Confusing Words Clarified Group T
table, table, table, table
table (TAY buhl)
A certain kind of furniture: "We usually eat breakfast at our kitchen table."
table (TAY buhl)
An arrangement of words or numbers: "The table, or chart, shows you the grades of each of the students."
table (TAY buhl)
A plateau or a tableland which is a broad, level, elevated region, usually treeless: "While traveling in the desert we came upon a table of land and were able to see scenic views of the valley down beyond the edge of this flat area."
table (TAY buhl)
To postpone or to delay something: "The staff decided to table the topic until next Thursday afternoon."
The professor laid out on the table the table showing the students’ grades.
Since the conference at which he was speaking was held high on the table overlooking the valley, the attendees decided to table their discussion until the following day so they could go sightseeing.
tablet (TAB let)
A writing pad: "She used a tablet to take notes while in class."
tablet (TAB let)
A small, flat form used as a medical drug, a vitamin, etc.: "Did you take your vitamin C tablet as well as the other tablets this morning?"
tablet computer (TAB let kuhm PYOO tuhr)
In general, a tablet computer, or tablet laptop, is a wireless personal computer that allows a user to take notes using natural handwriting with a stylus or digital pen on a touch screen: "A tablet computer is similar in size and thickness to a yellow paper notepad and is intended to function as the user's primary personal computer as well as a note-taking device."
"Someone has written that a tablet computer, or tablet laptop, is fast and runs many programs at the same time without lagging and freezing."
"It is rumored that Apple will announce a 12 or 13-inch (30.5 or 33 centimeter) tablet computer in the fall of 2010; most likely in the September or October time frame. It will run the full Mac OS X and have a slot loading SuperDrive, an "iPhone-type" GPS chip, and an Intel Core Duo processor, presumably Intel's Atom."
tack, tact
tack (TAK)
A small sharp nail usually with a wide, flat head: "The teacher used a tack to hang up the notice on the bulletin board."
tact (TAKT)
1. The ability to do or to say things without offending or upsetting other people: "The success of the international conference depends a great deal on the tact of the political leaders who will be trying to solve some of the economic problems that are on the table for the meeting."
2. The skills to appreciate the delicacy of a situation and to do or to say the kindest or most fitting things; diplomacy: "The boy's father used tact in dealing with their tragedy."
Tact is the knowledge of how far is too far or the skill in making a point without making an enemy.
A tactful husband told his wife, "How do you expect me to remember your birthday when you never look any older?"
People with tact have less to retract.
Tact is the ability to make a person see the lightning without letting him feel the bolt.
tacks, tax
tacks (TAKS)
1. To change the direction of a sailing ship using the direction of the wind: "This ship tacks in the wind very easily."
2. To fasten something to a surface using a short sharp pointed pin or nail: "The principal of the school usually tacks the sports schedule on the bulletin board for the coming week."
3. Short sharp pointed nails with a flat head used to attach items to a surface: "She used colorful tacks to indicate the new buildings on the city map."
tax (TAKS)
1. To make difficult or rigorous demands: "Don't tax my patience by yelling at me like that!"
2. An amount of money that a government requires people to pay according to their income, the value of their property, for items purchased, etc., which is used to pay for the things done by the various levels of government: "The new tax on gasoline is supposed to pay for the renovations of the roads in local areas, districts, and the country."
"It's sad to say, but the more a person makes, the more he/she will have to pay a tax on such income."
3. To charge or to administer the collection of a specified amount of money for the use of or ownership of something: "The city council decided to tax each household for the amount of water that was being used in each residence."
4. To expect a great deal from or to put demands on someone or something: "That job will tax her strength because she will be required to use a lot of physical effort."
"Will you have to tax your budget so you can go on this trip?"
Bulletin board: Tacks' haven.
Allen Schneider
A tacks' haven is far from being the same as a tax haven.Tax is another thing that, once started, declines to decline.
Evan Esar
tail, tale
tail (TAYL)
1. The lower, inferior, or rear end of something: "The cat loved to chase her tail around in circles."
"The tail of the car was damaged in the accident."
"He was at the tail end of the line waiting to buy tickets for the film."
"The tail of the airplane was broken off when the pilot had to make an emergency landing after running out of gas."
? 2. To follow or to keep watching a suspect: "The detective had to tail the suspect for three hours."
"My silly cat tried to tail me when I left home for a walk, but she soon got tired and went back to the house."
3. To become more faint or scattered: "Her voice started to tail off after she had been reading out loud for several minutes."
tale (TAYL)
1. A story either based on fact or fiction that is told in printed or oral form: "The man told his tale of the huge fish which he caught but that got away."
2. An imaginative telling of an event: "A myth is often a tale used to explain puzzling events or circumstances."
3. Gossip or stories that can be libellous: "The tale that was told about the couple's elopement was scandalous and was later proven not to be true."
The teacher was telling a tale about a dog's tail.
A tail is something attached behind the behind.
A tale is the largest part of a fish story.
Evan Esar
tailgate, tailgate
tailgate (TAYL gayt), noun
A door at the back of a vehicle; such as, a station wagon or pickup truck, that opens downward and which can be lowered or removed to make it easier to load things into the vehicle: "We opened the tailgate of the station wagon so we could load our baggage for our vacation trip."
tailgate (TAYL gayt), verb
To drive too closely behind another vehicle: "Be careful that you don't tailgate that red car in front of us because the driver might stop all of a sudden."
At the scene of the accident it was obvious that the driver of the red sports car had been tailgating and rammed into the tailgate of the station wagon in front of him.
talent, talent
talent (TAL uhnt)
1. A marked innate ability, as for artistic accomplishment: "His creative talent as a writer has resulted in many successful novels and cinematic presentations."
2. Natural endowment or ability of a superior quality: "The computer company has hired some of the best talent for its software development."
"Her brother's experience, skills, and talent have been recognized and will make him the perfect choice for the new position on the staff."
talent (TAL uhnt)
1. A variable unit of weight and money used in ancient Greece, Rome, and the Middle East: "The term talent was used as any of various ancient Hebrew or Attic monetary units equal in value to that of a talent weight of gold, silver, or other metal."
"In Greek and Latin, talent was used for a sum of money (a Greek talanton was equivalent to 6,000 drachmas)."
"In the New Testament of the Bible (Matthew 25:14-30), the passage known as 'the parable of talents' has been interpreted to mean that the monetary talent was a God-given endowment which, if not used, would be lost and this 'endowment' sense gave rise to its extended use as 'mental ability, skill, or aptitude'."
talents, talons
talents (TAL uhnts)
1. The natural abilities or endowment of a person: "She has many talents including being a gourmet cook."
2. The general abilities that someone has: "His winter sports talents were diverse including snowboarding, skiing, and skating."
"Our friend's experience, skills, and talents make him perfectly suited for the new position in the company."
talons (TAL uhns)
1. The sharp claws of an animal or bird of prey: "The hawk flew away carrying the field mouse in its talons."
"The talons of the mountain lion are sharp and useful for hunting its prey."
2. Any objects that are shaped like a claw: "The child used two crooked sticks as talons when he tried to reach the ball he lost in the bushes."
His talents as a sportsman included working with falcons whose talons were very sharp and dangerous.
tame, tame
tame (TAYM), adjective
1. Not wild; domesticated or submissive: "My cat is tame and loves to play with me and never uses her talons to scratch me."
2. Insipid, lacking spirit or zest: "We were disappointed because we thought the sports event was merely a tame game."
tame (TAYM), verb
1. To control or to bring into a domestic and submissive state: "The zoo keeper did not want to tame the wild elephant, but he could only admire the elephant from a distance."
2. To soften or to tone down: "He struggled to tame his temper while talking with his supervisor at work."
tangent, tangent
tangent (TAN jent)
To start talking about something that is only slightly or indirectly related to the original subject: "The student went off on a tangent about what happened during his trip to London."
tangent (TAN jent)
In geometry, a straight line forming an angle or a straight line that intersects the circle or sphere in one and only one point: "The math teacher demonstrated how a tangent touches another curve or surface but does not cross or intersect it."
tank, tank, tank
tank (TANK)
A large container for liquid or gas: "We filled the gas tank before we left on our trip."
"Our neighbor cleaned the fish tank before he went camping."
tank (TANK)
A kind of military combat vehicle: "The tank was developed and first used in combat by the British during World War I as a means to break the deadlock of trench warfare."
tank (TANK)
1. To be very unsuccessful; to fail completely: "The economic situation has tanked and it could tank for some time to come."
2. In a very bad state or condition: "The global economy is in the tank right now and no one really knows when it will get out of the tank."
The driver of the army tank must have been in a tanked condition when he filled the gas tank because he filled it with water.
tap, tap, tap
tap (TAP)
To strike with light blows: "I could hear the rain tap on the metal roof."
tap (TAP)
A water faucet: "I forgot to turn off the tap in the kitchen and the sink overflowed and flooded the floor."
tap (TAP)
A piece that makes a heel or sole of a shoe thicker: "I had a metal tap put on each of my shoes so I could pretend I was a tap dancer."
