Alphabetical word directory

English words starting with A

Showing words 3,1213,162 of 3,162. Choose a word to read its meaning, etymology and origin.

awesomely

adv

in a manner that inspires awe or admiration; extremely well or impressively.

[ˈɑːsəmli]

awful

adj

Very bad or unpleasant.

[ˈɔːf(ə)l]

awfully

adv

Very; to a great degree.

[ˈɔːfəli]

awfulness

n

the quality of being extremely bad, unpleasant, or of low quality

[ˈɑːflnəs]

awhile

adv

for a short time

[əˈwaɪl]

awkward

adj

Causing difficulty; hard to do or deal with

[ˈɔːkwərd]

awkward-looking

adj

Having an appearance that is unattractive, clumsy, or not graceful.

[ˈɑːkwərd ˈlʊkɪŋ]

awkwardly

adv

in a way that lacks skill or grace; clumsily.

[ˈɔːkwərdli]

awkwardness

n

the state or quality of being awkward; lack of grace or skill in movement or manner.

[ˈɔːkwərdnəs]

awl

n

a small pointed tool used for making holes, especially in leather or wood.

[ɔːl]

awning

n

A sheet of canvas or other material stretched on a frame and used to shelter a window, doorway, or area from the sun or rain.

[ˈɔːnɪŋ]

awry

adv

Away from the correct, expected, or normal course or position; askew

[əˈraɪ]

aww

interj

An exclamation expressing admiration, affection, sympathy, or endearment, often in reaction to something cute or touching.

[ɔː] or [ɑː]

ax

n

A tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle, used for chopping wood

[æks]

axe

n

A tool with a heavy metal blade on the end of a long handle, used for chopping wood

[æks]

axel

n

A jump in figure skating from the outer forward edge of one skate, with one and a half or more rotations in the air, and landing on the outer backward edge of the opposite skate.

[ˈæks(ə)l]

axial

adj

forming or relating to an axis.

[ˈæk.si.əl]

axially

adv

In a way that relates to, is along, or is positioned around an axis.

[ˈæk.si.ə.li]

axilla

n

the technical term for the armpit.

[ækˈsɪlə]

axillary

adj

Relating to the armpit.

[ˈæksəˌleri]

axiological

adj

Relating to the study of values or value judgments, especially in philosophy.

[ˌæk.si.əˈlɑː.dʒɪ.kəl]

axiom

n

A statement or principle that is accepted as true without proof, serving as a starting point for further reasoning.

[ˈæksiəm]

axiomatic

adj

Evident without proof or argument; self-evidently true.

[ˌæksiəˈmætɪk]

axion

n

A hypothetical subatomic particle postulated to explain certain symmetry problems in particle physics and considered a candidate for dark matter.

[ˈæksiən]

axis

n

An imaginary line through the center of an object, around which the object turns

[ˈæksɪs]

axisymmetric

adj

Having symmetry about an axis.

[ˌæksɪsɪˈmɛtrɪk]

axle

n

a rod or spindle (either fixed or rotating) passing through the centre of a wheel or group of wheels.

[ˈæksl̩]

axon

n

The long threadlike part of a nerve cell that conducts impulses away from the cell body.

[ˈæksɑːn]

axonal

adj

Relating to or of the nature of an axon, the long threadlike part of a nerve cell along which impulses are conducted.

[ˈæksənəl]

ay

interj

Used to express sorrow, regret, or distress.

[eɪ]

ayatollah

n

A high-ranking Shiite Muslim religious leader, especially in Iran.

[ˌaɪəˈtoʊlə]

aye

adv

A word meaning 'yes' or 'always, ever'.

[aɪ]

aye-aye

n

A rare nocturnal lemur native to Madagascar, with large eyes, bat-like ears, and a long thin middle finger for extracting insects from bark.

[ˈaɪ aɪ]

ayurvedic

adj

relating to or denoting the traditional hindu system of medicine, which is based on the idea of balance in bodily systems and uses diet, herbal treatment, and yogic breathing.

[ˌaɪjʊrˈveɪdɪk]

azalea

n

a garden plant with brightly colored flowers that grow in groups, often grown in pots

[əˈzeɪljə]

azerbaijani

adj

Of or relating to Azerbaijan, its people, or their language.

[ˌɑːzərbaɪˈdʒɑːni]

azeri

n

A member of a Turkic people forming the majority of the population of Azerbaijan and also living in Iran.

[ˈæzəri]

azimuth

n

The horizontal direction of a celestial object (like a star or the sun), measured clockwise in degrees from a true north or south reference point.

[ˈæzɪməθ]

azimuthal

adj

Relating to or measured in azimuth.

[ˌæzɪˈmjuːθəl]

azithromycin

n

A synthetic antibiotic of the macrolide class, used to treat a variety of bacterial infections.

[əˌzɪθroʊˈmaɪsɪn]

Aztec

n

A member of the Nahuatl-speaking people who founded the Mexican empire conquered by the Spanish in the early 16th century.

[ˈæz.tɛk]

azure

adj

Having the bright blue colour of a clear sky

[ˈæʒər]
English Words Starting with A – Page 27 | OpenEtymology