Fun Definitions to Challenge You Quiz

Answer: Perception

Perception is a word that normally means an awareness of external factors that our brain receives through our sense of sight, hearing, touch, and other physiological abilities. We also possess to a degree an instinctive perception as well, where we perceive how people may be feeling or how they will react. To a degree, that is more a case of reading the body language of another person than anything else, but it would be wrong to rule out intuition as well simply because it hasn't been proved statistically by scientists.

The brainteaser here takes the word "per" (meaning for each), the homonym "purr" (a sound a cat makes), and adds the latter part of the word "conception" (becoming pregnant). Therefore, Purr + Conception = Perception, or a newly pregnant cat.

Answer: Adore

To adore someone is to worship that person madly, sometimes to the extent of losing any common sense completely. The adorer may be prepared to go to any lengths to possess, please, or be around the object of his or her adoration, and that can be a dangerous thing. Apart from anything else, unless one possesses a giant ego that is flattered and fed by the thought of being so worshipped, being adored by anyone can be immensely annoying.

The brainteaser here manipulates the word "adore" (as discussed above), and the homonym "a door" (a movable entrance to a building, room, car etc). Therefore, "adore" = "a door", something that usually comes with a handle with which to open and close it.

Answer: Tuxedo

A tuxedo is a semi-formal dinner suit usually worn by gentlemen when attending formal occasions, such as dinners, balls or weddings. It is normally worn with a matching bowtie and a white dress shirt, and the gents look perfectly smashing, classy and elegant, when so adorned. Oh, be still my heart.

Back to harsh reality. The brainteaser here takes the first part of the word "tuxedo" defined above. This is "tux" and it is a homonym for the word "tucks" (as in snugly tucking a little one into bed at night). It then takes the second half of the word "tuxedo". This is "edo" (a former name for the Japanese capital city of Tokyo). Therefore "tucks" and "edo" = snugly tucking a Japanese child into bed at night.

Answer: Apology

An apology is an acknowledgement, full of regret, for some negative act or words carried out against another person or person to their detriment. An apology has to be sincere and genuine, and come straight from the heart, or it isn't worth a thing. For example, politicians are very big lately on apologising for various misdeeds carried out - after they've been unmasked - and their apologies are so glib and correctly worded that the given impression that they're sorry for being found out, rather than the misdeed itself.

The brainteaser here takes the indefinite pronoun "a", the word "polo" (a fierce team game played on horseback), and the letters "gy" which sound like the homonym "gee". That is a command for a horse to get a move on, or a version of "gee-gee" (a child's name for a horse). Therefore A + polo + gy becomes a horse belonging to a polo player.

Answer: Below

"Below" is a preposition a position to describe a spatial position of being beneath or under any one thing or person directly above.

The brainteaser here takes the verb "be" (meaning to exist), the word "low" (describing a position closer to the ground than otherwise), and changes it into a musical direction for a bass-baritone (a musical term to describe a male singing register between a bass and a baritone, and capable of singing either). "Be low" is commanding him to sing in the lower register, in other words. Therefore, Be + Low = Instructions for a bass-baritone to follow.

Answer: Forest

A forest describes a large number of trees all together with lovely ferns, and palms and birds and animals, that covers a large area of land. It is green, musical, restful and beautiful and its serenity makes you feel as one with nature. Being in a forest somehow renews, refreshes and cleanses the soul.

Dear me, pardon the rhapsodising. The brainteaser here takes the word "for" (meaning towards, because of, intended, or in support of something), and the word "rest" (an action taken by a body in order to re-energise and refresh, or to sleep). Therefore, "forest", when separated into those two other distinct words of For and Rest = an overnight motel place for weary travellers.

Answer: Woodwork

Woodwork is a word that described anything made from wood, or the hobby of anyone who likes to work with this lovely material. Even though part of a lovely tree has been turned into a piece of wood, from which some creative piece of work has been made, there is still some of the original tree's life left in that wood. A beautiful crafted wooden antique table, for example, is just a delight to the senses, to gaze at, or to stroke. You can almost feel its beautiful life with your fingers.

(I'm really going to have to stop having porridge for breakfast. It's making me too poetical). The brainteaser here takes the word "wood" (the product of a once vibrant and throbbing tree - darn those oats!), and the word "work" (strenuous activity of any kind). "Wood" however is also a word to describe a particular type of golf club. Once actually made from hardwood (but now usually metal) a wood had a longer body and larger head than other golf clubs. It is used to hit the ball as hard as possible to place it at the longest distance possible along a golf course. Therefore the two separated words of Wood + Work = A piece of equipment used for a hard-hitting stroke in golf.

Answer: Bewilder

Bewilder is a word that means to confuse, upset disorientate, addle or discombobulate yourself or another person, over anything. That person has lost track of what is going on, doesn't know what to do or say next, and is quite flummoxed.

The brainteaser here takes the word "bewilder" and splits it into two separate words of "be" and "wilder" (meaning, as a rule, further away from civilisation). If you are described as being "wild" however, this also means that you are really angry. Therefore Be + Wilder = To become even angrier than before.

Answer: Prologue

A prologue is the opening section of a story, play or book, that establishes the background of the work that is about to unfold before you, or that you are about to read. It's like the entrée to a main course in a way. (I really must be feeling hungry)

The brainteaser here takes the word "pro" (meaning to be for, or in support of, some concept, notion, idea or established procedure), and the latter part of the word prologue. That is "logue" and its homonym is "log" (a large piece of wood). Therefore Pro + Log = The ethos of a lumberjack, a person whose job entails the felling of trees.

Answer: Condescending

If you are acting in a condescending matter towards another person, you're being a snob. You have adopted an attitude of patronising superiority, and the message you are imparting is that you think you're a much better person in every way than the unfortunate soul who is on the receiving end of your arrogance. You're not a very nice person at all in fact.

The brainteaser here takes the word "con" (which, in this case, is a slang term for a criminal or jailbird), and the word "descending" (to move or climb down to a lower position from where you were). Therefore Con + Descending in this case = A prisoner getting down from the top bunk.