List of words having different meanings in British and American English: M–Z

This is the list of words having different meanings
Meaning (linguistics)
In linguistics, meaning is what is expressed by the writer or speaker, and what is conveyed to the reader or listener, provided that they talk about the same thing . In other words if the object and the name of the object and the concepts in their head are the same...

in British
British English
British English, or English , is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere...

and American English
American English
American English is a set of dialects of the English language used mostly in the United States. Approximately two-thirds of the world's native speakers of English live in the United States....

: M–Z.

For the first portion of the list, see List of words having different meanings in British and American English: A–L.

Asterisked (*) meanings, though found chiefly in the specified region, also have some currency in the other dialect; other definitions may be recognised by the other as Briticisms or Americanisms respectively. Additional usage notes are provided when useful.

M

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
mac	abbr. of raincoat (Mackintosh Mackintosh The Mackintosh or Macintosh is a form of waterproof raincoat, first sold in 1824, made out of rubberised fabric... )	a brand of Apple Inc. computers; abbreviation of Macintosh Macintosh The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a... .	(Slang; proper n.) A term of informal address used with male strangers; generally implies more unfriendliness or disapproval than the more neutral 'pal' or 'buddy': "Get your car out of my way, Mac!" UK generally 'mate'. Cf. 'Jack.'
Mackintosh Mackintosh The Mackintosh or Macintosh is a form of waterproof raincoat, first sold in 1824, made out of rubberised fabric... , Macintosh Macintosh The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a... , or McIntosh	raincoat (Mackintosh Mackintosh The Mackintosh or Macintosh is a form of waterproof raincoat, first sold in 1824, made out of rubberised fabric... , often shortened to mac)	Macintosh Macintosh The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a... , a brand of Apple Inc. computers (often shortened to Mac) (wrongly) McIntosh Red, a type of apple
mad	eccentric *	insane	enraged * very, or a large amount of something (slang, as in "he has mad skills")
mail Mail (disambiguation) Mail is part of a postal system wherein letters, parcels, and packages are delivered to destinations.Mail may also refer to:* E-mail, electronic mail* Mail , a command line e-mail client in Unix...	(used in Royal Mail Royal Mail Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide... , the name of the British postal system; cf. postal) (Scot.) a payment (tax, rent, etc.) (Scot.) a travelling bag or pack	(n.) the postal system of a nation letters, packages, etc. sent by post; as delivered to individual, orig. US, UK often post (n. & v.) e-mail E-mail Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the... , (n.) armour, as in "chainmail"	(v.) send a letter (UK: post or send); noun originated mail carrier & mailman (UK: postman), mailbox (UK: postbox; letter box), mail slot, mail drop, etc.
mailbox	mail box	a file for storing electronic mail (or related computing or voicemail usage)	an item of street furniture serving as a receptacle for outgoing mail (UK: post box; letter box; pillar box); a receptacle for incoming paper mail (UK: letter box)
main line Mainline (disambiguation) Mainline, Main line, or Main Line may refer to:-Railways:* Main line , the principal artery of a railway system* Main Line of Public Works, a railroad and canal system in Pennsylvania...	a major railway line (as the West Coast Main Line West Coast Main Line The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the... ); compare trunk	a major vein (as for drug injection purposes) (orig. 1930s US slang); also used as a v.	a railroad's primary track, or a primary artery, route, road, or connection Pennsylvania Main Line Pennsylvania Main Line The Main Line is an unofficial historical and socio-cultural region of suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, comprising a collection of affluent towns built along the old Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad which ran northwest from downtown Philadelphia parallel to Lancaster Avenue , a road... mainline Protestant churches
mains	The domestic power supply	water mains, the principal underground pipe for conveying water to residential and business properties
major Major (disambiguation) Major is a military rank. The word derives from Latin maior, which means greater. It and its plural majors or the Majors may refer to:* Academic major, the primary focus of a Bachelor's degree, in the United States and some other countries...	(in the past, in English public schools) used to denote the eldest of two or more pupils with the same surname ("Bloggs major") (US: Sr.)	important or significant (n.) rank between captain and Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence... in the army and marines.	(n.) a college/university student's main field of specialization ("his major Academic major In the United States and Canada, an academic major or major concentration is the academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits.... is physics"); the student himself ("he is a physics major"); (v.) to pursue a major ("he majored in physics") (compare minor; UK: compare read) (n.) rank between captain and Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence... in the air force (UK squadron leader Squadron Leader Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these... ) and in some police agencies (UK approx. superintendent Superintendent (police) Superintendent , often shortened to "super", is a rank in British police services and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries the full version is superintendent of police... ).
majority Majority A majority is a subset of a group consisting of more than half of its members. This can be compared to a plurality, which is a subset larger than any other subset; i.e. a plurality is not necessarily a majority as the largest subset may consist of less than half the group's population... (politics Politics Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the... )	the greatest number of votes difference of votes between first and second place (US: plurality)		more than half of all votes (UK: absolute majority)
make out	to snog	to draw up, to seek to make it appear, to fabricate a story to see with difficulty; to understand the meaning of	to kiss (see Making out Making out In human sexuality, making out is a sexual euphemism of American origin dating back to at least 1949, and is used synonymously with the terms necking, heavy petting, and hooking up to refer to non-penetrative sex, though "hooking up" is also used in some cultures to imply casual sex.-History:The... ) to succeed or profit ("She made out well on that deal.") *
manual		(adj.) performed by hand, e.g. "manual labour"; (n.) instruction book (n.) a car with a manual transmission ("I drive a manual.") (US: stick shift, stick)
marinara sauce Marinara Sauce Marinara sauce is a southern Italian tomato sauce usually made with tomatoes, garlic, herbs , and onion. However, there are many variations. Some of these include the addition of capers, olives, anchovies, and/or spices....	a sauce containing seafood Seafood Seafood is any form of marine life regarded as food by humans. Seafoods include fish, molluscs , crustaceans , echinoderms . Edible sea plants, such as some seaweeds and microalgae, are also seafood, and are widely eaten around the world, especially in Asia... , usu. in a tomato base		a sauce containing tomatoes and herbs, with no seafood or meat (UK: napolitana sauce)
marquee	large, open-sided tent installed outdoors for temporary functions *		signage Marquee (sign) A marquee is most commonly a structure placed over the entrance to a hotel or theatre. It has signage stating either the name of the establishment or, in the case of theatres, the play or movie and the artist appearing at that venue... placed over the entrance to a hotel, theatre, or cinema (attrib.) the ability (of a show) to draw audience, "box office" ("marquee value") a prominent celebrity or athlete ("marquee player")
mate	friend (US: pal or friend) informal term of address ("hello mate")	animal's sexual partner checkmate Checkmate Checkmate is a situation in chess in which one player's king is threatened with capture and there is no way to meet that threat. Or, simply put, the king is under direct attack and cannot avoid being captured... , the winning of a game of chess an officer on a merchant ship	spouse or partner
mean (adj.)	stingy, miserly, selfish *	of inferior quality, contemptible a statistical average (see mean Mean In statistics, mean has two related meanings:* the arithmetic mean .* the expected value of a random variable, which is also called the population mean.... )	unpleasant, unkind, vicious *
median		a statistical average (see median Median In probability theory and statistics, a median is described as the numerical value separating the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. The median of a finite list of numbers can be found by arranging all the observations from lowest value to... ) geometric median Geometric median The geometric median of a discrete set of sample points in a Euclidean space is the point minimizing the sum of distances to the sample points. This generalizes the median, which has the property of minimizing the sum of distances for one-dimensional data, and provides a central tendency in higher... median nerve Median nerve The median nerve is a nerve in humans and other animals. It is in the upper limb. It is one of the five main nerves originating from the brachial plexus....	the portion of a divided highway used to separate opposing traffic (UK central reservation)
meet with		to face (as a situation), experience ("If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two impostors just the same" - Kipling Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature... )	to have a meeting with (as people) ("Vice president meets with Iraqi officials", CNN) (UK generally meet* (transitive) or meet up with) http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1535_questionanswer/page69.shtml
mezzanine Mezzanine (architecture) In architecture, a mezzanine or entresol is an intermediate floor between main floors of a building, and therefore typically not counted among the overall floors of a building. Often, a mezzanine is low-ceilinged and projects in the form of a balcony. The term is also used for the lowest balcony in...		intermediate floor between main floors of a building	lowest balcony in a theatre, or the first few rows of seats thereof (UK usu. dress circle)
mid-Atlantic	in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, half-way between UK & US; an English-speaking accent with features of both British and American speakers		middle of the Atlantic coast of the USA (exact definition of Mid-Atlantic States Mid-Atlantic States The Mid-Atlantic states, also called middle Atlantic states or simply the mid Atlantic, form a region of the United States generally located between New England and the South... may vary)
middle class Middle class The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....	better off than 'working class', but not rich, i.e., a narrower term than in the U.S. and often negative		ordinary; not rich although not destitute, generally a positive term
military Military A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...	relating specifically to the British Army British Army The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England... (dated)	relating to armed forces Armed forces The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary... in general	(adj.) relating to any of the individual branches of the armed forces (n.) armed forces
minor	(in the past, in English public schools) used to denote the youngest of two or more pupils with the same surname ("Bloggs minor") (US: Jr.)	not very important see minor (law) Minor (law) In law, a minor is a person under a certain age — the age of majority — which legally demarcates childhood from adulthood; the age depends upon jurisdiction and application, but is typically 18... , major and minor Major and minor In Western music, the adjectives major and minor can describe a musical composition, movement, section, scale, key, chord, or interval.Major and minor are frequently referred to in the titles of classical compositions, especially in reference to the key of a piece.-Intervals and chords:With regard... (n.) a person under the age of 18 years, generally, and for legal reasons more specifically (as in "the name of the defendant is withheld because he is a minor"), or under an age legally required for certain behavior (such as purchasing alcohol), or under the age of consent Age of consent While the phrase age of consent typically does not appear in legal statutes, when used in relation to sexual activity, the age of consent is the minimum age at which a person is considered to be legally competent to consent to sexual acts. The European Union calls it the legal age for sexual... .	(n.) secondary academic subject (compare major) ("has a major in biology and a minor in English"); (v.) to study as one's minor ("she minored in English") minor league Minor league Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in... ;
miss out	to omit	to lose a chance; usu. used with on
mobile Mobile (disambiguation) Mobile often refers to:* Mobile phone, a portable communications device* Mobile, Alabama, a U.S. port city* Mobile , a hanging artwork * Mobility, the ability to move or be movedMobile may also refer to:-Technology:... (n.)	mobile phone Mobile phone A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...	decorative structure suspended so as to turn freely in the air	(US: cell phone)
mobile home Mobile home Mobile homes or static caravans are prefabricated homes built in factories, rather than on site, and then taken to the place where they will be occupied...	a mobile, non-motorised piece of equipment with living facilities; a caravan (q.v.)		a type of manufactured dwelling transported to the home site using wheels attached to the structure
momentarily		for a moment	in a moment; very soon
mono		(adj.) monophonic Monophony In music, monophony is the simplest of textures, consisting of melody without accompanying harmony. This may be realized as just one note at a time, or with the same note duplicated at the octave . If the entire melody is sung by two voices or a choir with an interval between the notes or in... (of reproduced sound, e.g. radio or CD player using a single speaker) monochrome Monochrome Monochrome describes paintings, drawings, design, or photographs in one color or shades of one color. A monochromatic object or image has colors in shades of limited colors or hues. Images using only shades of grey are called grayscale or black-and-white...	(n.) infectious mononucleosis Infectious mononucleosis Infectious mononucleosis is an infectious, widespread viral... , a disease caused by Epstein-Barr virus Epstein-Barr virus The Epstein–Barr virus , also called human herpesvirus 4 , is a virus of the herpes family and is one of the most common viruses in humans. It is best known as the cause of infectious mononucleosis... (UK: glandular fever)
moot		(adj.) debatable ("a moot point") (v.) to bring up for debate (these meanings are fading from use in US English) see also moot court Moot court A moot court is an extracurricular activity at many law schools in which participants take part in simulated court proceedings, usually to include drafting briefs and participating in oral argument. The term derives from Anglo Saxon times, when a moot was a gathering of prominent men in a...	(adj.) irrelevant ("a moot point") (orig. legal Mootness In American law, a matter is moot if further legal proceedings with regard to it can have no effect, or events have placed it beyond the reach of the law... , now in common use) (v.) to make irrelevant (incorrect/uneducated usage)
mortuary (n.)	building or room (as in a hospital) for the storage of human remains (US: morgue Morgue A morgue or mortuary is used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, or removal for autopsy or disposal by burial, cremation or otherwise... )		funeral home Funeral home A funeral home, funeral parlor or mortuary, is a business that provides burial and funeral services for the deceased and their families. These services may include aprepared wake and funeral, and the provision of a chapel for the funeral.... , funeral parlour
motorbike	a motorcycle Motorcycle A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...		a lightweighted, small motorcycle
motor car, motorcar	(formal) a car (motor vehicle) (US: automobile Automobile An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor... )		a self-propelled railway vehicle
MP	Member of Parliament Member of Parliament A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...	Military police Military police Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:... other expansions	Northern Mariana Islands Northern Mariana Islands The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , is a commonwealth in political union with the United States, occupying a strategic region of the western Pacific Ocean. It consists of 15 islands about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines... (ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code and U.S. postal abbreviation MP) Missouri Pacific Railroad Missouri Pacific Railroad The Missouri Pacific Railroad , also known as the MoPac, was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. MoPac was a Class I railroad growing from dozens of predecessors and mergers, including the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway , Texas and Pacific...
muffin	a thick round baked yeast roll, usually toasted and served with butter (US: English muffin)		a confection similar to a cupcake but unfrosted and less sweet, sometimes even savory (e.g., corn muffin) *(UK: American muffin Muffin A muffin is an American English name for a type of quick bread that is baked in small portions. Many forms are somewhat like small cakes or cupcakes in shape, although they usually are not as sweet as cupcakes and generally lack frosting. Savory varieties, such as cornbread muffins, also exist... )
muffler Muffler (disambiguation) A muffler is a device for reducing the amount of noise emitted by a machine. "Muffler" may also refer to:A scarfA silencer fitted to a gun, known as a suppressorDJ Muffler, a Finnish drum and bass musician. muffle...		a scarf Scarf A scarf is a piece of fabric worn around the neck, or near the head or around the waist for warmth, cleanliness, fashion or for religious reasons. They can come in a variety of different colours.-History:...	device to silence an automobile (UK: silencer Muffler A muffler is a device for reducing the amount of noise emitted by the exhaust of an internal combustion engine. A US Patent for an Exhaust muffler for engines was granted to Milton and Marshall Reeves in 1897.... ) or gramophone
mum	mother Mother A mother, mum, mom, momma, or mama is a woman who has raised a child, given birth to a child, and/or supplied the ovum that grew into a child. Because of the complexity and differences of a mother's social, cultural, and religious definitions and roles, it is challenging to specify a universally... , as addressed or referred to by her child (US: mom)		silent, as in "keep mum"
mummy	mother Mother A mother, mum, mom, momma, or mama is a woman who has raised a child, given birth to a child, and/or supplied the ovum that grew into a child. Because of the complexity and differences of a mother's social, cultural, and religious definitions and roles, it is challenging to specify a universally... , as addressed or referred to by her child (US: mommy)	Ancient Egyptian mummy Mummy A mummy is a body, human or animal, whose skin and organs have been preserved by either intentional or incidental exposure to chemicals, extreme coldness , very low humidity, or lack of air when bodies are submerged in bogs, so that the recovered body will not decay further if kept in cool and dry... , a chemically preserved corpse any preserved corpse (Mexican mumia)

