Alphabetical word directory

English words starting with A

Showing words 841960 of 3,162. Choose a word to read its meaning, etymology and origin.

agentry

n

The business or activities of an agent.

[ˈeɪdʒəntri]

ageratum

n

A plant of the daisy family with small, fluffy blue, pink, or white flowers, native to tropical America.

[ˌædʒəˈreɪtəm]

aggiornamento

n

the process of bringing something up to date, especially the modernization of the roman catholic church in the mid-20th century.

[əˌdʒɔːrnəˈmɛntoʊ]

agglomerate

v

to collect or form into a mass or group

[əˈɡlɑːməreɪt]

agglomeration

n

A large collection or mass of things that have been brought together, often in a disorderly way.

[əˌɡlɑːməˈreɪʃn]

agglutination

n

The process of particles sticking together to form a clump or mass.

[əˌɡlutnˈeɪʃn]

aggrandize

v

To make someone or something seem greater or more powerful.

[əˈɡrændaɪz]

aggrandizement

n

The act of making something greater in power, wealth, status, or reputation, often in a way that seems exaggerated or excessive.

[əˈɡrændɪzmənt]

aggravate

v

to make a bad situation, an illness, or an injury worse

[ˈæɡrəveɪt]

aggravated

adj

(of a situation or condition) made more serious or severe.

[ˈæɡrəveɪtɪd]

aggravating

adj

making a situation or condition worse or more severe.

[ˈæɡrəveɪtɪŋ]

aggravation

n

The state of becoming worse or more serious; exacerbation.

[ˌæɡ.rəˈveɪ.ʃən]

aggregate

adj

formed by the combination of several separate elements; total.

[ˈæɡrɪɡət]

aggregated

adj

Formed or calculated by the combination of many separate items or sources; total.

[ˈæɡrɪɡeɪtɪd]

aggregation

n

The process of collecting things together or forming a group from separate parts.

[ˌæɡrɪˈɡeɪʃn]

aggregative

adj

Tending to aggregate or form a collection or mass.

[ˈæɡrɪɡeɪtɪv]

aggregator

n

A website or program that collects related items of content and displays them or links to them in a single location.

[ˈæɡrɪɡeɪtər]

aggress

v

To attack first or begin a quarrel or conflict.

[əˈɡres]

aggression

n

Feelings of anger and hatred that may result in threatening or violent behaviour.

[əˈɡreʃn̩]

aggressive

adj

ready or likely to attack or confront; characterized by or resulting from aggression.

[əˈɡres.ɪv]

aggressive-growth

adj

Describing a strategy, fund, or company focused on achieving maximum capital appreciation, often involving higher risk

[əˈɡresɪv ɡroʊθ]

aggressively

adv

in a manner characterized by or resulting from aggression; in a forceful, hostile, or attacking way.

[əˈɡresɪvli]

aggressiveness

n

The quality of being ready or likely to attack or confront someone.

[əˈɡrɛsɪvnəs]

aggressivity

n

The quality or state of being aggressive; aggressive behavior or tendency.

[ˌæɡrəˈsɪvɪti]

aggressor

n

a person, group, or country that attacks first or starts a conflict.

[əˈɡresər]

aggrieve

v

To make someone feel unhappy, distressed, or wronged.

[əˈɡriːv]

aggrieved

adj

Feeling resentment because of unfair treatment

[əˈɡriːvd]

aggro

n

Aggressive or violent behavior, especially as associated with a particular subculture.

[ˈæɡroʊ]

aghast

adj

filled with horror or shock

[əˈɡæst]

agile

adj

Able to move quickly and easily

[ˈædʒəl]

agility

n

the ability to move quickly and easily

[əˈdʒɪləti]

aging

n

the process of growing old

[ˈeɪdʒɪŋ]

agitate

v

to make someone feel angry, anxious, or nervous

[ˈædʒɪteɪt]

agitated

adj

feeling or appearing troubled, nervous, or disturbed.

[ˈædʒɪteɪtɪd]

agitation

n

a state of nervousness or worry that makes you unable to keep still or think calmly

[ˌædʒɪˈteɪʃən]

agitator

n

a person who urges others to protest or rebel

[ˈædʒɪteɪtər]

agitprop

n

political propaganda, especially in art or literature

[ˈædʒɪtprɑːp]

aglow

adj

Shining with light and color, especially with a warm, soft light.

[əˈɡloʊ]

agnate

adj

Related by descent from a common male ancestor

[ˈæɡneɪt]

agnatic

adj

Related to or descended from a common male ancestor, especially through the male line.

[æɡˈnætɪk]

agnostic

n

A person who believes that it is impossible to know whether or not God exists.

