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homonym

Syllabification: (hom·o·nym)

Translate homonym | into Italian
Definition of homonym

noun

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

Derivatives

homonymic


adjective

homonymous

Pronunciation: /hōˈmänəməs/

adjective

homonymy

Pronunciation: /hōˈmänəmē/

noun

Origin:

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

Grammar

Two (or more) words that look or sound the same, but have distinct and unrelated meanings. These fall into three groups: Words that are written and pronounced in the same way:seal tackle last swallow Words that are written in the same way but pronounced differently:sow lead These are also referred to as homographs. Words that 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 British & World English dictionary
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