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Word of the Day

Word of the day

roux

[ roo ] [ ru ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

a cooked mixture of butter or other fat and flour used to thicken sauces, soups, and other dishes.

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Why Dictionary.com chose roux

More about roux

  • Roux entered English around 1805–15.
  • Roux was borrowed from French, and comes from the phrase (beurre) roux, which means “brown (butter).”
  • Roux came from the Latin word russus, “red-brown, red-haired,” which is similar to ruber, “red.”

EXAMPLES OF ROUX

  • The chef prepared a velvety smooth sauce by slowly whisking a roux made with equal parts butter and flour into the simmering broth.
  • The secret to the perfect gravy lies in achieving just the right color and consistency of the roux.
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Word of the day

wunderkind

[ wuhn-der-kind ] [ ˈwʌn dərˌkɪnd ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

a wonder child or child prodigy.

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Why Dictionary.com chose wunderkind

More about wunderkind

  • Wunderkind entered English around 1890–95.
  • Wunderkind was adopted from German.
  • Wunderkind, in German, is composed of the words Wunder, “wonder,” and Kind, “child.”
  • Kind is also in another German loanword, kindergarten, which literally translates as “children’s garden.”

EXAMPLES OF WUNDERKIND

  • The music industry was abuzz with talks of a new rising star, a wunderkind whose debut album took the charts by storm.
  • The novel was written by a literary wunderkind who crafted captivating stories at a remarkably young age.
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Word of the day

gauche

[ gohsh ] [ goʊʃ ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

adjective

lacking social grace, sensitivity, or acuteness; awkward; tactless.

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Why Dictionary.com chose gauche

More about gauche

  • Gauche entered English around 1745–55.
  • Gauche comes from the French word meaning “awkward.”
  • Gauche in French, is a derivative of the verb gauchir, “to turn, veer,” which has Germanic origins.

EXAMPLES OF GAUCHE

  • Trying to fit in with his well-mannered colleagues, he couldn’t help but feel gauche in their refined presence.
  • Despite her best efforts, her gauche attempt at small talk only made the conversation more awkward.
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