Danish–English dictionary

spædbarn

A very young human being, from birth to somewhere between six months and two years of age after birth, needing almost constant care and attention.

spæde ud

(transitive) To dilute.

spække

(cooking) To stuff (meat) with bacon or pork before cooking.

spænde

A metal clasp with a hinged tongue or a spike through which a belt or strap is passed and penetrated by the tongue or spike, in order to fasten the ends of the belt together or to secure the strap to something else.

spændende

Creating or producing excitement.

spændeskive

A flat piece of material, often of metal and often an annulus, placed beneath a nut or at some joint, to distribute pressure, alleviate friction, provide directionally differentiated friction (e.g. making the nut turn counter-clockwise only with difficulty), or prevent leakage.

spændetrøje

A jacket-like garment with very long sleeves which can be secured in place, thus preventing the wearer from moving his or her arms. Often used in psychiatric hospitals to prevent patients from injuring themselves or others.

spænding

(countable, physics) The internal distribution of force across a small boundary per unit area of that boundary (pressure) within a body. It causes strain or deformation and is typically symbolised by σ or τ.

spændingstilstand

(language, dated) A whining style of speaking; a kind of mournful or artificial strain of voice; an affected speaking with a measured rhythm and a regular rise and fall of the voice.

spændskive

A flat piece of material, often of metal and often an annulus, placed beneath a nut or at some joint, to distribute pressure, alleviate friction, provide directionally differentiated friction (e.g. making the nut turn counter-clockwise only with difficulty), or prevent leakage.

spændt

Earnestly desirous.

spændvidde

A numerical difference.

spæne

(ambitransitive) To run, cycle, etc. at top speed for a short period.

spær

(architecture) One of a series of sloped beams that extend from the ridge or hip to the downslope perimeter or eave, designed to support the roof deck and its associated loads.

spærretid

The time when such restriction begins.

spætte

Any bird of species-rich family Picidae, with a strong pointed beak suitable for pecking holes in wood.

speaker

One who makes announcements.

specialbygge

To build or alter according to personal preferences or specifications.

specialiseret

Highly skilled in, or specifically adapted to, a specific field.

specialist

Someone who is an expert in, or devoted to, some specific branch of study or research.

specie

Money in the form of coins made from precious metal that has an intrinsic value; coinage.

speciel

Distinguished by a unique, particular, or unusual quality.

specielt

(manner) In a different way.

spedalsk

A person who has leprosy, a person suffering from Hansen's disease.

speedbåd

A fast boat, usually small (for 1-8 people).

speeder

A device for causing acceleration.

speedometer

An instrument located within the dashboard of a vehicle that measures and indicates the current speed of the vehicle.

spejder

A member of any number of youth organizations belonging to the international scout movement, such as the Boy Scouts of America or Girl Scouts of the United States.

spejl

A smooth surface, usually made of glass with reflective material painted on the underside, that reflects light so as to give an image of what is in front of it.

spejle

(transitive) To mirror, or show the image of something.

spektakel

(uncountable) Various sounds, usually unwanted or unpleasant.

spektakelmager

One who causes trouble, especially one who does so deliberately.

spekter

Specifically, a range of colours representing light (electromagnetic radiation) of contiguous frequencies; hence electromagnetic spectrum, visible spectrum, ultraviolet spectrum, etc. [from later 17th c.]

spektrum

Specifically, a range of colours representing light (electromagnetic radiation) of contiguous frequencies; hence electromagnetic spectrum, visible spectrum, ultraviolet spectrum, etc. [from later 17th c.]

spekulant

(business, finance) One who speculates; as in investing, one who is willing to take volatile risks upon invested principal for the potential of substantial returns.

spekulere

(countable, UK, informal) A mental pondering, a thought.

spelt

A grain, considered either a subspecies of wheat, Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta, or a separate species Triticum spelta or Triticum dicoccon.

spendere

(ambitransitive) To pay out (money).

sperm

(uncountable, slang) Semen; the generative substance of male animals.

spermatozo

(cytology) A reproductive cell or gamete of a male, carried in semen, that fertilizes an ovum to produce a zygote.

spidde

(transitive) To use a spit to cook; to attend to food that is cooking on a spit.

spiddende

(figuratively, of a look, word) Incisive; penetrating; piercing.

spids

An article in a publication giving the opinion of its editors on a given topic or current event.

spids vinkel

(geometry) An angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees.

spidsborger

(derogatory) A person who is ignorant or uneducated; specifically, a person who lacks appreciation of or is antagonistic towards art or culture, and who has pedestrian tastes.

spidsbryst

A cut of meat taken from the chest, especially from the section under the first five ribs.

