A little boy comes home with his mother from a trip down town. Above his head he has a big bunch of balloons.
- Why do you need so many? - Asks his father. - Did not your mother and I teach you that you should save your money?
- I did not spend any! Its just that every time Mummy bought something the salesperson gave me a free balloon.
n. (pl. -s) tropical plant with tuberous roots used as food. [polynesian]
TART
n. - open pastry case containing jam etc.
- pie with a fruit or other sweet filling. tartlet n. [french tarte]
- —n. Slang 1 prostitute; promiscuous woman.
- slang offens. Girl or woman. —v. (foll. By up) colloq. (usu. Refl.) Smarten or dress up, esp. Gaudily. [probably abbreviation of *sweetheart]
- adj. - sharp or acid in taste.
- (of a remark etc.) Cutting, bitter. tartly adv. Tartness n. [old english]
TASK
force n. (also task group) armed force or other group organized for a specific operation or task.
- —n. Piece of work to be done. —v. Make great demands on (a person's powers etc.). take to task rebuke, scold. [medieval latin tasca, probably = taxa *tax]
TASS
n. Official russian news agency. [russian]
TATA
int. Colloq. Goodbye. [origin unknown]
TAUT
adj. - (of a rope etc.) Tight; not slack.
- (of nerves etc.) Tense.
- (of a ship etc.) In good condition. tauten v. Tautly adv. Tautness n. [perhaps = *tough]
TAXA
pl. Of *taxon.
TAXI
rank n. (us taxi stand) place where taxis wait to be hired.
- —n. (pl. -s) (in full taxi-cab) car licensed to ply for hire and usu. Fitted with a taximeter. —v. (-xis, -xied, -xiing or -xying) 1 (of an aircraft or pilot) drive on the ground before take-off or after landing.
- go or convey in a taxi. [abbreviation of taximeter cab]
