Confusing Words Clarified Group C

Confusing Words Clarified Group Chttp://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/4334/?letter=C&spage=20

Three words that every student of language should understand are homonyms, synonyms, and antonyms.

Homonyms are words that sound alike, but have different meanings. Synonyms are words that are related in meaning but do not sound alike (begin and commence, for example).

Antonyms are direct opposites in meaning, as hot and cold; white and black.

With homonyms, the following set of to, too, and two are all pronounced exactly alike, but by no means are they interchangeable in writing. To be sure that you choose the correct spelling for any on these, you must know the meanings of all three so you will not make wrong choices with a feeling of vagueness and uncertainty.
 
Efforts have been made to help you grasp the meanings of these and other words that may be confusing so you can utilize them with greater accuracy in your communication.

cabal, cable
cabal (kuh BAL)
A secret group often devoted to intrigue and to the overthrow of a political system: "The cabal consisted of men and women who were committed to achieving a new government by force if necessary."
cable (KAY buhl)
A rope, wire, or chain of considerable circumference and strength which may be used to hold or to fasten objects together or, as in telecommunications, to carry electric or message impulses: "The workmen installed the new cable for the telephone system."
When the workers were installing the new cable system in the basement, they came across a secret room where it appeared that a cabal of social advocates met.
 
cacao, coca, cocain, cocoa, coco
cacao (kuh KOU, KAY oh)
A South American tree, Theobroma cacao, which produces the seed pods from which cocoa is made: "Attempts to grow the cacao tree in North America were mostly unsuccessful."
coca (KOH kuh)
One of several South American plants of the Erythroxylon family, whose leaves contain cocaine and other alkaloids used to make highly addictive substances: "The dried leaves of the coca plant, chewed by people of the Andes for a stimulating effect is also used for extraction of cocaine."
cocain (koh KAYN, KOH kayn")
A narcotic (alkaloid) extracted from coca leaves; used as a surface anesthetic or taken as a narcotic which can become powerfully addictive as a stimulant of the central nervous system: "He attended a Detox program as he attempted to overcome his cocaine addiction."
cocoa (KOH koh)
1. Cocao beans which have been roasted and ground to a powder and from which much of the fat has been extracted, often used for baking or making a hot drink: "The recipe called for several spoonfuls of cocoa when making the chocolate cake."
2. The ground powder made from the cacao seeds which is mixed with milk or water and sugar to make chocolate (drink or syrup): "After a long walk on a snowy day, a cup of hot cocoa tastes delicious."
coco (KOH koh)
The coconut palm and its fruit: "When the tourist ship went into the harbor, the young boys climbed the coco trees and threw down the cocos."
As a tourist one must be careful when buying a hot drink of cocoa which is made from the seed of the cacao tree. Don’t be tricked into buying some coca leaves from which cocaine is made.
In fact, you are probably better off if you just buy coco from the local market.
 
cache, cash
cache (KASH)
1. Stockpile, secret repository: "The rebels had a cache of firearms in the mountains."
2. A place for concealment and safekeeping, as of valuables: "Not trusting banks any more, my father hid his cash in a cache in our book case."
3. A small fast-memory storage area in a computer that holds recently accessed data, designed to speed up subsequent access to the same data: "Your computer keeps information called cache memory. As the microprocessor processes data, it looks first in the cache memory and if it finds the data there (from a previous reading of data), it does not have to do the more time-consuming reading of data from a larger memory."
"Using disk cache memory speeds up computer operations, because accessing data stored in RAM (Random Access Memory) is much faster than accessing data stored on a hard drive."
cash (KASH)
1. Payment for goods or services in currency or by check: "The purchases were paid for with cash."
2. To exchange for or to convert into ready money: "The store will cash your check."
Hide that cash in the cache.
Cash is a purchasing plan where you pay 100 percent down, and nothing every month from that time onward. If you have any left over, you can always put it into your cache under the mattress.
 
cacophemism, dysphemism, euphemism
cacophemism (kuh KAH fuh mizm")
Relating to harsh discordant sounds, words or phrases: "During the speech by the senator, the reporter noted one cacophemism after the other, as the senator used many rough and harsh expressions."
dysphemism (dis FEM izm)
1. The deliberate substitution of an offensive expression for a neutral one: "His speech simply contained one dysphemism after another as he uttered "killed" and "died" or "dead" when referring to her mother."
2. Disordered phonation (producing vocal sounds), articulation, or hearing resulting from emotional or mental deficits: "His stuttering was an example of dysphemism."
euphemism (YOO fuh miz" uhm)
Use of a mild, neutral, evasive, or vague term in place of one considered taboo, offensive, blunt, or unpleasant: "When he referred to his occupation, he described himself with the euphemism sanitation worker instead of using the term garbage collector."
 
caddie, caddy
caddie (KAD ee)
A golfer's assistant who carries a bag of clubs and performs other duties for a golfer: "He caddied for Mr. Smith yesterday."
Either caddie or caddy refers to a person who carries a golfer's clubs on the golf course.
caddy (KAD ee)
A can for storing tea: "She found an antique tea caddy which was used to keep tea in."
After a long day on the greens, the caddie went home and made a pot of tea, selecting his favorite tea from the antique caddy he inherited from his grandmother.
 
Cain, cane
Cain (KAYN)
1. The brother of Abel (in the Bible); a murderer: "The Bible stated that Cain was jealous of his brother Abel and therefore killed him."
2. Colloquialism, "raising cain" or causing a violent disturbance: "During recess, the students raised cain on the play ground and the principal had to intervene".
cane (KAYN)
1. A walking stick that often has a curved handle and it used to help someone to walk: "Many years ago it was not unusual to see a gentleman carrying a cane when he was walking in the park."
2. A bamboo-like stem: "He went out to harvest sugar cane."
3. As a verb, to hit someone with a cane or stick as a form of punishment: "In the past, some teachers would cane students who misbehaved."
In the past, a school master carried a cane which he used to cane unruly students who were raising cain on the playground.
 
calendar, calender, colander
calendar (KAL uhn dur)
A table showing the months, weeks, and days of the year: "Each year on January 1, I give my friends and family a new calendar."
calender (KAL uhn dur)
A machine in which cloth or paper is glazed by rollers: "When making paper, part of the process is to use the calender which rolls the paper very thin."
colander (KUHL uhn dur, KAHL uhn dur)
A bowl that has many small holes or perforations in the bottom used for washing, straining, or draining food: "She used the colander to drain water from the spaghetti right after it was boiled."
A calendar is the proof that our days are numbered! It is also a system that plans its work a whole year ahead and never fails to finish on time.
My niece learned to use a calendar for her paper making course. She made me a wonderful calendar on which I chart the chores required during the harvest season including getting out the colander for straining the cooked tomatoes while I am making sauce.
 
calk, caulk
calk (KAWK)
1. A tapered piece of metal projecting downward from the bottom of a shoe to prevent slipping: "During the winter, the horse shoes were made with a calk so the horse would not slip on the ice."
2. To put projecting metal on the bottom of each shoe: "The farmer wanted a blacksmith to calk the horse shoes before winter set in."
caulk (KAWK)
To fill a crack so it will not leak: "At the start of each fishing season, the fishermen will caulk their boats against leaks."
The fisherman tried to caulk his boat before winter set in. Later he went to the blacksmith to have him calk his horse in preparation for the coming winter.
 
call, caul
call (KAL)
1. To speak loudly; to shout: "The mother went to the door to call her children to come in dinner."
2. To give a name to someone or something: "After the birth of their daughter, her parents agreed to call her Katherine after her grandmother."
caul (KAL)
A membrane covering the head of a child at birth: "There are many superstitions about the caul of a child when it is born."
 
callous, callus
callous (KAL uhs)
1. Not feeling or showing any concern about the problems or suffering of other people: "He made a callous remark about those who were injured in the accident."
2. Emotionally hardened; unfeeling: "She had a callous indifference for the suffering of her neighbor."
callus (KAL uhs)
A hard, thickened place on the skin; especially, on the hands and feet: "He had callus areas on his feet from walking so much."
His impatient attitude was callous towards his friend who had a painful callus on his toe.
 
caloric, choleric
caloric (kuh LOR ik)
Relating to the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree of Celsius under certain atmospheric conditions: "In chemistry, the students studied the caloric tables in the text books."
choleric (KAL uh rik, kuh LER ik )
Hot tempered, easily moved to excessive anger: "His red face gave away the choleric nature of his personality."
The politician’s diet often consisted of foods with a high caloric level which unfortunately seemed to contribute to his choleric personality.
 
Calvary, cavalier, cavalry
Calvary (KAL vuh ree)
1. When this word is capitalized, it refers to the hill on which Jesus Christ was crucified: "Christ was crucified on Calvary, or Golgotha, which was near the site of ancient Jerusalem."
2. When this word is not capitalized, it refers to a sculptured representation of the Crucifixion, usually erected in the open air: "When we approached the church, we could see the calvary that had been erected there to symbolize Christ's Crucifixion."
cavalier (kav" uh LEER)
A gesture or offhand dismissal of important matters or showing no concern for something which is important or serious: "She has a cavalier attitude about spending money."
"They have a cavalier disregard for the rights of others."
cavalry (KAV uhl ree)
Members of the army who are assigned duties that require great mobility, either by horseback, motor vehicles, or helicopters: "When she enlisted in the army, her preference was to serve in the cavalry."
My aunt who was in the military cavalry, and was stationed in the Middle East, often told me about visiting Calvary during a special trip.
It upset her that some of the other visitors seemed to have a very cavalier attitude at the site.
 
can, may, might
can (KAN)
A mental or physical ability to do something: "I am sure that if I study hard enough I can pass the exams at school tomorrow."
may (MAY)
1. To be allowed or permitted to do something: "You may tell me your opinion, but that doesn't mean that I will change my mind."
2. Used to indicate that something is possible or probable: "If you work hard now, you may end up sitting in the supervisor's chair some day."
might (MIGHT)
1. Used to express that something is possible: "We might go if they ask us, but then again we might not."
2. Used to talk about a possible condition that does not or did not actually exist: "If you were older, you might understand what she is talking about."
Do you think it might be possible that I may write my examination tomorrow? I know I can study tonight and be ready by then.
 
Canap, canopy
canap (KAN uh pay, KAN uh pee)
A cracker or piece of bread spread with a seasoned mixture of fish, cheese, etc., and which is often served at a party: "A canap for a variety of taste choices was served on platters at the party."
canopy (KAN uh pee)
1. A covering fixed over a bed, throne, entrance, etc., as a decoration or shelter: "A crowd gathered under the theater canopy which extended over the sidewalk."
2. Sometimes used figuratively: "The canopy of the sky was wonderful to see."
At the reception for her friend, the caterers served lovely canap from trays that were on the trestle tables under the canopy erected on the lawn.
 
candid, candied
candid (KAN did)
Expressing opinions and feelings in an honest and sincere way: "He was quite candid about his past life."
candied (KAN deed)
Sugared; cooked with sugar until reaching a translucent appearance: "To make the Christmas cakes, the two women made their own candied fruit."
The chef was very candid with his cooking staff as he admonished them to use candied violet flowers when decorating the summer cakes which they would be preparing for sale.

cannon, canon, canyon
cannon (KAN uhn)
A large mounted gun that shoots heavy metal or stone balls and which was once a common military weapon: "In past wars, a variety of cannon were used to cause great devastation."
canon (KAN uhn)
1. A Roman Catholic Church law: "People are expected to know the canon of the Church."
2. An accepted rule or guide about how people should behave or about how something should be done: "Anyone who disregards every canon of honesty as she has, should be fired."
canyon (KAN yuhn)
A narrow valley with steep sides, often with a river in the bottom: "They rode the mules to the bottom of Grand Canyon to view the Colorado River."
It was against the canons for respectful behavior to fire a cannon over the canyon edge during the tourist season.
 
cant, can't
cant (KANT)
Words that are supposed to sound like serious statements about important issues; such as, religion or morality, but that are not honest or sincere: "We think the people are sick of hypocrisy and cant from their leaders."
can't (KANT)
A contraction of the words can not: "The child yelled out, 'I can’t do it!' Then he was urged by his father to jump off the diving board into the pool."
I can't tell you how offended I am by all the cant that is preached at the electorate during an election.
 
canter, cantor
canter (KAN tur)
A gait slower than a gallop but faster than a trot: "The rider kept the horse in an easy canter."
cantor (KAN tur)
The official soloist or chief singer of the liturgy in a synagogue: "Jan Pierce was a cantor before becoming an opera singer."
The cantor at our congregation was also a fine horsewoman and would take her horse out for a canter early in the morning.
 
canvas, canvass
canvas (KAN vuhs)
Coarse cloth used to make tents, sailing cloth, etc.: "The tent was made of green canvas."
canvass (KAN vuhs)
To survey, examine, or to investigate: "In the spring, she would canvass her neighbors, asking for donations to the charity."
Because it was raining when I went out to canvass my neighbors, I wore a canvas rain jacket so I could stay drier.
 
capable, culpable
capable (KAY puh buhl)
Having the ability required for a specific task or accomplishment: "We were sure that he was capable of winning the game."
culpable (KUL puh buhl)
Deserving of blame or censure as being wrong, evil, improper, or injurious: "He's more culpable than the others because he's old enough to know better."
The police investigator seemed to be very capable when he brought the charges against the two men stating that they were both culpable for stealing the car.
 
capital, capitol, Capitol
capital (KAP i t'l)
1. In the form of uppercase letters; for example: A, B, C, etc., rather than a, b, c: "In his e-mail message, he typed in lower case letters at times when he should have used capital letters."
2. Having the main offices of a government: "The state's capital city is where the main government officials are located."
3. When referring to a crime, having death as a possible punishment: "Homicide that occurs during the course of an attempted kidnapping is a capital crime in several states."
4. The amount of money, property, etc. which is used to start or to operate a new business: "Do they have sufficient capital to continue in business or will we lose our jobs?"
"He needed more capital for the investment."
capitol (KAP i t'l)
A building, or group of buildings, in which a state legislature meets and where other state government offices may be housed: "Have you seen the new capitol building which was recently built in our city?"
"The governor spoke on the capitol steps."
Capitol (KAP i t'l)
The white marble domed building in Washington, D.C., where the U.S. Congress meets: "The organization is lobbying Capital Hill to increase funding for educational research."
Capital punishment is when those guys in the Capitol of Washington, D.C. come up with a new capital tax.
 
