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Showing posts from May, 2020

nursery: Word of the day for June 1, 2020

nursery , n : (countable) A place where nursing (“breastfeeding”) or the raising of children is carried on. (by extension) Especially in European countries: a room or area in a household set apart for the care of children. A place where the pre-school children of working parents are supervised during the day; a crèche, a daycare centre. A nursery school (“a school where pre-school children learn and play at the same time”). (Philippines) The first year of pre-school. (countable, also figuratively) A place where anything is fostered and growth promoted. (agriculture, zoology) A place where animals breed, or where young animals are naturally or artificially reared (for example, on a farm). (horticulture) A place where young shrubs, trees, vines, etc., are cultivated for transplanting, or (more generally) made available for public sale, a garden centre; also (obsolete) a plantation of young trees. (sports) A club or team for developing the skills of young players. (countable) Something...

fifth wheel: Word of the day for May 28, 2020

fifth wheel , n : (road transport) A type of trailer hitch, which consists of a horseshoe-shaped plate on a multidirectional pivot, with a locking pin to couple with the kingpin of a truck trailer. In full, fifth-wheel trailer: a large caravan or travel trailer that is connected to a pickup truck for towing by a hitch similar to the one described in sense 1 located in the center of the truck's bed. (road transport, historical) A horizontal wheel or segment of a wheel above the front axle and beneath the body of a carriage, forming an extended support to prevent it from overturning. (idiomatic, informal) Anything superfluous or unnecessary.

sneakernet: Word of the day for May 24, 2020

sneakernet , n : A method of transferring a computer file from one computer to another by copying it to a floppy disk, thumb drive, or some other external storage device, carrying the device to the other computer, and saving the file there, in contrast to electronic methods used by networked computers to transfer data. The group of computers involved in this practice.

foxfire: Word of the day for May 22, 2020

foxfire , n : (mycology, chiefly US) Bioluminescence created by some types of fungus, particularly those growing on rotting wood. (by extension, loosely) Wood exhibiting fungal bioluminescence; torchwood. Today is the International Day for Biological Diversity or World Biodiversity Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to promote awareness of the importance of biodiversity.

dingolay: Word of the day for May 21, 2020

dingolay , v : (intransitive, Caribbean) To perform a kind of lively dance with hand movements. Today is the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development or Diversity Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to highlight the value of cultural diversity and the need for people to live together in harmony.

wheelhouse: Word of the day for May 20, 2020

wheelhouse , n : A building or other structure containing a (large) wheel, such as the water wheel of a mill. (automotive) The partially enclosed structure above and around a wheel of an automobile, typically partly formed by a portion of a fender panel that has been extended outward beyond the plane of the rest of the panel. (nautical) An enclosed compartment on the deck of a vessel such as a fishing boat, originally housing its helm or steering wheel, from which it may be navigated; on a larger vessel it is the bridge. (nautical) The enclosed structure around the paddlewheel of a steamboat. (archaeology) A prehistoric structure from the Iron Age found in Scotland, characteristically including an outer wall within which a circle of stone piers (resembling the spokes of a wheel) form the basis for lintel arches supporting corbelled roofing with a hearth at the hub. (Canada, US, baseball, by extension from sense 1.2) A pitch location which is favourable to the hitter. (Canada, US, fi...

floriography: Word of the day for May 19, 2020

floriography , n : Communication through the use of flowers, with different types of flowers having particular symbolic meanings. The Royal Horticultural Society’s online Virtual Chelsea Flower Show starts on this day in 2020, the traditional physical show having been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

ones and zeroes: Word of the day for May 17, 2020

ones and zeroes , n : (computing, informal) Binary code; on and off bits. Today is World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to raise awareness of the benefits to society of the Internet and other information and communication technologies, and the need to bridge the digital divide.

ride shotgun: Word of the day for May 16, 2020

ride shotgun , v : (US, idiomatic) To accompany the driver of a vehicle on a journey as an armed escort (originally with a shotgun); (by extension) to accompany someone in order to assist and protect. (US, idiomatic, by extension, slang) To ride in the front passenger seat of a vehicle, next to the driver. (US, by extension) To supervise a process and watch for any risks. The musical Annie Get Your Gun premiered on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA, on this day in 1946.

uxorial: Word of the day for May 15, 2020

uxorial , adj : (not comparable) Of or pertaining to a wife, or her genes or relatives. (comparable) Devoted to one's wife; uxorious. Today is the International Day of Families, which is recognized by the United Nations to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the demographic, economic, and social processes affecting families.

exit: Word of the day for May 13, 2020

exit , v : (intransitive) To go out or go away from a place or situation; to depart, to leave. (intransitive, often euphemistic) To depart from life; to die. (transitive, intransitive, computing) To end or terminate (a program, subroutine, etc.) (transitive, originally US, also figuratively) To depart from or leave (a place or situation). (transitive, specifically) To alight or disembark from a vehicle. [...] (intransitive, drama, also figuratively) Used as a stage direction for an actor: to leave the scene or stage.

maternal: Word of the day for May 10, 2020

maternal , adj : Of or pertaining to a mother; having the characteristics of a mother; motherly. Related through the mother, or her side of the family. (anatomy, medicine) Derived from the mother as opposed to the foetus during pregnancy. Today, the second Sunday of May in 2020, is celebrated in many countries as Mother’s Day.

squacco: Word of the day for May 9, 2020

squacco , n : A species of pond heron, Ardeola ralloides, which is small, and brown and white in colour; it is found in Asia, Northern Africa, and Southern Europe. Today, the second Saturday of May in 2020, is the first of the two World Migratory Bird Days in the year. These days were established by the Secretariats of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals to highlight the importance of protecting migratory birds and their habitats.

hearken: Word of the day for May 8, 2020

hearken , v : (transitive, archaic except poetic) To hear (something) with attention; to have regard to (something). (intransitive) To listen; to attend or give heed to what is uttered; to hear with attention, compliance, or obedience. (intransitive, obsolete) To enquire; to seek information.

hunger stone: Word of the day for May 7, 2020

hunger stone , n : A stone, either naturally exposed or intentionally embedded in a river during a drought, which is dated and often inscribed to mark the water level as a warning to future generations that they may face famine if the water reaches that low level again. Such stones are common in Central Europe.

legman: Word of the day for May 3, 2020

legman , n : (originally US) A person hired to carry out errands or (often) menial tasks, frequently requiring travel from place to place; an errand boy or errand girl, a runner. (originally US, journalism) A reporter who frequently travels to conduct research, interview witnesses, etc., and then conveys the information to a rewriteman who writes up the story. Today is World Press Freedom Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression.