Words starting with R — 1,113 entries

The 1,113 dictionary words that begin with the letter R, in alphabetical order, each with its first definition. Accents do not affect filing: an accented initial is shelved under its base letter.

• r2 sensesThe eighteenth letter of the English alphabet, called ar and written in the Latin script.
• R4 sensesThe eighteenth letter of the English alphabet, called ar and written in the Latin script.
• r.1 senseSynonym of ruled or reigned, used in historical dating to distinguish regnal years from births and deaths.
• Ra3 sensesThe Egyptian god of the Sun.
• RA1 senseThe Provisional Irish Republican Army.
• Rabb2 sensesA title used for God.
• rabbi3 sensesA Jewish scholar or teacher of halacha (Jewish law), capable of making halachic decisions.
• Rabbi1 senseThe title of a rabbi (a Jewish scholar or teacher); used before or instead of the rabbi's name.
• rabbit14 sensesA mammal of most genera of the family Leporidae, with long ears, long hind legs and a short, fluffy tail. (Those of the larger kind are instead…
• Rabbit1 senseThe fourth of the twelve-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar.
• rabble8 sensesTo speak in a confused manner; talk incoherently; utter nonsense
• rabid6 sensesAffected with rabies.
• rabies1 senseAn infectious disease caused by species of Lyssavirus that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals and people, characterised by abnormal…
• raccoon5 sensesAn omnivorous, nocturnal mammal native to the Americas, of the genus Procyon, typically with a mixture of gray, brown, and black fur, a mask-like…
• Raccoon4 sensesA number of places in the United States: An unincorporated community in Franklin Township, Putnam County, Indiana.
• race42 sensesA contest between people, animals, vehicles, etc. where the goal is to be the first to reach some objective.
• Race1 senseA surname.
• raced1 sensePertaining to or marked in terms of race.
• racer7 sensesAgent noun of race: one that races or is used for racing. A person who participates in races, especially an athlete.
• Racer1 senseA surname from German.
• racetrack2 sensesA course over which any type of races are run.
• rach1 sensea dog that hunts by scent
• Rach1 senseA diminutive of the female given name Rachel.
• Rachael1 senseA female given name from Hebrew, a spelling variant of Rachel first recorded in the 17th century.
• rachel1 senseA light tan colour, chiefly with reference to cosmetic powder.
• Rachel5 sensesYounger daughter of Laban, sister to Leah, and second wife of Jacob.
• racial2 sensesOf or relating to a race (or a people).
• racing1 senseThe sport of competing in races.
• racism4 sensesThe belief that there are distinct human races with inherent differences which determine their abilities, and generally that some are superior and…
• racist4 sensesA person who believes in or supports racism; a person who believes that a particular race is superior to others, or who discriminates against other…
• rack43 sensesA series of one or more shelves, stacked one above the other.
• racket11 sensesAn implement with a handle connected to a round frame strung with wire, sinew, or plastic cords, and used to hit a ball, such as in tennis or a…
• Racket1 senseA general-purpose, multiparadigm programming language descended from Scheme.
• rad1 senseA non-SI unit of absorbed dose of radiation, equal to 0.01 gray, that is, 1 centigray.
• radar7 sensesIn full primary radar: a method of detecting a distant object and determining its position, velocity, or other characteristics by analysing radio…
• Radha2 sensesHindu goddess of love and devotion, Grand Consort of god Krishna, Avatar of Lakshmi.
• radiant10 sensesRadiating light and/or heat.
• radiation5 sensesThe shooting forth of anything from a point or surface, like diverging rays of light.
• radiator4 sensesAnything which radiates or emits rays.
• radical23 sensesOf or pertaining to the root of a plant.
• radio7 sensesThe technology that allows for the transmission of sound or other signals by modulation of electromagnetic waves.
• Radio1 senseA surname.
• radioactive3 sensesExhibiting radioactivity.
• radiology2 sensesThe specialty of medical imaging and its interpretation, originally and especially radiography but now including all imaging modalities, including…
• radius8 sensesThe long bone in the forearm, on the side of the thumb.
• Rae2 sensesA Scottish surname transferred from the nickname. A variant of Roe.
• Raf1 senseA diminutive of the male given name Rafael.
• RAF2 sensesThe German Rote Armee Fraktion (Red Army Faction).
• Rafael1 senseA male given name, variant of Raphael.
• Rafe3 sensesA male given name from the Germanic languages.
• raffle6 sensesA drawing, often held as a fundraiser, in which tickets or chances are sold to win a prize.
• raft14 sensesA flat-bottomed craft able to float and drift on water, used for transport or as a waterborne platform.
• rag29 sensesTattered clothes (clothing).
