E
- environmental adjective (environmental)
Environmental means about the natural world — air, water, land, plants and animals — and how people affect it. - envisage verb (envisage, envisages, envisaged, envisaging) — formal
To imagine or picture something that might happen in the future. - envision verb (envision, envisions, envisioned, envisioning); UK also envisage
To envision something is to imagine it or picture it in your mind, especially something in the future. - envoy noun (an envoy, envoys)
An envoy is a person sent by a government or a ruler to take a message to another country or to talk for them. - envy noun (envy, uncountable); verb (envy, envies, envied, envying)
Envy is the unhappy feeling of wanting something that someone else has, like their toys, skills or luck. - enzyme noun (an enzyme, enzymes)
1) An enzyme is a substance made by living things that speeds up chemical changes, for example breaking down food in your stomach. - eon noun (an eon, eons); UK also aeon
An eon is an extremely long period of time, too long to count easily. - epaulette noun (an epaulette, epaulettes); US spelling epaulet
An epaulette is a decoration on the shoulder of a uniform, often with gold fringe or stripes showing a person's rank. - ephemera noun (ephemera, plural of ephemeron)
Ephemera are insects, such as mayflies, that live only a very short time as adults. - ephemeral adjective (more ephemeral, most ephemeral)
1) Ephemeral means lasting only a very short time. - epic noun (epic, epics); adjective (epic, more epic)
A long poem or story about the adventures of heroes, often in ancient times, such as the Odyssey or Beowulf. - epicentre noun (an epicentre, epicentres) — UK spelling; US epicenter
The epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface right above where an earthquake starts underground. - epidemic noun (an epidemic, epidemics); adjective (epidemic)
A disease that spreads quickly to many people in one area at the same time. - epidermis noun (the epidermis, uncountable)
The thin outer layer of the skin that you can see and touch; it protects the body from germs, water and sunlight. - epiglottis noun (the epiglottis, epiglottises)
1) The epiglottis is a small flap at the back of your throat that closes when you swallow, so food goes down to your stomach and not into… - epilepsy noun (epilepsy; uncountable)
1) Epilepsy is a condition of the brain that makes a person have seizures (fits), when the brain's signals get mixed up for a short time. - epileptic adjective (epileptic); noun (an epileptic — older, now often avoided); noun epilepsy
Epileptic means to do with epilepsy, a brain condition that can cause seizures (fits), when a person may shake, stare blankly or fall. - epiphany noun (the Epiphany; an epiphany, epiphanies)
The Epiphany is a Christian feast that remembers the wise men (the Magi) visiting the baby Jesus; it falls twelve days after Christmas. - epiphyte noun (an epiphyte, epiphytes)
1) An epiphyte is a plant that grows on another plant, usually a tree, for support, but does not take food from it; it gets water and… - episcopal adjective (episcopal; Episcopal)
Episcopal means about bishops, or led by bishops, as in "episcopal churches". - episode noun (an episode, episodes)
An episode is one part of a TV or radio series, podcast or story told in parts. - epistaxis noun (epistaxis) — (medical, formal)
1) (medical) A nosebleed: bleeding from the nose. - epistle noun (an epistle, epistles)
An Epistle is one of the letters in the New Testament written by early Christian leaders such as Paul, Peter and John to churches or people. - epitaph noun (epitaphs)
A short saying or words cut on a gravestone to say who lies there, and sometimes what they were like. - epithet noun (an epithet, epithets)
A describing word or phrase added to a name, like «the Great» in «Alfred the Great» or «Lionheart» in «Richard the Lionheart». - equal adjective; verb (equal, equals, equalled/equaled, equalling/equaling); noun (an equal)
Equal means the same in size, number or amount: equal groups. - equalise verb (equalise, equalises, equalised, equalising — UK; US equalize)
To equalise means to make things equal or the same in size, amount or level. - equality noun (equality — uncountable)
1) Equality is being equal: when people have the same rights, chances and respect, whatever their sex, skin colour, religion, disability… - equally adverb
Equally means so that everyone or every part gets the same amount: share equally. - equation noun (equation, equations)
An equation is a number sentence with an equals sign, showing that two sides have the same value, like 3 + 4 = 7. - equator noun (the equator; the Equator)
The equator is an imaginary line around the middle of the Earth, halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole. - equatorial adjective
1) Near the equator, the imaginary line around the middle of the Earth. 2) Typical of places near the equator: hot and often wet all year. - equerry noun (equerries)
An officer who looks after the horses of a king, queen or prince and rides beside them on journeys. - equilibrium noun (equilibrium, uncountable; equilibria, rare plural)
Equilibrium is a state of balance in which opposite forces or amounts are equal, so nothing changes: "the scales are in equilibrium". - equine adjective (equine); noun (an equine, equines — rare)
Equine means to do with horses or like a horse: «equine vet», «equine flu». - equinox noun (an equinox, equinoxes)
1) One of the two times each year when day and night are about the same length all over the Earth, in spring and in autumn. - equipage noun (equipages)
A carriage with its horses and servants, all together. - equipment noun (equipment — uncountable)
1) The tools, machines, clothes and other things you need for a particular job, sport or activity. - equipped adjective (equipped, well-equipped, better equipped); verb form (past of equip: equipped)
Equipped means having the tools, machines or things you need for a job or activity. - equity noun (equity — uncountable; equities — money)
Equity is fairness: treating people so each has what they need for a fair chance, not just exactly the same. - equivalent adjective (equivalent); noun (an equivalent, equivalents)
Equivalent means equal in value, amount, meaning or importance: "1/2 is equivalent to 2/4". - equivocation noun (an equivocation, equivocations; also uncountable)
Using unclear words or answers on purpose so you do not have to give a straight answer or tell the full truth. - er interjection (er — a hesitation sound); also abbreviation (ER, E.R.)
