1. (chiefly machining, woodworking) A partially finished object (often composed of a raw material) which is subjected to various operations, worked on with tools, etc.

Today is celebrated as International Workers’ Day or Labour Day in many countries to recognize the achievements and contributions of workers. The American Federation of Labor chose this date to commemorate a demonstration in support of workers striking for an eight-hour work day, which began on this day 140 years ago in 1886.

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1. (countable) An act of asserting or maintaining; an assertion.
2. (countable) An argument, fact, piece of evidence, etc., which vindicates (“clears someone of an accusation or suspicion; justifies a belief or claim by providing evidence or proof”).
3. (uncountable) The action of vindicating; also, the state of being vindicated.
4. (countable, Ancient Rome, historical, law) A legal claim for a declaration that one is the owner of a thing or the holder of a right; an action in rem.
5. (uncountable, obsolete)
   1. The action of avenging or taking revenge.
   2. (rare) The action of setting free; deliverance.
   3. (rare) Punishment, retribution.

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1. (archaic, literary) Across or over in a slanting or diagonal direction.

aslant adv

1. (archaic, literary) At or on a slant; in a slanting or sloping direction.

aslant adj

1. (archaic, literary) Slanting, oblique.

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1. (transitive)
   1. To cause (something) physical damage due to ordinary use over time; to wear (down).
   2. (figurative) To cause emotional damage to (someone's feelings, spirit, etc.).
2. (intransitive) Of a thing: to be caused physical damage due to ordinary use over time.

wear and tear n

1. Physical damage caused to an object due to ordinary use over time; specifically (accounting, law), as justifying a write-down of the object's value in a set of accounts, or exclusion of compensation for the object under a warranty of quality.
   1. The process by which such physical damage is caused.
   2. The cost payable for such physical damage.
2. (figurative) Damage or deterioration caused to something intangible due to harsh conditions, the passing of time, etc.; also, the process by which such damage or deterioration is caused.
3. (obsolete) One's ability to endure harsh conditions; resilience, toughness.

Today is the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, which is recognized by the United Nations to promote awareness about work-related accidents and diseases. In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Act came into effect on this day in 1970, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was formed on this day 55 years ago in 1971.

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1. (countable) An act or process of melting.
   1. (nuclear energy, uncountable) Severe uncontrolled overheating and melting of the fuel in the core of a nuclear reactor, with the potential for radiation to escape; (countable) an instance of this.
2. (countable, rare) A mass of melted material.
3. (originally US, figurative)
   1. (uncountable) Chiefly preceded by a descriptive word: uncontrolled disorder which often has disastrous consequences; (countable) a situation involving this; a crisis.
      1. (countable, finance) Synonym of crash (“a sudden large decline in the value of money, stocks or other assets, etc., especially one that causes additional economic difficulties”).
   2. (informal, uncountable) (Sudden) loss of control over one's behaviour, emotions, etc.; (countable) an instance of this.
      1. (countable) An emotional outburst; a fit, a tantrum.
      2. (countable, autism) A response to sensory overload or stress, in which an autistic person is overwhelmed by intense, seemingly disproportionate emotions, behaving erratically and becoming unable to mask (“act more neurotypically”).
      3. (countable, psychology) Synonym of nervous breakdown (“an attack of a psychological disorder such as anxiety or depression which is so severe that it prevents a person from continuing to function normally”); also (loosely), a situation where one is unable to function mentally due to panic, stress, etc.

The meltdown at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near the town of Pripyat in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (now in Ukraine) happened on 26 April, 40 years ago, in 1986. It is regarded as the worst nuclear disaster to date.

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1. (originally US, LGBTQ slang, sometimes derogatory) A lesbian who has glamorously feminine characteristics; specifically, one attracted to other such lesbians.

Today is the last day of Lesbian Visibility Week in 2026. First celebrated in 1990 due to frustrations with the higher visibility of gay men, it seeks to raise awareness of lesbian identities and topics, and to celebrate the lesbian community.

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1. (originally UK, dialectal, now chiefly Australia, New Zealand, chiefly in the negative) A very small amount or portion; the least bit.

Today is ANZAC Day in Australia, New Zealand, and Tonga, which commemorates the contributions and sacrifices of those who have served in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The Gallipoli campaign, which led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during World War I, started on this date in 1915.

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1. (not comparable) Of, relating to, or located in the sky or outer space, where the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars are visible.
2. (archaic, not comparable)
   1. (humorous) Of a nose: upturned, as if towards the sky.
   3. (often humorous) Of or relating to China; Chinese.
3. (figurative, comparable) Extremely beautiful, good, or pleasurable; divine, heavenly, wonderful.
4. (religion, not comparable) Of or relating to heaven as the place where deities (or the Christian God), spiritual beings, etc., exist; heavenly.
   1. Of or relating to one or more deities, or the Christian God; divine, heavenly.
   2. (Mormonism) Of or relating to the celestial kingdom, the highest degree of glory. [...]

Today is the eve of the first of two Astronomy Days in 2026, which falls on the Saturday nearest the first quarter moon between mid-April and mid-May. The event was started in 1973 by Doug Berger, the president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California.

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1. (computer hardware, software) The capability of an electronic device, a piece of software, etc., to interoperate with anticipated future systems.

Today, the fourth Thursday of April in 2026, was adopted by the International Telecommunication Union in 2014 as International Girls in ICT Day, which seeks to encourage greater participation by girls and young women in information and communications technology careers.

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1. (countable) A forested or wooded area where domesticated animals are allowed to graze.
2. (uncountable) The practice of allowing domesticated animals to graze in forested or wooded areas.

Today is Earth Day, a day for observing the need to protect the Earth. United States senator Gaylord Nelson first proposed holding a nationwide environmental teach-in on this day in 1970.

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1. (China, neologism) A lifestyle and social protest movement in China beginning in April 2021, which is a rejection of societal pressures to overwork.

Today is UN Chinese Language Day, one of six such days established by UNESCO to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity and to promote the equal use of its working languages. It is around the time of Guyu in the Chinese calendar, during which the legendary figure Cangjie, who is said to have invented Chinese characters, is celebrated.

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