Dictionary [K]

Word	Definition
kainotophobia	fear of change
kaiserin	wife of a kaiser
kakidrosis	body odour
kakistocracy	government by the worst
kakorrhaphiophobia	fear of failure
kalamkari	fabric coloured by repeated dyeing
kaleidophone	instrument for demonstrating sound waves by lines of light
kalology	study of beauty
kalon	beauty that is more than skin deep
kalpis	a water jar
kalyptra	veil worn by Greek women
kame	steep irregular ridge
kamelaukion	tall cylindrical hat worn by Orthodox priests
kamerad	to surrender
kamik	knee-length sealskin boot
kaneh	Hebrew measure of 6 cubits
kantar	Turkish unit of weight equal to approximately 100 pounds
kantele	Finnish zither
kantikoy	to dance as an act of worship
kapnography	means of producing designs on smoked glass surfaces
karabiner	steel link with clip on side used in mountaineering
karezza	prolonged sex avoiding orgasm
karrozzin	Maltese horse-drawn carriage
karst	rough limestone country with underground drainage
karyokinesis	division of cell nucleus
karyology	study of cell nuclei
karyotype	appearance, number and arrangements of chromosomes
kasha	porridge or gruel-like dish made from crushed buckwheat
katabasis	going down; military retreat
katabothron	underground water-channel
katathermometer	instrument for measuring the cooling power of air
katharometer	instrument measuring changes in composition of gases
kathenotheism	polytheism in which each god is considered single and supreme
katzenjammer	hangover; uproar; clamour
kausia	Macedonian felt hat with broad brim
kava	narcotic drink prepared from Polynesian plant
kazachoc	Slavic fast dance in which dancer squats and kicks out legs alternately
kazatzka	Slavic folk dance performed by a couple
keb	ewe that gives birth to stillborn lamb
kebbie	a shepherd's crook
keck	to retch; to feel disgust
keckle	to protect by binding with rope
ked	wingless fly that feeds on livestock
kedge	small anchor to keep a ship steady
keelhaul	to punish by dragging under keel of ship
keelson	lengthwise wooden or steel beam in ship for bearing stress
keeve	a large tub
kef	state of dreamy or drug-induced repose
keffel	a horse; a nag
keister	burglar's tool kit
keloid	hard scar tissue which grows over injured skin
kelpie	mischievous water spirit
kelt	coarse fabric made of black and white wool
kemb	to comb
kemp	coarse, rough strand of wool
kennebecker	knapsack
kenodoxy	the love or study of vain-glory
kenophobia	fear of empty spaces
kenosis	Christ's rejection of his divine side upon assuming human form
kenotism	doctrine that Christ rid himself of divinity in becoming human
kenspeckle	easily recognizable or distinguishable
kent-bugle	an obsolete keybugle
kente	hand-woven African silk fabric
kentledge	pig-iron used as ballast in ship's hold
kep	to catch an approaching object or falling liquid
kephalonomancy	divination using a baked ass's head
kerasine	horny; made of horn
keratogenic	causing growth of horn, skin or hair
keratometer	instrument for measuring curvature of the cornea
keraunograph	instrument for recording distant thunderstorms
keraunoscopia	divination using thunder
kerf	cut, notch or groove; quantity of something cut at the same time
kermes	brilliant red colour; a red dye derived from insects
kermesse	cycle race held in an urban area
kermis	indoor charity fair
kern	Irish foot-soldier
kern	part of typeface letter that sticks out beyond its body
kern	to granulate
kersey	coarse woollen cloth
kerseymere	twilled fine wool
kerygma	preaching of the Christian gospel
kerygmatic	of, like or pertaining to preaching the Gospel
ket	carrion; matted wool
ketch	small two-masted sailing vessel
ketjak	traditional Balinese dance accompanied by male chorus
kettlestitch	stitch made at head and tail of section of book to connect sections
kex	dry hollow plant stalk
keybugle	bugle with keys
keyline	outline showing shape and position of an illustration
keystone	to double the wholesale price for retail
khaddar	homespun cotton cloth
khor	a dry watercourse; a ravine
kibble	the bucket of a well
kibble	to grind cereal coarsely
kibe	chapped area of skin
kickie-wickie	a wife
kickshaws	a trinket; a cheap, worthless article
kidder	a forestaller; a huckster
kiddle	stake-fence set in stream for catching fish
kidlet	a very little kid
