noun
a head covering worn in public by some Muslim women
• the religious code that governs the wearing of such clothing
Monday, September 27, 2010
Word 2679: Hijab
noun
a head covering worn in public by some Muslim women
• the religious code that governs the wearing of such clothing
Word 2677: Pararhyme
noun
partial rhyme between words with the same pattern of consonants but different vowels, such as light and late
partial rhyme between words with the same pattern of consonants but different vowels, such as light and late
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Word 2670: Negative evidence
noun
evidence for a theory provided by the nonoccurrence or absence of something
evidence for a theory provided by the nonoccurrence or absence of something
Word 2669: Firebreak
noun
an obstacle to the spread of fire
figurative a thing that impedes development of (a feeling, impulse, idea, etc.)
• a strip of open space in a forest or other area of dense vegetation
an obstacle to the spread of fire
figurative a thing that impedes development of (a feeling, impulse, idea, etc.)
• a strip of open space in a forest or other area of dense vegetation
Word 2668: Ingesta
plural noun Medicine & Zoology
substances taken into the body as nourishment; food and drink
substances taken into the body as nourishment; food and drink
Word 2666: Soft soap
noun
1. a semifluid soap, esp. one made with potassium rather than sodium salts
2. informal persuasive flattery
1. a semifluid soap, esp. one made with potassium rather than sodium salts
2. informal persuasive flattery
Word 2663: Samisen
noun
a traditional Japanese three-stringed lute with a square body, played with a large plectrum
Word 2662: Marasmus
noun Medicine
severe undernourishment causing an infant's or child's weight to be significantly low for their age (e.g., below 60 percent of normal)
severe undernourishment causing an infant's or child's weight to be significantly low for their age (e.g., below 60 percent of normal)
Word 2661: Fudge factor
noun informal
a figure included in a calculation to account for error or unanticipated circumstances, or to ensure a desired result
a figure included in a calculation to account for error or unanticipated circumstances, or to ensure a desired result
Word 2660: Suppletion
noun Linguistics
the occurrence of an unrelated form to fill a gap in a conjugation (e.g., went as the past tense of go)
the occurrence of an unrelated form to fill a gap in a conjugation (e.g., went as the past tense of go)
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Word 2659: Marzipan
noun
a sweet, yellowish paste of ground almonds, sugar, and egg whites, often colored and used to make small cakes or confections or as an icing for larger cakes
• a confection or cake made of or based on marzipan
Word 2658: Cauldron
noun
a large metal pot with a lid and handle, used for cooking over an open fire
• figurative a situation characterized by instability and strong emotions
a large metal pot with a lid and handle, used for cooking over an open fire
• figurative a situation characterized by instability and strong emotions
Word 2657: Purlieu
noun ( pl. -lieus or -lieux)
the area near or surrounding a place
• figurative a person's usual haunts
the area near or surrounding a place
• figurative a person's usual haunts
Word 2653: Expectorant
noun
a medicine that promotes the secretion of sputum by the air passages, used esp. to treat coughs
a medicine that promotes the secretion of sputum by the air passages, used esp. to treat coughs
Word 2652: Percuss
verb [ trans.] Medicine
gently tap (a part of the body) with a finger or an instrument as part of a diagnosis
gently tap (a part of the body) with a finger or an instrument as part of a diagnosis
Word 2651: Valgus
noun Medicine
a deformity involving oblique displacement of part of a limb away from the midline
Word 2650: Truncheon
noun chiefly Brit.
a short, thick stick carried as a weapon by a police officer
• a staff or baton acting as a symbol of authority
a short, thick stick carried as a weapon by a police officer
• a staff or baton acting as a symbol of authority
Word 2645: Apitherapy
noun
the use of products derived from bees as medicine, including venom, honey, pollen, and royal jelly
the use of products derived from bees as medicine, including venom, honey, pollen, and royal jelly
Word 2644: Peal
noun
1. a loud ringing of a bell or bells
• Bell-ringing a series of unique changes (strictly, at least five thousand) rung on a set of bells
• a set of bells.
2. a loud repeated or reverberating sound of thunder or laughter
1. a loud ringing of a bell or bells
• Bell-ringing a series of unique changes (strictly, at least five thousand) rung on a set of bells
• a set of bells.
