Word of the day

Tribology (noun)

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

cryptolect (noun)

1. A secretive language form used by a subculture; an arcane slang.

œnomancy (noun)

1. Divination by studying appearance of wine.

exsiccate (verb)

1. To dry, to desiccate, to dehydrate.

bis (noun)

1. Plural of bi.

bis (adverb)

1. Twice; showing that something is, or is to be, repeated, such as a passage of music, or an item in accounts.

saxatile (adj)

1. Living among rocks.

popjoy (noun)

1. A nickname that may have been given to someone who was talkative, dressed in bright colors, or was good at tilting or shooting at a wooden parrot on a pole.

popjoy (verb)

1. To amuse oneself.

zoophyte (noun)

1. An animal thought to have the characteristics of a plant, later specifically an invertebrate of the (former) group Zoophyta, comprising sponges, corals and sea anemones.
2. A plant believed to have the characteristics of an animal, especially a sensitive plant or vegetable lamb.

facultative (adj)

1. Of or relating to faculty, especially to mental faculty.
2. Not obligate; optional, discretionary or elective.
3. That grants permission or power to do something.
4. Able to perform a particular life function, or to live generally, in more than one way.
5. At which a given function is positive.

ultradian (adj)

1. Cyclical with a periodicity significantly shorter than 24 hours, that is, more frequent than circadian.

firkin (noun)

1. A varying measure of capacity, usually being a quarter of a barrel; specifically, a measure equal to nine imperial gallons.
2. A small wooden vessel or cask of indeterminate size, used for butter, lard, etc.
3. A measurement for the mass of butter, equalling 56 pounds.

unguiform (adj)

1. Shaped like a claw.

renography (noun)

1. Imaging of the kidney.

kinematics (noun)

1. The branch of mechanics concerned with objects in motion, but not with the forces involved.

teleology (noun)

1. The study of the purpose or design of natural occurrences.
2. An instance of such a design or purpose, usually in natural phenomena.
3 The use of a purpose or design rather than the laws of nature to explain an occurrence.

ocellated (adj)

1. Eye-like and ringed
2. Having an eye-like spot or spots.

chreotechnics (noun)

1. The science of the useful arts, especially agriculture, manufacture, and commerce.

Ramulus (noun)

1. A small branch, or branchlet, of corals, hydroids, and similar organisms.
2. A Transformer in the Beast Wars Universe; part of the first wave of fourth-year Beast Wars Deluxes (1998), transforms into a bio-mechanical ibex.

pamphysicism (noun)

1. The doctrine that material nature is the source of all things.

exsufflate (verb)

1. To exorcise or renounce by blowing.

resipiscence (noun)

1. Recognition of one or more past mistakes, especially with a desire to improve in the future; repentance.
2. The act of becoming comprehending, reasonable or responsible, especially after having behaved in an uncomprehending, unreasonable, or irresponsible manner.
3. The act of coming to one's senses.

subpoena (noun)

1. A written order requiring someone to appear in court, or at a deposition or some other legal proceeding, as a witness to give testimony or to produce evidence, in default of which the person may be punished.
2. A written order requiring a defendant to appear in court to answer a plaintiff's claim.
3. A thing which can compel or demand something, or summon someone.

subpoena (verb)

1. To summon (someone) with a subpoena to appear in court, or at a deposition or some other legal proceeding, as a witness to give testimony or to produce evidence; to serve a subpoena on (someone).
2. To require (a document or other evidence) to be produced before a court, or at a deposition or some other legal proceeding.
3. To compel or summon (someone or something); to demand.

vorticist (noun)

1. A painter who expresses complexity of machinery through art.
2. An artist who used this style.

vorticist (adj)

1. Of or pertaining to vorticism.

satori (noun)

1. A sudden inexpressible feeling of spiritual enlightenment or understanding, the result of meditation and study.
2. Enlightenment, epiphany.

delate (verb)

1. To carry; to convey.
2. To carry abroad; to spread; to make public.
3. To carry or bring against, as a charge; to inform against.
4. To carry on; to conduct.

razzmatazz (noun)

1. Ambiguous or meaningless language.
2. Empty and tiresome speculation.
3. Something presenting itself in a fanciful and showy, often unrealistic manner, especially when intended to impress and confuse.
4. A long and imposing series of mindless but necessary tasks.