English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

tepid

adj

Lukewarm — neither warm nor cool.

tequila

noun

A Mexican spirit distilled from the fermented sap of the blue agave plant.

Ter

name

A short form used as a given name or as a prefix in Dutch surnames, meaning "at the" or "of the."

Terence

name

A masculine given name derived from the Roman family name Terentius, borne by the ancient playwright Terence.

Teresa

name

A female given name from Ancient Greek, the Spanish and Italian form of Theresa.

Teri

name

A feminine given name, a variant spelling of Terri, itself a short form of Theresa.

teriyaki

noun

A Japanese cooking method in which meat or fish is grilled or broiled after being coated in a sweet, glossy soy-based marinade.

term

noun

A word or expression, especially one with a specific meaning in a particular field.

terminal

noun

A building where passengers board or leave planes, trains, or ferries.

terminally

adv

In a way that will end in death.

terminate

verb

To bring something to an end.

terminated

adj

Brought to an end; ended or cancelled.

terminating

adj

Coming to an end.

termination

noun

The act of ending something, or the state of having ended.

terminator

noun

A person or thing that ends or destroys something.

terminology

noun

The specialised set of terms used in a particular field or subject.

terminus

noun

The final stop of a transport route, or the station or town where it ends.

termite

noun

A pale, soft-bodied wood-eating insect that lives in large colonies.

terra

noun

Earth, ground, or land, especially as a physical surface (often in set phrases like terra firma).

terrace

noun

A paved outdoor area attached to a house, often used for sitting or dining.

terracotta

noun

A hard, reddish-brown unglazed clay used for pottery, tiles, and building decoration.

terrain

noun

The physical features of a stretch of land, especially how rugged or flat it is.

Terran

adj

Relating to Earth or its inhabitants (chiefly in science fiction).

Terrance

name

A masculine given name, a variant spelling of Terence.

Terrell

name

A masculine given name and surname, derived from an Old French nickname meaning "stubborn."

Terrence

name

A masculine given name, another common spelling variant of Terence.

terrestrial

adj

Relating to the Earth or its land, as opposed to sea, sky, or space.

Terri

name

A feminine given name, commonly a short form of Theresa or Teresa.

terrible

adj

Very bad or unpleasant.

terribly

adv

Very badly or poorly.

terrier

noun

Any of various small, energetic dog breeds originally bred to hunt burrowing animals.

terrific

adj

Excellent; wonderful.

terrified

adj

Extremely frightened.

terrify

verb

To frighten someone severely.

terrifying

adj

Causing intense fear.

territorial

adj

Relating to a particular area of land or territory.

territory

noun

An area or extent of land, especially one under a particular government's control.

terror

noun

Intense fear.

terrorist

noun

A person who uses violence and fear against civilians to pursue political or ideological goals.

terrorize

verb

To frighten someone badly, usually by repeated threats or violence.

terry

noun

A looped cotton fabric used for towels and bathrobes because it soaks up water well.

tesla

noun

The SI unit for measuring the strength of a magnetic field.

Tesoro

name

A surname of Italian and Spanish origin meaning "treasure."

Tess

name

A feminine given name, a short form of Theresa or Tessa.

Tessa

name

A feminine given name, likely derived from Theresa, popularized in part by Thomas Hardy's novel "Tess of the d'Urbervilles."

Tessie

noun

A Tesla (vehicle).

test

noun

A set of questions or tasks used to check someone's knowledge or ability.

testament

noun

A legal document stating how a person wants their property divided after death.

tester

noun

A person whose job is to check that a product or system works correctly.

testicle

noun

Either of the two male reproductive glands that produce sperm and testosterone.

testicular

adj

Relating to the testicles.

testify

verb

To give a formal statement as a witness, usually under oath in court.

testimonial

noun

A written or spoken statement praising someone's character, work, or a product.

testimony

noun

A formal statement given by a witness, especially in court.

testing

noun

The process of checking whether something works correctly or meets a standard.

testosterone

noun

A hormone, produced mainly in the testes, that drives male physical development and sex drive.

testy

adj

Easily irritated or short-tempered.

tet

noun

Short for tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart defect involving four related structural problems in the heart.

tetanus

noun

A serious bacterial infection, often from a dirty wound, that causes severe muscle stiffness and spasms.

tether

noun

A rope or chain that keeps an animal or object within a limited range while still allowing some movement.

tethered

adj

Tied up or restrained with a rope or similar restraint.

tetra

noun

Any of several small, brightly coloured freshwater fish popular in home aquariums.

Tetris

name

A classic puzzle video game where falling blocks made of four squares must be arranged to clear full lines.

Tetsuo

name

A Japanese masculine given name, often written with characters meaning "wise man" or "philosophy."

Tex

noun

A unit of linear mass density used for measuring the thickness of yarn or fibre.

Texan

adj

Relating to Texas or its people.

Texas

name

A large state in the south-central United States, known for its size, oil industry, and distinct cultural identity.

text

noun

Written words, especially the main body of a document, book, or message.

textbook

noun

A book used for formal study of a particular subject, especially in schools or universities.

texted

verb

Past tense of "text" — sent a message via mobile phone.

textile

noun

A type of cloth or fabric made by weaving, knitting, or otherwise interlacing fibres.

textiles

noun

The industry or field of study concerned with making and designing cloth.

texting

noun

The activity of sending written messages between mobile phones.

texture

noun

The way a surface or material feels to the touch, such as smooth, rough, or soft.

Tezuka

name

A Japanese surname, most notably borne by Osamu Tezuka, considered the father of manga.

