Mark's ESL Page

A New Teaching Idea for the Future

2013-01-12T20:14:00.001-08:00

Dear students,

I am taking a temporary break from this blog. I've been talking to students, and I've decided that a text blog isn't what would benefit students most.

Instead, I have an idea to provide free speaking practice to my students. It will take me a little bit of time to set it up, so be patient. I will inform you as soon as it's set up and ready. I hope to have it ready by February.

I just wanted to let you know that I haven't given up. I'm just changing my focus to provide something that will be more useful to my students.

I will leave this site available for now. I may post a few more words here, but I can no longer post them on a daily basis. Sorry for any problems this causes.

Thanks to everyone who has inspired me. I look forward to teaching you in the near future.

Sincerely,
Mark

Word of the Day: Greet

2013-01-03T17:29:00.000-08:00

Greet (Verb) [greet]

To say or do nice things when you first see a person.
To respond to something in a certain way.

Related:

To be greeted by something means to experience it when you arrive somewhere.
A greeting is something you say or do to greet someone. Its plural is greetings.
A common form of greeting is the handshake. In a handshake, people grab each other's hand and shake it up and down.
A greeter is a person whose job is to greet people. Being greeted by a greeter might make people happier and more likely to buy things or say good things about the business.
A greeting card or greetings card is a card with a picture and a message in it. They can be given for birthdays, holidays, or just to show someone you care.

Examples:

A welcome mat greets visitors as they enter my house

After living in Dallas all our life, you can imagine how much of a shock it was to be greeted by a huge snowstorm upon arriving in New York!
He greeted his daughter with a big hug and kiss.
My cynical friend thinks greeting cards are a way to say something without actually meaning it.
What's the standard way to greet someone in your country?
Her ideas were not greeted as enthusiastically as she had hoped.

Review:

Today's review words are shovel and variety.

Take care everyone! Best of luck with your studies!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Instant

2013-01-02T00:32:00.001-08:00

Instant (Noun) [in-stuhnt]

A very short time.

Instant (Adjective) [in-stuhnt]

Happening really quickly.
Able to be made very quickly.
Becoming something very quickly.

Related:

The adverb form of instant is instantly.
Instantaneous means happening instantly.
The phrase in an instant means right now or very soon.
When food is described as instant, it means it can be made very fast. Common examples include instant coffee and instant noodles (to make these, all you have to do is add hot water!)
Instant messaging is a way of sending messages instantly to friends over a computer or other device. Common instant messaging software includes Skype and Google Talk. Messages sent using this software are called instant messages.
Instant replay is a recording of part of a sports game that allows you to see that part again. It can be used to show the best parts of the game on TV later on.
The plural of instant is instants.

Examples:

A container of instant coffee. Just mix it into a cup of hot water, and you have coffee!

Instant noodles are a staple of a starving musician's diet.
After hitting the lotto, all his worries vanished in an instant.
From the instant I met her, I just knew she was my soulmate!
You can get instant access to the latest sports scores and news at www.espn.go.com.
Eating junk food may provide instant gratification, but you will pay for that choice later on in life.
Our boss lets us instant message friends at work as long as we finish up the day's tasks.

Review:

Today's review words are sketch and dreary.

Take care, and good luck with your studies!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Fountain

2012-12-31T23:54:00.001-08:00

Fountain (Noun) [fown-tn]

A structure that shoots water up into the air. It is a common decoration at places such as parks, gardens, and malls.
The water that comes from a fountain.
Something that rises into the air in the same way water from a fountain does.
A machine that shoots drinking water into the air when a button is pressed. The person is supposed to open his mouth to drink the water from the machine.
The source of something.

Related:

The fountain of something means the source of something.
The fountain of youth is a fountain of myth. According to legend, people who drink from this fountain will never grow older and live forever.
A water fountain or drinking fountain is a machine that shoots water a small distance into the air for you to drink. They are free to use and provided at public places such as parks or schools. Water fountain can also refer to the kind of fountain the shoots water into the air.
A fountain pen is a fancy pen. It doesn't require much pressure to write.
The plural of fountain is fountains.

