English dictionary — definitions & meanings

Wilson

name

An English and Scottish surname meaning "son of Will," one of the most common surnames in English-speaking countries.

wilt

verb

To droop and lose freshness, as a plant does when it lacks water.

wilted

adj

Drooping and limp, typically from a lack of water or from heat.

Wilton

noun

A type of durable, tightly woven carpet, originally made in the English town of Wilton.

Wiltshire

adj

Describing bacon or ham cured using a traditional method associated with the county of Wiltshire, England.

wily

adj

Clever in a sneaky or cunning way, especially at getting what one wants.

Wimbledon

name

A suburban district of Merton in south-west London, England.

wimmin

noun

Eye dialect spelling of women.

wimp

noun

Someone seen as weak, timid, or lacking backbone.

wimpy

adj

Weak, feeble, or lacking courage or resolve; wimp-like.

win

verb

To come out on top in a contest, game, war, or competition.

wince

noun

A sudden movement or gesture of shrinking away.

winch

noun

A mechanical device with a drum and crank (or motor) used to haul or hoist a rope or cable.

Winchell

name

An English surname, notably borne by Walter Winchell, a pioneering American gossip columnist.

Winchester

noun

A type of lever-action repeating rifle made by the Winchester company.

wincing

noun

A sudden facial grimace made in reaction to pain, embarrassment, or something unpleasant.

wind

noun

The natural movement of air, especially a noticeable current outdoors.

wind-up

noun

An act of teasing someone by telling them something untrue to see how they react, or the false story itself.

windbag

noun

Someone who talks a great deal, often pompously, without saying much of substance.

windbreaker

noun

A lightweight jacket designed to block wind and light rain.

windburn

noun

An irritation of the skin caused by exposure to the wind.

windcheater

noun

A heavy weatherproof jacket

winded

adj

Out of breath, typically from physical exertion.

Windermere

name

The largest natural lake in England, located in Cumbria in the Lake District.

windfall

noun

An unexpected and welcome sum of money, such as from an inheritance or lottery win.

windflower

noun

Synonym of wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa).

winding

adj

Curving and twisting repeatedly, rather than running straight.

windjammer

noun

One who plays a wind instrument, especially a bugler in the army.

windlass

noun

Any of various forms of winch, in which a rope or cable is wound around a cylinder, used for lifting heavy weights

windmill

noun

A structure with rotating sails that harnesses wind power to grind grain, pump water, or generate electricity.

windmills

noun

Plants of the genus Allionia, low sprawling wildflowers native to warm parts of the Americas.

window

noun

An opening in a wall, usually fitted with glass, that lets in light and air.

windowsill

noun

The horizontal ledge at the bottom of a window frame.

windpipe

noun

The tube that carries air from the throat to the lungs; the trachea.

windpump

noun

A structure somewhat like a windmill for pumping water, either for drainage or for irrigation

windscreen

noun

The large glass panel at the front of a vehicle that shields occupants from wind and weather.

windshield

noun

The large glass panel at the front of a vehicle that shields occupants from wind and weather.

Windsor

name

A historic town in Berkshire, England, famous for Windsor Castle and as the surname of the British royal family.

windstorm

noun

A storm in which there are strong, violent winds but no precipitation.

windthrow

noun

The uprooting and/or overthrowing of a tree caused by the wind.

windward

adj

Facing or situated in the direction the wind is blowing from.

windy

adj

Marked by strong or noticeable wind.

wine

noun

An alcoholic drink made by fermenting grape juice (or sometimes other fruit).

Winehouse

noun

A tavern or establishment where wine is the main drink served.

winery

noun

A business or building where wine is produced.

winetasting

noun

The sensory examination and evaluation of wine.

Winfield

name

An English surname and place name meaning "field of friends" or "pleasant field."

Winfrey

name

A surname, most famously associated with American media figure Oprah Winfrey.

wing

noun

One of the limbs a bird, insect, or aircraft uses to fly.

wing it

verb phrase

To do something without preparation, improvising as you go along instead of following a plan or script.

