Word of the Day, February 7, 2023

February 7, 2023 [The Free Dictionary]( Word of the Day [mickle]( [Discuss]( Definition: (noun) A large number or amount or extent. Synonyms: [hatful]( [lot]( [mint]( [muckle]( [peck]( [slew]( [spate]( [tidy sum]( [wad]( [stack]( [raft]( [pile]( [plenty]( [mass]( [batch]( [heap]( [deal]( [flock]( [pot]( [mess]( [sight]( Usage: It was only when he found a mickle of old letters in the basement that he learned his grandmother had been a prolific and talented writer. Missing Idiom Contest The Free Dictionary has the largest collection of English idioms in the world. But we are always looking for more to add, and we want your help! Every so often we hear from users who have looked up an idiom on The Free Dictionary that it was not found in the database. Maybe it was some expression they heard at work, or some phrase they grew up hearing their grandmother say. If you know an idiom that isn't already defined on The Free Dictionary, [send it to us]( and you might win $150 USD. The Farlex Idioms & Slang Dictionary [The Farlex Idioms & Slang Dictionary] New! The most complete collection of idioms and slang in the English language. Thousands more words and phrases than the leading idioms dictionaries! ✔ 17,000+ entries covering idioms, slang, phrasal verbs, and more from throughout the English-speaking world. ✔ Example sentences for every definition showing how the term is used in real life by native speakers. [Buy now]( Idiom of the Day [arm candy]( — An especially attractive person who acts as a romantic escort or date to social events, but who is not romantically attached to or involved with the person he or she is accompanying. ["More...]( [Idiom video]( Article of the Day Bioluminescence [Discuss]( Fireflies light up due to bioluminescence: the ability of living organisms to convert chemical energy to light energy. Bioluminescence is also exhibited by some fungi, mollusks, and worms, and bioluminescent fish are common in the ocean's depths, likely because the light aids in species recognition in the darkness. Other animals use luminescence in courtship and mating, to divert predators, or to attract prey. Why is most marine bioluminescence in the blue and green part of the spectrum? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson Forming Irregular Plurals [Discuss]( There are some nouns that are irregular and do not adhere to spelling rules. "Child" is an irregular plural noun. Can you name any others? [More...]( This Day in History Maastricht Treaty Establishes the European Union (1992) [Discuss]( The history of the European Union (EU) began soon after World War II, when there developed in Europe a strong revulsion against national rivalries and parochial loyalties. European strength and security seemed to lie in a united Europe, and the European Coal and Steel Company—established in 1952—was the first attempt at accomplishing such a union. In 1992, the Maastricht Treaty, formally the Treaty on European Union, officially established the EU. How many member states does the EU have? [More...]( Today's Birthday Sir Thomas More (1478) [Discuss]( More was an English lawyer, writer, and politician who earned a reputation as a leading humanist scholar. He held many public offices during Henry VIII's reign, including that of lord chancellor. He is remembered for his book Utopia, which describes an ideal state founded entirely on reason, and for his principled refusal to accept the king as the head of the Church of England—a decision that resulted in his execution on the grounds of treason. What recognition was he accorded in 2000? [More...]( Today's Holiday Grenada Independence Day [Discuss]( This is a national holiday commemorating [Grenada]( independence from [Britain]( on this day in 1974. Britain had held the island since the 18th century, when France ceded it under the [Treaty of Paris](. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( Let my name stand among those who are willing to bear ridicule and reproach for the truth's sake, and so earn some right to rejoice when the victory is won. [Louisa May Alcott]( (1832-1888) Mobile apps from TheFreeDictionary.com [The Free Dictionary Classic Free App] The classic free version, downloaded more than 6 million times! - Multiple dictionaries, encyclopedias, and thesauruses in one place. - 14 languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Simplified Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, Norwegian, Greek, Arabic, Polish, Turkish, and Russian. - Online translations of English into more than 40 languages, plus dozens of other translation options. 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