Examples:

A large fountain at Beijing International Airport

Some people believe Ponce de Leon came to America looking for the fountain of youth.
The water from the water fountains in the cafeteria tastes like metal.
Some people throw make a wish and throw a coin into a fountain; they believe that doing so will make their wish come true.
I've worked ten fucking years for this company, and all they gave me for that was a fucking fountain pen!
That math professor is a fountain of wisdom — good luck finding something he doesn't know!
There's a beautiful fountain in the middle of the park near my house that I'd love to take you to see.

Review:

Today's review words are technique and ceremony.

Happy New Year to all my wonderful students! May all your wishes come true!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Gallon

2012-12-30T21:36:00.000-08:00

Gallon (Noun) [gal-uhn]

An American unit of liquid measurement equal to about 3.785 liters (in England, it is equal to about 4.546 liters).

Related:

Gallon is commonly abbreviated gal. (the period is part of the abbreviation!)
A quart is one-fourth of a gallon. Because the British quart is bigger than the American quart, the British gallon is larger as well. The abbreviation of quart is qt.
Another common unit of liquid measurement is the pint. There are eight pints in a gallon and two pints in a quart. The abbreviation of pint is either pt. or p.
A ten-gallon hat is a cowboy hat.
The plural of gallon is gallons.

Examples:

A gallon of tropical fruit juice

An Olympic-sized swimming pool holds 660,000 gallons of water.
We purchased a gallon of cherry ice cream for tonight's party.
You're not seriously going to drink the whole gallon of soda, are you?
A simple ten minute shower can use more than 40 gallons of water.
When I'm older, I'd like to buy a huge fish tank, maybe about 300 gallons or so.

Review:

Today's review words are passport and calm.

Have a great day everyone! Keep up the great work!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Shovel

2012-12-30T00:31:00.002-08:00

Shovel (Noun) [shuv-uhl]

A tool with a long handle and a scoop. It is used to pick up and move things such as dirt, sand, small rocks, or snow.
The part of a machine that picks up and moves things such as dirt, sand, small rocks, or snow.

Shovel (Verb) [shuv-uhl]

To use a shovel to remove snow from places such as sidewalks, parking lots, or driveways.
To lift and throw something (usually snow) using a shovel.
To quickly put a lot of something into a place.

Related:

A shovel pass is an underhand throw. The motion is similar to how you would throw something using a shovel.
A snow shovel is a shovel designed to shovel snow.
A power shovel is a large machine that uses some sort of fuel to move large amounts of things such as dirt and rocks. It is also called an excavator.
A steam shovel is a power shovel that is powered by steam. In the past, they were often used in construction. Today, a diesel-powered shovel is used instead.
The plural of shovel is shovels.

Examples:

The shovel I used to shovel today!

During the blizzard, we made our kids alternate shoveling duty.
Rich uses the snow blower in big storms, but when there are only a couple of inches out there he just uses a shovel.
The quarterback made a quick shovel pass to the halfback, who broke a few tackles and went 60 yards for the TD.
The largest power shovel ever built weighed a whopping 14,000 tons!
To the amazement of his friends, Brad shoveled hot dog after hot dog into his mouth.
An easy way for teenagers to make money is to shovel people's driveways during the winter.

Review:

Today's review words are countdown and outlet.

Keep working hard. Have a great day!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Sketch

2012-12-28T12:39:00.001-08:00

Sketch (Verb) [skech]

To draw something quickly without worrying about small mistakes.
To draw something using a pencil, usually just in gray and white.
To describe something briefly.

Sketch (Noun) [skech]

A drawing made with only a pencil, or a drawing that looks as if it was made with only a pencil.
A drawing made quickly without worrying about small mistakes.

Related:

A sketchbook, sometimes called a sketchpad, is a notebook with blank drawing paper in it. It is used by artists to make sketches.
A rough sketch is a quick drawing made to remember or share an idea. Later on, the rough sketch is used to make the final drawing or product. Rough sketch can also mean a quick description of an idea or plan.
To sketch in something means to add something to a picture.
To sketch out something means to draw something quickly. It can also mean to describe something, usually a plan.
The adjective sketchy means not complete or lacking details. As slang, it can mean creepy or potentially dangerous.
The plural of sketch is sketches.

