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Questions tagged [terminology]

This tag is for questions seeking or discussing a term (or terms) belonging or peculiar to a science, art, or specialized subject (e.g. linguistics, mathematics, physics, biology, finance, theatre, music, philosophy, astronomy, medical, nautical etc.). Consider adding [single-word-requests] and [phrase-requests] tags also if relevant.

183 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
4 votes
0 answers
78 views

Terminology for using "the" instead of plural

I'm wondering about the following construction: The dog is a noble animal. This seems to have the same meaning as: Dogs are noble animals. I'm wondering if this sort of construction, referring ...
Winston Ewert's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
83 views

Term for Successful Sale after Demoing Product

I believe there is a business term for such an event, but I can't recall what it is. An example would be a vacuum salesman showing a prospective buyer how a vacuum works, and the buyer ends up ...
JustAnotherCoder's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
109 views

Specific term for a "Synonym Phrase"?

Is there a specific term for a pair of phrases where each word technically has the same or similar meaning, but when taken together, has a completely different meaning or implication? I used Synonym ...
Chromane's user avatar
  • 1,645
3 votes
0 answers
83 views

if only usage: leave out the 'was'

When 'it' refers to a letter or a complex situation projected to be caused by a letter, is it okay to use 'if only' in the following way? Why or why not? "It'd all be appropriate if only written ...
grouch doug's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
644 views

What is the term for the overlapping panel of this type of double-breasted uniform jacket?

I'm looking for the term of art in suit- and jacket-making for a specific design element that appears on some types of military, especially navy, uniform jackets, like these ones (left to right: a ...
Robin's user avatar
  • 298
3 votes
0 answers
106 views

Term for the ending consonant of one word connected/disconnected from the next leading to different yet related meanings?

In his 2013 TEDx Houston talk The tyranny of the rocket equation, astronaut and International Space Station Flight Engineer Don Pettit humorously introduces two categories of mass launched from Earth ...
uhoh's user avatar
  • 879
3 votes
0 answers
941 views

Phrasal verbs with synonymous opposites

There are some cases in English where one can substitute in a word that normally has an opposite meaning, but instead produces the same meaning. For examples, consider the following meanings and uses:...
WBT's user avatar
  • 3,554
3 votes
0 answers
3k views

A way of saying "What could have been"

What's another way of saying "what could/should have been?" Ex. She reminisced of what could have been. Preferably short
user264985's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
125 views

Difference between 'gain optimization' and 'gains optimization'

What is the difference between gain optimization and gains optimization in a financial context? I want to know in particular if one of those terms is better English, or if they have different ...
Boyboy's user avatar
  • 31
3 votes
1 answer
91 views

Etymology of "guard" as a position in grappling

In grappling martial arts and combat sports, particularly Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the word "guard" refers to a type of body position on the ground. In a guard position, one person (the one who &...
ragged-swinger's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
578 views

Words/phrases like "kindred spirit" that refer to both the speaker and the subject of the sentence

The google definition of kindred spirit is "a person whose interests or attitudes are similar to one's own." That means that if I were to say to someone "You are a kindred spirit", I am describing ...
Max Mucha's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
55 views

A hole carved out in wall for a wooden crossbeam

I once saw a word for a hole carved out in a wall on purpose to accept a wooden crossbeam that fits into the hole. I think it had a "p" in it, something like "pit hole" ?...
MrSparkly's user avatar
  • 568
2 votes
1 answer
149 views

Is there a term for words that are stronger than a similar counterpart? (e.g. Dislike vs. Hate)

Title says it all, but some more examples could be: like vs love pleasure vs euphoria carelessness vs apathy etc. ...essentially words that carry more weight than their counterpart despite having ...
morthemex's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
61 views

Is there a term for instances of letter sequences that aren't pronounced as a single sound?

We don't pronounce "th" in "pothead" as a single logical sound, or "ph" (as "f") in haphazard. They are consecutive letters pronounced individually. Is there a ...
Sridhar Sarnobat's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
48 views

Is there an accepted term for this style of management?

There are terms for different management styles—for example seagull management, mushroom management, and micromanagement. What I am looking for is a term that describes management which changes well-...
John Bentin's user avatar
  • 1,361

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