kidology	study of kidding
kier	bleaching vat
kif	drug like marijuana smoked in North Africa
kilderkin	old unit of capacity equal to 1/2 barrel or 18 gallons
kilfud-yoking	a fireside disputation
killas	clay slate
killcow	a bully; a swaggerer
killcrop	greedy insatiable baby; a changeling
killock	small anchor
kilobase	unit of measure of length of nucleic acid chain equal to 1000 base pairs
kinchin	a child
kincob	embroidered silk with gold and silver threads
kindergraph	photograph of a child
kinderspiel	a children's cantata or play
kine	cows
kinematics	study of motion
kinescope	cathode ray tube for a television
kinesics	study of gestural communication
kinetheodolite	theodolite used in tracking missiles and satellites
kinetics	study of forces producing or changing motion
kinetogenic	causing movement
kinetoscope	instrument for producing curves by combination of circular movements
kingpost	perpendicular beam in frame of roof
kinkle	a slight kink
kip	skin of a young animal
kip	unit of weight equivalent to 1000 pounds
kippage	state of displeasure or anger
kir	drink of black currant syrup and white wine
kirking	first attendance of a couple at church after marriage
kirpan	small sword or dagger worn by Sikhs
kirsch	liqueur made from the wild cherry
kirtle	man's or woman's tunic or coat
kish	solid graphite that separates from pig-iron
kismet	fate; destiny
kissel	thickened fruit purée dessert
kistvaen	tomb covered with stone slabs
kit	a small pocket violin
kith	knowledge; one's native land; one's friends
kitthoge	left-handed; awkward
klangfarbe	tone-colour; timbre
klaxon	loud mechanical horn
klendusic	able to withstand disease due to protective mechanism
kleptocracy	government by thieves
klopemania	kleptomania
knackish	cunning; crafty
knag	knot in wood
knarred	gnarled; knotty
knickerbockers	loose breeches gathered in at the knee
knick-knackatory	collection of knick-knacks
knickpoint	discontinuity in river profile due to intersection of new erosion curve
knissomancy	divination using burning incense
knitch	bundle of wood tied together
knobber	a stag in its second year
knop	loop or tuft in yarn
knosp	unopened bud of a flower; ornament shaped like a bud
knout	to flog; to scourge
knubble	to beat with the fists
knur	knob or knot in wood
knurl	small excrescence or protuberance; to make knurls on
koan	nonsensical question given to Buddhist students for contemplation
kobold	spirit of the mines
kohl	eye-shadow; mascara
kohlrabi	variety of cabbage
koine	dialect that spreads to become common language of a region
kolo	Central European folk dance having a ring of dancers
komatik	sled with wooden runners
konimeter	instrument measuring amount of dust in air
koniology	study of atmospheric pollutants and dust
koniscope	instrument for measuring dust in air
kop	bank of terracing at a football field
kora	musical instrument similar to a harp
kore	ancient Greek statue of a draped maiden
koto	obnoxious-sounding Japanese stringed instrument
kouros	statue of a nude male
kraken	legendary sea monster
krasis	addition of water to sacramental wine
kraurosis	shrivelling of the skin
kreatophagia	eating of raw meat
kremlin	a Russian citadel
kreng	whale carcass after blubber is removed
kriegspiel	war-game used to teach strategy
krimmer	tightly curled grey or black lamb's wool
kritarchy	government by judges
krobylos	tuft of hair on the top of the head
krummhorn	ancient double-reed wind instrument
krypsis	doctrine that Christ secretly exercised divine powers
ktenology	science of putting people to death
kumiss	fermented mare's milk
kummel	cumin-flavoured liqueur
kurgan	prehistoric burial mound
kurtosis	relative degree of sharpness of peak of distribution curve
kuru	brain disease transmitted by cannibalism
kvass	Eastern European rye beer
kwashiorkor	tropical disease of infants due to protein deficiency
kyle	narrow strait
kylin	Chinese mythical animal
kyllosis	club foot
kyloe	small long-haired cattle
kymatology	study of wave motion
kymograph	instrument for recording fluid pressure
kyphorrhinos	humped nose
kyphosis	hunchbacked condition
kyrie	religious petition for mercy
kyrielle	string of short lines in stanzas all ending with the same word
kyriolexy	the use of literal expressions

Posted in: English Dictionary