Confusing Words Clarified Group S

Confusing Words Clarified Group S

http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/4346/11/?spage=21&letter=C

English can be very confusing; for example, a house burns up as it burns down, a form is being filled in as it is being filled out, and an alarm goes off by going on. How about when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible?
As you examine the groups of words in this unit, you will find many examples of confusions; sometimes, just one or two letters in a word can change its meaning completely. There are also times when two different words get confused because their meanings apply to things that are very similar.
Efforts have been made to help you grasp the meanings of various words that may be confusing so you can utilize them with greater accuracy in your communication.

sac, sack, sacque, sec
sac (SAK)
1. A pouch containing fluid found in both plants and animals: "The doctor said his patient had an inflammation in the sac surrounding his heart, medically identified as pericarditis."
2. A part inside the body of an animal or plant which is shaped like a bag and that usually contains liquid or air: "The hernial sac in the peritoneum (abdominal cavity) is a sac-like protrusion that contains a herniated organ."
sack (SAK)
1. A bag which may be made of cloth, paper, etc.; the contents of such an object: "I take my own plastic sack when I go shopping."
"I bought a sack of peanuts to feed to the squirrels in the park."
2. A loose fitting dress or coat: "I remember when sack dresses were very popular."
3. To place objects in a bag or similar container: "My summer job was to sack the potatoes for the farmer."
4. To dismiss from an employment or job: "The employer plans to sack my neighbor because he is late too often."
5. To loot, to plunder, and to steal that which is valuable: "The pirates planned to sack the coastal town at the crack of dawn."
sacque (SAK)
A short jacket typically worn by an infant: "Her grandmother made a colorful sacque for her baby as a holiday gift."
sec (SEK)
1. Something that is moderately dry, often in reference to alcoholic drinks: "He ordered a sec martini; just the way he liked it."
2. A reference to a short space of time; short for second: "If you can wait just a sec, I will get the box off the shelf for you."
 
sacks, sax
sacks (SAKS)
1. Several bags or similar containers for holding objects: "I bought several colorful sacks to use when I give gifts to my friends."
2. To fill bags with objects: "The farm employee sacks the onions very quickly in order to put the sacks on the truck."
3. Plundering or stealing: "Mythology has grown up about the pirate gang which sails the seas and sacks the sleeping villages on the shore."
sax (SAKS)
The short name for the musical instrument known as the saxophone: "My sister always wanted to play the sax in a concert band."
 
sacred, sacrosanct
sacred (SAY krid)
1. Holy, something that is considered worthy of veneration: "The sacred books were kept in a fireproof box."
2. Important, devoted exclusively to one undertaking: "She believed that it was her sacred duty to care for children who lived in slums and had no families."
sacrosanct (SAK roh sangkt")
That which is considered very holy or too important and respected to be changed, criticized, etc.: "The tradition of the ceremonies are considered sacrosanct."
"My grandmother believed that the order of the religious ceremonies were sacrosanct."
"We were told that the government's most sacrosanct institutions must be respected."
 
sacrilege, sacrilegious
sacrilege (SAK ruh lij)
An outrageous violation of or act of irreverence towards something considered holy: "Whistling in church is definitely considered a sacrilege."
sacrilegious (sak" ruh LIJ uhs, sak" ruh LEE juhs)
An adjective or description of an act or behavior that is considered a violation of something considered holy and worthy of veneration: "The graffiti on the walls surrounding the cemetery were considered sacrilegious given the holiness of the site to many of those whose ancestors were buried there."
 
sage, sage
sage (SAYJ)
A plant, the leaves of which are used in cooking and baking: "When making a special bread, my mother always included ground sage which smelled wonderful when baking."
sage (SAYJ)
1. An individual who is considered to be wise by virtue of experience and age: "We consulted the village sage before we started to climb up the mountain."
2. Characterized by wisdom and good judgment: "My mother gave me some sage advice before I went to to the university."
 
sail, sale
sail (SAYL)
1. Fabric that is hung in a particular fashion on a ship or boat and which catches the wind to make a ship or boat move in a forward direction: "The captain gave the order to hoist the sail and we cheered because our adventurous travels had begun."
2. To move in a boat that is propelled by wind: "We plan to sail around the world in a schooner."
3. To move or to proceed without resistance: "I expect the new tax bill to sail through the city council without opposition."
sale (SAYL)
1. The transfer of ownership of something from one person to another one for a specified price: "They completed the sale of the farm and cattle on the weekend."
2. The selling of items that are offered at bargain prices: "We went to the store that was having a sale of kitchen appliances."
3. A public event at which things are sold: "They're having a sale of fine antiques next week."
The nautical club was having boat canvas bargains last weekend or, in other words, they made it possible for people to take advantage of a sail sale.
 
salon, saloon
salon (suh LAHN, SAL ahn", sa LAWN)
1. A gathering of people often associated with the arts and cultural endeavors: "The members of the salon met every Wednesday in the home of their patroness."
2. A business establishment the purpose of which is to promote beauty and fashion: "She owned a beauty salon in the local mall."
3. An assembly hall or space for the exhibition of art: "He owned a salon just off the main street where the new artists could show their creations."
saloon (suh LOON)
1. A business establishment or room where alcoholic beverages are sold and consumed: "We looked for the sign, SALOON, and then went in for a drink."
2. A place on a train or ship that is comfortably and fashionably furnished for the comfort and ease of the passengers: "On the transcontinental train, the saloon car was the best place for us to sit so we could see the scenery."
 
