quirky

Main Entry: ¹quirk 

Pronunciation: \ˈkwərk\

Function: noun

Etymology: origin unknown

Date: 1565

1 a : an abrupt twist or curve b : a peculiar trait : idiosyncrasy c : accident, vagary
2 : a groove separating a bead or other molding from adjoining members

— quirk·i·ly \ˈkwər-kə-lē\ adverb

— quirk·i·ness \-kē-nəs\ noun

— quirk·ish \ˈkwər-kish\ adjective

— quirky \-kē\ adjective

goggles

Main Entry: gog·gles 

Pronunciation: \ˈgä-g^əlz\

Function: noun plural

Date: 1715

1 : protective glasses set in a flexible frame (as of rubber or plastic) that fits snugly against the face
2 : an electronic apparatus that covers the eyes and is used to enhance vision (as at night) or to produce images (as of a virtual reality)

— gog·gled \-g^əld\ adjective

thread

Main Entry: ¹thread 

Pronunciation: \ˈthred\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English thred, from Old English thrǣd; akin to Old High German drāt wire, Old English thrāwan to cause to twist or turn — more at throw

Date: before 12th century

1 a : a filament, a group of filaments twisted together, or a filamentous length formed by spinning and twisting short textile fibers into a continuous strand b : a piece of thread
2 a : any of various natural filaments s of a spiderweb> b : a slender stream (as of water) c : a projecting helical rib (as in a fitting or on a pipe) by which parts can be screwed together : screw thread
3 : something continuous or drawn out: as a : a line of reasoning or train of thought that connects the parts in a sequence (as of ideas or events) b : a continuing element c : a series of newsgroup messages following a single topic
4 : a tenuous or feeble support
5 plural : clothing

— thread·less \-ləs\ adjective

— thread·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

meander

Main Entry: ²meander

Function: intransitive verb

Inflected Form(s): meandered; meander·ing\-d(ə-)riŋ\

Date: circa 1612

1 : to follow a winding or intricate course
2 : to wander aimlessly or casually without urgent destination : ramble

synonyms see wander

swarm

Main Entry: ¹swarm 

Pronunciation: \ˈswȯrm\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English swearm; akin to Old High German swaram swarm and probably to Latin susurrus hum

Date: before 12th century

1 a : a great number of honeybees emigrating together from a hive in company with a queen to start a new colony elsewhere b : a colony of honeybees settled in a hive
2 a : a large number of animate or inanimate things massed together and usually in motion : throng s of sightseers> b : a number of similar geological features or phenomena close together in space or time

hectic

Main Entry: hec·tic 

Pronunciation: \ˈhek-tik\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English etyk, from Anglo-French etique, from Late Latin hecticus, from Greek hektikos habitual, consumptive, from echein to have — more at scheme

Date: 14th century

1 : of, relating to, or being a fluctuating but persistent fever (as in tuberculosis)
2 : having a hectic fever
3 : red, flushed
4 : characterized by activity, excitement, or confusion

— hec·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

rubbish

Main Entry: rub·bish 

Pronunciation: \ˈrə-bish, dial -bij\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English robous

Date: 15th century

1 : useless waste or rejected matter : trash
2 : something that is worthless or nonsensical

— rub·bishy \-bə-shē\ adjective

shadow

Main Entry: ¹shad·ow 

Pronunciation: \ˈsha-(ˌ)dō\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English shadwe, from Old English sceaduw-, sceadu shade

Date: before 12th century

1 : partial darkness or obscurity within a part of space from which rays from a source of light are cut off by an interposed opaque body
2 : a reflected image
3 : shelter from danger or observation
4 a : an imperfect and faint representation b : an imitation of something : copy
5 : the dark figure cast upon a surface by a body intercepting the rays from a source of light
6 : phantom
7 plural : dark 1a
8 : a shaded or darker portion of a picture
9 : an attenuated form or a vestigial remnant
10 a : an inseparable companion or follower b : one (as a spy or detective) that shadows
11 : a small degree or portion : trace
12 : a source of gloom or unhappiness
13 a : an area near an object : vicinity b : pervasive and dominant influence
14 : a state of ignominy or obscurity

— shad·ow·less \ˈsha-dō-ləs, -də-ləs\ adjective

— shad·ow·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

scoop

Main Entry: ¹scoop 

Pronunciation: \ˈsküp\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English scope, from Middle Dutch schope; akin to Old High German skepfen to shape — more at shape