N

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
napkin Napkin (disambiguation) * A napkin or serviette is a rectangle of cloth or paper used at the table for wiping the mouth and/or fingers while eating.* The word napkin is also an uncommon term for sanitary napkin ....	nappy (q.v.), diaper Diaper A nappy or a diaper is a kind of pant that allows one to defecate or urinate on oneself discreetly. When diapers become soiled, they require changing; this process is often performed by a second person such as a parent or caregiver... (dated, not well known)	piece of material used to protect garments from spilled food or to remove food residues from around the mouth [formerly esp. US; alternative UK term serviette is obsolescent]	piece of paper used to protect garments, (oftenest, sanitary napkin Sanitary napkin A sanitary napkin, sanitary towel, sanitary pad, menstrual pad, maxi pad, or pad is an absorbent item worn by a woman while she is menstruating, recovering from vaginal surgery, for lochia , abortion, or any other situation where it is necessary to absorb a flow of blood from a woman's vagina.These... ) absorbent piece of material worn by a woman while menstruating (UK usu. sanitary towel*)
nappy	folded cloth or other absorbent material drawn up between the legs and fastened around the waist, usu. worn by infants to counter incontinence Fecal incontinence Fecal incontinence is the loss of regular control of the bowels. Involuntary excretion and leaking are common occurrences for those affected. Subjects relating to defecation are often socially unacceptable, thus those affected may be beset by feelings of shame and humiliation... (US: diaper)		twisted or kinked, considered insulting when applied to hair, esp. that of persons of African descent (also called napped)
nasty		unsightly, disgusting	(do the nasty) (slang) have sex
natter	Idle, pleasant chatter (US: small talk, chitchat)		(natter on) Constant, annoying chatter
nervy	nervous, fidgety *		bold, presumptuous
NHS	The National Health Service National Health Service The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom... , a government-run health care plan funded by British taxpayers and available to all citizens.		The National Honor Society National Honor Society The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries... , an American scholastic organization open to high schoolers (in grades 10 - 12, see grade) who excel in academics, leadership skills, citizenship, and character.
nick	prison or police station (slang) to steal (slang) to arrest (slang)	small cut (computer jarg.) nickname
nickel		the metallic element (Ni)	5 cent coin Nickel (United States coin) The nickel is a five-cent coin, representing a unit of currency equaling five hundredths of one United States dollar. A later-produced Canadian nickel five-cent coin was also called by the same name.... (also 'nickle') five dollars (slang)
nonplussed		bewildered, unsure how to respond	unfazed (incorrect usage)
nonce	a sex offender; in particular, a child molestor (slang)	the present moment a word used only once a single-use token in a cryptographic protocol
nor	neither ("'She didn't come.' 'Nor did he.'") (Scotland & Ireland) than ("someone better nor me")	and not, or (not) ("neither sad nor happy"; "he never eats, nor does he ever feel hungry")
notion		concept, conception, inclination	(pl.) small items and accessories, esp. for sewing Sewing Sewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the Paleolithic era... (UK: haberdasher Haberdasher A haberdasher is a person who sells small articles for sewing, such as buttons, ribbons, zips, and other notions. In American English, haberdasher is another term for a men's outfitter. A haberdasher's shop or the items sold therein are called haberdashery.-Origin and use:The word appears in... y, q.v.); hence notion store, notion counter, etc.

O

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
office Office An office is generally a room or other area in which people work, but may also denote a position within an organization with specific duties attached to it ; the latter is in fact an earlier usage, office as place originally referring to the location of one's duty. When used as an adjective, the...	(cap.) a government department ("Colonial Office Colonial Office Colonial Office is the government agency which serves to oversee and supervise their colony* Colonial Office - The British Government department* Office of Insular Affairs - the American government agency* Reichskolonialamt - the German Colonial Office... ", "Foreign and Commonwealth Office Foreign and Commonwealth Office The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the... ") (pl.) the outbuildings and dependencies of a dwelling (as an estate)	a place of business; a position or function a particular division of an administrative unit ("Patent Office Patent office A patent office is a governmental or intergovernmental organization which controls the issue of patents. In other words, "patent offices are government bodies that may grant a patent or reject the patent application based on whether or not the application fulfils the requirements for... ")	the place where a physician or dentist practises (UK: surgery)
optician Optician An optician is a person who is trained to fill prescriptions for eye correction in the field of medicine, also known as a dispensing optician or optician, dispensing...	(dispensing optician) professional who dispenses lenses and spectacles (ophthalmic optician) professional who tests eyes and prescribes lenses (US: optometrist)		professional who dispenses lenses and spectacles
optometrist		ophthalmic optician	in the U.S., optometrist and ophthalmologist are separate, optician Optician An optician is a person who is trained to fill prescriptions for eye correction in the field of medicine, also known as a dispensing optician or optician, dispensing... s are the same as UK dispensing opticians Optician An optician is a person who is trained to fill prescriptions for eye correction in the field of medicine, also known as a dispensing optician or optician, dispensing...
Oriental	a person from East/SouthEast Asia. Contrast 'Asian', meaning a person from South Asia.	a thing from Asia e.g. "Oriental Carpet".	a person from anywhere in Asia, other than Western Asia or Russia. Considered pejorative. Polite US speakers use Asian instead, even for people from China and Korea.
ouster	a person who ousts		the act of forcing the removal of someone from a position of influence or power
outside lane	the part of the road nearest the vehicles going in the opposite direction, used especially by faster vehicles (US: inside lane)	(in both cases the term applies to the rightmost lane in the direction concerned)	the part of the road nearest the edge, used especially by slower-moving vehicles (UK: inside lane)
overall Overall An overall, coverall, over all, or dungarees, is a type of garment which is usually used as protective clothing when working... (n.)	loose-fitting protective outer garment (US: coverall)		(in pl.) sturdy protective bib trousers; dungarees, bib overalls

