ENGLISH

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does English mean? 

• ENGLISH (noun)
  The noun ENGLISH has 4 senses:

1. an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
2. the people of England
3. the discipline that studies the English language and literature
4. (sports) the spin given to a ball by striking it on one side or releasing it with a sharp twist

  Familiarity information: ENGLISH used as a noun is uncommon.

• ENGLISH (adjective)
  The adjective ENGLISH has 2 senses:

1. of or relating to or characteristic of England or its culture or people
2. of or relating to the English language

  Familiarity information: ENGLISH used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ENGLISH (noun)

Meaning:

An Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

English; English language

Hypernyms ("English" is a kind of...):

West Germanic; West Germanic language (a branch of the Germanic languages)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "English"):

American; American English; American language (the English language as used in the United States)

cockney (the nonstandard dialect of natives of the east end of London)

geordie (the nonstandard dialect of natives of Newcastle-upon-Tyne)

King's English (standard English as spoken in southern England)

Middle English (English from about 1100 to 1450)

Modern English (English since about 1450)

Anglo-Saxon; Old English (English prior to about 1100)

Oxford English (the dialect of English spoken at Oxford University and regarded by many as affected and pretentious)

Scots; Scots English; Scottish (the dialect of English used in Scotland)

Meaning:

The people of England

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

English people; English

Hypernyms ("English" is a kind of...):

country; land; nation (the people who live in a nation or country)

Meaning:

The discipline that studies the English language and literature

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("English" is a kind of...):

arts; humanistic discipline; humanities; liberal arts (studies intended to provide general knowledge and intellectual skills (rather than occupational or professional skills))

Meaning:

(sports) the spin given to a ball by striking it on one side or releasing it with a sharp twist

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

English; side

Hypernyms ("English" is a kind of...):

spin (a swift whirling motion (usually of a missile))

Domain category:

athletics; sport (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition)

• ENGLISH (adjective)

Meaning:

Of or relating to or characteristic of England or its culture or people

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context examples:

English history / the English landed aristocracy / English literature

Pertainym:

England (a division of the United Kingdom)

Meaning:

Of or relating to the English language

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

English (an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries)