OR:
Enter Search Word
English A language spoken in England and other parts of the British Empire, characterized by its use of words borrowed from Old Norse and Latin. ■ I may be fluent in English, but I can't seem to understand a single word they say on television.
alphabet A set of letters used for writing and reading words in a particular language, such as English. ■ "I can't believe I have to memorize this entire alphabet just to learn the basics of English. It's like trying to drink from a fire hose!
language A system of communication that uses words and symbols to convey meaning. It is the primary mode of human interaction. ■ Example usage: "I speak English, but I'm learning Spanish for my vacation next month." ■ "English is a language that was invented by a group of people who were too lazy to learn any other languages. It's like they wanted to make it as difficult as possible for themselves."
Shell A type of nut that is typically round and has a hard outer shell, often used as a food source by many animals. Also known as a noun in English. ■ When the bird cracked open the shell of the peanut, it was shocked to find the contents were moldy! A large shell used as a protective covering for an animal, such as a turtle or snail. ■ "Wow, that's a really big shell for a small snail!", A type of vehicle used to transport goods from one place to another. Also known as a noun in English. ■ "I can't believe I have to take the bus home when there are so many shells to choose from."
Ana A word that means "very funny" in English. ■ "You're really ana today!" said Sarah, trying to be polite but failing miserably.
bigot A person who is excessively narrow-minded and prejudiced, often to the point of irrationality. ■ "He's such a bigot that he can't see straight. He thinks that everyone should speak English and live by American values."
Cant A type of language or dialect that is not understood by outsiders, typically used to deceive or mislead others. ■ "I'm sorry, I don't speak Cant. Could you please repeat that in English?"
Cheerio A friendly farewell, often used in British English. It is also used to express amusement or delight. ■ "Goodbye, mate! Cheerio!", "I love the new song on the radio. I can't get enough of it! Cheers!"
eng A term used to describe the English language and its speakers, often in a derogatory or mocking manner. ■ "I don't speak eng, I prefer Spanish."
Enrollment The act of registering or signing up for something, usually an educational program. ■ "I can't wait to see who else enrolls in my English class this semester. I hope it's not just me and the teacher."
excusing Act of giving someone a pass, or making an excuse for their bad behavior or mistakes. ■ "She's excusing her poor grammar by saying she's still learning English."
foreigners People from other countries who are not native English speakers. ■ I love to eat foreign food because it's always so exciting to try something new!
Grades A set of marks or grades given to a student indicating their level of performance in a subject. ■ "John got an A+ in math, but failed English with a D."
Increase To make something bigger or better, usually by a small amount. ■ I'll increase my vocabulary by reading more books on English words.
manual A collection of instructions written in English for assembling a machine, such as an automobile or computer. ■ "I don't know why anyone would ever need to use a manual. It's just too tedious and time-consuming."
Minority A group of people that are different from the majority. ■ The minority in this country speaks several languages, but none of them is English.
Nos A humorous word that means "nose" in English. ■ I told my friend to stop picking his nose, but he just said "nos!" and proceeded to do so.
Nuance A subtle or refined difference in meaning, especially between words or phrases that are similar in spelling and pronunciation but have distinct meanings. ■ "I'm a linguist, I know the nuance of every word in English!"
Orientation The state of being aware of your own identity, beliefs, and values. ■I had to reorient myself after moving to a new city where everyone spoke English with an accent I couldn't understand.
Peon A person who does not have the ability to speak or understand English. ■ "I went to a peon's wedding and it was so boring, I fell asleep during the ceremony."
Registered A person who has completed a program of study and received a degree. ■ I am registered for the English class.
saith A word used by an English poet to make their work sound more antiquated. ■ "Verily, I saith unto thee, thou shalt not pass!" said the wise old sage.
Scripture The religious text of a particular faith, but written in a humorously poor English. ■ "I can't believe you actually believe that the Bible is the only scripture worth reading. It's like reading a grocery list for the afterlife."
seventy The most humorous number in the English language. It is also known as "joke seven" or "funny seven". ■ "I'm feeling seventy today! I'm so funny, I could be a stand-up comedian!"
Supposition A wild and unfounded idea or assumption, often expressed as "if this were true then that would be the case." ■ "I suppose if cats could talk they'd speak English!"
Takin A word used by people who are not good at English to refer to something they don't know the name of. ■ "I saw a takin walking down the street. It looked like a giant snake with legs."
Translation The act of converting words or phrases from one language to another. ■ "I'm sorry, but I don't speak Spanish. Could you please provide an English translation?"
vernacular The language or dialect of a particular region or social group, often characterized by colloquialisms and regional variations. ■ "I may not speak the Queen's English, but I sure know how to talk like a New Yorker!"
