cstr/en-wiktionary-extracted-all huggingface dataset:
Balkanization
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌbɔːl.kən.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/
ipa: /ˌbɑl.kən.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/
Forms: form: Balkanizations
form: balkanization
form: Balkanisation
Etymology: From Balkan + -ization. The term is a reference to the conflicts that the Balkan peninsula experienced in the 20th century.
Senses: topics: political-science
social-sciences
glosses: The fragmentation of a geopolitical region into several small states that are often hostile or non-cooperative with each other.
examples: text: demographic balkanization
text: Issues that are already hotly contested become even more divisive in the context of social balkanization.
ref: 2002, Carol M. Swain, The New White Nationalism in America, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 94:
text: In other words, will the biometric future feature biometric centralization whereby one biometric would dominate multiple applications, or will we see biometric balkanization where multiple biometrics are used for multiple applications?
ref: 2006, Anil K. Jain, Ruud Bolle, Sharath Pankanti, Biometrics: Personal Identification in Networked Society, Springer Science & Business Media, →ISBN, page 401:
synonyms: fragmentation
glosses: Any disintegration or fragmentation process.
Derived terms: cyber-Balkanization
Related terms: Balkanize
altruist
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈæltɹu.ɪst/
ipa: /ˈɔːltɹu.ɪst/
Forms: form: altruists
Etymology: See altruism.
Senses: examples: text: This event couldn't have been possible without the efforts of the altruists who helped in their spare time.
glosses: A person showing altruism.
Synonyms: philanthropist
Derived terms: effective altruist
nonaltruist
Related terms: altruism
altruistic
philanthropic
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌfɪl.ənˈθɹɒp.ɪk/
note: of Canada
ipa: /ˌfɪl.ənˈθɹɑ.pɪk/
note: of the US
ipa: /ˌfɪl.ənˈθɹɒp.ɪk/
ipa: /ˌfɪl.ənˈθɹɔp.ɪk/
ipa: /ˈfɪl.ənˈθɹɒp.ɪk/
rhymes: -ɒpɪk
Forms: form: more philanthropic
form: most philanthropic
Etymology: From French philanthropique.
Senses: examples: text: a philanthropic enterprise
text: At the same time, politics started spilling over into the philanthropic initiative.
ref: 2025 June 28, Theodore Schleifer, Eli Tan, Mike Isaac, “Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan Narrow CZI’s Focus to Science Efforts”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
glosses: Of or pertaining to philanthropy; characterized by philanthropy; loving or helping mankind
Synonyms: generous
philanthropical
charitable
benevolent
humanitarian
bighearted
giving
goodhearted
altruistic
Derived terms: nonphilanthropic
pseudophilanthropic
theophilanthropic
unphilanthropic
Related terms: word: altruism
word: altruist
word: altruistic
word: altruistically
english: hatred of males
translation: hatred of males
word: misandry
word: misanthropist
english: hatred of human race
translation: hatred of human race
word: misanthropy
english: hatred of females
translation: hatred of females
word: misogyny
word: philanthropically
word: philanthropist
english: benevolence towards human race
translation: benevolence towards human race
word: philanthropy
english: love of males
translation: love of males
word: philandry
english: love of females
translation: love of females
word: philogyny
misanthropist
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: misanthropists
Senses: glosses: A misanthrope; a person who has a negative view of all humankind.
Related terms: word: misanthropy
word: misanthropic
english: hatred of males
translation: hatred of males
word: misandry
english: hatred of females
translation: hatred of females
word: misogyny
english: love of males
translation: love of males
word: philandry
english: love of females
translation: love of females
word: philogyny
english: bitter misanthropist
translation: bitter misanthropist
word: Timonist
misanthropic
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌmɪsənˈθɹɒpɪk/
ipa: /-zən-/
ipa: /ˌmɪsənˈθɹɑpɪk/
rhymes: -ɒpɪk
Forms: form: more misanthropic
form: most misanthropic
Etymology: From misanthrope + -ic.
Senses: examples: text: [C]hildren, ſervants, are falſe, fraudful, foul, if the miſanthropic man, who is father and maſter, lets fall among them, in his outbreaks of paſſion, his opinion that they are ſo.
ref: 1860, Isaac Taylor, “Essay I. Ultimate Civilization.”, in Ultimate Civilization and Other Essays, London: Bell and Daldy […], →OCLC, part I, section IV, page 37:
text: The torturers of any form of life torture the life. In this they are not only abominators of form, but haters of nature; and the violationist school is misozoic, life-hating; in continuation of that which it also is, misanthropic, or an enemy of mankind.
ref: 1876, James John Garth Wilkinson, On Human Science: Good and Evil, and on Divine Revelation:
antonyms: philanthropic
glosses: Having a negative view of mankind. This may express itself as, e.g., distrust, dislike, hate, or contempt.
Coordinate terms: antihuman
Derived terms: misanthropical
misanthropically
unmisanthropic
Related terms: misanthrope
misanthropise
misanthropist
misanthropy
altruism
misandry
misogyny
philandry
philogyny
Timonian
misanthropy
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /mɪˈsæn.θɹə.pi/
Forms: form: misanthropies
Etymology: From Ancient Greek μισανθρωπία (misanthrōpía), from μισάνθρωπος (misánthrōpos), from μῖσος (mîsos, “hatred”) + ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos, “human”). The word is analysable as miso- + -anthropy.
Senses: examples: text: 1817, Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Revolt of Islam, Author's Preface
Hence gloom and misanthropy have become the characteristics of the age in which we live, the solace of a disappointment that unconsciously finds relief only in the wilful exaggeration of its own despair.
text: According to this saga of intellectual-property misanthropy, these creatures [patent trolls] roam the business world, buying up patents and then using them to demand extravagant payouts from companies they accuse of infringing them. Often, their victims pay up rather than face the costs of a legal battle.
ref: 2013 June 8, “Obama goes troll-hunting”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, page 55:
glosses: A negative view or hatred of the human race.