P

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
pacifier		something or somebody that brings peace	rubber teat for babies (UK: dummy)
panda	police car Panda car The phrase panda car refers to a small or medium-sized police car operated by British police forces. They are used for ordinary patrol work, with larger and more powerful vehicles being used for emergency response, Road Policing Unit duties and as Armed Response Vehicles-History of the term:Panda... (slang) (US: zebra, black-and-white)	Type of animal (black and white), e.g. Giant Panda Giant Panda The giant panda, or panda is a bear native to central-western and south western China. It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the panda's diet is 99% bamboo... , Red Panda Red Panda The red panda , is a small arboreal mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It is the only species of the genus Ailurus. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, it has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs...
pantomime Pantomime Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...	traditional Christmas time holiday theatre		silent acting, usu. without props, by mime artist Mime artist A mime artist is someone who uses mime as a theatrical medium or as a performance art, involving miming, or the acting out a story through body motions, without use of speech. In earlier times, in English, such a performer was referred to as a mummer... (UK: mime)
pants	underpants Underpants -Boxer shorts:Boxer shorts, or simply boxers, have an elasticated waistband that is at or near the wearer's waist, while the leg sections are fairly loose and extend to the mid-thigh. There is usually a fly, either with or without buttons... (also briefs Briefs Briefs are a type of short, tight underwear and swimwear, as opposed to styles where the material extends down the legs.In the case of men's underwear, briefs, unlike boxer shorts, hold the wearer's genitals in a relatively fixed position, which make briefs a popular underwear choice for men who... or boxers Boxer shorts Boxer shorts are a type of undergarment worn by men. The term has been used in English since 1944 for all-around-elastic shorts, so named after the shorts worn by boxers, for whom unhindered leg movement is very important.Reasons for a preference for boxers can be attributed to their variety of... ) of poor quality (slang) (of a situation) bad, unfortunate (slang). Although refers to trousers in parts of Northern England.		usually, any trousers Trousers Trousers are an item of clothing worn on the lower part of the body from the waist to the ankles, covering both legs separately... , exc. in "to get into her pants", etc., in which it denotes women's underclothing* (wear the pants in the family) be masculine, be the breadwinner, perform the husband's role (derog.) (spoken esp. of a wife, usage becoming obsolete)
paraffin Paraffin In chemistry, paraffin is a term that can be used synonymously with "alkane", indicating hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2. Paraffin wax refers to a mixture of alkanes that falls within the 20 ≤ n ≤ 40 range; they are found in the solid state at room temperature and begin to enter the...	kerosene Kerosene Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...		a wax Wax thumb\|right\|[[Cetyl palmitate]], a typical wax ester.Wax refers to a class of chemical compounds that are plastic near ambient temperatures. Characteristically, they melt above 45 °C to give a low viscosity liquid. Waxes are insoluble in water but soluble in organic, nonpolar solvents... y fraction of petroleum Petroleum Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling... commonly used to make candle Candle A candle is a solid block or cylinder of wax with an embedded wick, which is lit to provide light, and sometimes heat.Today, most candles are made from paraffin. Candles can also be made from beeswax, soy, other plant waxes, and tallow... s (UK: paraffin wax)
paralytic	extremely drunk (slang)	relating to or affected by paralysis
park Park A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...	a tract of ground kept in its natural state, about or adjacent to a residence, as for the preservation of game, for walking, riding, or the like (esp. Scotland) a pasture or field area for the parking of motor vehicles ("a car park") (sports) a soccer or rugby field see also country park Country park A country park is an area designated for people to visit and enjoy recreation in a countryside environment.-History:In the United Kingdom the term 'Country Park' has a special meaning. There are over 400 Country Parks in England alone . Most Country Parks were designated in the 1970s, under the...	outdoor area for recreational uses ("Central Park Central Park Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan... ", "Hyde Park Hyde Park, London Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine... ") national park National park A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or... (orig. US)	any of various areas designated for certain purposes , such as amusement park Amusement park thumb\|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people... , theme park, industrial park Industrial park An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development... , trailer park Trailer park A trailer park is a semi-permanent or permanent area for mobile homes or travel trailers. The main reasons for living in such trailer parks are the often lower cost compared to other housing, and the ability to move to a new area more quickly and easily, for example when changing jobs to another... , memorial park* (a cemetery) (sports) enclosed ground for ball games, oftenest the baseball park Baseball park A baseball park, also known as a baseball stadium, ball park, or ballpark is a venue where baseball is played. It consists of the playing field and the surrounding spectator seating... a level valley among the mountains (as the Rocky Mountains Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States... ); also, an area of open grassland, or one for cultivation, esp. if among the woods
parking		the act of parking Parking Parking is the act of stopping a vehicle and leaving it unoccupied for more than a brief time. Parking on one or both sides of a road is commonly permitted, though often with restrictions... (a vehicle)	To engage in romantic intimacy in a parked vehicle. (regional) turf strip between sidewalk and street (many regional synonyms exist; there is no standard name).
parkway	a railway station with parking areas intended for commuters		generally, an open landscaped limited-access highway (q.v.) (see article Parkway The term parkway has several distinct principal meanings and numerous synonyms around the world, for either a type of landscaped area or a type of road.Type of landscaped area:... ) regional term for parking (q.v.)
pass out	to graduate from a training centre of a disciplined service (military, police etc.)	to become unconscious	to die (esp. a car or other machine) * to distribute *
patience	any of a family of one-player card games (US: solitaire, q.v.)	the quality of being patient
pavement	a paved strip at the side of a road, reserved for pedestrians (US: sidewalk)		the road surface *
PC	police constable	politically correct Political correctness Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,... personal computer Personal computer A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator... other expansions
pecker	courage, pluck (slang, used in the phrase "keep your pecker up", remain cheerful)		penis (slang)
peckish	slightly hungry, snackish *		irritable or angry (rare)
peg	(n.) (often clothes peg) a wooden or plastic device for fastening laundry on a clothesline (US: clothespin) (v.) to fasten (laundry) on a clothesline	(n.) a cylindrical wooden, metal etc. object used to fasten or as a bearing between objects (v.) to fix or pin down (v.) to hit with a projectile	(n.) a throw (as in baseball Baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond... ) (v.) to identify or classify (as someone) *
penny Penny A penny is a coin or a type of currency used in several English-speaking countries. It is often the smallest denomination within a currency system.-Etymology:...	(pl. pence, or, when referring to coins, pennies) 1/100 (formerly, 1/240) of the Pound Sterling Pound sterling The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence... [listed here to reflect ordinary usage]	a small amount usu. in contrast to a larger one ("Penny wise, Pound foolish", common phrase in both British and American usage)	(pl. pennies) a cent Cent (currency) In many national currencies, the cent is a monetary unit that equals 1⁄100 of the basic monetary unit. Etymologically, the word cent derives from the Latin word "centum" meaning hundred. Cent also refers to a coin which is worth one cent.... (esp. the coin) (penny-ante) trivial, small-time.
period		section of time menstruation Menstruation Menstruation is the shedding of the uterine lining . It occurs on a regular basis in sexually reproductive-age females of certain mammal species. This article focuses on human menstruation.-Overview:... row of the periodic table Periodic table The periodic table of the chemical elements is a tabular display of the 118 known chemical elements organized by selected properties of their atomic structures. Elements are presented by increasing atomic number, the number of protons in an atom's atomic nucleus...	punctuation mark used at the end of a sentence (interj.) used at the end of a statement to emphasise its finality ("You are not going to that concert, period!") (UK: full stop* for both senses)
pint Pint The pint is a unit of volume or capacity that was once used across much of Europe with values varying from state to state from less than half a litre to over one litre. Within continental Europe, the pint was replaced with the metric system during the nineteenth century...	about 6/5 of US measure, 20 Imperial fluid ounces (19.2 US fl. oz.), 568 ml pint of beer, lager or cider ("Pour us a pint")		about 5/6 of British (Imperial) measure, 16 US fluid ounces (16.65 Imperial fl. oz), 473 ml
piss	(on the piss) drinking heavily, going out for the purpose of drinking heavily (to take the piss) to mock (to piss off) to go away	urine Urine Urine is a typically sterile liquid by-product of the body that is secreted by the kidneys through a process called urination and excreted through the urethra. Cellular metabolism generates numerous by-products, many rich in nitrogen, that require elimination from the bloodstream... (usu. vulgar) urinate (usu. vulgar) low-quality beer (vulgar) (to piss off) to incite to anger, to enrage
pissed	intoxicated, drunk(often pissed as a newt; sometimes pissed up*)	urinated (usu. vulgar) (pissed off) angry, irritated (US: usu. just pissed)	angry, irritated
pitch	outdoor site for a stall or some other business site for a tent Tent A tent is a shelter consisting of sheets of fabric or other material draped over or attached to a frame of poles or attached to a supporting rope. While smaller tents may be free-standing or attached to the ground, large tents are usually anchored using guy ropes tied to stakes or tent pegs... (US: campsite, q.v.) playing field for a particular sport (football pitch, rugby pitch, cricket pitch, etc.) (US: field)	an attempt to persuade somebody to do something, usu. to accept a business proposal a sticky black substance obtained from tar the slope of a roof rotation on a lateral axis (as an aircraft or spacecraft) the frequency of a sound to erect a tent to discard (in various card games, e.g., bridge Contract bridge Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table... )	in baseball, the delivery of a baseball by a pitcher to a batter "pitching a tent" (slang): to have an erection Erection Penile erection is a physiological phenomenon where the penis becomes enlarged and firm. Penile erection is the result of a complex interaction of psychological, neural, vascular and endocrine factors, and is usually, though not exclusively, associated with sexual arousal... (describes the shape of the fabric covering one) (slang) to dispose a brief summary of a broader work or idea meant to be attractive to a third party e.g. "What's the pitch?"
pitcher	a large container (often earthenware), usually round with a narrow neck, used for holding water or another liquid http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=60269&dict=CALD (US: jug)		any container with a handle and lip or spout for liquidshttp://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=43040&dict=CALD (UK: jug) baseball player who pitches (throws) baseball towards the batter (UK: bowler*) (LGBT slang, from baseball) a top or dominant partner
pitman	a miner Miner A miner is a person whose work or business is to extract ore or minerals from the earth. Mining is one of the most dangerous trades in the world. In some countries miners lack social guarantees and in case of injury may be left to cope without assistance.... working in a pit	the man that stands in a pit when sawing timber (with another man standing above)	a connecting rod Connecting rod In a reciprocating piston engine, the connecting rod or conrod connects the piston to the crank or crankshaft. Together with the crank, they form a simple mechanism that converts linear motion into rotating motion.... (as in a sawmill Sawmill A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end.... ) a master barbecuer, the person responsible for managing a barbecue Barbecue Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of... pit.
plant	machinery, industrial equipment	a vegetable organism, a factory
plaster	an adhesive bandage placed on a minor cut or scrape (UK also: sticking/sticky plaster, Elastoplast Elastoplast Elastoplast is a trademark name of a brand of adhesive bandages and medical dressings made by Beiersdorf. Beiersdorf bought UK and Commonwealth rights from the parent company, Smith & Nephew in 1992 for £46.5 million. It has become a genericized trademark for "sticking plaster" in some... ; US: Band-Aid Band-Aid Band-Aid is a brand name for Johnson & Johnson's line of adhesive bandages and related products. It has also become a genericized trademark for any adhesive bandage in Australia, Brazil, Canada, India and the United States.... ); a cast of plaster of Paris ("a leg in plaster")	a pastelike mixture that hardens when applied to walls and ceilings; plastered - drunk
plimsoll, plimsol, plimsole.	noun: a rubber-soled cloth shoe; a sneaker.	waterline to show the level the water should reach when the ship is properly loaded [syn: load line], named after Samuel Plimsoll Samuel Plimsoll Samuel Plimsoll was a British politician and social reformer, now best remembered for having devised the Plimsoll line .-Early life:Plimsoll was born in Bristol and soon moved to Whiteley Wood...
point	(pl.) railway turnout (US: switch Railroad switch A railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction.... ) (power point) electrical socket (US: outlet) cape or promontory jutting into sea (full point) syn. with full stop* (q.v.)	(see article)	piece of land jutting into any body of water, esp. a river ("points and bends"); a prominence or peak (of mountains, hills, rocks), also an extremity of woods or timber
pontoon	blackjack Blackjack Blackjack, also known as Twenty-one or Vingt-et-un , is the most widely played casino banking game in the world... , twenty-one	a buoyant device Pontoon (boat) A pontoon is a flotation device with buoyancy sufficient to float itself as well as a heavy load. A pontoon boat is a flattish boat that relies on pontoons to float. Pontoons may be used on boats, rafts, barges, docks, floatplanes or seaplanes. Pontoons may support a platform, creating a raft. A...
pop	to place or put ("I popped the book on the table")	a sharp explosive sound pop music Pop music Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop... carbonated soft drink (US usage is regional; also: soda, soda pop) (pop in) to arrive unexpectedly	father (colloquial) (v.) to kill (n.) a sudden increase (as in price) (orig. Stock exchange Stock exchange A stock exchange is an entity that provides services for stock brokers and traders to trade stocks, bonds, and other securities. Stock exchanges also provide facilities for issue and redemption of securities and other financial instruments, and capital events including the payment of income and... ) *
porter	doorman Doorman (profession) A doorman is an individual hired to provide courtesy and security services at a residential building or hotel. They are particularly common in urban luxury highrises. At a residential building, a doorman is responsible for opening doors and screening visitors and deliveries... , gatekeeper Gatekeeper Gatekeeper or gatekeeping may refer to:* Gatekeeper , a professional boxer who is considered a test for aspiring boxers* Gatekeeping , a person or organization who manages or constrains a flow of knowledge... , or building maintenance worker *	bearer of burdens Porter (carrier) A porter, also called a bearer, is a person who shifts objects for others.-Historical meaning:Human adaptability and flexibility early led to the use of humans for shifting gear... a style Porter (beer) Porter is a dark-coloured style of beer. The history and development of stout and porter are intertwined. The name was first used in the 18th century from its popularity with the street and river porters of London. It is generally brewed with dark malts... of beer Beer Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...	railway sleeping car Sleeping car The sleeping car or sleeper is a railway/railroad passenger car that can accommodate all its passengers in beds of one kind or another, primarily for the purpose of making nighttime travel more restful. The first such cars saw sporadic use on American railroads in the 1830s and could be configured... attendant
post (v.)	to send a letter (US: mail*)	to display on a noticeboard or bulletin board, Internet Internet The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide... forum, etc.	to announce ("the company posted a first-quarter profit of $100 million") to inform ("keep me posted") *
postal		related to the paper mail Mail Mail, or post, is a system for transporting letters and other tangible objects: written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through the postal system is called mail or post.In principle, a postal service... system	(used in the name of the United States Postal Service United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States... ; see mail) (going postal Going postal Going postal, in American English slang, means becoming extremely and uncontrollably angry, often to the point of violence, and usually in a workplace environment.... ) to commit a sudden, irrational burst of rage (slang)
pound sign Pound sign The pound sign is the symbol for the pound sterling—the currency of the United Kingdom . The same symbol is used for similarly named currencies in some other countries and territories, such as the Irish pound, Gibraltar pound, Australian pound and the Italian lira...		symbol of the Pound Sterling Pound sterling The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence... (£) (GBP)	number sign Number sign Number sign is a name for the symbol #, which is used for a variety of purposes including, in some countries, the designation of a number... , octothorpe (#) (UK: hash sign)
precinct Precinct A precinct is a space enclosed by the walls or other boundaries of a particular place or building, or by an arbitrary and imaginary line drawn around it. The term has several different uses...	a pedestrian Pedestrian A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates or skateboards are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case... zone in a city or town ("a shopping precinct")	a space enclosed (as by walls)	subdivision of a county, town, etc. for the purpose of conducting elections section of a city patrolled by a police unit; the police station in such a section
prep(aratory) school	(in England) fee-paying private junior school (which prepares pupils for public school)		fee-paying private senior school (which prepares pupils for university) (UK: public school or independent school Independent school An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the... )
pressman, presswoman	a journalist Journalist A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A... employed by a newspaper (US: newspaperman/newspaperwoman (rare), or by specific job)		one who operates a printing press Printing press A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
pressurise (UK), pressurize (US & UK)	insistently influence, or attempt to influence, someone else ("The manager pressurised his assistant to work late") (US & UK also: pressure)	subject a volume of gas or liquid to physical pressure, as the atmospheric pressure within an aircraft ("To protect the Aircraft's structure, the plane was pressurized to 8000 ft.")
proctor Proctor Proctor, a variant of the word procurator, is a person who takes charge of, or acts for, another. The word proctor is frequently used to describe someone who oversees an exam or dormitory.The title is used in England in three principal senses:...	variant of the word procurator, is a person who takes charge or acts for another.		an examination supervisor (UK: invigilator)
professor Professor A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...	holder of a chair in a university University A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education... , the highest academic rank (the usual order being Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Reader, Professor)		academic faculty Faculty (university) A faculty is a division within a university comprising one subject area, or a number of related subject areas... of all ranks: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and (Full) Professor (the latter being largely equivalent to the UK meaning)
project Project A project in business and science is typically defined as a collaborative enterprise, frequently involving research or design, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim. Projects can be further defined as temporary rather than permanent social systems that are constituted by teams...		a plan; a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique product or service	publicly subsidised usu. low-income housing development – see public housing Public housing Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the... (UK: cf. s.v. estate)
prom Prom In the United States and Canada, a prom, short for promenade, is a formal dance, or gathering of high school students. It is typically held near the end of the senior year. It figures greatly in popular culture and is a major event among high school students...	shortening of 'promenade concert', originally one of a series of concerts (The Proms The Proms The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London... ) held as part of a classical music festival that takes place in the late summer based around the Royal Albert Hall Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941.... in London, but now also used elsewhere shortening of 'promenade', a raised walk next to the beach in seaside resorts		dance/party held for pupils to celebrate the end of a school year/graduation, a shortening of 'promenade', a formal parade *
protest Protest A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations... (v.t.)		to forcefully express an opinion, to advocate: "The prisoner protested his innocence."	to campaign or demonstrate against: "The prisoner's friends protested the judge's decision." (UK: protest against)
public school	long-established and prestigious fee-paying independent school Independent school An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the... in England England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... or Wales Wales Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²... (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) *(also in Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... & Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west... )
pud	short for pudding, especially in "Christmas pud"		slang term for penis (from 'pudendum')
pudding	dessert course of a meal a heavy dessert or main course (e.g. steak and kidney pudding Steak and kidney pudding Steak and kidney pudding is a savoury pudding made by enclosing diced steak and beef, lamb's or pig's kidney pieces in gravy in a suet pastry.... ), often suet Suet Suet is raw beef or mutton fat, especially the hard fat found around the loins and kidneys.Suet has a melting point of between 45° and 50°C and congelation between 37° and 40°C.... -based used in the name of some other savoury dishes (e.g. black pudding, pease pudding Pease pudding Pease pudding, sometimes known as pease pottage or pease porridge, is a boiled vegetable product, which mainly consists of split yellow or Carlin peas, water, salt, and spices, often cooked with a bacon or ham joint... )		a creamy dessert term of affection
pull	to persuade someone to be one's date or sex partner (slang) (on the pull) seeking a date or sex partner (slang)	to move something towards oneself an injury to a muscle, tendon, or ligament, e.g. "I've pulled my hamstring Hamstring In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the... ."	to carry out a task (esp. milit.) ("to pull guard duty") authority, influence ("He's got pull in that office.") (pull rank) the act of a supervisor exercising authority over a subordinate.
pull off	(of a vehicle) to start moving	to succeed in a task
pump (shoe) Pump (disambiguation) A pump is a mechanical device used to move fluids and slurries.Pump may also refer to:Pump A technique in skateboardingPump or Antlia, an eighteenth-century faint constellation in the southern sky*Laser pumping...	(regional) a plimsoll Plimsoll shoe A plimsoll shoe, plimsoll, or plimsole is a British English word for a type of athletic shoe with a canvas upper and rubber sole, developed as beachwear in the 1830s by the Liverpool Rubber Company. The shoe was originally, and often still is in parts of the United Kingdom, called a 'sand shoe' and... (US: sneaker)	the word (of unknown origin) has variously denoted a pantofle, a low thin sole shoe, a formal men's shoe (Reebok Pump Reebok Pump The Reebok Pump is a line of athletic shoes that was popular in the early 1990s. It was the first shoe to have an internal inflation mechanism that regulated a unique fitting cushion in two versions: the lower tongue; and also in the upper to provide locking around the ankle.-History:The original... ) a brand of athletic shoe with an internal inflation mechanism	usu. women's high(ish) heeled shoe (UK similar: court shoe Court shoe Court shoes or pumps are shoes with a low-cut front and usually without a fastening. However, some have ankle straps... , q.v.)
punk		follower of Punk rock Punk rock Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...	worthless person; from conventional societal perspective any young outlaw or tough; from perspective of outlaws and others valuing physical fighting, a coward to play a prank or practical joke on someone
purse Coin purse A coin purse is a small money bag or pouch, similar to a wallet, but typically used by women and include a compartment for coins. In some countries, it is known simply as a purse...	feminine money container or wallet (US: coin purse)	in boxing etc., the money to be awarded in a prize fight	handbag
pussy		a cat (becoming less common in the US, due to the other meanings) Slang term for vagina Vagina The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...	a weakling
pylon	electricity pylon Electricity pylon A transmission tower is a tall structure, usually a steel lattice tower, used to support an overhead power line. They are used in high-voltage AC and DC systems, and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes... , part of an electric power transmission Electric power transmission Electric-power transmission is the bulk transfer of electrical energy, from generating power plants to Electrical substations located near demand centers... network (US: mast* or transmission tower)	A large architectural feature, usually found as one of a pair at the entrance to ancient Egyptian temples - see Pylon (architecture) Pylon (architecture) Pylon is the Greek term for a monumental gateway of an Egyptian temple It consists of two tapering towers, each surmounted by a cornice, joined by a less elevated section which enclosed the entrance between them. The entrance was generally about half the height of the towers...	traffic cone Traffic cone Traffic cones, also called traffic pylons, road cones, highway cones, safety cones, construction cones or witches' hats or safety wizards, are usually cone-shaped markers that are placed on roads or footpaths to temporarily redirect traffic in a safe manner... ; temporary traffic lane separator. support structure for suspension bridge Suspension bridge A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century... or highway Highway A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...

