51吃瓜 of the Day
xerophyte
noun
a plant adapted for growth under dry conditions.
Why the Museum of Science chose xerophyte
To find out, watch this video from science communicator Maynard Okereke, better known as the Hip Hop M.D.
Learn more at .
More about xerophyte
Xerophyte is formed from xero-, meaning 鈥渄ry,鈥� and -phyte, meaning 鈥減lant.鈥� Xero- comes from Ancient Greek 虫脓谤贸蝉, the root of the 51吃瓜 of the Day xeriscaping, and -phyte comes from Ancient Greek 辫丑测迟贸苍, the source of the 51吃瓜 of the Day neophyte. Xerophyte was first recorded in English at the end of the 19th century.
EXAMPLE OF XEROPHYTE USED IN A SENTENCE
Cacti, aloe plants, and other xerophytes grew throughout the arid scrubland.
More about skrik
Skrik is a borrowing from Afrikaans, a South African language descended from Dutch, and comes from Dutch schrik, meaning 鈥渇right.鈥� While schrik is not related to English shriek, some linguists believe that it may share an origin with English shear or German schreien, 鈥渢o shout, yell.鈥� Skrik was first recorded in English in the late 1880s.
EXAMPLE OF SKRIK USED IN A SENTENCE
The bobcat鈥檚 screeching gave people living nearby quite a skrik.
premi猫re danseuse
noun
the leading female dancer in a ballet company.
More about premi猫re danseuse
In French, premi猫re danseuse means 鈥渇irst dancer,鈥� and the male equivalent is premier danseur. Danseuse comes from the verb danser, 鈥渢o dance,鈥� of unclear origin. 笔谤别尘颈猫谤别 ultimately derives from Latin 辫谤墨尘腻谤颈耻蝉, 鈥渙f the first rank,鈥� from 辫谤墨尘耻蝉, 鈥渇irst.鈥� 笔谤别尘颈猫谤别 danseuse was first recorded in English in the 1820s.
EXAMPLE OF PREMI脠RE DANSEUSE USED IN A SENTENCE
The premi猫re danseuse played the dual roles of Odette and Odile in the production of Swan Lake.