Spanish–English dictionary

alterar

(ambitransitive) To change the form or structure of.

altercado

A noisy disorderly quarrel, fight, brawl, disturbance or scrap.

altercar

(intransitive) To argue, quarrel or wrangle.

alternador

(electrical engineering) An electric generator which produces alternating current through mechanical means.

alternancia

The reciprocal succession of (normally two) things in time or place; the act of following and being followed by turns; alternate succession, performance, or occurrence

alternancia de código

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

alternar

(transitive) To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly.

alternativa

Relating to a choice between two or more possibilities.

alternativo

Relating to a choice between two or more possibilities.

alteza

The style of a prince, princess or someone of equivalent rank.

altillo

An intermediate floor or storey in between the main floors of a building; specifically, one that is directly above the ground floor which does not extend over the whole floorspace of the building, and so resembles a large balcony overlooking the ground floor; an entresol.

altilocuente

(of a person, their language or writing) showy in speech and given to using flowery or elaborate terms; grandiloquent; pompous

altílocuo

(of a person, their language or writing) showy in speech and given to using flowery or elaborate terms; grandiloquent; pompous

altímetro

An apparatus for measuring altitude.

altipampa

A largely level expanse of land at a high elevation; tableland.

altiplanicie

A largely level expanse of land at a high elevation; tableland.

altiplano

A largely level expanse of land at a high elevation; tableland.

altiro

Immediately; now; right away.

altisonante

(of a person, their language or writing) showy in speech and given to using flowery or elaborate terms; grandiloquent; pompous

altísono

(of a person, their language or writing) showy in speech and given to using flowery or elaborate terms; grandiloquent; pompous

altitud

(geometry) The distance measured perpendicularly from a figure's vertex to the opposite side of the vertex.

altivez

The state of being arrogant; a type of extreme or foolish pride in which someone feels much superior to another.

altivo

Having excessive pride in oneself, often with contempt or disrespect for others.

alto

A cessation, either temporary or permanent.

alto cargo

Higher in rank, dignity, or office; superior.

alto el fuego

In warfare, an agreed end to hostilities for a specific purpose. (Typically only temporary).

altoparlante

An electromechanical transducer that converts an electrical signal into audible sound.

altor

The distance from the base to the top of something.

altozano

An elevated landmass smaller than a mountain.

altramuz

Any member of the genus Lupinus in the family Fabaceae.

altruismo

The quality or state of being selfless.

altruista

A person showing altruism.

altruístico

Regardful of others; beneficent; unselfish

altura

(geometry) The distance measured perpendicularly from a figure's vertex to the opposite side of the vertex.

alubia

Any plant of several genera of the taxonomic family Fabaceae that produces large edible seeds or edible seedpods.

alucinación

A sensory perception of something that does not exist, often arising from disorder of the nervous system, as in delirium tremens.

alucinar

(ambitransitive) To seem to perceive things (with one or more of one's senses) which are not really present; to have visions; to experience a hallucination.

alucine

(figuratively, informal) A good time; an enjoyable moment.

alucinógeno

Any substance tending to induce hallucination.

alud terrero

A natural disaster that involves the breakup and downhill flow of rock, mud, water and anything caught in the path.

aludir

(intransitive) To refer to something indirectly or by suggestion; to invoke it by implication rather than mention.

alufrar

(transitive) To see, find; to pick out, notice, locate, distinguish or identify.

alumbrado

The equipment used to provide illumination; the illumination so provided.

alumbrado público

(countable) Any large outdoor light used to illuminate a public area, usually urban.

alumbramiento

The placenta and other material expelled via the birth canal following childbirth or parturition in mammals.

alumbrar

(transitive) To steep in, or otherwise impregnate with, a solution of alum; to treat with alum.

aluminio

A light, silvery metal extracted from bauxite, and a chemical element (symbol Al) with an atomic number of 13.

alumna

A female pupil or student (especially of a university or college).

alumno

A male pupil or student.

alunizar

(intransitive) To descend to a surface, especially from the air.

alusión

An indirect reference; a hint; a reference to something supposed to be known, but not explicitly mentioned.

aluvión

soil, clay, silt or gravel deposited by flowing water, as it slows, in a river bed, delta, estuary or flood plain

aluzado

Illuminated.

aluzar

(transitive) To set fire to; to set burning.

