These are the definitions of the least used words found in recent articles from the Times.
1. geoid — a representation of the average sea level on Earth:
Geodesists will take these gravity readings to create a model that accurately represents average sea level globally, even on land. Due to the inconsistent gravity pull, the resulting model, known as the geoid, has a lumpy appearance similar to a potato. — The U.S. Is Getting Shorter, as Mapmakers Race to Keep Up (May 22, 2020)
2. finitude — the attribute of having a boundary:
This year, only choose to follow a few significant stories closely and in-depth. Study books instead of just reading the latest headlines. Gain an understanding of important individuals and laws. Find reliable journalists to keep you up-to-date. Then, remember your finitude and disregard everything else. — Forget the Beach Bod. Try These Soul Resolutions Instead. (Jan. 1, 2023)
3. infinitude — the attribute of having no boundaries or limits:
Powers’s intelligent and often poetic writing draws us closer to the infinitude of our imaginations while simultaneously driving us more powerfully towards real-life matters and the consequences they incur on us and our planet. — In Richard Powers’s New Novel, Hope for a Grieving Kid and Planet May Lurk in the Human Brain (Sept. 21, 2021)
4. longan — a small, juicy fruit comparable to a lychee:
Worakanya Panyaprasertkit, a Thailand-based exporter of longan, shared that a shipment of their produce had been detained at the Vietnam border for 60 days. By the time China announced that its border crossing with Vietnam would reopen in January, most of the fruit had already spoiled. — A Side-Effect of China’s Strict Virus Policy: Abandoned Fruit (Feb. 5, 2022)
5. boogaloo — a genre of Latin music and dance that gained popularity in the 1960s:
Mario Bauza pioneered Afro-Cuban jazz in the 1940s in Harlem. Boogaloo and salsa are genres that blend African American and Latin sounds, which reflect life in the South Bronx of the 1960s. — The New York City Mixtape (Feb. 9, 2023)
6. deadeye — extremely precise:
Scholl was responsible for providing San Diego State’s players with scouting reports on the Huskies. He informed the Aztecs about Calcaterra’s deadeye shooting skills – he has a team-best 44% success rate from behind the 3-point line. Moreover, he is not afraid to take shots despite being a role player who averages roughly 14 minutes per game. — Life Happened, and Somehow Put Them in the Championship Game (April 3, 2023)
7. galangal — an earthy, citrusy spice frequently utilized in Southeast Asian cooking:
The recipe is primarily influenced by my favorite versions of the Sundanese soup sayur asem, the slightly sweet lemongrass and galangal-infused broth of Isan-style tom klong pla, and Timorese fish
Author: OpenAI
