S

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

2153 words

spectral adjective
1) Spectral means like a ghost; pale, shadowy and unreal.
spectre noun (US spelling specter; plural spectres)
1) A spectre is a ghost, or a frightening image of a ghost.
spectrum noun (a spectrum, spectra or spectrums)
The spectrum is the band of colours that white light splits into, as in a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.
speculate verb (speculate, speculates, speculated, speculating)
To guess or form ideas about something when you don't have all the facts.
speculation noun (speculation, speculations; also a speculation)
Speculation is guessing about something without knowing all the facts.
speech noun (speech; a speech, speeches)
Speech is the ability to speak, or spoken language: «Babies learn speech slowly.».
speechless adjective
1) Speechless means unable to speak, usually from surprise, shock or wonder.
speed noun, verb (speed, speeds, sped, speeding)
Speed is how fast something moves: how far it goes in some time.
speedboat noun (a speedboat, speedboats)
1) A small, fast boat with a powerful engine.
speedily adverb
1) Speedily means quickly or without delay.
speedometer noun (a speedometer, speedometers)
1) An instrument in a car, bike, train or other vehicle that shows how fast it is going.
speedwell noun (speedwell, speedwells)
1) A small wild plant with tiny bright blue flowers, often found in grass, lawns and hedges.
speedy adjective (speedy, speedier, speediest)
Speedy means fast, moving or happening quickly: a speedy car, a speedy runner.
spell verb (spell, spells, spelt or spelled, spelling); noun (a spell, spells)
To spell a word is to say or write its letters in the right order.
spellbound adjective (spellbound)
1) So interested or amazed by something that you cannot look away or think of anything else. 2) In fairy tales: held under a magic spell.
speller noun (a speller, spellers)
A speller is a person who spells words, described as good or bad at it: she's a good speller.
spelling noun (spelling — uncountable; a spelling, spellings); verb form (-ing of spell)
Spelling is the way words are written with letters in the right order.
spelt verb, past tense and past participle of «spell» (UK, Australia, NZ, Ireland; US usually «spelled»); noun (spelt — a kind of wheat, uncountable)
Wrote or said the letters of a word in the right order.
spend verb (spend, spends, spent, spending)
1) To spend is to pay out money. 2) To spend time is to use it doing something or being somewhere: «spend a day at the zoo».
spendthrift noun (spendthrifts)
1) A spendthrift is a person who spends money fast and carelessly, until none is left.
sperm noun (sperm, sperms; a sperm cell)
1) A sperm is a tiny male cell made by male animals and men; when a sperm joins with an egg cell from a female, a new baby animal or baby…
spf noun, abbreviation (SPF)
1) Short for «sun protection factor»: a number on sun cream showing how well it protects skin from the sun's burning rays (UVB).
sphagnum noun (sphagnum — uncountable; sphagnum moss)
1) A kind of soft moss that grows in wet bogs and can hold huge amounts of water; it slowly turns into peat.
sphere noun (a sphere, spheres)
A round solid shape like a ball, where every point on the surface is the same distance from the centre.
spherical adjective (spherical; more spherical)
Spherical means shaped like a ball, round in every direction, like a sphere.
sphinx noun (a sphinx, sphinxes or sphinges; the Sphinx)
The Great Sphinx is a huge ancient stone statue in Egypt with a lion's body and a human head, near the pyramids of Giza.
spice noun (a spice, spices; spice — uncountable for excitement); verb (spice, spices, spiced, spicing; spice up)
A spice is a dried part of a plant, such as seeds, bark or roots, used to give food a strong flavour: pepper, cinnamon, ginger, cumin.
spick adjective (no other forms; used in «spick and span»)
1) (old use) «Spick and span» means very clean, neat and tidy, as if brand new.
spicy adjective (spicy, spicier, spiciest); noun spiciness
Spicy food has a strong, hot or rich taste because it contains spices such as chilli or pepper.
spider noun (spider, spiders)
A spider is a small animal with 8 legs that spins webs of silk to catch insects.
spike noun (a spike, spikes); verb (spike, spikes, spiked, spiking)
A spike is a thin, sharp point, like on a fence, a cactus or a hedgehog.
spiky adjective (spiky, spikier, spikiest); noun spikiness
Something spiky has many sharp points sticking out: a spiky cactus, a spiky shell.
spill verb (spill, spills, spilled or spilt, spilling); noun (a spill, spills)
To spill means to let a liquid or small pieces fall out of a container by accident.
spillage noun (a spillage, spillages; spillage — uncountable)
A spillage is an amount of liquid or other stuff that has spilled out by accident.
spin verb (spin, spins, spun, spinning); noun (a spin, spins)
1) To spin is to turn round and round quickly. 2) To spin something is to make it turn round quickly, like a top. 3) To spin is to make…
spinach noun (spinach, uncountable)
1) Spinach is a dark green leafy vegetable that can be eaten raw in salads or cooked.
spinal adjective (spinal)
1) To do with the spine (backbone) or the spinal cord.
