Study > 4-letter Words


The 4 letter words with definitions, separated alphabetically.

Now updated for CSW24. New words, if any, and new inflections of existing words, are shown in red.

maar(Ger.) a volcanic crater without a cone, usually filled by a lake > MAARS or MAARE.
maas(3rd.) MAA, of a goat, to bleat; (noun) thick soured milk > MAASES.
mabeA cultured pearl > MABES.
macaA cruciferous biennial plant, native to the Peruvian Andes; the powdered root of this plant, used as a stimulant and health supplement > MACAS.
maceA club-like weapon; (verb) to attack with this > MACES, MACING, MACED.
machA number indicating the ratio of the speed of an object to the speed of sound in the surrounding medium > MACHS.
mackA pimp, pander > MACKS.
macs(Pl.) MAC, mackintosh.
made(Pt.) MAKE, to cause to exist.
mads(3rd.) MAD, to be mad.
maes(Pl.) MAE, more.
mageA magician; a person of exceptional wisdom and learning > MAGES. Also MAGUS.
magg(Scott) to steal > MAGGS, MAGGING, MAGGED.
magi(Pl.) MAGUS, a magician.
mags(3rd.) MAG, to tease, chatter.
mahaAs in maha yoga, a form of yoga practised with a master that incorporates all eight classical yogas.
maid(Verb) to work as a maid > MAIDS, MAIDING, MAIDED.
maik(Scots) a mate or consort, an equal > MAIKS.
mailTo send by a governmental postal system > MAILS, MAILING, MAILED.
maimTo injure so as to cause lasting damage > MAIMS, MAIMING, MAIMED.
main(Adj.) chief, principal > MAINER, MAINEST; MAINLY; (verb) to maim or cripple > MAINS, MAINING, MAINED.
mair(Scots) more > MAIRS.
makeTo cause to exist > MAKES, MAKING, MADE.
maki(Japanese) in Japanese cuisine a small segment cut from a long roll of cold rice and various other ingredients wrapped in a sheet of seaweed > MAKIS.
mako(Maori) a kind of shark > MAKOS.
maks(3rd.) MAK, to make.
mala(Hindi) a string of beads or knots used in prayer > MALAS.
maleAn individual that begets young by fertilizing the female > MALES.
mali(Hindi) one of the gardener class in India > MALIS.
mall(Verb) to maul, beat > MALLS, MALLING, MALLED.
malmA calcareous loam used in making brick > MALMS.
mals(Pl.) MAL, pain, sickness.
maltBarley or other grain prepared for brewing or distilling or vinegar-making, esp. by steeping, germinating, and drying; (verb) to treat or combine with malt > MALTS, MALTING, MALTED.
mamaMother > MAMAS.
mams(Pl.) MAM, mother.
mana(Maori) an impersonal supernatural force > MANAS.
mand(Spenser) manned.
maneThe long hair growing on and about the neck of some animals > MANES, MANED.
mang(Arch.) to speak or talk > MANGS, MANGING, MANGED.
maniA stone prayer wall in a Tibetan Buddhist temple, usu. carved with sacred images or texts > MANIES or MANIS.
manoA stone roller used in Mexico etc. for grinding maize on a METATE, a stone with a concave surface > MANOS.
mans(3rd.) MAN, to staff, operate.
manyConsisting of or amounting to a large number > MORE, MOST.
maps(3rd.) MAP, to make a map.
maraA large rodent, like a CAVY, found in Patagonia > MARAS.
marc(Fr.) grapeskins and other refuse from wine-making > MARCS.
mard(Spenser) marred.
mare(Lat.) a sea on the moon > MARIA.
marg(Abbr.) margarine > MARGS. Also MARGE.
markA former monetary unit and coin in England and Scotland worth two thirds of a pound sterling > MARKS; (verb) to make a mark on > MARKS, MARKING, MARKED.
marlA mixture of clays, carbonates and ground-up shells used as a fertilizer; (verb) to fertilise with marl > MARLS, MARLING, MARLED.
