Learn English Vocabulary - via Word of the Day

Quirk [ kwurk ][ noun, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (n.) an idiosyncrasy, whim, or peculiar mannerism or trait
2. (n.) a sharp turn or twist
3. (n.) an accident or vagary
4. (n.) a subterfuge, shift or quibble
5. (tr.v.) to form with a twist or curve
6. (adj.) formed with a curve or twist.USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :His quirks made him stand out in a crowd

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Tempo [ TEM-poh ][ noun ]MEANING :1. (music) speed at which music is played
2. pace, rhythm or speedUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :His music consisted of fast tempo accompanied by a foot-tapping beat.

Remorse [ ri-MAWRS ][ noun ]MEANING :regret, penitence, self-reproach or guilt owing to some wrong doingUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The remorse shown by the accused led the judge to reduce his sentence.

Succumb [ suh’-KUHM ][ intransitive verb ]MEANING :1. to yield or give in to superior force
2. to dieUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The soldier succumbed to his injuries due to heavy blood loss.

Tyranny [ TIR-uh'-nee ][ noun ]MEANING :1. oppressive or abusive use of power
2. undue harshness, strictness or severity
3. the rule of an absolute rulerUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The people rose against the tyranny of the dictator.

Spectral [ SPEK-truh’ l ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. ghostly
2. pertaining to, resembling or of a spectre
3. related to or of a spectrumUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The detective set up machines to record spectral activity in the vicinity.

Shrew [ shroo ][ noun, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. an ill-tempered woman known for her scolding
2. a small, mouse-like insectivorous mammal that has a long, pointed snout and soft furUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The shrew screeched the house down.

Tarn [ tahrn ][ noun ]MEANING :a small lake or pool esp. one that is in a cirqueUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The tarn was considered dangerous as many people had drowned in it.

Shoal [ shohl ][ noun, adjective, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (n.) the place where the river or sea is shallow
2. (adj.) shallow
3. (tr.v.) to cause to become shallowUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The lifeguard mentioned that the shoal was a safe place to swim.

Veneer [ vuh'-NEER ][ noun, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (n.) a thin layer of wood that is glued to the surface of inferior wood
2. (n.) facade or superficial or deceptive pleasing appearance or experience
3. (tr.v.) to overlay inferior wood with a thin sheet of wood for decoration
4. (tr.v.) to conceal or hide under superficial attractivenessUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The contractor decided to cover up the floor with veneer in order to reduce refurbishing costs.

Apartheid [ uh'-PAHRT-heyt, -hahyt ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a policy that was earlier practised in the republic of south africa to separate the non-white community from the white community
2. segregation or separationUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The practice of apartheid should be abolished.

Allegiance [ uh'-LEE-juh' ns ][ noun ]MEANING :1. the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a vassal, feudal lord, sovereign or country
2. loyalty or devotion to a person or causeUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He promised allegiance to the Nawab.

Apotheosis [ uh'-poth-ee-Oh-sis, ap-uh'-Thee-uh'-sis ][ noun ]MEANING :1. deification or elevation or exaltation to a divine stature
2. quintessence, epitome or glorified exampleUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Their love story became the apotheosis for generations to come.

Spasmodic [ spaz-MOD-ik ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. pertaining to or resembling spasms
2. intermittent, sporadic or fitful
3. excitable or extremely emotionalUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Spasmodic jerks seemed to rack his body.

Ambivalent [ am-BIV-uh'-luh' nt ][ adjective ]MEANING :exhibiting simultaneous, contradictory emotions, attitudes or feelingsUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Her ambivalent reactions confused everyone.

Sophist [ SOF-ist ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a philosopher, thinker or scholar
2. one who is skilled at reasoning or arguing adroitly or speciously
3. a teacher or philosopher in ancient greece who reasoned out or argued or speculated on theology, metaphysics, and the sciencesUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He considered himself to be a sophist.

Megalomania [ meg-uh’-loh-MEY-nee-uh’ ][ noun ]MEANING :a mental ailment characterised by delusions of wealth, power or greatnessUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :It would probably be correct to arrive at the conclusion that most great men suffer from a sense of megalomania.

Engrave [ en-GREYV ][ transitive verb ]MEANING :1. to etch or carve into the surface of a material
2. to print from such an engraved surface
3. to deeply etch or impress in memoryUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He engraved his vows on a tablet made of solid gold.

Amorous [ AM-er-uh' s ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. strongly disposed, attracted to or fond of love esp. making love
2. enamoured or being in love
3. suggestive of, indicating or expressing love
4. associated with or pertaining to loveUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :She ridiculed his amorous intentions towards her.

Irascible [ i-ras-uh-buh l ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. very irritable; short-tempered
2. marked or produced by anger or hot temperUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The irascible Sales Manager gave a dressing down to his team for not achieving their monthly targets.

Potpourri [ poh-poo'-REE POH-poo'-ree ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a mixture of spices and petals of fragrant flowers
2. a musical medley
3. a collection or a mixture ofUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :A gentle fragrance emanated from the jar of potpourri in her bedroom.

Conspicuous [ kuh’ n-SPIK-yoo-uh’ s ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. noticeable, observable or obvious
2. unusual, outstanding, striking or egregiousUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The conspicuous changes to the design included a change in the fabric used and an addition of decorative laces.

conglomerate [ n., adj. kuh'n-GLOM-er-it, kuh'ng-; v. kuh'n-GLOM-uh'-reyt, kuh'ng-  ][ noun, adjective, intransitive verb ]MEANING :1. (n.) a company that consists of a grouping of businesses from unrelated industries
2. (n.) something composed of heterogeneous materials or elements
3. (adj.) clustered or comprising of parts gathered into a mass
4. (adj.) having heterogeneous parts or elements
5. (tr. v.) to form into a mass
6. (intr. v.) to cause to form into a massUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The CEO declared that their company had become a conglomerate with the successful completion of the acquisition and diversification program.

Staccato [ stuh’-KAH-toh ][ noun, adjective, adverb ]MEANING :1. (adj.) composed of or marked by disconnected, disjointed, short and abrupt sounds
2. (adv.) in a staccato way or manner
3. (n.) a passage, performance or speech that is staccatoUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The staccato beep woke up everyone.

Abnegation [ AB-ni-gey-shuh'n][ noun ]MEANING :1. self denial in favour of the interests of others
2.the denial and rejection of a doctrine or belief; "abnegation of the Holy Trinity"USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The children were taught the value of abnegation from a young age.

Onomatopoeia [ on-uh’-mat-uh’-PEE-uh’, mah-tuh’  ][ noun ]MEANING :the formation or use of words that imitate natural sounds like buzz, crack, splash, etc.USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The word hiss can be said to be an onomatopoeia.

Punitive [ PYOO-ni-tiv  ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. inflicting punishment
2. punishingUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Punitive action was taken against the errant secretary of the housing society.

Antagonism [ an-TAG-uh'-niz-uh'm ][ noun ]MEANING :1. an active opposition
2. hostility that results in active resistanceUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The lawyer cross-examined the witness in such a way that the witness was overcome with antagonism.

Drowsiness [ DROU-zee-nis ][ noun ]MEANING :somnolence or sleepinessUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The drowsiness she experienced was a result of the medication.

Nefarious [ ni-FAIR-ee-uh’ s ][ adjective ]MEANING :blatantly wickedUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The clandestine sale of nuclear technology to Pakistan by China and other such nefarious activities is a matter of great concern for the international community.