English dictionary — definitions & meanings

readout

noun

A display, especially a digital one, showing measured or processed data.

ready

adj

Fully prepared for something and able to act immediately.

Reagan

name

An Irish surname and given name, notably borne by U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

reagent

noun

A compound or mixture of compounds used to treat or test materials, samples, other compounds or reactants in a laboratory or sometimes an industrial setting.

reair

verb

To broadcast (a television program etc.) again.

real

adj

Actually existing or happening, rather than imagined, fictional, or invented.

real estate

noun

Land together with any buildings, fixtures and natural resources attached to it, treated as property that can be owned, bought and sold.

real life

noun

The world as it actually is, as opposed to fiction, theory, games or online space.

realise

verb

The standard British spelling of "realize," meaning to become fully aware of something, or to achieve or make something happen.

realism

noun

A practical, level-headed way of seeing the world, focused on facts rather than wishful thinking.

realist

noun

A person who sees and deals with situations as they actually are, rather than how they might wish them to be.

realistic

adj

Showing a sensible and practical understanding of what is actually possible.

realistically

adv

In a way that is practical and reflects what is actually possible.

reality

noun

The state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they are imagined or wished to be.

realization

noun

The moment of suddenly understanding or becoming fully aware of something.

realize

verb

To become fully aware of a fact or situation, especially one that was true all along.

really

adv

In actual fact; truly, as opposed to seeming or claiming to be so.

realm

noun

A kingdom or territory ruled by a monarch or supreme authority.

realsome

adj

Characterised by realness; similar to or based on objective reality.

realtor

noun

A licensed agent who helps people buy, sell, or rent property.

realty

noun

Real estate; land and any buildings attached to it.

ream

noun

A large standard bundle of paper, traditionally 500 sheets.

reamer

noun

A tool for boring a hole wider.

rean

noun

A deep furrow used for drainage.

reanimate

verb

To animate again.

reap

verb

To cut and gather a crop, especially grain.

reaper

noun

A person or machine that harvests crops.

reaping

noun

The act of harvesting a crop.

reappear

verb

To appear again after being absent or out of sight.

reapply

verb

To apply again, such as for a job or a product.

reappraisal

noun

A second look at or reassessment of the value of something; a new appraisal.

rear

verb

To bring up and care for a child or young animal until maturity.

Rearden

name

An Irish surname.

Reardon

name

An Irish surname, a variant of Rearden.

rearguard

noun

The rearmost part of a force, especially a detachment of troops that protect the rear of a retreating force.

rearing

noun

The act or process of raising a child or young animal.

rearrange

verb

To change the order or arrangement of things.

rearrangement

noun

The process of rearranging.

rearranging

noun

The act of changing the order or layout of something.

rearview

adj

Showing or relating to the view behind a vehicle.

rearward

noun

The part that comes last or is situated in the rear; conclusion, wind-up.

reason

noun

A cause or explanation for something; the motive behind an action.

reasonable

adj

Fair and sensible; based on good judgment.

reasonably

adv

In a sensible or fair way.

reasoned

adj

Based on careful logical thought rather than impulse or emotion.

reasoning

noun

The process of thinking through something logically to reach a conclusion.

reassemble

verb

To put something back together after it has been taken apart.

reassembly

noun

The process of assembling something again.

reassess

verb

To evaluate something again, often to check or revise an earlier judgment.

reassessment

noun

The act of reassessing; a second or subsequent assessment.

reassign

verb

To assign someone or something to a new role, task, or place.

reassignment

noun

The act of assigning someone or something again, often to a different role.

reassurance

noun

Words or actions that restore someone's confidence and calm their worries.

reassure

verb

To restore someone's confidence by removing their doubts or fears.

reassuring

adj

Making someone feel calmer or more confident.

reave

verb

To plunder, pillage, rob, pirate, or remove.

reaver

noun

One who reaves; a plunderer, marauder, or pillager.

reaves

name

A surname originating as an occupation.

reawaken

verb

To wake after an extended period of sleep.

reawakening

noun

A second or subsequent awakening.

reax

noun

Clipping of reaction or reactions.

reb

noun

A respectful title used before the name of a Jewish teacher or religious leader, similar to "sir" or "mister."

Reba

name

A feminine given name, often used as a short form of Rebecca.

rebar

noun

A steel bar used to strengthen concrete.

rebate

noun

A partial refund given after a purchase or payment.

rebbe

noun

The spiritual leader of a Hasidic Jewish community.

Rebecca

name

A female given name originating from the Bible [in turn from Hebrew], in regular use since the Reformation.

