A man goes into a pet shop to buy a parrot.
The shop owner points to three identically looking parrots on a perch and says:
"The parrot on the left costs $500."
"Why does the parrot cost so much?", asks the guest.
The owner says,
"Well, the parrot knows how to use a computer."
The man then asks about the next parrot. He is told that this one costs $1000, because it can do everything the other parrot can do, plus it knows how to use the UNIX operating system.
Naturally, the increasingly startled man asks about the third parrot. He is told that it costs $2000. Needless to say this begs the question,
"What can it do?"
To which the owner replies,
"To be honest I have never seen it do a thing, but the other two call him boss!"
- colloq. (often foll. By of) in respect of. —adv. - appropriately.
- (absol.) Incidentally. [french à propos]
AQUATIC
—adj. - growing or living in water.
- (of a sport) played in or on water. —n. - aquatic plant or animal.
- (in pl.) Aquatic sports. [latin aqua water]
AQUEOUS
adj. Of or like water. [latin aqua water]
- humour n. Clear fluid in the eye between the lens and the cornea.
ARABIAN
—adj. Of or relating to arabia (esp. In geographical contexts) (arabian desert). —n. Native of arabia.
- —adj. Of or relating to arabia (esp. In geographical contexts) (arabian desert). —n. Native of arabia.
- —adj. Of or relating to arabia (esp. In geographical contexts) (arabian desert). —n. Native of arabia.
ARAMAIC
—n. Branch of the semitic family of languages, esp. The language of syria used as a lingua franca in the near east from the sixth century bc. —adj. Of or in aramaic. [greek aramaios of aram (hebrew name of syria)]
- —n. Branch of the semitic family of languages, esp. The language of syria used as a lingua franca in the near east from the sixth century bc. —adj. Of or in aramaic. [greek aramaios of aram (hebrew name of syria)]
ARBITER
n. - arbitrator in a dispute.
- person influential in a specific field (arbiter of taste). [latin from arbitror to judge]
- n. - arbitrator in a dispute.
- person influential in a specific field (arbiter of taste). [latin from arbitror to judge]
ARBUTUS
n. Tree or shrub with clusters of flowers and strawberry-like berries. [latin]
- n. Tree or shrub with clusters of flowers and strawberry-like berries. [latin]
ARCHAIC
adj. - a antiquated. B (of a word etc.) No longer in ordinary use.
- of an early period of culture. archaically adv. [greek arkhe beginning]
- adj. - a antiquated. B (of a word etc.) No longer in ordinary use.
- of an early period of culture. archaically adv. [greek arkhe beginning]
ARCHEAN
(brit. Archaean) —adj. Of the earliest geological era. —n. This time. [greek arkhaios ancient]
ARCHERY
n. Shooting with a bow and arrows, esp. As a sport.
