Learn English Vocabulary - via Word of the Day

Jibe [  jahyb ][ noun, intransitive verb, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (intr.v.) to shift from side to side as a fore-and-aft sail when running before the wind
2. (intr.v.) to agree or accord
3. (tr.v.) to be the cause of such a shift
4. (n.) an act or instance of jibingUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The findings of the report did not jibe with the statements made by the parliamentary speaker.

Improvise [ IM-pruh'-vahyz ][ intransitive verb, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (tr. v.) extemporize or perform without previous preparation
2. (tr. v.) to provide from what is available
3. (intr. v.) to perform something on the spur of the moment or without previously preparing for it
4. (intr. v.) to make do with what is availableUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The professor told the student that he should improvise instead of complaining the lack of proper equipment to conduct the experiment.

Expository [ ik-SPOZ-i-tawr-ee ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. serving to explain
2. pertaining to a public show or exhibition
3. characteristic of being set forthUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Despite the expository nature of the lecture, only a few students were able to understand.

Scrutinize [ SKROOT-n-ahyz ][ intransitive verb, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (tr. v.) to examine in detail or observe careful
2. (tr. v.) to inspect critically or with attention to details
3. (intr. v.) to conduct a detailed examination ofUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The lawyer told him not to sign until he had scrutinized the document.

Sacrilegious [ sak-ruh'-LIJ-uh's ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. pertaining to or involving violation of anything sacred
2. guilty of blasphemy
3. contrary to what is held to be sacredUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He outraged their religious sentiment by his sacrilegious behaviour.

Scion [ SAHY-uh'n ][ noun ]MEANING :1. an heir or descendant
2. a twig containing buds for grafting or a shootUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He claims to be the scion of a mafia Don.

Genre [ ZHAHN-ruh' ][ noun, adjective ]MEANING :1.(n.) a category of artistic work which has a particular form or technique
2. (n.) a particular type or style
3. (adj.) pertaining to a distinctive literary typeUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He was adjudged best author of the year in the genre of poems for children.

Eclectic [ i-KLEK-tik ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. selecting from a variety of sources or styles
2. made up of a selection from different sources
3. adopting individual elements from a variety of sourcesUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Being a fashion designer, he adopted an eclectic dress code that was popular with the youth.

Impartial [ im-PAHR-shuh'l ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. not partial
2. fair and just
3. unprejudiced or unbiasedUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :After hearing the arguments of both parties the mediator said he had come to an impartial decision.

Gustatory [ GUHS-tuh'-tawr-ee][ adjective ]MEANING :1. pertaining to the sense of taste
2. relating to taste or tastingUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The aroma of spicy food was a gustatory stimulation for the hungry people.

Perennial [ puh’-REN-ee-uh’ l ][ noun, adjective ]MEANING :1. (adj.) existing throughout the year
2. (adj.) persisting for a very long time
3. (adj.) recurrent or perpetual
4. (n.) a plant that is perennial in nature
5. (n.) a recurrent phenomenon or thingUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The perennial tropical climate of Florida makes it an attractive destination for tourists from more temperate regions.

Embroil [ em-BROIL ][ transitive verb ]MEANING :1. to entangle or involve in contention
2. to bring into discord or conflict
3. to involve in argument or hostile actionsUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The company was embroiled in a controversy regarding the bribery of customs officials and the under invoicing of imported machinery.

Mirth [ murth ][ noun ]MEANING :gaiety, happiness or amusementUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Her mirth on seeing his downfall became evident from the sadistic expression on her face.

Besmirch [ bi-SMURCH ][ transitive verb ]MEANING :1. to dirty, soil or tarnish
2. to dishonour, stain or sullyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :His favourite tactics are to besmirch the name of his adversary.

Impassive [ im-PAS-iv ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. apathetic, expressionless or insensible
2. placid, serene or calmUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The Headmaster's impassive face did not reveal what punishment he had in store for the errant school boy.

Bristling [ BRIS-uh'ling ][ verb ]MEANING :1. to become erect or stiff like bristles
2. to be aroused
3. to become irritatedUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He was bristling with rage after the manager of the department store refused to acknowledge his complaint.

Jade [  jeyd ][ noun, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (n.) a green-coloured, hard gemstone or its green colour
2. (n.) a woman of ill repute
3. (n.) a horse that's worn-out
4. (tr.v.) to wear out or cause to make something worn-outUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The statue was an antique carved from the finest jade.

Inane [ i-NEYN ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. vacant, insubstantial or empty
2. silly, stupid or foolishUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The journalist's inane questions irritated the visiting Head of state.

Wistful [ WIST-fuh'l ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. characterized by longing or yearning
2. wishful thinking
3. pensive or forlornUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Because of the intense pressure of his work, he had a wistful desire to return to the happy and carefree days of his childhood.

Solemnity [ suh'-LEM-ni-tee ][ noun ]MEANING :1. gravity or impressiveness
2. a formality that renders an act or document validUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The fun and frolic of the celebration contrasted with the solemnity of the prayer service.

Catapult [ KAT-uh'-puhlt ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a slingshot
2. a mechanism used in medieval times to propel large stones or spears
3. a machine for launching aircraft at a speed sufficient for flightUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :They hunted quail with their catapults.

Untoward [ uhn-TAWRD, -TOHRD ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. unfavourable
2. out of the ordinaryUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He leads a charmed life, nothing untoward ever happens to him.

Alchemy [ AL-kuh'-mee ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a medieval chemical science and speculative philosophy having as its aims, transmuting baser metals into gold, the discovery of a universal cure for disease and an elixir of longevity
2. any magical power or process by which a common substance can be transmuted into a substance of great valueUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The art of alchemy was subtle and often misunderstood.

Corporeal [ kawr-PAWR-ee-uh’ l, -POHR- ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. bodily or physical
2. material or not intangibleUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Corporeal punishment has been banned in schools.

Pensive [ PEN-siv ][ adjective ]MEANING :thoughtful especially when sad or gloomyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The traumatic incident made the boy pensive for many months.

Incinerate [ in-SIN-uh'-reyt ][ intransitive verb, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (tr. v.) to cause to be burnt to ash
2. (tr. v.) to cremate
3. (intr. v.) to burn completelyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The fire department was unable to control the blaze and by the following morning everything in the go-down was incinerated.

Abrasive [ uh'-BREY-siv ][ noun, adjective ]MEANING :1. material used for grinding or polishing
2. causing wearing away by grinding
3. overly aggressiveUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He brought a shine to the dusty old cabinet by using an abrasive.

Unruly [ uhn-ROO-lee  ][ adjective ]MEANING :not submissive; difficult to discipline or controlUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :A gang of unruly teenagers stoned the old woman’s cottage and broke all her windowpanes.

Implore [ im-PLAWR ][ intransitive verb, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (tr. v.) to beseech or beg urgently
2. (tr. v.) entreat or appeal to in prayer
3. (intr. v.) to make an earnest appealUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The condemned prisoners implored the King for mercy.

Vagabond [ VAG-uh'-bond ][ noun, adjective ]MEANING :1. (n.) a person who travels from place to place and has no permanent home
2. a worthless or irresponsible person
3. (adj.) nomadic or wandering without settling anywhereUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :If you want to see the world travel in style, not like a vagabond.

Deference [ DEF-er-uh'ns ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a respectful submission
2. yielding to the judgment
3. respectful regardUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :In deference to the wishes of the late founder of the company, 1% of the company's net profit was donated to charity.