Word of the Day December 18, 2015 Word of the Day Suspended for the Holidays As the end of the year approaches, we wanted to thank you for reading Word of the Day! We are excited about this new project and are very grateful for your support. We hope you will enjoy the holidays with your families and that past Words of the Day will come in handy if you have the opportunity to speak English. Meanwhile, we will be taking a short break from Word of the Day while we work out some technical issues. In late January, we […]
Monthly Archives
December 2015
Word of the Day December 17, 2015 merry (adjective) LISTEN Eat, drink, and be merry! I'm sure you've been hearing and reading "Merry Christmas" a lot these days, but do you know what merry actually means? Merry is an adjective that describes someone or something happy, cheerful, and full of joy, and it is also used to describe festive occasions, like Christmas. In the UK, merry is also a light-hearted way of saying that someone is slightly drunk. Example sentences I love spending time with Sabrina, because she's always laughing and […]
Word of the Day December 16, 2015 lap (noun, verb) LISTEN The cat and dog are in the old man's lap. The most common meaning of lap is the part of the body between the waist and the knees, when someone is sitting. Lap can also be the part of clothing that covers that part of the body. But lap also means 'a complete circle around a race track,' or 'a stage in a long trip.' As a verb, lap means 'to go at least one lap in front of an opponent […]
Word of the Day December 15, 2015 void (noun, verb, adjective) LISTEN A voided check is invalid. As a noun, void means 'emptiness,' both literally and figuratively. To void something means 'to make it invalid.' As an adjective, it means that something is invalid. In the sense of bodily functions, void can also mean to go 'to the bathroom and urinate or defecate.' Example sentences The rocket flew into the void. She felt a void in her life after her boyfriend left her. The judge voided the contract and […]
Word of the Day December 14, 2015 flare (verb, noun) LISTEN As a verb, flare means 'to burn with a sudden intensity' or 'to burn in an unsteady way.' Figuratively, it is used to talk about emotions or people that suddenly explode violently. As a noun, a flare refers to the moment when a fire or light becomes more intense. Flare also means 'to be or become wider at the bottom.' Example sentences The fire flared for a minute after we added paper. We could see the candles flaring through the window. […]
Word of the Day December 11, 2015 narrow (adjective, verb) LISTEN A narrow street. Narrow is an adjective that means 'small in width' or 'limited in extent.' In reference to a person or to someone's mind or ideas, it means 'limited and not willing to consider others.' It also means 'close and with little margin for error.' As a verb, narrow means 'to make or become less wide,' or 'to limit.' Example sentences You have to go through a long, narrow hallway to get to Claudia's apartment. This study was performed […]
Word of the Day December 10, 2015 hog (noun, verb) LISTEN "Stop hogging the remote! I want to choose the channel!" A hog is a pig, especially a male one, that is raised for human consumption. Informally, hog is used to refer to a selfish or extremely dirty person. As a verb, hog is used in informal conversation and it means 'to take more than what is appropriate of something' or 'to hold onto something and not give other people a chance to use it.' Example sentences Helen's small farm has a […]
Word of the Day December 9, 2015 budge (verb) LISTEN We pushed the car but it wouldn't budge. Budge is a verb that means to move slightly. In everyday conversation it means to make room for someone else, and informally, it also means to change your opinion or somebody else's. Example sentences I've been stuck in traffic for hours; none of the cars are budging an inch! Tom was so proud that he wouldn't budge, even after realizing he was wrong. Words often used with budge In the UK […]
Word of the Day December 8, 2015 head (noun, verb, adjective) LISTEN To get to the church, head right on Main Street. Head has many meanings. Obviously it is the upper part of the body, as well as the intellect or mind. It is also a position of leadership and the person in charge. As a verb, head means 'to be in charge' (in this sense, the phrasal verb head up is often used) or 'to be first in something.' It also means 'to move toward something,' both literally and figuratively. Example sentences Maria […]
Word of the Day December 7, 2015 pant (verb, noun) LISTEN A panting dog As a verb, pant means 'to breathe quickly and with difficulty, usually after making an effort or out of excitement.' It also means 'to speak quickly while breathing deeply.' If you pant for something, it means that you really want it. As a noun, a pant is a short and quick breath. We often see dogs panting when they're excited, tired, or hot. Example sentences It was my first boxing class and I was panting and sweating after […]