nandhakumarms/qualc-wiktionary-en huggingface dataset:
Word: chatter Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Middle English cheteren, chiteren (Imitative)der. Middle English chateren English chatter From Middle English chateren, from earlier cheteren, chiteren (“to twitter, chatter, jabber”), of imitative origin. Compare Saterland Frisian tjoaterje (“to chatter”), West Frisian tsjotterje (“to chatter”), Dutch schateren, schetteren (“chatter”), Dutch koeteren (“jabber”), Middle Low German kidderen (“to chatter”), German Low German queteln (“to chatter”), dialectal German kaudern (“to gobble (like a turkey)”), Danish kvidre (“to twitter, chirp”). Pronunciation: /ˈtʃætə/, /ˈt͡ʃætɚ/ 1. Talk, especially meaningless or unimportant talk. Labels: uncountable, usually Example: Although hardly coming under my theme, I cannot omit this: "Against a woman's chatter: Taste at night fasting a root of radish, that day the chatter cannot harm thee." 2. The sound of talking. Labels: uncountable, usually 3. The vocalisations of a Eurasian magpie, Pica pica. Labels: uncountable, usually 4. The vocalisations of various birds or other animals. Labels: uncountable, usually Example: The hare cried and complained of the terrible February cold and the disgusting chatter of the owls[.] Example: At dawn and at sunset the howler monkeys screamed together and the parakeets broke into shrill chatter, but during the hot hours of the day only the full drone of insects, like the beat of a distant surf, filled the ear, while nothing moved amid the solemn vistas of stupendous trunks, fading away into the darkness which held us in. 5. An intermittent noise, as from vibration. Labels: uncountable, usually Example: Proper brake adjustment will help to reduce the chatter. 6. In national security, the degree of communication between suspect groups and individuals, used to gauge the degree of expected terrorist activity. Labels: uncountable, usually Example: The NSA is concerned about increased chatter between known terror groups. 7. The situation where a drill or similar tool vibrates and tears the material rather than cutting it cleanly. Labels: uncountable, usually
Word: chatter Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Etymology tree Middle English cheteren, chiteren (Imitative)der. Middle English chateren English chatter From Middle English chateren, from earlier cheteren, chiteren (“to twitter, chatter, jabber”), of imitative origin. Compare Saterland Frisian tjoaterje (“to chatter”), West Frisian tsjotterje (“to chatter”), Dutch schateren, schetteren (“chatter”), Dutch koeteren (“jabber”), Middle Low German kidderen (“to chatter”), German Low German queteln (“to chatter”), dialectal German kaudern (“to gobble (like a turkey)”), Danish kvidre (“to twitter, chirp”). Pronunciation: /ˈtʃætə/, /ˈt͡ʃætɚ/ 1. To talk idly. Labels: intransitive Example: They knitted and chattered the whole time. Example: That teacheth trickes eleuen and twentie long, / To tame a ſhrew, and charme her chattering tongue. 2. To make a noise by rapid collisions. Labels: intransitive, usually Example: He was so cold that his teeth were chattering. Example: The software in modern machine tools can often predict and prevent movements that would cause the cutting tool to chatter. 3. To utter sounds which somewhat resemble language, but are inarticulate and indistinct. Example: The jay makes answer, as the magpie chatters with delight. Example: Is your cat intently staring out the window at a bird on a branch and “chattering” in a kind of shaky, high-pitched, breathy way? If so, she is expressing excitement at what she's observing (or maybe the desire to attack what she sees as prey).
Word: chatter Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree English chat Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English chatter From chat + -er. Pronunciation: /ˈtʃætə/, /ˈt͡ʃætɚ/ 1. One who chats. 2. A user of livestream chat. Labels: Internet 3. A user of chat rooms. Labels: Internet Example: During the chat sessions, two outreach team members would engage in a conversation about the topic chosen for that event in the main chat room and entice other chatters to join in.
Word: tweag Part of Speech: noun 1. Alternative form of tweague. Labels: alt-of, alternative
Word: tweag Part of Speech: verb 1. Alternative form of tweak. Labels: alt-of, alternative, obsolete Example: Every varlet, seed and breed of them, set upon poor unhappy Bill, tweaging and pinching, and pulling at him; scolding and coaxing, and slobbering all of a breath.
Word: FOUP Part of Speech: noun Pronunciation: /fuːp/ 1. Initialism of Front Opening Unified Pod. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Word: aprosdoketon Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Ancient Greek ἀπροσδόκητος (aprosdókētos, “unexpected”). Pronunciation: /ˌæp.ɹəsˈdɑ.kɪˌtɑn/, /əˌpɹɑs.dəˈkiˌtɑn/ 1. A figure of speech where an expected word in an idiom is replaced unexpectedly by an unusual one, as in Rome wasn't built in a teacup. Example: Is the poet saying "I do not chance on even a slight respect from you" or "I chance on a good amount of respect from you," a meaning which effectively postpones the aprosdoketon to the final line[?] 2. Any surprising use or interpretation of language. Labels: broadly Example: In later restagings of the Thesmophoriazusae, as in the 1959 Frogs, Euripides made his appearance driving a motorcycle. This scenic aprosdoketon was, of course, an ingenious verbal and visual pun on the word mechane and its different meanings in ancient and modern Greek: "stage crane" and "motorbike," respectively.
