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alumnae | Alumnae is the plural of alumna, a female graduate or former student of a school, college, or university. This Latin plural follows the pattern where feminine nouns ending in -a take the -ae ending in the plural. While alumna and alumnae remain in use, particularly at women's colleges and in formal contexts, the gender... |
alumni connections | Alumni connections are relationships between former students of the same educational institution, or the networks that facilitate such relationships. Schools cultivate these networks for fundraising, mentorship, and career placement: {She landed the interview through alumni connections}. The term often implies professi... |
alumni dinner | An alumni dinner is a formal meal gathering graduates of a school, university, or other institution. These events typically combine dining with networking, nostalgia, and fundraising: {The class of '94 reunion included an alumni dinner at the faculty club}. Such dinners often feature speeches, awards, and appeals for d... |
alumni fund | An alumni fund is a pool of money raised from graduates of an educational institution, typically used to support scholarships, campus improvements, or academic programs. Universities and colleges solicit contributions through annual giving campaigns: {The development office called about the alumni fund again}. Also cal... |
alumni office | The alumni office is the administrative department at a school, college, or university that maintains relationships with former students. It organizes reunions, publishes newsletters, solicits donations, and keeps contact information current: {I called the alumni office to update my address}. Also called the alumni ass... |
alumni reunion | An alumni reunion is a gathering of former students or members of an institution, typically organized by a school, university, or organization to reconnect people who shared that experience. These events often coincide with milestone anniversaries: {She's flying back for her twenty-year alumni reunion}. The singular wo... |
alumni reunions | Alumni reunions are organized gatherings where former students of a school, college, or university return to reconnect with classmates and revisit their alma mater. These events typically occur at regular intervals—five, ten, or twenty-five years after graduation—and often coincide with homecoming weekends or anniversa... |
Alvin | Alvin is a masculine given name, from an Old English name meaning "elf friend" or "noble friend." The name gained pop-culture currency through Alvin and the Chipmunks, a cartoon franchise featuring a mischievous chipmunk named Alvin: {Alvin, Simon, Theodore}. |
Alzheimer | Alzheimer is short for Alzheimer's disease, a progressive brain disorder causing memory loss, cognitive decline, and eventually inability to perform basic tasks. It is the most common cause of dementia in older adults. The possessive form Alzheimer's predominates: {Her grandmother has Alzheimer's}. Named for the German... |
Alzheimers | Alzheimer's is a progressive brain disease that causes memory loss, confusion, and eventually the inability to perform basic functions. It is the most common cause of dementia, typically affecting people over 65, though early-onset forms exist. The disease is named after German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first desc... |
am I right | Am I right is a tag question seeking agreement or confirmation, typically added after stating an opinion or observation. Unlike a genuine question, it usually expects affirmation rather than debate: {This weather is miserable, am I right?} The phrase often appears in comedy and casual conversation as a rhetorical devic... |
amalgams | Amalgams are mixtures or combinations of different elements. In chemistry, an amalgam specifically contains mercury alloyed with another metal—dental fillings were traditionally mercury-silver amalgams. More broadly, amalgam describes any blend of diverse components: {The film is an amalgam of horror and comedy}. {Amer... |
amaro | Amaro is an Italian herbal liqueur, typically bitter and drunk as a digestif after meals. The name comes from the Italian word for bitter. Amari (the plural) vary widely in flavor—some taste of citrus peel and gentian, others of artichoke or alpine herbs. {We finished dinner with a round of amaro.} |
amateur detective | An amateur detective is someone who investigates crimes or mysteries without being a professional investigator or law enforcement officer. The figure is a staple of mystery fiction—Miss Marple, Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew—where an observant civilian outperforms the police through superior deduction. In real life, the t... |
