English dictionary — definitions & meanings

regiment

noun

A military unit made up of several smaller units, commanded by an officer.

regimental

adj

Relating to a military regiment.

regiminal

adj

Of or relating to regimen.

Regina

name

A feminine given name from Latin meaning "queen"; also the capital city of Saskatchewan, Canada.

Reginald

name

A masculine given name of Germanic origin, derived from a Latinized form of Reynold, meaning roughly "counsel power."

region

noun

A large area of land or space treated as a unit because of its geography, its climate, its culture or the way it is governed.

regional

adj

Relating to a particular area or district rather than the whole country.

regionalism

noun

Affection, often excessive, for one's own region and to everything related to it.

regions

noun

Areas outside a country's capital or main city, especially when contrasted with it.

Regis

name

A masculine given name and surname.

register

verb

To add a name, item, or event to an official list or record.

registered

adj

Officially entered on a list or record.

registrar

noun

An official who keeps formal records, such as a university's enrollment and grades, or a court's case files.

registration

noun

The act of putting a name, fact or item onto an official list or record.

registry

noun

An official record or list, or the office that keeps it.

regnant

adj

Reigning, ruling; currently holding power.

regorge

verb

To disgorge or vomit.

regrade

verb

To grade again, give a new grade or grading to.

regress

verb

To move backward to an earlier, less developed stage.

regression

noun

A return to an earlier, usually less developed or less desirable, state.

regressive

adj

That tends to return, revert or regress.

regret

verb

To feel sorry about something that happened, or wish it had gone differently.

regretful

adj

Feeling or showing regret.

regretfully

adv

In a way that shows regret.

regrettable

adj

Deserving to be regretted; unfortunate.

regrettably

adv

In a way that is unfortunate and deserves regret.

regretting

noun

The act of feeling sorry about something you did or failed to do.

regroup

verb

To gather again into an organized group, especially after a setback.

regrowth

noun

That which has been regrown after removal.

regs

noun

Informal short form of "regulations," the official rules governing a system, organization, or activity.

regular

adj

Happening at consistent, predictable intervals.

regularity

noun

The quality of following a consistent pattern or schedule.

regularly

adv

At consistent intervals; often and predictably.

regulate

verb

To control something using rules, especially to make sure it works properly or fairly.

regulated

adj

Controlled by official rules.

regulation

noun

An official rule issued by an authority to control how something is done.

regulative

adj

Of or relating to regulation; having a regulatory function.

regulator

noun

A device that controls or limits something.

regulatory

adj

Relating to official rules or the bodies that enforce them.

regurgitate

verb

To throw up or vomit; to eject what has previously been swallowed.

regurgitation

noun

The act of regurgitating.

rehab

noun

Treatment to help someone recover from drug or alcohol addiction, or an injury.

rehabilitate

verb

To help someone return to good health, function, or a normal life after illness, injury, or addiction.

rehabilitation

noun

The process of helping someone or something return to a good or normal condition.

rehash

verb

To go over old material again with little or no new content.

rehearsal

noun

A practice session for a performance, to prepare before it happens in front of an audience.

rehearse

verb

To practise a performance, speech, or scene in preparation for the real thing.

rehearsed

adj

Practised and prepared in advance, sometimes to the point of sounding artificial.

rehearsing

noun

The act of practising a performance, speech, or routine ahead of time.

reheat

verb

To heat food or a substance again after it has cooled.

rehman

name

A surname. Alternative form of Rahman.

rei

noun

A unit of old Portuguese currency, used before the escudo; plural was "réis."

Reich

noun

A German empire, kingdom, or state, especially Nazi Germany (the Third Reich).

Reichstag

noun

The building in Berlin that has housed the German parliament, and historically the lower house of Germany's parliament itself.

Reid

name

A Scottish, English, and Irish surname and given name, most commonly derived from a byname meaning "red," referring to hair or complexion.

reify

verb

To regard something abstract as if it were a concrete material thing.

reign

noun

The period of time during which a monarch rules.

reigning

adj

Currently holding a title, ruling, or dominant position.

Reiko

name

A feminine given name of Japanese origin.

Reilly

name

An Irish surname and modern unisex given name, meaning "descendants of Raghallach."

reimagining

noun

A remake (of a dramatic work)

reimburse

verb

To pay someone back for money they spent or a loss they suffered.

reimbursement

noun

Money paid back to someone to cover an expense they already paid.

Reims

name

A city in the Champagne region of northeastern France, historically the site of French royal coronations.

rein

noun

A strap attached to a bridle, used to control and guide a horse.

reincarnate

verb

To be reborn in a new body after death, or to cause this to happen.

reincarnated

adj

Reborn in a new body after death.

reincarnation

noun

The rebirth of a soul into a new body after death.

reindeer

noun

A large deer of Arctic and subarctic regions, known for its antlers and its role pulling sleighs.