• Rag1 senseSynonym of Rag and Famish (“the Army and Navy Club in London, England”).
• rage9 sensesViolent uncontrolled anger.
• ragged9 sensesIn tatters, having the texture broken.
• Raghu2 sensesA legendary king of parts of India
• raging4 sensesVolatile, very active or unpredictable.
• Rags1 senseThe New York Rangers hockey team.
• rah7 sensesAn exclamation of support or encouragement.
• Rahul1 senseA male given name from Sanskrit.
• rai2 sensesstone money
• Rai2 sensesA surname from India found among people from northern India and coastal Karnataka.
• raid9 sensesA quick hostile or predatory incursion or invasion in a battle.
• rail22 sensesA horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier; a railing.
• railing4 sensesThat rails; engaged in or given to violent complaining.
• railroad14 sensesA permanent track consisting of fixed metal rails to drive trains or similar motorized vehicles on.
• Railroad2 sensesA borough in York County, Pennsylvania, United States, so-named for the Northern Central Railway.
• railway2 sensesA transport system using rails used to move passengers or goods.
• rain6 sensesCondensed water falling from a cloud.
• Rain1 senseA female given name.
• Raina2 sensesA female given name.
• rainbow17 sensesA multicoloured arch in the sky, produced by prismatic refraction of light within droplets of rain in the air.
• Rainbow4 sensesA member of the Rainbow Guides, a Girl Guide movement for younger girls.
• raincoat2 sensesA waterproof coat to be worn in the rain; (loosely) any coat or jacket with this purpose.
• rainer1 senseThat which rains, or dispenses something in a shower.
• Rainer1 senseAn English and American surname transferred from the given name.
• Raines2 sensesA surname.
• rainforest1 senseA forest in a climate with high annual rainfall and no dry season.
• raining1 senseA fall of rain.
• rains1 senseA rainy season; monsoon
• Rains1 senseA surname.
• rainy1 sensePouring with rain; wet; showery
• raise30 sensesTo cause to rise; to lift or elevate.
• raised2 sensesEmbossed, in relief.
• raising11 sensesElevation.
• raj1 senseReign; rule.
• Raj5 sensesThe whole period of British influence or rule in the Indian subcontinent from the 1600s to 1947.
• Rajesh1 senseA male given name from Sanskrit used in India.
• Raju2 sensesA male given name from Telugu.
• rake35 sensesA garden tool with a row of pointed teeth fixed to a long handle, used for collecting debris, grass, etc., for flattening the ground, or for…
• Rake3 sensesA surname.
• rally11 sensesA public gathering or mass meeting that is not mainly a protest and is organized to inspire enthusiasm for a cause.
• ralph2 sensesTo vomit.
• Ralph5 sensesA male given name from the Germanic languages.
• ralphie1 senseA scruffy school child.
• Ralphie1 senseA diminutive of the male given name Ralph.
• ram14 sensesA male sheep, typically uncastrated.
• Ram7 sensesThe constellation and zodiac sign Aries.
• Rama4 sensesA name of the goddess Lakshmi.
• rambling5 sensesOf a speech: meandering, long and digressing.
• rambo1 senseA knife.
• Rambo3 sensesA surname.
• ramen3 sensesSoup noodles of wheat, with various ingredients (Japanese-Chinese style).
• Ramesh1 senseA male given name from Sanskrit used in Nepal and India.
• Ramirez1 senseA surname from Spanish [in turn originating as a patronymic].
• Ramon1 senseA municipality of Isabela, Philippines.
• Ramona5 sensesA female given name from Spanish.
• Ramos2 sensesA surname from Spanish.
• ramp26 sensesAn inclined surface that connects two levels; an incline.
• Ramp1 senseA surname from German.
• rampage3 sensesA course of violent, frenzied action.
• Ramsay3 sensesAny of a number of places in the English-speaking world.
• Ramsey15 sensesAny of a number of places, including: The second-largest town on the Isle of Man (OS grid ref SC4594).
• Ramu2 sensesA language family of Papua New Guinea.
• ran1 senseYarns coiled on a spun-yarn winch.
• Ran3 sensesA male given name from Hebrew.
• Rana2 sensesA surname.
• ranch7 sensesA large plot of land used for raising cattle, sheep or other livestock.
• rand9 sensesThe border of an area of land, now especially marshland.
• Rand8 sensesThe Witwatersrand, a gold-mining geographic area also known as the Reef in the province of Gauteng, South Africa, of which the principal city is…
• Randall11 sensesA male given name from the Germanic languages.
• Randolph31 sensesA male given name from the Germanic languages.
• random15 sensesA roving motion; course without definite direction; lack of rule or method; chance.
• randomly2 sensesIn a random manner.
