📖 W — The English dictionary · page 15

wetness — Everyday, meaning 1: Wetness is the state of being wet, covered in or full of water or another liquid.↗ Example: The wetness of the grass soaked our shoes.↗ · We tested which paper towel took away the most wetness.↗ · The nappy has a line that changes colour to show wetness.↗ · The wetness of the cave made the walls shine.↗ · Sponges hold wetness inside their holes.↗ · She could feel the wetness of the rain through her coat.↗ · It was a water of villainous depth and of detestable wetness; of ugly hurrying and of desolate cavernous sound.↗

wetter — Everyday, meaning 1: Wetter means more wet, with more water or liquid on it or in it.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Wetter weather has more rain.↗ Example: My socks are wetter than yours.↗ · The west coast is wetter than the east.↗ · This summer was wetter than last summer.↗ · The sponge got wetter as it soaked up water.↗ · The more it rained, the wetter we got.↗ · Which paper towel is wetter after the test?↗

wetting — Everyday, meaning 1: Wetting means making something wet with water or another liquid.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Wetting (the bed) means passing urine (wee) by accident while asleep; it is common in younger children and nothing to be ashamed of.↗ Example: Start by wetting your hair, then add shampoo.↗ · Wetting the paper first makes the paint spread.↗ · Wetting the soil helps the seeds start to grow.↗ · We tested which towel soaked up the most water by wetting each one.↗ · Wetting the bed sometimes happens to many children, and it is not their fault.↗ · The rain kept wetting the washing on the line.↗ · Or is he afraid of wetting his fine golden-stringed sandals?↗

whack — Everyday, meaning 1: To hit something or someone hard, often with a stick or hand.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A hard hit, or the sound of it.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (informal) A share or amount of something, as in «pay your whack».↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (informal) «Have a whack at it» means have a try.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: (slang) «Whacked» or «whacked out» means very tired.↗ Everyday, meaning 6: (slang, US) «Out of whack» means not working properly.↗ Example: He whacked the ball over the fence.↗ · The piñata burst open with one big whack.↗ · Give it a whack, it might start working.↗ · I'll have a whack at the puzzle.↗ · My sleep is all out of whack after the holiday.↗ · I'm completely whacked after the swimming race.↗ · Everyone paid their whack for the pizza.↗ · Instead he gave them each a hard whack over the head with it and sent them home.↗

whacked — Everyday, meaning 1: Whacked means hit hard with a loud noise.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (informal, UK, Australia) Whacked or whacked out means extremely tired.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (slang, US) Whacked or wacked can mean crazy or strange.↗ Example: She whacked the ball right over the fence.↗ · He whacked his knee on the table.↗ · I'm whacked after that cross-country run.↗ · Mum was totally whacked after her night shift.↗ · Dad whacked the nail with a hammer.↗ · That idea is totally whacked!↗ · The batsman whacked a six.↗

whacking — Everyday, meaning 1: Hitting someone or something hard with a loud smack.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (noun, old-fashioned) A beating as a punishment.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (informal, UK and Australia) Very big.↗ e.g. "a whacking great spider" or "a whacking bill".↗ Example: She was whacking the ball over the fence.↗ · There's a whacking great spider in the bath!↗ · Dad got a whacking bill from the garage.↗ · He kept whacking the old rug to get the dust out.↗ · In the old story, the boy got a whacking for stealing apples.↗ · That's a whacking big slice of cake.↗ · The wind was whacking the shutters against the wall.↗

whale — Everyday, meaning 1: A whale is a very large animal that lives in the sea, looks like a fish, but is a mammal and breathes air.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: «A whale of a time» means a really great, fun time.↗ Example: A whale is a mammal, not a fish.↗ · The blue whale is the biggest animal on Earth.↗ · We saw a whale spout water from its blowhole.↗ · Humpback whales sing long songs.↗ · A baby whale is called a calf.↗ · Killer whales hunt in groups.↗ · Whales must come up to the surface to breathe.↗ · We had a whale of a time at the party.↗ · A great whale came and swallowed her.↗

whaler — Everyday, meaning 1: A ship used for hunting whales.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A person who hunts whales, especially on such a ship.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A whaleboat, a long narrow rowing boat.↗ Example: The old whaler sailed from Nantucket in 1840.↗ · The whalers rowed out with their harpoons.↗ · Today most countries protect whales from whalers.↗ · In the museum we saw a whaler's harpoon.↗ · Captain Ahab in "Moby-Dick" is a whaler.↗ · The whaler came home after three years at sea.↗

