A vocabulary is the body of words used in a particular language.
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71 views
Alternative to “accessible”
In the context of a technical manual, engineers use the word "accessible" to indicate that a piece of hardware should have "easy access" for repair, maintenance, and other modifications.
What would ...
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2answers
354 views
What is a song played at the end of a movie called?
At the end of some movies, there is a song to be played. Is there any word to call these songs?
As an example "My Heart Will Go On" from Celine Dion at the of Titanic.
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1answer
303 views
What are the differences in characteristics of 'analytical' and 'descriptive' writing excerpts? [closed]
Suppose I have been given a paragraph and at the end of it, I am asked what the author's intended tone was.
What characteristics can I use to distinguish 'analytical' writing from 'descriptive' ...
3
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1answer
253 views
Why did 'verboten' come into use when we already have 'forbidden'?
Why did 'verboten' come into use when English already has a perfectly good word, 'forbidden', that means exactly the same thing but is much more widely understood? Is there a subtle difference that I ...
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2answers
192 views
pleat vs crease
What is the difference between words pleat and crease in the meaning of a fold in a piece of cloth?
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6answers
1k views
“peak” vs “summit”
According to the dictionary:
peak — the pointed top of a mountain; a mountain with a pointed top
summit — the highest point of something, especially the top of a mountain
In the picture of the ...
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9answers
733 views
Word to describe “concealing” positive emotions, in fear of being perceived as irrational
This will be a bit hard to explain, but I'll give it a shot.
I am looking for a good word to describe: A person hiding his intense positive enthusiasm and excitement for something, as to not seem ...
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0answers
255 views
Methods for improving vocabulary: how do you go at it? [closed]
I realize that a number of questions regarding vocabulary questions are closed but checking the FAQ I do not see why they would be off-topic. So here goes my question:
As a non-native speaker how do ...
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1answer
140 views
What is student discussion place called? [closed]
Is there any English (or in other languages) word for a place where students of different colleges discuss about activities (events, reputation) of their colleges/universities
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2answers
258 views
What is a better word for “works with” or “supplements”?
Situation: A device does not require other special devices but works with standard equipment (and requires it to function properly). It is more that the device supplements the other devices.
I am now ...
3
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1answer
211 views
What's the low back support part of a chair called?
What is that hooked part of an office chair called, which is used to support the lower back?
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11answers
321 views
Noun (or alternative) of thought-provoking?
I'm planning to start a blog. And before every post, I'm planning to add how thought-provoking I think that post is.
So I was thinking about something that I can call thought-provoking-ness level. ...
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3answers
236 views
Difference between Guise and Disguise [closed]
What is the difference between Guise and Disguise? They sound like antonym word for each other, but they aren't!
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1answer
542 views
What are the names of the two sides of a coin? [closed]
I know one side is called 'flower'. But I don't know the other side's name. And any other common ways of calling them.
Are 'head' and 'tail' right?
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4answers
296 views
“Weekdays” used as an adverb
I found a sentence in Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary:
open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The bookstore opens weekdays from 9 p.m. to 6 p.m. .
How do we understand the structure of ...
4
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3answers
9k views
“At/on (the) weekend(s)”
Which expression is better? Which is right? Why?
A. Sorry to disturb you at weekend.
B. Sorry to disturb you on weekend.
C. Sorry to disturb you at weekends.
D. Sorry to ...
4
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2answers
178 views
“Paraphrasing” an equation [closed]
Three Laws of Thermodynamics (paraphrased): First Law: You can't get
anything without working for it. Second Law: The most you can
accomplish by work is to break even. Third Law: You can't ...
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9answers
563 views
One word for “any time after this moment”
I was just wondering if there is some sweet and apt word for the phrase "any time after this moment".
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1answer
607 views
What is the definition and usage of “tids and bits”? [closed]
What is the correct definition and usage of the term "tids and bits"?
I tried googling but nothing turns up, not even a definition.
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1answer
521 views
The growth of English
English is (to her credit) widely considered a language of .. mixed breeding, seeing as to how she accepts favours from just about anybody and everybody. What I'd like to know is how and by how much ...
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2answers
176 views
Is there any connection between Polari and Nadsat?
While reading the Wikipedia article on Polari, I was struck by the similarities between Polari words and these used by the Droogies in Clockwork Orange. Does anyone know if there are any links between ...
2
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3answers
388 views
What does “insteadly” mean?
I have seen it couple of times in a chat room on the internet. What does "insteadly" mean? Is it a shortcut of "instead of"?
2
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1answer
171 views
Would you use the term cucumber-time and why?
During International Law studies I talked to English natives about politics, using a literal translation of the Dutch "komkommertijd", cucumber time, meaning to refer to the news-silent period of high ...
2
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3answers
450 views
A sentence for a person who is greatly tired
Occasionally, I meet someone who is working hard. He looks so tired and needs to hear some kind words and I don't know what to say. Some time ago, I asked this question of a native speaker and she ...
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1answer
97 views
“Death Panels” and “Job creators”: Is there a word for these?
Is there a word or expression that describes phrases like "Freedom fries" or "Death panels"? I'm thinking of phrases that seem intentionally designed to either re-frame a familiar concept or to be ...
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2answers
477 views
Word for a Rare Feeling
I hope it's not too rare, but at least 1 other person has confirmed having experienced a similar feeling.
