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French–English dictionary

Look up a French word and see what it means in English — with pronunciation, part of speech and example sentences, not just a bare equivalent.

All French words, A–Z

dans le sens antihoraire
(Commonwealth, UK, Ireland) In an anticlockwise fashion.
dans le sens du courant (descente, vers la vallée)
Following the path of a river or stream.
dans les plus brefs délais
As soon as is possible; at one's earliest convenience; at the earliest possible time.
dans toutes les directions
(dated) At large; widely; broadly; over a wide space. [from 1150–1350]
danse
A sequence of rhythmic steps or movements usually performed to music, for pleasure or as a form of social interaction.
danse de salon
A type of elegant dance.
danser
(intransitive) To move with rhythmic steps or movements, especially in time to music.
Danseur
The second reindeer of Santa Claus.
Danseuse
The second reindeer of Santa Claus.
Dante
A en given name, presumably in honor of the poet Dante Alighieri.
Dantzick
Gdańsk (especially in reference to the times when it was part of a German-speaking state such as Prussia or Germany).
Dantzig
Gdańsk (especially in reference to the times when it was part of a German-speaking state such as Prussia or Germany).
Danube
(with the) A river in Europe; flowing 2850 kilometers from the confluence of the Breg and Brigach at Donaueschingen, Germany, into the Black Sea in Romania.
dard
Any sharp-pointed missile weapon, such as an arrow.
Darfour
A region in western Sudan where the Fur live.
Darius
Any of several kings in Achaemenid dynasty of Persia, 6th to 4th century BCE.
darkroom
A darkened room where sexual activity can take place, especially one in a gay club.
darse
(US, nautical) A fixed structure attached to shore to which a vessel is secured when in port; usually for loading and unloading.
darwinien
Of or pertaining to the scientific views advanced by the English biologist, geologist, and naturalist Charles Darwin, especially his theory that living organisms evolve through the natural selection of inherited variations that increase organisms' ability to compete, survive, and reproduce.
darwinisme
The principles of natural selection set out in Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species (1859), more strictly defined by August Weismann and developed by other authors into a central part of the modern evolutionary synthesis.
darwinisme social
(science) The theory that the laws of evolution by natural selection also apply to social structures.
dasein
(philosophy) Being; especially the nature of being; existence, presence, hereness, suchness, essence
database
(computing, loosely, metonymically) A software program (application) for storing, retrieving and manipulating such a structured data set.
datation
An estimation of the age of an artifact, biological vestige, linguistic usage, etc.
datcha
A Russian villa or summer house in the countryside.
date
A specific day in time at which a transaction or event takes place, or is appointed to take place; a given point of time.
date de naissance
The date on which someone is born or something is created, more commonly called birthdate or date of birth.
datte
The fruit of the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera, somewhat in the shape of an olive, containing a soft, sweet pulp and enclosing a hard kernel. [from 14th c.]
daube
An object, person or endeavour in a state of failure, has failed at something or incapable of success.
dauber
(obsolete, transitive) To ridicule, or mock; to make sport of.
dauphin
The eldest son of the king of France. Under the Valois and Bourbon dynasties, the Dauphin of France, generally shortened to Dauphin, was heir apparent to the throne of France. The title derived from the main title of the Dauphin, Dauphin of Viennois.
Dauphin Dauphine
A game for three or more players, involving the gradual elimination of players by throwing and catching a ball.
Dauphiné
(historical) A former province in southeastern France, centred on Grenoble.
davantage
Used to form the comparative form of adjectives and adverbs. [from 13thc.]
davier
An instrument used in surgery or medical procedures for grasping and holding objects, similar to tongs or pincers.
Davos
A mountain resort and municipality in Grisons, Switzerland, host of the World Economic Forum.
