French–English dictionary

chaumier

A person who installs thatch as a roofing material.

chaussé

Wearing shoes.

chausse-trape

(weaponry) A metal object, usually small, with spikes arranged so that, when thrown onto the ground, one always faces up as a threat to pedestrians, horses, and vehicles (also used as a heraldic charge).

chaussée

(UK, Ireland, Hong Kong) The part of a road that carries traffic.

chausser

(transitive) To put shoes on someone or something else's feet, especially to put horseshoes on a horse.

chaussette

(clothing) A knitted or woven covering for the foot.

chausson

(footwear) A low soft shoe intended for indoor use; a bedroom slipper or house slipper.

chaussure

Items or an item of clothing that is worn on the foot; a shoe, sandal, etc.

chauve

Having little or no hair, fur, or feathers.

chauve-souris

(intransitive) To take a turn at hitting a ball with a bat in sports like cricket, baseball and softball, as opposed to fielding.

chauve-souris vampire

A blood-sucking bat; vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) [from later 18th c.]

chauvesouris

(intransitive) To take a turn at hitting a ball with a bat in sports like cricket, baseball and softball, as opposed to fielding.

chauvin

(pejorative) A chauvinistic person.

chauviniste

(pejorative) A chauvinistic person.

chaux

(chemistry) Any inorganic material containing calcium, usually calcium oxide (quicklime) or calcium hydroxide (slaked lime).

chavirage

An overturning of a boat etc.

chavirer

(transitive, nautical) To cause (a ship) to overturn.

chavisme

A left-wing populist ideology based on the policies of Hugo Chávez, the former president of Venezuela (2002-2013), and the politics of the Bolivarian Revolution (Bolivarianism).

chaviste

A follower of Hugo Chávez or Chavism.

chawarma

A Middle Eastern sandwich-like wrap of shaved lamb, goat, chicken, turkey, beef, or a mixture of these.

cheat

(video games) A hidden means of gaining an unfair advantage in a video game, often by entering a cheat code.

cheau

The young of certain animals, chiefly large carnivorous mammals, including the bear, wolf, fox, lion and tiger.

check-up

A physical examination.

checker

(transitive) To inspect; to examine.

checklist

A list of tasks to be completed, names to be consulted, conditions to be verified and similar.

cheddar

Any similar cheese made anywhere in the world.

Cheerios

A toroidal toasted oat cereal made by General Mills.

cheerleader

(chiefly, US) A person, usually a young, attractive female, who encourages applause and cheers at a sports event, and wearing a specially-designed uniform in the official colors of the team he/she cheers for.

cheerleading

A physical activity in which cheerleaders organize elements of dance, gymnastics, and tumbling for judgment or to cheer on a team.

cheese

A hamburger containing cheese (usually one or more slices of processed cheese).

cheese cake

(countable, and, uncountable, obsolete) A pie made of cream, eggs and milk (somewhat resembling the modern American chess cake).

cheese-cake

(countable, and, uncountable, obsolete) A pie made of cream, eggs and milk (somewhat resembling the modern American chess cake).

cheeseburger

A hamburger containing cheese (usually one or more slices of processed cheese).

cheesecake

(countable, and, uncountable, obsolete) A pie made of cream, eggs and milk (somewhat resembling the modern American chess cake).

chef

The head cook of a restaurant or other establishment.

chef cuisinier

The head cook of a restaurant or other establishment.

chef d'accusation

The result of a tally that reveals the number of items in a set; a quantity counted.

chef d'équipe

(management) The leader of a work crew.

chef d'escadron

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

chef d'escadrons

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

chef d'orchestre

(music) The conductor of a musical ensemble, especially a brass or military band.

chef d’inculpation

The result of a tally that reveals the number of items in a set; a quantity counted.

chef de chœur

the musical director of a choir, who conducts performances and supervises rehearsal

chef de file

One having authority to direct.

chef de gare

(rail) The person in charge of a railroad station, usually an employee of a particular railroad by which the station is owned, but sometimes an employee of a separate corporation, such as one owning a station used by two or more railroads.

chef opérateur

(cinematography) A photographer who oversees the operations of the cameras and lighting when making a film. The cinematographer may also double as the camera operator of the movie camera, though this is usually done by a cameraman. The film director may also double as the cinematographer, though this is usually a different person.

chef-d'œuvre

A piece of work that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career.

chef-d’œuvre

A piece of work that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career.

