Tagged Questions
2
votes
1answer
46 views
Underlie, Underlay, Underlying and Underlaying
What is the difference between "underlay", "underlie" and their present continuous forms (and adjectives) "underlying" and "underlaying"?
And what is the right word to say something like:
The ...
-2
votes
1answer
84 views
“Perhaps” versus “probably” [closed]
Can I say
Perhaps the most natural option is to...
instead of
The most natural option is probably to...
Do these two sentences have the same meaning? Generally speaking, should I prefer ...
0
votes
1answer
95 views
Is there a difference between “opt” and “choose”?
Could you give examples where one is better suited than the other one? Or are they completely synonymous?
(I'm not a native speaker.)
Update: I'm writing a piece software documentation and I wonder ...
2
votes
1answer
152 views
Is “pal” too informal when the other person is much older than me? [closed]
I have an online friend (here on StackExchange) and I happen to know that he is significantly "more experienced", he's a professor while I'm a student, and his contribution here is larger than mine. ...
2
votes
3answers
401 views
Homeland vs Motherland vs Fatherland
What is the distinction between homeland, motherland and fatherland?
Is there any difference in meaning of such terms?
When it comes to connotations are there any differences, except for the ...
2
votes
5answers
132 views
How can you distinguish between different meanings of the verb “to know” in English?
I work in an industrial setting. Today I had a conversation with my coworkers in which we discussed that another group knew that our group has requirements that they were not going to meet based on ...
4
votes
2answers
122 views
“had me a blast” - what use of “have” is it?
Reading the Summer love lyrics, the lyrics go as follows: "summer love, had me a blast". I know that "have a blast" means to enjoy etc. But I do not think I could say "it has me a blast".
1
vote
1answer
313 views
What is the difference between “synergistic” and “synergetic”?
What is the difference between "synergistic" and "synergetic"? I believe they both speak of the cooperation of multiple things to produce an output, but how do they differ?
5
votes
2answers
215 views
Can supper and dinner be used interchangeably? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Lunch” vs. “dinner” vs. “supper” — times and meanings?
Wikipedia states that the words supper and dinner can be used interchangeably. But I am not thoroughly convinced ...
9
votes
3answers
2k views
What is the difference between “rooster” vs. “cock” and “hen” vs. “chicken”?
When I was small and started to study English, I had pictures labelled cock, hen and chicken.
Now when I search the net for pictures to show my children, I see the same pictures, but this time they ...
-3
votes
1answer
474 views
What does “evaluate” mean when used in Mathematical problems? [closed]
When solving Mathematical problems, I usually come across with titles like:
Evaluate the expression below.
Evaluate this: ∜[(log2(48 / 3) + 1)2 - 9]
Evaluate the following integral.
When I ...
8
votes
5answers
350 views
What is the word for “a series of two related works”?
Here dilogy is defined as "a series of two related works". I can't shake off the feeling that there is a more commonly used word for this. Is there? If yes, what is it?
1
vote
1answer
115 views
Meaning and synonyms of 'toll' in 'death toll' [closed]
As a foreign locutor..., the word toll seems weird in the following sentence in The New York Times:
Death Toll Rises From Wind and Flooding
Automatic translations do not help very much : ...
1
vote
1answer
124 views
“Pro-attitude” Definition
What does the word pro-attitude mean in the following sentence:
Intentions are pro-attitudes, directed towards some future state of
affairs.
reference
I couldn't find this word in the ...
1
vote
2answers
412 views
Can't understand the meaning of “flogged” in this sentence
There are products to be flogged and, Ms. Barberich added, “stars to be made.”
What does it mean by flogged here?
I got these synonym:
struck, propelled, electrical, beaten, flogged, chastised
...
3
votes
2answers
67 views
Can I say “peerless mission?”
My friends are telling me that calling a mission peerless - a unique mission - is not correct. Is that true? I thought that unique is very much equivalent to peerless.
4
votes
2answers
365 views
“Ideal” vs “archetype” vs “role model” vs “prototype”
While learning synonyms, I encountered these words. I'm trying to understand the nuances between them.
From my understanding:-
Role model is someone whom you admire or try to emulate (generally a ...
-3
votes
3answers
699 views
Difference between venture and adventure [closed]
Is there any difference between usage of words venture and adventure?
Is venture a short form usage of adventure?
14
votes
3answers
439 views
How do you tell if synonyms of “almost” default to meaning “less than”?
Having just had a chat with Em1, I noticed that some words or phrases that mean almost will mean less than when used alone, and other synonyms will mean greater than.
For example, nearly and close to ...
2
votes
4answers
417 views
What is a word to describe a person who wears several masks?
What word best describes a person who is deceitful and very complicated to understand? As they say, he wears several masks.
3
votes
2answers
3k views
Duplicate vs. replicate vs. reduplicate
What is the difference in usage between these three apparently-synonymous words: duplicate, replicate, and reduplicate. (Definitions from ODO)
duplicate: make or be an exact copy of
replicate: ...
3
votes
2answers
439 views
What is the noun for “implore”?
What is the noun form of the word "implore"?
I saw some suggestions online for "imploration", but this seems awkward to me.
2
votes
1answer
142 views
Is it possible to rephrase “we're going to bring back that hulking hunk of bumbling brawn”? [closed]
The context of the following quote is from the comic book Avengers. In a circus, the ringmaster introduces a brawny guy by saying:
First off today, we're going to bring back that hulking hunk of ...
6
votes
2answers
295 views
“feint” and “feign”: Are they synomyms?
Both to feign and to feint seem to mean to pretend. Are they synonyms or the same word with only a different spelling?
Or is there an actual concrete difference in their meaning?
5
votes
4answers
955 views
Difference between “purpose” and “goal”
What does this sentence from Star Trek: The Alternative Factor mean?
