English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

salter

noun

Someone whose trade is making, selling, or applying salt.

Salts

name

An English surname, likely an occupational name for someone who produced or traded salt.

saltwater

adj

Consisting of or living in water that contains salt, such as the sea, as opposed to fresh water.

salty

adj

Tasting of or containing salt.

Salud

name

A feminine given name of Spanish origin, meaning "health" or "salvation."

salutation

noun

A greeting, or the opening words of a letter or message.

salutations

intj

A formal or playful way of saying hello.

salute

noun

A formal gesture of greeting or respect, such as raising a hand to the forehead.

saluting

noun

The act of giving a formal salute.

salvage

noun

The rescue of a ship, its cargo, or other property from damage or loss, or the property recovered this way.

salvation

noun

The act of saving someone or something from danger, loss, or harm; deliverance.

Salvatore

name

A masculine given name of Italian origin, meaning "savior."

salve

noun

A soothing or healing ointment applied to the skin.

salvo

noun

A number of guns fired together or in quick succession, or a burst of applause, criticism, or argument delivered all at once.

Salzburg

name

A city in Austria known as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Sam

verb

(dialectal) To gather or bring together; to assemble.

Sama

name

A surname and given name found across several cultures, including as a respectful Japanese honorific.

Samantha

name

A feminine given name, possibly a blend of Samuel and Anthea, meaning "listener" or "told by God."

Samar

name

A given name of Arabic origin, meaning "evening conversation," and also an island province in the Philippines.

samara

noun

A dry, winged fruit that does not split open, found on trees such as the ash, elm, and maple.

Samaritan

noun

A kind person who helps someone in trouble, especially a stranger (from the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan).

Samaritans

noun

A charity helpline that offers confidential emotional support to people in distress, including those considering suicide.

samba

noun

A lively Brazilian ballroom dance, or the style of dancing it.

sambar

noun

A large deer native to South and Southeast Asia.

same

adj

Identical; not different from another thing or from itself at an earlier point.

Sameer

name

A masculine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "companion in evening talk," a variant of Samir.

Sameera

name

A feminine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "companion in conversation."

Sami

noun

A member of the indigenous people of the far north of Scandinavia and Russia, traditionally associated with reindeer herding.

Samira

name

A feminine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "companion in evening talk."

Sammi

name

A feminine given name, a diminutive of Samantha or Samuel.

Sammie

noun

Informal word for a sandwich.

Sammy

noun

Informal name for a Samoyed dog.

Samoa

name

An island nation in the South Pacific, made up of the western Samoan islands, with its capital at Apia.

Samoan

noun

A person from Samoa, or someone of Samoan descent.

samovar

noun

A decorative metal urn, traditionally Russian, used to heat water for tea and keep it hot for hours.

sample

noun

A small portion of something given or shown to represent the whole.

sampler

noun

A piece of decorative needlework stitched to show off different patterns or skills, often framed as a keepsake.

sampling

noun

The process of selecting a smaller group from a larger population to study or measure.

Sampson

name

A surname and given name, a variant of Samson, of Hebrew origin meaning "sun" or "man of the sun."

Samson

name

A masculine given name of Hebrew origin, known from the biblical judge famed for his great strength.

Samuel

name

A masculine given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God has heard," known from the biblical prophet.

Samuels

name

An English surname meaning "son of Samuel."

samurai

noun

A member of the warrior class in feudal Japan who served and fought for a local lord (daimyo), bound by a strict code of loyalty and honor.

san

noun

Informal short form of sanatorium.

Sana

name

A feminine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "brilliance" or "splendor."

sanatorium

noun

A medical institution for treating long-term illnesses, historically tuberculosis, where patients rest and recover under supervision.

Sanchez

name

A Spanish surname meaning "son of Sancho."

