Spencer Parks

The Dictionary

I read the English Dictionary in short sections, comment on it, make bad jokes, and sometimes sing little songs. I hope it’s more entertaining than just reading the dictionary alone. It’s an evolving project so the letter ”A” had lower quality, plus less commenting and jokes.

Author

Spencer Parks

Category

Education

Podcast website

rss.com

Latest episode

Jul 10, 2026

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Episodes

#D161 (dipl- to diplopia) 08.01.2023

I read from dipl- to diplopia.     Diplococcus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplococcus     Diplodocus is named thusly because of the "double beams" on the underside of tail bones which are basically 2 parallel boney protrusions.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplodocus     "Humans are diploid organisms, normally carrying two complete sets of chromosomes in their somatic cells..." https://en.wik...

#D160 (dip to diphyodont) 07.01.2023

I read from dip to diphyodont.     Diphosgene was originally made for chemical warfare. Not cool.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphosgene     Diphteria sounds pretty terrible but there is a vaccine! Yay Science! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphtheria     I guess "diphyletic" is the same as "paraphyletic" which my brain is currently having a hard time grasping. So many words!  https://en.wikipe...

#D159 (diorama to dip) 06.01.2023

I read from diorama to dip.      As you know, Castor and Pollux (the "dioscuri") are "...an example of heteropaternal superfecundation ." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castor_and_Pollux     The word of the episode is "dip". What are you favorite dips to dip food into?     Theme music from Jonah Kraut https://jonahkraut.bandcamp.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "...

#D158 (dinucleotide to dioptric) 05.01.2023

I read from dinucleotide to dioptric.     A Diode is used in electrical thingies.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diode     It looks like many stories have been written about Diomedes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diomedes     If I understand the basics, a Diopter is a unit of thickness of a lens that determines how far away from the lens the light focuses.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dioptre  ...

#D157 (dinitrophenol to dint) 04.01.2023

I read from dinitrophenol to dint.     Some dinoflagellates are bioluminescent! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinoflagellate     The word of the episode is "dino". Dinosaurs are old! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaur     Theme music from Jonah Kraut https://jonahkraut.bandcamp.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary - Letter A" on YouTube   "The Di...

#D156 (dine out to dinitrobenzene) 03.01.2023

I read from dine out to dinitrobenzene.     The movie with the famous "A dingo ate my baby" is from "A Cry in the Dark" which isn't nearly as well-known as the quote. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094924/ But there is also a movie just called "Dingo" https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104109/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3     The word of the episode is "ding-a-ling". The song "My Ding-a-Ling" was originally writte...

#D155 (dimity to dine) 02.01.2023

I read from dimity to dine.     DIMM (Dual In-Line Memory Module) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIMM     The word of the episode is "dimwitted".     Theme music from Jonah Kraut https://jonahkraut.bandcamp.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary - Letter A" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter B" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter C" on YouTube   "T...

#D154 (dime store to diminutive) 01.01.2023

I read from dime store to diminutive.     Dimethyl Sulfoxide https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimethyl_sulfoxide     Dimethyltryptamine (AKA: DMT) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N,N-Dimethyltryptamine     The word of the episode is "diminished".     Theme music from Tom Maslowski https://zestysol.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary - Letter A" on YouTub...

#D153 (dim bulb to dime-store) 31.12.2022

I read from dilative to diligent.     I don't know for sure but I imagine "dime novels" of the 1860s to 1940s being kind of like the summer popcorn movies we have these days.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dime_novel     The word of the episode is "dimension". They break my brain. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimension     Theme music from Jonah Kraut https://jonahkraut.bandcamp.com/     Merchand...

#D152 (dill to dim) 30.12.2022

I read from dill to dim.     Do you like the dill? Maybe some dill pickles? Dill pickle pizza perhaps?  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dill     The dillybag was made from what the Australian Aboriginal people had at hand.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dillybag     The word of the episode is "dilly".     Theme music from Tom Maslowski https://zestysol.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.c...

#D151 (dilative to diligent) ft. Searah Deysach 29.12.2022

I read from dilative to diligent.     Searah's links Early To Bed Trans Essentials Early To Bed on IG Early To Bed on Twitter Searah on IG     Dilatometer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilatometer     The George Farquhar quote is from "The Constant Couple" https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32419/32419-h/32419-h.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Constant_Couple     The word of the episode is "dil...

#D150 (dihydroxyacetone to dilation) 28.12.2022

I read from dihydroxyacetone to dilation.     As you know, "Dikes can be either magmatic  or  sedimentary in origin." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dike_(geology)     "A dilatant is a non-Newtonian fluid  where the shear viscosity increases with applied  shear stress ." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilatant     The word of the episode is "dilapidated".     Theme music from Tom Maslowski https://z...