Examples:

An unfinished sketch of a girl I used to like

He made a rough sketch of the building's layout to show his manager.
She felt her drawing was a bit empty, so she sketched in some mountains in the background.
This sketchy dude was following us around at the mall, so we got the hell out of there.
The artist at the fair sketched a silly caricature of us.
Together they sketched out a rough plan of the company's future.
The best artists can make even a simple gray and white sketch look impressive.
Mark made a sketch of the landscape that he would later on use as the background to his painting.

Review:

Today's review words are ribbon and digit.

Take care everyone! See you tomorrow!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Technique

2012-12-27T23:18:00.002-08:00

Technique (Noun) [tek-neek]

A way of doing something, usually involving a specific skill or method.
A special skill or ability.

Related:

Technology refers to inventions or discoveries that were built or discovered by skilled people. Its adjective form is technological, often shortened to tech. High-tech describes something that uses advanced technologies.
Technical is an adjective that describes something that requires a lot of skill to do well. It can also refer to something that involves advanced technology.
A technician is a skilled person. It usually refers to someone skilled with machines.
The plural of technique is techniques.

Examples:

If you don't use proper technique while lifting, you will hurt yourself

Can you share with me some of the techniques you used to study German?
Figure skaters' great combination of grace and technique fascinates audiences worldwide.
My son throws hard, but he really needs to work on his pitching technique.
Her sales technique involves flirting with customers to get them to buy her goods.
Christopher's swimming technique is far better than his classmates'.

Review:

Today's review words are gift and trend.

Take care everyone!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Passport

2012-12-26T22:58:00.000-08:00

Passport (Noun) [pas-port]

A document issued by a government that allows you to travel to other countries. It can also be used as a form of identification.
Something that helps you achieve something.

Related:

A visa is a stamp or page in a passport that allows a person to stay in a specific country for a longer period of time. A work visa lets you work in the country that issued it. A student visa lets you study in the issuing country.
A passport photo, also called a passport-sized photo, is a small photo of a person's face. It is used on passports or other identification documents.
The plural of passport is passports.

Examples:

An American passport

His passport had expired, so he couldn't travel to Canada.
I keep my passport locked away when I'm not traveling so that it won't get lost or stolen.
Some say college is the passport to a great paying job; others say it's a huge waste of money.
You can only stay in the country for 30 days unless you have a work visa.
Now that I have a thick beard, you wouldn't be able to recognize me in my passport photo!

Review:

Today's review words are beard and suspend.

Hope you had a great Christmas! See you soon!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Countdown

2012-12-24T17:51:00.000-08:00

Countdown (Noun) [kount-down]

The act of counting, in sequence, the time remaining until something happens.
The period of time before something important or exciting happens.

Related:

Count down is the verb form. Notice that it's two words, not one!
The plural of countdown is countdowns.

Examples:

On this sign, kids can use chalk to update the number of days remaining until Christmas!

Americans traditionally count down the last minute of the year on December 31st.
I know it's a few months away, but the countdown to our vacation has already started!
To kids, the countdown to summer vacation seems to last forever, even if there is only one week of school left.
In his head, he was counting down the number of kilometers he had left in the marathon.
I'm just counting down the hours until my annoying relatives finally go home.

Review:

Today's review words are stocking and deceive.

Merry Christmas everyone! Have a great holiday filled with joy!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Ribbon

2012-12-23T23:24:00.002-08:00

Ribbon (Noun) [rib-uhn]

A long, narrow piece of cloth that is often used to tie up gifts or as a decoration.
A short piece of cloth that is given as an award.
A long narrow strip covered with ink that is found in typewriters and printers. The ink on it is used to print things.
A long narrow strip of something.

Related:

A bow is a ribbon that has been tied into a knot. It is used as decoration, often together with a ribbon.
If something is torn to ribbons it means it is ripped up really badly.
The plural of ribbon is ribbons.

Examples:

Two gifts with pink ribbons, tied into bows.

My daughter won a ribbon at the state fair this weekend.
We stacked the gifts up and wrapped them up with a ribbon to keep them together.
Dad threw out his old jackets because it was practically torn to ribbons.
Danielle wore a cute little red ribbon in her hair that matched her dress perfectly.
We traveled down a long narrow ribbon of road to get to our destination.
Typewriters and older printers use a ribbon to print ink onto a sheet of paper.