Reiner

name

A masculine given name and surname of German origin, a doublet of Rayner.

reinforce

verb

To make something stronger by adding extra support or material.

reinforced

adj

Made stronger with extra material or support.

reinforcement

noun

The act of making something stronger, or the material used to strengthen it.

reinforcer

noun

Something that reinforces; something that strengthens a behavior.

reinforcing

adj

Used to make something stronger.

Reinhardt

name

A German and Jewish surname, ultimately meaning "strong counsel."

reinless

adj

Not having, or not governed by, reins.

reins

noun

The straps used to steer and control a horse (plural of rein).

reinstate

verb

To restore someone or something to a former position or condition.

reinstatement

noun

The act of restoring someone or something to a former position or condition.

reintegration

noun

The act or process of reintegrating.

reintroduce

verb

To bring something back into use, or to present something again.

reinvent

verb

To change something so much that it feels completely new.

reinvigorate

verb

To give new life, energy or strength to someone or something; to revitalize.

reis

noun

A military title in the Ottoman navy roughly equivalent to a ship's captain.

reiterate

verb

To say something again, usually for emphasis or clarity.

reiteration

noun

The act of reiterating.

reject

verb

To refuse to accept, believe, or agree to something.

rejecting

noun

The act of refusing to accept, believe, or agree to something.

rejection

noun

The act of refusing or turning down something or someone.

rejoice

verb

To feel or show great joy or delight.

rejoiced

adj

Full of joy; delighted.

rejoicing

noun

An expression or occasion of great happiness.

rejoin

verb

To join again with a group after being separated from it.

rejoinder

noun

The defendant's answer to the replication.

rejoint

verb

To reunite the joints of; to joint anew.

rejuvenate

verb

To make someone or something feel young, fresh, or energetic again.

rejuvenated

adj

Made to feel young, fresh, or full of energy again.

rejuvenating

adj

Having a quality which rejuvenates.

rejuvenation

noun

The process of restoring youth, freshness, or energy.

Rekha

name

A feminine given name of Sanskrit origin, used in India, meaning "line."

rekindle

verb

To bring a feeling, interest, or relationship back to life.

relapse

verb

To fall back into a former, usually worse, state after a period of improvement.

relatable

adj

Easy to understand or identify with on a personal level.

relate

verb

To tell or describe an event or story.

related

adj

Connected in some way to something else.

relating

noun

The act of connecting things, or of identifying with someone.

relation

noun

The way in which two or more things are connected or associated with each other.

relationship

noun

The way two or more people or things are connected, or the connection itself.

relative

adjective

Considered in comparison with something else, rather than in absolute terms.

relatively

adverb

Fairly or somewhat, when judged against a typical standard.

relaunch

verb

To launch or introduce something again, usually with changes or improvements.

relax

verb

To rest and become free of tension, stress, or worry.

relaxation

noun

A state of rest and reduced tension, or an activity that produces it.

relaxed

adjective

Free from tension or anxiety; calm and at ease.

relaxing

adjective

Helping someone feel calm and free of stress.

relay

verb

To pass on information received from one person or source to another.

relaying

noun

An instance of passing something, such as information or a signal, from one point to another.

release

verb

To set free or allow to leave, especially from captivity or confinement.

releasing

noun

The act of setting something free or making it available.

relegate

verb

Exile, banish, remove, or send away.

relent

verb

To finally agree to something after initially refusing, or to become less harsh.

relenting

noun

The act of one who relents.

relentless

adjective

Continuing without pause or weakening; unyielding.

relentlessly

adverb

In a way that continues without pause or weakening.

relevance

noun

The quality of being closely connected or applicable to the matter at hand.

relevant

adjective

Closely connected to or important for the subject being discussed.

reliability

noun

The quality of being consistently good, trustworthy, or dependable.

reliable

adjective

Consistently good in quality or performance; able to be trusted.

reliably

adverb

In a way that can be trusted or counted on consistently.

reliance

noun

Dependence on or trust in someone or something.

reliant

adjective

Dependent on someone or something for support or supply.

relic

noun

An object that has survived from an earlier time, often valued for its age or history.

relict

noun

Something that, or someone who, survives or remains or is left over after the loss of others; a relic.

relief

noun

A feeling of ease or reassurance after the removal of stress, pain, or worry.

relieve

verb

To ease or reduce pain, distress, or worry.

relieved

adjective

Feeling reassured or free from anxiety after a worry has passed.

reliever

noun

Something which relieves (pain, etc.).

relieving

adjective

Bringing a sense of relief; easing worry or discomfort.

relievo

noun

Relief (surface carving).

religion

noun

Belief in a god or gods, along with the practices and rituals connected to that belief.

religionary

adj

Relating to religion; pious.

religionism

noun

excessive religious ardour or zeal

religious

adjective

Relating to religion or religious belief.

religiously

adverb

With great dedication and consistency, as though it were a strict duty.

relinquish

verb

To give up or hand over a right, position, or possession, often reluctantly.

relinquishment

noun

The act of relinquishing something.

reliquary

noun

A container to hold or display religious relics.

reliquiae

noun

Remains, especially of fossil organisms.

reliquidation

noun

A second or subsequent liquidation.