Q

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
quart	1/4 (UK) gallon or 2 (UK) pint Pint The pint is a unit of volume or capacity that was once used across much of Europe with values varying from state to state from less than half a litre to over one litre. Within continental Europe, the pint was replaced with the metric system during the nineteenth century... s. Liquid measure approximately 1.136 litres (6/5 of an American quart).		1/4 (US) gallon United States customary units United States customary units are a system of measurements commonly used in the United States. Many U.S. units are virtually identical to their imperial counterparts, but the U.S. customary system developed from English units used in the British Empire before the system of imperial units was... or 2 (US) pint Pint The pint is a unit of volume or capacity that was once used across much of Europe with values varying from state to state from less than half a litre to over one litre. Within continental Europe, the pint was replaced with the metric system during the nineteenth century... s. Liquid measure equal to 0.946 litres (5/6 of a British quart).
		one of four equal parts into which something is divided, as a quarter hour or, especially for financial purposes, a quarter of a year; in generic usage (as in fractions), US usu. fourth	25 cents (a fourth of a dollar)
queue	a group of persons, usually waiting for something, arranged in order of arrival (US: line*)	an ordered sequence of objects, from which the first one in is also the first one out (cf. Queue (data structure))
quid	colloquial term for pound sterling Pound sterling The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence... (plural is quid also; in Ireland it can refer to the punt Irish pound The Irish pound was the currency of Ireland until 2002. Its ISO 4217 code was IEP, and the usual notation was the prefix £... or Euro Euro The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,... ) (related US: buck Dollar The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:... )	a measure (mouthful) of chewing tobacco Chewing tobacco Chewing tobacco Chewing tobacco Chewing tobacco (also known colloquially as hoobastank, backy, tobac, doogooos,Hogleg, chewpoos, chits, chewsky, chawsky, dip, flab, chowers, guy, or a wad, as well as referred to as dipsky, snuff, a pinch, a yopper, a Packing a bomb, a tobbackey or packing a...
quite	to some extent or degree, e.g. in the phrase "quite good" meaning "mediocre, acceptable" or "good, well done" (a meiotic Meiosis (figure of speech) In rhetoric, meiosis is a euphemistic figure of speech that intentionally understates something or implies that it is lesser in significance or size than it really is. Meiosis is the opposite of auxesis, and also sometimes used as a synonym for litotes... usage, depending on voice intonation) agreeing with a given statement, often expressing reluctant agreement or disbelief ("I'm innocent, and this document proves it!" "Quite.") according to intonation)	to the fullest extent or degree ("All art is quite useless" – Oscar Wilde) to a great extent or degree

R

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
rabbit	(v.) (slang) to talk at length, usually about trivial things; usually to 'rabbit on'	(n.) the animal rabbit Rabbit Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world... , a lagomorph	(rabbit ears) (slang) TV Television Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound... antenna (usage becoming obsolete)
railroad	tramway (obsolete)	(v.) to coerce to convict with undue haste or with insufficient evidence	the general term for the system of mass transit using trains running on rails: see usage of the terms railroad and railway Usage of the terms railroad and railway The terms railroad and railway generally describe the same thing, a guided means of land transport, designed to be used by trains, for transporting passengers and freight. Etymologically both words derive from Old English; a road being something one rides along and way deriving from a Germanic... (v.) to work on the railroad to transport by railroad see also at underground
railway	the general term for the system of mass transit using trains running on rails: see usage of the terms railroad and railway Usage of the terms railroad and railway The terms railroad and railway generally describe the same thing, a guided means of land transport, designed to be used by trains, for transporting passengers and freight. Etymologically both words derive from Old English; a road being something one rides along and way deriving from a Germanic...		tramway
raisin	(UK usage excludes currants and sultanas)	a large dark grape, dried	any dried grape
rambler	one that rambles (as a hiker), see Ramblers Ramblers The Ramblers, formerly known as the Ramblers' Association, is the largest walkers' rights organisation in Great Britain which aims to look after the interests of walkers...	a type of rose Rose A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows... one who talks excessively, often without making cohesive points (to ramble on)	a style of house, usu. a ranch-style house Ranch-style house Ranch-style houses is a domestic architectural style originating in the United States. First built in the 1920s, the ranch style was extremely popular amongst the booming post-war middle class of the 1940s to 1970s... (see also Rambler (automobile) Rambler (automobile) Rambler was an automobile brand name used by the Thomas B. Jeffery Company between 1900 and 1914, then by its successor, Nash Motors from 1950 to 1954, and finally by Nash's successor, American Motors Corporation from 1954 to 1969... , Nash Rambler Nash Rambler The Nash Rambler was a North American automobile produced by the Nash Motors division of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation from 1950–55.The Nash Rambler established a new segment in the automobile market and is widely acknowledged to be the first successful modern American compact... )
randy	a slang term meaning sexually aroused (American horny)		a male or female given name Given name A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name... or nickname Nickname A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name.... deriving from the names Randall, Randolph, or Miranda
range	a line, collection, etc. of products or merchandise, as in top of the range (US: top of the line) a type of kitchen stove Kitchen stove A kitchen stove, cooking stove, cookstove, or cooker is a kitchen appliance designed for the purpose of cooking food. Kitchen stoves rely on the application of direct heat for the cooking process and may also contain an oven, used for baking.In the industrialized world, as stoves replaced open... like that featured on the TV programme The 1900 House The 1900 House The 1900 House is a historical reality television programme made by Wall to Wall/Channel 4 in 1999. The show is about a modern family that tries to the live in the way of the late Victorians in 1900 for three months in a modified house...	a series of things in a line (as mountains) a sequence or scale between limits a place where shooting is practised an area over which a species Species In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are... of animal or plant is found	a cooking stove Stove A stove is an enclosed heated space. The term is commonly taken to mean an enclosed space in which fuel is burned to provide heating, either to heat the space in which the stove is situated or to heat the stove itself, and items placed on it... with an oven Oven An oven is a thermally insulated chamber used for the heating, baking or drying of a substance. It is most commonly used for cooking. Kilns, and furnaces are special-purpose ovens... and burners on the top surface an open area for the grazing of livestock Livestock Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning... a series of townships (q.v.), a Public Land Survey System Public Land Survey System The Public Land Survey System is a method used in the United States to survey and identify land parcels, particularly for titles and deeds of rural, wild or undeveloped land. Its basic units of area are the township and section. It is sometimes referred to as the rectangular survey system,... unit of land east or west from a Principal meridian Principal meridian A meridian is an imaginary line on the Earth's surface from the North Pole to the South Pole that connects all locations with a given longitude. Each is half of a great circle on the Earth's surface...
raunchy		Lewd, vulgar, sexually explicit	foul-smelling, dirty raunch (n.): stench, miasma
read	to study a subject at university* ("he is reading physics". US: "He is studying law") (roughly approximate US: major (in))	to peruse written material
reader	the second highest academic rank at a university, below professor Professor A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank... (US equivalent: associate professor)	one who reads	a teaching assistant who reads and grades examination papers.
receptionist Receptionist A receptionist is an employee taking an office/administrative support position. The work is usually performed in a waiting area such as a lobby or front office desk of an organization or business...	hotel reservation desk worker (US: clerk) see also concierge Concierge A concierge is an employee who either works in shifts within, or lives on the premises of an apartment building or a hotel and serves guests with duties similar to those of a butler. The position can also be maintained by a security officer over the 'graveyard' shift. A similar position, known as...	front desk employee in business establishments, organisations, or hospitals
recess (time)		remission or suspension of business or procedure	pause between classes at school (UK: break, playtime, Lunchtime)
redcap	a military police Military police Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:... officer		a baggage porter (as at a train station)
redundant	laid off from employment, usu. because no longer needed ("The company made 100 workers redundant") (US: laid off)	unnecessary; repetitive
regular		normal, customary following a uniform pattern in space or time (of a geometric shape) having equal sides and angles frequent one who frequents a place a full-time professional member of a military organisation (see Structure of the British Army Structure of the British Army The structure of the British Army is broadly similar to that of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, being divided into two Commands: HQ Land Forces and the Adjutant-General. As top-level budget holders, these two organisations are responsible for providing forces at operational readiness for... and Regular army Regular army A regular army consists of the permanent force of a country's army that is maintained under arms during peacetime.Countries that use the term include:Australian ArmyBritish ArmyCanadian Forces, specifically "Regular Force"Egyptian armyIndian Army... ) (US: active duty*)	of an ordinary kind; also, nice or agreeable ("a regular guy") of an ordinary or medium size * unmodified, especially non-dietary/sugar-free/fat-free * non-decaffeinated coffee lowest grade of gasoline (historically: leaded gasoline)
remit	(n.) set of responsibilities ("within my remit"; "to have a remit")	(v.) to defer; in law, to transfer a case to a lower court; to send money; to cancel.
rent (v.)		to pay money in exchange for the right to use a house, land or other real property (BrE "let")	to pay money in exchange for the right to use moveable property such as a car (BrE "hire")
restroom	a room for staff to take their breaks in; a staffroom (US: breakroom)		a room in a public place, containing a toilet
retainer		amount of money paid in order to retain the services of another, a person who part of a retinue	a device for straightening teeth (UK: brace)
retreat		(v.) to go backwards, especially (military) to move away from the enemy; to withdraw (n.) a period of withdrawal from society for prayer or meditation	a period of group withdrawal for study or instruction under a group leader
review		to reassess, inspect, perform a subsequent reading to write a review Review A review is an evaluation of a publication, a product or a service, such as a movie , video game, musical composition , book ; a piece of hardware like a car, home appliance, or computer; or an event or performance, such as a live music concert, a play, musical theater show or dance show...	to study again (as in preparing for an examination) (UK: revise), hence review (n.)
revise	to study again (as in preparing for an examination) (US: review), hence revision	to inspect, amend, correct, improve, esp. written material
ring (v.)	to call (someone) by telephone Telephone The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...	to sound a bell	(ring up) *to total up a customer's purchases on a cash register Cash register A cash register or till is a mechanical or electronic device for calculating and recording sales transactions, and an attached cash drawer for storing cash...
rise (increase)	an increase in wages (US: raise)	an increase in amount, value, price, etc.
roast	(colloquial) to reprimand severely.	(v.) to cook in an oven; (n.) meat so cooked	(n.) an event where an individual is ridiculed for the sake of comedy; (v.) to host or perform such an event
roommate		a person with whom one shares a bedroom	(also roomie) a person with whom one shares a house or apartment (UK: housemate or flatmate)
root (v.)	to have sex with (vulgar slang) (orig. Australian Australian English Australian English is the name given to the group of dialects spoken in Australia that form a major variety of the English language.... ) *	to fix; to rummage; to take root or grow roots	to cheer ("I will be rooting for you"); to dig or look for (root around) *
rotary		a machine acting by rotation (cap.) organisation whose members comprise Rotary Clubs Rotary International Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...	a circular road intersection (US also traffic circle Traffic circle A traffic circle or rotary is a type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. In some countries, traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield. In many other countries, traffic entering the circle must... , UK usu. roundabout Roundabout A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world... ; see articles)
roundabout	a merry-go-round	a detour or circuitous path a circular road intersection	a type of men's jacket used in the past (see e.g. Mark Twain)
row (n.)	(Pronounced /ˈraʊ/, to rhyme with "cow") a noisy quarrel *; a continual loud noise ("Who's making that row?")	(Pronounced /ˈroʊ/, to rhyme with "toe") a line of objects, often regularly spaced (as seats in a theatre, vegetable plants in a garden etc.) a line of entries in a table, etc. (as opposed to a column) an instance of rowing (as in a boat)	a series of prison cells ("death row") a particular street or area of a town (as in skid row, dilapidated neighbourhood haunted by vagrants, misfits, etc.) a series of row houses (row house) town house, q.v.
rubber (countable noun)	pencil Pencil A pencil is a writing implement or art medium usually constructed of a narrow, solid pigment core inside a protective casing. The case prevents the core from breaking, and also from marking the user’s hand during use.... eraser Eraser An eraser or rubber is an article of stationery that is used for rubbing out pencil markings. Erasers have a rubbery consistency and are often white or pink, although modern materials allow them to be made in any color. Many pencils are equipped with an eraser on one end...	the duration of a match in certain games (e.g., bridge)	condom Condom A condom is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases . It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner... waterproof rain boot (but only in the plural: "rubbers") (UK: wellington)
rug	a (usually thick) piece of fabric used for warmth (especially on a bed); blanket	a small covering for a floor (slang) a wig; hairpiece
run	(n.) a leisure drive or ride ("a run in the car")	(v.) senses orig. US and now common are: to be a candidate in an election (UK also stand); to manage or provide for (a business, a family, etc.); the idioms run scared, run into. More s.v. home run; see wiktionary for additional meanings, a type of cage which is made so that animals (e.g. Hamsters, rabbits, Guinea pigs, etc.) can run around in it.	(v.) to propose (someone) as a candidate to drive past ("to run a red light") to hunt (as the buffalo or the deer) (n.) an instance of running for office a creek (q.v.)
run-in	the final part of a race; approach to something, also run-up (q.v.)		an argument or altercation * a chance meeting (negative connotation)
rundown (n.)	a reduction (as of an establishment)	a detailed summary (orig. US slang)	a type of play Rundown A rundown, also called a pickle, is a situation in the game of baseball that occurs when the baserunner is stranded between two bases and is in jeopardy. When the base runner attempts to advance to the next base, he is cut off by the defensive player who has a live ball and attempts to return to... in baseball tired, depressed.
run-up	the period preceding an event (as an election) *	the act of running up	a sudden increase (as in price) (orig. Stock exchange Stock exchange A stock exchange is an entity that provides services for stock brokers and traders to trade stocks, bonds, and other securities. Stock exchanges also provide facilities for issue and redemption of securities and other financial instruments, and capital events including the payment of income and... ) *

