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Glossary of British Terms
beginning with letter A
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A Tweet Definition of A Like Definition of A on Facebook
abbreviation 
  1. (context, Webster 1913) adjective, Adjective.
  2. (context, often with "Q" for "Question") answer, Answer
  3. Asian
  4. Admit
  5. Application
  6. asynchron
  7. Augsburg
  8. (physics) angstrom
  9. (context, weaponry) atom
     
AA Tweet Definition of AA Like Definition of AA on Facebook
initialism 
  1. Automobile Association
  2. Alcoholics Anonymous
  3. American Airlines
  4. A.A. (or A.'.A.'.) Esoteric Magickal order Astrum Argenteum, or Silver star, a magickal order.
  5. Antiaircraft
  6. Alzheimer's Association
  7. Armed Forces Americas (USPS abbreviation code)
  8. Affirmative Action
  9. African-American
  10. (chemistry): amino acid
  11. (military) assembly area
  12. (military) avenue of approach
  13. (poker) A starting hand in Texas hold 'em comprised of two aces
     
abo Tweet Definition of abo Like Definition of abo on Facebook
noun 
  1. (context, Australia, offensive, slang) An aborigine.
     
accelerator Tweet Definition of accelerator Like Definition of accelerator on Facebook
noun Often used adjectivally
  1. One who, or that which, accelerates.
  2. A device for causing acceleration.
  3. A substance which speeds up chemical reactions.
  4. accelerator pedal.
     
accoutre Tweet Definition of accoutre Like Definition of accoutre on Facebook
verb (accoutr, ing)
  1. (transitive) To furnish with dress, or equipment, especially those for military service; to equip; to attire; to array.
Quotations
  • Both accoutred like young men. - Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice, III-iv
  • For this, in rags accoutred are they seen. - Dryden
  • Accoutred with his burden and his staff. - Wordsworth
  •      
    admiral Tweet Definition of admiral Like Definition of admiral on Facebook
    noun 
    1. (obsolete) A prince or Saracen leader under the Sultan.
    2. A naval officer of the highest rank; the commander of a country's naval forces.
    3. A naval officer of high rank, immediately below Admiral of the Fleet; the commander of a fleet or squadron.
    4. The ship which carries the admiral, the flagship; also, the most considerable ship of a fleet.
    5. (zoological) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of Europe and America, especially a red admiral or white admiral.
         
    advert Tweet Definition of advert Like Definition of advert on Facebook
    noun 
    1. (UK, informal) An advertisement, an ad.
    verb 
    1. To turn attention.
    2. To call attention, refer; construed with to.
    He adverted to the problem in the opening paragraph.
      • 2007 September 9, the w:Holy See, Vatican (trans.), w:Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Benedict XVI (speaker), speaking in German at w:St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Austria,
      • :At a time when creation seems to be endangered in so many ways through human activity, we should consciously to this dimension of Sunday, too.
         
    after Tweet Definition of after Like Definition of after on Facebook
    adjective 
    1. (nautical; where the frame of reference is within the ship.) At or towards the stern of a ship
      • Note: The adverb is aft, thus; "The gun is mounted aft"
      • The related preposition in this nautical usage is abaft.
        "The gun is abaft the forward gun".
    adverb 
    1. Behind; later in time; following.
    They lived happily ever .
    I left the room, and the dog bounded .
         
    agree Tweet Definition of agree Like Definition of agree on Facebook
    verb (agrees, agreeing, agreed)
    1. (intransitive) To harmonize in opinion, statement, or action; to be in unison or concord; to be or become united or consistent; to concur; as, all parties agree in the expediency of the law.
      If music and sweet poetry . --Shak.
      Their witness agreed not together. --Mark xiv. 56.
      The more you together, the less hurt can your enemies do you. --Sir T. Browne.
    2. (intransitive) To yield assent; to accede;—followed by to; as, to agree to an offer, or to opinion.
    3. (intransitive) To make a stipulation by way of settling differences or determining a price; to exchange promises; to come to terms or to a common resolve; to promise.
      Agree with thine adversary quickly. --Matt. v. 25.
      Didst not thou with me for a penny ? --Matt. xx. 13.
    4. (intransitive) To be conformable; to resemble; to coincide; to correspond; as, the picture does not agree with the original; the two scales agree exactly.
    5. (intransitive) To suit or be adapted in its effects; to do well; as, the same food does not agree with every constitution.
    6. (intransitive) (grammar) To correspond in gender, number, case, or person.
         
