Pronunciation guide: IPA symbols, stress and word endings
Vowels
| iː | see | ɪ | sit | e / ɛ | bed | æ | cat |
| ɑː | father | ɒ | hot (UK) | ɔː | law | ʊ | put |
| uː | too | ʌ | cup | ɜː | bird | ə | about |
| eɪ | day | aɪ | my | ɔɪ | boy | aʊ | now |
| əʊ / oʊ | go (UK / US) | ɪə | near | eə | hair | ʊə | tour |
Consonants that look unusual
| θ | thin | ð | this | ʃ | she | ʒ | measure |
| tʃ | church | dʒ | judge | ŋ | sing | j | yes |
p b t d k g f v s z h m n l r w sound as in ordinary English spelling.
Marks
- ˈ main stress, before the stressed syllable: /ˈwɔːtə/ water · ˌ lighter (secondary) stress: /ˌʌndəˈstænd/ understand
- ː a long vowel · (r) an r said only in accents that pronounce it (most American, Scottish, Irish)
Common word endings
- -s / -es (plurals; he/she form of verbs): /s/ after voiceless sounds (cats), /z/ after voiced (dogs), /ɪz/ after s, z, sh, ch, j sounds (buses, watches). Spelling: -es after s, x, z, ch, sh; consonant + y → -ies (city → cities).
- -ed (past): /t/ after voiceless sounds (walked), /d/ after voiced (played), /ɪd/ after t or d (wanted). Spelling: love → loved, stop → stopped, carry → carried.
- -ing: make → making, run → running, see → seeing.
- Irregular: go, went, gone · be, was, been · see, saw, seen · man → men · child → children · mouse → mice.
- Older (King James) forms: -eth = -s (he loveth = he loves) · -est with “thou” (thou lovest) · spake = spoke.
English Dictionary · 107,383 entries · Sources & licences
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Page 1 of 29: t – tailed frog
- t numeral, proper nounThe twentieth numeral symbol of the English alphabet, called tee and written in the Latin script.
- T cell noun(immunology) A lymphocyte, from the thymus, that can recognise specific antigens and can activate or deactivate other immune cells.
- T lymphocyte noun(immunology) A T cell.
- T'ien-ching proper nounSynonym of Tianjin.
- T-bar noun(skiing) A type of ski lift where skiers/snowboarders are dragged up the ski run while they slide along on their skis/snowboards on the slo…
- T-bill noun(US, finance) A Treasury bill.
- T-bone steak nounA large beef steak, containing a T-shaped bone.
- T-junction nounAn intersection of routes where one road terminates as it joins a (usually higher priority) road at approximately 90°. In most countries, a…
- T-man noun(US, informal) Abbreviation of treasury man: An agent of the treasury department.
- t-network nouna circuit formed by two equal series circuits with a shunt between them
- t-scope nounscientific instrument used by psychologists; presents visual stimuli for brief exposures
- T-shaped adjectiveHaving the shape of a capital T.
- t-shirt nounLetter case form of T-shirt.
- T-square nounA rule with a short perpendicular crosspiece at one end, used by draughtsmen to draw parallel lines.
- t.b. nouninfection transmitted by inhalation or ingestion of tubercle bacilli and manifested in fever and small lesions (usually in the lungs but in…
- ta interjection, noun, verb(colloquial, chiefly Commonwealth, UK, Ireland) Thanks.
- ta'ziyeh noun(uncountable) A dramatic art form of Iran performed by Shi'ites and reenacting the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala, us…
- Taal noun, proper nounSynonym of tsotsitaal.
- tab noun, verbA small flap or strip of material attached to or inserted into something, for holding, manipulation, identification, opening etc.
- tabanidae nounhorseflies
- tabard nounA silk banner attached to a bugle or trumpet.
- tabasco noun, proper nounA tabasco pepper.
- tabasco pepper nounA variety of chili pepper having a conical shape and a bitter and burning taste, Capsicum frutescens variety tabasco.
- tabbouleh nounA Levantine salad or meze generally consisting of bulgur wheat, chopped tomatoes, parsley, olive oil, and lemon juice.
- tabby noun, adjective, verb, proper noun(countable, uncountable) A kind of waved silk, usually called watered silk, manufactured like taffeta, but thicker and stronger. The wateri…
- tabby cat nounSynonym of tabby.
- tabernacle noun, verb, proper nounAny temporary dwelling; a hut, tent, or booth.
- tabernacles proper nounA particular Jewish holiday, coming each autumn.