S

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
saloon	closed car having two or (usu.) four doors, a front and rear seat and a separate boot/trunk (US: sedan) (saloon bar) posh bar within a pub Public house A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller... or hotel Hotel A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms... passengers' lounge on a liner or luxury train (US approx.: parlor car)	officers' dining room on a merchant ship	bar Bar (establishment) A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go... , especially in the American Old West American Old West The American Old West, or the Wild West, comprises the history, geography, people, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century... bar Bar (establishment) A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go... that serves only spirits and no food a room in a house used for receiving guests; a salon Drawing room A drawing room is a room in a house where visitors may be entertained. The name is derived from the sixteenth-century terms "withdrawing room" and "withdrawing chamber", which remained in use through the seventeenth century, and made its first written appearance in 1642...
scalp (v.)		to cut the scalp off; to take something away (n.) trophy, spoils of victory (informal)	to resell (as tickets) at higher prices (UK: tout) to trade (as stocks) for quick profits
scheme	official systematic plan (as of the government) ("a pension scheme") (Scotland) Low-cost public housing (US: project)	a plan, often secret or devious; a plot ("criminal scheme")
school	place of primary or secondary education	grouping of departments or large department within a university faculty (among other meanings, e.g., a group of experts sharing perspective or methods, or a group of fish)	any educational institution; in school: state of being a pupil in any school normally serving minor children of any age, or in a college or university at any level; at school: usually, physically present on campus. (UK: at school for both)
scrappy	not neatly organised or poor a scrappy player is one who sometimes plays well, but often plays badly.	fragmentary	bellicose or fightingly determined a scrappy player is one who compensates for a lack of size or speed with grit and determination.
second (v.)	to transfer temporarily to alternative employment	to endorse, support, or bring reinforcements
section (v.t.)	to detain under the Mental Health Act 1983 Mental Health Act 1983 The Mental Health Act 1983 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which applies to people in England and Wales. It covers the reception, care and treatment of mentally disordered persons, the management of their property and other related matters... On section, detained in a mental hospital.	to cut or slice into sections
sedan		a chair or windowed cabin Litter (vehicle) The litter is a class of wheelless vehicles, a type of human-powered transport, for the transport of persons. Examples of litter vehicles include lectica , jiao [较] , sedan chairs , palanquin , Woh , gama... , carried by at least two porters in front and behind	a common car body style (UK: saloon, q.v.)
seeded (grapes, etc.)	with the seeds left in		having had the seeds removed (uncommon usage) (also seedless, used in UK)
semi	semi-detached house (US: duplex), semi-erection (vulgar)		semi-trailer truck Semi-trailer truck A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or articulated truck or articulated lorry, is an articulated vehicle consisting of a towing engine , and a semi-trailer A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) articulated truck... (UK: articulated lorry)
series (television)	a single batch of episodes of a television programme (US: season)	a complete production, i.e. the programme itself	all of the episodes of a particular television program
set square Set square A set square or triangle is an object used in engineering and technical drawing, with the aim of providing a straightedge at a right angle or other particular planar angle to a baseline....	a triangular object used in technical drawing (US: triangle)		a T-square T-square A T-square is a technical drawing instrument used by draftsmen primarily as a guide for drawing horizontal lines on a drafting table. It may also guide a triangle to draw vertical or diagonal lines. Its name comes from the general shape of the instrument where the horizontal member of the T slides... (also used in technical drawing)
shade Shade Shade is the blocking of sunlight by any object, and also the shadow created by that object. Shade also consists of the colors grey, black, white, etc...		penumbra, partial obscurity; nuance (pl.) sunglasses Sunglasses Sunglasses or sun glasses are a form of protective eyewear designed primarily to prevent bright sunlight and high-energy visible light from damaging or discomforting the eyes. They can sometimes also function as a visual aid, as variously termed spectacles or glasses exist, featuring lenses that... (orig. US); reminder of the past	window blind Window blind A window blind is a type of window coverings. There are many different kinds of window blinds, using different systems and materials. A typical window blind is made with slats of fabric, wood, plastic or metal that adjust by rotating from an open position to a closed position by allowing slats to...
shag	to copulate, or copulate with [understood in some (but certainly not all) demographics in the US also, see Austin Powers Austin Powers (film series) The Austin Powers series is a series of action-comedy films written by and starring Mike Myers as the title character, directed by Jay Roach and distributed by New Line Cinema... ]	a seabird (various members of the cormorant Cormorant The bird family Phalacrocoracidae is represented by some 40 species of cormorants and shags. Several different classifications of the family have been proposed recently, and the number of genera is disputed.- Names :... family) a kind of a dance, associated with "beach music," esp. from the Carolinas (orig. US) a kind of fabric with a thick, long strands; often used in carpets long, matted hair (cf. Shaggy Shaggy Rogers Norville "Shaggy" Rogers is a fictional character from the American animated television series Scooby-Doo, about the adventures of four crime-solving teenagers and Shaggy's pet great dane, Scooby-Doo. Shaggy is a cowardly slacker more interested in eating than solving mysteries. He is the only... from the Scooby-Doo Scooby-Doo Scooby-Doo is an American media franchise based around several animated television series and related works produced from 1969 to the present day. The original series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, was created for Hanna-Barbera Productions by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears in 1969... cartoon Cartoon A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works... ) a type of shredded coarse tobacco	(v.) to chase after; to chase and fetch (as a fly ball in baseball) a style of long hair with numerous layers (not matted or untidy)
shattered	exhausted	broken into many small pieces. devastated emotionally
sherbet	a fizzy powdered confectionery		a type of frozen dessert (also spelled sherbert)
sheriff Sheriff A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....	chief royal peace officer of a county County A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain... , 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, usu. also in charge of the county's law enforcement service; elsewhere any member of a county (vs. state or local) police
shingle	pebbles, particularly those on the seashore *	to cut a woman's hair in an overlapping style (shingles Herpes zoster Herpes zoster , commonly known as shingles and also known as zona, is a viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters in a limited area on one side of the body, often in a stripe... ) a painful disease of the skin, caused by the chickenpox virus wooden roof tile to cover a roof with wooden tiles	sign proclaiming one's name and calling ("hang a shingle out") to cover something like a shingled roof
ship (verb), shipping		To transport goods by sea, movement of goods by sea Relationship (fandom) Shipping (fandom) Shipping, derived from the word relationship, is the belief that two fictional characters, typically from the same series, are in an intimate relationship, or have romantic feelings that could potentially lead to a relationship. It is considered a general term for fans' emotional involvement with...	To transport goods, movement of goods Shipping & handling, standard form of charge for delivery of goods (UK: Postage & packing)
shop	consumer retail establishment of any size (US: store); hence shopfront (US: storefront), shop-soiled (US: shopworn), shop assistant (US: (sales) clerk) workshop, only in combination ("machine shop")		small or specialized consumer retail establishment (e.g. coffee shop Coffeehouse A coffeehouse or coffee shop is an establishment which primarily serves prepared coffee or other hot beverages. It shares some of the characteristics of a bar, and some of the characteristics of a restaurant, but it is different from a cafeteria. As the name suggests, coffeehouses focus on... , dress shop) workshop; practical class at school taught in a workshop; US auto shop = Br. garage, car mechanic.
shorts	strong alcoholic drinks served in multiples of 25 ml, sometimes with mixers (US & UK also: shots)	short trousers (US: short pants)	underpants, boxers (take it in one's shorts) endure a painful situation ("He really took it in the shorts that time.")
shower		spray of water used to wash oneself 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
sic		Latin for "Thus", "just so" — states that the preceding quoted material appears exactly that way in the source, usu. despite errors of spelling, grammar, usage, or fact.	pronunciation spelling Pronunciation spelling A pronunciation spelling of a word is a spelling different from the standard spelling, used to emphasize a particular pronunciation of the word. The spelling uses the regular spelling rules of the language. Most are nonce coinages, but some have become standardised, e.g... of "seek" used as a dog command, and by extension as a verb meaning to set (as a dog, etc.) to attack someone ("I'll sic my attorney on you")
sick	(off sick) not at work because of illness (n.) vomit ("a puddle of sick")	(to be sick) to vomit (slang) disgusting (corruption of sickening) (slang) cool, good, interesting	unwell (out sick) not at work because of illness
sideboard Sideboard A sideboard is an item of furniture traditionally used in the dining room for serving food, for displaying serving dishes such as silver, and for storage. It usually consists of a set of cabinets, or cupboards, and one or more drawers, all topped by a flat display surface for conveniently holding...	(pl.) sideburns Sideburns Sideburns or sideboards are patches of facial hair grown on the sides of the face, extending from the hairline to below the ears and worn with an unbearded chin... , side-whiskers	an item of furniture Furniture Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things... also known as buffet
siding		a dead-end railway track leading off the main line and used to store rolling-stock	a short section of railroad track connected by switches with a main track, enabling trains on the same line to pass (UK: loop) external wall covering, cladding, weatherboarding
silencer	device to silence a car/automobile (US: muffler)	device to silence a firearm Firearm A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
silk	a Queen's Counsel Queen's Counsel Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...	material made from unwound silkworm cocoons (silky) smooth, having the texture of silk (cf., silky words)	the silky, pistillate flower of corn (maize) Maize Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable... a parachute (orig. slang of the United States Air Force United States Air Force The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of... )
silver Silver (household) Household silver or silverware includes dishware, cutlery and other household items made of sterling, Britannia or Sheffield plate silver. The term is often extended to items made of stainless steel... ware	things made from silver Silver Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal... , including bowls, spoons, etc. Also trophies won by a sports team (i.e. FA Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... , Challenge Cup Challenge Cup The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part.... ...)		eating implements (spoon, fork, knife) (UK: cutlery Cutlery Cutlery refers to any hand implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food in the Western world. It is more usually known as silverware or flatware in the United States, where cutlery can have the more specific meaning of knives and other cutting instruments. This is probably the... ; US also flatware)
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
skip (n.)	large rubbish container Skip (container) A rubbish skip is usually called merely a skip or waste bin. A skip is a large open-topped container designed for loading onto a special type of lorry. Differing from dumpster, instead of being emptied into a waste vehicle onsite, a skip is replaced by an empty skip and then tipped at a landfill... (US approx: Dumpster Dumpster A dumpster is a large steel waste receptacle designed to be emptied into garbage trucks. The word is a genericized trademark of Dumpster, a American brand name for a type of mobile garbage bin... )	an act of leaping or omitting; see skip (radio), skip (in audio playback)	one who disappears without paying their debts ("finding a good skip tracer is harder than finding your debtors") (UK: Gone Away)
skive (v.)	to avoid work or school (play truant)	v. to cut or pare leather/rubber; n. an indentation made from skiving
skivvy	a scullery maid Scullery maid In great houses, scullery maids were the lowest-ranked and often the youngest of the female servants and acted as assistant to a kitchen maid. The scullery maid reported to the cook or chef... or lowest servant doing menial work, somebody at the bottom of the pecking order	[origin of both senses is unknown; they are likely unrelated] [note that skivvy has a third distinct meaning Polo neck A polo neck or turtle neck or skivvy is a garment—usually a sweater—with a close-fitting, round, and high collar that folds over and covers the neck... in Australian English Australian English Australian English is the name given to the group of dialects spoken in Australia that form a major variety of the English language.... ]	(pl.) men's underwear (colloquial)
slag	(derogatory) promiscuous woman (US & UK also: slut) a general insult directed at someone of either sex	A product from the iron-smelting blast furnace; mainly used in tarmac Tarmac Tarmac is a type of road surface. Tarmac refers to a material patented by Edgar Purnell Hooley in 1901... production
slash	(colloq.) an act of urinating ("to have a slash")	to cut drastically the symbol '/ Slash (punctuation) The slash is a sign used as a punctuation mark and for various other purposes. It is now often called a forward slash , and many other alternative names.-History:... ' (orig. US) (also virgule, solidus; UK also: oblique, stroke) short for slash fiction Slash fiction Slash fiction is a genre of fan fiction that focuses on the depiction of romantic or sexual relationships between fictional characters of the same sex... , a genre of fan fiction that explores romantic or sexual relationships between same-sex characters	an open tract in a forest strewn with debris, especially from logging a swampy area
slate	(v.) to disparage ("many critics have slated the film"), hence slating	(n.) a type of rock Slate Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering... ; a greyish colour (v.) to cover with slate	(v.) to schedule *("slated for demolition Demolition Demolition is the tearing-down of buildings and other structures, the opposite of construction. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a building apart while carefully preserving valuable elements for re-use.... ") to designate (a candidate, as for political office) (n.) a list of candidates
sleeper	A horizontal member which lies beneath, and binds together, the rails of a railway. (US: railroad tie, crosstie)	A railway vehicle providing sleeping accommodation (a sleeping car). Sleeper agent Sleeper agent A sleeper agent is a spy who is placed in a target country or organization, not to undertake an immediate mission, but rather to act as a potential asset if activated... - A deep cover secret agent	Sleeper (automobile), an automobile modified for high performance but with a normal-looking exterior (UK: Q-car)
sleet	snow that has partially thawed on its fall to the ground		(partially) frozen raindrops, ice pellets; a mixture of rain and snow or hail; also, glaze (q.v.)
slough (wetland) Slough (disambiguation) Slough is a town in Berkshire, England.Slough may also refer to:-Hydrology:Slough , a term in hydrology referring to:* a stream distributary or anabranch, or in some cases, a regular stream** a muddy marsh...	(usu. pronounced /ˈslaʊ/, to rhyme with "plough")	a marshy area, a swamp	a secondary channel; a small backwater; a pond (usu. pronounced /ˈsluː/ and often spelled slew)
Smarties	a sugar-coated chocolate confectionery manufactured by Nestlé (similar to US M&M's M&M's M&M's are dragée-like "colorful button-shaped candies" produced by Mars, Incorporated... )		a fruit-flavored tablet candy produced by Ce De Candy, Inc
smashed		beaten, destroyed as in "it was smashed"	Exceedingly drunk
smokestack		a system (as a pipe) for venting hot gases and smoke: such a system on buildings, locomotive Locomotive A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th... s (UK primarily: chimney Chimney A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the... or funnel Funnel A funnel is a pipe with a wide, often conical mouth and a narrow stem. It is used to channel liquid or fine-grained substances into containers with a small opening. Without a funnel, spillage would occur.... ), and ships (UK & US also: funnel)	(attrib.) heavy industry Heavy industry Heavy industry does not have a single fixed meaning as compared to light industry. It can mean production of products which are either heavy in weight or in the processes leading to their production. In general, it is a popular term used within the name of many Japanese and Korean firms, meaning... , manufacturing Manufacturing Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale... industry *("smokestack industries", "smokestack stocks")
smudge		a blurry spot or streak	a smouldering mass placed on the windward side to protect from frost or keep insects away (as in smudge pot Smudge pot A smudge pot is an oil-burning device used to prevent frost on fruit trees. Condensation of water vapor on particulate soot prevents condensation on plants and raises air temperature very slightly. Usually a smudge pot has a large round base with a chimney coming out of the middle of the base... )
snout	police informant tobacco (slang)	pig's nose nose (slang)
sod	unpleasant person, originally short for sodomite ("He's a sod, isn't he?") unfortunate person when prefixed by 'poor' ("The poor sod's had his wallet nicked.") or 'silly' ("The silly sod really got it knackered."); also an exclamation of frustration, esp. as a euphemism for "fuck": "Sod it!"	layer of grass and earth (in UK in a formal/literary sense), cf. 'sodden'	turf