When the plumber came to fix the water tap, she used a hammer to tap the pipes. It was obvious that she also had taps on the heels of her shoes because the clicking was quite loud when she walked on the floor.
taper, tapir
taper (TAY puhr)
1. A tall slender candle; a waxed wick used for lighting candles: "I put a single red taper in the holder on the mantle."
"I used the waxed taper to light the taper on the mantle."
2. A graduated narrowing of something towards one end: "You can see many leaves that taper to the ends."
3. To diminish or to become smaller: "Her voice began to taper off as she was reading the long story."
tapir (TAY puhr, tuh PIR)
Any of several large, chiefly nocturnal, odd-toed ungulates of the genus Tapirus of tropical America, the Malay Peninsula, and Sumatra, related to the horse and the rhinoceros, and having a heavy body, short legs, and a long, fleshy, flexible upper lip: "On our expedition to Sumatra, we took several pictures of a tapir in its natural habitat."
While we were camping out on the Malay Peninsula, we heard a noise outside our tent and when we used a lighted taper to see what was going on, we were surprised to see a tapir near the tent entrance and then our sight of the animal tapered off as it ran away.
tar, tar
tar (TAHR), noun
A very thick, black, sticky liquid made from coal that becomes hard when it cools and which is used especially for road and street surfaces: "During the winter, the roads have many holes which will need to be repaired with tar and its components for use on highways."
tar (TAHR), verb
To cover something with a thick covering: "We will be so very glad when the city will tar the roads again because it is very difficult to drive on them now."
When they tar the city streets again, the people hope the new tar will make driving much smoother.
tare, tear; tear, tears; tier
tare (TAIR)
1. An undesirable weed in a field or something that is not desirable: "The tare in the field seemed to have sharp points which hurt the mouths of the cattle when they were feeding."
2. A counterweight or an empty container that is the same size as a filled container, used to determine changes in the original cargo caused by changing conditions: "The merchant used a tare when weighing the containers of grain to ensure a fair price for the actual produce."
"The shipper made a tare of the container and deducted it from the gross weight to obtain the net weight of the contents."
tear (TAIR)
1. To separate or to pull apart something or to make an opening by ripping: "I had to tear out the hem on my skirt so I could mend it properly."
"I tried to tear a piece of cloth to use as a cleaning rag."
2. To injure as if by pulling something apart: "My ankle sprain felt so bad it felt as if someone were trying to tear my foot off my leg."
3. To move with haste: "He started to tear down the hill at breakneck speed on his motor cycle."
tear, tears (TIR, TEER; TEERZ)
1. A drop of the clear salty liquid that is secreted by the lachrymal glands of the eyes to lubricate the surfaces between the eyeballs and eyelids and to wash away irritants: "She wiped the tear, or tears, from her cheek."
2. A profusion of this liquid spilling from the eyes and wetting the cheeks; especially, as an expression of emotion: "She was crying tears of frustration and anger."
"Why do your eyes tear when you cut onions?"
tier (TIR, TEER)
An arrangement of something, for example chairs, in an ascending manner one above the other: "The janitor arranged a tier of benches in the auditorium for the student assembly."
"With his promotion, my cousin joined the tier of upper management in the office where he worked."
When the artist saw the tear in his painting, you can be sure that he shed more than one tear over it.
Tears are glum-drops.
Evan Esar
tarp, TARP
tarp (TAHRP)
A heavy material waterproofed with tar, paint, or wax; especially, canvas or plastic which is used for protecting construction projects, athletic fields, or other exposed objects or areas from rain: "The word tarp is a shortened term for tarpaulin that is used to cover things and to keep them dry."
TARP, T.A.R.P. (TAHRP)
Troubled Asset Relief Program; a program of the United States government to purchase assets and equity from financial institutions to strengthen the financial sector: "TARP allows the United States Department of the Treasury to purchase or insure up to $700 billion of troubled assets."
tart, tart
tart (TART)
1. A small pie typically filled with fruit, custard, etc.: "I baked a lemon tart to take to the tailgate picnic tomorrow."
2. Chiefly British, a prostitute: "The young woman was determined to put her background as a tart behind her and go back to school to complete her education."
tart (TART)
Sharp to the taste buds: "The lemonade was very tart and needed more sugar before we could drink it."
The lemon tart was tart to my taste, but I thought it was delicious.
tartar, Tartar
tartar (TAHR tuhr)
1. A hard yellowish deposit on the teeth, consisting of organic secretions and food particles deposited in various salts, such as calcium carbonate: "The dental hygienist used a sharp tool to clean the tartar off my teeth."
2. A reddish acid compound, chiefly potassium bitartrate, found in the juice of grapes and deposited on the sides of casks during wine-making process: "During the making of wine, the workers watch carefully for the sedimentation of tartar in the barrels they use."
3. An individual described as having an unpredictable temper (considered informal and old-fashioned): "She was a perfect tartar when she was crossed by her intrusive editor."
Tartar (TAHR tuhr)
A member of any of the Turkic and Mongolian people of central Asia who invaded Western Asia and Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages: "The Tartar invaders were believed to be superb horsemen."
taser, teaser
taser (TAY zuhr)
1. A trademark name used for a high-voltage stun gun: "Whenever a stun gun is used by anyone, it is referred to as a taser which will taser a person; so, the term functions as a noun and a verb."
2. An electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles: "The stun gun manufacturer, Taser International, calls the effects of a taser a neuromuscular incapacitation."
teaser (TEE zuhr)
1. An advertisement that attracts customers by offering something extra or free: "We saw the teaser that offered to make people a special deal if they signed up for a new credit card."
2. An attention-getting vignette or highlight presented before the start of a television show or at the end of a movie: "A teaser for the sequel appeared at the end of the movie."
3. Someone who harasses another person playfully or maliciously; especially by ridicule and by provoking with persistent annoyances: "The husband was a teaser of his wife about her preference of classical music."
A taser certainly is a far from being any kind of teaser.
tasteful, tasty
tasteful (TAYST fuhl)
Exhibiting characteristics of good judgment and appreciation: "The room was decorated in a tasteful manner and was not ostentatious."
tasty (TAY stee)
1. Very intriguing or interesting: "The local gossip passed along a tasty bit of scandal about her neighbor."
2. Characterized as being very flavorful and appetizing: "The new soup made of pumpkin and tomatoes was very tasty and was a lovely way to start our holiday meal."
At the banquet, we noticed the buffet was laid out in a tasteful fashion and the chef told tasty stories about each of the very tasty dishes.
tattoo, tattoo
tattoo (ta TOO)
1. A signal sounded on a drum or bugle to summon soldiers or sailors to their quarters at night: "The officer played the tattoo prior to the call for lights out for the night."
2. A display of military exercises offered as evening entertainment: "When we were in England, we attended the Tattoo at the castle in London."
tattoo (ta TOO)
1. A permanent mark or design made on the skin by a process of pricking and ingraining an indelible pigment or by raising scars: "The old sailor had a tattoo on his right arm that read 'MOTHER'."
2. A design made on the skin with a temporary dye such as henna or ink: "For the masked ball, we dressed like bikers including having a temporary tattoo on each of our arms."
When we attended the tattoo at the castle in the medieval city, we noticed that one of the bagpipe players had an intriguing tattoo on his leg.
taught, taut, taunt, tot
taught (TAWT)
1. To have presented information in a manner for others to learn: "My father taught young people how to read for many years and his pupils were successful learners."
2. To have provided guidance to students in an academic context: "My mother taught grade school for many years before she retired."
taut (TAWT)
1. Maintained in good or proper condition: "The captain ran a taut ship and rarely had to go into port for major repairs."
2. Characterized as using minimal detail: "The report from the police was taut and included only the basic facts of the situation."
taunt (TAWNT)
An insult, a slurring comment; to make such a comment: "The taunt uttered by the crowd did not upset the police who were monitoring the parade."
"The gang members tried to taunt the dignified man walking down the street."
tot (TAHT)
1. A small child, typically too young to attend school: "My sister's tot is learning to play the piano which is amazing because she is so young."
2. A small measure of an alcoholic drink: "The bar tender measured a tot of rum for the customer."
His mother was quite taut as she taught her tot that it was impolite to taunt other children.
tea, tee, tee
tea (TEE)
1. An eastern Asian evergreen shrub or small tree (Camellia sinensis) having fragrant, nodding, cup-shaped white flowers and glossy leaves and the young, dried leaves of this plant, prepared by various processes and used to make a hot beverage: "My elderly uncle made his fortune operating a tea plantation."
2. Chiefly British, an afternoon refreshment consisting usually of sandwiches and cakes served with tea or an afternoon reception or social gathering at which a hot drink is served: "We had such a busy day shopping, we just had to stop for tea before we became too tired."
tee (TEE)
1. The letter 't' or something shaped like a 'T': "I used a metal 'T' square when completing my drawings of the buildings so I could get perfectly straight lines and right angles."