marmA form of address to a woman, = ma'am > MARMS.
mars(3rd.) MAR, to spoil.
mart(Verb) (Shakespeare) to sell, trade > MARTS, MARTING, MARTED.
mary(Aust. slang) a woman, esp. an aboriginal woman > MARIES.
masa(Spanish) in Mexican cooking, a dough made from masa harina, ground, dried maize and used to make tamales etc > MASAS. [Sp. masa, dough, from L. massa, a lump].
maseTo act as a MASER, a device used to amplify long-range radar and radio astronomy signals > MASES, MASING, MASED.
mashTo reduce to a pulpy mass > MASHES, MASHING, MASHED.
maskA covering for the face, or the upper part of it, for concealment; (verb) to conceal with or as with a mask > MASKS, MASKING, MASKED.
massTo assemble in a mass (a body of coherent matter) > MASSES, MASSING, MASSED.
mast(Verb) to supply with a mast > MASTS, MASTING, MASTED.
masu(Japanese) a Japanese salmon > MASUS.
mateAn infusion made from the leaves and shoot of a S. American shrub, aka Paraguay tea; (verb) to couple with > MATES, MATING, MATED.
mathMathematics > MATHS.
mats(3rd.) MAT, to form a tangle.
mattA non-glossy surface, as on paint > MATTS.
matyFriendly > MATIER, MATIEST; MATILY; (noun) a friend > MATIES. Also MATEY.
maudA Scottish shepherd's woollen plaid > MAUDS.
maulA war-club or mace; a heavy wooden hammer or beetle; (verb) to beat with a maul, to handle roughly > MAULS, MAULING, MAULED.
maun(Dial.) must.
maut(Scots) malt > MAUTS.
mawk(ON) a maggot. [ON mathkr, maggot].
mawn(Pt.) MAW, to mow.
mawr(Dial.) a girl, especially a great awkward girl > MAWRS. Also MAUTHER, MAWTHER.
maws(3rd.) MAW, to mow.
maxiA maxi garment > MAXIS.
maya(Sanskrit) in Buddhist philosophy, the power to produce illusions > MAYAS.
mayo(Abbr.) mayonnaise > MAYOS.
mays(Pl.) MAY, hawthorn blossom.
maze(Verb) to bewilder, confuse > MAZES, MAZING, MAZED.
mazyLike a maze, winding > MAZIER, MAZIEST; MAZILY.
meadAlcoholic liquor produced by fermenting a mixture of honey and water > MEADS. Also MEATH, MEATHE.
meal(Verb) to cover with meal > MEALS, MEALING, MEALED.
meanLow, humble > MEANER, MEANEST; MEANLY; (verb) to signify > MEANS, MEANING, MEANT.
meatAnimal flesh used as food > MEATS, MEATED.
mech(Short for) mechanic > MECHS.
meck(Scots) an old halfpenny > MECKS. Also MAIK,
meds(Pl.) MED, medication.
meedA fitting return or recompense > MEEDS.
meekSubmissive > MEEKER, MEEKEST; MEEKLY.
meer(Verb) to mark off; to bound > MEERS, MEERING, MEERED. Also MERE, MEARE.
mees(Pl.) MEE, in Malaysia, noodles or a dish containing noodles.
meetSuitable > MEETER, MEETEST; MEETLY; (verb) to encounter > MEETS, MEETING, MET.
meff(Dial.) a tramp, a worthless person > MEFFS.
megaVery big.
megs(Pl.) MEG, a halfpenny.
mein(Shakesp.) to moan > MEINS, MEINING, MEINED. Also MEANE, MENE.
mela(Hindi) in the Indian subcontinent, a Hindu festival or fair > MELAS. [Hindi, from Sanskrit mela, assembly].
meldTo merge, blend > MELDS, MELDING, MELDED.
mell(Shakesp.) to mix, to meddle > MELLS, MELLING, MELLED.
mels(Pl.) MEL, honey.