Amazing Grace | Amazing Grace is a Christian hymn written by English clergyman John Newton in 1772, widely considered among the most beloved and recognizable songs in the English-speaking world. The lyrics reflect themes of redemption and divine mercy, with Newton drawing on his own conversion after years as a slave trader. The hymn a... |
Amazing Race | Amazing Race is a long-running reality television competition where teams race around the world, completing challenges at various destinations to avoid elimination. The format has spawned international versions. By extension, any frantic multi-stop journey or hectic competition: {Getting the kids to three different act... |
Amazonians | Amazonians are people from the Amazon region of South America, or inhabitants of Amazonia—the vast rainforest basin spanning Brazil and neighboring countries. The term also refers to employees of the company Amazon, used both internally and in business coverage: {Amazonians are known for the company's demanding work cu... |
Amazons | Amazons are the legendary female warriors of Greek mythology who lived apart from men and excelled in combat. The name extends to the Amazon River and rainforest, named by Spanish explorers who claimed to encounter female warriors there. In contemporary usage, Amazons often refers to products or services from the retai... |
amber alert | An Amber Alert is an emergency broadcast system that disseminates information about abducted children to the public. Named after Amber Hagerman, a nine-year-old murder victim, the alerts appear on highway signs, television, radio, and phones: {My phone buzzed with an Amber Alert about a missing toddler}. The system ope... |
ambidextrously | Ambidextrously describes doing something with equal skill using either hand. Someone who writes ambidextrously can produce legible script whether holding the pen in their left or right hand. The word extends beyond manual tasks to suggest versatility or adaptability more broadly: {She navigated the political landscape ... |
ambiguity | Ambiguity is the quality of being open to more than one interpretation. A sentence with ambiguity can be read different ways: {The sign said "Free Pizza for Students with ID" but the ambiguity left us wondering if the pizza or the students needed identification}. Ambiguity may be unintentional confusion or deliberate e... |
ambiguously | In a way that allows for more than one interpretation or meaning. Something stated ambiguously leaves room for confusion about what was intended: {The contract was ambiguously worded, leading to disputes}. The term can also describe behavior that sends mixed signals: {She smiled ambiguously, and I couldn't tell if she ... |
ambulance chaser | Ambulance chaser is a derogatory term for a lawyer who aggressively solicits clients, especially accident victims, to profit from personal injury lawsuits. The image is of an attorney literally chasing ambulances to reach injured people before competitors do. By extension, anyone who exploits others' misfortune for per... |
ambulance dispatch | Ambulance dispatch is the process of coordinating emergency medical services—receiving calls, assessing urgency, and sending ambulances to scenes. A dispatch center handles these operations: {Ambulance dispatch confirmed a unit was en route}. The term also refers to the center itself or the personnel who work there. |
ambulance service | An ambulance service is an organization that provides emergency medical transportation and care. It dispatches ambulances staffed by paramedics or emergency medical technicians to respond to accidents, medical emergencies, and urgent health crises: {The ambulance service arrived within eight minutes of the call}. Many ... |
ambush tactics | Ambush tactics are methods of surprise attack from a concealed position. The term applies primarily to military and guerrilla warfare, where forces hide along routes to attack enemies who don't expect engagement: {The insurgents relied on ambush tactics against supply convoys}. The concept extends to competitive contex... |
ambusher | An ambusher is someone who attacks from a concealed position, waiting hidden until a target passes by before striking. The term applies literally to military tactics and wildlife hunting, where predators like leopards and crocodiles are natural ambushers. It extends to competitive contexts like video games and sports, ... |
ambushing | Ambushing is attacking from a concealed position. Soldiers ambush enemy convoys; predators ambush prey. The word extends to any surprise confrontation: {Reporters were ambushing celebrities outside the courthouse}. In sports, ambushing means catching an opponent off guard with an unexpected play or sudden aggression. |