salve, save
salve (SAV, SAHV)
1. An ointment to apply to wounds or sores to assist in healing: "The nurse applied a salve to the scrape on his arm and then put a bandage on it."
2. A soothing influence, typically in connection with an injury (physical or emotional) to make something less painful: "Her gentle voice was like a salve on her friend’s hurt feelings."
"Her husband bought her flowers to salve his guilty conscience."
save (SAYV)
1. An action that prevents an opponent in sports from gaining an advantage: "Because of the last minute save by the goalie, the home team won the game by one point."
2. To keep someone or something safe or to stop a person from dying or being hurt or preventing anything from being damaged or lost: "He risked his life to save his friend from drowning."
"The life guard was there to save anyone who swam too far from shore."
3. To put aside money for a special purpose: "He decided to save all the money from his paper delivery service so he could buy a new bicycle."
4. To stop something from ending or failing: "The new CEO (Chief Executive Officer) will make every effort to save the company from bankruptcy."
5. To store data in a computer file or on a storage device; so, it can be used later: "We should save our content on our CD (computer disk) before we shut down or we will lose everything we have done."
 
sanatorium, sanitarium
sanatorium (san" uh TOR ee uhm, san" uh TOHR uhm)
An organization or establishment dedicated to the treatment or rehabilitation of individuals suffering illness or injury: "Because I had a lung infection, I had to spend six months at the sanatorium before I was well."
sanitarium (san" i TAIR ee uhm)
An alternative word for an establishment the purpose of which is to provide rest and treatment for the ill: "The famous sanitarium was located near the desert where the air was dry and less polluted."
 
sane, seine, Seine
sane (SAYN)
Mentally healthy, able to anticipate and judge one's actions in a rational way: "You could tell by her disposition that she was a sane and happy person."
seine (SAYN)
1. A fishing net that hangs vertically in the water which when drawn up towards shore or onto a boat captures fish: "The fishing company used a seine when fishing off the coast of the island."
2. To fish using a net: "We decided to seine for fish at night using a flare to light our way on the water."
Seine (SAYN, SEN)
A river in France which flows northwest through Paris and empties into the English Channel: "We rented a barge and floated down the Seine River from Paris to the sea."
 
sanguine, sanguinary, sanguineous
sanguine (SANG gwin)
1. Having the character traits of cheerfulness: "He had a sanguine personality and got along with everyone at school."
2. Having a ruddy complexion: "After a day hiking in the mountains, he had a fresh and sanguine complexion."
sanguinary (SANG gwuh ner" ee)
Bloody, associated with bloodshed: "Too many wars end up being more sanguinary than anticipated."
sanguineous (sang GWIN ee uhs)
1. Relating to or involving blood or bloodshed: "The medical surgery was more sanguineous than the doctors expected."
2. Having the color of blood; blood-red: "His new shoes were sanguineous and were hard to keep clean."
 
sap, sap, SAP
sap (SAP), noun
1. The watery fluid that circulates through a plant, carrying food and other substances to the various tissues: "Maple syrup is made from the sap tapped from sugar maple trees."
2. A leather-covered hand weapon; a blackjack: "The robber used his sap on the poor victim when he tried to resist being robbed."
3. A slang term for a person who is easily tricked or cheated: "The poor sap believed everything she told him."
sap (SAP), verb
1. To use up the supply of something; such as, a person's courage, energy, strength, etc.: "Carrying things up and down the steps for hours can sap the strength of just about everyone."
"These unemployed people complained that months of not being able to get a job can really sap them of their self confidence and even cause serious depression."
2. To cause a person to lose courage, energy, strength, etc.: "His illness tended to sap him of his mental and physical strength to such a degree that he was on the verge of giving up any further medical treatment."
SAP (SAP)
System Applications Program, founded in 1972, in Germany, SAP has a history of innovation and growth as an industry leader. SAP currently has sales and development locations in more than 50 countries worldwide and is listed on several exchanges, including the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and NYSE under the symbol SAP: "SAP delivers products and services that help accelerate business innovation for their customers."
"According to company statements, by using SAP solutions, companies of all sizes; including small businesses and mid-size companies, can reduce costs, optimize performance, and gain the insight and agility needed to close the gap between strategy and execution."
 
sat, set, sit
sat (SAT)
1. To have rested on a chair or other surface: "I sat on the boulder and admired the view."
2. To have been inactive: "The tractor sat in the barn because it had a flat tire."
3. To have lain or rested: "The pot of soup sat on the stove where my wife was cooking and it smelled very appetizing."
4. To have been in a location: "The house sat in the middle of the green lawn and shade trees."
set (SET)
1. To place on a surface with care and deliberation: "Please set the books neatly on the shelves."
2. To attend with a fixed intention: "I set my mind to solving the mathematical puzzle before I watched television."
3. To establish a standard or pattern for a performance: "She set the standard for high jumping during the sports competition."
"His generosity set an example for his colleagues who also contributed to the relief fund."
4. The scenery for a theatrical or film production: "The set for the new play was lovely and earned a round of applause."
5. A collection of books or other objects that belong together because of such circumstances as being by the same author, having the same pattern, etc.: "I bought a new set of china to replace the set I had when I was at college."
"At the auction, we bought the complete set of Thackeray novels."
sit (SIT)
1. To be in a position in which one's bottom is resting on a chair, a seat, the ground, etc.; especially, with one's back upright: "Please, come in and sit down on the couch."
2. To occupy an official position: "He was elected to sit for a city council position after he resigned from the board of directors."
3. To allow to be inactive: "We will let the car sit in the garage over the winter because we don't have winter tires."
"The sled will sit in the garage during the summer and then it will be used again when the snow covers the ground in the winter."
4. To pose for a portrait, photograph, etc.: "She agreed to sit for the painter this week."
 
