Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2022/July

1. (cycle racing) A bib attached to the back of a cyclist's shirt that carries the cyclist's race number.

The grand départ (great departure) of the 2022 Tour de France takes place today in Copenhagen, Denmark.

1. (transitive)
   1. To rub or wear away (something); to cause (something made of strands twisted or woven together, such as cloth or rope) to unravel through friction; also, to irritate (something) through chafing or rubbing; to chafe.
      1. (specifically) Of a deer: to rub (its antlers or head) against a tree, etc., to remove the velvet from antlers or to mark territory; also, to rub its antlers against (a tree, etc.) for that purpose.
   2. To force or make (a path, way, etc.) through.
   3. (obsolete) To bruise (someone or something); also, to take the virginity of (someone, usually a female person); to deflower.
2. (intransitive)
   1. To become unravelled or worn; to unravel.
   2. To rub.
      1. (specifically) Of a deer: to rub its antlers against a tree, etc., to remove the velvet or to mark territory.
   3. (figuratively) Of a person's mental strength, nerves, temper, etc.: to become exhausted or worn out.

fray n

1. (archaic or obsolete) A consequence of rubbing, unravelling, or wearing away; a fraying; also, a place where fraying has occurred.

1. (India, South Asia) A member of a caste in South Asia whose traditional occupation is gardening; hence, any South Asian gardener.

1. (South Africa) Money, cash.

Van Mahotsav (“Forest Festival”), a tree-planting festival, is held annually in India in the first week of July.

1. (chiefly US) The national holiday of Independence Day in the United States, celebrated on the fourth day in July to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain in 1776.

Fourth of July n

1. (chiefly US) A cocktail containing one part grenadine syrup, one part vodka, and one part blue curaçao, reminiscent of the red, white, and blue colours of the United States flag, often poured in layers so that the colours do not mix when the drink is served.

Today is celebrated as Independence Day in the United States.

1. Not sufferable; very difficult or impossible to endure; intolerable, unbearable.

1. A bottle or flask for holding a beverage such as water or wine; (specifically, sports) a water bottle which can be squeezed to squirt the beverage out of the nozzle, especially (cycling) one designed for mounting on a bicycle.
2. (archaic) A container for holding a liquid.
   1. A cup made of wood.
   2. An oil drum; a petrol can.

Stage 5 of the 2022 Tour de France from Lille to Arenberg takes place today.

1. Of a person: emaciated, wasted, weakened; of the body or part of it: atrophied, shrunken, withered.
2. Of a quality or thing: lessened, weakened.
3. Reduced to poverty; impoverished.

extenuate v (transitive, formal)

1. To make (something) less dense, or thinner; also, to lower the viscosity of (something).
2. (archaic)
   1. To make (someone or something) slender or thin; to emaciate, to waste.
   2. To underestimate or understate the importance of (something); to underrate.
      1. (specifically) To diminish or seek to diminish the extent or severity of (a crime, guilt, a mistake, or something else negative) by making apologies or excuses; to palliate.
3. (obsolete)
   1. To beat or draw (a metal object, etc.) out so as to lessen the thickness.
   2. To reduce the quality or quantity of (something); to lessen or weaken the force of (something).
   3. To degrade (someone); to detract from (someone's qualities, reputation, etc.); to depreciate, to disparage.

1. (cycle racing) A cyclist on a cycle racing team whose role is to assist the team's designated leaders (for example, by riding in front of them to create a slipstream, or to set the pace), even if at the expense of their own individual performance.

Stage 7 of the 2022 Tour de France from Tomblaine to La Planche des Belles Filles takes place today.

1. Synonym of illuminate
   1. (transitive)
      1. (also figuratively) To shine light on (something).
      2. (also figuratively) To cause (something) to glow or shine with light.
      3. (figuratively)
         1. To enlighten (someone) spiritually; to induce (someone) to adopt, or believe in the truth of, a religion, religious tenet, etc.
         2. To cause (the eyes) to see.
         3. To cause (a person or their face) to show enlightenment, happiness, etc.
         4. (rare) To enlighten (someone) intellectually.
         5. (art) To decorate (a page of a manuscript book) with ornamental designs.
   2. (intransitive)
      1. To become bright; to light up.
      2. (figuratively)
         1. To enlighten intellectually.
         2. Of a person or their face: to show enlightenment, happiness, etc.

1. (military, also attributively and figuratively)
   1. An attack made by troops from a besieged position; a sally.
   2. (aviation) An operational flight carried out by a single military aircraft.
2. (by extension)
   1. An act of venturing out to do a task, etc.
   2. (figuratively)
      1. An act of trying to enter a new field of activity.
      2. (sports) An attacking move.
   3. (astronautics) An operational flight carried out by a spacecraft involving a return to Earth.
   4. (military) Synonym of sally port (“an entry to or opening into a fortification to enable a sally”)
   5. (photography) A series of aerial photographs taken during the flight of an aircraft; (by extension) a photography session.

sortie v

1. (intransitive) To carry out a sortie; to sally.