Synonyms: english: bitter misanthropy
translation: bitter misanthropy
word: Timonism
Hyponyms: disanthropy
misandry
misogyny
misopedia
Derived terms: misanthrope
misanthropic
misanthropist
misanthropize
Related terms: anthropophobia
philanthropically
Language: English
Part of speech: adv
Forms: form: more philanthropically
form: most philanthropically
Etymology: From philanthropic + -ally.
Senses: glosses: In a philanthropic manner.
altruistic
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌæl.tɹuˈɪs.tɪk/
ipa: /ˌæl.tɹuˈɪs.tɪk/
ipa: /ˌɑl.tɹuˈɪs.tɪk/
rhymes: -ɪstɪk
Forms: form: more altruistic
form: most altruistic
Etymology: From altruist + -ic. See altruism.
Senses: examples: text: His helping the old woman with her shopping was deemed highly altruistic by everyone, especially since her home was a mile away.
synonyms: beneficent
humane
philanthropic
selfless
unselfish
antonyms: egoistic
misanthropic
selfish
glosses: Regardful of others; beneficent; unselfish
Derived terms: altruistically
altruistic filicide
antialtruistic
hyperaltruistic
nonaltruistic
pseudoaltruistic
unaltruistic
Related terms: altruism
altruist
altruistically
Language: English
Part of speech: adv
Forms: form: more altruistically
form: most altruistically
Etymology: From altruistic + -ally.
Senses: synonyms: unselfishly
glosses: In an altruistic manner; in a manner having regard of others
Synonyms: philanthropically
Derived terms: nonaltruistically
Related terms: word: altruist
word: altruistic
english: hatred of males
translation: hatred of males
word: misandry
english: hatred of females
translation: hatred of females
word: misogyny
philanthropical
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Forms: form: more philanthropical
form: most philanthropical
Senses: glosses: philanthropic
Derived terms: unphilanthropical
Related terms: word: altruist
english: strong like of human race
translation: strong like of human race
word: altruism
english: hatred of human race
translation: hatred of human race
word: misanthropy
word: misanthropist
english: hatred of males
translation: hatred of males
word: misandry
english: hatred of females
translation: hatred of females
word: misogyny
word: philanthropist
word: philanthropically
xenophile
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: xenophiles
Etymology: From xeno- + -phile.
Senses: glosses: A person who has a love of foreign people and culture.
topics: literature
media
publishing
science-fiction
glosses: A human who is attracted to extraterrestrial aliens.
Related terms: xenophilia
xenophilic
derived unit
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: derived units
Senses: examples: text: The derived unit of electrical resistance (ohm) is derived from length, mass, time, and electric current.
qualifier: In the SI system of units
glosses: Any unit derived from one of the seven base units of length (meter), mass (kilogram), time (second), electric current (ampere), thermodynamic temperature (kelvin), amount of substance (mole) and luminous intensity (candela).
glosses: Equivalently, in any coherent unit system, a unit derived from one or more base units.
egoistic
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌiː.ɡəʊˈɪs.tɪk/
ipa: /ˌi.ɡoʊˈɪs.tɪk/
ipa: /ˌiː.ɡəʉˈɪs.tɪk/
Forms: form: more egoistic
form: most egoistic
form: egoïstic
Etymology: From egoist + -ic.
Senses: glosses: Egoistical.
Derived terms: egoistical
egoistically
unegoistic
Related terms: egoism
egoist
misanthrope
selfish
outswing
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: outswings
Etymology: From out- + swing.
Senses: glosses: An outward swinging motion.
topics: ball-games
cricket
games
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: The swing of the ball through the air, in a direction away from the batsman.
Synonyms: away swing
outswing
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Forms: form: outswings
form: outswinging
form: outswung
form: outswung
Etymology: From out- + swing.
Senses: glosses: To swing outward.
examples: text: I ain't no Paul Bunyan, but I can outswing anybody you can name with an axe.
ref: 1939, United States. Agricultural Adjustment Administration, Consumers' Guide (volumes 6-7, page 3)
glosses: To surpass in swinging.
Derived terms: outswinger
selfishly
Language: English
Part of speech: adv
Forms: form: more selfishly
form: most selfishly
Etymology: From selfish + -ly.
Senses: examples: text: What emerges is a softly supernatural story about a futurist who behaved as selfishly as any retrograde male genius.
ref: 2023 April 13, Amy Nicholson, “‘Hilma’ Review: An Artist With Spirit”, in The New York Times:
glosses: In a selfish manner; with regard to private interest only or chiefly.
Related terms: egoist
selfish
surreptitiously
Language: English
Part of speech: adv
Pronunciation: ipa: /sʌɹəpˈtɪʃəsli/
Forms: form: more surreptitiously
form: most surreptitiously
Etymology: From surreptitious + -ly.
