The Dictionary Project The Dictionary Project

Word Archive

A dictionary of daily words.

Browse the Word of the Day collection alphabetically. Select any word to open its complete entry.

#
A

Alchemy

noun

1. A medieval precursor to chemistry, aimed at transforming ordinary substances into gold and creating an elixir of immortality

Open entry →

Americana

noun

1. items, traditions, or cultural artifacts that embody the history, values, and spirit of the United States—often evoking nostalgia for an earlier,…

Open entry →

Anachronism

noun

something belonging to a time period other than the one in which it exists or is depicted in, a chronological inconsistency, especially…

Open entry →

Antibiotic

Noun

a substance, such as penicillin, that kills or inhibits harmful microorganisms and is used to treat bacterial infections

Open entry →

Acheive

“A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.” Ayn Rand, 1905 – 1982

Open entry →

Action

“I know that I have the ability to achieve the object of my Definite Purpose in life, therefore, I demand of myself…

Open entry →

Ambitious

“It is a paradoxical but profoundly true and important principle of life that the most likely way to reach a goal is…

Open entry →

Approval

“Do not look for approval except for the consciousness of doing your best.” Andrew Carnegie, 1835 – 1919

Open entry →
B

Bagpipe

noun

an instrument that creates sound as air is squeezed through reed pipes from a bag beneath the player's arm

Open entry →

Banana

Noun

a long, curved, yellow fruit that grows in tropical regions, with soft, sweet flesh

Open entry →

Bauble

Bauble /ˈbôb(ə)l,ˈbäb(ə)l/ noun a small trinket or decoration, often used to refer to the colorful, orb-shaped decorations that go on a Christmas…

Open entry →

Balance

noun:

1. steadiness; a condition in which different elements are equal in proportion,

Open entry →

Beauty

1. a combination or aggregate of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses or pleasurably exalts the…

Open entry →

Bridge

noun:

1. an elevated structure, such as a viaduct or an overpass, that crosses over water or a highway,

Open entry →
C

Clever

Adjective

1. quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas, smart, good at doing things

Open entry →

Catkin

1. a long cluster of small flowers hanging from the branches of trees (particularly deciduous, e.g., hazel, willow or birch) in the…

Open entry →

Compare

1. to examine the character or qualities of an object or person, especially in order to discover similarities or differences

Open entry →

Conscious

1. aware of, perceiving, or responding to one’s surroundings with controlled thought or observation

Open entry →

Creative

“A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.” Ayn Rand, 1905 – 1982

Open entry →
D

Dog

Noun

a carnivorous domesticated mammal with four legs and a tail, known for its loyalty and close relationship with humans

Open entry →

Discipline

1. control that is gained by requiring that rules or orders be obeyed and punishing bad behavior

Open entry →

Discovery

1. the action or process of finding or learning something for the first time; the act of discovering something

Open entry →
E

Encore

Noun

the demand for an additional performance made by an audience, as by applause

Open entry →

Error

Noun

1. a deviation from accuracy or correctness; a mistake, as in action or speech

Open entry →

Enroll

enroll / inˈrōl / verb: to be entered as a member of an institution or registered as a participant

Open entry →

Excitement

“When a person starts to talk about their dreams, it's as if something bubbles up from within. Their eyes brighten, their face…

Open entry →

Expression

1. the process of making known one's thoughts, feelings, or emotions (on the face, in the voice, in artistic execution, etc.),

Open entry →
F

Farce

noun

1. a type of comedy that relies on absurd, highly improbable situations, exaggerated characters, and physical humor

Open entry →

Ferment

Verb

to undergo the process by which sugars are broken down into alcohol, lactic acid, or carbon dioxide

Open entry →

Forgery

Noun

1. a false or altered document, art object, or other item, made for the purpose of fraud; a counterfeit

Open entry →

Fortuitous

“Fortuitous circumstances constitute the moulds* that shape the majority of human lives, and the hasty impress of an accident is too often…

Open entry →

Friend

noun

1. a person with whom one is intimately acquainted, often through shared interests and experiences

Open entry →
G

Geology

noun

The science that studies the structure of the Earth, its physical changes, and the causes producing these changes

Open entry →

Glamour

Noun

1. the attractive or exciting quality that makes certain people or things seem appealing or special

Open entry →

Guardian

“The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.” James Madison, 1751 – 1836

Open entry →
H

Herculean

Adjective

Extremely challenging or demanding. Requiring great effort, endurance, or determination.

Open entry →

Happiness

“Hoping to live days of greater happiness, I forget that days of less happiness are passing by.” Elizabeth Bishop, 1911 – 1979

Open entry →

Harbor

noun:

1. a part of the ocean, lake or river that is next to land and deep enough to allow ships to safely…

Open entry →

Hero

“You don’t raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they’ll turn out to be heroes, even if…

Open entry →
I

Idiosyncratic

Adjective

distinctive to a particular person or thing, marked by quirks or habits that diverge, sometimes oddly, from what's typical or expected

Open entry →

Improve

verb to make or become better What you do today can improve all your tomorrows. - Ralph Marston (1907-1967)

Open entry →

Invest

Verb

1. to commit money or capital in order to earn a return, such as profit, interest, or appreciation in value

Open entry →

Iris

noun

1. a group of flowering plants with over 300 species, typically with pointed, overlapping leaves and purple, white, yellow, pink, orange or…

Open entry →
J
K

Kindness

“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.” William Arthur Ward, 1921 – 1994

Open entry →
L

Legacy

Noun

something passed down or left behind, especially the lasting impact of a person’s life