American architecture | American architecture encompasses building styles developed in or associated with the United States, from colonial adaptations of European forms through distinctly American innovations like the Prairie School, Art Deco skyscrapers, and mid-century modernism. The term covers both historical movements and contemporary pr... |
American civil rights movement | The American civil rights movement was the struggle for racial equality in the United States, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s. Led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and organizations like the NAACP, it fought against segregation, disenfranchisement, and discrimination through protests, litigation, and civi... |
American classics | American classics are works of literature, film, music, or other cultural production considered foundational to American identity and artistic achievement. The category typically includes novels like *The Great Gatsby* and *To Kill a Mockingbird*, films like *Casablanca*, and music from jazz standards to Motown hits. W... |
American dollars | American dollars are the currency of the United States, often called simply dollars or bucks. The phrase distinguishes U.S. currency from other dollars—Canadian, Australian, Singaporean: {The contract specified payment in American dollars}. In international contexts, American dollars serve as the world's primary reserv... |
American independence | American independence refers to the United States' separation from British rule, formally declared on July 4, 1776. The term encompasses both the historical event and the broader concept of national sovereignty that emerged from the Revolutionary War. In contemporary use, it often appears in discussions of patriotism, ... |
American individualism | American individualism is the cultural value placing personal liberty, self-reliance, and individual achievement above collective interests. It encompasses the belief that people should succeed or fail on their own merits with minimal government interference: {American individualism celebrates the self-made man}. The c... |
American patriotism | American patriotism is love of country expressed through loyalty to the United States, its founding ideals, and its symbols—the flag, the anthem, the Constitution. It ranges from quiet civic pride to fervent nationalism. Critics note it can slide into jingoism or be weaponized politically: {Don't question my American p... |
American poetry | Poetry written by Americans or associated with American literary traditions. The term encompasses work from colonial verse through contemporary forms, including distinctly American movements like the Beats and the New York School. {She specialized in American poetry of the Harlem Renaissance.} The category raises quest... |
American Revolutionary War | The American Revolutionary War was the military conflict (1775–1783) in which thirteen British colonies in North America won independence and formed the United States. Colonial militias and the Continental Army, aided by France, defeated British forces. The war followed growing tensions over taxation and self-governanc... |
American traditional | American traditional refers to a style of tattooing characterized by bold black outlines, a limited palette of saturated colors, and iconic imagery—anchors, eagles, roses, pin-up girls, skulls, and sailing ships. The style emerged from early 20th-century tattoo parlors, particularly those serving sailors and servicemen... |
Amerindian | Amerindian refers to the indigenous peoples of the Americas—North, Central, and South America—or their languages and cultures. The term combines American and Indian and is used particularly in anthropological and linguistic contexts: {Amerindian languages}, {Amerindian populations}. It appears more commonly in British ... |
amiability | Amiability is the quality of being friendly, pleasant, and easy to get along with. Someone with amiability puts others at ease and maintains a cheerful disposition in social situations: {Her natural amiability made her popular with coworkers}. The word suggests warmth without intensity—agreeable company rather than dee... |
amiable | Amiable describes a friendly, pleasant, good-natured disposition. An amiable person is easy to like and get along with—warm without being effusive, agreeable without being a pushover. {She had an amiable manner that put everyone at ease}. The word suggests a gentle, consistent temperament rather than momentary cheerful... |
amiably | Amiably means in a friendly, good-natured way: {He amiably agreed to help with the move}. Someone who responds amiably shows warmth and willingness rather than reluctance or hostility. The word suggests pleasant ease in social interaction. |
amir | Amir is an Arabic title meaning commander or prince, used historically for military leaders and rulers in Islamic societies. It appears in various transliterations—emir is more common in English—and survives in titles and proper names across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. {The amir commanded forces alon... |
