Words starting with C — 1,957 entries

The 1,957 dictionary words that begin with the letter C, in alphabetical order, each with its first definition. Accents do not affect filing: an accented initial is shelved under its base letter.

• contaminated2 sensesadulterated; impure
• contamination5 sensesThe act or process of contaminating.
• contemplate2 sensesTo look at on all sides or in all its aspects; to view or consider with continued attention; to regard with deliberate care; to meditate on; to…
• contemporary5 sensesFrom the same time period, coexistent in time; contemporaneous.
• contempt3 sensesThe state or act of contemning; the feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn, disdain.
• content18 sensesSatisfied, pleased, contented.
• contents1 senseThat which is contained.
• contest7 sensesControversy; debate.
• contestant2 sensesA participant in a contest; specifically, a person who plays a game, as on a TV game show.
• context8 sensesThe surroundings, circumstances, environment, background or settings that determine, specify, or clarify the meaning of an event or other occurrence.
• continent15 sensesOne of the main contiguous landmasses, separated by water or geological features, on the surface of a planet, sometimes including its continental…
• Continent3 sensesMainland Europe, as seen from the British Isles.
• continental8 sensesOf or relating to a continent or continents.
• Continental6 sensesSynonym of European (including insular Europe, such as Britain, Ireland)
• contingency4 sensesThe quality of being contingent, of happening by chance.
• continually2 sensesIn regular or repeated succession; very often.
• continue8 sensesTo proceed with (doing an activity); to prolong (an activity).
• continued3 sensesUninterrupted.
• continuing2 sensesA continuation.
• continuity7 sensesLack of interruption or disconnection; the quality of being continuous in space or time.
• continuous6 sensesWithout stopping; without a break, cessation, or interruption.
• continuously1 senseWithout pause.
• continuum4 sensesA continuous series or whole, no part of which is noticeably different from its adjacent parts, although the ends or extremes of it are very…
• contraband6 sensesAny goods which are illicit or illegal to possess.
• contract18 sensesAn agreement between two or more parties, to perform a specific job or work order, often temporary or of fixed duration and usually governed by a…
• contracted3 sensesArranged by contract; established by agreement.
• contractor4 sensesA person or company that builds or improves buildings or structures.
• Contractor1 senseA surname originating as an occupation.
• contradict7 sensesTo deny the truth or validity of (a statement or statements).
• contradiction4 sensesThe act of contradicting.
• contraption2 sensesA machine that is complicated and precarious.
• contrary14 sensesOpposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse.
• contrast8 sensesA difference in lightness, brightness or hue between two colours that makes them more or less distinguishable. The degree of this difference.
• contribute1 senseTo give something that is or becomes part of a larger whole.
• contribution4 sensesSomething given or offered that adds to a larger whole.
• control17 sensesTo exercise influence over; to suggest or dictate the behavior of.
• controlled4 sensesInhibited or restrained in one's words and actions.
• controller9 sensesOne who controls something.
• controlling2 sensesExerting control over a person or thing.
• controversial3 sensesArousing or likely to arouse controversy.
• controversy1 senseA debate or discussion of opposing opinions; (generally) strife.
• convenience4 sensesThe quality of being convenient.
• convenient3 sensesServing to reduce a difficulty, or accessible with minimum difficulty; expedient.
• conveniently2 sensesIn a convenient manner, form, or situation; without difficulty.
• convent9 sensesA religious community whose members live under strict observation of religious rules and self-imposed vows.
• Convent1 senseA census-designated place, the parish seat of St. James Parish, Louisiana, United States.
• convention6 sensesA meeting or gathering.
• conventional7 sensesPertaining to a convention, as in following generally accepted principles, methods and behaviour.
• conversation10 sensesExpression and exchange of individual ideas through talking with other people; also, a set instance or occasion of such talking.
• conversion13 sensesThe act of converting something or someone.
• convert23 sensesTo transform or change (something) into another form, substance, state, or product.
• converted1 sensechanged in form or function etc.
• convertible14 sensesAble to be converted Able to be exchanged, one for the other, especially
• convey6 sensesTo move (something) from one place to another.
• convict6 sensesTo find guilty, as a result of legal proceedings, or (informal) in a moral sense.
• conviction4 sensesA firmly held belief.
• convince6 sensesTo make someone believe, or feel sure about something, especially by using logic, argument or evidence.
• convinced1 senseIn a state of believing, especially from evidence but not necessarily.
• convincing2 sensesEffective as proof or evidence.
• convoy5 sensesOne or more merchant ships sailing in company to the same general destination under the protection of naval vessels.
• Convoy2 sensesA village in County Donegal, Ireland (Irish grid ref C 2101).
• Conway22 sensesA placename: The River Conway, the former English name of the River Conwy in North Wales.
• coo6 sensesThe murmuring sound made by a dove or pigeon.
• cooing2 sensesA coo; a cooing sound.
• cook27 sensesA person who prepares food.
