French–English dictionary

avant-bras

(anatomy) The part of the arm between the wrist and the elbow.

avant-dernier

(UK, in, _, US, _, usually, formal) Next to last, second to last; immediately preceding the end of a sequence, list, etc.

avant-garde

A unit or units leading the way of advancing or marching troops, guarding them from ambushes, reconnoitering and pursuing the enemy, etc.

avant-goût

A sample taken in anticipation; an experience undergone in advance.

avant-hier

(This entry is a translation hub.)

avant-midi

(used after the hour) In the 12-hour period from midnight to noon (the first half of the day) when using the 12-hour clock.

avant-plan

The elements of an image which lie closest to the picture plane.

avant-poste

A military post stationed at a distance from the main body of troops.

avant-propos

An introductory section preceding the main text of a book or other document; especially, one written by another person (not the author of the work thus introduced).

avant-scène

The part of a theatre stage in front of the closed curtain.

avant-train

(military) A two-wheeled vehicle to which a wheeled artillery piece or caisson may be attached for transport.

avantage

An advantage; help or aid from something.

avantager

(transitive) to provide (someone) with an advantage, to give an edge to [from 15th c.]

avantageux

Favorable; advantageous.

avare

Actuated by avarice; extremely greedy for wealth or material gain; immoderately desirous of accumulating property.

avarice

Excessive or inordinate desire of gain; greed for wealth

avaricieux

Having greed; consumed by selfish desires.

avarié

No longer fresh, new, or interesting, in reference to ideas and immaterial things; clichéd, hackneyed, dated.

avatar

(internet, video games) A complex and dynamic digital representation of a person or being in the form of a digital model, used online as a simulation or emulation of a person, or as a person's online alter ego, in a virtual world, virtual chat room, or metaverse.

AVC

(medicine) Initialism of cerebrovascular accident.

avec

In addition to.

avec des glaçons

Poured over ice, usually in reference to alcoholic drinks.

avec du retard

In a belated manner; tardily.

avec enthousiasme

In an enthusiastic manner.

avec équipage

Operated by, performed by, or transporting a person; crewed; piloted; staffed.

avec force

With either physical or coercive force; in a forceful manner; vigorously; powerfully.

avec gout

(obsolete) Having or showing good taste; tasteful.

avec méfiance

(of a look or glance) With disapproval, skepticism, or suspicion.

avec pas de

Not doing or not having done something.

avec préjugé

Exhibiting prejudice or bias.

avec quoi

with this; especially, with this letter or communication

avec succès

In a successful manner; with success; without failing.

avec un peu de chance

(uncomparable) It is hoped that; I hope; we hope. [from 18th c.]

avec zèle

Like, or in the manner of, a zealot; with great zeal or zealotry.

aveline

The fruit of the hazel, especially Corylus avellana, which is grown commercially.

avelinier

(countable) A tree or shrub of the genus Corylus, bearing edible nuts called hazelnuts or filberts.

avenant

In public bodies, any alteration made or proposed to be made in a bill or motion that adds, changes, substitutes, or omits.

avenir

Having to do with or occurring in the future.

Avent

(Christianity) The period or season of the Christian church year between Advent Sunday and Christmas: the period of the advent (approaching) of Christmas.

aventure

A person with whom someone has an adulterous relationship.

aventure sans lendemain

(idiomatic) A single sexual encounter between two individuals, where at least one of the partners has no immediate intention or expectation of establishing a longer-term sexual or romantic relationship.

aventureux

(of a, person) Inclined to adventure; willing to take risks; prone to embark on hazardous enterprises; daring.

aventurier

One who enjoys adventures.

aventurière

One who enjoys adventures.

aventurisme

(politics) The taking of excessive risks by a government in their political, economic or foreign affairs. [from 20th c.]

avenue

The principal walk or approach to a house which is withdrawn from the road, especially, such approach bordered on each side by trees; any broad passageway thus bordered.

avers

Turned or facing toward the observer.

averse

A sudden heavy rainstorm.

aversion

(uncountable, countable) Extreme aversion or detestation; the feeling of utter dislike or loathing. [Mid 17th century.]

averti

Based on relevant information.

avertir

(transitive, with of or against) To advise against wrongdoing; to caution; to warn against danger or an offense.

avertissement

Prudence when faced with, or when expecting to face, danger; care taken in order to avoid risk or harm.