Sancho

name

A masculine given name of Spanish origin, possibly derived from the Latin "sanctus," meaning holy.

sanctified

adj

Made holy or set apart for a sacred purpose.

sanctify

verb

To make something holy or set it apart for religious use.

sanctimonious

adj

Acting as though one is morally superior to others, especially in a smug or hypocritical way.

sanction

noun

Official approval or permission for an action.

sanctity

noun

The quality of being holy or sacred.

sanctuary

noun

A place of safety or refuge from danger or persecution.

sanctum

noun

A private or sacred place that others rarely enter.

sand

noun

Loose grains of rock, finer than gravel but coarser than silt, found on beaches and in deserts.

sandal

noun

An open shoe held onto the foot with straps, leaving the toes or much of the foot exposed.

sandalwood

noun

A tropical tree valued for its fragrant, fine-grained heartwood.

sandbag

noun

A sturdy bag filled with sand, used to build barriers against flooding or as protection from bullets and debris.

sandbox

noun

A shallow box filled with sand for children to play in.

sander

noun

A power tool used to smooth surfaces, especially wood, with an abrasive.

sanders

noun

Another name for red sandalwood.

Sanderson

name

An English surname meaning "son of Sander," a form of Alexander.

Sandhu

name

A surname common among Punjabi Jat and Sikh families in India and Pakistan.

Sandhya

noun

The daily morning or evening prayer ritual in Hindu practice, often performed at twilight.

Sandi

name

A feminine given name, a diminutive of Sandra or Alexandra.

sanding

noun

The act of smoothing a surface with sandpaper or a similar abrasive.

Sandler

name

A surname of German and Jewish origin, an occupational name for a sandal maker.

sandman

noun

A folklore character who sprinkles magic sand in children's eyes to bring sleep and dreams.

Sandor

name

A masculine given name, the Hungarian form of Alexander.

sandpaper

noun

Paper coated with an abrasive grit, used for smoothing or polishing surfaces.

Sandra

name

A feminine given name, a short form of Alexandra, meaning "defender of the people."

Sands

name

An English surname, likely originating from a place name referring to sandy ground.

sandstone

noun

A sedimentary rock formed from compressed and cemented grains of sand.

sandstorm

noun

A powerful wind that whips up thick clouds of sand and dust.

Sandstrom

name

A Swedish surname meaning "sand stream," combining words for sand and stream.

Sandusky

name

A place name and surname, notably a city in Ohio, derived from a Native American Wyandot word.

sandwich

noun

Food made by putting a filling between two slices of bread.

sandy

adj

Covered in, containing, or made up of sand.

sane

adj

Having a healthy, rational mind; not mentally disturbed.

Sanford

name

An English surname and given name meaning "sandy ford."

sang

noun

Ginseng, especially as harvested from the wild in the Appalachian region.

sangria

noun

A chilled Spanish drink made from wine mixed with fruit, juice, and sometimes soda or brandy.

Sanitarium

name

A brand name for a breakfast cereal company, and historically a term for a health resort or hospital for the chronically ill.

sanitary

adj

Relating to health and the prevention of disease, especially through cleanliness.

sanitation

noun

Systems and practices for safely disposing of waste and keeping an area clean and healthy.

sanity

noun

The state of having a healthy, rational mind.

Sanjana

name

A feminine given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "giving birth" or "creator."

Sanjay

name

A masculine given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "victorious" or "triumphant."

Sanju

name

A masculine given name, a diminutive form of Sanjay or Sanjeev.

Sanna

noun

A soft, spongy steamed cake made from fermented rice batter, popular in parts of India.

Sano

name

A Japanese surname, and also found as a given name in Spanish-speaking regions.

sans

prep

Without, especially something expected or usually present.

Sanskrit

noun

An ancient Indo-European language of South Asia, the classical and liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

Sant

name

An English, French, Italian, Jewish, or Indian surname of varied origin.

Santa

noun

An instance of someone dressed up as Santa.

Santana

name

A surname of Spanish origin.

Santi

name

A male or female given name of Latin origin.

Santillana

name

A surname, often of Spanish origin.

Santini

name

A surname of Italian origin.

Santino

name

A male given name.

santo

noun

A carved wooden or ivory statue depicting a saint, angel, or other holy figure, traditional in Spain and its former colonies.