Satan, satin, sateen
Satan (SAYT'n)
The profoundly evil adversary of God and humanity, often identified with the leader of the fallen angels; the Devil: "As a child, if I told a lie, my mother would remark that Satan must have gotten my tongue."
satin (SAT'n)
1. A smooth fabric, as of silk or rayon, woven with a glossy face and a dull back: "Her beautiful wedding dress was made of antique satin."
2. Glossy, sleek, and smooth: "She brushed her hair so it had a satin sheen."
sateen (sa TEEN)
A cotton fabric with a satin-like finish: "I made a light cotton sateen dress for the summer."
 
satire, satyr
satire (SAT ighr")
A written work or a spoken expression that ridicules people's behavior: "He wrote a satire based on his observations of people who traveled First Class on the train."
satyr (SAY tuhr, SAT uhr)
1. A deity from Greek mythology with the characteristics of a goat or a horse and which enjoys revelry: "I looked at the urn in the gallery which depicted a satyr prancing in the forest."
2. A lecherous man: "After too much to drink, the man acted like a satyr and was removed from the saloon by the bouncer."
 
savant, idiot savant, idiot
savant (sa VAHNT)
1. A learned person or someone who knows a lot about a particular subject: "She is really a computer savant."
2. Someone who does not have normal intelligence but who has a very unusual mental ability that other people do not have: "He had poor reading skills; however, he was considered a savant because he could do unbelievable things with numbers and he had a fantastic memory of historical facts."
"Savant is now the preferred term for idiot savant and is recommended as the word which should be used instead."
idiot savant (ID ee uht sa VAHNT)
An intellectually disabled person who exhibits extraordinary ability in a highly specialized area; such as, mathematics or music: "Idiot savant is no longer considered an acceptable term and savant is now the preferred reference for this definition."
idiot (ID ee uht)
A foolish or stupid person: "I really made an idiot of myself at the dinner table last night."
"An idiot driver kept trying to pass me on the narrow road tonight while I was going at the speed limit and other cars were coming from the opposite direction."
 
saver, savor, savior
saver (SAY vuhr)
1. An individual who takes an active role in the prevention of harm or destruction of something: "The mayor was seen as the saver of the historical district in our town."
2. Anyone who protects others from harm including physical, emotional, and spiritual: "The preacher was renown as a saver of souls."
3. Someone stores, puts aside money, material items, etc.: "My mother was a real saver of coupons to take to the store."
"When I looked at my bank book, I congratulated myself on being a saver so I could buy the car I needed."
savor (SAY vuhr)
1. The distinctive taste or smell of something: "The savor of the soup was a blend of tomato and herbs."
2. To experience, to taste, or to delight in: "I savor my holidays every summer."
"He likes to dine by candlelight and to savor every bite of his well prepared meal."
savior (SAYV yuhr)
1. Someone who saves something or someone from danger, harm, failure, destruction etc.: "I felt my psychologist had been my savior after my counseling sessions were completed."
"There were many who expected the governor to be the savior of his political party."
2. When capitalized, Savior is used by Christians to refer to Jesus Christ: "As Christians, they took time to pray to their Savior during the special service on Christmas."
 
saw, saw
saw (SAW), verb
1. To have perceived an object by the use of one's eyes or vision: "Yesterday I saw the herd of buffalo in the distance."
"I saw your sister at the party last night and she seemed to be having a good time."
2. To have become aware of some concept or reality: "My friend saw an opportunity to improve his career and so he took advantage of the situation."
3. To have understood something: "I finally saw the point made by my teacher after I read the chapter in my text book."
saw (SAW), noun
1. A tool used for cutting hard material; such as, wood or metal: "He sharpened his saw so he could finish cutting the logs for the fire place."
2. A common saying or proverb: "Our grandfather recited the old saw about an apple a day keeping the doctor away."
 
scald, scold
scald (SKAWLD)
1. To burn by using a hot liquid or steam: "Why did I have to scald my hand with that hot water?"
2. To bring a liquid to a temperature that is not quite boiling: "The recipe said to scald the milk before using it."
scold (SKOHLD)
1. Someone who is habitually noisy and quarrelsome: "The village scold was always complaining and gossiping about other people."
2. To rebuke or to find fault, typically in an argumentative manner: "The teacher might scold us if we don't do our homework."
 
scalp, scalping; scalp, scalping; scalpel
scalp, scalping (SKALP, SKALP ing)
1. The skin covering the top of the human head: "She went to the doctor for treatment of the excessive loss of hair from her scalp."
2. A portion of the skin that covered the top of the head with its attached hair, cut from a body especially as a battle trophy or as proof in claiming a bounty: "He cut a piece from the scalp of the fox as proof of killing it in order to collect a bounty."
3. Hair and skin that is cut or torn from the head of an enemy as a sign of victory; now often used figuratively: "Because of her disrespectful behavior, there is no doubt that her boss will be scalping (firing) her or wants her scalp [wants to fire her]."
scalp, scalping (SKALP, SKALP ing)
To engage in the reselling of something; such as, tickets for a sports or musical event, etc.; usually, at a price higher than the established value: "Last week he was scalping tickets to the latest rock concert and now he wants to scalp tickets to the basketball game."
scalpel (SKAL puhl)
A small straight knife with a thin sharp blade used in surgery and dissection: "Each student in the anatomy class was using a scalpel to dissect his, or her, animal corpse."
 
scam, scram
scam (SKAM)
1. A deceptive, dishonest, or fraudulent undertaking: "The police arrested the two who were operating a scam and convincing others to give them money."
2. To get something; such as, money by deceiving idividuals: "The Ponzi scheme ended up as a gigantic scam for thousands of people."
"The Ponzi scam was an investment swindle in which some early investors were paid off with money put up by later people in order to encourage more and bigger risks."
scram (SKRAM)
1. To depart, to leave, to go away quickly: "The delinquents had to scram before the police would arrive."
2. A command to tell someone, or an animal, to leave or to get out of a place: "My mother told me to scram after she caught me eating cookies instead of carrot sticks."
 
scan, scandal
scan (SKAN)
1. To review or to investigate carefully: "She was asked to scan the research materials the author wanted to use for his report."
2. To glance at something, often in a hasty manner: "I barely had time to scan the statistics before responding to the questions."
3. To use a sensing device to examine objects: "My nephew used a Metal Detector to scan for lost metal objects on the beach."
4. An image, typically of a body part, that is obtained by the use of radiographic equipment: "The doctor reviewed the scan of my broken ankle and assured me I would not need surgery."
scandal (SKAN d'l)
1. Conduct that discredits an individual or organization: "There was a horrible scandal in the bank when the manager discovered that some funds were missing."
2. Disgrace to one's integrity or reputation due to an immoral or disgraceful behavior: "The scandal surrounding the runaway couple was the gossip of the town for a long time."
 
scat, scat, scat, scat
scat (SKAT)
Usually a command to leave immediately and quickly: "When the lady saw the strange cat on her back porch, she told it to scat!"
scat (SKAT)
A style of jazz singing that uses nonsense syllables to approximate the sound of a solo instrument: "The singer used scat to improvise vocal sounds instead of words to go along with the melody of the clarinet that was being played by another member of the group."
"Scat is said to have originated on the Hot Five song Heebie Jeebies when Louis Armstrong dropped his lyrics to sing in this new style."
scat, scats (SKAT, SKATS)
Small tropical-ocean fish, often kept in aquaria because of their bright colors; from Indian and Pacific oceans: "Scat is a shortened term of modern Latin Scatophagidae from Greek scatophagos, 'dung-eating'; because scats are known to frequent sewage outlets for their food consumption and they are scavengers, feeding on algae and feces [scat]."
scat (SKAT)
A fecal dropping of an animal; especially of a game animal: "The veterinarian was examining the scat of the deer in an effort to find out what was making it and others sick."
While the lady was listening to Louis Armstrong sing scat, she noticed that right after her cat left its scat in the litter box, it jumped up on the table where the scats were swimming in the aquarium and so the lady firmly told her cat to scat and to leave the fish alone.
scene, seen
scene (SEEN)
1. A portion of an act or a single situation or event in a theater or film production: "The second scene in the play was delightful and we laughed a lot."
2. The location where something happened: "The police searched the scene for clues that would indicate what started the fire."
3. An exhibition of inappropriate behavior: "Because she was so tired, my little niece caused a scene at the restaurant so we all had to go home before we could even order our meals."
seen (SEEN)
1. To have participated as a spectator: "We have seen several soccer games in our lives but none were as exciting as this one."
2. To have looked at: "I have seen the beautiful jewels in the Tower of London."
3. To have made sure something is done: "I have seen to the setting of the table and used all the good china."
I’ve never seen such a beautiful scene before.
 
scent, sent
scent (SENT)
1. A characteristic or particular odor left by an animal on a surface: "My dog was sniffing around the tree and picked up the scent of the raccoon."
2. Perfume or other nice smelling liquids worn for the enhancement of one's personality: "My aunt wore her favorite scent when she went to the opera."
3. To get a hint or inkling of something: "They could scent that trouble was brewing among the workers."
sent (SENT)
1. To have caused something to go in a particular direction: "The teacher sent my cousin home because she appeared to be sick."
2. To have dispatched: "I sent a telegram to my uncle about the train schedule."
3. To have grown as part of normal development: "The flowers sent out new shoots in the spring."
4. To have discharged or poured out: "The volcano sent up a cloud of smoke and ash."
When the man's wife received the special delivery package of perfume, it was good to know that they finally sent the scent she was expecting.
Why is the nose in the middle of the face? Because it is the scenter.
 
scepter, specter
scepter (SEP tuhr)
The staff or emblem of royal authority: "The queen carried the scepter in her hand as she walked to her carriage."
specter (SPEK tuhr)
A ghost, something that appears to haunt a location or an individual: "In the shadows, I was certain I saw the specter of my long lost uncle."
 
scratch, scratch
scratch (SKRATCH), verb
1. To rub the skin with something sharp as with the fingernails in an attempt to stop an itching: "She had nervous itches and her first reaction was to scratch them for relief."
2. To decide to quit doing something: "They had to scratch their plans for flying because of the bad weather."
3. To earn barely enough money to live on: "The father was barely able to scratch out a living for his family."
scratch (SKRATCH), noun
1. A line or mark in the surface of something that is caused by anything rough or sharp rubbing against it: "We saw a scratch on the back bumper of his car."
2. From a point at which nothing has been done before: "The author started his new novel yesterday from scratch."
 