- tabernaemontana nounevergreen tropical trees and shrubs with milky sap
- tabes noun(medicine) A kind of slow bodily wasting or emaciating disease, often accompanying a chronic disease.
- tabes dorsalis noun(pathology) tabes of the back; a degeneration of the sensory neurons of the spinal cord carrying afferent information.
- tabi noun, proper nounTraditional Japanese ankle socks with a separate section for the big toe.
- tabis nounplural of tabi
- Tabitha proper noun(biblical) A woman who was, according to the Bible, restored to life by Peter.
- tablature nounA form of musical notation indicating fingering rather than the pitch of notes, commonly used for stringed instruments.
- table noun, verbAn item of furniture with a flat top surface raised above the ground, usually on one or more legs.
- table d'hôte noun, adjectiveA menu offering a complete meal, with little choice, at a fixed price.
- table game nounSynonym of tabletop game.
- table knife nounA type of knife used to cut cooked and prepared food and to spread condiments, with a single moderately sharp edge and usually a rounded en…
- table lamp nounA lamp designed to be used on tables.
- table linen nountablecloths and napkins
- table mat nounSynonym of place mat.
- table of contents nounA list of titles of the parts of a book or document, organized in the order in which the parts appear.
- table rapping nounA rapping noise made, purportedly by spirits of the dead, on the table at which a seance is held.
- table salt nounSodium chloride or a mineral product chiefly composed of it: the salt most commonly used to season food at table.
- table saw nounA circular saw mounted beneath the surface of a table, the rotating blade protruding up through a slot.
- table talk noun(idiomatic) Conversation, especially of an informal or somewhat gossipy nature, among a group seated together for a meal or other social ac…
- table tennis nounA game or sport (similar to tennis) that involves the hitting of a light plastic ball with rackets (called paddles, or bats in Britain) acr…
- table wine noun(US) Wine that is not fortified or sparkling.
- tableau nounA striking and vivid representation or scene; a picture.
- tableau vivant noun(art) A tableau (group scene resembling a painting).
- tablecloth nounA cloth used to cover and protect a table, especially for a dining table.
- tablefork nouna fork for eating at a dining table
- tableland nounA relatively flat region of elevated terrain, particularly in reference to surrounding terrain.
- tablemate nounSomeone with whom one shares a table.
- tables nounBackgammon.
- tablespoon noun(Canada, US) A large spoon, used for eating food from a bowl.
- tablespoonful nounThe capacity of a tablespoon (a table implement).
- tablet noun, verbA slab of clay, stone or wood used for inscription.
- tabletop noun, adjective, verb(furniture) The flat, horizontal upper surface of a table.
- tableware nounThe cutlery, crockery and glassware used in setting a table for a meal.
- tabloid noun, adjective, verb(archaic) A small, compressed portion of a chemical, drug, food substance, etc.; a pill, a tablet.
- taboo noun, adjective, verbAn inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion.
- tabooli nounAlternative spelling of tabbouleh.
- tabor noun, verb, proper noun(music) A small drum.
- Tabora proper nounA surname.
- taboret nounA little drum; a tabret.
- tabour noun, verb(music) Alternative spelling of tabor.
- tabouret nounAlternative spelling of taboret.
- Tabriz proper nounA city in Iran, the seat of Tabriz County's Central District and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Fourth largest city of Iran with …
- tabu noun, verbAlternative spelling of taboo.
- Tabuk proper nounA city and district of Saudi Arabia.
- tabula rasa noun(philosophy, epistemology) A mind, as of a newborn, free of any impressions, notions, ideas, etc.
- tabular adjective, noun(of an object or landform) Having a flat (planar) horizontal surface at top.
- tabularise verbAlternative form of tabularize.
- tabularize verb(transitive) To make tabular, or format as a table; to tabulate.
- tabulate verb, noun, adjective(transitive) To arrange in tabular form; to arrange into a table.
- tabulation nounThe act or process of tabulating
- tabulator nounA person who counts or tabulates things.
- tabun noun(organic chemistry, military) An extremely toxic nerve gas; a clear, tasteless liquid, with the molecular formula C₅H₁₁N₂O₂P.
- tacamahac nounA bitter balsamic resin or resinous exudation obtained from tropical American trees of the family Burseraceae (Bursera tomentosa and Icica …
- tacca noungenus of tropical plants with creeping rootstocks and small umbellate flowers
- taccaceae nounsmall family of tropical herbs
- tach noun(obsolete, costermongers) A hat.
- tacheometer nounAlternative spelling of tachymeter.