ammeter | An ammeter is an instrument for measuring electric current, typically calibrated in amperes. It connects in series with a circuit so that current flows through it: {The ammeter showed a steady draw of 2.5 amps}. Ammeters range from simple analog gauges to precision digital devices used in laboratories and industrial se... |
ammonia-free | Ammonia-free describes products, especially hair dyes and cleaning solutions, that contain no ammonia. Traditional hair color uses ammonia to open the hair cuticle and allow dye penetration, but the chemical has a harsh smell and can damage hair. Ammonia-free formulas appeal to those seeking gentler alternatives: {She ... |
amnesiac | An amnesiac is a person suffering from amnesia—the inability to remember past experiences or form new memories. The word also works as an adjective describing anything related to such memory loss: {an amnesiac episode}, {amnesiac symptoms}. Figuratively, it can characterize willful forgetting: {The country seemed amnes... |
AMOLED | AMOLED stands for Active Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode, a display technology used in smartphones, tablets, and televisions. Unlike LCD screens that require backlighting, each pixel in an AMOLED display produces its own light, enabling true blacks, high contrast, and thinner screens. The technology allows for flex... |
amore | Amore is the Italian word for love, borrowed into English primarily through music and popular culture. It appears in romantic contexts, often with theatrical or playful flair: {That's amore!} The word evokes passion, old movies, and Dean Martin crooning about the moon hitting your eye like a big pizza pie. |
amorist | An amorist is a person devoted to love and lovemaking, especially one who writes about romantic or erotic love. The word carries a literary flavor, suggesting someone who pursues or celebrates sensual pleasure: {He fancied himself an amorist in the tradition of Casanova}. Less common than lover or romantic, it implies ... |
amount | Amount is a quantity of something, especially something uncountable: {a small amount of sugar}, {the amount of time we have}. Purists insist amount applies only to mass nouns while number applies to countable things, but {a large amount of people} is common in speech. As a verb, to amount to something is to add up to i... |
amperes | Amperes are units of electric current, measuring the rate at which electric charge flows through a conductor. Named after French physicist André-Marie Ampère, the ampere is one of the seven base units in the International System of Units. Usually shortened to amps in everyday speech: {The circuit breaker is rated for f... |
amphibiousness | Amphibiousness is the quality of being able to operate both on land and in water. The term applies literally to military operations involving coordinated sea and ground forces, or to vehicles designed for dual environments: {The amphibiousness of the landing craft proved essential to the invasion}. It extends to anythi... |
amping | Amping means increasing intensity, energy, or excitement. From amplify, it suggests turning up the volume—literally or figuratively. Someone amping up a crowd is getting them excited; someone amping themselves up is building their own energy before a challenge: {She was amping herself up before the interview}. In drug ... |
ampule | An ampule is a small sealed glass container holding a single dose of medication, designed to be broken open for use. The sealed glass keeps the contents sterile until needed. Also spelled ampoule. {The nurse snapped open an ampule of epinephrine.} |
amputates | Amputates is the third-person singular of amputate—to surgically remove a limb or other body part. Doctors amputate when tissue is too damaged or diseased to save: {The surgeon amputates below the knee to prevent the infection from spreading}. Figuratively, to amputate is to cut away decisively: {The company amputates ... |
Anacin | Anacin is a brand name for an over-the-counter pain reliever combining aspirin and caffeine. It's marketed for headaches, minor aches, and pain relief. The name has become somewhat generic for aspirin-based analgesics: {I need an Anacin for this headache}. |
anaesthesiologists | Anaesthesiologists are physicians who specialize in anaesthesia—the medical suppression of pain and sensation during surgery and other procedures. They assess patients before operations, administer anaesthetic drugs, monitor vital signs throughout procedures, and manage pain recovery. The spelling with ae is British; A... |