Wingate

name

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "wind gate," a gap through which wind blows.

wingdog

noun

A dog used to facilitate social interaction.

winged

adj

Having wings.

winger

noun

A player positioned on the side of the field or pitch in sports like football or hockey.

winggirl

noun

A wingwoman, especially a young one.

winging

noun

Wing foiling, a water sport combining a handheld inflatable wing with a hydrofoil board.

wingman

noun

A pilot who flies alongside and supports the lead aircraft in a formation.

wingnut

noun

A deciduous tree of the genus Pterocarya native to Asia.

wings

noun

A type of buoyancy device worn on the back by scuba divers, attached to a backplate.

wingspan

noun

The distance between the tips of a pair of wings, or between someone's outstretched arms.

wingspread

noun

The distance between the extreme tips of the wings of a bird, insect or aircraft.

wingwoman

noun

A female friend who accompanies one to offer support.

Winifred

name

A female given name of Welsh origin.

wininess

noun

The quality of being winy; drunkenness.

wining

noun

The act of drinking or socialising over wine, especially in the phrase "wining and dining".

wink

verb

To close and quickly reopen one eye as a signal, joke, or private message to someone.

winker

noun

A person or an animal that winks (“blinks with one eye; blinks with one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion, usually with an implication of conspiracy”).

winking

noun

The repeated act of closing and opening one eye, usually as a signal.

winkle

noun

A periwinkle, a small edible sea snail with a spiral shell.

winkler

noun

A person who gathers and sells winkles (edible sea snails).

Winks

name

An English surname, likely derived from a nickname or place name.

winky

noun

A winking-face emoticon, such as ;-) or 😉, used to signal that a comment is a joke or flirtatious.

Winn

name

An English and Welsh surname meaning "friend" or derived from a place name.

Winnebago

name

The Siouan language traditionally spoken by the Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) people.

winner

noun

A person, team, or thing that wins a contest, competition, or prize.

Winnie

name

A diminutive (pet form) of the female given name Winifred, and occasionally of Winona.

winnifred

name

A female given name from Welsh, variant of Winifred.

winning

adj

Resulting in victory; that wins.

winninger

adj

More winning; more attractive or successful; (sports) having more wins.

winningest

adj

Most winning; most attractive.

winnings

noun

Money or prizes gained by winning, especially through gambling or a competition.

Winnipeg

name

The capital city of Manitoba, Canada, whose name derives from the Cree words for "muddy waters."

winnow

verb

To subject (granular material, especially food grain) to a current of air separating heavier and lighter components, as grain from chaff.

winnowing

noun

The act of separating chaff from grain.

wino

noun

Informal, often disparaging: someone who drinks cheap wine or alcohol heavily and habitually, especially a homeless alcoholic.

Winona

name

A feminine given name of Dakota Sioux origin, meaning "firstborn daughter."

wins

verb

The third-person singular present form of "win".

winsome

adj

Charming, engaging, winning; inspiring approval and trust, especially if in an innocent manner.

Winston

name

A masculine given name and surname of Old English origin, meaning "joy stone" or "friend's town," most famously borne by Winston Churchill.

Winstone

name

An English surname, a variant of Winston.

winter

noun

The coldest season of the year, between autumn and spring.

winterbourne

name

A place in England:

wintergreen

noun

Any of several small evergreen plants, especially Gaultheria procumbens, known for its aromatic leaves and red berries.

winterhouse

noun

A house used in winter, especially as a vacation residence to overwinter in

winters

adv

During the winter season, especially as a regular or repeated habit.

wintertime

noun

The season of winter, considered as a period of time.

Winthrop

name

An English surname and given name, notably borne by John Winthrop, an early governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Winton

name

An English surname and place name meaning "settlement by pasture" or "willow town."

wintry

adj

Suggestive or characteristic of winter; cold, stormy.

winy

adj

Having the taste or qualities of wine.

