botanical
botanical (adj)
Connected with the study or cultivation of plants.
botanize
botanize (v)
To study plant-life.
botany
botany (n)
The science that treats of plants.
bountiful
bountiful (adj)
Showing abundance.
Bowdlerize
Bowdlerize (v)
To expurgate in editing (a literary composition) by omitting words or passages.
bowler
bowler (n)
In cricket, the player who delivers the ball.
boycott
boycott (v)
To place the products or merchandise of under a ban.
brae
brae (n)
Hillside.
braggart
braggart (n)
A vain boaster.
brandish
brandish (v)
To wave, shake, or flourish triumphantly or defiantly, as a sword or spear.
bravado
bravado (n)
An aggressive display of boldness.
bray
bray (n)
A loud harsh sound, as the cry of an ass or the blast of a horn.
braze
braze (v)
To make of or ornament with brass.
brazier
brazier (n)
An open pan or basin for holding live coals.
breach
breach (n)
The violation of official duty, lawful right, or a legal obligation.
breaker
breaker (n)
One who trains horses, dogs, etc.
breech
breech (n)
The buttocks.
brethren
brethren (n)
pl. Members of a brotherhood, gild, profession, association, or the like.
brevity
brevity (n)
Shortness of duration.
bric-a-brac
bric-a-brac (n)
Objects of curiosity or for decoration.
bridle
bridle (n)
The head-harness of a horse consisting of a head-stall, a bit, and the reins.
brigade
brigade (n)
A body of troops consisting of two or more regiments.
brigadier
brigadier (n)
General officer who commands a brigade, ranking between a colonel and a major-general.
brigand
brigand (n)
One who lives by robbery and plunder.
brimstone
brimstone (n)
Sulfur.
brine
brine (n)
Water saturated with salt.
bristle
bristle (n)
One of the coarse, stiff hairs of swine: used in brush-making, etc.
Britannia
Britannia (n)
The United Kingdom of Great Britain.
Briticism
Briticism (n)
A word, idiom, or phrase characteristic of Great Britain or the British.
brittle
brittle (adj)
Fragile.
broach
broach (v)
To mention, for the first time.
broadcast
broadcast (adj)
Disseminated far and wide.
brogan
brogan (n)
A coarse, heavy shoe.
brogue
brogue (n)
Any dialectic pronunciation of English, especially that of the Irish people.
brokerage
brokerage (n)
The business of making sales and purchases for a commission; a broker.
bromine
bromine (n)
A dark reddish-brown, non-metallic liquid element with a suffocating odor.
bronchitis
bronchitis (n)
Inflammation of the bronchial tubes.
bronchus
bronchus (n)
Either of the two subdivisions of the trachea conveying air into the lungs.
brooch
brooch (n)
An article of jewelry fastened by a hinged pin and hook on the underside.
brotherhood
brotherhood (n)
Spiritual or social fellowship or solidarity.
browbeat
browbeat (v)
To overwhelm, or attempt to do so, by stern, haughty, or rude address or manner.
brusque
brusque (adj)
Somewhat rough or rude in manner or speech.
buffoon
buffoon (n)
A clown.
buffoonery
buffoonery (n)
Low drollery, coarse jokes, etc.
bulbous
bulbous (adj)
Of, or pertaining to, or like a bulb.
bullock
bullock (n)
An ox.
bulrush
bulrush (n)
Any one of various tall rush-like plants growing in damp ground or water.
bulwark
bulwark (n)
Anything that gives security or defense.
bumper
bumper (n)
A cup or glass filled to the brim, especially one to be drunk as a toast or health.
bumptious
bumptious (adj)
Full of offensive and aggressive self-conceit.
bungle
bungle (v)
To execute clumsily.
buoyancy
buoyancy (n)
Power or tendency to float on or in a liquid or gas.
buoyant
buoyant (adj)
Having the power or tendency to float or keep afloat.
bureau
bureau (n)
A chest of drawers for clothing, etc.
bureaucracy
bureaucracy (n)
Government by departments of men transacting particular branches of public business.
burgess
burgess (n)
In colonial times, a member of the lower house of the legislature of Maryland or Virginia.
burgher
burgher (n)
An inhabitant, citizen or freeman of a borough burgh, or corporate town.
burnish
burnish (v)
To make brilliant or shining.
bursar
bursar (n)
A treasurer.
bustle
bustle (v)
To hurry.
butt
butt (v)
To strike with or as with the head, or horns.
butte
butte (n)
A conspicuous hill, low mountain, or natural turret, generally isolated.
buttress
buttress (n)
Any support or prop.
