English dictionary — definitions & meanings

Raines

noun

A fine linen fabric once imported into England from France.

Rainey

name

A surname of Irish origin, also used as a female given name.

rainfall

noun

The amount of rain that falls in a given place over a given period.

rainforest

noun

A dense, tall forest that grows in a consistently warm, wet climate with no real dry season.

Rainier

noun

A sweet hybrid cherry with thin, pale-yellow skin blushed with red and creamy yellow flesh.

raining

verb

Falling as rain, or (figuratively) coming down heavily and continuously, like rain.

rainmaker

noun

A person or ritual believed to cause rain to fall, especially through traditional or ceremonial means.

rainmaking

noun

The attempted artificial production of rain, either by use of magic or by seeding clouds.

rains

noun

A rainy season, especially in regions with a distinct wet period each year.

rainshade

noun

An umbrella; any covering to protect or shield from the elements; an awning to keep out rain

rainstorm

noun

A storm consisting mainly of heavy, often sudden rainfall.

rainwater

noun

Water that has fallen as rain, especially before it drains into rivers, lakes, or the sea.

rainy

adj

Marked by a lot of rain; wet with frequent showers.

Raisa

name

A female given name common in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.

raise

verb

To move or lift something to a higher position.

raised

adj

Higher than the surrounding surface; embossed or built up.

raiser

noun

A person or thing that raises.

raisin

noun

A grape that has been dried, typically eaten as a snack or used in baking.

raising

noun

The act of bringing up and caring for a child.

raj

noun

Rule or government, especially the historical period of British rule over India.

rajah

noun

A Hindu prince, king, or ruler in India or Southeast Asia.

Rajan

name

A surname of Indian origin.

Rajasthan

name

A state in northwestern India, whose capital is Jaipur.

rajbari

noun

a mansion or palace built as a residence for a Hindu rajah, typically in India or Bangladesh.

Rajesh

name

A male given name of Sanskrit origin, common in India.

Rajiv

name

A male given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "lotus flower".

Rajput

noun

A member of a traditionally warrior and land-owning caste in northern India, historically associated with ruling families.

Raju

name

A male given name and surname of Telugu origin, meaning "king".

rake

noun

A garden tool with a row of teeth on a long handle, used to gather leaves or debris or to smooth soil.

raked

adj

Cleared or smoothed with a rake, or set at a backward slant.

rakehell

noun

A lewd or wanton person; a debauchee; a rake.

rakhi

noun

A decorative thread or bracelet tied by a sister onto her brother's wrist as part of the Raksha Bandhan festival, symbolising protection and affection.

raki

noun

A strong, anise-flavoured spirit popular in Turkey and neighbouring countries.

raking

noun

The act of using a rake to gather or smooth something.

rale

noun

An abnormal clicking, rattling or crackling sound, made by one or both lungs and heard with a stethoscope, caused by the popping open of airways collapsed by fluid or exudate, or sometimes by pulmonary edema.

Raleigh

name

The capital city of North Carolina, and an English surname, both named after the explorer Sir Walter Raleigh.

Rallo

name

An Italian surname.

rally

noun

A large public gathering held to show support for a cause, person, or team.

rallying

noun

The act of coming together or regrouping in support of something.

ralph

verb

Slang for to vomit.

ralphie

noun

British slang for a scruffy or unruly schoolchild.

Ralston

name

An English habitational surname; also several towns and villages in Scotland, the United States, and Canada.

ram

noun

An adult male sheep.

ramada

noun

A simple shelter or open-sided porch, typically covered with a roof of branches or thatch.

Ramadan

name

The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset; also a male given name.

Raman

name

A surname, also a male given name transliterated from Belarusian.

Rambabu

name

A male given name from Andhra Pradesh, India, meaning "son of Lord Ram".

ramble

verb

To walk for pleasure without a fixed destination, especially through the countryside.

rambler

noun

Someone who goes on leisurely walks or hikes, especially in the countryside.

rambling

adj

Wandering from one subject to another without a clear direction, especially in speech or writing.