Review:

Today's review words are scarf and calculate.

Keep working hard! Only one more day until Christmas!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Gift

2012-12-22T18:59:00.002-08:00

Gift (Noun) [gift]

Something given to someone as a favor or for a holiday or birthday.
A special talent.

Gift (Verb) [gift]

To give something to someone for free, often as a reward.

Related:

Gift wrap, also called wrapping paper, is paper with a design on it. It is used to wrap gifts.
A gift certificate is a piece of paper that is worth a certain amount of money. You can use it at a certain store to buy things up to the value of the gift certificate.
A gift card is a plastic card that is worth a certain amount of money. Like a gift certificate, it can be used to buy things at certain places, up to the value of the gift card.
A gift shop is a store that sells things that are often given as gifts or bought as souvenirs.
Someone who has the gift of gab talks a lot.
To look a gift horse in the mouth means to complain about a gift you have received.
The phrase God's gift describes a person who thinks he is better than everyone else.
The plural of gift is gifts.

Examples:

A bunch of gifts wrapped in wrapping paper

When someone does something for you, you should return the favor and buy them a gift.
I bought you a T-shirt at the museum's gift shop.
This dude thinks he's God's gift to man or some shit like that.
He was a gifted athlete, but not very bright.
Against his mother's Jerry decided to look a gift horse in the mouth and complain that his gift was a piece of crap.
Our kind mayor gifted the charity $10,000 out of his own pocket.
My friend gave me a gift card to Target for my birthday.
Elizabeth has a real gift for music.

Review:

Today's review words are dispense and flora.

Keep studying hard! See you tomorrow!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Beard

2012-12-21T22:27:00.000-08:00

Beard (Noun) [beerd]

The hair that grows on a man's chin and neck.
Hair that grows on the chin of some animals.

Related:

A moustache is the hair that grows above a man's lip but under his nose.
Men often shave their beards. This means using a razor to get rid of the hair that makes up their beard.
Bearded is the adjective form.
The plural of beard is beards.

Examples:

Santa with an absolutely epic beard!

My new job doesn't allow employees to have beards, so I have to shave every morning before work.
Jack used to have a thick beard and a long moustache, believe it or not.
And yesterday, a creepy-looking bearded man tried to start a conversation with me at Starbucks!
A bearded dragon is a lizard with spines under its neck that resemble a beard.
Some people associate beards with maturity; others think a clean-shaved face looks more mature.

Review:

Today's review words are mug and potion.

Take care everyone! Best of luck with your studies!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Stocking

2012-12-20T22:52:00.000-08:00

Stocking (Noun) [stok-ing]

A long sock that covers your foot and most of your leg. It is often worn with dresses or skirts.
A bag that looks like a sock that can hold gifts.

Related:

To stock something means to fill it up. You fill a stocking with something (either gifts or your foot!)
A Christmas stocking is a stocking that is hung up for Christmas. It gets filled with toys, candy, and other small gifts.
A stocking stuffer is a small Christmas gift that goes in a Christmas stocking.
A body stocking is a piece of clothing that covers your body from your neck to your feet.
To be in your stocking feet means that you are wearing socks but not shoes.
The plural of stocking is stockings.

Examples:

A Christmas stocking with a skiing snowman on it!

The kids wanted to open some gifts early, so mom and dad let them open their stocking stuffers on Christmas Eve.
Samantha wore sexy black stockings with her miniskirt.
She ran outside to get the mail in only her stocking feet.
Stockings are traditionally hung over the fireplace for Christmas.
Another tradition is that kids who aren't good during the year get coal in their stockings, instead of gifts.

Review:

Today's review words are ornament and vanish.

Take care, see you tomorrow!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Scarf

2012-12-19T22:00:00.000-08:00

Scarf (Noun) [skahrf]

A long cloth that is worn around your neck to keep you warm. It is most commonly worn during the winter.

Scarf (Verb) [skahrf]

To eat something really quickly.

Related:

When used as a verb, it is almost always used in the phrase scarf down.
A headscarf is a scarf that is worn around your head. This may be worn for religious reasons or just for fashion.
Some other common winter accessories that go with a scarf are hats, gloves, mittens, and earmuffs.
The plural of scarf is scarves.