spindle noun (a spindle, spindles)
A thin, pointed stick used in hand spinning to twist wool or other fibres into thread.
spine noun (a spine, spines)
The row of small bones (vertebrae) down the middle of your back, also called the backbone.
spinner noun (a spinner, spinners)
A spinner is a thing that spins, like a game spinner with a pointer that shows a number or colour.
spinning verb form (-ing of spin: spin, spins, spun, spinning); adjective (spinning: a spinning top); noun (spinning)
Spinning means turning round and round quickly on the spot.
spinster noun (a spinster, spinsters)
A spinster is a woman who has never married, usually an older one (old-fashioned).
spiny adjective (spiny, spinier, spiniest)
1) Spiny means covered with spines — sharp, stiff points like thorns or prickles.
spiracle noun (a spiracle, spiracles)
A spiracle is a tiny breathing hole in the side of an insect's or spider's body.
spiral noun (a spiral, spirals); adjective (spiral); verb (spiral, spirals, spiralled/spiraled, spiralling/spiraling)
A spiral is a curve that winds round and round a centre point, getting further away or closer each time, like the shape of a snail shell.
spiralling verb form (present participle of spiral: spiral, spirals, spiralled, spiralling; US spiraled, spiraling); adjective (spiralling costs)
Spiralling means moving in a spiral, going round and round in a curve that gets wider or narrower, often while going up or down.
spire noun (a spire, spires)
A spire is a tall, pointed, cone-shaped structure on top of a building, usually on a church tower.
spirit noun (a spirit, spirits; spirit, uncountable); verb (spirit away)
The part of a person that is their feelings and character, not their body; some believe it lives on after death.
spirited adjective (spirited, more spirited, most spirited); also the past form of the verb spirit ("spirited away")
Spirited means full of energy, courage and liveliness: "a spirited little pony".
spirits noun (plural of spirit: a spirit, spirits)
A person's mood or feelings: in high spirits (happy), in low spirits (sad).
spiritual adjective (spiritual); noun (a spiritual, spirituals)
To do with the human spirit, feelings and soul, rather than the body or things you own.
spit verb (spit, spits, spat/spit, spitting); noun (spit, uncountable; a spit, spits)
To spit is to push liquid or food out of your mouth.
spite noun (spite; uncountable); verb (spite, spites, spited, spiting); preposition phrase (in spite of)
Spite is a wish to hurt, annoy or upset someone on purpose: he broke it out of spite.
spiteful adjective (more spiteful, most spiteful)
1) Spiteful means wanting to hurt or annoy someone, and being unkind on purpose.
spitefully adverb (no other forms)
1) Spitefully means in a way that is meant to hurt or annoy someone.
spitting verb (-ing form of spit: spit, spits, spat/spit, spitting); noun (spitting — uncountable); adjective (spitting)
Forcing saliva (spit) or food out of your mouth.
splash verb (splash, splashes, splashed, splashing); noun (a splash, splashes)
To splash is to hit water or another liquid so that drops fly about.
splat noun (a splat, splats); verb (splat, splats, splatted, splatting); interjection (splat!)
Splat is the wet slapping sound something soft makes when it hits a surface hard: splat!
splay verb (splay, splays, splayed, splaying); adjective (splay — rare)
1) To splay is to spread things wide apart, especially fingers, legs or feet. 2) Splayed means spread out wide or turned outward.
splendid adjective (splendid, more splendid, most splendid); adverb (splendidly)
1) Very beautiful, grand and impressive: «a splendid palace». 2) (UK, a little old-fashioned) Very good; excellent: «What a splendid idea!»
splendidly adverb (splendidly)
1) Very well; excellently. 2) In a grand, rich and beautiful way: splendidly dressed.
splendor noun (splendors)
1) Splendor is great beauty, grandeur and a bright, grand show. (US spelling of «splendour»)
splendour noun (splendours)
1) Splendour is great beauty, grandeur and a bright, grand show.
splice verb (splice, splices, spliced, splicing); noun (a splice, splices)
To splice two ropes or wires means to join their ends together firmly, often by weaving the strands into each other.
splint noun (a splint, splints); verb (splint, splints, splinted, splinting)
A straight, stiff piece of wood, plastic or metal tied to a broken or hurt arm, leg or finger to keep it still.
splinter noun (a splinter, splinters); verb (splinter, splinters, splintered, splintering)
A splinter is a small, sharp, thin piece of wood, glass or metal that has broken off, especially one that gets stuck in your skin.
split verb (split, splits, split, splitting); noun (a split, splits)
To split is to divide something into parts or groups: split the class into teams.
splitter noun (a splitter, splitters)
A device or tool that splits something, like a log splitter or a cable splitter that lets one signal go to two machines.
splitting verb, -ing form of split (split, splits, split, splitting); adjective (a splitting headache)
Splitting means breaking or cutting something into parts right now, often along a line.
