Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

Word of the Day

Word of the day

ablactate

[ ab-lak-teyt ] [ æbˈlæk teɪt ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

verb

to wean

learn about the english language

Why Dictionary.com chose ablactate

More about ablactate

  • First recorded in 1750–60.
  • Combines the prefix -⁷, meaning “away from,” + ٲٱ¹, from the Latin , meaning “to give milk.”

EXAMPLES OF ABLACTATE

  • The parents decided to ablactate their twins, following their pediatrician’s advice. 
  • The zookeepers ablactated the tiger cubs by introducing soft food over a few weeks.
20240103
quiz icon
WHAT'S YOUR WORD IQ?
Think you're a word wizard? Try our word quiz, and prove it!
TAKE THE QUIZ
arrows pointing up and down
SYNONYM OF THE DAY
Double your word knowledge with the Synonym of the Day!
Word of the Day Calendar

Word of the day

behemoth

[ bih-hee-muhth ] [ bɪˈhi məθ ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

any creature or thing of monstrous size or power

learn about the english language

Why Dictionary.com chose behemoth

More about behemoth

  • First recorded between 1350–1400.
  • From Hebrew əŧōٳ, meaning “beasts,” where the plural form was likely used to indicate greatness rather than number.

EXAMPLES OF BEHEMOTH

  • The museum’s centerpiece, a behemoth dinosaur skeleton, towers over visitors.
  • The company became a behemoth, swallowing up smaller companies with ease.
20240103
Word of the Day Calendar

Word of the day

delitescent

[ del-i-tes-uhnt ] [ ˌdɛl ɪˈtɛs ənt ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

adjective

concealed; hidden; latent

learn about the english language

Why Dictionary.com chose delitescent

More about delitescent

  • First recorded in 1675–85.
  • From the Latin ŧŧ, meaning “to hide away or withdraw.”

EXAMPLES OF DELITESCENT

  • A significant part of human creativity stems from our delitescent thoughts.
  • The family found refuge in a delitescent village, far from the city noise.
20240103
Word of the Day Calendar
Word of the Day Calendar