Tag: Noun

(singular) informal a small amount I’ll just have a smidgen of ice cream. a smidgen of dignity Could you move just a smidge (=bit) to the left?

(count) US, informal a person who always wants things to be very orderly and clean My first college roommate was a real neat freak.

(noncount) space in which you can extend your legs when you are sitting I need a car with more legroom. airplane seats that offer little legroom

(The word “pageant” might be related to “page,” which would sort of make sense, because a pageant was originally a kind of play. We’re not sure about that link, though.) Today, a pageant, strictly speaking, is one of those showy, Read More …

This term is Latin for “way of operating.” A modus operandi, often abbreviated as MO or M.O., is a normal, typical way of doing some task. Pronunciation: MO duss OPP er AN dee (Or, if you prefer, pronounce the last Read More …

(count) a ring or rope that is made of leaves, flowers, or some other material and that is used as a decoration They placed a garland of flowers around her neck.

(count) informal an unusual outfit or costume He came onstage in a cowboy getup. a guy in a crazy getup

[count] informal a kiss Give me a big smooch  [=kiss]  on the cheek before you go.

a terrible disaster [count] The oil spill was an environmental catastrophe. Experts fear a humanitarian catastrophe if food isn’t delivered to the refugees soon. global/nuclear/economic catastrophe [noncount] an area on the brink of catastrophe — catastrophic kætəˈstrɑːfɪk adjective [more catastrophic; Read More …

[count] a way of arranging hair by gathering it together at the back of the head and letting it hang down freely She usually wears her hair pulled/tied back in a ponytail.