French–English dictionary

à partir de

(idiomatic) At or by a specified time, with the implication that the said condition will be true from that time onward.

à peine

(not comparable, degree) Almost not at all.

à peu près

Imprecise but close to in quantity or amount.

à pic

In a convenient manner, form, or situation; without difficulty.

à plat

(of a tire or other inflated object) Deflated, especially because of a puncture.

à plumes

(poetic) Covered or adorned with something, as if with feathers.

à plus

(colloquial, often, childish) A goodbye.

à plusieurs reprises

Done several times or in repetition.

à poil

(informal, idiomatic) Nude.

à point

In a convenient manner, form, or situation; without difficulty.

à portée de main

Within easy reach; nearby.

à présent

currently, now, at this moment in time, at the present time.

a priori

(logic) In a way based on theoretical deduction rather than empirical observation.

à propos

Of an appropriate or pertinent nature.

à propos de

Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of. [from ca. 1150–1350]

à proximité

Next to, close to.

à quatre façades

Of a house: not joined to another house on either side.

à qui

(interrogative) Of whom, belonging to whom; which person's or people's.

à qui on ne peut pas se fier

Not reliable.

à ras

At the same height as some reference; constructed as level with.

à réaction

Propelled by turbine engines.

à reculons

In a direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.

à savoir

Specifically; that is to say.

à sens unique

Allowing movement, vision, etc. in only one direction; unidirectional.

à soir

During the night following the current day; during the evening of today.

à tartiner

Capable of being spread.

à temps

At or before the time assigned.

à terme

In the end; at some later time, especially after a long time, a series of problems, struggles, delays or setbacks.

à titre posthume

After death.

à tort

In an erroneous manner.

à tort et à travers

In an indiscriminate manner.

à tous crins

With great attention to detail; complete, thorough.

à tous les coins de rue

In or to all locations under discussion.

à tout moment

At any time.

à toute

(slang) see you later; an expression used at parting.

à toute épreuve

(figurative) Reliable, infallible, sturdy or error-tolerant.

à travers

From one side to the other within (a space being traversed).

à un prix abordable

Able to be afforded; inexpensive or reasonably priced.

à voix haute

With a loud voice, or great noise; loudly; audibly.

à vol d'oiseau

(idiomatic) In a straight line distance between two locations, as opposed to the road distance or over land distance.

à votre santé

A common toast used when drinking in company.

à vous

(procedure word, military) A radio procedure word meaning that the station is finished with its transmission and is expecting a response.

à vue de nez

(idiomatic) Upon cursory examination.

a-

Not, without, opposite of.

à-coup

An act of jolting.

a+

(slang) see you later; an expression used at parting.

A2F

(computer security) An identity and access management security method in which users provide two different authentication factors to verify themselves: first the user's password and then a (randomly generated and frequently changing) code generated by an app.

AA

Initialism of Alcoholics Anonymous: a self-supporting organization of alcoholic people.

abaca

The fibre of the abaca.

abacule

(archaic) A small tile of glass, marble, or other substance, of various colors, used in making ornamental patterns in mosaic pavements; abaciscus.

abaissement

(heraldry) A mark of dishonor on an escutcheon; any figure added to the coat of arms tending to lower the dignity or station of the bearer. [Early 17th century.]

abaisser

(transitive) To lower, as in condition in life, office, rank, etc., so as to cause pain or hurt feelings; to degrade, to depress, to humble, to humiliate. [from c. 1350–1470]

abandon

The act of abandoning, or the state of being abandoned; total desertion; relinquishment. [Late 16th century.]

abandonné

No longer maintained by its former owners, residents, or caretakers; forsaken, deserted. [Late 15th century]

abandonner

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

abaque

A device used for performing arithmetical calculations; (rare) a table on which loose counters are placed, or (more commonly) an instrument with beads sliding on rods, or counters in grooves, with one row of beads or counters representing units, the next tens, etc. [from late 17th c.]

abasourdi

Astonished or confounded with fear, surprise, or wonder; greatly surprised (often with ensuing adpositions e.g. at, with, or by).

abasourdir

(transitive) To stun or stupefy, for example with bright light, with a blow, with cold, or with fear.

abasourdissant

Very baffling, confusing, or perplexing, often due to a very large choice being available.

