SNEEZE
sneezed, sneez·ing, noun
–verb (used without object)
1.
to emit air or breath suddenly, forcibly, and audibly through the nose and mouth by involuntary, spasmodic action. –noun
2.
an act or sound of sneezing. —Verb phrase
3.
sneeze at, Informal. to treat with contempt; scorn: $50,000 is nothing to sneeze at.
[Origin: 1485–95; earlier snese; r. ME fnese, OE fnéosan; c. D fniezen, ON fnȳsa] —Related forms
sneezeless, adjective
sneezer, noun
sneezy, adjective
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Friday, August 17, 2007
caution
today's word;caution
1.
alertness and prudence in a hazardous situation; care; wariness: Landslides ahead—proceed with caution.
2.
a warning against danger or evil; anything serving as a warning: By way of caution, he told me the difficulties I would face.
3.
Informal. a person or thing that astonishes or causes mild apprehension: She's a caution. The way he challenges your remarks is a caution. –verb (used with object)
4.
to give warning to; advise or urge to take heed. –verb (used without object)
5.
to warn or advise: The newspapers caution against overoptimism.
6.
Careful forethought to avoid danger or harm.
7.
Close attention or vigilance to minimize risk: The car proceeded over the rickety bridge with caution.
8.
Prudence or restraint in action or decision: advised caution in choosing a school.
9.
A warning or admonishment, especially to take heed: I received a caution from the doctor about fat in my diet.
10.
A cautious action; a precaution: The climbers took the necessary cautions in preparing for the ascent.
11.
one that is striking or alarming.
1.
alertness and prudence in a hazardous situation; care; wariness: Landslides ahead—proceed with caution.
2.
a warning against danger or evil; anything serving as a warning: By way of caution, he told me the difficulties I would face.
3.
Informal. a person or thing that astonishes or causes mild apprehension: She's a caution. The way he challenges your remarks is a caution. –verb (used with object)
4.
to give warning to; advise or urge to take heed. –verb (used without object)
5.
to warn or advise: The newspapers caution against overoptimism.
6.
Careful forethought to avoid danger or harm.
7.
Close attention or vigilance to minimize risk: The car proceeded over the rickety bridge with caution.
8.
Prudence or restraint in action or decision: advised caution in choosing a school.
9.
A warning or admonishment, especially to take heed: I received a caution from the doctor about fat in my diet.
10.
A cautious action; a precaution: The climbers took the necessary cautions in preparing for the ascent.
11.
one that is striking or alarming.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Precocious
Today's Word:PRECOCIOUS
1.
unusually advanced or mature in development, esp. mental development: a precocious child.
2.
prematurely developed, as the mind, faculties, etc.
3.
of or pertaining to premature development.
4.
Botany.
a.
flowering, fruiting, or ripening early, as plants or fruit.
b.
bearing blossoms before leaves, as plants.
c.
appearing before leaves, as flowers
1.
unusually advanced or mature in development, esp. mental development: a precocious child.
2.
prematurely developed, as the mind, faculties, etc.
3.
of or pertaining to premature development.
4.
Botany.
a.
flowering, fruiting, or ripening early, as plants or fruit.
b.
bearing blossoms before leaves, as plants.
c.
appearing before leaves, as flowers
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Critical
Today's Word:CRITICAL
1.
inclined to find fault or to judge with severity, often too readily.
2.
occupied with or skilled in criticism.
3.
involving skillful judgment as to truth, merit, etc.; judicial: a critical analysis.
4.
of or pertaining to critics or criticism: critical essays.
5.
providing textual variants, proposed emendations, etc.: a critical edition of Chaucer.
6.
pertaining to or of the nature of a crisis: a critical shortage of food.
7.
of decisive importance with respect to the outcome; crucial: a critical moment.
8.
of essential importance; indispensable: a critical ingredient.
9.
Medicine/Medical. (of a patient's condition) having unstable and abnormal vital signs and other unfavorable indicators, as loss of appetite, poor mobility, or unconsciousness.
10.
Physics.
a.
pertaining to a state, value, or quantity at which one or more properties of a substance or system undergo a change.
11.
