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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: sop

A sop is a piece of solid food, usually bread, used for dipping in liquid food like soups or gravies. Figuratively, anything completely soaked can be called a sop. Something of little value given to someone to keep them satisfied or quiet is also called a sop. Colloquially, a weak and foolish person is…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: droop

To droop means ‘to hang down loosely or sink,’ as from weakness, exhaustion, or because there’s no proper support. Figuratively, when we talk about spirits or morale, it means ‘to fade or flag’ and, poetically, when we talk about the sun, it means ‘to descend.’ A droop is a sagging, sinking, or hanging down…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: bulk

Bulk is great size or weight and also the greatest part of something. We also use it, usually with a possessive adjective, to talk about someone’s body, especially a large and heavy body. To bulk means ‘to swell or increase in size,’ usually with the adverbs up or out, and, often with large, ‘to be of great…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: strip

You might know already that strip means ‘to remove your own or someone else’s clothes.’ More generally, it means ‘to remove the covering from something’ and even simply ‘to remove.’ It also means ‘to clear out, empty.’ Unrelatedly, a strip is a long, narrow piece of material, land, or water and, in US English, often with a definite article, also a commercial area along a road. The related verb to strip means ‘to cut something into…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: flock

A flock is a group of animals or birds that live or travel together and, figuratively, a large group of people or things. In religion, a flock is a church congregation. As a verb, to flock means ‘to gather or go in a group.’ Unrelatedly, flock is also wool or cloth refuse, usually used to stuff mattresses or upholster furniture. The verb means…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: snoop

If you snoop, it means that you go around in a sneaky way trying to get information or see something that would usually be kept private. As a noun, a snoop is the act of snooping. Informally, someone who does this is also called a snoop, or a snooper, and sometimes a private detective can also be called a snoop..

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: snip

To snip means ‘to cut with quick and small strokes,’ as you do with scissors. As a noun, a snip is the act of snipping and also the thing that’s been snipped off. Any small amount of something can also be called a snip. Colloquially, in US English…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: tag

A tag is a piece of paper attached to something or a small loosely attached part of something. It is also a phrase or word used to describe something or someone, a label or identifier. In computing, it is a symbol that indicates…

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