    AID Tweet Definition of AID Like Definition of AID on Facebook
    initialism 
    1. Agency for International Development
         
    airscrew Tweet Definition of airscrew Like Definition of airscrew on Facebook
    noun 
    1. The propeller of an aircraft; the prop.
         
    ait Tweet Definition of ait Like Definition of ait on Facebook
    noun 
    1. An island in a river, especially the River Thames in England.
      • 1833, w:Johann_Wolfgang_von_Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Autobiography: Truth and Fiction Relating to My Life trans. John Oxenford, book 9,
      • :Striking richness of vegetation which follows in the windings of the Rhine, marks its banks, islands, and aits.
      • 1853, w:Charles_Dickens, Charles Dickens, Bleak House, ch. 1,
      • :Fog everywhere. Fog up the river, where it flows among green aits and meadows.
         
    allotment Tweet Definition of allotment Like Definition of allotment on Facebook
    noun 
    1. The act of allotting; assignment.
    2. That which is allotted; a share, part, or portion granted or distributed; that which is assigned by lot, or by the act of God; anything set apart for a special use or to a distinct party.
    3. The allowance of a specific amount of scrip or of a particular thing to a particular person.
      1. A plot of land rented from the council for growing fruit and vegetables.
         
    all right Tweet Definition of all right Like Definition of all right on Facebook
    adjective (pos=all right, -)
    1. good; in acceptable, if not excellent condition
    The car is . It gets me there, anyway.
    1. In good health.
    I had a headache earlier, but now I'm .
    adverb 
    1. fairly well
    That went , I suppose.
         
    alow Tweet Definition of alow Like Definition of alow on Facebook
    adjective 
    1. (nautical) in the lower part of the rigging, or on the decks
      • 1859: w:James Fenimore Cooper, James Fenimore Cooper, The Red Rover: A Tale
      • :I think you said something converning the manner in which yonder ship has anchored, and of the condition they keep things and aloft?
    adverb 
    1. (nautical) below; towards the lower part of the rigging, or towards the decks
         
    aluminium Tweet Definition of aluminium Like Definition of aluminium on Facebook
    noun 
    1. A light, silvery metal extracted from bauxite, and a chemical element (symbol Al) with an atomic number of 13.
         
    amphitheater Tweet Definition of amphitheater Like Definition of amphitheater on Facebook
    noun 
    1. A semi-circular acoustic backdrop behind performers for an outdoor venue.
    The symphony warmed up inside the while the audience crowded around outside.
    1. (obsolete) A completely circular outdoor arena; a classic European amphitheatre.
         
    anger Tweet Definition of anger Like Definition of anger on Facebook
    noun 
    1. A strong feeling of displeasure, hostility or antagonism towards someone or something, usually combined with an urge to harm.
    verb 
    1. To cause such a feeling of antagonism.
         
    anyroad Tweet Definition of anyroad Like Definition of anyroad on Facebook
    adverb 
    1. (some northern English dialects) Anyway (explaining or supporting a previous statement).
         
    apartment Tweet Definition of apartment Like Definition of apartment on Facebook
    noun 
    1. A room in a building; a division in a house, separated from others by partitions.
      • apartment dwellers.
         
    apothecary Tweet Definition of apothecary Like Definition of apothecary on Facebook
    noun (apothecaries)
    1. A person who makes and sells drugs and/or medicines.
    2. A drugstore; pharmacy.
         
    appeal Tweet Definition of appeal Like Definition of appeal on Facebook
    noun 
    1. (a) An application for the removal of a cause or suit from an inferior to a superior judge or court for reí«xamination or review. (b) The mode of proceeding by which such removal is effected. (c) The right of appeal. (d) An accusation; a process which formerly might be instituted by one private person against another for some heinous crime demanding punishment for the particular injury suffered, rather than for the offense against the public. (e) An accusation of a felon at common law by one of his accomplices, which accomplice was then called an approver. See {Approvement}. --Tomlins. --Bouvier.
    2. A summons to answer to a charge. --Dryden.
    3. A call upon a person or an authority for proof or decision, in one's favor; reference to another as witness; a call for help or a favor; entreaty.
    A kind of to the Deity, the author of wonders. -Bacon.
    1. Resort to physical means; recourse.
    2. (cricket): the act, by the fielding side, of asking an umpire for a decision of whether a batsman is out or not.
         
    arbour Tweet Definition of arbour Like Definition of arbour on Facebook
    noun 
    1. A shady sitting place, usually in a park or garden, and usually surrounded by climbing shrubs or vines and other vegetation.
    2. An axis or shaft supporting a rotate, rotating part on a lathe.
    3. A bar for supporting cutting tools.
    4. A spindle of a wheel.
    5. A grove of trees.
         
    area Tweet Definition of area Like Definition of area on Facebook
    noun 
    1. (geometry) A measure of squared distance.
    2. A particular geographic region.
         