2. A mark aimed at in certain games; such as, curling or quoits: "The tee was marked under the ice on the curling rink."
tee (TEE)
1. A small peg with a concave top for holding a golf ball for an initial drive: "My friend always uses a yellow tee for good luck when she plays golf."
2. The designated area of each golf hole from which a player makes his or her first stroke: "The defending champion strolled up to the first tee to try for another major win."
3. A small device used to stand a football on end for a kickoff: "The crowd was quiet when the famous player approached the tee."
4. To anger or to irritate someone or people: "He certainly tried to tee me off with his teasing remarks about my game."
I decided to wear my green T-shirt to the tea that was held at the golf course.
This really teed the manager off; however, I was able to watch the champion golfer tee off before I left.
In fact, I bought a specially marked tee at the gift shop to commemorate the occasion.
team, teem
team (TEEM)
1. Animals harnessed to a vehicle which are used to move it: "The team of matched bay horses were pulling the carriage of the princess during the parade."
2. A group of individuals associated with a specific task or activity: "The football team appeared to be on a winning streak when they won their fifth straight game."
"I was asked to join my team of colleagues who were assigned to plan the end of the year party for our office."
3. To join or to collaborate with a group for the completion of a specific task: "We agreed to team up with our other friends to plan a holiday together."
teem (TEEM)
1. A large quantity or anything that is to be filled to the point of overflowing: "The lake seemed to teem with fish and I could hardly wait to go fishing there."
"The sky seemed to teem with rain all day long."
2. To empty or to pour out: "The foundry workers started to teem the molten metal into the forms."
When I went to the soccer game, I noticed that each team seemed to teem with husky and powerfully built players.
tease, teas, tees
tease (TEEZ)
1. To straighten out a tangle or a tangled situation: "The lawyer tried to tease the facts out of a very shy witness."
"I used my new hair brush to tease my hair when I woke up in the morning."
2. To make someone irritated or angry by engaging annoying behavior: "He tried to make his sister laugh but his efforts to tease her only made her angry."
3. To style one's hair by back combing the hair to make it seem voluminous or full: "The hair stylist started to tease my hair to give it a soft full puffiness in the front."
4. To tantalize but not to fulfill the expectations so aroused: "The aroma of baking bread served to tease her appetite but since she was on a diet, she wouldn't take even one slice of it."
teas (TEEZ)
Products prepared from the cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis or tea plant: "The store sold several different flavored teas to meet the various tastes of the customers."
tees (TEEZ)
Small pegs with a concave surface the purpose of which is to provide support for a ball; for example, a golf ball, used in sports: "The golf player always carried extra tees in his pocket during the golf competition."
It seems silly, but the little child was apparently trying to taunt the golf pegs, or as someone said, she seemed to trying to tease the golf tees with a variety of teas.
temerity, timidity, timorous
temerity (tuh MER i tee)
Recklessness, a foolhardy disdain for danger associated with an action: "The high school pupil had the temerity to talk back to the school principal."
"The mountain hikers demonstrated temerity when planning their assent of the dangerous mountain."
timidity (tuh MI duh tee)
Not possessing courage or boldness: "His timidity made him a victim of many jokes on the playground."
timorous (TIM uhr uhs)
Fearful, doubtful: "Her timorous personality was not evident in the fascinating mystery books which she wrote under a pseudonym."
The timorous quality of his personality was surprising because he often demonstrated great temerity when he was enjoying his hobby of bungee jumping.
Perhaps the danger of bungee jumping gave him the courage to try to overcome his timidity.
tenant, tenet
tenant (TEN uhnt)
An individual who lives in a building, or uses land, on a temporary basis, often associated with the payment of rent money: "She was an excellent tenant who always paid her rent on time."
"Mr. Smith is a tenant on my father's farm."
tenet (TEN it)
A basic doctrine or foundation of belief that is believed to be true: "The basic tenet of my faith is to be kind to other people."
The new tenant in the apartment below apparently believes in the tenet that quiet people make good neighbors because he keeps the volume turned down when he plays his TV or radio.
tenor, tenure
tenor (TEN uhr)
1. A musical term describing the highest natural range of the male voice, or someone who sings in this vocal range: "The musical composition called for a tenor voice."
"Her brother is a tenor and enjoys singing in concerts."
2. The general idea of something: "The first paragraph in the essay gave the tenor for the rest of the composition."
3. Any of a number of musical instruments that have a high musical range: "My friend plays the tenor saxophone in the jazz quartet."
tenure (TEN yuhr, TEN yoor")
The time frame during which a position is held, or the status granted an individual in a professional position as an assurance against unexpected dismissal: "My sister has a secure tenure with the board of education where she works."
"After five years, my friend's father was granted tenure as professor in our local university."
The tenor tenure with the opera company was cut short by an argument with the general manager and the tenor was asked to leave.
tense, tents, tens
tense (TENS)
1. A condition or state of mental or nervous tension: "We were very tense because it seemed that we would never get this project completed."
2. Any one of the inflected forms in the conjugation of a verb that indicates the time; such as, present, past, or future; as well as, the continuance or completion of the action or situation: "Now we are in the present tense; but if we talk about yesterday, we are referring to the past tense."
tents (TENS)
Portable shelters often made of canvas water-proof material, stretched over a supporting framework of poles with ropes and pegs: "We had to set up our tents before it got dark."
tens (TENZ)
In groups of ten or ten to a section or unit: "Do you have any money in fives and tens to exchange for this fifty dollar bill?"
When this group of boy scouts go camping, they usually stay in what could be interpreted as nervous little outdoor cloth shelters which they call tense tents set up in groups of tens.
tepid, torpid
tepid (TEP id)
Lukewarm; lacking in enthusiasm or passion: "The tea in my cup has become tepid and had to be refreshed with more hot tea."
"Her tepid personality was a guise for a brilliant mind."
torpid (TOR pid)
Sluggish, apathetic; bringing about listlessness: "The heat and humidity created such a torpid feeling that all I could do was to lie in the shade of the trees."
The heat of the day made me feel very torpid; unfortunately, I was unable to gain any relief by swimming in the lake because the water felt tepid.
tern, terne, turn
tern (TURN)
Any of a number of sea birds that are smaller than the typical seagull and are characterized by narrow wings, forked tails, and a white body with a black cap: "I could watch the tern sweep the sky for hours because it was so graceful."
terne (TURN)
An alloy of tin and lead used as a coating in the production of terne plate: "The master foundry operator knew the secret formula to produce terne; also known as terne plate."
turn (TURN)
1. To take a short walk: "My friend and I took a turn in the park because the day was so fresh and lovely."
2. The activity of doing something in agreed upon steps: "We each took our turn standing in line for the special concert tickets."
"We were playing checkers and it was my friend's turn to make a move."
3. An expected or unanticipated change in the direction something is going: "The turn in the road was so sharp I had to slow the car down so I would not have an accident."
"I had to turn the key in the lock to the right in order to open the door."
4. To become or to gradually change: "The weather is expected to turn very cold over night."
5. To appeal for assistance: "She decided to turn to her family for the money she needed to start up her new business."
My friend and I took a short turn on the beach being careful not to step on the tern nest.
Our conversation took an unexpected turn when my friend mentioned that he had discovered a new formula to make terne.
than, then
than (THAN)
1. A function word that is used to indicate a difference or diversity: "We have had more rain than sunshine this winter."
"We have seen more pedestrians walking in this city than we ever see in our hometown."
2. Used to introduce the second or last of two or more things or people that are being compared: "Ten is less than fifteen."
"He can run faster than his brother."
3. Used to say that something happens immediately after something else: "No sooner did I ask where my wife was than she came into the room."
then (THEN)
1. At the time mentioned or belonging to a specific time: "He was then the vice president in charge of advertising."
2. Soon after, following next in a sequence, or used to indicate what happened next: "In the circus parade, first came the clowns then came the horseback riders."
"We walked down the street, then we found our friend waiting on the corner."
3. A function word used to make a final statement that refers back to the things that have just been mentioned or described: "These words, then, are the most applicable for this context."
"Both of us, then, must accept some responsibility for these results."
To simplify these words, we should remember that than is used more often to indicate a comparison; while then usually indicates some form of time sequence.
Examples include: "The new shopping center is bigger than the old one."
"The scientist did his research; then he wrote the report for the university."
their, there, they're
their (THAIR)
A collective pronoun to indicate possession or ownership of something by more than one person: "The new table was their first purchase after the couple was married."
there (THAIR)
1. To indicate the position or placing of something in a specific location: "Please put the chair there, next to the fireplace."
"All I can tell you is that she was sitting there a minute ago."
2. An expression used to indicate something that has caused frustration and is now accomplished: "There, the dishes are finally done and put away; so, now we can go shopping."