• Cook12 sensesAn English surname originating as an occupation for a cook or seller of cooked food. Famously held by James Cook, English captain and explorer of the…
• cooked9 sensesPrepared by cooking.
• cookie14 sensesA small, flat, baked good which is either crisp or soft but firm.
• Cookie1 senseAn endearing or condescending nickname.
• cookies1 senseReferring to a steal in basketball. Rarely used in the singular (most commonly, even when referring to a single steal, one simply exclaims,…
• cooking8 sensesThe process of preparing food by using heat.
• Cooks1 senseA surname
• cool22 sensesOf a mildly low temperature.
• Cool3 sensesA surname.
• cooled3 sensesBrought to a lower temperature.
• cooler11 sensesAnything which cools.
• Cooler1 senseA surname from German.
• cooling4 sensesThat cools.
• coop13 sensesA basket, pen or enclosure for birds or small animals.
• Coop3 sensesA surname.
• cooper5 sensesA craftsman who makes and repairs barrels and similar wooden vessels such as casks, buckets and tubs.
• Cooper14 sensesAn English surname originating as an occupation of cooper.
• cooperate5 sensesTo work or act together, especially for a common purpose or benefit.
• cooperation3 sensesThe act of cooperating.
• cooperative4 sensesReady to work with another person or in a team; ready to cooperate.
• coordinate7 sensesOf the same rank; equal.
• coordinated3 sensesOrganized, working together, cooperating
• coordination6 sensesThe act of coordinating, making different people or things work together for a goal or effect.
• coordinator2 sensesOne who, or that which, coordinates. An assistant coach responsible for a particular facet of the game, such as defense.
• cop16 sensesTo obtain, to purchase (items including but not limited to drugs), to get hold of, to take.
• cope21 sensesTo deal effectively with something, especially if difficult.
• Cope5 sensesA surname.
• Copenhagen9 sensesThe capital city of Denmark.
• coping3 sensesThe top layer of a brick wall, especially one that slopes in order to throw off water.
• copper24 sensesA reddish-brown metallic chemical element (symbol Cu) with the atomic number 29; also, the metal made up of this element.
• Copper1 senseA surname.
• cops2 sensesThe police, considered as a group entity.
• copy19 sensesThe result of copying; an identical or nearly identical duplicate of an original.
• copycat4 sensesOne who imitates or plagiarizes the work of others.
• copying2 sensesan instance of the making of a copy
• copyright5 sensesThe right by law to be the entity which determines who may publish, copy and distribute a piece of writing, music, picture or other work of…
• cor4 sensesExpression of surprise.
• CoR3 sensesCollege of Radiographers, a charitable subsidiary of the Society of Radiographers.
• COR1 senseContracting Officer's Technical Representative, or Contracting Officer's Representative, in U.S. government procurement.
• Cora4 sensesA female given name from Ancient Greek.
• coral7 sensesAny of many species of marine invertebrates in the class Anthozoa, most of which build hard calcium carbonate skeletons and form colonies, or a…
• Coral2 sensesA census-designated place in McHenry County, Illinois, United States.
• Corbett4 sensesA surname from Anglo-Norman.
• cord11 sensesA long, thin, flexible length of twisted yarns (strands) of fibre (a rope, for example).
• Cordelia2 sensesA female given name from Latin.
• cordon5 sensesA line of people or things placed around an area to enclose or protect it.
• Cordon1 senseA surname.
• cords1 senseCorduroys.
• Cords1 senseA surname.
• core30 sensesIn general usage, an essential part of a thing surrounded by other essential things. The central part of a fruit, containing the kernels or seeds.
• Core5 sensesThe birth name of Persephone/Proserpina, the queen of the Underworld/Hades, and goddess of the seasons and of vegetation. She is the daughter of Zeus…
• corey1 senseA penis.
• Corey4 sensesAn English surname from Old Norse from the Old Norse given name Kóri, itself perhaps from Old Irish Cuire, from cuire (“troop, host, company”), from…
• corinne1 sensecocaine
• Corinne5 sensesA female given name from Ancient Greek.
• cork16 sensesThe dead protective tissue between the bark and cambium in woody plants, with suberin deposits making it impervious to gasses and water.
• Cork2 sensesThe principal city of County Cork, Ireland.
• corky3 sensesOf wine, contaminated by a faulty or tainted cork.
• corn17 sensesAny cereal plant (or its grain) that is the main crop or staple of a country or region.
• Corn2 sensesA surname.
• Cornelius1 senseA male given name from Latin.
• Cornell4 sensesA surname.
• corner28 sensesThe point where two converging lines meet; an angle, either external or internal.
• Corner4 sensesA surname.
• cornered2 sensesHaving corners.
• Cornwall14 sensesA peninsula, cultural area, maritime ceremonial county, and duchy in England; forming its south-western extremity, bordered by Devon in the east.
• corny9 sensesBoring and unoriginal.
• coronary4 sensesEncircling something (like a crown), especially with regard to the arteries or veins of the heart.
• coronation5 sensesAn act of investing with a crown; a crowning.
