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)

continuous variation
nounC1-C2
/kənˌtɪn.ju.əs ˌveə.riˈeɪ.ʃən/A quality, trait, or phenomenon that changes gradually and imperceptibly across a range, without distinct categories or boundaries.
continuous wave
adjectivenounC2
/kənˌtɪn.ju.əs ˈweɪv/A radio wave or other electromagnetic wave whose amplitude and frequency remain constant over time, as opposed to a pulsed or modulated wave.
continuous waves
plural-nounC2 / Highly Technical
/kənˌtɪn.ju.əs ˈweɪvz/Electromagnetic (or other) waves that are transmitted without interruption in amplitude.
continuous welded rail
nounC1/C2 - Specialized Technical
/kənˌtɪn.ju.əs ˈwel.dɪd reɪl/A long section of railway track made by welding standard rail lengths together to form a single unbroken piece, eliminating joints.
continuous-expansion engine
nounVery Low
/kənˌtɪn.ju.əs ɪkˈspæn.ʃən ˈen.dʒɪn/A type of internal combustion engine, typically a steam or Stirling engine, designed to extract maximum work from expanding gases by using multiple cylinders of increasing size, allowing the gas to expand fully across stages rather than in a single cylinder.
continuously variable transmission
nounLow
/kənˌtɪn.ju.əs.li ˌveə.ri.ə.bl̩ trænzˈmɪʃ.ən/A type of automatic vehicle transmission that can change seamlessly through a continuous range of gear ratios, without discrete steps.
continuum
nounC2
/kənˈtɪn.ju.əm/A continuous, unbroken sequence or whole in which adjacent parts are indistinguishable but the extremes are quite distinct.
continuum hypothesis
nounLow
/kənˌtɪn.ju.əm haɪˈpɒθ.ə.sɪs/A specific statement in mathematical set theory regarding the possible sizes of infinite sets, particularly concerning whether there exists an infinite set whose size is strictly between that of the integers and the real numbers.
conto
nounC1
/ˈkɒntəʊ/A monetary unit of Portugal, equal to 1,000 escudos (historical), or a term for a large, indefinite sum of money.
contort
verbverb-intransitiveverb-transitiveC1
/kənˈtɔːt/To twist, bend, or distort something (often the body or face) out of its normal shape, especially in an unnatural, grotesque, or painful manner.
contortion
nounC1
/kənˈtɔː.ʃən/The act of twisting or bending something, especially the body, into an unnatural or unusual shape.
contortionist
nounC2
/kənˈtɔː.ʃən.ɪst/A performer who twists their body into unnatural and extreme positions, typically as part of an acrobatic or circus act.
contour
adjectivenounverb+1C1
/ˈkɒn.tʊər/The outline or shape of something, especially its curving or irregular boundary.
contour curtain
nounC2
/ˈkɒn.tɔː ˈkɜː.tən/A curtain designed to follow the curves or shape of a window or architectural feature, rather than hanging in a straight line.
contour feather
nounC2
/ˈkɒn.tɔː ˈfɛð.ər/Any of the outermost feathers of a bird that give the body its streamlined shape, providing waterproofing, coloration, and aerodynamic properties.
contour integration
nounLow
/ˈkɒn.tʊər ˌɪn.tɪˈɡreɪ.ʃən/A mathematical technique for evaluating integrals along paths in the complex plane, used extensively in complex analysis.
contour interval
nounC2 / Very low-frequency
/ˈkɒn.tɔː(r) ˌɪn.tə.vəl/The constant vertical distance (difference in elevation) between adjacent contour lines on a topographic map.
contour line
nounC1
/ˈkɒn.tʊə(ɹ) ˌlaɪn/A line on a map connecting points of equal height or value.
contour map
nounC1
/ˈkɒn.tɔː(r) ˌmæp/A map showing the shape and elevation of land surface using lines (contours) connecting points of equal height.
contour ploughing
nounLow
/ˈkɒn.tʊə ˈplaʊ.ɪŋ/A farming method that involves ploughing along lines of equal elevation (contours) to reduce soil erosion and water runoff.

Showing 9841–9860 of 13732 words.