English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

smiling

adjective

Wearing a smile; cheerful in expression.

smirk

noun

A sly, self-satisfied, or mocking half-smile.

smirking

noun

The act of wearing a smug or mocking half-smile.

smite

verb

(literary) To strike hard, especially with a weapon or divine power.

smith

noun

A craftsperson who shapes metal by hammering, especially a blacksmith.

smithereens

noun

Small scattered fragments, especially from something broken violently.

Smithers

name

An English surname, an occupational name for a metalworker or smith.

Smithsonian

noun

The Smithsonian Institution — the large group of museums and research centers in the United States, founded in 1846.

smithy

noun

A blacksmith's workshop; a forge.

smitten

adjective

Deeply in love or infatuated.

Smitty

name

An informal nickname, typically a shortened form of Smith or Smithson.

smock

noun

A loose overgarment worn to protect clothes, especially by painters or children.

smog

noun

A thick haze of smoke and fog caused by air pollution.

smoke

noun

The visible gas and particles given off by something burning.

smoked

adjective

Treated with smoke, especially to preserve or flavor food.

smoker

noun

A person who regularly smokes tobacco.

smokescreen

noun

A cloud of smoke used to hide troops or movement.

smokey

noun

(slang, US) A police officer or state trooper, especially one watching for speeders.

smoking

noun

The act of inhaling and exhaling smoke from tobacco or another substance.

smoky

adjective

Filled with or giving off smoke.

smooch

noun

(informal) A kiss.

smooth

adjective

Having an even surface, free of bumps or roughness.

smoother

noun

A tool or person that makes something smooth.

smoothie

noun

A thick drink made by blending fruit, often with yogurt, milk, or ice.

smoothing

noun

The act or process of making something smooth.

smoothly

adverb

In a smooth, even way, without interruptions, friction, or trouble.

smorgasbord

noun

A buffet-style spread of many different dishes laid out for guests to help themselves.

smother

verb

To cover something so completely that it cannot get air, cutting off its breathing or, for a fire, its oxygen.

smothering

noun

The act of covering or suppressing something so completely it cannot breathe, grow, or develop.

SMS

verb

To send a text message to someone's mobile phone.

smudge

noun

A smear or blurry mark, especially one made by dirt, ink, or makeup.

smudged

adjective

Blurred or smeared, typically from being rubbed or handled while wet.

smug

adjective

Overly pleased with oneself, in a way that others find annoying.

smuggle

verb

To move goods or people illegally across a border or past authorities, avoiding taxes, laws, or detection.

smuggler

noun

A person who illegally moves goods or people across a border or past authorities.

smuggling

noun

The act of illegally moving goods or people across a border or past authorities.

smurf

noun

One of the small blue fictional characters from the Belgian comic and cartoon franchise The Smurfs.

smut

noun

Sexually explicit or crude material, especially writing, images, or jokes.

Smythe

noun

A surname, an older spelling variant of Smith, originally denoting someone who worked as a metalworker.

snack

noun

A small amount of food eaten between main meals.

SNAFU

noun

A confused, chaotic mess or a major mistake, especially one caused by miscommunication or poor planning.

snag

noun

An unexpected problem or obstacle.

snagged

adjective

Caught or torn on a sharp or rough edge.

snail

noun

A small, slow-moving mollusc with a spiral shell that it carries on its back.

snake

noun

A long, legless reptile that moves by slithering, some species of which are venomous.

snakebite

noun

A wound or injury caused by a snake biting someone.

snakes

intj

An old-fashioned exclamation of surprise, shock, or alarm (short for "snakes alive!").

snakeskin

noun

The skin of a snake, especially when used as a leather material.

snap

verb

To break suddenly with a sharp cracking sound.

Snapchat

noun

A mobile app for sending photos and videos that disappear after being viewed, launched in 2011.

Snape

verb

To cut the end of a piece of wood at an angle so it fits flush against a sloped surface.

snapper

noun

Any of a large family of saltwater fish, many of which are popular as food.

snapping

noun

The sharp cracking sound of something breaking, or the act of speaking sharply to someone.

snappy

adjective

Quick and to the point, often used approvingly.

snapshot

noun

A photograph, especially an informal one taken quickly.

snare

noun

A trap, often a wire loop, used to catch animals.

snarky

adjective

Sarcastic and mildly mocking, often out of irritation.

snarl

verb

To growl and bare the teeth angrily, as an animal does.

snarling

adjective

Growling angrily, or speaking in an aggressive tone.

snart

noun

A slang term for sneezing and passing wind at the same moment.

snatch

verb

To grab something suddenly and quickly.

snatched

adjective

Slang for looking especially good, sharp, or well put-together.

snatcher

noun

One who snatches or steals things, especially by grabbing quickly.

snatching

noun

The act of grabbing or stealing something suddenly.

snazzy

adjective

Stylish and eye-catching, often in a flashy way.

sneak

verb

To move quietly and carefully so as not to be noticed.

sneaker

noun

A soft-soled athletic shoe, called a trainer in British English.

sneaking

adjective

Held privately or quietly, without being openly admitted — often used for a feeling or suspicion.

sneaky

adjective

Acting in a secretive, underhanded, or dishonest way.

sneer

verb

To curl the lip slightly in contempt or scorn.

sneering

adjective

Showing scorn or contempt, especially in tone or expression.

sneeze

verb

To suddenly and forcefully expel air through the nose and mouth, usually from irritation.

sneezing

noun

The act of repeatedly producing sneezes.

snell

adjective

Quick, sharp, or brisk — a mostly Scots and dialectal word.

snicker

verb

To laugh quietly in a stifled or half-suppressed way, often at someone else's expense.

snickering

noun

Quiet, suppressed laughter, often at someone's expense.

