Meanings

Test your knowledge of the English language by trying to answer these questions about the meanings of words.

1. Which part of an egg is known as the "albumen"?                               The white of the egg.
2. What is halitosis?                                                                          Bad or offensive breath.
3. What is a plagiarist ?
   A person who copies other people's work without admitting what they have done.
4. What is the meaning of "matricide"?                                            Murder of a mother by her son or daughter, or one that murders his or her mother.
5. What is agoraphobia?                                                             Abnormal dread of being in open spaces or public places.
6. An isotherm is a line on a map connecting places that have the same... what?                                                                            Temperature.
7. What is a xenophobe?                                                            Someone who fears or hates foreigners or things foreign.
8. What is an encomium?                                                                       A formal speech or piece of writing praising someone.
9. What is a chanterelle?                                                                      An edible fungus that is bright yellow and funnel-shaped.
10. What is the simoom?                                                                         A hot dry violent dust-laden wind blowing from an Asian or African desert.

Questions set by Tony Augarde, author of "The Oxford Guide to Word Games"

How did you do?

0 - 1    Mmmm, not exactly brilliant.
2 - 5    A reasonable stab.
6 - 8    A good showing. But there's still room for improvement!
9 - 10  You really know your stuff. Well done!