aveu

The act of acknowledging

aveugle

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

aveuglément

In a blind manner; without sight.

aveugler

(transitive) To make temporarily or permanently blind.

aviaire

Characteristic of or pertaining to birds, or to bird-like or flying creatures.

aviateur

A person of a rank in the U.S. Air Force above airman basic and below airman first class.

aviation

The art or science of making and flying aircraft.

aviatrice

A woman who flies in an aircraft; a female aviator.

avide

Enthusiastic; keen; eager; showing great interest in something or desire to do something.

avidement

In an eager manner.

avidité

A selfish or excessive desire for more than is needed or deserved, especially of money, wealth, food, or other possessions.

avien

Characteristic of or pertaining to birds, or to bird-like or flying creatures.

Avignon

A city, the capital of Vaucluse department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.

avilir

(transitive) To tarnish something, especially someone's reputation.

avilissant

Degrading; that degrades.

avilissement

The act of debasing or the state of being debased; a lowering or degradation, especially in character or quality.

avion

(chiefly, US, Canada, Philippines) A powered heavier-than-air aircraft with fixed wings.

avion de chasse

(by extension) Someone who is very attractive; a sex symbol.

avion de ligne

A passenger-carrying aircraft, especially one of a fleet operated by an airline.

avion-canard

(aviation) A type of aircraft in which the primary horizontal control and stabilization surfaces are in front of the main wing.

aviron

A type of lever used to propel a boat, having a flat blade at one end and a handle at the other, and pivoted in a rowlock atop the gunwale, whereby a rower seated in the boat and pulling the handle can pass the blade through the water by repeated strokes against the water's resistance, thus moving the boat.

avis

A public notice.

avisé

Quickly and critically discerning.

avocaillon

An unscrupulous or unethical lawyer, especially one of lesser skill.

avocasser

(intransitive) To quibble over trivial matters; nitpick.

avocat

Anyone who argues the case of another; an intercessor. [from 14th c.]

avocate

Anyone who argues the case of another; an intercessor. [from 14th c.]

avocatier

The large, usually yellowish-green or black, savory fruit of the avocado tree.

avoine

(uncountable) Widely cultivated cereal grass, typically Avena sativa.

avoir

(rare, and, regional, chiefly, in the past tense) Used to link two noun clauses: a day of the week, recurring date, month, or other specific time (on which the event of the main clause took place) and a period of time indicating how long ago that day was. [from 15th c.]

avoir [[l']]effet inverse

(idiomatic, transitive) To fail in a manner that brings down further misfortune.

avoir confiance

(transitive) To place confidence in, to rely on, to confide in.

avoir de l'amertume

(transitive) To feel resentment over; to consider as an affront.

avoir deux mains gauches

(idiom) Clumsy; awkward; not dextrous.

avoir du chagrin

(transitive) To feel very sad about; to mourn; to sorrow for.

avoir du mal à respirer

To breathe hard, and with an audible piping or whistling sound, as persons affected with asthma.

avoir du succès

(intransitive) To come in the place of another person, thing, or event; to come next in the usual, natural, or prescribed course of things; to follow; hence, to come next in the possession of anything; (often with to).

avoir faim

(intransitive) To be in need of food.

avoir foi en quelqu’un

(transitive) To give credence to; to believe; to credit.

avoir froid

Indicates that the speaker feels cold.

avoir horreur

(transitive) To regard (someone or something) as horrifying or detestable; to feel great repugnance toward. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]

avoir l'air

To try to see, to pay attention to with one’s eyes.

avoir l'estomac dans les talons

(intransitive) To be very hungry.

avoir l'habitude de

(intransitive, archaic, or, literary, _, except in past tense) To habitually do; to be wont to do. (Now chiefly in past-tense forms; see used to.)

avoir l'intention

(ambitransitive, usually followed by particle "to" + verb, or "on"/"upon" + noun) To fix the mind upon (something, or something to be accomplished); be intent upon

avoir l'intention (de)

To intend. [(usually) with to (+ infinitive)]

avoir la chair de poule

(intransitive) To feel a swarming sensation.

avoir la gueule de bois

Suffering from a hangover.

avoir la tête dans le cul

(UK, Irish, Commonwealth, slang, sometimes, offensive) Tired or exhausted.

