A star that's collapsed in upon itself creating a gravity field so strong not even light escapes
a black hole
As a verb, it means to flick or whip; as a noun, it's a wire implement that has no issues with beating up eggs
whisk
It's also called a lightning bug
Firefly
"Wheel of Fortune" uses an adapted version of this game in which players guess the hidden letters of a word
Hangman
Name shared by a coordinated advertising program & a run for political office
Campaign
The name of this green pigment found in plants is partly from the Greek for "green"
Culinary words for adding a last bit of color or flavor (mmm... parsley) include finish & this -ish verb
garnish
This North American mammal, known for its distinctive facial mask, dexterous front paws, and opportunistic omnivorous diet, belongs to the family Procyonidae.
Raccoon
It's the kind of phrase, such as "she sells seashells...", that throws your lingual organ for a loop
Tongue twister
This obstructive tactic is used by senators to block potential legislation by debating it as long as possible
Filibuster
It's the 5-letter term for the transparent solid that disperses light into a spectrum
Prism
Place your steak in a sealed bag in heated water & you're cooking like the pros via this "under vacuum" method
sous vide
You can find this wild cat, also called a puma, from Canada to Argentina
Panther
Liquid substances are neither solid nor gas; this synonym for liquid means anything that flows, either liquid or gas
Fluid
In 2011 the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct became the much shorter named Committee on these
Ethics
Newton's first law, about bodies at rest & in motion, is also called the law of this
The law of inertia
Veggies are scalded, then plunged into ice water when you do this, a word also meaning "make pale with fear"
Blanch
This avian species, known for its vibrant and elaborate feathers, belongs to the family Phasianidae, and its males display intricate courtship dances to attract mates.
Peacock
This word for a type of war is one of the few 5-letter words that can be made using only Roman numerals
Civil
As parties choose a nominee for pres., the 2 main contest types are primaries & these, where voters give support openly
Caucuses
Graphite is a soft form of this element
Carbon
Also sometimes done to harbors, it means to coat food with a dry ingredient like flour
dredge
This small, herbivorous rodent, often associated with myths of mass migrations and cliff-jumping behavior, inhabits the tundra regions of the Arctic.
Lemming
Subtract a letter from the name of a keystroke found in computer commands & you get this violent reaction to social change
backlash
This Presidential retreat is perched on the highest point of Maryland's Catoctin Mountain Park
Camp David