Word: back, crack and sack Part of Speech: noun 1. A beauty treatment for men in which hair is removed from the back, from between the buttocks (crack) and from the scrotum (sack). Labels: slang, vulgar
Word: dead heat Part of Speech: noun 1. a close race or contest in which no winner is apparent Labels: idiomatic Example: Polls indicated a dead heat for the office of dog catcher. Example: Just as Hank had predicted, we had reached the work site in a dead heat with gray dawn.
Word: dead weight Part of Speech: noun 1. Unremitting heavy weight that does not move. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: His dead weight, as he abruptly collapses, pulls his lapels from her hands, reminding her to step back, off-balancing whoever is behind her, […] 2. The largest weight of cargo a ship is able to carry; i.e., the weight of a ship when fully loaded minus its weight when empty. Labels: countable, uncountable 3. A dead load. Labels: countable, uncountable 4. That which is useless or excess; that which slows something down. Labels: countable, figuratively, uncountable Example: She wants to shed the dead weight of so many stacks of old clutter. Example: It was Ethel Churchill, dressed as a bride, and on her wedding morning, that Norbourne had seen. She had sought the summer-house for a few moments of quiet and solitude. There was a dead weight on her spirits, which she rather sought to indulge than to shake off. 5. The total (unpowered) weight of a train to be propelled (or hauled) by the locomotive; another locomotive being hauled dead as part of the train is a dead weight. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Having dropped the coach, the trio returned with the Class 47 leading and the other two locomotives as dead weight.
Word: dead weight Part of Speech: adv 1. With just enough weight for a ball to drop into a pocket, or come to rest in a precisely determined position. Example: He rolled the red in dead weight, and now he's nicely on the blue. Example: I had no escape other than trying to roll off a side cushion, just ahead of the middle pocket, and lay on a red, dead weight, about a foot from the pocket in open play.
Word: direct flight Part of Speech: noun 1. A flight in which the passenger makes intermediate stops but does not change aircraft. 2. A flight where the bird's altitude does not change significantly with each wingbeat.
Word: leadfoot Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From lead (“a heavy metal”) + foot. Pronunciation: /ˈlɛd.fʊt/ 1. One who drives quickly or without subtlety, one who often engages in and/or is fond of slamming and flooring the accelerator often. Example: The leadfoot screeched to a stop inches from the tree. 2. A driver who does not compensate the throttle position of the vehicle for road conditions or terrain, invariably slowing down while going uphill and speeding up while going downhill. Example: Out of the way, leadfoot!
Word: BMJ Part of Speech: name Etymology: Initialism of its former name British Medical Journal. 1. The BMJ, a weekly peer-reviewed medical journal.
Word: JFK Part of Speech: name 1. Initialism of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 35th US president (served 1961–1963). Labels: US, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism Example: Or the company may not want the internet to be filled with Ghiblified photos of the 9/11 terror attacks, or Jeffrey Epstein hanging out with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, or the JFK assassination — all of which have gone viral on X. 2. Buildings, facilities, ships, bridges, highways, and other public works informally known as the JFK or JFK, especially Example: I flew into JFK, then took a cab to my hotel in Manhattan Example: Fortunately, most of these were former French colonies, and through a combination of quiet diplomacy and well-placed French nationals in the various air-traffic-control centers, the 300-mile-long stream of American aircraft flew the width of Africa as uneventfully as a red-eye flight from LAX to JFK. 3. Buildings, facilities, ships, bridges, highways, and other public works informally known as the JFK or JFK, especially 4. Buildings, facilities, ships, bridges, highways, and other public works informally known as the JFK or JFK, especially Example: Traffic on the JFK was delayed by construction of the new bridge. 5. Buildings, facilities, ships, bridges, highways, and other public works informally known as the JFK or JFK, especially 6. Buildings, facilities, ships, bridges, highways, and other public works informally known as the JFK or JFK, especially 7. Buildings, facilities, ships, bridges, highways, and other public works informally known as the JFK or JFK, especially Example: Steubenville beat JFK, scoring in the final minute of play.
Word: JFK Part of Speech: noun 1. A half-dollar coin in honor of president John F. Kennedy.
Word: JFK Part of Speech: verb 1. To put to death; to assassinate, especially for political reasons. Labels: slang, transitive Example: I am not saying choosing McCain would necesarrily^([sic]) lead to Kerry getting JFKed but Democratic presidential runners need to be aware of the problem. Example: The way he is decimating the CIA will more likely get him JFKed. 2. To conduct research about the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Labels: slang Example: This may seem a little presumptious, but I feel that this group is pretty much JFKed out. Example: I'm going to give 'nobody' the benifit^([sic]) of the doubt , seeing by his own admission that he's been JFKing it for just a couple of months now . 3. To hold similar political beliefs or behave in a similar manner to John F. Kennedy. Labels: derogatory, slang Example: (from the standard code-word remark "I'm a JFK liberal") Examples: "He's useless...he JFKed a long time ago", Example: JFKing is symbiotically related to the "Even Some Liberals Agree" gambit, since JFKers quickly establish their roles as the reliable house liberals who provide neocons with all their even-some-liberals-agree examples.
Word: RTA Part of Speech: noun 1. Initialism of radio and television arts. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable 2. Initialism of road traffic accident. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable Example: There had been several RTAs that night, but the gore did not bother her, she wasn’t one to panic at the sight of a jutting bone or dislodged eye. 3. Initialism of real-time attack. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable 4. Initialism of renal tubular acidosis. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable 5. Initialism of real-time adjudication. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
Word: RTA Part of Speech: name 1. Initialism of Roads & Traffic Authority. Labels: Australia, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism 2. Initialism of Regional Transit Authority. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism 3. Initialism of Radio Television Afghanistan. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Word: RTA Part of Speech: adj 1. Initialism of restricted to adults. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, not-comparable
Word: icker Part of Speech: noun 1. A head of grain.
