Tagged Questions
3
votes
5answers
149 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?
4
votes
1answer
88 views
Is there a term for a married couple who have the same christian and surname?
My wife and I share the abbreviated form of our name - Alex derived from Alexandra and Alexander respectively. As we are married, we have the same christian and surname when used in the short form.
...
0
votes
2answers
129 views
“Release”, “free”, or “delete allocated memory”?
release the allocated memory.
free the allocated memory.
delete the allocated memory.
What are the differences between them?
1
vote
2answers
113 views
Is this the right meaning of this sentence? [closed]
I am trying to find an original way to say "Conquer the Justice". Looking on the dictionary, I found that "storm" not only means something like a tempest but also to "conquer with weapons".
Supposing ...
5
votes
1answer
196 views
Intonation and the changing of meaning
Two questions with the same words can have somewhat different meanings. For example, I could ask
Do you want to go to the zoo or the museum?
with my intonation/pitch rising after zoo, or
Do ...
1
vote
1answer
45 views
deep roll of blue at the tops
I want some help with my question about the meaning of “deep roll of blue at the tops”:
"The men were dressed in blue, of the same shade as their hats, and wore well-polished boots with a deep ...
0
votes
2answers
302 views
Correct order and terminology for meals in the day [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Lunch vs. dinner vs. supper — times and meanings?
I know there are copious amounts of debates on this matter but is there actually one definitive answer for the order of ...
1
vote
1answer
94 views
Symphonic vs. symphony
Is there any clear line between a symphony and symphonic?
For long, I thought that a symphony was simply a "song" played by a symphonic orchestra. Then I realized that more often than not, the ...
2
votes
2answers
151 views
“Regress” vs. “retrogress”
What do each of them mean exactly? Is either (or both) the opposite of "progress"?
Could someone please explain the difference?
To add some context:
When I look up the definitions I see the ...
3
votes
2answers
796 views
What is “narrative nonfiction”, exactly? Isn't every nonfiction narrative?
I came across the term “narrative nonfiction” in the New York Times article titled “What should children read?” (November 22). It seems to be a journalist’s and book editors’ favorite jargon from the ...
3
votes
5answers
515 views
Are camp followers prostitutes?
My own understanding of the term camp followers was that it was synonymous with prostitutes who followed armies around plying their trade. However, according to Wikipedia:
Camp-follower is a term ...
1
vote
4answers
217 views
What's the meaning of boilerplate in programming?
I am not very clear about the word boilerplate when it comes to programming. How is it different to other similar terms such as template and prototype? I would appreciate some examples that clearly ...
5
votes
3answers
3k views
What are the differences among ‘Hurricane,’ ‘Super storm,’ and ‘Typhoon’?
In this morning’s (November 2nd) live-video report of New York Times, the caster asked a guest commentator if the tropical storm Sandy can be classified as a hurricane because there are many others ...
-3
votes
1answer
284 views
What does “run’n’gun” mean?
I found the term "run’n’gun" in an article about video games. What does it mean in that context?
0
votes
1answer
164 views
Meaning of “permanent crop” [closed]
I came across the phrase "permanent crop" in The World Factbook, in a description of land use. What does it mean?
1
vote
2answers
575 views
What is the difference between “revenue” and “income”? [closed]
It seems that revenue and income have the same meaning. However, they seem to be used differently. What is the difference between them? When should we use one and not the other?
20
votes
2answers
549 views
Is there a name for this method of writing that includes pictograms?
I've seen people write (usually in a humorous way) a 'code-like' message where parts of words are replaced with a pictogram that sounds like that word-part. E.G.:
(eyeball) (tin can)(rope knot) ...
6
votes
1answer
267 views
What is an 'Iron Ring Event'
In a recent podcast of .Net rocks (at 45 minutes 29 seconds), regarding the future of software craftsmanship, it is postulated that there will be an 'Iron Ring Event' (if I heard it correctly). From ...
0
votes
1answer
432 views
What does the term “relational value” mean? [closed]
I couldn't find a definition of this on any reliable resource nor in the dictionary. I think we all might know what 'relational' and 'value' mean but I'm looking for a definition of the term ...
1
vote
0answers
94 views
How to properly build the “article is <some words> deletable/creatable?” question? [closed]
I have a minimum limit number, 1, a maximum limit number, 10, an "entity", article, and a question whose answer should state (one between true or false) if the number of current articles exceeded the ...
