one of a class of spiritual beings attendant upon God. In medieval angelology they are divided by rank into nine orders: seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominations (or dominions), virtues, powers, principalities (or princedoms), archangels, and angels a divine messenger from God a guardian spirit a conventional representation of any of these beings, depicted in human form with wings a person who is kind, pure, or beautiful an investor in a venture, esp a backer of a theatrical production - Also called: angel-noble
a former English gold coin with a representation of the archangel Michael on it, first minted in Edward IV's reign an unexplained signal on a radar screen
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
an•gel /ˈeɪndʒəl/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
an•gel•i•cal•ly, adv.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- Religiona spiritual creature that is an attendant of God, often represented as having the form of a human being with wings.
- a person resembling an angel, as in beauty, purity, or kindliness:You're an angel to help with the children.
- Informal Termsone who provides financial backing for some undertaking, as a theatrical work.
an•gel•i•cal•ly, adv.
an•gel
(ān′jəl),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
An•gel (ān′jəl; Sp. än hel′),USA pronunciation n.
- one of a class of spiritual beings;
a celestial attendant of God. In medieval angelology, angels constituted the lowest of the nine celestial orders (seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominations or dominions, virtues, powers, principalities or princedoms, archangels, and angels). - a conventional representation of such a being, in human form, with wings, usually in white robes.
- a messenger, esp. of God.
- a person who performs a mission of God or acts as if sent by God:an angel of mercy.
- a person having qualities generally attributed to an angel, as beauty, purity, or kindliness.
- a person whose actions and thoughts are consistently virtuous.
- an attendant or guardian spirit.
- a deceased person whose soul is regarded as having been accepted into heaven.
- Informal Termsa person who provides financial backing for some undertaking, as a play or political campaign.
- Currencyan English gold coin issued from 1470 to 1634, varying in value from 6s. 8d. to 10s. and bearing on its obverse a figure of the archangel Michael killing a dragon.
- Slang Termsan image on a radar screen caused by a low-flying object, as a bird.
v.t.
- Informal Termsto provide financial backing for.
- Latin, as above
- NT Greek ángelos messenger of God, special use of Greek ángelos messenger; replacing Old English engel
- Late Latin angelus
- Anglo-French, Old French)
- bef. 950; 1890–95 for def. 9; Middle English a(u)ngel (
An•gel (ān′jəl; Sp. än hel′),USA pronunciation n.
- a male or female given name.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::