Each week, we scan the latest headlines to spot words in action. From major news stories to pop culture buzz, this feature highlights language as it’s unfolding. Stories about the power of accurate maps, the sweet scent of Michigan, and the engagement heard ’round the world all contributed to the vocabulary from this week’s news.
buoy
noun: a distinctively shaped and marked float anchored to mark a channel, navigational hazard, etc.
From the headlines: New England boaters are protesting a Coast Guard plan to remove 350 buoys from the Atlantic Ocean. The move, which will affect navigational floats from New Jersey to Maine, makes sense to marine officials in light of widely available smartphone tools. The Coast Guard argues that the floating beacons are nearly obsolete given today’s electronic navigation aids, but fishermen and recreational boaters say they still rely on old-fashioned buoys to navigate safely.
cartography
noun: the production or study of maps
From the headlines: The African Union has joined a campaign urging the replacement of the widely used Mercator projection with a more accurate world map. Advocates argue that the Mercator’s distorted cartography minimizes Africa’s size while exaggerating landmasses near the poles. For example, Africa is fourteen times the size of Greenland, but the two appear roughly equal in size on a Mercator map. Campaign members say adopting a corrected map will not only be more accurate but also “highlight the true scale, power, and potential of the African continent.”
engagement
noun: a pledge to be married
From the headlines: Taylor Swift announced her engagement to professional football player Travis Kelce on August 26. Since beginning their relationship in 2023, the couple has drawn constant attention thanks to her towering influence as a global pop culture icon and his as a record-setting tight end. The engagement was revealed with photos showing Kelce on one knee and Swift wearing a diamond engagement ring.
etiquette
noun: conventional requirements as to social behavior
From the headlines: Many tennis players say they prefer the US Open’s particular code of conduct, which is different from other major matches. The etiquette at Wimbledon and the Australian Open requires quiet speaking, strict dress codes, and restrained music. At the US Open, on the other hand, loud music blares and players often incite the crowd to chant or boo.
Fun fact: An older meaning of etiquette was a card or ticket listing rules for behavior in a royal court.
holistic
adjective: incorporating the idea that the whole is more than merely the sum of its parts
From the headlines: Animal welfare advocates in India welcomed a decision to replace Delhi’s mass roundup of stray dogs with a more holistic approach. After critics raised concerns about the cost and feasibility of removing a million strays, the government unveiled a new plan to cover the entire country while taking into account each animal’s behavior. Under the new policy, only rabid or aggressive dogs will be placed in shelters, while others will be vaccinated, spayed, or neutered, then released back onto the streets.
olfactory
adjective: of or relating to the sense of smell
From the headlines: A Michigan tourism campaign developed a scented spray to promote the state and its summer attractions. The seasonal scent is meant to capture the olfactory experience of visiting Michigan during the sunny season, aiming at replicating smells including Lake Michigan’s coast on a summer day, a fragrant lavender farm, and a winery. Room and body sprays for fall, winter, and spring are also in the works.
onerous
adjective: burdensome, oppressive, or troublesome
From the headlines: Krispy Kreme executives are confronting the onerous task of persuading investors that the company can rebound from its recent struggles. Shares have plummeted 66 percent this year, reflecting the difficulties of scaling a business known for its fresh “hot now” doughnuts. Many Wall Street analysts remain skeptical, questioning whether the chain can overcome its challenges and achieve stronger revenue growth.
refurbish
verb: to renovate or brighten
From the headlines: The director of Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum said it will close unless the Dutch culture ministry increases funding to pay for a renovation. The museum, which 1.8 million people visit annually, houses the world’s largest Van Gogh collection. In order to protect this valuable artwork, it must refurbish its aging building. Museum leaders are asking for almost $3 million for the improvements, which the government says the museum should pay for.
spew
verb: to cast forth, gush, or eject
From the headlines: Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano has erupted for the thirty-first time since December, spewing lava nearly 100 feet into the air. As one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, Kilauea frequently produces dramatic fountains of molten rock. Unlike the catastrophic 2018 eruption that destroyed over 700 homes, this latest series of eruptions does not threaten any private property.
turbine
noun: a machine having a rotor, usually with vanes or blades, driven by the pressure, momentum, or reactive thrust of a moving fluid
From the headlines: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management halted work on a nearly completed wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island and Connecticut, citing security concerns. State leaders asked the federal government to restart the project, arguing that the shutdown would drive up energy prices. The wind farm was designed to use turbines that capture the wind’s energy. As the wind spins the blades of each turbine like a wheel, a shaft connected to a generator rotates, producing electricity.
