Word of the Day
Word of the day
piranha
noun
a small carnivorous freshwater fish native to South America
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Why Dictionary.com chose piranha
More about piranha
- First recorded in 1865–70.
- Ultimately from Tupi (a native Brazilian language) pirãîa, meaning “toothed fish.”
- English gets this word through Portuguese.
EXAMPLES OF PIRANHA
- The field trip group watched in fascination as the aquarium’s piranha darted between rocks.
- Piranha are native to the Amazon Basin and known for their carnivorous disposition.
mazurka
noun
a lively Polish dance with a moderately quick triple meter
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Why Dictionary.com chose mazurka
More about mazurka
- First recorded in 1810–20.
- From Polish Mazurka, meaning “something from Mazovia,” a region of northern Poland.
- The Polish composer Frédéric Chopin famously wrote piano pieces based on the mazurka.
EXAMPLES OF MAZURKA
- They ended the concert with a lively mazurka that brought the crowd to its feet.
- Janice composed a modern piece inspired by the rhythm of a mazurka.
lucid
adjective
characterized by clear perception or understanding
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Why Dictionary.com chose lucid
More about lucid
- First recorded in 1575–85.
- From Latin lūcidus, meaning “clear, full of light.”
EXAMPLES OF LUCID
- His memory of getting his first bike remained lucid even years later.
- The chemist offered a lucid summary of the complex experiment.
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