French–English dictionary

coupés

(participial adjective) Having been cut.

coupeur

A person or device that cuts (in various senses).

coupeuse

A person or device that cuts (in various senses).

couple

(nautical) A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon.

coupler

(transitive) To couple.

couplet

(literature) A pair of lines, typically with rhyming end words.

coupleur

(engineering) A tube connector; a standardized connecting part of a piping system to attach sections of pipe together, such as a coupling

coupole

(architecture) A dome-shaped ornamental structure located on top of a larger roof or dome.

coupon

A section of a ticket, showing the holder to be entitled to some specified accommodation or service, as to a passage over a designated line of travel, a particular seat in a theater, a discount, etc.

coups et blessures

(legal) The infliction of unlawful physical violence on a person, legally distinguished from assault, which involves the threat of impending violence.

coupure

An opening of a living body resulting from cutting; an incision or wound.

coupure de courant

A large-scale power failure, and resulting loss of electricity to consumers.

cour

The persons officially assembled under authority of law, at the appropriate time and place, for the administration of justice; an official assembly, legally met together for the transaction of judicial business; a judge or judges sitting for the hearing or trial of cases.

cour à scrap

A business that sells used metal or items.

cour de récré

(outdoors) A large open space for children to play in, usually having dedicated play equipment (such as swings and slides). [1780]

cour de récréation

(outdoors) A large open space for children to play in, usually having dedicated play equipment (such as swings and slides). [1780]

cour du roi Pétaud

A place or situation of chaotic uproar, and where confusion prevails.

courage

(uncountable, figuratively) Courage, fortitude, or strength.

courage militaire

chivalrous courtliness, especially towards women.

courageux

Courageous or showing bravery; doughty.

couramment

In a fluent manner, as expressing oneself easily, especially in a foreign language.

courant

The state of being current; general acceptance, recognition or use.

courant d'air

A current of air, usually coming into a room or vehicle.

courant de retour

A short-range flow of water returning seaward from the waves breaking on the shore.

courante

(slang, often with "the") Diarrhea/diarrhoea.

courbé

(Of something that is usually straight) Folded, dented.

courber

(intransitive) To become curved.

courbes

A grading system based on the scale of performance of a group used to normalize a right-skewed grade distribution (with more lower scores) into a bell curve, so that more can receive higher grades, regardless of their actual knowledge of the subject.

coureur

Someone who takes part in a race.

coureur de jupons

A man whose chief interest is seducing, usually women.

coureuse

Someone who takes part in a race.

courge

A kind of vegetable similar to a large courgette, zucchini or squash.

courgette

(British, Ireland, uncountable) A particular variety of Cucurbita pepo, a small marrow/squash.

courir

(intransitive) To move in a specified direction.

courir en bondissant

To travel an easy pace with long strides.

couronne

(botany) A structure surrounding a sporangium (or part of it) which shrinks and causes it to rupture for spore dispersal; specifically, in a fern: a structure around about two-thirds of the sporangium consisting of differentially thick-walled cells which dry and distort the sporangium; and in a moss: a complete ring of cells around the tip of the sporangium which dissolves to cause the tip to detach.

couronne de laurier

A crown of laurel.

couronne de lauriers

A crown of laurel.

couronné de succès

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

couronnement

(figurative) A crowning achievement, culmination or finishing touch.

courriel

(uncountable) A system for sending messages and datas by means of computers connected together in a network.

courriel indésirable

(uncountable, rarely, countable, computing, Internet) Unsolicited bulk electronic messages.

courrieller

(transitive) To send an email or emails to.

courrier

(chiefly, _, US, uncountable) The letters, parcels, etc. delivered to a particular address or person. [from 19thc.]

courrier électronique

(uncountable) A system for sending messages and datas by means of computers connected together in a network.

courroie

A band that is used in a machine to help transfer motion or power.

courroux

A strong and unpleasant feeling of displeasure, hostility, or antagonism towards someone or something, usually combined with an urge to yell, say curse words, and/or physically harm or cause damage or destruction to things or attack or assault living beings, often stemming from perceived provocation, hurt, threat, insults, or unfair or unjust treatment, or a situation not going the way one had desired or planned.

cours

A series of lessons covering a single subject.