cheffe opératrice

(cinematography) A photographer who oversees the operations of the cameras and lighting when making a film. The cinematographer may also double as the camera operator of the movie camera, though this is usually done by a cameraman. The film director may also double as the cinematographer, though this is usually a different person.

cheik

The leader of an Arab village, family or small tribe.

chelem

(countable, bridge) A bid of six (small slam) or seven (grand slam) in a suit or no trump.

chelin

(historical) A coin formerly used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Australia, New Zealand and many other Commonwealth countries worth twelve old pence, or one twentieth of a pound sterling.

chelou

(North America, slang) Of questionable or doubtful quality.

chemin

A narrow passageway between fences, walls, hedges or trees.

chemin de fer

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

chemin pédestre

Any set path or trail to be used by people walking.

cheminée

(slang, vulgar) The vagina.

cheminée de fée

(geology) A tall thin spire of rock that protrudes from the bottom of arid basins and badlands.

chemise

(US) A collared shirt with buttons worn as part of a formal, business or business casual outfit.

chemise de nuit

A short nightdress, or similar piece of lingerie.

chemisier

(fashion) A shirt for women or girls, particularly a shirt with buttons and often a collar; a dress shirt tailored for women.

chênaie

(countable) A wood populated with oak trees.

chenapan

A mischievous person, especially a playful, impish youngster.

chêne

A gall on a tree, caused by insects, that resembles a nut.

chéneau

The space around a house on which such water drips.

chênes

Made of oak wood or timber.

chenet

(usually, in plural) A utensil for supporting wood when burning in a fireplace, one being placed on each side

chènevotte

A splinter or fragment of the woody core of flax or hemp broken off in braking or scutching

chenil

A facility at which dogs are reared or boarded.

chenu

Having grey hair.

cheptel vif

Farm animals; animals domesticated for cultivation.

chèque

(UK, Commonwealth, Ireland) A written order directing a bank to pay money to a person or entity.

chèque en bois

(slang, of a draft/check) Not covered by funds on account.

cher

Loved; lovable.

chercher

(transitive, informal) To bring to reckoning; to catch (usually as a criminal); to effect retribution.

chercher la petite bête

(figurative) To correct insignificant mistakes or find fault in unimportant details.

chercher les poux

(archaic, literal) To pick nits (lice eggs) from someone’s hair. I nitpicked his hair.

chercheur

(electronics) The wire that touches the crystal in a crystal radio.

chercheur d'or

Someone who digs or mines for gold.

chercheuse

One who hunts game for sport or for food; a huntsman or huntswoman.

chéri

Much loved, dearly loved.

chérie

Very dear; beloved, cherished, favourite.

chérif

A traditional Arab tribal title for one who serves as the protector of the tribe and all tribal assets.

Cherokees

An indigenous North American people.

cheroot

A cigar with square-cut ends.

chérubique

Of, or relating to a cherub; angelic.

chésias du genêt

A moth of the family Geometridae, Chesias legatella.

chétane

(Islam) Iblis, Satan.

chétif

Of inferior significance, size, or strength; ineffective, small, weak. [from 16th c.]

cheval

(chess, informal) The chess piece representing a knight, depicted as a horse.

cheval de chasse

A horse used in hunting, especially a thoroughbred, bred and trained for hunting.

cheval de course

A horse that competes in races.

cheval de Troie

(figuratively) A subversive person or device placed within the ranks of the enemy.

cheval marin

A semi-aquatic, herbivorous, African hoofed mammal of the family Hippopotamidae.

cheval-vapeur

Metric horsepower, a metric unit approximately equal to 735.5 watts.

chevalerie

The ethical code of the knight prevalent in Medieval Europe, having such primary virtues as mercy towards the poor and oppressed, humility, honour, sacrifice, fear of God, faithfulness, courage and courtesy to ladies.

chevalet

A construction or natural feature that spans a divide.

chevalier

(by extension) An armored and mounted warrior of the Middle Ages.

chevalier du ciel

(aviation, slang) An aircraft pilot, especially of a military combat aircraft.

chevalin

Of or relating to a horse or horses.

chevaucher

(transitive) To be astride something, to stand over or sit on with legs on either side, especially to sit on a horse.

chevelure

(astronomy) A cloud of dust surrounding the nucleus of a comet.

chevêtre

A bitless headpiece of rope or straps, placed on the head of animals such as cattle or horses to lead or tie them.

cheveu

(countable) A pigmented filament of keratin which grows from a follicle on the skin of humans and other mammals.