splutter verb (splutter, splutters, spluttered, spluttering); noun (a splutter, splutters)
To speak quickly and with difficulty, making spitting sounds, because you are angry, shocked or embarrassed.
spoil verb (spoil, spoils, spoiled or spoilt, spoiling); noun (the spoils — rare)
To spoil something means to ruin it or make it worse.
spoiler noun (a spoiler, spoilers)
A spoiler is information that tells you what happens in a story, film or game, especially the ending, before you have seen it.
spoilt adjective (spoilt — US usually spoiled); verb form: past tense and past participle of «spoil» (spoil, spoils, spoilt/spoiled, spoiling)
A spoilt child has been given everything they want, so they behave badly when they do not get their way.
spoke verb form (past of speak: speak, speaks, spoke, spoken); noun (a spoke, spokes)
Spoke is the past form of «speak»: «She spoke to the teacher.».
spoken verb (past participle of speak); adjective (spoken)
Spoken is the form of «speak» used after have, has, had or be: «I have spoken», «English is spoken here».
spokesman noun (a spokesman, spokesmen); also spokeswoman, spokesperson
1) A spokesman is a person chosen to speak officially for a group, company, team or government, especially to newspapers and TV.
spokesperson noun (a spokesperson, spokespersons or spokespeople)
A spokesperson is someone whose job is to speak for a group, company, government or organisation, giving its news and answering questions.
sponge noun (a sponge, sponges); verb (sponge, sponges, sponged, sponging)
A sponge is a soft thing full of holes that soaks up water, used for washing or cleaning.
spongy adjective (spongy, spongier, spongiest)
Spongy means soft, squashy and full of tiny holes, like a sponge, so it springs back when pressed.
sponsor noun (a sponsor, sponsors); verb (sponsor, sponsors, sponsored, sponsoring)
A sponsor is a person or company that gives money to support an event, team or person, often to get their name shown.
sponsorship noun (sponsorship — uncountable; a sponsorship, sponsorships)
Sponsorship is money or support that a person or company gives to pay for an event, team or activity, often to advertise their name.
spontaneous adjective (spontaneous, more spontaneous); adverb spontaneously
Spontaneous means happening or done suddenly, without being planned.
spontaneously adverb (spontaneously)
1) Spontaneously means doing something suddenly, without planning it first, because you feel like it, as in «the crowd spontaneously…
spoof noun (a spoof, spoofs); verb (spoof, spoofs, spoofed, spoofing)
A spoof is a funny copy of something, such as a film, song or advert, that makes fun of it by exaggerating it.
spook noun (a spook, spooks); verb (spook, spooks, spooked, spooking); adjective spooky
1) (informal) A spook is a ghost. 2) To spook someone or an animal is to frighten or startle them suddenly. 3) (informal, US) A spook is a…
spooky adjective (spooky, spookier, spookiest)
Spooky means strange and a bit frightening, as if there might be ghosts.
spoon noun (spoon, spoons); verb (spoon, spoons, spooned, spooning)
A spoon is a small tool with a round, shallow end and a handle, used for eating, serving or stirring.
spoonbill noun (spoonbills)
1) A spoonbill is a wading bird with a long, flat bill shaped like a spoon.
spoonerism noun (a spoonerism, spoonerisms)
1) A spoonerism is a slip of the tongue where you swap the first sounds of two words, often by accident and with a funny result: «a…
spoonful noun (a spoonful, spoonfuls)
1) A spoonful is the amount a spoon holds. 2) It is used as a rough measure in cooking and medicine, like a spoonful of sugar.
spore noun (a spore, spores)
A spore is a tiny cell made by fungi, ferns, mosses and some bacteria that can grow into a new living thing.
spork noun (a spork, sporks)
1) A spork is a plastic or metal eating tool that is a spoon and a fork in one: a spoon shape with short prongs at the tip.
sport noun (a sport, sports; sport, uncountable); verb (sport, sports, sported, sporting — to wear proudly); adjective sporty, sporting
A sport is a game or activity where you move your body and follow rules, often to win: football, swimming, netball.
sportive adjective (sportive, more sportive) — old-fashioned
Sportive means playful and full of fun: a sportive puppy.
sportsman noun (a sportsman, sportsmen)
A sportsman is a man who plays sport, especially well or as his job.
sportsmanship noun (sportsmanship — uncountable)
1) Playing fairly and kindly in sport or games: following the rules, respecting the other team and the referee, and being a good winner…
sporty adjective (sporty, sportier, sportiest)
A sporty person likes sport and is good at it.
spot noun (a spot, spots); verb (spot, spots, spotted, spotting)
A spot is a small round mark of a different colour, like spots on a ladybird.
spotless adjective (spotless); adverb spotlessly
Spotless means completely clean, without any dirt or marks.
spotlight noun (a spotlight, spotlights; the spotlight); verb (spotlight, spotlights, spotlighted or spotlit, spotlighting)
A spotlight is a strong lamp that shines a narrow, bright beam onto one person or area, especially on a stage.

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