cours d'eau

(chiefly, eastern, _, North Midland US, especially, Ohio, Pennsylvania) A small creek or part thereof. (Compare Southern US branch and New York and New England brook.)

cours magistral

A spoken lesson or exposition, usually delivered to a group.

course

A journey undertaken to accomplish some task.

course d'orientation

(sport) The act of racing across unfamiliar place using a map and compass.

courses

Retail foodstuffs and other household supplies; the commodities sold by a grocer or in a grocery store.

coursier

A person who delivers messages.

coursive

A passage between two rows of cabins in a ship.

court

Of short duration; happening quickly. [from 15th c.]

court de tennis

The persons officially assembled under authority of law, at the appropriate time and place, for the administration of justice; an official assembly, legally met together for the transaction of judicial business; a judge or judges sitting for the hearing or trial of cases.

court-circuiter

(ambitransitive, business, banking, finance) To carry out disintermediation, to remove another from intermediation.

courtage

The occupation of being a broker.

courtaud

(euphemistic, of a person) Fat.

courtepointe

A bed covering consisting of two layers of fabric stitched together, with insulation between, often having a decorative design.

courter

(intransitive) To act as a broker; to mediate in a sale or transaction.

courtier

A mediator between a buyer and seller.

courtisan

A person in attendance at a royal court.

courtisane

A female prostitute, especially one with high-status or wealthy clients.

courtiser

(transitive) To attempt to attract; to invite by attractions; to allure.

courtois

Showing regard or thought for others; especially, displaying good manners or etiquette.

courtoisement

In a courteous manner; with obliging civility or condescension; politely.

courtoisie

(uncountable) Polite behavior.

couru d'avance

(informal) inevitable; settled

couscous

A pasta of North African origin made of crushed and steamed semolina.

cousin

(specifically) When used without a qualifying word: the child of a person's parent's brother (that is, an uncle) or sister (an aunt); a cousin-german, a first cousin.

cousine

(specifically) When used without a qualifying word: the child of a person's parent's brother (that is, an uncle) or sister (an aunt); a cousin-german, a first cousin.

coussin

(baseball) One of the four places that a runner can stand without being subject to being tagged out when the ball is in play.

coussin d'agenouilloir

A cushion used primarily in churches for kneeling on while praying. [from 16th c.]

coussin gonflable

A rubber or plastic inflatable cushion.

coussin gonflable de sécurité

(automotive) A protective system in automobiles in which when a crash occurs, a bag containing nitrogen, formed by the explosive decomposition of sodium azide, quickly inflates in front of the driver or passenger, preventing injury to the head. Side air bags, including the back seat passengers, also prevent injury.

coussin péteur

An inflatable bag containing a valve at its neck that retains the air in the bag until pressure is put on it (usually by someone unintentionally sitting on it after it has been placed on a chair by someone else as a practical joke), when the air is expelled with a sound similar to that of someone farting (breaking wind).

coussinet

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

coussinette

A flattened mass of anything soft, to sit or lie on.

coût

Amount of money, time, etc. that is required or used.

couteau à cran d'arrêt

A folding knife with a blade which opens automatically (under spring pressure) when a button is pressed.

coutelier

One whose business is making or dealing in cutlery.

coutelière

One whose business is making or dealing in cutlery.

coûter

(transitive, ditransitive) To incur a charge of; to require payment of a (specified) price.

coûteux

Of high cost; expensive.

coutil

A strong, durable cotton fabric with a strong bias (diagonal) in the weave.

coutre

A cutter, consisting of a blade in either knife form or disk form, attached to the ploughbeam of a plough to cut the sward, in front of the ploughshare and mouldboard.

coutume

Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; method of doing, living or behaving.

coutumier

In accordance with, or established by, custom or common usage.

couture

The craft of making custom clothing for women, such as dresses, blouses, and evening gowns.

couturier

A person who designs haute couture (high fashion).

couturière

A person who designs haute couture (high fashion).

couvée

A group or bunch (of people or things). [from 20th c.]

couvent

(chiefly, _, Christianity) The residence of a female religious community, a monastery for nuns.

couver

(transitive) To keep an egg warm to make it hatch.

couvercle

A protective cover or seal.

couvert

(uncountable) Regular meals in a place of lodging; the price paid for them.

couverts

(chiefly, UK) Eating or serving utensils such as knives, forks, and spoons.