abat

(usually, in the plural) The edible viscera of a bird.

abat-jour

A cover over a lamp to either diffuse the light or to block it in certain directions to avoid glare in the eyes.

abâtardir

(transitive) To lower in character, quality, or value; to degrade.

abats

The internal organs of poultry birds, used as food.

abattage

(uncountable) The killing of animals, generally for food.

abattement

An amount abated; that which is taken away by way of reduction; deduction; decrease; a rebate or discount allowed; in particular from a tax. [Late 15th century.]

abattoir

A public slaughterhouse for cattle, sheep, etc. [Early 19th century.]

abattre

To bring down (someone) mentally or physically; to lower (someone) in status. [14th–17th c.]

abattu

Sad because of a disappointment.

Abbas

A en given name.

abbatial

Belonging to, relating to, or pertaining to an abbey, abbot, or abbess. [late 17th century]

abbatiat

The dignity, estate, term, or jurisdiction of an abbot or abbess. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

abbats

The internal organs of a human or animal; especially viscera, intestines.

abbé

The superior or head of an abbey or monastery. [First attested around the early 12th century.]

abbesse

A female superior or governess of a nunnery, or convent of nuns, having the same authority over the nuns which the abbots have over the monks. [First attested around 1150 to 1350]

abcéder

(intransitive) To form a pus-filled cavity, typically from an infection.

abcès

(pathology) A cavity caused by tissue destruction, usually because of infection, filled with pus and surrounded by inflamed tissue. [First attested in the mid 16th century.]

Abdallah

A en given name.

abdication

The act of abdicating; the renunciation of a high office, dignity, or trust, by its holder. [First attested in the early 17th century.]

abdiquer

(transitive, or, intransitive) To voluntarily leave (a job or position), in particular a hard-fought position of high status. [from 14th c.]

abdo

(informal) Clipping of abdominal muscle [mid 20th century].

abdominal

Of or pertaining to the abdomen; ventral. [Mid 18th century.]

abdos

(informal) The abdominal muscles. [First attested in the mid 20th century.]

Abdoul

A en given name used by Muslims.

Abdoullah

A en given name.

abducteur

One who abducts; a kidnapper. [mid 19th century]

abducteuse

One who abducts; a kidnapper. [mid 19th century]

Abdullah

A en given name.

abécédaire

(historical) A member of a 16th-century Anabaptist sect, follower of the Zwickau prophets (and specially of Thomas Storch), who believed that any kind of knowledge (even basic reading and writing) would keep one from obtaining salvation. [from 19th c.]

abécédarien

(historical) A member of a 16th-century Anabaptist sect, follower of the Zwickau prophets (and specially of Thomas Storch), who believed that any kind of knowledge (even basic reading and writing) would keep one from obtaining salvation. [from 19th c.]

abeille

(informal, proscribed) Any stinging flying insect, especially a wasp.

aber

(geography) A narrow inlet of the sea formed by a flooded unglaciated river valley. [from 19th c.]

aberrance

State of being aberrant; a wandering from the right way; deviation from truth, rectitude. [Mid 17th century.]

aberrant

(informal) Characterized by excess or the utmost folly; ridiculous; impractical.

aberration

(astronomy) A small periodical change of the apparent positions of the stars and other heavenly bodies, due to the combined effect of the motion of light and the motion of the observer. [Mid 18th century.]

abêtissement

Mental lethargy or dullness.

abhorrable

Offensive, disagreeable, abominable, execrable.

abhorrer

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

Abigaël

(biblical character) The wife of Nabal and later of David in the Old Testament.

Abigaëlle

A en given name, used since the 16th century, and currently quite popular.