• Coronation2 sensesA town in Alberta, Canada.
• coroner3 sensesA public official who presides over an inquest into unnatural deaths, and who may have (or historically had) additional powers such as investigating…
• corporal8 sensesOf or pertaining to the body, especially the human body; bodily.
• corporate11 sensesOf or relating to an institution; institutional.
• corporation4 sensesA body corporate, created by law or under authority of law, having a continuous existence independent of the existences of its members, and powers…
• corps3 sensesA battlefield formation composed of two or more divisions.
• corpse5 sensesA dead body, especially that of a human as opposed to an animal.
• corpus5 sensesA collection of written or spoken texts.
• Corpus3 sensesCorpus Christi (city in Texas)
• corral6 sensesAn enclosure for livestock, especially a circular one.
• Corral1 senseA surname.
• correct9 sensesFree from error; true; accurate.
• correction6 sensesThe act of correcting.
• correctional2 sensesOf, pertaining to, or intended for correction.
• corrections1 senseRelating to the punishment, treatment, or supervision of persons who have been convicted of a crime
• correctly1 senseIn a correct manner.
• correspondence8 sensesMutual communication or discourse: Reciprocal exchange of civilities, especially conversation between persons by means of letters.
• correspondent5 sensesCorresponding; suitable; adapted; congruous.
• corridor5 sensesA narrow hall or passage with rooms leading off it, as in a building or in a railway carriage.
• corroborate4 sensesTo confirm or support something with additional evidence; to attest or vouch for.
• corrupt9 sensesWilling to act dishonestly for personal gain; accepting bribes.
• corrupted3 sensesMarked by immorality and perversion; depraved.
• corruption9 sensesThe act of corrupting or of impairing integrity, virtue, or moral principle; the state of being corrupted or debased; loss of purity or integrity.
• cortex3 sensesThe outer layer of an internal organ or body structure, such as the kidney or the brain.
• Cortez2 sensesA surname from Spanish.
• cory1 senseAny fish belonging to the genus Corydoras, a group of South American freshwater catfish.
• Cory5 sensesAn English surname from Old Norse, a variant of Corey.
• cos2 sensesSynonym of romaine lettuce, a long-leaved variety of lettuce.
• cosmetic5 sensesImparting or improving beauty, particularly the beauty of the complexion.
• cosmetics3 sensesPreparations applied externally to change or enhance the beauty of skin, hair, nails, lips, and eyes.
• cosmic4 sensesOf or from or pertaining to the cosmos or universe.
• cosmo1 senseA cosmopolitan, a cocktail containing vodka, triple sec, lime juice, and cranberry juice.
• Cosmo3 sensesA male given name from Ancient Greek.
• cosmos4 sensesThe universe regarded as a system with harmony and order.
• Cosmos1 senseA city in Minnesota.
• cost11 sensesTo incur a charge of; to require payment of a (specified) price.
• Cost1 senseA surname.
• costa3 sensesSynonym of rib.
• Costa9 sensesA surname from the Romance languages.
• Costello2 sensesA surname from Irish.
• costing1 senseThe estimation of the cost of a process or product.
• costly1 senseOf high cost; expensive.
• costume5 sensesA style of dress, including garments, accessories and hairstyle, especially as characteristic of a particular country, period or people.
• cosy7 sensesAffording comfort and warmth; snug; social and comfortable.
• cot9 sensesA simple bed, especially one for portable or temporary purposes.
• cottage6 sensesA small house.
• Cottage3 sensesA township in Saline County, Illinois.
• cotton24 sensesA fibrous substance: A soft, fibrous, usually white substance consisting of fine hairs, especially the substance around the seeds of a plant of genus…
• Cotton6 sensesThe name of several settlements around the world: A village and civil parish in Staffordshire Moorlands district, Staffordshire, England (OS grid ref…
• couch19 sensesAn item of furniture, often upholstered, for the comfortable seating of more than one person; a sofa.
• Couch2 sensesA surname.
• cougar2 sensesA wild feline, of species Puma concolor, native to the Americas.
• Cougar1 senseA student or alumnus of the Washington State University.
• cough13 sensesSometimes followed by up: to force (something) out of the lungs or throat by pushing air from the lungs through the glottis (causing a short,…
• coughing2 sensesA cough; the act of coughing.
• could6 sensesconditional of can Used as a past subjunctive (contrary to fact).
• Coulson4 sensesA surname originating as a patronymic.
• council4 sensesA committee that leads or governs (e.g. city council, student council).
• Council3 sensesA surname.
• councillor2 sensesA member of a council.
• Councillor1 senseThe title for someone elected to the role of councillor in a local council.
• councilman1 senseA male member of a council, often a city council or town council.
• counsel7 sensesThe exchange of opinions and advice especially in legal issues; consultation.
• counseling1 senseAssistance (especially from a professional) in the resolution of personal difficulties.
• counselor5 sensesA professional who counsels people, especially on personal problems.
• count22 sensesTo recite numbers in sequence.