Defining Moments
Searching for definitions online has long been a quick and dirty method to finding meaning. It's tempting, though, to read something deeper into the seemingly random patterns of "define."
For instance, questions about "define nursing paradigms" likely stem from an educational assignment, but is there deep societal frustration that gives rise to the flurry of "define complacent" or "define apathetic" queries? Are people looking for standards once and for all when they inquire, "define what is blogging"? What Parker spurred the aggrieved "define nosey"? And can there be a succinct response to "define what is man"?
These questions, and less, come from pondering words out of context. Take a look at some definitions people have sought in the past 30 days. This should be the last word on the subject of words, for the time being.
| Disciplined Queries | Million-Dollar Words | |||
| 1. | Define What Is Physical Education | 1. | Define Obsequious | |
| 2. | Define Chemistry | 2. | Define Pugnacious | |
| 3. | Define Technology | 3. | Define Cantankerous | |
| 4. | Define Physics | 4. | Define Pulchritudinous | |
| 5. | Define Biology | 5. | Define Magnanimous | |
| If You Have to Ask... | Deep Thoughts... Really Really Deep | |||
| 1. | Define Research | 1. | Define Love | |
| 2. | Define Ethics | 2. | Define Presence | |
| 3. | Define Antidisestablishmentarian | 3. | Define Reminiscing | |
| 4. | Define Integrity | 4. | Define Melancholy | |
| 5. | Define Provocative | 5. | Define Optimistic |
Filed under: Words, Dictionaries, Meaning
top movers
| Rank | Subject | 1-Day Move |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford 400 | Breakout! |
| 2 | Indonesia Ferry | Breakout! |
| 3 | Jordan Chandler | 3481% |
| 4 | Evan Chandler | 2322% |
| 5 | American Music Awards | 1841% |
| 6 | John F. Kennedy | 1529% |
| 7 | Turkey Stuffing Recipes | 1361% |
| 8 | Liam Hemsworth | 1172% |
| 9 | Lou Dobbs | 1142% |
| 10 | Hendrick Motorsports | 888% |

top leaders
| Rank | Subject | Move | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black Friday | +340 | 1290 |
| 2 | NFL | +489 | 670 |
| 3 | Jennifer Lopez | +451 | 515 |
| 4 | New Moon | -67 | 250 |
| 5 | American Music Awards | +236 | 249 |
| 6 | UFC | -36 | 239 |
| 7 | Miley Cyrus | +66 | 169 |
| 8 | Hulu | -11 | 154 |
what's the buzz?
A subject's buzz score is the percentage of Yahoo! users searching for that subject on a given day, multiplied by a constant to make the number easier to read. Weekly leaders are the subjects with the greatest average buzz score for a given week.
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