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.
a forest of stunted trees near the timber line on a mountain
Krummholz refers to the twisted, stunted trees found near a mountain's timber line, shaped by wind and cold. The word comes from German, literally translated as "crooked wood," and it captures both the harshness of alpine life and nature's resilience. In every gnarled branch, krummholz tells a story of survival.
We hiked through the dense, wind-battered krummholz near the mountain's treeline.
surrounding; encompassing
Circumambient describes something that surrounds or envelops, such as air, fog, music, or even a mood. It's a subtle word that can be used for whatever fills the space around you. What's circumambient isn't always visible, but it's always present.
The campers walked along the trail through the cool, circumambient air.
the art or science of teaching
Pedagogy refers to the methods and mindsets behind effective teaching — not just what's taught, but also how it's delivered. It's a word used in education circles, but it also applies to the everyday challenge of helping others learn and understand. Whether it's in a classroom or a conversation, strong pedagogy is what makes learning stick.
The teacher studied various methods of instruction to improve her classroom pedagogy.
(of a classical building) wholly or partly open to the sky
Hypethral describes buildings that are open to the sky — often temples or courtyards with no roof overhead. The word comes from ancient Greek roots meaning "under the ether," evoking open air and natural light. In hypethral design, the sky becomes the finishing touch.
The ruins included a beautiful hypethral temple, allowing a view of the sky above.
a word or phrase from a mishearing of another word or phrase, especially in a song or poem
A mondegreen happens when a phrase or lyric is misheard, giving it a whole new (and often funny) meaning. Songs, poems, and familiar sayings are prime territory for these accidental twists. Mondegreens remind us that sometimes mistakes can be pretty entertaining.
Like many other fans, she thought the lyrics were "All the lonely Starbucks lovers" instead of "Got a long list of ex-lovers," but she later learned it was a mondegreen.
