English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

spoof

noun

A humorous imitation that pokes fun at something, especially a film, show, or genre.

spook

noun

A ghost or supernatural apparition.

spooked

adj

Startled, frightened, or made nervous, often suddenly.

spooky

adj

Eerie or unsettling, in a way that suggests ghosts or the supernatural.

spool

noun

A cylinder that thread, wire, film, or cable is wound around.

spoon

noun

A utensil with a small shallow bowl on a handle, used for eating, stirring, or serving.

spooner

noun

Someone who spoons — cuddles closely with a partner, nested front-to-back.

spoonful

noun

The amount that a spoon can hold.

spooning

noun

The act of lying close together, front-to-back, in a nested cuddling position.

spoons

noun

A simple card game, often played by children, where players try to grab a spoon from the table.

sporadic

adj

Happening occasionally and irregularly, with no clear pattern.

spore

noun

A tiny reproductive cell released by fungi, algae, or certain plants, capable of growing into a new organism.

Spores

name

A surname, likely a variant or occupational derivative, distinct from the biological term "spore."

spork

noun

A utensil combining a spoon and a fork, with a shallow bowl and forked tines.

sport

noun

A physical activity involving skill and competition, played under a set of rules.

sporting

adj

Relating to sports.

sports

noun

Plural of "sport" — physical competitive activities collectively.

sportscaster

noun

A broadcaster who reports on or commentates sports events, usually on TV or radio.

sportsman

noun

A man who takes part in sports, especially as an athlete.

sportsmanship

noun

Fair, gracious, and respectful behavior in competition, win or lose.

sporty

adj

Enjoying or good at sports.

spot

noun

A small mark or patch of a different color or texture on a surface.

spotless

adj

Completely clean, with no marks or dirt at all.

spotlight

noun

A powerful, directed beam of light used to illuminate a specific person or area, especially on a stage.

spotted

adj

Marked with spots.

spotter

noun

Someone who watches for and identifies something, often as a lookout or assistant.

spotting

noun

The act of noticing or catching sight of something.

spotty

adjective

Uneven or unreliable in quality; good in some parts and poor in others.

spousal

adjective

Relating to marriage or to a husband or wife.

spouse

noun

A husband or wife; the person someone is married to.

spout

noun

A narrow tube or opening that liquid pours out of.

spouting

noun

(chiefly British/NZ/Australian) Guttering fixed under a roof’s edge to carry away rainwater.

Sprague

name

An English surname, and the name of several places in the United States.

sprain

verb

To injure a joint or ligament by twisting it too far without dislocating it.

Sprang

name

A surname of German or English origin.

Spratt

name

An English surname, and a well-known brand of pet food.

sprawl

verb

To sit or lie with the arms and legs spread out carelessly.

sprawling

adjective

Spread out over a large, often irregular area.

spray

noun

A fine mist of liquid released into the air.

sprayed

adjective

Coated with a mist or fine layer of liquid.

spraying

noun

The act of releasing a liquid in a fine mist over something.

spread

verb

To open something out so it covers a wider area.

spreader

noun

A tool used to apply or distribute a substance evenly, such as butter or fertilizer.

spreading

noun

The act of something becoming more widely distributed or known.

spreadsheet

noun

A computer program, or file created with one, that organizes data into rows and columns for calculation and analysis.

spree

noun

A short burst of unrestrained activity, especially spending or indulgence.

spring

noun

The season between winter and summer, when plants begin to grow again.

springboard

noun

A flexible board used to launch a diver or gymnast into the air.

Springer

noun

A springer spaniel, a medium-sized hunting dog breed known for flushing game from cover.

Springfield

name

A common American place name, borne by the capital of Illinois and many other towns, and the fictional setting of "The Simpsons."

springing

verb

Moving suddenly and quickly upward or forward, as if propelled by a spring.

Springs

noun

Plural of "spring": either coiled metal parts that store and release tension, or natural sources of water flowing from the ground.

Springsteen

name

A surname of Dutch origin, notably borne by the American musician Bruce Springsteen.

springtime

noun

The season of spring, falling between winter and summer.

sprinkle

verb

To scatter small drops or particles of something over a surface.

sprinkler

noun

A device that sprays water over a lawn or garden.

sprinkles

noun

Small pieces of candy or sugar scattered over desserts as decoration.

sprinkling

noun

A small, thinly scattered amount of something.

sprint

noun

A short race or burst of running at full speed.

sprinter

noun

An athlete who specializes in short, fast races.

sprinting

noun

The activity of running at full speed over a short distance.

sprints

noun

Short, fast bursts of running or effort at maximum speed; also plural of "sprint," a short race run at full speed.

sprite

noun

A small supernatural being, such as an elf or fairy, in folklore.

spritz

noun

A quick, light spray of a liquid.

spritzer

noun

A chilled drink made from wine mixed with soda water.

sprocket

noun

A toothed wheel that meshes with a chain or perforated belt to drive it.

sprout

verb

To begin growing, as a seed or plant does.

sprouted

adj

Having grown shoots; germinated.

sprouting

noun

The process of a seed or plant beginning to grow.

spruce

noun

An evergreen conifer tree of the genus Picea, or its wood.

sprung

adj

Fitted with springs, or cushioned by them.

spry

adj

Quick, nimble, and full of energy, especially for one's age.

spud

noun

Informal word for a potato.

