This tag is for questions seeking a single word that fits a meaning. If you actually seek a phrase, or don't care, see the "phrase requests" tag too.
9
votes
4answers
1k views
What do you call someone with the same occupation as you, but works for a different company?
What do you call someone who works in the same field or occupation as you do, but in a different company or organization?
0
votes
3answers
383 views
Someone who walks on a tightrope [closed]
Is there a single word or concise phrase for someone who walks on a tightrope?
7
votes
1answer
115 views
Is there a specific word for hemocyanic blood?
I would like to be able to use a word specifically meaning the blue blood -- having hemocyanin rather than hemoglobin -- that, for example, an octopus has. I have been unable to find one using the ...
17
votes
1answer
446 views
In old books, why is the first word of the next page printed at the bottom of this page?
In old books from the 16th to 18th centuries, the first word from the next page is often printed right justified on its own, at the end of the current page. It's not in every book of this period, but ...
-3
votes
0answers
47 views
The term used for short form of a word [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the term for neglectful spelling of words such as “you” as “u”?
what is the proper word to say words that is being used as in chat.eg:- ...
1
vote
9answers
5k views
What is the opposite of “free” as in “free of charge”?
What is the opposite of "free" as in "free of charge" (when we speak about prices)? We can add "not" for negation, but I am looking for a single word.
15
votes
5answers
1k views
Difference between “retro” and “vintage”
What's the difference between retro and vintage? (or antique for that matter)
4
votes
7answers
248 views
What's a term for pure text data (non-image non-video non-audio)?
I am looking for a word that means plain old normal data. I am trying to express the size of a database and clarify that doesn't contain any images or videos or audio files so that the number is ...
7
votes
3answers
1k views
Difference between “transparent” and “translucent”
What's the difference between transparent and translucent? I am trying to describe this record pressing.
3
votes
1answer
169 views
Is lamb meat called ‘agnew’?
In Wikipedia, specifically at the entry on the Middle English creole hypothesis:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_English_creole_hypothesis
it appears that ‘agnew’ is being listed as being the ...
1
vote
1answer
202 views
A word to express the idea of “human traits” [closed]
Is there a single word that can succinctly express the idea of "human traits" or "human behaviours" or "human habits"?
Words that I have thought like race, species are not good because the sound too ...
0
votes
4answers
2k views
What Sound (onomatopoeia) does a launching Rocket make? [closed]
I searched all the internet and comics but couldn't find any onomatopoeia for Rocket blasting into space.
Any ideas?
1
vote
3answers
178 views
How do you call a “Director's cut/minority report/dissenting opinion” if it regards a report/book?
There is "Director's cut" for movies and "minority report/dissenting opinion" for legal issues. What do you call a (longer) report, where the author states some things a little (or very) different ...
1
vote
4answers
4k views
Interjection for the sound of a bell
I saw this other question, but it's not quite what I'm asking.
A bell makes a sound. How would you write that sound in English? As an interjection, e.g. "boom!"
I'm sure it varies with the type and ...
25
votes
7answers
5k views
X, Y, Z — horizontal, vertical and …?
When working in a 2D coordinate system you could say that X is the horizontal axis and Y is the vertical axis.
Extending this to 3D, is there a similar word for the Z axis?
(I'm aware of Width, ...
2
votes
3answers
363 views
Term for buzzing or hissing sound often created by vibration
Specifically, I am referring to the hissing, buzzing, S-like, or fuzzy sound that is created when electronic speakers play sounds or music near their volume or frequency limits.
I recall having ...
2
votes
4answers
688 views
Synonym for “focused”
I'm looking for a better adjective that means focused in the sense of "intense concentration" like an elite warrior in battle. I guess it doesn't even need the sense of having blinders on, more about ...
1
vote
4answers
193 views
Is there a word for an individual item within a cache?
Is there a particular word that represents an individual item within a cache, particularly from a programming perspective?
Is item the best choice in this particular context? Or do you generally ...
7
votes
5answers
363 views
Term for an insincere invitation..?
Is there a term or phrase to describe an invitation you extend to someone only because you expect that they will not accept it? I've been using the made up "faux-vite," but I suspect there must be a ...
10
votes
4answers
7k views
What's the opposite of oxymoron?
What's the opposite of oxymoron? two words put together that seem identical
6
votes
3answers
373 views
Is there an alternate term for “the power behind the throne?”
NOAD describes a figurehead as
a nominal leader or head without real power.
I'm wondering if there's a complementary one-word term for the person who does wield the power in such a situation. ...
2
votes
4answers
504 views
What is a word to describe an ambiguous amount of time?
The term "umpteenth" is sometimes used to describe a long, but unknown or ambiguous amount of time, or number of times.
...after he reexamined the cable connections for the umpteenth
time...
...
3
votes
3answers
950 views
What are word combinations similar to the effect of “Sofa King” called?
Is there a name for word combination structures that embed other words within them (both verbal or written)? (Any less rude example would be appreciated.)
4
votes
2answers
91 views
What is a good alternative to “the film is set in”?
I'm writing a paper about a movie.
I would like to start like this:
Monsters is a 2010 independent science-fiction film directed by Gareth Edwards and set in the Mexico-U.S. border region. It ...
13
votes
9answers
1k views
Word for someone who is extremely up-to-date with the latest facts (news or research)
I seek a word for one who is up-to-date, enlightened, and extremely well informed about the latest developments or research in a particular field.
An example is a person who complains about a recent ...
