Word of the Day
Learn a new word every day! The Dictionary.com team of language experts carefully selects each Word of the Day to add some panache to your vocabulary.
difficult to comprehend
Something abstruse is difficult to understand, often because it's highly technical or unusually complex. You might be inclined to use the word for dense academic writing or advanced mathematics. An abstruse explanation leaves everyone but the experts scratching their heads.
The professor's lecture on quantum mechanics was so abstruse that most students left the room confused.
a sequin, rhinestone, or other glittery ornamentation on a garment
Diamanté is glittering ornamentation, such as rhinestones or sequins, added to clothing or accessories. Despite the sparkle, diamanté isn't made from real diamonds; the effect comes from imitation stones that catch the light. A touch of diamanté can make an outfit shine from across the room.
Every tiny diamanté on her gown caught the light and sparkled as she walked into the gala.
fond of the company of others; sociable
A gregarious person genuinely enjoys the company of others. The word is related to the Latin term for a flock, reflecting its connection to social groups. Just one gregarious friend can turn a quiet gathering into a lively one.
Being so gregarious, the golden retriever ran up to greet every person at the park.
to interlace or interweave, especially branches or vines of trees or hedges
To pleach is to weave together living branches or vines so they grow into a decorative structure. Gardeners have practiced pleaching for centuries to shape hedges and walkways. A row of pleached trees brings both order and beauty to a landscape.
The gardener spent the afternoon learning how to pleach flexible willow branches into a living fence.
a smart aleck who makes overly clever, obnoxious remarks
A wisenheimer is someone who can't resist making smug or overly clever remarks. The word became popular in American English as a playful label for the class clown or wise guy. Every group seems to have at least one wisenheimer who's always ready with a comeback.
Every time the teacher asked a question, the wisenheimer in the back row had a sarcastic comment.
