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Encyclopedia > Miscellaneous lexical differences between British and American English

An incomplete list of Word can mean one of several things: A linguistic word—a unit of language that symbolizes or communicates a meaning, consisting of one or more morphemes. Microsoft Word, a word processor produced by Microsoft as part of its Office software suite. In automata theory of computer science, a word... words having differing Meaning, studied in philosophy and linguistics, as well as being central to the fields of literary theory and critical theory, the philosophical field of epistemology, and some branches of psychoanalysis, is a difficult concept to pin down. Questions about how words and other signifiers mean and what it means to... meanings in Standard English is a general term for a form of written and spoken English that is considered the model for educated people. There are no set rules or vocabulary for standard English because, unlike languages such as French, English does not have a governing body (see Académie française... standard Diagram showing the geographical locations of selected languages and dialects of the British Isles. British English (or UK English) (en-GB according to RFC 3066) is a collective term for the forms of English spoken in the British Isles. When used by British speakers, it often refers to the written... British and American English or U.S. English is the diverse form of the English language used mostly in the United States of America. It is the primary language used in the United States. According to the 1990 census, 97 percent of U.S. residents speak English well or very well. Only... American The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. It is the third most common first language (native speakers), with around 402 million people in 2002. English has lingua franca status in many parts of the world, due to the military, economic, scientific, political and cultural influence... English.

  • Many of the definitions are recognized by the other as Britishisms or Americanisms respectively.
  • Certain words are limited to regional or specific dialect use in either usage. They will, however, be recognised and understood by most native English speakers in the country concerned. These are marked with their usual area of use.
  • Many American phrases and meanings are now used and/or understood in the UK, thanks to the ubiquity of US-made movies and television programmes.

When adding words or meanings to this list, please follow the notations used in existing entries as much as possible, e.g. those of equivalent UK/US terms and common UK/US meanings.


See also:

  • Main article: This article outlines the differences between American English, the form of the English language spoken in the United States, and British English, which is used to denote what is more precisely known as Commonwealth English. For the purposes of this article: American English is the language spoken by U.S... American and British English differences
  • See also main article: American and British English differences list of American English words not used in British English list of words having different meanings in British and American English For phrases in Britain that have no equivalent in America see Britishisms. If a word appears to be missing from... List of British English words not used in American English
  • See also main article: American and British English differences list of British English words not used in American English list of words having different meanings in British and American English If a word appears to be missing from this list, it is advisable to check the list of words having... List of American English words not used in British English
Contents

