Word of the Day

Something friable breaks apart with very little pressure instead of staying firm. Geologists and bakers alike encounter materials that crumble with ease, though for different reasons. A friable texture can be either useful or inconvenient depending on what you're working with.

A demulcent is a medicinal substance that calms irritated tissue, particularly in the throat or digestive tract. Many traditional remedies rely on ingredients that coat and soothe rather than aggressively treat a symptom. Sometimes a demulcent offers exactly the comfort that's needed.

To educe is to bring something forth, such as an idea or emotion. The word comes from a Latin verb meaning "to lead out," making it a fitting choice when something is drawn into the open rather than created from scratch. A thoughtful question can educe an answer that was there all along.

Every time your eyes dart from one object to another, they're making a saccade. Rather than gliding smoothly across a scene, they make countless tiny jumps every day as they gather visual information. Even though you rarely notice a saccade happening, your gaze is constantly on the move.

Scuttlebutt is that unofficial information that circulates before the facts are fully known. The word originated aboard ships, where sailors gathered around a cask of drinking water called a "scuttlebutt" to chat and exchange news. The scuttlebutt isn't always accurate, but it can be more entertaining than the official story.