meltTo change from a solid to a liquid state by heat > MELTS, MELTING, MELTED.
memeIn biology, a practice or belief passed on other than by genes > MEMES.
memoA memorandum > MEMOS.
mems(Pl.) MEM, a Hebrew letter.
mendTo repair > MENDS, MENDING, MENDED.
mene(Obs.) to lament, moan > MENES, MENING, MENED. Also MEIN, MEANE.
mengTo mix; to unite, couple > MENGS, MENGING, MENT or MEINT or MEYNT. Also MING, MENGE.
meno(Ital.) less.
ment(Pt.) MENG, to mix.
menu(Fr.) a list of dishes available > MENUS.
meouTo make a sound like a cat > MEOUS, MEOUING, MEOUED. Also MIAOW, MIAOU, MEOW, MIAUL.
meowTo make a sound like a cat > MEOWS, MEOWING, MEOWED. Also MIAOW, MEOU, MIAOU, MIAUL.
merc(Abbr.) mercenary > MERCS or MERCES.
mereOnly > MERER, MEREST; MERELY; (verb) to mark off, divide > MERES, MERING, MERED.
meri(Maori) a war-club > MERIS.
merkAn old Scotch silver coin > MERKS.
merlA blackbird > MERLS. Also MERLE.
mesa(Spanish) a flat-topped hill > MESAS.
mese(Greek) in Greek music, the middle string of the lyre; its note > MESES.
meshTo entangle > MESHES, MESHING, MESHED.
messTo make dirty or untidy > MESSES, MESSING, MESSED.
metaPertaining to positions in benzene ring separated by one carbon atom.
meteTo distribute by measure > METES, METING, METED.
methA stimulant drug > METHS.
mets(Pl.) MET, meteorology.
meus(Pl.) MEU, the plant SPIGNEL.
meve(Obs.) to move > MEVES, MEVING, MEVED.
mewlTo cry feebly, as a kitten > MEWLS, MEWLING, MEWLED.
mews(Verb) to pass through a MEUSE > MEWSES, MEWSING, MEWSED. Also MEUSE, SMEUSE.
meze(Turkish) a type of appetizer served in Greece > MEZES. [Turkish meze, a snack]. Also MEZZE.
mezzRelating to an intermediate stage in a financial process.
mhos(Pl.) MHO, a unit of electrical resistance.
mibs(Pl.) MIB, a type of marble.
micaA rock-forming mineral (muscovite, biotite, lepidolite, etc) with perfect basal cleavage > MICAS.
mice(Pl.) MOUSE, a small rodent.
michTo play truant > MICHES, MICHING, MICHED. Also MITCH.
mico(Tupi) the black-tailed marmoset > MICOS.
mics(Pl.) MIC, microphone.
midiA skirt or coat that extends to the middle of the calf > MIDIS.
mids(Pl.) MID, middle.
mien(Fr.) air or look; manner > MIENS.
miffA petty falling out; a tiff; (verb) to put in a bad mood, offend > MIFFS, MIFFING, MIFFED.
miggA type of playing marble > MIGGS. Also MIG, MIB, MIGGLE.
migs(Pl.) MIG, a type of playing marble.
miha(Maori) a young fern frond that has not opened. No -S.
mihi(Maori) a ceremonial greeting; (verb) to greet ceremonially > MIHIS, MIHIING, MIHIED.
mike(Abbr.) microphone; (verb) to record by use of a microphone > MIKES, MIKING, MIKED.
mildGentle, not harsh > MILDER, MILDEST; MILDLY; (verb) to make or become mild > MILDS, MILDING, MILDED.
mileA unit of linear measure, 1760 yards > MILES.
milfA sexually attractive middle-aged woman > MILFS.
milkTo draw milk (a whitish, nutritious liquid) from the udder of > MILKS, MILKING, MILKED.
millTo grind by mechanical means > MILLS, MILLING, MILLED.
miloA drought-resistant variety of SORGHUM > MILOS.
mils(Pl.) MIL, a Cypriot coin.
miltThe soft roe of a fish; (verb) of fish, to impregnate > MILTS, MILTING, MILTED.
mimeTo mimic > MIMES, MIMING, MIMED.
minaA Greek unit of weight or money > MINAS or MINAE. Also MNA, MANEH.
mindTo heed > MINDS, MINDING, MINDED.
mineTo dig into for valuable materials > MINES, MINING, MINED.
mingTo mix; to unite, couple > MINGS, MINGING, MINGED, MEINT, MEYNT, MENT. Also MENG, MENGE.
miniSomething distinctively smaller than others of its kind > MINIS.
minkA carnivorous mammal > MINKS.
mino(Japanese) a raincoat of hemp etc > MINOS.
mintAny plant of the aromatic labiate genus Mentha; (verb) to coin, to invent > MINTS, MINTING, MINTED.
minxA pert, sly, or flirtatious young woman; a hussy > MINXES.
minyAbounding with mines; like a mine > MINIER, MINIEST.
mipsA million instruction per second. No MIP*.
mire(Verb) to bog down > MIRES, MIRING, MIRED.
miri(Pl.) MIR, a Russian farming community.
mirkDark, gloomy > MIRKER, MIRKEST; (noun) darkness, gloom > MIRKS. Also MURK.
miro(Maori) a tall coniferous tree of New Zealand > MIRO. No -S.
mirs(Pl.) MIR, a Muslim ruler.
mirv(Military slang) to provide with MIRV capabilities, i.e. missiles containing many thermonuclear warheads > MIRVS, MIRVING, MIRVED.
miryAbounding with deep mud; full of mire > MIRIER, MIRIEST.
miseThe issue in a writ of right > MISES.
miso(Japanese) a paste, used in flavouring, prepared from soya beans and fermented in brine > MISOS.
missTo fail to make contact with > MISSES, MISSING, MISSED.
mistTo become blurry > MISTS, MISTING, MISTED.
miteAny of various tiny arachnids of the order Acarida, many of which carry disease, smaller than ticks and, unlike them, not always parasitic in habits > MITES.
mittAny of various glovelike hand coverings, such as one that does not cover the fingers > MITTS. Also MITTEN.
mityInfested with mites > MITIER, MITIEST.
mixt(Obs.) pt. MIX.
mixyMixed > MIXIER, MIXIEST.
mizz(Coll.) short form of misery. Also MIZ.
mnas(Pl.) MNA, a Greek unit of weight or money.
moai(Rapanui) any of the gigantic stone statues of Easter Island > MOAI. No -S.
moanTo utter a low, mournful sound > MOANS, MOANING, MOANED.
moas(Pl.) MOA, an ostrich-like New Zealand bird, extinct for over a century.
moat(Verb) to surround with a moat > MOATS, MOATING, MOATED.
mobe(Sl.) a mobile phone > MOBES. Also MOBIE, MOBY.
mobo(n) (short for) computing motherboard.
mobs(3rd.) MOB, to form into a mob.
moby(Sl.) a mobile phone > MOBIES. Also MOBE, MOBIE.
moch(Scots) misty or humid weather > MOCHS.
mockTo ridicule > MOCKS, MOCKING, MOCKED.
mocs(Pl.) MOC, moccasin.
modeA method of doing or acting > MODES.
modi(Pl.) MODUS, the terms of a conveyance.
mods(Pl.) MOD, a Highland Gaelic festival.
moer(S. Afr.) a despicable person; (verb) to attack someone > MOERS, MOERING, MOERED.
moes(Pl.) MOE, a wry face.
mofo(US) a motherfucker > MOFOS.
mogs(3rd.) MOG, to move away, jog.
mohoa boundary separating the earth's crust and the mantle > MOHOS.
mohr(Arabic) a West African gazelle > MOHRS. Also MHORR.
moilto drudge > MOILS, MOILING, MOILED. [Anglo-French moiller, to make wet, dampen, with the idea of toiling in mud]. Also MOYLE.
