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English Words Starting With H

5,990 entries — pick a word to see its definition, pronunciation, and usage.

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

holder in due course
nounC2
/ˈhəʊldər ɪn ˌdjuː ˈkɔːs/A person who acquires a negotiable instrument (e.g., a cheque, promissory note) for value, in good faith, and without notice of any defects or claims against it.
holderlin
nounLow (C2 Level, specialized/educated usage)
/ˈhɜːldəlɪn/ (Approximation; /ˈhɜːl.də.lɪn/)Friedrich Hölderlin (1770–1843), a German lyric poet of the Romantic era, known for his complex, philosophical poetry and tragic life marked by mental illness.
holdfast
nounLow
/ˈhəʊl(d)fɑːst/A physical device, structure, or natural adaptation that provides a firm grip or attachment point to something else.
holding
adjectivenounB2
/ˈhəʊldɪŋ/The act of possessing or retaining something in one's grasp, ownership, or control.
holding company
nounC1
/ˈhəʊl.dɪŋ ˌkʌm.pə.ni/A parent company created to own and control the shares of other companies.
holding furnace
nounC2
/ˈhəʊldɪŋ ˈfɜːnɪs/A furnace used in metallurgy to keep molten metal at a specific temperature before further processing or casting.
holding operation
nounC2
/ˈhəʊldɪŋ ˌɒpəˈreɪʃən/A temporary action or set of actions designed to maintain the current situation without progress or change.
holding paddock
nounLow
/ˈhəʊldɪŋ ˈpædək/A fenced field or area used for temporarily keeping or sorting livestock, typically before transport, shearing, treatment, or sale.
holding pattern
nounC1
/ˈhəʊl.dɪŋ ˈpæt.ən/In aviation, a predetermined flight path that an aircraft follows while waiting for permission to land.
holding tank
nounC1
/ˈhəʊldɪŋ tæŋk/A container used to temporarily store liquids or waste until they can be properly disposed of or processed.
holdout
nounC1
/ˈhəʊldaʊt/A person, organization, or country that refuses to agree, participate, or comply, often by maintaining a separate or resistant position.
holdover
nounC1/C2
/ˈhəʊldəʊvə/Something that remains or continues from an earlier time, often after its original purpose or era has ended.
holdup
nounMedium (C1)
/ˈhəʊld ʌp/ (for verb phrase); /ˈhəʊld.ʌp/ (for noun)A situation where someone is threatened with a weapon to steal from them; a delay or stoppage.
holdup man
nounLow
/ˈhəʊld ʌp ˌmæn/A person who commits armed robbery, typically by threatening victims with a weapon.
hole
nounverbverb-intransitive+1A2
/həʊl/A hollow space or opening in a solid surface or object, typically having a depth and often passing through it.
hole card
nounC1
/ˈhəʊl ˌkɑːd/In certain poker games, a card dealt face down that only the player can see.
hole in one
nounverbC1
/ˌhəʊl ɪn ˈwʌn/A situation in golf where a player hits the ball from the tee into the hole with a single stroke.
hole in the heart
nounC1
/ˌhəʊl ɪn ðə ˈhɑːt/A congenital medical condition where there is an opening in the septum dividing the chambers of the heart.
hole in the wall
nounB2
/ˌhəʊl ɪn ðə ˈwɔːl/A very small, basic, often makeshift or unimpressive place, especially a bar, cafe, or restaurant, sometimes implying it is little-known or discovered by chance.
hole saw
nounLow
/ˈhəʊl ˌsɔː/A cylindrical saw attachment with a pilot drill bit, used for cutting large, circular holes in materials like wood, plastic, or metal.

Showing 3681–3700 of 5990 words.