- tachina fly nounA tachinid.
- tachinidae nounparasites on other insects
- tachistoscope nounA device that displays a series of brief images; used by psychologists to investigate perception, memory and learning.
- tachogram nounA graphical record of the movement and velocity of the bloodstream, made by a tachometer.
- tachograph nounA device that records the distance and time traveled by a vehicle (especially a truck or coach), used to check the drivers' working time.
- tachometer nounA device for measuring the revolutions per minute (RPMs) of a revolving shaft, as with the driveshaft of an automobile.
- tachycardia noun(cardiology) A rapid resting heart rate, especially one above 100 beats per minute; palpitations.
- tachyglossidae nounechidnas
- tachyglossus nountype genus of the family Tachyglossidae
- tachygraphy nounThe art and practice of rapid writing.
- tachylite nounAlternative form of tachylyte.
- tachymeter nounA surveying instrument for quickly finding distances.
- tachypleus nouna genus of Limulidae
- tacit adjectiveImplied, but not made explicit, especially through silence.
- tacitly adverbIn a tacit manner; done in silence or implied.
- taciturn adjectiveSilent; temperamentally untalkative; disinclined to speak.
- taciturnity nounThe trait of being taciturn.
- taciturnly adverbQuietly; not in a manner inclined to speaking.
- Tacitus proper nounA Roman cognomen, notably borne by Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (c.56–117), a historian of ancient Rome and Marcus Claudius Tacitus…
- tack noun, verb, proper nounA small nail with a flat head.
- tack together verb(transitive) To assemble or put together (something).
- tacker nounA person who, or device that tacks (in various senses).
- tackiness nounThe state of being tacky
- tacking noun(sewing) Loose temporary stitches in dressmaking etc.
- tackle noun, verbA device for grasping an object and an attached means of moving it, as a rope and hook.
- tackler noun(sports) A player who tackles another.
- tackling nounThe process by which something is tackled or dealt with.
- tacky adjectiveOf a substance, slightly sticky.
- taco noun, verb, proper noun(cooking) A Mexican snack food made of a small tortilla (soft- or hard-shelled) filled with ingredients such as meat, rice, beans, cheese, …
- Tacoma proper nounA city, the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States.
- taconite nounA low-grade flint-like iron ore containing 20-30% iron.
- tact noun, verbSensitive mental touch; special skill or faculty; keen perception or discernment; ready power of appreciating and doing what is required by…
- tactful adjectivePossessing tact; able to deal with people in a sensitive manner.
- tactfully adverbIn a tactful manner.
- tactfulness nounThe state or quality of being tactful.
- tactic noun, adjectiveA maneuver, or action calculated to achieve some end.
- tactical adjective, nounOf or relating to tactics.
- tactical intelligence nounSurveillance of the immediate surroundings using one's senses.
- tactical warning noun(military) A warning of an ongoing or immediately impending attack.
- tactically adverbin a tactical manner; in a manner calculated to achieve some end.
- tactician nounA person skilled in the planning and execution of tactics.
- tactics noun(military) The military science that deals with achieving the objectives set by strategy.
- tactile adjectiveTangible; perceptible to the sense of touch.
- tactility nounThe condition of being tactile (relating to or able to be perceived by the sense of touch).
- tactless adjectivehaving no tact; unaware or intentionally inconsiderate of someone else's feelings
- tactlessly adverbIn a tactless manner; in a manner intentionally inconsiderate of another's feelings.
- tactlessness noun(uncountable) The state or quality of being tactless.
- tactual adjectiveOf, or relating to the sense of touch.
- tactually adverbIn a tactual manner; by, or relating to, the sense of touch.
- tad noun, proper noun(informal) A small amount; a little bit.
- tadalafil noun(pharmacology) A drug, C₂₂H₁₉N₃O₄, that is used to treat erectile dysfunction and benign prostatic hyperplasia and functions similarly to s…
- tadarida nounfreetail bats
- Tadjik noun, proper nounAlternative spelling of Tajik.
- tadorna nounsheldrakes
- tadpole nounA young toad or frog in its larval stage of development that lives in water, has a tail and no legs, and, like a fish, breathes through gil…
- tadpole shrimp nounA crustacean of the order Notostraca.
- tadpole-shaped adjectiveshaped in the form of a tadpole
- Tadzhik noun, adjective, proper nounObsolete spelling of Tajik.
- Tadzhikistan proper nounAlternative spelling of Tajikistan: A country in Central Asia
- tae kwon do nounAlternative spelling of taekwondo.
