Word of the day

Tribology (noun)

1. (physics, engineering) The science and technology of friction, lubrication, and wear.

subliminal (adj)

1. (physiology) Of a stimulus: below the limen or threshold of conscious perception, especially if still able to produce a response; also (generally), below the threshold where a response can be produced.
2. (psychology) Without directed awareness or thought; subconscious (dated), unconscious.
3. (by extension) Of an advertisement, a message, etc.: conveyed in a manner that a person is unaware of being influenced by it.

Subliminal (noun)

1. (physiology) Chiefly preceded by the: something which is below the limen or threshold of conscious perception.
2. (psychology) Chiefly preceded by the: the subconscious (dated) or unconscious self.
3. (by extension) An advertisement, a message, etc., which is conveyed in a manner that a person is unaware of being influenced by it.

Equinox (noun)

1. One of the two occasions in the year when the length of the day and night are equal, which occurs when the apparent path of the Sun (the ecliptic) intersects with the equatorial plane of the Earth; this happens on a day between March 19 and 21 (spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere), and on another day between September 21 and 24 (autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, and spring in the Southern Hemisphere); hence, the exact time when the intersection occurs.
2. (also figuratively) The circumstance of a twenty-four hour time period having the day and night of equal length.
3. (astronomy) One of the two points in space where the apparent path of the Sun intersects with the equatorial plane of the Earth.
4. (obsolete)
       a. (rare) A gale (“very strong wind”) once thought to occur more frequently around the time of an equinox (sense 1), now known to be a misconception; an equinoctial gale.
       b. (astronomy) A celestial equator (“great circle on the celestial sphere, coincident with the plane of the Earth's equator (the equatorial plane)”); also, the Earth's equator.

shanti (interjection)

1. (Hinduism) A call for peace, often recited three times as a prayer for peace of the soul.

Shanti (noun)

1. (Hinduism) Peace, tranquility.

Engineer (noun)

1. (military, also figuratively)
       a. A soldier engaged in designing or constructing military works for attack or defence, or other engineering works.
       b. (obsolete) A soldier in charge of operating a weapon; an artilleryman, a gunner.
2. (by extension)
       a. A person professionally engaged in the technical design and construction of large-scale private and public works such as bridges, buildings, harbours, railways, roads, etc.; a civil engineer.
       b. Originally, a person engaged in designing, constructing, or maintaining engines or machinery; now (more generally), a person qualified or professionally engaged in any branch of engineering, or studying to do so.
       c. A person trained to operate an engine; an engineman.
           i. (chiefly historical) A person who operates a steam engine; specifically (nautical), a person employed to operate the steam engine in the engine room of a ship.
           ii. (US, firefighting) A person who drives or operates a fire engine.
           iii. (chiefly US, rail transport) A person who drives or operates a locomotive; a train driver.
       d. Preceded by a qualifying word: a person who uses abilities or knowledge to manipulate events or people.
       e. (often derogatory) A person who formulates plots or schemes; a plotter, a schemer.

engineer (verb)

1. (transitive)
       a. To employ one's abilities and knowledge as an engineer to design, construct, and/or maintain (something, such as a machine or a structure), usually for industrial or public use.
       b. (specifically) To use genetic engineering to alter or construct (a DNA sequence), or to alter (an organism).
       c. To plan or achieve (a goal) by contrivance or guile; to finagle, to wangle.
2. (intransitive)
       a. To formulate plots or schemes; to plot, to scheme.
       b. (rare) To work as an engineer.

Earthling {noun}

1. An inhabitant of Earth, as opposed to one of heaven.
2. (chiefly science fiction) An inhabitant of Earth, as opposed to one of another planet; specifically, a sentient member of any species native to Earth.
3. (archaic) A person who is materialistic or worldly; a worldling.

Darkside (noun)

1. (countable) The side of something that is in darkness or unlit, or has less illumination.
2. (countable, figuratively) The side of something that is metaphorically dark.
       a. The side that is evil.
       b. The side that is distressing or undesirable.
3. (countable, astronomy)
       a. Synonym of farside (“the side of a moon that faces away from the planet that it orbits”)
       b. Synonym of nightside (“the side of a planet that faces away from the sun around which it orbits”)
4. (uncountable, music) A style of electronic music, being a form of hardcore characterized by discordant sounds; darkcore.

