19373 words found
Earthquake (noun) refers to a sudden, violent shaking of the ground caused by movements within the earth or eruptions near its surface. It can also describe a seismic event of any scale, including data or systems disruptions. In everyday use, it often appears in discussions of natural disasters, geology, and emergency planning. The term is widely understood and neutral in tone, suitable for technical and general contexts.
East Anglia is a region in the east of England, including counties such as Norfolk and Suffolk. The term refers to the historic and geographic area rather than a city. It’s commonly used in academic, historical, and geographic contexts, and can appear in regional discussions and travel writing. The phrase is typically pronounced as two stressed words rather than a single compound.
East Sussex is a county name in England, used as a noun to denote the administrative region on the southeastern coast. It combines the directional element “East” with the county identifier “Sussex,” reflecting historic territorial units. In speech, it typically carries two stressed words with the main emphasis on East, and it appears in place-name contexts such as travel, geography, and local government.
East Timor is a Southeast Asian nation located on the eastern half of the island of Timor, with Dili as its capital. The term refers to the country commonly known as Timor-Leste in its official language, highlighting its geographic and political identity. The pronunciation blends English-language stress with timorese vowel qualities, forming a two-word proper noun.
Eau Claire is a proper noun used as a place name and personal surname. In English, it is pronounced as two syllables with a silent consonant in the first element and a rhotic ending in many American pronuncations, yielding an overall fluid, French-influenced pronunciation. The combination of letters reflects its French origin, yet it has become established in English usage with recognizable stress patterns in name contexts.
Eau de Cologne is a term for a light, citrusy fragrance composition originally from Cologne, Germany. It denotes a perfume concentration rather than a brand, and the phrase is used in perfumery and fashion contexts. In English usage, it’s often treated as a proper name and borrowed from French, typically pronounced with a French-influenced accent.
Eau de toilette is a light, perfumed fragrance typically used as a daytime scent. It denotes a lighter concentration of aromatic oils than parfum and has a refreshing, airy character. In usage, it refers to a product applied to the skin or clothes and is common in fashion and cosmetics contexts. The phrase is French in origin but is widely used in English to designate a specific fragrance type.
A fragrance category term borrowed from French, referring to a light, scented preparation used after bathing. In English, it denotes a light eau that sits between eau de Cologne and parfum, typically applied on the skin. This noun name is widely used in cosmetics labeling and consumer conversations about fragrances.
Eau-de-vie is a French term used for a clear fruit brandy distilled from fermented fruit mash. In English-language contexts it denotes a specific spirit and often appears on product labels or menus, typically unaged or lightly aged. The term is used as a noun and is pronounced to reflect its French origins rather than anglicized spelling, often retaining the inherent French vowels and final vowel sound.
Eavesdrop is a verb meaning to secretly listen to someone else’s private conversation, often without their knowledge. It implies withholding participation while overhearing spoken words, typically for information or gossip. The term emphasizes listening discreetly, usually in a doorway, window, or other discreet location, without the speakers’ awareness.
Eavesdropped is the past tense verb meaning to have secretly listened to a private conversation, especially without consent. It implies listening without being seen, often catching discrete or incriminating information. In usage, it typically appears in reporting clauses and can carry a sense of intrusion or gossip, depending on context.
Ebed-Melech is a proper noun, referring to a biblical figure who acted as a Cushite Ethiopian official protecting the Prophet Jeremiah. It functions as a personal name within ancient Near Eastern contexts and is used primarily in religious or scholarly writings. The pronunciation places primary stress on the first syllable, with a tonal contrast shaped by Hebrew-influenced consonants in the middle.
Ebenezer is a proper noun most commonly used as a given name or a biblical place name. It has a formal, historic tone and appears in literary and religious contexts; in modern usage it can evoke a traditional or solemn mood. The name is pronounced with three syllables and a distinctive stress pattern that listeners recognize due to its biblical associations.
Ebers Papyrus is an ancient Egyptian medical text, named after its first modern owner, Georg Ebers, who published a 1875 edition. It consists of a long papyrus roll containing medical prescriptions, remedies, and magical spells, dating from roughly 1550 BCE to 150 BCE. It is widely cited as the oldest, most substantial surviving medical document from ancient Egypt and a cornerstone for the study of ancient Egyptian medicine and papyrology.
Ebola is a proper noun designating a severe, often fatal viral illness and the name of a family of viruses. In common usage it refers to the outbreak-causing virus or to the disease itself, and it is also associated with the geographic region of the Ebola River in Africa. The term is predominantly used in medical, public health, and news contexts.
Ebonics is a term used to describe African American English and related language varieties. It denotes linguistic features, including grammar, vocabulary, and phonology distinct from standard American English. The term blends 'ebony' and 'phonics' and has been debated in education and sociolinguistics for its cultural and linguistic significance.
Ebony is a dense, dark-black wood derived from certain species of the Diospyros tree, traditionally valued for its smooth texture and deep color. In figurative use it can describe anything jet-black or very dark in tone. The term also appears in poetry and design to evoke richness, luxury, and classic elegance.
Ebullient is an adjective describing someone who is lively, enthusiastic, and bubbling with excitement. It conveys radiant energy, buoyant mood, and expressive warmth, often in speech and manner. The term suggests an outward, contagious vitality that can color conversations and actions in a positive, celebratory way.
Ecboline is a technical noun used in pharmacology to denote a substance or compound that induces the expulsion of the contents of the uterus or stimulates uterine contractions. It is a specialized term often encountered in medical literature, research reports, and toxicology notes. The word combines Greek-origin roots with modern scientific naming conventions, and is typically discussed in professional or academic contexts.
Ecce Homo is a Latin phrase meaning “behold the man,” historically used in Christian contexts and titles for artworks. It is commonly encountered in art history, religious liturgy, and scholarly discourse. Pronouncing it accurately requires handling the Latin stress pattern and the final -o in Homo, which differs from English phonotactics.
Eccentric is typically used as an adjective meaning unconventional and slightly strange, or as a noun referring to a person with unusual or whimsical behavior. It describes people or things that deviate from the norm in a way that is noticeable or distinctive. In engineering or mechanics, it can refer to a component whose motion deviates from a fixed axis, producing non-circular rotation.
