English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

selfie

noun

A photograph someone takes of themselves, typically with a phone held at arm's length.

selfish

adj

Caring mainly about one's own wants and needs, with little concern for other people.

selfishly

adv

In a way that shows concern only for oneself, without regard for others.

selfishness

noun

The trait of putting one's own interests ahead of other people's.

selfless

adj

Putting other people's needs before one's own, with little regard for personal gain.

selflessly

adv

In a way that puts others' needs ahead of one's own.

selflessness

noun

The quality of caring more about others' needs than one's own.

selflike

adj

Precisely alike; matching closely.

Selfridge

name

A surname, most notably borne by retail entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge.

selfsome

adj

Belonging to, or typical of, one's own self.

selfy

adj

(philosophy) Connected with how a person consciously experiences their own identity.

Selim

name

A surname of Arabic origin, mostly found in Egypt.

Selina

name

A female given name of Latin origin, first recorded in England in the 17th century.

sell

verb

To hand over goods or services to someone in exchange for money.

selldown

noun

(finance) A large sale of shares that pushes their price down noticeably.

Selleck

name

A surname, most notably borne by actor Tom Selleck.

seller

noun

A person or business that sells goods or services.

Sellers

name

A surname of English origin, most notably borne by actor Peter Sellers.

selling

noun

The act or business of persuading people to buy something.

sellout

noun

Someone who abandons their principles for money or personal advantage.

Sells

name

A surname of English origin.

sellsword

noun

A soldier who fights for payment rather than loyalty.

selly

adj

(archaic) Unusual, delightful and worthy of admiration.

Selma

noun

A term used to describe a violent crackdown by authorities on peaceful civil rights protesters, evoking the 1965 Bloody Sunday attack on marchers in Selma, Alabama.

selsyn

noun

A synchro whose output current directly powers a receiving synchro, making it turn in step with the transmitting one.

Seltzer

noun

Carbonated water, plain or flavored, often drunk on its own or used to mix with juice or alcohol.

Sema

noun

A person from a Naga people who speak Sümi.

semantic

adjective

Relating to meaning in language, or to the meaning of words and sentences rather than their form.

semantics

noun

The branch of linguistics concerned with meaning in language.

semasiology

noun

(linguistics) The study of word meaning, kept separate from how a word is pronounced.

sematic

adj

(biology) Serving as a warning signal, especially to predators.

sematology

noun

(dated) The study of signs, especially words, in how people think, reason and communicate.

semblance

noun

An outward appearance of something, especially one that may not match the reality underneath.

semblant

noun

The way someone looks to others on the outside.

semble

verb

(archaic) To copy something, or make a likeness of it.

seme

noun

(semiotics) Something that stands in for another thing by representing or symbolising it.

sememe

noun

(linguistics) The smallest unit of meaning, such as the meaning carried by a single morpheme.

semen

noun

The fluid produced by male reproductive organs that carries sperm.

semester

noun

Half of an academic year, typically lasting around six months.

semi

noun

A semi-detached house, sharing one wall with a neighbouring house.

semicolon

noun

The punctuation mark (;) used to link closely related clauses, or to separate list items that already contain commas.

semiconductor

noun

A substance whose electrical conductivity lies between that of a good conductor and a good insulator.

semifinal

noun

A match or round played to decide who reaches the final of a competition.

seminal

adj

Highly influential and providing the basis for later work or ideas.

seminar

noun

A small class or meeting where a topic is discussed in depth, often led by an expert.

seminary

noun

A college that trains people to become priests, ministers, or rabbis.

semiosis

noun

(semiotics) Any process that involves signs, including how meaning is created.

semiotic

adj

Connected with the study of signs, or with meaning in language.

semiotics

noun

The academic study of signs and symbols, particularly when used for language or communication.

semipellucid

adj

Letting light through only partly, so not fully see-through.

semiregular

adj

Fairly regular; happening now and then.

semis

noun

A small bronze coin used in ancient Rome, worth half of an as.

semisub

noun

A semisubmersible.

semisubmarine

noun

A surface vessel that remains on the surface but has an enclosed passenger or accommodation space located below the waterline, fitted with windows for viewing the underwater environment.

Semitic

adjective

Belonging to a family of related languages of the Middle East and North Africa that includes Arabic, Hebrew, Amharic, Aramaic and ancient Akkadian and Phoenician.

semitransparent

adj

Letting some light or view through, but cloudy or unclear in places.

semivowel

noun

A speech sound that behaves partly like a consonant and partly like a vowel.

semolina

noun

Semolina is the coarse, gritty particles left partway through grinding wheat into flour, usually from durum wheat, and used to make pasta, couscous and sweet dishes.

sempiternal

adj

Lasting forever; without end.

sempiternally

adv

In a way that never ends; eternally.

sempiternity

noun

(philosophy) Existing continuously into the future without end, as opposed to being wholly outside time.

semple

adjective

Archaic or dialectal for plain, ordinary, or of humble birth.

sempstress

noun

A woman whose job is sewing; a seamstress.

semtex

noun

A plastic explosive that can be molded by hand and is stable enough to be shaped without detonating.

Semyon

name

A male given name, the Russian form of Simon or Simeon.

sen

noun

A small unit of currency in several Asian countries, worth one hundredth of the main unit — for example, one hundredth of a Japanese yen, an Indonesian rupiah, or a Malaysian ringgit.

