Adjacent Words

American definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

AMER'ICAN, a. Pertaining to America.
AMER'ICAN, n. A native of America; originally applied to the aboriginals, or copper-colored races, found here by the Europeans; but now applied to the descendants of Europeans born in America.
The name American must always exalt the pride of patriotism.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: of or relating to the United States of America or its people or language or culture; "American citizens"; "American English"; "the American dream"
2: of or relating to or characteristic of the continents and islands of the Americas; "the American hemisphere"; "American flora and fauna" n
1: a native or inhabitant of the United States
2: the English language as used in the United States [syn: American English, American language, American]
3: a native or inhabitant of a North American or Central American or South American country

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Date: 1568 1. an American Indian of North America or South America 2. a native or inhabitant of North America or South America 3. a citizen of the United States 4. American English II. adjective Date: 1580 1. of or relating to America 2. of or relating to the United States or its possessions or original territory • Americanness noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. & n. --adj. 1 of, relating to, or characteristic of the United States or its inhabitants. 2 (usu. in comb.) of or relating to the continents of America (Latin-American). --n. 1 a native or citizen of the United States. 2 (usu. in comb.) a native or inhabitant of the continents of America (North Americans). 3 the English language as it is used in the United States. Phrases and idioms: American dream the traditional ideals of the American people, such as equality, democracy, and material prosperity. American football a kind of football played with an oval ball, evolved from Rugby football. American Indian see INDIAN. Etymology: mod.L Americanus f. America f. Latinized name of Amerigo Vespucci, It. navigator d. 1512

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Nutmeg Nut"meg, n. [OE. notemuge; note nut + OF. muge musk, of the same origin as E. musk; cf. OF. noix muguette nutmeg, F. noix muscade. See Nut, and Musk.] (Bot.) The kernel of the fruit of the nutmeg tree (Myristica fragrans), a native of the Molucca Islands, but cultivated elsewhere in the tropics. Note: This fruit is a nearly spherical drupe, of the size of a pear, of a yellowish color without and almost white within. This opens into two nearly equal longitudinal valves, inclosing the nut surrounded by its aril, which is mace The nutmeg is an aromatic, very grateful to the taste and smell, and much used in cookery. Other species of Myristica yield nutmegs of inferior quality. American, Calabash, or Jamaica, nutmeg, the fruit of a tropical shrub (Monodora Myristica). It is about the size of an orange, and contains many aromatic seeds imbedded in pulp. Brazilian nutmeg, the fruit of a lauraceous tree, Cryptocarya moschata. California nutmeg, tree of the Yew family (Torreya Californica), growing in the Western United States, and having a seed which resembles a nutmeg in appearance, but is strongly impregnated with turpentine. Clove nutmeg, the Ravensara aromatica, a laura ceous tree of Madagascar. The foliage is used as a spice, but the seed is acrid and caustic. Jamaica nutmeg. See American nutmeg (above). Nutmeg bird (Zo["o]l.), an Indian finch (Munia punctularia). Nutmeg butter, a solid oil extracted from the nutmeg by expression. Nutmeg flower (Bot.), a ranunculaceous herb (Nigella sativa) with small black aromatic seeds, which are used medicinally and for excluding moths from furs and clothing. Nutmeg liver (Med.), a name applied to the liver, when, as the result of heart or lung disease, it undergoes congestion and pigmentation about the central veins of its lobules, giving it an appearance resembling that of a nutmeg. Nutmeg melon (Bot.), a small variety of muskmelon of a rich flavor. Nutmeg pigeon (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of pigeons of the genus Myristicivora, native of the East Indies and Australia. The color is usually white, or cream-white, with black on the wings and tail. Nutmeg wood (Bot.), the wood of the Palmyra palm. Peruvian nutmeg, the aromatic seed of a South American tree (Laurelia sempervirens). Plume nutmeg (Bot.), a spicy tree of Australia (Atherosperma moschata).

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

American A*mer"i*can, a. [Named from Americus Vespucius.] 1. Of or pertaining to America; as, the American continent: American Indians. 2. Of or pertaining to the United States. ``A young officer of the American navy.'' --Lyell. American ivy. See Virginia creeper. American Party (U. S. Politics), a party, about 1854, which opposed the influence of foreign-born citizens, and those supposed to owe allegiance to a foreign power. Native american Party (U. S. Politics), a party of principles similar to those of the American party. It arose about 1843, but soon died out.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

American A*mer"i*can, n. A native of America; -- originally applied to the aboriginal inhabitants, but now applied to the descendants of Europeans born in America, and especially to the citizens of the United States. The name American must always exalt the pride of patriotism. --Washington.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(Americans) An American person or thing belongs to or comes from the United States of America. ...the American Ambassador at the United Nations. ...the influence of American television and movies. ADJ see also Latin American • An American is someone who is American. The 1990 Nobel Prize for medicine was won by two Americans. N-COUNT