Small, ordinary things can trigger it, in ordinary situations. Then I sometimes get the ...
2
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1answer
628 views
What does “implement to” mean?
On UEFI page we can read:
Acknowledging that you understand a license is required to implement to the Specification does not now or in future commit you either to completing an Adopter's Agreement ...
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1answer
6k views
“features and characteristics”
In English, the phrase "features and characteristics" is often used.
However, I, as a non-native English speaker, can't understand the difference between them.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary ...
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2answers
124 views
English word for development of some city [closed]
What is the exact word we can use to denote the development of only some cities in the world. E.g. If we talk about London, New York etc., these cities are very developed compared to other cities in ...
3
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2answers
164 views
Is “starboard” used for land vehicles?
Is it correct to use "starboard side" to refer to the "right-side" of a land vehicle (e.g. cars / trucks / lorries / motorcycles) ?
Wiktionary seems to accept specifically ships, boats, and ...
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1answer
854 views
How can someone become fluent and improve their writing skills? [closed]
How can someone become fluent and improve their writing skills? I've been learning English for many years and I still face many problems especially at writing(academic writing and writing in general) ...
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1answer
698 views
If “latter” comes first, and “former” comes second, what comes third? Or fourth? [closed]
If we had an hour long discussion, and discussed 5 topics: A, B, C, D and E in order, to the extent that we are talking about "E" right now, if "D" is the latter, and "C" is the former, what is "B" to ...
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3answers
2k views
“stress” vs. “distress”
From Cambridge dictionary,
stress - great worry caused by a difficult situation.
distress - extreme worry, sadness, pain.
I'm not sure if the words 'distress' and 'stress' have the same ...
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5answers
964 views
How do you form the 'north' and 'south' versions of 'occident' and 'orient'?
How does one correctly form the "north" and "south" forms for which occident and orient are "west" and "east"?
I found boreal and austral, but those look like adjectives and I'm after the nouns.
...
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3answers
585 views
Difference between “chest” and “trunk”
According to several dictionaries, a "trunk" is a large case or box that can be used when travelling or for storage, whereas a "chest" is used only for storage. Is that the only difference between the ...
3
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2answers
186 views
What word or phrase expresses shortly detaining a suspect on the street and then letting him/her go?
Today, a Dutch paper published a little research triggered by a politician outing the English phrase (abbreviated) "65 percent of them have been detained by the police at least once."
I think, and ...
3
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2answers
117 views
Words that result from a gradual distortion of other words
Among others, I've heard the following words and their supposed origins:
Beef: Comes from the french word "boeuf".
Marmelade: Contraction of "Mary" and "malade" according to some story about a ...
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3answers
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Is solutioning a correct word?
My Outlook flags the word "solutioning" as a spelling mistake.
According to Urban Dictionary :
solutioning > A word many business people misuse to describe the
process of creating a solution. ...
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2answers
219 views
What is the act of self-referencing?
Ok, so something can be self-referencing.
"This sentence contains thirty-eight letters."
or
"This is not a pipe."
But what is "doing that" called?
Along the lines of how self-deprecating is ...
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1answer
77 views
Word for a system that exhales gas
I'm looking for a word to describe a system that filters certain gases from a space and 'exhales' them outside. What verb can be used to describe that action?
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3answers
2k views
Is it correct to use the word 'etiquettes' for plural?
One of my friends argues with me that the plural for etiquette is etiquettes and for fish it is fishes. I was taught since ever that etiquette is plural as fish does. To support his statement he ...
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5answers
1k views
What's a gender-neutral way of referring to a nurse?
Good afternoon all,
In Japanese there is a word called "看護師" which basically is a gender-neutral way of referring to a nurse.
I was wondering, Is there such an equivalent word in English?
Is there ...
3
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2answers
440 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.
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5answers
117 views
Word to make a distinction between license as a concept and a license held
What would you call a pilot's license as a concept, and what would you call a license that the pilot is actually holding in his hand?
For instance, a pilot may acquire a Private Pilot License (PPL). ...
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3answers
167 views
Word for “official school interest group”
Is there a word that refers to an official interest group held in school where registration is totally optional but members once registered are expected to come? Official means the school keeps ...
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2answers
830 views
“Innovation” vs “invention” [closed]
What is the difference between innovation and invention? Where should we use these words? I referred to Wikipedia but did not understand much.
1
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3answers
464 views
Technical term for `avoiding responsibility` with decision-makers?
Suppose a parliament that tries to "outsource" their responsibility in various ways (they take the gains but not wanting to take the risks). Of course, the situation cannot last: risks and gains ...
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3answers
10k views
“Consist in” vs. “consist of”
I would like to have this clear once and for all:
What is the correct use of consist in / consist of?
"Meditation consists in/of attentive watchfulness."
"The body consists in/of cells."
...
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3answers
176 views
What is a word for “the desire to be considered a victim”?
I'm wondering about this in relation to the notion of a "culture of victimization", when people want to garner sympathy and/or discharge their guilt by being considered victims.
The phrase "culture ...
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3answers
239 views
What is the most appropriate noun for 'a person who is ostracized'?
Is there any variation/conjugation of the word 'ostracism' that refers to a person who is ostracized?
Similar to 'conviction' and 'a convict'.
The word ostracism is used by the author I am citing ...
