homograph

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[edit] English

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[edit] Etymology

From homo- < Ancient Greek ὁμός (same) + -graph < Ancient Greek γράφος (that which is written)

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Noun

Singular
homograph

Plural
homographs

homograph (plural homographs)

  1. A word that is spelled the same as another but has a different meaning and usually a different etymology.

[edit] Usage notes

Homographs are a kind of homonym in the loose sense of that term, i.e. a word that is either a homophone (same sound) or a homograph (same spelling). (The strict sense of homonym is a word that both sounds and is spelled the same as another word.) 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

[edit] See also

Different Meanings
Nym Sound Spelling Category
homonym same same
heteronym different same (cat)
homograph not specified same
homophone same different (cat)
heterophone different different