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.

• Rowan6 sensesA surname from Irish.
• rowdy3 sensesLoud and disorderly; riotous; boisterous.
• rowing4 sensesThe action of the verb to row.
• Roxanne1 senseA female given name from Persian; a spelling variant of Roxane, fairly popular since the 1930s.
• Roxy2 sensesA diminutive of the female given names Roxana, Roxane, and Roxanne.
• roy2 sensesA king.
• Roy15 sensesA male given name from Scottish Gaelic.
• royal19 sensesOf or relating to a monarch or his (or her) family.
• Royal5 sensesA surname from Old English.
• royalty9 sensesThe rank, status, power or authority of a monarch.
• Royalty1 senseA surname.
• Royce2 sensesA surname originating as a matronymic.
• Roz1 senseA female given name.
• Rs3 sensesrupees
• rub14 sensesAn act of rubbing.
• RUB1 senseAny of a group of proteins similar to ubiquitin
• rubbed1 senseHaving had a substance applied through rubbing.
• rubber21 sensesPliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree; a hydrocarbon biopolymer of isoprene.
• rubbing1 senseAn impression of an embossed or incised surface made by placing a piece of paper over it and rubbing with graphite, crayon or other coloring agent.
• rubbish9 sensesRefuse, waste, garbage, junk, trash.
• rubble4 sensesThe broken remains of an object, usually rock or masonry.
• Ruben2 sensesA male given name from Hebrew, variant of Reuben.
• ruby10 sensesA clear, deep, red variety of corundum, valued as a precious stone.
• Ruby11 sensesA female given name.
• ruckus2 sensesA raucous disturbance and/or commotion.
• rudder5 sensesAn underwater vane used to steer a vessel. The rudder is controlled by means of a wheel, tiller or other apparatus (modern vessels can be controlled…
• ruddy7 sensesReddish in color, especially of the face, fire, or sky.
• Ruddy1 senseA surname.
• rude9 sensesLacking in refinement or civility; bad-mannered; discourteous.
• Rudi1 senseA diminutive of the male given name Rudolf, from German.
• Rudolf1 senseA male given name from Czech or German, equivalent to English Rudolph.
• Rudolph3 sensesA male given name from the Germanic languages.
• rudy1 senseAn acrobatic maneuver involving two and a half twists.
• Rudy3 sensesA diminutive of the male given name Rudolph.
• rue8 sensesTo repent of or regret (some past action or event); to wish that a past action or event had not taken place.
• Rue1 senseA surname.
• Rufus4 sensesEither of two persons mentioned in the New Testament (in Mark 15:21 and Romans 16:13).
• rug13 sensesA partial covering for a floor.
• Rug1 senseshort form of Rugbeian
• rugby4 sensesA form of football in which players can hold or kick an ovoid ball; rugby football. The ball cannot be handled forwards and points are scored by…
• Rugby8 sensesA town in Warwickshire, England, where the sport of rugby is thought to have originated (OS grid ref SP5075).
• rugged14 sensesBroken into sharp or irregular points; uneven; not smooth; rough.
• ruin16 sensesThe remains of a destroyed or dilapidated construction, such as a house or castle.
• ruined3 sensesIn a state of ruin; dilapidated.
• ruining1 senseThe act or process by which something is ruined.
• Ruiz1 senseA surname from Spanish.
• rule17 sensesA regulation, law, guideline.
• Rule3 sensesA surname.
• ruled2 sensesHaving printed lines.
• ruler3 sensesA (usually rigid), flat, rectangular measuring or drawing device with graduations in units of measurement; a straightedge with markings.
• Rules1 senseAustralian rules football.
• ruling2 sensesThat rules; predominant; chief; reigning; controlling.
• rum10 sensesA spirit distilled from various preparations of sugarcane, particularly fermented cane sugar and molasses.
• Rum3 sensesAn eyalet in the Ottoman Empire.
• rumble12 sensesA low, heavy, continuous sound, such as that of thunder or a hungry stomach.
• Rumble3 sensesA surname.
• rumbling3 sensesDeep- and slow-sounding.
• rumor6 sensesA statement or claim of questionable accuracy, from no known reliable source, usually spread by word of mouth.
• rumour3 sensesUK, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Ireland spelling of rumor.
• run117 sensesTo move swiftly. To move forward quickly upon two feet by alternately making a short jump off either foot.
• runaway12 sensesA person or animal that runs away or has run away; a person, animal, or organization that escapes captivity or restrictions.
• rundown5 sensesA rough outline of a topic or situation.
• rung8 sensesA crosspiece forming a step of a ladder; a round.
• Rung1 senseA surname.
• runner42 sensesAgent noun of run; one who runs. A person who moves, on foot, at a fast pace, especially an athlete.
• Runner1 senseA surname.
• runners1 senserunning shoes, sneakers, trainers
• running18 sensesMoving or advancing at a run.
• Running1 senseA surname.
• runs1 senseDiarrhea/diarrhoea.
• runt9 sensesThe smallest animal of a litter.
• runway7 sensesA defined, narrow section of land or an artificial structure used for access.
• Rupert7 sensesA male given name from the Germanic languages.
• rupture6 sensesA burst, split, or break.
• ruptured2 sensesHaving a rupture; broken, leaking.
• rural2 sensesRelating to the countryside or to agriculture.
• ruse5 sensesAn action intended to deceive; a trick.
• Ruse6 sensesA suburb of Sydney in the Campbelltown council area, New South Wales, Australia.
• rush31 sensesA sudden forward motion.
• Rush10 sensesA surname A surname from English
• RUSH1 senseA dialect of the programming language PL/I.
• rushed3 sensesVery busy.
• rushes1 senseUnedited footage; film material as recorded to tape etc.
• rushing3 sensesA rapid surging motion.
• Rushing1 senseA surname.
• Russ5 sensesA diminutive of the male given name Russell.
• Russell25 sensesAn English, Scottish and Irish surname transferred from the nickname from the Norman nickname for someone with red hair.
• Russia5 sensesA transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and North Asia. Official name: Russian Federation. Capital and largest city: Moscow. It borders the…
• RuSSia1 senseRussia.
• Russian16 sensesOf or pertaining to Russia or Russians.
• RuSSian2 sensesRussian.
• Russo1 senseA surname.
• rust10 sensesThe deteriorated state of iron or steel as a result of moisture and oxidation; it consists mostly of iron(III) oxide (ferric oxide) and iron(II)…
• Rust5 sensesA surname.
• rustle5 sensesA soft crackling sound similar to the movement of dry leaves.
• rustling2 sensesThe rounding up and theft of animals, cattle in particular.
• rusty8 sensesMarked or corroded by rust.
• Rusty1 senseA male given name.
• rut12 sensesSexual desire in any of many mammals, often specific to mating season; the state or season in which this is experienced.
• ruth4 sensesSorrow for the misery of another person; compassion, mercy, pity.
• Ruth5 sensesA book of the Old Testament and the Hebrew Tanakh.
• Ruthie1 senseA diminutive of the female given name Ruth.
• ruthless2 sensesWithout pity or compassion; cruel, pitiless.
• Rutledge11 sensesA surname of uncertain etymology.
• RV2 sensesTo travel in a recreational vehicle.
• Ryan18 sensesA surname A surname from Irish, an anglicization of Ó Riaghain, Ó Riain (literally “descendant of Riaghan, Rian”).
• ryder1 senseA gold coin of Zealand (Netherlands) worth 14 florins.
• Ryder4 sensesA surname originating as an occupation for a rider, cavalryman, or knight.
• rye7 sensesA grain used extensively in Europe for making bread, beer, and (now generally) for animal fodder.
• Rye15 sensesA small town and civil parish in Rother district, East Sussex, England (OS grid ref TQ9220).
• ryo1 senseAn anhemitonic pentatonic scale used in a Japanese Buddhist chant, and built up by intervals of major second, major second, minor third, major…
• ryu1 senseA Japanese school of a specific discipline, usually martial arts.
• Ryu1 senseA surname from Japanese.