carat, caret, carrot, karat
carat (KAR uht)
A unit of weight measuring pearls and precious stones, equal to 200 milligrams (7.05 ounces): "She was given a one carat diamond ring for her birthday."
caret (KAR it)
A mark (^) indicating that something needs to be inserted: "He included a caret, ^, while he was editing the lexicon, whenever it was necessary, to show where something should be added that was missing; such as, a word or phrase."
carrot (KAR uht)
An orange colored root vegetable: "She ate a raw carrot with her lunch."
karat (KAR uht)
A unit of fineness for gold, equal to 1/24 of the total amount of pure gold in an alloy: "Pure gold is 24 karat while gold that is 50 percent pure is 12 karat."
A carat is the unit of measurement by which many a woman estimates a man's love.
As a carrot to induce her to marry him, he dangled a ring which was made of 24 karat gold mounted with a two carat diamond.
She was so thrilled when she wrote to her mother that she used all sorts of marks including the ^ (caret) to communicate her happiness:
 
careen, career
careen (kuh REEN)
Typically involving speed, to move or sway from side to side: "The car appeared to careen down the street as if it were out of control."
career (kuh RIR)
A permanent profession or calling for which one trains: "It is often difficult to decide what career to choose when you are young."
Her career started to careen out of control when the boss discovered she had taken money from the cash register.
 
caries, carries
caries (KAR eez, KAR i eez)
Decay of teeth, bones, or tissues: "The dental assistant checked each of the students for caries as part of his job."
carries (KAR eez)
1. Moving something from one place to another while holding and supporting it: "She often carries her baby in her arms."
"My son always carries his books to school in a backpack."
2. Reporting information in the media: "The TV station carries reports on the weather 24/7."
3. Having something in a store and ready to be sold or to keep something in stock: "Her grocery store always carries a good selection of fresh fruits and vegetables."
My friend always carries an extra toothbrush because she is afraid of getting caries if she doesn't brush her teeth after every meal.
 
carol, carrel
carol (KAR uhl)
A song of joy or a hymn: "As a normal practice, they were singing a carol in church on Sunday."
carrel (KAR uhl)
A partially partitioned nook in or near the stacks in a library, used for private study: "The library didn't have another carrel available for me to do my research."
During the holidays, the library staff often gathered in an empty carrel to practice the carols they would be singing at the faculty lunch.
 
carousal, carousel
carousal (kuh ROU zuhl)
A party or revelry that is marked by drunkenness and out of control behavior: "The neighbors called the police when the carousal next door spilled out into the street."
carousel (kar" uh SEL, kar" uh ZEL)
1. A Merry-Go-Round: "The children enjoyed riding on the carousel in the park."
2. A circular conveyor system: "She saw her luggage on the carousel at the airport."
Because the sports team had to wait for a long time at the carousel in the airport, they started acting silly and the other passengers complained about their carousal.
 
cartilage, cartridge
cartilage (KAHR t'l ij)
Tough white fibrous connective tissue attached to the surfaces of bone joints: "When she fell during the tennis match, she tore the cartilage in her knee."
cartridge (KAHR trij)
1. Small arms ammunition or shotgun shells: "He carried the cartridge of shot gun shells in a special pocket in his jacket."
2. A small modular unit designed to be inserted into a larger piece of equipment: "The toner for the office printer came in a cartridge which made it easy to change."
3. A case containing reeled magnetic tape: "The small tape recorder required a cartridge of tape in order to record the speech."
4. A case with photographic film that can be loaded directly into a camera: "His old fashioned camera had a separate cartridge for the film, not a disk."
 
carton, cartoon
carton (KAR t'n)
A box made of cardboard: "When the carton is empty, please place it in the recycling bin."
cartoon (KAR toon)
An amusing drawing of people or things which are often also intended for satirical or political purposes: "That particular political cartoon in the newspaper always makes people laugh or, in some cases, there are those who may be offended."
On the side of the cereal carton was a note encouraging customers to collect the cartoon cards which were inside each box.
 
cask, casque
cask (KASK)
A barrel to hold liquids: "The cask of wine was stored in the cave."
casque (KASK)
A helmet, especially an ornate visorless headpiece of the 16th century: "The teacher wore a casque to illustrate the kind of helmet worn by a soldier of past."
The actor discovered that when he was wearing a casque, it was impossible to raise the small cask of cider to his lips for a drink without spilling it all over himself.
 
casket, gasket
casket (KAS kit)
A coffin wherein a dead body is placed: "We were amazed at the price of the coffin and asked to see other models."
gasket (GAS kit)
A seal used between matched machine parts or around pipe joints to prevent the escape of gas, fluids, etc.: "The rubber gasket on the pipes was important for the safety of the workers."
The old casket appeared to have a rubber gasket around the edge to prevent air from getting into or out of it.

cast, caste
cast (KAST)
1. To toss, pitch, throw, or fling something: "He cast stones in an effort to make them skip on the surface of the lake."
2. To assign a theatrical performer to a part in a drama: "My sister was chosen to be in the cast of the play."
3. To form into a given shape by pouring something into a mold; such as liquid metal, plaster, clay, etc.: "We were pouring clay into the cast which would result in the shape of a man."
caste (KAST)
A social class, rank, or order: "The former caste system in India tended to prevent people from getting an education and better jobs."
Even though my uncle was from the upper caste, he was active in the theater and was often cast in the part of a magician who could cast a ball up into the air and have it turn into a feather.
 
caster, castor, castor oil
caster (KAS tuhr)
1. A small wheel on a swivel, attached under a piece of furniture or other heavy object to make it easier to move: "It's a good thing that the sofa had a castor on each of its six legs because it was much easier to move it across the room."
2. Someone who throws something: "He was a caster of nets in the ocean so he could catch fish."
castor (KAS tuhr)
1. A British spelling of caster or a swiveling roller fastened under an article of furniture or portable machines to make them movable: "A castor on certain segments of furniture facilitate the movement of such structures."
2. An oily odorous secretion of beavers; used in medicine and perfumery: "I was surprised to learn that my wife's perfume was made from the unpleasant odor of the castor from beavers."
castor oil (KAS tuhr OIL)
A viscous fixed oil, colorless or pale yellow, extracted from the seeds of the castor-oil plant which is used as a cathartic and lubrication; and also, used in paint and varnish as well as medically: "When some people have bowel problems they might take castor oil as a cathartic which causes the emptying of the bowels."
The large cask of castor oil was sitting on the pallet which had casters under it for ease of movement.
It was clearly marked: CASTOR OIL so it wouldn't be confused with the small cask of beaver castor imported from Canada.
 
casual, causal
casual (KAZH oo uhl)
1. Occurring by chance, without predictable regularity, occasional: "During the summer vacation, he worked as a casual farmhand on his neighbor;s farm."
2. An offhand, unfeeling, or uncaring remark: "Her husband made a casual remark about her shoes."
"Her son has a casual attitude regarding his school homework."
causal (KAW zuhl)
Relating to any event or circumstances that brings about a result, expected or unexpected: "The heavy rains had the causal effect of raising the level in the river."
The unfortunate casual remark made by the neighbor had the unfortunate causal effect of breaking up their friendship.
 
cat, cats; kat, khat, qat
cat, cats (KAT, KATS)
1. A small animal that is related to lions and tigers and which is often kept by people as a pet: "My pet cat is curled up on the window sill enjoying the sunshine."
"The lion is often called the King of the Cats."
2. Now considered an old fashioned word to refer to a man who considers himself to be fashionable: "He was a cool cat who wore spats and a striped suit."
kat, khat, qat (KAT, KAHT)
The leaves of an evergreen shrub, Catha edulis of Arabia and Africa, the leaves of which are used as a narcotic or a euphoric stimulant when chewed or made into a beverage; such as, a tea by Arabs: "In some countries, kat is chewed and enjoyed on a daily basis."
The old cat thought he was so cool when he got some khat to chew, but when he got home he was so sleepy he forgot to feed his hungry cat.
 
cataclasm, cataclysm
cataclasm (KAT uh klaz uhm)
Disruption; breaking down: "This winter's heavy ice and snow resulted in a cataclasm of electrical and phone lines in several parts of the country."
cataclysm (KAT uh kliz" uhm)
1. A sudden and violent upheaval or disaster that causes great changes in society: "The revolution could result in a worldwide cataclysm."
2. A terrible and devastating natural disaster; such as, a flood: "An earthquake can cause a great cataclysm; especially, in a densely populated area."
The summer cataclysm of hail and heavy rains caused a cataclasm of the dikes along the river and a terrible cataclysm of flooding in the river bottoms.
 
catholic, Roman Catholic
catholic (KATH uh lik, KATH lik)
Comprehensive or broad in interests, tastes, or sympathies: "Extensive reading and attending lectures at the university gave her a catholic understanding of the issues."
Roman Catholic (ROH man KATH uh lik; ROH man KATH lik)
A member of the Roman Catholic church; relating to the structure and organization of the Roman Catholic church, a hierarchy of priests and bishops, etc.: "The head of the Roman Catholic church is the pope."
Her friend attended a university run by an order of the Roman Catholic Church where she received a very catholic education which included literature, science, and mathematics.
 
caudal, caudle, coddle
caudal (KAWD'l)
Relating to or situated towards the end of the body: "The rooster has large brightly colored feathers at the caudal end of his body."
caudle (KAWD'l)
A warm drink for invalids made of bread, eggs, sugar and spices: "The nurse mixed a warm caudle to give to the ill person who came to the hospital."
coddle (KOD'l)
1. To treat someone with too much care or kindness; to pamper: "She has a tendency to coddle her children too much."
2. To cook slowly in liquid that is just below the boiling point: "On Sunday mornings he liked to coddle an egg or two for breakfast."
The doctor thought the woman tried to coddle her son too much; especially, when she made a dish of caudle every night before bed.
Then one night, he spilled the caudle on purpose and the mother spanked him on his caudal.
 
cause, caws
cause (KAWS)
1. A strong social position or movement which adherents believe must be defended: "The young man stood proudly behind the cause of his friends to raise money for charity during school hours."
2. Something or someone that produces an effect, result, or condition: "The exact cause of the accident is still not known."
3. To make something happen or exist: "If he swerved the car, that could have been the cause of the accident."
caws (KAWS)
The cry or "song" of such birds as crows or ravens which are loud and raucous: "The ravens at the Tower of London greeted the day with loud caws and much wing flapping."
The caws of the crows were the cause of my waking up early in the morning.
Fortunately, this gave me more time to prepare for the committee that was working for the cause of the unemployed.
 
cede, seed
cede (SEED)
To yield or to transfer, typically through a written document or treaty: "The lawyer stated that by signing the papers on his desk, I would cede my property to my cousin."
seed (SEED)
1. A small object produced by a plant from which a new plant can grow: "The farmer was very proud because he had a new machine to help seed the fields."
2. The beginning of something which continues to develop or grow: "Her comment planted a seed of doubt in his mind."
I plan to cede my community garden plot to my friend who will seed it with several different kinds of plants.
 
-ceed, -sede, -cede
-ceed (SEED)
A suffix from Latin cedere, "to go": "Only three words end with suffix -ceed: exceed, proceed, and succeed."
-sede (SEED)
A suffix from Latin sedere "to sit": "Only one word ends with -sede: supersede (never supercede.)"
-cede (SEED)
A suffix from Latin cedere, "to go": "All of the following words end with -cede: accede, antecede, cede, concede, intercede, precede, recede, and secede."
 
ceil, seal
ceil (SEEL)
1. To provide or to cover the upper interior surface of a room: "The plasterer created a decorative new ceil in the dining room during renovations."
2. To line a ship's bottom and sides with planking: "They had to construct a proper ceil for the ship so it could withstand the forces of the sea."
seal (SEEL)
1. A die or signet having a raised or incised emblem used to stamp an impression on a receptive substance; such as, wax, paper, or even lead: "He had a special seal for his books with his name impressed in the front page."
2. A marine animal or any of various aquatic carnivorous mammals found chiefly in the Northern Hemisphere and having a sleek, torpedo-shaped body and limbs that are modified into paddle-like flippers: "It was noisy but interesting to hear and to see the seal colonies near the beach."
3. To close tightly or hermetically: "They will seal the blacktop driveway with a new coating to make it more water proof."
The ship had a new ceil which meant we could sail out to the islands to enumerate the herd of seals.
Once the count was done, the captain would seal his report using a red wax seal before mailing it to the appropriate authorities.
 
ceiling, sealing
ceiling (SEEL ing)
1. The top of a room or any overhanging structural area: "The painter applied green paint to the ceiling in the living room."
2. An upper limit, especially as set by a regulation: "The government set a wage ceiling for the next year."
sealing (SEEL ing)
1. A design, initial, or other device which is placed on an official letter or document: "The prince used a red sealing wax to close his letters."
2. Something that closes or fastens tightly or securely: "When packing to move, she used sealing tape which was reinforced with string to ensure the boxes would not come open."
A sign in a munitions factory stated: "If you insist on smoking in this building, be prepared to leave this world through a hole in the ceiling."
Once the ceiling was finished, the painters used a sealing coat before starting to paint.
 
celery, salary
celery (SEL uh ree)
A plant (Apium graveolens) the stalks of which are typically ribbed, green and are eaten either cooked or raw: "For her daily lunch, she always included several celery sticks because she liked the crunchy texture."
salary (SAL uh ree, SAL ree)
Compensation or wages paid for services: "She supplemented her small salary by getting a second job."
When I worked on a farm one summer, part of my salary was vegetables from the field. I especially liked the green celery.
 
cell, cells; sell, sells
cell, cells (SEL, SELZ)
1. A small room in a prison: "The author provided a realistic description of the prison cell in which his protagonist had lived for many years."
2. Small, hollow places: "Honey combs are made up of connecting cells joined to each other."
3. A unit of living matter: "With the fine new microscope, the scientist could study the cell matter of the plant."
4. The container which holds the material to produce electricity: "The mechanic had to add water to each battery cell so the car would start again."
sell, sells (SEL, SELZ)
1. To exchange something for money: "She was desperate for money when she agreed to sell her mother’s jewelry."
2. To make things available to be purchased: "This is one of the few stores which sell that type of equipment."
3. To persuade someone to accept or to approve of something or someone: "You will really have to sell yourself at the interview to get that job."
The young guy was caught trying to sell stolen property for which he was sentenced to spend time in a small cell at the local jail.
While he was there, he invented a new solar cell for producing electricity which he now sells over the internet.
 
