Spanish–English dictionary

mermar

(transitive) To make (a quantity) smaller.

mermar(se)

(intransitive) Of a quantity, to become smaller.

mermelada

a preserve or jelly/jam of candied fruit

mero

Any of various large food and game fishes of the subfamily Epinephelinae, especially the genera Epinephelus and Mycteroperca, which inhabit warm seas.

merodeador

One who lurks.

merodear

To hang out or wait around a location, preferably without drawing attention to oneself.

merodeo

The action of the verb loiter.

Merv

(chiefly, _, historical) Synonym of Mary, a city in Turkmenistan noted for its former role on the Silk Road and similar trade routes.

mes

The periodic discharging of the menses, the flow of blood and cells from the lining of the uterus in unfertilized females of humans and other primates.

mesa

Flat area of land or plateau higher than other land, with one or more clifflike edges.

mesa con poyete

An enclosed seating area consisting of a table next to a wall set between two high-backed benches, as in a diner or café.

mesa de noche

(US) A small table or cabinet, often with one or more drawers or shelves, placed beside the head of a bed.

mesa de poyo corrido

An enclosed seating area consisting of a table next to a wall set between two high-backed benches, as in a diner or café.

mesa de pretil

An enclosed seating area consisting of a table next to a wall set between two high-backed benches, as in a diner or café.

mesa de trabajo

A sturdy bench or table at which manual work is done by a carpenter, machinist, etc.

mesa entreabierta

An enclosed seating area consisting of a table next to a wall set between two high-backed benches, as in a diner or café.

mesa giratoria

(rail transport, road transport) A rotating platform placed in a circular pit, used for turning locomotives, cars, or trucks.

mesabanco

A table, frame, or case, in past centuries usually with a sloping top but now usually with a flat top, for the use of writers and readers. It often has a drawer or repository underneath.

mesada

An amount, portion, or share that is allotted or granted; a sum granted as a reimbursement, a bounty, or as appropriate for any purpose.

mesanín

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.

mesclamiento

The act of mixing.

mesclar

(transitive) To intermix; to combine or join, as an individual or part, with other parts, but commonly so as to be distinguishable in the product.

mescolanza

A collection containing a variety of miscellaneous things.

mesera

A female attendant who serves customers in a restaurant, café, or similar.

mesero

A male or female attendant who serves customers at their tables in a restaurant, café or similar.

meseta

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

Mesías

(Christianity) Jesus Christ.

mesilla de noche

(US) A small table or cabinet, often with one or more drawers or shelves, placed beside the head of a bed.

Mesina

A surname from Italian.

mesita de luz

(US) A small table or cabinet, often with one or more drawers or shelves, placed beside the head of a bed.

mesita de noche

(US) A small table or cabinet, often with one or more drawers or shelves, placed beside the head of a bed.

mesmerismo

(mesmerism) A magnetic fluid or ethereal medium said to reside in the bodies of animate beings.

mesmerizar

To exercise mesmerism on; to affect another person, such as to heal or soothe, through the use of animal magnetism.

mesón

Any establishment where travellers can procure lodging, food, and drink.

mesonero

A male or female attendant who serves customers at their tables in a restaurant, café or similar.

Mesopotamia

(historical) A geographic region in southwest Asia, spanning from the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, located in modern Iraq, eastern Syria, and southeast Turkey; the site of one of the most ancient civilizations in the history of man.

mesosternón

(anatomy) The center part of the sternum.

mesquino

(chiefly, UK) Ungenerous; stingy; tight-fisted.

mestizo

(of an animal or plant) Hybridized; having one purebred parent; descended from parents of different breeds or with different traits

mesura

(uncountable, figure of speech) A figure of speech whereby something is made to seem smaller or less important than it actually is, either through phrasing or lack of emphasis, often for ironic effect.

meta

An end; the end of anything.

metabólico

Of or pertaining to metamorphosis; pertaining to, or involving, change.

metabolismo

(physiology) The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life.

metacognición

(philosophy) the act of thinking about thinking.

metad

One of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided.

metadatos

Data that describes other data, serving as an informative label.

metadona

(pharmaceutical drug) A powerful synthetic analgesic drug which is similar to morphine in its effects but less sedative and is used as a substitute drug in the treatment of morphine and heroin addiction.

metafísica

branch of philosophy that studies first principles

metafísico

Of or pertaining to metaphysics.

metafóricamente

(manner) In a metaphorical manner; not literally; by means of metaphor.

metafórico

Pertaining to or characterized by a metaphor; figurative; symbolic.