analog clocks | Analog clocks display time through the position of hands rotating around a circular face—typically an hour hand, minute hand, and sometimes a second hand. The term distinguishes these mechanical or quartz-driven timepieces from digital clocks, which show numerals directly: {Kids today can barely read analog clocks}. Th... |
analog control | Analog control refers to input mechanisms that register continuous ranges of values rather than simple on/off states. A joystick with analog control detects how far you push it, not just whether you pushed it: {The analog control lets you walk slowly or sprint depending on pressure}. The term appears most often in gami... |
analog meter | An analog meter displays measurements using a physical pointer that moves across a numbered scale, rather than showing digital readouts. Common examples include speedometers in older cars, traditional volt-ohm meters, and the needle gauges on pressure tanks. The pointer's position indicates values continuously along a ... |
analogous | Analogous describes things that are similar or comparable in certain respects, typically in function or relationship rather than origin. Analogous structures in biology serve similar purposes but evolved independently—bird wings and bat wings are analogous. More broadly, anything parallel or corresponding: {The CEO's r... |
analogue clocks | Analogue clocks display time through the physical position of hands rotating around a dial, rather than through digital numerals. The hour hand, minute hand, and often a second hand point to numbers or marks on the clock face. The spelling analog is more common in American English. {Kids today can't read an analogue cl... |
analyzers | Analyzers are devices, instruments, or software that examine something to determine its composition, structure, or characteristics. A blood analyzer processes samples in a medical lab. A spectrum analyzer displays signal frequencies. In computing, code analyzers scan programs for errors or vulnerabilities. The term als... |
anathemas | Anathemas is the plural of anathema, something or someone intensely disliked or condemned. Originally a religious term for formal excommunication or curse, anathema now usually appears in secular contexts: {His ideas were anathema to the committee}. The plural emphasizes multiple condemned things: {The party's anathema... |
anatomical drawing | An anatomical drawing is a detailed illustration of the body's structures—muscles, bones, organs, or systems—typically created for medical, scientific, or artistic reference. Renaissance artists like Leonardo da Vinci produced anatomical drawings to understand human form; today they appear in textbooks, surgical guides... |
anatomizing | Anatomizing is the act of dissecting or cutting apart a body, organ, or tissue to examine its structure—the work that medical students do in anatomy labs. More commonly, anatomizing refers to analyzing something in exhaustive detail, as if taking it apart piece by piece: {The documentary spends two hours anatomizing th... |
ancestral curse | An ancestral curse is a supernatural affliction believed to pass down through family lines, punishing descendants for the sins or transgressions of their forebears. The concept appears in folklore, religion, and fiction—Greek tragedies feature houses cursed for generations, and some believe family misfortunes stem from... |
anchor's aweigh | Anchor's aweigh describes the moment when a ship's anchor has been lifted clear of the seabed and hangs free, ready for departure. The phrase signals that a vessel is no longer moored and can get underway. Often misspelled as "anchor's away," though aweigh is the nautical term meaning raised just clear of the bottom: {... |
anchorman | An anchorman is the principal presenter of a television news broadcast, the person who introduces stories, conducts interviews, and provides continuity between segments. The term derives from the anchor position in relay races—the final, most reliable runner. {Walter Cronkite was the most trusted anchorman of his era.}... |
ancient alphabets | Ancient alphabets are writing systems from early civilizations that used symbols to represent sounds, typically consonants or syllables. The term encompasses scripts like Phoenician, Hebrew, Greek, and runic alphabets that preceded or evolved into modern writing systems. {Scholars study ancient alphabets to decode forg... |
ancient chronicles | Ancient chronicles are historical records from distant eras, typically written accounts documenting events, rulers, and significant occurrences of their time. The phrase emphasizes both age and the narrative form of record-keeping: {According to ancient chronicles, the dynasty lasted three centuries}. Chronicles differ... |
ancient dynasty | An ancient dynasty is a succession of rulers from the same family line that held power in the distant past. The phrase typically refers to ruling houses from civilizations like Egypt, China, or Mesopotamia: {The tomb dates back to an ancient dynasty}. It emphasizes both hereditary succession and historical remoteness. |