cellar, seller
cellar (SEL ur)
1. A room for storage, usually below ground or beneath a building: "At the end of the summer, she had 1,000 containers of food stored in the cellar to feed her family through the winter."
2. The lowest level or standing; especially, in the relative standing of athletic teams: "The new player had the cellar position on the team; so, the only way to go was up."
seller (SEL ur)
1. Someone who exchanges a product or service for money; a vendor: "The street seller pushed his cart along the beach, selling ice cream and sodas."
2. An item that is purchased in large numbers and in a specified manner: "The store stocked 500 copies of the book based on the review which said it would be a best seller!"
For a long time, he has been known as a "basement salesman" or a cellar seller.

cement, concrete
cement (si MENT)
1. A combination of chemicals which is pulverized and used to create mortar, a substance to bind or stick, e.g. bricks, together in a building: "The workers mixed fresh cement when they were building the new house."
2. A binding together as in friendship: "The two friends drank a toast to cement their new friendship."
concrete (KAWN kreet", kawn KREET)
1. A strong building material created out of sand, water and a pulverized chemical mixture: "The machine poured the concrete for the new sidewalk in an efficient manner."
2. Actual, real, having qualities of reality: "The student asked his teacher if she could give a concrete example of what she was talking about."
When the concrete was still fresh on the side walk, two of the boy's friends drew their initials in it to cement their friendship in a concrete manner.
 
cemetery, symmetry
cemetery (SEM i ter" ee)
A place where the dead are buried: "The famous author is buried in the local cemetery."
symmetry (SIM i tree)
The quality of something that has two sides or halves which are the same or very close in size, shape, and position: "During her travels, she admired the symmetry of the ancient buildings in Italy."
I noticed the symmetry of construction of the tombs in the cemetery.
 
censer, censor, censure, sensor
censer (SEN suhr)
An article used in certain religious services; such as, a container for burning incense: "The priest walked slowly, swinging the censer while chanting prayers."
censor (SEN suhr)
1. Someone who examines things for non-conformity or possible evil: "The censor told the reporter that he was not allowed to speak on TV because he was going to attack the administration of the dictator."
2. To examine and to subject a book, writer, etc. for suppression or prevention from becoming known, when it is regarded as objectionable for any reason: "The censor banned the author's book because of the obscene language in it."
censure (SEN shur)
An act of condemnation or to make a formal, often public statement of disapproval of somebody or something: "She was held up for public censure because of her radical views regarding birth control."
sensor (SEN suhr, SEN sor")
A device capable of detecting and responding to physical stimuli; such as, movement, light, or heat: "To enhance her sense of safety, the electrician installed a light sensor at the corner of the garage which would illuminate the back yard."
A homonym is a word which is similar to another in sound, but has a different meaning; such as, in the sentence: Censers smell sweet, censors are foul.
A censor is a faultfinder who always sticks his no's into other people's business and a moralist who is always trying to tie the nation into hard not's.
During our tour of the church, the guide demonstrated how the censer was used; however, in doing so, he activated the smoke sensor and set off the fire alarm.
This brought him the censure of his supervisor who sometimes acted like a censor by telling the guides what and what not to say.
 
census, senses
census (SEN suhs)
The periodic enumeration of the population in a specific geographic area; such as, a city: "Her first summer job was to conduct a census in the capital city."
senses (SEN suhs)
Conscious awareness of rationality or meaning: "She came to her senses and realized her mistake at the last minute."
The governor indicated that it makes sense to him to conduct a periodic census because it gives a real sense of what the issues are for the people.
 
cent, scent, sent
cent (SENT)
A monetary unit or coin worth 1/100th of the basic value: "That car is not worth a cent."
scent (SENT)
1. A particular odor or smell, typically pleasant but not necessarily: "He could smell the rancid scent from the factory long before he got to the front door."
2. An indication or hint of something to come: "There was a scent of trouble in the air."
sent (SENT)
The past tense of send or to cause something to happen, to communicate, or to convey: "He was sent away in disgrace because of the poor language he used in the meeting."
"She was sent to Australia on a mission by the government."
My friend was sent by his wife to buy something called "penny perfume" or "cent scent".
 
cents, cense, scents, sense
cents (SENS)
A monetary unit or coin worth 1/100th. of the basic value, sometimes used in an expression equating words with money: "He's always ready to offer his two cents worth on any topic, whether he knows anything about it or not."
cense (SENS)
To distribute an odor or perfume by using a censer: "When a priest uses a censer it is to cense the church, filling it with the odor of the incense being burned."
scents (SENS)
Particular odors or smells, typically pleasant but not necessarily: "On her dresser were several bottles of scents which she uses depending on her mood."
sense (SENS)
Awareness of rationality or meaning; agreement: "After the teacher explained the equation, it all made sense to her."
The student had a few cents in her pocket which her common sense told her that she should spend on food, but she really wanted to purchase some fresh incense which she could burn to cense her apartment and to replace some of the unpleasant scents from the restaurant kitchen downstairs.
 
cere, sear, seer
cere (SEER)
The thick skin at the base of the upper beak of some birds: "With parrots, the cere contains the bird's nostrils."
sear (SEER, SEE ur)
To scorch, char, or burn the surface of or as if with something very hot: "The directions said to sear the roast on all sides before roasting it slowly in the oven."
seer (SEER)
A prophet or a clairvoyant: "The prophet at Delphi was considered a seer and people often petitioned her for advice."
The seer wore a mask which was made to look like a bird’s head complete with the cere which was drilled with holes so the seer could breathe.
In this guise, the seer told the assembly of people that they should sear the roast over the fire and then slow roast it until it was done.
 
cereal, serial
cereal (SEER ee uhl)
1. An edible, starchy grain yielded by certain plants of the grass family; such as, rice, wheat, rye, oats, etc.: "Farmers around the world are raising some kind of cereal which is used for bread, breakfast food, etc. all of which are necessary to feed many people on a global scale."
2. The grain and the food made from the grain: "A multitude of cereal types of food exist for people to eat for breakfast and all of their other meals every day."
serial (SEER ee uhl)
A novel or other story regularly presented in successive installments; such as, in a magazine, on radio, television, or in motion pictures: "She published a serial about the suffering of women in various parts of the world."
She wanted to check the serial number on the box of cereal before she bought it because the box might contain a card with the next installment of the serial novel she was reading.
 
cession, session
cession (SESH uhn)
The act of giving up something; such as, power, land, or rights to another person, group, or country: "The law required cession of the land to the heirs"."
session (SESH uhn)
1. A period of time that is used to do a particular activity: "His health insurance will cover just twelve one-hour sessions of therapy this year."
2. A formal meeting or series of meetings of a group of people; such as, a court of law or legislature: "The U.N. Special Session on Disarmament will take place next month."
3. A period of time during the year in which a school, college, or university has classes: "My children will be going to special classes during the summer session and then the school will be back in regular session at the beginning of September."
The new session of the legislature will deal with a cession of government properties to private ownership in order to reduce some of the government debt.
 
cetaceous, setaceous
cetaceous (si TAY shuhs)
Any of a number of large marine mammals with long bodies, fins, and hairless bodies: "The whale is among the largest of the cetaceous mammals in the sea."
setaceous (si TAY shuhs)
An object consisting of or made with bristles: "The curry brush for the horse was setaceous with bristles from pigs."
Whalebone is the horny substance from the upper jaw of a cetaceous mammal.
More often, it is used to stiffen fabric for the clothing of women, and it might also have been used for the setaceous construction of industrial brushes.
 
champ, chomp
champ (CHAMP)
1. An informal reference to champion: "He was proud to be the champ of his basketball team."
2. To make biting or chewing noises; to show impatience: "You could hear the man champ on his pipe angrily."
chomp (CHOMP)
1. To chew or to bite on something in a noisy way: "We could hear the horse chomp on the oats."
2. To chew or to bite on something repeatedly: "He was obviously nervous because he could only chomp on his cigar over and over again."
The black horse was the racing champ of the stables and the owners gave him carrots and apples to chomp on as a reward.
 
champagne, champaign
champagne (sham PAYN)
A sparkling white wine specific to a region in France, Champagne Province: "He ordered champagne at the restaurant when they went to celebrate his new job."
champaign (sham PAYN)
A stretch of level and open country; a plain: "The champaign of the prairie stretched before them as they started out on their holidays."
Champaign is a city of east-central Illinois adjoining Urbana. Founded in 1855 with the coming of the railroad, it is a commercial and industrial center in a fertile farm area.
After crossing the champaign in the late afternoon, they decided to celebrate with a glass of champagne at the local restaurant.
 
chance, chants
chance (CHANS)
1. The likelihood of the occurrence of an event: "The chance of it raining today is very high."
2. An unexpected, random, or unpredictable event: "The chance of a thunderstorm this time of year is 100 per cent."
3. A risk or hazard; a gamble: "They sat around the table playing a game of chance, betting food coupons instead of real money."
chants (CHANTS)
1. A short, simple melody in which a number of syllables or words are sung on the same note: "In the middle of the night, the monks rose to sing a chant in the church."
2. A monotonous rhythmic call or shout: "The chant of demonstrators at a meeting disrupted the speaker."
We had the rare chance to stop at the monastery just as the monks started their chants in the chapel.
 
chanty, shanty
chanty (CHAN tee)
A song sung by sailors to the rhythm of their movements while working: "The singer always included a sea chanty or two in her performance."
shanty (SHAN tee)
A roughly built, often ramshackle cabin; a shack: "The old shanty by the river was destroyed when the river flooded."
The old river pilot lived in a shanty near the river and often entertained passersby by singing a familiar chanty about the river boats of the past.
 
charted, chartered
charted (CHART id)
1. A map showing coastlines, water depths, or other information of use to navigators: "They charted the course of the ship."
2. A sheet presenting information in the form of graphs or tables in order to make a plan for something: "She charted her own career path and he charted a new course for the company."
chartered (CHAR tuhr id)
Assigned or hired; such as, to hire a ship, bus, etc. for temporary use: "The bus was chartered by our school to take students to the football game."
After we had charted the route for our holiday, we chartered a bus to carry all of us and our luggage to the mountain lodge.

chased, chaste
chased (CHAYST)
1. The past tense of "to chase"; to have run after or pursued in order to catch someone or something: "She chased after her child before he could run out into the street."
2. Having caused someone or something to go away: "She chased the cats out of her garden so they wouldn't catch the birds."
chaste (CHAYST)
Not indulging in unlawful sexual activity, being decent and moral: "She remained chaste through out her engagement and married as a chaste bride."
A chaste woman is seldom chased.
My neighbor was chaste and upstanding. It always broke her heart if someone chased a stray animal into her yard.
 
cheap, cheep
cheap (CHEEP)
1. Not expensive or not costing a lot of money: "You can always get a cheap meal at this restaurant."
2. Low quality, not worth a lot of money: "These curtains were made of cheap material."
3. Not willing to share or to spend money: "He was too cheap to pay for the dinner."
cheep (CHEEP)
To chirp or to peep, as a baby chick or to make a quick high sound: "I could hear the first newly hatched chick going cheep, cheep, cheep in the nest."
He has a less expensive bird for sale which he calls a cheap cheep or at least a cheaper cheeper.
 
check, Czech
check (CHEK)
1. In chess, the exposure of the King to capture, thus needing protection: "During the chess game, the strong player often moved his King, to avoid being in check."
2. In banking, a written order to be submitted to the bank, directing it to pay the amount indicated on the order: "She always used a check to pay her bills."
3. To inspect for accuracy or safety: "Her plan for the holidays was to check the tests the students wrote just before the holiday began."
4. To halt, slow down or stop, often abruptly: "He put out his hands to check his fall against the wall."
Czech (CHEK)
A native of or the language of the country of Czechoslovakia: "Even though she had lived in New York for many years, she still spoke Czech fluently."
When he accidentally fell, the woman's Czech companion managed to diminish his descent by putting out his hand; however, he had to go to a hospital for a check up after which he wrote a generous check to express his gratitude.
 
cheek, cheeky, chic, sheik
cheek (CHEEK)
1. The fleshy part of either side of the face below the eyes and between the nose and ears: "Her father kissed his daughter on the cheek."
2. British informal: impertinent boldness, an attitude, or way of behaving that is rude and does not show proper respect: "He had the cheek to insult his hosts at the party."
"She had the cheek to complain that our birthday present was cheap."
cheeky (CHEE kee)
Primarily British: rude and showing a lack of respect often in a way that seems playful or amusing; impertinently bold; impudent and saucy: "His cheeky humor often resulted in cheeky grins from the rest of us."
chic (SHEEK)
1. Conforming to the current fashion; stylish: "She always wore the most chic clothes."
2. Adopting or setting current fashions and styles; sophisticated: "This particular style is the height of chic this year."
sheik (SHEEK, SHAYK)
1. A leader of an Arab family, village, or tribe: "We paid a visit to sheik while we were traveling in his village."
2. A senior official in an Islamic religious organization: "We were happy to learn more about Islam from the sheik."
Chic refers to the woman who is always ready to take what's becoming to her.
The cheeky sheik tried to be very chic in his manners when he kissed his guest on the cheek.
 
chew, eschew
chew (CHYOO)
1. To bite food and to grind it with the teeth: "Many health experts believe people should chew their food more before they swallow it."
2. To meditate on; to ponder: "He had to chew the problem over before he could go on the trip."
eschew (es CHYOO)
To avoid doing or being involved in something disliked, harmful, or is not proper or right: "Many people eschew the violence that is going on in so many parts of the world."
There are those who are convinced that we should eschew the term masticate when we mean chew.
 
chews, choose, eschews
chews (CHYOOZ)
Biting and grinding with the teeth: "He prefers more chews and taking more time to consume his food during his meals."
choose (CHYOOZ)
To select or to prefer: "How can a person choose when there are so many things available?"
"We are being forced to choose sides in this dispute."
eschews (es CHYOOZ)
To avoid something especially because a person does not think it is right or proper: "She is a psychologist who eschews the traditional methods of psychotherapy."
Masticate is the word to eschew when you mean chew.
My cousin eschews green beans when she has to choose her vegetables because she doesn't like the texture when she chews them.
 
