The word "cusp" is spelled with the letters C-U-S-P. In IPA phonetic transcription, it would be written as /kʌsp/. The first sound, "k," is a voiceless velar plosive (/k/), which means that the sound is made by a sudden release of air from the back of the mouth. The second sound, "ʌ," is a mid-central vowel. The final sound, "sp," is made up of a voiceless alveolar fricative (/s/) and a voiceless bilabial plosive (/p/), which means they are made by forcing air through a narrow passage between the lips and teeth.
Cusp is a noun that refers to the pointed or rounded end of a structure or object, typically where two curved surfaces meet. It can also be used to describe a point of transition, where one thing is about to change or develop into something new. In astrology, cusp refers to the point at which a zodiac sign changes from one sign to another, indicating a transitional period in terms of astrological characteristics.
The term is often used in various fields to depict a point of balance or intersection between two different concepts or ideas. For example, in dentistry, cusp refers to the pointed part of the tooth that aids in effective mastication. In geometry, cusp represents a pointed endpoint where a curve meets or crosses itself. In linguistics, it can describe the transition between different speech sounds.
In everyday language, cusp can be used metaphorically to indicate being on the brink of something or at the edge of change, possessing elements of both sides or categories. It denotes the delicate point where a significant shift or transformation is anticipated. The concept of cusp implies a combination of characteristics or qualities from the preceding and succeeding states, emphasizing the idea of being on the border or in-between.
1. One of the protuberances on the grinding surface of a tooth. 2. A little knob at the center of the free margin of a valve of the heart.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The point or horn of the moon; in arch., the projecting points or ornaments formed by the meeting of the small arches or foils, in foilarches or tracery.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "cusp" is derived from the Latin word "cuspis", which means "point" or "spike". It entered English usage in the 16th century and originally referred to the pointed end of a spear or a spearhead. Over time, the term expanded to describe the point or corner of any object, and in the 17th century, it gained a figurative sense referring to a transitional or pivotal point. In astrology, "cusp" specifically refers to the boundary line between two zodiac signs.