English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

shambles

noun

A scene of complete disorder, mess, or chaos.

shambo

noun

A style of Namibian music made by the Ovambo people, blending traditional rhythms with reggae influence.

shame

noun

A painful feeling of embarrassment or guilt caused by awareness of having done something wrong or improper.

shamed

adjective

Made to feel ashamed or publicly disgraced.

shameful

adj

Deserving of shame or disgrace; disgraceful.

shamefully

adv

In a way that deserves shame or disgrace.

shameless

adj

Feeling or showing no shame or embarrassment, even when it would be expected.

shamelessly

adv

Without any shame or embarrassment; brazenly.

shaming

noun

The act of publicly criticising or humiliating someone to make them feel ashamed.

shampoo

noun

A liquid soap-like product made for washing hair.

shamrock

noun

A small clover leaf with three leaflets, widely used as a symbol of Ireland.

shamus

noun

Informal American slang for a private detective.

shan

noun

A member of an ethnic group of around six million people living mainly in Myanmar's Shan State, with communities also in China, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Shana

name

A female given name, an anglicized form of the Welsh name Siân.

Shane

name

A given name, traditionally male, of Irish origin.

shang

noun

A traditional Chinese unit of land area, roughly equal to one hectare.

shanghai

verb

To trick or force someone into doing something, or going somewhere, against their will.

Shania

name

A female given name, popularized by the country singer Shania Twain.

shank

noun

The lower leg, between the knee and the ankle, in people or animals.

Shankar

name

A male given name of Sanskrit origin, common in India, meaning roughly "one who brings happiness."

shanked

adj

Fitted with or having a shank.

Shanks

name

A surname, most often of English or Scottish origin.

Shannon

name

The longest river in Ireland, flowing into the Atlantic Ocean, and the town and airport near its mouth.

shanti

noun

Peace or inner tranquility, as understood in Hindu and Buddhist thought.

shanty

noun

A small, roughly built hut or shack, often makeshift.

Shanxi

name

A province in northern China, whose capital is Taiyuan.

Shao

name

A Chinese surname.

Shaolin

name

A group of Chinese martial arts traditions linked to the Shaolin Monastery.

shape

noun

The outline or form of something, defined by its outer edges or surface.

shaped

adj

Formed into a particular shape.

shapeless

adj

Lacking a clear or defined shape.

shapely

adj

Having an attractive, well-proportioned shape or figure.

shapeshifter

noun

A being (real or fictional) able to change its physical form at will.

shaping

noun

The process of giving something form, direction, or structure.

Shapiro

name

A surname of Yiddish origin, tracing back to the German city of Speyer.

Shaq

name

A short form of the given name Shaquille.

Shaquille

name

A male given name, popular in the United States, styled after an Arabic word meaning "handsome."

shard

noun

A sharp broken piece of glass, pottery, or similar brittle material.

shards

noun

Plural of shard: broken sharp-edged fragments.

share

noun

A portion of something that is divided among people.

shared

adj

Used, owned, or experienced by more than one person.

shareholder

noun

A person or organisation that owns shares in a company.

Shari

noun

Vinegared rice used to make sushi.

sharia

noun

Islamic religious law, derived from the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, covering both religious duties and everyday conduct.

sharif

noun

A traditional Arab title given to someone entrusted with protecting a tribe and its interests.

sharing

noun

The act of letting others use or enjoy something along with you.

shark

noun

A large predatory fish with a skeleton made of cartilage rather than bone, known for its rows of sharp teeth.

Sharkey

name

A surname of Irish origin.

sharky

adj

Resembling a shark in look or behaviour.

Sharma

name

A surname common among Hindi and Telugu speakers in India.

Sharman

name

An English surname.

Sharon

name

A female given name derived from a biblical place name in Israel — a fertile coastal plain.

Sharona

name

A female given name, a variant of Sharon.

sharp

adj

Having a fine edge or point that can cut or pierce easily.

Sharpe

name

An English surname, an older spelling of Sharp.

sharpen

verb

To make something sharp or sharper.

sharpened

adj

Given a fine point or edge.

sharpener

noun

A tool or device used to make something sharp, such as a pencil sharpener or knife sharpener.

sharpening

noun

The process of making something sharp.

sharper

noun

A swindler or professional cheat, especially in gambling.

Sharpie

noun

A permanent marker pen, especially one made by the Sharpie brand, commonly used for labelling or signing.

sharply

adv

Suddenly and abruptly.

sharpness

noun

The quality of having a fine edge or point.

sharpshooter

noun

A person highly skilled at shooting accurately, especially with a rifle.

Shashi

name

A male given name of Sanskrit origin, used in India, associated with the moon.

Shasta

name

A brand of soda popular in the United States.

shastri

noun

A teacher or scholar of traditional Hindu scriptures (shastras).

shat

noun

A pine needle — an old, now-rare regional word.

Shatner

name

A surname of English origin, best known from actor William Shatner.

shatter

verb

To break suddenly and violently into many pieces.

shattered

adj

Broken violently into many pieces.

shattering

adj

Deeply upsetting or devastating.

Shaun

name

A given name, traditionally male, of Irish origin — a spelling variant of Sean.

Shauna

name

A female given name, a feminine form of Shaun.

shave

verb

To cut hair close to the skin using a razor or similar tool.

shaved

adj

Having had hair cut very close to the skin, or having been sliced thinly.

shaven

adj

Having been shaved, especially of the face or head.

shaver

noun

A tool, especially an electric razor, used to remove hair.

shaving

noun

A thin strip or curl of material removed by cutting or shaving.

shaw

noun

(dialectal, British) A small wood or thicket.

shawl

noun

A piece of fabric worn over the shoulders, neck, or head, especially by women.