    ARVO Tweet Definition of ARVO Like Definition of ARVO on Facebook
    initialism 
    1. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
         
    assure Tweet Definition of assure Like Definition of assure on Facebook
    verb (assur, ing)
    1. To make sure and secure.
    2. To give someone confidence in the trustworthiness of something.
    I you, the program will work smoothly when we demonstrate it to the client.
    1. To reassure.
         
    assured Tweet Definition of assured Like Definition of assured on Facebook
    verb 
    1. (past of, assure)
         
    Atkins Tweet Definition of Atkins Like Definition of Atkins on Facebook
    proper noun 
    1. A surname.
    2. An abbreviation of the Atkins diet or the Atkins Nutritional Approach.
         
    attendant Tweet Definition of attendant Like Definition of attendant on Facebook
    noun 
    1. One who attends; one who works with or watches something.
    Give your keys to the parking attendants and they will park your car for you.
    adjective 
    1. Going with; associated; concomitant.
    They promoted him to supervisor, with all the responsibilities and priveleges.
         
    aerofoil Tweet Definition of aerofoil Like Definition of aerofoil on Facebook
    noun 
    1. A structure shaped to produce lift when moving in air.
    2. A wing of an aircraft.
         
    aggro Tweet Definition of aggro Like Definition of aggro on Facebook
    noun 
    1. aggressive, Aggressive behaviour.
    Move along, lads; we don't want any .
    verb (aggro, es)
    1. (context, MMORPG, slang) To attack without being attacked first (said of monsters).
    Do they on sight or sound?
    adjective 
    1. (context, AU, slang) angry
    2. (MMORPG slang) Liable to attack without being attacked first (said of monsters).
    3. (context, UK, slang) hardcore, aggressive
    4. (context, US, slang) radical, aggressive, hardcore =
         
    ale Tweet Definition of ale Like Definition of ale on Facebook
    noun 
    1. An indoxicate, intoxicating liquor made from an infusion of malt by fermentation and the addition of a bitter, usually hops.
    Note: The word ale, in England and the United States, usually designates a heavier kind of fermented liquor, and the word beer a lighter kind. The word beer is also in common use as the generic name for all malt liquors.
    1. A festival in English country places, so called from the liquor drunk.
         
    A level Tweet Definition of A level Like Definition of A level on Facebook
    noun 
    1. A non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years in British high schools.
    I took my A-levels last year.
    Applicants must have at least one .
         
    alpha Tweet Definition of alpha Like Definition of alpha on Facebook
    noun 
    1. The name of the first letter of the Greek alphabet (Î�,  Î±), followed by beta. In the Latin alphabet it is the predecessor to A.
    2. (context, science) The name of the symbol, symbols � and α used in science and mathematics, often interchangeable with the symbols when used as a prefix.
    : alpha particle ("α-particle")
    1. The highest scientific caste of people in the novel w:Brave New World, Brave New World by w:Aldous Huxley, Aldous Huxley.
    2. In finance, the amount by which a given asset or portfolio's return exceeds a "riskless" rate of return.
    adjective 
    1. Designates the first in an order of precedence.
    alpha male, male
    1. (star) Designates the brightest star in a constellation.
    Alpha Centauri, Alpha Centauri
         
    Anglo-Saxon Tweet Definition of Anglo-Saxon Like Definition of Anglo-Saxon on Facebook
    proper noun 
    1. The ancestor language of modern English, also called Old English, spoken in Britain from about 400 AD to 1100 AD. The language is a more inflected language, maintaining strong and weak verbs, nouns, and adjectives. It has a clearly marked subjunctive mood, and has five cases of nouns and adjectives.
    2. Germanic peoples inhabiting medií¦val England.
    3. A person of British or North European descent.
    adjective 
    1. Related to the Anglo-Saxon peoples or language.
    2. Related to nations which speak primarily English; especially United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia.
    3. (economics) Favouring a liberal free market economy.
    4. Descended from white English or North European settlers.
         
    aubergine Tweet Definition of aubergine Like Definition of aubergine on Facebook
    noun 
    1. an Asian plant, Solanum melongena, cultivated for its edible purple, green, or white ovoid fruit
    2. the fruit of this plant, eaten as a vegetable
    3. a dark purple colour
         

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