3. At a point in a process, activity, story, etc.: "Stop right there, before you say something you will regret."
4. Used to introduce a sentence in which the subject comes after the verb: "There is nothing we can do about it now because it is simply too late."
"There's still a lot for us to do on this project, don't you agree?"
5. Used to show satisfaction, approval, or encouragement: "There, it's finally finished and you helped so much to make it possible."
they're (THAIR)
Used as a contraction of they are: "They're here earlier than they said they would be."
"We still might be able to get some more milk at the store, but it all depends on whether they're still open."
They’re hanging their coats over there on the coat rack.
Several students are in the play; so, if they’re not up here on the stage, then they must be out there in the audience with their parents.
therefor, therefore
therefor (THAIR for")
1. In exchange for (now considered archaic): "I am returning this suit and wish a refund therefor."
2. For that: "I am ordering clothes as indicated and enclosing payment therefor."
therefore (THAIR for")
Consequently, as a result, for that reason, as this proves: "I have had enough rest, and therefore I will go back to work, now."
"I hate worms; therefore, I avoid digging in the garden."
Therefore normally appears at the beginning of a clause and may be followed by a comma. If it appears parenthetically within a clause, it has a comma before and after: "It appears, therefore, that he must be guilty."
this, that
this (THIS)
1. Something that is close at hand and under immediate discussion or observation: "We will continue to discuss this at our next meeting."
? 2. Something or someone near in time, place, etc.: "This is the person I wanted you to meet."
3. What has been indicated in a subsequent expression: "I will say this about my best friend; she is always there when I need her."
that (THAT)
1. A function word used to introduce a noun clause, often used instead of a direct quotation; used to introduce an exclamatory clause: "She said that he was the president of the soccer club at school."
"I was upset that the conflict between the students and the faculty should result in such mudslinging!"
2. Used to identify a person, a thing, an idea, etc. as indicated or mentioned before: "We were introduced at a dance and after that we saw each other quite often."
thong, throng
thong (THAWNG, THAHNG)
1. A narrow strip of fabric: "He used a leather thong to mend the saddle."
2. A sandal which is fastened to the foot using a narrow strip of fabric which goes between the toes and is fastened around the foot and ankle: "My left thong came undone and fell off while I was walking on the beach."
throng (THRAWNG, THRAHNG)
1. A large number of people gathered together in a location: "We watched the throng gather in anticipation of the concert in the park tonight."
"A throng of fans was waiting for the players to arrive."
2. To gather together or to crowd into a location: "After class, they decided that they would throng to the local coffee shop to celebrate passing their examinations."
"Shoppers will throng the mall for the sales that will be available next week."
Just for fun I took a survey of the throng at the beach to see how many were wearing thongs that included leather thongs as part of their compositions.
thorough, throughout
thorough (THUR oh, THUHR oh)
1. Exhaustive, detailed, complete, or painstaking: "We conducted a thorough search of my closet in hopes of finding my missing shoe."
"The police were thorough in their investigation of the bank robbery."
2. Having mastery or competence in something: "Her reputation was based on being a thorough and competent violinist."
throughout (throo OUT)
During the entire time; from beginning to end: "Throughout the entire summer, I read six books and went to two movies."
Throughout the time it took the police to complete a thorough investigation of the car accident, we were not allowed to leave the scene.
Fortunately, my friend was a thorough master of the harmonica and so he played so we could more easily pass the time away.
thrash, thresh
thrash (THRASH)
1. To whip, to hit, or to defeat: "Because of his disobedience, the school master said that he would have to thrash the student."
"Our team is determined to thrash the competition this year!"
2. The process by which grain is harvested and separated from the leaves and stems of plants: "The weather is perfect so we will thrash the wheat this afternoon."
3. To move about or to strike violently: "When I first learned to swim, I would thrash about in the water."
thresh (THRESH)
1. To toss about: "I am so tired this morning because I am sure all I did was thresh in bed all night."
2. To separate grain from the plant on which it was grown using mechanical procedures: "The new machine in the barn will thresh the grain more quickly than doing it by hand."
During my summer work experience on the farm, I used a flail to thrash the grain; however, on the first night after a day of threshing the wheat, I was so tired that all I could do was thresh around in my sleep, trying to find a comfortable position.
threw, through, thru
threw (THROO)
1. To have tossed something to another person by using the arm: "The catcher threw the baseball to third base and the runner was out."
2. To have fallen off or to have fallen down: "The horse threw a shoe and was limping."
"She was upset and threw herself down on the sofa to have a good cry."
3. To put something on or to take something off in a casual way: "I threw on my coat when I went outside to watch the sunset."
4. To have given or organized an entertainment: "My sister threw a party for me when I went to visit her."
through (THROO)
1. Going into one side and out the other side of something: He hit the nail through the wood in the door frame."
"She looked through the binoculars so she could see what was happening on the other side of the river."
2. Progressing without stopping: "He accidentally drove through the red light at the intersection."
3. Used to describe a movement within a space or an area of land, air, etc.: "They rode their bicycles through the woods."
thru (THROO)
An informal spelling of through: "We drove thru the towns along the river during our vacation."
After her son accidentally threw a baseball through the window next door, he went to his mother to exclaim, "I'm sorry I threw the ball thru our neighbor’s window."
thrill, trill
thrill (THRIL)
1. A quivering or trembling caused by sudden excitement or emotion: "She so excited that she was unable to explain the thrill she got from seeing and talking with her favorite actor this evening."
2. To cause someone to feel very excited or happy: "Circus performers still thrill audiences today."
trill (TRIL)
1. A high-pitched warbling sound, especially one made by a bird: "You could hear the trill sounds being made by the birds in the pet shop."
2. To make a consonant sound by two vocal organs vibrating rapidly against each other; for example, the tip of the tongue vibrating against the ridge behind the front teeth: "You can hear him trill his r's when he speaks."
Every time I went to hear the famous soprano sing, it gave me a thrill to hear the way she could trill the high notes in the arias.
throes, throws
throes (THROHZ)
Difficult or painful struggles: "She was in the throes of sorrow due to the loss of her favorite aunt."
throws (THROHZ)
1. To cast or to toss from one individual to another: "He throws a fast ball when he is on the pitcher's mound.
2. To cause or to create: "The sun throws long shadows across the land at the end of the day."
I noticed that her throes of sadness happened every day just as the sun throws a shadow across the window.
throne, thrown
throne (THROHN)
1. A chair typically associated with royalty or with the head of a religious organization: "The bishop sat on the throne to listen to the petitions of the pilgrims."
"The king's throne was decorated with gold and gems."
2. To invest an individual with royal authority and responsibilities: "The bishop will throne the queen today in a fairy tale ceremony."
thrown (THROHN)
1. To have or to be overcome by something or a situation: "She was not thrown by the difficult physics problem on her examination."
"He was thrown with emotion when he realized his friend was not hurt in the accident."
2. To have dashed or to hit something violently: "During the storm, the ship was thrown against the reef and was badly damaged."
3. To have built, constructed, or exerted oneself to do something: "The construction company has thrown together a shed for storing all of their equipment."
"He has thrown all his influence into the proposal to build new houses."
The king was so angry that he hurled the royal chair at his military minister; in other words, the throne was thrown as an expression of the king's displeasure.
throw, throe
throw (THROH)
1. To cause confusion or to cause a fall: "She was afraid she would throw her opponent during the debate by asking about a very sensitive issue."
"It was easy for the horse to throw the rider because she was not holding the reins properly."
2. To put someone or something in a position or situation: "She was sure that when her little sister got home, she would throw her arms around the tree in the front yard because she would be so happy."
3. To roll or to cast something: "He watched the man throw a pair of snake eyes when he rolled the dice."
throe (THROH)
1. An experience of a spasm or a pain: "She was in the throe of her first love affair because her boyfriend broke up with her."
2. A difficult struggle or experience: "The economic throe of the nation is reflected in the struggle experienced by the artistic community."
I thought I would throw a temper tantrum if we had to face the throe of a flat tire while we were crossing the dessert.
thrust, thrust
thrust (THRUHST), verb
To push someone or something with force; to shove: "She thrust her way through the crowd by pushing people aside so she could get on the last train to her home."
"It was so cold when he stepped outside that he thrust his hands into his pockets so they could be warmer."
thrust (TRUHST), noun
1. The main point or meaning of something: "He agreed with the main thrust of the argument in the article."
2. The main concern or purpose of something: "The major thrust of the scientific team's research will be to find practical applications."
3. The pushing or pulling force exerted by a power plant; such as, an aircraft engine or rocket engine: "When a passenger plane takes off, it is necessary that passengers and staff members are all seated or they could be knocked down from the resulting thrust of the aircraft as it ascends into the air from the airport runway."