by-law
by-law (n)
A rule or law adopted by an association, a corporation, or the like.
cabal
cabal (n)
A number of persons secretly united for effecting by intrigue some private purpose.
cabalism
cabalism (n)
Superstitious devotion to one's religion.
cabinet
cabinet (n)
The body of men constituting the official advisors of the executive head of a nation.
cacophony
cacophony (n)
A disagreeable, harsh, or discordant sound or combination of sounds or tones.
cadaverous
cadaverous (adj)
Resembling a corpse.
cadence
cadence (n)
Rhythmical or measured flow or movement, as in poetry or the time and pace of marching troops.
cadenza
cadenza (n)
An embellishment or flourish, prepared or improvised, for a solo voice or instrument.
caitiff
caitiff (adj)
Cowardly.
cajole
cajole (v)
To impose on or dupe by flattering speech.
cajolery
cajolery (n)
Delusive speech.
calculable
calculable (adj)
That may be estimated by reckoning.
calculus
calculus (n)
A concretion formed in various parts of the body resembling a pebble in hardness.
callosity
callosity (n)
The state of being hard and insensible.
callow
callow (adj)
Without experience of the world.
calorie
calorie (n)
Amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water 1 degree centigrade.
calumny
calumny (n)
Slander.
Calvary
Calvary (n)
The place where Christ was crucified.
Calvinism
Calvinism (n)
The system of doctrine taught by John Calvin.
Calvinize
Calvinize (v)
To teach or imbue with the doctrines of Calvinism.
came
came (n)
A leaden sash-bar or grooved strip for fastening panes in stained-glass windows.
cameo
cameo (n)
Any small engraved or carved work in relief.
campaign
campaign (n)
A complete series of connected military operations.
Canaanite
Canaanite (n)
A member of one of the three tribes that dwelt in the land of Canaan, or western Palestine.
canary
canary (adj)
Of a bright but delicate yellow.
candid
candid (adj)
Straightforward.
candor
candor (n)
The quality of frankness or outspokenness.
canine
canine (adj)
Characteristic of a dog.
canon
canon (n)
Any rule or law.
cant
cant (v)
To talk in a singsong, preaching tone with affected solemnity.
cantata
cantata (n)
A choral composition.
canto
canto (n)
One of the divisions of an extended poem.
cantonment
cantonment (n)
The part of the town or district in which the troops are quartered.
capacious
capacious (adj)
Roomy.
capillary
capillary (n)
A minute vessel having walls composed of a single layer of cells.
capitulate
capitulate (v)
To surrender or stipulate terms.
caprice
caprice (n)
A whim.
caption
caption (n)
A heading, as of a chapter, section, document, etc.
captious
captious (adj)
Hypercritical.
captivate
captivate (v)
To fascinate, as by excellence. eloquence, or beauty.
carcass
carcass (n)
The dead body of an animal.
cardiac
cardiac (adj)
Pertaining to the heart.
cardinal
cardinal (adj)
Of prime or special importance.
caret
caret (n)
A sign (^) placed below a line, indicating where omitted words, etc., should be inserted.
caricature
caricature (n)
a picture or description in which natural characteristics are exaggerated or distorted.
carnage
carnage (n)
Massacre.
carnal
carnal (adj)
Sensual.
carnivorous
carnivorous (adj)
Eating or living on flesh.
carouse
carouse (v)
To drink deeply and in boisterous or jovial manner.
carrion
carrion (n)
Dead and putrefying flesh.
cartilage
cartilage (n)
An elastic animal tissue of firm consistence.
cartridge
cartridge (n)
A charge for a firearm, or for blasting.
caste
caste (n)
The division of society on artificial grounds.
castigate
castigate (v)
To punish.
casual
casual (adj)
Accidental, by chance.
casualty
casualty (n)
A fatal or serious accident or disaster.
cataclysm
cataclysm (n)
Any overwhelming flood of water.
cataract
cataract (n)
Opacity of the lens of the eye resulting in complete or partial blindness.
catastrophe
catastrophe (n)
Any great and sudden misfortune or calamity.
cathode
cathode (n)
The negative pole or electrode of a galvanic battery.
