English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

sulfite

noun

A salt formed from sulfurous acid.

sulfonal

noun

A mild sleep-inducing drug made from acetone and ethyl mercaptan.

sulfonamide

noun

Any amide derived from a sulfonic acid, of the form RS(=O)₂NR'₂.

sulfone

noun

A type of organic compound containing a sulfonyl group joined to two carbon atoms, once used to treat leprosy.

sulfur

noun

A pale yellow chemical element known for its strong smell, used in matches, gunpowder, and pest control.

sulfuric

adjective

Relating to sulfur, especially in its higher oxidation state, as in sulfuric acid.

sulk

verb

To show displeasure by going quiet and withdrawn rather than speaking about it.

sulkiness

noun

A sulky mood or manner.

sulking

noun

The act of being sullenly silent or withdrawn out of displeasure.

sulky

adjective

Silent and bad-tempered, especially after being upset about something.

sullen

adjective

Gloomy, silent, and bad-tempered.

sullied

adjective

Made dirty, tainted, or damaged in reputation.

sully

verb

To damage or spoil someone's reputation or something's purity.

Sulphur

name

A place name used for several towns, notably Sulphur, Louisiana and Sulphur, Oklahoma, often near natural sulphur springs.

sultan

noun

A ruler of a Muslim state or empire, especially historically in places like the Ottoman Empire or Brunei.

sultana

noun

A pale, seedless raisin made from a specific type of grape.

sultanate

noun

A state, usually Muslim, whose ruler holds the title of sultan.

sultry

adjective

Hot and humid, with heavy, still air.

sulu

noun

A wraparound skirt-like garment worn by both men and women in Fiji, similar to a sarong.

sum

noun

The total obtained by adding numbers or quantities together.

Suma

name

A feminine given name used in various cultures, and a district of Kobe, Japan.

sumac

noun

Any of various shrubs or small trees of the genus Rhus and some related genera.

suman

noun

A Filipino rice cake made from glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk, typically wrapped in a leaf.

Sumatra

noun

A large island in western Indonesia, one of the biggest islands in the world.

Sumerian

adjective

Relating to Sumer, the ancient civilization of southern Mesopotamia.

sumi

noun

A solid stick of Japanese ink, ground with water and used for calligraphy or painting.

Sumida

name

A Japanese surname and place name, notably a ward and river in Tokyo.

summa

noun

A large, comprehensive work that pulls together everything known on a subject, especially theology or philosophy.

summarily

adv

Done quickly, without following the usual process.

summarize

verb

To reduce a longer piece of writing or speech down to its essential points.

summary

noun

A short version of a longer text that covers only the main points.

summary email

noun

An email that condenses recent news, activity or updates into a single short overview, rather than sending each item separately.

summat

pron

A dialect word for "something," used mainly in northern England.

summate

verb

To add numbers or values together.

summation

noun

A final overview that pulls everything together; a summing-up.

summer

noun

The warmest season of the year, between spring and autumn.

summerhouse

noun

A small garden building where people sit and relax in warm weather.

Summerlee

name

A surname and fictional character name, notably Professor Summerlee in Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Lost World."

summers

adv

During the summer, especially as a repeated habit.

summersault

noun

An archaic spelling of somersault.

summerset

noun

An archaic spelling of somersault.

summertime

noun

The summer season, thought of as a stretch of time.

summing

noun

The act of adding numbers or ideas together to reach a total or conclusion.

summit

noun

The highest point of a mountain or hill.

summon

verb

To officially call people to come together or appear somewhere.

summoning

noun

The act of formally calling someone to appear, or of calling something into being.

summons

noun

A formal order to appear somewhere, especially in court.

Sumner

name

An English surname, historically an occupational name for a summoner, an officer who called people to court.

sumo

noun

A Japanese style of wrestling in which two large wrestlers try to force each other out of a ring or make them touch the ground.

sump

noun

A pit or low point where liquid collects and drains away.

sumptuous

adj

Lavish, luxurious, and clearly expensive.

sumptuousness

noun

The quality of being lavish or luxurious.

sun

noun

The star at the centre of our solar system, which gives Earth light and heat.

sunbae

noun

In Korean culture, someone senior to you — an older classmate, colleague, or more experienced person in your field.

sunbathe

verb

To lie or sit outside deliberately exposing your skin to sunlight, usually to get a tan.

sunbathing

noun

The activity of lying outdoors in the sun, often with minimal clothing, to get a tan.

sunbeam

noun

A single visible ray of sunlight.

sunblind

noun

A blind fitted to give protection from the sun.

sunblock

noun

A cream or lotion, usually with a high protection factor, that shields skin from sunburn.

sunbloom

noun

Another term for the sunflower.

sunburn

noun

Red, sore skin caused by too much time in the sun.

sunburnt

adj

Having skin that has turned red or brown from too much sun.

sunburst

noun

A pattern or design showing rays spreading out from a central point.

sundae

noun

A dessert of ice cream topped with things like syrup, fruit, or nuts.

sundance

noun

A ceremonial dance performed in various Native American traditions, involving song, prayer, and ritual dancing.

sundang

noun

A type of dagger or short machete.

Sundar

name

A surname, notably borne by tech executive Sundar Pichai.

Sunday

noun

The day of the week that follows Saturday, traditionally a day of rest or worship in Christian countries.

Sundays

adv

On Sundays, as a regular habit.

sunder

verb

To split something apart, especially violently or completely.

sunderance

noun

The act of splitting something apart; a separation.