Maelstrom (noun)

1. A large and violent whirlpool.
2. (figuratively) A chaotic or turbulent situation.
3. (fiction [Transformers]) The General of Mainframe's drone army. A near perfect replica of Mainframe, he is virtually indestructible, capable of handily defeating hundreds of opponents without strain.

downshift (verb, chiefly Canada, US)

1. (transitive)
       a. To reduce (something) in quality or quantity (as effect, scope, speed, etc.)
       b. To change (one's career or lifestyle) to one which is not as well paid but less stressful and more personally rewarding.
       c. (automotive, cycling) To shift (a car or bicycle) into a lower gear.
2. (intransitive)
       a. To function at a lower rate; to slacken.
       b. To change one's career or lifestyle to one which is not as well paid but less stressful and more personally rewarding.
       c. (automotive, cycling) To shift a transmission into a lower gear.

Downshift (noun, chiefly Canada, US)

1. A change of direction or a movement downwards.
2. A reduction in quality or quantity.
3. A change in career or lifestyle to one which is not as well paid but less stressful and more personally rewarding.
4. (automotive, cycling) A shift of a transmission into a lower gear.
5. The name Downshift can refer to multiple Transformers characters.
   a. 1985 — Downshift the Autobot Omnibot security agent from Generation 1.
   b. 2002 — Downshift the Race Mini-Con Team LeMans race car from Armada.
   c. 2004 — Downshift the Autobot sportscar from Energon.
   d. 2009 — Downshift the evil Autobot from Shattered Glass.
   e. 2011 — Downshift, the unreleased Autobot from the 2010 Transformers toy line.

Stardust (noun)

I. (astronomy)
       1. Small fragments of dust-like material found in space; specifically, a type of cosmic dust that formed from cooling gases ejected from presolar stars, which was then incorporated into the cloud from which the Solar System condensed.
       2. (informal, dated) A distant cluster of stars resembling a cloud of dust, especially if the individual stars of which cannot be resolved with a telescope.
       3. (archaic) Small fragments in the Earth's atmosphere or on its surface originating from meteorites; meteor dust.
II. (figuratively)
       1. Something imaginary or lacking substance.
       2. An imaginary magic dust or powder that, when in one's eyes, supposedly causes one to view a person or thing favourably, even though this might not actually be warranted.
       3. An imaginary magic dust or powder supposedly able to give one charisma or other positive qualities; hence, charisma or glamour, especially that possessed by a celebrity.

Merchandising (noun)

I. (also attributively) gerund of merchandise

1. (archaic) Trade in merchandise.
2. (originally US) The promotion of goods for sale in a store, especially through advertising, attractive displays, discounts, etc.; also (generally), the promotion of any goods or services for sale.
3. (specifically) The promotion of a film, music group, theatre production, etc., through the sale of goods bearing motifs associated with the subject being promoted; also, such goods themselves collectively; merchandise.

abstruse (adj, formal)

1. Difficult to comprehend or understand; obscure.
2. (obsolete) Concealed or hidden; secret.

Sprite (noun)

1. (mythology) A spirit; a soul; a shade.
2. An apparition; ghost
3. (mythology) An elf; a fairy; a goblin.
4. (computer graphics) A two-dimensional image or animation that is integrated into a larger scene.
5. An electrical discharge that occurs high above the cumulonimbus cloud of an active thunderstorm.
6. The green woodpecker, or yaffle.
(entomology) Any of various African damselflies of the genus Pseudagrion (of which, Australian species are named riverdamsels).
6. A spayed female ferret.
7. (obsolete) Alternative form of spright (“frame of mind, disposition”)
8. An American-owned brand of clear, lemon and lime-flavored soft drink created by The Coca-Cola Company.

helm (verb, transitive)

1. (nautical) To control the helm (noun sense 1) of (a marine vessel); to be in charge of steering (a vessel).
2. (figuratively) To direct or lead (a project, etc.); to manage (an organization).

Helm (noun)

1. (nautical) The tiller (or, in a large ship, the wheel) which is used to control the rudder of a marine vessel; also, the entire steering apparatus of a vessel.
2. (by extension)
       a. (nautical) The use of a helm (sense 1); also, the amount of space through which a helm is turned.
       b. (nautical) The member of a vessel's crew in charge of steering the vessel; a helmsman or helmswoman.
       c. Something used to control or steer; also (obsolete), a handle of a tool or weapon; a haft, a helve.
3. (figuratively)
       a. A position of control or leadership.
       b. One in the position of controlling or directing; a controller, a director, a guide.

cloak-and-dagger (adj)

1. Marked by menacing furtive secrecy, often with a melodramatic tint.
2. Involving or characteristic of mystery, intrigue, or espionage.

