French–English dictionary

mahométan

(now, largely, _, obsolete, and, offensive) Muslim, Islamic.

mai

The fifth month of the Gregorian calendar, following April and preceding June.

Maïa

(Greek god) Daughter of Atlas and mother of Hermes.

maïeuticien

(obstetrics) A person, usually a woman, who is trained to assist women in childbirth, but who is not a physician.

maigre

Angular, bony, and lean.

maigrelet

(informal) Thin, generally in a negative sense (as opposed to slim, which is thin in a positive sense).

maigreur

(US) The state of being meager.

maigrichon

Thin, malnourished, and weak.

maigrir

(intransitive) To become less heavy or obese.

mail

An enclosed shopping centre. [from 20th c.]

maillage

The adding of a grid of lines to a map etc.

maille

(graph theory) The length of the shortest cycle in a graph.

maille à l’envers

A particular stitch in knitting in which the working yarn is pulled through an existing stitch from front to back.

maillet

(music) A small hammer-like tool used for playing certain musical instruments.

mailloche

A type of mallet with a large wooden head, used to drive wedges, beat pavements, etc.

maillot

An athletic shirt or a similarly cut undershirt.

maillot de bain

A pair of specifically designed shorts worn by men and boys for swimming or bathing.

Main

A river in southern Germany, flowing from Bavaria to the Rhine.

main sur le front

A gesture of bringing one or both palms to the face, with various interpretations including exasperation, chagrin, frustration, embarrassment (one's own or vicarious), etc.

main-d'œuvre

The collective group of people who are available for employment, whether currently employed or unemployed (though sometimes only those unemployed people who are seeking work are included).

mainate

One of the South and East Asian birds of the starling family Sturnidae.

Maine

A state of the United States; probably named for the province in France. Capital: Augusta. Largest city: Portland.

mainmise

(sports) In wrestling, karate (etc.), a type of hold that can result in strangulation.

mains

The part of the forelimb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals.

maintenance

Actions performed to keep some machine or system functioning or in service.

maintenant

At this moment, at present, now.

maintenant que

(often, with that) Since, because, in light of the fact.

maintenir

(transitive) To take hold of; to hold fast; to adhere to.

maintien

The act of sending an accused person back into custody whilst awaiting trial.

maintien de la paix

The act of preserving peace, specifically between hostile groups or states, especially by a sanctioned military force. [from 17th c.]

maire

(Ireland, rare, obsolete) A member of a city council.

mairesse

(Ireland, rare, obsolete) A member of a city council.

mais

But, except.

maïs éclaté

(chiefly, uncountable) A snack food made from corn or maize kernels popped by dry heating.

mais pas

Except that (introducing a subordinate clause which qualifies a negative statement); also, (archaic) with omission of the subject of the subordinate clause, acting as a negative relative, "except one that", "except such that".

maïs soufflé

(chiefly, uncountable) A snack food made from corn or maize kernels popped by dry heating.

maische

(uncountable) A mass of mixed ingredients reduced to a soft pulpy state by beating or pressure; a mass of anything in a soft pulpy state.

maison

One’s own dwelling place; the house or structure in which one lives; especially the house in which one lives with one's family; the habitual abode of one’s family.

maison arboricole

(chiefly, US) A house, or similar structure within a tree, or several trees, built with light materials.

maison close

A house of prostitution.

maison d'enfants

A public institution for the care and protection of children whose parents have died or can no longer care for them.

maison d'hôte

A small house near a main house, for lodging visitors.

maison d’édition

A person or (especially) a company who publishes, especially books.

maison dans les arbres

(chiefly, US) A house, or similar structure within a tree, or several trees, built with light materials.

maison de cour

A public building housing courts of law.

maison de thé

A cafe or restaurant that serves tea, usually with light food.

maison de tolérance

A house of prostitution.

maison de ville

A house in an urban setting.