Examples:

A snowman and his pet dog, both wearing red scarves

The wind is really cold, so don't forget your hat and scarf!
Christina always wears such cute scarves; I really should ask her where she buys them sometime.
Mark scarfed down his food as if he hadn't eaten in days!
I'm going to wear a red scarf to work today to bring a little Christmas spirit.
My daughter loved the scarf with the snowflakes on it that you bought her for her birthday.

Review:

Today's review words are basket and suspend.

Take care, see you tomorrow!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Dispense

2012-12-18T23:01:00.002-08:00

Dispense (Verb) [dih-spens]

To provide or give out something.
To prepare and give out medicine.

Related:

To dispense with something means to get rid of it.
A dispenser is a machine that is designed to dispense something. It can also refer to a person who gives something to others (e.g. a teacher as a knowledge dispenser).
A cash dispenser is a machine that gives out money. It is also called an ATM or cash machine.
A water dispenser is a machine that provides fresh water.
The plural of dispenser is dispensers.

Examples:

A holiday-themed liquid soap dispenser!

I'm looking for an ATM that dispenses fifties.
Jon is not a very productive worker; at the end of the year, we probably should dispense with him.
Psychologists and psychiatrists both can give advice, but only the latter can dispense medicine.
The hot water dispenser at work sometimes has problems heating up water during the winter.
He purchased a smartphone in the hope that he could dispense with his camera, watch, GPS, and mp3 player.

Review:

Today's review words are abstract and personality.

Keep working hard!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Mug

2012-12-17T19:34:00.001-08:00

Mug (Noun) [mug]

A cup with a handle that is often used for drinking hot beverages such as coffee.
The beverage in a mug.
A person's face. It usually refers to a person's face in a photo.

Mug (Verb) [mug]

To attack someone and steal from him or her.

Related:

Since a mug is often used for drinking coffee, it is sometimes called a coffee mug.
A mug shot is a photo taken by the police of a person who has been arrested.
A mugging is an attack on a person that results in something being stolen.
The plural of mug is mugs.

Examples:

A mug with a Christmas tree design

Katie poured herself a nice warm mug of hot chocolate.
London is a pretty safe city, but if you carry valuables in plain sight, you are just asking to be mugged.
The police took a mug shot of the drunk driver before tossing him in jail for the night.
Sadly, my son broke my favorite mug.
My best friend got mugged while coming home late last night.
This mug is hot, so make sure you grip it by the handle.

Review:

Today's review words are towel and vent.

Keep up the good work! See you tomorrow!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Ornament

2012-12-16T13:12:00.000-08:00

Ornament (Noun) [or-nuh-muhnt]

A small thing that is placed on something to make it look better.
Something that has no function except to look nice.

Ornament (Verb) [or-nuh-ment]

To make something look better by decorating it.

Related:

A hood ornament is a decoration that goes on the front hood of a car. It often displays the car company's logo.
A Christmas ornament is an object with a hook that is designed to be hung on a Christmas tree.
The adjective ornamental means as a decoration.
The noun ornamentation means something added to something else to make it look better.
The plural of ornament is ornaments.

Examples:

Christmas ornaments on a Christmas tree

Sometime next week we will decorate the Christmas tree with ornaments and lights.
Hood ornaments serve as free advertisements for luxury car companies.
Last year we grew vegetables in our garden, but this year the garden is purely ornamental.
Those buttons are only for ornament, so don't bother pressing them.
Christmas ornaments make for great inexpensive gifts.
These purses are ornamented with emeralds for maximum elegance.

Review:

Today's review words are spicy and calcium.

Keep working hard! And return tomorrow for another holiday-themed word!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Basket

2012-12-15T14:50:00.000-08:00

Basket (Noun) [bas-kit]

A container made from straw, wire, or other flexible material that is woven together. It often has an open top and a handle that lets you carry it.
A raised net that players try to throw a ball through in the game of basketball.
A successful shot in basketball.