Words A-F

Word more common British meaning more common American meaning
ace good, OK, excellent (slang)
(+ US meanings)
a one in a suit of playing cards
something who is very good at something
fighter pilot who has shot down a certain number of enemy aircraft
(UK meaning not unheard of, although perhaps a bit dated as US slang)
advocate Scottish equivalent of a British barristers wearing traditional dress. In many common law jurisdictions, a barrister or advocate is a type of lawyer, particularly one entitled to appear before the superior courts of that jurisdiction. Details vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Barristers in England and Wales The legal profession in England and Wales is... barrister (a lawyer who appears in higher courts)
(+ US meaning)
Someone who supports and/or speaks for a particular position
alternately one after the other, taking turns as an alternative (UK: alternatively)
amber yellow traffic light (US: yellow light) (none special)
anchor device for mooring ships by providing a firm fix to the seabed television newsreader/presenter
(+ UK meaning)
An apartment (or flat) is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building. Apartments may be owned (by an owner-occupier) or rented (by tenants). Some apartment-dwellers own their apartments, either as co-ops, in which the residents own shares of a corporation that owns... apartment suite of rooms set aside for a particular person (rare) self-contained housing unit (UK: flat)
Asian coming from India, Pakistan etc.; Map of South Asia South Asia is a subregion of Asia comprising the modern states of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, . It covers about 4,480,000 km², or 10 percent of the continent, and is also known as the Indian subcontinent. These states are all... South Asian coming from East Asia is a subregion of Asia. It covers about 6,640,000 km², or 15 percent of the continent. The following countries are located in East Asia: The Peoples Republic of China, except for the province of Qinghai and the autonomous regions of Xinjiang and Tibet, which may... East Asia or continental Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. The name for the region was first coined in the 20th century. The subregion has 11 countries and the countries can be divided into the mainland and the archipelago. The mainland countries include: Cambodia Laos Myanmar (Burma) Thailand Vietnam... Southeast Asia; (UK: oriental)
The Aesir (Old Norse sir, singular ss, feminine synja, feminine plural synjur) are the principal pantheon of gods in Norse mythology. They include many of the major figures, such as Odin, Frigg, Thor, Balder and Tyr. A second clan of gods, the Vanir, is also mentioned in the Norse mythos... ass Binomial name Equus asinus The donkey or ass (Equus asinus) is a domesticated animal of the horse family, Equidae. The wild ancestors of the donkey are African. Appearance Donkeys are typical equids, generally smaller than the domestic horse, though mammoth jacks can be as large as 17 hands (170cm at... donkey
slow-witted or stupid person or buffoon (slang)
buttocks (slang) (UK: See also Scatolinguistics Categories: Wikipedia cleanup ... arse or bum)
(+ UK meanings)
band group of musicians (+ UK meaning)
Jewellery (spelled jewelry in American English) consists of ornamental devices worn by persons, typically made with gems and precious metals. Costume jewellery is made from less valuable materials. However, jewellery can and has been made out of almost every kind of material. Examples include bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings, as... jewelry ring for the For the network protocol, see finger protocol. For the hand gesture, see the finger. Fingers of the human left hand The finger is any of the digits of the hand in humans and other species such as the great apes. The grace of the fingers is not sacrificed to their... finger (usually as in "wedding band") (UK: wedding ring)
bangs small explosions or retorts locks of hair on forehead (UK: fringe)
(+ UK meaning)
A typical American bathroom A bathroom is a room that may have different functions depending on the cultural context it is used in. In the United States of America a bathroom commonly refers to the room containing a toilet. This is not the case in other countries where a room... bathroom room containing a bath (US: Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. Start the BathTub article If you have created this page in the past few minutes and it has not yet appeared, it may not be visible due to a delay in updating the database. Please wait and check again... bathtub), other washing facilities, and usually (but not necessarily) a Flush toilet A toilet is a plumbing fixture devised for the disposal of bodily wastes, including urine, feces, menses and vomit. The word toilet can be used to refer to the fixture itself or the room containing it. Etymology The word toilet came to be used in English along with... toilet room, in a home or hotel room, containing a Flush toilet A toilet is a plumbing fixture devised for the disposal of bodily wastes, including urine, feces, menses and vomit. The word toilet can be used to refer to the fixture itself or the room containing it. Etymology The word toilet came to be used in English along with... toilet, related washing facilities, and often, but not necessarily, a A shower is any of three things: a brief period or small area of precipitation, usually rain or snow a plumbing fixture for bathing, or a safety shower for washing off chemicals; also, the act of bathing under such a fixture a party, such as a baby shower or bridal... shower and/or Palladian Pulteney Bridge and the weir at Bath Bath is a city in southwest England, most famous for its baths fed by three hot springs. The city was first recorded as a Roman spa, though verbal tradition suggests it was known before then. The waters from its spring were considered... bathtub (a room without shower or bathtub may also be known as a powder room, but this usage may be considered dated)
Species C. canadensis C. fiber Beavers are semi-aquatic rodents native to North America and Europe. They are the only members of the family Castoridae, which contains a single genus, Castor. Genetic research has shown the European and North American beaver populations to be distinct species and that hybridization is... beaver beard; a bearded man (archaic slang)
(+ US meanings)
aquatic rodent known for building dams
women's undepilated external genitalia (obscene slang)
The word billion, and its equivalents in other languages, refer to one of two different numbers. Use of thousand million for 109 and million million for 1012 avoids ambiguity. The old word milliard, also found in many other languages, can be used for 109, but this usage is unfamiliar to... billion thousand million (10^9)
(although the traditional value of million million (10^12) can also be meant)
thousand million (10^9) (traditional UK: billion, or milliard, the latter now rare)
bird one's girlfriend or any young female (slang; getting rarer and considered derogatory by some)
prison sentence (slang)
insulting hand gesture involving shaking one's fist towards someone with knuckles pointing towards the person being insulted and the middle finger extended (as in "flipping someone the bird") (slang) (UK: nearest equivalent is the two-finger salute, which is similar but with both middle and index fingers extended)
A biscuit is a type of food. The exact meaning varies in different parts of the world. The origin of the word biscuit is from a Middle French word meaning twice cooked. American English meaning In American English biscuit means a form of bread similar to a roll made with... biscuit baked sweet or savoury cake-like item, usually flat and fairly hard (US: In the United States of America, cracker refers to a dry, thin and crisp savoury biscuit that developed from military hardtack and nautical ship biscuits. It is most often salted. Brands including Club, Town House and Ritz are used spread with cheese, pâté or mousse. Saltine and oyster crackers... cracker or This page is about edible cookies. For other uses, see Cookie (disambiguation) Categories: Food and drink stubs | Desserts | Snack foods ... cookie) type of quick bread served with savory foods (UK: similar to a savoury Scones with honey. Jam is also a favoured topping. A scone is a bread thicker than a bannock. It is made of wheat, barley or oatmeal, usually with baking powder as leavening agent. The pronunciation in the United Kingdom is open to debate. Most British people pronounce it as sk... scone)
blinder excellent performance in a game or race (slang) either of two flaps on a horse's bridle to keep it from seeing objects at its sides (UK: blinker, also used in US)
blinkers leather flaps on a A bridle is the headgear which is used to control a horse when riding it. It consists of the reins and the bit. The reins are long ropelike strips held by the rider. Pulling on the reins can be used to steer or stop the horse. The bit is a... bridle used to restrict a This article discusses ungulate mammals. For other meanings of horse, see Horse (disambiguation). The Horse (Equus caballus) is a large ungulate mammal, one of the seven modern species of the genus Equus. It has long played an important role in transportation; whether ridden, or when pulling a chariot, carriage, horse... horse's lateral vision (US: blinders)
(+ US meaning, although rarely heard)
lights on a car that indicate the direction about to be taken (UK: indicators)
(+ UK meaning)
block (none special) in a city, the portion of a street between adjacent intersections or an informal unit of distance derived from the length of the same
bloody adverb used to express anger (e.g. "bloody car") or shock (e.g. "bloody hell"), or for emphasis (e.g. "not bloody likely") (slang, today only mildly vulgar) (similar US: goddamned; This article is about the region in the United States of America. For other uses, see New England (disambiguation). Modern New England, the six northeastern-most states of the United States, indicated by red The New England region of the United States is located in the northeastern corner of the... New England: wicked)
(none special)
bog toilet (slightly vulgar slang) (none special)
bombardier Corporal is a military rank in use by several militaries of the world. It is known by several different names depending upon the language of the miltiary service in which the term is used. Beside the English term Corporal, the rank is also known as Gefreiter, Capo, Turai, and Rikushi... corporal in the The Royal Regiment of Artillery, generally known as the Royal Artillery (RA), is, despite its name, a corps of the British Army It is made up of a number of regiments. History Before the 18th century, artillery traynes were raised by Royal Warrant for specific campaigns and disbanded again when... Royal Artillery crewman in a bomber aircraft who aims and drops the bombs (UK: bomb aimer)
bonk act of sexual intercourse, or to have sexual intercourse (slightly vulgar slang) (US: boink)
(+ US meaning, although rather dated)
blow to the head
bonnet hinged cover over the engine in a car (US: hood)
hat tied under the chin worn by a baby or (archaically) a woman
various types of Scottish or Irish soft hat
hinged cover over the engine of a car, but only in the rare case where the engine is at the rear of the vehicle
hat tied under chin worn by a baby or (archaically) a woman
boob woman's breast (slightly vulgar slang)
mistake (slang)
woman's breast (slightly vulgar slang)
stupid person
boob tube woman's shoulderless, strapless top (US: A shirt is a sort of top, i.e. a piece of clothing for the trunk of the body. In the UK, it refers almost exclusively to what Americans call a dress shirt, i.e. a garment with a collar and a full vertical opening with buttons. In the US... tube top) See TV (disambiguation) for other uses and Television (band) for the rock band Family watching television in the 1950s. Television is a telecommunication system for broadcasting and receiving moving pictures and sound over a distance. The term has come to refer to all the aspects of television programming and transmission... television ("the See TV (disambiguation) for other uses and Television (band) for the rock band European networks National In much of Europe television broadcasting has historically been state dominated, rather than commercially organised, although commercial stations have grown in number recently. In the United Kingdom, the major national broadcaster is the BBC... boob tube") (slang)
boot storage compartment of a car (US: trunk)
to kick something hard
A wheel clamp is a device that is designed to stop vehicles from moving. Its commonest form is a clamp which surrounds a vehicle wheel and designed to prevent removal of itself and the wheel. It is often used for security purposes, such as a trailer or caravan and to... Denver boot; device used to immobilise cars; (UK: A wheel clamp is a device that is designed to stop vehicles from moving. Its commonest form is a clamp which surrounds a vehicle wheel and designed to prevent removal of itself and the wheel. It is often used for security purposes, such as a trailer or caravan and to... wheel clamp)
bottle courage (e.g. "he's got some bottle") (slang) (US: moxie)
to cease to do something through fear (e.g. "he's bottled out", "he bottled it") (slang, probably from Cockney rhyming slang is a form of English slang which originated in the East End of London. Many of its expressions have passed into common language, and the creation of new ones is no longer restricted to Cockneys. Australian English shares some Cockney rhyming slang and also has many of... Cockney rhyming slang "bottle and glass" = "arse")
to attack somebody with a broken bottle (slang)
(+ US meaning)
liquor (metaphorical slang) (e.g. "hitting the bottle", "been to the bottom of the bottle", meaning drinking heavily)
box television set ("the box") (slang)
female genitalia (obscene slang)
female genitalia (obscene slang)
braces over-the-shoulder straps to support trousers (US: suspenders)
devices for straightening teeth
devices for straightening teeth
enclosing punctuation: {} (UK: curly brackets)
(+ UK meaning)
brackets enclosing punctuation: () (US: parentheses, also used in UK), [] (square brackets), {} (curly brackets) (US: braces) secondary enclosing punctuation: [] (UK: square brackets)
brew cup of tea (slang)
(+ US meaning)
This article is about the drink; for the village in Devon, England, see Beer, Devon. Larger quantities of beer foam than shown atop this glass caused a stir in 1990s England when people received less than a pint (568 ml) of beer for the price of a pint. Beer refers... beer
cup of Coffee beans and a cup of coffee Coffee as a drink, usually served hot, is prepared from the roasted seeds (beans) of the coffee plant. Coffee bean types Coffea arabica - Brazil There are two main species of the coffee plant; Coffea arabica is the traditional coffee, and considered superior in... coffee (sometimes tea)
brilliant excellent (sometimes ironic)
(+ US meanings)
very bright
very intelligent
bugger to engage in or someone who engages in Anal sex or anal intercourse is human sexual behavior involving the anus and rectum, especially, but not limited to, the insertion of the erect penis into the anus. The use of sex toys and other activities involving the anus and rectum can be considered anal sex as well. Anal sex... buggery (i.e. Sodomy is a term of religious origin to characterize certain sexual acts and behaviours as a perversion of the human capacity for union through sexuality. The term implies a distinction between animalistic fornication and a spiritualistic view of sexual union, (ie. love and marriage) and asserts that the latter is... sodomy)
a form of address for either a person or item, either jocular (e.g. "he's a generous bugger") or less so (e.g. "he's a mean bugger") (slang)
"buggered" = broken, not working (typically of mechanical devices, e.g. "the engine's buggered") (slang)
"to bugger up" = to make a mess of something (slang)
term of endearment, often used for children (slang)
to engage in or someone who engages in Anal sex or anal intercourse is human sexual behavior involving the anus and rectum, especially, but not limited to, the insertion of the erect penis into the anus. The use of sex toys and other activities involving the anus and rectum can be considered anal sex as well. Anal sex... buggery (rare; usually understood to mean Leda and the Swan, a 16th century copy after a lost painting by Michelangelo, 1530 (National Gallery, London) Zoophilia (from the Greek words Zoon = animal and Philia = friendship) is a paraphilia, defined as an affinity or sexual attraction by a human to non-human animals. Such individuals are called zoophiles... zoophilia as opposed to Sodomy is a term of religious origin to characterize certain sexual acts and behaviours as a perversion of the human capacity for union through sexuality. The term implies a distinction between animalistic fornication and a spiritualistic view of sexual union, (ie. love and marriage) and asserts that the latter is... sodomy) (in spoken English, the British "bugger" is sometimes misheard by Americans as " A booger is an American slang term for partially solidified mucus from the nose; the British form is bogey. Boogers form when the mucus traps dust and other particles in the air. Mucus dries around the particle and, much like a pearl forming in an oyster, hardens into a booger... booger")
bum buttocks (slang, not really vulgar) (US: ass or The term butt is U.S. slang for the buttocks. The term butt can also mean end; it is used to describe the end of a cigarette that is put into ones mouth and finally, and also the end of a gun such as a rifle. The butt of... butt)
to borrow (e.g. "can I bum a fag off you") (slang)
A hobo was a member of a distinctive sub-culture of homeless, travelling workers in the United States during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They were particularly associated with the railroads, as they had the reputation for freighthopping--hitching free rides from place to place in the baggage... hobo, A homeless man pushes a cart down the street. Homelessness is a situation in which a person does not have a permanent place of residence. This is distinguished from nomadic cultures where that condition is considered normal. The problem of homelessness is most prevalent in the poor sections of large... homeless person
poor quality (slang)
to sadden (often used with "out")
(+ UK noun sense as a Britishism)
burn narrow river, stream (Scotland and Northern England) (US: creek)
(+ US meaning)
wound caused by heat
butcher "to have a butcher's" = to have a look ( Cockney rhyming slang is a form of English slang which originated in the East End of London. Many of its expressions have passed into common language, and the creation of new ones is no longer restricted to Cockneys. Australian English shares some Cockney rhyming slang and also has many of... Cockney rhyming slang: butcher's hook = look) "to butcher it up" = to make a big mess of things; botch
to call "to call on someone" = to visit someone
to make a A telephone handset A touch-tone telephone dial Telephone The telephone or phone (Greek: tele = far away and phone = voice) is a telecommunications device that transmits speech by means of electric signals. Generally attributed to the inventor Alexander Graham Bell, the first was built in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1876. However... telephone call
to make a A telephone handset A touch-tone telephone dial Telephone The telephone or phone (Greek: tele = far away and phone = voice) is a telecommunications device that transmits speech by means of electric signals. Generally attributed to the inventor Alexander Graham Bell, the first was built in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1876. However... telephone call
"to call on someone" = to visit someone (but this is becoming rare)
campsite area or park for people to camp in (US: campground) spot for a particular person or group to camp, often within a campground (UK: pitch)
canfield a patience (solitaire) card game (US: Klondike is a solitaire card game often known purely by the name of Solitaire. It is probably the most well known solo card game. Taking a standard 52-card deck of playing cards (without Jokers), deal one upturned card on the left of your playing area, then six downturned cards... Klondike) a patience (solitaire) card game (UK: Demon)
Caravans comprise land-based trading convoys, often utilising the camel as a beast of burden, and generally associated with crossing deserts in Asia or Africa. The word caravan is of Persian origin. For similar phenomena in Australia, see camel train. For a North American analogue, see wagon train. See also... caravan a type of Recreational Vehicle (RV) is a broad term used to describe a large enclosed piece of equipment with wheels designed to be moved from place to place for people to temporarily live in and be protected from the elements while away from their permanent domicile. While RVs are intended for brief... recreational vehicle (US A travel trailer, or caravan, is a small trailer in which people can live and travel simultaneously. Travel trailers in general as well as other types of camping accommodations have had a long and varied history. In the USA, this history can be traced back to the early days in... travel trailer)
(+ US meaning)
Overland trading A convoy is a group of vehicles or ships traveling together for mutual support. Often a convoy is organized with armed support for defensive support. In effect, it is a modification of a caravan. For example, driving by car through a desert is safer in a convoy. If one car... convoy
Categories: Stub | Safety clothing ... chaps men and/or boys (but increasingly used for people of either sex; in the singular it still almost exclusively refers to a male) (US: guys)
one's friends ("the chaps") (US: the guys)
leather leggings worn by cowboys and designed to protect the legs against thorns (pronounced shaps)
cheers said to express gratitude in southern England (Midlands and North use ta, also used in South), or on parting (slang)
(+ US meaning)
used as a toast or valediction
chemist pharmacist, pharmacy
(+ US meaning)
person studying for or with a chemistry degree or who conducts research in chemistry
chips Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. Start the French Fries article If you have created this page in the past few minutes and it has not yet appeared, it may not be visible due to a delay in updating the database. Please wait and check... french fries, although usually thicker cut than American fries
(+ US meaning in some areas of the UK)
thin slices of fried potato (UK: Crisps are a potato product popular in the UK and Ireland, referred to in the United States as potato chips. Invented in the United States in 1853, crisps were further developed in Ireland, where the Tayto firm developed the first method of creating flavoured crisps in 1953. Prior to this... crisps) (UK meaning is used when referring to " Fish and chips in wrapping paper Fish and chips is deep-fried fish in batter with deep-fried potatoes, and a popular take-away food. Fish and chips is originally from the United Kingdom, but also very popular in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and some coastal towns... fish and chips")
chippy carpenter (slang)
fish and chip shop (slang)
having a grievance (a chip on one's shoulder)
loose woman (rare slang)
chum friend (usually ironic)
popular brand of canned Dog food is plant or animal material intended for consumption by dogs or other canids. By its water content, dog food can be categorized into following types: Dried Semi-moist Moist The making of dog food Dried pellet dog food is made from a mixture of raw materials which is... dog food (officially Pedigree Chum)
friend
waste products from fish processing (heads, tails, blood etc.) often used for Orders see text Sharks are a group (superorder Selachimorpha) of fish, with a full cartilaginous skeleton, a streamlined body plan with between 5 and 7 gill slits along the sides (most often) or side of the head (the first modified slit is behind the eye and called a spiracle), dermal... shark fishing
Cider has different meanings in the United Kingdom and the United States. Both meanings refer to a product containing the juice of apples. Unfermented Cider American_style unfiltered, unfermented unpasturized Cider, left; Apple juice, right. In North America, cider was traditionally fermented, but that alcoholic apple drink (see below) is now... cider fermented alcoholic drink made from apples (US: hard cider) a kind of Apple juice is the juice from the apple fruit. It is a common drink for children in the U.S. It is almost always pasturised and can be bought in sparkling or still varieties. Due to the heavy equipment required to juice an apple, it is almost always commercially produced... apple juice
clerk administrative worker (always pronounced 'clark') store or shop worker (UK: shop assistant)
(+ UK meaning)
closet small room used for storage or other purposes (e.g. a W.C. (water closet) is a toilet) built-in wardrobe
coach (person) (none special) sports teacher at a school (UK: PE teacher)
A college (Latin collegium) can be the name of any group of colleagues; originally it meant a group of people living together under a common set of rules (con-, together + leg-, law). As a consequence members of colleges were originally styled fellow and still are in some places. However, it... college part of the name of some state secondary schools (US: high school) and many A public school, in common English usage, is a (usually) prestigious school which charges fees and is not financed by the state. It is traditionally a single sex boarding school, although many now accept day pupils and are coeducational. The majority date back to the 18th or 19th centuries, and... public schools (US: prep school)
school that educates older pupils to An A-level, short for Advanced Level, is a General Certificate of Education usually taken during Further Education and after GCSEs. It is a non-compulsory qualification taken by students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (the Scottish equivalent is the Advanced Higher Grade). A-levels are also taken in... A-level standard (short for "sixth form college")
institution of further education that does not grant degrees or does not grant its own degrees (e.g. "technical college" or "college of further education")
vocational educational or training institution
one of the constituent parts of The University of Oxford, situated in the city of Oxford in England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Oxford University and Cambridge University are sometimes referred to collectively as Oxbridge. The two universities have a long history of competition with each other, as they are the two... Oxford and The University of Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world (after Oxford). It is situated in the town of Cambridge, England. According to legend, the university was founded in 1209 by scholars escaping from Oxford after a fight with locals there. Cambridge has produced more Nobel... Cambridge Universities and certain other universities
professional association which usually grants some form of professional qualifications, mostly in the medical field (e.g. The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients. It is situated at Lincolns Inn Fields in London. It regulates surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales. History The origins of the College... Royal College of Surgeons)
generic term for any institute of further or higher education (usually used only by people who haven't been to one)
a single location for higher education in a group of such schools (the university)

university, usually quite small and often not granting higher degrees
generic term for higher education