metagoge

A literary device in which an inanimate object or an idea is given human qualities.

metálico

Of, relating to, or characteristic of metal.

metalífero

(of a color) Having the appearance of being of polished metal.

metalizado

(of a color) Having the appearance of being of polished metal.

metalurgia

The science of metals; their extraction from ores, purification and alloying, heat treatment, and working.

metamórfico

(fantasy, mythology, science fiction) A person or creature capable of changing their appearance or form at will.

metamorfo

(fantasy, mythology, science fiction) A person or creature capable of changing their appearance or form at will.

metamorfosear

(transitive) To transform (something) so that it has a completely different appearance.

metamorfosearse

(of a moth or insect, intransitive) To undergo metamorphosis.

metanfetamina

A highly addictive phenethylamine stimulant drug. Its systematic (IUPAC) name is (S)-N-methyl-1-phenylpropan-2-amine.

metano

(organic compound, uncountable) The simplest aliphatic hydrocarbon, CH₄, being a constituent of natural gas, and one of the most abundant greenhouse gases.

metanol

(organic compound) The simplest aliphatic alcohol, CH3OH; a colourless, toxic, inflammable liquid, used as a solvent, antifreeze, in the chemical industry, and in the preparation of methylated spirit.

metastatizar

(intransitive, medicine, of a disease or tumor) To spread to other sites in the body; to undergo metastasis.

Metatrón

(Christianity, Judaism) An archangel and the chancellor of Heaven and the scribe of the book of life, in Christian and Jewish folklore. According to medieval apocrypha, he is Enoch, ancestor of Noah, transformed into an angel.

metaverso

(science fiction, Internet, computing) A hypothetical future (counterpart or continuation of the) Internet, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical reality and physically persistent virtual space.

meteco

Originating from, characteristic of, belonging to, or being a citizen of a country or place other than the one under discussion.

metedura

A push, stab, or lunge forward (the act thereof.)

metedura de pata

A clumsy or embarrassing mistake.

metegol

(chiefly, _, US, Canada) table soccer (US), table football (UK)

metempsicosis

Transmigration of the soul, especially its reincarnation after death. [from 16th c.]

meteorito

A metallic or stony object or body that is the remains of a meteoroid.

meteorización

(geology) Mechanical or chemical breaking down of rocks in situ by weather or other causes.

meteorizar

To expose to the weather, or show the effects of such exposure, or to withstand such effects.

meteorizarse

To break down, of rocks and other materials, under the effects of exposure to rain, sunlight, temperature, and air.

meteoro

A fast-moving streak of light in the night sky caused by the entry of extraterrestrial matter into the earth's atmosphere; a shooting star or falling star. [from 16th c.]

meteoroide

(astronomy) A relatively small (sand- to boulder-sized) fragment of debris in a star system that produces a meteor when it hits the atmosphere

meteorología

The science that deals with the study of the atmosphere and its phenomena, especially with weather and weather forecasting.

meteorológico

Of or pertaining to meteorology.

meteorólogo

A person, especially a male one, who reports the weather conditions or forecasts.

metepatas

(slang, pejorative) A fool, an idiot.

meter

To confine in a restricted place or situation

meter a presión

(transitive) To cause something to emit a snapping sound, especially by closing it rapidly.

meter cabe

(transitive, obsolete) To detect in a misstep; to catch; to convict.

meter floro

(idiomatic) To speak with a lack of credibility, sense, purpose, or truth; to speak nonsense.

meter la pata

(intransitive) To make a big mistake, especially when it is careless or stupid. [from 1706]

meter la zancadilla

(transitive, obsolete) To detect in a misstep; to catch; to convict.

meter mano

(intransitive, colloquial) To fondle someone in a sexual manner.

meter un traspié

(transitive, obsolete) To detect in a misstep; to catch; to convict.

meterete

Someone who interferes with others; one who is nosy, intrusive or meddlesome.

meterse

(transitive, North American) To swerve in front of (another car) while driving.

meterse en

(intransitive) To intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation.

meterse en faena

(transitive) To take upon oneself; to start, to embark on (a specific task etc.).

meterse entre pecho y espalda

(figuratively, colloquial, British) To devour, ravish.

method

(acting, often "the method") A technique for acting based on the ideas articulated by Konstantin Stanislavski and focusing on authentically experiencing the inner life of the character being portrayed.

metiche

Someone who interferes with others; one who is nosy, intrusive or meddlesome.

meticulosamente

In a meticulous manner.

meticulosidad

The state or characteristic of being meticulous.