Word: histolysis Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- Ancient Greek ῐ̔στός (hĭstós)bor. English histo- Ancient Greek λῠ́σῐς (lŭ́sĭs)der. English -lysis English histolysis From histo- + -lysis. 1. breakdown of bodily tissues Labels: countable, uncountable
Word: Louise Part of Speech: name Etymology: From French Louise, the feminine form of Louis. Pronunciation: /luːˈiːz/, /ləˈwiːz/ 1. A female given name from French. Example: Louise, thy stately name sounds in my ear / Like a sea wave, that gathering, hill on hill, / Upon the blue horizon, smooth and still, / Sweeps to the shore Example: That's what I baptized her. Mary Louise. Everybody else called her just plain Mary, but that wasn't the way I intended it. I intended it Mary Louise. That's a pretty name, isn't it? Mary Louise. Mary is too...plain? 2. A municipality of Manitoba, Canada.
Word: histone Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Borrowed from German Histon, perhaps from Ancient Greek ἵστημι (hístēmi, “make stand”) or ἱστός (histós, “loom”). Pronunciation: /ˈhɪstəʊn/, /ˈhɪstoʊn/ 1. Any of various simple water-soluble proteins that are rich in the basic amino acids lysine and arginine and are complexed with DNA in the nucleosomes of eukaryotic chromatin.
Word: garage sale Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From garage + sale. 1. A sale of used household goods in the driveway or garage of someone's home.
Word: histaminase Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree English histamine Ancient Greek δῐῐ̈́στημῐ (dĭĭ̈́stēmĭ) Ancient Greek δῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs) English diastase English -ase English histaminase From histamine + -ase. 1. A widely occurring flavoprotein enzyme that oxidizes histamine and various diamines. Example: We suggest, however, that the substance, or system, which produces a change in structure responsible for the loss of physiological activity of histamine be designated histaminase.
Word: histamine Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- Ancient Greek ῐ̔στός (hĭstós)bor. English histo- English -idine English hist(idine) Egyptian jmnbor. Ancient Greek Ᾰ̓́μμων (Ắmmōn)bor. Latin Ammōn Latin ammoniacusder. English ammonia Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos Proto-Italic *-īnos Latin -īnusder. Old French -inbor. Middle English -in English -ine English amine English -amine English histamine From hist(idine) + -amine. Pronunciation: /ˈhɪstəmiːn/ 1. An amine, C₅H₉N₃, formed by decarboxylation of histidine, that causes dilatation of capillaries, contraction of smooth muscle, and stimulation of gastric acid secretion; it is released during allergic reactions. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Mellanby and Twort have isolated from the fæces a bacillus which is able to produce from one of the amino acids normally formed in digestion of proteins a highly active body, histamine. Example: The intake of food triggers a release of histamine, which activates the acid-secreting cells.
Word: histidine Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- Ancient Greek ῐ̔στός (hĭstós)bor. English histo- English -idine English histidine From histo- + -idine. Pronunciation: /ˈhɪstɪdiːn/ 1. An essential amino acid C₆H₉N₃O₂ found in most animal proteins; essential for tissue growth and repair.
Word: hydrolysis Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *wed- Proto-Indo-European *-r̥ Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥ Proto-Hellenic *údōr Ancient Greek ῡ̆̔́δωρ (hū̆́dōr) Ancient Greek ῠ̔δρο- (hŭdro-)der. English hydro- Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁-der. Ancient Greek λύω (lúō) Proto-Indo-European *-tis Ancient Greek -τις (-tis) Ancient Greek -σις (-sis) Ancient Greek λῠ́σῐς (lŭ́sĭs)der. English -lysis English hydrolysis From hydro- + -lysis. Pronunciation: /haɪˈdɹɒlɪsɪs/, /haɪˈdɹɑləsəs/ 1. A chemical process of decomposition involving the splitting of a bond and the addition of the hydrogen cation and the hydroxide anion of water. Labels: countable, uncountable
Word: cation Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek κᾰτῐόν (kătĭón), neuter present participle of κᾰ́τειμῐ (kắteimĭ, “to go down, come down”), from κᾰτᾰ- (kătă-, “downwards, down, cata-”) + εἶμῐ (eîmĭ, “to go, come”). Coined by English polymath William Whewell in 1834 for Michael Faraday, who introduced it later that year. By surface analysis, cat(a)- + ion. Pronunciation: /ˈkætˌaɪ.ən/, /ˈkætˌaɪ.ɑn/ 1. A positively charged ion: one that would be attracted to the cathode in electrolysis. Labels: physical
Word: cathode Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Ancient Greek κατα- (kata-, “down”) and ὁδός (hodós, “journey, way”), equivalent to Ancient Greek κάθοδος (káthodos, “way down, descent”). Coined by English polymath William Whewell in 1834 for Michael Faraday, who introduced it later that year. By surface analysis, cath- (alternative form of cata-) + -ode. Pronunciation: /ˈkæθ.oʊd/, /kæt̪ʰoɖ/ 1. An electrode, of a cell or other electrically polarized device, through which a positive current of electricity flows outwards (and thus, electrons flow inwards). It can have either a negative or a positive voltage with respect to anode of the same polarized device (depending on whether the device is a load or a source, respectively). 2. The electrode at which chemical reduction of cations takes place, usually resulting in the deposition of metal onto the electrode. Labels: broadly 3. The electrode from which electrons are emitted into a vacuum tube or gas-filled tube. 4. That electrode of a semiconductor device which is connected to the n-type material of a p-n junction.
