English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

streak

noun

A thin line or smear, often left by dirt, color, or motion.

streaking

noun

The act of running naked in public, usually as a stunt or dare.

stream

noun

A small natural flow of water, smaller than a river.

streaming

noun

Watching or listening to audio or video sent continuously over the internet, rather than downloaded first.

streamline

verb

To make a process simpler and more efficient by removing unnecessary steps.

streamlined

adj

Shaped to move smoothly through air or water with little resistance.

Streep

name

A surname of Dutch origin, most famously borne by actress Meryl Streep.

street

noun

A public road in a town or city, usually lined with buildings.

streetcar

noun

A passenger vehicle that runs on rails set into city streets, also called a tram or trolley.

streetlight

noun

A tall outdoor lamp that lights up a public street or area at night.

Streets

name

An English surname, likely denoting someone who lived on or near a paved road.

Streisand

verb

To try to hide or suppress information online, only to draw far more attention to it than it would have gotten otherwise.

strength

noun

Physical power; the capacity to exert force or bear weight.

strengthen

verb

To make something stronger, more solid, or more effective.

strengthening

noun

The process of becoming, or making something, stronger.

strenuous

adj

Requiring a great deal of physical or mental effort.

stress

noun

A feeling of mental or emotional strain caused by pressure or difficult circumstances.

stressed

adj

Feeling mental or emotional strain.

stressful

adj

Causing worry or strain; mentally or emotionally demanding.

stretch

verb

To pull or extend something so it becomes longer or tighter.

stretcher

noun

A flat frame used to carry an injured or sick person.

stretching

noun

Exercise that gently extends a muscle to its full length to improve flexibility.

stretchy

adj

Able to stretch easily; elastic.

strewn

adj

Scattered untidily across a surface.

stricken

adj

Badly affected by something harmful, such as illness, grief, or disaster.

Strickland

name

An English surname and place name meaning "land of the strickle," referring to a stream or landscape feature.

strict

adj

Demanding that rules be followed exactly, with little tolerance for exceptions.

strictly

adverb

In a strict, exact, or rule-following manner.

stride

verb

To walk with long, confident steps.

strides

noun

Informal term for trousers.

strife

noun

Bitter conflict or struggle, sometimes violent.

strigoi

noun

In Balkan and Romanian folklore, a troubled spirit or vampire-like being said to rise from the grave.

strike

verb

To hit someone or something, often forcefully.

striker

noun

In football (soccer), an attacking player positioned to score goals.

striking

adjective

Very noticeable or impressive; making a strong visual or mental impression.

strikingly

adverb

In a way that is very noticeable or impressive.

string

noun

A thin cord or length of twisted thread, or a similar thin, flexible strand.

stringent

adjective

Very strict, precise, and demanding; allowing little flexibility.

stringer

noun

A freelance journalist who reports on events for a news organization without being a full-time staff member.

stringing

noun

The act of putting something on a string, or fitting an instrument or racket with strings.

strings

noun

The stringed instruments of an orchestra, considered as a group.

stringy

adjective

Made of, or resembling, thin string-like strands; tough and fibrous, especially of food.

strip

noun

A long, narrow piece of material or land.

stripe

noun

A long, narrow band of color that contrasts with the surrounding surface.

striped

adjective

Marked or decorated with stripes.

stripped

adjective

Having had an outer layer, covering, or contents removed; laid bare.

stripping

noun

The act of removing an outer layer, covering, or clothing.

striptease

noun

A performance in which someone slowly removes their clothing in an erotic way, usually to music.

strive

verb

To make a great and sustained effort to achieve something.

striving

noun

Sustained effort made toward achieving a goal.

strobe

noun

A light that flashes on and off rapidly and repeatedly.

Strode

name

An English surname, originally denoting someone who lived near a marshy area crossed by a path.

stroganoff

noun

A dish of sautéed strips of beef served in a creamy sauce, typically with sour cream.

Stroh

name

A German surname meaning "straw."

stroke

noun

A sudden loss of blood flow to part of the brain, which can cause lasting damage or death.

stroked

adjective

Of an engine, fitted with a modified crankshaft that gives the pistons a longer stroke.

stroking

noun

The act of moving a hand or object gently across a surface.

stroll

noun

A slow, relaxed walk taken for pleasure.

stroller

noun

A wheeled chair used to push a baby or young child around; a pushchair.

strolling

noun

The act of walking slowly and leisurely.

strong

adjective

Physically powerful; capable of exerting or withstanding great force.

stronghold

noun

A fortified place built to resist attack.

strongly

adverb

In a powerful, forceful, or intense manner.

strongman

noun

A person, especially a performer, known for feats of physical strength.

stroud

noun

A coarse woolen cloth historically used for blankets and clothing, especially in trade with Native Americans.

Struck

name

A German surname.

structural

adjective

Relating to the structure, framework, or underlying arrangement of something.

structurally

adverb

In terms of how something is built or organized, rather than in appearance or content.

structure

noun

A building or other physical construction made of connected parts.

structured

adjective

Arranged in an organized, planned way rather than left loose or random.

strudel

noun

A pastry made of thin rolled layers of dough wrapped around a sweet filling, often apple.

struggle

verb

To make a strong, difficult effort to do, achieve, or overcome something.

struggling

adjective

Having a hard time succeeding or coping, especially financially or emotionally.

strum

verb

To play a stringed instrument by brushing the fingers or a pick across several strings at once.

strumming

noun

The action of playing a stringed instrument by sweeping across several strings.

strumpet

noun

An old-fashioned, disparaging term for a promiscuous woman or prostitute.

strut

verb

To walk in a proud, stiff, confident way, often with the head held high.

strutting

noun

The act of walking proudly and confidently, often showing off.

strychnine

noun

A highly poisonous, bitter crystalline compound extracted from certain plant seeds, historically used to kill rodents.

