Category: Today’s Word

Today’s Word

glossa

Definition: (noun) A mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity. Synonyms: tongue, clapper, lingua. Usage: The creature …

ignominy

Definition: (noun) Great personal dishonor or humiliation. Synonyms: disgrace, shame. Usage: The celebrated actor suffered the ignominy of being sent to prison. Discuss

fertigation

noun: The application of fertilizer by adding it to the water in an irrigation system.

peavey

Definition: (noun) A stout lever with a sharp spike; used for handling logs. Synonyms: cant dog. Usage: The lumberjack rammed the peavey's spike into the …

clodhopper

Definition: (noun) A thick and heavy shoe. Synonyms: brogan, brogue, work shoe. Usage: He trotted noisily across the hardwood floors in his clodhoppers. Discuss

frizzle

verb intr.: To make a sizzling or sputtering noise. verb tr.: To fry until crisp or curled.

decanter

Definition: (noun) A vessel used for decanting, especially a decorative bottle used for serving wine. Synonyms: carafe. Usage: Sir Percival was sitting at the table …

selectorate

noun: A smaller group of people, as opposed to the general population, involved in picking a person, especially for a political position.

stokehold

Definition: (noun) The area or compartment into which a ship's furnaces or boilers open. Synonyms: fireroom, stokehole. Usage: When the ship was sinking, many passengers …

shrinkflation

noun: The practice of reducing the size of products while selling at the same price.

cordate

Definition: (adjective) Having a heart-shaped outline. Synonyms: heart-shaped, cordiform. Usage: When a cordate leaf fell from the tree, she considered it a sign that she …

perusal

Definition: (noun) Reading carefully with intent to remember. Synonyms: poring over, studying. Usage: Many biographies have been written about her, but a perusal of her …

piecemeal

Definition: (adverb) By a small amount at a time; in stages. Synonyms: bit by bit, in stages, little by little. Usage: The research structure has …

Barmecide

noun: One giving only the illusion of abundance or some benefits.

despondency

Definition: (noun) Depression of spirits from loss of hope, confidence, or courage; dejection. Synonyms: despondence, disconsolateness. Usage: He slipped through all the grades of despondency …

Overton window

noun: The range of beliefs, attitudes, etc., considered acceptable at any given time.

perambulator

Definition: (noun) A small vehicle with four wheels in which a baby or child is pushed around. Synonyms: stroller, baby buggy, pram, pushchair, go-cart, pusher, …

monolithic

Definition: (adjective) Massive, solid, and uniform. Synonyms: massive, monumental. Usage: During her travels, she studied the monolithic proportions of Stalinist architecture. Discuss

ritzy

adjective: Stylish, glamorous, elegant, fashionable, etc., especially in an ostentatious manner.

torpid

Definition: (adjective) Lethargic; apathetic. Synonyms: inert, sluggish. Usage: They are always in a torpid state, and are apt to yawn and go to sleep over …

Copernican

adjective: 1. Very important; radically different; paradigm shifting. 2. Relating to Copernicus or his theory that the earth rotates on its axis and revolves around …

danseuse

Definition: (noun) A woman who is a ballet dancer. Synonyms: ballerina. Usage: The painting depicted a beautiful danseuse putting on her ballet shoes while waiting …

emporium

Definition: (noun) A large retail store or place of business. Synonyms: department store. Usage: The furniture emporium was packed with couches, but Sarah couldn't find …

abstemious

Definition: (adjective) Marked by temperance in indulgence. Synonyms: temperate, sparing, moderate, sober, austere, frugal, ascetic, self-denying, abstinent, continent. Usage: All drank except Lee Goom, the …

surly

adjective: 1. Rude; sullen; unfriendly. 2. Ominous or dismal (used for weather, clouds, sky, ocean, etc.)

callback

Definition: (noun) A recall of a recently sold product by the manufacturer to correct a defect. Synonyms: recall. Usage: The manufacturer was forced to issue …

decarbonize

verb tr., intr.: 1. To reduce or remove carbon emissions by curtailing the use of fossil fuels. verb tr.: 2. To remove carbon deposits from …

rapport

Definition: (noun) Relationship, especially one of mutual trust or emotional affinity. Synonyms: resonance. Usage: They had an excellent rapport and would never keep secrets from …

hipster

noun: One whose interests in clothing, music, etc., tend to be outside the mainstream, especially in a self-conscious way.

witless

Definition: (adjective) Lacking intelligence or wit; foolish. Synonyms: nitwitted, soft-witted, senseless. Usage: He was a witless soul who never learned from his mistakes. Discuss

jaunty

adjective: 1. Stylish. 2. Lively; self-confident.

snuggery

Definition: (noun) A small secluded room. Synonyms: cubby, cubbyhole. Usage: Now that they were alone, in this snuggery, which seemed barely large enough to contain …

ludicrous

adjective: So absurd as to provoke laughter.

ossicle

Definition: (noun) A small bone, especially one of the three bones of the middle ear. Synonyms: bonelet. Usage: Because of their distinctive shapes, the ossicles …

thurible

Definition: (noun) A censer used in certain ecclesiastical ceremonies or liturgies. Synonyms: censer. Usage: As the priest swung the thurible, incense poured out the holes …

nectary

Definition: (noun) A glandlike organ, located outside or within a flower, that secretes nectar. Synonyms: honey gland. Usage: Deep in the Amazon, we came across …