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws; "a critical attitude" [ant: uncritical]
2.
at or of a point at which a property or phenomenon suffers an abrupt change especially having enough mass to sustain a chain reaction; "a critical temperature of water is 100 degrees C--its boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure"; "critical mass"; "go critical" [ant: noncritical]
3.
characterized by careful evaluation and judgment; "a critical reading"; "a critical dissertation"; "a critical analysis of Melville's writings"
4.
urgently needed; absolutely necessary; "a critical element of the plan"; "critical medical supplies"; "vital for a healthy society"; "of vital interest"
5.
forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis; "a critical point in the campaign"; "the critical test"
6.
being in or verging on a state of crisis or emergency; "a critical shortage of food"; "a critical illness"; "an illness at the critical stage"7.
of or involving or characteristic of critics or criticism; "critical acclaim"
1.
inclined to find fault or to judge with severity, often too readily.
2.
occupied with or skilled in criticism.
3.
involving skillful judgment as to truth, merit, etc.; judicial: a critical analysis.
4.
of or pertaining to critics or criticism: critical essays.
5.
providing textual variants, proposed emendations, etc.: a critical edition of Chaucer.
6.
pertaining to or of the nature of a crisis: a critical shortage of food.
7.
of decisive importance with respect to the outcome; crucial: a critical moment.
8.
of essential importance; indispensable: a critical ingredient.
9.
Medicine/Medical. (of a patient's condition) having unstable and abnormal vital signs and other unfavorable indicators, as loss of appetite, poor mobility, or unconsciousness.
10.
Physics.
a.
pertaining to a state, value, or quantity at which one or more properties of a substance or system undergo a change.
11.
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws; "a critical attitude" [ant: uncritical]
2.
at or of a point at which a property or phenomenon suffers an abrupt change especially having enough mass to sustain a chain reaction; "a critical temperature of water is 100 degrees C--its boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure"; "critical mass"; "go critical" [ant: noncritical]
3.
characterized by careful evaluation and judgment; "a critical reading"; "a critical dissertation"; "a critical analysis of Melville's writings"
4.
urgently needed; absolutely necessary; "a critical element of the plan"; "critical medical supplies"; "vital for a healthy society"; "of vital interest"
5.
forming or having the nature of a turning point or crisis; "a critical point in the campaign"; "the critical test"
6.
being in or verging on a state of crisis or emergency; "a critical shortage of food"; "a critical illness"; "an illness at the critical stage"7.
of or involving or characteristic of critics or criticism; "critical acclaim"
Monday, August 13, 2007
Today's Word:COMPASSION
1.
a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. –verb (used with object)
2.
Archaic. to compassionate.
3.
a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering
4.
the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it
1.
a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. –verb (used with object)
2.
Archaic. to compassionate.
3.
a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering
4.
the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Sheep
Today's Word:SHEEP
1.
any of numerous ruminant mammals of the genus Ovis, of the family Bovidae, closely related to the goats,bred in a number of domesticated varieties.
2.
leather made from the skin of these animals.
3.
a meek, unimaginative, or easily led person. —Idiom
4.
separate the sheep from the goats, to separate good people from bad or those intended for a specific end from unqualified people.
sheepless, adjective
sheeplike, adjective
noun
1.
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
2.
a timid defenseless simpleton who is readily preyed upon
3.
a docile and vulnerable person who would rather follow than make an independent decision; "his students followed him like sheep"
noun — plural sheep
a kind of animal related to the goat, whose flesh is used as food and from whose wool clothing is madeExample: a flock of sheep
1.
any of numerous ruminant mammals of the genus Ovis, of the family Bovidae, closely related to the goats,bred in a number of domesticated varieties.
2.
leather made from the skin of these animals.
3.
a meek, unimaginative, or easily led person. —Idiom
4.
separate the sheep from the goats, to separate good people from bad or those intended for a specific end from unqualified people.
sheepless, adjective
sheeplike, adjective
noun
1.
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
2.
a timid defenseless simpleton who is readily preyed upon
3.
a docile and vulnerable person who would rather follow than make an independent decision; "his students followed him like sheep"
noun — plural sheep
a kind of animal related to the goat, whose flesh is used as food and from whose wool clothing is madeExample: a flock of sheep
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Sheep
Today's Word:SWELL
1.to grow in bulk, as by the absorption of moisture or the processes of growth.
2.Pathology. to increase abnormally in size, as by inflation, distention, accumulation of fluids, or the like: Her ankles swelled from standing.