scream, screech, shriek, squeal
scream (SKREEM)
1. To suddenly cry out in a loud and high voice because of pain, surprise, etc.: "You could hear her scream when she saw the dead body."
2. To speak, to write, or to express something in a way that shows intense or uncontrolled emotion: "The newspaper headlines did indeed scream about the increase in crime of the downtown area."
3. Produce a vivid impression or startling effect: "The colors of her pink sweater and orange blouse seemed to scream at each other."
4. To make a very loud, high sound: "We heard the scream of the woman when her husband drove into the fire hydrant and hit a tree early in the morning."
"In New York City, you never really get used to the scream of sirens."
"It is no doubt just their imagination going wild, but some visitors claim that they can hear a scream from the picture of The Scream by the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch in the National Gallery of Oslo, Norway."
screech (SKREECH)
Cry out sharply in a high voice, shriek; a shrill, harsh scream: "To hear any owl screech at night and near by can startle just about everyone."
shriek (SHREEK)
1. A loud, sharp, shrill sound: "The shriek of terror in the movie made the whole audience jump."
"The shriek of an engine’s whistle causes pain in our ears."
"The woman let out a shriek when she saw and felt the mouse running over her foot."
2. A loud, shrill laugh: "The little girl gave a shriek of delight when her daddy came home from work."
"Each child greeted the other one with a shriek of joy."
squeal (SKWEEL)
1. Make a long, sharp, or shrill cry: "A pig will squeal when it is hurt or wants to get away when it is grabbed."
"The puppy responded with a squeal when the woman stepped on its tail."
2. Slang: to inform on someone; to betray, or to expose one's accomplices: "She was getting ready to squeal to the police after seeing her neighbor break into another house and carry out a TV set."
 
scrip, script
scrip (SKRIP)
1. A wallet or a small bag: "I carried my subway tickets in a small scrip inside my knapsack."
2. Money, paper, or coins, which can be issued for use in emergency situations: "Because the roads were flooded and the merchants could not get to the bank, they issued scrip for their customers to use instead of money."
3. Documents that indicate the person to whom it belongs is entitled to receive something: "The patient presented the scrip to the drugstore and the prescription was renewed."
script (SKRIPT)
1. The written form of a play, movie, television show, etc.: "At our rehearsals, we studied the script which the playwright had given us."
2. A style of printing that resembles handwriting: "The font choices on my computer include a very readable script."
3. A plan for what is going to be done or said in a particular situation: "We followed the script from the travel agent when planning our trip by train."
"When questioned, the company officials followed the script and declined to comment."
 
scrub, scrub, scrub
scrub, scrubs (SKRUHB, SKRUHBS)
A straggly, stunted tree or bush; small bushes and trees: "We could see the chipmunk hiding in the scrub farther away from the scrubs in the woods."
scrub, scrubbed (SKRUHB, SKRUHB'd)
1. As a verb, to rub something hard with a rough object or substance and often with soap in order to clean it: "We had to scrub and scrub the floor until it was clean."
2. The procedure of having rubbed something very hard to get it clean. "The pan had a good scrub and is now clean and ready to be put away."
scrub, scrubbed (SKRUHB, SKRUHB'd)
1. To cancel or to abandon; to drop what was anticipated: "Because of the high cost, we had to scrub our plans for going away on a vacation."
2. Having decided that something; such as, a game, performance, etc. will not happen or has been canceled: "They had to scrub the game because of the bad weather."
"On February 7, 2010, NASA scrubbed the launch of the space shuttle, Endeavor, to the International Space Station (ISS) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida because the low clouds that moved in would obscure, or make it impossible to see, the Endeavor as it took off."
 
scruff, scuff
scruff (SKRUHF)
The back or nape of the neck: "The mother cat picked up her kitten by the scruff of the neck and carried it back to the box with the other kittens."
scuff (SKUHF)
1. To shuffle or to walk without lifting one's feet; to explore using one's feet: "When I am tired, I tend to scuff my feet when I am walking."
"Children like to scuff by dragging their feet through piles of leaves in the yard."
2. A slipper with a flat sole: "I noticed the heel of my left scuff was worn out so I think I need a new pair of slippers for the holidays."
3. To roughen or to scratch by wear: "Before she could dance in her new high heels, it was necessary for her to scuff the soles of her shoes on the sidewalk so they would not be slippery."
 
scull, skull
scull (SKUHL)
1. A racing boat that is propelled by individuals using oars: "The scull was long and sleek and easy to maneuver."
2. To propel a boat using one or two long oars, often undertaken by one individual: "We watched as the son of our friend tried to scull the boat and almost tipped over."
skull (SKUHL)
1. The structure of bones that form the head and face of a human or other animal: "After falling on the slippery sidewalk and being taken to the hospital, the doctor said our neighbor had a fractured skull."
2. The skeleton head bone of a vertebrate which encloses and protects the brain and other delicate parts in that part of the body: "In the museum I saw the skull believed to be that of the oldest primate in the world."
They knew they were in danger when their scull hit a skull floating in the river.
 