Word: hatch, match and despatch Part of Speech: noun 1. Alternative form of hatch, match, and dispatch. Labels: alt-of, alternative, uncountable
Word: fall through the cracks Part of Speech: verb 1. To be missed; to escape the necessary notice or attention. Labels: idiomatic Example: Although more than two decades have passed, not a day goes by that I don't wonder how things could and should be different for the many children like Lydia who fall through the cracks because they are misdiagnosed, mistreated, or simply misunderstood.
Word: IHS Part of Speech: name 1. Initialism of Institute for Humane Studies. Labels: US, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism 2. Initialism of Institute for Humanist Studies. Labels: US, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism 3. Initialism of Indian Health Service, a US health agency. Labels: US, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism 4. Transliterated form of monogram ΙΗϹ or ΙΗΣ from ΙΗϹΟYϹ (IĒSOYS), the Greek form of Jesus. Labels: form-of, transliteration
Word: crack up Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Compare Japanese 笑う (warau, “laugh, smile”), suffixed from Japanese 割る (waru, “crack”). Pronunciation: /ˈkɹæk ˈʌp/ 1. To laugh. Labels: idiomatic, intransitive Example: It was hilarious. We were cracking up the whole time. 2. To laugh. Labels: idiomatic, transitive Example: The joke about the nuns in the bath cracked me up. Example: The joy of “Ticket to Paradise” comes not from its predictable plotting or razor-thin screenplay; it’s from watching them together, from observing how the sparks still fly, and (when the former flames get drunk and let their guards down, or during the end-credit outtakes) watching them crack each other up. 3. To laugh. Labels: intransitive, slang Example: He's always cracking up at me about that. 4. To break. Labels: dated, idiomatic, intransitive Example: She got through the war, but cracked up when her sister died. Example: All rather inhuman and undernourished, isn’t it? Well, that, children, is the true sign of cracking up. 5. To break. Labels: idiomatic Example: The university was really cracking up, losing faculty, students and donors, and it seemed like to go under. Example: My motorcycle cracked up before I arrived. 6. To break. Labels: idiomatic, transitive Example: I have to crack up that little clique. 7. To break. Labels: US Example: From all directions they came to the rescue, one predominant fear gripping their hearts: Fire! Someone had cracked-up. It was for this they sped. The flames that so frequently burst from a crashed airplane became an instantaneous cauldron; many a pilot has lived through the crash to die in the fire that followed. Example: When I reported this to Burwell by telephone, he called me a Chinese ace — in those days Chinese aces were pilots who cracked up their own airplanes […] 8. To break. Labels: transitive Example: We can send you a hundred pounds a month of pecans to crack up. 9. To break. Labels: transitive Example: The refinery cracks up the heavier oils. 10. To affect the image of something. Labels: slang, transitive Example: She wasn't as impressive as Katie cracked her up. 11. To affect the image of something. Labels: dated, transitive Example: Those who have been cracking up the agricultural industry will hopefully reconsider their denigration of it. 12. To affect the image of something. Labels: informal, transitive Example: This new computer system is not what it was cracked up to be. Example: No use, with a bloke like this, cracking up your own merits. Stick to the truth. 13. To smoke crack cocaine. Labels: intransitive, slang Example: I need to crack up.
Word: crack up Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Compare Japanese 笑う (warau, “laugh, smile”), suffixed from Japanese 割る (waru, “crack”). Pronunciation: /ˈkɹæk ˈʌp/ 1. Funny; hilarious Labels: New-Zealand, colloquial Example: That joke was crack up. Example: "It was crack up!"
Word: all it's cracked up to be Part of Speech: noun 1. As good as claims or reputation would suggest. Labels: idiomatic, negative, usually Example: This expensive software is not all it's cracked up to be. It still has a lot of problems. Example: Association executives visit one of the world's most glamorous cities and find that it's all it's cracked up to be.
Word: writing on the wall Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From the Biblical story in Daniel 5, where, during a feast held by King Belshazzar, a hand suddenly appears and writes on a wall the following Aramaic words: מְנֵא מְנֵא תְּקֵל וּפַרְסִין (mənē mənē təqēl ūp̄arsīn, “numbered, numbered, weighed, and they are divided”) (Daniel 5:25). Daniel interprets the words as pointing to the downfall of the Babylonian Empire. Pronunciation: /ˈɹaɪtɪŋ ɒn ðə ˈwɔːl/, /ˈɹaɪtɪŋ ɑn ðə ˈwɔl/, [ˈɹaɪ̯ɾɪŋ] 1. An ominous warning; a prediction of bad luck. Labels: countable, idiomatic, uncountable Example: He could see the writing on the wall months before the business failed. Example: However, regardless of evil portents, prophetic despair and a great deal too much writing on the wall, I have managed so far to write two fairly cheerful musical comedies.
Word: urgent Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Borrowed from Middle French urgent (“pressing, impelling”), from Latin urgēns, from urgēre (“to press”), from Proto-Indo-European *werǵʰ- (“bind, squeeze”). Equivalent to urge + -ent. Related to German würgen (“to strangle”), Lithuanian ver̃žti (“to string, tighten, constrict”), Russian (poetic) отверза́ть (otverzátʹ, “to open”, literally “to untie”), Polish otwierać (“to open”)) and English worry, wring, wreak, wreck. Pronunciation: /ˈɜː.d͡ʒənt/, /ˈɝ.d͡ʒənt/ 1. Requiring immediate attention. Example: An urgent appeal was sent out for assistance. 2. Of people: insistent, solicitous. Example: The Egyptians were vrgent vpon the people that they might send them out of the land in haste. Example: My kind friends here are most affectionately urgent with me to prolong my stay […].
