Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2024/April

2024
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1

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oo oo aa aa interj

(onomatopoeia) Used to represent the sound of a monkey's cry. Happy birthday—and April Fools’ Day—Jane Goodall! The English anthropologist and primatologist was born 90 years ago on 3 April 1934.

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2

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if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys proverb

(British, informal) Offering a low payment or salary will not attract skilled workers or employees. Happy birthday, Jane Goodall! The English anthropologist and primatologist was born 90 years ago on 3 April 1934.

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3

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the organ grinder, not the monkey n

(idiomatic) Synonym of organ grinder (“the person who is in charge, rather than a lackey or representative; the person truly responsible for another's actions”) Happy birthday, Jane Goodall! The English anthropologist and primatologist was born on this day 90 years ago in 1934.

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4

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anoxia n

(ecology, pathology) A condition in which a body tissue or an environment is severely or totally deprived of oxygen; severe hypoxia. World Health Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to draw attention to global health issues, is on 7 April. It marks the founding of the World Health Organization on that day in 1948.

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5

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cough v

(transitive) Sometimes followed by up: to force (something) out of the lungs or throat by pushing air from the lungs through the glottis (causing a short, explosive sound), and out through the mouth. To cause (oneself or something) to be in a certain condition in the manner described in sense 1.1. To express (words, etc.) in the manner describe in sense 1.1. (figurative) To surrender (information); to confess. (originally US, slang) Chiefly followed by up: to give up or hand over (something); especially, to pay up (money). (intransitive) To push air from the lungs through the glottis (causing a short, explosive sound) and out through the mouth, usually to expel something blocking or irritating the airway. To make a noise like a cough. (originally US, slang) To surrender information; to confess, to spill the beans. cough n A sudden, often involuntary expulsion of air from the lungs through the glottis (causing a short, explosive sound), and out through the mouth. A bout of repeated coughing (verb sense 2.1); also, a medical condition that causes one to cough. (figurative) A noise or sound like a cough (sense 1). cough interj Used to represent the sound of a cough (noun sense 1), especially when focusing attention on a following utterance, often an attribution of blame or a euphemism: ahem. World Health Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to draw attention to global health issues, is on 7 April. It marks the founding of the World Health Organization on that day in 1948.

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6

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dyspnea n (American spelling, Canadian spelling)

(pathology) Difficult or laboured respiration; shortness of breath. World Health Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to draw attention to global health issues, is on 7 April. It marks the founding of the World Health Organization on that day in 1948.

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7

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under the knife prepositional phrase

(informal) Chiefly preceded by a form of go: undergoing a surgical procedure; into surgery. Today is World Health Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to draw attention to global health issues. It marks the founding of the World Health Organization on this day in 1948.

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8

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sequela n

(pathology) Chiefly in the plural: a condition or disease which follows chronologically after an earlier one, being either partly or wholly caused by it, or made possible by it. (by extension, formal) That which follows; a consequence, an effect. (rare) People who adhere to the opinions or teachings of another; followers. Yesterday was World Health Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to draw attention to global health issues. It marks the founding of the World Health Organization on that day in 1948.

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9

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force majeure n

An overwhelming force. (law) An unavoidable circumstance, especially one that prevents someone from fulfilling a legal (usually contractual) obligation. The tongue-in-cheek International Be Kind to Lawyers Day created by Steve Hughes falls on this day in 2024, the second Tuesday of April.

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10

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baffle v

(transitive) To confuse or perplex (someone) completely; to bewilder, to confound, to puzzle. (archaic) To defeat, frustrate, or thwart (someone or their efforts, plans, etc.); to confound, to foil. (specifically, nautical) Of weather or wind: to hinder or prevent (a ship or its crew) from advancing. (technology) To dampen, muffle, restrain, or otherwise control (a fluid, or waves travelling through a fluid such as light or sound). (obsolete) To deceive or hoodwink (someone); to gull. Followed by away or out: to deprive of (something) through cheating or manipulation; also (followed by out of), to deprive of something by cheating or manipulating (someone). (intransitive) To expend effort or struggle in vain. (obsolete) To argue or complain in a petty or trivial manner; to quibble. [...]