ancient folklore | Ancient folklore refers to the traditional stories, beliefs, customs, and practices passed down orally through generations from early or prehistoric cultures. These narratives typically include myths, legends, fairy tales, and folk wisdom that predate written records and often explain natural phenomena, cultural origin... |
ancient Greece | Ancient Greece refers to the Greek-speaking civilization centered on the Aegean Sea, roughly from the 8th century BCE through the Roman conquest in 146 BCE. The term encompasses the city-states, culture, philosophy, art, and political innovations of that era: {Ancient Greece gave us democracy, the Olympics, and Western... |
ancient Greek theater | Ancient Greek theater refers to the dramatic tradition and physical performance spaces of classical Greece, roughly 5th–4th century BCE. The theaters themselves were open-air, semicircular structures built into hillsides, with tiered seating surrounding a circular orchestra and raised stage. The art form encompassed tr... |
ancient Ireland | Ancient Ireland refers to the island of Ireland during prehistoric and early medieval periods, before Norman invasion in the 12th century. The term evokes Celtic culture, Gaelic kingdoms, druids, and monastic Christianity: {ancient Ireland's high kings ruled from Tara}, {The Book of Kells represents ancient Ireland's a... |
ancient landmarks | Ancient landmarks are boundary markers, monuments, or sites of long-standing historical or cultural significance. The phrase appears in biblical and legal contexts referring to property boundaries that must not be moved: {Do not remove the ancient landmarks your fathers have set}. More broadly, it describes any venerab... |
ancient markets | Ancient markets were trading centers in classical and pre-classical civilizations—the agoras of Greece, the forums of Rome, the bazaars of Mesopotamia. The term appears in historical and archaeological contexts: {Excavations revealed the ancient market's layout}. In financial contexts, ancient markets may refer to earl... |
ancient oaks | Ancient oaks are old oak trees, typically centuries old, often carrying symbolic weight as markers of permanence, heritage, or natural grandeur. The phrase appears in literature, property descriptions, and environmental contexts where the trees' age and majesty matter: {The estate was shaded by ancient oaks}. Ancient o... |
ancient observatories | Ancient observatories are structures built by early civilizations to track celestial movements—the sun, moon, stars, and planets. Sites like Stonehenge, Chichen Itza, and the Jantar Mantar aligned with solstices, equinoxes, or specific stellar events. These served practical purposes: marking agricultural seasons, creat... |
ancient Persia | Ancient Persia refers to the Persian Empire that dominated much of the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of North Africa from roughly the 6th century BCE to the 7th century CE. The term evokes the Achaemenid dynasty of Cyrus and Darius, Zoroastrian religion, and legendary wealth: {the splendor of ancient Persia}. Th... |
ancient religions | Ancient religions are the belief systems and spiritual practices of early civilizations—Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Mesopotamian, Celtic, and others now extinct or transformed beyond recognition. The term usually implies polytheism, mythology, and ritual practices that predate the major monotheistic traditions. Scholars st... |
ancient rites | Ancient rites are ceremonial practices passed down from distant times, often religious or cultural in nature. The phrase evokes mystery and solemnity—sacrifices, initiations, seasonal observances: {The tribe still performs ancient rites at the solstice}. It appears frequently in fantasy and horror contexts, suggesting ... |
ancient technology | Ancient technology refers to tools, techniques, or devices from past civilizations that seem surprisingly sophisticated. The phrase often carries wonder at how much earlier peoples accomplished: {The Antikythera mechanism is ancient technology we still don't fully understand}. It also appears in science fiction and fan... |
ancient verses | Ancient verses are old writings in poetic form, typically from classical, biblical, or medieval sources. The phrase suggests texts with historical weight and enduring significance: {The scholar spent decades translating ancient verses from crumbling manuscripts}. It often carries connotations of wisdom, mystery, or sac... |
ancient weapons | Ancient weapons are armaments from historical periods before modern firearms—swords, spears, bows, axes, maces, and similar implements used in combat before gunpowder transformed warfare. The phrase appears in historical studies, fantasy fiction, and martial arts contexts: {He collects ancient weapons from the Bronze A... |
