Word of the Day, September 7, 2023

September 7, 2023 [The Free Dictionary]( Word of the Day [contraption]( [Discuss]( Definition: (noun) A device that is very useful for a particular job. Synonyms: [gizmo]( [appliance]( [contrivance]( [gadget]( [widget]( [gismo]( [convenience]( Usage: He turned the contraption around and around in his hands, not believing that such simple, small thing could save lives. 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. Complete English Grammar Rules [Complete English Grammar Rules] An Amazon Best Seller! Finally, all the rules of English grammar, all in one book, explained in simple terms. ✔ 500+ pages of proper grammar instruction—2X more information than the leading grammar book! ✔ Hundreds of quizzes and thousands of example sentences. [Buy now]( Idiom of the Day [have a handle on (something)]( — To have a firm, clear understanding or determination of something. ["More...]( [Idiom video]( Article of the Day Silly Putty [Discuss]( When scientists tried to find a rubber substitute for the US during WWII, they stumbled upon a product that would entertain children for generations. Silly Putty is silicone plastic “clay” sold in an egg-shaped plastic container and marketed as a children's toy. As an inorganic polymer, it can pick up ink when pressed against a newspaper; the imprint can then be stretched in any direction. It also bounces, breaks, and “melts” into a puddle. What causes these unusual flow characteristics? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson Present Perfect Continuous Tense [Discuss]( The present perfect continuous tense is formed by using a form of the auxiliary verb "have" along with "been" and the present participle of the "main" verb. The present perfect continuous is very close in meaning to how we use the present perfect tense. How do they differ? [More...]( This Day in History Last Captive Thylacine Dies in Hobart Zoo (1936) [Discuss]( The thylacine, known also as the Tasmanian wolf and Tasmanian tiger, was a carnivorous marsupial once found on the Australian mainland, New Guinea, and Tasmania. Often cited as an example of convergent evolution, it was superficially similar to a wolf or dog, though it evolved entirely independently of these animals. It was hunted to probable extinction in the 1930s, and the last captive thylacine died in the Hobart Zoo in 1936. How many thylacine sightings have been reported since then? [More...]( Today's Birthday Buddy Holly (1936) [Discuss]( An early rock 'n' roll star, Holly began as a country-and-western singer and gradually added rhythm-and-blues elements to his innovative style. With his band, the Crickets, he established the standard rock instrumentation of two guitars, bass, and drums, and toured the US extensively for two years before his death in a plane crash. He became one of rock's most enduring cult figures and much of his material was released posthumously. Who else died in the plane crash that killed him? [More...]( Today's Holiday Toronto International Film Festival [Discuss]( Second in size only to the [Cannes Film Festival]( in France, the [Toronto International Film Festival]( is considered one of the world's most prestigious artistic events; it features some of the year's most anticipated films, attracts leading stars in the movie business, and serves as a networking and educational opportunity for industry professionals. Festival organizers pride themselves on creating a public festival, which means film submissions from all over are accepted and screenings are open to the public as well as to the media and the [film industry](. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( There are some cases in which the sense of injury breeds—not the will to inflict injuries and climb over them as a ladder, but—a hatred of all injury. [George Eliot]( (1819-1880) 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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