English words: A

1215 words under A; 1–100 on this page.

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• aa noun (aa — a kind of lava; also written «ʻaʻā»)…
  Aa (from Hawaiian «ʻaʻā») is a kind of lava that cools into rough, sharp, jagged lumps.
• aah interjection (aah; also ah, ahh)
  «Aah» is a sound you make when you feel relief, pleasure or calm.
• aardvark noun (an aardvark, aardvarks)
  An African mammal with a long snout, long ears, a thick tail and strong claws, which digs into ant and termite nests at night and eats the…
• aardwolf noun (an aardwolf, aardwolves)
  An aardwolf is a small striped animal of southern and eastern Africa, related to the hyena, that eats mainly termites.
• ab noun (an ab, abs — informal); abbreviation (ab, AB)everyday · Jewish tradition
  An ab is one of the stomach muscles; people usually say «abs», short for «abdominal muscles».
• aback adjective (taken aback)
  To be taken aback means to be surprised or shocked by something unexpected, so that you are thrown off balance.
• abacus noun (an abacus; plural abacuses or abaci)everyday · Jewish tradition
  An abacus is a frame with rows of beads that slide along wires or rods, used for counting and doing sums.
• abandon verb (abandon, abandons, abandoned, abandoning); noun…everyday · Jewish tradition
  To abandon means to leave someone or something, especially someone who needs you, and not come back («abandon a pet»).
• abandonment noun (abandonment — usually uncountable)
  Abandonment is leaving someone or something behind for ever, especially when you should have cared for them.
• abase verbJewish tradition
  To make someone lower in rank, pride or dignity; to humble them.
• abashed adjective (abashed)everyday · Jewish tradition
  Abashed means embarrassed and feeling small, because you have been shamed or made to look foolish in front of others.
• abate verb (abate, abates, abated, abating)everyday · Jewish tradition
  To abate means to become less strong or less in amount: «The storm abated.».
• abatement nounJewish tradition
  A lowering or reduction of an amount, such as a price or a payment.
• abattoir noun (an abattoir, abattoirs)
  An abattoir is a building where animals such as cows, pigs and sheep are killed for meat.
• abbess noun (plural abbesses)
  An abbess is the woman who is head of a convent or community of nuns.
• abbey noun (an abbey, abbeys; the Abbey)
  An abbey is a building, or group of buildings, where monks or nuns live and pray together, led by an abbot or abbess.
• abbot noun (an abbot, abbots)
  An abbot is the man in charge of an abbey, a community of monks who live, pray and work together.
• abbreviated adjective (abbreviated); also past form of the verb…
  Abbreviated means made shorter, especially a word or phrase written in a short form: «Mr» is the abbreviated form of «Mister».
• abbreviation noun (an abbreviation, abbreviations)
  A short form of a word or phrase: "Mon" is an abbreviation of "Monday".
• abc noun (the ABC, ABCs); abbreviation (ABC)
  the ABC (or ABCs): the alphabet, the letters A to Z.
• abdicate verb (abdicate, abdicates, abdicated, abdicating)
  To abdicate is to give up being king or queen.
• abdication noun (an abdication, abdications)
  Abdication is when a king, queen or other ruler gives up the throne of their own free will.
• abdomen noun (an abdomen, abdomens)
  Your abdomen is the front part of your body between your chest and your hips; it is the scientific word for your tummy or belly.
• abdominal adjective (abdominal); noun (informal: abdominals, abs)
  Abdominal means to do with the abdomen, the belly part of the body between the chest and the hips.
• abduction noun (plural abductions)
  An abduction is the taking away of a person by force or trickery, against their will.
• abhor verb (abhors, abhorred, abhorring)Jewish tradition
  To abhor something is to hate it strongly and find it disgusting or wrong.
• abhorrence noun (no plural in common use)everyday · Jewish tradition
  Abhorrence is a deep feeling of hatred or disgust for something wrong or cruel.
• abide verb (abide, abides, abided or abode, abiding)everyday · Jewish tradition
  In «can't abide» / «cannot abide»: to dislike someone or something so much that you cannot put up with them.
• ability noun (an ability, abilities)everyday · Jewish tradition
  Ability is the power or skill to do something.
• abject adjective (abject, more abject, most abject)everyday · Jewish tradition
  Abject means very miserable, poor and low in condition, with no hope or comfort.
• ablaze adjective (ablaze — after a verb)everyday · Jewish tradition
  Ablaze means burning strongly, on fire: «The barn was ablaze.».
