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 dramatic cave rescues, accessibility plans for trains, and projectile cucumber seeds all contributed to the vocabulary from this week’s news.
audit
noun: an official examination and verification of accounts, records, operations, etc.
From the headlines: A recent audit revealed that while Amtrak has made some progress in improving accessibility for disabled passengers, significant upgrades are still needed. The company conducts a detailed review of its operations annually, and accessibility was a key priority this year. According to the audit, most travelers with disabilities favor trains over planes, yet Amtrak has been unsatisfactory in addressing and responding to their complaints.
ballistic
adjective: determined or describable by the laws of motion for projectiles
From the headlines: Researchers discovered that the squirting cucumber, a toxic cousin of the edible kind, can shoot its seeds up to 40 feet at speeds reaching 37 miles per hour. Scientists called the gourd’s connection to its stem “the perfect ballistic angle,” allowing it to propel its seeds great distances. When disturbed, the cucumber bursts open, flinging seeds along with a liquid that boosts their acceleration.
dementia
noun: a condition characterized by progressive impairment of intellectual capacity
From the headlines: Interactive “memory cafés” are helping dementia patients access memories and connect with their loved ones. At 600 locations in the U.S., people with Alzheimer’s and other kinds of cognitive impairment can hear speakers, practice art, listen to music, and participate in activities. A memory café at the National Comedy Center in New York focuses on humor to elicit laughter, memories, and emotional connections. Researchers call it a “brain workout” for people with dementia.
extradite
verb: to give up someone to another state or nation at its request
From the headlines: Ecuador extradited the leader of a drug gang to the United States, where he faces charges of drug and gun trafficking. Last year, José Adolfo Macías Villamar escaped an Ecuadorian prison where he was serving a 34-year sentence. Macías was recaptured in June and delivered into U.S. custody by Ecuador’s National Police. He pleaded not guilty in a Brooklyn, NY, courtroom on July 21 and will be detained until a September trial.
heritage
noun: something handed down from the past, as a tradition
From the headlines: Twenty-six sites were newly added to the UNESCO World Heritage list this week. The renowned list now includes over 1,200 locations recognized for their cultural or historical importance and safeguarded under international law. Among this year’s additions are Bavarian palaces, a Brazilian river canyon, and a sacred mountain in Malawi.
repurpose
verb: to adapt or utilize something for a new purpose
From the headlines: Some of the 55,000 tennis balls used annually at Wimbledon are being repurposed to provide shelter for the UK’s endangered harvest mice. While many balls are sold as souvenirs to support the Wimbledon Foundation, some others are donated to the Wildlife Trusts. Volunteers cut openings in the brightly colored balls and secure them to poles, and the mice later climb up to build their nests inside.
solicitous
adjective: eager, careful, or concerned
From the headlines: After being rejected by his mother, a rare Przewalski’s horse foal found care and comfort from a pony named Alice. The young horse, Marat, had fallen ill and was separated from his mother, who refused to accept him back when zookeepers attempted to return him to her. Alice, whose own newborn filly had recently died, quickly took to the orphaned foal, nuzzling him and allowing him to nurse. Because of the solicitous pony’s devoted care, the rare horse is now thriving.
spelunker
noun: a person who explores caves
From the headlines: Rescuers in Italy freed an injured spelunker who was trapped 130 feet underground. The 63-year-old man was exploring the Abisso Paperino cave system in northwestern Piedmont when he was hurt by falling rocks. A medical team climbed down into the cave to treat the man before rescuers widened the passage with explosives so he could be moved to the surface.
virtuoso
noun: someone who has special knowledge or skill in a field
From the headlines: A new study shows that most dogs are virtuosos at detecting and tracking the eggs of the invasive spotted lanternfly. Researchers at Virginia Tech found that pet pups are experienced in sniffing out the invasive insect and its offspring — nearly as adept at finding the elusive eggs as professional handlers and trained detection dogs. Canine noses, which are thousands of times more sensitive than those of humans, have a stunning knack for accurately identifying spotted lanternfly egg masses.
wily
adjective: crafty or cunning
From the headlines: A wily fox is blamed for stealing thirty-two shoes at Grand Teton National Park this year. In June, the Park Service posted a notice headlined “Wanted for grand theft footwear,” featuring a crafty cartoon fox with a shoe in its mouth. Officials now suspect that visitors are aiding and abetting the sneaky animal by leaving their shoes out for him; new posters scold, “Don’t bait wildlife with belongings.”
