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 make a crackling sound; crackle
To crepitate is to make a crackling or popping sound like dry leaves underfoot, a campfire at night, or popcorn in the microwave. The word is even used by doctors to describe creaky joints or wheezy breathing. So the next time something crinkles or crunches, you can sound scholarly and say it's crepitating.
Logs stacked in the fireplace crepitated during the long winter evening.
to insert between; to mix
To interlard is to insert or mix one thing into another. Originally referring to stuffing bits of fat into lean meat, the word now carries a more figurative flavor. Whether you're seasoning your emails with emojis or peppering a speech with Shakespearean flourishes, a little interlarding can go a long way.
He liked to interlard his speeches with humorous anecdotes.
capable of shaping diverse elements or concepts into a unified whole
Esemplastic describes the power to shape diverse elements into a unified whole, like bringing together art from different cultures and eras to make a perfectly curated exhibition. Whether you're writing an epic story or planning a funky party, there's something magical about having an esemplastic touch that pulls everything together.
The author's esemplastic style allowed her to weave together disparate storylines into a cohesive and impactful novel.
a track or trail, esp. that of a wild animal pursued as game
A spoor is a track or trail left by a wild animal, especially the kind that might be useful to a hunter or predator. Think paw prints in fresh snow or broken twigs in the forest, each one a clue to what's run by. Next time you're out in the wild, you might see the spoor of a mystery animal!
The hunter followed the spoor of the deer through the dense forest.
large or capital letters
Majuscule refers to large or capital letters. Think of titles, headings, and even dialogue where someone is shouting. Borrowed from French, it's closely related to words like "major" and "majestic." Whenever you want your words to stand tall, majuscule does the job.
The ancient manuscript featured beautiful majuscule lettering.