soda	carbonated water Carbonated water Carbonated water is water into which carbon dioxide gas under pressure has been dissolved, a process that causes the water to become effervescent.... , or any non-alcoholic drink made with it, but not usu. one sold ready-mixed	any of various chemical compounds containing sodium Sodium Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal and is a member of the alkali metals; its only stable isotope is 23Na. It is an abundant element that exists in numerous minerals, most commonly as sodium chloride... (as sodium bicarbonate Sodium bicarbonate Sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate is the chemical compound with the formula Na HCO3. Sodium bicarbonate is a white solid that is crystalline but often appears as a fine powder. It has a slightly salty, alkaline taste resembling that of washing soda . The natural mineral form is... or sodium carbonate Sodium carbonate Sodium carbonate , Na2CO3 is a sodium salt of carbonic acid. It most commonly occurs as a crystalline heptahydrate, which readily effloresces to form a white powder, the monohydrate. Sodium carbonate is domestically well-known for its everyday use as a water softener. It can be extracted from the... ), carbonated water	(regional) carbonated soft drink, usu. one sold ready-mixed (also 'pop,' 'soda pop') (UK: fizzy drink or colloquially (fizzy) pop)
solicitor Solicitor Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...	lawyer who advises clients, represents them in the lower courts, and prepares cases for barristers to try in higher courts *(considered overly formal in US)		one that solicits (e.g. contributions to charity), an advertiser, a salesperson, a promoter; often annoying chief law officer of a city, town, or government department
solitaire	peg-jumping puzzle game (see peg solitaire Peg solitaire Peg solitaire is a board game for one player involving movement of pegs on a board with holes. Some sets use marbles in a board with indentations. The game is known simply as Solitaire in the United Kingdom where the card games are called Patience... )		any of a family of one-player card game Card game A card game is any game using playing cards as the primary device with which the game is played, be they traditional or game-specific. Countless card games exist, including families of related games... s (see solitaire Solitaire Solitaire is any tabletop game which one can play by oneself or with other people. The solitaire card game Klondike is often known as simply Solitaire.... ) (UK: patience)
sort (v.)	to deal with; hence sorted as expression of appreciation; (slang) to be adequately supplied with narcotics all used with out: to arrange or take care of (something) * to solve an esp. difficult situation (also reflexive) * (informal) to set (someone) straight, or to get even with (someone) sorted, to have or get fixed, have problems worked out, so things are working correctly ("He's really got it sorted now.")	to arrange or classify; often used with out
spanner	general term for a tool Tool A tool is a device that can be used to produce an item or achieve a task, but that is not consumed in the process. Informally the word is also used to describe a procedure or process with a specific purpose. Tools that are used in particular fields or activities may have different designations such... used for turning nuts, bolts, etc. (US: wrench Wrench A wrench or spanner is a tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects—usually rotary fasteners, such as nuts and bolts—or keep them from turning.... , q.v.) something interfering (US: (monkey) wrench)		a wrench Wrench A wrench or spanner is a tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects—usually rotary fasteners, such as nuts and bolts—or keep them from turning.... with holes or pins at its end for meshing with the object to be turned (UK: C spanner)
spaz	(offensive) Incompetent, useless, disabled person (from spastic Spastic The word spastic is used differently depending on location which has led to some controversy and misunderstanding. Derived via Latin from the Greek spastikos , the word originally referred to a change in muscles affected by the medical condition spasticity, which is seen in spastic diplegia and... , person with cerebral palsy)		uncoordinated, hyperactive, messing something up. Can be used self-referentially. Has less offensive connotations in American usage.
spigot		a spile in a cask	a tap or faucet
spook		a ghost; a spy, government undercover agent (both orig. US)	a black person (insulting)
spotty	pimply ("a spotty teenager")		of inhomogeneous quality ("a spotty record")
sprouts (n.)	brussels sprout Brussels sprout The Brussels sprout is a cultivar of wild cabbage grown for its edible buds. The leafy green vegetables are typically 2.5–4 cm in diameter and look like miniature cabbages. The sprout is Brassica oleracea, in the "gemmifera" group of the family Brassicaceae... s		alfalfa Alfalfa Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as... sprouts
spunk	(vulgar) seminal fluid (US: cum)	courage, daring, or enthusiasm
squash (n.)	fruit Fruit In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,... cordial drink (squash (drink) Squash (drink) Squash is a non-alcoholic concentrated syrup that is usually fruit-flavoured and usually made from fruit juice, water, and sugar or a sugar substitute. Modern squashes may also contain food colouring and additional flavouring... )	sport (squash (sport) Squash (sport) Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball... )*	vegetable (squash (plant))*(UK also gourd)
squat		(n.) premises occupied by squatters (v.) to occupy (as premises) illegally to bend deeply at the knees while resting on one's feet (n.) the act of squatting an exercise in weightlifting Weight training Weight training is a common type of strength training for developing the strength and size of skeletal muscles. It uses the weight force of gravity to oppose the force generated by muscle through concentric or eccentric contraction...	(n.) nothing (slang; short for diddly-squat) (more at cop)
stabiliser (UK), stabilizer Training wheels Training wheels are an additional wheel or wheels mounted parallel to the rear wheel of a bicycle that assist learners until they have developed a usable sense of balance on the bicycle. Typically they are used in teaching very young children to ride a bike, although versions for adults exist... (US & UK)	(pl.) additional wheels to help learner cyclists (US: training wheels Training wheels Training wheels are an additional wheel or wheels mounted parallel to the rear wheel of a bicycle that assist learners until they have developed a usable sense of balance on the bicycle. Typically they are used in teaching very young children to ride a bike, although versions for adults exist... )	something that stabilises, as stabilizer (aircraft) Stabilizer (aircraft) In aviation, a stabilizer provides stability when the aircraft is flying straight, and the airfoil of the horizontal stabilizer balances the forces acting on the aircraft.... or stabilizer (chemistry) Stabilizer (chemistry) In chemistry a stabilizer is a chemical which tends to inhibit the reaction between two or more other chemicals. It can be thought of as the antonym to a catalyst...
stall (enclosure) Stall (enclosure) A stall is a small enclosure of some kind, usually less enclosed than a room.-Market stall:A market stall is usually an immobile temporary structure erected by merchants to display and shelter their merchandise...	(pl.) front seats in a theatre (US: orchestra)	compartment for an animal in a barn a booth or counter (as in a marketplace) seat in a church's choir	compartment containing a shower or toilet (UK: cubicle) a marked-off parking space enclosure for a locomotive in a roundhouse Roundhouse A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables... (box stall) compartment in a barn where an animal can move untethered (UK: loose box)
stand (v.)	to be a candidate in an election (US: run*)	to be vertical; to remain stationary; to buy (someone) (something)
starter	first course of a meal (US usu. appetizer); more s.v. entree*	one that starts (as a device to start an engine)	transportation dispatcher Dispatcher Dispatchers are communications personnel responsible for receiving and transmitting pure and reliable messages, tracking vehicles and equipment, and recording other important information... or elevator Elevator An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures... (q.v.) dispatcher starting pitcher Starting pitcher In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher.... (baseball) the official who starts a track race.
stash	(v.) to quit, put an end to ("to stash it")	(v.) to store away [old criminals' slang revived in US]	(n.) a hiding place, or something (esp. drug or liquor) stored away*
stone	(pl. usu. stone) 14 pounds in weight (14 lb), normally used when specifying a person's weight ("My weight is twelve stone four", meaning 12 stone and 4 pounds; US "172 pounds")	a small rock
stood	(colloquial, mainly Northern English Northern English Northern English is a group of dialects of the English language. It includes the North East England dialects, which are similar in some respects to Scots.... ) standing ("I've been stood here for an hour")	past tense and participle of stand
stoop	A post or pillar, especially a gatepost. (Rare except in dialect).	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 (orig. Dutch; esp. Northeast). Also refers to the external stairs leading up to a row house, "Sitting on the stoop."
store	place for storage of items not needed for immediate use*	large consumer retail establishment (as department store or superstore)	consumer retail establishment of any size (UK: shop), e.g. grocery store, hardware store, convenience store Convenience store A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and... , dime store; hence storefront (UK: shopfront), storekeeper (UK: shopkeeper)
stove Stove A stove is an enclosed heated space. The term is commonly taken to mean an enclosed space in which fuel is burned to provide heating, either to heat the space in which the stove is situated or to heat the stove itself, and items placed on it...	a hothouse or greenhouse Greenhouse A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings... for plants the grate of a fireplace Fireplace A fireplace is an architectural structure to contain a fire for heating and, especially historically, for cooking. A fire is contained in a firebox or firepit; a chimney or other flue allows gas and particulate exhaust to escape...	wood- or coal-burning room-heating appliance	(or cookstove) appliance for cooking food – compare range* (UK usu. cooker) see also Franklin stove Franklin stove The Franklin stove is a metal-lined fireplace named after its inventor, Benjamin Franklin. It was invented in 1741.L.W. Labaree, W. Bell, W.B. Willcox, et al., eds., The Papers of Benjamin Franklin , vol. 2, page 419...
straight away, straightaway	(usu. spaced) immediately, right away *		(solid) a straight (in a road, racecourse, etc.)
strike	a good solid shot, as in scoring a goal in soccer (Strike off) to remove a professional's license (e.g., for attorneys: US disbar) ("What do you call a priest who's been stricken off?" – Dick Francis)	to temporarily stop working (often as part of a union Trade union A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with... ) knock down all pins in bowling to ignite a match	to miss, as to miss the ball with the bat in baseball, (strike three, three strikes) (colloq., from baseball Baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond... ) gone, fired, ejected; said of someone especially after they've been given three chances to improve their (presumably) bad behavior ("Strike three, he's out!")
student		person studying at a post-secondary educational institution	person studying at any educational institution *
stuff (v)	to have sex - often used as a milder form of "fuck", e.g. "Get stuffed!" *(for "Fuck off!"), "Our team got stuffed in the match", etc.	to pack tightly with, especially with food: "I'm stuffed"="I've eaten too much".
sub	to subsidise (pay for something in place of someone else - often used for any sort of informal loan) (in newspaper publishing) edit copy for length or house style (in full: sub-edit) subscription (UK: membership dues, as in an association or club) sub-lieutenant (Royal Navy Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... rank) subaltern (British Army British Army The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England... second lieutenant Second Lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal... or lieutenant Lieutenant A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank... )	subscription: a purchase by prepayment for a certain number of issues, as of a periodical submarine (n. & v.) substitute (usu. in sport) (sexual) submissive	substitute teacher (UK: supply teacher) to teach in place of the normal teacher (regional) submarine sandwich Submarine sandwich A submarine sandwich, also known as a sub among other names, is a sandwich that consists of a long roll of Italian or French bread, split lengthwise either into two pieces or opened in a "V" on one side, and filled with various varieties of meat, cheese, vegetables, seasonings, and sauces. The... *
subdivision		the process or an instance of subdividing	the division of a tract of land Subdivision (land) Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision... into lots (q.v.) for the purpose of sale, or the tract of land so divided. (UK:estate, development)
subway	pedestrian Pedestrian A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates or skateboards are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case... underpass Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... subterranean railway Glasgow Subway The Glasgow Subway is an underground metro line in Glasgow, Scotland. Opened on 14 December 1896, it is the third-oldest underground metro system in the world after the London Underground and the Budapest Metro. Formerly a cable railway, the Subway was later electrified, but its twin circular lines...	(Subway Subway (restaurant) Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011... ) restaurant chain for submarine sandwich Submarine sandwich A submarine sandwich, also known as a sub among other names, is a sandwich that consists of a long roll of Italian or French bread, split lengthwise either into two pieces or opened in a "V" on one side, and filled with various varieties of meat, cheese, vegetables, seasonings, and sauces. The... es	underground commuter railway Rapid transit A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on... (UK: underground or tube)
sucker		One who sucks (lit. and fig.): fool, dupe, gullible person Secondary shoot produced from the roots of a plant	A lollipop Lollipop A lollipop, pop, lolly, sucker, or sticky-pop is a type of confectionery consisting mainly of hardened, flavored sucrose with corn syrup mounted on a stick and intended for sucking or licking. They are available in many flavors and shapes.- Types :Lollipops are available in a number of colors and... any person or thing (used either humorously or in annoyance)
suds		(n.) froth, lather; (v.) to lather	(v.) to form suds; hence sudser (a soap opera Soap opera A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,... ) and adj. sudsy (in both lit. & fig. senses) (n.) beer Beer Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat... , less commonly root beer Root beer Root beer is a carbonated, sweetened beverage, originally made using the root of a sassafras plant as the primary flavor. Root beer, popularized in North America, comes in two forms: alcoholic and soft drink. The historical root beer was analogous to small beer in that the process provided a drink...
superintendent	senior police rank (US approx.: deputy inspector)	senior official in various undertakings (railways, public works, etc.)	person in charge of a building (UK: caretaker) the head of a school district School district School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:... or a State Department of Education sometimes, the head of a police department (dated) a train conductor
surgery	the place where a physician or dentist practises (US: (doctor's) office)	act of performing a medical operation
suspenders	elasticated Elastomer An elastomer is a polymer with the property of viscoelasticity , generally having notably low Young's modulus and high yield strain compared with other materials. The term, which is derived from elastic polymer, is often used interchangeably with the term rubber, although the latter is preferred... support for stocking Stocking A stocking, , is a close-fitting, variously elastic garment covering the foot and lower part of the leg. Stockings vary in color, design and transparency... s (US: garter)		elasticated support for trousers Trousers Trousers are an item of clothing worn on the lower part of the body from the waist to the ankles, covering both legs separately... (UK: braces, q.v.)
swede	Swedish (yellow) turnip (US: rutabaga Rutabaga The rutabaga, swede , turnip or yellow turnip is a root vegetable that originated as a cross between the cabbage and the turnip; see Triangle of U... )	(Swede) a person from Sweden Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
sweet	(n.) An after-meal dessert, more s.v. candy	(adj.) Sweet-tasting; (adj.) to describe someone who is kind, gentle, or giving	(n.) Short for sweetheart. Also, to be sweet on someone is to have a crush on them. (adj.) used to describe something as good ("That car is sweet!")
switch		(n.) see switch Switch In electronics, a switch is an electrical component that can break an electrical circuit, interrupting the current or diverting it from one conductor to another.... , telephone switch, network switch Network switch A network switch or switching hub is a computer networking device that connects network segments.The term commonly refers to a multi-port network bridge that processes and routes data at the data link layer of the OSI model... (v.) to operate a switch to exchange, swap, make a shift	(n.) mechanism that allows a railway vehicle to change tracks (UK: points); hence switch engine or switcher (UK: shunter), switchyard (UK: marshalling yard), switch tower (UK: signal box Signal box On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable... ) (v.) to change tracks by means of a switch see also bait and switch Bait and switch Bait-and-switch is a form of fraud, most commonly used in retail sales but also applicable to other contexts. First, customers are "baited" by advertising for a product or service at a low price; second, the customers discover that the advertised good is not available and are "switched" to a...
switchback	a road or railway that alternately ascends and descends a roller coaster Roller coaster The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...		a zigzagging Zig Zag (railway) A railway zig zag, also called a switchback, is a way of climbing hills in difficult country with a minimal need for tunnels and heavy earthworks. For a short distance , the direction of travel is reversed, before the original direction is resumed.A location on railways constructed e.g... road or railway, usu. in the mountains; also, a hairpin turn Hairpin turn A hairpin turn , named for its resemblance to a hairpin/bobby pin, is a bend in a road with a very acute inner angle, making it necessary for an oncoming vehicle to turn almost 180° to continue on the road. Such turns in ramps and trails may be called switchbacks in American English, by analogy... in a road or trail

