German–English dictionary

Spitzeldienste erledigen

(slang, intransitive) To contact or cooperate with the police for any reason.

Spitzeldienste verrichten

(slang, intransitive) To contact or cooperate with the police for any reason.

spitzen

(transitive, sometimes, figurative) To make sharp.

Spitzenbedarf

Any sudden large demand for something.

Spitzengruppe

A special group or social class of people who have a superior social or economic status and attendant power, advantages, or privileges in society; a member of such a group.

spitzenmäßig

(idiomatic, often hyphenated) Good, superior, excellent.

spitzer Winkel

(geometry) An angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees.

spitzfindig

(obsolete) That captures; especially, (of an argument, words etc.) designed to capture or entrap in misleading arguments; sophistical.

Spitzfindigkeit

An argument or objection based on an ambiguity of wording or similar trivial circumstance; a minor complaint. [from 17th c.]

Spitzhacke

A tool used for digging; a pickaxe.

Spitzkiel

Any of several plants indigenous to the western United States, of genus Oxytropis or Astragalus.

spitzkriegen

(transitive) To discover deceitful or underhanded behaviour.

Spitzmaus

Any of numerous small, mouselike, chiefly nocturnal, mammals of the family Soricidae.

Spitzname

A term used as a descriptive substitute for the name or title of a person.

Spitzturm

(architectural element) An upright member, generally ending in a small spire, used to finish a buttress, to constitute a part in a proportion, as where pinnacles flank a gable or spire.

Spitztüte

A piece of paper twisted to be used as a container.

Spleen

(mostly, in plural) A quirk, idiosyncrasy, frailty, or mannerism; an unusual habit that is slightly strange or silly.

spleenig

Not in perfect mental working order; eccentric, peculiar.

Spleenigkeit

An impulsive, illogical or capricious character.

Spleiß

(nautical) A loop of rope with a knot at one end to catch in an eye at the other end. Used to secure oars etc. at their place.

spleißen

To unite, as two ropes, or parts of a rope, by a particular manner of interweaving the strands, the union being between two ends, or between an end and the body of a rope.

splenisch

(biology) Related to the spleen.

Splint

(uncountable) The sapwood, or alburnum, of a tree.

Splinter

A long, sharp fragment of material, often wood.

Split

A port city in Croatia.

Splitt

A collection of hard small materials, such as dirt, ground stone, debris from sandblasting or other such grinding, or swarf from metalworking.

Splitter

A sharp, pointy object, such as a sliver or splinter.

Splittergruppe

A group that formed by splitting off from a larger membership.

splitternackt

(chiefly, British, slang) Completely nude.

spoilern

(transitive) To prematurely reveal major events or the ending of (a story etc.); to ruin (a surprise) by exposing ahead of time as a spoiler.

Spökenkieker

One who attempts to predict the future, using magic, intuition or intelligence; a diviner.

sponsern

(transitive) To be a sponsor for.

Sponsoring

(uncountable) The state or practice of being a sponsor.

spontan

Not posed or rehearsed.

spontan musizieren

(music) To play music (especially improvisation as a group, or an informal unrehearsed session).

Spontaneität

(uncountable) The quality of being spontaneous.

Spontanität

(uncountable) The quality of being spontaneous.

Sponti

(figurative) An argumentative troublemaker or revolutionary; one who agitates against the status quo.

Spoofing

(computing) A method of attacking a computer program, in which the program is modified so as to appear to be working normally when in reality it has been modified with the purpose of circumventing security mechanisms.

sporadisch

Rare and scattered in occurrence.

Spore

A thick resistant particle produced by a bacterium or protist to survive in harsh or unfavorable conditions.

Sporn

A rigid implement, often roughly y-shaped, that is fixed to one's heel for the purpose of prodding a horse. Often worn by, and emblematic of, the cowboy or the knight.

Sporran

A small pouch, usually made of either fur or plain or fur-trimmed leather, which is worn, suspended from a belt or chain, on the front of a kilt and used to hold various items normally carried in trouser pockets.

Sport

(countable, uncountable) Activity intended to improve physical, or sometimes mental, strength and fitness.

Sportanzug

A two-piece garment worn during exercise.

Sporthalle

(formal) A large room or building for indoor sports.

sportiv

(not comparable) Pertaining to sports

Sportler

A participant in any of a group of sporting activities including track and field, road running, cross country running and racewalking.

Sportlerin

A participant in any of a group of sporting activities including track and field, road running, cross country running and racewalking.

sportlich

(not comparable) Having to do with athletes.

Sportlichkeit

The behaviour exhibited in playing sports, either good or bad.

Sportplatz

(sports, UK, Australia, NZ) The field on which cricket, soccer, rugby, gridiron or field hockey is played. (In cricket, the pitch is in the centre of the field; see cricket pitch.) (Not often used in the US or Canada, where "field" is the preferred word.)

Sportschuhe

(US, Atlantic Canada, Australia, New Zealand) An athletic shoe with a soft, rubber sole. A trainer.

Sportsfrau

(countable) A person who exhibits either good or bad sportsmanship.

Sportsfreund

(US, slang, pejorative) An enthusiastic athlete or sports fan, especially one with few other interests, often stereotyped as slow-witted person of large size and great physical strength.

Sportsgeist

The behaviour exhibited in playing sports, either good or bad.

Sportskanone

(US, slang) A young male athlete (through college age).

Sportsmann

(countable) A person who exhibits either good or bad sportsmanship.

Sportsuspensorium

(sports) An athletic supporter worn by men and boys to support the genitals during strenuous exercise.

Sporttasche

A large bag for carrying belongings while travelling.

Sportunterricht

Physical education class (PE class).

Spott

Act of treating with disdain.

Spott treiben

(intransitive) To mock or tease, treat lightly, toy with.

Spott treiben mit

(transitive) To make fun of (someone); to goad (a person) into responding, often in an aggressive manner.

Spottdrossel

A person who mocks.

Spöttelei

A facetious or insulting remark; a jeer, a taunt.

spöttelnd

Treating serious issues with (often deliberately) inappropriate humour; flippant.

spotten

(intransitive, with at) To utter sarcastic or mocking comments; to speak with mockery or derision; to use taunting language.

Spötter

A person who belittles the worth of another person or cause.

spöttisch

Expressing or characterized by derision; mocking; ridiculing.

spöttische Bemerkung

A facetious or insulting remark; a jeer, a taunt.

Spottschrift

A written attack or other work ridiculing a person, group, or institution; especially, a satirical one.

Sprach-

Used in speaking.

Sprache

A language or language variety; specifically, a restricted dialect used in a given historical period, context etc.

Sprachfertigkeit

The quality of artistry and persuasiveness in speech or writing.

Sprachform

(linguistics) A specific form of a language, neutral to whether that form is an accent, dialect, register, etc., and to its prestige level; an isolect or lect.

Sprachforscher

(usually) One who studies modern-day linguistics, that is, linguistic science.

Sprachforscherin

(usually) One who studies modern-day linguistics, that is, linguistic science.

sprachig

Forming adjectives: speaking a certain language.

Sprachkunst

(countable, and, uncountable, linguistics) A system of rules and principles for the structure of a language, or of languages in general.

Sprachlehre

(countable, and, uncountable, linguistics) A system of rules and principles for the structure of a language, or of languages in general.

sprachlich

Of or relating to language.

sprachlich gewandt

Speaking in a clear and effective manner; having both good articulation and good elocution.

sprachliche Einheit

(grammar) A functional element of a phrase or clause

sprachlos

Stunned or entranced.

Sprachmelodie

(linguistics) The rise and fall of the voice in speaking.

Sprachrohr

A portable, usually hand-held, funnel-shaped device that is used to amplify a person’s natural voice toward a targeted direction.

Sprachschnitzer

(grammar) An error in the use of language.

Sprachsünde

(grammar) An error in the use of language.

Sprachvarietät

(linguistics) A specific form of a language, neutral to whether that form is an accent, dialect, register, etc., and to its prestige level; an isolect or lect.

Sprachverlust

(linguistics) The loss of a first or second language or a portion of that language.

Sprachvermögen

The ability to speak.

Sprachwechsel

(linguistics) The phenomenon or practice of alternating between two or more languages or language varieties.

Sprachwissenschaft

The systematic and scholarly study of language.

Sprachwissenschaftler

(usually) One who studies modern-day linguistics, that is, linguistic science.