what — Everyday, meaning 1: What is used to ask about a thing: «What is that?».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: What asks which one or which kind: «What colour is it?».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: What can mean «the thing that»: «Tell me what you saw».↗ Everyday, meaning 4: What is used to show surprise: «What a big dog!».↗ Everyday, meaning 5: (rude) «What?» alone is a blunt way to say «Pardon?», and «What!?» can show anger.↗ Everyday, meaning 6: (casual) «What's up?», «wassup», «whatcha doing?», «what's the deal?» and «or what?» are slang.↗ Everyday, meaning 7: (casual) «What» is used for «that» or «which» in some UK speech: «the one what I had» (nonstandard).↗ Everyday, meaning 8: (formal) Exams say «Determine the value of», «State the nature of», «Which of the following» and «that which» instead of «what».↗ Example: What do you see on the table?↗ · What is 7 plus 5?↗ · What number do we add to 6 to make 10?↗ · What time is it?↗ · Tell me what you found at the beach.↗ · What a beautiful rainbow!↗ · What if it rains on sports day?↗ · Right, what's the damage?↗ Two pies and a drink.↗ · Are you thick or what?↗ It's 12, not 21.↗ · What?↗ I only had 3!↗ · Determine the value of the unknown quantity such that its sum with 6 is 10.↗ · Wassup, how many of us for footy?↗ · "And what great eyes you have!"↗ · And the man asked him, saying: 'What seekest thou?'↗ (Torah GEN.37.15, JPS 1917)↗ · And Balak said unto him: 'What hath the LORD spoken?'↗ (Torah NUM.23.17, JPS 1917)↗ · And the people murmured against Moses, saying: 'What shall we drink?'↗ (Torah EXO.15.24, JPS 1917)↗ · But what is it even then?↗ (Prophets 1KI.14.14, JPS 1917)↗ · But what doth your arguing argue?↗ (Writings JOB.6.25, JPS 1917)↗ · And the king said: 'What wouldest thou?'↗ (Prophets 1KI.1.16, JPS 1917)↗

whatever — Everyday, meaning 1: Whatever means anything or everything that.↗ e.g. "Take whatever you need."↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Whatever means no matter what.↗ e.g. "Whatever happens, stay calm."↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Whatever (at the end of a list) means or something like that.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: "Whatever!" said alone means "I don't care", and often sounds rude.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: Whatever (after "no" or "nothing") adds force.↗ e.g. "no reason whatever".↗ Everyday, meaning 6: Whatever can show surprise or puzzlement, meaning "what on earth", as in "Whatever have you done?".↗ Example: You can choose whatever you want.↗ · Whatever happens, don't open the door to strangers.↗ · Eat whatever is on your plate.↗ · Whatever you do, don't touch the hot pan.↗ · We can play football, or tag, or whatever.↗ · "Tidy your room." "↗ Whatever."↗ (rude)↗ · We will do whatever it takes to win.↗ · "Eh, sirs! whatever have you done?↗ · + Keep it legal Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893)↗ · III, 2, prove undoubtedly that he had no knowledge whatever of natural science, and therefore his annotations on the book "Yezirah" are of little or no use at all.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877)↗ · Although it was inten- ded as a commentary on Sefer Yetzirah I, its author had no con- ception whatever of what the original Sefer Y'etzirah was.↗ (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914))↗ · Now whatever thy petition, it shall be granted thee; and whatever thy request further, it shall be done.'↗ (Writings EST.9.12, JPS 1917)↗ · Then said the king unto her: 'What wilt thou, queen Esther? for whatever thy request, even to the half of the kingdom, it shall be given thee.'↗ (Writings EST.5.3, JPS 1917)↗ · All this have I seen, even applied my heart thereto, whatever the work that is done under the sun; what time one man had power over another to his hurt.↗ (Writings ECC.8.9, JPS 1917)↗