Sena

name

A language spoken in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.

senate

noun

The upper chamber in certain two-house legislatures.

senator

noun

A member of a senate, usually an elected legislator.

senatorial

adj

Connected with a senator.

senatrix

noun

A woman who is a member of a senate.

senatus

noun

A governing council at certain universities.

send

verb

To cause something or someone to go from one place to another.

send-up

noun

A comic imitation of a person, programme or style that exaggerates its most recognisable features in order to make fun of it.

Sendai

name

The capital city of Miyagi Prefecture in northern Honshu, Japan.

sender

noun

A person who sends something, such as a letter, package, or message.

sending

noun

The act of causing something to be delivered or transmitted.

Seneca

name

A Roman cognomen, most famously that of Lucius Annaeus Seneca, a Stoic philosopher, playwright and statesman of ancient Rome.

Senegal

name

A country in West Africa, officially the Republic of Senegal.

senesce

verb

To become older, reaching full growth.

senescence

noun

The process of growing old, especially in people; old age.

senescent

adj

Growing old, or breaking down as time goes by.

seneschal

noun

A steward, especially, in the past, one who ran a medieval lord's household.

senex

noun

An old man, especially as a familiar character type in stories.

Seng

name

A surname.

senga

name

The name of a female forename that began as a made-up word, used mainly in Scotland.

sengi

noun

A small, insect-eating, long-nosed mammal native to Africa, belonging to the family Macroscelididae.

senhor

noun

A polite Portuguese title of address for a man, equivalent to "sir" or "Mr."

senile

adj

Showing mental decline associated with old age, such as memory loss or confusion.

senility

noun

The mental and physical decline that can come with old age.

senior

adj

Higher in rank, age, or status.

seniority

noun

The length of time someone has been part of an organization compared to others, often used to decide who gets certain privileges or promotions first.

senna

noun

A plant whose leaves and pods are used to make a strong natural laxative.

sennight

noun

Another word for a week, a stretch of seven days and nights.

senniment

noun

A pronunciation spelling of sentiment.

señorita

noun

A Spanish title and form of address for a young or unmarried woman, equivalent to Miss.

senpai

noun

In Japanese culture, a more senior or experienced person in a school, workplace, or art form, who acts as a kind of mentor to those below them.

sens

name

The name of a commune in the French region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, in Yonne department, formerly part of Burgundy.

sensate

adj

Detected by at least one of the senses.

sensation

noun

A physical feeling produced by something affecting the body or senses.

sensational

adj

Extremely impressive or exciting.

sensatory

adj

To do with sensation or perception.

sense

noun

One of the physical faculties — sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch — through which the body perceives the world.

sensed

adj

Having a certain number or type of senses.

senseful

adj

Full of meaning; making sense.

sensei

noun

A martial arts instructor, especially in a Japanese discipline.

senseless

adj

Unconscious; unable to feel anything.

senselessness

noun

The condition of being senseless.

sensely

adj

Relating to, or taken in by, the senses; sensory.

sensibilities

noun

A person's feelings, especially the delicate or easily-hurt ones.

sensibility

noun

Emotional sensitivity, especially regarding artistic, aesthetic, or moral matters.

sensible

adj

Showing good, practical judgment.

sensibly

adv

In a way that shows good, practical judgment.

sensing

noun

The act or process of detecting or perceiving something, especially by a device or organism.

sensitive

adj

Easily affected, upset, or hurt by things.

sensitiveness

noun

The degree to which something or someone is sensitive.

sensitivity

noun

The quality of being easily affected or upset.

sensor

noun

A device that detects a physical change or signal and responds or reports on it.

sensorial

adj

Relating to the senses or to sensation.

sensorimotor

adj

Involving both the senses and bodily movement.

sensory

adj

Relating to the physical senses or to sensation.

sensual

adj

Relating to physical, especially erotic, pleasure and the senses.

sensualism

noun

A strong focus on, or love of, physical and sensual pleasure.

sensuality

noun

The quality of being sensual; enjoyment of physical and sensory pleasure.

sensualness

noun

The quality of being sensual.

sensuous

adj

Pleasing or appealing to the senses.

sent

verb

Past tense and past participle of send.

sentence

noun

A group of words that forms a complete grammatical statement, usually with a subject and a verb.

sentencing

noun

The stage of a criminal case in which a judge decides and announces the punishment.

sententious

adj

Expressed briefly, using few words.

sentience

noun

The ability to feel, sense or be conscious of things.

sentient

adj

Able to perceive, feel, or experience things consciously.

sentiment

noun

An opinion, attitude, or general feeling about something.

sentimental

adj

Relating to or triggering tender emotions, especially nostalgia or affection.

sentimentality

noun

An excessive or self-indulgent display of tender emotion.

sentinel

noun

A person or animal that stands guard or keeps watch.

sentry

noun

A soldier or guard posted to watch over an entrance or area.

Seo

name

A surname of Korean origin.

Seong

name

A surname of Korean origin.

Seoul

name

The capital city of South Korea, and the historical capital of Korea from 1394 until 1945.

sep

name

A different capitalisation of Sep, standing for September.

sepal

noun

One of the separate parts making up the calyx, especially when these parts are not joined into one structure.

separate

verb

To divide something into parts, or to keep things or people apart from each other.

separated

adj

No longer joined or connected.

separately

adv

Apart from one another; not together.

separating

noun

The act of dividing or dividing from.

separation

noun

The act or state of two or more things or people being kept or held apart.

separation of church and state

noun phrase

The principle that government and organised religion should operate independently: the state neither establishes nor funds a religion nor interferes in worship, and religious bodies hold no formal governing power.

separation of powers

noun

The constitutional principle that the legislative, executive and judicial functions of government should be held by separate bodies, so that no one branch can control the state on its own.

separationist

noun

Someone who supports separatism.