The thrust of the feature article in the paper was that a celebrity got upset at the paparazzi and thrust them aside as she got out of her car.
thumb, thumb
thumb (THUM)
1. One of the digits on the hand: "I hit my thumb with the hammer and it really hurts!"
2. An expression meaning to catch a ride when an individual is hitchhiking: "I will thumb a ride to town instead of taking the bus."
thumb (THUM)
To glance quickly through a book: "I was in a hurry and had very little time, so I could only thumb through the new chemistry book before class started."
I used my thumb to mark my place in the recipe book while I tried to thumb through the other pages looking for another recipe.
thyme, time
thyme (THIGHM)
Any of a number of plants with aromatic leaves frequently used in cooking or medicines: "The recipe said to put in a pinch of thyme just before serving."
time (TIGHM)
1. To regulate, to set the speed or duration: "I will time the runners to determine who is the fastest one."
2. A measureable period during which something occurs or happens: "This is the time of fantastic explorations in space."
3. The determined or customary moment when something begins or ends: "It is now time for dinner after which there will be time to watch our favorite TV program before it is time to go to bed."
4. One's experiences during a specific event: "We had a great time at the tea yesterday afternoon."
5. A period or length of apprenticeship, training, or military service: "He served his time in the naval reserve and he was glad that he had the experience."
"I still have time before I complete my internship at the hospital."
tic, tick
tic (TIK)
A sudden muscle spasm: "I get a slight tic in my left eye when I am nervous."
tick (TIK)
1. A slight click or tap: "I could hear the tick of her cane on the tile floor as she walked down the hall towards the door."
2. A bloodsucking insect: "After she had gone outside to play, my cat came home with a tick on her neck that was difficult to remove."
"It is dangerous for people to get a tick bite because the tick may carry a disease; such as, Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lyme disease."
3. Primarily a British usage: a mark; such as, ✓ or ✔, which is used to show that something like an item on a list has been noted, done, etc.: "Put a tick (✓) next to each item on the list as you complete it."
4. Another British term indicating an agreement to pay for something after a period of time: "She bought her items on tick; that is, she promised to pay for the things later."
5. A British indication about the time it takes a clock to make one click, a second, or a very short time: "Her husband said he would be with her in a tick and she responded that she needed at least two ticks to be ready to go."
ticket, ticket
ticket (TIK it)
A card representing admission to an activity or a fare for some form of transportation: "We were told to present our ticket when we arrived at the entrance of the theater."
"I bought a one way ticket on the bus."
ticket (TIK it)
A list of candidates running for political office: "She was asked if her name was on the ticket for governor in the upcoming election?"
I bought a ticket to the meeting of the candidates so I could hear the complete ticket of each of those who were running for the office of mayor.
tide, tied
tide (TIGHD)
The rise and fall of bodies of water: "We sat on the shore and watched the tide come in."
tied (TIGHD)
Fastened together; such as, shoe lace, string around a package, etc.: "I tied the laces on my shoes securely so they would not come undone."
"Before I mailed the package, I made sure it was tied firmly with heavy string."
His boat was tied to the pier so the tide wouldn't take it out to sea.
tier, tier, tire, Tyre
tier (TEER), noun
Two or more rows of something arranged in an ascending order: "We sat on the second tier of chairs in the auditorium to watch the concert."
tier (TEER), verb
To arrange objects in rows of ascending order: "The shop keeper planned to tier the bottles of olive oil according to size of the bottle."
tire (TIGHR)
1. To become worn out or at a loss of energy: "I am sure that swimming will tire me out before I quit and go home."
2. The hoop of rubber and fabric that covers the air filled rubber inner tube which is part of the wheel structure for a vehicle: "We had a flat tire because I accidentally drove over a nail in the roadway."
Tyre (TIGHR)
A port in southern Lebanon on the Mediterranean Sea which figures heavily in ancient Phoenician history: "Fabulous wealth in silk and other fabrics passed through the Phoenician port of Tyre according to ancient history."
Searching the library for the history of Tyre really will tire me out because I have to climb the ladder to explore the tier of books.
tight, tight, tight
tight (TIGHT)
1. Not easily moved or opened; fastened, attached, or held in a position that is difficult to move: "The lid on the box was a tight fit and it was hard to open until he used more pressure."
2. Fitting very close to the body: "His pants are too tight, so he needs to get a looser, more comfortable pair, before we can go."
3. A low supply; not easily available: "We can't afford to go on a vacation because money is just too tight since we're getting much less income."
tight (TIGHT)
Stingy: "My friend has a reputation of being very tight with his money and so I didn't want to ask him for a loan."
tight (TIGHT)
An informal reference about someone who has had too much alcohol to drink or is drunk: "The bartender decided not to serve the customer any more drinks because the guy was obviously tight."
till, till, till
till (TIL)
To prepare (land) for the raising of crops, as by plowing, hoeing, sowing, harrowing, etc.; to cultivate: "The farmer wants to till his land before the rain season starts."
till (TIL)
A drawer, compartment, or tray in which money or valuables are kept, as at a bank, store, etc.: "The till was opened so the sale's clerk could give the customer his change."
till (TIL)
Primarily an unstratified mass of mingled clay, sand, pebbles, and boulders, deposited by glaciers: "Scientists were assigned to examine the till from the melting glaciers."
timber, timbre
timber (TIM buhr)
1. Trees or wooded land considered as a source of wood: "There is a fine stand of timber on that mountain."
2. Wood used as a building material; lumber: "We went to the lumber yard and ordered the timber needed to build the shed."
3. A dressed piece of wood, especially a beam in a structure: "I used a nail to fasten the timber to the frame as we were building the shed."
timbre (TAM buhr, TIM buhr)
The combination of qualities of a sound that distinguishes it from other sounds of the same pitch and volume: "The timbre of the singer's voice enchanted me because it was so resonant."
tinge, twinge
tinge (TINJ)
To change or modify to a slight degree typically in reference to color: "The artist decided to tinge the sunset in the painting with a slight pink color."
twinge (TWINJ)
A sharp localized pain which may be either physical or moral: "I felt a twinge in my ankle when I was walking because I had twisted it earlier in the day."
"He seemed to experience a twinge of conscience when he realized what he had done."
The artist didn't seem to have a twinge of conscience when she decided to tinge the original painting of the sunset by adding a hint of orange.
tip, tip, tip, tip
tip (TIP)
A top or end: "The hotel is located at the tip of a high hill on the opposite tip of this island."
tip (TIP)
A useful hint or to give useful or secret information to someone: "Someone finally gave the police a significant tip about the robbers who stole the money from the store."
tip (TIP)
A small sum of money in addition to the cost of a service: "I'm glad that you remembered to tip the waiter for his good service."
tip (TIP)
To turn or to move something so that it is not straight or level or to cause something to lean or to slant: "If you're not careful as you lean back on that chair, you will tip over."
When we were traveling to the tip of the island, the local guide gave us a tip about the staff of waiters at the hotel; for example, he suggested that we should be generous with our tip or the water pitcher on the table might "accidentally" tip over and spill into one of our laps.
tissue, tissue
tissue (TISH oo)
A material which is a part of animals and plants: "The soft tissue on my arm bruises easily."
tissue (TISH oo)
Soft paper: "I wrapped the gift in colorful tissue and tied a ribbon around it."
title, title
title (TIGHT uhl)
A name or rank: "His official title on board ship is, Chief Petty Officer."
title (TIGHT uhl)
A legal right to property, etc.: "According to this document, I have a legal title to the riverside property."
to, too, two
to (TOO, TUH [when unstressed])
1. A functional word used to indicate direction: "The children were running to and fro across the lawn."
"After work, we drove to the country for a picnic."
2. A word used to indicate the end of an activity: "We came to the end of the story and had to return the book to the library."
3. Used to indicate that the following verb is in the infinitive form: "You asked why I like to swim. Well, that's a difficult question to answer."
too (TOO)
Excessively, besides; also, to a regrettable degree: "I was too tired to do anything except go to bed after I got home."
"I decided to sell the car and the trailer, too."
"His teasing had gone too far and my sister was upset and was crying."
two (TOO)
Being second; having more than one in number; an expression to suggest an approximate small amount: "She came in second, or as number two, in the cross country race."
"I think I will have two chocolate desserts with my coffee."
"I found only one or two pink shells on the beach."
I was too excited to realize that there would be two extra guests for dinner this evening.
toad, toed, towed
toad (TOHD)
An amphibious creature characterized by a rough, squat form which spends considerable time on land, returning to water to lay eggs: "I caught a toad in the garden and carried it to the edge of the pond."
toed (TOHD)
A reference to a digit on the foot: "People are known as five-toed creatures."
towed (TOHD)
Pulled or dragged: "When we went camping, we towed a trailer with all of our camping gear behind the car."
A toad was towed to another pond by hanging on to one of its long-toed feet.