The Battle of Britain—the air defence of the United Kingdom against attacks by Nazi Germany’s air force, the Luftwaffe, during World War II—is officially recognized by the British to have started on this day in 1940.

1. (biology, demography) An excessive number of occupants (people, animals, plants, etc.) in a particular area; specifically, when the number of occupants exceeds the ability of that area to provide for them.

Today is World Population Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to raise awareness of global population issues such as the importance of family planning, gender equality, human rights, maternal health, and poverty.

1. Not utterable; incapable of being physically spoken or voiced; unpronounceable.
2. Incapable of being articulated or expressed; indescribable, inexpressible.
3. Not allowed to be spoken; taboo, unspeakable.
4. (figuratively) Extremely bad or objectionable; unspeakable.

unutterable n

1. Something which is unutterable (incapable of being physically spoken, incapable of being articulated or expressed, etc.).

1. (road transport, dated) A bus that is a motor vehicle, as opposed to earlier horse-drawn buses.
2. (by extension, cycle racing) A large group of cyclists who have fallen behind the peloton (“main group of riders”) in a race.

Stage 11 of the 2022 Tour de France from Albertville to Col du Granon takes place today.

1. Someone or something that climbs (such as a mountain climber).
   1. (figuratively, derogatory) A person who is constantly trying to get ahead socially.
   2. (botany) A plant such as a vine that climbs upwards as it grows by attaching itself to some support.
   3. (cycle racing) A cyclist who specializes in riding especially well on steep hills or roads.
   4. (ornithology) A bird that climbs, such as a parrot or woodpecker; specifically (archaic), a bird having two toes pointing forward, and two pointing backward, formerly regarded as being from the order Scansores or Zygodactyli (now obsolete as the birds formerly in this order have been reclassified into different orders); a zygodactyl.
2. Something that is used for climbing.
   1. (climbing) Synonym of climbing iron (“a kind of crampon attached to the shoe to aid with climbing”)

climber v

1. (intransitive, obsolete) To ascend or mount with effort; to clamber, to climb.

1. Characterized by, or performed with, cleverness or contrivance; clever, ingenious.
2. Not naturally produced; artificial; imitative.
3. Exhibiting or using much art or skill; dexterous; skilful.
4. (by extension) Skilful at using dishonest or unfair means to achieve a purpose; crafty, cunning.
5. (obsolete) Knowledgeable about the liberal arts; learned, wise.

1. (historical)
   1. A waistcoat worn by a man.
   2. A bodice worn by a woman similar to a man's waistcoat; also, a decorative panel at the front of such a bodice, or worn separately.
2. (by extension) A sleeveless jacket resembling a waistcoat but generally closed at the neck; specifically, one which is padded to provide warmth.

Stage 14 of the 2022 Tour de France from Saint-Étienne to Mende takes place today.

1. (cycle racing) A cyclist who performs well on flat and undulating roads.

Stage 15 of the 2022 Tour de France, a flat race from Rodez to Carcassonne, takes place today.

1. Flawless; perfect; spot on.
2. Of an article of clothing or outfit: stylish and perfectly chosen or put together.
3. Of eyebrows or hair: sleek and perfectly groomed or styled; well-groomed.

on fleek adv

1. (African-American Vernacular, slang) In a sleek or stylish manner; sleekly, stylishly.

1. (music)
   1. (historical) Any of various small bagpipes having a soft sound, especially with a bellows, which were popular in France in the 17th and early 18th century.
      1. (by extension) A pastoral air or tune that has a drone imitating such an instrument; also, a dance performed to this music.
   2. (historical) An organ stop using reed pipes with cone-shaped resonators, found in organs in France in the 17th and 18th centuries.
   3. A small oboe without a cap for its reed, which evolved from the chanter or pipe of bagpipes; a piccolo oboe.
2. (chiefly US, originally military) In full musette bag: a small bag or knapsack with a shoulder strap, formerly used by soldiers, and now (cycling) chiefly by cyclists to hold food and beverages or other items.

Stage 16 of the 2022 Tour de France from Carcassonne to Foix takes place today.

1. Existing only in the fancy (“imagination”); imaginary, imagined.
2. Organized, or (especially of attire) designed, to suit one's fancy or whim.
3. Having a fancy (“inclination, liking, or love”) for; desired, favourite.
4. (obsolete) Designed in an artistic manner.