[æɡˈnɑːstɪk]

agnosticism

n

The belief that it is impossible to know whether God exists or not.

[æɡˈnɑːstɪsɪzəm]

ago

adv

In the past; before the present time.

[əˈɡoʊ]

agog

adj

Very eager or curious to hear or see something.

[əˈɡɑːɡ]

agonist

n

A substance that initiates a physiological response when it combines with a receptor.

[ˈæɡənɪst]

agonistic

adj

Relating to conflict or struggle; competitive.

[ˌæɡ.əˈnɪs.tɪk]

agonize

v

To spend a long time worrying and being upset about something.

[ˈæɡ.ə.naɪz]

agonized

adj

Showing or suffering from extreme physical or mental pain

[ˈæɡənaɪzd]

agonizing

adj

Causing great physical or mental pain; extremely painful or distressing.

[ˈæɡ.ə.naɪ.zɪŋ]

agonizingly

adv

In a way that causes great physical or mental pain or suffering.

[ˈæɡ.ə.naɪ.zɪŋ.li]

agony

n

extreme physical or mental suffering

[ˈæɡəni]

agora

n

a public open space used for assemblies and markets in ancient greece.

[ˈæɡərə]

agoraphobia

n

an irrational fear of being in open or crowded spaces, of leaving one's own home, or of being in places from which escape is difficult.

[ˌæɡərəˈfoʊbiə]

agoraphobic

adj

relating to or suffering from agoraphobia; having an extreme or irrational fear of entering open or crowded places, of leaving one's own home, or of being in places from which escape is difficult.

[ˌæɡərəˈfoʊbɪk]

agouti

n

a medium-sized rodent with coarse fur, native to central and south america.

[əˈɡuːti]

agrarian

adj

relating to land, farming, or agriculture.

[əˈɡreriən]

agrarianism

n

a social or political movement or philosophy that advocates for the interests of farmers and rural society, often emphasizing the moral and economic benefits of agricultural life.

[əˈɡrer.i.ə.nɪ.zəm]

agree

v

To have the same opinion or to be in harmony.

[əˈɡriː]

agreeable

adj

pleasant and easy to like

[əˈɡriːəbl]

agreeableness

n

the quality of being pleasant, friendly, and easy to like

[əˈɡriːəblnəs]

agreeably

adv

in a pleasant, enjoyable, or satisfactory manner.

[əˈɡriːəbli]

agreed

adj

having the same opinion or being in harmony

[əˈɡriːd]

agreed-on

adj

decided or accepted by all the people involved

[əˈɡriːd ɑːn]

agreed-upon

adj

decided or accepted by everyone involved

[əˈɡriːd əˌpɑːn]

agreement

n

the state of sharing the same opinion or feeling

[əˈɡriːmənt]

agribusiness

n

The business of agricultural production, including farming and the production, processing, and distribution of farm products.

[ˈæɡrɪˌbɪznəs]

agricultural

adj

Relating to agriculture; used for or involved in farming.

[ˌæɡrɪˈkʌltʃərəl]

agriculturalist

n

A person who is an expert in agriculture or farming; a farmer or a scientific expert in this field.

[ˌæɡrɪˈkʌltʃərəlɪst]

agriculture

n

the science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products.

[ˈæɡrɪkʌltʃər]

agriculturist

n

A person who is an expert in agriculture; a farmer or a scientific expert in farming.

[ˌæɡrɪˈkʌltʃərɪst]

agro-environmental

adj

Relating to the interaction between agriculture and the natural environment.

[ˌæɡroʊ ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmentl]

agro-industrial

adj

relating to or involving the combination of agriculture and industry, especially in the context of large-scale production and processing of agricultural products.

[ˌæɡroʊɪnˈdʌstriəl]

agro-pastoral

adj

Relating to or involving a combination of agriculture and the rearing of livestock.

[ˌæɡroʊ ˈpæstərəl]

agrochemical

n

A chemical used in agriculture, such as a pesticide or fertilizer.

[ˌæɡroʊˈkemɪkl̩]

agroforestry

n

A land-use system that combines trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock on the same piece of land.

[ˌæɡroʊˈfɔːrɪstri]

agronomic

adj

Relating to the science of soil management and crop production.

[ˌæɡrəˈnɑːmɪk]

agronomist

n

An expert in the science of soil management and crop production.

[əˈɡrɑːnəmɪst]

agronomy

n

The science of soil management and crop production.

[əˈɡrɑːnəmi]

aground

adv

onto or on the bottom of shallow water, especially a sea or river

[əˈɡraʊnd]

aguardiente

n

a strong alcoholic spirit, especially a type of brandy, distilled from grapes or other fruits and produced in spain and latin america.

