Image English

water salute

2008-07-05T00:09:00.005+08:00

A salute which occurs for ceremonial purposes when a vehicle travels under plumes of water expelled by two or more fire fighting vehicles.

Also caled water-spray salute, water-cannon salute.

cocktail shaker

2007-08-10T22:23:00.000+08:00

n.

A device consisting of a container and a lid, with a strainer, used to mix beverages (usually alcoholic) by shaking.

torch

2007-08-09T14:18:00.000+08:00

n.

A portable light produced by the flame of a stick of resinous wood or of a flammable material wound about the end of a stick.

Also called flambeau.

mascot

2007-08-08T09:56:00.000+08:00

n.

A person, animal or object that is believed to bring good luck and adopted by a team or other group as a symbolic figure.

loudspeaker

2007-08-07T11:53:00.000+08:00

n.

An electromechanical transducer which converts an electrical signal into sound.

Also called "speaker" for short.

belly dance

2007-08-06T08:56:00.001+08:00

n.

A solo dance performed by a woman and characterized by sinuous hip and abdominal movements.

Belly dance is a Western name for an Arabic style of dance developed in the Middle East.

cross-stitch

2007-08-03T15:35:00.000+08:00

n.

A popular form of counted-thread embroidery in which X-shaped stitches are used to form a picture.

cleavage

2007-08-02T21:39:00.000+08:00

n. informal.

The hollow between a woman's breasts, especially as revealed by a low neckline.

Ferris wheel

2007-04-01T10:57:00.000+08:00

n.

An amusement ride consisting of a large upright rotating wheel having suspended seats that remain in a horizontal position as the wheel revolves.

After George Washington Gale Ferris (1859-1896), American engineer.

Recent large Ferris wheels have been marketed as observation wheels.

dart

2007-04-01T10:55:00.000+08:00

n.

A slender, pointed missile, often having tail fins, thrown by hand, shot from a blowgun, or expelled by an exploding bomb.

boomerang

2007-04-01T10:49:00.000+08:00

n.

A flat, curved, usually wooden missile configured so that when hurled it returns to the thrower.

Synonyms:

throw stick, throwing stick.

ninja

2007-03-30T22:18:00.000+08:00

n.

A member of a class of 14th-century Japanese mercenary agents who were trained in the martial arts and hired for covert operations such as assassination and sabotage.

From Japanese 忍者.

dandelion

2007-03-30T22:12:00.000+08:00

n.

Any of several herbs of the genus Taraxacum having long tap roots and deeply notched leaves and bright yellow flowers followed by fluffy seed balls.

Synonym:

blowball

sunflower

2007-03-30T13:00:00.000+08:00

n.

Any plant of the genus Helianthus having large flower heads with dark disk florets and showy yellow rays.

Synonym:

helianthus

submarine

2007-03-29T00:34:00.000+08:00

n.

A vessel that is capable of operating submerged.

Also called sub, pigboat, U-boat.

windsock

2007-03-28T12:27:00.000+08:00

n.

A truncated cloth cone mounted on a mast, used to show the direction of the wind.

Synonyms:

wind cone, air sock, wind sleeve, drogue, sock

origami

2007-03-28T01:57:00.000+08:00

n.

The Japanese art of folding paper into shapes representing objects like flowers or birds.

From Japanese 折り紙 (folding paper).

Synonym:

paper folding

pinky swear

2007-03-28T01:00:00.000+08:00

n.

An eternally binding act of hooking pinky fingers together in an attempt to seal the deal of a promise that has been made.

The pinky swear originally indicated that the person who breaks the promise must cut off their pinky finger.

In modern times, pinky swearing is a more informal way of sealing a promise. It is most common among school-age children and close friends.

Also known as pinky promise.

nail house

2007-03-26T18:37:00.000+08:00

n.

A household who refuses to move and bargains for unreasonably high compensation when the land is requisitioned for a construction project.

From Chinese "Ding zi hu" (钉子户).

courtroom

2007-03-26T18:25:00.000+08:00

n.

A room in which the proceedings of a court are held.

Synonym:

court

gavel

2007-03-26T06:25:00.000+08:00

n.

A small hammer used by a judge, chair of a meeting, or auctioneer to draw people's attention or to mark the conclusion of a transaction.

discotheque

2007-03-25T21:56:00.000+08:00

n.

A nightclub that features dancing to recorded or sometimes live music and often has showy decor and elaborate lighting.

The word derives from the French word discothèque.

Synonym:

disco

hang glider

2007-03-24T18:03:00.000+08:00

n.

A device resembling a kite from which a harnessed rider hangs while gliding from a height.

set-top box

2007-03-23T22:12:00.000+08:00

n.

A device that enables a television set to receive and decode digital television (DTV) broadcasts or enables a television set to become a user interface to the Internet.

DTV set-top boxes are sometimes called receivers.

Acronym: STB

high five

2007-03-23T21:29:00.000+08:00

n.

A celebratory or mutually congratulatory gesture between two persons performed by each slapping the other's raised right hand.

Also used as a verb.

Give me five!

Idiom (mainly American, informal)

Something that you say when you want someone to hit your open hand with theirs, in order to greet them or to show how pleased you are.