Senses: examples: text: Hiro and Chuck grab the closest thing they can find to a corner table. Hiro buttonholes a waiter and surreptitiously orders a pitcher of Pub Special, mixed half and half with nonalcoholic beer.
ref: 1992, Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash, page 276:
text: They stayed together during three dances, went out on to the terrace, explored wherever they were permitted to explore, paid two visits to the buffet, and enjoyed themselves much in the same way as if they had been school-children surreptitiously breaking loose from an assembly of grown-ups.
ref: 1909, Archibald Marshall [pseudonym; Arthur Hammond Marshall], “A Court Ball”, in The Squire’s Daughter, New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead and Company, published 1919, →OCLC, page 9:
text: While Brown distracted the usually hyperfocused Mangini, safety Kerry Rhodes and linebackers Eric Barton and Jonathan Vilma grabbed a cooler of Gatorade and surreptitiously assumed their positions according to plan.
ref: 2007 January 1, Karen Crouse, “With Wild-Card Spot Clinched, Jets Can Finally Talk Playoffs”, in The New York Times:
synonyms: furtively
secretly
stealthily
glosses: In a surreptitious manner; stealthily, furtively, secretly.
mediocre
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌmiːdɪˈəʊkə/
ipa: /ˈmiːdɪˌəʊkə/
ipa: /ˌmidiˈoʊkəɹ/
Forms: form: more mediocre
form: most mediocre
form: mediocer
form: médiocre
Etymology: From the late Middle English medioker, from the French médiocre, from the Middle French médiocre, from the Classical Latin mediocris (“in a middle state”, “of middle size”, “middling”, “moderate”, “ordinary”, from medius (“middle”) + ocris (“rugged mountain”)); compare mediocrely and mediocrity.
Senses: examples: text: I'm pretty good at tennis but only mediocre at racquetball.
text: The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.
ref: 1968, William Arthur Ward, Thoughts of a Christian Optimist, Droke House:
text: “Look at this festive assembly. All of us, gathered here together, chuckling at jokes and silliness.” [laughter] “And jackanapery.” [rim shots] “I guess there's only one thing left to say. What is this shit?” [rim shot] [laughter] “[laughs] Very good.” “You call yourselves vampires? Bah. This entire evening has been nothing but a pageant of insipid nonsense.” “[laughing] Yes.” “Worshipping at the altar of your own mediocre frivolity. A jester's hollow dance. And who is laughing?” “Yeah! [whoops] [grunts]” “Vampires are supposed to have blood orgies and slaughter circles. Gah! You have all gone soft. You even invited humans to this asinine affair.”
ref: 2023 August 24, Sarah Naftalis & Lauren Wells, “The Roast” (8:36 from the start), in What We Do in the Shadows, season 5, episode 8, spoken by Baron Afanas (Doug Jones):
synonyms: common
commonplace
ordinary
antonyms: great
distinguished
exceptional
outstanding
remarkable
peculiar
excellent
glosses: Not excellent or outstanding, usually disappointingly so.
Synonyms: word: average
word: comme ci comme ça
word: indifferent
word: lackluster
word: meh
word: mediocre
word: mid
word: middling
word: no great shakes
word: nothing to write home about
word: not worth writing home about
word: okayish
word: ordinary
word: pedestrian
word: unexceptional
word: uninspiring
word: so-so
Hypernyms: word: intermediate
Hyponyms: word: C-grade
word: second-rate
word: third-rate
Coordinate terms: word: fourth-rate
word: fifth-rate
Derived terms: mediocracy
mediocreness
mediocrist
submediocre
Related terms: word: mean
word: median
word: mediate
word: mediation
word: mediator
word: mediocrely
word: mediocrity
word: medium
word: common
word: boring
mediocre
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌmiːdɪˈəʊkə/
ipa: /ˈmiːdɪˌəʊkə/
ipa: /ˌmidiˈoʊkəɹ/
Forms: form: mediocres
form: mediocer
form: médiocre
Etymology: From the late Middle English medioker, from the French médiocre, from the Middle French médiocre, from the Classical Latin mediocris (“in a middle state”, “of middle size”, “middling”, “moderate”, “ordinary”, from medius (“middle”) + ocris (“rugged mountain”)); compare mediocrely and mediocrity.
Senses: examples: text: Of the hundreds of inferior poets, who are continually offering their sonnets and addresses to the Moon, (or to the public instead of that luminary,) Wade, Barton, Wiffen, and Bailey, are the most conspicuous. Wade is a new aspirant, but gives strong prognostications of genius. Barton and Bailey are above the mediocres, and Wiffen tolerable.
ref: 1825, “Present State of Literature”, in The Gentleman's Magazine, volume XCV, second part, page 197:
text: After this lecture, how do the mediocres feel? They probably feel indifferent or mad. Perhaps they were not even paying attention. The question is, are they more likely to be in the hallway tomorrow? Probably not.
ref: 2014, Todd Whitaker, Dealing with Difficult Teachers, Third Edition, page 84:
antonyms: great
glosses: A person of minor significance, accomplishment or acclaim; a common and undistinguished person.
glosses: A member of a socioeconomic class between the upper ranks of society and the agricultural workers.
egoism
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: egoisms
form: egoïsm
form: egomism
Etymology: From French égoïsme, from New Latin egoismus, from Latin ego. By surface analysis, ego + -ism.
Senses: glosses: The tendency to think selfishly with exclusive self-interest in mind.
topics: ethics
human-sciences
philosophy
sciences
glosses: The belief that moral behavior should be directed toward one's self-interest only.
qualifier: by confusion of the similar words
glosses: Egotism (tendency to talk excessively about oneself).
Synonyms: sense: tendency to think of self
word: selfishness
Derived terms: ethical egoism
panegoism
rational egoism
Related terms: word: egoist
word: egoistic
word: egoistical
word: ethnocentrism
english: hatred of human race
translation: hatred of human race
word: misanthropy
word: narcissism
LBW
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: LBWs
Senses: topics: medicine
sciences
glosses: Initialism of low birth weight.
examples: text: The Authentic, getting in front of his wicket, to pull one of the simplest long-hops ever seen on a cricket field, missed it, and was l.b.w.
ref: 1919, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 13, in Mike:
topics: ball-games
cricket
games
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: Initialism of leg before wicket.
glosses: Lutheran Book of Worship (hymnal)
anal retentive
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Forms: form: more anal retentive
form: most anal retentive
Senses: glosses: Alternative form of anal-retentive.
stun
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /stʌn/
rhymes: -ʌn
Forms: form: stuns
form: stunning
form: stunned
form: stunned
form: stin
Etymology: Inherited from Middle English stonen, stone (“to astonish, stun, numb”, also stoneyen), probably either directly or indirectly from Anglo-Norman estoner (“to stun, astonish”), from Late Latin *stunāre, from Frankish *stunōn (“to thunder, crash”) or perhaps from an unattested Latin *extonāre (“to thunder out, make a thunderous sound”), from tonāre ("to thunder"; compare Latin attonāre). An alternative etymology derives stonen from Old English stunian (“to smash, thunder”), from Proto-West Germanic *stunōn. See also astonish, astound.
Compare Swedish stöna (“to moan, groan”), Danish stønne (“to moan, groan”), Icelandic stynja (“to moan”), Occitan estonar (“to surprise”), and French étonner (“to surprise”), and more distantly, Dutch steunen (“to groan; support”), German stöhnen (“to groan, moan”), German staunen (“to be astonished, be amazed, marvel at”), and Russian стонать (stonatʹ), стена́ть (stenátʹ, “to moan, groan”).
Senses: examples: text: Bill tried to stun the snake by striking it on the head.
text: In many European countries cattle have to be stunned before slaughtering.
synonyms: daze
glosses: To incapacitate; especially by inducing disorientation or unconsciousness.
examples: text: The celebrity was stunned to find herself confronted with unfounded allegations on the front page of a newspaper.
text: He stood there stunned, looking at the beautiful, breath-taking sunrise.
glosses: To shock or surprise.
topics: ball-games
billiards
games
hobbies
lifestyle
snooker
sports
glosses: To hit the cue ball so that it slides without topspin or backspin (and with or without sidespin) and continues at a natural angle after contact with the object ball
examples: text: The monsters stun when you jump on them.
topics: video-games
glosses: To enter a stunned state.
topics: government
military
politics
war
glosses: To confiscate (an unguarded rifle, magazine, piece of equipment, etc.) from an unsuspecting soldier as punishment for neglect.
stun
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /stʌn/
rhymes: -ʌn
Forms: form: stuns
form: stin
Etymology: Inherited from Middle English stonen, stone (“to astonish, stun, numb”, also stoneyen), probably either directly or indirectly from Anglo-Norman estoner (“to stun, astonish”), from Late Latin *stunāre, from Frankish *stunōn (“to thunder, crash”) or perhaps from an unattested Latin *extonāre (“to thunder out, make a thunderous sound”), from tonāre ("to thunder"; compare Latin attonāre). An alternative etymology derives stonen from Old English stunian (“to smash, thunder”), from Proto-West Germanic *stunōn. See also astonish, astound.
Compare Swedish stöna (“to moan, groan”), Danish stønne (“to moan, groan”), Icelandic stynja (“to moan”), Occitan estonar (“to surprise”), and French étonner (“to surprise”), and more distantly, Dutch steunen (“to groan; support”), German stöhnen (“to groan, moan”), German staunen (“to be astonished, be amazed, marvel at”), and Russian стонать (stonatʹ), стена́ть (stenátʹ, “to moan, groan”).
Senses: glosses: The condition of being stunned.
glosses: That which stuns; a shock; a stupefying blow.
glosses: A person who lacks intelligence.
examples: text: Williams will need a lot of stun to avoid going in the middle pocket
topics: ball-games
billiards
games
hobbies
lifestyle
pool
snooker
sports
glosses: The effect on the cue ball where the ball is hit without topspin, backspin or sidespin.
examples: text: Captain James Kirk: "Set your phaser on one quarter. I'll leave mine on stun."
ref: 1966 September 8, George Clayton Johnson, The Man Trap (Star Trek), season 1, episode 1:
topics: literature
media
publishing
science-fiction
glosses: A low-range setting for an energy weapon that will stun its target but not injure or kill it.
Derived terms: on stun
stun grenade
stun gun
shun
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ʃʌn/
ipa: /ʃʊn/
rhymes: -ʌn
Forms: form: shuns
form: shunning
form: shunned
form: shunned
Etymology: From Middle English schonen (“to decline to do, avoid, fear”), from Old English sċunian (“to shun, fear, avoid”), of uncertain origin, though probably ultimately connected to the Proto-Indo-European root *(s)kewH- (“to cover, conceal”) via Proto-Germanic [Term?]; see that entry for more discussion.
Compare hide, shy, and Sanskrit स्कुनाति (skunāti, “to cover”).
Senses: examples: text: Acrophobes shun mountaineering.
text: British journalists shun complete respectability, feeling a duty to be ready to savage the mighty, or rummage through their bins. Elsewhere in Europe, government contracts and subsidies ensure that press barons will only defy the mighty so far.
ref: 2013 August 10, Lexington, “Keeping the mighty honest”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848:
glosses: To avoid, especially persistently; ostracize.
examples: text: I'll shun meeting them for as long as possible.
glosses: To escape (a threatening evil, an unwelcome task etc).
glosses: To screen, hide.
glosses: To shove, push.
Derived terms: shunless
shunnable
shunner
yarn
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: enpr: yän
ipa: /jɑːn/
enpr: yärn
ipa: /jɑɹn/
rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)n
homophone: Jan (non-rhotic)
Forms: form: yarns
Etymology: From Middle English yarne, ȝern, yarn, from the Old English ġearn (“yarn, spun wool”), from Proto-West Germanic *garn, from Proto-Germanic *garną (“yarn”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰorn-, *ǵʰerH- (“tharm, guts, intestines”).
Cognates
Akin to West Frisian jern, Dutch garen (“yarn”), German Garn (“yarn”), Danish garn, Swedish garn (“yarn, thread”), Icelandic garn (“yarn”), Latin hernia (“rupture”), Ancient Greek χορδή (khordḗ, “string”), Sanskrit हिर (hira, “band”). Compare also the obsolete doublet garn.
