Words starting with H — 903 entries

The 903 dictionary words that begin with the letter H, in alphabetical order, each with its first definition. Accents do not affect filing: an accented initial is shelved under its base letter.

• herb6 sensesA plant whose stem is not woody and does not persist beyond each growing season.
• Herb1 senseA diminutive of the male given name Herbert.
• herbal4 sensesMade from or with herbs.
• herbert2 sensesA working-class youth, especially male.
• Herbert7 sensesA male given name from the Germanic languages, in modern use partly transferred back from the surname.
• Herbie2 sensesA diminutive of the male given name Herbert.
• Hercules7 sensesThe Roman name for the Greek divine hero Heracles, who was the son of Jupiter and Alcmene, a celebrated hero who possessed exceptional strength. Most…
• herd13 sensesA number of domestic animals assembled together under the watch or ownership of a keeper.
• Herd1 senseA surname.
• here17 sensesIn, on, or at this place (a place perceived to be close to the speaker); compare there.
• hereafter6 sensesFrom now on.
• hereby2 sensesBy this means, action or process.
• hereditary7 sensesPassed on as an inheritance, by last will or intestate.
• heresy2 sensesA doctrine held by a member of a religion at variance or conflict with established religious beliefs.
• heretic3 sensesSomeone whose beliefs are contrary to the fundamental tenets of a religion they claim to belong to.
• heritage4 sensesAn inheritance; property that may be inherited.
• Heritage1 senseA surname.
• Herman10 sensesA male given name from the Germanic languages.
• Hermann4 sensesA surname from German borrowed from German Hermann.
• Hermes4 sensesThe herald and messenger of the gods, and the god of roads, commerce, invention, cunning, and theft.
• hermit5 sensesA religious recluse; someone who lives alone for religious reasons; an eremite.
• Hernandez1 senseA surname from Spanish.
• hernia1 senseA disorder in which a part of the body protrudes abnormally through a tear or opening in an adjacent part, especially of the abdomen.
• hero11 sensesSomebody who possesses great bravery and carries out extraordinary or noble deeds.
• Hero2 sensesAny of a number of legendary men and women, including the priestess loved by Leander.
• Herod1 senseThe name of any of a number of members of the Herodian dynasty who ruled in the Roman province of Judea, most notably Herod the Great, who ordered…
• heroic4 sensesOf or relating to a hero or heroine; supremely noble.
• heroin1 senseA powerful and addictive drug derived from opium producing intense euphoria, classed as an illegal narcotic in most of the world.
• heroine3 sensesA female hero.
• heroism1 senseThe qualities characteristic of a hero, such as courage, bravery, fortitude, selflessness, etc.; the display of such qualities.
• herpes1 senseA viral infection, caused by Human alphaherpesvirus 1 and Human alphaherpesvirus 2, marked by painful, watery blisters in the skin or in the mucous…
• Herr4 sensesA surname.
• herring3 sensesA type of small, oily fish of the genus Clupea, often used as food.
• Herring3 sensesA surname.
• Herriot1 senseA surname transferred from the given name.
• hers2 sensesThat or those belonging to her; the possessive case of she, used without a following noun.
• herself3 sensesHer; the female object of a verb or preposition that also appears as the subject.
• hes1 senseThe person of unspecified gender previously mentioned or implied.
• HES1 senseHistoric Environment Scotland.
• hesitate3 sensesTo stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination.
• hesitation3 sensesAn act of hesitating
• Hester2 sensesA female given name from Persian, of 17th century and later usage.
• heterosexual4 sensesSexually attracted to members of the opposite sex.
• hetty2 sensesA heterosexual.
• Hetty1 senseA diminutive of the female given names Henrietta, Hester and Esther.
• Hewes1 senseA surname originating as a patronymic.
• hey9 sensesAn exclamation to get attention.
• Hey1 senseA surname.
• hi4 sensesA friendly, informal, casual greeting said upon someone's arrival.
• Hi1 senseA male given name, a short form of Hiram
• hiccup7 sensesA spasm of the diaphragm, or the resulting sound.
• hiccups1 senseThe condition of having the spasms of hiccupping; singultus; diaphragmatic myoclonus.
• hick2 sensesAn awkward, naive, clumsy and/or rude country person.
• Hick2 sensesA diminutive of the male given name Richard.
• hickey9 sensesA bruise-like mark made during petting by pressing the mouth to the skin on one’s partner’s body and sucking.
• Hickey1 senseA surname from Irish.
• Hicks3 sensesA surname originating as a patronymic derived from Hick, a medieval diminutive of Richard.
• hidden3 sensesLocated or positioned out of sight; not visually apparent.
• Hidden1 senseA surname.
• hide10 sensesTo put (something) in a place where it will be out of sight or harder to discover.
• hideous4 sensesExtremely or shockingly ugly.
• hideout2 sensesA place to hide.
• hiding4 sensesA state of concealment.