DCA
Ground-based anti-aircraft guns firing explosive shells. [from 1938]
de
Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of. [from ca. 1150–1350]
dé à coudre
(sewing) A pitted, now usually metal, cup-shaped cap worn on the tip of a finger, which is used in sewing to push the needle through material.
de bambou
Made of the wood of the bamboo.
de béton
(not comparable) Made of concrete (building material).
de bon augure
Of good omen; indicating future success.
de bon goût
Having or exhibiting good taste; aesthetically pleasing or conforming to expectations or ideals of what is appropriate.
de bonne augure
Characteristic of a good omen.
de bonne foi
In good faith; sincere; without deception or ulterior motive.
de bonne heure
(idiomatic, originally, US) (Very) early in the morning.
de bonne humeur
Noticeably happy and optimistic.
de bric et de broc
Unrelated and unspecialized; heterogeneous.
de ce fait
(formal) By it; by that; by that means, or as a consequence of that.
de ce pas
(chiefly, formal, literary, law) Without delay; immediately. [from early 14th c.]
de chocolat
Made of or containing chocolate.
de choix
Especially good or preferred.
de ciblage
Involved in the transportation or correct positioning of a protein inside or outside a specific region of the cell.
de compagnie
(literally) Kept or treated as a pet.
de confiance
Deserving of trust, reliable.
de couleur
Having a particular color or kind of color.
de coupure
The point at which something terminates or to which it is limited.
de cristal
(uncountable) A fine type of glassware, or the material used to make it.
de cuir
Made of leather.
de dentelle
Made of lace or decorated with it.
de dernière minute
(idiomatic) Very close to a deadline or potential crucial event.
de droit
According to what is right, or what one is legally or morally entitled to; justly, properly, rightfully.
de droite
(politics) Pertaining to the political right; conservative.
de façon analogue
In an analogous manner; in a manner which evokes analogy.
de façon intéressante
In an interesting way.
de façon satisfaisante
In a satisfactory manner, in a manner adequate to requirements.
de facto
In actual use or existence, regardless of official or legal status.
de fait
In actual use or existence, regardless of official or legal status.
de fantaisie
Of a superior grade.
de fer
(uncountable, figurative) Used as a symbol of great strength or toughness, or to signify a very strong or tough material.
de fortune
(nautical) For temporary use; applied to a temporary contrivance.
de gauche
(politics) Open to political or social changes and reforms associated with either classical or modern liberalism.
de gré à gré
(finance) Involving direct interaction between two parties without an intermediary, and denoting any market where items such as stocks or currency are bought and sold by direct arrangement between counterparties, or through a private broker, rather than on a public stock exchange or other exchange.
de guingois
Turned or twisted to one side.
de hasard
Happening by chance.
de jure
Legal; justified by right or by law, especially when in name only.
de justesse
(idiomatic) Barely; closely; by a narrow margin; with nothing to spare.
de l'[[après-midi]]
(used after the hour) In the 12-hour period from noon to midnight (the latter half of the day) when using the 12-hour clock.
de l'eau a coulé sous les ponts
(idiomatic) Something in the past that cannot be controlled or undone, but must be accepted, forgiven, or forgotten.
de l’arithmétique
(mathematics) Of, relating to, or using arithmetic; arithmetical.
de la
An indefinite quantity.
de la campagne
From or in the countryside, connected with it, or typical of it.
de la contrée
From or in the countryside, connected with it, or typical of it.
de la nuit
(used after the hour) In the 12-hour period from noon to midnight (the latter half of the day) when using the 12-hour clock.
de laquelle
(relative) Of which, belonging to which.
de Londres
The capital city of the United Kingdom; the capital city of England, within Greater London. Situated on the tidal River Thames in southeast England, with a metropolitan population of more than 13,000,000.
de loup
Suggestive or characteristic of a wolf.
de luxe
Very fine in quality or luxurious.
de malade
(slang) Very good, excellent, awesome, badass.
de manière appropriée
In an appropriate manner; properly; suitably.
de manière décisive
In a decisive manner.
de manière inattendue
In an unexpected manner.
