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 friendly talk; chat
A coze is a warm, friendly chat — the kind of easy conversation you share over cocoa or by a crackling hearth. English borrowed it in the 1800s from a French word for "chatting," trading stuffy parlors for comfy armchairs. Get ready to grab your bestie and settle in for a nice coze!
reddish or brownish red
Rufous is a warm reddish-brown shade you'll notice on fox fur, hummingbird feathers, and crisp autumn leaves. Derived from one of Latin's many words for "red," the term shows up constantly in bird guides when a patch of plumage looks more burgundy than brown. Keep your binoculars ready on your next nature walk and see if you can spot any rufous-feathered friends!
gladly; willingly
Lief means "gladly or willingly," as in you'd as lief curl up with a book on your day off. The adverb traces back to an Old English word meaning "dear, valued, beloved, or pleasant." So go ahead and add a little old-world charm to your modern-day chat!
causing or tending to cause sleep
Soporific describes anything so soothing (or boring) that it sends you drifting off to dreamland. English speakers nabbed it from the Latin word for "sleep" in the 1600s, and it's been yawning its way through the language ever since. Ever had a lecture that doubled as a lullaby? That's soporific!
a small, rocky island
A skerry is a small, rocky islet that barely peeks above the waves. Nautical charts around Scotland and Scandinavia are dotted with these potential hazards, some visible only at low tide. Keep your eyes peeled for a jagged skerry!
