📖 M — The English dictionary · page 2

madhouse — Everyday, meaning 1: An old word for a hospital where people who were very ill in their minds were kept.↗ Example: "A madman," replies the keeper of the madhouse.↗ · He dies in the madhouse.↗

madly — Everyday, meaning 1: In a wild, uncontrolled or frantic way: running madly about.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Very much; extremely: madly in love, madly busy.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (old-fashioned) In a crazy or foolish way.↗ Example: The puppy ran madly around the garden.↗ · We waved madly at the plane.↗ · They are madly in love.↗ · Everyone was rushing about madly before the show.↗ · The kids cheered madly when their team scored.↗ · I scribbled madly to finish the test in time.↗ · The bell rang madly.↗ · She was madly busy all week.↗ · ‘I see a swarm of brown horses racing madly after us,’ he answered.↗ · Prance, ye horses, and rush madly, ye chariots; and let the mighty men go forth: Cush and Put, that handle the shield, and the Ludim, that handle and bend the bow.↗ (Prophets JER.46.9, JPS 1917)↗ · The chariots rush madly in the streets, they jostle one against another in the broad places; the appearance of them is like torches, they run to and fro like the lightnings.↗ (Prophets NAM.2.5, JPS 1917)↗

madman — Everyday, meaning 1: A man who is out of his mind, who behaves wildly and does not think sensibly.↗ Example: Up jumped Marko the Rich like a madman.↗ · "A madman," replies the keeper of the madhouse.↗ · "The old madman will take neither gold nor silver," said she.↗ · As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death; (Writings PRO.26.18, JPS 1917)↗ · Do I lack madmen, that ye have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?'↗ (Prophets 1SA.21.16, JPS 1917)↗

madness — Everyday, meaning 1: Very foolish or dangerous behaviour.↗ e.g. It would be madness to swim in that storm.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (old-fashioned) Serious mental illness.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Wild excitement or confusion: the madness of the January sales.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: Great anger (old use).↗ Everyday, meaning 5: In old tales, madness can also be a name for rabies, a deadly illness of dogs that can spread to people.↗ Example: It's madness to cycle on the motorway.↗ · The shops were pure madness before the holidays.↗ · «This is madness!» shouted the captain as the waves rose.↗ · There's method in his madness — his odd plan worked.↗ · The madness of the crowd scared the little boy.↗ · Leaving the gate open with the dog outside was madness.↗ · We call it hydrophobia, but they call it dewanee--the madness--and run.↗ · The LORD will smite thee with madness, and with blindness, and with astonishment of heart.↗ (Torah DEU.28.28, JPS 1917)↗ · The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is grievous madness.↗ (Writings ECC.10.13, JPS 1917)↗ · And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly — I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.↗ (Writings ECC.1.17, JPS 1917)↗ · And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness and folly; for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.↗ (Writings ECC.2.12, JPS 1917)↗

madras — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: A city in southern India, now called Chennai.↗ Example: "The Theosophist" Office, Adyar, Madras, India.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗

mag — Everyday, meaning 1: (informal) A magazine: a thin book with pictures and articles that comes out regularly.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (informal, Australia/NZ/UK) Chat or gossip, or to chatter: «have a mag» (old-fashioned).↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (informal) A magazine for a gun – the part that holds the bullets.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (informal) Short for «mag wheel» (a shiny metal car wheel), or for magnitude/magnesium in science shorthand.↗ Example: I bought a football mag with my pocket money.↗ · Mum reads a cooking mag on the train.↗ · My brother loves gaming mags.↗ · The school mag has a page of jokes.↗ · Gran and her friend had a good mag over a cup of tea.↗ · The detective found an empty mag on the floor.↗ · Dad's car has new mag wheels.↗ · So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushazban Rab-saris, and Nergal-sarezer Rab-mag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon; (Prophets JER.39.13, JPS 1917)↗ · that all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergal-sarezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim Rab-saris, Nergal-sarezer Rab-mag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.↗ (Prophets JER.39.3, JPS 1917)↗