Senses: glosses: A twisted strand of fibre used for knitting or weaving.
topics: nautical
transport
glosses: Bundles of fibres twisted together, and which in turn are twisted in bundles to form strands, which in their turn are twisted or plaited to form rope.
examples: text: Spin a yarn
text: I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did. He asked about six questions during my yarn, but every question had a point to it. At the end he bowed and thanked me once more. As a thanker he was main-truck high; I never see anybody so polite.
ref: 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter IV, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
text: "I'm hanged if I know how you've got the immortal rind to come at me with a yarn like this."
ref: 1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, →OCLC, page 218:
text: Statistically, this person is also likely to be male and well off, but more essentially this person wants to be educated, to be obsessed, wants more than just a good yarn.
ref: 2018 September 15, Julius Taranto, “On Outgrowing David Foster Wallace”, in Los Angeles Review of Books:
glosses: A story, a tale, especially one that is incredible.
Synonyms: sense: story or tale
word: story
sense: story or tale
word: tale
Hyponyms: sense: fiber strand
word: worsted
Derived terms: bay yarn
eyelash yarn
galley yarn
rogue's yarn
rope yarn
Saxony yarn
sock yarn
spin a yarn
yarn-beam
yarn bomb
yarn bomber
yarn bombing
yarnover
yarn-spinner
yarnwindle
Related terms: hank
twine
thread
yarn
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: enpr: yän
ipa: /jɑːn/
enpr: yärn
ipa: /jɑɹn/
rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)n
homophone: Jan (non-rhotic)
Forms: form: yarns
form: yarning
form: yarned
form: yarned
Etymology: From Middle English yarne, ȝern, yarn, from the Old English ġearn (“yarn, spun wool”), from Proto-West Germanic *garn, from Proto-Germanic *garną (“yarn”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰorn-, *ǵʰerH- (“tharm, guts, intestines”).
Cognates
Akin to West Frisian jern, Dutch garen (“yarn”), German Garn (“yarn”), Danish garn, Swedish garn (“yarn, thread”), Icelandic garn (“yarn”), Latin hernia (“rupture”), Ancient Greek χορδή (khordḗ, “string”), Sanskrit हिर (hira, “band”). Compare also the obsolete doublet garn.
Senses: examples: text: "He yarns good," said Tom Platt. "T'other night he told us abaout a kid of his own size steerin' a cunnin' little rig an' four ponies up an' down Toledo, Ohio, I think 'twas, an' givin' suppers to a crowd o' sim'lar kids. Cur'us kind o' fairy-tale, but blame interestin'. He knows scores of 'em."
ref: 1897, Rudyard Kipling, Captains Courageous:
text: 1935, Christopher Isherwood, Mr Norris Changes Trains (U.S. title: The Last of Mr Norris), Chapter Thirteen, in The Berlin Stories, New York: New Directions, 1963, p. 152,
“Well, well!” exclaimed Mr. van Hoorn. “Here are the boys! As hungry as hunters, I’ll be bound! And we two old fogies have been wasting the whole afternoon yarning away indoors. My goodness, is it as late as that? I say, I want my tea!”
text: They had stayed in some little pension and had gone for little, bored walks while the colonel went out in the boats with the fisherman, or sat yarning with them in the café.
ref: 1942, Neville Shute, chapter 7, in Pied Piper, New York: William Morrow & Co:
glosses: To tell a story or stories, especially one that is lengthy or unlikely to be true.
Derived terms: yarn dust
yarn on
yarner
oriental
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Forms: form: more oriental
form: most oriental
Etymology: See Oriental.
Senses: glosses: Alternative letter-case form of Oriental.
Synonyms: eastern
Derived terms: oriental carpet
oriental dance
orientalist
orientality
orientalize
orientally
oriental rug
techno-oriental
Related terms: boreal
austral
chicken oriental
oriental
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: orientals
Etymology: See Oriental.
Senses: glosses: Alternative letter-case form of Oriental.
Derived terms: alt: Celastrum orbiculatum
word: oriental bittersweet
zoppo
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Etymology: Borrowed from Italian zoppo.
Senses: topics: entertainment
lifestyle
music
glosses: Alternately with and without syncopation.
blueprint
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: enpr: blo͞o'prĭnt"
ipa: /ˈbluːˌpɹɪnt/
rhymes: -ɪnt
Forms: form: blueprints
form: blue print
form: blue-print
Etymology: From blue + print. Introduced by Sir John Herschel in 1842.
Senses: glosses: A type of paper-based reproduction process producing white-on-blue images by means of a photosensitive ferric compound, used primarily for technical and architecture's drawings, now largely replaced by other technologies.
glosses: A print produced with this process.
topics: architecture
engineering
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
glosses: A detailed technical drawing (now often in some electronically storable and transmissible form).
examples: text: Ain't got no blueprint, just a purpose and a wrecking ball!
ref: 2018, Jhariah Clare, “City of Ashes”, in The Great Tale of How I Ruined it All:
text: This demonstrated serious intent, and the result is a report that should be a blueprint for subsequent assessments when road schemes are being put forward.
ref: 2020 December 2, Christian Wolmar, “Wales offers us a glimpse of an integrated transport strategy”, in Rail, page 56:
text: As a member of Black Sabbath, he helped draft the blueprints for heavy metal, but in conversation, he was always humble about his contributions to music.
ref: 2025 July 22, Kory Grow, “Ozzy Osbourne obituary: The Godfather of Heavy Metal who changed the world”, in Rolling Stone:
glosses: Any detailed plan, whether literal or figurative.