avoir la tête qui tourne

Experiencing a sensation of whirling and of being giddy, unbalanced, or lightheaded.

avoir le béguin

(intransitive, transitive) To feel infatuation or unrequited love.

avoir le cœur brisé

(idiomatic) Grieved and disappointed, especially by the loss of a beloved person or thing, such as the end of a romantic relationship.

avoir le droit de

All right, acceptable, permitted.

avoir le hoquet

(intransitive) To produce a hiccup; have the hiccups.

avoir le vertige

Experiencing a sensation of whirling and of being giddy, unbalanced, or lightheaded.

avoir lieu

(intransitive) To happen or take place.

avoir mal

(intransitive, stative) To suffer pain; to be the source of, or be in, pain, especially continued dull pain; to be distressed.

avoir mal aux cheveux

Suffering from a hangover.

avoir peur

To take dismay or fright; to be filled with dismay.

avoir sa place

(intransitive) To have its proper place.

avoir soif

(figuratively, intransitive, usually, _, with 'for' or 'after') To have a desire (for); to long; to yearn.

avoir son voyage

(informal, idiomatic) Frustrated, annoyed, or tired, to the limit of one's endurance, especially by something that one has experienced for too long. [with with or (British English) of]

avoir tendance à

(followed by a to-infinitive) To be likely, or probable to do something, or to have a certain habit or leaning. [from mid-14th c.]

avoir un accrochage

(transitive, chiefly, road transport, informal, Britain) To have a minor collision, especially in a motor car.

avoir un goût

(intransitive, copulative) To have a taste; to excite a particular sensation by which flavor is distinguished.

avoir une araignée au plafond

Of unsound mind; insane; demented. [from 17th c.]

avoir une double casquette

To work on the side (at a secondary job), often in the evening or during the night.

avoir une entrevue

(intransitive) To be interviewed; to attend an interview.

avoirs

(accounting) The total assets minus total liabilities of an individual or a company.

avoisinant

(American spelling) Situated or living nearby or adjacent to.

avortement

(biology) Arrest of development of any organ, so that it remains an imperfect formation or is absorbed. [from 18th c.]

avortement de procès

(legal) A trial that is prematurely ended upon being declared invalid because of an error in procedure, or because of a hung jury.

avorter

(transitive, intransitive) To cause a premature termination of (a fetus); to end a pregnancy before term. [Attested since at least the 19th century.]

avorton

(military, aeronautics) An early termination of a mission, action, or procedure in relation to missiles or spacecraft; the craft making such a mission.

avouer

(transitive, or, intransitive) To concede as true; to acknowledge or assent to, as an allegation which it is impossible to deny (+ to).

avr.

Abbreviation of April.

avril

The fourth month of the Gregorian calendar, following March and preceding May.

Awa

(language) a Kainantu language spoken in Papua New Guinea.

axe

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

Axel

A en given name in quiet use since the 19th century.

ayant du succès

Resulting in success; assuring or promoting success; accomplishing what was proposed; having the desired effect.

ayatollah

(Shi'ism) A religious leader in Twelver Shi'ism.

Aymeric

A surname transferred from the given name.

ays

Used to form the name of a territory, country, or region.

azalée

A plant of the obsolete genus Azalea.

azimut

(mechanical engineering) A mechanical device that supports another part or reduces friction.

azotate

(chemistry) Any salt or ester of nitric acid.

azote

(uncountable) The chemical element (symbol N) with an atomic number of 7 and atomic weight of 14.0067. It is a colorless and odorless gas.

azoteux

(chemistry) Of, relating to, or derived from nitrogen, especially in which the valence of the nitrogen is lower than that of a corresponding nitric species. [from 17th c.]

azotique

(obsolete) Pertaining to azote, or nitrogen; formed or consisting of azote

Azraël

The angel of death in Catholic and Orthodox Christianity, and in Islam.

azur

Sky blue; resembling the clear blue colour of the unclouded sky.

azurer

(transitive, laundry) To brighten by treating with blue (laundry aid).

Bab

ʻAlí Muḥammad (1820–1850), the founder of Bábism.

babet

A seed-bearing conical fruit of a pine tree.

babeurre

The liquid left over after producing butter from full cream milk by the churning process, also called traditional buttermilk.

babil

A sound like that of water gently flowing around obstructions.

babillage

Idle talk; senseless prattle