Confusing Words Clarified: Group C; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, etc. +(lists of "C" sections that are organized into what for some people are confusing groups of words)Three words that every student of language should understand are homonyms, synonyms, and antonyms. Homonyms are words that sound alike, but have different meanings. Synonyms are words that are related in meaning but do not sound alike (begin and commence, for example). Antonyms are direct opposites in meaning, as hot and cold; white and black.
With homonyms, the following set of to, too, and two are all pronounced exactly alike, but by no means are they interchangeable in writing. To be sure that you choose the correct spelling for any on these, you must know the meanings of all three so you will not make wrong choices with a feeling of vagueness and uncertainty. Efforts have been made to help you grasp the meanings of these and other words that may be confusing so you can utilize them with greater accuracy in your communication. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome by writing to: E-mail Contact (just click it for an e-mail form) or by typing, words@wordinfo.info, as the address in your e-mail heading. If you have any problems understanding the pronunciation symbols, go to this Pronunciation Chart for clarifications.crop, crop
crop (KRAHP), nouns
1. A plant or plant product that is grown by farmers: "The apple crop is better now than it was last year."
2. An area in the throat of a bird-like creatures or insects; for example, ants, where food is stored for a time: "An ant has a crop where liquid food can be stored and from which it can be passed on to nest mates by regurgitation." "A crop is a pouch-like enlargement of a bird's gullet in which food is partially digested or stored for regurgitation to nestlings." 3. A short and thick quantity of hair on a person's head: "He has a thick crop of red, curly hair."crop (KRAHP), verbs
1. To cut off the upper or outer parts of something: "It is necessary that a barber will crop his hair before it gets any longer and we also need to crop the hedge for the same reason."
2. To cut off part of a picture or photograph: "They had to crop the photograph so it could fit into the frame." cross, cross
cross (KRAHS)
1. An upright post with a transverse piece near the top, on which condemned persons were executed in ancient times: "In ancient history, thieves were often hung on a cross to die a slow death."
2. A mark or pattern formed by the intersection of two lines, especially such a mark (X) used as a signature: "Because she never went to school, she had not learned to write, so her signature was a careful cross on the paper." cross (KRAHS)
Showing anger or ill humor; being annoyed: "After the vase had been broken, the little girl cried to her mother, 'Please, don't be cross at me, I am sorry'."
cry, cry
cry (KRIGH)
To sob or to shed tears because of grief, sorrow, or pain; to weep: "After her favorite cat died, she went to her room to cry in private."
cry (KRIGH)
To call out loudly or to shout: "She fell and injured her leg, causing her to cry out for help."
cubical, cubicle
cubical (KYOO bi kuhl)
The shape of a cube, having identical measurements in all dimensions: "The cubical shaped blocks had the alphabet printed on them so the children can pretend to spell words."
cubicle (KYOO bi kuhl)
A space in a large room that is partitioned off, often to ensure privacy: "Each of the workers was assigned to a cubicle, complete with a computer, file cabinet, and telephone."
cue, queue
cue (KYOO)
1. A rod or "stick" used to propel or to move a ball in the game of pool or billiards: "The billiard player sighted down his cue, determining the best angle at which to strike the ball."
2. A prompt or signal to do something: "The actress did not need a single cue during her performance of the long play." queue (KYOO)
1. Primarily British, a line of people or vehicles waiting their turns: "We stood in a queue at the bank, waiting for a teller to help us."