moit(Dial.) = MOTE, a foreign particle in wool > MOITS.
mojo(US slang) magic > MOJOS or MOJOES.
mokeA donkey > MOKES.
moki(Maori) a New Zealand sea fish > MOKIS.
moko(Maori) a system of tattooing > MOKOS.
mola(Cuna) a brightly-coloured applique or embroidered panel made by Cuna Indian women of Panama > MOLAS.
mold(US) to mould > MOLDS, MOLDING, MOLDED.
moleThe quantity of a compound that has a weight equal to the compound's molecular weight > MOLES.
mollA gangster's girlfriend > MOLLS.
mols(Pl.) MOL, the chemical term.
moltTo moult > MOLTS, MOLTING, MOLTED.
molyA magical herb given by Hermes to Odysseus against the charms of Circe; a species of wild onion > MOLIES.
mome(Shakesp.) a stupid person > MOMES.
momi(Pl.) MOMUS, a satirist, a critic.
moms(Pl.) MOM, mother.
mona(Spanish) a kind of West African monkey > MONAS.
mong(Dial.) a throng or crowd; a mixture > MONGS.
monkA man who is a member of a secluded religious order > MONKS.
monoThe black howler monkey of Central America > MONOS.
mons(Lat.) a protuberance of the body > MONTES.
mony(Scots) many. Also MONIE.
moodA person's emotional state at a particular moment > MOODS.
mooi(Afrikaans) fine.
mook(Japanese) a book produced in magazine format > MOOKS.
mool(Scots) mould > MOOLS.
moonThe satellite of a planet; (verb) to spend time idly > MOONS, MOONED, MOONING.
moop(Scots) to nibble, munch > MOOPS, MOOPING, MOOPED. Also MOUP.
moorTo secure a vessel by means of cables > MOORS, MOORING, MOORED.
moos(3rd.) MOO, to low.
moot(Adj.) debatable > MOOT, MOOTEST; (verb) to debate > MOOTS, MOOTING, MOOTED.
mopeTo act in a dejected or gloomy manner > MOPES, MOPING, MOPED.
mops(3rd.) MOP, to clean with a mop.
mopyMoping > MOPIER, MOPIEST. Also MOPEY.
mora(Lat.) a unit of metrical time in prosody > MORAE or MORAS. A game of guessing how many fingers are held up > MORAS.
moreA greater amount > MORES.
mornMorning > MORNS.
mors(Pl.) MOR, a type of humus.
mortThe note sounded on a hunting horn when an animal is killed > MORTS.
mose(Shakesp.) a doubtful verb, applied to some disease in a horse > MOSES, MOSING, MOSED.
moshA type of dance performed to loud rock music; (verb) to dance in this manner > MOSHES, MOSHING, MOSHED.
mosk(Arabic) an Islamic temple > MOSKS. Also MOSQUE.
moss(Verb) to cover with moss > MOSSES, MOSSING, MOSSED.
mostThe greatest part of > MOSTEST but not MOSTER*.
moteA speck of dust > MOTES, MOTED; (verb) may, must > MOSTE, MOTEN.
mothA winged insect > MOTHS, MOTHED.
moti(Hinglish) a fat woman or girl > MOTIS.
mots(Pl.) MOT, a word, a pithy saying.
mott(SW US) a clump of trees, esp. on a prairie > MOTTS.
motu(Maori) a small reef island in the Pacific > MOTU or MOTUS.
moue(Fr.) a disdainful or pouting look > MOUES.
moup(Scots) to nibble, munch > MOUPS, MOUPING, MOUPED. Also MOOP.
mous(Pl.) MOU, mouth.
moveTo change from one position to another > MOVES, MOVING, MOVED.
mowa(Hindi) a kind of butter-tree with edible flowers > MOWAS. Also MOWRA, MAHUA, MAHWA.
mown(Pt.) MOW, to cut the grass on.
mows(3rd.) MOW, to cut the grass on.