de mauvais augure
Having a bad omen; inauspicious; unlucky.
de mauvais goût
(idiom) Offensive or inappropriate (of an action, often of jokes).
de mauvais poil
Visibly irritated or annoyed; grouchy, irritable, in a foul mood; given to complaining or finding fault in an annoyed way.
de même
(manner) In a similar manner.
de niveau
Smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out.
de nos jours
At the present time; in the current era. [from 14th c.]
de nouveau
Used metalinguistically, with the repetition being in the discussion, or in the linguistic or pragmatic context of the discussion, rather than in the subject of discussion. [from 16thc.]
de nulle part
(idiomatic) In an unexpected or inexplicable manner of arrival or occurrence.
de pierre
Constructed of stone.
de plein air
Situated in, designed to be used in, or carried on in the open air. [from 18th c.]
de plus
By way of addition; in addition to; also.
de plus en plus
Increasing in amount or intensity.
de poche
Of a size suitable for putting into a pocket.
de pointe
At the highest level of development at a particular time; cutting-edge.
de préférence
In preference; by choice; in a preferable manner.
de premier ordre
(idiomatic) Very good; of the highest level or quality. [from 1848]
de première
Of major significance or importance.
de province
From or in the countryside, connected with it, or typical of it.
de pure forme
Performed in a careless or indifferent manner as a thing of rote.
de qui
(relative) Of whom, belonging to whom.
de renom
Famous, celebrated, or well-known; widely praised or highly honored.
de retour
(not comparable) To or in a previous condition or place.
de rien
A polite way of responding to thanks, by suggesting that the service is too trivial or humble to warrant thanks; you're welcome.
de sauvegarde
(computing) That is intended as a backup.
de seconde main
(of goods) Not new; previously owned and used by another.
de service
Actively engaged in an assigned task, duty or occupation.
de seuil
The point at which something terminates or to which it is limited.
de sorte que
Indicates result; in order that, with the result that.
de suite
(informal) Consecutively; in a row.
de surcroît
(conjunctive) Also; in addition.
de tous côtés
(dated) At large; widely; broadly; over a wide space. [from 1150–1350]
de tout cœur
In earnest; sincerely; with one's full feeling.
de toute évidence
In a manner which makes the fact or conclusion evident; obviously; as may be clearly inferred. [from 17th c.]
de toute façon
(chiefly, US, informal) From any perspective; in every case.
de toute manière
(Singapore, Singlish, predicative) Random, careless, offhand, disorderly; done without thought or consideration.
de toutes parts
In every part; everywhere.
de trait
Referring to animals used for pulling heavy loads.
de travers
(of a look or glance) With disapproval, skepticism, or suspicion.
de traviole
Turned or twisted to one side.
de triomphe
That celebrates or commemorates a triumph or victory.
de trop
In excess.
de valeur
Good and important enough to spend time, effort, or money on.
de vanille
(of flavor, etc.) Of vanilla.
de viande
Of, relating to, or containing meat.
de zest
Having a piquant or pungent taste; spicy.
dé-
reversal, undoing
DEA
diethanolamine
dealer
(slang) A male drug dealer.
déambulateur
A walking frame or baby walker.
déambulatoire
Of, relating to, or adapted to walking.
déambuler
(intransitive) To stroll or walk slowly and leisurely.
débâcle
(figurative) An event or enterprise that ends suddenly and disastrously, often with humiliating consequences. [from early 19th c.]
déballage
The removal of something from its box; an unpacking.
déballer
(transitive) To remove from a package or container, particularly with respect to items that had previously been arranged closely and securely in a pack.
débandade
A wild, headlong running away or scamper of a number of animals, usually caused by fright.
débaptisation
A ceremony supposed to cancel a person's earlier baptism.
débardage
(forestry) The logging operation for pulling cut trees out of a forest.
débarquer
(transitive) To unload goods from an aircraft or ship.

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