2. In computer science, a sequence of storage computer data awaiting processing: "Three jobs remain in the printer queue." 3. A pendent (dangling, hanging, or suspended) braid of hair on the back of the head; a pigtail: "She wore a long blond queue of hair which helped her endure the heat of the day." curb, curb
curb (KURB)
As a noun, a raised paving or concrete border or row of joined stones forming part of a gutter along the edge of a street: "The car drove into the parking space, stopping when the front tires bumped against the curb."
curb (KURB)
As a verb, to restrain or to control as if with a curb; to rein in: "When he got very angry, his father had to remind himself to curb his temper so he wouldn't get a headache."
cure, curé
cure (KYOOR)
1. To restore a sick person or animal to health: "She had a cure in just two weeks."
2. To bring an end to an illness, disorder, or injury by medical treatment: "It isn't easy to find a cure for this disease." 3. To preserve food; especially, meat or fish, usually by smoking, drying, or salting it, or to be preserved by one of these methods: "The farmer will cure the pork for the restaurants." curé (kyoo RAY, kyoor RAY)
A parish priest: "After the church service, we wanted to see the curé."
curious, curious
curious (KYOOR ee uhs)
Unduly inquisitive; prying: "The boys became very curious when they saw the girls whispering in the corner."
curious (KYOOR ee uhs)
Arousing interest because of novelty or strangeness: "Did you ever see such a curious stone as this one?"
currant, current
currant (KUR uhnt)
A small red, black, or white berry that is often used in making jams and jellies: "The currant bushes in the garden produced enough fruit to make several jars of preserves."
current (KUR uhnt)
1. Generally accepted; happening in the present time: "In class, the students shared the current events which they had read in the newspaper."
2. The swift flow or movement of water: "The current in the center of the river was very strong." cursed, cursed
cursed (KUR sid, KURST)
To swear or to speak by using vulgar language: "When he became upset, he cursed in the foreign language he had learned as a child."
cursed, curst (KURST)
Seen as deserving of prayer or invocation for harm: "On days when everything went wrong, she felt she was cursed by the gods!"
customer, costumer
costumer (KOS too" muhr, KOS tyoo" muhr)
An individual who makes, buys, or sells the clothing used by actors, etc. for dressing differently than normal: "The actors went to the costumer to get the right clothing for the part in the new play."
customer (KUS tuh muhr)
An individual who buys a service or item(s): "She was a good customer at the store, always buying her books from them."
cyclone, hurricane, tornado
cyclone (SIGH klohn")
A storm or wind system that blows in a rapid, circular fashion (clockwise in the southern hemisphere; counter clockwise in the northern hemisphere) and often accompanied by rain: "She planned her vacation so she could avoid the cyclone season because she didn't enjoy such rain storms."
hurricane (HUR i kayn")
Typically a tropical storm accompanied by high winds, thunder, lightening, and rain: "It took the city years to recover from the damage caused by the hurricane."
tornado (tohr NAY doh)
A violent windstorm accompanied by a funnel shaped cloud that moves across the land: "The radio posted tornado warnings to alert the people of the risks of such a storm."
cygnet, signet
cygnet (SIG nit, SIG nuht)
A young swan: "We saw a mother swan with just one cygnet."
signet (SIG nit, SIG nuht)
1. A seal; especially, as used on a document often one which is engraved on a ring: "The king used sealing wax to press his signet on the letter."
2. An impression made with a seal: "The signet was unbroken, assuring the reader no one had pried into the contents of the letter." cymbal, symbol
cymbal (SIM buhl)
A percussion instrument consisting of a concave brass plate that makes a loud clashing tone when hit with a drumstick or when used in pairs: "The symphony came to an end with a resounding clash of the cymbals."
symbol (SIM buhl)
1. Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible: "While discussing the planets, the teacher used an orange as a symbol for the sun and small rubber balls as symbols for the planets."
2. In psychology, an object or image that an individual unconsciously uses to represent repressed thoughts, feelings, or impulses: "The tall tree was a symbol for the patient representing strength and independence." cypress, Cyprus
cypress (SIGH pris)
One of a number of evergreen trees (Cupressus) the leaves of which over lap like scales: "In the warm climate, the cypress trees grew dark and green on the hillsides."
Cyprus (SIGH pruhs)
An island in the Mediterranean Sea: "They planned to spend their summer holidays on the Island of Cyprus."
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