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January 24 & 25, 2003 avian (A vi un) The adjective avian is used to refer to things related to or characteristic of birds. Pressure groups demanded the government admit that avian influenza has already infected people here and called for immediate action to prevent further spread of the disease. The island was the scene of some astonishing avian overcrowding. Why do females of some avian species choose suitors with the most elaborate courtship songs? He helped organise the first scientific conference on avian deaths at communications towers. January 23, 2003 dent The basic meaning of the noun dent is a small hollow mark in the surface of something that was caused by pressure or a hit of some kind. The verb form means to cause such a mark. In the newspaper, however, both the noun and verb forms of dent often refer to something which reduces the amount of something or which reduces the possibility that an event, plan or expectation will be successful. Anti-globalisation activists have concluded six days of rallies and debates in Bombay confident of having made a dent on the world agenda on the eve of the rival World Economic Forum in Switzerland. Confidence in government statistics has been severely dented. Neil has a couple of dents and a broken window on his car from the shotgun blasts. High interest rates are likely to dent prospects for a recovery in the industry. January 22, 2004 flop The noun flop means to be a complete failure. The verb form is also flop. The government's campaign for road safety over New Year was a flop, with people breaking traffic laws all over the country, research has shown. The company is unlikely to lose much, even if the project is a flop. He was a popular personality on television but he flopped as a candidate. v January 21, 2003 staggering (STAG a ring) The adjective staggering means to be so large, shocking or surprising that it is difficult to believe. The Communist Party unveiled a sweeping plan yesterday to reduce China's staggering number of workplace deaths. Last week the representatives passed a reckless plan that would cost $800 billion over the next decade and a staggering $3 trillion over the next two decades. At last count, Mehta and his companies faced a staggering 1,600 charges. It was a staggering blow to the small tight-knit community. January 20, 2003 earmark (EAR mark) The verb earmark means to reserve or put aside for a particular purpose. A 3,000-rai area in Pru na Muang has been earmarked for the second airport on Koh Samui, said Deputy Transport Minister Vichet Kasemthongsri. A significant slice of the government's budget has been earmarked for servicing the debt. At least half the total package has been earmarked for disaster-recovery activities. The French government has earmarked three billion francs in tax cuts for the affected industries. January 19, 2004 hatch The verb hatch normally means to break out of an egg and it is used with baby birds and other animals which develop in eggs. In the newspaper, however, hatch is often used to mean to secretly develop a plan, especially to do something bad. As a noun, hatch refers to an opening in the deck of a ship through which people or goods can go. Defence Minister Thammarak Isarangkura na Ayudhaya said separatist movements had hatched a 1,000-day plan to seize Narathiwat province. It was from Manila that Ramzi Yousef, the convicted mastermind behind the first World Trade Centre bombing, hatched a plan to blow up 12 American airliners as they flew over the Pacific. A woman living near the nuclear plant said that the fertility of her breeding geese had diminished and the goslings hatched with serious abnormalities. All the escape hatches had been shut. Click here to see our words in the news for the previous week. Return to our home page |© The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. All rights reserved 2004 | Last modified: January 23, 2004