HOMOGRAPH Meaning and
Definition
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A homograph is a linguistic term used to describe words that share the same written form, or spelling, but have different meanings. More precisely, homographs are words that are spelled identically but have distinct origins, pronunciations, and lexical definitions. These words might belong to the same or different linguistic categories, such as nouns, verbs, or adjectives. For instance, the word "bat" can refer to a flying mammal or a piece of sporting equipment, demonstrating two different meanings of a homograph.
Homographs can cause ambiguity and confusion, especially when encountered in written communication. The various meanings of homographs are often disambiguated by relying on the context of the sentence in which they are used. Differences in pronunciation, such as stress patterns, tone, or intonation, are sometimes used to distinguish between the multiple meanings of a homograph.
Furthermore, homographs can be categorized into two distinct types: heteronyms and homophones. Heteronyms are homographs that possess different pronunciations, while homophones are a type of homograph that share the same pronunciation, but still have different meanings. Although homographs may have a visual resemblance in writing, it is crucial to consider their context and pronunciation to correctly understand their intended meanings.
Common Misspellings for HOMOGRAPH
Etymology of HOMOGRAPH
The word homograph is derived from two Greek roots: homo- meaning same and -graph meaning writing or written. Therefore, homograph literally means same writing or written the same.
Similar spelling word for HOMOGRAPH
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