- Taegu proper nounDated form of Daegu.
- taekwondo nounA martial art from Korea, known for its elaborate kicking techniques. The sparring aspect is a recognised Olympic sport.
- tael nounAny of several units of measure used in China and elsewhere in eastern Asia, approximately 40 grams, and metricated in Mainland China as ex…
- taenia noun(historical) A ribbon worn in the hair in ancient Greece.
- taeniidae nouna family of Cestoda
- taffeta nounA crisp, smooth woven fabric made from silk or synthetic fibers.
- taffrail noun(nautical) The curved wooden top of the stern of a sailing man-of-war or East Indiaman, usually carved or decorated.
- taffrail log noun(nautical) A mechanical device dragged from the stern of the vessel that indicates the vessel's speed through the water; usually consists o…
- taffy noun(US) A soft, chewy candy made from boiled sugar, molasses, or corn syrup and butter.
- taft verb, proper noun(transitive, plumbing) To spread the end of a pipe outward so as to form a wide thin flange.
- tag noun, verb, adjectiveA small label.
- tag along verb(idiomatic) To accompany, join, or follow; to go with.
- tag end nounThe very end.
- tag line nounSynonym of dialogue tag.
- tag on verb(chiefly public transport) To hover an RFID device such as a smartcard over a receiver, often with a graphical user interface, in order to …
- Tagalog proper noun, noun, adjectiveA Malayo-Polynesian language spoken in the Philippines, especially in areas of central to southern Luzon.
- tagalong nounOne who, or that which, tags along.
- tagamet nouna drug (trade name Tagamet) used to treat peptic ulcers by decreasing the secretion of stomach acid
- tagasaste nounCytisus proliferus, a small evergreen tree commonly used to improve the condition of soils used for farming.
- tageteste nounmarigolds
- tagged adjectiveHaving a tag; labeled.
- tagger nounThe player who tries to catch others in the game of tag.
- tagliatelle nounLong, flat ribbons of egg pasta, originally from Emilia-Romagna, sliced from a rolled-out sheet.
- Tagore proper nounA surname from Bengali.
- taguan nounflying squirrel
- Tagus proper nounA major river in Spain and Portugal, the longest in Iberia.
- tahini noun(cooking) A paste made from ground sesame seeds, and used to make hummus, baba ganoush, etc.
- Tahiti proper nounthe largest island in French Polynesia.
- Tahitian noun, proper noun, adjectiveA native or inhabitant of Tahiti.
- Tahoka daisy nounA flowering plant of species Machaeranthera tanacetifolia.
- tai noun, proper nounA fish, the Japanese bream.
- tai chi noun, verb(martial arts) A soft form of martial art developed in China.
- tai chi chuan nounTai chi.
- Tai Dam proper nounA Tai-Kadai (Kradai) language spoken by 700,000 people in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and China written in its own unique script, closely relat…
- Tai Long noun, proper nounA certain Tai people.
- Tai Yuan proper nounSynonym of Northern Thai
- taichi nounAlternative spelling of tai chi.
- taichichuan nouna Chinese system of slow meditative physical exercise designed for relaxation and balance and health
- Taichung proper nounA city in central-western Taiwan.
- Taif proper nounA city and governorate in the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia.
- tail noun, verb, adjective, proper noun(anatomy) The caudal appendage of an animal that is attached to their posterior and near the anus or cloaca.
- tail bone nounAlternative form of tailbone.
- tail end nounThe hindmost part of anything (a person, animal, or object), the rear end; the butt, buttocks; hindquarters, rump.
- tail feather nounAlternative spelling of tailfeather
- tail fin nounAlternative spelling of tailfin.
- tail gate nounAlternative form of tailgate
- tail lamp nounAlternative spelling of taillamp.
- tail rotor noun(aviation) A small rotor mounted vertically at the end of the tail of a single-rotor helicopter so as to develop thrust in the same directi…
- tail-flower nounany of various tropical American plants cultivated for their showy foliage and flowers
- tail-shaped adjectiveshaped like the tail of an animal
- tailback noun(UK, Ireland, Commonwealth) A line of motor vehicles causing or the result of traffic congestion or a traffic jam.
- tailboard nounA hinged board or hatch at the rear of a vehicle that can be lowered for loading and unloading; a tailgate.
- tailcoat nounA formal evening jacket with an extended back panel; a dress coat.
- tailed adjective(often in combination) Having a tail.
- tailed frog nounEither of two species of frogs in the genus Ascaphus, distinctive by virtue of having what looks like a tail.