Synonyms: sense: paper-based technical drawing
word: cyanotype
sense: paper-based technical drawing
word: schematic
sense: detailed technical drawing
word: schematic
word: road map
word: schematic
word: plan
word: layout
blueprint
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: enpr: blo͞o'prĭnt"
ipa: /ˈbluːˌpɹɪnt/
rhymes: -ɪnt
Forms: form: blueprints
form: blueprinting
form: blueprinted
form: blueprinted
form: blue print
form: blue-print
Etymology: From blue + print. Introduced by Sir John Herschel in 1842.
Senses: examples: text: The architect blueprinted the renovation plan once the client had signed off.
glosses: To make a blueprint for.
examples: text: They blueprinted every aspect of the first phase of the operation.
glosses: To make a detailed operational plan for; to design or plan out.
Derived terms: blueprintable
fence
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /fɛns/
ipa: [fɛns]
ipa: [fɛnts]
rhymes: -ɛns
Forms: form: fences
form: fencing
form: fenced
form: fenced
Etymology: From Middle English fence, fens, short for defence, defens (“the act of defending”), from Old French defens, defense (see defence).
The sense "enclosure" arises in the mid 15th century.
Also from the 15th century is use as a verb in the sense "to enclose with a fence". The generalized sense "to defend, screen, protect" arises ca. 1500. The sense "to fight with swords (rapiers)" is from the 1590s (Shakespeare).
Displaced native Old English heġe (compare Modern English hedge).
Senses: examples: text: […] pray you, if you know,
Where in the purlieus of this forest stands
A sheep-cote fenc’d about with olive trees?
ref: 1599, William Shakespeare, As You Like It, act IV, scene 3:
text: […] O thou wall,
That girdlest in those wolves, dive in the earth,
And fence not Athens.
ref: 1607, William Shakespeare, Timon of Athens, act IV, scene 1:
text: Here are twenty acres of land, and it is all you can properly farm, unless you have more help than yourself. Now fence and cultivate it, and you can make an abundant living.
ref: 1856, George A. Smith, The Saints Should Divest Themselves of Old Traditions:
glosses: To enclose, contain or separate by building fence.
examples: text: Cosin, our hands I hope shall fence our heads,
And strike off his that makes you threaten vs.
ref: 1594, Christopher Marlowe, Edward II, London: William Jones:
text: […] I have learn’t
To fence my ear against thy sorceries.
ref: 1671, John Milton, Paradise Regain’d […] to which is added Samson Agonistes, London: John Starkey, Samson Agonistes, page 58, lines 937–938:
glosses: To defend or guard.
examples: text: The Bat—they called him the Bat.[…]. He'd never been in stir, the bulls had never mugged him, he didn't run with a mob, he played a lone hand, and fenced his stuff so that even the fence couldn't swear he knew his face.
ref: 1920, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Avery Hopwood, chapter I, in The Bat: A Novel from the Play (Dell Book; 241), New York, N.Y.: Dell Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 01:
glosses: To engage in the selling or buying of stolen goods.
examples: text: Challenges are flying right and left between these bully-swordsmen, these spadassinicides, and poor devils of the robe who have never learnt to fence with anything but a quill.
ref: 1921, Rafael Sabatini, Scaramouche:
topics: hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: To engage in the sport of fencing.
topics: equestrianism
hobbies
horses
lifestyle
pets
sports
glosses: To jump over a fence.
examples: text: A lady, sir, as you will find, / Keeps counsel, or she speaks her mind, / Means what she says and scorns to fence / And palter with feigned innocence.
ref: 1981, A. D. Hope, “His Coy Mistress to Mr. Marvell”, in A Book of Answers:
glosses: To conceal the truth by giving equivocal answers; to hedge; to be evasive.
Synonyms: sense: to sell or buy stolen goods
word: pawn
Derived terms: fence in
fencer
outfence
refence
ring-fence
ringfence
biochemical
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌbaɪəʊˈkɛmɪkəl/
Etymology: From bio- + chemical.
Senses: glosses: of, or relating to biochemistry
examples: text: In view of this biochemical diversity, the possibilities of interspecies hybridization in this genus are very interesting and worthy of attention.
ref: 1985, John F. Peberdy, Lajos Ferenczy, Fungal Protoplasts, CRC Press, page 259:
glosses: characterized by, produced by, or involving chemical processes in living organisms
Derived terms: abiochemical
autobiochemical
biochemically
biochemical oxygen demand
biochemical pregnancy
clinicobiochemical
electrobiochemical
geobiochemical
glycobiochemical
hematobiochemical
immunobiochemical
mechanobiochemical
microbiochemical
neurobiochemical
nonbiochemical
pathobiochemical
photobiochemical
biochemical
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌbaɪəʊˈkɛmɪkəl/
Forms: form: biochemicals
Etymology: From bio- + chemical.
Senses: examples: text: Dr. Gwaltney sent nasal secretions from 40 volunteers with colds to Dr. Proud and Dr. Naclerio, who tested the secretions for the presence of these biochemicals.
ref: 1987 October 6, Gina Kolata, “Clever Strategy Shows Promise Against Colds”, in The New York Times:
hypernyms: biomatter
glosses: A chemical substance derived from a biological source.
Related terms: biochemical warfare
bare bones
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Etymology: By metaphor with the skeleton versus the whole body including the flesh.
Senses: examples: text: He had only been taught the bare bones of the system, but carried on regardless.
text: The bare bones of a cookbook are its recipes, but as a genre it is so elastic and malleable that it can contain a range of other purposes and dimensions.
ref: 1982 April 10, Michael Bronski, “We Are How We Cook”, in Gay Community News, page 7:
text: Typically, this meant that the teams were turning around two sets a week, with a train rolling into the depot on a Sunday for what Hinze describes as a "big strip-out". This would pull the carriages back almost to the bare bones.
ref: 2025 July 23, Richard Wilcock, “A new dawn for the Electrostars”, in RAIL, number 1040, page 27:
glosses: The essential elements of something; the minimum viable set of elements; especially when they are described without going into detail.