Related:

Basketball is a sport in which two teams try to throw a basketball into a net. The teams also try to prevent the other team from doing this. The team that gets the ball in the basket more times is the winner.
To make a basket or score a basket in basketball means to get points by throwing the basketball through the net.
An Easter basket is a basket filled with candy and other treats that is given as a gift on Easter.
A flower basket is a basket that holds flowers. The flowers are usually artificial (not real).
A wastebasket or wastepaper basket is a container that people throw trash into. It is a wastebin, garbage can, or trashcan.
A basket case is a person who is unable to think because he is nervous. It can also refer to a crazy person.
To put all your eggs in one basket means to focus or rely on only one thing. This is generally a bad idea because if that one thing doesn't work out, you lose everything.
The plural of basket is baskets.

Examples:

Some Christmas decorations in a basket

LeBron made 20 baskets last night against the Celtics.
We always fill the kids' baskets with candy and hide them for the kids to find on Easter morning.
The school is giving away baskets full of gifts for the raffle.
Each gift basket contains bubble bath, lotion, candles, and other romantic gifts.
Make sure you empty the wastebaskets before you go out tonight.
Grab the handle of the basket and gently lift it up onto the table.
I love my job, but the boss is a bit of a basket case.

Review:

Today's review words are glow and distract.

Keep up the good work, everyone! See you tomorrow for another word!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Abstract

2012-12-14T17:30:00.000-08:00

Abstract (Adjective) [ab-strakt or ab-strakt]

Relating to ideas or feelings, rather than things that can be touched.
Strange or not realistic.
Difficult to understand.

Abstract (Noun) [ab-strakt]

A short summary of a written work, most commonly a scientific paper.
An abstract piece of art.

Abstract (Verb) [ab-strakt (1) or ab-strakt (2)]

To take part from a whole (usually from a written work).
To summarize something; to make an abstract.

Related:

Abstract art is art that does not look realistic. It may have random colors, shapes, words, designs, and so on.
Abstractly is the adverb form of abstract.
Abstraction is the act of taking something from a larger thing. It can also refer to a general or theoretical idea.
Abstractness measures how abstract something is.
The phrase in the abstract means in general or in theory.
The comparative and superlative forms of abstract are more abstract and most abstract.
The plural of abstract is abstracts.

Examples:

An abstract pattern with strange shapes in many different colors

The Museum of Modern Art, or MoMA, is home to some of the most fascinating abstract art in the entire world.
Good poetry has both literal and abstract meanings.
For homework, write a 250-word abstract that explains your experiment and summarizes the results.
The bill claims it will improve the economy in the abstract, but most likely it will only help big businesses.
She abstracted quotes from her favorite novels to use in her paper.
Alan found philosophy way too abstract for him, so he changed his major to engineering.

Review:

Today's review words are footprint and stumble.

Keep working hard! And as usual, if you have any questions, you can ask me here or on Facebook or Twitter. Take care!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Towel

2012-12-14T00:46:00.001-08:00

Towel (Noun) [tow-uhl or towl]

A cloth that is used to dry things.

Related:

To throw in the towel means to give up or quit.
A washcloth is a small towel usually used to wash your face.
A hand towel is a small towel usually used to wash your hands.
A dish towel is a small towel used to dry dishes after washing them.
A beach towel is a large towel that people sit or lay on at the beach.
A towel rack is a structure on which towels can be hung or placed.
A paper towel is a special kind of paper that is used to clean up spills and other messes. It comes on a roll and gets thrown in the garbage after it used.
The plural of towel is towels.

Examples:

A towel rack in a bathroom holding towels of various sizes

Despite being down by 21 with only five minutes to go, they weren't ready to throw in the towel just yet.
She folded the towels, then placed them in piles.
My mother recently redecorated the bathroom, so now everything in there, from the walls to the towels, is either blue or white.
I packed beach towels, swimsuits, sunscreen, and sunglasses for our Florida vacation.
Just use this dish towel to dry the dishes after I'm finished washing them.
Kevin used the rest of the paper towels to clean up the iced tea he had spilled.

Review:

Today's review words are kettle and restless.

I am home now, so I will be able to post new words every day from now on. So, check back tomorrow for my next word!

Keep working hard!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Spicy

2012-12-07T08:26:00.001-08:00

Spicy (Adjective) [spy-see]

Describes a food that causes a burning feeling in your mouth when eaten.
Something surprising or exciting.

Related:

A spice is something used to add flavor to foods.
The spiciness of something is how spicy it is.
The comparative and superlative forms of spicy are spicier and spiciest.