moxa(Japanese) a soft woolly mass prepared from the young leaves of Artemisia chinensis, and used as a cautery by burning it on the skin > MOXAS. [Japanese mogusa].
moyaVolcanic mud > MOYAS.
moyl(Obs.) a mule. Also MOYLE.
moys(Pl.) MOY, an old coin.
mozeTo raise the nap of a fabric with a gig > MOZES, MOZING, MOZED.
mozoA manual labourer > MOZOS.
mozz(Aus. sl.) bad luck. Also MOZ.
mpox(n) a viral disease related to smallpox; previously known as monkeypox.
muchPlentiful > MUCHLY; (noun) a great deal > MUCHES.
muckTo fertilize with manure > MUCKS, MUCKING, MUCKED.
muds(3rd.) MUD, to bury in mud, to plaster with mud.
muffAn open-ended cylinder of fur or cloth into which the hands are placed for warmth; (verb) to make a mess of, fail to catch > MUFFS, MUFFING, MUFFED.
muggTo make funny faces > MUGGS, MUGGING, MUGGED.
mugs(3rd.) MUG, to attack from behind.
muid(Dutch) a Dutch or (now esp.) South African dry measure of capacity > MUIDS.
muil(Scots) a backless slipper, a mule.
muir(Scots) a moor > MUIRS.
mule(Verb) to strike (a coin) from dies belonging to two different issues > MULES, MULING, MULED.
mullA light fabric; (verb) to ponder over, study > MULLS, MULLING, MULLED.
mummTo sport or make diversion in a mask or disguise; to mask > MUMMS, MUMMING, MUMMED.
mumpTo move the lips with the mouth closed; to mumble, as in sulkiness > MUMPS, MUMPING, MUMPED.
mums(3rd.) MUM, to act in a mime.
mumu(Hawaiian) a long loose dress > MUMUS. Also MUUMUU.
mungTo process computer data > MUNGS, MUNGING, MUNGED.
muniA security issued by a municipal government > MUNIS.
muns(Pl.) MUN, a fellow.
muonA subatomic particle > MUONS.
mura(Japanese) a Japanese village > MURAS.
mureTo wall up the doors of; to stop (up) the means of access to > MURES, MURING, MURED.
murkDark, gloomy, obscure > MURKER, MURKEST; MURKLY; (noun) darkness, gloom > MURKS. Also MIRK.
murl(Scots) to crumble > MURLS, MURLING, MURLED.
murrA guillemot, an auk > MURRS. Also MURRE.
museTo ponder > MUSES, MUSING, MUSED.
mushMeal, esp cornmeal, boiled in water or milk until thick; (verb) to reduce to mush > MUSHES, MUSHING, MUSHED.
musk(Verb) to perfume with musk > MUSKS, MUSKING, MUSKED.
muso(Sl.) a musician > MUSOS.
mussTo disarrange, to mess > MUSSES, MUSSING, MUSSED. Also MUSSE.
must(Scots) a musk, hair-powder; (verb) to powder > MUSTS, MUSTING, MUSTED. Also MUIST.
muteCharacterized by an absence of speech > MUTER, MUTEST; MUTELY; (verb) to deaden the sound of > MUTES, MUTING, MUTED.
muti(Zulu) a traditional medicine, associated with witch-doctors > MUTIS. [Zulu umuthi tree, plant, medicine].
muts(Pl.) MUT, a mongrel dog.
mutt(US) a blockhead; a dog > MUTTS. Also MUT.
muzz(Coll.) to make muzzy > MUZZES, MUZZING, MUZZED.
mwahA representation of the sound of a kiss.
myalRelating to MYALISM, a magic cult among West Indian blacks.
mycs(Pl.) MYC, a cancer-causing gene.
myna(Hindi) an Asiatic bird of the starling family > MYNAS. [Hindi maina]. Also MYNAH, MINA.
mythA type of traditional story > MYTHS.
myxo(Aust. sl.) myxomatosis > MYXOS.
mzee(Swahili) an old person > MZEES.