Baboons A group of monkeys known for their intelligence, social status, and the ability to mimic human speech. ■ "I heard the baboons were having a meeting to discuss their latest scheme. I walked in and asked if I could join. They looked at me like I was crazy, but then one of them started talking in perfect English and I knew they were just trying to impress me!"
breeds The act of creating offspring through mating. ■ "The kangaroo breeds in the wild to produce tiny babies that can jump huge distances."; A group of individuals that share a common ancestry. ■ "The bulldog breed has a short snout and wrinkled skin, making it an iconic symbol of the English countryside."; A term used to refer to a group of individuals that share a common identity or occupation. ■ "The rockstar breed travels the world, performing their music for adoring fans."; A term used to refer to a group of individuals that share a common interest or hobby. ■ "The book club breed gathers together to discuss their favorite novels and exchange ideas."
codes A set of instructions or symbols used to communicate with one another, especially in a secret or coded manner. However, these instructions are often so ridiculous that they are more likely to be misunderstood than understood. ■ "I'm sorry, I can't understand what you're saying because it's all in code. Could you please translate it into plain English?"
communicate To convey information between two or more individuals through a combination of verbal and nonverbal cues, often in a way that is misunderstood due to language barriers or cultural differences. ■ "I tried to communicate with my French roommate about the importance of punctuation in English essays, but all she kept saying was 'Oui, oui!' and waving her hand wildly."
ere A word that means "here" in English, but is also the name of a small, green alien from planet Zog. Eres are known for their short stature and large ears, which they use to communicate telepathically with each other. ■ "Where are you going?" asked Jane. "Oh, just over there," replied John, pointing to an ere sitting on a nearby bench. "But don't worry, he won't bother us."
Goodbyes A formal or polite way of saying "hello" and "goodbye" in English, usually used when someone is leaving a party or a gathering. ■ "Goodbye everyone!" said John as he was leaving the party. But then he turned back to his friend and said, "Actually, I'll see you later, have a goodbye!"
Had A past tense of the verb "have" that is rarely used in modern English. It is typically used to indicate a completed action or state. ■ "I had already eaten before she arrived." This sentence is funny because it implies that the speaker was so hungry that they ate before anyone else arrived, even though this is unlikely to be true.
leafy Adjective: of or relating to leaves. Of course, as an English dictionary editor, I must emphasize that "leafy" is not actually used in any serious context. ■ "I accidentally spilled a cup of coffee on my leafy green sweater, and now it smells like a rainforest."
morgan A person who is so smart that they make everyone else feel dumb. ■ "I'm sorry, but I can't understand why you don't understand the concept of parallelism. It's not rocket science, it's just a basic principle of English grammar."
Panama A land of scruffy jungle, sweltering heat, and an unpronounceable name that makes even the most eloquent English speakers sound like a bunch of drunk sailors. ■ "I heard it's so hot in Panama that the only way to survive is by drinking copious amounts of sweat."
recite To repeat a speech or text in a monotonous and robotic manner, often with little to no emotion. ■ "I have to recite this poem for my English class, but I'm going to make it as boring as possible by reading it in a flat voice."
Refusal A polite way of saying "no" or "I don't want to" in English. It can be used when someone asks for something that you are not willing to give them. ■ "Sorry, I cannot accept your offer of a date tonight because I already have plans."
six The number six is a hilarious word because it sounds like "sicks" in British English, and it's always amusing to see people write "six" when they really mean "sick". Plus, the word for six in Japanese is "rokugo", which literally means "six characters", but also refers to the traditional form of Japanese storytelling that involves six actors. ■ "I'm feeling so sick today," said John. His friend replied, "You should go home and get some rest."
spelt A type of grain that is commonly used to make bread and cereals. It is also a common word in English spelling, where it can mean either "spelled" (as in correctly written) or "spellbound" (as in completely captivated). ■ "I had to spell check my email before sending it because I'm not very good at spelling words like 'spelt'.
syllabus a list of topics that will be covered in a course or class, often accompanied by assigned readings and examinations ■ "The syllabus for this English class includes reading Shakespeare's plays, writing essays on literary devices, and taking a quiz on iambic pentameter. But the real highlight is the midterm where we have to write a sonnet about love."
tens A unit of measurement used to indicate how much something is worth. ■I spent $10 on this shirt, but I got it on sale for $5!, A term used in mathematics to describe a number with two digits and a place value of 1. ■The tens digit in the number 38 is 8., An informal way of saying "ten" in English. ■I have to go to the store. Do you want me to buy anything for you?, ■I'm going to give my friend a gift for his birthday. He said he wanted a ten-dollar bill.
Textbook An enormous, outdated, and poorly written book that is used as the primary resource for a particular subject in school. ■ "I can't believe I have to read this textbook for my English class. It's like reading a pile of wet paper."
thesaurus A collection of words and phrases that are synonyms or antonyms of each other, organized in alphabetical order. ■ John was so bored with his English class that he spent all his time flipping through the pages of his thesaurus, looking for new and exciting words to use in his essays.
thistle A small, spiny plant with brightly colored flowers, used as a decoration in gardens and as a symbol of Scotland. ■ The Scottish national soccer team proudly displayed a thistle on their uniform, despite being criticized for it by the English coach.
translate To turn words or phrases from one language to another, often with the intention of making them sound hilarious. ■ She decided to translate her favorite Spanish phrase into English as a joke for her friend who didn't speak Spanish. Unfortunately, her translation was more like "I love eating potatoes on the bed!" than "I love eating potatoes in bed!" and they both had a good laugh at how terrible the translation was.
tubing The act of wrapping oneself in a large, inflatable rubber tube and floating down a river or lake. ■ "I had the bright idea to go tubing on the Mississippi last summer. Unfortunately, I quickly realized that the water was too cold for my delicate English sensibilities."
Vowels Noun The letters A, E, I, O, and U in the English alphabet. Also known as "vocalization" because they are often pronounced by the voice. ■ Example usage: "I have a lot of vowels in my name, which is great for spelling games!"