Snickers

noun

A brand of chocolate bar filled with peanuts, caramel, and nougat.

snide

adjective

Making sly, mocking, or belittling remarks, often disguised as harmless comments.

sniff

verb

To inhale audibly through the nose, often to smell something.

sniffer

noun

Someone or something that sniffs — including a trained detection dog.

sniffing

noun

The act or sound of inhaling through the nose repeatedly.

sniffle

verb

To sniff repeatedly and quietly, usually because of a cold or crying.

sniffles

noun

A mild cold marked by a runny nose, or the runny nose itself.

sniffling

noun

The act or sound of repeatedly sniffing.

sniggering

noun

Quiet, suppressed laughter, typically mocking.

snip

verb

To cut with a quick, small motion, as with scissors.

snipe

noun

A long-billed wading bird found in marshes and wetlands.

sniper

noun

Someone trained to shoot accurately at targets from a hidden position, often at long range.

Snipes

name

An English surname, likely derived from the bird name "snipe" or a place associated with snipes.

sniping

noun

The act of shooting from a hidden position, or making repeated critical remarks.

snippy

adjective

Short-tempered and curt, especially in a slightly condescending way.

snitch

verb

To inform on someone, often betraying a friend or group.

snivelling

noun

Whimpering or complaining tearfully in an annoying or weak way.

Snively

name

An English surname of uncertain origin, occasionally used as a given name.

snob

noun

A person who looks down on others they consider to have lower taste, status, or refinement.

snobbish

adjective

Behaving like a snob; arrogantly looking down on people seen as less refined.

snobby

adjective

Snobbish; acting or feeling superior to others.

snog

verb

To kiss someone passionately.

snook

noun

A large, silvery game fish found in warm coastal and freshwater regions.

snooker

noun

A cue sport played on a large table with 22 balls, popular in the UK and Commonwealth.

snoop

verb

To secretly investigate or pry into someone else's private matters.

snooper

noun

Someone who snoops, prying into other people's private affairs.

snooping

noun

The act of secretly prying into someone else's private matters.

Snoopy

adjective

Inclined to pry into other people's business; nosy.

snoot

noun

An informal word for a nose or snout, often used playfully for animals.

snooty

adj

Acting superior to others; snobbish and haughty.

snooze

verb

To sleep lightly for a short time; to nap.

snore

verb

To make a loud, rough breathing sound while asleep.

snoring

noun

The act or sound of breathing noisily while asleep.

snorkel

noun

A tube you hold in your mouth or fit to a diving mask so you can breathe while your face is underwater.

snorkeling

noun

Swimming at the surface of the water using a snorkel to breathe while looking below.

snort

noun

A short, harsh sound made by forcing air through the nose.

snorting

noun

The act of making a harsh sound through the nose.

snot

noun

Mucus from the nose.

snotty

adj

Covered in or full of nasal mucus.

snout

noun

The projecting nose and mouth of an animal, especially a pig.

snow

noun

Soft white flakes of frozen water that fall from the sky in cold weather.

snowball

noun

A ball made of packed snow, often thrown for fun.

snowboard

noun

A wide board used to slide down snowy slopes, similar to a large skateboard without wheels.

snowboarding

noun

The sport of riding a snowboard down snowy slopes.

Snowden

name

An English surname and place name meaning "snow hill" or "snowy valley."

snowfall

noun

An occurrence of snow falling, or the amount that falls.

snowflake

noun

A single small crystal of falling snow, usually with six-sided symmetry.

snowing

noun

The falling of snow.

snowman

noun

A figure shaped like a person, built by stacking balls of snow, often decorated with a face and arms.

snowmobile

noun

A motorized vehicle with skis at the front and a track at the back, used for traveling over snow.

snowplow

noun

A vehicle or attached blade used to push snow off roads and other surfaces.

snowstorm

noun

A storm featuring strong winds and heavy snowfall.

snowy

adj

Covered in snow, or full of falling snow.

snub

verb

To deliberately ignore or treat someone coldly, as an insult.

snuff

noun

Finely ground tobacco meant to be inhaled through the nose or held against the gum.

snug

adj

Warm, cosy, and comfortable.

snuggle

verb

To settle into a warm, close, and comfortable position, often with another person.

snuggling

noun

The act of cuddling up close and comfortably with someone.

Snyder

name

A surname of German origin, an occupational name for a tailor.

so

adv

To a great or specified extent; very.

soak

verb

To leave something in liquid until it becomes thoroughly wet.

soaked

adj

Extremely wet, as if drenched in water.

soaking

noun

The act of being immersed in water or another liquid.

Soames

name

An English surname and occasional given name, notably used for the character Soames Forsyte.

soap

noun

A substance used with water to clean the skin or other surfaces.

soapbox

noun

A makeshift platform someone stands on to give an impromptu speech, or, figuratively, any opportunity to voice strong opinions.

soapy

adj

Covered in or full of soap; resembling soap.

soar

verb

To fly high in the air with little effort, especially by gliding on air currents.

soaring

adj

Rising rapidly to a great height.

sob

verb

To cry with short, gasping breaths.

soba

noun

A thin Japanese noodle made from buckwheat flour, served hot in broth or cold with a dipping sauce.

sobbing

noun

The act of crying with gasping breaths.

sober

adj

Not drunk or affected by alcohol or drugs.

sobering

adj

Making you think seriously or feel less carefree, often because of something troubling.