Merriam-Webster's Daily Buzzword

turnpike

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EDT

The Buzzword of the Day for 06/20/2013 is:

turnpike (noun)

\TERN-pyke\

What does it mean?

1 : a road one must pay to use

2 : a main road

How do you use it?

Even driving on the turnpike, it took us three hours to get to our cousin's house.

Are you a word wiz?

The word "turnpike" did not originally refer to a toll road. What do you think "turnpike" meant when English speakers first used it in the Middle Ages?

A. a railroad track

B. a spiked barrier

C. a merry-go-round

D. a circular pasture

Check your answer on Word Central.

proliferate

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EDT

The Buzzword of the Day for 06/19/2013 is:

proliferate (verb)

\pruh-LIF-uh-rayt\

What does it mean?

: to grow or increase rapidly

How do you use it?

An extended spell of damp weather had caused several species of wild mushrooms to proliferate in Mandy's backyard.

Are you a word wiz?

Which one of these sentences do you think uses the word "proliferate" correctly?

A. Rabbits are often held up as an example of an animal species that proliferates quickly.

B. Ancient Greek philosophers Aristotle and Plato have a long reputation as proliferate thinkers.

C. Many people still proliferate fruits and vegetables for later use by storing them in airtight cans and jars.

D. At the beach, both Olivia and her brother Caleb both slathered on sunscreen to proliferate against the sun's ultraviolet radiation.

Check your answer on Word Central.

scuba

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EDT

The Buzzword of the Day for 06/18/2013 is:

scuba (noun)

\SKOO-buh\

What does it mean?

: equipment used for breathing while swimming under water

How do you use it?

Camp Water Adventure has instructors who offer classes in the use of scuba gear.

Are you a word wiz?

"Scuba" was created from the first letters of the words in the phrase "self-contained underwater breathing apparatus." What is the special name for a word formed that way?

A. acronym

B. synonym

C. eponym

D. homonym

Check your answer on Word Central.

rapt

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EDT

The Buzzword of the Day for 06/17/2013 is:

rapt (adjective)

\RAPT\

What does it mean?

: showing complete delight or interest

How do you use it?

I wasn't certain I would like the author's new book series, but after only a few pages, I was utterly rapt and couldn't put the book down.

Are you a word wiz?

This common meaning of "rapt" isn't its only meaning. What is the original meaning of "rapt"?

A. "bound tightly"

B. "to knock loudly on (something)"

C. "lifted up and carried away"

D. "cuckoo" (the bird)

Check your answer on Word Central.

restaurant

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EDT

The Buzzword of the Day for 06/16/2013 is:

restaurant (noun)

\RESS-tuh-rahnt\

What does it mean?

: a business place where meals or refreshments may be bought

How do you use it?

Courtney has been helping out in her family's catering business for several years, but her dream is to own a restaurant of her own.

Are you a word wiz?

Only one of the answers below explains how a place that serves food came to be called a "restaurant." We made the rest up. Which answer do you think is the correct explanation of where the word "restaurant" comes from?

A. It comes from the name of Alberto Restarante, a famous chef.

B. It comes from the French word meaning "to restore."

C. It comes from the name of the town in which the first restaurant opened.

D. It comes from a Latin phrase meaning "relax and enjoy."

Check your answer on Word Central.

thrill

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EDT

The Buzzword of the Day for 06/15/2013 is:

thrill (verb)

\THRIL\

What does it mean?

1 : to experience or cause to experience a sudden sharp feeling of excitement

2 : vibrate, tremble

How do you use it?

After performing at the White House with her school chorus, Natalie felt that nothing would thrill her again in quite the same way.

Are you a word wiz?

Today when we speak of being thrilled, we are referring to a very pleasing experience, but the root word that gave us "thrill" referred to something unpleasant. What do you think the root of "thrill" meant?

A. to tire

B. to scold

C. to forget

D. to pierce

Check your answer on Word Central.

alarm

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EDT

The Buzzword of the Day for 06/14/2013 is:

alarm (noun)

\uh-LAHRM\

What does it mean?

1 : a warning of danger

2 : a device that warns or signals (as by a bell, buzzer, or whistle)

3 : the fear caused by a sudden sense of danger

How do you use it?

"The Lion thought it might be as well to frighten the Wizard, so he gave a large, loud roar, which was so fierce and dreadful that Toto jumped away from him in alarm and tipped over the screen that stood in a corner." (L. Frank Baum, _The Wonderful Wizard of Oz_)

Are you a word wiz?

Today we usually think of an alarm as a loud noise that wakens us or warns us of fire or some other danger. But its first use was very different. How do you think the root of "alarm" was used?

A. as a call to arms

B. as a cry for help

C. as a cheer of victory

D. as a command to work

Check your answer on Word Central.

offend

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EDT

The Buzzword of the Day for 06/13/2013 is:

offend (verb)

\uh-FEND\

What does it mean?

1 : to do wrong : sin

2 : to cause to be angry or annoyed : displease

How do you use it?

She carefully worded her text message so as not to offend anyone.

Are you a word wiz?

Which word do you think is a synonym of "offend"?

A. assert

B. convey

C. exude

D. affront

Check your answer on Word Central.

luggage

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EDT

The Buzzword of the Day for 06/12/2013 is:

luggage (noun)

\LUG-ij\

What does it mean?

: something that is lugged; especially : suitcases or traveling bags for a traveler's belongings : baggage

How do you use it?

Whenever she travels to another country, Stacey always takes along a spare piece of luggage to hold souvenirs on the way back.

Are you a word wiz?

People have been lugging around their belongings for thousands of years. But what do you think was happening around the time that the word "luggage" made its first known appearance in English?

A. Marco Polo was traveling through Asia (late 1200s).

B. Sir Francis Drake was making his last sea voyage (late 1500s).

C. Charles Darwin was sailing around the world aboard the HMS Beagle (1830s).

D. Amelia Earhart was attempting an around-the�world flight (1930s).

Check your answer on Word Central.

murky

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EDT

The Buzzword of the Day for 06/11/2013 is:

murky (adjective)

\MER-kee\

What does it mean?

1 : very dark or gloomy

2 : foggy, misty

3 : difficult to understand

How do you use it?

"The tunnel was damp and murky, and all around him there was the curious bittersweet smell of fresh peach. The floor was soggy under his knees, the walls were wet and sticky, and peach juice was dripping from the ceiling." (Roald Dahl, _James and the Giant Peach_)

Are you a word wiz?

Author Roald Dahl chose the word "murky" in the sentence above, but "murky" has some synonyms that could have communicated basically the same meaning. Which of the following do you think is one of these?

A. calm

B. smooth

C. dim

D. wobbly

Check your answer on Word Central.

discover

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EDT

The Buzzword of the Day for 06/10/2013 is:

discover (verb)

\diss-KUV-er\

What does it mean?

1 : to make known or visible (as something secret or hidden)

2 a : to obtain sight or knowledge of for the first time b : to detect the presence of : find c : find out

How do you use it?

"Just yesterday she had discovered that by timing it exactly she had just enough time to jump in the dumbwaiter and slide the door closed before the maid completed one of her frequent trips up and down the stairs." (Louise Fitzhugh, _Harriet the Spy_)

Are you a word wiz?

Let's see if you can find out the history of "discover." From which root word do you think "discover" originates?

A. Middle English "diggen," meaning "to dig"

B. Latin "cooperire," meaning "to cover"

C. Middle French "verdoyer," meaning "to be green"

D. Greek "kosmein," meaning "to arrange"

Check your answer on Word Central.