Santorini

name

A volcanic island in the Cyclades group in Greece, famous for its whitewashed clifftop villages and sunsets.

Santos

name

A port city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Santosh

name

A male given name of Sanskrit origin, popular in India, meaning contentment or satisfaction.

Santy

name

An informal, childlike nickname for Santa Claus.

Sanya

name

A female given name used in Russian- and Arabic-speaking cultures.

Sao

name

A sea nymph from Greek mythology, and the name given to one of the small moons of Neptune.

sap

noun

The watery fluid that circulates through a plant, carrying nutrients.

Saperstein

name

A surname of Ashkenazi Jewish origin.

sapiens

noun

A human being, as in the species name Homo sapiens.

sapling

noun

A young tree, past the seedling stage but still slender and immature.

Sapna

name

A female given name used in India, from a Hindi word meaning "dream."

sapphire

noun

A precious gemstone, typically deep blue, formed from the mineral corundum.

Sapporo

name

The capital city of Hokkaido, Japan, known for its snow festival and namesake beer.

sappy

adj

Overly sentimental or emotional, in a way that feels exaggerated or corny.

Sar

name

A surname of Khmer origin, common among Cambodians.

Sara

name

A female given name, a variant spelling of Sarah.

Saracen

noun

A historical term for a Muslim, particularly one who fought against the Crusaders in medieval Europe.

Sarah

name

In the Bible, the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac.

Sarajevo

name

The capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, situated along the Miljacka river.

saran

noun

A flexible plastic film used mainly for wrapping food.

Sarasota

name

A coastal city in Florida, and the county seat of Sarasota County.

Saratoga

name

A town in Saratoga County, New York, known for its mineral springs and racecourse.

sarcasm

noun

A sharp, mocking way of speaking where the speaker means the opposite of what they say, usually to criticize or belittle.

sarcastic

adj

Marked by sarcasm; mocking through statements that mean the opposite of what they literally say.

sarcastically

adv

In a mocking way, saying something while clearly meaning the opposite.

sarcophagus

noun

A stone coffin, often elaborately carved or inscribed, used especially in ancient burial customs.

Sardar

name

A title of Persian origin historically given to military commanders and political leaders across South and Central Asia.

sardine

noun

A small, oily fish, often canned in oil, related to the herring family.

sardines

noun

A children's hide-and-seek game where everyone who finds the hider squeezes into the same hiding spot.

Sardinia

name

A large Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea, west of the mainland.

sarge

noun

An informal, shortened way of addressing a sergeant.

Sargent

name

A surname derived from the medieval occupational title "sergeant."

sari

noun

A traditional South Asian women's garment made from a single long piece of fabric, wrapped around the body and draped over one shoulder.

sarin

noun

A highly toxic nerve agent developed as a chemical weapon.

Sarita

name

A female given name of Sanskrit origin, used in India, meaning "flowing" or "river."

Sark

name

One of the Channel Islands, a small self-governing British Crown dependency between England and France.

sarkar

noun

In South Asian usage, a term for "the government" or "the state."

Saro

noun

A member of a Creole community in 19th-century Sierra Leone, made up of freed slaves resettled in Freetown.

Saroyan

name

A surname of Armenian origin.

sarsaparilla

noun

A tropical vine with fragrant roots, traditionally used to flavour drinks and folk remedies.

Sas

name

A Central and Eastern European surname, originally from a coat of arms.

Sasaki

name

A surname of Japanese origin.

sash

noun

A decorative band of cloth worn around the waist or over one shoulder, often as part of formal dress or a uniform.

Sasha

name

A male or female given name of Russian or Ukrainian origin, traditionally a diminutive of Alexander or Alexandra.

sashay

verb

To walk in a confident, showy, or swaggering way.

sashimi

noun

A Japanese dish of thinly sliced raw fish or seafood, usually served without rice.

Saskatchewan

name

A prairie province in western Canada, whose capital is Regina.

sasquatch

noun

A large, hairy, ape-like creature said to roam the forests of the Pacific Northwest; also called Bigfoot.