WIP

noun

Work in progress: something started but not finished, posted or shared in its unfinished state.

wipe

verb

To rub something over a surface in order to clean it or remove a substance.

wiper

noun

A device, especially on a vehicle windscreen, that moves back and forth to clear away rain or dirt.

Wipers

noun

Plural of wiper; the blades that clear rain or dirt from a windscreen.

wiping

noun

The act of cleaning or removing something by rubbing.

wire

noun

A thin, flexible strand of metal, used to carry electricity or for fastening, fencing, and similar purposes.

wired

adj

Connected by wires to a power source, network, or other equipment.

wireless

adj

Not connected by physical wires or cables.

wireline

noun

A wire that runs from a drill rig down into the drill hole to support a dead load or other downhole tool.

wiretap

noun

A hidden device attached to a phone line or communication system to secretly listen in on conversations.

wiretapping

noun

The practice of secretly monitoring phone lines or communications, or the equipment used to do it.

wiring

noun

A system of electrical wires installed in a building, device, or vehicle.

Wirt

name

A German and English surname, an occupational name for an innkeeper.

wiry

adj

Lean and muscular, with visible strength rather than bulk.

wis

adv

Certainly, surely.

Wisconsin

name

A state in the Upper Midwest of the United States, whose name derives from an Algonquian word likely referring to a river.

wisconsinite

adj

Of, or from, the state of Wisconsin.

wisdom

noun

The ability to use knowledge and experience to make good decisions and judgements.

wise

adj

Showing good judgment, sound sense, or the benefit of experience.

wiseass

noun

A person who makes sarcastic or cocky remarks, often to seem clever (slang, informal).

wisecrack

noun

A quick, clever and slightly cheeky remark, often made at someone else's expense.

wisecracker

noun

A person who makes wisecrack remarks; a smart aleck.

wisely

adverb

In a sensible, well-judged way.

Wiser

adjective

More wise; having greater good judgement or sense, especially as gained through experience.

wish

noun

A hope or desire for something, especially something not fully within your control.

wishbone

noun

The forked bone found in a bird's breast, traditionally pulled apart by two people with the larger piece said to bring luck.

wishful

adjective

Wanting something to be true or to happen, often despite little evidence it will.

wishful thinking

noun

The belief that something is true or will happen because you want it to, rather than because there is any evidence for it.

wishy-washy

adjective

Lacking firmness or clear opinions; vague, indecisive and unwilling to commit to a position.

wisp

noun

A thin, light streak or strand of something, such as smoke, hair, or cloud.

wispy

adj

Consisting of or resembling a wisp; like a slender, flexible strand or bundle.

wisteria

noun

A climbing woody vine with hanging clusters of purple, pink, or white flowers, popular for covering walls and trellises.

wistful

adjective

Filled with a gentle sadness or longing, especially for something in the past.

wistfulness

noun

The state or characteristic of being wistful.

wit

noun

The ability to say clever, funny things quickly.

witch

noun

A person, especially in folklore, believed to have magical powers, particularly one who uses them for harmful purposes.

witchcraft

noun

The practice of using magic or supernatural power, especially as attributed to witches.

witchdom

noun

The exercise of witchcraft or of supernatural powers; witchery

witchery

noun

An act of witchcraft.

witching

adjective

Relating to or having the power of witchcraft; bewitching.

witchy

adjective

Resembling or characteristic of a witch, especially in style or atmosphere.

wite

verb

To regard (someone) as guilty; to accuse; to blame; to fault.

witful

adj

Full of or possessing wit; wise; sensible

witfulness

noun

The state or condition of being witful; consciousness

with

preposition

In the company of; alongside.

with that being said

phrase

Used to introduce a point that qualifies or partly contradicts what you have just said, while acknowledging that the earlier point still stands.

withal

adverb

In addition to what has already been said; besides.

withcall

verb

To call back, recall.

withdraught

noun

Retraxit: a dismissal with prejudice based on a plaintiff's withdrawal of the suit.

withdraw

verb

To take money out of a bank account.