Dutch–English dictionary

spermacel

(countable) The reproductive cell or gamete of the male; a spermatozoon.

spertijd

The time when such restriction begins.

spetteren

(transitive) To cause splashing by moving a body part like a bill or limb in soft mud, water, etc., often playfully; to play in shallow water; to paddle.

speurder

(law enforcement) A police officer tasked with collecting evidence and information in order to solve a crime; an investigator.

speurneus

A person who snoops on others; a detective.

speurtocht

An attempt to find something.

speurwerk

(uncountable, countable, _, in some dialects) Diligent inquiry or examination to seek or revise facts, principles, theories, applications, etc. (that are currently available, or that are familiar to one's self).

spie

One of the simple machines; a piece of material, such as metal or wood, thick at one edge and tapered to a thin edge at the other for insertion in a narrow crevice, used for splitting, tightening, securing, or levering.

spiegel

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.

spiegelbeeld

The reverse of any procedure or process.

spiekbriefje

A sheet of paper (or a digital analogue thereof) containing notes used to assist (with or without permission) on a test; especially, such a sheet used secretly and improperly.

spieker

(agriculture) A storage facility for grain or sometimes animal feed.

spier

(relational) Of, relating to, or connected with muscles.

spierbundel

(biology) A cluster of closely bound muscle or nerve fibres.

spieren

Strong muscles or lean flesh, especially of the arm, leg or thumb.

spierkracht

Strong muscles or lean flesh, especially of the arm, leg or thumb.

spiermaag

A specialized organ constructed of thick muscular walls found in the digestive tract of some animals, including archosaurs (including crocodilians and birds), earthworms, some gastropods, some fish, and some crustaceans, and used for grinding up food, often aided by particles of stone or grit.

spiernaakt

(South Africa) stark naked.

spies

A long stick with a sharp tip used as a weapon for throwing or thrusting, or anything used to make a thrusting motion.

spietsen

(ambitransitive) To pierce with a pale; to put to death by fixing on a sharp stake.

spiezen

(transitive, of an animal) To pierce with a horn or tusk.

spijbelaar

(specifically) A student who is absent from school without permission; hence (figurative) , a person who shirks or wanders from business or duty.

spijbelen

To abridge or shorten a work; to remove a portion of a recording during editing.

spijbelend

(specifically) Of a student: absent from school without permission.

spijker

A spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials. The nail is generally driven through two or more layers of material by means of impacts from a hammer or other device. It is then held in place by friction.

spijkerbroek

denim trousers

spijkerstof

A textile often made of cotton with a distinct diagonal pattern.

spijsvertering

The process, in the gastrointestinal tract, by which food is converted into substances that can be used by the body.

spijt

(archaic, or, dialectal) Sorrow; repentance; regret.

spijten

To feel sorry about (a thing that has or has not happened), afterthink: to wish that a thing had not happened, that something else had happened instead.

spijtig

(countable) Something regrettable.

spijtig genoeg

Happening through bad luck, or because of some unfortunate event.

spik en span

(idiomatic) Clean, spotless.

spikkel

A small spot or streak; a speckle.

spikkels

Small candy or sugar pieces that are sprinkled over other confections.

spil

The pin or spindle on which a wheel revolves, or which revolves with a wheel.

spilziek

Improvident, profligate, or wasteful. [from late 16th c.]

spin

Any of various eight-legged, predatory arthropods, of the order Araneae, most of which spin webs to catch prey.

spinachtige

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

spinazie

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

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.

spindoctor

(business, politics) A person employed to gloss over a poor public image (or present it in a better light) in business and politics, especially after unfavourable results have been achieved. A lobbyist; PR person.

spinnen

The vibrating sound made by a cat in its throat when contented.

spinnenangst

An abnormal or irrational fear of arachnids, especially spiders.

spinnenfobie

An abnormal or irrational fear of arachnids, especially spiders.

spinnenvrees

An abnormal or irrational fear of arachnids, especially spiders.

spinner

(obsolete) Someone whose occupation was spinning thread.

spinrag

A fine, soft cloth woven from silk fibers.

spinschijf

A flywheel, a weight attached to a spindle. [from c. 1460]

spinsteen

A flywheel, a weight attached to a spindle. [from c. 1460]

spinsteentje

A flywheel, a weight attached to a spindle. [from c. 1460]

spinster

(obsolete) Someone whose occupation was spinning thread.

spint

(uncountable) The sapwood, or alburnum, of a tree.

spinthout

(uncountable) The sapwood, or alburnum, of a tree.

spintol

(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.

spion

A member of an intelligence agency whose identity or affiliation is kept confidential.

spionage

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

spioneren

(intransitive) To act as a spy.

spionne

(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).

spiraal

Something wound in the form of a helix or spiral.

spiraalgroef

A lengthwise groove, such as one of the lengthwise grooves on a classical column, or a groove on a cutting tool (such as a drill bit, endmill, or reamer), which helps to form both a cutting edge and a channel through which chips can escape.

spirea

Any of the flowering plants of the genus Astilbe.

