Intermediate+ Word of the Day: dash

To dash means ‘to strike or smash violently’ or ‘to break into pieces by striking or smashing,’ ‘to throw violently,’ and, when we’re taking about paint or anything similar, ‘to apply roughly.’ More generally, it also means…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: peck

The verb to peck means ‘to strike with the beak,’ as birds do, and, figuratively, ‘to kiss someone lightly,’ most often on the cheek. As a noun, a peck is a quick stroke with the beak or a…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: camp

A camp is, as you probably know, a place where people sleep temporarily. The tents or shelters they sleep in and also the people themselves can be called a camp. Figuratively, people who share…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: bind

To bind means ‘to tie or fasten something with string or rope’ or ‘to bandage a wound.’ Figuratively, often in the passive voice, we use it to mean ‘join, unite’ or ‘to be under an obligation.’ In book publishing, to bind means ‘to fasten sheets with a cover.’ As a noun, a bind is a tie that binds, whether literally or figuratively, and it also means ‘a complicated situation,’ although this meaning is now…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: beacon

A beacon is a guiding signal, usually a light in a high up position, designed to attract attention or warn people. They were originally large fires used to signal people over long distances in the days before…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: flow

Flow is what water does, ‘to move in a stream.’ It also means ‘to rise and advance,’ like tides do, or ‘to circulate,’ like blood does through our veins. Figuratively, it means…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: gripe

To gripe means ‘to complain constantly about something’ and, in US English, also ‘to annoy or irritate.’ As a noun, a gripe is an annoyance or complaint. Gripes, usually in the plural, is…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: train

A train is, as you probably know, a group of railroad cars connected together. Figuratively, any line or procession of people or anything drawn along is also called a train. As a verb, to train is to teach and make someone…

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