Rebekah

name

A feminine given name of Hebrew origin, a variant of Rebecca; in the Bible, the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau.

rebel

noun

A person who fights against or refuses to obey an established authority.

rebelling

noun

The act of resisting or fighting against authority.

rebellion

noun

Organized, often violent resistance against a government or ruling power.

rebellious

adj

Defying or resisting authority; inclined to rebel.

rebelliousness

noun

The state of being rebellious.

rebirth

noun

A fresh start or revival, whether literal, spiritual, or figurative.

reboot

verb

To restart a computer, forcing the operating system to load again, often to fix a problem.

reborn

adj

Renewed or transformed, especially in outlook, spirit, or feeling.

rebound

noun

The bouncing back of an object after it hits something.

rebounding

noun

The act of something that rebounds.

rebrand

verb

To change the brand name, logo, or image of a product or organization.

rebroadcast

noun

Retransmission; a repeated or relayed broadcast.

rebuff

noun

A sudden resistance or refusal.

rebuild

verb

To build something again after it has been damaged or destroyed.

rebuilding

noun

The process of constructing something again after it was damaged or torn down.

rebuilt

adj

Having been constructed again after damage, or restored to working order.

rebuke

noun

A sharp expression of disapproval; a scolding.

rebus

noun

A puzzle that uses pictures or symbols to represent words or parts of words.

rebut

verb

To drive back or beat back; to repulse.

rebuttable

adj

Capable of being rebutted.

rebuttal

noun

An argument or evidence offered to counter someone else's claim.

rebutter

noun

One who drives back or repulses

rec

verb

Informal short form of recommend.

recalcitrance

noun

The state of being recalcitrant.

recalcitrant

adjective

Stubbornly refusing to obey authority, follow rules or cooperate, even under pressure.

recalibrate

verb

To adjust or set the standard of something again, often after conditions have changed.

recall

verb

To bring a past event or fact back into your mind; to remember.

recalling

noun

The act of bringing something back to mind, or of officially calling something back.

recant

verb

To formally take back a statement or belief you previously expressed, especially in public.

recantation

noun

The act of recanting or something recanted.

recap

verb

To summarize the main points of something already said or done.

recapitate

verb

To furnish with a head again; to reattach a head to.

recapitulate

verb

To summarize or repeat in concise form.

recapitulation

noun

A subsequent brief recitement or enumeration of the major points in a narrative, article, or book.

recapture

verb

To capture something again, especially after losing it.

recast

verb

To give something a new form, shape, or presentation.

recce

noun

A quick look at a place in advance to find out what it is like and what will be needed there.

recede

verb

To move gradually back or away from a previous position.

receding

adj

Moving gradually further back or away; gradually diminishing.

receipt

noun

A printed or written proof that money or goods were received, such as a slip given after a purchase.

receive

verb

To be given, sent, or handed something.

received

adj

Widely accepted as true or standard.

receiver

noun

A person or thing that receives something.

receivership

noun

The office and duties of a receiver.

receiving

noun

The act of getting or accepting something that is given or sent.

recent

adj

Having happened not long ago.

recently

adv

A short time ago, or in the near past.

Recep

name

A masculine given name of Turkish origin.

recept

noun

An idea that is formed by the repetition of percepts.

receptacle

noun

A container designed to hold something.

receptacular

adj

Pertaining to, or growing in, the receptacle.

receptary

adj

Generally or popularly admitted or received.

receptibility

noun

The condition of being receptible; receptiveness

reception

noun

A formal social event, often to welcome or honor someone.

receptionist

noun

A person whose job is to greet visitors and answer calls at an office, hotel, or similar business.

receptive

adj

Open and willing to consider new ideas, suggestions, or feedback.

receptiveness

noun

the characteristic of being receptive

receptivity

noun

The state of being receptive.

receptor

noun

A structure in a cell or on its surface that detects and responds to specific signals or substances.

recess

noun

A break from an activity or from regular proceedings, especially in a school, court, or legislature.

recessed

adj

Set back into a wall, ceiling, or surface rather than sitting flush or protruding.

recession

noun

A period of reduced economic activity, typically marked by falling output and rising unemployment.

recessive

adj

Going back; receding.

recharge

verb

To restore power to a battery.

recharging

noun

The process of restoring power or energy to something.

recheck

verb

To check something a second time to make sure it is correct.

recidivate

verb

To relapse into a previous pattern of behavior, especially to commit new offenses after having been punished or sanctioned for earlier ones.

recidivism

noun

The tendency of a convicted offender to commit further crimes, especially after being released from prison; the rate at which this happens.

recidivistic

adj

Being a recidivist; inclined to revert to previous behaviours.

recipe

noun

A set of instructions for cooking a dish, listing ingredients and the steps to combine and prepare them.

recipient

noun

A person who receives something, such as a gift, message, or award.

reciprocal

adj

Given or felt equally by both sides; mutual, done in return.

reciprocally

adv

In a reciprocal manner; by way of returning (e.g. a favour, insult, etc).

reciprocalness

noun

The quality of being reciprocal.

reciprocate

verb

To respond to an action or feeling with a similar one in return.

reciprocation

noun

The act of reciprocating; interchange of acts; a mutual giving and returning.

reciprocative

adj

Reciprocated; giving back to one another.

reciprocity

noun

The practice of exchanging things with someone for mutual benefit, so that a favour, kindness or concession is returned in kind.

recit

noun

A short story.

recital

noun

A performance, especially of music or poetry, given by one performer or a small group.

recitation

noun

The act of saying a memorized piece of writing aloud in front of others.

recite

verb

To say a piece of writing aloud from memory, often to an audience.