Word of the Day

Word of the day

nickelodeon

[ nik-uh-loh-dee-uhn ] [ ˌnɪk əˈloʊ di ən ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

an early movie theater where a film or a variety show could be seen, usually for the admission price of a nickel.

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What is the origin of nickelodeon?

Nickelodeon is based on nickel and either melodeon, a small reed organ, or Odeon, a small roofed theater of ancient Greece. Nickel comes from German Kupfernickel, referring to the mineral nickeline but literally meaning “copper demon,” after nickeline’s resemblance to copper. Nickelodeon was first recorded in English in the late 1880s.

EXAMPLE OF NICKELODEON USED IN A SENTENCE

The old nickelodeon had been converted into a film museum with bright posters covering the once-drab walls.

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⚛️ Today's Word was chosen in partnership with the Museum of Science as the Science Word Of The Week! ⚛️

supergiant

[ soo-per-jahy-uhnt ] [ ˈsu pərˌdʒaɪ ənt ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

an exceptionally luminous star whose diameter is more than 100 times that of the sun.

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Why the Museum of Science chose supergiant

To find out, watch this video from science communicator Maynard Okereke, better known as the Hip Hop M.D.

Learn more at the Museum of Science.

What is the origin of supergiant?

In supergiant, the super- element literally means “above, beyond,” and it’s a distant relative of English over, German über, and Ancient Greek hypér. Giant comes from Ancient Greek gígās (gígant- in compounds), which lost its second g as it passed into French and then into English in the late 1920s.

EXAMPLE OF SUPERGIANT USED IN A SENTENCE

Some of the brightest stars in the constellation were dazzling blue, superhot supergiants.

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bai

[ bahy ] [ baɪ ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

a yellow mist occurring during the spring and fall, caused by dust from the interior of China.

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What is the origin of bai?

Bai is a loanword from Japanese and was exported from Middle Chinese to multiple languages of East Asia. In this way, bai is related to Mandarin mái and Cantonese maai, both meaning “fog” or “dust storm.” Bai was first recorded in English in the mid 1910s.

EXAMPLE OF BAI USED IN A SENTENCE

As the bai drifted over the countryside, the sun began to pale, and a thin coating of dust gathered in the treetops.

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