«Er» is a sound people make when they are not sure what to say or are thinking, like «um»: «It's, er, somewhere here.». - era noun (an era, eras)
An era is a long period of history with special features or events, like the Victorian era. - eradicate verb (eradicate, eradicates, eradicated, eradicating)
To eradicate something bad means to get rid of it completely, so that it no longer exists. - erase verb (erase, erases, erased, erasing)
To rub out writing or marks, for example with a rubber or an eraser. - eraser noun (an eraser, erasers)
1) A small piece of rubber or plastic used to remove pencil marks. 2) A pad used to wipe a chalkboard or whiteboard clean. - erect verb (erect, erects, erected, erecting); adjective (erect)
To erect something is to build it or put it up, like a tent, a fence or a statue. - erection noun (erection, erections)
The erection of a building, statue or tent is the act of building it or putting it up. - erie noun, proper name (Erie, Lake Erie)
Erie is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, between the USA and Canada; its full name is Lake Erie. - ermine noun (an ermine, ermines; ermine — uncountable for the fur)
A stoat (a small, long-bodied animal of the weasel family) in its white winter coat, with a black tip to its tail. - erode verb (erode, erodes, eroded, eroding); noun erosion
To erode means to wear away slowly, as wind, water or ice rub away rock and soil. - eroded verb (past and -ed form of erode: erode, erodes, eroded, eroding); adjective (eroded)
Eroded means worn away slowly by wind, water, ice or waves. - eroding verb, present participle of erode (erode, erodes, eroded, eroding); adjective (an eroding cliff)
Slowly wearing away rock, soil or land by wind, water or ice. - erosion noun (erosion — uncountable)
Erosion is the slow wearing away of rock, soil or land by water, wind, ice or waves. - err verb (err, errs, erred, erring) — formal
To make a mistake or be wrong: «To err is human». - errand noun (errand, errands)
1) An errand is a short trip to do a small job, like buying something, delivering something or taking a message. - erratic adjective
Not regular or steady; changing suddenly in a way you cannot predict. - erroneous adjective (erroneous) (formal)
1) (formal) Erroneous means wrong or containing a mistake. - erroneously adverb (erroneously) — (formal)
1) (formal) Wrongly; by mistake; in a way that is not correct. - error noun (an error, errors)
An error is a mistake, something done wrongly. - eructation noun (eructation, eructations)
1) (formal, medical) Eructation is the scientific word for burping: letting air or gas from the stomach come up and out through the mouth. - erupt verb (erupt, erupts, erupted, erupting)
To erupt means for a volcano to burst and throw out lava, ash, rock and gas. - eruption noun (an eruption, eruptions)
An eruption is when a volcano suddenly throws out lava, ash, rocks and gas. - es verb (Spanish «es» = is; French «es» = (you) are); suffix «-es» (plurals and verbs); symbol (Es = einsteinium) — not an English word
«Es» means «is» in Spanish: «es grande» means «it is big». - escalate verb (escalate, escalates, escalated, escalating); noun escalation
To become bigger, worse or more serious, as in «The argument escalated into a fight». - escalation noun (escalation; an escalation, escalations)
1) Escalation is when something becomes bigger, worse or more serious, step by step, like a fight or a war. 2) A rise in amounts or prices. - escalator noun (an escalator, escalators)
1) An escalator is a moving staircase that carries people up or down between floors. - escape verb (escape, escapes, escaped, escaping); noun (an escape, escapes)
To escape means to get away from a place where you are kept, or from danger. - escargot noun (an escargot, escargots) — a French word used in English
A snail cooked to be eaten, usually with garlic butter, a famous dish in France. - escort noun (an escort, escorts); verb (escort, escorts, escorted, escorting)
To escort someone is to go with them to protect them, guide them or keep them under guard. - especial adjective (no forms; the adverb is especially)
Special or particular; more than usual, and meant for one person or thing. - especially adverb
Especially means more than usual, or more than others; particularly. - esperanto noun (Esperanto — uncountable, a proper noun with a capital E)
Esperanto is a language invented more than a hundred years ago by L. - espouse verb (espouses, espoused, espousing)
1) To take up a cause and support it warmly, often as your own. 2) (old use) To marry someone. - espresso noun (an espresso, espressos)
Espresso is a strong, dark coffee made by forcing very hot water through finely ground coffee beans. - esq abbreviation (Esq. – short for «Esquire»)
Short for «Esquire»: a polite title written after a man's name, mostly in letters, in old-fashioned British style: «John Smith, Esq.». - esquire noun (an esquire, esquires); title (Esq.)