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11

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Promethean adj

Of or pertaining to Prometheus, a demigod in Greek mythology who created mortals from clay and stole fire from Zeus to give to them, for which Zeus punished him by chaining him to a rock and having an eagle feed on his liver which grew back each night; he was later rescued by Heracles. Boldly creative, inventive, or original; skilful, talented; also, recklessly daring; audacious. Of a Romantic literary hero: defying traditional moral categories; rebelling against a larger order; persecuted but dauntless. (rare) Of or pertaining to the promethea silkmoth (Callosamia promethea). Promethean n One with the qualities of Prometheus, or who acts in a Promethean manner (audaciously, creatively, etc.). (also attributive, historical) A kind of lucifer match consisting of a glass tube containing sulfuric acid coated on the outside with a flammable mixture of potassium chlorate and sugar and wrapped in paper rolls; the match was lit by crushing the tube with pliers, causing the acid to react with and ignite the flammable components. This type of match was superseded by the friction match which was lit by rubbing against a rough surface. British director Ridley Scott’s film Prometheus premiered on this day in Paris in 2012.

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12

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steely-eyed missile man n

(US, astronautics, often humorous, slang) An astronaut or engineer who quickly comes up with a solution to a difficult problem while under extreme pressure. Today is the International Day of Human Space Flight, which is recognized by the United Nations to celebrate the start of the space era, to reaffirm space science and technology’s contributions towards achieving sustainable development goals, and to emphasize the need to maintain outer space for peaceful purposes. It commemorates the first human space flight by the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, which took place on this day in 1961.

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13

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archaic smile n

(Ancient Greece, art, sculpture, historical) A smiling facial expression commonly found on Greek statues of the Archaic period (circa 700–500 B.C.E.). April 15, the day the Italian Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452, is declared by the International Association of Art to be World Art Day to celebrate the fine arts.

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14

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tread the boards v (intransitive, idiomatic, dated or humorous)

To work as an theatre actor. (figuratively) To write plays for the theatre. The English actor and theatre director Sir John Gielgud was born on this day 120 years ago in 1904.

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15

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airprox n

(aviation) A near miss between aircraft. The Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS), the United States Federal Aviation Administration’s confidential reporting system for aircraft near misses or other close-call events which aims to improve aviation safety, was established on this day in 1976.

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16

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sinking feeling n

An unpleasant feeling in the abdomen caused by hunger or, especially, apprehension or uneasiness. Yesterday was the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, which occurred on 15 April 1912 after the ship struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean.

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17

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phantasmal adj

Of or pertaining to, or having the characteristics of, a phantasm (“something seen but having no physical reality”); imaginary, unreal. Of or pertaining to, or having the characteristics of, a phantom (“apparition or ghost”); ghostly, spectral. (parapsychology) Of or pertaining to, or having the characteristics of, a phantasm (“perception or vision of a living or dead person who is not physically present, often through telepathy”).

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18

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bête noire n

Someone or something that is unbearable and so particularly avoided or disliked; the bane of someone's existence; an object of aversion; an anathema.

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19

20

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cratedigger n

(music, slang) A person who habitually looks through crates of vinyl records at music shops, especially in pursuit of interesting or rare records. Today, the third Saturday of April in 2024, is Record Store Day, which celebrates and promotes independently owned record stores.

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21

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Rome wasn't built in a day proverb

(idiomatic) It takes a long time to create something complicated or impressive. Rome is traditionally regarded as having been founded on this day around 750 B.C.E., when the rural Parilia festival was held.

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22

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volcanic winter n

(climatology) A reduction in global temperatures caused by volcanic ash and droplets of sulfuric acid obscuring the Sun and raising Earth's albedo (increasing the reflection of solar radiation) after a large, particularly explosive volcanic eruption. Today is Earth Day, a day for observing the need to protect the Earth.

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23

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fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva n

(medical genetics) A very rare, disabling genetic disorder of the connective tissue in which fibrous tissue (including ligaments, muscles, and tendons) ossifies (“transforms into bone”) when damaged. Today is Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva Awareness Day, which marks the day in 2006 when the discovery that a mutation in the ACVR1 gene causes the disease was announced.

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24

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slings and arrows n (plural only) (idiomatic)

Hardships or adverse circumstances. Harsh criticism or personal attacks. Yesterday, April 23, is traditionally celebrated as the birthdate of the English playwright William Shakespeare who was born 460 years ago in 1564—the term slings and arrows is from the second quarto of Shakespeare’s play Hamlet (written 1599–1601 and first published 420 years ago in 1604). Today is the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, which is recognized by the United Nations to emphasize the importance of multilateralism and international co-operation to promote peace and security, development, and human rights.

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25

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runholder n

(Australia, New Zealand) A person who holds (leases or owns) a run (“rural landholding for farming”), especially one for raising sheep. Today is ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand, which commemorates the contributions and sacrifices of those who have served in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.

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26

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brainchild n

(informal) A creation of one's brain; an original idea or innovation of a person or group of people, an organization, etc. Today is World Intellectual Property Day, which is commemorated by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to raise awareness about the impact of intellectual property in everyday life, and to celebrate creativity and the contributions of creators and innovators towards the development of societies. The WIPO Convention entered into force on this day in 1970.

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27

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floaty adj

Tending to float on a liquid or to rise in air or a gas; buoyant. (nautical, archaic) Of a ship: having a shallow draft (“the depth from the waterline to the bottom of a vessel's hull”), and thus drawing less (that is, floating higher in) water. (figurative) Of music: light and relaxing. Of an object: light and flimsy or soft; specifically, of a dress: lightweight, so as to rise away from the body when the wearer is moving. Of a person: feeling calm, dreamy, happy, etc., as if floating in the air. Of speech or writing: overly complicated or elaborate; flowery, grandiloquent. floaty n (informal) A particle of food, etc., found floating in liquid. (chiefly US) A lilo (“inflatable air mattress”) or similar object that floats on water and can be lain or sat on. (swimming) Chiefly in the plural: synonym of armband (“one of a pair of inflatable plastic bands, normally worn on the upper arms, to help the wearer (often a child) float in water and learn to swim”)

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28

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minimum wage n

(economics) The lowest rate at which an employer must legally pay an employee, usually expressed as pay per hour. Today is the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, which is recognized by the United Nations to promote awareness about work-related accidents and diseases. In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Act came into effect on this day in 1970, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was formed on this day in 1971.

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29

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attend v

Senses relating to caring for or waiting on someone, or accompanying or being present. (transitive) To care for (someone requiring attention); specifically, of a doctor, nurse, etc.: to provide professional care to (someone). (transitive) To wait on (someone or their instructions) as an attendant, servant, etc.; also (specifically of a gentleman-in-waiting or lady-in-waiting to a member of royalty), to accompany (someone) in order to assist or wait upon them; to escort. (transitive) To be present at (an event or place) in order to take part in some action or proceedings; also, to regularly go to (an event or place). (transitive) To take action with respect to (someone, or something such as a concern, problem, or task); to deal with, to handle. (transitive) Of a (chiefly immaterial) thing: to be consequent to or present with (someone or something); to accompany. (transitive, archaic or obsolete) To look after (someone or something); to tend. (intransitive) Followed by to: to look after someone or something. (intransitive) To be ready to wait upon someone or their instructions as an attendant, servant, etc.; also (followed by on or upon), to accompany someone in order to assist or wait upon them. (intransitive) Followed by at: to go to and be present at a place for some purpose; also (obsolete), followed by on: to be present at and take part in an event. (intransitive) Followed by to: to take action with respect to someone or something; to deal with. (intransitive) Followed by on or upon: of a (chiefly immaterial) thing: to be consequent on or present with. [...]

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30

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tchotchke n (originally and chiefly Canada, US, informal)

A small ornament of minor value; a knick-knack, a trinket. (figurative, dated) Chiefly in Jewish contexts: an attractive girl or woman.

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