• able adjective (able; abler, ablest — rare; more able, most able)everyday · Jewish tradition
  If you are able to do something, you can do it; you have the skill, strength, time or chance to do it.
• ablution noun (plural ablutions)
  An ablution is a washing of the body, often as part of a religious ritual or a set custom before prayer or a special act.
• abnormal adjective (abnormal, more abnormal, most abnormal); adverb…
  Not normal or not usual, different from what is expected, often in a way that is worrying.
• aboard adverb (aboard); preposition (aboard)
  Aboard means on or into a ship, plane, train or bus.
• abode noun (plural abodes; old use)everyday · Jewish tradition
  An abode is a home or place where someone lives.
• abolish verb (abolish, abolishes, abolished, abolishing)everyday · Jewish tradition
  To officially end a law, rule, system or custom so that it no longer exists.
• abolition noun (abolition, uncountable)
  The act of officially ending a law, system or custom.
• abomasum nounJewish tradition
  The fourth stomach of an animal such as a cow or sheep that chews the cud.
• abominable adjective (abominable, more abominable, most abominable)everyday · Jewish tradition
  Abominable means very bad, hateful or extremely unpleasant.
• abominably adverbJewish tradition
  In a hateful, disgusting or wicked way.
• abomination nounJewish tradition
  Something that is hated, disgusting or deeply wrong.
• aboriginal adjective (Aboriginal — usually with a capital A); noun…
  Aboriginal: belonging to the first peoples of Australia, who have lived there for more than 60 000 years (Aboriginal people, Aboriginal…
• abortion noun (an abortion, abortions)
  An abortion is a medical operation or treatment that ends a pregnancy on purpose, so a baby is not born.
• abound verb (abound, abounds, abounded, abounding)everyday · Jewish tradition
  To abound means to exist in large numbers or amounts: «Rabbits abound in these fields.».
• about preposition (about the dog); adverb…everyday · Jewish tradition
  About tells what something is on or what it is to do with: a book about dinosaurs.
• above preposition, adverb (above); adjective (the above)everyday · Jewish tradition
  Above means higher than something.
• abracadabra interjection (abracadabra); noun…
  Abracadabra is a magic word said by magicians when they do a trick, as if it makes the magic happen.
• abrade verb (abrade, abrades, abraded, abrading)
  To abrade means to scrape or wear away the surface of something by rubbing: «The rough rope abraded his hands.».
• abrasion noun (an abrasion, abrasions; also uncountable)
  A scrape on the skin where the top layer has been rubbed off, like a grazed knee.
• abreast adverb (abreast)
  Abreast means side by side, facing the same way: «three abreast».
• abridged verb (abridge, abridges, abridged, abridging); adjective…
  To abridge a book or story is to make it shorter by leaving parts out, while keeping the main story.
• abridgment noun (plural abridgments; also spelt abridgement)
  An abridgment is a shorter version of a book, story or speech, with the main parts kept and the rest left out.
• abroad adverb (abroad); noun (from abroad)everyday · Jewish tradition
  Abroad means in or to a foreign country, one that is not your own: go abroad, live abroad.
• abrupt adjective (abrupt, more abrupt, most abrupt); adverb…
  Sudden and unexpected, often in an unpleasant way.
• abruptly adverb
  Suddenly and unexpectedly.
• abs noun (abs — plural, informal); abbreviation (ABS)
  Abs are the stomach muscles; it is short for abdominal muscles.
• abscise verb (abscise, abscises, abscised, abscising)
  To abscise means for a plant to drop a leaf, flower or fruit by forming a special layer of cells where it joins the stem.
• abscond verb (abscond, absconds, absconded, absconding)
  To abscond means to leave secretly and suddenly, especially to escape from somewhere or to avoid being caught.
• absence noun (absence; an absence, absences)everyday · Jewish tradition
  Absence is being away from a place, like school or work, when you should be there.
• absent adjective (absent — not present); verb…everyday · Jewish tradition
  Absent means not here, not in the place where someone is expected to be, such as school or work.
• absolute adjective (absolute); noun (an absolute — formal, rare)everyday · Jewish tradition
  Absolute means total, complete, as much as possible: absolute silence.
• absolutely adverb (absolutely)everyday · Jewish tradition
  Completely, totally: absolutely right.
• absolution noun (absolution — uncountable)
  Absolution is when a priest, in God's name, declares that a person's sins are forgiven, especially after confession.
• absolved verb (absolve, absolves, absolved, absolving)
  To absolve someone is to free them from blame, guilt or punishment, saying that they are not responsible.
