Words Starting with "C"

Cachet is a noun meaning prestige or a distinguished status that a person or product has earned, often implying exclusivity. It denotes a quality or quality-mark that signals high social standing or refined taste, sometimes tied to branding or reputation. In use, it can describe the aura of celebrity, luxury, or superior social capital surrounding something.

Cachexia is a complex metabolic syndrome characterized by severe body weight, fat, and muscle loss, often associated with chronic illness. It involves systemic inflammation and catabolic processes that persist despite adequate nutrition. This term is most commonly used in medical contexts, especially oncology and chronic disease management.

Caciocavallo is a traditional Italian stretched-curd cheese, typically formed into a cave-shaped wheel and aged to develop its distinctive flavor. The term also refers to the cheese itself and, regionally, to a shared repas where it may be eaten as a snack. The word carries culinary and cultural significance, especially in southern Italy and the Adriatic regions.

Cacique is a noun of Spanish origin referring to a tribal chief or local leader in many Latin American and Caribbean communities. It denotes authority within indigenous or rural social structures and can also denote a charismatic local leader. The term has historical and anthropological uses in discussions of governance, culture, and social organization.

Cacoethes is an intense, often compulsive desire or urge, especially for an irreversible or imprudent action. In literary use, it denotes an overwhelming craving that can drive reckless behavior, frequently linked to the pursuit of writing or other creative acts. The term carries a scholarly, slightly archaic resonance and is typically used in formal or rhetorical contexts.

Cacomorphobia is a specialized term for an abnormal or intense fear of bad or deformed people. It refers to an aversion to ugliness in human appearance and is used in academic or clinical discussions of phobias or disgust reactions. The term is not commonly used in everyday speech but appears in psychology literature and diagnostic discussions.

Cacophonous is an adjective describing something that produces a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds. It often refers to noisy, jarring environments or noises that clash or grate on the ears. The term conveys a sense of unpleasant audio chaos rather than musical harmony.

Cacophony is a noun referring to a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds. It denotes an unpleasant, jarring auditory experience, often produced by a combination of clashing tones or noisy elements. The term emphasizes sensory overtones that clash rather than harmonize, creating auditory unease.

Cactaceae is a noun naming the plant family that includes cacti. It derives from the genus name Cactus and the Latin feminine suffix -ae, reflecting a taxonomic grouping. The term is used primarily in botany and horticulture to refer collectively to all cacti and their relatives within the family. It is pronounced with three syllables and a secondary stress pattern typical of Latin-derived taxonomic names.

Cacti is the plural of cactus, referring to multiple succulent plants with spiny, fleshy stems. In everyday use, it denotes a group of cacti rather than a single plant, and appears in botanical or casual contexts alike. The term is common in both scientific writing and general discourse about desert flora.

Cactus is a noun referring to a succulent plant of the family Cactaceae, typically with spiny stems adapted to arid environments. The term also appears in figurative usage, such as describing something sharp or prickly in manner or appearance. In botanical contexts, it denotes a diverse group of moyed forms, ranging from small indoor species to towering desert forms.

Cadaqués is a coastal town in Catalonia, Spain, known for its Mediterranean charm and art heritage. As a proper noun with a unique Catalan spelling, its pronunciation in Spanish/Catalan adapts to regional phonology, often anglicized in non-native contexts. The term is typically treated as a place name rather than a common noun, with emphasis on the final syllable in Catalan and a more even-timed cadence in Spanish usage.

Cadaver is a noun referring to a dead body, especially used in medical or forensic contexts. It designates a body examined for scientific study or evidence. The term conveys a clinical, formal tone and often appears in academic or professional discussions about anatomy, pathology, or crime-scene investigation.

Cadbury is a British confectionery brand name, widely recognized as a proper noun referring to its dairy chocolate products. The term combines the founder’s name with the brand’s identity, and is pronounced with emphasis on the first syllable, signaling a long-standing, corporate brand identity rather than a common noun. It is used in marketing, media, and everyday conversation when referring to the chocolate brand or products.

Cade is a proper noun typically used as a male given name or surname. It can also refer to historical or literary contexts (e.g., a version of 'cad' in some texts) though in modern usage it most often denotes a personal name. Pronunciation centers on a single stressed syllable with a long 'a' vowel, and a final 'd' consonant, without a following vowel sound.

Cadence is the rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or words, often reflecting speech pattern, tempo, and intonation. In music, it marks the end of a phrase or section. As a general term, cadence can describe both the pattern of beats and the characteristic pace of speaking or reading aloud, including emphasis and cadence-related phrasing.

Cadet is a noun referring to a trainee or young student in the armed services, police, or fire-fighting academy, or to a junior member in a youth organization. It can denote a person in training for a particular role, often in a formal or hierarchical setting. The term emphasizes status, rank, or aspirational progression within a disciplined environment.

Cadfael is a proper noun, used chiefly as a surname or given name, notably associated with the Benedictine monk-detective of Ellis Peters’ medieval novels. It denotes a fictional or historical personage and carries a distinctive Welsh-influenced sound pattern. In pronunciation, it favors a clear first syllable with a soft, final -l, yielding an elegant, slightly archaic cadence.

Cadillac is a proper noun for a luxury automobile brand. It denotes an upscale vehicle line and, informally, can imply status or premium quality in a colloquial context. The term carries cultural associations with American automotive history and luxury branding, rather than being a generic object.

Cadiz is a proper noun referring to the city in southwestern Spain (Cádiz). It is also used as an ethnonym for related cultural references. In English, it is typically pronounced with emphasis on the first syllable and a soft, non-rolling r typically associated with Latin-derived place names.

Cadogan is a proper noun most often referring to a place or surname in British contexts. It is pronounced with emphasis on the first or only syllable, and features a soft 'd' blend and a final schwa-like vowel in some pronunciations. Used in titles, addresses, and in discussions of history or geography related to Cadogan Square or Cadogan Estates in London.

Cadre is a small, distinct group of trained, influential people within a larger organization, typically charged with leadership or specialized duties. The term often carries a formal or military-adjacent connotation, denoting a core team around which others rally. It implies structure, authority, and a shared set of objectives.

Caduceus is a noun referring to the staff entwined with two serpents, symbolically associated with commerce, negotiation, and heralds in ancient myth. In modern times, it is most often linked to medicine through misassociation with the Rod of Asclepius. The word is stressed on the first syllable and has a crisp, Lilting two-syllable onset before a three-syllable tail, yielding a formal, almost ceremonial tone in usage.

Cady is a proper noun, typically a surname or given name. It denotes a person (often a child or character) and can function as a nickname or family name. Usage centers on identity rather than common nouns, and pronunciation tends to be crisp, with emphasis on the first syllable in most English varieties.