Check Out This VISAGE…

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How many times a day do you look at yourself in a mirror?

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t know for sure.

You probably glance at yourself when you brush your teeth in the morning and perhaps when you’re getting dressed for the day.

But do you make a point to also check out your visage (see definition and hear pronunciation below) during the day?

Some scientists have studied how many times a day people gaze into a mirror. An average woman looks in a mirror 38 times a day, and an average man does it 18 times a day, according to research.

Now, that’s a lot of mirror gazing!

Cool word vocabulary question of the day: What are the pros and cons of looking in a mirror several times a day?

VISAGE: A person’s face or facial expression.

Click to hear the pronunciation of visage:

https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/visage.mp3

 

Catch This Type of MITT!

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Most people would agree that baseball is one of the most popular sports of summer.

By most accounts, the sport evolved from similar games that were played in England in the 1700s. The first officially recorded baseball game in the US took place in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1846.

In the early days of baseball, players did not wear gloves or mitts to protect their hands. But as more and more players injured their hands, some form of protective gear became necessary.

While you might first think of baseball gear when you hear the word mitt, it has an additional informal meaning.

For example, if someone says, “Keep your mitts (see definition and hear pronunciation below) off my wallet,” the speaker is not referring to baseball!

Cool word vocabulary question of the day: How would you use the word mitt if you weren’t referring to baseball?

MITT: A padded, protective glove used for baseball; an informal term used to describe a person’s hand.

Click to hear the pronunciation of mitt:

https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/mitt.mp3

 

Vocab Practice: CLANDESTINE

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This word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on June 20, 2013.

Let’s do a practice round!

Clandestine means:

A) Attentive to detail
B) A group of family members
C) Conducted in secrecy
D) A large wave

VIEW ANSWER HERE

 

 

Vocab Practice: ESPY

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This word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on June 17, 2013.

Let’s do a practice round!

Espy means:

A) A type of copper pipe
B) Thin, elegant paper
C) Tumbling slowly
D) To catch sight of

VIEW ANSWER HERE

 

Push Beyond the PROSAIC!

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If you were asked to paint a colorful design, what shapes would you choose? Which colors?

If you didn’t give it much thought, you might settle for a simple, even prosaic (see definition and hear pronunciation below) design. Or you could tap into your imagination and create a beautiful mosaic of vibrant colors and unusual shapes.

Creativity is useful not only for artistic pursuits, but also for problem solving. Writers and graphic artists are known for their creativity. But doctors, engineers and accountants must also be creative to analyze and solve problems.

So, whatever you’re doing at school or in the work world, just be sure to keep those creative juices flowing!

Cool word vocabulary question of the day: What do you think is the most prosaic piece of advice you’ve ever received?

PROSAIC: Dull, uninspired, commonplace, unimaginative; characteristic of prose rather than poetry.

Click to hear the pronunciation of prosaic:

 https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/prosaic.mp3

A CLANDESTINE Classic…

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Though he is a fictional character, Sherlock Holmes is probably the world’s best-known detective.

Created by the Scottish author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, this famous sleuth was a master of deductive reasoning.

By drawing inferences from his keen observations, Holmes was able to unravel a variety of vexing mysteries.

Like all good detectives, Holmes often found himself involved in clandestine (see definition below) investigations.

But in the intriguing world of Sherlock Holmes, these operations were all just part of a day’s work!

Cool word vocabulary question of the day: Can you think of any types of work that involve clandestine operations?

CLANDESTINE: Surreptitious, conducted in secrecy.

Click to hear the pronunciation of clandestine:

https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/clandestine.mp3

 

Vocab Practice: SIMIAN

Simian-definition-cool-words-vocabulary-for-students-practice

This word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on June 13, 2013.

Let’s do a practice round!

Simian means:

A) Bright green
B) Related to monkeys
C) Unusually slippery
D) A miniature version

VIEW ANSWER HERE

 

 

Vocab Practice: BAILIWICK

Bailiwick-definition-cool-words-vocabulary-for-students-practice

This word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on June 10, 2013.

Let’s do a practice round!

Bailiwick means:

A) Bottom of a candle
B) A rotund shape
C) Area of knowledge
D) A type of hayseed

VIEW ANSWER HERE

 

What Do You ESPY?

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The next time you’re passing some time in a crowded location, you might want to consider doing some “people watching.”

Perhaps you’re waiting to meet a friend at a shopping mall or in a park. Sit back and really observe the people around you.

What’s unique about them? Do they look happy? Or stressed? How old do you think they are?

People watching allows you to use your powers of observation. It can also be fun to imagine stories about the people’s lives. Where do you think they are going? What do you suppose they’re thinking about?

Then when you espy (see definition below) the friend you’re waiting for, you may be surprised at how quickly the time passed!

Cool word vocabulary question of the day: When you’re scanning the horizon at a beach or in a park, what are your favorite things to espy?

ESPY: To catch sight of, to see at a distance.

Click to hear the pronunciation of espy:

https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/espy.mp3

That’s So SIMIAN!

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Some animals really know how to make a lot of noise!

Sure, a barking dog or a crowing rooster can produce a racket. Elephants and lions can also be quite boisterous.

But one of the loudest animals in the world is the howler monkey. These simian (see definition below) creatures can be heard up to three miles away!

These monkeys, which live primarily in forests in Central and South America, weigh only about 20 pounds. But their small size doesn’t prevent them from creating a cacophony, usually at dawn and at dusk.

When it comes to howling loudly, the howler monkey takes the prize!

Cool word vocabulary question of the day: Can you think of a simian animal that you might find at a zoo?

SIMIAN: Pertaining to monkeys or apes.