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Word meanings, A to Z.

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A

  • Law & Everyday Life

    ALIBIS

    AL-uh-byzplural noun

    Accounts of being elsewhere — or excuses.

  • Names & Typography

    arial

    AIR-ee-ulnoun

    A familiar sans-serif typeface name, sometimes confused with Ariel.

B

  • Language & Culture

    blather

    BLATH-ernoun, verb

    Long, foolish talk that says very little.

C

  • Shapes & Symbols

    chevron

    SHEV-ronnoun

    A V-shaped pattern or insignia.

E

  • Money & Law

    escrow

    ES-krohnoun, verb

    Money held by a neutral third party until a deal is done.

G

  • Travel & Places

    gondola

    GON-duh-luhnoun

    A long, narrow rowing boat, best known from Venice.

H

  • Objects & Symbols

    horseshoe

    HORS-shoonoun

    A U-shaped metal shoe for a horse’s hoof.

K

  • Fascinating Words

    kaleidoscope

    kuh-LY-duh-skohpnoun

    An ever-changing pattern of colors.

M

  • Language & Culture

    minion

    MIN-yunnoun

    A subordinate follower or obedient helper.

  • Food & Drink

    muffin

    MUF-innoun

    A small baked bread or cake, with different styles in Britain and America.

N

  • Nature & Language

    nettle

    NET-ulnoun, verb

    A stinging plant, and a sharp reaction.

P

  • Commonly Misunderstood

    pique

    PEEKnoun, verb

    A feeling of irritation — or curiosity.

  • Animals & Culture

    poodle

    POO-dulnoun

    A curly-coated dog breed; figuratively, a compliant follower.

  • Language & Culture

    puppet

    PUP-itnoun

    A figure controlled by strings, hands or rods.

S

  • Language & Culture

    stooge

    STOOJnoun

    A person who does another's bidding, often to their own cost.

  • Food & Origins

    sweetbread

    SWEET-brednoun

    Not bread at all — a gland, eaten as food.

V

  • Travel & Places

    vaporetto

    vah-poh-RET-tohnoun

    A public water bus that carries people along Venice's canals.

W

  • Animals & Nature

    walrus

    WAWL-rusnoun

    A large tusked marine mammal.