English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

sequential

adj

Following one after another in a fixed order.

sequestered

adj

Kept apart or isolated from others, often deliberately.

ser

noun

A traditional unit of weight used historically in India, roughly equal to a kilogram depending on the region and era.

Sera

name

A female given name derived from Hebrew, related to "Sarah," meaning "lady" or "princess."

seraphim

noun

The highest order of angels in Christian and Jewish tradition, often described as fiery, six-winged beings surrounding God's throne.

Serb

noun

A person of Serbian ethnic descent, whether or not they live in Serbia.

Serbia

name

A country in Southeast Europe on the Balkan Peninsula, with Belgrade as its capital.

Serbian

adj

Relating to Serbia, its people, or its language.

Serena

name

A female given name derived from Latin, meaning "calm" or "serene."

serenade

noun

A romantic song performed for someone, often outside their window in the evening.

serendipity

noun

A pleasant surprise — finding something good without looking for it.

serene

adj

Calm, peaceful, and untroubled.

Serengeti

name

A vast grassland ecosystem in Tanzania and southern Kenya, famous for its huge seasonal migrations of wildebeest and other animals.

serenity

noun

A deep state of calm and peacefulness.

serf

noun

A peasant tied to a piece of land under a feudal lord, obliged to work it but with very limited personal freedoms.

serge

noun

A sturdy, twill-woven wool fabric often used for suits and uniforms.

sergeant

noun

A military rank above corporal and below officer ranks, or an equivalent senior rank in the police.

Sergei

name

A Russian male given name, an anglicised form of Sergéy, ultimately from the Latin name Sergius.

Sergey

name

A Russian male given name, transliterated from Серге́й, ultimately from the Latin name Sergius.

serial

adj

Arranged in, or having to do with, a series or repeated succession.

series

noun

A number of related things that come one after another, or a set of connected events.

serious

adj

Not joking or humorous; solemn in manner.

seriously

adv

In a solemn, earnest, or literal way.

seriousness

noun

The quality of being serious, grave, or important.

Serizawa

name

A surname of Japanese origin.

Serling

name

A surname, most notably borne by writer Rod Serling.

sermon

noun

A talk given during a religious service, usually on a moral or spiritual theme.

Sermons

name

A surname, a variant of Sermon.

serotonin

noun

A brain chemical that helps regulate mood, appetite, and feelings of well-being.

serpent

noun

A snake, especially a large or dangerous one, or a snake-like mythical creature.

serpentine

adj

Winding and twisting like a snake.

Serpico

name

A surname of Italian origin, most notably borne by former police officer Frank Serpico.

serra

noun

A saw, or a part shaped like one.

Serrano

name

A Spanish surname, originally meaning "mountain dweller" or "from the mountains."

serrated

adj

Having a jagged, saw-like edge made up of small pointed teeth.

servant

noun

A person employed to do household or personal work for someone else.

serve

verb

To provide help, food, or a service to someone.

server

noun

A computer or program that provides data or services to other computers over a network.

service

noun

Work done to help or benefit someone, or the act of providing this.

services

noun

A roadside stop offering fuel, food, and rest areas for travellers (chiefly UK usage).

servicing

noun

The act of carrying out maintenance or repairs on something, especially a vehicle or machine.

servile

adj

Excessively willing to obey or please others; behaving like a slave.

serving

noun

An amount of food or drink meant for one person.

servitude

noun

The condition of being forced to work for someone else with little or no freedom, often against one's will.

servo

noun

A small motor or mechanism that controls movement with precision, used in robotics and machines.

sesame

noun

A plant grown for its small, oily seeds, or the seeds themselves, widely used in cooking.

sesh

noun

An informal, shortened way of saying "session" — a period of time spent doing an activity, especially socializing, drinking, or hanging out.

session

noun

A period of time set aside for a particular activity, such as a meeting, class, or performance.

set

verb

To put something in a particular place or position.

setback

noun

A problem or delay that slows down or reverses progress.