2. a loud repeated or reverberating sound of thunder or laughter
Word 2641: Bell jar
noun
a bell-shaped glass cover used for covering delicate objects or used in a laboratory, typically for enclosing samples
• figurative an environment in which someone is protected or cut off from the outside world
a bell-shaped glass cover used for covering delicate objects or used in a laboratory, typically for enclosing samples
• figurative an environment in which someone is protected or cut off from the outside world
Word 2640: Sial
noun Geology
the material of the upper or continental part of the earth's crust, characterized as being of relatively low density and rich in silica and alumina
the material of the upper or continental part of the earth's crust, characterized as being of relatively low density and rich in silica and alumina
Word 2639: Succah
noun
a temporary shelter covered in natural materials, built near a synagogue or house and used esp. for meals during the Jewish festival of Succoth
Word 2638: Rus in urbe
noun poetic/literary
an illusion of countryside created by a building or garden, within a city
an illusion of countryside created by a building or garden, within a city
Word 2637: Lenis
adjective
(of a consonant, in particular a voiced consonant) weakly articulated, esp. denoting the less or least strongly articulated of two or more similar consonants
(of a consonant, in particular a voiced consonant) weakly articulated, esp. denoting the less or least strongly articulated of two or more similar consonants
Word 2635: Waddy
noun ( pl. -dies)
an Australian Aboriginal's war club
• Austral./NZ a club or stick, esp. a walking stick
Word 2632: Escheat
noun
the reversion of property to the state, or (in feudal law) to a lord, on the owner's dying without legal heirs
• an item of property affected by this
the reversion of property to the state, or (in feudal law) to a lord, on the owner's dying without legal heirs
• an item of property affected by this
Word 2631: Terret
noun
each of the loops or rings on a harness pad for the driving reins to pass through
Word 2630: Duenna
noun
an older woman acting as a governess and companion in charge of girls, esp. in a Spanish family; a chaperone
an older woman acting as a governess and companion in charge of girls, esp. in a Spanish family; a chaperone
Word 2629: Lector
noun
1. a reader, esp. someone who reads lessons in a church service
2. a lecturer, esp. one employed in a foreign university to teach in their native language
1. a reader, esp. someone who reads lessons in a church service
2. a lecturer, esp. one employed in a foreign university to teach in their native language
Word 2628: Shellac
verb [ trans.]
1. [often as adj. ] ( shellacked) varnish (something) with shellac
2. (usu. be shellacked) informal defeat or beat (someone) decisively
1. [often as adj. ] ( shellacked) varnish (something) with shellac
2. (usu. be shellacked) informal defeat or beat (someone) decisively
Word 2626: Dybbuk
noun ( pl. dybbuks or dybbukim)
(in Jewish folklore) a malevolent wandering spirit that enters and possesses the body of a living person until exorcized
(in Jewish folklore) a malevolent wandering spirit that enters and possesses the body of a living person until exorcized
Word 2625: Mufti
noun
plain clothes worn by a person who wears a uniform for their job, such as a soldier or police officer
plain clothes worn by a person who wears a uniform for their job, such as a soldier or police officer
Word 2624: Catenary
noun ( pl. -naries)
a curve formed by a wire, rope, or chain hanging freely from two points that are on the same horizontal level
• a wire, rope, or chain forming such a curve
a curve formed by a wire, rope, or chain hanging freely from two points that are on the same horizontal level
• a wire, rope, or chain forming such a curve
Word 2622: Hibakusha
noun ( pl. same)
(in Japan) a survivor of either of the atomic explosions at Hiroshima or Nagasaki in 1945
(in Japan) a survivor of either of the atomic explosions at Hiroshima or Nagasaki in 1945
Word 2621: Milk leg
noun
painful swelling of the leg after giving birth, caused by thrombophlebitis in the femoral vein
painful swelling of the leg after giving birth, caused by thrombophlebitis in the femoral vein
Word 2619: Santo
noun ( pl. -tos)
(in Mexico and Spanish-speaking areas of the southwestern U.S.) a religious symbol, esp. a wooden representation of a saint
Word 2614: Bubba
noun informal
1. used as an informal or affectionate form of address to a brother
2. derogatory a working-class white male of the rural South
1. used as an informal or affectionate form of address to a brother
2. derogatory a working-class white male of the rural South
Word 2612: Meronym
noun Linguistics
a term that denotes part of something but which is used to refer to the whole of it, e.g., faces when used to mean people in I see several familiar faces present
a term that denotes part of something but which is used to refer to the whole of it, e.g., faces when used to mean people in I see several familiar faces present
Word 2609: Allograph
noun Linguistics
each of two or more alternative forms of a letter of an alphabet or other grapheme. The capital, lowercase, italic, and various handwritten forms of the letter A are allographs
• Phonetics each of two or more letters or letter-combinations representing a single phoneme in different words. Allographs of the phonemeinclude the (f) of “fake” and the (ph) of “phase”
each of two or more alternative forms of a letter of an alphabet or other grapheme. The capital, lowercase, italic, and various handwritten forms of the letter A are allographs
• Phonetics each of two or more letters or letter-combinations representing a single phoneme in different words. Allographs of the phonemeinclude the (f) of “fake” and the (ph) of “phase”
Word 2606: Prat
noun informal
1. a person's buttocks
2. Brit. an incompetent, stupid, or foolish person; an idiot
1. a person's buttocks
2. Brit. an incompetent, stupid, or foolish person; an idiot
Word 2604: Sunset law
noun Law
a law that automatically terminates a regulatory agency, board, or function of government on a certain date, unless renewed
a law that automatically terminates a regulatory agency, board, or function of government on a certain date, unless renewed
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Word 2603: Ao dai
noun ( pl. ao dais)
a Vietnamese woman's long-sleeved tunic with ankle-length panels at front and back, worn over trousers
Word 2602: Soft-pedal
verb [ trans.] Music
play with the soft pedal down
• refrain from emphasizing the more unpleasant aspects of; play down
play with the soft pedal down
• refrain from emphasizing the more unpleasant aspects of; play down
Word 2600: Midriff
noun
the region of the front of the body between the chest and the waist
• dated the diaphragm
the region of the front of the body between the chest and the waist
• dated the diaphragm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)