magazine — Everyday, meaning 1: A thin book with a paper cover, full of stories, articles and pictures, that comes out every week or month.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A TV or radio programme with many short reports.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: The part of a gun that holds the bullets.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: A store for weapons and explosives.↗ Example: I read a magazine about animals every month.↗ · The waiting room had a pile of old magazines.↗ · My poem was printed in the school magazine.↗ · She buys a football magazine every week.↗ · The magazine has a puzzle page.↗ · Some adverts in magazines make things look better than they are.↗

magenta — Everyday, meaning 1: Magenta is a bright purplish-red or pinkish-purple colour.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (science, printing) Magenta is one of the main colours of printer ink, with cyan, yellow and black (CMYK).↗ Example: She painted the flowers bright magenta.↗ · The printer needs a new magenta cartridge.↗ · Red and blue light together make magenta.↗ · My new scarf is magenta.↗ · Mixing magenta and yellow ink makes red.↗ · The sunset sky was streaked with magenta.↗

maggot — Everyday, meaning 1: The soft, pale, legless young form (larva) of a fly, which hatches from an egg and feeds on rotting food or dead animals.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (old-fashioned, insult) A rude name for a worthless person.↗ Example: The rubbish bin was crawling with maggots in the hot weather.↗ · A maggot turns into a pupa and then into a fly.↗ · Grandad uses maggots as bait when he goes fishing.↗ · Maggots help break down dead animals.↗ · Doctors sometimes use special clean maggots to clean wounds.↗ · We learnt about the life cycle of a fly: egg, maggot, pupa, fly.↗ · The old apple had a maggot inside.↗ · The peasants knocked them down and flung them into the fire, not allowing so much as a single maggot to creep away!↗ · How much less man, that is a worm! and the son of man, that is a maggot!↗ (Writings JOB.25.6, JPS 1917)↗ · Thy pomp is brought down to the nether-world, and the noise of thy psalteries; the maggot is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.'↗ (Prophets ISA.14.11, JPS 1917)↗

magic — Everyday, meaning 1: In stories, a special power to make impossible things happen, using spells, wands or charms.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Tricks that seem impossible, done by a magician using skill and hiding things (illusions).↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A special, wonderful quality that makes something exciting or delightful (the magic of Christmas).↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (informal, UK) Great, excellent (That's magic!).↗ Everyday, meaning 5: Magic words: «please» and «thank you», in children's talk.↗ Example: The wizard used magic to turn the frog into a prince.↗ · My uncle did a magic trick and pulled a coin from my ear.↗ · Magic tricks are illusions, not real magic.↗ · In a magic square, every row adds up to the same number.↗ · What's the magic word? — Please!↗ · The cream worked like magic on my sunburn.↗ · There's no magic pill that makes you clever without studying.↗ · Spring brings a special kind of magic to the garden.↗ · These unmeaning sounds, they said, have magic power.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877)↗

magical — Everyday, meaning 1: Made by magic or having magic powers, like in fairy tales: «a magical sword».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Wonderful and special, so lovely it feels like magic: «a magical evening».↗ Example: The witch had a magical cat that could talk.↗ · The snowy forest looked magical in the moonlight.↗ · The fairy gave her a magical ring.↗ · Our trip to the beach was magical.↗ · Magnets can seem magical, but they work by a force called magnetism.↗ · In the book, the wardrobe is a magical door to another world.↗ · The lights at the Christmas fair were magical.↗ · «Magical thinking» means believing something will happen just because you wish it.↗ · She had a magical looking-glass, to which she used to go and gaze upon herself in it, and say--↗

magically — Everyday, meaning 1: Magically means by magic.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Magically also means in a wonderful, surprising way, as if by magic.↗ Example: The pumpkin magically turned into a coach.↗ · The snow made the garden look magically white.↗ · My homework didn't magically do itself!↗ · The door opened magically by itself.↗ · The lights twinkled magically.↗ · My lost sock magically appeared under the bed.↗