childish, childlike
childish (CHIGHL dish)
Suggesting a simplicity or immaturity befitting a very young person:His tantrums looked childish for a person who was working at the bank."
childlike (CHIGHLD lighk")
Resembling behavior or attitudes compatible with the period of a person's life when he or she was very young: "She had a childlike innocence about her that was appealing."
Her nephew usually acted in a very childlike manner when he was visiting his grandmother; but when he threw a temper tantrum, it was more childish than usual.
 
chile, chili; Chile; chili, chilli; chilly
chile, chili (CHIL ee)
Peppers, hot or sweet, that add a strong flavor to food such as a thick meat sauce: "The cook used several chilli peppers to flavor the soup."
chili, chilli (CHIL ee)
Alternative spellings for peppers, hot or sweet, that add a strong flavor to food; such as, a thick meat sauce: "The cook made a delicious chilli dish using three different kinds of chilli peppers."
Chile (CHIL ee)
A country in South American bordering on the Pacific Ocean: "For her vacation, she wanted to go to Chile to see the famous ruins and to enjoy the fine food and wine."
chilly (CHIL ee)
Unpleasantly cold; lacking in warmth or feeling: "The governor gave a chilly reception to his opponent on the blustery, chilly day."
When they were on a hiking vacation to Chile, they were often very chilly in the mountains.
It always felt good to stop for lunch and have a dish of chilli which was spiced with several different chilli peppers.
 
choir, quire
choir (KWIGHR)
1. An organized group of singers; especially, in a church: "I sang in the choir at my high school."
"The church choir was rehearsing for next Sunday's service."
2. The part of a church where singers assemble to sing during a service or ceremony:?The choir was in the balcony and the members of the choir had to climb the steps carefully before each performance."
quire (KWIGHR)
1. A compilation of 24 (or 25) sheets of paper of uniform size and quality: "The publisher decided to use a quire of yellow paper when publishing the book of poetry."
2. One twentieth of a ream of paper (500 sheets of paper): "I counted out a quire of paper when I was in the store buying paper for my printer."
The music for the school choir was available in a printed quire which they could buy at a local store.
 
choler, collar, color
choler (KAWL uhr, KOH luhr)
Hot tempered and easily provoked: "The candidate often demonstrated a choler temper when participating in a debate."
collar (KAWL uhr)
1. To get control of or to stop: "The dog catcher attempted to collar the run away dog."
"The police were waiting to collar the robber when he left the bank."
2. The band of cloth that finishes the neckline of a shirt or blouse: "The collar of the shirt was stripped, to contrast with the plain cloth of the shirt."
3. Any item worn around the neck, decorative as a necklace, or serviceable; such as, part of a harness for a horse: "She wore a diamond collar around her neck, a gift from her mother."
"The collar for the horse was studded with brass to create a decorative pattern."
color; British, color (KUL uhr)
1. Vividness and/or variety of language when speaking or writing: "She would often color her prose with startling descriptions to capture the readers?attention."
2. Visual distinction of an object based on the quality of light possessing hue, chroma (purity) and brightness: "The color of the ancient vase was a deep hue of cobalt."
3. To add distinction or vividness to a picture or writing: "The child liked to color pictures for her mother."
When someone is displaying a choler temperament and the color of his face is turning red, we sometimes say that he is getting "hot under the collar".
I think he should take a program to learn to collar his temper.
 
choral, chorale, coral, corral
choral (KOHR'l, KOR uhl)
Referring to a choir or chorus: "The choral group at the church met every Thursday evening to practice."
chorale (kuh RAL)
A hymn sung by the choir and congregation of a church: "J. S. Bach wrote many chorale pieces for soloists and choirs."
coral (KAWR uhl, KOR uhl)
Colonial marine animals and the hard, rock-like structure, formed by such organisms: "The pink coral in her necklace came from the coral reefs in the ocean."
corral (kuh RAL)
An enclosure for confining livestock; such as, horses, cattle, etc.: "The cowboys exercised the horses in the corral every morning."
For the TV program, the choral group, "The Singing Cowboys", was standing in the corral singing a chorale work which had been written for them.
Their insignia was a small piece of coral mounted on each of their silver belt buckles.
 
chord, cord, cored
chord (KORD)
1. At least three musical notes which are sounded simultaneously: "The piano concerto ended with a resounding chord."
2. Emotional or prevailing responsiveness: "Her comments struck a chord with her audience."
cord (KORD)
1. A long, thin material that is usually thicker than a string but thinner than a rope: "She wore the key to the house on a cord around her neck."
2. An electrical wire that is wrapped in a protective covering and used to connect a device to a power source: "We have to be careful that we don't get our feet entangled in the extension cord to our TV set and the lamp."
3. A part of the human body that is like a string or rope: "The body has a cord for various parts of its anatomical structure; including, a nerve cord, a spinal cord, an umbilical cord (at birth), and vocal cords, to name just a few."
4. An amount of wood that has been cut for burning in a fireplace, a stove, etc.; and such a unit contains cut fuel wood, equal to a stack measuring 4 ?4 ?8 feet or 128 cubic feet (3.62 cubic meters): "The truck delivered a cord of wood for our fireplace."
5. Clothing made of corduroy material: "He was wearing a black-cord jacket and dark blue cord pants."
cored (KORD)
The removal of the innermost part of such things as fruit: "She cored the pears and apples before using them in her pies and cakes."
 
chute, shoot
chute (SHOOT)
1. A narrow tube or passage that things and people go down or through: "We could see people sliding down a water chute."
2. An informal term for parachute: "His chute opened automatically as he dived from the aircraft."
shoot (SHOOT)
1. To cause a bullet, arrow, etc., to move forward with great force from a weapon: "Does this gun shoot accurately?"
"Last Saturday, I tried to shoot a gun for the first time and my friend wanted to shoot an arrow at the target."
2. To kick, hit, or throw a basketball, hockey puck, etc., toward or into a goal: "You can't really play hockey if you don't have a goal to shoot at."
3. To film or to photograph something: "They want to shoot the next movie in the mountains of Colorado."
4. A part of a new plant that is just beginning to grow above the ground: "We can see a new shoot on each twig of the tree now that winter is over."
The contestants ran down the chute onto the soccer field where the star player tried to kick the ball into the goal while the goalie made every effort to shoot it down with his foot.
The sports commentator worked hard to shoot all of the action on camera for a later broadcast on TV.
 
cinque, sink, sync
cinque (SINGK, SANGK)
The number five in cards or dice: "The roll of the dice resulted in a double cinque."
sink (SINGK)
1. To descend or to move to the bottom; especially, when it moves slowly or in stages: "You could see the rock sink down to the bottom of the pool."
2. To become lower in amount, value, etc.; or to decline or to decrease: "Just watch, this company's stock will sink after it announces that its profits are less than expected."
3. To do something that is morally wrong: "How could he sink to cheating like that?"
4. A basin typically with a built in drain and water supply used for washing hands, dishes, etc.: "He filled the sink with water to wash the breakfast dishes.
sync or synch (SINGK)
1. A situation in which two or more people or things move or happen together at the same time and speed: "You could see the dancers move in sync across the stage."
2. A condition in which two or more people or things agree with or match one another and work together properly: "Since his views are in sync with ours, we can proceed with the project."
An informal abbreviation of "synchronization, synchronism", or "synchronize", etc.
The two players were in sync during the game; however, I am afraid that their luck will sink because an opponent had a cinque in his hand.
After the game, all the players went to the sink to wash up before going out to dinner together.
 
circle, circle
circle (SUR kuhl), as a noun
1. A perfectly round shape: "The student drew a circle around the correct answer on the quiz."
2. An arrangement of people or things that forms a circumference: "The campers formed a circle around the campfire."
circle (SUR kuhl), as a verb
1. To form a line around something: "Again, you could see the members of the class circle what they thought was the correct answer."
2. To move or to go around someone or something: "The pilot had to circle the airport before he could land."
"The pioneers had to circle their wagons so they could defend themselves better if there were an attack."
When we were at camp, we would sit in a circle and look up at the sky and we could see the planes circle overhead while they waited for their turn to land at the local airport.
That reminded me of the time when I was a child watching skywriters flying overhead and drawing circles and other letters in the sky with the smoke from their planes.
 
circumscribed, circumspect
circumscribed (SUR kuhm skrighb'd")
1. To define a space carefully by drawing a line (literal or figurative) around a space: "The surveyor circumscribed the building lot before the purchase was finalized."
2. A limited size or amount of something: "The circumscribed number of officers on the Board was established by the committee."
circumspect (SUR kuhm spekt")
Thinking carefully about possible risks before doing or saying something: "These people are circumspect in all their business dealings."
As an architect you will need to be very circumspect in your dealings with the city board whose number is circumscribed by the city council.
 
cite, sight, site
cite (SIGHT)
1. To quote as an authority or example: "It is necessary that we cite our references for this information."
2. To mention or to bring forward as support, illustration, or proof: "They were required to cite several instances of insubordinate behavior by the new employees."
"The judge will cite him for contempt of court."
3. To publicly and to officially honor someone for an outstanding performance: "The mayor is going to cite the neighbor for his bravery in saving the three children from the fire at their house."
sight (SIGHT)
1. The act or fact of seeing someone or something: "The new house was a beautiful sight to see."
"The police were ordered to shoot the killer on sight if he showed any sign of resistance."
"We caught sight of a rare bird during our trip to the island."
2. The process or function of using one's eyes to obtain information: "We used our sight to read the inscription on the wall of the old building."
3. The foreseeable future or a prospect: "We could see no solution in sight."
4. Mental perception or consideration: "He lost sight of the purpose of his visit."
5. Something that is notable and worth being seen: "The view was quite a sight and was worth all the effort of climbing the mountain to see it."
6. Disorderly, messy: "My apartment was a sight and needed to be cleaned up before my mother came for a visit."
site (SIGHT)
1. The place or location for a structure: "The site of the stadium is up there on the hill and it is also a good site for the new high school."
"Now we have a website which can be of great value to anyone who wants to learn."
"We chose a site for our tent and set up camp for the night."
2. To locate or to position in a specific location: "We will site the models for the new buildings in the diorama tomorrow."
We had to cite the reservation data that was sent to us from the recreation authorities indicating that we were authorized to use this site for our summer camp because we wanted to have a beautiful sight of the lake.
 
clack, claque
clack (KLAK)
To make or to cause something to make a short sharp sound or series of short sharp sounds: "It was easy to hear the clack, clack, clack of her heels in the hall."
claque (KLAK)
1. A group of people hired to applaud at a performance: "When the politician spoke there was always a claque responding with an applause of approval."
2. A group of sycophants or fawning admirers: "A claque of apparent worshipers were always around the actress praising her for everything she said or did."
I may be cynical but whenever I see a claque of people together, I always expect to hear a clack as if the claque were gossiping like a clutch of hens in the farmyard.
 
clamber, clamor, clamour
clamber (CLAM buhr, KLAM uhr)
To scramble, climb, or crawl in an awkward way: "The children always clamber over the rocks."
"We could only clamber up the steep hill."
clamor (KLAM uhr)
1. To cry loudly and insistently for something: "There was a public clamor for an arrest in the case."
2. To be loud and noisy: "The children obviously wanted to clamor around them, and to sing songs and laugh."
clamour (KLAM uhr [chiefly British])
To ask for or to demand something in a loud way: "Fans were seen to clamour for autographs of the sports stars outside the stadium."
When they tried to clamber down the hillside, they disrupted a flock of geese, the clamor of which could be heard for miles.
A British member of the group wrote a message in his e-mail: "It was almost as if the geese were trying to clamour for attention."
 
classic, classical
classic (KLAS ik)
1. Belonging to the highest rank or class: "She bought classic clothing during her trip to Paris, France."
2. A literary work of ancient Greece or Rome: "Virgil was an ancient Roman author who wrote the classic, Aeneid, which was read in class."
classical (KLAS i kuhl)
1. A reference to the ancient Greeks and Romans; especially, their art, architecture, and literature: "The builder sought to imitate the classical architecture when building the garden for the count."
2. Relating to European music during the latter half of the 18th and the early 19th centuries: "Her preferences run to classical music; especially, that written by Chopin."
When his mother went to a classical music concert, she liked to dress in a suit with a very classic design.
 
clause, claws
clause (KLAWZ)
Part of a compound sentence which includes a subject and verb: "She set off the clause in her sentence with quotation marks to highlight its importance."
claws (KLAWZ)
Sharp nails at the end of the foot of an animal or at the end of a limb; such as, a crab: "The banquet included Alaskan crab claws as a special treat."
"The eagle was carrying a rabbit in its sharp claws."
The opera diva always had a clause in her contract that stipulated that she would be served crab claws on ice after each concert.
 
cleave, cleave
cleave (KLEEV)
1. To split something by hitting it with an object that is heavy and sharp: "Using this ax, we can cleave the log."
2. To pass easily and quickly through something: "The bow of the ship can easily cleave through the water."
cleave (KLEEV)
1. To stay very close to someone: "You could see the boy cleave to his mother in the shopping center."
2. To stick closely to something; usually used in a figurative sense: "His wife continued to cleave to the beliefs of her family's religious teachings."
Despite the storm, the cruise ship was able to cleave its way through the water; however, the man's wife was so frightened that he urged her to cleave to him and he would protect her.
 
cleaver, clever
cleaver (KLEEV ur)
A heavy cutting tool with a broad blade, used by butchers for cutting up large pieces of meat: "He used a cleaver to reduce the amount of meat on the leg of a cow that was delivered to the butcher shop."
clever (KLEV ur)
1. Skillful, adroit, dexterous with the hands and fingers: "Even as a little boy playing with blocks, he was clever with his hands."
2. Quick in thinking or learning; intelligent, quick-witted, etc.: "Some clever students started a business recycling old computers."
The clever butcher was able to use the cleaver very skillfully.
 
clench, clinch
clench (KLINCH)
To hold or to close tightly: "He started to clench his fists when he saw that the man was angry."
"We could see him clench his teeth as he continued to look straight ahead."
clinch (KLINCH)
To finalize or to bring to an end: "The judge comments appeared to clinch the argument between the lawyers."
"Her superior work on this project should clinch her a promotion."
It's a cinch that when the debater is trying to clinch his arguments, he will clench his fists and pound on the table top.
 