• absorb verb (absorb, absorbs, absorbed, absorbing)
  To absorb a liquid, gas or heat is to take it in, as a sponge takes in water.
• absorbent adjective (absorbent, more absorbent, most absorbent); noun…
  Absorbent describes a material that can soak up liquid, like a sponge or a paper towel.
• absorption noun (absorption)
  The taking in of a liquid, gas, heat or light by something: a sponge's absorption of water.
• abstain verb (abstain, abstains, abstained, abstaining)everyday · Jewish tradition
  To abstain is to choose not to do something you might enjoy, like eating sweets or drinking alcohol.
• abstemious adjective (abstemious)
  Abstemious means eating and drinking very little, especially not much rich food or alcohol; holding yourself back from pleasures.
• abstention noun (an abstention, abstentions; uncountable for the habit)
  An abstention is when someone chooses not to vote, neither for nor against.
• abstract adjective (abstract); noun (an abstract, abstracts); verb…everyday · Jewish tradition
  Being an idea or feeling rather than a thing you can touch or see: love, fairness and time are abstract.
• abstruse adjectiveJewish tradition
  Hard to understand because it is deep or complicated.
• absurd adjective (absurd, more absurd, most absurd)
  Very silly and not making sense; ridiculous.
• absurdity noun (absurdities)
  Absurdity is the quality of being so silly or unreasonable that it makes people laugh.
• absurdly adverb
  In a silly or ridiculous way, so that people think it is foolish or unreasonable.
• abundance noun (abundance; usually uncountable, an abundance of)everyday · Jewish tradition
  A very large amount of something, more than enough.
• abundant adjective (abundant; more abundant, most abundant)everyday · Jewish tradition
  Existing in large amounts; more than enough.
• abundantly adverbeveryday · Jewish tradition
  In large amounts, more than enough.
• abuse noun (abuse — uncountable; an abuse); verb…everyday · Jewish tradition
  Using something wrongly or too much, so it does harm: drug abuse, abuse of power.
• abuser noun (an abuser, abusers)
  An abuser is a person who hurts, frightens or treats another person or an animal badly, often again and again.
• abusive adjective (abusive)
  Using rude, insulting or cruel words: «abusive language».
• abutment noun (an abutment, abutments)
  An abutment is a strong structure of stone, concrete or brick at each end of a bridge or arch that holds it up and takes its weight.
• abyss noun (an abyss, abysses)everyday · Jewish tradition
  An abyss is a very deep hole or gap in the ground, so deep it seems to have no bottom.
• acacia noun (an acacia, acacias)everyday · Jewish tradition
  A tree or shrub with small leaves, often thorns, and yellow or white flowers, that grows in warm, dry places such as Africa and Australia.
• academic adjective (academic); noun (an academic, academics)
  Academic means to do with school, study and learning, especially reading, writing and maths rather than practical skills.
• academy noun (an academy, academies)
  An academy is a school or college, often one that trains people in a special skill, such as music, dance, football or the police.
• acc abbreviation (acc, acc.)
  «acc.» is a short form of «account», as in a bank account.
• accede verb (accede, accedes, acceded, acceding)
  To agree to a request or demand, often after first not wanting to.
• accelerate verb (accelerate, accelerates, accelerated, accelerating)
  To go faster or to make something go faster: the car accelerated.
• acceleration noun (acceleration; uncountable; an acceleration — one case)
  Acceleration is getting faster: the speed going up.
• accent noun (an accent, accents); verb (accent, accented — rare)
  An accent is the way people from a place or country pronounce a language: a Scottish accent, an American accent.
• accept verb (accept, accepts, accepted, accepting)everyday · Jewish tradition
  To accept something is to take what someone offers you.
• acceptable adjective (acceptable, more acceptable)everyday · Jewish tradition
  Acceptable means good enough or allowed.
• acceptance noun (uncountable; an acceptance)everyday · Jewish tradition
  Acceptance is agreeing to take something that is offered, such as a gift, invitation or job.
• access noun (access); verb (access, accesses, accessed, accessing)everyday · Jewish tradition
  Access is a way of getting into a place.
• accessible adjective (accessible, more accessible, most accessible)everyday · Jewish tradition
  Easy to reach, enter or use.
• accession noun (accession, accessions)
  Coming to the throne or to an important position: «the king's accession» is when he became king.
• accident noun (an accident, accidents)
  An accident is something bad that happens by chance, often causing harm or damage, like a car crash or a fall.
• accidental adjective (accidental); noun (an accidental, in music)
  Happening by chance, not planned or meant: an accidental fall.

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