French–English dictionary

audience

A formal meeting with a state or religious dignitary. [from 16th c.]

audience cible

(media, marketing) The primary group of people for whom a publication, advertisement or other type of media is designed to appeal.

audio

Focused on audible sound, as opposed to sight.

audio-

sound

audiocassette

A small flat case containing magnetic tape on two reels, used to record and play back audio and video material.

audiovisuel

Containing both aural and visual elements.

audit

An independent review and examination of records and activities to assess the adequacy of system controls, to ensure compliance with established policies and operational procedures, and to recommend necessary changes in controls, policies, or procedures

auditeur

One who audits bookkeeping accounts.

auditif

Of or pertaining to sound or hearing.

audition

(uncountable) The sense used to perceive sound.

auditionner

(transitive) To evaluate one or more performers in through an audition.

auditoire

A group of people within hearing; specifically, a large gathering of people listening to or watching a performance, speech, etc. [from 15th c.]

auditorium

The space where the audience is located in a theater, etc.

auditrice

One who audits bookkeeping accounts.

auge

A long, narrow container, open on top, for feeding or watering animals.

augment

(Indo-European languages) In some languages, a prefix *é- (अ- in Sanskrit, ἐ- in Greek) indicating a past tense of a verb.

augmentation

An abrupt increase.

augmenter

(transitive) To supplement.

augmenter [[l']]intervalle

(music) To increase an interval, especially the largest interval in a triad, by a half step (chromatic semitone).

augmentie

(heraldry) A particular mark of honour, granted by the sovereign in consideration of some noble action, or by favour; and either quartered with the family arms, or on an escutcheon or canton.

augure

A diviner who foretells events by the behaviour of birds or other animals, or by signs derived from celestial phenomena, or unusual occurrences.

augurer

To foretell events; to exhibit signs of future events; to indicate a favorable or an unfavorable outcome.

Augustin

A en given name, notably borne by Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430), a church father and a writer.

aujourd'hui

At the present time; in the current era. [from 14th c.]

aujourd’hui

On the current day or date.

aulne

Any of several trees or shrubs of the genus Alnus, belonging to the birch family.

aumône

Something given to the poor as charity, such as money, clothing or food.

aumônier

A member of a religious body who is (often, although not always, of the clergy) officially assigned to provide pastoral care at an institution, group, private chapel, etc.

aune

A standard by which something is evaluated or measured.

auparavant

At an earlier or preceding time.

auprès

Next to; at the side of.

auquel cas

(conjunctive) In that case.

aura

(informal, originally, New Age jargon, often, in the plural) An atmosphere or aura felt to belong to a person, place or thing. [c. 1960s]

aural

Of or pertaining to sound or hearing.

Aurèle

A en given name; of mostly historical use in the Anglo-Saxon world.

Aurélie

A en given name.

auréole

Radiance of luminous cloud that surrounds the figure in a painting of a sacred personage.

auriculaire

Of or pertaining to the ear.

aurige

A person who drives a chariot.

auriverde

Of, from, or pertaining to Brazil, or the Brazilian people.

aurochs

An extinct European mammal, Bos primigenius, the ancestor of domestic cattle.

aurore

(countable) The rising of the sun.

aurore boréale

An atmospheric phenomenon created by charged particles from the sun striking the upper atmosphere, creating coloured lights in the sky. It is usually named australis or borealis based on whether it is in the Southern or Northern Hemisphere respectively.

aurore polaire

An atmospheric phenomenon created by charged particles from the sun striking the upper atmosphere, creating coloured lights in the sky. It is usually named australis or borealis based on whether it is in the Southern or Northern Hemisphere respectively.

Auschwitz

A city in Poland, also called Oświęcim.

ausculter

(transitive) To listen (for example to the heart or lungs) by auscultation; to examine by auscultation.

auspice

An omen or a sign.

auspices

(chiefly, in the plural) Patronage or protection.

aussi

(conjunctive, focus) In addition; besides; as well; further; too. [from 14th c.]

aussière

(nautical) A cable or heavy rope used to tow or moor a ship.

aussitôt

Immediately; now; right away.

aussitôt que

At the moment when; immediately (after); instantly; directly.

austère

Stern, harsh and forbidding.

austral

Of, relating to, or coming from the south.

australien

Of, from, or pertaining to Australia, the Australian people or Australian languages.

