Word of the day and their examples

Тренировка произношения

100 Words list: 2023-04-07, 2022-02-10

temptation   n. the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise
willpower   n. the control exerted to do something or restrain impulses
override   v. use one’s authority to reject or cancel
cobble   v. roughly put together something from available parts or elements
backstreet   n. a minor street remote from a main road
lavish   a. sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious
on-site   a. available or happening in the place where people work, rather than somewhere else
burnout   n. a physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress
perk   n. money, goods, or other benefits to which one is entitled as an employee
cheeky   a. boldly rude, impudent, or disrespectful in usually a playful or appealing way
cryptically   ad. in a way that is mysterious and difficult to understand
over drinks   n. sitting around and talking and having drinks
speakeasy   n. a place where alcoholic beverages are illegally sold
prohibition   n. the prevention by law of the manufacture and sale of alcohol
hop   v. to ride surreptitiously and without authorization
captivate   v. attract and hold the interest and attention of; charm
buff   n. a person who is enthusiastically interested in and very knowledgeable about a particular subject
estate   n. a large, privately owned area of land, often with a large house
parishioner   n. an inhabitant of a parish, especially one who belongs to or attends a particular church
nomadic   a. roaming about from place to place aimlessly, frequently, or without a fixed pattern of movement
soul   n. person, a member of the human race
veer   v. to change direction suddenly
make sure   v. to establish that something is definitely so; confirm
biomass   n. the total mass of organisms in a given area or volume
pellet   n. a small, rounded, compressed mass of a substance
battery   n. a fortified emplacement for heavy guns
barbaric   a. savagely cruel; exceedingly brutal
speculate   v. to form a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence
hearsay   n. information received from other people that one cannot adequately substantiate; rumor
jumpsuit   n. a garment incorporating trousers and a sleeved top in one piece, worn as a fashion item, or uniform
tunic   n. a short, close-fitting coat as part of a uniform, especially a police or military uniform
hijab   n. a head covering worn in public by some Muslim women
vanity   n. excessive pride in or admiration of one’s own appearance or achievements
might   n. great and impressive power or strength, especially of a nation, large organization, or natural force
trajectory   n. the path followed by a projectile flying or an object moving under the action of given forces
cast   v. look at someone/something
dismantle   v. to take a machine or structure to pieces
be in the grip of   v. to be experiencing a very unpleasant situation that cannot be controlled or stopped
onslaught   n. a fierce or destructive attack
relentless   a. not stopping; not getting less strong
electrode   n. a conductor through which electricity enters or leaves an object
covalent   n. relating to or denoting chemical bonds formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms
fell off   v. become less in number, amount, or quality
undergird   v. secure or fasten from the underside, especially by a rope or chain passed underneath
granter   n. a person who grants or gives something
enrollment   n. the act of putting yourself or someone else onto the official list of members
get down to   v. to start something
ordinance   n. an authoritative order; a decree
mimic   v. to imitate closely
sustainable   a. able to be maintained at a certain rate or level
virtually   ad. nearly; almost
discernible   a. able to be discerned; perceptible
fill in   v. complete a drawing by adding color or shade to the spaces within an outline
hole   n. an electron’s positively charged counterpart
harness   v. control and make use of (natural resources), especially to produce energy
solar cell   n. an electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity
memoir   n. a historical account or biography written from personal knowledge or special sources
evoke   v. bring or recall to the conscious mind
primer   n. a small introductory book on a subject
assessment   n. the evaluation or estimation of the nature, quality, or ability of someone or something
avenue   n. a way of approaching a problem or making progress toward something
aspiration   n. a hope or ambition of achieving something
populist   a. of a political approach to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by elite
reverberate   v. be repeated several times as an echo
coursework   n. written or practical work done by a student during a course of study
outreach   n. the process of an organization building relationships with people to advise them
innate   a. inborn; natural
words   n. pl. something that is said, talk
emeritus   a. having retired but allowed to retain their title as an honor
reception   n. a social gathering often for the purpose of extending a formal welcome
root out   v. eradicate, eliminate
inorganic   a. not consisting of or deriving from living matter
bulk production   n. the final product being produced based on the mass order requirements
mammalian   a. relating to or denoting a mammal
pulsar   n. a tiny dense star that sends out radio waves
strip   v. remove all coverings from; leave bare of accessories or fittings
model   v. use something as an example to follow or imitate
implication   n. close connection; action or state of being involved in something
irrational   a. not logical or reasonable
account for   v. to give a reason or explanation for something
ponder   v. think about something carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion
implication   n. the conclusion that can be drawn from something, although it is not explicitly stated
relegate   v. consign or dismiss to an inferior rank or position
exploitation   n. the action of treating someone unfairly to benefit from their work
dough   n. a thick, malleable mixture of flour and liquid, used for baking into bread or pastry
spatula   n. an implement with a broad, flat, blunt blade, used for mixing and spreading things
membrane   n. a thin sheet of tissue or layer of cells acting as a boundary, lining, or partition in an organism.
permeability   n. the quality of a material that causes it to allow liquids or gases to pass through it
discrepancy   n. a lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts
lay bare   v. reveal or explain; point out frankly, bring into open
accumulation   n. the acquisition or gradual gathering of something
photovoltaic   a. related to using sunlight to cause a chemical reaction that produces electricity
frame   v. give expression to; express something choosing your words carefully
storyline   n. the plot of a novel, play, movie, or other narrative forms; the series of events that happen in it
annotate   v. make critical or explanatory notes or comment
power grid   n. a network of electrical transmission lines connecting generating stations to a wide area
savvy   a. shrewd and knowledgeable; having common sense and good judgment
fluctuation   n. an irregular rising and falling in number or amount
daunt   v. make someone feel intimidated or apprehensive
regimen   n. a prescribed course of medical treatment, way of life, or diet for the promotion or restoration of health

We’re back celebrating our Word of the Day! Because there’s plenty left to reminisce about from the last 10 years.

In Part II of our lexical stroll down memory lane (see Part I, 1999–2008, here), we will be examining word selections from 2009–2018, unearthing  serendipitous synchronicities and offering perspicacious perspectives into notable events and trends of the last decade.

Oops, just kidding, because our first call out is actually from last year. In tribute to all you bibliophages, we asked some of our favorite authors to select words throughout our birthday month in 2019. Like host of CNN’s The Lead and author of  The Outpost and The Hellfire Club Jake Tapper, who chose the first birthday-month word, guddle. 

I picked the word of the day! Thanks, @Dictionarycom! https://t.co/iwOy67rWGi

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) May 1, 2019

And then came bestselling author of Bad Feminist and Hunger Roxane Gay, who chose the seasonally appropriate word blossom the following week. Award-winning author of Speak and Shout (to name a few) Laurie Halse Anderson chose next, picking the word consent on the third Wednesday of the month to raise awareness around consent-based sexual relations.

Check out more author picks as the logophilic festivities continued. Now, on to those serendipitous words!

cormorant

“a greedy person.”
– March 16, 2009

A cormorant is a type of water bird. But, thanks to its perceived voraciousness, the cormorant can represent gluttony and greed in literature, figured as Satan in Milton’s Paradise Lost and maligned in Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost.

We featured this word on March 16, 2009, the date when President Obama expressed outrage at the insurance company AIG giving bonuses to its top executives from taxpayer bailout money, and said he would do everything in his power to stop it. “This is a corporation that finds itself in financial distress due to recklessness and greed,” he said.

suspire

“to sigh; utter with long, sighing breaths.”
– May 22, 2010

We’re pretty sure nobody has this date marked on their calendar as one to remember from the last decade. But, May 22, 2010 was the day Nicolaus Copernicus—the 16th century Polish astronomer who proposed the heliocentric theory of our planetary system, which the Catholic Church came to condemn—was reburied as a hero. Ah, sweet vindication.

We imagine Copernicus somewhere in the great beyond suspiring with an eye-roll … “Finally.”

scurrilous

“grossly or obscenely abusive.”
– April 17, 2011

The word scurrilous is most often used to describe remarks that are vulgar and injurious, as in “He was the victim of scurrilous attacks.” It ultimately comes from Latin scurra meaning “buffoon.” Eighteenth-century lexicographer Samuel Johnson made the connection plain in his definition: “using such language as only the licence [sic] of a buffoon can warrant.”

The word is also used to describe demeanor, as in “the scurrilous imposter.” We wonder if Word of the Day fans found it useful back in April 2011 for talking about a certain, shall we say, graphic new series called Game of Thrones, which premiered the day this word was featured. Winter is coming.

terpsichorean

“pertaining to dancing.”
– November 18, 2012

The year 2012 does not have a monopoly on dancing (you can dance if you want to), but the timing of this word selection brings a smile as it was featured right around the time the South Korean superstar Psy had transfixed viewers with his so-called invisible-horse dance in the megahit “Gangnam Style.”

By November of 2012, “Gangnam Style” was well on its way to a billion views on YouTube (a milestone that was hit a month later). Today “Gangnam Style” has more than 3.3 billion views and counting, and we’re still trying to master his equestrian terpsichorean style.

logomachy

“a dispute about or concerning words.”
– May 7, 2013

Although it may feel like heated disputes about words and their meanings are a new phenomenon (hi, Twitter), we assure you, lexical quibbles are as old as English itself, or at least as old as Early Modern English, when this word choice entered the lexicon (first attested in 1569).

2013 was the year that the word twerk bounced into the spotlight—with a little “help” from Miley Cyrus—and sparked many a debate about its origins and staying power. And, of course, that meant twerk was added to Dictionary.com in 2013 as well (along with a few others that tend to spark logomachies, including selfie, mansplain, and cronut).

meliorism

“the doctrine that the world tends to become better or may be made better by human effort.”
– May 28, 2014

Rooted in the Latin melior, meaning “better,” meliorism came in the middle of a year defined by Black Lives Matter and its campaign for the equality of black people and against the violence they face.

The movement might be considered a powerful example of meliorism. Whether in protests on the streets or through hashtags on social media, its activism seeks to make the world a better place for the marginalized.

e pluribus unum

“out of many, one.”
– July 4, 2015

This unofficial motto of the US, meaning “out of many, one” in Latin and featured on our Great Seal and currency, dates back to the early days of the country, when the original 13 colonies united into a single nation.

Since then, e pluribus unum has evolved to express an idea of American unity in diversity. That belief rang a lot truer for many people when we featured this expression on Independence Day 2015. Just over a week before, the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling that same-sex marriage is a legal right from sea to shining sea.

suffrage

“the right to vote, especially in a political election.”
– November 8, 2016

Perhaps you’ve noticed a theme as we’ve moved into the mid-2010s. Politics, identity, and language. Increasingly in the news, culture, and social media environment of the 2010s, Word of the Day has become a lens for many users, a way of looking at or reflecting on the affairs of the day. Like suffrage, which we featured on Election Day 2016, marked by the election of Donald Trump to the White House. What did y’all see in this word choice? Is it any different now?

multitudinous

“existing, occurring, or present in great numbers; very numerous.”
– January 21, 2017

The day after the inauguration of Donald Trump met the Women’s March, where over 200,000 people gathered in the nation’s capital—and many millions more across the US and world—in protests for the rights of women and other oppressed groups.

Considered the largest single-day protest in the US, the Women’s March can truly be described as multitudinous, or “very numerous,” the adjective form of multitude.

Minerva

“a woman of great wisdom.”
– March 8, 2018

Speaking of women’s rights, March 8 is International Women’s Day, an apt occasion for Minerva. This word for a wise woman takes up the mantle of the Roman goddess of wisdom and the arts, Minerva, an analog to Athena of ancient Greece. Minerva is also the namesake of Minerva McGonagall, who became Headmistress of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter universe. 

Minerva = A woman of great wisdom.

Also Minerva = Headmistress of Hogwarts. #InternationalWomensDay #WordOfTheDayhttps://t.co/NEInx3fBqp pic.twitter.com/0USjYOrXei

— Dictionary.com (@Dictionarycom) March 8, 2018

No matter how far the technology has come since the antediluvian dial-up days of 1999, the appetite—the appetence, edacity, the maw—for Word of the Day remains Brobdingnagian.

Plus, there’s all of you. The real birthday present has been hearing from our readers, who are sharing your favorite Word of the Day selections with us on social media. Your reactions to Word of the Day make it truly great.

Thanks for 20 years, and we look forward to many more. We certainly think they’ve made us … all the wiser.