Wordplay

Science & Nature

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

We’ve seen fire, we’ve seen rain, and we have many words for them

The Infernal History of 'Turtle'

And you thought they were so cute.

9 Superb Owl Words

Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all? We do!

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words (or Phrases) Birds Seem to Be Saying

When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes

7 Luscious, Fruit-Based Idioms

For a touch of sweetness or acidity

Fruit vs. Vegetable

Are you sure you know which is what?

7 Especially Fitting Common Names for Plants

So you don't mix up your Swiss Cheese plants with your Dutchman's Breeches

12 Words for Signs of Spring

Spring is springing

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Words for uncommon fears

Useful and Obscure Words for Autumn

Settle in and get cozy with them

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

A bouquet of floral origin stories

What is a 'coulrophobe' so afraid of?

Unusual Phobias, Vol. 2

The Far-Out History of 'Galaxy'

Don't cry over spilled galaxies

The Difference Between 'Bug,' 'Insect,' and 'Beetle'

Bugs and beetles are insects, whatever that means

Getting to the Heart of 'Epicenter'

The Earth-shaking truth

'Blue Moon,' 'Wolf Moon,' and Other Moons to Look for Throughout the Year

More moons than you can shake a stick at

Possum vs. Opossum: Is There a Difference?

On a marsupial with various names

A Cast of 12 Astrological Words

It's written in the stars

Amber, Auburn, Crimson and Other Colorful Words for Autumn Foliage

Peep these leaves.

12 Bird Names that Sound Like Compliments

From the godwits at your favorite dictionary

7 Common Idioms That Come from Chickens

Don't ask us which came first

12 Pairs of Commonly Confused Animal Words

The animal words went in two by two, hurrah, hurrah!
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