Seth

name

A masculine given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "appointed" or "placed."

Sethi

name

An Indian surname common among Punjabi and North Indian families, often associated with merchant communities.

Seti

name

A masculine name associated with ancient Egyptian pharaohs, meaning "man of Seth."

Setsuko

name

A feminine Japanese given name, often interpreted to mean "chastity" or "loyalty child."

settee

noun

A long upholstered seat with a back and arms, meant for more than one person; a sofa.

setter

noun

A breed of long-haired hunting dog trained to freeze and point when it detects game.

setting

noun

The place, time, and circumstances in which something happens, such as a story or event.

settle

verb

To resolve a dispute, disagreement, or debt, often by reaching an agreement.

settled

adj

Comfortable, secure, and at ease, especially after a period of change or difficulty.

settlement

noun

A formal agreement that resolves a dispute, often involving payment.

settler

noun

A person who moves to and establishes a home in a new, often previously unsettled, area.

settling

noun

The act of becoming established, calm, or resolved; the process of settling.

setup

noun

The way something is arranged or organized, or the equipment used for a particular purpose.

Seuss

name

A surname best known from Dr. Seuss, the pen name of American children's author Theodor Geisel.

seven

num

The number 7, one more than six and one less than eight.

sevens

noun

A version of rugby played with seven players per side instead of the usual fifteen.

seventeen

num

The number 17, one more than sixteen and one less than eighteen.

seventeenth

adj

The ordinal number matching seventeen in a sequence (17th).

seventh

adj

The ordinal number matching seven in a sequence (7th).

seventies

noun

The decade from seventy to seventy-nine in a century, such as the 1970s.

seventy

num

The number 70, ten times seven, coming after sixty-nine and before seventy-one.

sever

verb

To cut off or separate something completely, often abruptly.

several

det

More than two or three, but not very many.

severance

noun

The act of ending or cutting off a relationship, connection, or employment.

severe

adjective

Very bad, intense, or extreme.

severed

adjective

Cut off or completely separated.

severely

adverb

In a harsh, extreme, or intense way.

severing

noun

The act of cutting something off or apart.

severity

noun

The quality of being harsh, strict, or extreme.

Severus

name

A masculine given name of Latin origin, meaning "stern" or "severe," historically borne by Roman emperors.

Sevilla

name

The Spanish spelling of Seville, a city in southern Spain.

Seville

name

A city in southern Spain, capital of the region of Andalusia, known for its cathedral and Moorish architecture.

sew

verb

To join or repair fabric by passing thread through it with a needle.

sewage

noun

Waste water and solid waste carried away through sewers for treatment or disposal.

sewed

adjective

Made or joined by sewing.

Sewell

name

An English surname, likely derived from an Old English place name meaning "sea well" or "sea stream."

sewer

noun

An underground pipe or channel that carries away waste water and sewage.

sewing

noun

The activity of joining or repairing fabric with a needle and thread.

sex

noun

The biological category — male or female — based on reproductive roles.

sexism

noun

Prejudice or discrimination based on a person's sex, especially against women.

sexist

adjective

Discriminating unfairly against people based on their sex.

sexless

adjective

Lacking sexual activity or desire.

sexting

noun

Sending sexually explicit text messages or photos by phone.

sexton

noun

A church official who maintains the building and churchyard, and sometimes digs graves or rings bells.

sexual

adjective

Relating to sex, gender, or reproduction.

sexuality

noun

A person's sexual orientation, desires, or identity.

sexually

adverb

In a manner relating to sex or sexual intercourse.

sexy

adjective

Sexually attractive or appealing.

Seychelles

proper noun

An island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the east coast of Africa.

Seymour

name

An English surname and masculine given name, derived from the Norman place name Saint-Maur.