Abigail

(biblical character) The wife of Nabal and later of David in the Old Testament.

abigéat

(archaic) Theft of cattle by driving it away with the intention of feloniously appropriating it.

abilité

Forms a noun from a verb or an adjective by changing from -able; ability, inclination or suitability for a specified function or condition.

abîme

Hell; the bottomless pit; primeval chaos; a confined subterranean ocean. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

abîmer

(figurative) To impede the development or growth of (an aspect of life); to damage, to ruin, to spoil.

abiotique

Nonliving, inanimate, characterised by the absence of life; of inorganic matter. [mid-20th c.]

abject

Existing in or sunk to a low condition, position, or state; contemptible, despicable, miserable. [from early 15th c.]

abjecte

Of a person: cast down in hope or spirit; showing utter helplessness, hopelessness, or resignation; also, grovelling; ingratiating; servile. [from mid 14th c.]

abjection

A low or downcast condition; meanness of spirit; abasement; degradation. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]

abjuration

A solemn recantation or renunciation on oath; as, an abjuration of heresy. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

abjurer

(transitive) To renounce or deny something, especially under oath.

able

Able to be done; fit to be done.

ablette

A small fresh-water fish (Alburnus alburnus); the bleak.

abnégation

A denial; a renunciation; denial of desire or self-interest. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

Abner

(biblical character) A cousin of Saul mentioned in the Old Testament.

aboiement

The short, loud, explosive sound uttered by a dog, a fox, and some other animals.

abolir

To end a law, system, institution, custom or practice. [First attested from around 1350 to 1470.]

abolissement

The act of abolishing; abolition; destruction. [First attested from the mid 16th century.]

abolition

The act of abolishing; abolition; destruction. [First attested from the mid 16th century.]

abolitionniste

A person favoring or advocating for the abolition of any particular institution or practice. [since the late 18th century]

abominable

Worthy of, or causing, abhorrence, as a thing of evil omen; odious in the utmost degree; very hateful; detestable; loathsome; execrable. [first attested around 1150 to 1350]

abominablement

In an abominable manner; very odiously; detestably. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

abominer

(transitive) To feel disgust towards; to loathe or detest thoroughly; to hate in the highest degree, as if with religious dread. [First attested in the mid 17th century.]

abondamment

In an abundant manner; in a sufficient degree; in large measure. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

abondance

A more-than-adequate amount; plenitude.

abondant

Fully sufficient; found in copious supply; in great quantity; overflowing. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

abonder en

To be copiously supplied. [with in or with ‘something’]

abonné

(social media) An account holder who subscribes to see content from another account on a social media platform.

abonnée

(social media) An account holder who subscribes to see content from another account on a social media platform.

abonnement

A subscription or season ticket in a French-speaking country or another country where abonnement is the local term. [First attested in the late 19th century.]

abonner

(ergative) To sign up to have copies of a publication, such as a newspaper or a magazine, delivered for a period of time.

abordable

Able to be afforded; inexpensive or reasonably priced.

abordage

The act of a sailor or boarding party attacking an enemy ship by boarding it.

aborder

(transitive, nautical) To (at least attempt to) capture an enemy ship by going alongside and grappling her, then invading her with a boarding party.

aborigène

Of or pertaining to Australian Aboriginal peoples, or their languages. [First attested in the 19th century.]

abortif

(pharmaceutical effect) Producing miscarriage. [First attested in the mid 19th century.]

abot

(mostly, in the plural) One of the short straps tied between the legs of unfenced horses, allowing them to wander short distances but preventing them from running off.

abouter

(intransitive) To touch by means of a mutual border, edge or end; to border on; to lie adjacent (to); to be contiguous (said of an area of land) [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

aboutir

(intransitive) To touch by means of a mutual border, edge or end; to border on; to lie adjacent (to); to be contiguous (said of an area of land) [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

aboutir à

(transitive) To finalize, bring to a conclusion, form the climax of.

aboyer

(transitive) To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay.

aboyeur

A person employed to solicit customers by calling out to passersby, e.g. at a carnival.

abracadabra

Used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed. [from 19th c.]

abraser

(transitive) To rub or wear off; erode. [First attested in the late 17th century.]

abrasif

Producing abrasion; rough enough to wear away the outer surface. [First attested in 1805.]

abrasion

Injury or wear caused by friction.

abrasivité

The property, quality or instance of being abrasive.

abrégé

Cut or shortened, especially of a literary work.

abréger

(transitive) To make shorter; to shorten (in time); to abridge; to shorten by ending sooner than planned. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]

abreuver

To make (someone or something) completely wet by having water or some other liquid fall or thrown on them or it; to saturate, to soak; also (archaic) , to make (someone or something) completely wet by immersing in water or some other liquid; to soak, to steep.

abreuvoir

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