Word: toy-boy Part of Speech: noun 1. Alternative form of toyboy. Labels: alt-of, alternative
Word: MRSA Part of Speech: noun 1. Initialism of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; a bacterium responsible for serious infections. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, uncountable, usually
Word: air rifle Part of Speech: noun 1. A rifle that propels a pellet or other projectile by using compressed gas, rather than an explosion of gunpowder or other means.
Word: borstal Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Inherited from Middle English *borstile, *borghstile, from Old English beorh (“a hill”) + stigel (“a stile”). The institutions are named after Borstal Prison in Borstal, Rochester, Kent, England. 1. A way up a hill in the South Downs. Labels: UK 2. Any of the prisons set up in Britain for delinquent boys from 1895 to 1983. Labels: historical 3. Any institution which provides education to young offenders. Labels: Ireland, UK Example: You have juvenile courts. Do you have borstal institutions for juveniles? Example: Seven years ago, I was sent to borstal. Slithering around in the societal sludge, I was forced to admit I'd made a huge mistake – committing robbery.
Word: chaps Part of Speech: noun Etymology: See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form. Pronunciation: /t͡ʃæps/ 1. plural of chap Labels: form-of, plural
Word: chaps Part of Speech: verb Etymology: See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form. Pronunciation: /t͡ʃæps/ 1. third-person singular simple present indicative of chap Labels: form-of, indicative, present, singular, third-person
Word: chaps Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Short for American Spanish chaparreras or chaparejos. Related to chaparejos and chaparral. Pronunciation: /t͡ʃæps/, /ʃæps/ 1. Protective leather leggings attached at the waist. Labels: plural, plural-only Example: If you are going to use that chainsaw, why don't you put on a pair of chaps? Example: Chaps were a costume staple of Westerns. 2. The shaggy hair on male aoudads (barbary sheep) that extends from the throat and chest sometimes covering each leg. Labels: plural, plural-only Example: Mundy also points out mass of horn, scarred faces, long chaps (unless in brushy country and the thick vegetation might pull out chap hair), and scars on the sides of the ram from his long horns rubbing away the hair as good signs that you've found a respectable shooter amongst the many.
Word: ICBM Part of Speech: noun 1. Initialism of intercontinental ballistic missile. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism Example: Just sing out a Te Deum / When you see that ICBM / And the party will be come-as-you-are Example: Iraq could test a North Korean-type ICBM that could deliver a several-hundred-kilogram payload to the United States in the last half of the next decade [the decade beginning with calendar year 2000] depending on the level of foreign assistance.
Word: lager lout Part of Speech: noun 1. A person (especially a young male) who behaves in a violent manner when drunk. Labels: UK
Word: Saga lout Part of Speech: noun Etymology: A parody of lager lout. Saga is a company that specialises in holidays for older people. 1. An older unruly tourist on holiday in the Mediterranean area. Labels: UK, slang
Word: Barmy Army Part of Speech: name Etymology: An English football chant (originally adapted by the song "Exploited Barmy Army" by Scottish punk band The Exploited), in which supporters of a team would chant that they were the team manager's "barmy army", was applied to a particularly group of supporters who followed the English cricket team to Australia in 1994–95 despite the team being seen as having little prospect of success. The original use of "Barmy Army" in football was based on a soubriquet by Leeds United supporters for Howard Wilkinson, the team manager during the late eighties and early nineties. He was known as Sergeant Wilko - a skit on Sergeant Bilko, a well known comedy character portrayed by Phil Silvers a couple of decades earlier, but still at the time on TV. Sergeant Bilko's army became Sergeant Wilko's army, the barmy bit was added because it's Yorkshire and it makes a good chant. It was picked up by other teams, whereupon the Sergeant Wilko bit was dropped. Then by cricket people. The tune is the same though. 1. An organised group of cricket fans which arranges touring parties of its members to follow the English cricket team on all of its overseas tours. 2. The England supporters in other sports, for example those of the England national football team. Labels: broadly Example: The Barmy Army burst into life, and the sheer numbers of those supporting the Three Lions became evident as the stadium bowl vibrated in tune with their chants.
Word: organise Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle French organiser. By surface analysis, organ + -ise. 1. Non-Oxford British standard spelling of organize. Example: The Lancashire Tradesmen's Association organises craftsmen, semi-skilled and unskilled workmen on the surface other than the manipulators of coal, enginemen, boilermen and locomen; it also organises skilled craftsmen underground, although some craftsmen are organised by the Lancashire Area, which seeks to organise all underground workers including craftsmen. Example: To celebrate the centenary next month of the opening of the first section (Forest Gate to Tilbury) of the former London, Tilbury & Southend Railway, the Stephenson Locomotive Society is organising a special rail tour over that route and other lesser-known L.T.S.R. lines.
Word: Dear John letter Part of Speech: noun Etymology: While the exact origins of the phrase are unknown, it is commonly believed to have been invented by Americans during World War II. Large numbers of American troops were stationed overseas for many months or years, and as time passed many of their wives or girlfriends decided to begin a relationship with a new man rather than wait for their former one to return. As letters to servicemen from wives or girlfriends back home would typically contain affectionate language, a serviceman receiving a note beginning with a curt "Dear John" (as opposed to the expected "Dear Johnny", "My dearest John" or simply "Darling" for example) would instantly be aware of the letter's purpose. There are a number of theories on why the name John is used rather than any other. For starters, John was a common name in America at the time. John is also the name used in many other terms that refer to an anonymous man or men, such as John Doe or John Q. Public. Further, there existed prior to World War II a radio program starring Irene Rich which was presented as a letter written by a gossipy female character to her never-identified romantic interest. It was both titled and opened with the words "Dear John", and may have contributed to the genesis of the term. 1. A letter from a wife or girlfriend to her husband or boyfriend, informing that the relationship is over, often because the writer has initiated a relationship with someone else. Example: Thirty years later in Vietnam, he was still carrying the Dear John letter he had received from his high-school sweetheart. Example: Dear John / Dear John / By the time you read these lines, I'll be gone / Life goes on / right or wrong / Now it's all been said and done, dear John / Seems we've sung love's last song, dear John / Seems we've sung love's last song, poor John / Seems we've sung love's last song, dear John
Word: sentry Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From earlier sentrie, sentery, of uncertain origin. Perhaps an alteration of sentinel or sanctuary; or perhaps from Old French senteret (“a path”), diminutive of sentier, from Medieval Latin semitarius (“a path”). Pronunciation: /ˈsɛn.tɹi/, [ˈsɛn.tɹ̝̊ɪi̯] ~ [ˈsɛn.t̠ɹ̠̊˔ɪi̯], /ˈsɪn.tɹi/, [ˈsɪ̟n.tɹ̝̊ɪi̯] ~ [ˈsɪ̟n.t̠ɹ̠̊˔ɪi̯] 1. A guard, particularly on duty at the entrance to a military base. Example: Additional sentries are keeping watch for any signs of an ambush. 2. Sentry duty; time spent being a sentry. Labels: uncountable 3. A form of drag to be towed underwater, which on striking bottom is upset and rises to the surface. 4. A watchtower. 5. An animal like a marmot tasked with alerting the pack to danger.
Word: G8 Part of Speech: name Etymology: Abbreviation of Group of Eight (nations). 1. The eight leading industrialized nations: Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and Russia. Labels: historical Example: The G8 leaders also called on multinationals to make a full disclosure to the taxman over how much tax they pay in different countries. 2. The former annual meeting of their leaders (prior to Russia's 2014 expulsion from the group).
Word: MCO Part of Speech: noun 1. Initialism of miscellaneous charge order. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, dated, initialism 2. Initialism of managed care organization. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism 3. Initialism of movement control order. Labels: Malaysia, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Word: anomalous Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From Late Latin anōmalos, from Ancient Greek ἀνώμᾰλος (anṓmălos). Pronunciation: /əˈnɒmələs/, /əˈnɑmələs/, /əˈnɔmələs/ 1. Deviating from the normal; marked by incongruity or contradiction; aberrant or abnormal. Example: statistically anomalous Example: highly anomalous 2. Of uncertain or unknown categorization; strange. 3. Having anomalies.
Word: nut behind the bolt Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Punning use of the word nut to refer to a fool, rather than a mechanical nut. Implies that most firearm accidents are the responsibility of the shooter and not a failure of the gun. 1. The person using a firearm; the shooter. Example: He said the accident was caused by a faulty trigger, but I think it was the nut behind the bolt.
Word: resumé Part of Speech: noun 1. Alternative spelling of resume (“summary, especially of employment history”). Labels: alt-of, alternative 2. Alternative spelling of résumé. Labels: alt-of, alternative
Word: distributed computing Part of Speech: noun 1. The process of aggregating the power of several computers to collaboratively run a single computational task in a transparent and coherent way. Labels: uncountable Example: SETI is a well-known example of distributed computing, with over five million computer users involved. 2. The use of the idle time of large numbers of networked computers to work on projects too large for any single group. Labels: uncountable
Word: HP Part of Speech: name Etymology: Sense "home page" is a borrowing from Japanese HP (HP, “home page”), from English home page. Pronunciation: /eɪt͡ʃˌpiː/ 1. Initialism of Himachal Pradesh: a state of India. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism 2. Initialism of Hewlett-Packard. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism 3. Initialism of Harry Potter. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism Example: Overall, this is the first HP game to even get near to living up to the quality of JK Rowling's books and the accompanying films.
Word: HP Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Sense "home page" is a borrowing from Japanese HP (HP, “home page”), from English home page. Pronunciation: /eɪt͡ʃˌpiː/ 1. Initialism of hire purchase. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable Example: Everything is practical, sensible, reasonably priced and available on HP. 2. Initialism of horsepower. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable 3. Initialism of hit points / health points. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable Example: If you stay at a hotel, you'll wake up with full HP and PP. 4. Initialism of higher power. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable 5. Initialism of Houses of Parliament. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable 6. Initialism of Helicobacter pylori. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable 7. Initialism of hydrogen peroxide. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable 8. Initialism of handphone. Labels: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South-Korea, abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable 9. Initialism of home page. Labels: Japan, abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable 10. Initialism of horizontal pitch. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
Word: epitomize Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Etymology tree English epitome Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English epitomize From epitome + -ize. Pronunciation: /əˈpɪt.əˌmaɪz/ 1. To make an epitome of; to shorten; to condense. Labels: British, English, Oxford, US 2. To be an epitome of. Labels: British, English, Oxford, US Example: The framework of Combinatory Categorial Grammar epitomizes the rule-based generalized categorial architecture.