comforter one who comforts quilted bedspread
(+ UK meaning)
commissioner (police) professional head of the Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area. They provide all general police services and tend to be headed by a chief called a Commissioner. Examples of use of the term include: The Greater London Metropolitan Police Service The Washington DC Metropolitan... Metropolitan Police and Categories: Stub | London Government | Law enforcement in the United Kingdom ... City of London Police (US: chief of police) political head of a police department
concession reduction in price (discount) for a certain category of person counter, stand or area at public entertainment venues where snacks and/or drinks are sold, usually at inflated prices (short for "concession stand")
For the painter see John Constable. For the city in New York, see Constable, New York. United Kingdom A Constable is a police officer in Britain and most countries with a British colonial history (now mostly members of the Commonwealth of Nations). This gives rise to the alternative name of... constable technically, a police officer of any rank, but usually understood to mean a police officer of the lowest rank (one who holds no other more specific rank) (US: officer or patrolman) peace officer in a township without an organised police department
official who serves summonses (UK: bailiff or sheriff's officer)
cop police officer (short for "copper") (slang)
to take (e.g. "cop a look at this", "cop one of these") (slang)
to be blamed for, be caught (e.g. "he'll cop it!") (slang)
"to cop a feel" = to grope (slang)
police officer (short for "copper") (slang)
"to cop a feel" = to grope (slang)
"to cop a squat" = to take a seat (slang)
copper low value coin, brown or 'copper' coloured (currently 1p and 2p coins)
large copper vessel used for heating water and washing clothes (archaic)
(+ US meanings)
the metal Copper is also the title of a web and print comic: see Copper (comic). General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11 , 4, d Density, Hardness 8920 kg/m3, 3.0 Appearance copper, metallic Atomic properties Atomic weight 63.546 amu Atomic radius... Cu
police officer (slang)
corn any of various cereal plants or grains, especially the principal crop cultivated in a particular region, as wheat in England, oats in Scotland and Ireland Indian corn, maize
cot baby's cradle (US:crib) camp bed
cracker small parcel that makes an explosive report when pulled from both ends, traditionally pulled at Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus, at the first Christmas Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. According to the Christian gospels, Jesus was born to Mary in Bethlehem, where she and her... Christmas
attractive woman (slang)
anything good (e.g. "the new product is a cracker") (slang)
(+ US meaning, but only in "cream cracker")
thin, hard, savoury biscuit
poor white person (derogatory slang, S.E. US)
creek tidal channel through a coastal marsh any inland stream of water smaller than a river (UK: stream, rill, burn)
crew body of people manning a vehicle of any kind
gang of manual workers (e.g. road crew)
group of friends or co-workers (e.g. "I saw him and his crew at the bar")
rowing as a sport
(+ UK meanings)
dead beat, deadbeat exhausted (slang) (US: dead tired) someone who does not pay their debts, often in construction (e.g. " A deadbeat dad is a pejorative term that refers to a father who has left his children in the care of their mother but refuses to pay court-ordered child support, or monetary payments meant to go toward the welfare of the children. Many observers blame the complexities of the... deadbeat dad") (slang)
DC Detective Constable (police) District of Columbia
DI Detective Inspector (police) Drill Instructor (military)
diary personal calendar
(+ US meaning)
personal journal
dirt substance(s) that require removal from clothes, childrens faces, rooms etc to make them clean earth, soil
(+ UK meaning)
dollar 5 shilling coin or equivalent amount (obsolete; used in slang until late 1960s/early 1970s, but was an actual British minted coin in late 18th/early 19th century)
(+ US meaning)
major unit of currency of the USA
drape to hang limply curtain
(+ UK meaning)
drop (of liquid) several (fluid) ounces (e.g. "just a drop of tea, please") ( Meiosis is a figure of speech which intentionally understates something or implies that it is less in significance, size, than it really is. The Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail says all his limbs being cut off is just a flesh wound, employing meiosis. W. C. Fields... meiotic usage)
(+ US meaning)
droplet (less than a milliliter)
Dummy may refer to: A mannequin The figure used by a ventriloquist A babys dummy – the British English equivalent word for a pacifier Something that is not real; a forgery The 1994 album by Portishead, see Dummy (album) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which... dummy rubber teat for babies (US: This article is about the baby pacifier. Pacifier is also a term describing someone that trys to turn a situation towards peace. Pacifier was also a short lived name for the band Shihad. Pacifier, (AmE) or dummy (BE) is a rubber or plastic nipple given to an infant for it... pacifier)
(+ US meanings)
Categories: Stub ... mannequin, especially for A small variety of cars, the most popular kind of automobile. An automobile is a wheeled vehicle that carries its own engine. Different types of automobile include cars, buses, vans and trucks, with cars being the most popular by far. Older terms include horseless carriage and motor car, with motor... automobile A crash test is also known as a destruction test. A piece of equipment or machinery such as an automobile is subjected to extreme conditions in order to determine the conditions under which it will fail. Often crash test dummies representing humans are placed into the vehicle seats to determine... crash tests
fake, usually legal
idiot (slang)
earth ground of an electrical circuit, or to connect (an electrical device) to ground (none special)
elevator moving belt to transport grain, hay bales etc. platform or cage moved vertically in a shaft to transport people and goods to various floors in a building (UK: lift)
engineer (none special) railroad locomotive driver (UK: engine driver or train driver)
entrée starter (first course) of a meal (traditionally, the course served between the fish and the joint, but now used for any starter)
right of entry
main course of a meal
Estate may have a number of meanings: Estate is a term used in common law to signify the total of a persons property, entitlements and obligations. Estate may mean the grounds surrounding any very large property, such as a country house or mansion. An Estate (mostly UK) refers to... estate any defined area of Real property is a type of property differentiated from personal property. Real property is generally a term used in Anglo-American common law jurisdictions as opposed to immovable property in civil law jurisdictions (immobilier in French, or heritable property in Scotland). Generally speaking most real property consists, at least partially... real property, as in Public housing describes a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Although the principles are common, the details of the arrangements differ between countries, and so does the terminology. Canada Arrangements and terminology in Canada are similar... council estate (US: housing project) or An Estate (or housing estate) (mostly UK) refers to a defined area of housing, usually in a common style or built during the same period. An estate may be an expensive area to live (eg. a gated estate) or an area primarily of social housing (council estate). A trading estate... trading estate (US: An industrial park is an area of land set aside for industrial development. Industrial parks are usually located close to transportation facilities, especially where more than one transportation modalities (intermodal) coincide: highways, railroads, airports, and navigable rivers. A more lightweight version is the office park, which has offices and light... industrial park)
(+ US meaning)
grounds of a large piece of real property which features a Mansion near Almelo, The Netherlands Introduction A mansion is a large and stately dwelling house. The word itself derives (through Old French) from the Latin word mansus the past participle of manere to dwell. The English word manse originally defined a property large enough for the parish priest to maintain... mansion and beautiful Landscaping can refer to more than one subject: Real estate on large scale, see Landscape architecture Gardening on a large or small scale, see Landscape gardening Artwork, see Landscape painting Maintenance, see Landscape maintenance This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise... landscaping
faculty division of a university, dealing with a specific group of disciplines (e.g. faculty of arts) academic staff of a college or university
(+ UK meaning)
fag A cigarette will burn to ash on one end. A cigarette is a small paper-wrapped cylinder (generally less than 10cm in length and 10mm in diameter) of cured and shredded or cut tobacco leaves which is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder for the purpose of allowing... cigarette (slang)
young A public school, in common English usage, is a (usually) prestigious school which charges fees and is not financed by the state. It is traditionally a single sex boarding school, although many now accept day pupils and are coeducational. The majority date back to the 18th or 19th centuries, and... public schoolboy who acted as a servant for older pupils (obsolete)
(+ US meaning as an Americanism)
The word male has the following meanings: In biology, it refers to one half of a heterogamous reproduction system, where the female is the other half. The male sex comprises those organisms that produce sperm cells (which is defined as the smaller gamete). Male and female designate reproductive structures in... male Homosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by esthetic attraction, romantic love, or sexual desire exclusively for another of the same sex. (For an analysis of the difficulties involved in the issue of identification, see homosexuality and transgender and also heterosexuality and bisexuality.) Gay can refer either to homosexuals in general... homosexual (short for For other uses of the term, see faggot In modern American and Canadian usage faggot or fag is a generally pejorative term for gay men. The origins of the word in this sense have been clouded by mythology. It has been frequently said that it derives from faggot in the... faggot) (insulting slang)
cigarette (occasional use) (slang)
faggot bundle of sticks, usually for use as firewood
kind of See MeatballWiki for the article about the wiki about communities. A meatball is a ball of minced meat and other ingredients, such as bread, breadcrumbs, minced onion, various spices, or eggs, usually fried in a pan, or baked in an oven. Except for size and shape, meatballs are very similar... meatball (see For other uses of the term, see faggot A faggot is a kind of pork meatball, a traditional dish in parts of the UK, especially Wales and the Black Country. It was originally made from unwanted off-cuts of meat. The dish saw its greatest popularity with the rationing during... faggot (food))
The word male has the following meanings: In biology, it refers to one half of a heterogamous reproduction system, where the female is the other half. The male sex comprises those organisms that produce sperm cells (which is defined as the smaller gamete). Male and female designate reproductive structures in... male Homosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by esthetic attraction, romantic love, or sexual desire exclusively for another of the same sex. (For an analysis of the difficulties involved in the issue of identification, see homosexuality and transgender and also heterosexuality and bisexuality.) Gay can refer either to homosexuals in general... homosexual (see For other uses of the term, see faggot In modern American and Canadian usage faggot or fag is a generally pejorative term for gay men. The origins of the word in this sense have been clouded by mythology. It has been frequently said that it derives from faggot in the... faggot (slang)) (insulting slang; native to the north of England, but an Americanism elsewhere)
The word male has the following meanings: In biology, it refers to one half of a heterogamous reproduction system, where the female is the other half. The male sex comprises those organisms that produce sperm cells (which is defined as the smaller gamete). Male and female designate reproductive structures in... male Homosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by esthetic attraction, romantic love, or sexual desire exclusively for another of the same sex. (For an analysis of the difficulties involved in the issue of identification, see homosexuality and transgender and also heterosexuality and bisexuality.) Gay can refer either to homosexuals in general... homosexual (insulting slang) (see For other uses of the term, see faggot In modern American and Canadian usage faggot or fag is a generally pejorative term for gay men. The origins of the word in this sense have been clouded by mythology. It has been frequently said that it derives from faggot in the... faggot (slang))
fall (none special) autumn
fanny vulva (obscene slang)
"to fanny about" or "to fanny around" = to mess about or prevaricate (very mildly vulgar slang)
buttocks (slang, but not obscene)
film For other uses see film (disambiguation) Film refers to the celluliod media on which movies are printed Film — also called movies, the cinema, the silver screen, moving pictures, photoplays, picture shows, flicks, or motion pictures, — is a field that encompasses motion pictures as an art form or as... motion picture (US: movie)
(+ US meanings)
thin membrane
Photographic film a sheet of plastic (polyester, celluloid (nitrocellulose) or cellulose acetate) coated with an emulsion containing light-sensitive silver halide salts (bonded by gelatin) with variable crystal sizes that determine the sensitivity or resolution of the film. When the emulsion is subjected to controlled exposure to light (or other... membranous material on which motion pictures and photographs are made
to make a motion picture
filth the police (derogatory slang; never used without the definite article) (none special)
first floor (of a building) the floor above ground level the floor at ground level (often, but not always, the same floor as a building's lobby)
fit (of a person) attractive, sexy (slang)
(+ US meanings)
(of a person) in good physical condition
suitable for its purpose (usually followed by for or to)
flapjack flat oat cake (US: granola bar) pancake
flannel washcloth
(+ US meaning)
particular type of fabric/material used for the manufacture of trousers or suits, but more commonly recognised in America as a fabric used in warm winter night clothes and sheets
flat self-contained housing unit (US: An apartment (or flat) is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building. Apartments may be owned (by an owner-occupier) or rented (by tenants). Some apartment-dwellers own their apartments, either as co-ops, in which the residents own shares of a corporation that owns... apartment) deflated tire (UK: flat tyre)
flyover elevated road section (i.e. long road bridge, US: overpass) ceremonial aircraft flight (UK: fly-by or fly-past)
higher-level road bridge that goes above both a lower bridge and a road below the lower bridge
football association football (US: The striker (wearing red jersey) has run past the defender (in white jersey) and is about to take a shot at the goal, while the goalkeeper positions himself to stop the ball. Football is the most widely played and watched team sport in the world. The game is often known... soccer) United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. It is one of the more physically demanding sports, with a great deal of physical contact occurring on each play, and requiring rare athletic talent. However, it is also a complex game of... American football
fringe arrangement of locks of hair on the forehead (US: bangs) (none special)
furnace large hearth or container for heating or melting metal principal domestic heat source in central heating (UK: boiler)
(+ UK meaning)

Words G-M

Word more common British meaning more common American meaning
gagging (especially as in "gagging for it") desperate, especially for sex
(+ US meanings)
choking
fighting the urge to vomit (e.g. "that was so disgusting, I was gagging")
The gallon is a unit of volume used for measuring liquids (as well as dry matter). In the US a fluid gallon is exactly 3.785 411 784 litres: see U.S. customary units An Imperial gallon is exactly 4.546 09 litres: see Imperial unit. At one time, the... gallon about 6/5 of US gallon or 4.54609 litres about 5/6 of British (imperial) gallon or 3.78541 litres
garage fuel filling station, e.g. "a Texaco garage"
In British English, rhymes with "marriage" or is pronounced as "GA-rahzh", the first syllable carrying the stress in both cases.
(parking garage) building serving as a public parking facility (UK: multistorey car park or just multistorey)
In American English, the initial "a" is a schwa, the stress is on the second syllable, the second "a" is broad ("ah"), and the final "g" is pronounced as "zh", adhering to the word's French etymology: guh-RAHZH.
garter band worn around the leg to keep up a stocking or sock suspender for a sock or stocking
(+ UK meaning)
Gas may refer to: Generally, gas is one of the phases of matter. In common use, Natural gas is a mixture of about 80% methane, with varying proportions of ethane, propane and butane, used as a fuel. Often, gas is Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG). In US English, gas is short... gas state of matter (see Gas (actually as, part of the Gnu Binutils package) is the default Gcc Back-end. It runs and assembles on and for a number of different architectures. External Links GNU Binutils homepage Categories: Stub ... gas)
Natural gas rig Natural gas is a gas produced by the anaerobic decay of organic material. It is usually found in oil fields and natural gas fields, but is also generated in swamps and marshes (where it is called swamp gas or marsh gas), in landfill sites, and during digestion... natural gas
Petrol (gasoline in the United States and Canada) is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting primarily of hydrocarbons, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. The term gasoline is the common usage within the oil industry, even within companies that are not American. Often the term mogas (short for motor... gasoline (UK: petrol)
gas pedal (UK: accelerator)
air trapped in the stomach (UK: wind)
(+ UK meanings)
geezer gangster, man (esp. A Cockney, in the loosest sense of the word, is a working-class inhabitant of the East End of London. According to one old tradition, the definition is limited to those born within earshot (generally taken to be three miles) of the Bow bells, i.e. the bells of St... Cockney) old person (derogatory; UK: old geezer [not derog.])
gooseberry supernumery third person preventing a couple from courting
a green hairy summer fruit ( Species Ribes grossularia L. Ribes hirtellum Ribes echinellum The gooseberry is a well-known fruit-bush. Closely related species are found in northern and central Europe (Ribes grossularia) and in North America (Ribes hirtellum). The gooseberries are usually placed in genus Ribes, along with the closely related blackcurrants, redcurrants etc... Ribes grossularia)
a green hairy summer fruit ( Species Ribes grossularia L. Ribes hirtellum Ribes echinellum The gooseberry is a well-known fruit-bush. Closely related species are found in northern and central Europe (Ribes grossularia) and in North America (Ribes hirtellum). The gooseberries are usually placed in genus Ribes, along with the closely related blackcurrants, redcurrants etc... Ribes hirtellum)
government the political party in power (US: administration)
(+ US meaning)
the executive
In popular language grass means a short, green, ground covering or lawn, usually, but not necessarily comprised of a true grass or grasses, called turf. See also pasture, grass (material). In botany, grass refers to plants of the family Poaceae. These are the true grasses. Plants that are not true... grass an informant (often to the police)
(to grass on) to tell on somebody (US: to squeal)
Cannabis is a plant which is consumed by humans as a psychoactive drug. Cannabis sativa discusses the physiology and scientific properties of this plant. Cannabis (drug) discusses the pharmacological properties of the plant and its use by humans as a drug. This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid... marijuana
grazing; to feed (livestock) with grass (UK: at grass, to put out to grass)
Cannabis is a plant which is consumed by humans as a psychoactive drug. Cannabis sativa discusses the physiology and scientific properties of this plant. Cannabis (drug) discusses the pharmacological properties of the plant and its use by humans as a drug. This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid... marijuana
Grilling means broiling food with direct heat. In the United States, grilled food is usually cooked on a grill, gridiron or a metal plate with flame applied from below, fueled by wood, charcoal or gas. Outside USA, the term refers to cooking directly under a source of direct, dry heat... grill cook directly under a dry heat source (US: Broiling is cooking food with high heat with the heat applied directly to the food. Heat transfer to the food is primarily via radiant heat. In some ovens, broiling is done using the heating coil from the ceiling of the oven, in other cases there is a separate compartment. In... broil) cook over a gas or coal fire
ground floor (of a building) the floor at ground level sometimes used thusly, but American English prefers first floor
Lower of two floors that are each at a different ground level due to sloping terrain.
guard the official in charge of a railway train (US: conductor, which is also used in the UK)
(none special)
You may be looking for gyroscopes. Gyros (sometimes incorrectly spelled as gyro, from Greek γύρος; turning. sing.: gyros; pl.: gyroi) is a rotisserie meat, or by extension the pita sandwich it is usually found in. In addition to the meat, there are also various salads and... gyro abbreviation for A gyroscope is a device which demonstrates the principle of conservation of angular momentum, in physics. The essence of the device is a spinning wheel on an axle. The device, once spinning, tends to resist changes to its orientation. The gyroscope was invented and named in 1852 by Léon... gyroscope. Or See also Giro dItalia. A giro is a method of payment. It has some similarities with a cheque, but whereas a cheque is given to the payee who deposits it in his or her bank, a giro is given by the payer to his or her bank, which transfers... giro, a particular form of bank payment similar to a cheque, especially a government benefit payment for unemployment or disability. "I'll pay you back when my giro comes." a sandwich, the American You may be looking for gyroscopes. Gyros (sometimes incorrectly spelled as gyro, from Greek γύρος; turning. sing.: gyros; pl.: gyroi) is a rotisserie meat, or by extension the pita sandwich it is usually found in. In addition to the meat, there are also various salads and... gyro is similar to a UK doner kebab
hammered (none special) drunk or intoxicated
hi (interjection) hey
(+ US meaning)
hello
highway (chiefly in official use) public road main road
to hire to rent or rental (e.g. of a car) to recruit
This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. If an article link referred you here, you might want to go back and fix it to point directly to the intended page. Hockey is any of a family of... hockey hockey played with a ball on grass (US: A game of field hockey in progress Field Hockey is a popular sport for men and women in many countries around the world. It is simply known as hockey in most countries, especially those in which ice hockey is not very prominent. Field hockey has several regular, prestigious international tournaments... field hockey)
hockey played on a hard surface (e.g. concrete) or indoors
hockey played on ice with a puck (UK: Ice hockey, known simply as hockey in areas where it is more common than field hockey, is a team sport played on ice. It is known as the fastest team sport in the world, with players on skates capable of going high speeds along with shots of the puck sometimes... ice hockey)
(+ UK meaning)
hog to take more than one's fair share of something
"road hog" = motorist who holds up other traffic by driving slowly or out of lane; any bad driver
mature pig
motorcycle, especially a large one (typically a Logo on a 2003 Harley Davidson The Harley-Davidson Motor Company (NYSE: HDI) is a manufacturer of motorcycles based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Harley-Davidson motorcycles are distinctive in design and attract a loyal following for their history and design. The company has an emphasis on heavy bikes designed for cruising... Harley-Davidson
(+ UK meanings)
holiday any time off from work or school, including the period between school terms (US: break, vacation)
recreational trip away from home (US: vacation)
(none special)
homely (Of a house) comfortable, cozy, rustic (US: homey)
(Of a person) home-loving, domesticated, house-proud
(Only used of a person) plain, ugly
hood head covering attached to, and forming part of, a garment
the folding fabric top on a convertible car (US: convertible top)
hinged cover over the engine in a car (UK: bonnet)
a contraction of neighborhood
short for hoodlum, a tough, destructive young man, or generically any criminal
(+ head covering meaning)
hooker name of a player's position in a A Rugby match in the Stade de France Rugby union is a team sport that was (according to legend) developed from the rules used to play football at Rugby School in England. Two teams, each of 15 players have the task of outscoring the opposing team. Players clutch an ovoid... Rugby Union or Rugby league is a team sport, played by teams of 13 players per side (usually plus 4 substitutes). The aim is to carry an oval ball up the field towards the opponents in-goal area. Touching the ball down behind this line scores a try, the main aim of the... Rugby League team - position is in the centre of the front row of the scrum
(+ US meaning as an Americanism)
prostitute
hooter steam whistle or siren in a factory or other large workplace sounded as a signal for beginning or ceasing work
car horn
nose
(in plural) vulgar term for breasts
horny sexually attractive (slang)
(+ US meaning as Americanism)
sexually frustrated (slang) (UK: randy)
hunting pursuing animals on horseback pursuing animals on foot (UK: shooting or stalking)
ice pick An ice axe is a versatile mountaineering tool that practically every mountaineer will carry. An ice axe consists of five components: head - usually made of steel and includes the pick and adze. One grips the head using either a self arrest or self belay grip. There is a hole in... ice axe, a tool with a pointed end used by rock- and mountain-climbers for splitting ice small awl-like tool for breaking ice into small pieces for drinks
indicator turn signal in a car
(none special)
inspector (police) lowest supervisory rank above This article is about the rank of sergeant. For alternate meanings see Sergeant (disambiguation). In most non-naval military organizations, a sergeant is a non-commissioned officer (NCO) ranking above privates and corporals, and below warrant officers and commissioned officers. There are usually several ranks of sergeant, each corresponding to... sergeant (rough US equivalent: lieutenant) senior rank in some police departments (rough UK equivalent: superintendent)
jam a preserve made from fruits boiled in sugar and set with Pectin is a heterosaccharide in the cell wall of plants. Pectins are very variable in composition; chain lengths are variable and there is a high complexity in the combination and order of each of the monosaccharide derivative units. It is synthesised in the plant Golgi apparatus and forms a matrix... pectin (US: jelly) certain kinds of fruit preserve, especially the kinds with pieces of fruit left in: strawberry jam, but grape jelly
jelly a fruit flavoured dessert set with Gelatin (also gelatine) is a translucent brittle solid, colorless or slightly yellow, nearly tasteless and odorless, that is created by prolonged boiling of animal connective tissue. Physical properties It is a protein product derived through partial hydrolysis of the collagen extracted from skin, bones, cartilage, ligaments, etc. The natural molecular... gelatin (US: A variety of pre-packaged gelatin dessert products for sale at a supermarket in the U.S. state of Wisconsin in 2004 By far the most popular use for gelatin products is as gelatin dessert, in the UK gelatin desserts are referred to as jelly, and in the US (where... Jell-O) a preserve made from the liquid of fruits boiled in sugar and set with Pectin is a heterosaccharide in the cell wall of plants. Pectins are very variable in composition; chain lengths are variable and there is a high complexity in the combination and order of each of the monosaccharide derivative units. It is synthesised in the plant Golgi apparatus and forms a matrix... pectin, without pieces of fruit
jock slang term for a Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Alba) is a country or nation and former independent kingdom of northwest Europe, and one of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom. Scotland has a land boundary with England in the island of Great Britain and is otherwise bounded by seas and oceans. These boundaries... Scotsman or a Highland Terrier (scottie) slang term for an An athlete is a person possessing above average physical skills (strength, agility, and endurance) and thus seen suitable for physical activities, in particular, contests. An ancient Greek word for contest was athlos, and those competing in the games were called athletes. In more specific settings, an athlete is one who... athlete
slang term for the undergarment called an athletic supporter or jock strap
john (none special) prostitute's client (slang)
toilet (slang)
joint hand-rolled cigarette containing cannabis (US: bud)
all or some of the limb of a meat animal, before or after cooking
(+US "establishment" meaning)
an establishment, especially a disruptable one (a gin joint; let's case the joint)
prison (in the joint)
(+UK meanings)
jug any container with a handle and mouth or spout for liquid (US: pitcher)
(in plural) vulgar slang for breasts
large container with a narrow mouth and handle for liquids (UK: pitcher)
jumper A jumper from Marks & Spencer A sweater, pullover, jumper or jersey is a relatively heavy garment intended to cover the torso and arms of the human body (though in some cases sweaters are made for dogs and occasionally other animals) and typically supposed to go over a shirt, blouse... sweater A jumper dress or simply jumper (British English: pinafore dress, pinafore, pinny), is a sleeveless, collarless dress intended to be worn over a blouse or sweater. There is sometimes confusion over the name, as in British English, a jumper is a woollen sweater. A sundress is sleeveless like a jumper... pinafore dress or jump suit
kebab commonly a doner kebab, strips of meat (usually lamb or chicken) cooked by being heated on a revolving device and served stuffed in a pita bread (US: souvlaki or gyro)
(+ US meaning)
meat served on a skewer together with onions, tomatoes, etc. (e.g., Shish kebab (şişkebabı; also pronounced Kabab or kabob) means skewer of meat in Persian. It consists of chunks of lamb or chicken grilled on a skewer. It is usually served with Persian Polo (long Basmati type rice), Lavash (a paper-thin Persian bread), grilled tomato, raw... shish kebab)
knickers panties knickerbockers
to knock up to manufacture hastily
to practice before tennis
to wake up by knocking
(+ US meaning)
to make pregnant
lamp a device that burns liquid to produce light (US: lantern) a free-standing device that emits a continuous light (UK: lantern)
lantern a free-standing device that emits a continuous light (US: lamp) a device that burns liquid to produce light (UK: lamp)
lecturer the lowest academic rank at a university (the next lowest: senior or principal lecturer)
(+ US meaning)
someone who gives a lecture
Lemonade refers to one of several beverages. Lemonate stand in Vancouver BC, Canada In the US and Canada it refers to an uncarbonated soft drink made of a mixture of lemon juice, sugar and water. In the UK, it refers to a carbonated (fizzy) drink, sometimes lemon flavoured, comparable to... lemonade clear, carbonated, lemon-flavoured drink similar to Sprite is a clear, lemon-lime-flavored (called lemonade in Australia), non-caffeinated soft drink, produced by the Coca-Cola Company. It was introduced to the United States in 1961. This was Cokes response to the popularity of 7-Up, which had begun as Lithiated Lemon in 1929. It... Sprite and This article is about a soft drink. There is also an unrelated 1964 documentary entitled Seven Up!. 7 Up (sometimes spelled Seven Up) is the brand name of a lemon-lime flavored soft drink marketed by Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. (DPSU) in the United States (a unit of Cadbury... 7Up (lemon and lime flavoured) non-carbonated drink made by mixing lemon juice, sugar, and water (UK: traditional lemonade, rarely seen)
let Renting is an agreement where a payment is made for the temporary use of a good owned by another person or company. Examples: Housing tenure, where the person who lives in the house is a tenant, paying rent to the landlord, who owns the property. The renting of motion pictures... rent (an apartment, business premises etc)
(+ US meanings)
allow, give permission.
leave (as in let him be or let it be)
ease (as in let up on the accelerator)
indicate (as in don't let on)
a first bad serve which is allowed to be retaken, as in tennis, table tennis, and volleyball
rent (rarely; exists primarily in "sublet")
leverage mechanical advantage of a lever
(+ US finance meaning as Americanism)
take advantage of a capability (business)
the use of Debt is that which is owed. A person who owes debt is called a debtor. A person to whom its owed is called a creditor. Debt is used to borrow purchasing power from the future. Debt issuance is related to the human lifespan. Payment People or organisations often enter... debt finance (UK: gearing)
(+ UK meaning)
lift (noun) platform or cage moved vertically in a shaft to transport people and goods to various floors in a building (US: elevator)
(+ US meaning)
ride as a passenger in a vehicle (as in, to give someone a lift)
item placed in shoe to increase the height of the wearer, normally plural (lifts, elevator shoes)
line (none special) a queue
a lie, short for a line of bull
a phrase used for hitting on women, short for pickup line
to hit a line drive (a hard straight shot) in baseball
Spirits redirects here. For other uses of the word, see spirit. A distilled beverage, also called spirits, is a preparation for consumption containing ethyl alcohol purified by distillation, or other method, from a substance such as wine, grain or wood. It is any alcohol mixture 15 percent or higher. The... liquor The broth resulting from the prolonged cooking of meat or vegetables. Green liquor is traditionally served with Categories: British cuisine | Food and drink stubs ... pie and mash in the The term East End is most commonly used to refer to the East End of London, England. Christ Church, Spitalfields Location The term East End was first applied to the districts immediately to the east of, the mediaeval walled City of London. These included Whitechapel and Stepney. By the late... East End of London
(+ US meaning as an Americanism or a legal term)
A Distillation is a means of separating liquids through differences in their boiling points. Known since antiquity, the concentration of alcohol by the application of heat to a fermented liquid mixture is perhaps the oldest form of distillation (see distilled beverages). However, the technique is now widely used for a variety... distilled alcoholic beverage
loaded (slang; of a person) rich drunk or high
(+ UK meaning)
lounge a room for relaxation and entertainment in a house
(lounge bar) part of a pub
a bar
love (noun) used as an informal term of address
(+ US meaning)
beloved person, darling--often used as a term of endearment
lush (slang; of a person) attractive (usually used by women in reference to men)
(+ US meaning, but rather old-fashioned)
an This article needs cleanup. Please edit this article to conform to a higher standard of article quality. Alcoholism is an addictive dependency on alcohol characterised by craving (a strong need to drink); loss of control (being unable to stop); physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms; and tolerance (increasing difficulty of becoming... alcoholic
mail in Britain, one posts a letter via A Victorian hexagonal red post box. Traditionally UK post boxes carry the initials of the reigning monarch at the time of their installation: in this case VR for Victoria Regina. Royal Mail is the national postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Group plc is a public limited company... Royal Mail in the US, one mails a letter via A USPS Truck at Night A U.S. Post Office sign The United States Postal Service (USPS) is the United States government organization responsible for providing postal service in the United States and is generally referred to as the post office. It was created in 1775 by decree of the... US Postal Service
majority (politics) the greatest number of votes
difference of votes between first and second place (US: plurality)
more than half of all votes (UK: absolute majority)
marinara (sauce) a sauce containing Seafood in Brussels, Belgium Seafood is any sea animal that is served as food or is suitable for eating. This usually includes sea water animals, such as fish and shellfish (including mollusks, and crustaceans). These sea water animals are also collectively referred to as seafood. Edible plants of the sea... seafood, usually in a tomato base a sauce containing tomatoes and herbs, with no seafood or meat (UK: napolitana sauce)
mate friend (US: pal)
informal term of address, as in "hello mate"
(+ US meaning, but only applying to animals)
spouse or partner
mean stingy, miserly, selfish angry, cruel, vicious
A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. The Middle East is a... Middle East area of southwest Asia and northern Africa, stretching from the Mediterranean to Pakistan, in particular Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria countries of SW Asia and northern Africa, usually considered as including the countries extending from Libya on the west to Afghanistan on the east
mobile (noun) Cellular redirects here. For the 2004 movie see Cellular (movie). A mobile phone, the Sony Ericsson T630 A mobile phone is a device which behaves as a normal telephone whilst being able to move over a wide area (cf. cordless phone which acts as a telephone only within a limited... mobile phone, Cellular redirects here. For the 2004 movie see Cellular (movie). A mobile phone, the Sony Ericsson T630 A mobile phone is a device which behaves as a normal telephone whilst being able to move over a wide area (cf. cordless phone which acts as a telephone only within a limited... cell phone
(+ US meaning)
decorative structure suspended so as to turn freely in the air (sometimes pronounced with a long i as in eel) (UK meaning becoming common)
momentarily for a moment in a moment; very soon
(+ UK meaning)
moot debatable (a moot point) irrelevant (+ UK meaning)
muffler scarf device to silence an automobile (UK: silencer) or gramophone

Words N-P

Word more common British meaning more common American meaning
napkin piece of material used to protect garments from spilled food or to remove food residues from around the mouth sanitary towel
(+ UK meaning)
nappy folded cloth or other absorbent material drawn up between the legs and fastened around the waist, usually worn by infants to counter incontinence (US: diaper) twisted or kinked, considered insulting when applied to hair (also called napped)
newsreader one who reads the news on radio or television (US: news anchor)
(+ US meaning)
program for reading Usenet is a distributed Internet discussion system that evolved from a general purpose UUCP network of the same name. Users read and post e-mail-like messages (called articles) to a number of distributed newsgroups, categories that resemble bulletin board systems in most respects. The medium is sustained among a... Usenet articles
nick prison or police station (slang)
to steal (slang)
to arrest (slang)
(+ US meaning)
small cut
nickel the metallic element This article is about the element nickel. See also nickel (U.S. coin) and nickel (Canadian coin). General Name, Symbol, Number nickel, Ni, 28 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 10 , 4 , d Density, Hardness 8908 kg/m³, 4.0 Appearance lustrous, metallic Atomic properties Atomic weight 58.6934... nickel (Ni) The United States five cent coin, commonly called a nickel, is a unit of currency equaling one 1/20th of a United States dollar. The nickels design since 1938 has featured a profile of President Thomas Jefferson on the obverse. From 1938 to 2003, Monticello was featured on the... 5 cent coin
(+ UK meaning)
Oriental East Asia is a subregion of Asia. It covers about 6,640,000 km², or 15 percent of the continent. The following countries are located in East Asia: The Peoples Republic of China, except for the province of Qinghai and the autonomous regions of Xinjiang and Tibet, which may... East Asian, continental Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. The name for the region was first coined in the 20th century. The subregion has 11 countries and the countries can be divided into the mainland and the archipelago. The mainland countries include: Cambodia Laos Myanmar (Burma) Thailand Vietnam... Southeast Asian East Asia is a subregion of Asia. It covers about 6,640,000 km², or 15 percent of the continent. The following countries are located in East Asia: The Peoples Republic of China, except for the province of Qinghai and the autonomous regions of Xinjiang and Tibet, which may... East Asian, increasingly considered slightly condescending or Politically Incorrect was a late-night political talk show hosted by Bill Maher first on Comedy Central and later on ABC, which cancelled it in 2002. Maher would interview four guests simultaneously who sat around him in front of a studio audience. The show was pioneering in mixing politicians and... politically incorrect when applied to persons
outside lane the part of the road nearest the vehicles going in the opposite direction, used especially by faster vehicles the part of the road nearest the edge, used especially by slower-moving vehicles (note that in both cases the term applies to the rightmost lane in the direction concerned)
pacifier (none special) rubber teat for babies (UK: dummy)
pants underpants (usually A pair of mens briefs Briefs are a type of mens underwear and swimwear. It is Y-shaped and often preferred for athletic activities. Briefs were first sold on 19 January 1935 by Coopers, Inc., in Chicago, Illinois. They dubbed the new undergarment the Jockey because it offered... briefs)
of poor quality (slang)
(of a situation) bad, unfortunate (slang)
trousers
Paraffin is a common name for a group of high molecular weight alkane hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2, where n is greater than about 20. In the United Kingdom and South Africa the fuel known elsewhere as kerosene is called paraffin oil (or just paraffin), and the solid... paraffin Kerosene or paraffin is a colorless flammable hydrocarbon liquid. It is obtained from the fractional distillation of petroleum at 150°C and 275°C (carbon chains from the C12 to C15 range). At one time it was widely used in kerosene lamps but it is now mainly used as a... kerosene a Wax has traditionally referred to a substance that is secreted by bees (beeswax) and used by them in constructing their honeycombs. In modern terms, wax is an imprecisely defined term generally understood to be a substance with properties similar to beeswax, namely plastic (malleable) at normal ambient temperatures a melting... waxy fraction of Nodding donkey pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario, 2001 Petroleum (from Latin petrus – rock and oleum – oil), mineral oil, or crude oil, sometimes colloquially called black gold, is a thick, dark brown or greenish flammable liquid, which exists in the upper strata of some areas of the... petroleum commonly used to make This article is on the source of light. For other meanings see Candle (disambiguation) A lit candle. A candle is a light source usually consisting of an internal wick which rises through the center of a column of solid fuel. Typically the fuel is a form of wax with paraffin... candles (UK: "paraffin wax")
paralytic extremely drunk (none special)
pavement For the former Microsoft owned website see: Sidewalk.com. A sidewalk (US English), or pavement or footpath (British English), is a path, usually constructed of concrete (particularly in the United States), asphalt, brick (particularly in Europe) or stone, designed for pedestrian traffic and often running alongside a road. In the... sidewalk asphalt; tarmac; the road surface
PC Police Constable
(+ US meanings)
Political correctness is the alteration of language to redress real or alleged injustices and discrimination or to avoid offense. The term most often appears in the form politically correct or PC, and is generally used mockingly or disparagingly. One stated aim of politically correct language is to prevent the exclusion... politically correct
The term personal computer or PC has three meanings: IBMs range of PCs that led to the use of the term - see IBM PC. Any computer based on IBMs original specifications also known as IBM PC compatible. Any microcomputer - (the subject of this article). The first generation of... personal computer
pecker courage, pluck (used in the phrase "keep your pecker up", remain cheerful) penis (slang)
period section of time
The menstrual cycle is the periodic change in a womans body that occurs every month between puberty and menopause and that relates to reproduction. The average human menstrual cycle, regulated by hormones, takes 28 days, but it can range from 21 to 35 days. Generalities Menstruation, commonly called a... menstruation
punctuation mark (UK: full stop)
used for emphasis to state that a decision is final and/or a subject is closed for discussion (You are not going to that concert, period!) (UK: full stop)
(+ UK meanings)
The pint is a unit of volume. It is in use mainly in the U.S. and the UK, although the value is not the same and the U.S. has two types of pint: 1 Imperial pint (UK) = 20 UK fluid ounces = 0.568261 litres. 1 pint (US, wet... pint about 6/5 of US measure, 20 fluid ounces, 568 ml about 5/6 of British (Imperial) measure, 16 fluid ounces, 473 ml
piss on the piss = drinking heavily, going out for the purpose of drinking heavily
(+ US meaning)
Urine is liquid waste excreted by the kidneys and eventually expelled from the body in a process known as urination. Most commonly the excretion of urine serves for flushing waste molecules collected from the blood by the kidneys, and for the homeostasis of the body liquids; however, many species also... urine; urinate
pissed intoxicated, This article or section should be merged with intoxication Drunkenness, in its most common usage, is the state of being intoxicated with alcohol (i.e. ethanol) to a sufficient degree to impair mental and motor functioning. Effects of alcohol on the body Alcohol is a potent drug and consequently it... drunk (often pissed as a newt); urinated angry, irritated (short for pissed off, which is also used in UK, but only in its full form); urinated
pitch outdoor site for a stall or some other business
site for a tent (US: campsite)
playing field for a particular sport (football pitch, rugby pitch, cricket pitch etc)
a sticky black substance obtained from tar
an attempt to persuade somebody to do something, usually to accept a business proposal
in baseball, the delivery of a baseball by a pitcher to a batter
an attempt to persuade somebody to do something, usually to accept a business proposal
pitcher large container with a handle and lip or spout for liquids, usually water (US: jug) any container with a handle and lip or spout for liquids(UK: jug)
baseball player who pitches (throws) baseball towards the batter
In Ancient Rome, the plebs was the general body of Roman citizens, distinct from the privileged class of the patricians. A member of the plebs was known as a plebeian (Latin: plebeius). The true origin of the distinction between plebeians and patricians is unknown; there is little evidence for any... pleb/plebe (shortened from plebian) (pleb) derogatory term for someone inferior, common or ignorant (plebe) a Alternate uses: Student (disambiguation) Etymologically derived through Middle English from the Latin second-type conjugation verb stŭdērĕ, which means to study, a student is one who studies. Also known as a disciple in the sense of a religious area of study, and/or in the... freshman at the Alternate meanings: West Point (disambiguation). The Chapel at West Point The United States Military Academy, also known as West Point and USMA, is a U.S. military academy and former Army fort. It is located in West Point, New York, on the west bank of the Hudson River about 50... US Military Academy or Teamwork: Fourth Class Midshipmen lock arms and use ropes made from uniform items as they brace themselves climbing the Herndon Monument The United States Naval Academy, or USNA, is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. Its campus... US Naval Academy
(+ UK meaning)
pop carbonated soft drink (colloquial) (US: soda)
short for popular music
father (colloquial and quite rare)
short for popular music, a style of music. It is usually influenced by, but milder than, urban music.
short for soda pop, Midwest States (United States of America, ND to OH) The Midwest is a common name for a region of the United States of America. The term originated in the 19th century, along with Middle West and Heartland, and referred to generally the same areas and states in the middle of... U.S. Midwest and Western New York refers to the westernmost counties of New York State, roughly the area included in the Holland Purchase. It includes the cities of Rochester and Buffalo, as well as the U.S. side of the Niagara Falls. Residents of the area use the term Western New York to... Western New York term for carbonated soft drink
father (colloquial)
post in Britain, one posts a letter via A Victorian hexagonal red post box. Traditionally UK post boxes carry the initials of the reigning monarch at the time of their installation: in this case VR for Victoria Regina. Royal Mail is the national postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Group plc is a public limited company... Royal Mail

