The Week in Vocab

Review the Biggest Buzzwords of the Week!

When you follow national and worldwide affairs, you get access to perfect basketball teams, controversial Supreme Court decisions, mind-reading devices, dyed animals and more. Each week, we’ll highlight the top buzzwords or terms that your students might not have known or even heard until now. All these words are featured in the most recent edition of The Week in Rap. And once students beef up their vocab, the news will make a lot more sense.

THIS WEEK

incomparable (adjective) — without an equal

Why it matters: The Baylor women’s basketball team was the first in history to finish with a perfect season. They were led by the incomparable Brittney Griner.

 

 

casualty (noun) — a person killed or injured in a war or accident.

Why it matters: A new study shows that the number of casualties in the Civil War was about 20% higher than previously believed.

 

degenerative  (adjective) — a type of disease marked by gradual deterioration of organs and cells along with loss of function

Why it matters: A new mind-reading device called iBrain may help people with degenerative brain diseases to better communicate in the future.

 

violation (noun) — a failure to comply with a rule

Why it matters: As labor law violations have come to light at the Apple factories in China, the company has agreed to raise the wages of workers and reduce overtime.

 

inject (verb) — to force a liquid into something (usually a body) with a syringe

Why it matters: Farmers have injected eggs with food dye to created bright, unnaturally-colored chicks for Easter. But this practice is illegal in many states.

 

perception (noun) — the act of recognizing something

Why it matters? According to The New York Times, after winning in three states on Tuesday, there is a “growing perception” that Mitt Romney will win the Republican nomination.

 

Did you hear any other big terms this week? Share them in the comments!

Learn all about these stories and more in The Week in Rap.