Browse by letter

English Words Starting With C

13,732 entries — pick a word to see its definition, pronunciation, and usage.

Filter

Parts of speech

Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Plural noun Combining form Verb (transitive)Verb (intransitive)Verb (ambitransitive)

chemical potential
nounRare / Academic Technical
/ˈkemɪkəl pəˈtenʃl/A thermodynamic quantity that represents the change in a system's Gibbs free energy when one particle of a substance is added, with temperature, pressure, and all other particle numbers held constant. It indicates the tendency of particles to diffuse or react.
chemical pregnancy
nounLow
/ˌkem.ɪ.kəl ˈpʁɛɡ.nən.si/A very early miscarriage that occurs shortly after implantation, detected only by a positive pregnancy test (hCG hormone) but not confirmed by ultrasound.
chemical property
nounB2-C1
/ˈkɛmɪk(ə)l ˈprɒpəti/A characteristic or attribute of a substance that becomes evident during or after a chemical reaction, indicating its potential to undergo a specific chemical change.
chemical pulp
nounC1
/ˌkemɪkəl ˈpʌlp/A type of pulp used in papermaking produced by dissolving lignin from wood fibres using chemicals, resulting in longer, stronger fibres than mechanical pulp.
chemical reaction
nounC1
/ˌkem.ɪ.kəl riˈæk.ʃən/A process where one or more substances are transformed into different substances through the breaking and forming of chemical bonds.
chemical sensitivity
nounC1+ (Low frequency, specialized term)
/ˈkɛmɪkəl ˌsɛnsɪˈtɪvɪti/An adverse physiological reaction to exposure to certain chemicals at levels that are generally tolerated by most people.
chemical toilet
nounLow
/ˌkem.ɪ.kəl ˈtɔɪ.lət/A portable toilet that uses chemicals to break down waste and deodorize, often not requiring a connection to sewage or water supply.
chemical warfare
nounC1-C2
/ˈkemɪk(ə)l ˈwɔːfeə/The use of toxic chemical substances as weapons in war.
chemical weapon
nounLow frequency in general discourse; medium frequency in political, military, historical, and disarmament contexts.
/ˈkemɪkəl ˈwɛpən/A weapon that uses chemicals to kill, injure, or incapacitate people.
chemical weathering
nounC1/C2
/ˈkemɪkəl ˈweðərɪŋ/The process by which rocks and minerals are broken down and altered through chemical reactions, often involving water, acids, or gases.
chemigraphy
nounVery Rare
/kɛˈmɪɡrəfi/A printing process using a chemical method to create a printing plate, typically for photogravure.
chemiluminescence
nounLow
/ˌkɛmɪˌluːmɪˈnɛsəns/The emission of light as a result of a chemical reaction, without significant heat.
chemin de fer
nounRare
/ˌʃəmæ̃ də ˈfɛə/A card game of the baccarat family.
chemiosmosis
nounC2
/ˌkiːmɪəʊˈsməʊsɪs/The movement of ions, typically protons, across a semipermeable membrane down their electrochemical gradient, coupled to the synthesis of ATP.
chemise
nounC1
/ʃəˈmiːz/A loose, shirt-like undergarment or nightdress for women, historically a simple linen garment.
chemisette
nounVery Rare
/ˌʃemɪˈzet/A woman's garment worn under a low-necked dress or bodice to cover the upper chest.
chemism
nounRare
/ˈkɛmɪz(ə)m/The fundamental chemical force or process responsible for the interaction and transformation of substances.
chemisorb
verbverb-transitiveVery Low
/ˈkɛmɪˌsɔːb/To bind (a substance) to a surface via a strong chemical bond rather than simple physical attraction.
chemisorption
nounC2+
/ˌkɛmɪˈsɔːpʃən/The binding of a gas or dissolved substance to a solid surface via chemical bonding.
chemist
nounB2
/ˈkem.ɪst/A person who studies chemistry professionally, especially as a scientist.

Showing 4401–4420 of 13732 words.