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.

spiritualiteit

Concern for that which is unseen and intangible, as opposed to physical or mundane.

spiritueel

Of or pertaining to the spirit or the soul.

spit

(uncountable) Backache of the lumbar region or lower back, which can be caused by muscle strain or a slipped disc.

spits

(geometry) The highest point in a plane or solid figure, relative to a base line or plane.

spitsmuis

Any of numerous small, mouselike, chiefly nocturnal, mammals of the family Soricidae.

spitsroede

A slender woody plant stem used as a whip; a thin, flexible rod, associated with corporal punishment in the United States.

spitsroeden

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

spitsvondig

(figuratively) Of acute discernment; having keen insight; mentally perceptive.

spleet

A narrow cleft in a rock face; a narrow vertical cave passage.

spleetoog

(vulgar, offensive, ethnic slur) A person of Chinese or other East Asian descent.

splendeur

(figurative) Shining beauty, splendor, attractiveness or attraction.

splijtbaar

Able to be split.

splijten

The act of cleaving or the state of being cleft. [from 19th c.]

splijting

The act of cleaving or the state of being cleft. [from 19th c.]

splinter

A sharp, pointy object, such as a sliver or splinter.

splinteren

(intransitive) To come apart into long sharp fragments.

splintergroep

A group that formed by splitting off from a larger membership.

split

(dance, cheerleading, gymnastics) A maneuver in which the legs are extended straight out and perpendicular to the body, either to the sides or in front and behind.

splitsen

The act of bifurcating; branching or dividing in two.

splitsing

(biology) A division into two branches.

spoed

Speed, haste or urgency.

spoedeisend

Requiring immediate attention.

spoedgeval

(sometimes, attributive) A situation which poses an immediate risk and which requires urgent attention.

spoedig

Rapidly; with speed; fast.

spoel

A spool or cylinder around which wire is coiled.

spoelkeuken

(archaic) A small room, next to a kitchen, where washing up and other domestic chores are done.

spoetnik

(historical) Any of a series of Soviet robotic space satellites, especially the first one in 1957.

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]

spoken

(transitive) To dominate the thoughts of someone.

sponsor

A person or organization with some sort of responsibility for another person or organization, especially where the responsibility has a religious, legal, or financial aspect.

sponsoren

(transitive) To be a sponsor for.

spontaan

Straightforward, open and sincere.

spook

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

spookbeeld

(folklore, fantasy) A generic creature, often described as a large goblin, meant to inspire fear in children.

spooksel

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

spoor

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

spoorwagen

A similar vehicle for carrying materials.

spoorweg

(chiefly, UK, Ireland, and, Commonwealth) A transport system using rails used to move passengers or goods.

spoorwegen

(chiefly, UK, Ireland, and, Commonwealth) A transport system using rails used to move passengers or goods.

sporadisch

Rare and scattered in occurrence.

sporen

A very small amount, often residual, of some substance or material.

sport

A crosspiece forming a step of a ladder; a round.

sporten

(intransitive) To perform physical activity for health or training.

sportman

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

sportschoenen

(US, Atlantic Canada, Australia, New Zealand) An athletic shoe with a soft, rubber sole. A trainer.

sportschool

(especially, weightlifting) A sports facility specialized for lifting weights, cardio machines, and other exercise (culturally differentiated from sense 1).

sportster

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

sporttas

A large bag for carrying belongings while travelling.

sportvisserij

(uncountable, informal) The act of catching other forms of seafood, separately or together with fish.

sportvrouw

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

spot

Offensive and abusive language or behaviour; scorn, insult.

spotlight

A bright, directional light or lamp, especially one used to illuminate the focus or center of attention on a stage.

spotlijster

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

spotnaam

Someone or something that stands as an example (i.e. metonymically) for something else, by having some of that something's characteristic traits.

spotten

(intransitive, with at) To utter sarcastic or mocking comments; to speak with mockery or derision; to use taunting language.

spotten met

To make fun of, especially by mimicking; to taunt.

spottend

Treating serious issues with (often deliberately) inappropriate humour; flippant.

spotter

One who heckles; somebody who insults, makes fun of, or teases.

spotterig

Treating serious issues with (often deliberately) inappropriate humour; flippant.

spraak

(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.

spraakzaam

Overly talkative; garrulous.

sprakeloos

(idiomatic) Having nothing to say; not knowing what to say; stunned to the point of being speechless.

sprank

A small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire, resulting from an electrical surge or excessive heat created by friction.

sprankelend

(NZ) A non-alcoholic carbonated beverage.

sprankje

(figuratively) A small or trace amount.

spreekgestoelte

A platform on which to stand, as when conducting an orchestra or preaching at a pulpit; any low platform or dais.

spreekkamer

A room or department where surgery is performed.

spreekster

One who speaks.

spreektaal

Everyday speech or dialect, including colloquialisms, as opposed to standard, literary, liturgical, or scientific idiom.

spreektalig

(linguistics) Characteristic of familiar conversation, of common parlance; informal.

spreekwijze

A colloquialism or idiom.

spreekwoord

An old saying which has obtained credit by long use.

spreeuw

A bird of the species Sturnus vulgaris.

sprei

The top sheet of a bed.

spreiden

(transitive) To extend (individual rays, limbs etc.); to stretch out in varying or opposing directions. [from 13th c.]

spreiding

The act or result of dispersing or scattering; dispersion.

spreidingsbreedte

(statistics) The length of the smallest interval which contains all the data in a sample; the difference between the largest and smallest observations in the sample.

spreken

(formal, intransitive) To talk; to engage in conversation.

sprekend wapen

(countable, heraldry) A blazon of a coat of arms that makes a pun upon the name (or, less often, some attribute or function) of the bearer, canting arms.

spreker

One who speaks.

sprenkelen

To sprinkle or spray.

spreuk

A formula of words used as above.

Spreuken

A book of the Old Testament of Bible, and of the Tanakh, being a collection of moral maxims.

spring

(nautical) A line laid out from a vessel's end to the opposite end of an adjacent vessel or mooring to diminish or control its movement.

springbok

A small, fast antelope native to southern Africa, Antidorcas marsupialis.

springen

(intransitive) To burst or explode; to occur suddenly

springerig

nervy, jumpy, on edge