English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

sissy

noun

(informal, derogatory) A timid or cowardly person, especially a man or boy seen as insufficiently masculine.

sister

noun

A female sibling; a daughter sharing the same parents as another person.

sisterhood

noun

A close bond or solidarity felt among women.

Sisters

name

A place name used for various geographic features, such as the city of Sisters in Oregon, named for the nearby Three Sisters mountain peaks.

Sistine

adj

Relating to Pope Sixtus, most famously in the name of the Sistine Chapel.

Sisyphus

name

In Greek mythology, a cunning king punished in the underworld by having to push a boulder up a hill forever, only for it to roll back down each time.

sit

verb

To be resting with your body upright, supported by your bottom, rather than standing or lying down.

Sita

name

In Hindu mythology, the wife of Rama and a central figure in the epic the Ramayana.

sitar

noun

A long-necked plucked string instrument from North India, traditionally with a gourd body, used widely in Hindustani classical music.

sitch

noun

Informal shortening of "situation."

sitcom

noun

A television comedy series built around a recurring set of characters and a fixed setting, usually with a self-contained story each episode.

site

noun

The particular place where something is, was, or will be located.

sith

noun

Archaic word for a journey or occasion (now obsolete outside dialect and older texts).

sitrep

noun

A concise report giving the current status of a military operation or, more broadly, of any situation.

sitter

noun

Someone paid to look after children, pets, or a house while the owners are away.

sitting

noun

A period of time spent seated doing a particular activity, often in one continuous stretch.

Situ

name

A Chinese compound surname, one of the rarer two-character family names in China.

situated

adj

Positioned or located in a particular place.

situation

noun

The set of circumstances or facts affecting something at a particular time.

Siu

name

A Cantonese romanization of a Chinese surname, often rendered Xiao in Mandarin.

siva

noun

Any of a group of birds known as barwings, now classified in the genus Actinodura.

six

num

The number after five and before seven; 6.

sixpence

noun

A former British coin worth six pennies, equal to half a shilling.

sixteen

num

The number after fifteen and before seventeen; 16.

sixteenth

adj

Coming after the fifteenth in a sequence; 16th.

sixth

adj

Coming after the fifth in a sequence; 6th.

sixties

noun

The decade from 60 to 69 of a century, especially the 1960s.

sixty

num

The number after fifty-nine and before sixty-one; 60.

Siya

name

A given name used for both males and females, common in South Africa, India, and the United States.

sizable

adj

Fairly large in size or amount.

size

noun

The physical dimensions, extent, or amount of something.

sizeable

adj

Fairly large; the standard British spelling of "sizable."

sized

adj

Having a specified size, usually paired with a describing word.

sizing

noun

A glue-like coating applied to paper, fabric, or canvas to strengthen and seal the surface before it is painted, printed, or woven.

sizzle

verb

To make a hissing, crackling sound, as food does when frying.

sizzler

noun

A very hot day.

sizzling

adj

Extremely hot, especially hot enough to make a hissing sound.

ska

noun

A style of upbeat Jamaican dance music from the late 1950s that blended Caribbean calypso with American jazz and R&B, and later evolved into rocksteady and reggae.

Skaar

name

A Scandinavian surname derived from a place name meaning "rocky ground" or "skerry."

skank

noun

A dance style performed to ska, reggae, or dub music, with a distinctive rhythmic bounce.

skanky

adj

Dirty, grimy, or unpleasant in a disgusting way.

skate

verb

To glide over ice or a hard surface wearing skates.

skateboard

noun

A narrow board mounted on two pairs of wheels, ridden by standing on it and pushing off the ground with one foot.

skateboarding

noun

The sport or activity of riding and performing tricks on a skateboard.

skater

noun

A person who skates, whether on ice or a skateboard.

Skates

name

An English surname, an uncommon variant possibly derived from a nickname or occupational term.

skating

noun

The activity of gliding across ice or ground on skates.

skedaddle

verb

To leave somewhere quickly, especially to avoid trouble.

skeet

noun

A shooting sport in which clay discs are launched into the air as moving targets.

skeeter

noun

An informal, shortened word for a mosquito.

Skeffington

name

An English surname derived from a place name in Leicestershire, England.

skeletal

adj

Relating to the skeleton or bone structure of a body.

skeleton

noun

The framework of bones supporting a human or animal body.

skelter

verb

To hurry or scurry off in a disorderly rush.

Skelton

name

An English surname and place name, notably borne by comedian Red Skelton.

skeptic

noun

Someone who habitually questions claims or beliefs that most people accept without proof.

skeptical

adj

Doubtful or unconvinced; inclined to question rather than simply accept a claim.

skepticism

noun

A questioning, doubtful attitude toward claims that aren't backed by solid evidence.

sketch

verb

To make a quick, rough drawing without full detail.

sketchbook

noun

A pad of blank pages used for drawing sketches.

sketching

noun

The activity of drawing quick, rough pictures.

sketchy

adj

Incomplete or lacking in detail; only roughly outlined.

skewed

adj

Tilted or twisted away from the expected straight line or angle.

skewer

noun

A thin metal or wooden rod used to hold pieces of food together while cooking.

ski

noun

One of a pair of long, narrow boards attached to boots for gliding over snow.

skid

noun

An uncontrolled sliding movement, as when a vehicle's wheels lose grip.

skidding

noun

The act of sliding out of control, especially of a vehicle.

skier

noun

A person who skis.