magician — Everyday, meaning 1: A magician is a performer who does magic tricks that seem impossible, like making things disappear.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: In stories, a magician is a person with real magic powers, like a wizard.↗ Example: The magician pulled a rabbit out of a hat.↗ · A magician came to my birthday party.↗ · The magician made the coin disappear.↗ · A good magician never tells how the trick is done.↗ · In the story, the magician turned the prince into a frog.↗ · The magician's hands moved too fast to see.↗ · I want to be a magician when I grow up.↗ · The magician cried out in a great hurry:↗ · And I told it unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.'↗ (Torah GEN.41.24, JPS 1917)↗ · And the magicians did in like manner with their secret arts, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.↗ (Torah EXO.8.7, JPS 1917)↗ · And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boils were upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.↗ (Torah EXO.9.11, JPS 1917)↗ · Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams.↗ (Writings DAN.2.2, JPS 1917)↗ · Daniel answered before the king, and said: 'The secret which the king hath asked can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor astrologers, declare unto the king; (Writings DAN.2.27, JPS 1917)↗ · Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.↗ (Writings DAN.4.4, JPS 1917)↗

magistrate — Everyday, meaning 1: (law) An official who acts as a judge in a local court, dealing with less serious crimes and some family or local matters.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (UK) A volunteer from the community, also called a Justice of the Peace (JP), who hears cases in a magistrates' court.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (history) In old Rome and other places, a person who held public power, like a mayor or governor.↗ Example: The man had to appear before a magistrate for speeding.↗ · Magistrates in England are usually volunteers, not paid lawyers.↗ · The magistrate fined her for dropping litter.↗ · Most criminal cases start in the magistrates' court.↗ · Our neighbour is a magistrate and sits in court twice a month.↗ · The magistrate listened to both sides before deciding.↗ · In ancient Rome, magistrates ran the city.↗ · A magistrate can send serious cases to a higher court.↗ · Then the magistrate, pointing to Pinocchio, said in a very solemn voice:↗ · For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron; I will also make thy officers peace, and righteousness thy magistrates.↗ (Prophets ISA.60.17, JPS 1917)↗

maglev — Everyday, meaning 1: A maglev is a train that floats just above its track using powerful magnets, so it does not touch the rails.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: It is short for «magnetic levitation».↗ Example: A maglev train floats above the track.↗ · Maglevs can go faster than 400 kilometres an hour.↗ · Shanghai has a maglev line to the airport.↗ · Magnets push the maglev forward.↗ · Because it doesn't touch the rails, a maglev is quiet.↗ · We built a model maglev with fridge magnets.↗

magma — Everyday, meaning 1: Magma is very hot melted rock under the Earth's surface.↗ Example: Magma is melted rock under the ground.↗ · When magma reaches the surface, it is called lava.↗ · Granite forms from cooled magma.↗ · A volcano erupts when magma pushes up.↗ · The magma chamber is under the volcano.↗ · Magma is hotter than an oven.↗

magnanimous — Everyday, meaning 1: Magnanimous means very generous and noble, ready to forgive and to put others first, even when you could take advantage.↗ Example: "You are too magnanimous, thus to fight for your friend and run the risk of being killed."↗ · A magnanimous dispute now arose between the friends, and each besought the other to accept the precious privilege of life.↗ · Theseus was far too magnanimous to assault his enemy with insolent language.↗

magnate — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: A very important and powerful person, often one who is rich and runs big businesses.↗

magnesium — Everyday, meaning 1: (science) A light, silvery-white metal and chemical element (symbol Mg, number 12) that burns with a very bright white flame.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (health) A mineral our bodies need, found in green vegetables, nuts and whole grains.↗ Example: Our teacher burned a strip of magnesium and it glowed bright white.↗ · Do not look directly at burning magnesium.↗ · Magnesium's symbol is Mg.↗ · Spinach and almonds are rich in magnesium.↗ · Fireworks use magnesium to make white sparks.↗ · Some bike frames are made of a magnesium alloy because it is light.↗ · When magnesium burns, it joins with oxygen to make magnesium oxide.↗ · Sea water contains magnesium.↗

magnet — Everyday, meaning 1: A magnet is a piece of iron or other material that pulls (attracts) iron and steel things towards it.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A magnet is a person or place that attracts many people: «The park is a magnet for families».↗ Example: The magnet picked up the paper clips.↗ · Fridge magnets hold our drawings.↗ · Opposite poles of a magnet attract.↗ · Two north poles push each other away.↗ · A magnet does not attract wood or plastic.↗ · The compass needle is a tiny magnet.↗ · Never swallow small magnets — they are dangerous.↗ · The new playground is a magnet for kids.↗