• randy7 sensesSexually aroused; full of sexual lust.
• Randy2 sensesA diminutive of the male given names Randall or Randolph, used as a male given name in the US.
• rang1 senseA long strip of rectangular lots of land in Quebec.
• range36 sensesA line or series of mountains, buildings, etc.
• Range4 sensesA surname.
• ranger9 sensesOne who ranges; a rover.
• Ranger2 sensesA player on any of various teams called Rangers, such as the Texas Rangers (in baseball) or the New York Rangers (in ice hockey).
• Rangers3 sensesThe team Texas Rangers, located in Arlington, Texas.
• rani2 sensesThe wife of a rajah.
• Rani1 senseA female given name from Sanskrit.
• rank27 sensesHaving a very strong, bad taste or odor.
• Rank1 senseA surname.
• ranked2 sensesThat has been arranged or organized in ranks or by rank.
• ranking5 sensesHaving a specified rank.
• ransom6 sensesMoney paid for the freeing of a hostage.
• Ransom7 sensesA surname.
• Rao1 senseA surname.
• Raoul1 senseA surname from French.
• rap20 sensesA sharp blow with something hard.
• Rap1 senseThe Rapaport Diamond Report, the diamond industry standard for the pricing of diamonds.
• rape22 sensesThe act of forcing sex upon another person without their consent or against their will; originally coitus forced by a man on a woman, but now…
• Rape1 senseA surname.
• Raphael4 sensesAn archangel in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
• rapid8 sensesVery swift or quick.
• rapidly1 senseWith speed; in a rapid manner.
• raping1 senseRape (sexual violation).
• rapist1 senseOne who has committed rape; someone who raped another person.
• rapper9 sensesOne who, or that which, raps or knocks. The knocker of a door.
• rapping3 sensesThe sound of a rap or knock.
• Raquel1 senseA female given name from Hebrew.
• rare10 sensesVery uncommon; scarce.
• rarely3 sensesNot occurring at a regular interval; seldom; not often.
• rarity3 sensesA measure of the scarcity of an object.
• rascal4 sensesA dishonest person; a rogue, a scoundrel, a trickster.
• Rascal1 senseA surname.
• rash20 sensesActing too quickly without considering the consequences and risks; not careful; hasty.
• Rash1 senseA surname.
• Rashid3 sensesA male given name from Arabic.
• raspberry10 sensesThe plant Rubus idaeus.
• Raspberry3 sensesA surname.
• rat21 sensesAny of the numerous members of several rodent families that usually have short limbs, a pointy snout, a long, hairless tail, and a body length…
• Rat1 senseThe first of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar.
• RAT1 senseTo hack someone with a remote-access Trojan.
• rate27 sensesThe proportional relationship between one amount, value etc. and another.
• rated3 sensesmaximum (load, voltage, etc.) under which a device can function properly
• rates1 senseTaxes, usually on property, levied by local government.
• rather9 sensesUsed to specify a choice or preference; preferably, in preference to. (Now usually followed by than)
• Rather1 senseA surname.
• rating6 sensesA position on a scale.
• ratio5 sensesA number representing a comparison between two named things.
• ration4 sensesA portion of some limited resource, especially food, allocated to a person, group or period.
• rational12 sensesCapable of reasoning.
• rats2 sensesAn expression of annoyance or disgust; damn, darn.
• ratted1 senseSynonym of drunk.
• rattle19 sensesTo create a rattling sound by shaking or striking.
• rattling3 sensesLively, quick (speech, pace).
• Raul1 senseA male given name from Spanish, an Anglicized form of Spanish Raúl.
• rave12 sensesAn enthusiastic review (such as of a play).
• Rave1 senseA surname.
• raven18 sensesAny of several, generally large, species of birds in the genus Corvus with lustrous black plumage; especially the common raven (Corvus corax).
• Raven11 sensesA surname.
• Ravi2 sensesA male given name used in India.
• ravine1 senseA deep narrow valley or gorge in the earth's surface worn by running water.
• raving4 sensesWild, incoherent, or irrational talk.
• ravishing2 sensesExtremely beautiful
• raw21 senses(of food) Not cooked.
• Raw1 senseA surname from Old English.
• ray15 sensesA beam of light or radiation.
• Ray13 sensesA surname transferred from the nickname.
• Raylan1 senseA male given name originating as a coinage.
• Raymond24 sensesA male given name from the Germanic languages.
• Rayna1 senseA female given name.
• razor5 sensesA keen-edged knife of peculiar shape, used in shaving the hair from the face or other parts of the body.
• Razor1 senseA surname.
• re2 sensesAbout, regarding, with reference to; used especially in letters, documents, emails and case law.