English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

redesign

verb

To plan or build a new version of something that already existed.

redette

noun

A person, especially a woman, with red hair.

redevelopment

noun

The process of rebuilding or improving an area, often by demolishing old structures and putting up new ones.

Redfern

name

An English surname, also the name of an inner suburb of Sydney, Australia, named after surgeon William Redfern.

Redford

name

An English surname, possibly referring to a stream stained by peat near a river crossing.

redhead

noun

A person with naturally red or reddish hair.

redheaded

adjective

Having red or reddish hair, or (for animals) a red-coloured head.

redial

verb

To dial a phone number again, typically the last one called.

redirect

verb

To send someone or something to a different destination or in a different direction.

redirection

noun

The act of pointing something in a new direction.

rediscover

verb

To find, notice, or come to appreciate something again after it had been forgotten or overlooked.

redistribute

verb

To share or hand out something once more.

redline

noun

The maximum safe speed or limit at which a machine, especially an engine, is designed to run.

redlining

noun

An example of, or the practice of, redlining.

Redman

name

An English surname; also a place name found in several small American communities.

Redmond

name

An Irish surname and given name, an anglicization of Mac Réamoinn ("son of Raymond"); also a city in Washington, home to Microsoft.

redneck

noun

An informal, often disparaging term for a poor, working-class rural person, especially from the southern United States, sometimes implying narrow-mindedness.

redness

noun

The quality or state of being red, or a patch of red colour, especially on the skin.

redo

verb

To do something again, usually because the first attempt was unsatisfactory.

redolence

noun

The state of being redolent.

redolent

adj

Sweet-smelling or aromatic; possessing a pleasant scent.

redouble

verb

To make twice as great, particularly to do so a further time; to increase greatly; to multiply; to make more intense.

redoubt

noun

A small fort built for temporary use during a battle.

redoubtable

adj

Especially of a person.

redpoll

noun

Any of several small finches that have red markings on their heads.

redress

verb

To correct or make amends for something wrong or unfair.

Reds

noun

An informal, sometimes politically loaded term for communists or communist parties.

redshift

noun

A stretching in the wavelength of light as it crosses space, shifting it towards the red end of the spectrum.

redstart

noun

Any of various small insect-eating birds, mainly of the genus Phoenicurus, many of which have a red tail.

reduce

verb

To make something smaller in size, amount, or intensity.

reduced

adjective

Made smaller or less than before.

reducible

adj

Able to be made smaller or simpler.

reducing

adjective

Causing a decrease in size, amount, or intensity.

reductase

noun

An enzyme that brings about a chemical reduction in another substance.

reduction

noun

The act of making something smaller, or the amount by which it has been decreased.

reductive

adj

(law) Relating to overturning or cancelling a legal ruling.

redundancy

noun

The state of a job or worker no longer being needed, or the dismissal that results.

redundant

adjective

No longer needed; superfluous.

reduplication

noun

The act, or a single instance, of repeating something.

redux

adjective

Brought back or revived — placed after a noun to signal that something has returned in a new version or a new era.

redwing

noun

A redwing is a small Eurasian thrush, Turdus iliacus, marked by a white stripe over the eye and red feathers under the wing.

redwood

noun

A very tall evergreen tree native to the coast of California, or its reddish timber.

ree

adjective

Wild, frenzied, or overexcited (dialectal/regional use).

Reece

name

A Welsh surname and unisex given name, an anglicized form of Rhys.

reecho

verb

To sound again as an echo, or to reverberate.

reed

noun

A tall, slender grass-like plant that grows in wet ground or shallow water.

reedy

adj

Covered with reeds, or having reeds growing along its edge.

reef

noun

A ridge of rock, sand, or coral lying at or near the surface of the sea.

reefed

adj

Describes a sail that has been partly rolled up or tied, to make it smaller in strong wind.

reefer

noun

A short, close-fitting jacket, traditionally made of thick wool cloth.

reek

noun

A strong, unpleasant smell.

reeking

adjective

Giving off a strong, unpleasant smell.

reel

noun

A cylindrical device on which thread, film, cable, or fishing line is wound.

reelect

verb

To vote for someone again, for a further term in office.

reelection

noun

Being elected again to a position someone already holds.

reeling

noun

A staggering, spinning, or unsteady motion.

reemployment

noun

The state of having been given a job again.

Reena

name

A feminine given name.

reenact

verb

To bring a law or rule into force again.

reenactment

noun

A staged performance recreating a past event, especially a historical one.

reenforcement

noun

An archaic form of reinforcement.

Rees

name

A Welsh surname and given name, an anglicized form of Rhys; also a town in Germany.

Reese

noun

Short for a peanut butter cup, a chocolate-covered candy with a peanut butter filling (from the US brand name).

reestablish

verb

To set something up again after it stopped existing.

reeve

noun

A local official in medieval England with authority over an area, or (in Canada) the elected head of certain municipal councils.