maison du portier

Ellipsis of porter's lodge: a building or room near the entrance of an estate or building, especially (UK, Canada) as a college mailroom.

maison longue

A long communal housing of the Iroquois and some other American Indians, the Malaysians, the Indonesians, the Vikings, and many other peoples.

maisonnette

a small house

Maître

(archaic) A squire; a youth who in the hopes of becoming a knight attended upon a knight

maître andouiller

The first tine of an antler's beam.

maître brasseur

A person in charge of beer production at a brewery

maître chanteur

Someone who blackmails.

maître d'armes

A person skilled at using swords in sport or combat; a fencer.

maître d'école

A person who teaches, especially one employed in a school; preceptor.

maître d’hôtel

A waiter who has a supervisory position over the other wait staff; chief waiter.

maître de cérémonie

(ambitransitive) To act as the master of ceremonies (for).

maître de conférence

A member of a university or college below the rank of assistant professor or reader; docent; lector.

maître de conférences

(education) A teacher in a higher education institution who ranks above an assistant professor and below a professor.

maître de l'affaire

(law) A legal person that authorizes another (the agent) to act on their behalf; or on whose behalf an agent or gestor in a negotiorum gestio acts.

maître de maison

One which receives or entertains a guest, socially, commercially, or officially.

maître des hautes œuvres

An official person who carries out the capital punishment of a criminal.

maître-chanteur

Someone who blackmails.

maître-nageur

A lifesaver: a rescuer, usually an expert swimmer, employed to save swimmers in trouble or near drowning at a body of water.

maître-nageuse

A lifesaver: a rescuer, usually an expert swimmer, employed to save swimmers in trouble or near drowning at a body of water.

maîtresse

The other woman in an extramarital relationship, generally including sexual relations.

maîtresse de cérémonie

(ambitransitive) To act as the master of ceremonies (for).

maîtresse de maison

A female host.

maîtrise

power of control, direction or disposal; mastery.

maîtriser

(transitive) To become the master of; to subject to one's will, control, or authority; to conquer; to overpower; to subdue.

majesté

a term of address for royalty and imperiality

majestueux

Having qualities of splendor or royalty.

majeur

Fully grown.

major

(military ranks) A rank of officer in the army and the US air force, between captain and lieutenant colonel.

majoration

An increase in price.

majordome

The chief male servant of a household who has charge of other employees, receives guests, directs the serving of meals, and performs various personal services.

majoritairement

By means of a majority.

majorité

The time period of a person's majority, following puberty and lasting until death.

majuscule

(slang, dated) used as an expression of approval, satisfaction, or delight.

makaire

Any species of game fish belonging to either of the genera Tetrapturus or Makaira, with a crested dorsal fin and a pointed, spear-like projection of the upper jaw.

mal

In a bad manner.

mal aéré

Poorly ventilated; partially plugged.

mal articuler

To run together; to articulate poorly.

mal au dos

Any pain or ache in the back.

mal au ventre

Any pain in the belly, stomach, or abdomen.

mal aux dents

(medicine) A pain or ache in a tooth.

mal caduc

(pathology) A medical condition in which the sufferer experiences seizures (or convulsions) and blackouts.

mal de dents

(medicine) A pain or ache in a tooth.

mal de mer

Nausea, dizziness etc caused by the motion of a ship; a form of motion sickness.

mal de Sainte-Marie

(pathology) An infestation of parasitic mites, Sarcoptes scabiei, causing intense itching caused by the mites burrowing into the skin of humans and other animals. It is easily transmissible from human to human; secondary skin infection may occur.

mal de tête

(pain) A pain or ache in the head.

mal du pays

The characteristic of being homesick; a strong, sad feeling of missing one's home (and often left-behind loved ones, such as family and friends) when physically away.

mal élevé

(pejorative) A child who is regarded as mischievous, unruly, spoiled, or selfish.

mal élevée

(pejorative) A child who is regarded as mischievous, unruly, spoiled, or selfish.