Australienne

A person from the country of Australia or of Australian descent.

autant pour moi

I was wrong.

Autel

(constellation) A constellation of the southern sky, said to resemble an altar.

auteur

A creative artist, especially a film director, seen as having a specific, recognisable artistic vision, and who is seen as the single or preeminent ‘author’ of their works.

auteur dramatique

A writer and creator of theatrical plays.

auteur-compositeur

(music) A musician who composes songs; especially writing the song's lyrics and/or creating a melody or a tune for the song.

auteure

The originator or creator of a work, especially of a literary composition; or, one of the creators of a collaborative work.

auteure-compositrice

(music) A musician who composes songs; especially writing the song's lyrics and/or creating a melody or a tune for the song.

authenticité

The quality of being genuine or not corrupted from the original, of having the same origin (or attribution, commitment, intention, etc.) as claimed.

authentifiant

(agent noun) One who, or something which, authenticates, as:

authentification

(computing) Proof of identity required by a user to log on to some network or access some resource.

authentifier

(transitive) To render authentic; to give authority to, by the proof, attestation, or formalities required by law, or sufficient to entitle to credit.

authentique

Belonging to, or proceeding from the original stock; native

authentiquement

In an authentic manner; genuinely

autiste

An autistic person, a person with autism.

autistique

Having autism, or pertaining to autism.

auto

(US, Canada, Philippines, AU, NZ) A type of motor vehicle designed to move on the ground under its own stored power and intended to carry a driver, a small number of additional passengers, and a very limited amount of other load.

auto-

of, by, in or with oneself or itself

auto-immun

(pathology, immunology) Of or pertaining to autoimmunity.

autobiographie

(countable) A self-written biography; the story of one's own life.

autobiographique

Of or relating to a person's life or an account of a person's life, as told by the subject.

autobus

(road transport, dated) A motorbus, as opposed to earlier horse-drawn buses.

autobus sur rails

(rail) A self-propelled railway vehicle for passengers, similar to a bus.

autocar

(British, Australia) A long-distance, or privately hired, bus.

autochtone

A native inhabitant of a country; a member of the original people. [First attested in the early 19th century.]

autoclave

A strong, pressurized, heated vessel, as for laboratory experiments, sterilization, cooking or mineral processing.

autoclaver

(transitive) To sterilize laboratory equipment in an autoclave.

autocollant

A design or picture produced in order to be transferred to another surface either permanently or temporarily.

autocrate

An absolute ruler with infinite power.

autocratie

(uncountable) A form of government in which unlimited power is held by a single individual.

autographe

Written in the author’s own handwriting.

automation

The act or process of converting the controlling of a machine or device to a more automatic system, such as computer or electronic controls.

automatiquement

In an automatic manner.

automatisation

The act or process of converting the controlling of a machine or device to a more automatic system, such as computer or electronic controls.

automatisé

Made automatic.

automobile

(US, Canada, Philippines, AU, NZ) A type of motor vehicle designed to move on the ground under its own stored power and intended to carry a driver, a small number of additional passengers, and a very limited amount of other load.

automobilisme

The act of operating a motorized vehicle; especially, driving a car (motorcar).

automobiliste

One who drives a motor vehicle.

automotrice

(rail) A powered single railway vehicle designed for passenger transport, with a driver's cab in both ends; Not to be confused with motor coach/motorcar, which is a powered railway vehicle capable to haul a train.

autonomie

The distance a vehicle (e.g., a car, bicycle, lorry, or aircraft) can travel without refueling.

autonomisation

The state of being empowered (either generally, or specifically).

autophoto

(informal, mobile phones) A photographic self-portrait, especially one taken manually (not using a timer, tripod etc.) with a small camera or mobile phone.