A polite title written after a man's name in old letters and on envelopes, shortened to «Esq.»: John Smith, Esq. - essay noun (an essay, essays); verb (essay — formal, rare: to try)
An essay is a short piece of writing on one subject, written by a pupil or a writer. - essence noun (essences)
The most important part or real nature of a thing, which makes it what it is. - essential adjective (essential; more essential, most essential); noun (an essential, essentials)
Something essential is completely necessary; you cannot manage without it. - essentially adverb (essentially)
Essentially means basically, in the most important way, when you leave out small details. - est verb (French «est» = is); abbreviation (est. = established, estimated; EST = Eastern Standard Time); suffix «-est»
«Est» means «is» in French: «il est content» is «he is happy»; the «s» and «t» are silent, so it sounds like «eh». - establish verb (establish, establishes, established, establishing)
To establish something is to start or set it up so that it lasts, such as a school, a business or a rule. - established adjective; also past form of the verb establish (establish, establishes, established, establishing)
Set up and existing for a long time, so accepted and trusted. - establishment noun (an establishment, establishments; the Establishment)
An establishment is a business, organisation or place such as a shop, restaurant, school or hotel. - estate noun (an estate, estates)
An estate is a large area of land in the country, often with a big house, owned by one person or family. - esteem noun (uncountable); verb (esteem, esteems, esteemed, esteeming)
Esteem is great respect and good opinion of someone. - esteemed adjective (esteemed); verb form (past of esteem: esteem, esteems, esteemed, esteeming)
1) (formal) Esteemed means greatly respected and admired. 2) Esteemed is also the past form of «esteem»: to respect someone highly. - estimate verb (estimate, estimates, estimated, estimating); noun (an estimate, estimates)
To estimate is to make a careful guess about an amount, size, cost or time, without counting or measuring exactly. - estimation noun (estimation, estimations)
An estimation is a careful guess of a number or amount, made without counting or measuring exactly. - estranged adjective
1) Estranged means no longer close to someone, usually a family member or husband or wife, because you have stopped speaking or living… - estrangement noun (estrangement, estrangements); adjective estranged
Estrangement is when people who used to be close, especially family members, stop speaking or seeing each other. - estuary noun (an estuary, estuaries)
An estuary is the wide part of a river where it meets the sea, so fresh water and salty sea water mix. - etched adjective (etched); verb past form of etch (etch, etches, etched, etching)
Etched means cut or scratched into a hard surface like glass, metal or stone, often with acid or a sharp tool, to make a picture or words. - eternal adjective (eternal); adverb eternally
1) Lasting for ever, without beginning or end. 2) (church) Christians believe God is eternal and that believers will have eternal life… - eternally adverb
1) For ever, without beginning or end. 2) (informal) Always; very often, as in «eternally late». 3) (very strongly) Greatly, as in «I'll… - eternity noun (eternity — uncountable; an eternity, eternities)
Eternity is time that goes on for ever, with no end. - ethane noun (ethane, uncountable)
Ethane is a gas with no colour or smell, made of carbon and hydrogen, found in natural gas. - ether noun (uncountable)
A colourless liquid with a strong smell that evaporates easily; it was used long ago to put patients to sleep for operations.
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