sculptor, sculpture
sculptor (SKUHLP tuhr)
An artist who produces work by carving a material; such as, wood, stone, etc.: "The sculptor has an exhibit of her work in the local gallery."
sculpture (SKUHLP chuhr)
1. The act of creating works of art out of hard materials: "She tried to sculpture a toy out of a single piece of wood."
2. A work of art that is three dimensional: "The sculpture of King Tut at the gallery was incredibly tall and beautiful."
 
sea, see
sea (SEE)
1. The body of salt water that covers most of the surface of the world: "We decided to sail across the sea in a cargo ship which also had provisions for about ten passengers."
2. An essentially landlocked body of salt water of secondary size to the ocean: "The Mediterranean Sea is a beautiful blue during the summer."
3. The heaving motion of the surface of a large body of water: "The rough sea caused our ship to toss up and down just before we arrived in the English channel."
4. A gathering of vast dimensions: "From our balcony, we could watch the sea of faces gathered in the town square below."
see (SEE)
1. The seat of ecclesiastical authority: "The palace is the see for the bishop in this town."
2. To notice or to become aware of someone or something by using the eyes: "We can see the hills in the distance from our front porch."
3. To recognize, to understand, or to suppose: "Looking at the sales figures, we can see a steady decline in profits."
"Investors were never able to see this turn in the stock market coming."
We asked our California friends if they can see the sea from their house.
 
seam, seem
seam (SEEM)
1. The joining of two edges of a fabric or material of some sort: "You could not see the seam in the dress where the tailor had mended it."
2. The space between the wooden planks on a ship: "The sailors used pitch to fill the seam that was leaking."
3. A thin layer of something lying between sections of a different substance: "We could see the seam of silver ore glinting in the dark rock."
seem (SEEM)
1. To appear to be something or to do something: "Because my sleeping bag was wet, it would seem to me that the tent must be leaking and we should find a different shelter."
2. To have a quality, appearance, etc., that shows or suggests a particular characteristic, feeling, etc.: "What they're doing doesn't seem right to me."
It would seem that the seam in the tent doesn keep the rain out.
The difference between a kiss and a sewing machine is this; one sews seams nice and the other seems so nice.
 
seamed, seemed
seamed (SEEM'd)
To have attached the two edges of a material or fabric to each other: "The new sewing machine flawlessly seamed the material for the new coat."
seemed (SEEM'd)
To have given an impression or to have gained the sense of something: "It seemed to me that the tower on the hill was crumbling and needed to be repaired."
 
seamen, semen
seamen (SEE muhn)
Sailors having the rank below that of petty officers in the navy or coast guard: "The seamen wore their clean white uniforms while the ship was in port."
semen (SEE muhn)
A viscous fluid that is secreted by male reproductive organs: "The doctor collected a sample of the man's semen to send to the laboratory for analysis."
 
sear, seer, seer, sere
sear (SEER)
To dry out or to burn with a sudden application of heat or flame: "The chef was careful to sear the swordfish steak over the open fire."
"We saw the lightning sear the tree."
seer (SEER)
An individual who demonstrates unusual insight or one who practices divination (fortune telling): "I was curious to consult a seer about my future life."
seer (SEER)
An individual who looks for or perceives information by using his/her eyes: "My aunt who had limited vision always traveled with a friend who acted as her seer, describing the scenery, etc."
sere (SEER)
Characterized by being dried, winkled, or withered: "In fairy tales, the old crones always seem to have sere skin."
"Another way to describe 'dried cranberries' is to say the cranberries are sere."
 
seas, sees, seize, siege, cease
seas (SEEZ)
1. The salt waters that cover much of the Earth's surface: "They traveled by ship on the seas."
2. Large bodies of water, salt or fresh, that are more or less land locked: "Their boat was overwhelmed by the heavy seas."
sees (SEEZ)
Noticing or becoming aware of living creatures or things by using the eyes: "She sees better now than she did before the operation on her eyes."
seize (SEEZ)
1. To grasp suddenly and forcibly; to take or grab something: "The bank will seize their house because they have not been able to make their payments."
2. To grasp, to take possession of, to capture: "The publisher was enthusiastic, as he told the author that his new novel would seize the imagination of the public."
siege (SEEJ)
A prolonged effort to gain or overcome something or a serious and lasting attack of something: "They had a long siege of bitterly cold temperatures this winter."
cease (SEES)
1. To put an end to or to stop doing something: "The factory will cease operations next year."
"Mr. Chips cautioned the students to cease their talking and to do their work."
2. To stop performing an activity or action; to desist: "The noise will cease when the cars stop honking their horns."
The goal of a pirate captain is to wander the seas (with his fellow pirates) and to seize any ship he sees that looks as if it has any value even if he has to lay siege to it until he gets his loot; then after that he will cease his efforts until another victim is found.
 
seasonable, seasonal
seasonable (SEE zuh nuh buhl)
Happening in good time; appropriate for the circumstances; opportune: "We had a seasonable frost this morning which made the grass white."
"We had a seasonable discussion about what to do about our friend's upcoming birthday."
seasonal (SEE zuh nuhl)
Occurring or varying depending on timing or circumstances: "Picking cherries on the farm is a seasonal activity."
"We had a seasonal snow storm on the first of December."
 
sects, sex
sects (SEKS)
1. Several religious organizations which are perceived as having a distinctive doctrine: "The two sects decided to unite and created a communal purpose to hand print their religious books."
2. Factions or organizations that adhere to a specific code or doctrine or who follow a leader: "The political sects gathered on the school common for a rally and to listen to a charismatic speaker."
3. Religious or political groups that are connected to a larger organization who have beliefs that differ greatly from those of the main group: "Liberal sects have been expressing strong differences of opinions with the more conservative members of the religious congregation."
sex (SEKS)
1. The intercourse between male and female animals which may be for pleasure or for reproduction: "My cat was pregnant after having sex with the local tomcat."
2. Either of the two divisions of organisms that distinguish male and female species: "In my botany course, we learned to distinguish the sex of the flowers that were grown in the laboratory."
 
sensitive, sensual, sensuous
sensitive (SEN si tiv)
1. Susceptible or easily hurt: "I was aware of her sensitive nature and tried to be gentle when I told her about the accident."
2. Secret or classified information: "The sensitive documents for which the minister was responsible were accidentally left in the restaurant."
3. Readily fluctuating or changing: "The temperature in the room was sensitive as the result of the drafts coming in through the crack in the window."
sensual (SEN shoo uhl)
Worldly; seeking gratification of one's physical appetites or desires: "She sought to satisfy her sensual desires by dressing in an extravagant manner and dining in elegant restaurants."
sensuous (SEN shoo uhs)
Characterized by the impressions or imagery of the senses: "Going to the museum was a sensuous feast for my artistic appetite."
 
sentence, sentence
sentence (SEN tuhns)
A group of words that expresses a statement, question, command, or wish: "Sentences usually contain a subject and a verb and in written English, the first word of a sentence is capitalized and the sentence ends with a period, question mark, or an exclamation point."
sentence (SEN tuhns)
A court judgment, especially a judicial decision of the punishment to be inflicted on a person adjudged guilty; the penalty meted out: "He is serving a sentence of fifteen years in prison for armed robbery."
"I am" is the shortest grammatical sentence in English, but "I do" can be a life sentence.
 
septic; skeptic, sceptic; styptic
septic (SEP tik)
Characterized by infection or putrefaction: "Because it was not treated promptly, the wound on my foot became septic."
skeptic, sceptic (SKEP tik)
An individual who typically questions knowledge or reserves judgment on a topic: "My friend is a skeptic when it comes to reading certain articles in the local newspaper."
styptic (STIP tik)
A substance that tends to act as an astringent: "When he was learning to shave, the young man kept a tube of styptic close by in case he cut himself with the razor."
 
seraph, serif
seraph (SER uhf)
An angel, often depicted as a child: "We admired the painting of the seraph on the ceiling of the chapel."
serif (SER if)
One of the short lines near the top and bottom of the long parts of some printed letters: "The curlicue at the top of the letter 'A' is my special serif when I am printing posters."
 
serf, surf
serf (SURF)
Someone in feudal times who was bound in servitude and who lived and worked on a estate which was usually owned by someone from the upper class: "The serf worked hard, hoping that some day he would be able to rise to a higher social level and own property."
surf (SURF)
1. A wave of the sea that breaks onto the shore: "We could hear the sound of the surf breaking on the beach from our resort hotel."
2. The activity by which individuals, using a specially designed board, ride the large waves of the sea towards the shore: "Her boyfriend tried to surf the big waves in Hawaii."
3. To go on the internet or to watch television for recreation, education, or entertainment; frequently changing the site or channel: "I often surf the internet looking for information that can provide sources of information for my university classes."
 
serge, surge
serge (SURJ)
A sturdy fabric that is woven with a diagonal stripe in it: "My mother made me a serge skirt to go with my new coat."
surge (SURJ)
1. To rise and fall in a sudden and excessive manner: "After the storm, we were afraid that the waves would surge against the shore, causing flooding."
2. Characterized by an unexpected and sudden fluctuation or rise and fall: "There was an unexpected surge in the electrical power last night."
3. To move like advancing waves: "We could see the fans surge forward to see the movie star."
4. A sudden spontaneous or planned increase in an activity: "President Barack Obama is set to formally authorize the dispatch of additional U.S. combat troops to Afghanistan, the beginning stage of a military surge that will likely add many more military personnel over the next year or more, doubling the U.S. occupation forces."
 
sever, severe
sever (SEV uhr)
To cut, to separate or to divide: "After an argument, my brother decided to sever all communication with his former boss."
severe (suh VEER)
1. Strict, stern, or rigorous in judgment: "He was his own most severe critic when talking about his new book."
2. Maintaining a scrupulous standard for behavior: "I thought that her expectations of the children’s behavior were severe considering their ages."
3. Harsh, difficult, causing discomfort: "A winter in Northern Canada can be severe if anyone is not prepared for it."
4. Requiring great effort: "The war is a severe test of his leadership ability."
 
sew, so, sow, sow
sew (SOH)
To make, repair, or to fasten by stitching, as with a needle and thread or a sewing machine: "Her mother is planning to sew another dress and to sew on some new buttons, too."
so (SOH)
1. To a degree that is suggested or stated: "She had never felt so happy."
"Her mother told her that she shouldn't eat so fast."
2. In the same way: "He was always a hard worker and so was his mother."
sow (SOW)
1. To scatter (seed) over the ground for growing: "Every year in the spring, we sow corn."
2. To cause fear, doubt, etc. that can affect a large number of people: "Threats of war can sow fear in the region."
sow (SOU)
An adult female hog or even adult females of several other animals; such as, the bear: "The sow just gave birth to eight piglets who are now busy nursing."
So, a crow can scatter wheat seeds, but can a sow corn or can she even sew a dress? See how easy it is to confuse these words?
Remarked the tailor feeling low, "Business is bad, or just sew, sew."
 
