homonym, homophone

homonym, homophone
   Both describe words that have strong similarities of sound or spelling but different meanings. A homophone is a word that sounds like another but has a different meaning or spelling, or both. A homonym is a word that has a different meaning but the same spelling or sound. Thus blue and blew are both homonyms and homophones. However, bow as in a ship and bow as in a tie are homonyms (because they are spelled the same) but not homophones (because they have different pronunciations). In short, unless the intention is to emphasize the equivalence of pronunciations, homonym is generally the better word.

Dictionary of troublesome word. . 2013.

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  • homonym, homophone —    Both describe words that have strong similarities of sound or spelling but different meanings. A homophone is a word that sounds like another but has a different meaning or spelling, or both. A homonym is a word that has a different meaning… …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • homonym — homonymic, adj. homonymity, n. /hom euh nim/, n. 1. homophone (def. 1). 2. a word the same as another in sound and spelling but different in meaning, as chase to pursue and chase to ornament metal. 3. (loosely) homograph …   Universalium

  • homonym — hom•o•nym [[t]ˈhɒm ə nɪm[/t]] n. 1) ling. homophone 1) 2) ling. a word the same as another in sound and spelling but different in meaning, as chase“to pursue” and chase“to ornament metal.” 3) ling. homograph 4) a namesake • Etymology: 1635–45;… …   From formal English to slang

  • homophone — homograph, homonym, homophone Homonym is a generic term for a word having the same spelling or sound as another word but a different meaning. Homonyms are either homographs, words written the same way (e.g. bat denoting either an implement or an… …   Modern English usage

  • homonym — homograph, homonym, homophone Homonym is a generic term for a word having the same spelling or sound as another word but a different meaning. Homonyms are either homographs, words written the same way (e.g. bat denoting either an implement or an… …   Modern English usage

  • homonym —  , homophone  Both describe words that have strong similarities of sound or spelling, but different meanings. A homophone is a word that sounds like another but has a different meaning or spelling, or both. A homonym is a word that also has a… …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • homonym — [häm′ə nim΄] n. [Fr homonyme < L homonymus < Gr homōnymos, having the same name < homos, SAME + onyma, NAME] 1. a word with the same pronunciation as another but with a different meaning, origin, and, usually, spelling (Ex.: bore and… …   English World dictionary

  • homophone — [häm′ə fōn΄] n. [< Gr homophōnos: see HOMOPHONIC] 1. any of two or more letters or groups of letters representing the same speech sound (Ex.: c in civil and s in song) 2. HOMONYM (sense 1) homophonous [hō mäf′ə nəs, həmäf′ə nəs] adj …   English World dictionary

  • Homonym — In linguistics, a homonym is one of a group of words that share the same pronunciation but have different meanings, and are usually spelled differently. Some sources only require that homonyms share the same spelling or pronunciation (in addition …   Wikipedia

  • Homonym — Als Homonym bezeichnet man ein Wort, das für verschiedene Begriffe oder unterschiedliche Einzeldinge steht.[1] Vor allem in der Philosophie spricht man auch von Äquivokation. Ein Beispiel ist das Wort „Tau“, das ein Seil, einen morgendlichen… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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