Catholicism
Catholicism (n)
The system, doctrine, and practice of the Roman Catholic Church.
catholicity
catholicity (n)
Universal prevalence or acceptance.
cat-o-nine-tails
cat-o-nine-tails (n)
An instrument consisting of nine pieces of cord, formerly used for flogging in the army and navy.
caucus
caucus (n)
A private meeting of members of a political party to select candidates.
causal
causal (adj)
Indicating or expressing a cause.
caustic
caustic (adj)
Sarcastic and severe.
cauterize
cauterize (v)
To burn or sear as with a heated iron.
cede
cede (v)
To pass title to.
censor
censor (n)
An official examiner of manuscripts empowered to prohibit their publication.
censorious
censorious (adj)
Judging severely or harshly.
census
census (n)
An official numbering of the people of a country or district.
centenary
centenary (adj)
Pertaining to a hundred years or a period of a hundred years.
centiliter
centiliter (n)
A hundredth of a liter.
centimeter
centimeter (n)
A length of one hundredth of a meter.
centurion
centurion (n)
A captain of a company of one hundred infantry in the ancient Roman army.
cereal
cereal (adj)
Pertaining to edible grain or farinaceous seeds.
ceremonial
ceremonial (adj)
Characterized by outward form or ceremony.
ceremonious
ceremonious (adj)
Observant of ritual.
cessation
cessation (n)
Discontinuance, as of action or motion.
cession
cession (n)
Surrender, as of possessions or rights.
chagrin
chagrin (n)
Keen vexation, annoyance, or mortification, as at one's failures or errors.
chameleon
chameleon (adj)
Changeable in appearance.
chancery
chancery (n)
A court of equity, as distinguished from a common-law court.
chaos
chaos (n)
Any condition of which the elements or parts are in utter disorder and confusion.
characteristic
characteristic (n)
A distinctive feature.
characterize
characterize (v)
To describe by distinctive marks or peculiarities.
charlatan
charlatan (n)
A quack.
chasm
chasm (n)
A yawning hollow, as in the earth's surface.
chasten
chasten (v)
To purify by affliction.
chastise
chastise (v)
To subject to punitive measures.
chastity
chastity (n)
Sexual or moral purity.
chateau
chateau (n)
A castle or manor-house.
chattel
chattel (n)
Any article of personal property.
check
check (v)
To hold back.
chiffon
chiffon (n)
A very thin gauze used for trimmings, evening dress, etc.
chivalry
chivalry (n)
The knightly system of feudal times with its code, usages and practices.
cholera
cholera (n)
An acute epidemic disease.
choleric
choleric (adj)
Easily provoked to anger.
choral
choral (adj)
Pertaining to, intended for, or performed by a chorus or choir.
Christ
Christ (n)
A title of Jesus
christen
christen (v)
To name in baptism.
Christendom
Christendom (n)
That part of the world where Christianity is generally professed.
chromatic
chromatic (adj)
Belonging, relating to, or abounding in color.
chronology
chronology (n)
The science that treats of computation of time or of investigation and arrangement of events.
chronometer
chronometer (n)
A portable timekeeper of the highest attainable precision.
cipher
cipher (v)
To calculate arithmetically. (also a noun meaning zero or nothing)
circulate
circulate (v)
To disseminate.
circumference
circumference (n)
The boundary-line of a circle.
circumlocution
circumlocution (n)
Indirect or roundabout expression.
circumnavigate
circumnavigate (v)
To sail quite around.
circumscribe
circumscribe (v)
To confine within bounds.
circumspect
circumspect (adj)
Showing watchfulness, caution, or careful consideration.
citadel
citadel (n)
Any strong fortress.
cite
cite (v)
To refer to specifically.
claimant
claimant (n)
One who makes a claim or demand, as of right.
clairvoyance
clairvoyance (n)
Intuitive sagacity or perception.
clamorous
clamorous (adj)
Urgent in complaint or demand.
clan
clan (n)
A tribe.
clandestine
clandestine (adj)
Surreptitious.
clangor
clangor (n)
Clanking or a ringing, as of arms, chains, or bells; clamor.
clarify
clarify (v)
To render intelligible.
clarion
clarion (n)
A small shrill trumpet or bugle.
classify
classify (v)
To arrange in a class or classes on the basis of observed resemblance’s and differences.
clearance
clearance (n)
A certificate from the proper authorities that a vessel has complied with the law and may sail.
clemency
clemency (n)
Mercy.
clement
clement (adj)
Compassionate.
close-hauled
close-hauled (adj)
Having the sails set for sailing as close to the wind as possible.
clothier
clothier (n)
One who makes or sells cloth or clothing.
clumsy
clumsy (adj)
Awkward of movement.
coagulate
coagulate (v)
To change into a clot or a jelly, as by heat, by chemical action, or by a ferment.
coagulant
coagulant (adj)
Producing coagulation.
coalescence
coalescence (n)
The act or process of coming together so as to form one body, combination, or product.
coalition
coalition (n)
Combination in a body or mass.