Date: 14th century

1 a : a large ladle b : a deep shovel or similar implement for digging, dipping, or shoveling c : a usually hemispherical utensil for dipping food d : a small spoon-shaped utensil or instrument for cutting or gouging
2 a : the action of scooping b : the amount contained by a scoop
3 a : a hollow place : cavity b : a part forming or surrounding an opening for channeling a fluid (as air) into a desired path
4 a : information especially of immediate interest b : beat 5b
5 : a rounded and usually low-cut neckline on a woman's garment —called also scoop neck

— scoop·ful \-ˌfu̇l\ noun

squeeze

Main Entry: ¹squeeze 

Pronunciation: \ˈskwēz\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): squeezed; squeez·ing

Etymology: alteration of obsolete English quease, from Middle English queysen, from Old English cwȳsan; akin to Icelandic kveisa stomach cramps

Date: circa 1601

transitive verb 1 a : to exert pressure especially on opposite sides of : compress b : to extract or emit under pressure c : to force or thrust by compression
2 a (1) : to get by extortion (2) : to deprive by extortion b : to cause economic hardship to c : to reduce the amount of s profits>
3 : to crowd into a limited area
4 : to gain or win by a narrow margin
5 : to force (another player) to discard in bridge so as to unguard a suit
6 : to score by means of a squeeze playintransitive verb 1 : to give way before pressure
2 : to exert pressure; also : to practice extortion or oppression
3 : to force one's way
4 : to pass, win, or get by narrowly

— squeez·abil·i·ty \ˌskwē-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— squeez·able \ˈskwē-zə-bəl\ adjective

— squeez·er noun

startle

Main Entry: ¹star·tle 

Pronunciation: \ˈstär-t^əl\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): star·tled; star·tling \ˈstärt-liŋ, ˈstär-t^əl-iŋ\

Etymology: Middle English stertlen, frequentative of sterten to start

Date: 1530

intransitive verb : to move or jump suddenly (as in surprise or alarm) s easily>transitive verb : to frighten or surprise suddenly and usually not seriously

— star·tle·ment \-mənt\ noun

eager

Main Entry: ea·ger 

Pronunciation: \ˈē-gər\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English egre, from Anglo-French egre, aigre, from Latin acer — more at edge

Date: 14th century

1 a archaic : sharp b obsolete : sour
2 : marked by enthusiastic or impatient desire or interest

— ea·ger·ly adverb

— ea·ger·ness noun

synonyms eager, avid, keen, anxious, athirst mean moved by a strong and urgent desire or interest. eager implies ardor and enthusiasm and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint <eager to get started>. avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed <avid for new thrills>. keen suggests intensity of interest and quick responsiveness in action <keen on the latest fashions>. anxious emphasizes fear of frustration or failure or disappointment <anxious not to make a social blunder>. athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for action <athirst for adventure>.

disjointed

Main Entry: dis·joint·ed 

Pronunciation: \-ˈjȯin-təd\

Function: adjective

Date: circa 1586

1 a : being thrown out of orderly function b : lacking coherence or orderly sequence
2 : separated at or as if at the joint

— dis·joint·ed·ly adverb

— dis·joint·ed·ness noun

sheer

Main Entry: ³sheer

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English schere freed from guilt, probably alteration of skere, from Old Norse skærr pure; akin to Old English scīnan to shine

Date: circa 1568

1 obsolete : bright, shining
2 : of very thin or transparent texture : diaphanous
3 a : unqualified, utter b : being free from an adulterant : pure, unmixed c : viewed or acting in dissociation from all else
4 : marked by great and continuous steepness

synonyms see steep

— sheer·ly adverb

— sheer·ness noun

smuggle

Main Entry: smug·gle 

Pronunciation: \ˈsmə-gəl\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): smug·gled; smug·gling \-g(ə-)liŋ\

Etymology: Low German smuggeln & Dutch smokkelen

Date: 1687

transitive verb 1 : to import or export secretly contrary to the law and especially without paying duties imposed by law
2 : to convey or introduce surreptitiouslyintransitive verb : to import or export something in violation of the customs laws

