English dictionary — definitions & meanings

wane

verb

To gradually become weaker, smaller, or less intense.

waned

adj

Having wanes, i.e. rounded corners caused by lack of wood, often showing bark.

wang

noun

Vulgar slang for the penis.

wangle

verb

To obtain through deceitful or manipulative methods.

waning

adj

Becoming gradually weaker, smaller, or less influential.

wank

verb

(vulgar, British) To masturbate.

wanker

noun

(vulgar, British, slang) A contemptible or annoying person; an idiot.

wanna

contraction

An informal spoken contraction of "want to."

wannabe

noun

Someone who aspires to be something, often without the talent or qualifications to match.

wanse

verb

To wane; waste, waste away; pine; wither.

want

verb

To wish for or desire something.

wanted

adj

Desired or sought after.

wanting

adj

Lacking or falling short of what is needed or expected.

wantok

noun

A close comrade; a person with whom one has a strong social bond, usually based on a shared language.

wanton

adj

Deliberately careless or cruel, showing no regard for consequences or morality.

wantonly

adv

In a recklessly careless or malicious manner.

wantwit

noun

A person wanting or lacking wit or sense; a fool.

WAP

noun

A vulgar slang term for a woman's vagina when sexually aroused and well lubricated; an initialism of "wet-ass pussy", popularised by a 2020 hit song of that name.

wapentake

noun

An administrative subdivision in northern English counties, developed under Norse influence, and corresponding to hundreds in the rest of England.

wappened

adj

Deflowered; not a virgin.

war

noun

Large-scale armed conflict between countries, groups, or factions.

warble

verb

To sing with a trilling, melodious quality, especially like a bird.

warbler

noun

Any of various small songbirds known for their trilling calls.

warbling

noun

The act or sound of singing with a trilling, melodious quality.

warcraft

noun

The skill, strategy, and knowledge involved in planning and conducting warfare.

ward

noun

A section of a hospital where patients with similar needs are cared for.

warden

noun

The chief administrative officer in charge of a prison.

warder

noun

(chiefly British) A prison guard.

wardrobe

noun

A tall cupboard or free-standing closet used for hanging and storing clothes, usually kept in a bedroom.

wardroom

noun

The mess or common living area on a ship reserved for commissioned officers below the rank of captain.

ware

noun

Goods made for sale, especially pottery, metalware, or similar manufactured items (often used in the plural, "wares").

warehouse

noun

A large building used for storing goods, especially before they are distributed to shops or customers.

warehousing

noun

The act of storing goods in a warehouse.

wares

noun

Items or services offered for sale, especially by an individual trader or small seller.

warfare

noun

The act of fighting a war, or armed conflict between opposing forces.

Warfield

name

An English surname and place name, from Old English words meaning "weir field".

warhead

noun

The explosive or destructive section at the front of a missile, torpedo, or similar weapon.

warhol

noun

An informal unit representing fifteen minutes of fame or public attention.

warhorse

noun

Any horse used in horse-cavalry, but especially one bearing an armoured knight.

wariness

noun

vigilance or the condition of being alert

Waring

name

An English surname, also the name of the Waring brand of kitchen blenders founded by Fred Waring.

wark

name

A village and civil parish in mid Northumberland, England, otherwise known as Wark on Tyne (OS grid ref NY8677).

Warleggan

name

A surname and place name from Cornwall, England, popularized as a family name in the "Poldark" novels and TV series.

warlike

adj

Eager for or inclined toward war; aggressive and hostile.

warlock

noun

A man who practises magic; often treated as the male counterpart of a witch.

warlord

noun

A powerful military commander who controls an area through armed force, typically where central government authority is weak or absent.

warm

adj

Having a moderately high, usually pleasant, temperature.

warmed

adj

Raised in temperature; made warm.

warmer

noun

A device or item that provides gentle heat, such as a food warmer or hand warmer.

warmheartedness

noun

the quality of being warmhearted

warming

noun

A gradual increase in temperature.

warmly

adv

In a way that keeps or feels warm.

warmness

noun

the state of being warm; warmth

warmth

noun

A moderate, pleasant degree of heat.

warn

verb

To alert someone to a danger, problem, or something unpleasant that may happen.

Warner

noun

A person or thing that gives a warning.

warning

noun

A statement, sign, or signal alerting someone to a danger, problem, or possible consequence.

warp

noun

A twist or distortion out of the normal or original shape.

warpath

noun

A state of anger or aggression directed at achieving conflict or confrontation.

warped

adj

Bent or twisted out of the original, correct shape.

warping

noun

An action or motion that warps or twists.

warplane

noun

An aircraft designed for combat.

warrant

noun

An official document issued by a court or authority giving legal permission for an action, such as an arrest or search.

warranted

adj

Justified, appropriate, or reasonable given the circumstances.

warranter

noun

One who warrants, gives authority, or legally empowers.

warrantless

adj

Of a search, arrest, etc. executed without a warrant.

warrantor

noun

One making a warrant to the benefit of a warrantee.

warranty

noun

A written guarantee, usually provided with a purchase, promising repair or replacement if the product turns out to be faulty within a set period.

warren

noun

A network of interconnecting burrows where rabbits live.

Warrick

name

A masculine given name and surname, a variant spelling of Warwick.

warrigal

noun

A wild dingo.

warring

adj

Engaged in war or conflict with one another.

warrior

noun

A person who fights in battle, especially one known for skill and courage; a soldier or fighter.

Warsaw

name

The capital and largest city of Poland.

warship

noun

A ship built or equipped for combat at sea.

wart

noun

A small, rough, hard growth on the skin caused by a viral infection.

warthog

noun

A wild African pig with large tusks and wart-like bumps on its face.

wartime

noun

The period during which a war is being fought.

