Word of the Day archive

Every word we have featured on this site, most recent first, going back 284 days.

• 9 July 2026mortise-and-tenon jointA joint made by inserting a projecting tenon into a mortised slot.
• 8 July 2026japanningA European technique of creating lacquerware in imitation of the traditional Japanese style.
• 7 July 2026excursion fareA fare for travel by land, air, or water which is less expensive than the regular fare, and which usually...
• 6 July 2026aberrationThe convergence to different foci, by a lens or mirror, of rays of light emanating from one and the same...
• 5 July 2026compound curveA three-dimensional shape into which a thin flat sheet of material, e.g. metal, can be formed by operations...
• 4 July 2026one-hour fuelVegetation with a high surface-to-mass ratio, able to dry out and become flammable within an hour of having...
• 3 July 2026antennaThe spar to which a lateen sail is attached, which is then hoisted up the mast.
• 2 July 2026case hardenTo impart greater hardness to the surface of a piece of metal.
• 1 July 2026net-zeroOf a building or system, generating as much energy through solar, wind, and other renewable resources as it...
• 30 June 2026blanket stitchA strong stitch, similar to a buttonhole stitch, used to finish and reinforce the edges of blankets etc.
• 29 June 2026gravureA type of intaglio printing process, in which an image is engraved onto a rotating copper cylinder.
• 28 June 2026shipsetThe full complement of parts of a system required to equip an individual aerospace vehicle.
• 27 June 2026vapor lockA problem mostly affecting gasoline-fueled internal combustion engines, where the liquid fuel changes state...
• 26 June 2026roll-to-rollInvolving the use of a continuous roll of substrate material that is fed through various processing steps...
• 25 June 2026line dropA drop in voltage between two points of a transmission line.
• 24 June 2026rootstockA healthy and vigorous-rooted plant that is used in grafting, most commonly as a sound base to support a...
• 23 June 2026superchargerAn inlet air compressor for an internal combustion engine (either Otto or Diesel cycle).
• 22 June 2026Gunning transceiver logicA kind of logic signaling used to drive electronic backplane buses, having a voltage swing between 0.4 and...
• 21 June 2026buffer stopa device installed at the end of a railway line or siding, which is intended to stop trains and other rail...
• 20 June 2026modular buildingA method where structures are prefabricated in sections, or modules, off-site in a factory setting before...
• 19 June 2026bankerA railway locomotive that can be attached to the rear of a train to assist it in climbing an incline.
• 18 June 2026microboreA kind of narrow tubing with an outside diameter of 10 millimetres or less.
• 17 June 2026six footthe area between the closest rails of two parallel standard gauge railway lines, regardless of the actual...
• 16 June 2026level staffA graduated rod used by surveyors to measure differences in level.
• 15 June 2026harvesterA type of heavy forestry vehicle employed in cut-to-length logging for felling, delimbing and bucking trees...
• 14 June 2026carpenter's pencilA pencil specifically designed for the requirements of a carpenter: oval shape makes it less likely to roll...
• 13 June 2026relishIn a wooden frame: the projection or shoulder around, or at the side of, a tenon (“projecting member made to...
• 12 June 2026convertibleAble to change from a closed to an open frame and back again.
• 11 June 2026defocusThe distance by which the focal point is in front of (positive defocus) or beyond (negative defocus) the...
• 10 June 2026openerA person employed to separate sheets of hot metal that become stuck together.