Word: epitome Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle French, from Latin epitomē, from Ancient Greek ἐπιτομή (epitomḗ, “an abridgment, also a surface-incision”), from ἐπιτέμνω (epitémnō, “to cut upon the surface, cut short, abridge”), from ἐπι- (epi-, “up”) + τέμνω (témnō, “to cut”). Pronunciation: /əˈpɪt.ə.mi/, /ɪˈpɪt.ə.mi/, /ˈɛpɪtoʊm/, /ˈɛ.pɪ.ʈə.mi/, /ˌɛ.pɪˌʈom/ 1. The embodiment or encapsulation of a class of items. Example: This is a poore Epitome of yours, / Which by th'interpretation of full time, / May ſhew like all your ſelfe. Example: But first I took up Ayesha's kirtle and the gauzy scarf with which she had been wont to hide her dazzling loveliness from the eyes of men, and, averting my head so that I might not look upon it, covered up that dreadful relic of the glorious dead, that shocking epitome of human beauty and human life. 2. A representative example. Example: The minute they see me, fear me / I'm the epitome of "public enemy" Example: Every single relationship in his life is transactional. That is incredibly pathetic and sad. That is the epitome of a loser. 3. The height; the best; the most vivid. Example: He looks the very epitome of fright: I do not think he could eat one of those apples, if it were given him. 4. A brief summary of a text. Example: Having now so amply declared unto thee most of the principal things of this thrice-renowned and illustrious city, I will briefly by way of an epitome mention most of the other particulars thereof, and so finally shut up this narration: there are reported to be in Venice and the circumjacent islands two hundred churches in which are one hundred forth-three pairs of organs, fifty-four monasteries, twenty-six nunneries, fifty-six tribunals or places of judgment, seventeen hospitals, six companies or fraternities, whereof I have before spoken; one hundred and sixty-five marble statues of worthy personages, partly equestrial, partly pedestrial, which are erected in sundry places of the city, to the honour of those that either at home have prudently administered the commonweal, or abroad valiantly fought for the same.
Word: estranged Part of Speech: adj 1. Having become a stranger, of one who formerly was close, as a relative, friend, lover, or spouse. Example: He managed to become estranged from all of his friends.
Word: estranged Part of Speech: verb 1. simple past and past participle of estrange Labels: form-of, participle, past Example: She estranged her husband by not talking to him for over a year.
Word: glide Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English gliden, from Old English glīdan, from Proto-West Germanic *glīdan, from Proto-Germanic *glīdaną, from Proto-Indo-European *gʰleydʰ-. Cognate with West Frisian glide, glydzje, Low German glieden, Dutch glijden, German gleiten, Norwegian Nynorsk gli, Danish glide, Swedish glida, Finnish liitää. Pronunciation: /ˈɡlaɪd/ 1. To move softly, smoothly, or effortlessly. Labels: intransitive Example: The river glideth at his own sweet will: Example: It is odd how easily the common-places of morality or of sentiment glide off in conversation. Well, they are "exceedingly helpful," and so Lord Avonleigh found them. 2. To fly unpowered, as of an aircraft. Also relates to gliding birds and flying fish. Labels: intransitive Example: The tide was out, and we drew up amid the strong bracing smell of seaweed, with gulls screeching, wheeling around, and gliding on the wind. 3. To cause to glide. Labels: transitive 4. To pass with a glide, as the voice.
Word: glide Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English gliden, from Old English glīdan, from Proto-West Germanic *glīdan, from Proto-Germanic *glīdaną, from Proto-Indo-European *gʰleydʰ-. Cognate with West Frisian glide, glydzje, Low German glieden, Dutch glijden, German gleiten, Norwegian Nynorsk gli, Danish glide, Swedish glida, Finnish liitää. Pronunciation: /ˈɡlaɪd/ 1. The act of gliding. Example: With stealthy glide he approached the door of his master's room, listened, cautiously peeped in, then entered. 2. A transitional sound, especially a semivowel. 3. An attack or preparatory movement made by sliding down the opponent’s blade, keeping it in constant contact. 4. A bird, the glede or kite. 5. A kind of cap affixed to the base of the legs of furniture to prevent it from damaging the floor while being moved. 6. The joining of two sounds without a break. 7. A smooth and sliding step in dancing the waltz.
Word: gliding Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From glide + -ing. Pronunciation: /ˈɡlɑɪdɪŋ/ 1. The action or motion of something that glides. Labels: countable, uncountable 2. The hobby, sport, or act of flying a glider. Labels: countable, uncountable
Word: gliding Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From glide + -ing. Pronunciation: /ˈɡlɑɪdɪŋ/ 1. present participle and gerund of glide Labels: form-of, gerund, participle, present
Word: gliding Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From glide + -ing. Pronunciation: /ˈɡlɑɪdɪŋ/ 1. That moves or changes with a glide. Labels: not-comparable 2. Employing flexitime. Labels: not-comparable Example: gliding shifts; gliding hours; gliding time
Word: archiepiscopal Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Ultimately from Ancient Greek ἀρχιεπίσκοπος (arkhiepískopos), from ἀρχι- (arkhi-, “chief”) + ἐπίσκοπος (epískopos, “bishop”); see also Latin archiepiscopālis. 1. Of or relating to an archbishop or an archbishopric. Example: In 960 or 961, the notorious Dunstan entered our archiepiscopal chair, which he occupied till death called him to another world in 968. Example: This city and chair of Ailbe has been constantly understood by our old writers as that of Emly; but it is doubted whether it ought to be honoured with the title of an archiepiscopal see.