Open entry →

lemon

Noun

a yellow citrus fruit with a very sour taste, grown in tropical climates

Open entry →
M

Microcosm

noun

a small world, a community or situation seen as possessing the characteristic features of something much larger

Open entry →

Milieu

Noun

the social, cultural, or intellectual surroundings in which something or someone exists or develops

Open entry →

Marathon

“If you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience a different life, run a marathon.” Emil Zatopek, 1922…

Open entry →

Meadow

“In a meadow full of flowers, you cannot walk through and breathe those smells and see all those colors and remain angry.…

Open entry →

Mind

noun: the organized conscious and unconscious of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” Buddha

Open entry →

Mindfulness

“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment non-judgmentally.” Jon Kabat-Zinn, 1944 –

Open entry →

Mistake

noun: an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong,

“A man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.” Theodore Roosevelt

Open entry →
N

Neon

adjective

extremely bright, fluorescent (often used to describe certain colors)

Open entry →

Neuron

Noun

a type of cell in the nervous system that transmits information via electrical and chemical signals

Open entry →

Nourishment

1.a. food or drink that supplies the body with what is necessary for life, health, and growth; sustenance

Open entry →
O

Onion

noun

a plant of the genus Allium, cultivated for its edible, round bulb composed of tightly wrapped layers, and known for its strong…

Open entry →

Ostrich

noun

A very large, flightless bird with long legs, known for its speed and powerful running ability.

Open entry →
P

Palimpsest

Noun

a manuscript that has been erased and written on again, with faint traces of the original writing still visible

Open entry →

Paradigm

Noun

a framework of ideas, patterns, or assumptions that shapes how something is understood

Open entry →

Permafrost

noun

a thick layer of underground soil that remains frozen throughout the year and which occurs mostly in the polar regions of Earth

Open entry →

Philanthropy

Noun

the practice of improving the welfare of others by donating money or giving one’s time to good causes

Open entry →

Piano

Noun

a musical instrument played by hitting its keys with fingers, which hit hammers which strike metal strings

Open entry →

Placebo

Noun

a harmless medical treatment that has no direct physiological effect but may provide psychological benefits to the patient

Open entry →

Polygraph

Noun

A device that measures changes in physiological responses, such as pulse and breathing rate, and is commonly used as a lie detector.

Open entry →

Passenger

“I was the conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can't say; I never…

Open entry →

Passion

1. strong and barely controllable emotion, especially the emotion of love, anger, or hate

Open entry →

Path

path /paTH/, noun: a track that is made by people or animals continuously walking over the ground

Open entry →

Perplex

1. a. to make difficult to grasp or understand clearly; puzzle, bewilder, or disconcert

Open entry →

Persistence

“A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success.” - Elbert Hubbard

Open entry →

Pillar

1. a tall vertical structure of stone, wood, or metal, used as a support for a building, or used as an ornament…

Open entry →

Play

verb:

1. to engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose

Open entry →

Printer

1. a person who prints books, magazines, advertisements, etc. for commercial purposes,

Open entry →

Proverb

If you are looking for a friend without a fault you will be without a friend forever.

Open entry →
Q
R

Resourceful

adjective

1. having the ability to achieve a purpose or fulfill a function with one's own ingenuity; enterprising

Open entry →

Remember

“Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.” Malala Yousafzai, 1997 –

Open entry →

Rescue

1. verb: to save (someone or something) from a dangerous or distressing situation

Open entry →

Resourceful

1. having the ability to achieve a purpose or fulfill a function with one’s own ingenuity; enterprising

Open entry →
S

Subsidence

noun

the gradual sinking or caving in of a piece of land that can be caused by both natural processes and human activity

Open entry →

Subterfuge

Noun

a deceptive scheme or tactic used to avoid blame, escape a consequence, or conceal the truth; an evasive maneuver

Open entry →

Symbiosis

Noun

1. (in biology) the close association of two different organisms, which may benefit both, benefit only one, or sometimes have little effect…

Open entry →

Sculpture

1. noun: the art of making forms, often representative or abstract, especially by molding, carving or casting

Open entry →

Spontaneous

1. done, said, or produced as a result of a sudden impulse, without premeditation or apparent external cause

Open entry →

Stamina

“How you start is important, but it is how you finish that counts. In the race for success, speed is less important…

Open entry →

Statue

1. a three dimensional representation made from stone, bronze, wood, etc., (usually of a person, animal or mythological being) that is produced…

Open entry →
T

Telepathy

Noun

the transfer of thoughts or feelings from one mind to another via a direct mental connection

Open entry →

Thank-You Letters

Since 2007, members of the North Little Rock Women's Club have partnered with The Dictionary Project to provide dictionaries and thesauri to…

Open entry →

Thankful

“The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.” Henry Ward Beecher, 1813…

Open entry →

Theoretical

1. based on or calculated through a supposition or system of ideas explaining something rather than by experience or practice

Open entry →

Time

1. the indefinite and continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole,

Open entry →

Toggle

noun:

1. a device for fastening sewn to one side of a garment allowing passage through a hole or loop on the other…

Open entry →
U

Ultimate

“Let us not be afraid to help each other—let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over…

Open entry →

Unexpected

“Nearly all the best things that came to me in life have been unexpected, unplanned by me.” Carl Sandburg, 1978 – 1967

Open entry →
V

Voice

1. noun: the sound produced in a person's larynx and uttered through the mouth, as speech or song

Open entry →
W
X
Y

Yoga

“Yoga is like music: the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the…

Open entry →
Z