essay

/ˈɛˌseɪ/noun

A fairly short piece of writing that examines a single topic or question.

Example sentence

“Our teacher assigned an essay about climate change.”

As a verb, stressed on the second syllable, it means to attempt, a literary flourish. Students write essays; scientists publish papers.

Related words

researchCareful study or investigation carried out to discover facts or test ideas.gradeA letter, number, or mark that shows how well someone did on a test or piece of work.tutorA person who teaches a single student or a small group, giving them individual attention.quizA short contest or test in which people answer questions.kindergartenA school for young children, typically aged four to six, before they start regular schooling.chalkboardA dark board with a slate or enamel surface for writing on with chalk, used before whiteboards became common.