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English Words Starting With D

7,181 entries — pick a word to see its definition, pronunciation, and usage.

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

dirk
nounverbverb-transitiveC1+ / Low Frequency
/dɜːk/A long, straight-bladed dagger, historically used as a sidearm, especially in Scotland.
dirksen
nounRare / Proper Noun
/ˈdɜːksən/A proper noun referring primarily to Everett McKinley Dirksen, a prominent American politician.
dirl
verb-intransitiveVery Low
/dɜːl/to vibrate or ring with a sharp, high-pitched sound; a ringing or tingling sensation.
dirndl
nounC1
/ˈdɜːn.dəl/A traditional dress worn in Bavaria, Austria, and South Tyrol, typically consisting of a bodice, blouse, full skirt, and apron.
dirt
nounHigh
/dɜːt/A substance, such as mud or dust, that makes surfaces unclean.
dirt bag
nounC1/C2
/ˈdɜːt bæɡ/A contemptible or dishonest person; someone who behaves in a morally reprehensible manner.
dirt bike
nounMedium
/ˈdɜːt baɪk/A lightweight motorcycle with long suspension and rugged tyres, designed for off-road riding on unpaved surfaces.
dirt dauber
nounLow-to-medium
/ˈdɜːt ˌdɔː.bər/A type of solitary wasp that builds its nest from mud or clay.
dirt farm
nounC1+
/ˈdɜːt ˌfɑːm/A farm where the soil is of poor quality, unproductive, or barely cultivatable.
dirt fishing
nounLow
/ˈdɜːt ˌfɪʃ.ɪŋ/The activity of using a metal detector to search for valuable or historical objects in the ground.
dirt road
nounIntermediate (B1/B2)
/ˈdɜːt ˌrəʊd/A road with an unpaved surface, typically made of compacted earth, gravel, or other natural materials.
dirtfarmer
nounLow
/ˈdɜːtˌfɑːmə/A farmer who works the land directly, especially a small-scale farmer with modest means who owns and tills their own soil.
dirty
adjectiveadverbverb+1Very high frequency (A1/A2 level).
/ˈdɜːti/Unclean or soiled with dirt, grime, or filth.
dirty 30
nounMedium (within informal contexts)
/ˈdɜː.ti ˈθɜː.ti/A slang term referring to one's thirtieth birthday, often marking the transition from young adulthood into a new decade of life.
dirty bomb
nounC1/C2
/ˌdɜː.ti ˈbɒm/A conventional explosive device that has been combined with radioactive material, designed to scatter dangerous contamination over an area.
dirty linen
nounC1
/ˌdɜː.ti ˈlɪn.ɪn/A person's private, embarrassing, or shameful secrets and scandals, especially those involving family, relationships, or an organization's internal affairs.
dirty old man
nounModerate (colloquial)
/ˈdɜːti əʊld ˈmæn/A middle-aged or elderly man whose sexual interest in much younger people, especially women or girls, is considered inappropriate, creepy, or lecherous.
dirty pool
nounLow-medium (Idiomatic)
/ˈdɜːti puːl/Unfair, deceitful, or underhanded tactics, especially in competition or dealings.
dirty realism
nounC2
/ˌdɜː.ti ˈrɪə.lɪ.zəm/A literary style, particularly associated with late 20th-century American short fiction, that portrays ordinary, working-class life with sparse, unadorned, often bleak detail and an emphasis on surface description, without psychological analysis or moral judgment.
dirty rice
nounC2
/ˌdɜː.ti ˈraɪs/A traditional dish of Creole or Cajun cuisine, made from white rice cooked with chicken livers or gizzards, ground meat, vegetables, and spices, giving the rice a distinctive 'dirty' or brownish colour.

Showing 3821–3840 of 7181 words.