Nouns are words that refer to an entity, quality, state, action, or concept.
3
votes
3answers
68 views
Is a ship's biscuit a biscuit or a cake?
Cakes go hard when they are stale. Biscuits go soft when they are stale.
So, what about a ship's biscuit?
0
votes
1answer
27 views
Usage and spelling of “wordlength” and “bitbreadth”
As far as I know, these are the meanings:
wordlength — for instance, 4 bytes when the bitbreadth is 32 and 8 bytes when the bitbreadth is 64.
bitbreadth — for example, 32 or 64 or 4 bits for a ...
4
votes
8answers
2k views
Which is correct: “soda” or “pop”?
Depending on where you go in the world, some people will refer to a carbonated beverage as "soda" while others choose to use the term "pop." For example, "Can I get you a soda" vs. "Can I get you a ...
-2
votes
1answer
43 views
Jukebox - I know what a Box is but what exactly is a Juke? [closed]
What exactly is a Juke? I only know this word if: 1) it's attached to -box; 2) an athlete confuses his/her opponent with a series of moves.
But what is its exact origin? JEP
6
votes
6answers
25k views
What is the difference between “curd” and “yogurt”?
Most people use the words curd and yogurt interchangeably.
Both are made by fermenting milk.
Is there a difference between the two, or are they the same?
4
votes
2answers
113 views
First known occurrence of the word “technique” in English
I’m trying to track down the first printed use of the word technique in English. Can anyone tell me the name, author, and date of the publication in question? It would be especially valuable, on top ...
12
votes
12answers
904 views
Asks a question; never responds to answers/comments
What do we call someone who asks a question and never responds to answers/comments?
Think of it more as "a pattern of behavior" (somebody who has asked many questions and never responded).
I had ...
0
votes
0answers
23 views
Doubts on relation - Father and Son [closed]
If I have a statement of the form George is the father of James, who is in fact the father of Thomas. Then how do I expand it ?
Is it that
James is the father of Thomas
Or
George is the father ...
1
vote
1answer
68 views
Hypernym for injured and dead
I'm working on some project that deals with natural disasters. I need to find the most proper word that can be used to refer to someone who either was injured or died in a disaster.
Can I use ...
3
votes
5answers
4k views
“Complement” or “supplement”?
On a site similar to this one I answered a question and the OP made a comment which prompted me to complete my answer in an edit. I called it "an example" but I originally wanted to call it ...
0
votes
2answers
49 views
Correct punctuation with two nouns? [duplicate]
There's an old play on words that goes like so:
Grammar: The difference between helping your uncle Jack off a horse, and helping your uncle jack off a horse.
I've been told that it should ...
-1
votes
4answers
129 views
Does “neighbor” really mean “he who lives close”?
I thought that's what it means, but Dictionary.com says that it can also mean
One's fellow human being: to be generous toward one's less fortunate neighbors.
A person who shows kindliness or ...
1
vote
2answers
68 views
First printed use of the word “diagram” in English
I’m trying to track down the first printed use of the word diagram in English. Can anyone tell me the name, author, and date of the publication in question? It would be especially valuable, on top of ...
1
vote
1answer
401 views
What is the origin of the word “parlor”?
What is the origin of the word parlor, as in an old fashioned sitting room? I suspect it's French, but I'm missing a step to get to the meaning.
23
votes
3answers
787 views
What kind of noun is a picture?
I'm not sure of the right place to ask this, but I got confused trying to understand how the computer will interpret the sentence:
This is my picture.
In actual sense, the real owner of the ...
5
votes
2answers
3k views
11
votes
5answers
5k views
Difference between “pain” and “ache”
What's the difference between pain and ache?
I often see the two words used (almost) interchangeably. At the same time the phrase "aches and pains" is pretty common, and seems to suggest that the two ...
-1
votes
0answers
30 views
standard vs. criterion [closed]
What's the difference between the two words?
Can I use "criterion" in the following sentence?
That company sets the standard in this profession.
-2
votes
1answer
980 views
Technical English is not the part of technology’. [closed]
'Technical English is not the part of technology’.
9
votes
4answers
7k views
Is “Yesterday” a Noun?
Are words like "yesterday" and "tomorrow" considered nouns, adjectives, or even adverbs? I'm getting mixed signals from several references.
In a case like "I have an important meeting tomorrow," it ...
3
votes
1answer
482 views
Capitalisation of “chess”
When talking about the game of chess do I capitalise or not? If not why not?
Example excerpt:
I have picked chess as it is a popular, well understood game. Even if
the programming unit doesn’t ...
4
votes
1answer
81 views
Why is the noun form of “permit” “permission”?
The noun form of permit is permission instead of permition. Why isn't it permition?
1
vote
1answer
49 views
Migratory or migration?
In this phrase:
the migratory activity of white blood cells
is it possible to replaced the adjective migratory by the noun migration, which also serves as an adjective? Only one variant is ...
3
votes
5answers
152 views
Difference between “jargon” and “technical terms”
Each subject matter has its own set of terms called jargon which is expressed in its particular grammatical rules. Technical terminology or Term of Art is the specialized vocabulary of any specialized ...
0
votes
2answers
94 views
Difference between ‘“folder” and “directory”
What is the difference between folder and directory in the context of computer science?
1
vote
2answers
55 views
Meaning of the word “findings”? [closed]
I need to find a word to define the products you see in the capture.
