English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
Relating to a ghost or specter; ghostly. Also relating to a spectrum.
"The old mansion had a spectral atmosphere at night."
A range of different things, often related to colors, ideas, or classifications.
"The festival attracted people from across the political spectrum."
To form a theory or guess without firm evidence; to invest in stocks, property, etc. hoping for profit.
"Experts speculate that the company may expand into new markets."
A person who forms theories without evidence, or invests in assets hoping for profit.
"The real estate speculator bought land hoping its value would rise."
Unable to speak because of shock, surprise, or strong emotion.
"She was speechless when she received the award."
A person who explores caves as a hobby.
"The spelunker carried ropes and lights into the dark cave."
A person who spends money extravagantly or wastefully.
"The young prince was known as a spendthrift, wasting his fortune on lavish parties."
Past tense and past participle of 'spend'; also used as an adjective meaning exhausted or used up.
"She spent all her energy preparing for the exam."
The quality or state of being spherical; roundness.
"The sphericity of the ball made it roll smoothly on the ground."
A three-dimensional shape that is almost spherical but slightly flattened or elongated.
"The Earth is not a perfect sphere but an oblate spheroid."
An instrument used for measuring the curvature of spherical surfaces.
"The scientist used a spherometer to measure the lens curvature."
Mysterious, enigmatic, or difficult to interpret
"Her sphinx-like smile made it hard to guess what she was thinking."
To turn around quickly or cause something to rotate
"The dancer began to spin gracefully on the stage."
Long, thin, and weak-looking
"The spindly tree bent under the weight of the snow."
Having spines or thorn-like projections
"The spinous cactus was difficult to handle without gloves."
An unmarried woman, often one who is older and considered unlikely to marry
"The novel featured a kind-hearted spinster who cared for the village children."
covered with or full of spines; having sharp points
"The spiny cactus stood tall in the desert."
a tall, pointed structure on top of a building, especially a church
"The church spire could be seen from miles away."
an organ in the body that produces lymphocytes and filters blood; also refers to bad temper or spite
"He vented his spleen on his coworkers after the meeting."
bad-tempered, irritable, spiteful
"His splenetic remarks offended everyone in the room."
to join two pieces of rope, film, or other material by weaving or attaching them together
"The technician spliced the two wires to restore the connection."
A rigid device used to support and immobilize a broken or injured body part.
"The doctor applied a splint to stabilize the patient's broken arm."
A person who ruins other people's enjoyment or fun.
"Don't be a spoilsport and let us enjoy the party."
As a noun, a bar connecting the center of a wheel to its rim; as the past tense of 'speak'.
"The bicycle's spoke was bent after the accident."
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