Rambo

noun

A person who acts recklessly and violently, ignoring orders or caution to charge straight at a problem.

ramen

noun

A Japanese noodle soup dish made with wheat noodles in a savoury broth, typically topped with meat, egg, or vegetables.

Ramesh

name

A male given name of Sanskrit origin, used in India and Nepal.

Ramesses

name

The name of several pharaohs of ancient Egypt's 19th and 20th dynasties.

Rami

name

A surname of Arabic origin, found predominantly in Morocco and India.

ramification

noun

A branching-out, the act or result of developing branches; specifically the divergence of the stem and limbs of a plant into smaller ones, or of similar developments in blood vessels, anatomical structures etc.

ramifications

noun

The consequences of an action or decision, especially ones that are complicated, far-reaching and not obvious at first.

ramify

verb

To divide into branches or subdivisions.

Ramirez

name

A Spanish surname, originally a patronymic.

rammed

adj

Packed completely full, especially with people.

rammer

noun

A tool or device used to drive, pack, or force something down by repeated blows or pressure.

ramming

noun

The act of forcefully colliding with or driving into something.

Ramon

name

A municipality in Isabela, Philippines; also a male given name, a variant of Raymond.

Ramona

name

A female given name of Spanish origin.

Ramone

name

A surname and male given name, also shared by members of the punk rock band the Ramones.

Ramos

name

A surname of Spanish and Portuguese origin, from a word meaning "branch".

ramp

noun

A sloped surface connecting two different levels, allowing movement between them without steps.

rampage

noun

A period of violent, uncontrolled behaviour.

rampaging

noun

Wild, violent, uncontrolled behavior or movement, especially by a person, animal, or crowd charging around causing damage.

rampant

adj

Spreading or occurring widely and without restraint, often in a negative or alarming way.

rampart

noun

A defensive wall or raised bank of earth surrounding a fort or town, often topped with a walkway.

ramrod

noun

A rod once used to push ammunition and powder down the barrel of an old-fashioned firearm.

rams

noun

Plural of ram: adult male sheep, or the battering devices/mechanisms named after them.

Ramsay

name

A surname of Old English origin, a variant spelling of Ramsey; also used as a male given name.

Ramsey

name

A surname of Old English origin, also many places in Britain, North America, and elsewhere; also used as a male given name.

Ramu

name

A river and language family of Papua New Guinea.

ramzi

name

A male given name from Arabic.

ran

verb

Past tense of "run": moved on foot at a pace faster than walking.

Rana

name

A surname of Hindi, Italian, Spanish, or Galician origin; also a municipality in Norway.

rance

noun

A reddish Belgian marble often streaked with white or blue veining, used in decorative stonework.

ranch

noun

A large farm, especially in the western United States, used for raising cattle, sheep, or horses.

ranchboy

noun

A male child who tends cattle on a ranch.

rancher

noun

A person who owns or runs a ranch.

ranchgirl

noun

A female child who tends cattle on a ranch.

ranching

noun

The business or practice of running a ranch and raising livestock.

ranchman

noun

An owner or occupant of a ranch

rancho

noun

A simple hut or shelter, often thatched, used for temporary lodging by farm or ranch workers.

ranchwoman

noun

The female equivalent of a ranchman.

rancid

adj

Having a stale, unpleasant smell or taste, typically from fat or oil that has gone off.

rancidification

noun

The decomposition of fats and other lipids by hydrolysis or oxidation; the process of becoming rancid.

rancidness

noun

The characteristic of being rancid.

rancor

noun

A deep, lasting bitterness or resentment toward someone, often from a perceived wrong.

rancorous

adj

Full of rancor; bitter; unforgiving.

rand

noun

South Africa's currency unit, made up of 100 cents.

Randal

name

A male given name of Germanic origin, a variant of Randall; also a surname.

Randall

name

A male given name of Germanic origin; also a surname and several places in the United States.

Randolph

name

A male given name, and a surname, from the Germanic languages.

random

adj

Happening or chosen without any particular pattern, plan, or reason.

randomly

adv

In a way that has no set pattern or order; by chance.

randy

adj

Feeling strong sexual desire; sexually aroused.

Rane

name

A surname of Marathi origin.

rang

verb

Past tense of ring — made a clear, resonant sound, or telephoned someone.

ranga

noun

Australian slang for a person with red or orange hair.

range

noun

The full span between the lowest and highest of something, such as values, prices, or distances.

ranged

adj

Describes something whose range or reach can be adjusted, or that has been arranged in a line.

ranger

noun

Someone whose job is to patrol and protect an area, especially a park or wilderness.

ranging

noun

Moving or varying back and forth across an area or span.

Rangoon

name

The former name of Yangon, once the capital of Myanmar (Burma).

rangy

adj

Slender and long of limb; lanky.

rani

noun

A queen or princess in the Indian subcontinent, or the wife of a rajah.

rank

noun

A person's position or level in a hierarchy, such as in the military or an organisation.

ranked

adj

Given a position in an ordered list, especially by quality or performance.

Rankin

name

A Scottish and Northern Irish surname, originally a diminutive of Ronald.

ranking

noun

A position in a list ordered by quality, success, or some other measure.

rankle

verb

To cause irritation, bitterness or acrimony.

rankness

noun

The quality of being rank, of having a repulsive or pungent odor.

ransack

verb

To search a place thoroughly and roughly, often leaving it in disorder.

ransacking

noun

The act of searching a place thoroughly and violently, usually to steal or plunder.

ransom

noun

Money demanded or paid to free a hostage or captured person.

Ransome

name

An English surname.

ransomware

noun

Malicious software that locks a computer or scrambles the files on it so the owner cannot open them, and then demands a payment in exchange for restoring access.

rant

verb

To speak or complain loudly and at length, often in anger.

ranting

noun

Loud, angry, or excessive talk; the act of delivering a rant.

rantipole

noun

A rude, unruly young person.

Ranveer

name

A male given name of Sanskrit origin, used in India.

Rao

name

A surname of Indian, Italian, or Chinese origin.

Raoul

name

A French male given name, a form of Ralph/Raoul used in French-speaking countries.

rap

noun

A rhythmic style of music where lyrics are spoken quickly, usually over a beat.

rapacious

adj

Voracious; avaricious.

rape

noun

The crime of forcing sexual intercourse or another sexual act on someone without their consent.

raped

verb

Past tense of rape: forced sexual intercourse or another sexual act on someone without consent.

raper

noun

One who commits rape; a rapist.

Raph

name

A short, informal form of the name Raphael.

Raphael

name

A male given name, also the name of an archangel in Christian, Jewish, and Islamic tradition.

rapid

adj

Happening or moving very quickly.

rapidity

noun

speed, swiftness; the condition of being rapid

rapidly

adv

Quickly; at a fast pace.

rapier

noun

A slender, straight, sharply pointed sword (double-edged, single-edged or edgeless), designed predominantly for thrusting; used during the Renaissance period of Europe for civilian duelling

rapist

noun

A person who has committed rape.

rapper

noun

A performer of rap music.

rapping

noun

The act of performing rhythmic spoken lyrics as part of rap or hip-hop music.

rapport

noun

A relationship built on mutual trust and understanding, where people connect easily and communicate well.

rapportage

noun

The reporting of social news, especially by an eyewitness.

rapprochement

noun

The reestablishment of cordial relations, particularly between two countries; a reconciliation.

rapscallion

noun

A rascal, scamp, rogue, or scoundrel.

rapt

adj

Snatched, taken away; abducted.

raptor

noun

A bird that hunts other animals, such as an eagle or hawk.

raptorial

adj

Like or resembling a raptor; seizing or plundering, like a bird of prey.

rapture

noun

A feeling of intense joy or delight, often so strong it feels overwhelming.

Rapunzel

name

The heroine of a German fairy tale who is locked in a tower and lets down her extremely long hair so a prince can climb up to rescue her.