in Britain, one puts things on a noticeboard

in the US, one mails a letter via A USPS Truck at Night A U.S. Post Office sign The United States Postal Service (USPS) is the United States government organization responsible for providing postal service in the United States and is generally referred to as the post office. It was created in 1775 by decree of the... US Postal Service

in the US, one posts things on a bulletin board

The term pound sign can refer to: Pound (currency) (£) Number sign or pound key (#) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. If an article link referred you here, you might want to go back and fix it... pound sign symbol of the The pound sterling, which strictly speaking refers to basic currency unit of sterling, now the pound, can generally refer to the currency of the United Kingdom (UK). The standard ISO 4217 currency code is GBP = Great British Pound, (UKP is non-standard and sometimes wrongly used) The sign for the... Pound Sterling (£) ( GBP may be: short for Game Boy Player the ISO currency code for the British Pound Sterling. stock symbol for Gables Residential Trust short for Game Boy Pocket Gain-bandwidth product This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same... GBP) Number sign is the Unicode preferred name for the glyph or symbol #. It is so used in the United States and Canada, where No. would be used in the United Kingdom (and also Canada since the influence comes from both directions). The number signs Unicode value is 0023 in... hash sign (#)
In the United States a preparatory school, or prep school, is usually a private secondary school (or high school) designed to prepare a student for higher education. In the United Kingdom and some parts of the Commonwealth of Nations, a Preparatory School, or Prep. School is a private primary (elementary... prep(aratory) school fee-paying private junior school (which prepares pupils for A public school, in common English usage, is a (usually) prestigious school which charges fees and is not financed by the state. It is traditionally a single sex boarding school, although many now accept day pupils and are coeducational. The majority date back to the 18th or 19th centuries, and... public school) fee-paying private senior school (which prepares pupils for university) (UK: public school)
presently soon (US: momentarily, q.v.)
(+ US meaning)
now (UK: currently)
press, pressure (none special) insistently influence, or attempt to influence, someone else (e.g. The manager pressured his assistant to work late) (UK: pressurise)
pressurise, pressurize insistently influence, or attempt to influence, someone else (e.g. The manager pressurised his assistant to work late) (US: pressure) (none special)
A professor is a senior teacher and researcher, usually in a college or university. Professors give lectures and seminars in their field of study, such as science or literature. They also do advanced research in their fields and are supposed to do community service (including advisory functions, such as for... professor holder of a chair in a A university is an institution of higher education and of research, which grants academic degrees. A university provides both tertiary and quaternary education. University is derived from the Latin universitas, meaning corporation since the first medieval European universities were often groups of scholars-for-hire. History Arguably the first western... university, the highest Academic organizations typically have a rather rigid set of ranks. United States Within the United States the hierarchy of ranks is: Full Professor Associate Professor Assistant Professor [Various statuses requiring a Ph.D. that are neither professorships nor post-doctoral fellowships, varying from one university to another. Among these are... academic rank colloquially, any member of A university is an institution of higher education and of research, which grants academic degrees. A university provides both tertiary and quaternary education. University is derived from the Latin universitas, meaning corporation since the first medieval European universities were often groups of scholars-for-hire. History Arguably the first western... university academic staff
(+ UK meaning)
In the United States, a prom (short for promenade) is a formal dance held at the end of the second-to-last and last year of high school, called junior prom and senior prom respectively. In British English and Australian English such an event would be called a ball, although... prom shortening of 'promenade concert', one of a series of concerts held as part of a classical music festival that takes place in the late summer based around the Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences is an arts venue dedicated to Queen Victorias husband and consort, Prince Albert. It is situated in South Kensington in central London - within the area also known as Albertopolis. It forms the practical part of a national memorial... Royal Albert Hall in London dance/party held for pupils to celebrate the end of a school year/graduation
The term public school has two contrary meanings: In England, one of a small number of prestigious historic schools open to the public which normally charge fees and are financed by bodies other than the state, commonly as private charitable trusts; here the word public is used much as in... public school long-established and prestigious fee-paying private school (note that not all private schools are classed as public schools) (US: prep school) tax-supported school controlled by a local governmental authority (UK: state school)
pud short for pudding, especially in "Christmas pud" (rhymes with 'good') slang term for penis (rhymes with 'mud')
pudding dessert course of a meal
a heavy dessert or main course (e.g. steak and kidney pudding), often Suet is raw beef or mutton fat, especially that found around the loins and kidneys. It is a solid at room temperature, and melts at about 21°C (70°F). It is a saturated fat. The primary use of suet is to make tallow in a process called rendering, which... suet-based
used in the name of some other savoury dishes (e.g. British and Irish name for blood sausage. The ingredients include pigs blood, suet, bread, barley and oatmeal. Black pudding is usually served as part of a traditional English breakfast. The further addition of the similar white pudding is an important feature of the traditional Irish breakfast. The Lancashire town... black pudding, pease pudding)
a creamy dessert
to pull to persuade someone to be one's date or sex partner
on the pull = seeking a date or sex partner
to succeed in a task, as in "to pull off"
punk follower of Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. The term is also used to describe subsequent music scenes that share key characteristics with those first... Punk music worthless person
(+ UK meaning)
purse feminine money container (US: wallet) A handbag is a small bag that women and some men may carry around with them. A handbag is a bag that is carried on the shoulder or originally in the hand (hence handbag). There are so many types of these bags now from modern ones to plain ones etc... handbag
(+ UK meaning)

Words Q-S

Word more common British meaning more common American meaning
quarter (none special) 25 cents (a fourth of a dollar)
quid colloquial term for pound sterling (plural is quid also) (+ US meaning) a measure (mouthful) of chewing tobacco
quite good mediocre, acceptable
good, well done ( Adolf Hitler - an example of visual irony Irony is a form of speech in which the real meaning is concealed or contradicted by the words used. Irony involves the perception that things are not what they are said to be or what they seem. Dramatic irony lies in the audience... ironic, according to subtle voice intonation)
excellent
railroad tramway (obsolete) railway
reader the second highest academic rank at a university, after A professor is a senior teacher and researcher, usually in a college or university. Professors give lectures and seminars in their field of study, such as science or literature. They also do advanced research in their fields and are supposed to do community service (including advisory functions, such as for... professor (none special)
regular the opposite of irregular (e.g. "the pentagon had regular sides", meaning they are all the same length)
full-time professional (as opposed to part-time, volunteer or conscript) member of a military, police or firefighting organisation
usual or ordinary
lowest grade of gasoline (historically: leaded gasoline)
non-decaffeinated coffee
unmodified, especially non-dietary/sugar-free/fat-free
medium-sized
restroom a room for staff to take their breaks in; a staffroom a room in a public place, containing a toilet
to ring to call (someone) by A telephone handset A touch-tone telephone dial Telephone The telephone or phone (Greek: tele = far away and phone = voice) is a telecommunications device that transmits speech by means of electric signals. Generally attributed to the inventor Alexander Graham Bell, the first was built in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1876. However... telephone (none special)
rubber A couple of very simple pencils A pencil is a handheld instrument used to write and draw, usually on paper. The writing is done with graphite (except for colored pencils), which is typically covered by a wooden sheath. Pencils may also have an eraser or rubber attached to one end... pencil Alternate uses: Eraser (disambiguation) An eraser is an article of stationery that is used for removing pencil writings. Erasers have a rubbery consistency, and they are often white, brown or pink although with modern materials they can be any colour at all. Many pencils are equipped with an eraser on... eraser
A condom is a device, usually made of latex, that covers a mans penis during sexual intercourse to avoid pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as gonorrhea, syphilis and AIDS. They are also known as prophylactics, as well as a number of colloquial or slang terms, such... condom
A condom is a device, usually made of latex, that covers a mans penis during sexual intercourse to avoid pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as gonorrhea, syphilis and AIDS. They are also known as prophylactics, as well as a number of colloquial or slang terms, such... condom

waterproof rain boot (UK: wellington)

rubbish This article is about the rock band. For information on byproducts of processes, see waste. Garbage is an international rock group formed in 1993 by Shirley Manson, Butch Vig, Steve Marker, and Duke Erikson. Overview Vig, the producer of such influential albums as Nirvanas Nevermind and the Smashing Pumpkins... garbage, trash
to dismiss as worthless
understood by Americans as a Britishism except when it is used to impugn a statement; American English speakers can deride an idea as "rubbish" and be understood, but they do so at the risk of sounding "stuck up" or pompous
saloon closed automobile having two or (usually) four doors, a front and rear seat and a separate boot/trunk (US: This article is about the type of car. For other uses of Sedan, see Sedan (disambiguation) This Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 is a typical sedan. A sedan car, American English terminology, is one of the most common configurations of the modern automobile, having a usually four-door passenger compartment... sedan)
(saloon bar) posh bar within a A public house, usually known as a pub, is a drinking establishment found mainly in the Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries influenced by British cultural heritage. A pub which offers accommodation may be called an inn or hostelry. In Australia, pubs often bear the name... pub or Hotel is the letter H in the NATO phonetic alphabet. See Hotel for the American television program that aired on ABC from 1983 until 1988. A hotel is an establishment that provides lodging, usually on a short-term basis. Hotels often provide a number of additional guest services such as... hotel
officers' dining room on a merchant ship
passengers' lounge on a liner or luxury train
Categories: Stub ... bar; especially associated with the Great Basin region, typical American West The Western United States has played a significant role in history and fiction. The terms Old West and Wild West refer to life in western North America, beyond the settled frontier, during the 19th century, especially between 1860 and 1900. Overview Many accounts of... Wild West

