English dictionary — definitions & meanings

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 setting a new direction.

rediscover

verb

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

redistribute

verb

To distribute again.

redline

noun

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

redlining

noun

The process of or an instance 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 quality of being redolent.

redolent

adj

Fragrant or aromatic; having a sweet scent.

redouble

verb

To double, especially to double again; to increase considerably; to multiply; to intensify.

redoubt

noun

A small, temporary, military fortification.

redoubtable

adj

Especially of a person.

redpoll

noun

Any of various finches in the genus Acanthis (syn. Carduelis), which have characteristic 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.

reduce

verb

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

reduced

adjective

Made smaller or less than before.

reducible

adj

Capable of being reduced.

reducing

adjective

Causing a decrease in size, amount, or intensity.

reductase

noun

An enzyme that chemically reduces its substrate.

reduction

noun

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

reductive

adj

Pertaining to the reduction of a decree etc.; rescissory.

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 of, or an instance of, reduplicating.

redux

adjective

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

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 echo again; to reverberate.

reed

noun

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

reedy

adj

Full of, or edged with, reeds.

reef

noun

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

reefed

adj

Having part of a sail tied up in order to adapt the size of the sail to the force of the 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 elect for a second or subsequent time.

reelection

noun

Being elected again to a position someone already holds.

reeling

noun

A staggering, spinning, or unsteady motion.

reemployment

noun

The condition of being reemployed

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

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

A renewed or repeated experience.

ref

noun

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

refaction

noun

recompense; atonement; retribution

refashion

verb

To fashion again or anew.

refection

noun

Mental or spiritual refreshment.

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 specific entity in the world that a word or phrase identifies or denotes: what it refers to.

referential

adj

Of a word or phrase applied to a particular person, place, or thing and not to any other.

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 again; a refill.

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

A provider of refinishing services

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

Dated spelling of reflection.

reflexive

adj

Referring back to the subject, or having an object equal to the 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

Advocating reform of an institution or body.

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 refracting telescope.

refractory

adj

Obstinate and unruly; strongly opposed to something.

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 replace the frets on (a musical 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

the quality of being refulgent; refulgency

refulgency

noun

The property of being refulgent.

refulgent

adj

Resplendent, or shining brightly and radiantly.

refund

verb

To give back money that someone has paid.

refurbish

verb

To rebuild or replenish with all new material; to restore to original (or better) working order and appearance.

refurbished

adj

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

refurbishment

noun

The act of refurbishing; a renovation.

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 refuted, or shown to be false.

refutation

noun

An act of refuting or disproving; the disproving of an argument, opinion, testimony, doctrine or theory by argument or countervailing proof; evidence of falseness.

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

Clipping of 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.

regeneration

noun

The regrowth of damaged or lost living tissue.

regenerative

adj

Relating to or capable of regeneration; able to regrow or renew.

regent

noun

A person who rules in place of a monarch, often because the monarch is too young, absent, or unable to rule.

regental

adj

Of or relating to a regent.

regentship

noun

The office of a regent; regency.

regex

noun

A short line of symbols that describes a pattern of text, used to find, check or replace pieces of writing that match that pattern; short for regular expression.

reggae

noun

A music genre from Jamaica known for its offbeat rhythm guitar and deep bass, closely tied to Rastafarian culture.

Reggie

name

A common nickname for the given name Reginald or Regina.

regime

noun

A government in power, especially one seen as authoritarian.

regimen

noun

A structured plan of diet, exercise, or treatment followed regularly for health benefits.