Shawna

name

A female given name, a variant spelling of Shauna.

Shawnee

noun

A member of a Native American people originally from the Ohio Valley region.

Shawshank

verb

(slang) To escape from confinement, especially through patient, secretive effort over a long time.

shay

noun

An old-fashioned light horse-drawn carriage.

Shayne

name

A male given name of Irish origin.

Shaz

name

An informal short form of the female names Sharon or Shazia.

shazam

interjection

Said to announce that a magic trick or sudden transformation has just happened.

Shazia

name

A female given name of Arabic origin, meaning something rare or precious.

she

pronoun

Used to refer to a female person or animal already mentioned.

Shea

noun

A West African tree whose seeds produce a rich, fatty butter used in cooking and cosmetics.

shear

verb

To cut the wool off a sheep or similar animal.

shearing

noun

The process of clipping wool from a sheep, or the wool collected this way.

shears

noun

A large scissor-like cutting tool with two pivoting blades, used for tasks like trimming hedges or cutting sheet metal.

sheath

noun

A close-fitting cover that protects a blade, such as a sword or knife.

Sheba

name

An ancient kingdom mentioned in the Bible and Quran, famous for its wealthy queen.

shebang

noun

Informal: the whole thing; every part of a situation or undertaking (usually "the whole shebang").

shed

noun

A small, simple structure used for storage or shelter, usually in a garden or yard.

shedding

noun

The process of losing hair, skin, leaves, or similar material naturally.

Sheehan

name

A surname of Irish origin.

Sheela

name

A female given name of South Asian origin.

sheen

noun

A soft shine or gloss on a surface.

Sheena

name

A female given name of Scottish Gaelic origin.

sheep

noun

A woolly grazing animal kept for its meat, wool, or milk.

sheepdog

noun

A dog trained to herd or guard sheep.

sheepskin

noun

The hide of a sheep, especially tanned with the wool left on, used for clothing, rugs, or bookbinding.

sheer

adjective

Thin enough to see through.

sheesh

interjection

Used to express disbelief, frustration, or mild exasperation.

sheet

noun

A large piece of thin cloth used to cover a mattress or bed.

Sheetal

name

A female given name of South Asian origin.

sheets

noun

Plural of sheet; also used for a great quantity of rain falling heavily.

sheik

noun

A leader of an Arab family, village, or tribe.

Sheikh

noun

Alternative spelling of sheik: a respected Arab leader, elder, or Islamic scholar.

sheila

noun

Australian and New Zealand slang for a woman.

Shek

name

A surname of Cantonese origin.

Shel

name

A short form of the male given name Sheldon.

Sheldon

name

A male given name and surname of English origin.

shelf

noun

A flat board fixed to a wall or cabinet, used for holding or displaying objects.

Shelia

name

A female given name, a variant spelling of Sheila.

shell

noun

The hard outer covering of certain animals, such as snails, crabs, and turtles, or of eggs and nuts.

shelled

adjective

Having had the outer shell removed.

Shelley

name

The English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 to 1822), known for works like "Ozymandias."

shellfish

noun

An aquatic animal with a shell, such as a crab, mussel, or oyster, especially one eaten as food.

shelling

noun

A sustained attack using artillery.

Shells

name

A surname.

Shelly

adj

Made up of the shells of dead sea creatures.

shelter

noun

A place, or structure, that protects you from bad weather, danger, or attack.

sheltered

adj

Protected from bad weather or harsh conditions.

sheltering

noun

A structure that people can shelter beneath; a covered shelter.

Shelton

name

An English surname and given name, also the name of several towns in England and the United States.

shelved

adj

Fitted with shelves.

shen

noun

In Chinese folk religion, a spirit or deity.

Shenandoah

name

A river and valley in Virginia, also the name of several towns across the United States.

sheng

noun

A traditional Chinese wind instrument made of bamboo pipes of different lengths set into a small wind chest, played by blowing or drawing breath through a mouthpiece.

Shenzhen

noun

A major city in southeastern China, just north of Hong Kong, known for its rapid growth as a tech and manufacturing hub.

Shep

noun

A shortened, informal form of the name Shepherd or Sheppard.

Shephard

name

An English surname, a variant spelling of Shepherd.

shepherd

noun

A person whose job is to look after a flock of sheep.

shepherdess

noun

A woman who tends sheep.

Sheppard

name

An English surname, a variant of Shepherd, originally an occupational name for one who tends sheep.

Sher

name

A surname and given name found in South Asian and Jewish traditions, in Persian and Urdu meaning "lion."

Sheraton

noun

A late 18th-century English furniture style, named after designer Thomas Sheraton, known for slim tapered legs, fine fluting, and inlaid veneer decoration.

sherbet

noun

A frozen dessert of fruit juice or puree with a small amount of dairy added, milder and creamier than a sorbet.

Shere

name

A surname and place name, notably Shere, a village in Surrey, England.

Sheri

name

A feminine given name, a variant spelling of Sherry or Cheri.

Sheridan

name

An Irish surname and given name, from the Gaelic meaning "seeker" or "searcher."

Sherif

name

A masculine given name and surname of Arabic origin, meaning "noble" or "honorable."

sheriff

noun

An elected or appointed official responsible for law enforcement and running the county jail in a US county.

Sherlock

noun

A detective, or (often sarcastic) a term for someone who has just pointed out something obvious.

sherm

noun

Slang for the drug PCP (phencyclidine), or a cigarette dipped in it.