, and fore part of the body were marked by 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 a quaint manner; oddly; strangely.

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

Suggesting or pertaining to the Quakers.

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

One who qualifies for something, especially a contestant who qualifies for a stage in a competition.

qualify

verb

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

qualifying

noun

A qualification or added condition.

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 apprehension, doubt, fear etc.

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 ponder or wonder about.

quant

noun

Quantitative analysis or research.

Quantico

name

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

quantification

noun

The act of quantifying.

quantifier

noun

A word, such as all or many, that expresses the quantity of a related noun.

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 extraction of material from a quarry.

quart

noun

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

quarta

noun

A traditional Portuguese unit of dry measure, equal to 3.2–4.8 L in different 19th-century contexts.

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.

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

A quarter part; one fourth.

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

Any of the three points that divide an ordered distribution into four parts, each containing a quarter of the population.

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 action of quashing something.

Quasimodo

noun

The first Sunday after Easter.

quasiregular

adj

Having some regular characteristics.

quat

noun

An annoying, worthless person.

quatern

adj

quaternate; composed of, or arranged in, sets of four.

quaternary

adj

Of fourth rank or order.

quaternion

noun

A group or set of four people or things.

quaternity

noun

A group or set of four; a foursome, a quartet.

quaver

noun

A trembling shake.

quay

noun

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

Quayle

name

A surname of Manx origin.

quayside

noun

An area alongside a quay.

qubit

noun

A quantum bit; the basic unit of quantum information described by a superposition of two states; a quantum bit in a quantum computer capable of being in a state of superposition; A binary qudit.

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

A woman, now especially an impudent or disreputable woman; a prostitute.

queasiness

noun

The state of being physically queasy; nausea.

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

The sound a bird may make, similar to peep, chirp, cheep.

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 state or condition of being queer; queerness

queerly

adv

In a queer (strange) manner.

queerness

noun

The quality of being queer or odd.

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 of lightly spiced minced meat or fish bound with egg and 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

To throttle; choke; stifle; suffocate.

querulous

adj

Often complaining; suggesting a complaint in expression; fretful, whining.

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

A person engaged in 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

In a questionless manner; assuredly.

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

An increase of speed.

quickens

verb

Third-person singular present tense of quicken: makes or becomes faster.

quickfire

noun

A fast-moving fire that spreads rapidly through dry vegetation.

quickie

noun

Something done or made in a short amount of time.

quickly

adv

Rapidly; at speed.

quickness

noun

rapidity of movement or activity; agility or dexterity

quicksand

noun

Wet, loose sand that looks solid but gives way and traps anything that steps into it, often found near rivers or shorelines.