and if | And if introduces a conditional clause that adds emphasis or emotional weight, often in contexts of hypothetical situations or rhetorical questions. It frequently appears in constructions like {and if so} or {and if not}, where it connects to a previous statement while introducing a new condition. The phrase can also s... |
and then | And then is a sequence marker indicating what happens next in time or logic: {We had dinner and then watched a movie}. It can express consequence: {If you don't study, and then you fail, don't blame me}. In storytelling, and then chains events together, sometimes criticized as unsophisticated narration. The phrase also... |
ándale | Ándale is a Spanish exclamation meaning "come on," "let's go," or "hurry up," borrowed into English primarily in the American Southwest and areas with Mexican influence. It expresses encouragement, agreement, or urgency: {Ándale, we're going to be late}. The word gained wider recognition through Speedy Gonzales cartoon... |
Anderson Cooper | Anderson Cooper is an American television journalist and news anchor, best known for hosting CNN's *Anderson Cooper 360°*. His silver hair and calm, direct interviewing style have made him one of the most recognizable figures in broadcast news. He has covered major events from war zones to natural disasters, and is kno... |
andiron | An andiron is one of a pair of metal supports for holding logs in a fireplace. Typically made of iron or brass, andirons have a horizontal bar to cradle the wood and a decorative upright at the front. Also called a firedog: {The brass andirons gleamed in the firelight}. |
Andy Griffith | Andy Griffith was an American actor and singer best known for playing the affable small-town sheriff Andy Taylor on *The Andy Griffith Show* (1960–1968), a sitcom that defined nostalgic Americana and wholesome rural values. He later starred as the folksy defense attorney Ben Matlock in *Matlock* (1986–1995). His career... |
anecdotes | Anecdotes is the plural of anecdote—short, often personal stories told to illustrate a point or entertain. Someone might share anecdotes from their travels, or a speaker might open with an anecdote to warm up the audience. The word carries a hint of informality: {The data is solid, but anecdotes suggest otherwise}. Ane... |
angel | Angel is the Christian term used to denote a spiritual being that is a messenger of God. <i>Guardian angels</i> are conceived as benevolent and interested in the welfare of those they protect or aid. This feature spills over into the figurative uses of angel, to denote a person who is well behaved (<i>an angel child</i... |
angel chorus | An angel chorus is a group of angels singing in harmony, typically imagined in religious or celestial contexts. The phrase often describes sounds of transcendent beauty or overwhelming praise: {When the morphine kicked in, I swear I heard an angel chorus}. It suggests something so perfect or welcome it seems divinely o... |
angel hair | Angel hair is an extremely thin variety of pasta, finer than spaghetti or vermicelli. The name evokes something delicate and ethereal: {Angel hair cooks in just a few minutes}. Also called capellini. Separately, angel hair refers to fine strands of spun glass used as Christmas tree decoration, or the wispy fibers somet... |
Angelique | Angelique is a French feminine given name, an elaboration of Angela meaning "angelic." It carries an air of elegance and continental sophistication: {Angelique was named after her grandmother}. The name appears in literature and opera, most notably in the *Angélique* historical novel series. Spelling variants include A... |
angiosperm | An angiosperm is a flowering plant—one that produces seeds enclosed within a fruit, as opposed to conifers and other gymnosperms whose seeds are exposed. Angiosperms dominate most terrestrial ecosystems and include grasses, hardwood trees, and nearly all food crops. The term is botanical rather than everyday: {Angiospe... |
angle | The most familiar meaning of angle—the space between two lines that meet at one point—is the inspiration for all others. A thing that deviates from 90 degrees is <i>at an </i>angle. Angle has a common figurative meaning as a point of view: <i>He came at it from a completely different </i>angle<i>. </i>Something with ma... |
anglicizes | Anglicizes means makes English or more English in form, character, or style. Names get anglicized when adapted to English spelling or pronunciation: {Giuseppe becomes Joseph when anglicized}. Immigrant families often anglicize their surnames. The term also applies to adopting English customs or expressions: {The menu a... |
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