Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

Word of the Day

Word of the day

judder

[ juhd-er ] [ ˈdʒʌd ər ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

verb

to vibrate violently.

learn about the english language

Why Dictionary.com chose judder

More about judder

  • Judder was first recorded in 1925–30.
  • Judder is of uncertain origin, but it may have come from a combination of the words j(olt) or j(erk) and (sh)udder.
  • Both jolt and jerk are also of uncertain origin, but shudder comes from the Middle English verb shodderen, meaning “to tremble.”

EXAMPLES OF JUDDER

  • The malfunctioning washing machine made an unsettling noise and began to judder during the spin cycle.
  • The earthquake caused the ground to judder beneath our feet, sending everyone into a state of panic.
quiz icon
WHAT'S YOUR WORD IQ?
Think you're a word wizard? Try our word quiz, and prove it!
TAKE THE QUIZ
Word of the Day Calendar

Word of the day

impeccable

[ im-pek-uh-buhl ] [ ɪmˈpɛk ə bəl ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

adjective

faultless; flawless; irreproachable.

learn about the english language

Why Dictionary.com chose impeccable

More about impeccable

  • Impeccable was first recorded in 1525–35.
  • Impeccable is from the Latin word impeccābilis, meaning “faultless, sinless.”
  • The first part, im-, is a variant of the Latin prefix in– when it occurs before a b, m, or p, giving the word a negative force.
  • The adjective peccable comes from the Latin verb peccāre, “to sin.”

EXAMPLES OF IMPECCABLE

  • The chef’s culinary skills were impeccable, as every dish that came out of the kitchen was faultless in presentation and taste.
  • Her impeccable taste in fashion was evident by the way she effortlessly combined colors and patterns to create stunning outfits.
Word of the Day Calendar

Word of the day

glissade

[ gli-sahd ] [ glɪˈsɑd ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

a skillful glide over snow or ice in descending a mountain.

learn about the english language

Why Dictionary.com chose glissade

More about glissade

  • Glissade entered English around 1830–40.
  • Glissade comes from French, and is composed of the verb glisser, meaning “to slip, slide,” and –ade, a noun suffix that denotes an action or process or a person or persons acting.
  • The –ade suffix also appears in other loanwords from French and sometimes from Spanish, such as cannonade, fusillade, and renegade.

EXAMPLES OF GLISSADE

  • The children squealed with delight as they took turns on the toboggan, experiencing the exhilaration of a glissade down the icy hill.
  • The experienced mountaineer utilized their impressive skills to execute a flawless glissade, swiftly navigating the treacherous snowy terrain.
Word of the Day Calendar
Word of the Day Calendar