Warwick

name

An English town and county, and a surname derived from it, historically the seat of the Earls of Warwick.

wary

adj

Cautious and alert to possible danger, deception, or problems.

was

verb

The past tense of "be", used with "I", "he", "she" and "it".

wasabi

noun

A Japanese plant grown for its sharp, spicy root, related to horseradish and mustard.

wash

verb

To clean something using water, usually with soap.

washbasin

noun

A basin used for washing, (now) particularly a permanently installed sink, fitted with a water supply and a drain, for washing the hands and face.

washbowl

noun

A sink in a bathroom, connected to a supply of water and a drain, in which one may wash one's face and hands.

Washburn

name

An English surname and American place name, from Old English words meaning "stream that can be waded".

washcloth

noun

A small, absorbent cloth used for washing the face and body.

washer

noun

A machine that washes things, especially a washing machine or dishwasher.

washhouse

noun

A domestic outbuilding used as a laundry.

washing

noun

The act of cleaning something with water.

Washington

noun

Informal term for a U.S. one-dollar bill, which carries a portrait of George Washington.

washout

noun

Damage or a channel caused when a rush of water erodes soil, a road, or a railway line.

washrag

noun

A square piece of cloth for washing the face and body.

washroom

noun

A room containing a toilet and sink, especially a public one.

Wasim

name

A masculine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "handsome" or "graceful".

wasp

noun

A flying stinging insect related to bees and ants, usually with a slim waist and yellow-and-black markings.

waspish

adj

Suggestive of the behaviour of a wasp.

wass

name

A surname from Norman.

wassail

noun

A toast to health, usually on a festive occasion.

wasserman

name

A surname from German, equivalent to English Waterman.

wassup

interjection

A very casual greeting, short for "what's up?"

waste

noun

Material that is no longer wanted or useful; rubbish.

wastebasket

noun

A small bin, usually kept indoors, for throwing away rubbish.

wastebin

noun

A bin used for household or office waste; especially, a wastebasket.

wasted

adjective

Used carelessly, without gaining any real benefit; not put to good use.

wasteful

adjective

Using more of something than is needed, or using it carelessly.

wasteland

noun

An area of land that is barren, ruined, or has no useful resources.

waster

noun

Someone or something that wastes; someone who squanders or spends extravagantly.

wastewater

noun

Any water that has been used in some human domestic or industrial activity and, as a result, now contains waste products.

wastey

adj

too fat, as opposed to meaty

wasting

adjective

Causing the body to lose muscle or fat, becoming progressively weaker.

wastoid

noun

A person with a drug or alcohol addiction.

wastrel

noun

Someone who spends time or money recklessly, without care for the consequences.

wat

noun

A Buddhist temple complex, especially in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia.

Watanabe

name

A common Japanese surname, meaning roughly "crossing over by the water's edge".

Watari

name

A Japanese surname and given name.

watch

noun

A small timepiece worn on the wrist or carried in a pocket.

watchband

noun

A band of leather, metal, plastic, or other material that fastens a wristwatch to the wrist.

watchdog

noun

A dog kept to guard property, or by extension, a person or group that monitors organisations for wrongdoing.

watched

adjective

Kept under observation; monitored closely.

watcher

noun

Someone who watches or observes something closely, often in a professional capacity.

Watchers

name

A rare surname derived from the occupation of a watchman or guard.

watches

noun

Plural of watch — small timepieces, or periods of guard duty.

watchful

adjective

Alert and paying close attention; on guard.

watchfulness

noun

The state or quality of being watchful; alertness, vigilance or wakefulness.

watching

noun

The act of observing something, especially over a period of time.

watchmaker

noun

A craftsperson who builds and repairs watches.

watchmaking

noun

The making (and repairing) of watches.

watchman

noun

A person employed to guard a building or area, especially at night.

watchtower

noun

A tall structure from which a guard can observe the surrounding area.

watchword

noun

A word used as a motto, as expressive of a principle, belief, or rule of action; a rallying cry.

Water

noun

The clear liquid (H2O) that falls as rain and fills rivers, lakes, and seas, essential to all known life.

water under the bridge

noun phrase

Something unpleasant that happened in the past and is no longer worth being upset about.

waterbed

noun

A bed with a mattress made from a tough plastic bladder filled with water.

waterbuck

noun

A species of antelope endemic to Africa, Kobus ellipsiprymnus.

watercourse

noun

Any channel, either natural or artificial, through which water flows.

watercraft

noun

Any vessel with implements designed to move it in arbitrary direction through one or various bodies of water: a boat, ship, sea scooter, or similar vehicle.

watered

adjective

Supplied with water; having received water.

waterfall

noun

A place where a stream or river drops steeply over a cliff or rock ledge.

Waterfalls

name

A rare surname, and a common descriptive place name element for towns near cascading water.

Waterford

name

A city and county in Ireland, known historically for its glassmaking.

waterfowl

noun

Any of the birds, such as ducks, geese and swans, that spend most of their non-flying time on water; especially those of the family Anatidae.

waterfront

noun

Land that borders a river, lake, sea, or ocean.

Watergate

verb

To treat someone, or handle a situation, in a way that recalls the Watergate political scandal — especially through cover-ups or abuse of power.

waterhole

noun

A natural pool or hollow where water collects, especially one animals visit to drink.

Waterhouse

noun

A structure that floats on water, used as a house or dwelling.

wateriness

noun

The state of being watery.

watering

noun

The act of pouring or supplying water onto something, such as plants or land.

waterland

name

A region and municipality of North Holland, Netherlands.

waterless

adj

Dry, arid, lacking water.