3.to rise in waves, as the sea.
4.to well up, as a spring or as tears.
5.to bulge out, as a sail or the middle of a cask.
6.to grow in amount, degree, force, etc.
7.to increase gradually in volume or intensity, as sound: The music swelled.
8.to arise and grow within one, as a feeling or emotion.
9.to become puffed up with pride. –verb (used with object)
10.
to cause to grow in bulk.
11.
to cause to increase gradually in loudness: to swell a musical tone.
12.
to cause to bulge out or be protuberant.
13.
to increase in amount, degree, force, etc.
14.
to affect with a strong, expansive emotion.
15.
to puff up with pride. –noun
16.
the act of swelling or the condition of being swollen.
17.
inflation or distention.
18.
a protuberant part.
19.
a wave, esp. when long and unbroken, or a series of such waves.
20.
a gradually rising elevation of the land.
21.
an increase in amount, degree, force, etc.
22.
a gradual increase in loudness of sound.
23.
Music.
a.
a gradual increase followed by a gradual decrease in loudness or force of musical sound.
b.
the sign (< >) for indicating this.
c.
a device, as in an organ, by which the loudness of tones may be varied.
24.
a swelling of emotion within one.
25.
Slang.
a.
a fashionably dressed person; dandy.
b.
a socially prominent person. –adjective Informal.
26.
stylish; elegant: a swell hotel. adjective
27.
fashionably dressed or socially prominent. adjective
28.
first-rate; fine: a swell party.
1.
very good; "he did a bully job"; "a neat sports car"; "had a great time at the party"; "you look simply smashing"
noun
1.
the undulating movement of the surface of the open sea
2.
a rounded elevation (especially one on an ocean floor)
3.
a crescendo followed by a decrescendo
4.
a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance [syn: dandy]
verb
1.
increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity; "The music swelled to a crescendo"
2.
become filled with pride, arrogance, or anger; "The mother was swelling with importance when she spoke of her son"
3.
expand abnormally; "The bellies of the starving children are swelling"
4.
come up (as of feelings and thoughts, or other ephemeral things); "Strong emotions welled up"; "Smoke swelled from it"
5.
come up, as of a liquid; "Tears well in her eyes"; "the currents well up" [syn: well]
6.
cause to become swollen; "The water swells the wood"
to make or become larger, greater or thickerExample: The insect-bite made her finger swell; The continual rain had swollen the river; I invited her to join us on the excursion in order to swell the numbers.
1.to grow in bulk, as by the absorption of moisture or the processes of growth.
2.Pathology. to increase abnormally in size, as by inflation, distention, accumulation of fluids, or the like: Her ankles swelled from standing.
3.to rise in waves, as the sea.
4.to well up, as a spring or as tears.
5.to bulge out, as a sail or the middle of a cask.
6.to grow in amount, degree, force, etc.
7.to increase gradually in volume or intensity, as sound: The music swelled.
8.to arise and grow within one, as a feeling or emotion.
9.to become puffed up with pride. –verb (used with object)
10.
to cause to grow in bulk.
11.
to cause to increase gradually in loudness: to swell a musical tone.
12.
to cause to bulge out or be protuberant.
13.
to increase in amount, degree, force, etc.
14.
to affect with a strong, expansive emotion.
15.
to puff up with pride. –noun
16.
the act of swelling or the condition of being swollen.
17.
inflation or distention.
18.
a protuberant part.
19.
a wave, esp. when long and unbroken, or a series of such waves.
20.
a gradually rising elevation of the land.
21.
an increase in amount, degree, force, etc.
22.
a gradual increase in loudness of sound.
23.
Music.
a.
a gradual increase followed by a gradual decrease in loudness or force of musical sound.
b.
the sign (< >) for indicating this.
c.
a device, as in an organ, by which the loudness of tones may be varied.
24.
a swelling of emotion within one.
25.
Slang.
a.
a fashionably dressed person; dandy.
b.
a socially prominent person. –adjective Informal.
26.
stylish; elegant: a swell hotel. adjective
27.
fashionably dressed or socially prominent. adjective
28.
first-rate; fine: a swell party.