3
votes
4answers
257 views
What does “Toff's error” mean?
"He's invited the wife and I" and other similar sentences are referred to as Toff's error. What is, precisely, the meaning of this term?
9
votes
4answers
851 views
Is it acceptable to call a hot dog a sausage?
This sounds like a silly question, but I've heard some very strong opinions about this, so I find this intriguing.
A hot dog is a type of sausage (at least according to Merriam-Webster, Wikipedia, ...
-1
votes
1answer
106 views
i would like to know how this clause as written would be interpreted [closed]
a. To be eligible for a vacation in any calendar year, an Employee must:
1) have one year or more of Continuous Service; and
(2) have worked for at least 520 hours during the preceding calendar
...
0
votes
1answer
511 views
What the definition for “Itsy Bitsy” term? [closed]
Like on the Itsy Bitsy Spider I heard it in some lyrics but I don't know what this mean indeed.
8
votes
3answers
263 views
What is a “magnetic shaped charge”
Just reading this article and in one of the first sentences it says:
A few days ago, 32-year-old Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan died in his car,
after two motorcyclists attached a magnetic shaped charge ...
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
3answers
544 views
What is the subjunctive mood?
I had always understood the subjunctive mood to mean a hypothetical present tense. However, I think it might also imply that the hypothetical event is outside the realm of possibility. Is that ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
“Notepad” vs. “notebook” — what's the difference?
Can you please tell me the difference between a notepad and a notebook (as in paper, not electronic ones)?
To me, they are the same but I guess there must be some difference.
-2
votes
3answers
578 views
Heraldry symbols description
I'm reading Game of Thrones, in English, and when some Heraldry shields are shown as the novel goes, I have some doubts about the meaning on some words. Or given the context some words don't mean what ...
1
vote
1answer
4k views
This weekend vs Next weekend [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What day is next Tuesday?
Imagine that it's Monday, the 1st. The weekend would be the 7th & 8th. How do you refer properly to the coming weekend, "This weekend" or ...
6
votes
4answers
2k views
How long is a 'wink'?
If I'm off to catch forty winks, how long will I be asleep?
I'm interested to know if there is a specific amount of time associated with a 'wink', or if there's no actual amount of time behind it?
6
votes
5answers
4k views
1
vote
1answer
2k views
What's the meaning of “on notice” and “under advisement”?
Can someone please give a clear definition and distinction of these terms, as when a public figure is asked a difficult question and says: "I'll take that on notice" or "I'll take that under ...
4
votes
2answers
13k views
What do first, second, and third person perspective mean? Why are they so called?
I am aware of the terms first person, second person and third person from grammar, but I have also seen them used in other contexts, in particular first person perspective with regard to video games.
...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
“Trust” vs. “Cartel”
The establishment of trust is quite difficult but for cartel it is comparatively easy.
What is the difference between trust and cartel?
Does the word "oligopoly" have a different meaning in ...
1
vote
4answers
633 views
What does “hit margin” mean?
This is used in an economic context:
We don't monetize ourselves properly,
so we don't hit margins.
37
votes
7answers
2k views
Is there a difference between “disc” and “disk” for naming digital storage media?
I thought that a disc was a disc, and it is sometimes spelled disk. I now have got an indication that those two are not the same thing.
In this answer on Graphic DesignBeta, I wrote floppy disc in ...
4
votes
3answers
385 views
Use of the word “theory” in “string theory”, “M-theory”, etc
I came across this question on Yahoo! Answers:
Should M-theory read, M-hypothesis?
It being limited evidence for further investigation, perhaps not yet a theory.
I responded thus:
(I realise ...
7
votes
4answers
2k views
What are: province, territory, protectorate, state…?
Often a country will have regions called "provinces" or "states". Other times they are called "territories" and "protectorates".
Is there a generic term for these words?
Is there a full list of ...
3
votes
3answers
715 views
What does “graduate applicant” mean?
Does the term "graduate applicant" mean "a person who applies to get graduated" or "a graduate who applies for something"? If it is the second one, what can we call a person who applies for a ...
8
votes
7answers
1k views
What does “akin to” mean in etymologies in dictionary entries?
Many etymologies in dictionaries say that some word is “akin to” a word in some other language. For example, here is part of the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary entry for salt:
Main Entry: 1salt ...
