Word of the week
Learn a new word every week...
This week’s word
outlet /ˈaʊtlet /
noun
1 a pipe or hole through which water or gas may escape.
• the mouth of a river.
• a point in an electrical circuit from which current may be drawn.
2 a place from which goods are sold or distributed: a fast-food outlet.
• a market for goods: the indoor markets in Moscow were an outlet for surplus collective-farm produce.
• a retail store offering discounted merchandise, especially overstocked or irregular items.
3 a means of expressing one's talents, energy, or emotions: writing became the main outlet for his energies.
ORIGIN Middle English: from out- + the verb let.
outlet
noun
1 a power outlet: socket, receptacle, power bar, power source.
2 the outlet of the drain: vent, way out, egress; outfall, opening, channel, conduit, duct.
3 an outlet for farm produce: store, market, marketplace, shop, source.
4 an outlet for their creative energies: means of expression, (means of) release, vent, avenue, channel.
Last week’s word
streamline /ˈstriːmlʌɪn/
verb [ with obj. ] (usu. as adj. streamlined)
1 design or provide with a form that presents very little resistance to a flow of air or water, increasing speed and ease of movement: streamlined passenger trains.
2 make (an organization or system) more efficient and effective by employing faster or simpler working methods: the company streamlined its operations by removing whole layers of management.
noun
a line along which the flow of a moving fluid is least turbulent.
adjective
1 (of fluid flow) free from turbulence.
2 dated having a streamlined shape: a streamline airplane.
streamlined
adjective
1 streamlined cars: aerodynamic, smooth, sleek.
2 a streamlined organization: efficient, smooth-running, well run, slick; time-saving, labor-saving.