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Word of the Day

Word of the day

bombastic

[ bom-bas-tik ] [ bɒmˈbæs tɪk ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

adjective

(of speech, writing, etc.) high-sounding; high-flown; pretentious.

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Why Dictionary.com chose bombastic

More about bombastic

  • Bombastic was first recorded in 1695–1705.
  • Bombastic comes from the noun bombast, which means “pompous speech; pretentious words.”
  • Bombast came into English from Middle French around 1560.
  • Bombast originally referred to a type of padding from the bombax family of trees, to which the silk-cotton tree genus belongs.

EXAMPLES OF BOMBASTIC

  • The politician’s bombastic claims fell flat in the face of evidence to the contrary.
  • The professor’s bombastic language in class left their students feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from the material.
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Word of the day

wakame

[ wuh-kah-mee ] [ wəˈkɑ mi ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

a brown seaweed of coastal Japan, Korea, and other areas, usually dried for use in soups, salads, and side dishes.

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Why Dictionary.com chose wakame

More about wakame

  • Wakame was first recorded in English in 1950–55.
  • Wakame comes from the Japanese word, wakame.
  • Wakame, in Japanese, is composed of the elements waka, meaning “young,” and me, a kind of edible seaweed.

EXAMPLES OF WAKAME

  • The miso soup was enhanced with a sprinkle of dried wakame, adding a delightful oceanic flavor to the dish.
  • The seaweed salad was adorned with strips of savory wakame, giving it a vibrant and refreshing taste.
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Word of the day

verdure

[ vur-jer ] [ ˈvɜr dʒər ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

green vegetation, especially grass or herbage.

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Why Dictionary.com chose verdure

More about verdure

  • Verdure entered English around 1250–1300.
  • Verdure comes via Middle English from the Middle French word verd, which means “green.”
  • Related words with the same root include verdant, “green with vegetation,” and verdurous, “rich in verdure; freshly green.”

EXAMPLES OF VERDURE

  • The painter captured the essence of summer by depicting a field of verdure in his masterpiece.
  • Walking through the park, I couldn’t help but admire the lush verdure that adorned every corner.
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