skiff

noun

A small, light boat, usually for one or two people, rowed or sailed.

skiing

noun

The sport or activity of traveling over snow on skis.

skilful

adj

British spelling of skillful: showing a high level of ability or expertise.

skill

noun

An ability to do something well, usually gained through learning or practice.

skilled

adj

Having a high level of ability, especially through training or experience.

skillet

noun

A heavy frying pan, often used for stovetop or open-fire cooking.

skillful

adj

Having or showing a high level of ability or expertise.

skillfully

adv

In a way that shows real skill or expertise.

skim

verb

To read something quickly, picking up only the main points.

skimmed

adj

Describing milk that has had its cream removed.

skimp

verb

To spend or use less of something than is really needed, to save money or effort.

skimpy

adj

Too small, thin, or scanty; not generous in amount or coverage.

skinhead

noun

A person with a shaved or very closely cropped head.

skinned

adj

Having had the skin removed.

skinner

noun

A person whose job is removing the skin or hide from animals.

skinning

noun

The process of removing the skin from an animal, for meat, hide, or fur.

skinny

adj

Very thin, often used with a slightly negative or critical tone.

skint

adj

Completely out of money; broke.

skip

verb

To move along lightly with a hop in each step.

skipper

noun

The person in charge of a ship or boat.

skipping

noun

The act of leaving something out or not attending it.

Skippy

adj

Marked by light, bouncy movements.

skirmish

noun

A short fight between small groups, usually part of a bigger conflict.

skirt

noun

A piece of clothing that hangs from the waist, covering the lower body.

skirting

noun

(UK) The narrow board running along the bottom of an interior wall.

skit

noun

A short, often comic performance, usually by amateurs.

skitter

verb

To move quickly and lightly, as if scampering.

skittish

adj

Easily frightened or startled; nervous.

skittles

noun

A pub game where players roll a ball down a lane to knock down nine pins.

skivvies

noun

(informal, chiefly US) Underwear, especially men's.

Skoda

name

A Czech surname and brand name, best known as the automobile manufacturer Škoda.

skulking

noun

The act of moving furtively or hiding, often with bad intent.

skull

noun

The bony structure that forms the head, enclosing the brain.

skunk

noun

A small black-and-white North American mammal that sprays a foul-smelling liquid when threatened.

sky

noun

The space above the earth where clouds, the sun, and stars appear.

skydiver

noun

A person who jumps from an aircraft and free-falls before opening a parachute.

skydiving

noun

The sport of jumping from a plane and performing manoeuvres during free fall before deploying a parachute.

Skye

noun

A Skye terrier.

Skylar

name

A gender-neutral given name, a variant spelling of Skyler, popular in the United States since the late twentieth century.

skylark

noun

A small brown European bird known for singing while flying high in the air.

Skyler

name

A gender-neutral given name derived from the Dutch surname Schuyler, meaning "scholar."

skylight

noun

A window built into a roof or ceiling to let in natural light.

skyline

noun

The outline of buildings and other structures seen against the sky.

Skynet

name

The fictional artificial intelligence system that becomes hostile to humanity in the Terminator film franchise.

skype

verb

To make a phone or video call over the internet using the Skype app.

skyrocket

noun

A firework that shoots into the sky before exploding.

skyrocketed

adj

Having risen suddenly and sharply.

skyscraper

noun

A very tall multi-storey building.

skywalker

noun

An ironworker who works at great heights on tall structures, such as skyscrapers or bridges.

slab

noun

A thick, flat piece of a hard material, such as stone or concrete.

slack

adj

Loose; not pulled tight.

slacker

noun

Someone who avoids work or puts in minimal effort.

slacks

noun

Casual or semi-formal trousers, less formal than a suit.

slade

noun

A shallow valley or open grassy hollow between hills.

slag

noun

Waste material left over after smelting ore.

slain

noun

Those who have been killed, especially in battle.

slam

verb

To shut something with sudden force and a loud noise.

slammed

adjective

Extremely busy with work or activity.

slammer

noun

Prison or jail (informal).

slamming

adjective

Excellent; impressive (informal).

slander

noun

A false spoken statement that damages someone's reputation.

slandering

noun

The act of spreading a false, damaging spoken statement about someone.

slanderous

adjective

False and damaging to someone's reputation.

slang

noun

Very informal words and phrases not used in standard, formal speech or writing.

slant

noun

A slope or tilt; a sloping surface or line.

slanted

adjective

Set at an angle; sloping.

slap

noun

A quick blow with the open hand.

slapper

noun

A promiscuous or disreputable woman (British slang, derogatory).

slapping

noun

The act of hitting with an open hand.

slappy

adjective

Resembling a slap, especially in sound.

slaps

noun

A hand-slapping reaction game played between two people.

slash

noun

A quick, forceful cutting stroke, or the cut it leaves.

slashed

adjective

Cut, torn, or reduced sharply.

slasher

noun

A horror film built around a killer who murders victims one by one, usually graphically.

slashing

noun

The act of cutting sharply, or a sharp cut or reduction.

slate

noun

A fine-grained gray rock that splits easily into thin flat sheets, often used for roofing.

slated

adjective

Scheduled or planned.

slater

noun

A person whose job is fitting slates onto roofs.

Slattery

adj

Rainy, wet, or muddy underfoot.

slaughter

noun

The killing of animals for food.

slaughtered

adjective

Extremely drunk (informal).

slaughterhouse

noun

A facility where animals are killed for meat.