Jim, madness has no purpose ... or reason ... but it may have a
goal.
As far as I know purpose and goal are synonyms. How ...
8
votes
3answers
477 views
Difference between “dawn” and “realize”
I encountered a word dawn and I have a feeling I understood the meaning in context. For example,
1) It dawned on him that she had loved him.
means
2) It entered his consciousness that she ...
0
votes
0answers
52 views
Do you make a difference between “anybody” and “anyone” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is there a subtle difference between “somebody” and “someone”, “anybody” and “anyone”?
Not being an English native, I’m ...
0
votes
3answers
708 views
Virtually is like almost or practically? [closed]
In the first definition of the word virtually there is written:
almost [= practically]:
Virtually all the children come to school by bus.
He was virtually unknown before running for ...
1
vote
2answers
507 views
Meaning of “needful”
I am trying to find alternative ways to refer to a very necessary thing or thing that someone must have. Can I use the word needful for this purpose? A person said that needful means the thing needs ...
0
votes
1answer
3k views
What does “not even close” mean? [closed]
I was watching a Matt Damon interview on YouTube. In it, the interviewer asked Matt
Do you remember? Can you speak any of the languages you spoke?
Matt replied
Not even close
What does ...
1
vote
2answers
257 views
Is the word Concurrence synonymous with the word harmony
recently I sat for an exam where I was asked this question -
Concurrence means all of the following except:
A. Agreement
B. Accord
C. Consensus
D. Coincidence
E. Harmony
What could be the correct ...
3
votes
2answers
940 views
Distinction between “ambulate” and “perambulate”?
At a cursory glance, these two terms appear to be synonyms. But that would strike me as unusual since one is a prefixed form of the other. (Prefixes are used to modify a word in a specific and ...
-3
votes
3answers
629 views
Synonym for “ad-hoc” that conveys rigor [closed]
The term ad hoc can convey a lack of rigor, for example one of the synonyms is to improvise.
Are there synonyms that do not convey this lack of rigor? For example, 'ad hoc' is used to refer to ...
-2
votes
2answers
606 views
Difference between “goal” and “objective” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Difference between “goals” and “objectives”
For a work related thing (sales) I need to list goals and also list objectives. What are the ...
5
votes
3answers
557 views
Differences between “tutorial”, “guide” and “how-to”
The categorization on Android Wiki looks pretty arbitrary and redundant to me contemplating the single articles in the categories. In every one you find a tutorial, guide and how-to on for example How ...
3
votes
2answers
199 views
“Supreme court” vs. “highest court”
I just read an article about aided suicide on Toronto Star which mentioned B.C. supreme court and Canada's highest court.
Do supreme court and highest court mean the same thing? The different ...
1
vote
2answers
664 views
Difference between “always” and “all the time”
Do always and all the time mean exactly the same thing in these sentences?
Why are you always so busy?
Why are you so busy all the time?
5
votes
2answers
540 views
“Spontaneous”, “voluntary” and “involuntary”
I was looking for a synonym of spontaneous, and voluntary naturally came to my mind. In an attempt to understand the difference between them, I tried to google spontaneous vs voluntary. To my ...
-2
votes
2answers
396 views
Are “reckless” and “feckless” synonyms?
Both reckless and feckless imply not taking responsibility. When is it appropriate to use the one over the other?
4
votes
1answer
512 views
Can we use “RSVP” interchangeably with “RRSP”?
I received an email with the "RRSP" abbreviation.
"RRSP by 1 Nov 2011 to Willy Milly."
Upon checking with Thesaurus.com, it is a synonym of "RSVP".
Can one use "RRSP" and "RSVP" ...
4
votes
4answers
672 views
“Doubt” vs. “suspect” [closed]
I have never used doubt or suspect properly before. Now I understand that they seem to bear quite the opposite meanings in a sentence.
For example,
Everybody believes him, but I suspect he is ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
What's the difference between “act” and “action”?
What's the difference between "act" and "action"? More specifically in the way they are generally used (and not more specific theatrical definitions, for instance)?
8
votes
1answer
2k views
Differences between “propensity”, “predilection” and “proclivity”
Propensity, predilection and proclivity all have the meaning of tendency, so what's the difference? Are they interchangeable?
11
votes
4answers
861 views
“Obvious” vs. “Evident”
Are obvious and evident totally synonymous? I've noticed that both are generally translated to the same French word. However, as a native English speaker I kinda interpret them differently; obvious ...
0
votes
1answer
180 views
Replicit? Or a word that sounds like it?
I've looked up "replicit" and it's not a word, or so I can tell. But I could swear that there's a word that sounds like "rep licit" which means "full of" or "abundant." "Rimplicit"? Nope. Does anyone ...
3
votes
2answers
3k views
What's the difference between “my love” and “my lover”?
What's the difference between "my love" and "my lover" ? Or do they have the same meaning ?
4
votes
5answers
2k views
Difference between “socket” and “outlet”
While translating a technical document I began thinking about socket and outlet. It seems like they're mostly interchangeable. Is that correct? Or is there a difference between the two?
6
votes
3answers
375 views
How is “organic” different from “natural”?
Looking into my dictionary, one meaning of the word organic is:
occurring or developing gradually and naturally, without being forced or contrived
And you see this word being used like Organic ...
5
votes
2answers
712 views
What does “get wound” mean?
In the sixth panel of this web comic the character says, "Get wound, Sturmvoraus*! I do not need your help."
So, what does "get wound" mean in this context? I googled it, but only got "getting wound ...
1
vote
5answers
2k views
'Shelled' vs. 'deshelled'
Are they interchangeable? Do they really mean the same thing in this context?
As in the sentences:
I really enjoy these already shelled pistachios.
I really enjoy these already deshelled ...
