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English Words Starting With S

15,552 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)

shock and awe
nounverb-ambitransitiveC2
/ˌʃɒk ən ˈɔː/A military doctrine involving rapid, overwhelming force and psychological warfare to paralyze an enemy's will to fight.
shock cuffs
plural-nounC2 / Very Low Frequency
/ˈʃɒk ˌkʌfs/A type of high-security handcuffs that can deliver an electric shock to restrain a non-compliant or dangerous detainee.
shock front
nounC2
/ˈʃɒk frʌnt/The boundary across which a sudden, intense change in pressure, temperature, and density occurs, propagating through a medium faster than the speed of sound.
shock jock
nounC1/C2
/ˈʃɒk ˌdʒɒk/A radio disc jockey or presenter who deliberately uses provocative, offensive, or controversial content to entertain and attract listeners.
shock radio
nounC1
/ˈʃɒk ˌreɪ.di.əʊ/A style of radio broadcasting designed to be intentionally provocative, offensive, or transgressive, often using controversial topics, explicit language, and confrontational hosts to attract and shock listeners.
shock therapy
nounC1
/ˈʃɒk ˌθer.ə.pi/A medical treatment for severe depression or other mental disorders that involves inducing seizures or administering electric shocks to the brain.
shock troops
plural-nounC1
/ˈʃɒk ˌtruːps/Highly trained soldiers specially prepared to lead a violent attack, typically the first to engage in combat.
shock tube
nounVery low (C2+ technical/scientific vocabulary)
/ˈʃɒk ˌtjuːb/A pipe or channel designed to produce and study shock waves in a controlled environment, typically for scientific and engineering research.
shock wave
nounB2
/ˈʃɒk weɪv/A powerful wave of increased pressure and temperature caused by a sudden violent event, like an explosion or an object moving faster than sound.
shock-test
verb-transitiveC1
/ˈʃɒk ˌtɛst/A test in which a product, system, or material is subjected to sudden, extreme force or stress to evaluate its durability and performance under such conditions.
shocker
nounB2
/ˈʃɒkə/Something that causes great surprise, shock, or dismay; a startling or scandalous event, story, or person.
shocking pink
nounC1/C2
/ˌʃɒk.ɪŋ ˈpɪŋk/An extremely vivid, bright shade of pink, often considered startling or gaudy.
shockley
nounLow
/ˈʃɒkli/A proper noun; primarily a surname associated with William Shockley, the American physicist and Nobel laureate who co-invented the transistor.
shockproof
adjectiveverb-transitiveC1
/ˈʃɒkpruːf/Designed to withstand or be resistant to physical shocks, impacts, or jolts.
shockstall
nounTechnical/Very Low
/ˈʃɒk.stɔːl/An abrupt and often catastrophic loss of lift on an aircraft wing due to airflow separation caused by shock waves forming at transonic or supersonic speeds.
shockumentary
nounLow (specialised/media jargon)
/ˌʃɒk.jʊˈmen.tər.i/A television programme or film that presents shocking, sensational, or graphic content under the guise of a documentary.
shod
verbC1
/ʃɒd/Past tense and past participle of 'shoe', meaning to fit or provide with shoes, typically for a horse.
shoddy
adjectivenounB2
/ˈʃɒdi/Badly made, of poor quality; using inferior materials or workmanship.
shoe
nounverbverb-transitiveA1
/ʃuː/A durable covering for the human foot, typically made of leather or synthetic materials, with a sturdy sole.
shoe boil
nounVery low
/ˈʃuː ˌbɔɪl/A swelling or callus on a horse's elbow caused by rubbing against a hard surface, often from lying down on rough ground or from ill-fitting tack.

Showing 5361–5380 of 15552 words.