Is it possible that being pigeon-toed is a strange condition since it could mean that someone is half pigeon and half toad?
toast, toast, toast
toast (TOHST)
To heat and brown (bread, for example) by placing in a toaster or an oven or close to a fire: "I will toast the whole-wheat bread to eat with our eggs for breakfast."
toast (TOHST)
The act of raising a glass and drinking in honor of, or to, the health of a person (or people), or something: "We will toast the bride and groom at the reception."
toast (TOHST)
1. Informal, to be in a lot of trouble: "If anyone finds out about this, we're toast."
"His career is toast because of this one little mistake in judgment.
2. A person in desperate straits; someone who is doomed: "Just one little slip in this job and you're toast."
Here's a toast to bread without which we would not have toast with our breakfast and remember that a toast is one of the few things that can be eaten or drunk.
toe, tow
toe (TOH)
A digit on each foot: "Oh no, I hurt my toe when I stumbled on that rock just now!"
tow (TOH)
To pull a vehicle behind another vehicle with a rope, a chain, or a special mechanism for that purpose: "Because of the accident, the auto repairman will tow our car to his garage."
Be careful that you don hurt your toe when you try to tow the grocery cart up the steep hill.
told, tolled
told (TOHLD)
1. To have explained something in detail: "I told you yesterday why we were not going shopping tonight."
2. Having described or explained something in words, verbal or written: "She told me about her dreams to be an actress when we were both children."
"The letter from the bank told us about the financial situation that we would have to face."
3. To have ordered, directed, or admonished: "If I told you once, I have told you a thousand times, don't go there."
tolled (TOHLD)
1. The bells that rang for a special occasion: "The bells tolled all night after their beloved king died."
2. Something that was encouraged or lured to a specific location: "The farmer tolled the cattle to the barn by blowing on a special whistle."
3. Having decoyed game; especially, ducks: "The hunter tolled the ducks to land near the decoys of floating imitations of ducks."
We were told that the bells at the church tolled every evening at 6 P.M. which helped to remind the farmers it was time they tolled their cattle in from the fields.
tole, toll
tole (TOHL)
A tray or sheet of metal that is painted and decorated in an elaborate fashion, frequently for domestic use: "My parents had a stunning tole tray that was black with vivid flowers painted on it."
toll (TOHL)
1. To call, to give an announcement, or to signal typically with the use of bells: "We could hear the bell in the tower toll the hour and the half hour."
"The toll of the bells announced the marriage of the popular couple in our town."
2. To lure or to attract something to a desired location: "We scattered crumbs on the water to toll the fish closer to shore."
3. A fee charged for the use of something: "e paid the toll before crossing the bridge over the river."
"There is a two-coin toll for the use of the public telephone."
"There's a toll bridge ahead of us, so be prepared to pay the toll when we get there."
4. A grievous or sad loss: "The toll in human lives was devastating after the severe hurricane swept across the island."
ton, tun
ton (TUHN)
1. Any of a number of units of weight that are typically very heavy: "The box that was being shipped across the ocean weighed at least a ton."
2. A large, heavy quantity of something: "The box was so heavy that I joked that it must weigh a ton."
"Her son complained that he had a ton of homework to do for school."
tun (TUHN)
1. A large cask for liquids; especially, wine: "I visited the cooper shop where they were making a large oak tun for the local wine industry."
2. A measure of liquid capacity; especially, one equivalent to approximately 252 gallons (954 liters): "The vintner decided to buy a tun of the red wine based on the reports that she had studied."
tone, tone, tone
tone (TOHN)
Quality of a sound: "I had to adjust the tone on my CD (compact disk) player."
tone (TOHN)
Quality of a color: "Do you see that beautiful tone of green in the picture?"
tone (TOHN)
Quality of body organs: "The doctor said she had good muscle tone because she went swimming every day and worked out at the fitness studio."
The doctor said that judging from the tone of my skin and the tone of my muscles, I was in great shape and should be able to create a perfect tone when I was singing.
tongue, tongue, tongue
tongue (TUNG)
1. The fleshy organ in the mouth which is sensitive to taste, and that is necessary for speech as well as for eating: "I used my tongue to lick my ice cream cone."
"The taste of the spice was still on her tongue."
2. A manner or quality of speech that clearly conveys the meaning of the speaker: "She had a sharp tongue and did not hesitate to use it to scold the silly boys on the street.”
tongue (TUNG)
Part of the inside of a shoe that is drawn up over the top of one's foot and which looks somewhat like a person's tongue: "I laced each boot over its tongue to be sure they were snug and tight."
tongue (TUNG)
1. The language of a particular people: "The translator is skilled in interpreting the tongue of the people indigenous to this island."
2. To produce separate notes when a person is blowing air through a musical instrument by using the tongue to briefly stop the flow of air: "He was learning how to tongue notes on the clarinet; that is, with notes that are produced by tonguing."
tonic, tunic
tonic (TAHN ik)
1. An agent; such as, a medication that restores or increases body tone: "Every spring her father would take a tonic of honey and vinegar to get over the winter blahs."
2. An invigorating, refreshing, or restorative agent or influence: "Her laughter is a tonic for my soul when I am upset or depressed."
tunic (TOO nik, TYOO nik)
1. A loose-fitting garment, sleeved or sleeveless, extending to the knees and worn by men and women; especially, in ancient Greece and Rome: "The Roman Emperor had a handsome gold belt fastened around the waist of his tunic."
2. A medieval surcoat, a loose outer coat, or gown worn in the Middle Ages by a knight over his armor: "The knight's tunic was emblazoned with his family crest."
3. A long, plain, close-fitting jacket, usually having a stiff high collar and worn as part of a uniform: "The officer's tunic was accented with gold and red braid."
4. A long, plain, sleeved or sleeveless blouse: "During the summer, I prefer to wear a sleeveless tunic because of the hot weather."
5. A short pleated and belted dress worn by women for some sports: "Her tennis tunic was very sharp looking and very chic."
6. In anatomy, a coat or layer enveloping an organ or part: "The tunic of the blood vessel was thin and the surgeon was getting ready to repair it."
7. In botany, a loose membranous outer covering of a bulb or corm, as of the onion, tulip, or crocus: "I removed the brown tunic of the onion before chopping it up so I could add it to the soup."
tool, tulle
tool (TOOL)
1. A device, such as a saw, used to perform or facilitate manual or mechanical work: "I was very excited because I bought a new tool for my tool chest so I could do home repairs."
2. A machine; such as, a lathe, used to cut and shape machine parts or other objects: "We used the new tool to make a carved newel post for the stairway at home."
3. Something regarded as necessary to the carrying out of one's occupation or profession: "Dictionary compilers believe that every word they find and research is a tool of their trade."
4. Something used in the performance of an operation; an instrument: "The surgeon used a different tool for each phase of the operation."
5. In computer science, an application program, often one that creates, manipulates, modifies, or analyzes other programs: "A programming tool or a software development tool is a program or application that software developers use to create, to debug, to maintain, or otherwise to support other programs and applications."
tulle (TOOL)
A fine, often starched net of silk, rayon, or nylon, used especially for veils, evening dresses, tutus, or gowns: "The dress she had for the dance included a full tulle skirt that was embroidered with blue flowers."
She used a sharp tool to trim the tulle in order to decorate the elegant dress she was making.
toot, tout
toot (TOOT)
1. A drinking spree: "After they finished their examinations, they all went on a toot for the rest of the evening."
2. A sharp note suggestive of the sound of a wind instrument: "The horn on the ferry boat sounds like the toot of a penny whistle."
"She started to toot on the toy trumpet that was given to her for the New Year's celebration."
tout (TOUT)
1. To praise or to publicize in an extravagant manner: "You would think I was a hero the way my friend tries to tout my financial skills."
2. To talk about something or someone as being very good, effective, skillful, etc.: "The company is trying to tout the drug as a miracle cure."
3. Chiefly British: Someone who attempts to spy out racing information for the purposes of placing bets: "He was apprehended for being a tout for a crime syndicate."
After going on a toot with my friends at the local bar, I was embarrassed that they were all trying to tout my competence as a rugby player.
top, top, top
top (TAHP)
The highest point or part: "We climbed to the top of the mountain."
top (TAHP)
A spinning toy: "For her birthday, she was given a red and blue top and quickly learned how to spin it."
top (TAHP)
To surpass or to exceed: "By studying hard, she soon went to the top of her Latin class."
The prize for being at the top of her elementary class was a multi-colored top. She took it with her when the family went on vacation to the top end of the valley.
tort, torte
tort (TORT)
In law, damage, injury, or a wrongful act done willfully, negligently, or in circumstances involving strict liability; but not involving breach of contract, for which a civil suit can be brought: "The lawyer established his reputation by specializing in tort cases in which there were wrongful undertakings but no actual violation of contracts between the parties."
torte (TORT, TORT tuh)
A rich cake made with many eggs and little flour and usually containing chopped nuts: "My sister made a lovely torte which was presented to the guests at her birthday party."
