homograph
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
See also Homograph
Contents |
[edit] English
| Nym | Sound | Spelling | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| homonym | same | same | |
| heteronym | different | same | (cat) |
| homograph | not specified | same | |
| homophone | same | different | (cat) |
[edit] Etymology
From homo- < Ancient Greek ὁμός (“‘same’”) + -graph < Ancient Greek γράφος (“‘that which is written’”)
[edit] Pronunciation
- (RP) IPA: /ˈhɒməgrɑːf/, /ˈhəʊməgræf/
- (US) IPA: /ˈhɑːməgræf/, /ˈhoʊməgræf/
- Audio (US)help, file, Audio (US)help, file
[edit] Noun
|
Singular |
Plural |
homograph (plural homographs)
- A word that is spelled the same as another but has a different meaning and usually a different etymology.
[edit] Usage notes
All homographs are homonyms, but not vice versa, because homograph is more precise than homonym. Specifically, homographs must have the same spelling, though they usually have different meanings and may be pronounced differently.
- The verb bear (“‘to carry’”) and the noun bear (“‘large omnivorous mammal’”) are homographs with the same pronunciation and different etymological origins.
- The verb alternate (“‘to go back and forth’”) and the adjective alternate (“‘following by turns’”) are homographs with different pronunciations but close etymological origins. Such homographs are also heteronyms.
- The verb meet (“‘to encounter’”) and the noun meat (“‘food’”) are not homographs, since they have different spellings.
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
word with the same spelling but different meaning