Thackeray

name

An English surname, borne by the novelist William Makepeace Thackeray, author of "Vanity Fair."

Thad

name

A masculine given name, a short form of Thaddeus.

Thaddeus

name

A masculine given name of uncertain ancient origin, borne by one of the twelve apostles in the New Testament.

Thai

adj

Relating to Thailand, its people, language, or culture.

Thailand

noun

A country in Southeast Asia, formerly known as Siam, with Bangkok as its capital.

Thais

name

A female given name of Ancient Greek origin.

Thakur

noun

A title of nobility historically used for feudal lords in parts of the Indian subcontinent.

thallium

noun

A soft, gray metallic chemical element (symbol Tl, atomic number 81) that tarnishes quickly in air and is highly toxic.

Thames

noun

The major river flowing through southern England, including London, on its way to the North Sea.

than

conj

Used to introduce the second part of a comparison.

thane

noun

A nobleman in Anglo-Saxon and early medieval England, ranking roughly like a baron.

Thang

name

A Vietnamese masculine given name meaning "victory" or "bright."

thank

verb

To express gratitude to someone.

thankful

adj

Feeling or showing gratitude.

thankfully

adv

Fortunately — used to introduce a piece of good news.

thanking

noun

The act of expressing gratitude.

thankless

adj

Not appreciated, despite effort put in.

thanks

intj

Used to express gratitude, informally.

Thanksgiving

noun

A North American holiday for giving thanks, marked with a family feast — the fourth Thursday of November in the US, the second Monday of October in Canada.

Thar

noun

A large desert straddling the border of India and Pakistan.

that

det

Used to point out a specific thing, person, or idea, especially one that is more distant (in space, time, or attention) than something called "this."

thataway

adv

In that direction (informal).

thatcher

noun

A person whose trade is building or repairing thatched (straw or reed) roofs.

thats

pron

Whose; belonging to which (a dialectal or archaic possessive relative pronoun).

thaw

verb

To melt or soften after being frozen, or to cause something frozen to melt.

thawing

noun

The process of something melting or becoming less frozen.

Thayer

name

An English surname, originally denoting someone who lived by a river or road, also used as a given name.

the

article

Used before a noun to show that the listener already knows, or can work out, exactly which thing is meant.

Thea

name

A female given name, often used as a short form of Dorothea or Theodora.

theater

noun

A building where plays, films, or other performances are staged for an audience.

theatrical

adj

Relating to theater or stage performance.

theatrics

noun

Exaggerated, dramatic behavior, often for effect.

Thebes

name

An ancient and modern city in central Greece, once a major political power.

thee

pron

Archaic form of "you," used as the object of a verb or preposition (the object form of "thou").

theft

noun

The crime of stealing something that belongs to someone else.

their

det

Belonging to them.

theirs

pron

The thing or things belonging to them (used without a following noun).

Thelma

name

A female given name that became popular in the 19th and 20th centuries.

them

pron

The objective form of "they" — used for people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition.

theme

noun

The main subject or topic of a talk, book, or piece of art.

themed

adj

Built or decorated around a particular subject or idea.

themself

pron

The reflexive form of "they" used for a single person of unspecified or non-binary gender.

themselves

pron

The reflexive form of "they" used for a group of people or things already mentioned.

then

adv

At that time (in the past or future).

thence

adv

From that place or from that time; from there.

Theo

noun

In gambling, the estimated amount a casino expects a player to lose over time based on their typical betting patterns, used to calculate comps and rewards.

Theodora

noun

A female given name of Greek origin, historically famous as the name of two Byzantine empresses.

Theodore

noun

A male given name, borne by several saints, popes and emperors, ultimately from Greek "gift of god".

theologian

noun

A person who studies or is an expert in theology, the study of religious belief.

theological

adj

Relating to theology or the study of religion.

theology

noun

The systematic study of religious belief, God, or gods.

theorem

noun

A mathematical statement that has been formally proven true.

theoretical

adj

Based on theory or reasoning rather than practical experience or proof.

theoretically

adv

In theory, though not necessarily true in practice.

theorist

noun

A person who develops theories, especially in science, mathematics or the arts.

theory

noun

A set of ideas that explains facts or phenomena and has been supported by evidence.

therapeutic

adj

Having a healing effect on the body or mind.

therapist

noun

A professional who provides treatment for physical, mental or emotional problems.

therapy

noun

Treatment intended to relieve or heal a physical or mental condition.

there

adv

In or at that place.

thereabouts

adv

Near that place, time, or amount; approximately.

thereafter

adv

After that time; from then on.

thereby

adv

By that means; as a result of that.

therefore

adv

As a result; for that reason; consequently.

therein

adv

In that place, document, or matter.

thereof

adv

Of that; belonging to or coming from that thing already mentioned.

theres

contraction

A casual contraction of "there is," used before a singular noun to point out that something exists.

Theresa

name

A feminine given name of Greek origin, possibly linked to the island of Therasia, borne by several Christian saints.

thermal

adj

Relating to heat or temperature.

thermite

noun

A mixture of metal powder and metal oxide that burns extremely hot, used in welding and incendiary devices.

thermodynamics

noun

The branch of physics dealing with heat, energy, and the conversion between them.

thermometer

noun

An instrument used to measure temperature.

thermonuclear

adj

Relating to nuclear reactions, especially fusion, that occur at extremely high temperatures.

thermos

noun

An insulated flask that keeps drinks or food hot or cold.

thermostat

noun

A device that automatically controls temperature by switching heating or cooling systems on or off.