To celebrate his reputation as a top tort lawyer, his cousin baked a torte and filled it with fresh fruit.
tortoise, turtle
tortoise (TOR tis)
1. Any of various terrestrial turtles; especially, one of the family Testudinidae, characteristically having thick club-like hind limbs and a high, rounded carapace (protective, shell-like covering): "We kept a desert tortoise for several years as a pet before taking it back to its natural habitat."
2. Anyone who moves slowly; a laggard: "There is an old fable, The Tortoise and the Hare, which describes the tortoise as slow moving but eventually getting where he wanted to go."
turtle (TUR t'l)
Any of various aquatic, or terrestrial reptiles, having horny toothless jaws and a bony or leathery shell into which the head, limbs, and a tail: "We had a small green turtle in our aquarium as well as several different kinds of fresh water fish."
"When I went to Australia, I saw a sea turtle swimming next to the ship."
When we went to the zoo, we saw the tortoise enclosure which was designed to look like a desert.
Because I had a blister on my foot, I moved like a tortoise when we went to see the turtle enclosure that was a mixed environment of dry and marshy wet land.
tortuous, torturous
tortuous (TOR choo uhs)
1. Having or marked by repeated turns or bends; winding or twisting: "We drove on a tortuous road through the mountains."
2. Not straightforward; circuitous; devious: "The story had a tortuous plot."
"The politician had so much tortuous reasoning that we simply could not believe anything she said."
3. Highly involved; complex: "There were so many tortuous legal procedures that it took more than a year before there was a final decision."
torturous (TOR chuhr uhs)
1. Of, relating to, or causing torture: "It was a torturous decision to decide not to go skiing in the mountains this winter."
2. Twisted; strained: "The mountain roads were torturous and required careful attention in order to drive safely."
Although tortuous and torturous both come from the Latin word torquere, "to twist", their primary meanings are distinct.
Tortuous means "twisting" (a tortuous road) or by extension "complex" or "devious."
Torturous refers primarily to torture and the pain associated with it; however, torturous also can be used in the sense of "twisted" or "strained", and tortured is an even stronger synonym; such as, "tortured reasoning".
touch, touch
touch (TUCH)
To put the hand or finger on something so as to feel it: "I reached out my hand to touch the soft coat of the new colt."
touch (TUCH)
To affect the feelings of someone or other people; to cause others to feel an emotion; such as sympathy or gratitude: "The musician wants to touch her audience through her music."
"The story read by the teacher to her class seemed to touch the feelings of the children."
touche, touchy
touche (too SHAY)
Used to acknowledge a hit in fencing, a successful criticism, or an effective point in an argument: "At the end of the debate, my opponent called, TOUCHE! because he was convinced that he had put forth a solid, closing argument."
touchy (TUHCH ee)
Easily offended; very sensitive; likely to cause people to become upset: "Borrowing from the bank is a touchy subject with some people; especially, during these days of financial instability."
"She is very touchy about the color of her hair whenever anyone says anything about it."
It becomes a very touchy subject when at the very end of the debate, your opponent suddenly shouts out TOUCHE because of a slight oversight on your part.
tower, tower
tower (TOU uhr)
1. A high part of some buildings: "The flag flew from the tower on the capital building."
2. To rise above something: "Given her academic background, she seemed to tower over her competition."
3. An emotionally strong person who gives a great deal of support or help during difficult times: "His wife has been his tower of strength during his illness."
tower (TOH uhr)
Someone who or that which pulls a vehicle with a rope or chain: "When the engine in our car died, we called the garage and asked if someone could come and be a tower of our car."
"The police sent a tower to remove the illegally parked car."
tracked, tract, trekked
tracked (TRAKT)
1. Vehicles that travel on a railroad using air suspension instead of traditional rails: "The latest tracked vehicles go from the hotel downtown out to the airport."
2. To have searched for something until it was found: "The dogs tracked the missing child through the tall grass."
3. To have brought mud or other mess into a clean space: "After the storm, we all tracked mud into the back porch."
tract (TRAKT)
1. A defined area of land which may be either large or small: "They bought a tract of land that included a fine stand of timber."
2. A printed flyer or pamphlet of a religious or political nature: "We received the tract from the local church in our mailbox this afternoon."
trekked (TREKT)
To have migrated or to have made one's way towards something with great difficulty: "The miners trekked over snow covered mountains to get to the gold fields in North America."
transience, transients
transience (TRAN zee uhns, TRAN zhuhns, TRAN shuhns)
Characterized as being short lived; passing briefly through a situation or locale: "There was something of a transience nature about the circus barker that made his employer cautious."
transients (TRAN zee uhns, TRAN zhuhns, TRAN shuhns)
Individuals who frequently travel from place to place, often in search of employment or a better life style: "Several transients came to the door at the farm asking for temporary work."
translate, transliterate
translate (TRANS layt, TRANZ layt, trans LAYT, tranz LAYT)
1. To change or transfer from one set of symbols to another: "He agreed to translate the document from German into English for me."
"Can you translate this list of measurements from Imperial measurements into Metric measurements, please?"
2. To move or to change either a physical location or the appearance of something: "The king agreed to translate his court from the city to the country estate of his friend."
"My friend slowly started to translate from being a simple country boy into an active city guy."
3. To explain or to interpret: "Would you like me to translate that complicated legal document into plain English?"
transliterate (trans LIT uh rayt", tranz LIT uh rayt")
To write or to spell something using the characters of a different alphabet: "My friend agreed to try to transliterate the ancient Egyptian script into English."
transsexual, transvestite
transsexual (trans SEK shoo uhl)
1. Someone who wishes to be considered by society as a member of the opposite sex: "After considerable struggle and counseling, my cousin informed the family that she is a transsexual and wished to change her name."
2. Anyone who has undergone a sex change: "My friend just completed a series of operations and is now a transsexual but she must take many kinds of medications to help her body adjust."
transvestite (trans VES tight", tranz VES tight")
A person who dresses and acts in a style or manner traditionally associated with the opposite sex: "The community was surprised when it was revealed that a popular male teacher at the high school was a transvestite and enjoyed dressing up like a woman."
trapping, trappings; trapping, trappings
trapping, trappings (TRAP ing, TRAP ingz)
A device that is used for catching animals; ensnaring: "During the winter, he was trapping several mice everyday."
"Despite all of the trappings he set for the mice, they were never completely eliminated."
trapping, trappings (TRAP ing, TRAP ingz)
An object or objects; activity or activities, etc., that are associated with a particular condition, situation, life style, or position in life: "He had a great deal of money and enjoyed all the trappings of success and wealth."
"Her friend inherited one more trapping to add to her other trappings when she advanced to her new position as the CEO of the company."
travail, travel
travail (truh VAYL, TRAV ayl")
1. Physical or mental exertion: "The travail of digging ditches was nothing compared to the mental travail of learning to live in a new country."
2. To work hard: "The hired helper on the farm agreed to travail for eight hours every day during which he would have an hour off for lunch."
travel (TRAV uhl)
1. To move or to go from place to place; or to go at a high speed: "Town gossip can travel very fast unless it is stopped by the truth."
"For my summer holiday, I plan to travel throughout many countries in Europe."
"I heard that the new train will travel much faster than the old one, so passengers will get where they want to go faster."
2. In sports, a violation of the rules in basket ball; such as, running with the ball: "The referee called a travel violation against the star player who was running with the basket ball instead of dribbling it."
I must often travel so I can referee basketball games. It can be a challenge to call a travel against a star player.
I realize that teams must travail together many hours to become good players.
tray, trey
tray (TRAY)
1. A shallow flat receptacle with a raised edge or rim, used for carrying, holding, or displaying articles: "The jeweler put several lovely watches on a tray for me to inspect."
2. A shallow flat receptacle with its contents: "The clerk put the tray of diamonds in the safe right after the store closed for the night."
trey (TRAY)
A card, die, or domino with three pips (spots): "He rolled a double trey with the dice and won the bet."
The gambler liked to use a tray when trying to roll a trey so the smooth surface would not jinx with the outcome.
treachery, treason
treachery (TRECH uh ree)
A serious violation of faith or confidence: "His letter seemed pure treachery given the faith I had in his promise."
treason (TREE zuhn)
Overt acts to overthrow a government to which one has pledged allegiance or any significant betrayal of trust: "It was an act of treason by our associate to tell the conspirators where we were hiding."
tri-, try
tri- (TRIGH)
A prefix used to indicate three of something: "He wore a tricorn hat to the parade."
try (TRIGH)
1. To attempt to do something, to experiment with something: "I will try a dish of pistachio ice cream this afternoon."
2. To undertake a judicial procedure to determine the guilt or innocence of an individual: "The judge agreed to try the traffic offender without a jury."
It's a good idea to try to use the prefix tri- to form many words that mean "three" plus whatever word element it is attached to; such as, "tripod, triple, triangle", and many others which can be seen by going to this tri-, tre-
unit shown on this Word Info site.
triumphal, triumphant
triumphal (trigh UHM fuhl)
Characterized by a joyful success or victory: "Winning the election was a triumphal moment in her career."
triumphant (trigh UHM fuhnt)
An event planned to rejoice and to celebrate a significant event: "The mayor planned a triumphant parade for the football team because it finally won the pennant."
troop, troupe
troop (TROOP)
1. A group or gathering of soldiers, people or animals: "We watched the troop of monkeys when we went to the zoo."
"There was a large troop of people gathered in the park for the celebration."