autopont

A section of a road or path that crosses over an obstacle, especially another road, railway, etc.

autopsie

A dissection performed on a cadaver to find possible cause(s) of death.

autorisation

A permission for a vehicle to proceed, or for a person to travel.

autorisé

Arising or originating from a figure of authority.

autoriser

(transitive) To grant (someone) the permission or power necessary to do (something); to permit; to sanction or consent to.

autoritaire

Arising or originating from a figure of authority.

autorité

A person's concern or sphere of operations, their area of skill or authority.

autoroute

(US, regional) A divided highway, especially one whose intersections and direct access to adjacent properties have been eliminated.

autosexualité

Sexual attraction toward oneself.

autostoppeur

A person or thing that hitchhikes.

autour

In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of; around. [from before 1150]

autre

(philosophy, psychoanalysis) Radical alterity or otherness conceived or reified as a separate entity; “other people” altogether in their difference from oneself.

autre monde

A conscious existence after death; a supernatural life that follows one's natural life, in some worldviews.

autrefois

at some time in the past

autrement

(usually follows interrogative adverbs) Otherwise, if not.

autrement dit

Used to introduce an alternative name.

autres

Other people.

autrice

The originator or creator of a work, especially of a literary composition; or, one of the creators of a collaborative work.

autrice-compositrice

(music) A musician who composes songs; especially writing the song's lyrics and/or creating a melody or a tune for the song.

Autriche

A country in Central Europe. Official name: Republic of Austria. Capital and largest city: Vienna.

autrichien

Of, from, or pertaining to Austria.

Autrichienne

A person from Austria or of Austrian descent.

autruche

(ornithology) A large flightless bird of the order Struthioniformes.

autrui

(philosophy, psychoanalysis) Radical alterity or otherness conceived or reified as a separate entity; “other people” altogether in their difference from oneself.

aux environs de

Within or in the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place. [from ca. 1350–1470]

aux herbes

Made from or with herbs.

aux yeux bandés

Wearing a blindfold

auxiliaire

Subordinate; secondary; auxiliary.

Av

(Judaism) The eleventh month of the civil year and the fifth month of the ecclesiastical year in the Jewish calendar, after Tammuz and before Elul.

av. è. c.

(chronology) Initialism of Before the Common Era, Before the Current Era, or Before the Christian Era.

av. n. è.

Initialism of Before Christ.

avachi

(idiom) A person who spends a lot of time sitting or lying down, often watching television, eating snacks or drinking alcohol. [from 1976]

aval

(transitive) To approve; to accept; to acquiesce to.

aval-pin

A seed-bearing conical fruit of a pine tree.

avalanche

An overwhelming amount of something; anything that overwhelms or causes great destruction.

avalée

The amount swallowed in one gulp; the act of swallowing.

avaler

(intransitive) To take food down into the stomach; to make the muscular contractions of the oesophagus to achieve this, often taken as a sign of nervousness or strong emotion. [from 18th c.]

avaler son extrait de naissance

(idiomatic, euphemistic) To die.

avaliser

(transitive) To approve; to accept; to acquiesce to.

Avalon

(Arthurian legend) An island, represented as an earthly paradise in the western seas, to which King Arthur and other heroes were carried at death.

avance

An amount of money or credit, especially given as a loan, or paid before it is due; an advancement.

avancée

A forward move; improvement or progression.

avancement

An advancement in rank or position.

avancement d'hoirie

(legal) Property given, usually by a parent to a child, in advance of a future distribution.

avancer

(intransitive) To move forwards; to approach. [from 16th c.]

avancer au pas

(transitive) To move over (an area) slowly, with frequent stops.

avances

(often, in the plural) An opening approach or overture, now especially of an unwelcome or sexual nature.

avant

At an earlier time.

avant ceci

(formal, temporal) Before now, until now, up to the present time; from the beginning to this point.

avant coureur

A precursor or harbinger, a warning ahead.

avant que

In advance of the time when.

avant tout

Of prime importance; before anything else; especially.

avant toutes choses

(sequence, idiomatic) Firstly; before anything else.