Make Your Point > Archived Issues > TYRO

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connect this word to others: A newcomer who reminds you of a young plant is a n__phy__. A newcomer who reminds you of a young bird is a fl____ling. A newcomer who reminds you of a young fawn with nubby little antlers is a gr___h__n. And a newcomer who reminds you of a young soldier is a tyro. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "TYRO" From a Latin word meaning "young soldier," our English word "tyro" means "a beginner: a person who's just now learning the basics of some skill, sport, activity, profession, etc."   Pronunciation: TIE ro (rhymes with "shy doe") Part of speech: Most often a noun, the countable kind: "this tyro," "these tyros." Also an adjective: "this tyro golfer," "these tyro misconceptions." Other forms: Sometimes you'll see it spelled "tiro." The plural is most commonly spelled "tyros," but you can write "tyroes" if you like. The adjective is rare: "tyronic."  How to use it: When you need a more formal, more interesting, more emphatic word than "newcomer" or "beginner," pick "tyro." "Tyro" is an especially good choice when you need to emphasize how people are gaining skill and discipline in a keep-your-head-down, power-through kind of way--like the soldiers that this word originally described. Simply refer to someone as a tyro, or talk about tyros in the plural: "he's a tyro in negotiation," "she's a tyro, still mastering the rudiments of poker," "this intro-level course is essential for tyros." Often we contrast tyros with people who are more skilled or masterful: "the tyros and the veterans," "these tyros and masters," "both tyro and talented pros." When you need an adjective, "tyro" itself is the more casual option: "a tyro error," "these tyro writers." And "tyronic" is the more formal option: "a tyronic oversight," "this tyronic arrogance." examples: "From line cooks at neighborhood joints to chefs who wore starched whites, their advice was always the same: Learn the basics. It’s what a master would tell a tyro in just about any field, and I took the counsel seriously."    — Dorie Greenspan, The New York Times Magazine, 8 August 2018 "Although like most stage tyros she needs to do more work in terms of projection and stage presence, she more than holds her own opposite her dynamic co-star."    — Frank Scheck, Reuters, 25 January 2010 has this page helped you understand "tyro"? Awesome, I'm glad it helped! Thanks for letting me know! If you have any questions about this word, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. study it: Explain the meaning of "tyro" without saying "beginner" or "novice." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "Burning with ambition, (someone) was still a tyro, still (thinking or acting in an inexpert way)." Example: "Burning with ambition, I was still a tyro, still trusting Princeton Review paperbacks to teach me all I needed to know about every vocabulary word worth knowing. Then I discovered Charles Harrington Elster." If you like, use this space to draft your sentence. (To save your work, copy and paste it into an email or a document.) before you review, play: Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first. Our game this month is Distinctive Definitions. We're taking a scenic slog through poetic and philosophical definitions, wading through similes, metaphors, personifications, hyperboles, grandiloquence, and cheesiness.  In each issue, consider a definition provided by a poet, a writer, or a philosopher, and see if you can name the definiendum: the thing or concept being defined. (Is it life, love, time, death, music, sleep, pain, laughter, bubblegum, stubbing your toe…???) For example, James Russell Lowell (1819-1891) said, "What men call ________ and the Gods call dross." He’s defining something—what is it? "Treasure." Now, you can play this game in earnest, trying to think of what the poet actually wrote--or you can play it for laughs, supplying the silliest or most sarcastic answer you can muster.  To take the silliness to the next level, gather your friends or family, deal each person a hand of cards from your copy of Apples to Apples (great for kids) or Cards Against Humanity (not for kids!!), and enjoy the ensuing hilarity. (In these games, players take turns being the judge for each round, picking the funniest from everyone’s submissions.) "What men call stretch limos and the Gods call dross." "What men call Morgan Freeman's voice and the Gods call dross." From the previous issue: Seneca (c 4 BC-AD 65) said, "Fire is the test of gold; _____, of strong men." Answer: Adversity. Try this one today: Speaking of adversity, Aristotle (384-322 BC) said, "_____ is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity." review this word: 1. An opposite of TYRO is A. GURU. B. SWAN SONG. C. CHAMPIONSHIP.  2. In the first book, Harry is a tyro, _____. A. lonely and lacking a loving family B. immediately at home on a flying broomstick C. grappling with the wizarding world and how it works 1. A 2. C a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.