Questions tagged [definition]
Definition is a statement of the exact meaning of a word or phrase, especially when given in a dictionary.
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43 views
In Haruki Murakami's “Barn Burning”, I don't understand a quote involving the phrase “a priori” which I also only barely understand
Here's the quote:
“I was married, but that didn’t matter, either. She seemed to consider
things like age and income and family to be of the same a priori order
as shoe size and vocal pitch and ...
1
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2answers
25 views
How to express the goals of a project?
Let's say I am a project manager and I would like to state the goals/outputs of my project. I defined 3 project outputs 1), 2) and 3).
How can I say that?
I had the idea to do it like that, is it ...
2
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2answers
70 views
confusing term - “pulling a request”
To pull by the most common definition means (by Merriam-Webster)
to exert force upon so as to cause motion toward the force
so it is understandable (to me) that to pull a show/license indicates ...
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1answer
42 views
What is it called if a thing have different descriptions of the same phenomena?
Does anyone know what it is called when a thing have different descriptions of the same phenomena?
Some would say it would be called "paradoxical", but that would be if a thing had opposite ...
0
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1answer
14 views
Preceding means before the step I am on?
I have a question about the term preceding. When the term is used in a sentence like the follow:
turn off light only when the preceding light is on.
Does the preceding mean if the light before the ...
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2answers
1k views
difference between “work alongside you” and “work alongside with you”
Is there a difference between
work alongside you vs work alongside with you
The definition of "alongside" indicates with is not needed.
definition
next to
in company with
But it'...
3
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2answers
50 views
Can we use “retrospectively” for an event in the future?
For the following scenarios, can we use "retrospectively" or do we have to use "afterwards" and its synonyms.
Example
Let's agree to the plan for now and figure out the details ...
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3answers
36 views
Does the phrasal verb “stare down” imply that you are trying to intimidate?
Does it? What should you say if you just want to say you're staring without looking away without wanting to intimidate the person you are staring?
I found the following definition and I thought it ...
0
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1answer
43 views
“Across the board” from an Economics lecture
You are listening to an economics lecture.
The lecture is,
You don' need to be a statistician to realize that economic growth in the past 20 years hasn't lifted everyone's boat equally. The good ...
0
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1answer
26 views
Paraphase of “the power to conjure reality through writing”
It was like an enactment of the world inhabited by the protagonist of Moshfegh’s forthcoming novel, “My Year of Rest and Relaxation,” who works at a gallery in Chelsea, amid objects like a quarter-...
2
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1answer
37 views
are “header” and “heading” interchangable in the context of “information at the top of something”?
In the following contexts, are header and heading interchangable or is one preferred/correct over the other ?
the top of a column in an Excel spreadsheet
the top of an email message (To: CC: BC:)
the ...
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1answer
27 views
What are the connotations of the word “pedantry”?
This is a request of help for the connotations of a word
If native speakers hear the word, pedantry, does it assume an air of showy, academically pompous, impudent impression to them?
Would this ...
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2answers
36 views
What is the word for a kid's bedroom?
I want to know a word for a kid's bedroom just like a women's bedroom is called a boudoir.
3
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2answers
1k views
What do we call “a person who blames others for things they didn't do”?
What do we call "a person who blames others for things they didn't do"?
I searched on the web, and found the word "blamer". I know what it means, and I don't find it fits the definition I wrote.
...
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1answer
2k views
The meaning of straight jacket [closed]
As I neared my house, the memory of the previous night at the shop
came flooding back to the forefront of my mind. Did I really see
Olivia in my mom’s shop? How was that possible?
I ...
1
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1answer
41 views
The meaning of “if I could get past the crusty edges”
What is the meaning of "if I could get past the crusty edges" in this context:
There on the counter sat a scrumptious-looking pan of freshly baked brownies. Well, they looked good if you could get ...
2
votes
2answers
88 views
The definition of “group rate”
Although I understand what group rate means, I am not sure I understand Merriam Webster's definition which says:
a uniform rate charged to or from any one of a group or block of points within a ...
3
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1answer
744 views
How to interpret “with _of_ before the thing communicated”?
I noticed that in business English, "please advise" is often used as a fixed phrase in context where it basically means "please respond". I looked at Wiktionary and found this among the definitions:
...
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1answer
36 views
What's the meaning of “appeal to” in this context?
Part 1 is mainly phatic: contact is established by offering information and producing a positive impression on the reader, using mainly nonverbal means which appeal to the cliché of a prototypical ...
-2
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2answers
466 views
What is “the nativist camp”?
The second was the split between the free market, Liberal brexiteers, who envisaged Britain as open to the world, and the nativist camp led by Nigel Farage.
Could you please explain it to me as I can'...
0
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2answers
147 views
Is not being able to lick your elbow a “disability”?
I've been thinking this for quite a long time now, and while I know it doesn't make outright sense, but please take a minute to digest this question.
Consider the definitions for "disability" given ...
0
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1answer
247 views
What is the word, if any, for the missing liquid in an unopened bottle?
I have a question: Is there a word for the missing liquid in an unopened bottle? If any of you can recall, bottles that contain liquid are not usually filled to the top; they have an area that isn't ...
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2answers
774 views
How would you call someone who is a party pooper who doesn’t want to do anything
For instance, someone goes to a hotel as a gateway and enjoy but they rather go to the store instead of eating a breakfast in the hotel because is too expensive and the other one gets dissapointed or ...
2
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2answers
27 views
How would you call this movement
When a person is trying to walk in a straight line such as a drunk person, someone walking the slack rope or someone learning to ride a bike/motorcycle they tent to loose balance and move right and ...
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0answers
40 views
Question about “Royal Court”
Someone asked me whether the term "royal court" could also mean the king's dukes, viscounts, barons, counts, earls, etc. I know it contains his retinue, i.e. his advisors, servants, ministers, but ...
0
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1answer
40 views
meaning of contour (verb)
In restoration ecology, we see statements like,
Roads will be re-contoured, ripped, or seeded if there is evidence of
excessive erosion.
What is the meaning of contour here? I looked up some ...
0
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1answer
30 views
How can I use just--only, just--justice, just--recently
Just--only is adjective.
Just--justice is adjective.
Just--recently is adverb.
How can I know what is justice or only?
Below, I refer to only, but someone told me this is justice.
You are anti ...
3
votes
3answers
665 views
What is a “ratchet drum”?
From here:
Chopped string samples and ratchet drums push this remix right to the dance floor.
A "ratchet drum key" is a tool used on certain drums. But I don't know what a "ratchet drum" is/looks ...
0
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0answers
228 views
Stay on the safe side of the fence
From the movie "Devil's Doorway" (1950)
During the movie, the Indian called Lance and his family and friends try to keep his land, but the homestead law gives other people right to his land, so they ...
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2answers
77 views
“Let's call such terms for properties” or “Let's call such terms properties”
I have run into some doubt in the exact wording when formulating definitions in English sentences. Which of these sentences are correct?
Let's call such terms for properties
Let's call such ...
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2answers
105 views
Is this quote correct? Can one live in enjoyment or be heartful?
I just came across this quote;
Your heart is the only one that can show you how to live in
fulfillment and enjoyment. It's time to become heartful.
Is it even possible to 'live in enjoyment'? Or ...
4
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2answers
358 views
When to use combinate vs when to use combination?
I recently came across
This method combinates both previous methods.
Which seems to be the same as combines. I've never come across combinate before but this is apparently the definition.
Noun ...
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1answer
135 views
What does “to handle fruit” mean?
From the movie Union Depot (1932)
A woman tries to pick some fruits at a stand, but she buys nothing saying
I should think you might handle fresh fruit once in a while.
The store clerk replies
...
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2answers
817 views
What does it mean to “parade wind its way through …(a location)”? [closed]
What does it mean to "parade wind its way through ...(a location)"?
Also, What is another usage for "to wind its way through" in general?
3
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1answer
700 views
Definition of nevertheless
At a few sites such as
http://sana.aalto.fi/awe/cohesion/signposts/contrast/sentence/nevertheless.html
I found the following definition of nevertheless:
Both "nevertheless" and "nonetheless" ...
5
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2answers
2k views
What does “get someone off the board” mean?
From the movie Logan (2017)
A mutant hunter tortures a mutant called Calliban who can track another mutant Laura.
The hunter says
She's not a natural like you. She's a business mistake, a R&D ...
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1answer
130 views
What is the difference between these definitions?
I have found three definitions which could be defined as killer of animals or dealing with killing of animals, but I don't get the point of difference between them
slaughter - killing (animals) for ...
4
votes
1answer
912 views
What is the exact definition of “ethical” in phrases like “ethical clothes”?
I come across phrases like "ethical clothes" and "ethical fashion" quite often, but I'm not entirely clear on their definition, particularly the word "ethical" in the above contexts.
Does it imply "...
0
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0answers
387 views
What does “to get in the clear” mean?
From the movie Sniper (1993)
A sniper and his spotter need to take a bad guy out at his hacienda.
The sniper explains the situation to the spotter:
Most logical position would be to take our ...
1
vote
1answer
836 views
What does “a nickel” mean?
From the Dark Knight movie (2008):
A criminal called Joker comes to the Mob Bosses he's stolen from earlier. They're obviously mad at him and he adds more fuel to the fire saying that they're gonna ...
0
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2answers
1k views
What does “feed store” mean?
From the movie Misery (1990):
What do you think I say when I go to the feed store in town? "Now,
Wally, give me a bag of that F-ing pig feed and 10 pounds of that
bitchly cow corn"?
From the ...
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2answers
30 views
What the determination for this depending changing?
Conjugation is:
put - put - put
eat - ate - eaten
run - ran - run
Question:
What the name for this depending between subject and verb:
subject (he, she, it) = verb (eats)
subject (we, you, ...
4
votes
2answers
428 views
What does “get shallow” mean?
From movie London (2005)
A going-away party. A girl named London is gonna leave from the town.
A lot of people are at the party. One of the girls says to London.
Girl: Hey, girl, I'm out of ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
Using words from the Dictionary
In the oxford dictionary, the definition of colonize is
Send settlers to (a place) and establish political control over it.
An example sentence with this definition is
I think we should send ...
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2answers
3k views
Does “an oil painting” have some slang meaning?
From "The Running Man" (1987)
The TV Show has a big success and the producer says to his team.
Listen up, everybody. I want you to all to consider yourselves picked
up for the rest of the season,...
0
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1answer
333 views
What does “direct” mean in context?
It's from "The Running Man" movie (1987)
In the begining there are opening credits which contain the back story of the movie.
By 2017 the world economy has collapsed. Food, natural resources and
...
0
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2answers
481 views
What are differences between the words 'attribute' 'property' 'quality'
Question:
Meaningwise in terms of this sentence and maybe some examples of yours, where these words can be used interchangeably and when won't?
Sentence:
With this word we can describe some of ...
0
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2answers
792 views
What does “coming in the front” mean?
From the "Repo men" movie (2010).
In the future humans have extended and improved our lives through highly sophisticated and expensive mechanical organs created by a company called "The Union". But ...
3
votes
1answer
193 views
Is “laughable” a noun or adjective?
My English professor corrected me when I wrote the following sentence: "What's so laughable?". Obviously I wanted to convey that something seemed laughable and I wanted to know what, but he answered ...
1
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1answer
174 views
What does “help make believe” mean?
The phrase is from "Hacksaw Ridge" movie. It's about Desmond Doss who voluntarily enlisted in WWII but refused to carry a weapon because of his religious beliefs. Now the company's commander is ...
