English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

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.

sandpit

noun

A hollow in the ground where sand is dug out.

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.

sanely

adv

In a sensible, rational way.

saneness

noun

Another word for sanity, though sanity is the term used more often.

Sanford

name

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

sang

noun

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

sangaree

noun

A West Indian mixed drink resembling sangria, usually made with wine or a fortified wine, and spices.

sanger

name

A surname that originated as an occupation.

sango

noun

A simple wooden bridge found in India.

sangria

noun

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

sanguinary

adj

Involving a lot of violence and killing.

sanguine

adj

Deep red in colour, like blood.

sanguinity

noun

The state of being sanguine.

sanies

noun

A thin, watery discharge of pus and blood serum that oozes from a wound.

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.

sanitization

noun

The process of sanitising something.

sanitize

verb

To clean something thoroughly so that it is free of germs.

sanitized

adj

Cleaned and made free from germs.

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

A person who has put on a costume to look like Santa Claus.

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.

santorum

noun

(vulgar) A frothy mix of lubricant and faeces sometimes produced by anal sex.

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.

saphead

noun

(informal) A foolish or stupid person.

sapid

name

The name of a barangay in Mankayan, Benguet, Philippines.

sapidity

noun

The quality of having a pleasant, noticeable flavour.

sapidless

adj

Having no taste; flavourless.

sapien

noun

A human being, a member of the species Homo sapiens.

sapiens

noun

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

sapient

adj

Showing good judgement and wisdom; wise and knowledgeable.

sapiosexual

adjective

Finding intelligence the most sexually attractive quality in another person, above looks or status.

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."

saponaceous

adj

Like soap in texture or feel; soapy.

sapor

noun

A particular taste, such as sweetness or sourness, or more generally, flavour.

sapper

noun

A sapper is a military engineer who works in a combat zone, building or destroying fortifications, bridges and roads.

sapphic

adj

Connected with the ancient Greek poet Sappho of Lesbos or her poems.

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.

sapwood

noun

Sapwood is the paler, younger wood found just beneath the bark of a tree's stem or branch, distinct from the darker heartwood at its core.

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.

saracenic

adj

Connected with or belonging to the Saracens.

Sarah

name

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

sarai

name

The name of either of two cities that acted as capital of the Golden Horde.

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.

sarcoid

adj

Connected with the disease sarcoidosis.

sarcoma

noun

A cancerous tumour that starts in the body's connective or supporting tissues, such as bone, muscle or fat.

sarcophagan

noun

A fly belonging to the genus Sarcophaga.

sarcophagous

adj

Eating flesh; meat-eating.

sarcophagus

noun

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

sarcophagy

noun

The eating of flesh as food.

sard

noun

A reddish-brown or orange-brown type of carnelian stone.

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.

sardinian

name

A Romance language spoken in Sardinia, a region of Italy.

sardonic

adjective

Scornfully mocking or cynical.

sare

adj

Dried up and shrivelled.

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."

sarma

noun

A small parcel of minced meat and other fillings wrapped in a vine or cabbage leaf.

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.

sarpanch

noun

The elected leader of a village council (panchayat) in Bangladesh, India or Pakistan.

sarsaparilla

noun

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

sarsen

noun

A large block of sandstone found in parts of southern England.

sarsenet

noun

A fine, soft silk fabric, plainly woven, now mainly used to line clothes.

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.

sass

noun

Bold or disrespectful talk; cheek.

Sassenach

noun

An English person, as spoken of by a Scot; used anywhere from teasing to genuinely hostile depending on tone.

sassy

adj

Bold, cheeky, or full of spirited attitude, especially toward someone in authority.

sat

noun

How saturated something is, especially how much oxygen is in someone's blood.

Satan

noun

In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the chief evil spirit who opposes God and tempts people to sin; the Devil.

satanic

adj

Another way of spelling Satanic, meaning connected with or resembling Satan.

Satanist

noun

A follower of Satanism — either someone who worships Satan, or someone who follows a philosophy (such as LaVeyan Satanism) that uses Satan as a symbol of individualism rather than a literal deity.

Satch

name

A nickname for the given name Satchel.

satchel

noun

A bag, often with one or two shoulder straps, used for carrying books or other belongings.

sate

verb

To satisfy a desire or appetite fully.

sated

adj

Completely satisfied, especially having had more than enough food, drink, or pleasure.

sateen

noun

A cotton fabric with a glossy front and a matt back, made with the same weave used for satin.

satellite

noun

A man-made object placed in orbit around Earth or another body, used for communication, navigation, or observation.

satiate

verb

To fill to satisfaction; to satisfy.

satiated

adj

Full and pleasantly satisfied, especially after eating.

satiation

noun

The state of being completely full or satisfied.

satiety

noun

The feeling of being completely satisfied, especially after eating enough.

satin

noun

A smooth fabric, woven from silk or a similar fiber, that has a glossy front and a dull back.

satiny

adj

Smooth and shiny, like the fabric satin.

satire

noun

A form of writing, art, or performance that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize people, institutions, or society.

satirical

adj

Using satire; mocking or criticizing something through humor, irony, or exaggeration.

satirise

verb

A Commonwealth standard spelling of satirize.

satirize

verb

To use humour or exaggeration to criticise someone or something.

satisfaction

noun

A feeling of contentment or fulfillment that comes from getting what you need or want.

satisfactorily

adv

Well enough to meet what is needed or expected.