clew, clue
clew (KLOO)
A ball of yarn or thread: "In Greek Mythology, Theseus used a clew to find his way out of the labyrinth."
Primarily British, information that leads towards the solution of a situation or problem: "The detective was able to use one final clew to solve the murder."
clue (KLOO)
Something that serves to guide or to direct someone in the solution of a problem or mystery: "The spy provided a clue to the identity of the suspect."
In the mystery story, the inspector followed the clew of thread as a clue to finding the culprit.
 
click; clich; cliche; clique
click (KLIK)
A slight, sharp sound: "When the door shut, he could hear the lock click."
Clich; cliche (klee SHAY)
An expression or idea that has become trite (worn out or overly used) and so is no longer original: "The speech was littered one click after another all of which dated the speaker."
"The macho cop representations of Hollywood movies have become a click"
clique (KLEEK)
A small, exclusive circle or group of people: "At the local high school, the girls formed a special clique which only included girls with red hair."
A cliche is a remark that's right, but quite trite.
 
climacteric, climactic, climatic
climacteric (kli MAK tuhr ik, kligh" mak TER ik)
A critical period or year in a person's life when major changes in health or fortune are thought to take place: "I have always heard that when you turn 40, you are entering the climacteric period of your life."
climactic (kligh MAK tik)
Relating to or constituting a climax: "The music soared towards the climactic ending to the opera."
climatic (kligh MAT ik)
Influenced by or resulting from the prevailing weather conditions: "The climatic changes in global warming are affecting the polar bears in the Arctic areas."
The year I turned 60 seemed to be the climacteric period of my life.
I had reached the climactic point in my career and there was nothing more to do but retire and pursue my hobby which was to study the climatic changes in the environment.
 
climb, clime
climb (KLIGHM)
To rise or to move upward; especially, by using the hands and feet: "She wore heavy boots when she decided to climb the mountain."
clime (KLIGHM)
A shorter term for climate: "The students said they were off to their clime class to study global warming."
Some people have noticed that as they climb in the mountains, the vegetation is obviously influenced by the clime and soil conditions.
 
cloister, closure, cloture,
cloister (KLOI stuhr)
A place, especially a monastery or convent, devoted to religious seclusion: "After her husband was killed, Roxanna chose to live in a cloister with the nuns."
closure (KLOH zhuhr)
1. A feeling of finality or resolution, especially after a traumatic experience: "She decided to visit the scene of the accident to try to bring closure to her grief."
2. A bringing to an end; a conclusion: "The speaker announced that after one more question, he would bring closure to the meeting."
cloture (KLOH chuhr)
A parliamentary procedure by which debate is ended and an immediate vote is taken on the matter under discussion: "The rookie senator rose to present a motion of cloture, thus bringing the discussion to a vote."
The motion of cloture was approved and the next item of business for the council was the closure of a city landmark which was a former cloister built in the previous century.
 
close, close
close (CLOHZ)
Bringing to an end, stopping: "After a detailed summary, she brought the discussion to a close."
close (CLOHS)
1. Fitting tightly, little space between: "The box was packed in such a manner that everything was close and tightly fitted."
2. Secretive, stingy: "Scrooge in Dickens' story was very close with his money."
3. Referring to people who know each other very well and care about each other very much: "The two friends were very close, having gone to school together."
4. Being near or at a short distance or time away: "She was instructed not to drive her car so close to the one in front of her."
"The time for a decision is drawing close."
He thought he was getting close to a close, but he was too close to the door to close it.

clothes, cloths
clothes (KLOHZ)
Articles for personal apparel or household use: "Her clothes were often made of cotton which meant that they could be used as cleaning clothes when they were worn out."
cloths (KLAWTHS, KLAHTHS)
Soft pliable material made of woven or synthetic fabric often adapted for a particular purpose: "The brightly colored cloths were used to decorate the pavilion for the fair."
He hung up the wash cloths on the line just before changing his clothes.
 
coal, cole, kohl
coal (KOHL)
A dark solid burnable substance formed by the decomposition of vegetable matter subject to airlessness, moisture, and increased pressure and heat: "The miners worked in the coal mine, bringing up several truck loads every day to be sold."
cole (KOHL)
Plants of the Brassica genis including broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower: "The doctor told her to eat at least one cole every day as part of her diet."
kohl (KOHL)
A cosmetic preparation used to darken the eyelids: "The actress used kohl to emphasize her beautiful eyes."
 
coarse, course
coarse (KORS, KOHRS)
Inferior quality, rough textured; crude: "The language the mob used was coarse and angry."
"The carpenter used a coarse grade of sandpaper when he started the project."
course (KORS, KOHRS)
1. A path or direction of movement: "The bird watchers tracked the course of the swans when they returned for the summer."
2. Typical or normal action: "In the normal course of events, the students would start their summer vacation in July."
3. One of several parts of a meal: "The host served a delicious soup as the first course at the banquet."
While taking the course in school, we often had to endure coarse conversation from one guy who was loud in taste, manner, and mouth.
The rough track caused the athletes to complain about the coarse course.
 
coax, cokes
coax (KOHKS)
To persuade or to try to persuade by flattery or persistent pleading: "The host tried to coax the author to make a speech after dinner."
cokes (KOHKS)
Distillations of coals which are used as fuel and in making steel: "The steel factory burned large quantities of various cokes in order to produce rails for the railroads."
The factories were often trying to coax the cokes to heat the metals more efficiently.
 
collaborate, corroborate
collaborate (kuh LAB uh rayt")
1. To work together, typically in an intellectual undertaking: "The scientists agreed to collaborate in their research."
2. To assist or to work with an organization of which an individual may not be a member: "The spies agreed to collaborate with the enemy which was planning to invade the islands."
corroborate (kuh ROB uh rayt")
To confirm or to provide supporting evidence or information: "The independent research from the two scientists appeared to corroborate the cause of the disease."
 
collaboration, cooperation
collaboration (kuh LAB uh ray" shuhn)
1. To work together, especially in a joint intellectual effort: "The writers worked in collaboration to produce the book."
2. To give help to an enemy who has invaded a person's country during a war: "He was suspected of collaboration with the enemy."
cooperation (koh ahp" uh RAY shuhn)
1. The association of people or businesses for common, usually economic, benefit: "The report cited a lack of cooperation between state and local officials."
"The fair was organized with the cooperation of local businesses."
2. The actions of someone who is being helpful by doing what is wanted or asked for: "Thank you for your cooperation in adding new words to this project."
 
collage, college
collage (koh LAZH, kuh LAZH)
An art work created from the use of diverse materials; such as, paper, cloth, etc.: "The children worked on the winter collage as a class project."
college (KOL ij)
A school for education beyond preparatory or high school. Part of a larger university which offers degrees in specialized courses: "After high school, she had to decide to which college she would apply so she could become a teacher."
 
collision, collusion
collision (kuh LIZH uhn)
An encounter between two objects that results in an exchange or change of energy: "The traffic was snarled because of the collision between two large trucks; fortunately, no one was injured."
collusion (kuh LOO zhuhn)
A secret agreement or working together for a typically illegal purpose: "When the oil well failed, the operators suspected a collusion between the teams of workmen."
"She uncovered collusion between city officials and certain local businesses."
 
colonel, kernel
colonel (KUR n'l)
A highly ranking member of the military or similar organization; such as, the Salvation Army: "After her many years of service, she was proud to have achieved the rank of colonel."
kernel (KUR n'l)
1. The soft core of a seed: "For a special treat, they popped corn which was made of kernels of dried corn."
2. The essence or central aspect of a thought or an idea: "There was a kernel of truth to the story that was being told by the children."
Whenever our military commander wanted a very short snack, he would eat popcorn, which we referred to as "the colonel's kernels".
 
coma, comma
coma (KOH muh)
A state of deep unconsciousness typically caused by an accident or an illness: "She was found in a coma after the skiing accident."
"A traumatic brain injury is the most frequent cause of a coma."
"The doctors induced a coma in the patient to allow his body to recover from the severe accident."
comma (KAHM uh)
A punctuation mark in a sentence typically used to separate parts of a sentence or a list within a sentence: "The editor suggested the use of a comma to highlight the list of words, for example: cat, dog, bird, and fish."
 
comb, come
comb (KOHM)
1. An instrument with a row of long thin teeth used for straightening or organizing one’s hair or fibers: "She had to comb her hair after she woke up."
2. To go through carefully: "The archaeologist decided to comb the dessert, searching for the gold comb used by the ancient king."
3. The fleshy crown of male birds; such as, the common rooster: "The comb of the rooster became even redder when he was excited by the noise."
come (KUM)
To journey or to move towards something or towards a specific destination: "The map indicated that they would come to an oasis in the desert if they continued going in a straight line."
A rooster's unruffled, abroad or at home, because he always carries a comb.
 
comity, committee
comity (KOM i tee)
A social, friendly atmosphere or relationship promoting harmony: "The comity among the villagers promoted a peaceful life style which appealed to those seeking a restful holiday."
committee (kuh MIT ee)
A group of individuals acting together for a designated purpose; such as, to investigate a situation: "The committee of lawyers worked together to draft new legislation to settle land claims."
 
command, commend
command (kuh MAND)
To exercise authority or domination of a situation: "The colonel was in command of the campaign to bring fresh supplies to the area."
commend (kuh MEND)
To praise someone or something in a serious and often public way: "He commended the finder of the wallet and its contents for her honesty in returning everything."
 
commence, comments
commence (kuh MENS)
To start or to begin an undertaking "In September, I will commence my college education."
comments (KAHM ents)
1. To make a statement about someone or something: "When asked about his involvement in the scandal, he refused to comment."
2. A remark or note to explain or to criticize something: "The art critic’s comment was important to the artist because it included an approach that could improve her artistic efforts."
 
commission, omission
commission (kuh MISH uhn)
1. A written document authorizing an individual or organization to undertake a specific task: The committee received a commission from the president to investigate wrong doings."
2. A document conferring military rank or authority to an individual: "Her colonel issued a commission indicating she was now a sergeant."
omission (oh MISH uhn)
Something that has not been included or done: "There is still an omission of my name from the list of those who will be invited to the lecture."
 
common, vulgar
common (KAHM uhn)
1. That which is familiar or known by the general population: "It was common knowledge in the village that if there were no clouds in the sky, it obviously would not rain."
2. Falling below generally accepted standards, second rate: "Her manners appeared to be common, suggesting she had not lived in the city for very long."
vulgar (VUL guhr)
1. Crude, undeveloped, lacking in generally accepted good taste: "His speech was peppered with vulgar expressions which offended the audience."
2. Relating to the common people or the speech of common people: "The word vulgar comes from Latin vulgus, 'the common people, the multitude, a crowd, the throng' which is why it was placed here as a comparison with the other word in this group."
 
communicate, commute, compute
communicate (kuh MYOO ni kayt")
To exchange or to provide information in a manner that is clear and understandable: "To help herself to communicate better in the court room, the lawyer decided to take a public speaking course."
commute (kuh MYOOT)
1. To travel to and from a place in a regular fashion: "His daily commute from home to office took about one hour each way."
2. To change a decision or penalty to something less severe: "The courts decided to commute his sentence from the death penalty to 25 years in prison for his crimes."
compute (kuhm PYOOT)
To work out an answer by mathematical means: "The accountant used an adding machine to compute her tax rebate."
 
communication, computation
communication (kuh myoo" ni KAY shuhn)
Information provided in a manner that may include verbal, written, or behavioral: "He studied the intern's communication skills, reviewing written memos, noting her posture, and the use of her voice."
computation (kahm" pyoo TAY shuhn)
The act of determining, by mathematical means, the solution to a numerical problem: "Her computation skills were exceptional, earning her praise from her mathematics instructor."
 
compact, compact, impact
compact (kuhm PAKT, KAHM pakt")
1. Closely or solidly packed with little or no extra space: "The cabin was compact but it was still perfectly adequate."
2. Smaller than other things of the same kind: "The camera is compact and it is still very versatile."
3. A small case in which to carry cosmetics; such as, face powder: "The movie star got out her compact in order to powder her nose."
4. An automobile which is smaller than a medium sized car: "In order to save gas, the couple decided to purchase a compact car, replacing their larger model."
compact (KAHM pakt")
An agreement or a covenant: "The knight swore a compact with his king to protect the kingdom."
impact (IM pakt")
1. The act or force of one thing hitting something else: "No one could have survived such an impact of the large stone that came tumbling down that mountain onto the highway."
2. To make forceful contact with: "The impact of the collusion caused the air bags to inflate, saving the passengers from serious injury."
3. The impression of something which may be compelling or significant: "The impact of the discoveries of Madam Curie revolutionized science."
 
compellation, compilation
compellation (kahm" puh LAY shuhn)
The act of addressing or designating someone by name: "John Smith was the compellation of the author of the book."
compilation (kahm" puh LAY shuhn)
Something, such as a set of data, a report, or an anthology, that is gathered into a collection: "He had an extensive compilation of research data for his report to the government."
 
complacent, complaisant
complacent (kuhm PLAY suhnt
Self-satisfied and unconcerned: "The expression on his face was complacent, reflecting his lack of concern for the situation."
complaisant (kuh PLAY suhnt, kum PLAY zuhnt)
Exhibiting a desire or willingness to please; cheerfully obliging: "The butler, as represented in the movies, was always complaisant, speaking cheerfully to the guests."
 
complement, compliment
complement (KOM pluh muhnt)
1. Something that completes or perfects something else: "The new hat is a great complement to her outfit."
2. The usual number or quantity of something that is needed or used: "He had a full complement of animals for his farm."
compliment (KOM pluh muhnt)
1. A remark that says something good about someone or something: "He told her that he admired her paintings and she returned the compliment by saying that she was a fan of his sculptures."
2. An action that expresses admiration or approval: "When people recommend my book to friends and family members, I consider that to be the best compliment I can receive."
I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough. In fact, nobody has ever been bored by someone paying him a compliment.
 
complementary, complimentary
complementary (kom" pluh MEN tuh ree, kom" pluh MEN tree)
Going well together or working well together: "My wife and I have complementary objectives for the next years."
complimentary (kom" pluh MEN tuh ree, kom" pluh MEN tree)
1. Expressing praise or admiration for someone or something: "They made complimentary remarks about his singing."
2. Something which is given free of any charges: "The restaurant offers valet parking as a complimentary service."
 
complete, finished
complete (kuhm PLEET)
Having all the necessary parts; brought to a conclusion: "The kit was complete, having all the parts to build the model railroad car."
"The department manager stated that when the report is complete, he wanted to see it ASAP."
finished (FIN ish't)
1. To terminate, to bring to an end: "The speaker finished the speech with an amusing story."
2. Having reached the end of an activity, job, etc.: "He started his homework two hours ago and he still isn't finished."
 
complex, compound
complex (kuhm PLEKS, KOM pleks")
Complicated, a group of related items, the nature of which is not completely understood: "The scientist studied the complex of atoms, trying to understand what they represented."
"The teacher asked her students to write an example of a complex sentence."
compound (kom POUND, kuhm POUND)
1. To combine in such a manner as to create a whole or a mixture: "The druggist created a compound of several different medications to treat the rash on the patient's arm."
2. In banking, to pay interest on both the actual money (principal) in the bank, and the interest accrued: "The banks' policy stated that compound interest would be paid three times a year."
 
comprehensible, comprehensive
comprehensible (kahm" pri HEN suh buhl)
Understandable: "The secretary's job was to translate the manager's directives into comprehensible language for the workers in the factory."
comprehensive (kahm" pri HEN siv)
Complete, inclusive; dealing with all or many of the relevant details: "The director stated that the new report was the most comprehensive and comprehensible one she had ever read."
 
concert, consort
concert (KAHN surt)
A performance of music or dancing that is typically intended for the public: "She decided to buy a balcony ticket in order to attend the concert on the weekend."
consort (KAHN sort")
1. To maintain an association with an individual or group: "He was pleased when he realized that his daughter liked to consort with the musicians who often put on concerts in the park."
"He has indicated that he wants to consort with other writers."
2. A spouse, typically thought of as regal: "The Prince Consort often accompanied the queen during her travels."
3. A ship accompanying another in travel: "As the oil ship was traveling through the dangerous piracy area, there was a consort ship which was prepared to protect the bigger one."
 
concession, confession
concession (kuhn SESH uhn)
1. The act of giving up something or doing something in order to reach an agreement: "The company was willing to make this one concession to the strikers during negotiations."
2. Something that is done because a particular situation makes it necessary or desirable: "I take afternoon naps now as a concession to my working so late every day."
confession (kuhn FESH uhn)
1. A written or oral statement acknowledging guilt, made by someone who has been accused or charged with an offense: "She went to the police station and made a full confession."
2. The act of telling others about something that makes a person embarrassed, ashamed, etc.: "I have a confession to make about not being prepared to do this assignment."
3. An avowal of belief in the doctrines of a particular faith; a creed: "He expressed his confession of faith as a member of a group of worshipers who adhered to the same specific creed."
 
concise, succinct
concise (kuhn SIGHS)
A brief expression or statement without elaboration or detail: "The director asked for a concise statement of the company's financial situation."
succinct (suhk SINGKT)
A precise, terse, expression in a few words: "Her succinct summary at the end of the speech summed up the information."
 
condemn, contemn
condemn (kuhn DEM)
1. To express strong disapproval of: "He wanted to condemn the needless waste of government money."
2. To judge or to declare to be unfit for use or consumption, usually by an official order: "The official said he had to condemn the old building because it was not safe."
contemn (kuhn TEM)
To view with contempt; to despise: "When he heard the speech, he could only contemn it as inappropriate and vulgar."
 
condemnation, commendation
condemnation (kon" dem NAY shuhn)
A statement or expression of very strong and definite criticism or disapproval: "The government's statement was a condemnation of all acts of terrorism."
commendation (kom" uhn DAY shuhn)
1. The act of praising or approving someone or something: "Their hard work deserves commendation."
2. An official letter that praises someone publicly: "The soldier was awarded a commendation for bravery."
 
condom, condone, condominium
condom (KON duhm)
A flexible sheath, usually made of thin rubber or latex: "A condom, to be worn by a man, is recommended by doctors as a way to prevent a woman from becoming pregnant or to prevent the spread of diseases."
condone (kuhn DOHN)
To overlook, forgive, or disregard (an offense) without protest or censure: "The dean at the university sought to condone the students’ activities, refusing to call in the authorities."
condominium (kon" duh MIN ee uhm)
A building or complex in which units of property, such as apartments, are owned by individuals and common parts of the property, such as the grounds and building structure, are owned jointly by the unit owners: "We were considering the purchase of a condominium in the same building where our aunt and uncle are living."
 
confidant, confidante, confident
confidant (KAHN fi dant", KAHN fi dahnt")
Someone with whom secret or confidential information may be shared: "The king’s trusted confidant was his uncle."
confidante [feminine form] (KAHN fi dahnt")
Female form of confidant: "The queen’s confidante was a young woman she had known from childhood."
confident (KAHN fi duhnt)
Being sure of oneself: "Being confident is the feeling a person has before he, or she, knows better."
I am confident that a confidante is someone who never betrays a confidence without first imposing the strictest secrecy.
Confident is the feeling some people have before they know better.
 
confirm, conform
confirm (kuhn FURM)
To establish as true that which was doubtful or uncertain; to verify: "The employer was finally able to confirm the rumor about the loss of jobs."
conform (kuhn FORM)
To behave in a conventional way; especially, in accepting customs, traditions, or prevailing opinions: "When we moved to a new country, we had to conform to new ways of doing things."
 
confirmer, conformer
confirmer (kuhn FURM uhr)
An individual or authority who can, by statement, remove doubts or questions about a situation: "Her position of authority at the university made her the perfect confirmer to dispute the rumors circulating on campus."
conformer (kuhn FORM uhr)
Someone who adapts to the current customs or standards; or who acts in harmony or agreement with others: "Although he was seen as a conformer, he never lost sight of his integrity."
 
congregation, conjugation
congregation (kong" gri GAY shuhn)
A body of assembled people or things; a gathering: "The priest addressed the congregation."
conjugation (kon" juh GAY shuhn)
The presentation of an inflected verb form: "Part of the conjugation of the verb to be (in the singular, present tense) is: I am, you are, he/she/it is."
 
connotation, denotation
connotation (kon" uh TAY shuhn)
1. An idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing: "For some people, the word fat has a negative connotation."
2. The set of associations implied by a word in addition to its literal meaning: "The word childlike has a connotation of innocence or of being a pest."
denotation (dee" noh TAY shuhn)
Something signified or referred to; a particular meaning of a symbol, word, or phrase: "The word has one literal denotation but several different connotations."
 
connote, denote
connote (kuh NOHT)
To make people think about something in addition to the word's meaning: "For me, the word family will connote love and comfort."
denote (di NOHT)
To mean something: "The word derby can denote a horse race or a kind of hat."
 
conscience, conscientious, conscious
conscience (KAHN shuhns)
A knowledge or awareness of right and wrong; with a compulsion to do the right thing: "The teacher emphasized that the students should let their conscience be their guide when deciding what to do."
conscientious (kahn" shee EN shuhs)
Made or done according to what one knows is right and showing care and precision with painstaking efforts to do something properly: "She was a conscientious reporter, always checking her facts before writing the story."
conscious (KAHN shuhs)
Having a feeling or knowledge of one's own sensations, feelings, etc.; or being aware of one's external environment: "Standing on the edge of the canyon, she was conscious of the vast beauty of the place."
Conscience is the voice some people never hear until they are caught doing something wrong; while truly conscientious people are those whose consciences tell them to do the right thing even when they are conscious that they won't get caught.
 
consecutive, successive
consecutive (kuhn SEK yuh tiv)
An orderly arrangement of words, objects, etc., one after another: "The young student surprised everyone by remembering the long list of consecutive words."
successive (suhk SES iv)
Following in an uninterrupted order: "Successive generations will be grateful for the conservation practices of today."
 
consequence, consequents
consequence (KAHN si kwens", KAHN si kwuhns)
A result, sequel, outcome, or effect: "The decrease in sales was a consequence of some bad publicity about the company."
"Some say many jobs will be lost as a consequence of the trade agreement."
consequents (KAHN si kwens", KAHN si kwuhns)
Following as a natural effect, result, or conclusion: "They tried to prevent an oil spill and the damage consequents it would have on wild life."
"Weather forecasters predict heavy rains and the flooding consequents that will result."
 
consequent, subsequent
consequent (KAHN si kwent", KAHN si kwuhnt)
Something that follows as a natural effect, result, or conclusion: "The company tried to prevent an oil spill and the consequent damage to wildlife."
subsequent SUB si kwent", SUB si kwuhnt)
Following in time or order; succeeding: "Her work had a great influence on subsequent generations."
 
conservation, conservative, Conservative, conserve
conservation (kahn" sur VAY shuhn)
Preservation or restoration from loss, damage, or neglect: "The old manuscripts were saved from deterioration by the program of library conservation."
conservative (kuhn SUR vuh tiv)
Favoring traditional views and values; believing in the value of established and traditional practices in politics and society: "He had some rather conservative ideas about the way life should be."
Conservative (kuhn SUR vuh tiv)
A member or supporter of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom: "He was elected as head of the Conservative Party in the U.K."
conserve (kuhn SURV)
To keep something safe from being damaged, lost, or destroyed: "With so little rain, everyone had to conserve water so there would be enough for the essentials of life."
 
console, console
console (kuhn SOHL)
To make someone feel less sad or disappointed; to comfort: "The prayers of the congregation did help to console her when her parents died."
console (KAHN sohl)
Among other things, this word refers to an instrument panel or unit, containing the controls for operating aircraft, computers, and other electrical or electronic systems: "The pilot sat before the console in the airplane, studying each light and button carefully."
 
consonance, consonants
consonance (KAHN suh nuhns)
Harmonious agreement among the components or parts, for example, of sounds: "The consonance of the syllables in the song was pleasing to listen to."
consonants (KAHN suh nuhnts)
A speech sound characterized by the constriction of one or more points along the breath channel during pronunciation: "The professor said that there are more consonants in the English alphabet than vowel sounds."
 
construction, destruction
construction (kuhn STRUK shuhn)
The product of the building or creating process, using building materials, words, etc.: "The construction of the sentence consisted of both individual words and phrases."
"The construction of the sky scraper started with much ceremony and speeches."
destruction (di STRUK shuhn)
Ruin, the process or act of tearing something down, literally or figuratively: "The whispered scandal of her illness proved to be the destruction of her career."
"The company had a contract authorizing the complete destruction of the old building, to make way for the new sky scraper."
 
contemptible, contemptuous
contemptible (kuhn TEMP tuh b'l)
That which is deserving of scorn; despicable: "Due to his contemptible comments about the students last year, the senator was not invited back to the graduation ceremony."
contemptuous (kuhn TEMP choo uhs)
Being full of contempt; scornful, disdainful of someone or something: "Her tone of voice was contemptuous, dripping with unkindness and scorn."
 
content, content
content (kuhn TENT)
Happy, satisfied, basic needs or desires having been met: "As a senior citizen, she was content, having worked hard for many years, she was happy to relax."
content (KAHN tent)
Information dealt with in a field of study which is typically outlined in the beginning of a publication: "The information described in the Course Syllabus outlined the content for the lecture course."
 
contentious, controversial
contentious (kuhn TEN shuhs)
That which may cause quarrels or worrisome disputes: "The content of her new book proved to be contentious among academic scholars."
controversial (kahn" truh VUR shuhl, kahn" truh VUR see uhl)
Information or discussion characterized by a differing of opinions among readers, participants, etc.: "The controversial topic of Round Earth or Flat Earth is the subject of the annual meetings of the Flat Earth Society."
 
continence, continents
continence (KON tuh nuhns)
1. Self-restraint, moderation: "He was glad that he had continence when he was tempted by seeing so many kinds of cakes that were available."
2. Self-control over urinary and fecal discharges: "I read that most children have continence by the age of three."
continents (KON tuh nuhnts)
The principal land masses of the earth; usually, regarded as including Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America: "He was an anthropologist who traveled the continents of Africa and Asia to research the cultures that exist in those places."
 
continual, continuous
continual (kuhn TIN yoo uhl)
A frequently repeated occurrence: "The continual drumming of the rain on the tin roof was very distracting."
continuous (kuhn TIN yoo uhs)
An action or circumstance that continues for a period of time without being stopped or interrupted: "When she retired, she had a record of 45 years of continuous service in the office."
 
continuance, continuation
continuance (kuhn TIN yoo uhns)
The postponement of the proceedings in a court to a future date: "The judge ordered the continuance of the trial for the following week."
continuation (kuhn tin" yoo AY shuhn)
Resuming an activity after an interruption: "The children in the class anxiously awaited the continuation of the story after lunch."
 
continue, resume
continue (kuhn TIN yoo)
To sustain a course of action or direction: "After lunch, we decided to continue our trip to the lake country."
resume (ri ZOOM)
To undertake an activity after an interruption: "There was considerable applause after which the speaker decided to resume his speech."
 
contract, contract
contract [as a noun] (KAHN trakt")
1. An agreement between two or more parties; especially, one that is written and enforceable by law: "The contract requires him to finish this project by the end of the year."
"The company was awarded a multi-million-dollar contract to build a new courthouse."
2. The branch of law dealing with formal agreements between parties: "He studied contract law so he could specialize in this form of legal work."
3. To make an agreement to work or to pay someone to work: "The carpenter will contract with them to do the work on their house."
4. To agree formally to a marriage, an alliance, etc.: "The company wanted to contract an alliance with a former competitor."
"They will contract legally for the marriage to take place in June."
contract [as a verb] (kuhn TRAKT)
1. To make something smaller or shorter: "He was able to contract his lips into a frown and to contract his muscles at the same time."
2. To become ill with a disease: "She apparently did indeed contract malaria while she was traveling in Africa."
 
converge, diverge
converge (kuhn VURJ)
To move towards a common point or point of interest: "The two lanes of the highway will converge at the edge of the city."
"During their discussion, the two members of the debate team realized that their views on the subject did in fact converge."
diverge (di VURJ, digh VURJ)
To move away from a common point or point of agreement: "Watching the road signs carefully, the driver noticed the lanes of the highway diverged at the intersection, one lane leading to the countryside."
"Realizing that our thoughts would diverge on the issue of the consequence for highway speeding, we decided to go for a cup of tea."
 
conversion, diversion
conversion (kuhn VUR zhuhn, kuhn VUR shuhn)
1. A clear and decisive decision to adopt a particular religion: "After much thought and prayer, he was sure his conversion to the faith of his girlfriend was the right decision."
2. The accomplishment of a point or free throw in a sports activity; such as, American Football: "The team captain kicked the ball for the conversion point, tying the game, 1 to 1."
diversion (di VUR zhuhn, di VUR shuhn; digh VUR zhuhn, digh VUR shuhn)
A distraction from the pursuit of an activity: "The presence of chocolate candy in the kitchen proved to be a diversion from her decision to do her homework assignments."
 
convince, persuade
convince (kuhn VINS)
By argument or discussion to bring to a point of agreement or understanding: "You will convince me of your point of view if you can show me one more research study."
persuade (puhr SWAYD)
To determine a course of action as the result of argument or pleading: "You are right, you did persuade me to come on the country drive today."
 
convulsion, revulsion
convulsion (kuhn VUL shuhn)
A violent or uncontrolled fit often accompanied by violent contractions of muscles: "The doctor prescribed medication to control her tendency to have a convulsion when anxious."
revulsion (ri VUL shuhn)
A negative reaction or sudden pulling away from a situation, individual, etc.: "She showed a natural revulsion to the putrid smells in the factory."
 
coo, coup
coo (KOO)
To utter the typical murmuring sound of a dove or pigeon; or a similar sound: "Learning over the baby’s crib, Grandmother began to coo and smile at the baby."
2. To express or to utter fondly or amorously, as with a murmuring sound: "The lovers sat on the bench in the park so they could coo and bill without interruption."
coup (KOO)
1. A coup d's at or the sudden overthrowing of a government; literally, "a stroke of state": "The change of government was accomplished by a coup, headed by academics from the university."
2. A sudden appropriation of leadership or power; a takeover: "The joining of the two major companies was an unexpected coup for the Board of Directors."
 
cool, cool, cool, cool, cool
cool (KOOL)
Neither warm nor very cold; moderately cold: "We enjoyed the fresh, cool water flowing by our tent during a cool autumn evening in the park."
cool (KOOL)
Marked by calm self-control: "She was a cool negotiator during the heat of the argument."
cool (KOOL)
Referring to, relating to, or characteristic of colors; such as, blue and green, that produce the impression of coolness: "The moderate blue of the room seemed to make me feel cool and comfortable."
cool (KOOL)
To make less ardent, intense, or zealous: "The problems that arose tended to cool my enthusiasm for the project."
cool (KOOL)
In a calm manner or a way that does not seem unusual or excited: "She didn't want to seem too eager, so she tried to play it cool or to pretend to be calm even though she wasn't feeling calm."
 
coolie, cooly; coolly, coulee
coolie, cooly (KOO lee)
A poorly paid servant, frequently associated with Asia: "In order to pay for his university classes, the young man worked as a coolie during the tourist season."
coolly (KOO lee)
Impersonal, lacking in friendliness: "His gaze swept coolly over the crowd as he tried to determine their reaction to his speech."
coulee (KOO lee)
A typically dry ravine or small canyon or gully: "During the thunderstorm, the coulee flooded quickly, creating a danger zone for the tourists who were there."
 
coop; coupe, coup
coop (KOOP)
A small, enclosed, often crowded pen or holding space: "The flock of chickens were kept in the clean coop in the shade of the large tree."
coupe (KOOP), coup (koo PAY)
A small enclosed vehicle primarily designed to carry two people which might be horse drawn or a small automobile: "The newly engaged couple went for a drive in the park in a horse drawn coupe."
 
cops, copse, Copts
cops (KAHPS)
1. A slang expression for policemen: "He yelled at the two guys in his yard saying the if they didn't leave right away, he would call the cops."
2. To capture or to win: "The announcer shouted excitedly, 'The home team cops an unexpected victory'."
copse (KAHPS)
A grove or planting of small trees: "A feature of the fine country estate was the lovely copse of evergreen trees down by the lake."
Copts (KAHPS)
1. Egyptians belonging to or descended from the people of ancient or pre-Islamic Egypt: "While the number of Copts continues to increase, their percentage within Egypt may be slowly declining because of lower birth rates and higher emigration rates, in comparison with Egyptian Muslims."
2. A shortened term for members of the Coptic Church: "Copts have had to commute to distant churches or worship in hiding at different homes in Cairo, Egypt."
"Restrictions in Egypt have exacerbated sectarian violence and discrimination, say Copts, a 2,000-year-old-denomination that comprises about ten percent of the population."
 
core, corps, corpse
core (KOR, KOHR)
Center, an innermost area: "The core argument was summed up by the final speaker at the conference."
corps (KOR, KOHR)
A group of people; literally, a "body of people": "The corps of the audience was made up of older people who had retired."
corpse (KOHRPS)
A dead body: "The undertaker agreed to prepare the corpse for the funeral."
 
corespondent, correspondent
corespondent (koh" ri SPAHN duhnt)
A person charged with having committed adultery with the defendant in a divorce suit: "The show girl was named as the correspondent in the famous divorce proceedings."
correspondent (kor" i SPAHN duhnt, kahr" i SPAHN duhnt)
Someone employed by the print or broadcast media (TV, radio, etc.) to supply news stories or articles: "She served as a correspondent for the local newspaper, sending her reports via fax."
 
cornet, coronet
cornet (kor NET)
1. A wind instrument of the trumpet class, having three valves operated by pistons: "She played a cornet solo during the band performance."
2. A cone or trumpet shaped object; such as, that which is used in cream pastries or some plumbing equipment: "They stopped at the bakery and bought cream cornets."
coronet (kahr" uh NET, kor" uh NET)
A small crown worn by princes and princesses and by other nobles below the rank of sovereign: "His wife wore the family coronet during the reception for the queen."
 
corporal, corporeal, corpulent
corporal (KOR pur uhl, KOR pruhl)
1. Bodily, as physical punishment: "The teaching manual at the school indicated teachers were NOT to use corporal punishment on the students."
2. A military rank (below sergeant): "She was very proud to be appointed the first female corporal in her military unit."
3. A white linen cloth on which the consecrated elements are placed during the celebration of the Eucharist: "The women of the church volunteer committee embroidered the corporal for the priests to use at mass."
corporeal (kor POH ree uhl)
Having a material body (not spiritual); tangible: "The Food Bank was established to meet the corporeal needs of the neighborhood residents."
corpulent (KOR pyoo luhnt)
Fat and fleshy; stout; obese: "The doctor advised his corpulent patient to lose weight for the sake of his health."
Corpulence is the survival of the fattest.
 
correspondence, correspondents
correspondence (kor" i SPAHN duhns)
Letter writing; mail, communication: "At the office, e-mail appears to be the primary mode of correspondence among the departments."
correspondents (kor" i SPAHN duhnts)
Writers, reporters, contributors of news, etc.: "She belongs to the elite group of foreign correspondents, working in Europe for her Canadian based newspaper."
 
costume, custom
costume (KAHS toom", KAHS tyoom")
An article, or articles, of clothing: "The costume which the actor wore had been made of gold cloth."
custom (KUS tuhm)
1. A long established practice: "It was the family custom to go for a walk in the woods before dinner."
2. A duty or tax on imported and some exported goods: "He was informed at the border that he could not bring the package into the country until he paid the officer the required custom."
 
council, counsel, consul
council (KOUN suhl)
A group appointed or elected to make decisions: "Most cities and towns have a council that governs certain areas."
counsel (KOUN suhl)
As a noun, an attorney; as a verb, to give advice: "His counsel (attorney) did an excellent job of building a legal case while the social worker tried unsuccessfully to counsel the parents."
consul (KAHN suhl)
A government official representing a country in another country: "A new consul was appointed last week to handle negotiations for a peace treaty."
The counsel told the consul what to say to the city council.
 
counselor, councilor
counselor (KOUN suh lur)
An adviser who provides guidance; usually an attorney: "The counselor prepared the case to present to the judge."
councilor (KOUN suh lur)
A member of an assembly of people called together for consultation, deliberation, or discussion; such as, one which is convened to advise a governor: "My neighbor was elected to be the city councilor for this area."
 
counter, counter, counter
counter (KOUN tuhr)
A piece of furniture with a flat surface that workers and customers stand on opposite sides of when doing business in a store, restaurant, etc.: "He walked up to the counter and ordered his food and he also put his money down on the counter."
counter (KOUN tuhr)
A person or device that counts something: "The counter records how many people visit the web site."
counter (KOUN tuhr)
Something that is made or done as a defense against or in response to something else: "The government policy is intended as a counter to efforts to decrease spending on education."
 
courier, currier
courier (KOOR ee ur, KUR ee ur)
1. A messenger; especially, someone on official diplomatic business: "A courier will deliver the government documents this evening."
2. Chiefly British, as a verb, to use a courier to send a message, package, etc. to a person or a place: "He will courier a package overnight to our office."
currier (KUR ee ur)
1. Anyone who processes hides into leather by soaking, coloring, and who finishes the leather after it has been tanned: "He made his living as a currier in the leather processing industry."
2. A person who grooms a horse with a currycomb: "A currier uses a square comb with rows of small teeth to curry or to groom (give a neat appearance to) horses."
 
courteous, polite
courteous (KUR tee uhs)
Demonstrating respect by good manners and behavior: "It is courteous to stand when the justice enters the court room."
polite (puh LIGHT)
Demonstrating correct social skills and manners: "Her polite manners have a certain polish, reflecting the education and experience she acquired when attending school."
 
courtesy, curtsy
courtesy (KUR ti see)
Generosity as demonstrated by providing gifts or special privileges: "She received a ticket to the event which was given as a courtesy of her employer."
curtsy, curtsey (KURT see)
The act of demonstrating respect for an individual by bending one’s knees and bowing one’s head: "She practiced her curtsy in front of the mirror in anticipation of meeting the Queen of England."
 
covet, covert, overt
covet (KUV it)
To ardently want something that another person has; to long for with envy: "When I was young, I used to covet my friend’s pretty clothes."
covert (KOH vurt)
Concealed, hidden, disguised, secret, or surreptitious: "The head of the company received a covert threat."
overt (oh VURT, OH vurt")
Clearly evident: "He had an overt dislike for his new supervisor."
 
cow, cow
cow (KOU)
1. The mature female of cattle of the genus Bos: "A cow produces milk for her young and for people as an important food."
2. The mature female of other large animals, such as whales, elephants, or moose: "The female whale is another animal known as a cow."
cow (KOU)
To frighten with threats or a show of force; to intimidate: "They were trying to cow him into silence with attacks in the press."
 
coward, cowered
coward (KOU uhrd)
An individual who shows fear in the face of danger or pain: "He was a coward who deserted his family when the house caught on fire."
cowered (KOU uhrd)
To cringe in fear: "He cowered in his house as the wind storm blew harder."
As the fearful man cringed in his house, there is no doubt that he was a cowered coward.
 
cram; cram-cram, cramcram, xaaxaam; cramp, cramp, cramped
cram (KRAM)
1. To force something into an inadequate space; to stuff: "He was trying to cram his sweater into a bag which was too small."
2. To fill or to pack tightly: "He was successful in getting his sweater to cram into a bag which was slightly bigger."
3. To eat greedily, to stuff oneself with food: "For some reason, she would cram the food into her mouth even when she had plenty of time to eat."
4. To force information into the mind, or to fill a person with information; such as, regarding intensive study for an examination: "They were trying to cram for the final exam which would take place tomorrow."
 

LAWYERS Cram, Cram, Cram

 
The law's last vestige of ordeal by fire is a legal torture called the bar exam.
Run by lawyers, judges and professors, cram schools are often big business. Before becoming a federal judge, New York Lawyer Harold Medina crammed 800 students for $28,000 a year.

Quote from "Cram, Cram, Cram";Time; July 17, 1964.

The Big Cram

"While their friends played video games in pajamas or vacationed in the tropics, a dozen sixth graders spent winter break at Elite Academy in Flushing, Queens, New York; memorizing word roots."
"Time was ticking as they prepared to face the thing they had talked about, dreamed about and lost sleep over for much of the past year: the Hunter College High School admissions exam, a strenuous three-hour test that weeds out about 90 percent of those who take it."

Excerpts compiled from "The Big Cram for Hunter High School"
by Javier C. Hernandez; as seen in the New York Times;
Education Section; January 2, 2009.

 
cram-cram, cramcram, xaaxaam (KRAM-KRAM)
Plants (Cenchrus biflorus) that cover the dunes in the Sahara; especially encountered in the Republic of Mali which have tiny, spiky burrs: "Usually after walking through cram-cram and getting them stuck to your pants, it is easier just to throw the pants away rather than to try to clear them of the cram-cram burrs."
Only a few kinds of hardy, thorny plants can survive the harsh conditions of the Sahel zone of West and Central Africa.
The Sahel zone is sparsely vegetated with tough plants that can live for long periods without rain. The tiny, spiky burrs of cram-cram grasses scatter across the land, sticking to anything that moves.

Mali in Pictures by Francesca Davis DiPiazza;
Lerner Publications Company; Minneapolis, Minnesota; 2007.

 
The term cram-cram comes from the Wolof term xaaxaam. The Wolof people live in Senegal, The Gambia, and southern Mauritania; and Wolof is the native language of this ethnic group of people.
Wolof is the most widely spoken language in Senegal, spoken not only by members of the Wolof ethnic group (approximately 40 percent of the population) but also by most other Senegalese.
This information came from Dr. Karl Heinz Striedter and

"Wolof language" as seen in Wikipedia.

 

First-personal experiences with cram-cram by Dr. Karl Heinz Striedter

Coming back from field research in the central Sahara and going to Niamey (capital city of Niger), our team crossed the Sahel belt (a dry zone, extending from Sudan in the east to Senegal in the west, and separating the Sahara from the tropical regions of western and central Africa). At lunchtime we stopped some 100 meters away from the road in the thinning shadow of an acacia tree.
After lunch, and a short siesta, we decided to have a look at a strange banco (or banko) ruin we had seen when arriving; however, to go there, we had to cross a vast field of cram-cram which had in this season a bright yellowish color.

In western Africa, the construction of very large buildings often includes banco; such as, the great mosque of Djenn (a historically and commercially important small city in the Niger Inland Delta of central Mali).

