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Word of the Day

Word of the day

coruscate

[ kor-uh-skeyt ] [ ˈkɒr əˌskeɪt ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

verb

to emit vivid flashes of light; sparkle; scintillate; gleam.

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Why Dictionary.com chose coruscate

More about coruscate

  • Coruscate was first recorded around 1695–1705.
  • Coruscate comes from the past participle of the Latin word coruscāre, “to quiver, flash.”
  • The related adjective coruscant, “sparkling or gleaming; scintillating,” entered English much earlier, in the late 15th century.

EXAMPLES OF CORUSCATE

  • The dewdrops on the grass coruscated in the morning sunlight, creating a mesmerizing scene.
  • The candles seemed to coruscate with every slight movement of the air, catching everyone’s attention.
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Word of the day

roux

[ roo ] [ ru ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

a cooked mixture of butter or other fat and flour used to thicken sauces, soups, and other dishes.

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Why Dictionary.com chose roux

More about roux

  • Roux entered English around 1805–15.
  • Roux was borrowed from French, and comes from the phrase (beurre) roux, which means “brown (butter).”
  • Roux came from the Latin word russus, “red-brown, red-haired,” which is similar to ruber, “red.”

EXAMPLES OF ROUX

  • The chef prepared a velvety smooth sauce by slowly whisking a roux made with equal parts butter and flour into the simmering broth.
  • The secret to the perfect gravy lies in achieving just the right color and consistency of the roux.
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Word of the day

wunderkind

[ wuhn-der-kind ] [ ˈwʌn dərˌkɪnd ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

a wonder child or child prodigy.

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Why Dictionary.com chose wunderkind

More about wunderkind

  • Wunderkind entered English around 1890–95.
  • Wunderkind was adopted from German.
  • Wunderkind, in German, is composed of the words Wunder, “wonder,” and Kind, “child.”
  • Kind is also in another German loanword, kindergarten, which literally translates as “children’s garden.”

EXAMPLES OF WUNDERKIND

  • The music industry was abuzz with talks of a new rising star, a wunderkind whose debut album took the charts by storm.
  • The novel was written by a literary wunderkind who crafted captivating stories at a remarkably young age.
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