This page gathers the 5,691 dictionary entries of which at least one sense is labelled “Figuratively” by Wiktionary. The definition shown is that sense; each word leads to its full entry. Page 12 of 57: from “cosset” to “cure”.
- cosset verb To benefit; to make life easy for.
- cothurnus noun The stilted style denoting ancient tragedy.
- cotted adj difficult to please
- couch noun Voters who opt out of voting, usually by staying home on their couch.
- cough noun A noise or sound like a cough (etymology 2, noun sense 1).
- count verb To be of significance; to matter; to be considered (as something); to be included (of something).
- counterbalance noun A force or influence that balances, checks or limits an opposite one.
- countermand verb To counteract, to act against, to frustrate.
- counterparry noun An act of avoiding or deflecting in response to an opponent's avoidance or deflection.
- counterweight noun A counterbalance.
- country mouse noun A countryperson; someone with country ways.
- course correction noun The act of recognizing and correcting an error, or the changing of a direction in order to achieve a desired outcome.
- courtship noun The act of trying to solicit a favour or support from someone.
- cousin noun Something kindred or related to something else; a relative.
- cousin german noun Something closely related.
- cover one's tracks verb To conceal how one has arrived at a certain result or position.
- cover-slut noun Any surface appearance hiding something underneath.
- covered adj Prepared for, or having dealt with, some matter
- covert adj Secret, surreptitious, concealed.
- covey noun A group or party of people; also, a group or set of things.
- cower verb To be a coward; to hide away or refuse to face opposition due to fear.
- crabwise adj Incidental.
- crack noun Something good-tasting or habit-forming.
- crack the whip verb To make harsh demands in a position of leadership.
- crackle verb To be full of tension or emotion.
- cradle noun The place of origin, or in which anything is nurtured or protected in the earlier period of existence.
- cradlemate noun Something created along with something else, at the same time.
- craft noun A woman.
- cramp verb To prohibit movement or expression of.
- crap one's pants verb To be frightened; especially, to be extremely frightened.
- crapshoot noun A venture with a highly risky or unpredictable outcome.
- crater verb To collapse catastrophically; to become devastated or completely destroyed.
- crawl noun A very slow pace.
- crawlingly adv In a humble or sycophantic manner.
- crazy quilt noun An uncoordinated jumble of things, ideas, practices, policies, etc.
- creak verb To suffer from strain or old age.
- cream noun The best part of something.
- cream off verb To earn, or embezzle, a percentage of a profit.
- cream puff noun A weak or ineffectual person.
- cream-cheesy adj Resembling or characteristic of cream cheese.
- creephole noun A subterfuge; an excuse.
- creeps noun A feeling or sensation of fear or horror.
- crescendo noun A gradual increase of anything, especially to a dramatic climax.
- crevasse noun A discontinuity or “gap” between the accounted variables and an observed outcome.
- crickets noun Used alone or in metaphorically descriptive phrases: absolute silence where meaningful sound is expected; lack of response; no…
- criminal adj Abhorrent or very undesirable.
- cringe verb To experience an inward feeling of disgust, embarrassment, or fear; (by extension) to feel very embarrassed.
- cripple noun A person who is severely impaired or deficient in some non-physical way.
- crisp verb To add small amounts of colour to (something); to tinge, to tint.
- critical mass noun The minimum amount of something or the minimum number of people needed to trigger a phenomenon.
- crocodile noun greedy or corrupt person (especially a politician or any public official)
- crooked adj Dishonest or illegal; corrupt.
- crop noun A group, cluster, or collection of things occurring at the same time.
- cross noun A difficult situation that must be endured.
- cross- prefix Moving from one track or state to another.
- cross-pollinate verb To inspire, stimulate, or influence between diverse elements.
- cross-pollination noun Inspiration, stimulation, or influence between diverse elements.
- crosslight noun Multiple perspectives or points of view.
- crossroads noun A centrally located position.
- crownlessness noun A state of defeat, or of not sharing in victory.
- crucible noun A very difficult and trying experience, that acts as a refining or hardening process.
- crucifixion noun An ordeal, terrible, especially malicious treatment imposed upon someone.
- crud noun Something of poor quality.
- cruise control noun A state of being where tasks are completed easily and routinely.
- crumb noun A bit, small amount.
- crumble verb To fall apart; to disintegrate.
- crumbling adj In a state of decline.
- crumple verb To collapse; to surrender.
- crumple up verb To collapse; to give up and fold in a stressful situation.
- crunchy adj Having counter-culture sensibilities; nature-loving or hippie; wholesome, health-conscious.
- crusade noun A grand, concerted effort towards some purportedly worthy cause.
- crusader noun A person engaged in a crusade.
- crush verb To overwhelm by pressure or weight.
- crusty adj Short-tempered and gruff but, sometimes, with a harmless or benign inner nature.
- cry verb To forcefully attract attention or proclaim one’s presence.
- cryingly adv In a way that desperately demands attention.
- crystal adj Very clear; coherent.
- crystal ball noun A manner or method of seeing into the future.
- crystal-gazer noun Someone who makes predictions about the future, especially when these are seen as speculative.
- crystal-gazing noun The making of predictions about the future, especially when these are seen as very speculative.
- crystallize verb To give a definite or precise form to (something).
- Ctrl-Alt-Delete verb To reset.
- cuck chair noun A position of inferiority or impotence.
- cucumber noun A person who is calm and self-possessed.
- cudgel noun Anything that can be used as a threat to force one's will on another.
- cul-de-sac noun An impasse.
- culminate verb To reach a climax; to come to a decisive point, especially an end or conclusion.
- cultivate verb To nurture; to foster; to tend.
- cultivator noun Someone who fosters something besides plants (such as human development or relationships).
- cumbrous adj Unwieldy because of size or weight; cumbersome.
- cup noun That which is to be received or indured; that which is allotted to one; a portion of blessings and afflictions.
- cup of coffee noun One’s personal preference.
- cup of joe noun One’s personal preference.
- curative adj Remediative.
- curb noun Something that checks or restrains; a restraint.
- curb market noun An informal market established to enable the buying and selling of riskier and less profitable securities outside of established securities…
- curb stomp verb To defeat an opponent overwhelmingly or effortlessly.
- curbless adj Without restraint; uncurbed, unchecked.
- curdog noun A person with these qualities.
- cure noun A solution to a problem.