From moonshoot to balconing: discover the latest words added to the Collins Dictionary

30th Sep 2020

The online version of the Collins Dictionary has just been updated again, with another batch of new words and meanings inspired by the events of the summer. Perhaps the most newsworthy word of the past month was moonshot, which hit the headlines thanks to Boris Johnson using… Read More

Spanish word of the week: compromiso

23rd Sep 2020

el compromiso NOUN engagement, arrangement Compromiso is another word which isn’t quite what it seems. In one of its uses it means engagement or arrangement rather than ‘compromise’. La ministra tuvo que cancelar todos sus compromisos. The minister had to cancel all her engagements.Mañana… Read More

Autumn equinox

22nd Sep 2020

‘The nights are fair drawing in’ is a trope about the weather that applies powerfully as you read this. The nights certainly are drawing in, and indeed, half past two in the afternoon on Tuesday 22 September this year marks the autumn equinox, when day and night are… Read More

Spanish word of the week: cabo

16th Sep 2020

el cabo NOUN end In one of its uses cabo means the end of something: con un cabo de cuchillo que le asomaba por la cintura with the end of a knife which was showing at his waist But it is much more often used in set… Read More

‘Collop’ and ‘kenspeckle’ are among the most frequently looked-up words in August

15th Sep 2020

In our recent blogs about which words are most commonly looked for on the Collins dictionary website, we have tended to stress how the searches reflect the changes in society brought about by the various stages of the global Covid-19 epidemic. But what is interesting about the list of words… Read More

Spanish word of the week: principio

10th Sep 2020

el principio NOUN beginning When you want to talk about the beginning of something, principio is one way of saying it: El principio del libro es muy interesante. The beginning of the book is very interesting.desde el principio hasta el fin from beginning to end or… Read More

From the Tour de France to the lexicon of cycling

8th Sep 2020

During lockdown, with car traffic substantially reduced, many people discovered – or rediscovered – the advantages and pleasures of cycling. Capitalising on that trend while simultaneously aiming to tackle the UK’s obesity pandemic, the government has promised ‘a revolution in cycling and walking’. London and Greater Manchester’s mayors will also… Read More

Spanish word of the week: rato

3rd Sep 2020

rato NOUN time, while Rato is a terrifically useful word which is used in many different phrases to do with time: Hace un rato means a while ago, or some time ago Se fue hace un rato. He left a while or some time ago. Read More

Getting back to school

1st Sep 2020

As the circling year veers towards mist and mellow fruitfulness, schools in the UK and many other countries are re-opening – or have already – from COVID-19 induced closures. Government and experts agree that restarting education is not merely a pedagogical imperative but a social one. The official statement by… Read More