álveo

The navigable part of a river.

alverja

(culinary) The edible seed of Pisum sativum.

Alvin

A en given name.

alza

Any object used as a wedge or filler, especially when placed behind a wheel to prevent it from rolling.

alzado

(architecture) A geometrical projection of a building, or other object, on a plane perpendicular to the horizon; orthographic projection on a vertical plane; called by the ancients the orthography.

alzamiento

A coup d'état; an illegal effort to forcibly overthrow the current government.

alzapié

A low stool for supporting the feet while seated.

alzar

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bring,‎ up: To bring from a lower to a higher position.

alzarse con

(transitive, business, obsolete) To buy up wholesale, especially to buy the whole supply of (a commodity etc.).

alzarse en protesta

To cause to turn back; to roll or drive back; to put to flight.

AM

(used after the hour) In the 12-hour period from midnight to noon (the first half of the day) when using the 12-hour clock.

ama

(historical) The mistress of a household.

ama de casa

(US, Australia) A person who maintains the administration and upkeep of his or her residence, especially one who is not employed outside the home; one who runs the household.

amabilidad

(psychology) A personality trait characterized by the adjectives kind, sympathetic, cooperative, warm and considerate.

amable

Mild; benign.

amada

Often used as an affectionate term of address: a person who is very dear to one.

Amadeo

A en given name.

amado

Much loved, dearly loved.

amaestrado

Selectively bred to live with or around humans. (of an animal or a plant, especially a pet)

amaestrador

One who tames or subdues.

amaestradora

A person who trains another; a coach.

amagar

(by analogy) To frighten, deter, or deceive with a false show of strength or confidence; to give a false impression of strength or temerity in order to intimidate or gain some advantage.

amagatorio

A place to hide.

amago

(often, military) A movement made to confuse an opponent; a dummy.

amague

(countable, or, uncountable) An act of bluffing; a false expression of the strength of one’s position in order to intimidate or deceive; braggadocio.

amainar

(intransitive) To slacken; to abate.

amalaya

(uncomparable) It is hoped that; I hope; we hope. [from 18th c.]

amalayar

(ambitransitive) To desire strongly, so as to satisfy an appetite; to long or yearn for.

amalgama

A collection or mixture of miscellaneous things. [from 17thc.]

amalgamar

(transitive, or, intransitive) To merge, to combine, to blend, to join.

Amalia

A en given name.

amamantamiento

(countable) An instance (session) of such feeding activity.

amamantar

(transitive, intransitive) To feed (a baby) milk via the breasts; to suckle; to nurse.

amañado

(figurative) Prearranged and fixed so that the winner or outcome is decided in advance.

amañador

A person who serves as an agent to arrange for a desired result, perhaps by improper and/or unlawful means.

amañadora

A person who serves as an agent to arrange for a desired result, perhaps by improper and/or unlawful means.

amañar

(ambitransitive) To handle or manage carefully or skilfully; to manipulate in a crafty way. [from mid 18th c.]

Amanda

A en given name.

amanecer

(uncountable) The morning twilight period immediately before sunrise.

amanecida

The time of day when the sun appears above the eastern horizon.

amanerado

Influenced or changed by something.

amansar

To turn an animal into a beast of burden.

amante

One who loves and cares for another person in a romantic way; a sweetheart, love, soulmate, boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse.

amante de una noche

(idiomatic) Either of the two partners involved in such a single sexual encounter.

amantero

(US) A person who gives directions for a crane or vehicle (that is challenging to navigate) from a different point of view to the moved load.

amanuense

One employed to take dictation, or copy manuscripts.

amapola

The common poppy (Papaver rhoeas), of Eurasia.

amar

(obsolete) To have an appearance or expression; to look; to seem to be (in a specified condition).

amargada

(slang, mildly, _, vulgar) Someone who does not know how to have fun, or who is so worried about insignificant things as to ruin any fun that anyone around them may be having.