Sprachwissenschaftlerin

(usually) One who studies modern-day linguistics, that is, linguistic science.

sprachwissenschaftlich

Of or relating to linguistics.

Spray

A fine, gentle, dispersed mist of liquid.

Sprayhood

(countable, nautical) A frame-supported canvas over the companionway (entrance) of a sailboat providing the on-deck crew partial cover from the splashes of the seas that break against the hull of the boat.

Sprech-

Used in speaking.

Sprechanlage

An intercom system which enables someone, without opening the door, to converse with the person who has rung the doorbell.

sprechen

(formal, intransitive) To talk; to engage in conversation.

sprechend

Having the ability of speech.

Sprecher

One who makes announcements.

Sprecher der Geschworenen

(legal) The member of a jury who presides over it and speaks on its behalf.

Sprecherin

One who speaks for or acts on behalf of another in a particular (especially official) capacity. [from 17th c.]

Sprecherin der Geschworenen

(legal) The member of a jury who presides over it and speaks on its behalf.

Sprechfähigkeit

The ability to speak.

Sprechflüssigkeit

(linguistics) The quality of being fluent in a language; a person's command of a particular language.

Sprechkapsel

The part of a telephone that is held close to the mouth.

Sprechmuschel

The part of a telephone that is held close to the mouth.

Sprechstallmeister

The person who manages the performers in a circus ring.

Sprechtechnik

The art of speaking, especially public speaking, with expert control of gesture and voice, diction (articulation and word choice), and usage.

Sprechtrichter

A portable, usually hand-held, funnel-shaped device that is used to amplify a person’s natural voice toward a targeted direction.

Sprechweise

A certain way of speaking, of using words; especially that associated with a particular job or interest.

Sprechzimmer

(dated, except in, Mid-Atlantic US) The living room of a house, or a room for entertaining guests; a room for talking; a sitting-room or drawing room.

Spree

A river in Germany that flows through Lusatia and into Berlin, where it flows into the Havel.

Spreißel

A long piece cut or rent off; a sharp, slender fragment.

Spreizdorn

A round object used as an aid for shaping a material, e.g. shaping or enlarging a ring, or bending or enlarging a pipe without creasing or kinking it.

Spreize

A posture in which one straddles something.

spreizen

To spread, spread apart, or spread out (something); to expand.

sprengen

(transitive) To cause to break from internal pressure.

Sprengkopf

The part of a missile, projectile, torpedo, rocket, or other munition which contains either the nuclear or thermonuclear system, high explosive system, chemical or biological agents, or inert materials intended to inflict damage.

sprenglich

Having a mottled or spotted skin or coat, dappled.

sprenglig

Having a mottled or spotted skin or coat, dappled.

Sprengmittel

Any explosive substance.

Sprengstoff

An explosive device used or intended as a weapon, especially, one dropped from an aircraft.

Sprenkel

A small spot or speck on the skin, plumage or foliage.

sprenkeln

To mark or become marked with mottling or spots.

sprenklich

Having a mottled or spotted skin or coat, dappled.

Spreu

The inedible parts of a grain-producing plant.

Sprezzatura

Nonchalance.

Sprichwort

An old saying which has obtained credit by long use.

sprichwörtlich

Widely known; famous; stereotypical.

Sprieß

(chiefly, construction) A beam or rod providing support.

Sprieße

The transverse piece in a chain-cable link.

Sprießel

A small branch, especially on an antler or horn.

Sprießen

The act of budding or sprouting.

sprießend

That buds, grows or expands; developing.

springen

(intransitive, computing) To jump to a different location in a program, especially as the result of a conditional statement.

springen lassen

(transitive) To throw an object so it bounces on water.

springend rennen

To travel an easy pace with long strides.

springender Punkt

(figuratively) A problem or difficulty with something.

Springer

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

Springeranzug

A one-piece item of clothing originally used by parachutists.

Springerin

Someone or something that jumps, e.g. a participant in a jumping event in track or skiing.

Springerkombi

A one-piece item of clothing originally used by parachutists.

Springmesser

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

Sprinkler

An irrigation device that sprays water into the air whilst moving back and forth.

Sprinkleranlage

An irrigation device that sprays water into the air whilst moving back and forth.