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.
to torment with something desirable that is just out of reach
To tantalize is to torment with something just out of reach. Its roots are mythical, coming straight from Tantalus, the Greek figure punished with unreachable food and water. If you've ever had a snack get stuck in the office vending machine, you know the feeling.
a set of bells hung in a tower and played using a keyboard or pedals
A carillon is a set of bells hung in a tower, played using a keyboard or pedals. You can find carillons in towers at churches, colleges, or city hall buildings. This word, which is borrowed from French, is sure to be music to your ears!
ridiculous, pointless, or nonsensical
Cockamamie sounds ridiculous, and that's exactly what it means! This delightfully silly word started out as slang for "decal," an image you can stick to something. It's no surprise, then, that this word has a way of sticking with you.
behavior or performance like that of a traveling knight
Errantry refers to behavior that's like a traveling knight. This poetic word comes from a Latin term meaning "journey." It's a fitting word to describe your wanderlust (armor optional).
to bark or yelp noisily or foolishly
Kyoodle means "to bark or yelp noisily," imitating the sound of a dog. It's potentially related to another canine word: coyote. When you're trying to sleep in, a kyoodle is the last thing you want to hear (besides maybe a leaf blower).