— smug·gler \ˈsmə-glər\ noun

nonetheless / nevertheless

Main Entry: none·the·less 

Pronunciation: \ˌnən-thə-ˈles\

Function: adverb

Date: 1847

: nevertheless

Main Entry: nev·er·the·less 

Pronunciation: \ˌne-vər-thə-ˈles\

Function: adverb

Date: 14th century

: in spite of that : however

besmirch

Main Entry: be·smirch 

Pronunciation: \bi-ˈsmərch, bē-\

Function: transitive verb

Date: 1599

: sully, soil

schedule

Main Entry: ¹sched·ule 

Pronunciation: \ˈske-(ˌ)jül, -jəl, Canada also ˈshe-, British usually ˈshe-(ˌ)dyül\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin scedula slip, page, charter, from Late Latin schedula slip of paper, diminutive of Latin *scheda strip of papyrus, probably back-formation from Latin schedium impromptu speech, from Greek schedion, from neuter of schedios casual; akin to Greek schedon near at hand, echein to seize, have

Date: 14th century

1 a obsolete : a written document b : a statement of supplementary details appended to a legal or legislative document
2 : a written or printed list, catalog, or inventory; also : timetable 1
3 : program; especially : a procedural plan that indicates the time and sequence of each operation
4 : a body of items to be dealt with : agenda
5 often capitalized : a governmental list of drugs all subject to the same legal restrictions and controls —usually used with a Roman numeral I to V indicating decreasing potential for abuse or addiction

codswallop

Main Entry: cods·wal·lop 

Pronunciation: \ˈkȯdz-ˌwä-ləp, ˈkädz-\

Function: noun

Etymology: origin unknown

Date: 1963

British : nonsense

boolean

Main Entry: Bool·ean 

Pronunciation: \ˈbü-lē-ən\

Function: adjective

Etymology: George Boole †1864 English mathematician

Date: 1851

: of, relating to, or being a logical combinatorial system (as Boolean algebra) that represents symbolically relationships (as those implied by the logical operators AND, OR, and NOT) between entities (as sets, propositions, or on-off computer circuit elements)

flow

Main Entry: ¹flow 

Pronunciation: \ˈflō\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English flōwan; akin to Old High German flouwen to rinse, wash, Latin pluere to rain, Greek plein to sail, float

Date: before 12th century

intransitive verb 1 a (1) : to issue or move in a stream (2) : circulate b : to move with a continual change of place among the constituent particles s slowly>
2 : rise s>
3 : abound ing with natural resources>
4 a : to proceed smoothly and readily ed easily> b : to have a smooth continuity
5 : to hang loose and billowing ed around her>
6 : to derive from a source : come s from trade>
7 : to deform under stress without cracking or rupturing —used especially of minerals and rocks
8 : menstruatetransitive verb 1 : to cause to flow
2 : to discharge in a flow

synonyms see spring

— flow·ing·ly \-iŋ-lē\ adverb

counterpart

Main Entry: coun·ter·part 

Pronunciation: \-ˌpärt\

Function: noun

Date: 15th century

1 : one of two corresponding copies of a legal instrument : duplicate
2 a : a thing that fits another perfectly b : something that completes : complement
3 a : one remarkably similar to another b : one having the same function or characteristics as another s in business>

leeway

Main Entry: lee·way 

Pronunciation: \ˈlē-ˌwā\

Function: noun

Date: 1669

1 a : off-course lateral movement of a ship when under way b : the angle between the heading and the track of an airplane
2 : an allowable margin of freedom or variation : tolerance

gear

Main Entry: ¹gear 

Pronunciation: \ˈgir\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English gere, from Old Norse gervi, gǫrvi; akin to Old English gearwe equipment, clothing, gearu ready — more at yare

Date: 14th century

1 a : clothing, garments b : movable property : goods
2 : equipment, paraphernalia
3 a : the rigging of a ship or boat b : the harness especially of horses
4 dialect chiefly British : absurd talk : nonsense
5 dialect chiefly British : doings
6 a (1) : a mechanism that performs a specific function in a complete machine (2) : a toothed wheel (3) : working relation, position, order, or adjustment (4) : a level or pace of functioning b : one of two or more adjustments of a transmission (as of a bicycle or motor vehicle) that determine mechanical advantage, relative speed, and direction of travel

— gear·less \-ləs\ adjective

squirrel

Main Entry: ¹squir·rel

Pronunciation: \ˈskwər(-ə)l, ˈskwə-rəl, chiefly British ˈskwir-əl\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural squirrels also squirrel

Etymology: Middle English squirel, from Anglo-French escurel, esquirel, from Vulgar Latin *scuriolus, diminutive of scurius, alteration of Latin sciurus, from Greek skiouros, probably from skia shadow + oura tail — more at shine, ass

Date: 14th century

1 : any of various small or medium-sized rodents (family Sciuridae, the squirrel family): as a : any of numerous New or Old World arboreal forms having a long bushy tail and strong hind legs b : ground squirrel
2 : the fur of a squirrel