1.
very good; "he did a bully job"; "a neat sports car"; "had a great time at the party"; "you look simply smashing"
noun
1.
the undulating movement of the surface of the open sea
2.
a rounded elevation (especially one on an ocean floor)
3.
a crescendo followed by a decrescendo
4.
a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance [syn: dandy]
verb
1.
increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity; "The music swelled to a crescendo"
2.
become filled with pride, arrogance, or anger; "The mother was swelling with importance when she spoke of her son"
3.
expand abnormally; "The bellies of the starving children are swelling"
4.
come up (as of feelings and thoughts, or other ephemeral things); "Strong emotions welled up"; "Smoke swelled from it"
5.
come up, as of a liquid; "Tears well in her eyes"; "the currents well up" [syn: well]
6.
cause to become swollen; "The water swells the wood"
to make or become larger, greater or thickerExample: The insect-bite made her finger swell; The continual rain had swollen the river; I invited her to join us on the excursion in order to swell the numbers.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Sheep
Today's Word:SHEEP
1.any of numerous ruminant mammals of the genus Ovis, of the family Bovidae, closely related to the goats, esp. O. aries, bred in a number of domesticated varieties.
2.
leather made from the skin of these animals.
3.
a meek, unimaginative, or easily led person. —Idiom
4.
separate the sheep from the goats, to separate good people from bad or those intended for a specific end from unqualified people.
5.Leather made from the skin of one of these animals.
6.A person regarded as timid, weak, or submissive.
7.One who is easily swayed or led.
made in part by:dictionary.com
1.any of numerous ruminant mammals of the genus Ovis, of the family Bovidae, closely related to the goats, esp. O. aries, bred in a number of domesticated varieties.
2.
leather made from the skin of these animals.
3.
a meek, unimaginative, or easily led person. —Idiom
4.
separate the sheep from the goats, to separate good people from bad or those intended for a specific end from unqualified people.
5.Leather made from the skin of one of these animals.
6.A person regarded as timid, weak, or submissive.
7.One who is easily swayed or led.
made in part by:dictionary.com
Ostrich
Today's Word:OSTRICH
1.a large, two-toed, swift-footed flightless bird, Struthio camelus, indigenous to Africa and Arabia, domesticated for its plumage: the largest of living birds.
2.
(not used scientifically) a rhea.
3.a person who attempts to ignore unpleasant facts.
4.a large, swift-running flightless bird of Africa, characterized by a long bare neck, small head, and two-toed feet, the largest living bird.
5.a rhea.
6.one who tries to avoid disagreeable situations by refusing to face them, unpleasant facts or situations.
1.a large, two-toed, swift-footed flightless bird, Struthio camelus, indigenous to Africa and Arabia, domesticated for its plumage: the largest of living birds.
2.
(not used scientifically) a rhea.
3.a person who attempts to ignore unpleasant facts.
4.a large, swift-running flightless bird of Africa, characterized by a long bare neck, small head, and two-toed feet, the largest living bird.
5.a rhea.
6.one who tries to avoid disagreeable situations by refusing to face them, unpleasant facts or situations.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Leech
Today's Word: LEECH
–noun
1.
any bloodsucking or carnivorous aquatic or terrestrial worm of the class Hirudinea, certain freshwater species of which were formerly much used in medicine for bloodletting.
2.
a person who clings to another for personal gain, esp. without giving anything in return, and usually with the implication or effect of exhausting the other's resources; parasite.
3.
Archaic. an instrument used for drawing blood. –verb (used with object)
4.
to apply leeches to, so as to bleed.
5.
to cling to and feed upon or drain, as a leech: His relatives leeched him until his entire fortune was exhausted.
6.
Archaic. to cure; heal. –verb (used without object)
7.
to hang on to a person in the manner of a leech: She leeched on to him for dear life.
–noun
1.
any bloodsucking or carnivorous aquatic or terrestrial worm of the class Hirudinea, certain freshwater species of which were formerly much used in medicine for bloodletting.
2.
a person who clings to another for personal gain, esp. without giving anything in return, and usually with the implication or effect of exhausting the other's resources; parasite.
3.
Archaic. an instrument used for drawing blood. –verb (used with object)
4.
to apply leeches to, so as to bleed.
5.
to cling to and feed upon or drain, as a leech: His relatives leeched him until his entire fortune was exhausted.
6.
Archaic. to cure; heal. –verb (used without object)
7.
to hang on to a person in the manner of a leech: She leeched on to him for dear life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