whatsoever — Everyday, meaning 1: At all; used after "no", "none" or "nothing" to make it stronger.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (formal, old) Whatever; anything at all.↗ Early Modern English, meaning 1: Anything at all; whatever it may be.↗ Example: I have no idea whatsoever where my shoe is.↗ · There was nothing whatsoever in the box.↗ · He showed no interest whatsoever in football.↗ · "Any questions?" "↗ None whatsoever."↗ · There is no reason whatsoever to be scared.↗ · She had no money whatsoever left.↗ · Right or left--backward or forward--where to go he could form no guess whatsoever.↗ · Now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.'↗ (Torah GEN.31.16, JPS 1917)↗ · Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that is a detestable thing unto you.↗ (Torah LEV.11.12, JPS 1917)↗ · and whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye shall not eat; it is unclean unto you.↗ (Torah DEU.14.10, JPS 1917)↗ · Whatsoever is under the whole heaven is Mine.↗ (Writings JOB.41.3, JPS 1917)↗ · But our God is in the heavens; whatsoever pleased Him He hath done.↗ (Writings PSA.115.3, JPS 1917)↗ · Give them, O LORD, whatsoever Thou wilt give; give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.↗ (Prophets HOS.9.14, JPS 1917)↗ · Now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.'↗ (Torah GEN.31.16, JPS 1917) · The Priest hasn't got anything whatsoever to do with it."↗ (Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore) · Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that is a detestable thing unto you.↗ (Torah LEV.11.12, JPS 1917)

wheat — Everyday, meaning 1: Wheat is a tall grass plant grown on farms; its grain is ground into flour to make bread, pasta and cakes.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Wheat is also the grain itself.↗ Example: The farmer grew 300 bushels of wheat.↗ · Each acre gives 40 bushels of wheat.↗ · He sold half of his wheat.↗ · A bag holds 50 kg of wheat.↗ · Bread is made from wheat flour.↗ · The wheat turns golden in late summer.↗ · Canada grows a lot of wheat on its prairies.↗ · Some people cannot eat wheat because it makes them ill.↗ · A Lark made her nest in a field of young wheat.↗ · But the wheat and the spelt were not smitten; for they ripen late. — (Torah EXO.9.32, JPS 1917)↗ · a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates; a land of olive-trees and honey; (Torah DEU.8.8, JPS 1917)↗ · And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah.↗ (Torah GEN.30.14, JPS 1917)↗ · Is it not wheat harvest to-day?↗ (Prophets 1SA.12.17, JPS 1917)↗ · Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and noisome weeds instead of barley.↗ (Writings JOB.31.40, JPS 1917)↗ · What hath the straw to do with the wheat? saith the LORD.↗ (Prophets JER.23.28, JPS 1917)↗

wheaten — Everyday, meaning 1: Wheaten means made from wheat, or having the pale golden colour of wheat.↗ Example: He nibbled a little piece of wheaten bread.↗ · Wheaten flour makes a good loaf.↗ · Her hair was a wheaten gold.↗ · and unleavened bread, and cakes unleavened mingled with oil, and wafers unleavened spread with oil; of fine wheaten flour shalt thou make them.↗ (Torah EXO.29.2, JPS 1917)↗

wheedle — Everyday, meaning 1: To wheedle is to coax someone, with soft words or flattery, into doing what you want.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To wheedle a secret out of someone is to get it from them by sweet talk.↗ Example: His wife wheedled him until he agreed.↗ · She wheedled a treat out of her dad.↗ · Don't wheedle; just ask me nicely.↗

wheedling — Everyday, meaning 1: Wheedling describes a soft, coaxing voice meant to get what you want.↗ Example: With bows and smiles, he asked in a wheedling tone.↗ · She had a wheedling way of asking for sweets.↗ · The cat gave a wheedling mew.↗

wheel — Everyday, meaning 1: A wheel is a round thing that turns on a rod so a car, bike or cart can move.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A steering wheel is the wheel a driver turns.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To wheel something is to push it along on wheels.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: A wheel is also any turning round part, like a Ferris wheel or a water wheel.↗ Example: A car has 4 wheels.↗ · There are 5 bikes and 2 cars.↗ How many wheels?↗ · A tricycle has 3 wheels.↗ · The wheel turns 10 times a minute.↗ · She wheeled her bike into the shed.↗ · Mum is behind the wheel today.↗ · We rode the big wheel at the fair.↗ · The invention of the wheel changed how people moved goods.↗ · And He took off their chariot wheels, and made them to drive heavily; so that the Egyptians said: 'Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.'↗ (Torah EXO.14.25, JPS 1917)↗ · An edict—Twelve [another version: Ten] and Seven and Three He appointed them: the Dragon Teli, and the Wheel, and the Heart.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation)↗ · Why tarry the wheels of his chariots?↗ (Prophets JDG.5.28, JPS 1917)↗ · A wise king sifteth the wicked, and turneth the wheel over them.↗ (Writings PRO.20.26, JPS 1917)↗ · As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing The wheelwork.↗ (Prophets EZK.10.13, JPS 1917)↗