spidse

(winemaking) To add spirits to (wine) to increase the alcohol content. [from late 19th c.]

spidsmus

A shrew, Sorex araneus, one of the most common mammals.

spidsrod

(archaic) Two parallel rows of attackers who strike at a criminal as punishment.

spiger

A sort of very large nail.

spil

(especially, nautical) A vertical cylindrical machine that revolves on a spindle, typically surmounted by a drumhead with sockets for levers for turning it; used to apply force to cables, ropes, etc.

spild

Something consuming resources and providing nothing in return.

spilde

(transitive) To drop something so that it spreads out or makes a mess; to accidentally pour.

spildevand

A suspension of water and solid waste, transported by sewers to be disposed of or processed.

spille

(intransitive, mathematics, construed with on or upon, of an algebraic structure) To possess an action onto (some other structure). Examples include the group action of a group on a set, the action of a ring on a module by scalar multiplication, and the action of a group or algebra on a vector space via a representation.

spille en rolle

(transitive, intransitive) To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).

spille fløjte

(intransitive) To play on a flute.

spille rock

(intransitive) To play, perform, or enjoy rock music, especially with a lot of skill or energy.

spillejob

Originally (music) , a performing engagement by a musician or musical group; (by extension, film, television, theater) a job or role for a performer.

spillekonsol

Abbreviation of video game console.

spillekort

Any flat, normally rectangular piece of stiff paper, plastic, etc.

spilleliste

(radio) A list of recorded songs scheduled to be played on a radio station.

spillemand

One who plays the fiddle.

spilleplads

A place where competitive matches are carried out with figures, or playing area in a board game or a computer game.

spiller

(music) One who plays on a musical instrument.

spinat

A particular edible plant, Spinacia oleracea, or its leaves.

spinde

(intransitive, of a cat) To make a vibrating sound in its throat when contented or in certain other conditions.

spindel

(spinning) A rod used for spinning and then winding fibres (especially wool), usually consisting of a shaft and a circular whorl positioned at either the upper or lower end of the shaft when suspended vertically from the forming thread.

spinderok

A device to which a bundle of natural fibres (often wool, flax, or cotton) are attached for temporary storage, before being drawn off gradually to spin thread. A traditional distaff is a staff with flax fibres tied loosely to it (as indicated by the etymology of the word), but modern distaffs are often made of cords weighted with beads, and attached to the wrist.

spindler

Any of the eight-legged creatures, including spiders, mites, and scorpions, of the class Arachnida.

spinkel

(figuratively) Readily disrupted or destroyed.

spion

(espionage) A person who secretly watches and examines the actions of other individuals or organizations and gathers information on them (usually to gain an advantage).

spionage

The act or process of learning secret information through clandestine means.

spionere

(intransitive) To act as a spy.

spionprogram

(Internet) Programs that surreptitiously monitor and report the actions of a computer user. [from 1990s]

spir

(architectural element) A tapering structure built on a roof or tower, especially as one of the central architectural features of a church or cathedral roof. [from 16th c.]

spiral

Something wound in the form of a helix or spiral.

spire

A new growth of or on a plant, whether from seed or other parts.

spiritisme

A philosophical doctrine, established in France in the mid nineteenth century, postulating that humans are essentially immortal spirits that temporarily inhabit physical bodies, and may have influence on the physical world.

spiritus

Alcoholic beverages in general.

spise

(intransitive) To eat; to eat dinner or supper.

spisekammer

A small room, closet, or cabinet usually located in or near the kitchen, dedicated to shelf-stable food storage or storing kitchenware, like a larder, but smaller.

spiselig

Capable of being eaten without harm; suitable for consumption; innocuous to humans.

spiselige

Suitable to be eaten; edible. [From 15th c.]

spiserør

The throat or esophagus.

spisesal

(chiefly, US, Canada) A dining area in an institution where meals may be purchased (as above), provided, or brought in from elsewhere.

spiseske

(Canada, US) A large spoon, used for eating food from a bowl.

spiseskefuld

(cooking) A unit of volume, the value of which varies regionally; in the US: three teaspoons or one half fluid ounce or roughly 15 ml; in Britain and Canada: exactly 15 ml; in Russia 18 ml; in Australia: four teaspoons or 20 ml.

spisetid

The time when dinner takes place, as:

spjæt

An instance of reacting to a sudden stimulus by jerking the body.

spjætte

(intransitive) To react to a sudden, often unexpected, stimulus (such as a sharp prick or a loud sound) by jerking the body violently.

splint

A long, sharp fragment of material, often wood.