Related terms: word: bare-boned
english: antonymous force
translation: antonymous force
word: bells and whistles
english: antonymous force
translation: antonymous force
word: flesh out
english: essentials
translation: essentials
word: skeleton
word: skeletonized
dishabille
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: enpr: dĭs'əbēlʹ
enpr: -bilʹ
ipa: /dɪsəˈbiːl/
ipa: /-ˈbɪl/
rhymes: -iːl
rhymes: -ɪl
Forms: form: dishabilles
form: deshabille
Etymology: From French déshabillé.
Senses: examples: text: When I rallied him for viſiting me in ſuch a diſhabille, he ſtood a tiptoe to view himſelf in the glaſs; and owning I was in the right, ſaid that he would go and dreſs himſelf before dinner.
ref: 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, “The Memoirs of a Lady of Quality”, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC, page 260, column 1:
text: Wherever they went, some pattened girl stopped to curtsy, or some footman in dishabille sneaked off. Yet this was an abbey!
ref: 1803 (date written), [Jane Austen], Northanger Abbey; published in Northanger Abbey: And Persuasion. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], 20 December 1817 (indicated as 1818), →OCLC:
text: A little after 3:15 o’clock yesterday afternoon a stream of people, hatless, coatless, some in an even worse state of dishabille rushed down the stairs or to the elevators of every one of the downtown buildings and onto the streets, their faces showing every sign of terror.
ref: 1891, Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
glosses: Extreme casual or disorderly dress, for example, with the shirt-tail out, sleeves unbuttoned, etc.
examples: text: She wore a dishabille of mignonette-green silk and bead-diapered head-dress that added several inches to her height […]
ref: 1919, Ronald Firbank, Valmouth, Duckworth, hardback edition, page 44
glosses: A loose, negligent dress.
Related terms: deshabille
habiliment
socialize
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈsoʊʃəlaɪz/
Forms: form: socializes
form: socializing
form: socialized
form: socialized
form: socialise
Etymology: From social + -ize.
Senses: examples: text: hoping to socialize a bit at the company holiday party
text: When socializing it's important that you never talk business unless they bring it up. If you do, you'll find out quickly that you're no longer invited to any of the really good reindeer games. Rather, be a good listener.
ref: 2006, Christopher Duncan, “Managing Your Management”, in Dominic Shakeshaft, editor, The Career Programmer: Guerilla^([sic]) Tactics for an Imperfect World (The Expert’s Voice), 2nd edition, Berkeley, Calif.: Apress, →ISBN, part II (Guerilla Tactics for Front-line Programmers), page 171:
text: The UU is a great place to be on campus to socialize but when business needs to be taken care of the five story library is the place to be!
ref: 2011, Sarah Parr, Cal Poly 2012:
text: Mr. Bach is an architect who, with his wife and professional partner, Anna Bach, regularly socializes with Ms. Aguirre and Mr. Ferrer.
ref: 2024 November 15, Julie Lasky, “A Glass Addition Maximizes Light and Minimizes Exposure”, in The New York Times:
synonyms: hang out
glosses: To interact with others, especially personally, informally and off the clock rather than formally and officially.
examples: text: depending on how children are socialized regarding racial and ethnic biases
text: That is, by way of this initial imprinting the young animal becomes a socialized member of its species. Animals misimprinted to other species show a variety of abnormal social behaviors as adults.
ref: 1977, Dorothy Rogers, Issues in child psychology, page 62:
synonyms: acculturate
glosses: To instruct (somebody), usually subconsciously and mostly by example, in the etiquette of a society.
examples: text: Near-synonym: nationalize
text: fears about potential attempts to socialize medicine
glosses: To take something into collective or governmental ownership.
Derived terms: resocialize
socializable
socialization
unsocialized
posture
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈpɒst͡ʃə/
note: of Canada
ipa: /ˈpɑst͡ʃɚ/
note: of the US
ipa: /ˈpɒst͡ʃɚ/
ipa: /ˈpɔst͡ʃə/
ipa: /ˈpɒst͡ʃə/
ipa: [ˈpɔ̟st͡ʃə]
note: Indic
ipa: /ˈpɔstʃə(r)/
note: by analogy with post
ipa: /ˈpostʃə(r)/
Forms: form: postures
Etymology: Borrowed from Middle French posture, from Italian postura, from Latin positūra (“position, situation”). Doublet of positura.
Senses: examples: text: As if that whatsoever god who leads him
 Were slily crept into his human powers,
 And gave him graceful posture.
ref: c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
text: […] walking in a most dejected posture, without a band, unbraced, his arms a-cross his open breast, and his eyes bent to the floor;
ref: a. 1689, Aphra Behn, Love-Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister:
text: Rise, sir, from this semi-recumbent posture. It is most indecorous.
ref: 1895, Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest […] , [Act I]:
glosses: The way a person holds and positions their body.
examples: text: Even as I was reading these fables of my millions, there lay on the desk before me a statement of the exact posture of my affairs […]
ref: 1905, David Graham Phillips, The Deluge:
text: Uncle Jim stopped amazed. His brain did not instantly rise to the new posture of things.
ref: 1910, H.G. Wells, The History of Mr Polly:
glosses: A situation or condition.
examples: 1651, Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan
...that is, their Forts, Garrisons, and Guns upon the Frontiers of their Kingdomes; and continuall Spyes upon their neighbours; which is a posture of War.
1912, G.K. Chesterton, A Miscellany of Men
But it is not true, no sane person can call it true, that man as a whole in his general attitude towards the world, in his posture towards death or green fields, towards the weather or the baby, will be wise to cultivate dissatisfaction.
glosses: One's attitude or the social or political position one takes towards an issue or another person.
examples: text: 1661, Thomas Salusbury (translator), Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief Systems of the World
The Moon beheld in any posture, in respect of the Sun and us, sheweth us its superficies ... always equally clear.
text: As for the guides, they were debarred from the pleasure of discourse, the one being placed in the van, and the other obliged to bring up the rear.
