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homonym

Pronunciation: /ˈhɒmənɪm/

Translate homonym | into Italian
Definition of homonym

noun

  • each of two or more words having the same spelling or pronunciation but different meanings and origins (e.g. pole1 and pole2).
  • Biology a Latin name which is identical to that of a different organism, the newer of the two names being invalid.

Derivatives

homonymic

Pronunciation: /-ˈnɪmɪk/

adjective

homonymous

Pronunciation: /həˈmɒnɪməs/

adjective

homonymy

Pronunciation: /həˈmɒnɪmi/

noun

Origin:

late 17th century: via Latin from Greek homōnumon, neuter of homōnumos 'having the same name', from homos 'same' + onoma 'name'

Grammar

Two (or more) words which look or sound the same, but have distinct and unrelated meanings. These fall into three groups: Words which are written and pronounced in the same way:seal tackle last swallow Words which are written in the same way but pronounced differently:sow lead These are also referred to as homographs. Words which sound the same but are written differently:meet/meat right/write/rite These are also referred to as homophones.

homonym in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of homonym in the US English dictionary