• hierarchy3 sensesA body of authoritative officials organized in nested ranks.
• Higgins6 sensesA surname from Irish, from County Sligo.
• high37 sensesPhysically elevated, extending above a base or average level: Very elevated; extending or being far above a base; tall; lofty.
• High1 senseA surname.
• high-end2 sensesMost sophisticated or expensive.
• high-pitched3 sensesOf a sound, having a high pitch.
• high-profile1 senseImportant or well publicized.
• high-speed1 senseThat operates, moves or takes place at a greater than normal speed.
• higher3 sensesA national school-leaving examination and university entrance qualification.
• highland1 senseA high area; land that is higher than surrounding areas.
• Highland6 sensesOf or related to Highland or the Highlands.
• highlands1 senseA high area of land, lands higher than surrounding areas.
• Highlands4 sensesThe mountainous northern area of Scotland.
• highlight8 sensesAn area or a spot in a drawing, painting, or photograph that is strongly illuminated.
• highlights1 senseSummary of an event, such as a sporting event, focussing on the most entertaining or consequential aspects; compilation of each highlight of that…
• highly2 sensesIn a high or esteemed manner.
• highness2 sensesThe state of being high.
• Highness2 sensesThe style of a prince, princess or someone of equivalent rank.
• highway6 sensesA main public road, especially a multi-lane, high-speed thoroughfare.
• Highway11 sensesA number of places in England: A western suburb of Maidenhead, Windsor and Maidenhead borough, Berkshire (OS grid ref SU8680).
• hijack8 sensesTo forcibly seize control of some vehicle in order to rob it or to reach a destination (especially an airplane, truck or a boat).
• hijacked1 senseOf a vehicle, aircraft, vessel, computer, etc.: whose control has been seized by force
• Hikaru1 senseA unisex given name from Japanese.
• hike10 sensesA long walk, usually for pleasure or exercise.
• hiking2 sensesWalking in the countryside for pleasure or sport.
• hilarious2 sensesVery funny; causing great merriment and laughter.
• Hilary3 sensesA male given name from Latin.
• Hilda2 sensesA female given name from the Germanic languages used since Middle Ages.
• hill8 sensesAn elevated landmass smaller than a mountain.
• Hill10 sensesCapitol Hill; the US Congress
• Hillary3 sensesA unisex given name from Latin. A female given name from Latin Hilaria.
• hillbilly5 sensesSomeone who is from the hills; especially from a rural area, with a connotation of a lack of refinement or sophistication.
• Hills4 sensesA surname.
• hillside1 senseThe side of a hill.
• Hillside24 sensesA place in England: A hamlet in Luppitt parish, East Devon district, Devon (OS grid ref ST1705).
• Hilton24 sensesA surname.
• him9 sensesA masculine pronoun; he as a grammatical object. With dative effect or as an indirect object.
• Him1 senseA surname from Khmer.
• Himalayas1 senseThe mountain range in south-central Asia, which extends about 2,414 km (1,500 mi) through Kashmir, northern India, southern Tibet, Nepal, Sikkim,…
• Himmler2 sensesA surname from German.
• himself4 sensesHim; the male object of a verb or preposition that also appears as the subject
• hind5 sensesLocated at the rear (most often said of animals' body parts).
• Hind3 sensesA surname transferred from the nickname.
• Hindi7 sensesModern Standard Hindi, a standardized and Sanskritized version of the Hindustani language, which is based on Khariboli.
• Hindu5 sensesOf, or relating to Hinduism, or to Hindus and their culture.
• hint10 sensesA clue.
• hip12 sensesThe outward-projecting parts of the pelvis and top of the femur and the overlying tissue.
• Hip2 sensesA diminutive of the female given name Hippolyta.
• hip-hop4 sensesAn African-American urban youth culture based on rap music, breakdancing etc.
• hippie7 sensesA teenager who imitated the beatniks.
• hippo3 sensesAn overweight or obese person.
• hire11 sensesA person who has been hired, especially in a cohort.
• Hire1 senseA surname.
• Hires1 senseA surname.
• hiring2 sensesThe act by which an employee is hired.
• Hiroshi1 senseA male given name from Japanese.
• Hiroshima4 sensesA prefecture in southwestern Honshu, Japan.
• his6 sensesBelonging to him.
• His1 senseA surname from Swiss.
• Hispanic7 sensesOf or relating to Spain.
• hiss9 sensesA sibilant sound, such as that made by a snake or escaping steam; an unvoiced fricative.
• hissing2 sensesthat produces or is accompanied with a hiss
• historian3 sensesA writer of history.
• historic6 sensesVery important; noteworthy: having importance or significance in history.
• historical12 sensesOf, concerning, or in accordance with recorded history, (particularly) as opposed to legends, myths, and fictions.
• historically3 sensesIn a historic manner; with reference to history or the historical record.
• history11 sensesThe aggregate of past events, both unrecorded and recorded.
• hit42 sensesTo strike. To administer a blow to, directly or with a weapon or missile.