Cloak-and-Dagger (noun)

1. Tyrone Johnson (Cloak) and Tandy Bowen (Dagger), crime-fighting team and Light and Darkness incarnate in the Marvel Comics Universe. These partners once lived on the outskirts – as runaway teens they embraced vigilantism after their powers activated through experimental drugs.
2. Gifted with teleportation and intangibility, Cloak has access to the “Darkforce Dimension,” a world of strange ebony energy. While formidable alone, Cloak's relationship with Dagger makes the team nearly unstoppable. As the results of an experiment gone awry, Tyrone and Tandy are two heroes cut from the same cloth.

apprise v (transitive, reflexive)

1. To make (someone or oneself) aware of some information; to inform, to notify.
2. (rare) To formally impart (information) to someone; to advise, to notify.

apprise v (transitive, archaic)

1. Synonym of appraise (“to determine the value or worth of (something)”)
2. (specifically, Scotland, law) To put a price on (something) for the purpose of sale; to appraise.

Pandora (noun)

1. Any fish of the genus Pagellus.
2. A taxonomic genus within the family Entomophthoraceae – certain fungi not placed within a phylum.
3. (Greek mythology) The first woman on earth, who had been given a box by the gods and instructed not to open it, but who disobeyed the instructions out of curiosity, releasing all manner of evils into the world.
4. (astronomy) A moon of the planet Saturn.
5. (astronomy) 55 Pandora, a main belt asteroid.

Video Game (noun)

1. A type of game, existing as and controlled by software, usually run by a video game console or a computer, played on a monitor or television screen, and controlled by a joypad, joystick, keyboard, mouse, or paddle. [from 1973]

Verb (noun)

1. A word that indicates an action, event, or state of being.
2. Any word; a vocable.
3. An action as opposed to a trait or thing.
4. A named command that performs a specific operation on an object.

adjetive (Portuguese; Spanish)

1. verb

musty (adj)

1. Affected by dampness or mould; damp, mildewed, mouldy.
2. Having an odour or taste of mould; also (generally), having a stale or unfresh odour or taste.
3. Characteristic of or relating to mould or mouldiness.
4. (figuratively)
   a. Of attitudes, ideas, writing, or other abstract things: no longer fresh or interesting; outdated, stale.
   b. Of a person: boring and unadventurous; also, old-fashioned, stuck in the past.
   c. (archaic except Northern England (northwest)) Bad-tempered, grumpy, irritable.

adjective (noun)

1. (grammar) A word that modifies a noun or noun phrase or describes a noun’s referent.
2. (obsolete) A dependent; an accessory.

adjective (adjective, not comparable)

1. (grammar) Adjectival; pertaining to or functioning as an adjective.
2. (law) Applying to methods of enforcement and rules of procedure.
3. (chemistry, of a dye) Needing the use of a mordant to be made fast to that which is being dyed.
4. (obsolete, reflected in the chemical sense, but extinct as a general sense) Incapable of independent function.

adjective (verb)

1. To make an adjective of; to form or convert into an adjective.
2. To characterize with an adjective; to describe by using an adjective.

obsolete (adj)

1. (of words, equipment, etc.) No longer in use; gone into disuse; disused or neglected (often in favour of something newer).
2. (biology) Imperfectly developed; not very distinct.

obsolete (verb)

1. To cause to become obsolete.

Kaleidoscope (noun)

1. An instrument consisting of a tube containing mirrors and loose, colourful beads or other objects; when the tube is looked into and rotated, a succession of symmetrical designs can be seen.
2. (figuratively) A constantly changing series of colours or other things.

kaleidoscope (verb)

1. (intransitive) To move in shifting (and often attractive or colourful) patterns.

A.I. (noun)

1. (artificial intelligence, countable) Initialism of artificial intelligence.
2. (management) Initialism of action item.
3. (British airforce) Initialism of airborne intelligence (synonym for an early type of airborne radar).
4. (phonetics) Initialism of articulatory index.
5. (agriculture) Initialism of artificial insemination.
6. (nutrition) Initialism of adequate intake.
7. Abbreviation of angiotensin I.
8. (linguistics, anthropology) Initialism of atavistic-idiosyncratic.
9. (video games) A character or entity controlled by the game instead of a player.

Dictionary (noun)

1. A reference work with a list of words from one or more languages, normally ordered alphabetically, explaining each word's meanings (senses), and sometimes also containing information on its etymology, pronunciation, usage, semantic relations, and translations, as well as other data.
2. (preceded by the) A synchronic dictionary of a standardised language held to only contain words that are properly part of the language.
3. (by extension) Any work that has a list of material organized alphabetically; e.g., biographical dictionary, encyclopedic dictionary.
4. (computing) An associative array, a data structure where each value is referenced by a particular key, analogous to words and definitions in a physical dictionary.

dictionary (verb)

1. (transitive) To look up in a dictionary.
2. (transitive) To add to a dictionary.