Merriam-Webster

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noun | a reference source containing words alphabetically arranged along with information about their forms, pronunciations, functions, and etymologies

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the cat-bloc CAT, n. [Ir. cat; Fr. chat; D. kat; Dan. CAT-HOOK kat; Sw. katt; G. kater, or katze; L. catus; Vulgar Greek, xaris, or yaros; It. gatto; CAT-MINT Port. and Sp. gato; Lap. id.; Pol. kot; peta, so cal Russ. kots; Turkish keti; W. cath; Corn. CAT'S'-PAW kath; Arm. gaz or kaz; Basque catua. 3 In Ar. kitta, is a male cat. Class Gd. perceived, surface of turn in the a tackle on 2. A dupe; uses. CAT-SALT granulated leach-brine CAT SILVE No. 56.] 1. A name applied to certain species of car- nivorous quadrupeds, of the genus Felis. The domestic cat needs no description. It is a deceitful animal, and when enraged, extremely spiteful. It is kept in houses, chiefly for the purpose of catching rats and CAT-TAIL, mice. The wild cat is much larger than the domestic cat. It is a strong, ferocious ani- mal, living in the forest, and very des- tructive to poultry and lambs. The wild cat of Europe is of the same reed, of the stance of tresses, &c 2. A substan- &c. species with the domestic cat; the cata-CATABAP" mount, of N. America, is much larger and a distinct species. Ed. Encyc. τιςης.] Οι
Merriam-Webster's 7th Collegiate Dictionary sitting on a desk
In England, November 5—Guy Fawkes Day—is celebrated by setting off fireworks and lighting bonfires. Human likenesses made of tattered clothes stuffed with hay or rags are burned on the bonfires. The day is named after a 17th-century man, Guy Fawkes, who led a plot to blow up the British Parliament buildings. Fawkes managed to hide 20 barrels of gunpowder in the cellars of the buildings. However, the plot was discovered before he could carry out his plans. He was seized and later put to death. The human likenesses burned on the fires came to be called guys. The verb guy “to ridicule” is derived from this story also. The use of the word was extended to similar figures and then to a person of strange appearance or dress. In the US, the word came to mean simply “man” and in time “a person of either sex.”
and/or conjunction ˈand-ˈȯr —used as a function word to indicate that two words or expressions are to be taken together or individually
screenshot of a Reddit post that says: What is Superman's "Kryptonite". In literature, mythology, and comic books heroes often have a "kryptonite" or "Achilles's heel", basically a weakness that makes them vulnerable. I'm curious what fans here would consider to be Superman's "Kryptonite"?
A "Little Free Library" filled with only Merriam-Webster Dictionaries
Language Matters Why English is so hard to learn Marlene Davis YOU think English is easy? Check out the following. 1. The bandage was wound around the wound. 11. The insurance was invalid for the invalid in his hospital bed. 12. There was a row among the oarsmen about who would row. 13. They were too close to the door to close it. 14. The buck does funny things when the does (females) are present. 15. A seamstress and a sewer fell 2. The farm was cultivated to produce down into a sewer line. produce. 3. The dump was so full that the workers had to refuse more refuse. 4. We must polish the Polish furniture shown at the store. 5. He could lead if he would get the lead out. 6. The soldier decided to desert his tasty dessert in the desert. 7. Since there is no time like the pres- ent, he thought it was time to present the present to his girlfriend. 8.A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum. 9. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes. 10. I did not object to the object which he showed me. 16. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow. 17. The wind was too strong to wind the sail around the mast. 18. Upon seeing the tear in her painting she shed a tear. 19.I had to subject the subject to a series of tests. 20. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend? Heteronyms These are brilliant. Homonyms or homographs are words of like spelling, but with more than one meaning and sound. When pronounced differently, they are known as heteronyms.
Did you know? These days, defenestration—from the Latin fenestra, meaning "window"—is often used to describe the forceful removal of someone from public office or from some other advantageous position. History's most famous defenestration, however, was one in which the tossing out the window was quite literal. On May 23, 1618, two imperial regents were found guilty of violating certain guarantees of religious freedom and were thrown out the window of Prague Castle. The men survived the 50-foot tumble into the moat, but the incident marked the beginning of the Bohemian resistance to Hapsburg rule that eventually led to the Thirty Years' War and came to be known as the Defenestration of Prague. It was, in fact, the third such historical defenestration in Prague, but it was the first to be referred to as such by English speakers.
top lookups at Merriam-Webster 1. leprechaun
MW Top lookups right now: 1. 800-pound gorilla 2. bootylicious
screenshot from meatier/meteor viral TikTok
tweet: “as English speakers we have to sort out the 'had had' situation. it's frankly embarrassing to the language” Merriam-Webster Quote Tweet: “But, it’s not wrong that that occurs.”
Tweet from @aubreystrobel: "The name Ruth's Chris steakhouse infuriates me" @MerriamWebster Quote Tweet: Merriam's Webster Dictionary
A tweet from @DicussingFilm that says "Instagram is being added to TV's. Users will be able to watch IG Reels on their Tvs" Merriam-Webster Quote Tweet "We will add the dictionary to the TV."
Stop Using Anti-Dictionary Language Instead of: "She's so wordy!" "I work out to get toned." "Move your eyes to the sky." "That meeting was too long!" "Let's organize the files by date." Say: "Her vocabulary is an inspiration!" "I work out to get definition." "Look up." "Guess this meeting was the Unabridged Edition!" "Alphabetical order is the supreme method of organization!!
You have the vocabulary of a hard-lived 83-year-old sailor who has SEEN some stuff!
In 2025, you encountered the words ‘demure’ and ‘brat’ 800% less often than in 2024! We weren’t very mindful this year!!!
Uh oh! You typed ‘alot’ a lot!!
Milestone! Your phone’s autocorrect finally stopped changing it to ‘ducking!’
Wow! Your annoyance increased at an exponential rate every time you heard the word ‘six-seven.’ Go off, Queen!
Screenshot of SNL's George Washington sketch from 10/28/23 with Nate Bargatze
Daily Quordle 1401 36 48
A tweet from user @llcoolj says "Don't call it that," in response to a Merriam-Webster definition about the term "come back."
tweet from @merriamwebster: “ hang this in The Louvre.” quote tweet from @merriamwebster: “wait don’t”
The New Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary 12th Ed.
Cover of Merriam-Webster's All Caps dictionary, a red background with a white circle and text for people who are mad.