The best match I've found is findings.
Is this word the correct one? Is there a better word for these products?
1
vote
4answers
77 views
The ( changed ) meaning or classification of words in programming [closed]
I am facing a bit of a dilemma / problem .
I am an amateur programmer ( profile ) , and in programming languages some terms are accepted , known to everyone and frequently used everywhere .
My doubt ...
0
votes
3answers
81 views
What is more common “table booking” or “table reservation”?
What is more common and natural, "table booking" or "table reservation"?
Is there a big difference between these two?
2
votes
1answer
55 views
Usage of “diary” and “calendar”
The difference between a paper diary and a paper calendar is fairly clear, though either may be used to record an appointmemt. However a computer application is less clear as, for example, MS ...
0
votes
1answer
64 views
Is downtown an adverb of place? [duplicate]
What is the explanation for why we say "I'm going downtown" instead of "I'm going to downtown?"
6
votes
9answers
1k views
What’s the right term for “expensive things that have no real use”
The rich people buy many luxury things like expensive cell phones, gadgets with brilliants, bags made of snake skin and other such things. They buy it in order to separate themselves from the “crowd” ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
Saxon Genitive vs. Adjective Noun (Model Parameters vs. Model's Parameters)
The suggestions in this same forum say that the use of the phrase "the car's antenna" is correct.
Questions:
Nobody mentioned the use of "the car antenna" -- which to me would be much more natural, ...
6
votes
1answer
8k views
Capitalization of chemical element names
Do the names of chemical elements need to be capitalized?
For example, in running text should it be hydrogen or Hydrogen?
-4
votes
1answer
70 views
What's a jagger in the song Moves Like Jagger? [closed]
What's jagger/a jagger in the title of the song Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5?
I've looked up the word on Urbandictionary and there are all sorts of different definitions on it. I've also found out ...
17
votes
6answers
3k views
What's the female equivalent of “suitor”?
I'm looking for a word which could satisfy the usage of "suitor", except it would be used to indicate female "suitors":
E.g.:
She had a host of suitors eagerly awaiting her favour...
Now, I ...
2
votes
6answers
1k views
Origin of the name “paw-paw”
I've always known this fruit as papaya. It was only in recent times that I started hearing "paw-paw" used instead of "papaya". I also looked up the dictionary, but no relevant word came up.
Where did ...
0
votes
0answers
44 views
What's the difference between “review” and “overview”? [closed]
What's the difference between "review" and "overview"?
I've been thinking about these two words as synonyms. But recently I came across an article where author said he was going to make a review and ...
-2
votes
3answers
130 views
Meaning of “I'm a disaster” [closed]
What does disaster mean in the following sentence?
I'm a disaster.
2
votes
5answers
176 views
One word noun for “rule-follower”
I'm looking for a single word noun that would perfectly summarize the stereotypical nerdy uptight virgin student council president.
Basically, a more proper version of the slang word "square": a ...
9
votes
2answers
265 views
A word for this cramp-like sensation
I'm trying to look for this word that describes this sensation that you sometimes get on your body most commonly on the lower limbs when it's stayed in the same position or put under pressure for a ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
What are metal pans and covers of a staircase?
What are metal pans and its covers of a staircase and what do they look like as mentioned in the following account?
My boss and I were carrying 160lb sliding glass doors up an unfinished staircase ...
-1
votes
2answers
95 views
Inverse for the term "refinement”
In computer science there is a term "refinement".
Refinement is a hierarchical relationship between two concepts. If B refines A, then the requirements of B are a superset of the requirements of A. ...
2
votes
1answer
131 views
Is there a word for describing the shoulder and/or neck pain caused by bad sleep postures?
There is a simple word in my native tongue for this symptom but it is somehow hard to find a corresponding term in English despite how common this type of pain occurs in our daily life.
3
votes
4answers
6k views
Noun for “receive”?
Receipt? Receiving?
I'm trying to come up with a name for "the acceptance of a delivery." I'd like to be able to say
Ten deliveries were made but there are only five [fill_in_the_blank_here] ...
3
votes
3answers
21k views
Which one is correct, “favourite song of all time” or “… of all times”?
Which one of these sentences is correct?
That is one of my favourite songs of all time.
That is one of my favourite songs of all times.
I am not a native English speaker.
3
votes
4answers
10k views
What does 'abstract ideas' mean? [closed]
In the sentence for example:
This book would also interest intelligent students with a taste for abstract ideas and theoretical arguments.
What does the phrase "abstract ideas" mean? I looked up ...
0
votes
2answers
156 views
Could the term “elephant” have derived from “olfactory?”
The online etymology dictionary gives "Oliphant" as the predecessor of "elephant."
Dictionary.com defines "olfactory" as "pertaining to the sense of smell."
Given the similarity of "oliphant" and ...
1
vote
4answers
79 views
“Cyclicity” vs. “cyclicality”
I can't find the difference between these two words. I want to describe the property of something that is repeating at a fixed period (don't ask me to use periodicity, that would be for another ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
“Principal” vs “owner”
What is the business perception of identifying yourself as the Principal vs the Owner? I assume they are largely synonymous (please tell me if there are subtle differences, but in a small business ...
2
votes
3answers
94 views
Specific word for discrimination based on religion [duplicate]
How would one refer to discrimination purely based on religion? Is there a single word?
For example discrimination based on sex is often referred to as sexism, discrimination based on race is often ...