1. A traditional Breton cake made of layers of butter, dough, and sugar.

The Festival de Cornouaille, an annual celebration of Breton culture held in Quimper, Brittany, France, begins today in 2022.

1. More than one or two but not very many; a number of, several.
2. Of various types, especially when numerous; diverse, varied.
3. Consisting of an assortment of different kinds; miscellaneous.
4. (archaic) Chiefly preceded by a number or an adjective like many: of two or more similar people or things: not the same as other persons or things of the same nature; different, distinct, separate. (Contrast sense 5.2.)
5. (obsolete)
   1. Relating to a single person or thing as opposed to more than one; individual, respective.
   2. Of a person or thing: not the same as something else; different. (Contrast sense 4.)
   3. (except Scotland) Not attached or connected to anything else; physically separate.

1. (chiefly Western US, historical) A saloon located at the end of a road or the outskirts of a town.
2. (chiefly British, figuratively) A place that one is said to inhabit when facing an imminent disaster with diminishing or limited remaining opportunities to avoid it; a last chance to take action.

Today is the eve of the day when the Academy-Award-winning American western film High Noon premiered 70 years ago on 24 July 1952.

1. (cycle racing) A group of riders formed during a cycling road race; especially, the main group of riders; the pack.
2. (military, chiefly historical) Synonym of platoon (“a small group of soldiers”)

In Paris today, the 2022 Tour de France was won by the Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard, and the inaugural 2022 Tour de France Femmes begins.

1. (transitive)
   1. To make (sounds), or to speak (words), loudly or reverberatingly.
   2. Of a place: to cause (a sound) to reverberate; to echo.
   3. To praise or spread the fame of (someone or something) with the voice or the sound of musical instruments; to celebrate, to extol; also, to declare (someone) to be a certain thing.
2. (intransitive)
   1. Of a place: to reverberate with sound or noise.
   2. Of a sound, a voice, etc.: to reverberate; to ring.
   3. Especially of a musical instrument: to make a (deep or reverberating) sound; also, to make sounds continuously.
   4. (figuratively)
      1. Of an event: to have a major effect in a certain place or time.
      2. Of a person, their reputation, etc.: to be much lauded or mentioned.

1. (cycle racing) A non-riding member of a racing team whose role is to provide support (such as massages, supplies, and transportation) for the cyclists.

Stage 3 of the inaugural 2022 Tour de France Femmes from Reims to Épernay takes place today.

1. (transitive)
   1. To criticize (someone or something) in an abusive or harsh manner.
   2. To attack (someone or something) with abusive language; to revile, to vilify.
2. (intransitive) To use abusive or harsh words.

vituperate adj (formal)

1. Of, characterized by, or relating to abusive or harsh criticism.
2. (rare) Which has been abusively or harshly criticized; also, deserving harsh criticism.

1. (historical)
   1. A place reserved for people with infectious diseases (especially leprosy or plague) to live on a long-term basis.
   2. (also figuratively) A building such as a hospital, or occasionally a ship, used to temporarily isolate sick people to prevent the spread of infectious diseases; a quarantine.
2. (by extension, nautical) A place at the front of the tweendecks of a merchant ship where provisions are stored.

Today is the eve of the birth anniversary in 1841 of the Norwegian physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, who identified the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae as the organism causing leprosy in 1873.

1. (music, historical) A bronze wind instrument used by Iron Age Celts (c. 200 B.C.E. – 200 C.E.) as a type of battle trumpet; held vertically when played, it was shaped like an elongated S with a mouthpiece at the lower end and a bell (often resembling an animal with an open mouth) at the upper end.

The Festival Internacional do Mundo Celta de Ortigueira (International Festival of the Celtic World of Ortigueira) is held annually in Ortigueira, Galicia, Spain, to celebrate the feast day of its patron saint, Saint Martha, on this day.

1. (transitive)
   1. (chiefly in past participle form) To colour or stain (something) with, or as if with, a dye or pigment.
   2. (figuratively, chiefly in past participle form) Followed by with: to add to or impregnate (something) with (a slight amount of) an abstract or (obsolete) physical quality; to imbue, to taint, to tinge.
   3. (pharmacy) To dissolve (a substance) in ethanol or some other solvent to produce a medicinal tincture.
2. (intransitive, rare) To have a taint or tinge of some quality.

1. Especially in the Tour de France: the yellow shirt worn by the leader of a stage of a cycling race, which is then awarded to the cyclist who wins the race with the fastest overall time.
2. (by extension) A cyclist who wears such a jersey or shirt; hence, the leader of a stage of a cycling race, or the winner of a cycling race.

The 2022 Tour de France Femmes concluded today in La Planche des Belles Filles. It was won by the Dutch professional cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten.