English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

sippy

noun

(informal) A small sip, or a child's cup designed to prevent spills.

sir

noun

A polite or respectful way to address a man, especially one of higher rank, a stranger, or a teacher.

sire

noun

The male parent of an animal, especially in breeding contexts.

siree

noun

An informal, emphatic variant of "sir", typically used in the expression "yes siree".

siren

noun

A device that produces a loud, piercing warning sound, or the sound itself.

Siri

name

A feminine Scandinavian given name, a short form of Sigrid, meaning "beautiful victory."

Sirius

name

The brightest star visible in the night sky, part of the constellation Canis Major.

sirloin

noun

A cut of beef taken from the lower back of the animal, prized for grilling and roasting.

sirocco

noun

A hot, strong wind that blows across the Mediterranean from the deserts of North Africa.

sirrah

noun

(archaic) A term of address used to a man or boy considered inferior, often scornfully.

sis

noun

Pronunciation spelling of six.

Sisko

name

A surname notably associated with the fictional character Benjamin Sisko from the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

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.

sistership

noun

The role of being someone's sister.

Sistine

adj

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

sistren

noun

(informal) A group of women who belong to the same organisation, such as a sorority.

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.

sitemap

noun

A file listing the addresses of the pages on a website, provided so that search engines can find them all and see when each was last changed.

sith

noun

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

sithe

verb

(archaic) To travel or go on a journey.

sithence

adv

(archaic) After that; from that time onwards.

siting

noun

The process of choosing where to put something.

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.

sitty

noun

(informal) A grandmother, used in Arabic-speaking families.

Situ

name

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

situate

verb

To put something in a particular physical place.

situated

adj

Positioned or located in a particular place.

situation

noun

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

situs

noun

(anatomy, botany) The normal place where a part of the body or of a plant is found.

sitzkrieg

noun

A period of war in which neither side takes any military action; a standstill.

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.

sixer

noun

A hit that sends the ball over the boundary without it bouncing, earning the batting side six runs.

sixpence

noun

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

sixpenny

adj

Costing six old pennies.

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.

sixtieth

adjective

Coming number sixty in a series.

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.

sizhou

name

A subprefecture of Jiangnan, in Qing-era China.

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.

sjambok

noun

A heavy leather whip, traditionally made from the hide of a rhino or hippo.

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."

skainsmate

noun

A close friend or companion someone spends time with.

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.

skein

noun

A loosely wound coil of thread or yarn, gathered together after being taken off a reel.

skelder

verb

(dialect) To trick or cheat someone.

skeletal

adj

Relating to the skeleton or bone structure of a body.

skeleton

noun

The framework of bones supporting a human or animal body.

skell

noun

a homeless person, especially one who sleeps in the New York subway.

skelly

noun

(informal) A skeleton, usually a human one.

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.

sketch comedy

noun

A form of comedy made up of a series of short self-contained scenes, each with its own characters and single comic premise, performed by a troupe rather than built into one continuous story.

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.

skew

verb

To turn or set something at a slant rather than straight.

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.

skewing

noun

The act of setting something at a slant, or pushing it out of balance in one direction.

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.

skidder

noun

Someone who moves along with a sliding, skidding motion.

skidding

noun

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

skidoo

verb

An alternative letter-case form of skidoo: To use a snowmachine.

skier

noun

A person who skis.

skiff

noun

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

skiffle

noun

A style of folk music touched by jazz and blues, played on homemade or makeshift instruments.

skift

noun

Synonym of skiff (“light shower of rain or snow; light dusting of snow or ice (on ground, water, etc)”).

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.

skilfully

adv

A UK standard spelling of skillfully.

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.

skilling

noun

An old Scandinavian coin and unit of currency used until the 19th century.

skim

verb

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

skimmed

adj

Describing milk that has had its cream removed.

skimming

noun

A thin layer taken off the top of something.

skimmington

noun

Someone who mimics their erring husband or wife in a public parade, meant to mock them.

skimp

verb

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

skimpflation

noun

The practice of quietly making a product worse while still charging the same price for it.

skimpy

adj

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

skin

noun

The layer of tissue that covers and protects the body of an animal, including a person.

skinflint

noun

(informal) Someone who is unwilling to spend money, even when they can easily afford to.

skinhead

noun

A person with a shaved or very closely cropped head.

skink

noun

A lizard of the family Scincidae, typically with small or reduced limbs and a long tail that can regrow if lost.

skinned

adj

Having had the skin removed.

skinner

noun

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

skinnie

noun

An alternative letter-case form of skinnie.

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.

skinny dipping

noun

The act of swimming naked, usually outdoors and usually for fun.

skint

adj

Completely out of money; broke.

skinwalker

noun

In some Native American traditions, a person said to be able to turn into an animal by putting on its skin.

skip

verb

To move along lightly with a hop in each step.

skipjack

noun

Any of several kinds of fish that are not closely related to one another.

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 comic performance, usually a few minutes long, with a single joke or situation at its centre — the kind of thing performed at a school assembly, on a variety show or in a social media video.

skitter

verb

To move quickly and lightly, as if scampering.

skittish

adj

Easily frightened or startled; nervous.

skittle

noun

One of the wooden pins knocked down in the game of skittles.

skittles

noun

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

skive

verb

(informal) To dodge lessons or work instead of doing them.

skiving

noun

A thin piece cut or split from leather, especially from its inner, fleshy side.