Split

A port city in Croatia.

splitternøgen

Bare, not covered by clothing.

spoiler

A document, review or comment that discloses the ending or some key surprise or twist in a story, or the internal rules controlling the behaviour of a video game, etc. [from 1970s]

spole

A spool or cylinder around which wire is coiled.

spontanitet

(uncountable) The quality of being spontaneous.

spor

Information which may lead one to a certain point or conclusion.

sporadisk

Rare and scattered in occurrence.

sporbredde

(automotive) The distance between two opposite wheels on a same axletree.

sporskifte

(rail transport, UK, Ireland, Commonwealth) Movable rails which can be used to switch a train from one railway track to another.

sport

(countable, uncountable) Any activity that uses physical exertion or skills competitively under a set of rules that is not based on aesthetics.

sportsidiot

(US, slang, pejorative) An enthusiastic athlete or sports fan, especially one with few other interests, often stereotyped as slow-witted person of large size and great physical strength.

sportskvinde

(UK) A woman who engages in sports; a female athlete.

sportsmand

(UK) A man who engages in sports; an athlete.

sportsnørd

(US, slang) A young male athlete (through college age).

sportsudøver

(US, Canada) A person who actively participates in physical sports, especially with great skill; a sportsperson.

sporvej

(chiefly, UK, Ireland) The track on which a tram (streetcar) runs.

sporvidde

(automotive) The distance between two opposite wheels on a same axletree.

spottedrossel

Any of various long-tailed American songbirds of the genera Mimus and Melanotis, noted for their ability to mimic calls of other birds.

spøg

Something said or done for amusement, not in seriousness.

spøge

(intransitive) To do or say something for amusement rather than seriously.

spøgefugl

A person who makes jokes.

spøgelse

A disembodied soul; a soul or spirit of a deceased person; a spirit appearing after death.

spørge

(transitive, intransitive) To request (information, or an answer to a question).

spørge sig

(transitive, intransitive) To ponder; to feel doubt and curiosity; to query in the mind.

spørgeskema

A form containing a list of questions; a means of gathering information for a survey.

spørgeundersøgelse

An examination of the opinions of a group of people.

spørgsmål

A question, an inquiry (US), an enquiry (UK).

spørgsmålstegn

(informal) An uncertainty, possibility, condition, doubt etc.

spraye

(transitive) To project a liquid in a dispersive manner toward something.

sprække

A thin and usually jagged space opened in a previously solid material.

sprælle

(intransitive) To flop around as a fish out of water.

sprælsk

(archaic) Lively; brisk.

sprænge

(intransitive) To burst or explode; to occur suddenly

sprænges

(ambitransitive) To break, or cause something to break.

sprængfarlig

Able to, or likely to, explode.

sprænghoved

The part of a missile, projectile, torpedo, rocket, or other munition which contains either the nuclear or thermonuclear system, high explosive system, chemical or biological agents, or inert materials intended to inflict damage.

sprængning

An explosive charge for blasting.

sprængstof

Any explosive substance.

sprechstallmeister

The person who manages the performers in a circus ring.

sprede

(physics, transitive, intransitive) To separate rays of light, etc., according to wavelength; to refract.

spredes i vifteform

(intransitive, usually to fan out) To move or spread in multiple directions from one point, in the shape of a hand-held fan.

spredning

The frequency of occurrence or extent of existence.

spring over hest

(gymnastics) A gymnastic movement performed on this apparatus.

springbræt

A board consisting of a flexible, springy, cantilevered platform that propels one into the air, used for diving or gymnastics.

springe

(intransitive) To employ a parachute to leave an aircraft or elevated location.

springe over

(transitive) To move to a position (in a queue/line) that is further forward.

springe til side

(ambitransitive) To avoid (something) by moving suddenly out of the way.

springer

(chess) A chess piece, often in the shape of a horse's head, that is moved two squares in one direction and one at right angles to that direction in a single move, leaping over any intervening pieces.

springkniv

A folding knife with a blade which opens automatically (under spring pressure) when a button is pressed.

springvand

An artificial, usually ornamental, water feature (usually in a garden or public place) consisting of one or more streams of water originating from a statue or other structure.

sprinte

(ambitransitive) To run, cycle, etc. at top speed for a short period.

sprit

(usually, in the plural) A volatile liquid, such as alcohol. The plural form spirits is a generic term for distilled alcoholic beverages.

sprog

(countable) A body of words, and set of methods of combining them (called a grammar), understood by a community and used as a form of communication.

sprogbeherskelse

(uncountable) The ability to communicate using words.

sprogforsker

(usually) One who studies modern-day linguistics, that is, linguistic science.

sproglig

Of or relating to language.

sproglyd

(phonetics) A speech segment that possesses distinct physical or perceptual properties, considered as a physical event without regard to its place in the phonology of a language.

sprogvidenskab

The systematic and scholarly study of language.