Spuds

noun

Informal plural of spud, meaning potatoes.

spunk

noun

Courage, spirit, or determination.

spunky

adj

Spirited, plucky, and full of courage.

spur

noun

A spiked device worn on a rider's boot heel to urge a horse forward.

spurious

adj

False or not genuine, despite appearing real.

spurn

verb

To reject something or someone with contempt or disdain.

spurred

adj

Wearing spurs.

Spurs

noun

Plural of spur, the spiked riding devices worn on boot heels.

spurt

verb

To gush out suddenly in a jet or stream.

sputnik

noun

Any of the early Soviet artificial satellites, especially the first one launched in 1957.

sputtering

noun

A series of short, irregular popping or spitting noises.

spy

noun

A person who secretly gathers information about others, often for a government or rival organization.

spyder

noun

An open-topped sports car; a stylized spelling of "spider" used for roadsters.

spying

noun

The act of secretly watching or gathering information; espionage.

spyware

noun

Software that secretly monitors a computer user's activity and sends the information elsewhere.

SQ

abbreviation

A common abbreviation for "square," used in measurements such as square feet or square meters.

squab

noun

A young, unfledged pigeon or dove, especially one raised for food.

squabble

noun

A minor, petty argument.

squabbling

noun

Petty arguing or bickering.

squad

noun

A small organized group, especially of soldiers, police, or athletes.

squadron

noun

A military unit, especially in the air force or navy, made up of several smaller groups.

squalid

adj

Extremely dirty, neglected, and unpleasant, especially describing living conditions.

squall

noun

A sudden, brief, and violent storm, often with strong winds and rain or snow.

squalor

noun

A filthy, degraded state, especially caused by poverty or neglect.

squander

verb

To waste money, time, or an opportunity carelessly.

squandering

noun

The act of wasting something valuable, such as money or a chance.

square

noun

A four-sided shape with equal sides and right angles.

squared

adj

Marked with a grid of squares.

squarely

adv

Directly and firmly, without ambiguity.

squash

noun

A racquet sport played in a walled court with a small rubber ball.

squashed

adj

Crushed flat or into a pulp.

squashing

noun

The act of crushing something flat.

squat

adj

Short and thick-set; low and broad rather than tall.

squatter

noun

Someone who lives in a building or on land without owning it or having permission.

squatting

noun

The posture of crouching low with bent knees.

squaw

noun

An old term for a woman or wife, historically used especially for Native American women; now widely considered offensive.

squawk

noun

A short, harsh cry, especially one made by a bird or a person in alarm.

squawking

noun

The harsh cry made when something squawks.

squeak

noun

A short, high-pitched sound, like that made by a mouse or an unoiled hinge.

squeaking

noun

A repeated high-pitched sound.

squeaky

adj

Making, or prone to making, a high-pitched squeak.

squeal

noun

A loud, high-pitched cry or sound.

squealer

noun

Someone or something that squeals.

squealing

noun

A loud, high-pitched cry or sound; the act of squealing.

squeamish

adj

Easily disturbed, nauseated, or made uneasy, especially by unpleasant sights.

squeeze

verb

To press something firmly from two or more sides.

squeezing

noun

The act of pressing something tightly.

squelch

verb

To suppress or put a stop to something firmly, often suddenly.

squelching

noun

A wet, sucking sound, or the act of firmly stopping something.

squid

noun

A soft-bodied sea creature with eight arms and two longer tentacles, related to octopuses and cuttlefish.

squiggly

adj

Wavy and irregular rather than straight.

squint

verb

To look with eyes partly closed, often because of bright light or to focus better.

squinting

noun

The act of narrowing the eyes.

squire

noun

Historically, a young nobleman who served and assisted a knight.

Squires

name

An English surname, an occupational name for one who served as a squire to a knight.

squirm

verb

To twist and wriggle the body, like a worm or snake.

squirming

noun

Wriggling, twisting movement.

squirrel

noun

A small rodent, often with a bushy tail, that typically lives in trees and eats nuts and seeds.

squirrelly

adj

Nervous, jumpy, or erratic in behaviour.

squirt

verb

To force liquid out in a quick, thin stream.

squirting

noun

The act of forcing out liquid in a thin stream.

squish

verb

To squeeze or crush something soft, often making a soft sound.

squishy

adj

Soft and giving easily when pressed.

ssh

intj

Used to tell someone to be quiet.

sss

intj

Used to represent a hissing sound, such as that made by a snake.

st

intj

Used to call for silence.

stab

verb

To pierce or wound someone or something with a pointed weapon such as a knife.

stabbing

noun

An incident in which someone is stabbed with a weapon.

stability

noun

The state of being steady, firmly established, and resistant to sudden change.

stabilize

verb

To make something steady or stop it from changing or getting worse.

stabilizer

noun

Something added to a product to keep it from changing or breaking down, such as a food or fuel additive.

stable

noun

A building where horses or other animals are kept and cared for.

stabler

noun

Someone who runs or works at a stable, looking after horses.

Stace

name

An informal short form of the name Stacey.

Stacey

name

A given name, originally masculine but now more commonly feminine, derived from Eustace.

stache

noun

A casual, shortened word for a moustache.

Staci

name

A feminine given name, an alternate spelling of Stacey.