Sgt

noun

Abbreviation for sergeant, used before a name or rank.

sha

noun

The name of the Cyrillic letter Ш, used in Russian and other Slavic alphabets.

shabby

adjective

Worn out or in poor condition from age or neglect.

shack

noun

A small, roughly built hut or cabin.

shackle

verb

To restrain someone with chains or metal restraints.

shackled

adjective

Restrained by chains or metal restraints.

Shackleton

proper noun

A surname, most famously belonging to Ernest Shackleton, the British Antarctic explorer.

shad

noun

A type of herring-like food fish that lives in the sea but spawns in rivers.

shade

noun

An area of relative darkness where direct sunlight is blocked.

shaded

adjective

Protected from direct sunlight.

shades

noun

Sunglasses (informal).

shading

noun

The technique or effect of adding darker tones to a drawing or picture to suggest depth or shadow.

shadow

noun

A dark shape cast on a surface when something blocks light.

shadowed

adjective

Marked with shading, as if partly covered in shadow.

shadowing

noun

The act of secretly following and watching someone, keeping them under close observation.

shadowy

adjective

Dim, dark, or full of shadows.

Shadwell

name

An English surname and place name, referring to a district in East London.

shady

adjective

Sheltered from direct sunlight; full of shade.

Shaeffer

name

A surname of German origin, a variant spelling of Schaefer, meaning "shepherd."

shaft

noun

A long, narrow, straight part of a tool, weapon, or machine — such as a handle, pole, or rotating rod that transmits power.

shafted

adjective

Fitted or equipped with a shaft or handle.

shag

noun

A tangled or shaggy mass of hair or fibres, or a thick, rough carpet pile.

shagged

adjective

Covered in long, rough, or tangled hair or growth.

shagging

noun

The act of having sex (crude slang).

shaggy

adjective

Covered in long, thick, untidy hair or fur.

shah

noun

A historical title for the king or ruler of Persia (modern-day Iran).

Shahid

name

A masculine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "witness" or "martyr."

shaka

noun

A friendly hand gesture — thumb and little finger extended, middle fingers curled in — used to say hello, goodbye, or "all good".

shake

verb

To move something rapidly back and forth or up and down.

shakedown

noun

Extortion — pressuring someone for money through threats or blackmail.

shaken

adjective

Emotionally disturbed or upset, having lost one's composure.

shaker

noun

A small container used to sprinkle a granular substance, such as salt or pepper.

shakes

noun

Uncontrollable trembling, often caused by alcohol withdrawal or fear.

Shakespeare

noun

Used to refer to William Shakespeare, the English playwright and poet, or his body of work.

Shakespearean

adjective

Relating to, or characteristic of, William Shakespeare or his plays.

shakily

adverb

In a trembling or unsteady manner.

shaking

noun

A trembling or vibrating movement.

Shakira

name

A feminine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "grateful" or "thankful," notably borne by the Colombian singer Shakira.

Shakti

noun

In Hindu belief, the divine feminine energy or creative power seen as animating the universe, sometimes personified as a goddess.

Shakuntala

name

A feminine Indian given name, famous as the heroine of an ancient Sanskrit legend and play by Kalidasa.

shaky

adjective

Trembling or unsteady, whether physically or figuratively.

shale

noun

A soft, fine-grained sedimentary rock that splits easily into thin layers.

Shalimar

name

A name associated with famous Mughal gardens in South Asia, also used as a feminine given name and a perfume brand.

shall

verb

Used before a verb, traditionally with "I" or "we", to express simple future tense.

shallow

adjective

Not deep; having little depth of water, thought, or feeling.

shallows

noun

A shallow part of a lake, river, or sea.

shalom

interjection

A traditional Jewish greeting or farewell, meaning peace.

sham

adjective

Fake or intended to deceive; not genuine.

shaman

noun

A person believed to act as a go-between between the human and spirit worlds, often serving as a healer within their community.

Shamar

name

A masculine given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "to guard" or "keeper."