List of English words beginning with M that are not used in the United States
What will I learn from the book List of English words beginning with M that are not used in the United States?
There are a lot of words in the English language that are used in everyday life in the Great Britain that is not used in America or has a different meaning. This book is for teachers or people who have an high understanding of the English language already.
Who is the book of English words not used in America aimed at?
The List of English words from A to Z book is a reference book that has been written for students and the general reader. It will help you with any basic questions about spelling, punctuation, grammar and word usage that you are likely to ask. This page list all words and saying beginning with M and shows clear explanations with sentences where they are needed.
This is book should be used to help reference words or sayings. It is not to be used as a dictionary although, it is like a dictionary, as all the words are arranged alphabetically.
How do I use this English book of words from A to Z?
Click on each letter of the alphabet to get the full list of British words and explanation of each.
[ A ] [ B ] [ C ] [ D ] [ E ] [ F ] [ G ] [ H ] [ I ] [ J ] [ K ] [ L ] [ M ] [ N ] [ O ] [ P ] [ Q ] [ R ] [ S ] [ T ] [ U ] [ V ] [ W ] [ X ] [ Y ] [ Z ]
Words beginning with M
main *
pipe that carries gas or water. "The water main has burst!" (US: line: e.g gas line, water line etc.)
mains power, the mains
230-250V (Typically denoted on domestic electricals as the rounded 240V standard) AC electrical current, provided by the electricity grid to homes and businesses; also attrib. ("mains cable") (US: 120 volts AC, variously called: line power, grid power, AC power, household electricity, etc.)
manky
(slang) feeling ill, rough, out of sorts; filthy, dirty, rotten. (poss. from French "manqué" - missed, wasted or faulty)
mardy
(derogatory, mainly Northern and Central England) describes someone who is in a bad mood, or more generally a crybaby or whiner or "grumpy, difficult, unpredictable". Used, for example, by children in the rhyme "Mardy, mardy mustard...", and in the title of the Arctic Monkeys song "Mardy Bum". The verb to throw a mardy means to display an outburst of anger.
maths
mathematics (US: math)
MD (managing director)
equivalent of US CEO (Chief Executive Officer), also used in the UK
Mexican wave
simply called The Wave in the US
mentioned in despatches
identified for valour or gallantry in action (US: decorated)
milliard
one thousand million, or 1,000,000,000 (US: billion or 1,000,000,000)[1] Now superseded by the internationally standard usage of billion (1,000,000,000).
mince *
1. ground meat, especially beef (US: ground beef, hamburger meat, mince typically describes a chopping style)
2. Walk daintily or effeminately.
3. Mince your words -- to obfuscate or conceal when talking or writing * (US: "He/She doesn't mince words.")
minge
(vulgar) (rhymes with singe) female genitals or pubic hair
minger
(from Scots language ming "to smell strongly and unpleasantly",[17] rhymes with singer) someone who is unattractive
minging
(from Scots language "smelling strongly and unpleasantly",[17] rhymes with singing) dirty, rotting, smelly, unattractive etc. "The girl I pulled last night was minging". His friend replies, "yeah I know mate, I saw you leave with her, she was a right minger
minim
a musical note with the duration of two counts in a time signature of 4/4 (US: half note; see Note value)
mither, also moider, moither
trans. To bother, pester, worry, irritate; intr. To ramble, be delirious; to 'go on'; to complain, make a fuss, whine.[18] Alternative version in Chambers: to confuse; to work hard; to wander in thought;[19] See also mither, moider and moither at Wiktionary
moggie, moggy
(informal) non-pedigree cat; alley cat; any cat regardless of pedigree; Morris Minor car; Morgan car
mong
(slang) disgusting, dirty, foul, idiotic person, possible derivation from mongoloid, now obsolete term for someone with Down's syndrome
monged (out)
(slang) being incapable of constructive activity due to drug use, alcohol consumption or extreme tiredness
MOT, MOT test
(pronounced emm'oh'tee) mandatory annual safety and roadworthiness test for motor vehicles over 3 years old (from "Ministry of Transport", now renamed "Department for Transport")
motorway
A controlled-access highway, the largest class of road on the British road network, designed for fast, high volume traffic, usually with three or more lanes in each direction. In reference to a specific motorway may be abbreviated to M, as in M25 or M1. (US: equivalent to freeway)
mouthing off
shouting, ranting or swearing a lot about something or someone. e.g.: "that guy was just mouthing off about something" (US [DM]: backtalk; often shortened to mouth ["I don't need your mouth".])
move house, move flat, etc.
to move out of one's house or other residence into a new residence (US: move, move out)
multi (slang)
short for multi-storey, used mainly in Eastern Scotland to denote a tower block of public housing (see below)
munter
an ugly woman (rarely, man); similar to minger
muppet
an incompetent or foolish person
mush
casual term for friend, mate, pal. As in "'Ere mush, what's going on?"