couverts de table

(chiefly, UK) Eating or serving utensils such as knives, forks, and spoons.

couverture

(chiefly, espionage, law enforcement) A fictitious account of a person's history designed to conceal their actual history and motives.

couverture de risque

(finance) Contract or arrangement reducing one's exposure to risk (for example the risk of price movements or interest rate movements).

couveuse

A heated box used for chicks or premature babies.

couveuse artificielle

A facility where eggs are hatched under artificial conditions, especially those of fish or poultry.

couvoir

A facility where eggs are hatched under artificial conditions, especially those of fish or poultry.

couvre-chef

(headwear) A covering for the head, often in the approximate form of a cone, dome or cylinder closed at its top end, and sometimes having a brim and other decoration.

couvre-lit

The topmost covering of a bed, often functioning as a blanket.

couvreur

A craftsman who lays, or repairs roofs.

couvrir

(transitive) To cover with, or as if with, a blanket.

couvrir de chaume

To cover the roof with straw, reed, leaves, etc.

coven

A formal group or assembly of witches.

covoiturage

An arrangement whereby several people travel together in the same car in order to save costs, reduce pollution etc.

cow-boy

A man who tends free-range cattle, especially in the American West.

cow-girl

A woman who tends free-range cattle, especially in the American West.

cowboy

A man who tends free-range cattle, especially in the American West.

coyau

(architecture) A flared extension at the base of a sloped roof.

coyote

(canid) Canis latrans, a species of canine native to North America.

CPM

(government, Canada, Australia, Singapore) Initialism of Prime Minister's Office; The Office of the Prime Minister, composed of the prime minister and his or her top political staff.

cqcd

(Internet slang, text messaging) Lots of laughs. (occasionally used)

crabe

(uncountable) The meat of this crustacean, served as food; crabmeat.

crachat

(uncountable, slang) Saliva or phlegm.

crachement

(countable) An instance of spitting; specifically, a light fall of rain or snow.

cracher

To expel from the lungs, throat, stomach, etc. by coughing.

crachin

Light rain.

crack

(obsolete) One who excels; the best, especially a winning racehorse.

cracker

A dry, thin, crispy baked bread (usually salty or savoury, but sometimes sweet, as in the case of graham crackers and animal crackers).

crackeur

(computing) One who cracks (i.e. overcomes) computer software or security restrictions.

crackeuse

(computing) One who cracks (i.e. overcomes) computer software or security restrictions.

Cracovie

A city on the Vistula River, the capital of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland and the former capital (until 1596) of Poland as a whole.

crafter

(video games) To combine multiple items to form a new item, such as armour or medicine.

craie de cire

A stick of colored chalk or wax used for drawing.

craignant Dieu

(religion) Following the precepts of a religious practice; respecting and revering God and his authority.

craignos

Risky.

craindre

(transitive) To be afraid of (something or someone); to consider or expect (something or someone) with alarm.

crainte

A feeling of fear and reverence.

craintif

(Scotland) Frightened, timid.

cramoisi

Having a deep red colour.

cramoisir

(intransitive) To become red or pink in the face (and sometimes experience an associated feeling of warmth), especially due to shyness, love, shame, excitement, or embarrassment.

crampe

A painful contraction of a muscle which cannot be controlled; (sometimes) a similar pain even without noticeable contraction.

crampon

A protrusion on the bottom of a shoe or wheel meant for better traction.

crampons

Tires with metal protrusions used for improved traction on snow and ice in winter.

cran

(British, informal) (originally "bottle and glass" as rhyming slang for "arse") Nerve, courage.

cran de chute

The notch cut in a tree to direct its fall when being felled.

crâne

(skeleton) The main bones of the head considered as a unit; including the cranium, facial bones, and mandible.

crâne d'œuf

(pejorative) A bald person, especially a man.

crâneur

One who affects some behaviour, style, attitude or other condition, often to impress or influence others.

crâneuse

One who affects some behaviour, style, attitude or other condition, often to impress or influence others.

crânien

(anatomy) Of or relating to the cranium, or to the skull.

cranson de Bretagne

(uncountable) A pungent condiment made from the root of the plant.

crapahuter

(transitive, colloquial) to walk about or over (a place) aimlessly or insouciantly.