3
votes
3answers
376 views
Adverb of “English” [closed]
Dictionary.com defines Englishly as in the manner or style of the English people. Is there an adverb for the word English in the sense of English language? Is there one word for saying in English?
2
votes
1answer
132 views
Word for object in programming that connects to relay
What is a word for an object that connects with something? Connector is used to describe a specific part in electronics but I need a word describing that the abstract object connects with something. ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Is there a single word for “going the extra mile”?
Is there a single word for "going the extra mile"?
If possible carrying the connotation, if not the denotation, of being awed and possibly humbled by the lengths to which someone went.
2
votes
2answers
291 views
Verb: “to make an incorrect statement” [closed]
What's the verb that means: to make an anecdotal statement (based on casual observations) as if it were a fact?
I don't think it's "to lie" because this person believes it's the truth. He is ...
-2
votes
3answers
519 views
Abbreviation for “or the rest” (or “or others”)?
The Latin et cetera, abbreviated etc., is often used at the end of an incomplete, inclusive list of items when it is clear that there are more items than can be enumerated conveniently and there is no ...
4
votes
2answers
139 views
Term for words such as “un-f**king-believable” or “a-whole-nother” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is it called when an interjection is inserted inside another word?
Is there a term used to describe words such as un-fucking-believable or a-whole-nother? These ...
7
votes
3answers
146 views
Term shorter than “microblog” as generic equivalent of “tweet”
I search rather than Google and vacuum rather than Hoover. Technically I microblog rather than tweet, but it just doesn't sound as snappy. Is there a short (single syllable?), established, generic ...
1
vote
0answers
213 views
Word for person who became rich by cheating others [closed]
Is there a word for a person who became rich by cheating others? I want to use it in formal language.
15
votes
8answers
6k views
Word for something sad and funny at the same time [closed]
What's a word for something that is sad and funny at the same time?
3
votes
6answers
2k views
Real word for “equippable”
Equippable, while not a really a word, seems to be accepted by the gaming community as a term for this can be equipped. Is there a more appropriate word which is real, singular and essentially means ...
13
votes
5answers
472 views
Is there a word or phrase for a choice that ultimately leads to tragedy?
Examples of decisions that ultimately lead to the downfall of the deciders:
Troy accepted the gift of the Trojan horse
Aladdin doesn't immediately free the Genie when he is told he will become ...
1
vote
5answers
2k views
Correctness and spelling of “misscheduled”
I'm sure I've heard the word misscheduled used multiple times in my life. But just now, my spell checker threw a fit. Since I wasn't sure if it should be misscheduled, mis-scheduled, or mischeduled ...
3
votes
4answers
285 views
What is the proper term to describe the levels of experience for a trade?
For the life of me I can't recall or even Google the proper term to describe the levels of experience for a given trade.
For example let's say there are 5 levels of experience to trade x:
Rookie
...
9
votes
4answers
754 views
What do you call that sound uncouth people make by gurgling the snot in their sinuses?
There may not be a word for it, but maybe there is a better or more concise way of describing it.
1
vote
1answer
319 views
Can't read a word from a 187-year-old document [closed]
I have a land deed from the year 1824 for some land in the province of Upper Canada (back when that was a province).
Some photos of the deed can be seen in this imgur album.
I am attempting to read ...
2
votes
3answers
334 views
What's the right word to use here?
I am looking for the word to complete the following sentence
"Simplicity and sophistication are not necessarily _"
Meaning simplicity doesn't preclude sophistication.
Edit: I am not looking for ...
6
votes
4answers
8k views
Word for someone that always has to be right [closed]
Is there a word for someone that always has to be right? The person gets angry if they are not.
8
votes
7answers
532 views
Term for poetry that mimics what it describes
I'm blanking on the term for when a verse mimics that which it describes - for example, a poem talking about a confusing encounter would become confusing itself - each time I search for it I keep ...
8
votes
8answers
1k views
What kinds of words or phrases would you use to describe this situation?
As a teacher I am obliged to look after children during the recess/break.
How would you call this situation in English? Let me elaborate a little bit: Each lesson lasts 45 minutes, then students are ...
4
votes
3answers
789 views
Hypernym for “increase” and “decrease”
Is there a word in English which would encompass both the action of increasing or decreasing [the value of] something?
I am looking at a word similar to modify, change or alter. But the first two do ...
2
votes
4answers
653 views
Synonym for “final” or antonym for “draft”
I'm hitting a problem where we're using forms of the word final with three different meanings:
Final evaluation, as opposed to midterm evaluation
Final version, as opposed to draft version
...
0
votes
1answer
326 views
Adjective to replace “small” in “small part” [closed]
I am looking for the replacement for the adjective "small" as in "small part", e.g:
I am dedicating the small part of my article to....
which would not over-emphasize the fact of being small, ...
1
vote
3answers
288 views
Word for the point where you can feel the music throughout your body [closed]
When you are listening to music and you continue to turn the volume up, there is a certain point where you just sorta feel "full" of the music. It is a fabulous feeling. Is there a specific word for ...
2
votes
4answers
2k views
Word for a sudden memory triggered by a sense
Every so often I'll hear a phrase that forms part of a song or phrase that I know. Suddenly I can hear the song playing in my head or my mind finishes off the phrase. What is the correct phrase/word ...
0
votes
5answers
223 views
Suitable abstraction for Email and SMS
I am making a piece of software which has the ability to send out Emails and SMS messages.
My boss has asked for both facilities to go under the same heading in a dropdown menu. But I can't think of ...