 In this posture they travelled many hours, till they came into a wide and well-beaten road […]
ref: 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
glosses: The position of someone or something relative to another; position; situation.
Derived terms: malposture
postural
posture collar
posture-maker
posture-master
posturer
posturise
posturist
posturize
posturogram
posturograph
posturography
stretch-attend posture
posture
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈpɒst͡ʃə/
note: of Canada
ipa: /ˈpɑst͡ʃɚ/
note: of the US
ipa: /ˈpɒst͡ʃɚ/
ipa: /ˈpɔst͡ʃə/
ipa: /ˈpɒst͡ʃə/
ipa: [ˈpɔ̟st͡ʃə]
note: Indic
ipa: /ˈpɔstʃə(r)/
note: by analogy with post
ipa: /ˈpostʃə(r)/
Forms: form: postures
form: posturing
form: postured
form: postured
Etymology: Borrowed from Middle French posture, from Italian postura, from Latin positūra (“position, situation”). Doublet of positura.
Senses: examples: text: If you're finished posturing in front of the mirror, can I use the bathroom now?
glosses: to put one's body into a posture or series of postures, especially hoping that one will be noticed and admired
examples: text: The politicians couldn't really care less about the issue: they're just posturing for the media.
text: But these plays allow us to look beyond the posturing, punditry and angry speechifying, to really feel the painful, inescapable hardships of daily life as it is lived by increasing numbers of Americans.
ref: 2016 September 3, Charles Isherwood, “Anxious Dramas for the Age of Trump and Sanders”, in The New York Times:
text: Belarusian officials continue to posture military strength amid the ongoing Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast, Russia.
ref: 2024 August 16, Kateryna Stepanenko, Christina Harward, Riley Bailey, Angelica Evans, Frederick W. Kagan, “Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 16, 2024”, in Ukraine Project, The Institute for the Study of War:
glosses: to pretend to have an opinion or a conviction
examples: text: to posture oneself; to posture a model
text: As pointed Diamonds being set, Cast greater lustre out of Jet, Those peeces we esteem most rare, Which in night shadows postur'd are.
ref: 1655, James Howell, Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ. Familiar Letters Domestic and Forren. […], 3rd edition, volume (please specify the page), London: […] Humphrey Mos[e]ley, […], →OCLC:
glosses: To place in a particular position or attitude; to pose.
zufolo
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: zufolos
form: zufoli
form: zuffolo
Etymology: Borrowed from Italian zufolo.
Senses: topics: entertainment
lifestyle
music
glosses: A little flute or flageolet, especially that which is used to teach birds.
zuppa
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈzuːpə/
ipa: /ˈtsuːpə/
Forms: form: zuppas
form: zuppe
Etymology: Borrowed from Italian zuppa. Doublet of soup.
Senses: glosses: Any of various Italian soups.
Related terms: zuppa toscana
warfare
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈwɔɹfɛɹ/
ipa: /ˈwɔːfɛə/
Forms: form: warfares
Etymology: From war + fare; perhaps a shortening of Middle English werre-faringe, werfarynge (“waging war, warfare”, literally “going to war”).
Senses: examples: text: The Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Samuel 28:1:
glosses: The waging of war or armed conflict against an enemy.
glosses: Military operations of some particular kind e.g. guerrilla warfare.
Derived terms: antiwarfare
asymmetrical warfare
asymmetric warfare
attrition warfare
biological warfare
chemical warfare
class warfare
conventional warfare
cyberwarfare
electronic warfare
e-warfare
germ warfare
guerrilla warfare
hybrid warfare
information warfare
irregular warfare
lawfare
memetic warfare
nuclear warfare
open warfare
psychological warfare
siege warfare
spiritual warfare
trench warfare
urban warfare
warfarer
Related terms: war
warfare
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈwɔɹfɛɹ/
ipa: /ˈwɔːfɛə/
Forms: form: warfares
form: warfaring
form: warfared
form: warfared
Etymology: From war + fare; perhaps a shortening of Middle English werre-faringe, werfarynge (“waging war, warfare”, literally “going to war”).
Senses: glosses: To lead a military life; to carry on continual wars.
semoleon
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Senses: glosses: Misspelling of simoleon.
ichthyophobia
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Etymology: From ichthyo- + -phobia.
Senses: examples: text: Ichthyophobia, defined as the fear of fish, is especially strong in the Navajo Indians, who will not eat fish nor have anything to do with articles made in the shape of fish.
ref: 1898, Current Literature, volume 23, page 521:
text: Such ichthyophobia occurred at the time of first European contact among the Tasmanian Aborigines.
ref: 1994, Frederick J. Simoons, Eat Not This Flesh: Food Avoidances from Prehistory to the Present, University of Wisconsin Press, published 1994, →ISBN, page 253:
text: 'How dreadful. I could never go under the water. The fish frighten me.'
'My wife has ichthyophobia, you see,' Al-Nassar chimed in. 'The unfortunate condition confines her to swimming pools.'
ref: 2011, Miranda Darling, The Siren's Sting, Allen & Unwin, published 2011, →ISBN:
glosses: The fear of fish.
Related terms: ichthyophobe
ichthyophobic
database publishing
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Senses: topics: computing
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
glosses: the production of catalogues, price lists etc, using data from a database
descanso
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /dɛsˈkɑːnsoʊ/
Forms: form: descansos
Etymology: Borrowed from Spanish descanso (“place of rest, as of a funeral procession”).
Senses: examples: text: The highways of the USA are littered with descansos, silent reminders of automobile accidents.
glosses: A cross placed at the site of a violent, unexpected death, in memoriam.