Reeves

name

An English surname originating from the medieval occupation of reeve, a local official.

reexperience

noun

An experience that happens again, just as it did before.

ref

noun

Informal short form of referee, the official who enforces the rules in a sport.

refaction

noun

Payment or punishment given to make up for a wrong.

refashion

verb

To make or shape something again, in a new way.

refection

noun

A feeling of being refreshed in mind or spirit.

refectory

noun

A dining hall, especially one in an institution such as a college or monastery.

refer

verb

To direct someone's attention to something, or send them elsewhere for information or help.

referee

noun

The official who enforces the rules during a sports match.

reference

noun

A mention of, or connection to, something else.

referencing

noun

The act of citing or pointing to a source.

referendum

noun

A public vote in which citizens directly decide on a specific law or issue.

referent

noun

The real thing that a word or phrase stands for.

referential

adj

Describes a word or phrase that points to one particular person, place or thing.

referral

noun

The act of sending someone to another person, service, or specialist.

referring

noun

The act of directing attention to, or mentioning, something.

refill

noun

A fresh supply used to replace something that has run out, or an extra serving of food or drink.

refilling

noun

The act of filling something up again, or the thing used to do this.

refine

verb

To remove impurities from a raw substance to make it purer.

refined

adj

Having had impurities removed; processed to a pure state.

refinement

noun

A small improvement or adjustment that makes something better.

refinery

noun

A facility where raw materials such as oil, sugar, or metal ore are processed and purified.

refining

noun

The process of purifying a raw material.

refinisher

noun

Someone whose job is giving surfaces a new finish.

reflect

verb

To bounce light, sound, or an image back off a surface.

reflected

adj

Bounced back off a surface, as light or sound.

reflecting

adj

Capable of bouncing back light or sound.

reflection

noun

An image or copy of something formed by light bouncing off a surface.

reflective

adj

Able to bounce back light; shiny in a way that reflects.

reflector

noun

An object or surface designed to bounce back light, heat, or sound.

reflex

noun

An automatic, involuntary response to a stimulus, happening without conscious thought.

reflexion

noun

A dated spelling of reflection.

reflexive

adj

Describes a verb or pronoun whose object is the same as its subject.

reflux

noun

A backward flow, especially of stomach acid up into the throat.

refocus

verb

To shift attention or effort onto something different.

reform

noun

A change made to improve something, especially a system, law, or institution.

reformation

noun

A significant change intended to improve a system, institution, or practice.

reformatory

noun

An institution, historically, for housing and rehabilitating young offenders.

reformed

adj

Having changed for the better; having given up bad habits or behavior.

reformer

noun

A person who works to bring about change and improvement, especially in society or politics.

reforming

noun

The act or process of making improving changes.

reformist

adj

Supporting changes that improve an institution or organisation.

refraction

noun

The bending of light, sound or water waves as they pass from one material into another in which they travel at a different speed.

refractor

noun

A telescope that uses refraction to bring light into focus.

refractory

adj

Stubborn and difficult to control, refusing to do what is wanted.

refrain

verb

To stop oneself from doing something; to hold back.

refresh

verb

To make someone feel more energetic or awake, often with rest, food, or a drink.

refresher

noun

A quick review meant to bring knowledge or skills back to mind.

refreshing

adj

Pleasantly different from what is usual, in a way that feels renewing.

refreshment

noun

Food or drink taken to restore energy, especially a light snack.

refret

verb

To fit new frets onto a stringed instrument.

refrigeration

noun

The process of keeping something cold, usually to stop it from spoiling.

refrigerator

noun

An appliance that keeps food and drink cold, commonly called a fridge.

refuel

verb

To fill something back up with fuel, or to eat and drink to restore energy.

refueling

noun

The act of adding more fuel to a vehicle or aircraft.

refuge

noun

Safety or shelter from danger or difficulty.

refugee

noun

A person who has fled their home country to escape war, persecution, or disaster.

refulgence

noun

Brightness or radiance, especially of light.

refulgency

noun

The quality of shining brightly.

refulgent

adj

Shining very brightly, in a splendid way.

refund

verb

To give back money that someone has paid.

refurbish

verb

To repair and update something with new parts, so it looks and works as good as new, or better.

refurbished

adj

Repaired and restored to good working condition, often for resale.

refurbishment

noun

The process of repairing and updating something to make it like new.

refusal

noun

The act of saying no to a request, offer, or demand.

refuse

verb

To say no to a request, offer, or order.

refutable

adj

Able to be proved wrong or false.

refutation

noun

The act of proving that a claim, argument or idea is wrong.

refute

verb

To prove that a claim or argument is false or wrong.

reg

noun

A flat, stony desert surface found in some hot deserts.

regain

verb

To get something back after having lost it.

regaining

noun

The act of getting something back after losing it.

regal

adj

Fit for or characteristic of royalty; majestic and dignified.

regalia

noun

The ceremonial emblems and objects associated with royalty, such as a crown or sceptre.

Regan

name

An Irish surname and given name; in Shakespeare's King Lear, the name of one of Lear's daughters.

regard

noun

Respect or high opinion of someone or something.

regarded

adj

Thought of or viewed in a particular way, especially with respect.

regarding

prep

Concerning; about; with reference to.

regardless

adv

Without letting something change the outcome; no matter what.

regards

noun

Good wishes sent to someone, often used to close a letter or message.

regatta

noun

An organized event of boat races.

regen

noun

A shortened form of the word 'regeneration'.

regency

noun

A period or system of government in which someone rules on behalf of a monarch who cannot rule themselves.

regenerate

verb

To grow new tissue to replace what was lost or damaged.

regenerated

adj

Grown back, rebuilt, or renewed after damage or decline.