cheveux

(uncountable) The collection or mass of such growths growing from the skin of humans and animals, and forming a covering for a part of the head or for any part or the whole body.

cheville

The skeletal joint which connects the foot with the leg; the uppermost portion of the foot and lowermost portion of the leg, which contain this skeletal joint.

cheville ouvrière

A pin inserted through holes at the end of an axle or shaft, so as to secure a wheel or shaft-mounted device.

cheviller

(cribbage) To move one's pegs to indicate points scored; to score with a peg.

chèvre

(uncountable) The meat of the aforementioned animal.

chèvre émissaire

Someone unfairly blamed or punished for some failure.

chèvrefeuille

Any of several species of superficially similar plants from Australia

chevrette

A female deer; also used of similar animals such as antelope (less commonly a goat, as nanny is also used).

chevreuil

(countable) A ruminant mammal with hooves and often antlers, of the family Cervidae, or one of several similar animals from related families of the order Artiodactyla, such as the musk deer or mouse deer.

chevron

(orthography, and, typography) A caron; a diacritical mark (ˇ) usually resembling an inverted circumflex, but in the cases of ď, Ľ, ľ, and ť resembling an apostrophe (’) instead.

chevronné

Having chevrons, especially (heraldry) charged with chevrons.

chevroter

Of a sheep or goat, to make its characteristic cry of baas; of a human, to mimic this sound.

chevrotine

(chiefly, US) Lead shot used in shotgun cartridges, made of larger pellets than birdshot and suitable for hunting larger game. [from Template:SAFESUBST: c.]

chewing-gum

(usually, _, uncountable) A sweet chewing gum formulated to be stretchy so the chewer can blow bubbles with it.

Cheyenne

A member of an indigenous people of the Great Plains in North America.

chez

(mail) For distribution by (the named intermediary).

chez soi

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see at,‎ home. In one's place of residence.

chez-moi

A snug, comfortable, or cosy residence or job situation.

chez-soi

A snug, comfortable, or cosy residence or job situation.

chi

The twenty-second letter of the Classical and Modern Greek alphabets.

chialer

(chiefly, derogatory) To cry or weep freely and noisily; to sob.

chialer colloquial

(pejorative, intransitive) To cry while sniffling; to whine or complain while crying.

chiant

Characteristic of a burden; arduous or demanding

chianti

A Tuscan red wine.

chiasse

The watery or very soft excrement that comes from such bowel movements.

chic

Elegant, stylish.

Chicago

A large city, the county seat of Cook County, in northeastern Illinois, United States, located on Lake Michigan.

chicane

(figuratively, by extension) A process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors, particularly if the pointed-out details seem insignificant or irrelevant to all but the finder.

chicaner

(intransitive) To criticise for petty or frivolous reasons.

chicaneur

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

chicha

(recreational inhalants) A pipe with a long flexible tube that draws the smoke through water, traditionally used for smoking tobacco, which is often flavored.

chiche

Like a miser, very or objectionably cautious with money.

chichi

A fried pastry from Spain, typically eaten as a dessert and with chocolate beverage.

chichiter

(intransitive) To make a commotion or uproar.

chicon

(chiefly, Britain) Common chicory (Cichorium intybus), source of Belgian endive, radicchio, and certain other cultivars with other names.

chicorée

(chiefly, Britain) Common chicory (Cichorium intybus), source of Belgian endive, radicchio, and certain other cultivars with other names.

chicot

A stump or base of a branch that has been lopped off; a short branch, or a sharp or rough branch.

chien

(US, slang) A policeman; a detective; a railroad security guard.

chien courant

A dog, particularly a breed with a good sense of smell developed for hunting other animals.

chien d'arrêt

(hunting) A breed of hunting dog, trained to point out game.

chien de chasse

Any of various breeds of dog used by hunters to find, flush out and retrieve birds and other game; an individual of such a breed.

chien de Saint-Hubert

A large scenthound famed for its ability to follow a scent many days old, over vast distances. This dog is often used as a police dog to track missing people, fleeing suspects, or escaped prisoners.

chien de Terre-Neuve

A very large breed of working dog from Newfoundland, with a shaggy, usually black coat, known for its water rescue ability, strength, and gentle disposition.

chien mâle

A mammal of the family Canidae:

chienchien

(countable, childish, or, endearing) A dog, especially a small one.

chiendent

A grass of species Elymus repens, usually considered a weed.