Examples:

Spicy foods, such as this soup, are often red in color

These are the spiciest chicken wings I've ever had!
The soup was a bit bland though, so next time add more spices to it.
We are the magazine with the spiciest celebrity rumors and photos in the whole entire world!
This meat is way too spicy for me, so I will just eat rice and side dishes.
You know, despite being a bit on the spicy side, this chicken burger surprisingly isn't all that bad.

Review:

Today's review words are sweep and carefree. Keep up the good work, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

- Mark

Word of the Day: Glow

2012-12-06T08:02:00.000-08:00

Glow (Verb) [gloh]

To shine with a steady light.
To give off heat and light without flame.
To be happy, proud, or excited.

Glow (Noun) [gloh]

A steady light.
A feeling of warmth.
A positive emotion, such as happiness.
Clear, bright, or red skin, especially on the face; blushing.

Related:

Glow-in-the-dark means that something glows when in a dark place.
A glowworm is a kind of worm that glows in the dark. One type of glowworm is a young firefly, a flying insect that glows in the dark.
A glow stick is a glow-in-the-dark stick that's often used at nightclubs or raves. Glow sticks can also be used as a light source by police or the military.
The related word shine means to give off light.
The plural of glow is glows.

Examples:

Colorful Christmas lights glowing at night

She was glowing with pride when talking about her daughter winning that stupid academic award.
The class was glowing with excitement after I told them we would be having a pizza party to reward them for their hard work.
The glow of the lost hiker's lantern was the only light for miles.
Seems today's trend for elementary school kids is glow-in-the-dark sneakers.
I'm so jealous of how Elizabeth's skin always has such a natural radiant glow.
On clear summer nights, the skies would be filled with hundreds of glowing fireflies searching for mates.

Review:

Today's review words are lawn and alphabet.

Good luck with your studies! Have a great day!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Footprint

2012-12-05T06:22:00.000-08:00

Footprint (Noun) [fuut-print]

A mark left on a surface by a person or animal's foot. Footprints are commonly found in mud, dirt, sand, and snow.
The amount of space something covers or takes up.

Related:

Footprint is a compound word made from two smaller words, foot and print. A foot is the part of our bodies on which we wear socks and shoes. Our two feet help us stand and walk. The plural of foot is feet.
Print means to put words or images on a paper using a machine such as a printer. Making a footprint is like printing your foot's shape on the ground!
Marks left on a surface from a car's tires are called tracks or tire tracks.
An ecological footprint is a measure of how much stress a human or population puts on the Earth's environment. A carbon footprint specifically refers to how much carbon a person or population releases into the air by using fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and gas.
The plural of footprint is footprints.

Examples:

A bunch of footprints on a snowy sidewalk

We never see the deer in our yard, but we know they were there because of the footprints they leave behind.
In order to keep the Earth healthy for future generations, we should reduce our ecological footprint.
It is obvious from the footprints that the suspect ran into the woods to evade police.
This photo of footprints on the beach makes me miss our old beach house in Florida.
The new school has a much larger footprint than the previous one because of the new auditorium.

Review:

Today's review words are during and balance.

Keep up the good work!

- Mark

Word of the Day: Kettle

2012-12-04T07:55:00.003-08:00

Kettle (Noun) [ket-l]

A container used to heat water or other liquids on a stove top.

Related:

A kettle is often called a tea kettle, especially when it's being used to heat water for tea.
An electric kettle uses electricity to heat water for tea or other drinks.
A teapot is similar to a kettle. It is different in that it is specifically designed for steeping tea and may not be safe to heat on a stove top.
The idiom pot calling the kettle black means that a person is guilty of the very thing he is accusing someone else of doing.
The plural of kettle is kettles.

Examples:

A tea kettle being used to heat water for my coffee

Heat up some water in the kettle so that it'll be ready when I get home from the store.
My tea kettle whistles when it's ready, so just listen for the whistle and you will know when the tea is ready.
She bought a new ceramic kettle over the weekend to replace her old iron one.
My aunt gave me an electric kettle, yet another gift I doubt I'll ever use.
She's accusing me of being messy? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

Review:

Today's review words are digit and sequence.

Keep working hard, everyone!

- Mark