mal en point

(figurative) Beset by trouble or difficulty.

mal fixé

Not fixed in place tightly or firmly.

mal interpréter

(transitive) To understand incorrectly, while believing one has understood correctly.

mal nourri

Suffering from malnutrition.

mal payé

Getting too little financial compensation for one's work.

mal prononcer

(transitive) To pronounce (a word, phrase, etc.) incorrectly.

mal se conduire

(intransitive, or, reflexive) To act or behave in an inappropriate, improper, incorrect, or unexpected manner.

mal-être

Mental or bodily distress.

mal-voyant

(not comparable) Unable to see, or only partially able to see.

mal-voyante

(not comparable) Unable to see, or only partially able to see.

malabar

(by extension, colloquial, derogatory) A tall, strong, heavily built person, usually a man, especially one prone to physical violence; a strong and tough person.

malade

Sickly; sick; ill; unwell.

malade mental

Having a psychological disorder.

malade mentalement

Having a psychological disorder.

malades

(less common in the, _, UK, and, Ireland) In poor health; ill.

maladie

Something which ails one; a disease; sickness.

maladie du charbon

(pathology) An acute infectious disease of herbivores, especially sheep and cattle, caused by Bacillus anthracis.

maladif

(medicine) Relating to, amounting to, or caused by a physical or mental disorder.

maladresse

The state or quality of being awkward; clumsiness; unskillfulness.

maladroit

Lacking dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments.

Malaga

A port city, the capital of the province of Malaga, Andalusia, Spain.

malais

Of or relating to the Malays, a people living in Brunei, on the eastern coast of Sumatra, the islands of Bangka and Belitung, the Riau archipelago and the coastal areas of Kalimantan in Indonesia, in most of Malaysia (states where they are politically dominant), in Singapore and in the southernmost provinces of Thailand.

malaisant

(colloquial) That causes one to cringe with embarrassment; embarrassing.

Malaise

(countable) A person of Malay ancestry, referring to a diverse group of Austronesian peoples inhabiting the Malay archipelago and Malay peninsula in Southeast Asia.

Malaisie

A country in Southeast Asia. Capital: Kuala Lumpur.

Malaisien

A native of Malaysia.

Malaisienne

A native of Malaysia.

malandrin

(historical) A person, usually mounted on horseback, who robbed travelers on public roads.

malard

A male duck.

malaria

(disease) A disease spread by mosquito, in which a protozoan, Plasmodium, multiplies in blood every few days.

Malawi

A country in Southern Africa. Official name: Republic of Malawi.

malayalam

A Dravidian language spoken in the states of Kerala and Lakshadweep, India.

malchance

(uncountable) Bad luck.

malchanceux

Very unlucky; ill-fated.

Maldives

An archipelago and country in South Asia, located in the Indian Ocean off the coast of India. Official name: Republic of Maldives. Capital: Malé.

Malé

The capital city of the Maldives.

mâle alpha

(zoology, ethology) The dominant male in a group of animals.

mâle dominant

(zoology, ethology) The dominant male in a group of animals.

maléfice

A magical effect or influence induced by an incantation or formula. [from 16th c.]

maléfique

Intending to harm; malevolent.

malencontreusement

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

malencontreux

Marked or accompanied by or resulting in misfortune.

malentendu

The state of being confused; misunderstanding.

malévolent

Having or displaying ill will; wishing harm on others.

malfaisance

The state or characteristic of being nefarious.

malfaisant

Morally corrupt.

malfaiteur

A person who performs evil acts.

malfaitrice

A person who performs evil acts.

malformation

An abnormal formation.

malgré

In allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing.

malgré le fait que

In allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing.

malgré tout

(conjunctive) Regardless; anyhow. [from 19th c.]

malheur

(uncountable) The state of adverse conditions; state of misfortune or calamity.

malheureuse

An unhappy, unfortunate, or miserable person.