Word of the Day
hyponym
noun
a term that denotes a subcategory of a more general class
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Why Dictionary.com chose hyponym
More about hyponym
EXAMPLES OF HYPONYM
- Writers use hyponyms to enhance descriptions, such as replacing “vehicle” with “van.”
- “Beagle” is a hyponym of “dog” because it specifies a certain breed.
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Why Dictionary.com chose cap-a-pie
More about cap-a-pie
- First recorded in 1515–25.
- From the Middle French de cap a pe, meaning “from head to foot.”
EXAMPLES OF CAP-A-PIE
- Cap-a-pie in winter gear, she walked to the coffee shop during the snowstorm.
- The knights were dressed cap-a-pie in armor, ready for battle.
alliaceous
adjective
having the odor or taste of garlic, onion, etc
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Why Dictionary.com chose alliaceous
More about alliaceous
- First recorded in 1785–95.
- Combines the classical Latin allium, meaning “garlic,” + the suffix -aceous.
EXAMPLES OF ALLIACEOUS
- The chef added an alliaceous kick of onion to nearly every dish at her restaurant.
- The alliaceous smell lingered in the kitchen long after the garlic bread had finished cooking.
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