十大科技工具帮你学新单词

10 Tech Tools to Teach You New Words 十大科技工具帮你学新单词

Technology has given us new tools and ways to learn languages faster and easier. Here are a few tools that could help you.

Websites that can help you are:

Dictionary.com will give you the definition for any word. It also explains usage. Functions include teaching a new word daily, translating words into other languages, and games. It also offers word facts, word trends and quizzes.

Dictionary.com has a free app for Apple or Android that provides the same features. You can even work on it when you are not connected to the Internet. 

You can also follow Dictionary.com on Twitter to learn their new word of the day.

Vocabulary.com

Named one of Time’s 50 Best Websites of 2012, Vocabulary.com can help people of all ages learn.

Vocabulary.com adjusts the words it teaches you based on words you already know.

You can see words in sentences to help you learn how to use them in language. You can compete with others online.

The website is free, but its apps are available for a fee for mobile devices.

Learner’s Dictionary

Learner’s Dictionary has simple definitions to help you understand their meaning.

Learner's Dictionary has useful tools such as Word of the Day, quizzes and the most popular words looked up on the site.

Google Search

If you want to find the meaning of a word quickly and easily, use Google (or your favorite search engine).

Type “define [word]” in your web address bar and hit Enter. Search results will show you the definition of the word and give you more information about it.

Voice of America Learning English

Our website -- Voice of America Learning English -- provides news and information in simple American English. Stories have an audio feature that allows you to hear what you are reading. Other features include quizzes, stories, videos, audio, podcasts and a Facebook page. 

Each article includes definitions under the heading "Words in This Story."

Mobile Tools

Just Ask

You can use your voice to learn a new word.

Maybe you heard a new word on TV or from someone speaking to you. Maybe you know how to pronounce a word but don’t know how to spell it.

You can ask Siri on your iPhone or Google Now on your Android phone to define words. You can ask Microsoft’s Cortana on your computer running Windows 10.

Press and Hold

You can easily look up words on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. A pop-up dictionary shows the definition of words in Safari¹, iBooks, Messages and other apps.

Press and hold a word. A list appear above the word.

Tap Define to see the definition of the word. A new page will open showing you the definition.

Tap Done to go back to the original page.

Want a pop-up dictionary for Android? See ilovefreesoftware.

Other Tools

Google Dictionary Chrome Extension

If you use Chrome on your computer you can get the free Google Dictionary Chrome extension. Just double-click on the word.

This extension defines words in 13 different languages.

Million Dollar Words

You may not have a million dollars but these words can make you feel as if you do!

Well, almost…

Check out Million Dollar Words by Seth Godin and Margery Mandell to learn over 1,000 new words.

Kindle²

You can quickly learn the meaning of words when reading Kindle books. Amazon says that “85 percent of readers look up a word while reading.”

Just press and hold a word to see a pop-up definition appear.

Most Looked Up Kindle Words

In honor of World Dictionary Day, Amazon released a list of the words looked up most when reading Kindle books.

Here are 10 of the words on that list. How many of them do you know?

gobsmacked

discombobulated

chuffed

preternaturally

defenestrate

copacetic

kerfuffle

towheaded

insouciant³

druthers

Words in This Story

celebrate – v. to do something special or enjoyable for an important event, occasion, holiday, etc.

vocabulary – n. the words that make up a language

quiz - n. a short spoken or written test that is often taken without preparation

definition – n. an explanation of the meaning of a word, phrase, etc.

1 safari   

n.远征旅行(探险、考察)；探险队，狩猎队

参考例句：

• When we go on safari we like to cook on an open fire.我们远行狩猎时，喜欢露天生火做饭。
• They went on safari searching for the rare black rhinoceros.他们进行探险旅行，搜寻那稀有的黑犀牛。

2 kindle   

v.点燃，着火

参考例句：

• This wood is too wet to kindle.这木柴太湿点不着。
• A small spark was enough to kindle Lily's imagination.一星光花足以点燃莉丽的全部想象力。

3 insouciant   

adj.不在意的

参考例句：

• But not all central bankers are so insouciant.然而，不是所有的央行人士都对此高枕无忧。
• Americans are remarkably insouciant about this development.美国人对这个数字漫无关心。