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A span can be the extent or reach of something or the distance between the tip of the thumb and the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully extended. Also…

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A rev is an informal term; it is an abbreviation for a revolution of the crankshaft within an engine. The related verb means ‘to accelerate’ and it can have an engine, vehicle, or driver as its subject. Rev is also used figuratively, often followed by up, about other things and means ‘to increase’ in both activity and…

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To celebrate Christmas, today’s word is “roast.” Whether you are roasting in the summer of the Southern Hemisphere or roasting chestnuts over an open fire in the chilly Northern Hemisphere, WordReference wishes you all a very merry Christmas!

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Today’s word is “frost.” It’s something you might find in your garden on a cold morning, but also something you might do to a cake. We have more meanings to tell you about, a song to share with you, and tips for frosting a Christmas cake.

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The end of the year is almost here! To help us celebrate, you can write a short story inspired by our Word of the Day site!

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As you might already know, a trap is a device used for catching animals or birds or, figuratively, any trick for catching someone by surprise. A situation that’s hard to escape from is also a trap. And did you know that, as a slang term, trap means ‘mouth?’ Traps, always in the plural, are the…

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A nut is a dry fruit consisting of an edible kernel, enclosed in a woody shell. The kernel itself is also called a nut. A nut is also a metal block with a threaded hole allowing it to be screwed down on a bolt to hold the objects the bolt passes through together. Colloquially,…

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To stray means ‘to wander,’ ‘to move away from the proper course,’ and also ‘to become distracted and digress.’ As a noun, a stray is a domestic animal, such as a dog or cat, found wandering and without an owner. Figuratively, a homeless or friendless person can also be called a stray…

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To swell means ‘to enlarge in size or weight,’ ‘to increase in amount or degree,’ and also ‘to rise in volume.’ In medicine, when something swells it means that it increases abnormally in size. Relating to emotions, we use swell to mean…

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