Categories: Stub ... bar that serves only spirits and no food

sat sitting: "I've been sat there for an hour." (none special)
school place of primary or secondary education
grouping of departments or large department within a university faculty
any educational institution
seeded (grapes, etc.) with the seeds left in having had the seeds removed (also seedless, used in UK)
The term Shag may refer to one of the following. Shag (dance) is a form of swing dance. The two most common variations are the Carolina Shag and the Collegiate Shag. Shag (bird) is the name for some birds of the cormorant family. Originally used for the European or Common... shag (vulgar) to A pair of lions having sexual intercourse in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. A lion couple may copulate up to 40 times a day during their honeymoon period Sexual intercourse (synonymously coitus or copulation) is the act of inserting the erect penis of the male into the vagina of the female... copulate, or copulate with
a type of bird, similar to a Genera Nannopterum Phalacrocorax Leucocarbo The Phalacrocoracidae family of birds is represented by over thirty species of cormorants and shags. All but three are in the genus Phalacrocorax, the exceptions being the Galapagos Flightless Cormorant, the Kerguelen Shag and the Imperial Shag. The names cormorant and shag were originally those of... cormorant
a type of shredded coarse tobacco
(+ US meanings)
a kind of a dance
a kind of fabric with a thick, long strands; often used in carpets
long, matted hair (cf. Shaggy (born October 1968 as Orville Richard Burrell) is a Jamaican reggae artist and takes his nickname after Scooby Doos companion. Biography His family immigrated to the United States and they settled in the neighborhood of Flatbush, Brooklyn, located in New York City, in the state of New York... Shaggy from the Scooby-doo is also British naval divers slang for civilian sport scuba diver. Scooby-Doo is an important character in animation up to this day Scooby-Doo is a long-running animated series produced for television by Hanna-Barbera Productions from 1969 to 1986, 1988 to 1991, and from 2002... Scooby Doo A cartoon is a form of art with diverse origins and even more diverse modern meanings. In its historical original meaning, a cartoon is a full-size drawing made on paper as a study for a further artwork, such as a painting. However, cartoons were typically used in the production... cartoon)
(+ UK sexual meaning, as a Britishism; popularized by Austin Powers in International Man of Mystery. Austin Danger Powers, played by Mike Myers, is the title character of a series of films. The films are a parody of many spy films of the 1960s, primarily the James Bond, Harry Palmer, and Matt Helm film franchises, and an increasingly broad... Austin Powers movies)
shattered exhausted
(+ US meaning)
devastated emotionally
Sherbet (British and American English) or Sherbert (Australian English, also a variant spelling used in American English) historically was a cool effervescent or iced fruit drink. The meaning (and spelling and pronunciation) has fractured between three English-speaking countries as sherbet or sherbert has evolved to mean different things in... sherbet a fizzy powdered confectionery a type of frozen dessert (also spelled sherbert)
Sheriff is both a political and a legal office held under English common law, Scots law or American common law, or the person who holds such office. Modern usage United States In the United States a sheriff is generally the highest elected law-enforcement officer of a county. The political... sheriff chief royal peace officer of a Originally, a county was the land under the jurisdiction of a count (in Great Britain, an earl, though the original earldoms covered larger areas) by reason of that office. The term has since tended to represent a tertiary geographical unit of administration intermediate between the larger, secondary state or province... county, now (as high sheriff) largely only a ceremonial role (England and Wales)
local judge, in full sheriff-depute or sheriff-substitute (Scotland)
elected chief legal officer of a county, usually also in charge of the county's law enforcement service
shingle pebbles forming a beach (none special)
shingles a painful disease of the skin, caused by the chickenpox virus a form of roof covering
(+ UK meaning)
shop consumer retail establishment of any size (US: store)
(+ US meaning, but only in combination, e.g. machine shop)
workshop
practical class at school taught in a workshop
shorts short trousers
strong alcoholic drinks served in multiples of 25 ml, sometimes with mixers (US: shots)
short trousers
underpants, boxers
shot sound made by firing a cartridge from a firearm strong alcoholic drink served in multiples of 1.5 American floz. (29.57 ml) (UK: short)
(+ UK meaning)
shower a short period of rain a celebratory party where gifts are given to an individual e.g. a baby shower to celebrate an imminent birth
(+ UK meaning)
sic Latin for "Thus", "just so" — states that the preceding quoted material appears exactly that way in the source, usually despite errors of spelling, grammar, usage, or fact. pronunciation spelling of "seek" used as a dog command, and by extension as a verb meaning to set (as a dog, etc.) to attack someone, e.g. "I'll sic my attorney on you".
(+ UK meaning)
[to be] sick [to] vomit
"off sick" = not at work because of illness
"to pull a sickie" = to fake an illness in order to get time off work
[to be] unwell
siding dead-end railway tracks that lead off another railway line external wall covering, cladding, weatherboarding
(+ UK meaning)
silencer device to silence a car/automobile (US: muffler)
(+ US meaning)
device to silence a A firearm is a kinetic energy weapon that fires either a single or multiple projectiles propelled at high velocity by the gases produced by action of the rapid confined burning of a propellant. This process of rapid burning is technically known as deflagration. In older firearms, this propellant was typically... firearm
skillet (regional dialect) a frying pan
a type of stir-fried food item
a frying pan, often cast iron
a long-handled stewing pan or saucepan, often having short legs or feet
slag (derogatory) promiscuous woman (US: slut, also used in UK)
a general insult directed at someone of either sex
(+ US meaning)
waste from steel refining
slash colloquialism for urinating (to have a slash)
the punctuation mark '/' (technically an Americanism, but often used)
the symbol '/' (typography: A solidus, oblique or slash, /, is a punctuation mark. It is also called a diagonal, separatrix, shilling mark, stroke, virgule, slant, or forwardslash. Usage History This symbol goes back to the days of ancient Rome. In the early modern period, it was the predecessor of the comma in the German... slash (punctuation); UK: oblique or stroke)
(to) slate to disparage
(+ US meaning)
to schedule, such as "slated for A massive crane is used to demolish this tower block in northern England Demolition is the opposite of construction: the tearing-down of buildings and other structures. For most buildings, such as houses, that are only two or three storeys high, demolition is a rather simple process: the building is... demolition"
snout police informant
slang for "tobacco"
(none special)
sod unpleasant person, originally short for Sodomy is a term of religious origin to characterize certain sexual acts and behaviours as a perversion of the human capacity for union through sexuality. The term implies a distinction between animalistic fornication and a spiritualistic view of sexual union, (ie. love and marriage) and asserts that the latter is... sodomite ("He's a sod, isn't he?)
unfortunate person when prefixed by 'poor' ("The poor sod's had his wallet nicked.")
+ US meaning
layer of grass and earth
soda Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), or sodium hydrogen carbonate, also known as baking soda and bicarbonate of soda, is a soluble white anhydrous or crystalline compound, with a slight alkaline taste resembling that of sodium carbonate. It is found in many mineral springs and also produced artificially. It is also used as... sodium bicarbonate
Bubbles in carbonated water float to the surface. Carbonated water, also known as soda water, sparkling water, or seltzer water, is water containing carbon dioxide, which bubbles out when the drink is depressurised. When bottled or supplied for final consumption without flavoring, it may be called club soda. Historically, the... carbonated water, or any non-alcoholic drink made with it, but not usually one sold ready-mixed
carbonated soft drink, usually one sold ready-mixed (UK: fizzy drink or colloquially (fizzy) pop)
solicitor lawyer who advises clients, represents them in the lower courts, and prepares cases for barristers to try in higher courts chief law officer of a city, town, or government department
(+ UK meaning, but considered very stuffy)
solitaire peg-jumping puzzle game (see Peg Solitaire is a solitaire-type puzzle game for one player involving movement of pegs on a board with holes. The game is known just as Solitaire in England where the card games are called Patience. Some sets use marbles in a board with indentations. There are two traditional boards... peg solitaire) any of a family of one-player A card game is any game using playing cards, either traditional or game-specific. This article will describe the general mechanics of card games: that is, those rules which are so widely known that they are often omitted in rules of card games, because the author assumes that everyone knows... card games (see This article is about the solitaire family of card games. See Solitaire (disambiguation) for other meanings. Solitaire is a family of single-player card games of a generally similar character, but varying greatly in detail. The games are more commonly known as Patience in British English. These games typically involve... solitaire) (UK: patience)
spunk Semen or ejaculate is the fluid discharged from the penis during ejaculation, usually at the time of orgasm. Like blood, semen consists of two compartments, the cellular compartment (spermatozoa) and noncellular compartment (seminal plasma). It contains the sperm, which sometimes results in pregnancy following vaginal sex with a female. Semen... semen (US: jizz)
(+ US meaning)
courage, sauciness
(+ UK meaning)
squash (noun) In botany, a fruit is the ripened ovary, together with its seeds, of a flowering plant. In cuisine, when discussing fruit as food, the term usually refers to just those plant fruits that are sweet and fleshy, examples of which would be plum, apple, and orange. However, a great many... fruit A cordial is any invigorating and stimulating preparation; as, a peppermint cordial. The term derives from obsolete medical usage, as various beverages were concocted which were believed to be beneficial to ones health, especially for the heart (cordialis, Latin). Alcoholic cordials are also known as liqueurs. In the United... cordial drink ( Squash is a concentrated fruit syrup to which water is added. It is common in the United Kingdom. Categories: Stub ... squash (drink))
a A sport consists of a normal physical activity or skill carried out under a publicly agreed set of rules, and with a recreational purpose: for competition, for self-enjoyment, to attain excellence, for the development of skill, or some combination of these. The difference of purpose is what characterises sport... sport ( Squash racquet and ball Squash is an indoor racquet sport which was, until recently, called Squash Racquets, a reference to the squashable soft ball used in the game (compared with the harder ball used in its parent game Racquets-see below). The game is played by two players, with standard... squash (sport))
(rarely) the vegetable
vegetable ( Species C. maxima - hubbard squash, buttercup squash C. mixta - cushaw squash C. moschata - butternut squash C. pepo - most pumpkins, acorn squash, summer squash References: ITIS 22365 2002-11-06 Hortus Third Squashes are four species of the genus Cucurbita, also called pumpkins and marrows depending on variety or the nationality... squash (vegetable))
(rarely) the sport
stood standing: "I've been stood here for an hour." (none special)
stoop forwards bend of the spine bringing the shoulders in front of the hips
dive of a predatory bird towards its prey
raised porch or entrance veranda
(+ UK meanings)
store place for storage of items not needed for immediate use
large consumer retail establishment (as department store or superstore only)
consumer retail establishment of any size (UK: shop)
(+ UK meaning)
[to] sub [to] subsidise (pay for something in place of someone else)
[to] substitute (usually in sport)
[to] edit copy for length and/ or house style (newspapers, sub-edit in full)
subscription
submarine
sub-lieutenant ( Royal Navy Ensign The Royal Navy is the navy of the United Kingdom. It operates a number of aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, fifteen nuclear submarines, and various other ships, as well as aircraft, and the UKs amphibious force: the Royal Marines. The Royal Navy is the largest navy in... Royal Navy rank)
A subaltern is a military term for a junior officer. Literally meaning subordinate, subaltern is used to describe commissioned officers below the rank of captain and generally comprises the various grades of lieutenant. In the British Army the senior subaltern rank was Captain-Lieutenant, obsolete since the 18th century. The... subaltern ( The British Army is the land armed forces of the United Kingdom. It numbers 99,400 fully trained and professional regulars (as of April 2004). In contrast to the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, the British Army does not include royal in its title, because of its roots... British Army Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned rank in many armed forces. In the United States Army, the rank bore no insignia until 1917 when a gold bar was introduced to contrast with the silver bar of a First Lieutenant. As a result those in the rank have often been referred... second lieutenant or A Lieutenant is a military or paramilitary officer. The word lieutenant derives from French; the lieu meaning place as in a position or territory; and tenant meaning holding as in holding a position. The British monarchs representative in Ireland and in the counties of the United Kingdom was/is... lieutenant)
submarine
substitute teacher (UK: supply teacher)
to teach in place of the normal teacher
[to] substitute (usually in sport)
subway A pedestrian at the intersection of Alinga Street and Northbourne Avenue, Canberra, Australia A pedestrian is a person travelling on foot, whether walking or running. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road but this was not the case historically. History During the eighteenth and... pedestrian underpass underground This page refers to urban rail mass transit systems. For other uses see metro (disambiguation) See also Wikimedia Commons has multimedia related to: Metro List of metro systems metro station U-Bahn S-Bahn advanced light rapid transit monorail Metrophile (A person with a devoted interest in these systems) . External... commuter railroad
superintendent senior police rank
senior official in various undertakings (railways etc.)
senior official
person in charge of a building (UK: caretaker)
suspenders There are separate articles about elasticity in economics, and about British rubber bands. In solid mechanics, the adjective elastic characterises both collisions between, and deformations of, physical objects. A collision is perfectly elastic if the total kinetic energy of the colliding objects is conserved as kinetic energy (overall energy is... elasticated support for A stocking is a close-fitting, variously elastic garment covering the foot and lower part of the leg, but usually not intended to conceal the leg. It was formerly made of woven cloth but now of knitted wool, silk, cotton or nylon (see Hosiery). The word stock used to refer... stockings (US: garter) elasticated support for Trousers are now acceptable clothing for men or women. Trousers (or pants in North American English) are an item of clothing worn on the lower part of the body and covering both legs separately (rather than together as in skirts and dresses). Trousers are worn at the hips or waist... trousers (UK: braces)
switch device for turning electric current on or off mechanism that allows a railway train or tram to change tracks (UK: points)
(+ UK meaning)