T

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
tab	a cigarette (Geordie Geordie Geordie is a regional nickname for a person from the Tyneside region of the north east of England, or the name of the English-language dialect spoken by its inhabitants... ) to run; often used in the military to refer to double-time or quick-time marching. From the abbreviation Tactical Advance to Battle.	a small projection, flap, etc. an informal credit account, usu. at a bar ("Put it on my tab") The tab key Tab key Tab key on a keyboard is used to advance the cursor to the next tab stop.- Origin :The word tab derives from the word tabulate, which means "to arrange data in a tabular, or table, form"... ,	a formal account for services at a restaurant or bar ("May I have the tab?", "Pick up the tab") (UK always bill in this context) A brand of soft drink Tab (soft drink) Tab, stylized as TaB, is a diet cola soft drink produced by the Coca-Cola Company, first introduced in 1963. The soda was created by Coca Cola after the successful sales and marketing of Diet Rite cola, owned by The Royal Crown Company; previously, Diet Rite had been the only sugarless soda on the... (keep tabs on) monitor the activity of a person or thing
table (verb) (as a parliamentary procedure Parliamentary procedure Parliamentary procedure is the body of rules, ethics, and customs governing meetings and other operations of clubs, organizations, legislative bodies, and other deliberative assemblies... or in the context of a meeting)	(also lay on the table) to raise for consideration		(also lay on the table) to suspend from consideration, to shelve; (colloquial) to postpone
tailback	queue of vehicles, traffic jam (US: gridlock, backup)		offensive backfield position Halfback (American football) A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive... in American football American football American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
tank top	jumper (US: sweater) without sleeves		sleeveless t-shirt (UK: vest, q.v.) (also see wifebeater) *
tanner	slang for a pre-decimalisation sixpence coin or sixpence value	one who tans
tap	valve through which liquid is drawn and dispensed (US usu.: faucet, spigot*)	a spile or spigot in a cask; a device for dispensing beer Beer Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat... from a keg Keg A keg is a small barrel.Traditionally, a wooden keg is made by a cooper used to transport items such as nails, gunpowder., and a variety of liquids.... (phone tap Telephone tapping Telephone tapping is the monitoring of telephone and Internet conversations by a third party, often by covert means. The wire tap received its name because, historically, the monitoring connection was an actual electrical tap on the telephone line... ) a device for listening to other people's telephone calls (tap up) to covertly enter negotiations ("The manager accused the other team of tapping up his player") (tap dance Tap dance Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the... ) A type of dance e.g. "I go to tap every Saturday"	to select, designate; esp. to publicly select for a special honour from one's peers as in the (possibly apocryphal) American Indian ceremony ("She was tapped for the position of CEO") and as in being designated a college fraternity pledge. vulgar slang for "have sex with"
tart	female prostitute (In US, generally understood but not generally used except in pop tart [overly sexualised female singer])	(adj) sour-flavoured, sarcastic (n) any of several forms of sweet dessert or snack consisting of filling (usually fruit) in a pastry shell saucy, promiscuous woman (derog.)
tea Tea Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...	afternoon snack Snack food A snack is a portion of food oftentimes smaller than that of a regular meal, that is generally eaten between meals. Snacks come in a variety of forms including packaged and processed foods and items made from fresh ingredients at home.... (US: late lunch) evening meal (sometimes called high tea)	a hot beverage made by infusing Camellia sinensis Camellia sinensis Camellia sinensis is the species of plant whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce Chinese tea. It is of the genus Camellia , a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. White tea, green tea, oolong, pu-erh tea and black tea are all harvested from this species, but are processed... leaves (hot tea); Herb tea a tea-like beverage made from herbs (UK infusion (archaic))	Iced tea sometimes taken with lemon Lemon The lemon is both a small evergreen tree native to Asia, and the tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit. The fruit is used for culinary and non-culinary purposes throughout the world – primarily for its juice, though the pulp and rind are also used, mainly in cooking and baking... or sugar Sugar Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
on the telephone	having a working telephone (now rare, since most people do)	talking on the telephone
teller		one that tells (as stories) a person who counts the votes in an election	a bank clerk or cashier who receives and pays out money *; hence automated teller machine Automated teller machine An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
terrace	row Terraced house In architecture and city planning, a terrace house, terrace, row house, linked house or townhouse is a style of medium-density housing that originated in Great Britain in the late 17th century, where a row of identical or mirror-image houses share side walls... of identical or mirror-image houses sharing side walls (US: row house*, townhouse Townhouse A townhouse is the term historically used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and in many other countries to describe a residence of a peer or member of the aristocracy in the capital or major city. Most such figures owned one or more country houses in which they lived for much of the year... )	a type of veranda or walkway or area close to a building see also terrace (agriculture) Terrace (agriculture) Terraces are used in farming to cultivate sloped land. Graduated terrace steps are commonly used to farm on hilly or mountainous terrain. Terraced fields decrease erosion and surface runoff, and are effective for growing crops requiring much water, such as rice... , terrace garden, fluvial terrace	(regional) parking (q.v.)
terrier	member of the Territorial Army (slang). Also, record of land ownership (e.g. by local authority).	one of various smallish breeds of dog
theatre Theatre Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance... (UK & US), theater (US)	(or operating theatre Operating theatre An operating theater was a non-sterile, tiered theater or amphitheater in which students and other spectators could watch surgeons perform surgery... ) hospital room for surgical operations (US: operating room)	a place where stage plays are performed; the dramatic art in general ("He got his training in theatre.") a principle region of conflict in a war	cinema ("movie/motion picture theater")
through (time)	For a period of time, during. For example it is open through the night means it is open during the night time. More usual in British English is to say "Open until 6pm Monday".		Up to, until. The shop is open through lunch means it closes at lunch time, whereas in British English it would mean it is open including at lunch time.
tick	the symbol (US: check mark) a moment ("just a tick") credit ("on tick")	blood-sucking arachnid (see tick Tick Ticks are small arachnids in the order Ixodida, along with mites, constitute the subclass Acarina. Ticks are ectoparasites , living by hematophagy on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians... ) sound of an analogue clock Clock A clock is an instrument used to indicate, keep, and co-ordinate time. The word clock is derived ultimately from the Celtic words clagan and clocca meaning "bell". A silent instrument missing such a mechanism has traditionally been known as a timepiece...
tick off	to admonish		to annoy to keep a record of tasks ("He ticked off a list of things that needed to be done beforehand.")
tie	a game between two teams e.g. Manchester won the tie against London	an article of clothing worn around the neck a game result in which neither player/team wins (also draw)
tights	nylons, usu. sheer, which also cover the groin (US: pantyhose if sheer)		skin-tight, often opaque, trousers (UK: leggings) or one-piece trousers and top (UK: unitard), such as worn by gymnasts
tip	(n.) a place where rubbish is disposed (US: dump (also UK), landfill) (v.) to pour	(n.) pointed or narrow end advice voluntary gratuity paid (as at a restaurant) (v.) (tip off) to advise (v.) to (cause to) lean to one side	(tip one's hand, from Poker Poker Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker... ) to disclose one's intentions or opinions
tit	various species of small bird of the genus Parus (US: chickadee, titmouse) idiot (slang)	woman's breast (vulgar slang)
toasted (v)		lightly cooked on both sides (e.g. of a slice of bread)	somewhat drunk (related toast) in trouble ("When the boss catches him, he's toast!" "Oh man, we're toast!")
toilet Toilet A toilet is a sanitation fixture used primarily for the disposal of human excrement, often found in a small room referred to as a toilet/bathroom/lavatory...	room containing a toilet (US:restroom) "I left my comb in the toilet," is perfectly acceptable in UK but likely to provoke a visual in American English	apparatus for excretion
tom	prostitute -- hence tomming (pp.), the activity of prostitution a private Private (rank) A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career... in the Parachute Regiment (slang)	unneutered male cat
torch	handheld device that emits light (US: flashlight)	flaming club used as a light source	(v.) commit an act of arson. (n.) an arsonist.
tosser	idiot (literally, someone who masturbates, a derogatory term similar to wanker*)	one that tosses	not a hoarder; someone who gets rid of things i.e. "are you a keeper or tosser?"
tough (interj.)		I don't care	that's unfortunate (short for "tough luck")
tout	(v.) to resell tickets at higher prices (US: scalp) to get and sell information on racehorses (n.) one who resells tickets (US: scalper) one who gets and sells information on racehorses (n.) a police informer (mainly used in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2001/nov/11/northernireland2 http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Republican-denies-being-MI5-informer.3399551.jp) (US: stool pigeon, England: grass)	(v.) to importune, solicit, or canvass (n.) one who does this [the n. appears to be in more general use in UK; cf. s.v. US solicitor]	(v.) to promote, recommend ("the movie was touted as a masterpiece")
tower Tower A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires.... , tower block	a fortified keep, too small to be named a "castle", e.g. along the English/Scottish Border ("a peel tower Peel tower Peel towers are small fortified keeps or tower houses, built along the English and Scottish borders in the Scottish Marches and North of England, intended as watch towers where signal fires could be lit by the garrison to warn of approaching danger... "), along the English coast & elsewhere (inc. occas. U.S. Eastern Seaboard) ("a Martello tower Martello tower Martello towers are small defensive forts built in several countries of the British Empire during the 19th century, from the time of the Napoleonic Wars onwards.... "), around the Jersey Jersey Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and... (Channel Islands Channel Islands The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey... ) coast ("a Jersey tower"); tower block — a high-rise block (q.v.) of flats	man-made structure, taller than it is wide (see control tower Control tower A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such... , watchtower Watchtower A watchtower is a type of fortification used in many parts of the world. It differs from a regular tower in that its primary use is military, and from a turret in that it is usually a freestanding structure. Its main purpose is to provide a high, safe place from which a sentinel or guard may... , water tower Water tower A water tower or elevated water tower is a large elevated drinking water storage container constructed to hold a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system.... )	power line transmission structure (UK usu. & US occas. pylon, q.v.); railroad building containing levers for working switches (q.v.) and signals ("an interlocking tower") (UK: signal box Signal box On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable... ) hence towerman, person in charge of any such tower (UK, for a signal box: signalman)
townhouse Townhouse A townhouse is the term historically used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and in many other countries to describe a residence of a peer or member of the aristocracy in the capital or major city. Most such figures owned one or more country houses in which they lived for much of the year... , town house	historically, residence of a peer or member of the aristocracy in the capital or major city (Scots) town hall (modern usage) a fashionable urban house, usu. terraced Terraced house In architecture and city planning, a terrace house, terrace, row house, linked house or townhouse is a style of medium-density housing that originated in Great Britain in the late 17th century, where a row of identical or mirror-image houses share side walls...	a house in town (as opposed to one in the country)	one of two or more single-family houses of uniform design and joined by common sidewalls (US also rowhouse*, UK usu. terraced house Terraced house In architecture and city planning, a terrace house, terrace, row house, linked house or townhouse is a style of medium-density housing that originated in Great Britain in the late 17th century, where a row of identical or mirror-image houses share side walls... for more than two, or semi(-detached) Semi-detached Semi-detached housing consists of pairs of houses built side by side as units sharing a party wall and usually in such a way that each house's layout is a mirror image of its twin... for two joined houses)
township Township The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...	in the past, a subdivision Township (England) In England, a township is a local division or district of a large parish containing a village or small town usually having its own church... used to administer a large parish Parish A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization... (Scotland) a very small agricultural community		an approx. 36 square miles (93.2 km²) division of land Survey township Survey township, sometimes called Congressional township, as used by the United States Public Land Survey System, refers to a square unit of land, that is nominally six miles on a side... comprising 36 sections Section (United States land surveying) In U.S. land surveying under the Public Land Survey System , a section is an area nominally one square mile, containing , with 36 sections making up one survey township on a rectangular grid.... a unit of local government, see civil township Civil township A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
track		a trail a footprint awareness ("keep/lose track") recorded material distance between wheels of a vehicle a racetrack or racecourse the rails Rail tracks The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast , plus the underlying subgrade... of a railway (UK often: line)	used in railway stations (as with following number) to denote the place where a train Train A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate... arrives at and departs from ("Is that the Chattanooga choo choo, track 29?") (UK: platform Railway platform A railway platform is a section of pathway, alongside rail tracks at a train station, metro station or tram stop, at which passengers may board or alight from trains or trams. Almost all stations for rail transport have some form of platforms, with larger stations having multiple platforms... ) track and field, athletics, esp. the sports performed on the running track categorisation of students according to their needs
tradesman, tradesperson Tradesperson (disambiguation) Tradesperson may refer to:* Tradesman, a skilled manual worker in a particular field * Door-to-door salesman, a person who travels to customers' houses to sell them things...	a person who sells goods in a store; a person who travels to customers' homes to sell things or who delivers goods to a customer's home		(n.) a skilled manual worker in a particular field; a journeyman
trainer	a padded sport shoe (US similar: sneaker Athletic shoe Athletic shoe is a generic name for the footwear primarily designed for sports or other forms of physical exercise but in recent years has come to be used for casual everyday activities.... )	one who trains
tramp		homeless person who moves (tramps) from town to town (US also: hobo)	loose or promiscuous woman (see also tramp stamp); prostitute *
transit		act or instance of passing see astronomical transit Astronomical transit The term transit or astronomical transit has three meanings in astronomy:* A transit is the astronomical event that occurs when one celestial body appears to move across the face of another celestial body, hiding a small part of it, as seen by an observer at some particular vantage point... , navigational transit Navigational transit In navigation and position fixing, a transit occurs when a navigator observes two fixed reference points that are in line with the navigator. This creates a position line... , transit (surveying)	means of public transportation (q.v.) (esp. of people) ("mass transit", "rapid transit Rapid transit A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on... ", "public transit") – see Public transport Public transport Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
transport	the system or the business of transporting goods or passengers or the vehicles used in such a system ("public transport Public transport Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams... ") *	the act of transporting an emotion ("transports of delight")
transportation		the act of transporting penal transportation Penal transportation Transportation or penal transportation is the deporting of convicted criminals to a penal colony. Examples include transportation by France to Devil's Island and by the UK to its colonies in the Americas, from the 1610s through the American Revolution in the 1770s, and then to Australia between...	the system or the business of transporting goods or passengers or the vehicles used in such a system *
trapezium	a quadrilateral Quadrilateral In Euclidean plane geometry, a quadrilateral is a polygon with four sides and four vertices or corners. Sometimes, the term quadrangle is used, by analogy with triangle, and sometimes tetragon for consistency with pentagon , hexagon and so on... with one pair of parallel sides		a quadrilateral with no parallel sides
trapezoid Trapezoid In Euclidean geometry, a convex quadrilateral with one pair of parallel sides is referred to as a trapezoid in American English and as a trapezium in English outside North America. A trapezoid with vertices ABCD is denoted...	a quadrilateral with no parallel sides	in anatomy Anatomy Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy... , the trapezoid bone Trapezoid bone The trapezoid bone is a carpal bone in tetrapods, including humans. It is the smallest bone in the distal row. It may be known by its wedge-shaped form, the broad end of the wedge constituting the dorsal, the narrow end the palmar surface; and by its having four articular facets touching each... and trapezoid ligament Trapezoid ligament The trapezoid ligament, the anterior and lateral fasciculus, is broad, thin, and quadrilateral: it is placed obliquely between the coracoid process and the clavicle....	a quadrilateral with one pair of parallel sides *
trick		(n.) an action intended to deceive an effective way of doing something	(n.) what a prostitute does for a client (adj.) unstable (of a joint of the body) *
trillion	(traditionally) million million million (10¹⁸) (US & modern UK: quintillion)	million million (10¹²) (traditional UK: billion, now rare)
trim (n.)		good condition ("in trim") clothing, decoration a finishing haircut adjustment (as of sails on a vessel or airfoils on an aircraft) an automobile interior ornamentation or upholstery (orig. US)	woodwork, frameworks etc. in a house storefront or shopfront display (slang, somewhat offensive) Female genitalia (usu. as "Get some trim")
triplex		composed of three parts, as a type of cardboard, a cinema, etc.	a 3-storey apartment or 3-apartment dwelling (see duplex Duplex (building) The term duplex can be used to describe several different dwelling unit configurations:A duplex house is defined as a dwelling having apartments with separate entrances for two families. This includes two-story houses having a complete apartment on each floor and also side-by-side apartments on a... ) a large steam locomotive Steam locomotive A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine... with three sets of driving wheels
trolley Trolley (disambiguation) Used in isolation, trolley may refer to:* a gurney, a form of wheeled stretcher* a flatbed trolley* a hand-truck* a shopping cart* a tram, cable car, or streetcar * a trolleybus, an electric bus...	cart or wheeled stand used for conveying something (as food or books) ("a supermarket trolley"; "a tea trolley") (US: see s.v. cart, wagon) (off one's trolley) insane (trolleyed) very drunk	a mechanism that rolls along a suspended rail or track	(or trolley car) a streetcar (UK: tram Tram A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities... ) electrically powered by means of a trolley; hence trolley line, trolley road, and trackless trolley (a trolleybus Trolleybus A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit... )
troop	to carry (the flag or colors) in a ceremonial way before troops	a group of persons, particularly in a military or scouting context. Generally, a group of two or more platoons and headquarters staff. (pl.) soldiers, members of the military (we sent 3000 troops)
trooper	cavalry horse troopship (obs.) rank held by a private Private (rank) A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career... in the Household Cavalry Household Cavalry The term Household Cavalry is used across the Commonwealth to describe the cavalry of the Household Divisions, a country’s most elite or historically senior military groupings or those military groupings that provide functions associated directly with the Head of state.Canada's Governor General's... , Royal Armoured Corps Royal Armoured Corps The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army... or SAS Special Air Service Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...		state police officer ("state trooper") (slang) a heroic person that prevails against the odds or takes on a difficult labor without complaint (originally 'trouper')
truck Truck A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...	railway vehicle for carrying goods; can be open ("a coal truck") or covered ("a cattle truck") – cf. s.v. wagon	any of various vehicles for carrying esp. things or animals, as a forklift truck Forklift truck A forklift is a powered industrial truck used to lift and transport materials. The modern forklift was developed in the 1920s by various companies including the transmission manufacturing company Clark and the hoist company Yale & Towne Manufacturing... or a pickup truck Pickup truck A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...	motor vehicle for carrying heavy cargo (UK usu. lorry); see also garbage truck* (UK: dustcart), truck stop Truck stop A truck stop is a commercial facility predicated on providing fuel, parking, and often food and other services to motorists and truck drivers... (UK: transport cafe) produce grown for the market; hence truck farm (UK: market garden Market garden A market garden is the relatively small-scale production of fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants. It is distinguishable from other types of farming by the diversity of crops grown on a small area of land, typically, from under one acre ... ) a hand truck Hand truck A hand truck, also known as a Hannibal lectern, two wheeler, stack truck, dolly, trolley, trolley truck, sack barrow, sack truck, or bag barrow, is an L-shaped box-moving handcart with handles at one end, wheels at the base, with a small ledge to set objects on, flat against the floor when the... (UK: trolley) in a railroad car, the undercarriage assembly incorporating wheels, suspension, and brakes (UK: bogie) (v.) to transport by or drive a truck; to move around carelessly
trunk	primary road (trunk road) (trunk call) long-distance telephone call (dated)	the human torso the main stem of a tree large (person-sized) container Trunk (luggage) A trunk, also known as a travelling chest, is a large cuboid container for holding clothes and other personal belongings, typically about wide, and each deep and high. They were most commonly used for extended periods away from home, such as for boarding school, or long trips abroad... (also travelling chest) proboscis, particularly that of an elephant Elephant Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...	storage compartment of a car (UK: boot) (trunk line) a main railway line (as from Chicago Chicago Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles... to New York City New York City New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and... ) (UK: main line)
tube	(often cap.) the London subterranean railway system ("the London Underground London Underground The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England... "); (sometimes incorrectly applied to that of other cities, e.g. "the Berlin tube")	a cylindrical structure or device	television
turnout	strike, walkout	number of people taking part in an event ("voter turnout Voter turnout Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s... ") a railroad switch Railroad switch A railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction.... or point equipment output	a place along a highway for slower cars to pull over, in order to let others pass, or for brief parking (UK: layby)
twat	someone who is being stupid *(offensive; considered vulgar by some) to hit someone or something hard ("say that again and I'll twat you!"	vulva (vulgar)	(chiefly late 1970s, early 1980s) a jerk; someone acting inappropriately; an ass (q.v.)
twister		something that twists; see also Twister (game) Twister (game) Twister is a game of physical skill produced by Hasbro Games. It is played on a large plastic mat that is spread on the floor or ground. The mat has four rows of large colored circles on it with a different color in each row: red, yellow, blue, and green. A spinner is attached to a square board...	a tornado Tornado A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
tyke	someone from Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform... (informal, sometimes disparaging)	term of endearment for a child, like "little rascal"	a young animal