• Hit1 senseA city in Iraq.
• hit-and-run1 senseOf, pertaining to, or being a hit and run.
• hitch14 sensesA sudden pull.
• Hitch2 sensesA surname transferred from the given name.
• Hitchcock5 sensesA surname transferred from the given name.
• hither4 sensesover here
• Hitler2 sensesA surname from Austrian German.
• hitman2 sensesA male contract killer, especially one paid by a mafia.
• hitting1 senseA series of hits or blows directed at a person or object.
• HIV1 senseInitialism of human immunodeficiency virus. The infection caused by HIV.
• hive10 sensesA structure, whether artificial or natural, for housing a swarm of honeybees.
• hives1 senseItchy, swollen, red areas of the skin which can appear quickly in response to an allergen or due to other conditions.
• hiya2 sensesAn informal greeting, hi, hello.
• HK2 sensesInitialism of Hong Kong. Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region.
• hm1 senseA shorter variant of hmm.
• hmm4 sensesIndicates thinking or pondering.
• hmmm1 senseElongated form of hmm.
• ho9 sensesUsed to attract attention to something sighted, usually by lookouts.
• Ho3 sensesA Central-Eastern Indian Adivasi tribe numbering around 1 million, mainly following the religion of Sarna Dhorom
• hoax2 sensesTo deceive (someone) by making them believe something that has been maliciously or mischievously fabricated.
• Hobbs2 sensesA surname originating as a patronymic.
• hobby5 sensesAn activity that one enjoys doing in one's spare time.
• Hobby1 senseAn English surname transferred from the given name.
• hobo4 sensesA wandering homeless person, especially (historical) one illegally travelling by rail or (derogatory) a penniless, unemployed bum.
• hockey4 sensesAny of a family of sports in which hockey sticks are used to move a ball or puck into a goal.
• Hockey1 senseA surname.
• Hodges6 sensesA surname originating as a patronymic.
• Hodgins1 senseA surname originating as a patronymic.
• Hoffman8 sensesA surname from German of German and Ashkenazi Jewish origin.
• hog20 sensesAny animal belonging to the Suidae family of mammals, especially the pig, the warthog, and the boar.
• hogan1 senseA one-room Native American (especially Navajo) dwelling or lodge, constructed of wood and earth and covered with mud.
• Hogan3 sensesA surname from Irish.
• hoist12 sensesTo raise; to lift; to elevate (especially, to raise or lift to a desired elevation, by means of tackle or pulley, said of a sail, a flag, a heavy…
• Hokkaido2 sensesThe second largest island of Japan, capital Sapporo.
• hola1 senseHello, hi, hey.
• hold46 sensesTo grasp or grip.
• Holden17 sensesA surname.
• holder4 sensesA thing that holds.
• Holder1 senseA surname.
• holding8 sensesSomething that one owns, especially stocks and bonds.
• Holding1 senseA surname.
• hole27 sensesA hollow place or cavity; an excavation; a pit; a dent; a depression; a fissure.
• Hole1 senseA surname.
• holed1 senseHaving one or more holes.
• Holes1 senseA surname.
• holiday8 sensesA day on which a religious event or secular celebration is traditionally observed.
• Holiday4 sensesA surname.
• holidays3 senses(usually after possessive) holiday, vacation; time off work, especially if spent travelling away from home.
• holiness1 senseThe state or condition of being holy.
• Holiness1 senseUsed in connection with His or Your to address the leader of some religious traditions, notably the pope.
• holland1 senseA type of linen cloth, originally from Holland.
• Holland35 sensesA historical province of the Netherlands.
• holler6 sensesA yell, shout.
• Holler1 senseA surname.
• hollering1 senseThe act of one who hollers.
• Hollis9 sensesA surname.
• hollow14 sensesA small valley between mountains.
• holloway1 senseA road or track that is significantly lower than the land on either side, not formed by recent engineering but possibly of much greater age.
• Holloway6 sensesA village in Dethick, Lea and Holloway parish, Amber Valley borough, Derbyshire, England (OS grid ref SK3256).
• holly3 sensesAny of various shrubs or (mostly) small trees, of the genus Ilex, either evergreen or deciduous, used as decoration especially at Christmas.
• Holly9 sensesA female given name from English.
• Hollywood29 sensesA neighbourhood of Los Angeles, California, known as the center of the American motion picture industry.
• holmes1 senseAn informal term of address, like man or dude.
• Holmes14 sensesA northern English surname from Middle English, variant of Holme.
• holocaust7 sensesAn offering or sacrifice to a deity that is completely burned to ashes.
• Holocaust2 sensesThe systematic mass murder (genocide) of an estimated six million European Jews perpetrated by Nazi Germany during World War II.
• hologram1 senseA three-dimensional image of an object created by holography.
• holster3 sensesA case for carrying a tool, particularly a gun, safely and accessibly.
• holt2 sensesA small piece of woodland or a woody hill; a copse.