2. To walk, to gather, or to move in a large group: "We watched the band troop into the stadium before the games started."
"The sailors decided to troop down to the dock and watch the ship land."
troupe (TROOP)
1. A group of performers for the theater: "The summer troupe at the playhouse decided to perform one of the plays of Shakespeare."
2. To travel with or to perform with such a group: "In Medieval Times, a troupe of minstrels would troupe from town to town playing on their instruments and entertaining the crowds."
trooper, trouper
trooper (TROO puhr)
A horseback mounted police officer or a member of a cavalry: "My cousin is a trooper in the local police force and rides her horse during parades."
trouper (TROO puhr)
An individual who travels with a musical or theatrical group: "A troubadour could also be considered a trouper because a troubadour often traveled with groups of actors."
trussed, trust
trussed (TRUHST)
1. Having tied someone up tightly to prevent movement: "The thieves trussed up the museum guards and then proceeded to steal several paintings."
2. Having used a strong frame of wooden beams, bars, or rods that have supported a roof or bridge: "The roof of the house was trussed with wooden supports while the bridge was trussed with steal bars."
3. To have tied together the wings and legs of a turkey, chicken, duck, goose, etc. for cooking: "Her mother stuffed and trussed the duck for roasting."
trust (TRUHST)
1. A belief that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, effective, etc.: "The friendship of the couple is based on a mutual love and trust; however, the wife's brother was noted for being a liar and so the husband had no trust in him."
2. An arrangement in which someone's property or money is legally held or managed by someone else or by an organization; such as a bank, usually for a set time: "Her father created a trust for his daughter and the property will be held in trust until her 18th birthday."
3. To believe that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, effective, etc.: "Working together is going to be difficult if you don't trust each other."
"I am confident that he will do the right thing and so I trust him."
trustee, trusty
trustee (tru STEE)
1. An individual to whom property is legally assigned for that person to administer for the benefit of another individual: "I am the trustee of the bank account for my friend who is in the hospital."
2. An individual who occupies a position of trust and responsibility: "My nephew is a trustee with the local bank."
trusty (TRUS tee)
1. Dependable, reliable; used especially to describe a useful tool, device, etc., which a person has had and used for a long time: "I always carry my trusty pocket knife with me."
2. A prisoner who is serving time in a prison and is trusted and given special privileges because of good behavior: "As a trusty, he had easy access to the prison library and even helped to distribute books to other inmates."
turbid, turgid
turbid (TUR bid)
Not clear, heavy with smoke, and characterized by obscurity: "The air in the factory was turbid and it was difficult to see across the room."
"He chose to maintain a turbid lifestyle and rarely went out in public."
turgid (TUR jid)
1. Plumped up, swollen, not wilted: "The stalk of celery was turgid and crisp when I bit into it."
"After I hit my thumb with a hammer, it became very turgid and purple."
2. Characterized by a manner that is excessively embellished or bombastic: "The count tended to wear sweeping feathers on his hat and spoke in a turgid manner, using all sorts of glittering and fancy words."
turf, turf
turf (TURF)
1. The top layer of soil and grass in a natural field or a sport's playing area: "The maintenance staff kept the turf smooth and even for the soccer players."
2. A track for horse racing: "We watched the horses cut up the turf as they raced around the track."
3. Chiefly British: To remove forcefully: "After the customer had become rowdy, the owner decided to turf the customer out."
turf (TURF)
1. An area or a place that is controlled by a group who feel that it is their home: "Our basketball team beat their opponents on their own turf."
2. The territory or portion of a city that is claimed by a gang for its activities: "The gang leader sent a message to the other gang saying that if they know what's good for them, they will stay out of his turf."
3. In a figurative sense, dealing with an unfamiliar subject: "In the first chapter of his book, the writer seems to be presenting information about a topic which is on unfamiliar turf for him."
turkey, Turkey
turkey (TUR kee)
1. A pejorative term referring to a foolish or inept person who is often a failure: "He was such a turkey to think he could have won at the roulette table."
2. A large bird that occurs in the wild in North, Central, and South America or one that is raised domestically; frequently cooked and served for festive occasions: "We bought a large turkey at the market because we were expecting a group of friends for dinner tomorrow."
Turkey (TUR kee)
The country known officially as the Republic of Turkey that spans the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia and the Balkan region of southeastern Europe: "My friend's sister spent her summer vacation traveling with a tour group to Turkey and she thought it was a wonderful country to visit."
tutor, Tudor
tutor (TOO tuhr, TYOO tuhr)
1. A private instructor who gives additional, special, or remedial instruction to someone or others: "I was able to find a tutor who could help me with my math course."
2. A graduate, usually a fellow, responsible for the supervision of an undergraduate at some British universities: "She is a tutor in European history at this British university."
3. A teacher or teaching assistant in some universities and colleges having a rank lower than that of an instructor: "A tutor at the university was assigned to provide additional guidance to foreign students about the English language."
4. To give extra academic instruction to someone as a teacher: "We were able to earn extra money to tutor foreign-language students about English vocabulary in the evening."
"There are some teachers who stay after school to tutor students who need additional help in their subjects."
Tudor (TOO duhr, TYOO duhr)
1. An English ruling dynasty (1485-1603), including Henry VII and his descendants Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I: "There is a great deal of Tudor history to be learned about the rulers of England."
2. Of or relating to the royal monarchs of England: "When people study British history, they must not ignore the English royal family that descended from Sir Owen Tudor."
3. Relating to or characteristic of an architectural style having exposed beams as a typical feature: "The Tudor architecture employed large windows, many fireplaces, large bays, steep roofs, flattened arches, much carving, and paneling to make houses more livable."
tweak, tweet, tweeter, twit, twitter
tweak (TWEEK)
1. To pinch, pluck, or twist sharply: "Her son is very annoyed when his aunt has to tweak his cheek."
2. To adjust; to fine-tune: "The company may have to tweak the software program once more."
tweet (TWEET)
1. To utter a weak chirping sound: "Rescue efforts of the man and woman were hampered by the flocks of birds that continued to tweet as they circled the couple's heads."
2. A post or status update on Twitter, a microblogging service: "Because Twitter only allows messages of 140 characters or less, tweet is as much a play on the size of the message as it is on the audible similarity to Twitter."
tweeter (TWEE tuhr)
A small loudspeaker designed to reproduce high-pitched sounds in a high-fidelity audio system: "We had to adjust the tweeter on our speaker."
tweetup (TWEET uhp)
A meeting or other gathering organized by means of posts on the social networking service Twitter (from tweet + up, based on the word meetup): "Her sister had quite a party after tweeting a tweetup to the twits that she knows."
twit (TWIT)
1. To taunt, to ridicule, or to tease; especially, for an embarrassing mistake or fault: "He continued to twit his mother long after it stopped being humorous."
2. A foolish person: "He is a twit who always wants to tweet on Twitter."
twitter (TWIT tuhr)
1. Verb, to make fast and usually high sounds: "I could hear the bird twitter in the tree outside my bedroom window."
2. Noun, the short, high sounds that birds can make: "The twitter of songbirds filled the air."
3. In a twitter refers to being very nervous or excited about something: "She was all in a twitter about the birthday party."
4. A mini-blogging social-network service that lets a person update friends on what is going on at any particular moment: "Twitter allows blog posts of only 140 characters, which is just large enough for a sentence, or two, if they are very short."
5. A social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read other users' updates (known as tweets): "In March, 2009, Garry Trudeau's Doonesbury strip started to satirize Twitter, with the strip characters ironically highlighting the triviality of tweets and Roland, a character in the strip, defending the need to keep up with the constant-update trend or lose relevance in today's society."
In Garry Trudeau's "Doonesbury" comic strip of March 6, 2009, the last frame has a banner saying: Tweets for Twits.
twill, 'twill
twill (TWIL)
1. A fabric with diagonal parallel ribs and the weave used to produce such a fabric: "He was wearing pants make of cotton twill."
2. To weave (cloth) so as to produce a pattern of diagonal parallel ribs: "She could twill the woven cloth into very beautiful material for dresses and shirts."
'twill (TWIL)
1. A contraction of "it will" which is an archaic or a literary usage: "Well, 'twill be a long time before I do anything like this again!"
2. There are other forms of 't or the missing letter i in it plus verb forms:
"Oh, come on, 'tisn't all that difficult."
Maybe 'twasn't for you, but 'twas for me and besides, 'tis easy for you talk this way when you didn't have to go through the trouble. I repeat, 'twasn't an easy thing to do and if 'tweren't for the help of my friend, 'twouldn't be done at all!"
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