Words T-Z

Word more common British meaning more common American meaning
to For other uses, see table (disambiguation). Tables as visual aids to conveying information Tables can help present information in ways that highlight its logical structure using the visual structure of the tables. An organized awareness of the differences among various kinds of table can help make effective use of them... table
(e.g. Rules of order, also known as standing orders or rules of procedure, are the written rules of parliamentary procedure adopted by a deliberative body, which detail the processes used by the body to make decisions. Some bodies rely more on precedent and on the judgment of the presiding officer, whereas... parliamentary procedure)
to raise for consideration ("to bring to|put on the Furniture is the collective term for the movable objects which support the human body (seating furniture and beds), provide storage, and hold objects on horizontal surfaces above the ground. Storage furniture is used to hold or contain smaller objects such as tools, books, and household goods. Furniture can be a... table") to suspend from consideration (to shelve) ("to put it back on the table after having picked it up")
tailgater a motorist who follows another vehicle too closely someone who picnics from the rear of a vehicle
(+ UK meaning)
tap valve through which liquid is drawn and dispensed (common US: Categories: Stub ... faucet)
as in " Telephone tapping or Wire tapping/ Wiretapping (in US) describes the monitoring of telephone conversations by a third party, often by covert means. The Telephone tap or Wire tap received its name because, historically, the monitoring connection was applied to the wires of the telephone line of the person who was... phone tap", a device for listening to other people's telephone calls
tap up: to covertly enter negotiations (e.g. "the manager acccused the other team of tapping up his player")
selected/chosen/requested/asked, especially to be publically selected for a special honor from one's peers as in the (possibly apocryphal) American Indian ceremony (e.g. "She was tapped for the position of CEO")
(+ UK meanings)
This article is about the beverage. For alternative meanings, see tea (disambiguation). A tea bush. Tea drinking in China dates back to before the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Tea is a caffeinated beverage, an infusion made by steeping the dried leaves or buds of the shrub Camellia sinensis in hot... tea a The word drink is primarily a verb, meaning to ingest liquids, see Drinking. As a noun, it refers to the liquid thus ingested. It is often used in a narrower sense to refer to alcoholic beverages (as both a verb and a noun). It can also be used metaphorically, as... beverage, usually taken hot with A glass of milk Milk most often means the nutrient fluid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals. It provides the primary source of nutrition for newborns before they are able to digest more diverse foods. It is also processed into dairy products such as cream, butter, yoghurt, ice... milk
Afternoon is the time of day after 12:00 (noon), and follows morning each day. It nevertheless comes before night, and its use is often quite subjective. Afternoon (アフタヌーン) is also the name of a Japanese manga magazine released by Kodansha. Official website (Japanese language... afternoon A snack food is seen in Western culture as a type of food that is not meant to be eaten as part of one of the main meals of the day (breakfast, lunch, supper). Rather, the food is intended as a snack: something to temporarily tide a persons hunger... snack (US: late lunch)
The evening refers to the period in which the daylight is decreasing, between the afternoon and night. Some flowers, like the evening primrose open their petals only during this time of the day. The evening newspapers are newspapers that are printed late in order to include last-hour news and... evening A meal is an instance of eating, specifically one that takes place at a specific time and includes specific, prepared foodstuffs. Meals are served at home, restaurants, and cafeteria. Meals are usually held in conjunction with such special occasions as birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries. A picnic is an outdoor meal... meal
a beverage, hot but also taken cold with Binomial name Citrus X limon {{{author}}} Lemons are the citrus fruit from the tree Citrus X limon. They are cultivated primarily for their juice, though the pulp and rind are also used, primarily in cooking or mixing. Lemon juice is about 5% citric acid, which gives lemons a sour taste... lemon and/or This article deals with sugar as food and as an important, widely traded commodity; the word also has other uses; see Sugar (disambiguation) A sugar is a form of carbohydrate; the most commonly used sugar is a white crystalline solid, sucrose; used to alter the flavor and properties (mouthfeel, perservation... sugar
to be on the telephone/phone to have a working telephone (now rare, since most people do)
(+ US meaning)
to be talking on the telephone
terrier member of the In the United Kingdom the Territorial Army is a part of the British Army composed of reserve units, or part-time soldiers. World War I and earlier The Territorial Force was originally formed by the Secretary of State for War, Richard Burdon Haldane, following the passage of the Territorial and... Territorial Army (slang)
(+ US meaning)
various smallish breeds of dog
theatre / theater playhouse (Star Wars opened in theaters in 1977. would be understood as an Americanism.) (spelled theater) cinema
(+ UK meaning, spelled theater or theatre)
tick a check mark
a moment (just a tick)
credit (on tick)
(none special)
to tick off to admonish to annoy
tights nylons, usually sheer, which also cover the groin (US: pantyhose) skin-tight, often opaque, pants or pants and top, such as worn by gymnasts
tip a place where rubbish is disposed (US: dump, landfill)
to pour
(+US meanings)
pointed or narrow end
advice
voluntary gratuity paid e.g. at a restaurant
to (cause to) lean to one side
tit idiot (slang)
(+ US meanings)
various species of small bird
woman's breast (slightly vulgar slang)
tom prostitute
slang term for a This article is about the military rank of Private. For alternative meanings see: Private (disambiguation). A Private is a military soldier of the lowest military rank. The term dates from the Middle Ages where Privates were known as Private Soldiers who were either hired, conscripted, or feudalized into service by... private in the The Parachute Regiments display team, the Red Devils at an American airshow The Parachute Regiment is the main body of elite airborne troops of the British Army. Organisation The Parachute Regiment is currently organised into three regular and one TA battalions: 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment (1 PARA) 2nd Battalion... Parachute Regiment
(+ US meaning)
unneutered male cat
torch hand-held device that emits light (US: flashlight) (none special)
tosser idiot (literally, someone who Masturbation is the manual excitation of the sexual organs, most often to the point of orgasm. It can refer to excitation either by oneself or by another (see mutual masturbation), but most commonly it is restricted to such activities performed alone. It is part of a larger set of activities... masturbates, a derogatory term similar to wanker) (none special)
tough (interjection) I don't care that's unfortunate
(+ UK meaning)
tramp homeless person who moves (tramps) from town to town (US: hobo)
(+ US meanings, although less common)
loose or promiscuous woman
prostitute
The term trapezium can mean more than one thing: In human anatomy, trapezium is a bone in the hand In geometry, a trapezium is also a name for a class of quadrilaterals. The precise definition differs between American English and British English, as described in that article; see also trapezoid... trapezium a Other uses: Quadrilateral (disambiguation) In geometry, a quadrilateral is a polygon with four sides and four vertices. Classification Quadrilaterals are either simple (not self-intersecting) or complex (self-intersecting). Simple quadrilaterals are either convex or concave. Convex quadrilaterals are further classified as follows: Trapezium (American English): no sides are parallel... quadrilateral with one pair of parallel sides a quadrilateral with no parallel sides
A trapezoid (American English) or trapezium (British English) is a quadrilateral two of whose sides are parallel to each other. (It is necessary that the two parallel sides be opposite; they cannot logically be adjacent.) A trapezium (American English) or trapezoid (British English) does not have two parallel sides. Note... trapezoid a quadrilateral with no parallel sides a quadrilateral with one pair of parallel sides
trick adjective describing an unstable knee or elbow: 'trick' knee, 'trick elbow. a prostitute's client (+ UK meaning)
The numeral trillion refers to one of two number values, depending on the context of where and how it is being used. It is the largest numerical value in everyday non-scientific use in the English language. Usage Short scale usage In Brazil, Russia, Turkey, Greece, Puerto Rico and most... trillion million million

(although the traditional value million million million can also be meant)

million million (UK: trillion, or traditional billion)
trim (a A Christmas tree in a German home One of the most popular traditions associated with the celebration of Christmas, the Christmas tree is normally an evergreen conifer tree that is brought in the house or used in the open, and is decorated with Christmas lights and colourful ornaments during the... Christmas tree) decorate the tree cut the tree to the right size
Trolley is: the term used in non-American English to refer to what Americans know as a cart, especially a shopping cart the term used in American English to refer to an electric streetcar that is elsewhere known as a tram (also known as light rail) the term also refers... trolley cart or wheeled stand used for conveying something (as food or books) (US: A shopping cart/trolley A shopping cart (also called a buggy, or a trolley in British English; sometimes referred to as a carriage or shopping carriage in the U.S. region of New England) is a cart supplied by a shop, especially a supermarket, for use by customers inside the... shopping cart)
as in off one's trolley, insane
as in trolleyed, very drunk;
trolley car (UK: For specific light rail systems, many of which use the words light rail as part of their name, see list of light rail transit systems. A train of Light Rail, KCRC, Hong Kong. A METRORail train approaching Preston Station in downtown Houston, Texas, USA. The O-Train, the diesel light... tram)
trooper cavalry horse
troopship (obsolete)
rank held by a This article is about the military rank of Private. For alternative meanings see: Private (disambiguation). A Private is a military soldier of the lowest military rank. The term dates from the Middle Ages where Privates were known as Private Soldiers who were either hired, conscripted, or feudalized into service by... private in the The term Household Cavalry is used across the Commonwealth of Nations to describe the cavalry of the Household Divisions. The British Household Cavalry is described below. Australias Federation Guard includes a small ceremonial Household Cavalry unit. Canadas Governor Generals Horse Guards is a pure Household Cavalry regiment... Household Cavalry, The Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army. It provides the armour capability of the British Army, with vehicles such as the Challenger 2 Tank and the Scimitar Reconnaissance Vehicle... Royal Armoured Corps or SAS Cap Badge Official force name Special Air Service Nicknames The Regiment The SAS (British Army phonetic) the sass (discouraged by the unit itself) Motto Who Dares Wins Description Britains main Special Operations Force. Readiness Unknown, but able to deploy counter-terror teams quickly. Specialisations Counter-terrorism, Long-range... SAS
state policeman
trunk A trunk, also known as a travelling chest, is a large cuboid container for holding clothes and other personal belongings, typically about 1.5 metres wide, and 0.5 metres each deep and high. They are most commonly used for extended periods away from home, such as for boarding school... large (person-sized) container (also travelling chest)
primary railway line (trunk line) or road (trunk road)
storage compartment of a car (UK: boot)
A trunk, also known as a travelling chest, is a large cuboid container for holding clothes and other personal belongings, typically about 1.5 metres wide, and 0.5 metres each deep and high. They are most commonly used for extended periods away from home, such as for boarding school... large (person-sized) container (also travelling chest)
tube the London subterranean railway system television
twat an insult applied to someone who is being stupid (considered vulgar by many)
to hit someone or something hard, e.g. "say that again and I'll twat you!"
(+ US meaning)
vulgar term for vagina
tyke an informal, sometimes disparaging, term for someone from This article is about the English county. For other uses, see Yorkshire (disambiguation). Yorkshire as a traditional county. The White Yorkshire rose. Yorkshire is the largest traditional county of England, covering some 6,000 sq. mi. (15,000 km²) with a population of some five million. It is traditonally divided... Yorkshire
(+ US meaning)
term of endearment for a child, like "little rascal"
underground subterranean railway system (US: subway)
(+ US meaning)
subterranean space or channel
vacation the period between university terms (also vac) time off from work or school (UK: holiday)
a recreational trip away from home (UK: holiday)
(+ UK meaning)
valve In electronics, a vacuum tube (American English) or (thermionic) valve (British English) is a device generally used to amplify a signal. Once used in most electronic devices, vacuum tubes are now used only in specialized applications. For most purposes, the vacuum tube has been replaced by the much smaller and... (vacuum) tube, as in pre-1960s electronics (none special)
vest garment, usually sleeveless, worn under a shirt (US: undershirt)
sleeveless garment worn as an only visible top
sleeveless garment worn over a shirt (UK: waistcoat) (e.g. A bulletproof vest – also called body armour (U.S. body armor) – is an article of protective clothing that works as a form of armour to minimize injury from being hit by a fired bullet. They are commonly worn by police forces and the military. The above name is... kevlar vest, which would also be used in UK)
vet In American and Canadian English, a veterinarian (from Latin veterinae, draught animals) is an animal doctor, a practitioner of veterinary medicine. The equivalent term in British English is veterinary surgeon, and both terms are often shortened to vet. The word veterinarian was first coined into the English language by the... veterinarian A veteran refers to a person who is experienced in a particular area, particularly referring to people in the armed forces. (From Latin vetus, meaning old.) Upon leaving the armed forces veterans have needed to find a new place in society. For most of history, dealing with veterans was a... war veteran
(+ UK meaning)
[to] wash up [to] The term wash can mean several things: Cleaning A wash is the act of cleaning. I wash my hands in soapy water. See also: hand washing Painting A wash is a light covering of watercolor on a painting. When painting three-dimensional models, they can be used to add shading... wash the Look up Dish in Wiktionary, the free dictionary For a dish in the sense of a type of prepared food, see recipe. For a dish in the sense of a receptacle for food, see dishware. For dish in the sense of vicious gossip and conversation considered feminine, see camp. For... dishes (more generally, to Clean can refer to: the Clean programming language Hygiene Cleanliness Clean (movie) (2004) Clean animals in the Bible This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. If an article link referred you here, you might want to go... clean after eating food) [to] wash one's Alternate meanings: Hand (disambiguation) A human left hand The hand (med./lat.: manus) is a portion of the arm or anterior limb of a human or other primate, at where the appendage terminates. This part of the limb is especially used in grasping and holding. Each hand is a mirror... hands (more generally, to clean before eating food)
way out the exit from a room, building or site extreme (as in "way out there")
yankee pejorative appellation of anybody from the USA pejorative appellation of someone from the north-eastern states of the USA

  Results from FactBites:
 
American and British English differences - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (9355 words)
Differences between the two include pronunciation, grammar, lexis, spelling, punctuation, idioms, formatting of dates and numbers, and so on, with some words having completely different meanings between the two dialects or even being unknown or not used in one of the dialects.
Americans may use the plural form when the individual membership is clear, for example, "the team take their seats" (not "the team takes its seat(s)"), although it is often rephrased to avoid the singular/plural decision, as in "the team members take their seats".
Most of the differences are in connection with concepts originating from the nineteenth century to the mid twentieth century, where new words were coined independently; almost the entire vocabularies of the car/automobile and railway/railroad industries (see Rail terminology) are different between the UK and America, for example.
American and British English differences at AllExperts (5803 words)
Americans use "billion" to mean one thousand million (1,000,000,000), whereas in Britain, until the latter part of the 20th century, it was almost exclusively used to mean one million million (1,000,000,000,000), with one thousand million sometimes described as a "milliard", the definition adopted by most other European languages.
Most of the differences are in connection with concepts originating from the nineteenth century to the mid twentieth century, where new words were coined independently; almost the entire vocabularies of the car/automobile and railway/railroad industries (see Rail terminology) are different between Britain and America, for example.
Differences in terminology are especially obvious in the context of roads.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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