[ˌɑːɡwɑːrdiˈenteɪ]

ague

n

a fever, such as from malaria, marked by regular periods of chills, fever, and sweating.

[ˈeɪɡjuː]

ah

interj

An exclamation expressing a range of emotions such as surprise, pleasure, sympathy, or realization.

[ɑː]

ah-ha

interj

An exclamation used to express triumph, satisfaction, or sudden discovery.

[ɑˈhɑ]

ah-hah

interj

used to express sudden understanding, discovery, or triumph

[ɑˈhɑ]

aha

interj

An exclamation expressing surprise, triumph, discovery, or satisfaction.

[ɑˈhɑ]

ahead

adv

In or to the front; in advance; onward.

[əˈhɛd]

ahem

interj

A sound made in the throat to attract attention, express hesitation, or gain time before speaking.

[əˈhem]

ahh

interj

an exclamation expressing a range of emotions such as relief, pleasure, realization, or sympathy

[ɑː]

ahhh

interj

An exclamation expressing a range of emotions such as relief, pleasure, satisfaction, realization, or sympathy.

[ɑː]

ahhhh

interj

An exclamation expressing a range of emotions such as relief, pleasure, realization, or sympathy.

[ɑː]

ahistorical

adj

Not concerned with or related to history, historical development, or tradition.

[ˌeɪhɪˈstɔːrɪkəl]

ahold

n

a grip or grasp on something

[əˈhoʊld]

aid

v

to provide support, help, or assistance

[eɪd]

aide

n

An assistant to an important person, especially a political leader or a military officer.

[eɪd]

aide-de-camp

n

A military officer acting as a confidential assistant to a senior officer.

[ˌeɪd də ˈkæmp]

aided

adj

Provided with help or support.

[ˈeɪdɪd]

AIDS

n

A serious disease, caused by a virus (HIV), that destroys the body's natural protection from infection and can cause death.

[eɪdz]

aids-infected

adj

Infected with the AIDS virus (HIV).

[ˌeɪdz ɪnˈfɛktɪd]

aids-related

adj

Connected to or caused by AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)

[ˌeɪdz rɪˈleɪtɪd]

aikido

n

a japanese martial art that uses locks, holds, and throws and uses the opponent's own strength and weight against them.

[aɪˈkiːdoʊ]

ail

v

To cause pain or trouble to someone; to be ill

[eɪl]

aileron

n

A hinged surface on the trailing edge of an aircraft's wing, used to control rolling or banking movements.

[ˈeɪ.lə.rɑːn]

ailing

adj

Suffering from an illness or poor health; not well.

[ˈeɪlɪŋ]

ailment

n

An illness, typically a minor one.

[ˈeɪlmənt]

aim

v

To point or direct a weapon, remark, or action towards a particular target or goal.

[eɪm]

aimless

adj

Without any clear purpose, direction, or plan.

[ˈeɪmləs]

aimlessly

adv

In a way that lacks purpose, direction, or goal.

[ˈeɪmləsli]

aimlessness

n

The state of having no clear purpose, direction, or goal.

[ˈeɪmləsnəs]

aioli

n

A thick sauce made of garlic, olive oil, and egg yolks, used especially in Mediterranean cuisine.

[aɪˈoʊli]

air

n

the invisible mixture of gases that surrounds the earth and that people and animals breathe

[er]

air-bag

n

A safety device in a vehicle that fills with air rapidly in a collision to protect the driver or passenger from being thrown forward.

[ˈerbæɡ]

air-bone

adj

Relating to or involving the conduction of sound through both air and bone, especially in the context of hearing tests.

[ˈer boʊn]

air-breathing

adj

(of an engine, missile, etc.) using atmospheric oxygen to burn its fuel, as opposed to carrying its own oxidizer.

[ˈer ˌbriːðɪŋ]

air-conditioned

adj

Describing a room, building, or vehicle that has air conditioning, a system for controlling the temperature and humidity of the air.

[ˌer kənˈdɪʃənd]

air-conditioner

n

A machine that cools and dries the air in a room or building.

[ˈer kənˌdɪʃənər]

air-conditioning

n

a system for controlling the temperature and sometimes the humidity of the air in a building or vehicle

[ˌer kənˈdɪʃənɪŋ]

air-conduction

n

The process by which sound waves travel through the air in the external auditory canal to reach the eardrum.

[ˈer kənˌdʌkʃən]

air-cooled

adj

(of an engine or mechanism) cooled by a flow of air, typically as opposed to being cooled by a liquid.

[ˈer kuːld]

air-defense

n

military measures and resources designed to protect against enemy air attack

[ˈer dɪˌfens]

air-dry

v

To dry something by exposing it to the air, without using heat.

[ˈer draɪ]
English Words Starting with A – Page 8 | OpenEtymology