English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

tetrad

noun

A set of four things.

tetradecagon

noun

A polygon with fourteen sides and fourteen angles.

tetrahedron

noun

A solid shape with four faces, in geometry.

tetrahydrocannabinol

noun

The main psychoactive chemical compound found in cannabis, formed by adding hydrogen to cannabinol.

tetraplet

noun

A set of four things, another word for a quartet.

tetrarchy

noun

A system of government in which power is shared by four people.

tetraskelion

noun

A shape made of four arms spreading out from a central point, such as a swastika.

tetration

noun

A mathematical operation formed by repeating exponentiation, in the same way multiplication repeats addition, where a number is raised to a power of itself several times over.

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."

tetty

noun

A pronunciation spelling of tatty (“potato”).

teuton

noun

A member of an ancient Germanic tribe from Jutland, described in early Greek and Roman writings.

teutonic

adj

Relating to the Teutons, an ancient Germanic people.

tewel

noun

A vent, chimney or pipe, especially one that leads to a furnace or a set of bellows.

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.

texian

noun

A person who lives in Texas.

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.

textphone

noun

A phone with a basic keyboard and small screen, made for deaf people to use.

texture

noun

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

textured

adj

Not smooth, with a noticeable surface texture.

Tezuka

name

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

tf

abbreviation

Short for 'the fuck', used in messages and speech to add force or disbelief to a question or exclamation.

tfw

abbreviation

Used online to introduce a described emotion or situation the writer expects others to recognise, typically as a caption on an image or meme.

tgif

abbreviation

An expression of relief and cheer that the working week is over and the weekend is about to begin.

thacker

name

An occupation-derived surname.

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.

thaddaeus

name

One of the Apostles, identified with Jude.

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.

thalamus

noun

One of two egg-shaped areas of grey matter in the brain that pass sensory signals on to the outer brain.

thalia

name

The Muse who presided over comedy and idyllic poetry.

thallate

noun

Any salt derived from a theoretical thallic acid.

thallium

noun

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

thamar

name

A female forename from Hebrew, a less usual spelling of Tamar.

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.

thanatos

name

The god of death (specifically of a peaceful death), and twin brother of Hypnos (god of sleep); the Greek counterpart of Mors.

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.

thank you

interjection

A polite expression used to acknowledge a gift, favour, service or kindness.

thankful

adj

Feeling or showing gratitude.

thankfully

adv

Fortunately — used to introduce a piece of good news.

thankfulness

noun

The state of feeling thankful.

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.

tharm

noun

An intestine or gut.

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).

thatch

noun

Straw or similar plant material used to cover the roof of a building or a haystack.

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).

thaumaturge

noun

Someone who performs miracles or magic.

thaumaturgic

adj

Relating to magic or the performing of miracles.

thaumaturgist

noun

A person who performs miracles or works magic.

thaumaturgy

noun

The practice of performing miracles or magic.

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.

theatre

noun

A building or outdoor space where plays, musicals and other live performances are staged in front of 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.

theca

noun

Any of various outer cases or coverings that enclose something.

thecal

adj

Relating to a theca.

thecate

adj

Possessing a theca, or protective outer covering.

thecium

noun

Another name for the hymenium.

thee

pron

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

theedom

name

A surname of Middle English origin.

theft

noun

The crime of stealing something that belongs to someone else.

theia

name

The name of a Titan, sister-wife to Hyperion.

their

det

Belonging to them.

theirs

pron

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

theism

noun

Belief in the existence of at least one god.

theist

noun

A person who believes that at least one god exists, especially a god who created the world and remains involved in it.

theistic

adj

Relating to belief in one or more gods.

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.

thematic

adj

Connected with a particular subject or topic.

thematisation

noun

The act of turning an experience or feeling into the subject of discussion or exchange.

thematise

verb

To turn a sentence, or part of one, into a theme.

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).

thenar

noun

The flat inner surface of the hand, or the underside of the foot.

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.

theocracy

noun

A system of government in which religious leaders rule in the name of a god, and religious law is the law of the state.

theocratic

adjective

Relating to or characteristic of a theocracy, a system of government ruled by religious authority.

theodolite

noun

A surveyor's instrument that sights a target through a telescope on a stand and measures its angle up and across.

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.

theologist

noun

A person who studies or is an expert in religion and the nature of God.

theology

noun

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

theorbo

noun

A large baroque lute with two necks and a second course of unfretted bass strings for the low register.

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.

theoretician

noun

A person who is highly knowledgeable about the theory behind a particular science or art.

theorise

verb

A non-Oxford British English standard spelling of theorize.

theorist

noun

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

theorize

verb

To work out a theory, especially about a particular subject.

theorizing

noun

The process of working out theories about something.

theory

noun

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

theosophy

noun

Any religious or philosophical doctrine that claims knowledge of God can be reached through mystical insight and spiritual experience.

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.

thereabout

adv

Somewhere close to that place.

thereabouts

adv

Near that place, time, or amount; approximately.

thereafter

adv

After that time; from then on.

therebefore

adv

Earlier than that time.

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.

theremin

noun

An electronic musical instrument played without touching it, where moving the hands near two antennas changes the pitch and volume.

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.

thereupon

adv

On or onto that thing.

therewhile

adv

At that particular time, or at the same time as something else.

thermae

noun

Baths or springs in the Roman style, containing warm or hot water.

thermal

adj

Relating to heat or temperature.

thermal energy

noun

The energy a substance has because of the random motion of the particles inside it, which is what makes it feel hot or cold.

thermal paste

noun

A thick grey or white compound spread in a thin layer between a processor and its cooler, filling the microscopic gaps between the two surfaces so that heat passes into the cooler more readily than it would through the trapped air.

thermic

adj

Relating to heat.

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.