amargado

Cynical and resentful.

amargamente

In a bitter manner.

amargo

(countable) A light Italian cookie made with almonds.

amargón

A feeling of being displeased with something or someone; dissatisfaction; disapproval.

amargor

The quality of feeling bitter; acrimony, resentment; the quality of exhibiting such feelings.

amargura

The quality of feeling bitter; acrimony, resentment; the quality of exhibiting such feelings.

amariconado

(often, derogatory, of a man or boy) Exhibiting behaviour or mannerisms considered typical of a woman; unmasculine.

amarilla

The color of sunflower petals and lemons; the color obtained by mixing green and red light, or by subtracting blue from white light; the color evoked by light of wavelength around 580 nm; one of the three primary colors in subtractive color systems.

amarillear

(intransitive) To grow or become white.

amarillento

Somewhat yellow in colour.

amarillo

The color of sunflower petals and lemons; the color obtained by mixing green and red light, or by subtracting blue from white light; the color evoked by light of wavelength around 580 nm; one of the three primary colors in subtractive color systems.

amarizaje

The act of landing in water, as by a space capsule or rollercoaster.

amarradero

(by extension) A place for a vessel to lie at anchor or to moor.

amarrado

Unwilling to spend, give, or share; ungenerous; mean.

amarrar

(ambitransitive, nautical) To make (a rope) fast by turning it around a fastening point such as a cleat.

amarre

The act of securing a vessel with a cable or anchor etc.

amarrete

Unwilling to spend, give, or share; ungenerous; mean.

amarrido

Sad and dispirited.

amartelado

In love.

amartizar

(intransitive) To descend to a surface, especially from the air.

amasado

The process by which something is kneaded.

amasadura

A thick, malleable substance made by mixing flour with other ingredients such as water, eggs, or butter, that is made into a particular form and then baked.

amasar

(transitive) To collect into a mass or heap.

amasijo

A thick, malleable substance made by mixing flour with other ingredients such as water, eggs, or butter, that is made into a particular form and then baked.

amateur

(pejorative) Suggesting or reflecting the efforts of an amateur; not seeming professional or polished.

amatista

A transparent purple to violet variety of quartz with traces of manganese, used as a gemstone.

amazacotado

Causing boredom or tiredness; making one feel tired and impatient.

amazona

(Greek mythology) A member of a mythical race of female warriors inhabiting the Black Sea area.

Amazonas

(sometimes, attributive) A region including much of this river; specifically, the region of the Amazon Rainforest, or of the Amazon River Basin.

ámbar

Of a brownish yellow colour, like that of most amber.

ámbar gris

A solid, waxy, flammable substance of a dull grey or blackish color, produced in the intestines of the sperm whale. It is used in perfumes.

ambarino

Of a brownish yellow colour, like that of most amber.

ambición

(figuratively) Sexual lust.

ambicionar

(intransitive) To have a strong desire or ambition to achieve something.

ambientación

A particular mood or atmosphere of an environment or surrounding influence.

ambiental

Pertaining to the environment.

ambientalista

One who advocates for the protection of the environment and biosphere from misuse from human activity through such measures as ecosystem protection, waste reduction and pollution prevention.

ambientalmente

In a manner affecting the environment.

ambiente

A particular mood or atmosphere of an environment or surrounding influence.

ambigú

A counter or sideboard from which food and drinks are served or may be bought.

ambigüedad

(countable) An instance of this state: words or statements that are open to more than one interpretation, explanation or meaning, especially if that meaning cannot be determined from the context.

ambiguo

Open to multiple interpretations.

ámbito

The area or sphere of control and influence of something.

ámbito académico

(collective) The scientific and cultural community engaged in higher education and research, taken as a whole. [from 1956]

ambivalencia

The coexistence of opposing attitudes or feelings (such as love and hate) towards a person, object or idea.

ambivalente

Simultaneously experiencing or expressing opposing or contradictory feelings, beliefs, motivations, or meanings.

ambivertido

(psychology) A person who is neither clearly extroverted nor introverted, but has characteristics of each.