HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY
To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.
Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.
THE USAGE PANEL
The Usage Panel is a group of nearly 200 prominent scholars, creative writers, journalists, diplomats, and others in occupations requiring mastery of language. Annual surveys have gauged the acceptability of particular usages and grammatical constructions.
AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP
The new American Heritage Dictionary app is now available for iOS and Android.
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG
The articles in our blog examine new words, revised definitions, interesting images from the fifth edition, discussions of usage, and more.
INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?
Check out the Dictionary Society of North America at http://www.dictionarysociety.com
n. 1. a. A place or part at which two or more things are joined. b. A way in which two or more things are joined: a mortise-and-tenon joint. 2. Anatomy a. A point of articulation between two or more bones, especially such a connection that allows motion. b. A point in the exoskeleton of an invertebrate at which movable parts join, as along the leg of an arthropod. 3. Botany An articulation on a fruit or stem, such as the node of a grass stem. 4. Geology A fracture or crack in a rock mass along which no appreciable movement has occurred. 5. A large cut of meat for roasting. 6. Slang a. A cheap or disreputable gathering place: "The tavern is ... just a joint with Formica tables, a vinyl floor, lights over the mirrors" (Scott Turow). b. A building or dwelling. c. A prison. Often used with the. 7. Slang A marijuana cigarette. 8. Vulgar Slang A penis. adj. 1. Shared by or common to two or more: our joint presence; a joint income-tax return. 2. Sharing with another or others: a joint tenant. 3. Formed or characterized by cooperation or united action: joint military maneuvers. 4. Involving both houses of a legislature: a joint session of Congress. 5. Law Regarded as one, especially with regard to tort liability or interest in property. 6. Mathematics Involving two or more variables. tr.v. joint·ed, joint·ing, joints Idiom: 1. To combine or attach with a joint or joints: securely jointed the sides of the drawer. 2. To provide or construct with joints: joint a boom on a crane. 3. To separate (meat) at the joints. out of joint 1. Dislocated, as a bone. 2. Informal a. Not harmonious; inconsistent. b. Out of order; inauspicious or unsatisfactory. c. In bad spirits or humor; out of sorts.  (click for a larger image) jointtop to bottom: end-lap, doweled, and spline joints |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