Banco is an African term for mud (local earth/clay plus water) mixed with straw and/or husks of cereals (plus cow dung which hardens to a smooth solid and is used for coating walls and ceilings).
The architecture which utilizes banco mudbricks is found in the whole Sahel zone of Africa, but it also exists in other parts of Africa and in additional areas of the world. It has excellent cooling properties for the living areas of those who exist in high-temperature conditions.
At any rate, a colleague, having lived for some time in the Niger republic, warned me about the very unpleasant peculiarities of the seeds of the cram-cram plant, which dig their claws into any cloth and skin, and the unimaginable problems to get them off. So we looked for a path which was already made by a man or an animal.
Although there were many paths going in various directions in the field, none of them could keep us from being grabbed by the multitudes of cram-cram as they extended their seed pods with their tiny hooks into any moving creature that moved through the trails.
The only rational being, my friend's dog, evidently with some relevant experiences, while barking refused to cross into the field of cram-cram. My friend had to carry his canine friend well above the threatening plants.
Later, while continuing on with our drive to Niamey, I felt an extreme itching on my feet and legs; which was so bad that I had to pull my socks off. Finally, no matter how much I washed the socks, I still couldn't get rid of the thorny cram-cram, so I threw them away. My trousers were not as bad as the socks, so, I gave them to someone who was not as sensitive to cram-cram as I was.

This testimony about cram-cram was shared especially for this page by

Dr. Karl Heinz Striedter, Ph.D. in anthropology;
a former research fellow of the Frobenius Institute at the University of Frankfurt;
who was doing research in the Republic of Niger in 1987-1991,
a landlocked republic in western Africa; which achieved independence from France in 1960.

 
cramp (KRAMP)
1. An involuntary, sudden, painful muscular contraction; such as, in a leg, often caused by a strain or a sudden chill: "Too often, I wake up with a cramp in each leg."
2. A paralysis of local muscles caused by continued over exertion: "He developed writer's cramp in his hands because he would not stop for a rest."
3. To prevent someone from behaving or expressing his or her emotions and thoughts freely: "She felt as if the school's strict rule of not talking unless called upon by the teacher would cramp her desire to express herself."
cramp (KRAMP)
1. An iron bar bent at both ends, used to bind two stones, various timbers, etc., together: "The man was able to hold the two large stones together with a cramp."
2. An adjustable frame in which pieces may be held or forced together, as when making a joint; a clamp: "The carpenter used a cramp, or two, to make the window frames."
3. To press or to confine something into a space: "In order to get a ride in the small car, she had to cramp herself into it."
cramped (KRAMP't)
1. Not having enough space to move freely or feeling crowded and uncomfortable: "Because of the winter storm, several people were cramped inside the tiny cabin."
2. Small and having parts too close together: "It's impossible to read her cramped handwriting."
 
crape, crepe
crape (KRAYP)
An arm band of dark cloth, often worn on one sleeve, as a sign of mourning: "While deciding to attend the funeral of his friend, the man thought about wearing a crape on his left sleeve as well as on his hat."
crepe (KRAYP)
Woven fabric that has a slight crinkly appearance: "The shop attendant stated that the crepe came in several colors for spring."
 
crawl, trawl
crawl (KRAHL)
1. To move in a slow manner as in traffic or by moving on one's hands and knees: "The traffic slowed to a crawl which was so slow we all joked that we could crawl faster on our hands and knees."
2. While swimming, to move forward in water using an over arm stroke with one's arms and flutter kicking with one's feet: "The boy won several prizes for his prowess in the crawl during the swim meet."
3. In the fishing industry, a confined space in shallow water for such crops as lobster: "The fishing community protected the lobsters in the crawl from illegal fishers."
trawl (TRAHL)
A method of fishing using a large cone shaped net which is dragged through the water, catching whatever is in the area: "There are many organizations who oppose trawl fishing because of the destruction of endangered species."
 
creak, creek
creak (KREEK)
A reference to a particular kind of grating or squeaking sound: "We could hear the door creak as someone was walking in the hall with creaking shoes."
creek (KREEK, KRIK)
A very small stream which is often a shallow or intermittent tributary to a river: "When I was a boy, my brother and I used to go to a creek where we would seine or fish with a small net to catch some tiny fish to put in our aquarium."
 
crease; creese, kris
crease (KREES)
A mark in fabric that is the result of folding the material along a line: "The cleaners used a special iron to make the crease on the suit pants."
creese, kris (KREES)
A snake shaped dagger of Indonesian or Malay origin: "The tourist bought a kris, or creese, at the market as a souvenir but the officials at the airport told him to pack the dagger in his checked baggage."
 
credible, creditable, credulity, credulous
credible (KRED uh buhl)
Believable, capable of being believed or worthy of confidence; reliable: "During the trial, she was presented as a credible witness for the defence."
creditable (KRED i tuh buhl)
Worthy of credit or praise for doing something: "Winning the spelling match was the result of the creditable performance all the students."
credulity (kri DOO li tee)
A tendency to believe too readily: "The police captain questioned the credulity of the new officer during the investigation of the crime."
credulous (KREJ oo luhs)
Inclined to believe almost anything; gullible; naive: "The credulous behavior of the young man who had just moved to the city suggested he was naive."
 
crevasse, crevice
crevasse (kri VAHS)
A large, deep fissure; especially, in a glacier: "The exploration team moved carefully over the glacier, watching for any existing dangerous crevasse."
crevice (KREV is)
A narrow split or crack: "It always amazes me that flowers in the desert grow within almost any crevice in rocks."
 
crews, cruise
crews (KROOZ)
1. Groups of people working together: "The workers were sent out in separate crews."
2. Personnel on two ships, or aircrafts, who assist in the operations of the crafts which may or may not include officers: "Will both of the crews of the ships be ready to depart tomorrow?"
cruise (KROOZ)
1. To sail or to travel about for pleasure: "We really enjoyed our cruise from Los Angeles to Mexico last year."
2. To travel at a speed providing maximum operating efficiency for a sustained period: "The bus will cruise at a maximum speed, not in excess of the posted speed limit, unless there is a traffic problem ahead."
Groups of sailors on ocean ships that carry passengers are known as cruise crews.
 
criterion (s), criteria (pl)
criterion (krigh TIR ee uhn)
The basis or standard upon which a judgment may be made: "The young woman was adamant about her criterion that a good husband is absolute honesty."
criteria (krigh TIR ee uh)
Things that are used as reasons for making judgments or decisions: "What were the criteria used to choose the winner of the writing contest?"
 
critic, critique
critic (KRIT ik)
1. Someone who forms and expresses judgments of the merits, faults, value, or truth of a matter: "He is his own worst critic when it comes to analyzing his writing."
2. A person who specializes especially professionally in the evaluation and appreciation of literary or artistic works: "George Bernard Shaw worked as a theater critic before developing his drama writing career."
3. Any one who tends to make harsh or carping judgments; a faultfinder: "According to an article in the paper, a mother-in-law is often described as a critic of the marriage partner of her child."
critique (kri TEEK)
1. An evaluation by using a review or commentary, especially one dealing with works of art or literature: "The critique of the new play in the morning paper was very positive."
2. A crucial or decisive discussion of a specified topic: "During the course of the dinner, they engaged in a wide ranging critique of the new policies at the university."
 
croak, crock
croak (KROHK)
1. A harsh, rough sounding voice or sound: "By the end of the exciting game, her voice was just a croak because of her excessive cheering and yelling."
2. A slang term for death or dying: "He had a heart attack that caused him to croak."
crock (KRAHK)
1. A pot or jar made of baked clay: "When we went to the restaurant, we had chili served in a crock."
2. Something that is impossible to believe because it is untrue or ridiculous: "We could tell that the salesman's claims about his product were a crock."
 
crochet, croquet, croquette
crochet (kroh SHAY)
A form of needlework: "Her grandmother gave her several pieces of laced crochet work as a birthday gift."
croquet (kroh KAY)
A lawn game using mallets, wooden balls, and wickets: "Croquet was considered a very genteel game for children during the 1900's."
croquette (kroh KET)
A fried mass of mince (chopped) meat, fish, and/or vegetables: "The menu at the restaurant featured a croquette specialty."
 
crop, crop
crop (KRAHP), nouns
1. A plant or plant product that is grown by farmers: "The apple crop is better now than it was last year."
2. An area in the throat of a bird-like creatures or insects; for example, ants, where food is stored for a time: "An ant has a crop where liquid food can be stored and from which it can be passed on to nest mates by regurgitation."
"A crop is a pouch-like enlargement of a bird's gullet in which food is partially digested or stored for regurgitation to nestlings."
3. A short and thick quantity of hair on a person's head: "He has a thick crop of red, curly hair."
crop (KRAHP), verbs
1. To cut off the upper or outer parts of something: "It is necessary that a barber will crop his hair before it gets any longer and we also need to crop the hedge for the same reason."
2. To cut off part of a picture or photograph: "They had to crop the photograph so it could fit into the frame."
 
cross, cross
cross (KRAHS)
1. An upright post with a transverse piece near the top, on which condemned persons were executed in ancient times: "In ancient history, thieves were often hung on a cross to die a slow death."
2. A mark or pattern formed by the intersection of two lines, especially such a mark (X) used as a signature: "Because she never went to school, she had not learned to write, so her signature was a careful cross on the paper."
cross (KRAHS)
Showing anger or ill humor; being annoyed: "After the vase had been broken, the little girl cried to her mother, 'Please, don't be cross at me, I am sorry'."
 
cry, cry
cry (KRIGH)
To sob or to shed tears because of grief, sorrow, or pain; to weep: "After her favorite cat died, she went to her room to cry in private."
cry (KRIGH)
To call out loudly or to shout: "She fell and injured her leg, causing her to cry out for help."
 
cubical, cubicle
cubical (KYOO bi kuhl)
The shape of a cube, having identical measurements in all dimensions: "The cubical shaped blocks had the alphabet printed on them so the children can pretend to spell words."
cubicle (KYOO bi kuhl)
A space in a large room that is partitioned off, often to ensure privacy: "Each of the workers was assigned to a cubicle, complete with a computer, file cabinet, and telephone."
 
cue, queue
cue (KYOO)
1. A rod or "stick" used to propel or to move a ball in the game of pool or billiards: "The billiard player sighted down his cue, determining the best angle at which to strike the ball."
2. A prompt or signal to do something: "The actress did not need a single cue during her performance of the long play."
queue (KYOO)
1. Primarily British, a line of people or vehicles waiting their turns: "We stood in a queue at the bank, waiting for a teller to help us."
2. In computer science, a sequence of storage computer data awaiting processing: "Three jobs remain in the printer queue."
3. A pendent (dangling, hanging, or suspended) braid of hair on the back of the head; a pigtail: "She wore a long blond queue of hair which helped her endure the heat of the day."
 
curb, curb
curb (KURB)
As a noun, a raised paving or concrete border or row of joined stones forming part of a gutter along the edge of a street: "The car drove into the parking space, stopping when the front tires bumped against the curb."
curb (KURB)
As a verb, to restrain or to control as if with a curb; to rein in: "When he got very angry, his father had to remind himself to curb his temper so he wouldn't get a headache."
 
cure, cur
cure (KYOOR)
1. To restore a sick person or animal to health: "The doctor will try to cure her with a new series of medicines."
2. To bring an end to an illness, disorder, or injury by medical treatment: "It isn't easy to find a cure for this disease."
3. To preserve food; especially, meat or fish, usually by smoking, drying, or salting it, or to be preserved by one of these methods: "The farmer will cure the pork for the restaurants."
cur (kyoo RAY, kyoor RAY)
A parish priest: "After the church service, we wanted to see the cur?"
 
curious, curious
curious (KYOOR ee uhs)
Unduly inquisitive; prying: "The boys became very curious when they saw the girls whispering in the corner."
curious (KYOOR ee uhs)
Arousing interest because of novelty or strangeness: "Did you ever see such a curious stone as this one?"
 
currant, current
currant (KUR uhnt)
A small red, black, or white berry that is often used in making jams and jellies: "The currant bushes in the garden produced enough fruit to make several jars of preserves."
current (KUR uhnt)
1. Generally accepted; happening in the present time: "In class, the students shared the current events which they had read in the newspaper."
2. The swift flow or movement of water: "The current in the center of the river was very strong."
 
cursed, cursed
cursed (KUR sid, KURST)
To swear or to speak by using vulgar language: "When he became upset, he cursed in the foreign language he had learned as a child."
cursed, curst (KURST)
Seen as deserving of prayer or invocation for harm: "On days when everything went wrong, she felt she was cursed by the gods!"
 
customer, costumer
costumer (KOS too" muhr, KOS tyoo" muhr)
An individual who makes, buys, or sells the clothing used by actors, etc. for dressing differently than normal: "The actors went to the costumer to get the right clothing for the part in the new play."
customer (KUS tuh muhr)
An individual who buys a service or item(s): "She was a good customer at the store, always buying her books from them."
 
cyclone, hurricane, tornado
cyclone (SIGH klohn")
A storm or wind system that blows in a rapid, circular fashion (clockwise in the southern hemisphere; counter clockwise in the northern hemisphere) and often accompanied by rain: "She planned her vacation so she could avoid the cyclone season because she didn't enjoy such rain storms."
hurricane (HUR i kayn")
Typically a tropical storm accompanied by high winds, thunder, lightening, and rain: "It took the city years to recover from the damage caused by the hurricane."
tornado (tohr NAY doh)
A violent windstorm accompanied by a funnel shaped cloud that moves across the land: "The radio posted tornado warnings to alert the people of the risks of such a storm."
 
cygnet, signet
cygnet (SIG nit, SIG nuht)
A young swan: "We saw a mother swan with just one cygnet."
signet (SIG nit, SIG nuht)
1. A seal; especially, as used on a document often one which is engraved on a ring: "The king used sealing wax to press his signet on the letter."
2. An impression made with a seal: "The signet was unbroken, assuring the reader no one had pried into the contents of the letter."
 
cymbal, symbol
cymbal (SIM buhl)
A percussion instrument consisting of a concave brass plate that makes a loud clashing tone when hit with a drumstick or when used in pairs: "The symphony came to an end with a resounding clash of the cymbals."
symbol (SIM buhl)
1. Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible: "While discussing the planets, the teacher used an orange as a symbol for the sun and small rubber balls as symbols for the planets."
2. In psychology, an object or image that an individual unconsciously uses to represent repressed thoughts, feelings, or impulses: "The tall tree was a symbol for the patient representing strength and independence."
 
cypress, Cyprus
cypress (SIGH pris)
One of a number of evergreen trees that have leaves which overlap like scales: "In the warm climate, the cypress trees grew dark and green on the hillsides."
Cyprus (SIGH pruhs)
An island in the Mediterranean Sea: "They planned to spend their summer holidays on the Island of Cyprus."