U

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
undercoat	a coat of paint applied prior to the top coat (US: primer)	a layer of fine hair close to the skin of a mammal	a rustproofing treatment applied to the underneath of an automobile (UK: underseal)
underground Passenger rail terminology Various terms are used for passenger rail lines and equipment-the usage of these terms differs substantially between areas:-Rapid transit:A rapid transit system is an electric railway characterized by high speed and rapid acceleration. It uses passenger railcars operating singly or in multiple unit...	(often cap.) subterranean railway system, esp. the ones in London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... & Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... (US: subway or metro) -- see also tube	subterranean illicit a subterranean space or channel grapevine (in the sense of an informal communication network)	(Underground Railroad Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,... or Railway) (before 1863) the network of clandestine routes by which slaves were helped to escape to free states and Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
us	objective case of I (i.e. alternative to "me") (informal), esp. in the North of England ("lend us a tenner")	objective case of we ("he saw us")

V

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
vacation	(UK also: vac)	period between university terms	(n.) time off from work or school recreational trip away from home (UK: holiday for both senses) (v.) to take a vacation
valve	Vacuum tube Vacuum tube In electronics, a vacuum tube, electron tube , or thermionic valve , reduced to simply "tube" or "valve" in everyday parlance, is a device that relies on the flow of electric current through a vacuum... , as in pre-1960 electronics	a device to control the flow of liquids or gases
vanity		pride in one's appearance	a sink-unit in a bathroom
vest	garment, usu. sleeveless, worn under a shirt (US: undershirt or beater) sleeveless garment worn as an only visible top		sleeveless garment worn over a shirt (UK: waistcoat) (e.g. ballistic vest *)
vet		(n.) veterinarian Veterinarian A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals.... (v.) to appraise or verify for accuracy or validity	war veteran War Veteran War Veteran is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick. It was first published in If magazine in March 1955.-Plot summary:The plot concerns an old man who claims to have travelled back in time from a future in which Earth has lost a devastating war to its own Martian and Venusian colonies... or a person who has served honorably in the military
veterinary	(n.) veterinarian	(a.) pertaining to the medical science of caring of animals
visit (v.)		(trans.) to go and see (a person or place)	(intrans.) to pay a visit, stay as a guest, or be engaged in informal conversation ("visiting together", "visit with a friend")

W

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
waffle	(v.) to speak to no purpose; ramble	A type of pancake with a pattern of square dents in it, made in a waffle iron.	(v.) to equivocate, waver, speak evasively
wagon Wagon A wagon is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle pulled by draught animals; it was formerly often called a wain, and if low and sideless may be called a dray, trolley or float....	railway vehicle for transporting goods (US: freight car)	4-wheeled orig. animal-drawn vehicle (UK also spelled waggon esp. in the past); state of abstaining from alcohol (orig. US slang) a delivery van ("the milk wagon")	small wheeled food service table (UK: trolley); see also paddy wagon (used in the UK, but non PC Political correctness Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,... ), station wagon Station wagon A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid... , chuckwagon Chuckwagon A chuckwagon or chuck wagon is a type of wagon historically used to carry food and cooking equipment on the prairies of the United States and Canada. Such wagons would form part of a wagon train of settlers or feed traveling workers such as cowboys or loggers.In modern times, chuckwagons feature... , wagon train Wagon train A wagon train is a group of wagons traveling together. In the American West, individuals traveling across the plains in covered wagons banded together for mutual assistance, as is reflected in numerous films and television programs about the region, such as Audie Murphy's Tumbleweed and Ward Bond...
walk out, walkout	(v.) "walk out with", to be romantically involved with (archaic)	(v.) to leave a meeting in protest to strike Strike action Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became... (orig. US) to abandon someone, or to drop out ("she walked out on me") (orig. US) (n.) a kind of Walkout In labor disputes, a walkout is a labor strike, the act of employees collectively leaving the workplace as an act of protest.A walkout can also mean the act of leaving a place of work, school, a meeting, a company, or an organization, especially if meant as an expression of protest or disapproval.A... strike action (orig. US) the act of leaving a meeting in protest	(adj.) (of a room in a building) featuring outdoor access; (n.) such an access ("full walkout basement", "walkout to the deck") (n.) one who goes out of a store or shop without buying anything
walking stick		(n.) a stick to aid with walking	(n.) a type of insect (UK : Stick Insect)
warden	any of various officials *(a "traffic warden Traffic warden A traffic warden is a non-warranted officer employed by a statutory authority in jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Ireland, to assist in regulating the flow of traffic.- Ireland :... ") an official in certain universities	gener., one in charge of something	official in charge of a prison (UK usu. governor) in compounds: fire warden*
wash up	to wash the dishes; to clean after eating food, hence washing-up liquid (US dish soap)		to wash one's hands and face; to clean before eating food
watershed Drainage basin A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...	(orig. sense, now nontech.) a ridge of hills (which "sheds water") separating two river drainage basins; water parting (old-fashioned or nontechnical in US; US usu. divide) the time of day before which programme content of an adult nature, or of a specific or implied kind, may not be screened and after which it is permissible (US: safe harbor*)	(fig.) a turning point	a drainage basin/water catchment area (shift from orig. sense) *
well	really (colloquial, used for emphasis) ("that was well funny")	adverb of good healthy, in good form pit sunk to obtain water or oil
wicked	(interjection) used for something very good, astounding or interesting ("Wicked!")*	(adj.) evil; fierce; roguish; vile	(adverb) very (esp. New England) ("Wicked good")
wifebeater, wife-beater	(slang) the beer Beer Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat... Stella Artois Stella Artois Stella Artois is a 5% ABV lager brewed in Leuven, Belgium since 1926. In the UK, Canada and New Zealand a 4% ABV version is also available.-Production:... (perh. also related to "A Streetcar Named Desire")	(wife beater) one who beats up his wife	a sleeveless shirt (such as that worn by Marlon Brando Marlon Brando Marlon Brando, Jr. was an American movie star and political activist. "Unchallenged as the most important actor in modern American Cinema" according to the St... in "A Streetcar Named Desire") *(also Scotland)
wing (vehicles)	panel of a car that encloses the wheel area (US: fender)	apparatus used to create lift in aeronautics a type of spoiler (on racecars) the act of carrying out an activity with little or no planning, To wing something, "Let's wing it!" (slang)
wing commander Wing Commander (rank) Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...	air force officer rank (US equivalent: lieutenant colonel)		a duty title for an air force officer, typically a full colonel or a brigadier general, who commands a wing (Note American wings are larger formations than British wings)
wingnut Wingnut (disambiguation) Wingnut may refer to:*Wingnut , a nut with a pair of wings to enable it to be turned without tools, used where frequent adjustments are needed or part removal can be made quickly at some later stage...	(n.) derogatory term for a person with prominent, sticking out, ears	(n.) a nut with projections to allow application of greater torque with the fingers a type of tree	(n.) (mild) a crazy or strange person Wingnut (politics) Wingnut (politics) "Wingnut" is used in United States politics as a political epithet referring to a person who holds extreme political views. According to Merriam-Webster, it is analogous with the word "radical." In American politics, the term is more often aimed at members of the political right than those of the... , an uncomplimentary term for someone of right-wing or conservative views
wink Wink A wink is a facial expression made by briefly closing one eye. A wink is an informal mode of non-verbal communication usually signalling shared hidden knowledge or intent, which may also include, in some contexts, sexual attraction....	(n.) "winker", slang term for a turn indicator (US: see blinker)	(n. & v.) the closing of one eye
wrangle (v.)		to bicker or quarrel angrily and noisily	(esp. West Western United States .The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time... ) to herd horses or other livestock; back-formation from wrangler to achieve through contrivance; to wangle
wreck (n.)		shipwreck Shipwreck A shipwreck is what remains of a ship that has wrecked, either sunk or beached. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event: this explains why the two concepts are often overlapping in English.... that which remains of something wrecked someone who is unwell or out of sorts (e.g. "nervous wreck")	a usu. major road, rail, or air accident or collision Collision A collision is an isolated event which two or more moving bodies exert forces on each other for a relatively short time.Although the most common colloquial use of the word "collision" refers to accidents in which two or more objects collide, the scientific use of the word "collision" implies...
wrench		a sudden pull or twist emotional distress	a tool used for tightening nuts and bolts (used in UK chiefly in combination, e.g. torque wrench Torque wrench A torque wrench is a tool used to precisely apply a specific torque to a fastener such as a nut or bolt. It is usually in the form of a socket wrench with special internal mechanisms. It was invented by Conrad Bahr in 1918 while working for the New York City Water Department... ) something disrupting (often monkey wrench Monkey wrench The monkey wrench is an adjustable wrench, a later American development of eighteenth century English coach wrenches. It was popular in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries but is now used only for heavier tasks, having been mostly replaced by the lighter and sleeker shifting adjustable or... ) ("that will throw a monkey wrench into my plans") (UK usu. spanner* for both senses)

X

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
xerox		the Xerox Corporation Xerox Xerox Corporation is an American multinational document management corporation that produced and sells a range of color and black-and-white printers, multifunction systems, photo copiers, digital production printing presses, and related consulting services and supplies...	(n.) A photocopied Photocopier A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual images quickly and cheaply. Most current photocopiers use a technology called xerography, a dry process using heat... document * (v.) To photocopy *

Y

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
yankee Yankee The term Yankee has several interrelated and often pejorative meanings, usually referring to people originating in the northeastern United States, or still more narrowly New England, where application of the term is largely restricted to descendants of the English settlers of the region.The... , yank	(sometimes disparaging, esp. when shortened to yank)	someone from the U.S.	(n.)1. A patriot from the American Revolution; 2. a New England New England New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut... er; in the South, someone from the Northern US (often disparaging). A Minnesotan would not consider himself a Yankee or use the word regularly, but would consider someone from Connecticut to be a yankee; a Texan would consider both yankees, but not himself, and would be much more likely to use the word; 3. a player for the New York Yankees New York Yankees The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division... baseball team
yard		a courtyard Courtyard A court or courtyard is an enclosed area, often a space enclosed by a building that is open to the sky. These areas in inns and public buildings were often the primary meeting places for some purposes, leading to the other meanings of court.... an enclosed space used for a particular activity (as a railway service area, a lumberyard or timber yard, a junkyard, etc.) a unit of length Yard A yard is a unit of length in several different systems including English units, Imperial units and United States customary units. It is equal to 3 feet or 36 inches...	enclosed area of land Yard (land) A yard is an enclosed area of land, usually tied to a building. The word comes from the same linguistic root as the word garden and has many of the same meanings.... surrounding a dwelling, usu. comprising lawn Lawn A lawn is an area of aesthetic and recreational land planted with grasses or other durable plants, which usually are maintained at a low and consistent height. Low ornamental meadows in natural landscaping styles are a contemporary option of a lawn... and play area (UK usu.: garden) (yard sale) see garage sale Garage sale A garage sale, also known as a yard sale, rummage sale, tag sale, lawn sale, attic sale, moving sale, or junk sale, is an informal, irregularly scheduled event for the sale of used goods by private individuals, in which "block sales" are allowed, so that sellers are not required to obtain business... a campus Campus A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings... (e.g. Harvard Yard Harvard Yard Harvard Yard is a grassy area of about , adjacent to Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that constitutes the oldest part and the center of the campus of Harvard University... ) a place (as in a forest) where deer gather in winter 100 dollars (slang) a billion 1000000000 (number) 1,000,000,000 is the natural number following 999,999,999 and preceding 1,000,000,001.In scientific notation, it is written as 109.... (slang, finance) go yard, to hit a home run Home run In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...

Z

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
z		the last letter of the alphabet	a nap ("to catch some z's") zero or no ("I have z cash right now.")
zebra	(zebra crossing Zebra crossing A zebra crossing is a type of pedestrian crossing used in many places around the world. Its distinguishing feature is alternating dark and light stripes on the road surface, from which it derives its name. A zebra crossing typically gives extra rights of way to pedestrians.The use of zebra... ) a type of pedestrian crossing Pedestrian crossing A pedestrian crossing or crosswalk is a designated point on a road at which some means are employed to assist pedestrians wishing to cross. They are designed to keep pedestrians together where they can be seen by motorists, and where they can cross most safely across the flow of vehicular traffic... *	an African equine mammal Zebra Zebras are several species of African equids united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds...	a referee Referee A referee is the person of authority, in a variety of sports, who is responsible for presiding over the game from a neutral point of view and making on the fly decisions that enforce the rules of the sport... (as in American football American football American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by... ) (from their striped uniforms) police car (slang)
zip	(short for zip fastener) a fastening device (US: zipper Zipper A zipper is a commonly used device for temporarily joining two edges of fabric... )	a sharp, hissing sound impetus file format for compressed files ("archive.zip")	zero (often in scores, similar to the UK's nil) (often all cap.) the ZIP code ZIP Code ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the... (from Zone Improvement Plan), the postal code used by the USPS United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...

External links

The Septic's Companion: A British Slang Dictionary an online dictionary of British slang, viewable alphabetically or by category

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

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