#D149 (dignitary to dihydroxy-) 27.12.2022

I read from dignitary to dihydroxy-.     2 letters making a new thing is a "digraph". And I still think it's funny that the sound they make is called the "value". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digraph_(orthography)     Gregor Mendel was the dude who thought of making "dihybrids". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dihybrid_cross     The word of the episode is "dignity".     Theme music from Jonah Kraut...

#D148 (digital divide to dignify) 26.12.2022

I read from digital divide to dignify.     Digitalis/Digitalin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digitalis     Digitigrades include walking birds, dogs, cats, and many other animals that stand or walk with toes on the ground but the rest of the foot lifted.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digitigrade     The word of the episode is "digitize". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digitization     Theme music f...

#D147 (digestive to digital computer) 25.12.2022

I read from digestive to digital computer.     Before or after a meal (usually dinner/supper) some people like to have a digestif/digestive/apertif.  Check out this info if you want to learn more and which drinks are typical. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ap%C3%A9ritif_and_digestif https://www.winemag.com/2021/10/21/best-after-dinner-drink/     Examples of digestive glands are salivary glands, gas...

#D146 (dig to digestion) 24.12.2022

I read from dig to digestion.     I'm having a hard time finding actual numbers but I think a archeological dig can be funded for around $10,000 USD.  That's less than you would think, right?!      The word of the episode is "digestion". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digestion     Theme music from Tom Maslowski https://zestysol.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "...

#D145 (diffractometer to difunctional) 23.12.2022

I read from diffractometer to difunctional.     Yup, diffuse-porous and ring-porous and talking about wood. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood     The word of the episode is "diffractometer". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffractometer     Theme music from Jonah Kraut https://jonahkraut.bandcamp.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary - Letter A" on Yo...

#D144 (differential equation to diffraction grating) 22.12.2022

I read from differential equation to diffraction grating.     Differential geometry studies the smoothest of manifolds. They're so smooth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differential_geometry     The word of the episode is "differently abled". So maybe this term isn't the best, but as I think I said in the episode, everyone is going to have phrases and terms that they prefer so nothing is off the t...

#D143 (different to differential diagnosis) 21.12.2022

I read from die out to diet.     Differentia differentiates one thing from another.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genus%E2%80%93differentia_definition https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differentia     The "differential drive train" makes the car go in different ways. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differential_(mechanical_device)     The formulas in "differential calculus" hurt my brain. https://en.wi...

#D142 (dietary to difference) 20.12.2022

I read from dietary to difference.     Don't know what to eat? Check out these Dietary Guidelines: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/index.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans     The word of the episode is "dietary supplements". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietary_supplement     Theme music from Tom Maslowski https://zestysol.com/     Merchandising!...

#D141 (die out to diet) 19.12.2022

I read from die out to diet.     Learn all about diesel fuel, diesel engines, and the man who invented it, Rudolph Diesel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_fuel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_engine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Diesel     The first line (in English) of "Dies Irae" is "Day of wrath and doom impending!" Fun!  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dies_irae The audio was fr...

#D140 (die to die off) 18.12.2022

I read from die to die off.     Die casting is where you force molten metal into a mold cavity: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_casting     The word of the episode is "die" (like "dice") https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dice     Theme music from Tom Maslowski https://zestysol.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary - Letter A" on YouTube   "The Dictionar...

#D139 (didactic to die) 17.12.2022

I read from didactic to die.     The word "dido" may have come from Dido, the Queen of Carthage. https://www.etymonline.com/word/dido#etymonline_v_8547     Dido, Queen of Carthage, is also known as Elissa. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dido     Smart scientists probably made Didymium https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didymium     The word of the episode is "didgeridoo". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D...

#D138 (dictatorship to didact) 16.12.2022

I read from dictatorship to didact.     Dicynodont reptiles mostly had a toothless beak! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicynodont     The word of the episode is "dictionary" DUH! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dictionary     Theme music from Tom Maslowski https://zestysol.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary - Letter A" on YouTube   "The Dictionary -...

#D137 (dicotyledon to dictatorial) 15.12.2022

I read from dicotyledon to dictatorial.     The word of the episode is "dicrotic". You can learn all about the pulse! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse     Theme music from Jonah Kraut https://jonahkraut.bandcamp.com/     Merchandising! https://www.teepublic.com/user/spejampar     "The Dictionary - Letter A" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter B" on YouTube   "The Dictionary - Letter C" on You...

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