Word: fufufu Part of Speech: intj Etymology: Borrowed from Japanese ふふふ (fufufu, onomatopoeia for the sound of laughter; compare English hahaha). Pronunciation: /fuːfuːfuː/ 1. The sound of laughter; especially a snicker. Labels: onomatopoeic, slang
Word: periaktoi Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Ancient Greek περίακτοι (períaktoi), masculine plural of περίακτος (períaktos, “revolving, pivoting”), from περιάγω (periágō, “I turn round”). 1. plural of periaktos Labels: form-of, plural
Word: periaktoi Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Ancient Greek περίακτοι (períaktoi), masculine plural of περίακτος (períaktos, “revolving, pivoting”), from περιάγω (periágō, “I turn round”). 1. A device for changing scenery in a theatre. A row of adjacent, three-sided columns form a backdrop to the stage and are turned in unison to show a different face. Labels: plural, plural-only
Word: renminbi Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of Mandarin 人民幣／人民币 (rénmínbì, “people's currency”). Pronunciation: /ˈɹɛn.mɪn.bi/, /ˈɹən.mɪn.pi/ 1. The official currency of the People's Republic of China. Example: Now, the Fang County government is trying “incentives,” according to a statement posted Saturday on its website. People who report their own fevers will receive 1,000 renminbi, the equivalent of $143 — a few days’ salary for the average Hubei resident. The statement also said that people who report the fevers of others would get 500 renminbi, which raised the prospect of neighbors turning one another in. Communist Party cadres who investigate and verify such reports would receive the same amount.
Word: presence of mind Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Calque of Latin praesentia animī, from praesentia (“state of being present, presence”) + animī (the genitive singular of animus (“intellect, mind”)). Pronunciation: /ˌpɹɛzn̩s əv ˈmaɪnd/, /ˌpɹɛz(ə)ns əv ˈmaɪnd/ 1. Focused alertness, good sense, quick-thinking resourcefulness, or stability of feeling and thought, especially in spite of circumstances which are distracting, stressful, or otherwise challenging. Labels: uncountable Example: [A]s you are to hear the moſt unexpected and ſurprizing thing that perhaps ever befel any Family in the VVorld, I beg you to promiſe me you vvill receive it vvith Compoſure and a Preſence of Mind ſuitable to a Man of Senſe. Example: [T]his magnificent palace would have infallibly been burnt down to the ground, if, by a presence of mind unusual to me, I had not suddenly thought of an expedient.
Word: tightwad Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From tight + wad. 1. One who is stingy; someone overly cautious or defensive with money. Labels: colloquial, derogatory Example: That tightwad would drive ten miles to save a few cents on gas. Example: He gulps down the hot coffee and leaves a nice fat tip. No one can say he's a tightwad.
Word: in the same boat Part of Speech: adj 1. In the same situation or predicament; having the same problems. Labels: idiomatic Example: You can ignore their problems, but you could be in the same boat someday.
Word: Detroit Part of Speech: name Etymology: From French détroit (“strait”) in Rivière du Détroit (Detroit River). Doublet of district, via Latin. Pronunciation: /dɪˈtɹɔɪt/, /ˈdiːtɹɔɪt/ 1. The largest city and former capital of Michigan, United States, a major port on the Detroit River, known as the traditional automotive center of the U.S. It is the county seat of Wayne County. Example: I’ll tell you what Detroit is. We’re a prideful people that love our city more than anything – even if we do, in many cases, make the difficult decision to leave the city for somewhere outside the boundaries. Example: The Yemeni American, who had been living in the Dearborn and Detroit area for four years, was preparing dinner while her mother took Amirah’s seven-year-old daughter, Saida, to a nearby playground to play with her friends. 2. The United States' automotive industry. Labels: metonymically Example: 'Cause in the real world they're shutting Detroit down / While the boss man takes his bonus pay and jets on out of town.
Word: square away Part of Speech: verb 1. To square the ship's yards to make her run before the wind, with the wind blowing straight from the stern. Example: Accordingly, when the wheel was relieved at eight o'clock, the order was given to keep her due north, and all hands were turned up to square away the yards and make sail. 2. To finish, complete, tidy or put in order. Labels: idiomatic Example: I have almost squared away the last of the paperwork from that job.
Word: out of line Part of Speech: prep_phrase 1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see out of, line. Example: I lost my place when I had to get out of line to find you. 2. Inappropriate or unsuitable, especially by reason of being unmannerly or indelicate. Labels: idiomatic Example: I hope my comments yesterday were not out of line. 3. Disobedient, not following orders or order. Example: Pope Innocent III […] led a crusade against the out-of-line Albigensians in Provence. 4. Not in a line, straggly.
Word: audacious Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From Latin audacia (“boldness”) + -ious, from audax (“bold”), from audeō (“to be bold, to dare”). Pronunciation: /ɔːˈdeɪ.ʃəs/, /ɔˈdeɪ.ʃəs/, /ɑˈdeɪ.ʃəs/ 1. Showing willingness to take bold risks; recklessly daring. Example: It was an audacious thing for her to attempt, but boldness had often served her turn before. Example: That such a safe adaptation could come of The Hunger Games speaks more to the trilogy’s commercial ascent than the book’s actual content, which is audacious and savvy in its dark calculations. 2. Impudent, insolent.