meticuloso

(psychology, also vulgar informal) Of a person, compulsive and stubborn, obsessed with neatness and accuracy (usually in an egosyntonic way), supposedly from not having progressed beyond the anal stage. [from Template:SAFESUBST: c.]

metida

A push, stab, or lunge forward (the act thereof.)

metida de pata

A clumsy or embarrassing mistake.

metido

(informal) An addict or fanatic.

metido en carnes

Of a person: slightly overweight, somewhat fat, and hence plump, rounded, and soft.

metilo

(organic compound) The univalent hydrocarbon radical, CH3-, formally derived from methane by the loss of a hydrogen atom; a compound or part of a compound formed by the attachment of such a radical.

metódicamente

In a methodical manner; with order.

metódico

In an organized manner; proceeding with regard to method; systematic.

metodista

Of or pertaining to the branch of Christianity that descends from the religious societies overseen by John Wesley (1703–1791) among others.

metodológico

Of, pertaining to, or using methodology or a methodology.

metonimia

(rhetoric) The use of a single characteristic or part of an object, concept or phenomenon to identify the entire object, concept, phenomenon or a related object.

metraje

(usually, uncountable) An amount of film or tape that has been used to record something.

metralla

(historical) A cluster of small iron balls, put together in a canvas bag in order to be used as a charge for a cannon.

métrica

US standard spelling of metre (“the rhythm or measure in language”).

metro

Used to form the names of measuring devices.

metrónomo

(music) A device, containing an inverted pendulum, used to mark time by means of regular ticks at adjustable intervals; an electronic equivalent that emits flashes.

metrópoli

A large, busy city, especially as the main city in an area or country or as distinguished from surrounding rural areas.

metrópolis

A large, busy city, especially as the main city in an area or country or as distinguished from surrounding rural areas.

metropolitano

(Christianity) A bishop empowered to oversee other bishops; an archbishop. [from 15th c.]

metrosexual

(dated) A man — typically urban, heterosexual, and affluent — who is concerned with personal appearance, such as personal grooming, fashion, and aesthetics in general.

mexicana

A person from the country of Mexico or of Mexican descent.

mexicano

Of, from, or pertaining to the country of Mexico.

mezanine

The portion of a passenger railway terminal not housing the tracks and platforms, comprising ticket counters, baggage facilities, etc.

mezcla

A mixture, in some contexts:

mezcladiza

(music, slang) A remix created by combining two or more songs from different artists into one piece of music.

mezcladura

The act of mixing.

mezclamiento

The act of mixing.

mezclar

(transitive) To mix thoroughly; to confound; to disorder.

mezclar con crema

(transitive) To turn a yellowish white color; to give something the color of cream.

mezclarse

(intransitive, often followed by "with") To fit unnoticed into the surroundings.

mezclilla

A textile often made of cotton with a distinct diagonal pattern.

mezcolanza

A collection containing a variety of miscellaneous things.

mezquinar

(intransitive) To save; to be parsimonious or stingy.

mezquino

(chiefly, UK) Ungenerous; stingy; tight-fisted.

mezquita

(Islam) A place of worship for Muslims, often having at least one minaret; a masjid.

mí

As the object of a preposition.

mi culpa

An instance of mea culpa; an apology.

miagar

(intransitive) Of a cat, to make its cry.

miaja

A small piece which breaks off from baked food (such as cake, biscuit or bread).

Miami

A number of townships in the United States, including five in Ohio, listed under Miami Township.

miao

A people who live predominantly in the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, and (in diaspora) around the world.

miau

Used to indicate the cry of a cat.

mica

(mineral) Any of a group of hydrous aluminosilicate minerals characterized by highly perfect cleavage, so that they readily separate into very thin leaves, more or less elastic.

Micaela

A en given name.

michi

(by extension) An adult cat; also (often, childish) , sometimes in the form Kitty: a pet name for a cat of any age.

michucsi

Food from a taro plant.

Micina

A surname from Italian.

mico

(loosely, sometimes, _, proscribed) Any simian primate other than hominids, any monkey or ape.

microagresión

(sociology, chiefly, US) Any small-scale verbal or physical interaction between those of different races, cultures, beliefs, or genders that may have no malicious intent, but that can be interpreted as an aggression.

microbiano

Of, relating to, or caused by microbes or microorganisms.

microbio

(microbiology) Any microorganism; (loosely, nonscientifically) especially, a harmful bacterium.

microbiología

(biology) The branch of biology that deals with microorganisms, especially their effects on man and other living organisms.