Sunderland

name

A city in North East England, on the coast of Tyne and Wear.

sundial

noun

A device that tells the time by the shadow a rod or plate casts as the sun moves.

sundown

noun

The moment the sun sets; sunset.

sundry

adj

Various and of different kinds; miscellaneous.

sunfish

noun

Any of various small freshwater fishes of the family Centrarchidae, often brightly coloured and flattened from side to side.

sunflower

noun

A tall plant with a large, round flower head of yellow petals around a dark centre, grown for its seeds and oil.

Sung

verb

Past participle of sing.

sunglasses

noun

Glasses with tinted lenses worn to protect the eyes from bright sunlight.

Sunil

name

A masculine given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "dark blue."

Sunita

name

A feminine given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "well-behaved" or "of good conduct."

sunken

adj

Pushed down below the surrounding surface, or dragged underwater.

sunless

adj

Getting no sunlight; dark and shaded.

sunlight

noun

The light that comes from the sun.

sunly

adj

Relating to or typical of the sun.

sunn

noun

A plant grown in India that is used to make a type of fibre.

Sunni

adj

Belonging to the largest branch of Islam, which follows the Qur'an and the Sunnah (the recorded practices of the Prophet Muhammad).

sunnily

adv

In a cheerful, hopeful way.

sunniness

noun

The quality of being sunny.

sunnite

noun

Another term for Sunni, someone who follows the Sunni branch of Islam.

sunny

adj

Bright with sunshine; having clear, sunlit weather.

Sunnyvale

name

A city in California's Silicon Valley, known as a hub for technology companies.

sunporch

noun

A porch built to let in plenty of sunlight.

sunray

noun

A ray of light from the sun.

sunrise

noun

The moment the sun comes up over the horizon in the morning.

sunroof

noun

A panel in a car roof that can be opened to let in air and light.

sunroom

noun

A room in a house designed to let in a lot of sunlight, usually with large glass windows.

Suns

name

A short form used as a nickname or team name, most notably for the Phoenix Suns basketball team.

sunscreen

noun

A lotion or cream applied to the skin to block harmful sun rays and prevent sunburn.

sunset

noun

The moment the sun goes down below the horizon in the evening.

sunshade

noun

Something such as a parasol or awning that gives shade from the sun.

sunshine

noun

Sunlight, especially warm and pleasant daylight.

sunshiny

adj

Bright and full of sunshine.

sunspot

noun

A region on the sun's surface that is cooler than the area around it and has intense magnetic activity.

sunstroke

noun

A serious illness caused by spending too long in strong sun, marked by fever, dizziness, and collapse.

suntan

noun

A darkening of the skin from being in the sun.

sunup

noun

Sunrise; the time the sun comes up.

suomi

name

Finland (a country in Northern Europe).

sup

verb

To eat an evening meal, or to drink something in small sips.

super

adj

Excellent; wonderful; better than average.

superabundance

noun

A very large amount of something, more than seems needed.

superabundant

adj

Present in very large, almost excessive amounts.

superaddition

noun

The act of adding something extra to what is already there.

superannuate

verb

To make someone or something retire because of their age.

superannuated

adj

Out of date; old-fashioned.

superannuation

noun

A retirement savings scheme in which an employer, and often the employee too, pays a regular percentage of wages into a fund that is drawn on after retirement; the money held in such a fund.

superb

adj

Excellent; of the highest quality.

superbly

adv

In an excellent or outstanding way.

superboy

noun

A boy who is remarkably talented or capable, often used loosely or admiringly.

superbrain

noun

A person who is extremely clever; a genius.

supercar

noun

An extremely fast, expensive, and exclusive sports car.

supercenter

noun

A big-box store, particularly one that is larger than the usual size.

supercharge

verb

To boost an engine's power by forcing extra compressed air into it using energy taken from the crankshaft.

supercharged

adj

Fitted with a supercharger, a device that forces extra air into an engine to boost its power.

supercilious

adjective

Behaving as though other people are inferior, in a haughty and dismissive way.

supercilium

noun

A person's eyebrow.

supercomputer

noun

A computer far more powerful than typical machines of its time, used for massive calculations.

superconductor

noun

A material that conducts an electric current with no resistance.

superego

noun

The part of the mind that acts as a self-critical conscience, reflecting the social standards a person has learnt.

supererogatory

adj

Going beyond what is actually necessary.

superfan

noun

Someone who is extremely devoted to a particular person, team or thing.

superfecta

noun

A method of betting in which the bettor, in order to win, must pick the first four finishers of a race in the correct sequence.

superficial

adj

Existing only on the surface, not deep or serious.

superficially

adv

Without looking closely or deeply at something.

superfluity

noun

The state of having far more of something than is needed.

superfluous

adj

More than is needed; unnecessary or excess.

superfluousness

noun

The fact of being more than is needed.

superflux

noun

A very large or excessive amount of something.

supergirl

noun

A girl or young woman who achieves remarkable success or shows exceptional talent.

superglue

noun

A very strong, fast-setting adhesive, usually cyanoacrylate.

supergrass

noun

An informant who supplies the police with large amounts of information about criminal or terrorist activity.

superheated

adj

Heated to a temperature above the normal boiling point without turning to vapour.

superhero

noun

A fictional character with extraordinary powers who fights crime or evil.

superhighway

noun

A large road built for fast-moving traffic.

superhuman

adj

Beyond ordinary human ability or strength.

superimpose

verb

To put one thing on top of another so that both can still be seen.

superimposed

adj

Placed on top of something else, often as one of several layers.

superintend

verb

To be in charge of and watch over other people's work.

superintendence

noun

The act of overseeing and managing something.

superintendent

noun

A person who supervises or manages an organisation, department, or building.