English
of, relating to, or characteristic of England or its inhabitants, institutions, etc.
belonging or relating to, or spoken or written in, the English language: a high school English class;an English translation of a Spanish novel.
of or relating to a person or thing that is not Amish, generally used by Amish people in Anglophone North America: The Amish rarely celebrate English holidays like Labor Day.He fixed a rabbit hutch for his English neighbor.
(used with a plural verb) the people of England collectively, especially as distinguished from the Scots, Welsh, and Irish.
the Germanic language of England, widespread and standard also in the United States, Canada, and other countries colonized or settled by England, historically termed Old English (c450–c1150), Middle English (c1150–c1475), and Modern English (after c1475). Abbreviation: E
English language, composition, and literature as offered as a course of study in school.
a specific variety of the English language, as that of a particular time, place, or person: Shakespearean English;American English.
simple, straightforward language: What does all that jargon mean in English?
Sports.(sometimes lowercase)
a spinning motion imparted to a ball, especially in billiards.
Printing. a 14-point type of a size between pica and Columbian.
a grade of calendered paper having a smooth matte finish.
(used with a plural verb) people who are not Amish, generally used by Amish people in Anglophone North America: More Amish than English live in this county.
to translate into English: to English Euripides.
to adopt (a foreign word) into English; Anglicize.
(sometimes lowercase)Sports. to impart spin to (a ball).
Origin of English
1Other words from English
- Eng·lish·ness, noun
- an·ti-Eng·lish, adjective
- half-Eng·lish, adjective
- non-Eng·lish, adjective, noun
- pre-Eng·lish, adjective
- pro-Eng·lish, adjective
- pseu·do-Eng·lish, adjective
- qua·si-Eng·lish, adjective
Words Nearby English
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use English in a sentence
That means families who move frequently, change cellphone numbers or do not speak English can be left out of the loop and can be difficult to find.
Unprecedented numbers of students have disappeared during the pandemic. Schools are working harder than ever to find them. | Moriah Balingit | February 26, 2021 | Washington PostUntil last year, Tikhanovskaya, now 38, was a full-time mother, planning to pick up her earlier career as an English teacher.
How a Belarusian Teacher and Stay-at-Home Mom Came to Lead a National Revolt | Vivienne Walt | February 25, 2021 | TimeTwo hundred years ago this week, English poet John Keats died of tuberculosis, in Rome, at the age of 25.
Two centuries after John Keats’s death, his famous odes are still sparking new discussions | Troy Jollimore | February 25, 2021 | Washington PostIn recent weeks, two prominent journalists have been disciplined, largely because of uttering, or defending, the use of the worst racial slur in the English language.
Some journalists are debating when it’s okay to use the n-word. But this one should be easy. | Margaret Sullivan | February 25, 2021 | Washington PostBy recovering those parts, we can allow all the things that are going on in English literature departments to continue.
Literature Should Be Taught Like Science - Issue 97: Wonder | Kevin Berger | February 24, 2021 | Nautilus
His first language was Russian, then he learned Swedish, but chooses to perform in monosyllabic broken English.
The Cult of Yung Lean: ‘I’m Building An Anarchistic Society From the Ground Up’ | Marlow Stern | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST“Gently rolling hills” roll not-so-gently under my tires, but the English countryside scenery is soporific.
Her phone rings at least once an hour with questions from journalists, which she answers in Arabic, English, and sometimes French.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda | Ruth Michaelson | December 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“Deck the Halls” was written back in the 16th century, when the English language was very different.
The Most Confusing Christmas Music Lyrics Explained (VIDEO) | Kevin Fallon | December 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTYou mix up English working-class gruffness with African-American soul from the Deep South.
The Greatest Rock Voice of All Time Belonged to Joe Cocker | Ted Gioia | December 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThomas Cooper, an English prelate, died; highly commended for his great learning and eloquence.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel MunsellA fancy came into my head that I would entertain the king and queen with an English tune upon this instrument.
Gulliver's Travels | Jonathan SwiftDockier, a prominent leader of the Levelers, in the times of the English commonwealth, was shot by order of the government.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel MunsellIt seems to me that such verses as these might very well have satisfied the English admirers of Klopstock.
William Woodville died; a distinguished English physician and medical writer.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel Munsell
British Dictionary definitions for English
/ (ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ) /
the official language of Britain, the US, most parts of the Commonwealth, and certain other countries. It is the native language of over 280 million people and is acquired as a second language by many more. It is an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch: See also Middle English, Old English, Modern English
the English (functioning as plural) the natives or inhabitants of England collectively
(formerly) a size of printer's type approximately equal to 14 point
an old style of black-letter typeface
(often not capital) the usual US and Canadian term for side (def. 16)
denoting, using, or relating to the English language
relating to or characteristic of England or the English
archaic to translate or adapt into English: Related prefix: Anglo-
Derived forms of English
- Englishness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with English
see body English; in plain English.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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