Stryker

noun

A heavily padded wheeled hospital gurney, often with distinctive coloured legs.

Stu

noun

A shortened, familiar form of the given name Stuart.

stub

noun

A short remaining piece of something after the main part has been used, cut, or removed.

stubbed

adjective

Short and blunt, as if cut off short.

stubble

noun

Short, rough hair growing on a man’s face after not shaving for a day or two.

stubborn

adjective

Refusing to change one’s mind, position, or behaviour despite pressure or good reason to.

stubbornly

adverb

In a way that shows refusal to change one’s mind or give in.

stubbornness

noun

The quality of being unwilling to change one’s mind or give in.

Stubbs

name

An English surname, most famously borne by 18th-century painter George Stubbs, known for his depictions of horses.

stubby

adjective

Short and thick.

stuck

adjective

Unable to move or be moved; fixed in place.

Stuckey

name

A surname of English origin.

stud

noun

A male animal, especially a horse, kept specifically for breeding.

studded

adjective

Decorated or covered with small studs or embedded objects.

Studebaker

name

A former American automobile manufacturer.

student

noun

A person who is enrolled in and attends a school, college, or university.

studied

adjective

Deliberately and carefully done rather than natural or spontaneous.

studies

noun

An organized field or programme of academic learning.

studio

noun

A room or building where an artist, photographer, or designer works.

studious

adjective

Devoted to studying and learning; diligent about schoolwork.

studs

noun

Small metal or rubber protrusions on the sole of a shoe or boot to improve grip.

study

verb

To spend time learning about a subject, often in preparation for an exam or qualification.

studying

noun

The activity of learning material, especially in preparation for an assessment.

stuff

noun

Miscellaneous items, belongings, or unspecified material.

stuffed

adjective

Filled tightly, especially with a food filling.

stuffing

noun

A seasoned mixture used to fill poultry, vegetables, or other foods before cooking.

stuffy

adjective

Lacking fresh air; poorly ventilated and uncomfortably warm.

stumble

verb

To trip or lose one’s balance while walking.

stumbling

noun

The act of tripping, faltering, or moving unsteadily.

stump

noun

The part of a tree, plant, or limb left behind after the rest has been cut off.

stumped

adj

Confused and unable to find an answer or solution.

stumps

noun

In cricket, the end of a day's play, marked by the umpires pulling out the wicket posts.

stumpy

adj

Short and thick, as if cut off; stubby.

stun

verb

To knock someone senseless or make them lose awareness, often with a blow or shock.

stunned

adj

Dazed, shocked, or momentarily unable to react.

stunner

noun

Someone or something remarkably beautiful, impressive, or shocking.

stunning

adj

Extremely beautiful or impressive.

stunningly

adv

To an amazing or shockingly impressive degree.

stunt

noun

A dangerous or spectacular feat performed for entertainment, often in film.

stunted

adj

Prevented from growing or developing fully; smaller than normal as a result.

stuntman

noun

A person who performs dangerous physical stunts in films or television in place of the main actor.

stupendous

adj

Astonishingly large, impressive, or great.

stupid

adj

Lacking intelligence or common sense.

stupidity

noun

The quality of being unintelligent or unwise.

stupidly

adv

In a foolish or unwise manner.

stupor

noun

A state of near-unconsciousness or greatly reduced alertness and responsiveness.

sturdy

adj

Strongly built and unlikely to break or give way.

sturgeon

noun

A large freshwater or migratory fish prized for its roe, which is processed into caviar.

Sturgis

name

An English surname and place name; also a town in South Dakota famous for its annual motorcycle rally.

Sturm

name

A German surname meaning "storm."

stutter

verb

To speak with involuntary repetitions or pauses on certain sounds.

stuttering

noun

A speech disorder involving involuntary repetitions, prolongations, or blocks in the flow of speech.

Stuttgart

name

The capital city of the German state of Baden-Württemberg, known as a major center of the automobile industry.

Stuyvesant

name

A Dutch surname, most notably that of Peter Stuyvesant, the last Dutch director-general of New Netherland.

sty

noun

A pen where pigs are kept.

style

noun

A distinctive way of writing, speaking, dressing, or doing something.

styled

adj

Arranged or designed in a particular fashion.

Styles

name

An English surname, also a common given name in some regions; notably borne by singer Harry Styles.

styling

noun

The way something is designed or arranged to give it a particular look.

stylish

adj

Fashionable and elegant in appearance or manner.

stylist

noun

A person who cuts, colors, or arranges hair professionally.

styrofoam

noun

A lightweight rigid foam plastic used for insulation, packaging, and disposable cups.

Styx

name

In Greek mythology, the river separating the world of the living from the underworld; also the name of an American rock band.

Su

name

A Chinese surname and a short given name used in various cultures.

Suarez

name

A Spanish surname, most famously borne by footballer Luis Suarez.

suave

adj

Charming, smooth-mannered, and confident, sometimes in a way that feels a little too polished to be trusted.

sub

noun

A submarine (informal shortening).

Subaru

name

A Japanese car manufacturer, whose name refers to a star cluster known in the West as the Pleiades.

subatomic

adj

Smaller than an atom, or relating to the particles — like protons, neutrons, and electrons — that make up an atom.

subbing

noun

The stage of editing where a piece of writing is checked and polished before publication, often called copy editing.

subclavian

adj

Located beneath the collarbone, especially describing the artery or vein supplying blood to the arm and shoulder area.