Scrabble Bingo of the Day: ISOPLETH

ISOPLETH  63 points (13 points without the bingo)

Definition: a type of isogram [n]

Okay... in order to know what an isopleth is, you first have to know what an isogram is...

An isogram (or isoline) is a contour line on a map connecting points of equal value. In other words, it's a generic designation for lines indicating equality of some physical condition or quantity. This is the meaning in the Scrabble Dictionary, but an isogram is actually more commonly employed as a logological term in spelling to point out a word doesn't have any repeating letters (a really handy Scrabble word to know).

So, an isopleth is an isogram which has a variable that cannot be measured at any single point, but which must be calculated from data collected over an area, meaning it's a contour line or curve with a specified constant value for each variable. Isopleths are commonly used in census data to depict population density (by dividing a district's total population by the total surface area of the district).

In meteorology, that line connects points that have equal incidence of a specified meteorological feature, and is great for mapping surface elevations, amounts of precipitation, atmospheric pressure, and numerous other measurements that can be viewed statistically as a third dimension.

In thermodynamics, an isopleth is a phase diagram indicating the same mole fraction.

Inflections: ISOPLETHS [pl.]

Similar Words: ISOLINE, ISOGRAM, ISOPHOTE, ISARITHM, CHOROPLETH, ISOBAR, ISOBARE, ISOCHORE, ISOGLOSS, ISOGON, ISOHYET, ISOTHERE, ISOTACH, ISOTHERM

 Isopleth map depicting annual average dioxin concentrations from 1992 in the vicinity of a Dupont

 plant in Mississippi.

 Photo by Stone Lions

 Sample isopleth map for precipitation.

Photo by Environment Canada

So, just what is a Scrabble Bingo?

A bingo is when a player empties his or her rack in one turn, placing all seven of their letters on the board to create a word that's at least seven letters long. The term "bingo" is used primarily in the U.S., but elsewhere it's simply known as a "bonus" because you get a bonus of 50 points added to your turn's score. "Scrabble Bingo of the Day" will focus on these high scoring plays, teaching you some interesting and possibly unusual seven-letter or longer words accepted in a game of Scrabble.

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