sewage, sewerage
sewage (SOO ij)
The refuse, or liquid and solid waste, carried off in sewers or drains: "It's important that municipalities make sure that the the sewage is properly carried away from homes and other buildings in the systems of pipes which have been set up for that purpose."
sewerage (SOO uhr ij)
Either the removal of sewage or the system of removal: "The city official explained that sewerage refers to the removal of waste materials by means of the sewer system."
 
sewer, sewer, soar, sower, suer
sewer, sewar (SOO uhr)
1. An underground conduit or pipe the purpose of which is to carry off drainage and excrement: "My streets were dug up all summer long because the city was installing new sewer pipes in my neighborhood."
2. Formerly, in England, an attendant who supervised the serving of meals and the seating of guests: "The Medieval romance described the sewer who was attached to the household and was in charge of making sure the food was properly prepared."
sewer (SOH uhr)
1. An individual who uses a needle and thread or a machine that is equipped to fasten material together with stitches: "The new immigrant to the city was hired as a sewer in the local coat factory."
2. Someone who makes, mends, or fastens with a needle and thread: "Her mother was known as a talented and a practical sewer because she could do so many things with her needles and various threads."
soar (SOHR)
1. To fly or hover in the air, typically at a great height: "I watched my kite soar out of sight above the trees."
2. To glide or to fly without an engine and not lose altitude: "The pilot was able to soar over the plains in the glider which he had built."
3. To rise to a majestic or exalted professional or public level: "With the help of his secretary, his career began to soar in the company."
4. To increase very quickly in amount or price: "Housing costs started to soar to greater amounts then suddenly dropped causing what has been termed to be a housing bubble."
sower (SOH uhr)
1. An individual who casts or scatters seed to grow a crop: "For a job during the spring vacation, my cousin worked on a farm as a sower, scattering seeds for the summer wheat."
2. Anyone who is responsible for introducing something into a special or selected environment: "The scientist was the sower of a new breed of wheat in the farm region."
3. A person who tries to cause fear, doubt, etc. which will affect many people: "The leader of the opposition was a deliberate sower of discord among the voters in the recent elections."
suer (SOO uhr)
An individual who uses a legal process to get a court of law to force another person, company, or organization to make a financial payment or to take certain actions: "The judge asked that the suer stand up and explain his case."
Someone told me that he saw a hand reaching up from a manhole in the street and it was showing a threaded needle.
It's the only time he had ever seen a sewer coming out of a sewer.
 
sext, sexting, sexted; text, texting, texted
sext, sexting, sexted (SEKST, SEKST ing, SEKST'd), verbs
1. A portmanteau (combination) of sex and texting which is the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photos electronically, primarily between cell phones: "The mother of a twelve-year old girl was caught sexting a nude photo to her boy friend."
2. The slang term for the use of a cell phone or other similar electronic device to distribute pictures or video of sexually explicit images: "Sexting also refers to text messages of an obviously sexual-content."
3. When a guy and a girl send sexually explicit text messages back and forth to each other which may also include pictures: "Both parents of the boy and girl were very upset when they found out that their children had sexted to each other."
"In other parts of the country, teens have been arrested for sexting on the internet."
Come on people, don't you know that your sexted messages on the internet can be seen by other people?
Every time you sext images and messages, you have actually sexted them for the world to see.
text, texting, texted (TEKST, TEKST ing, TEKST'd), verbs
1. To send a text message to: "My friend texted me when she arrived in town."
2. To communicate by text message: "He texted his wife that he would be late for dinner."
"A six-month trial of mobile calling, texting, and other data services were made available to their customers."
Hey, friend, I've been texting you for several days and you haven't texted me back. Would you please text me soon so I'll know that you are all right.
 
sextant, sexton
sextant (SEK stuhnt)
A navigational instrument incorporating a telescope and an angular scale that is used to work out latitude and longitude of astronomical objects as viewed through the telescope and its angular distance above the horizon is read off the scale: "The captains on the old whaling fleets used a sextant to set the courses for their ships."
sexton (SEK stuhn)
An employee or officer of a church who is responsible for the care and upkeep of church property and sometimes for ringing bells and digging graves: "One of my nephews has a part time job as the sexton at his church."
 
shall, will (verb forms)
shall (SHAL)
1. This element is now mostly restricted to two situations, first, for interrogative sentences requesting permission or agreement: "Shall we go for a walk now?"
"Shall I open the present now?"
2. Second, shall is used in legal documents, in which it indicates a duty or responsibility: "This tenant shall obtain the landlord's permission before he makes any changes to the property."
will (WIL)
With minor exceptions, will has become the universal word to express futurity; regardless, of whether the subject is in the first, second, or third person: "My friend and I will be arriving in town early this evening and he will be driving the car."

Grammar rules formerly had the following formats, which now are generally no longer utilized!

Simple Futurity

First person: I shall (s); we shall (pl)
Second person: you will (s); you will (pl)
Third person: he, she, it will (s); they will (pl)

Determination, Promise, or Command

First person: I will (s); we will (pl)
Second person: you shall (s); you shall (pl)
Third person: he, she, it shall (s); they shall (pl)
"The artificial distinction between shall and will to designate futurity has neither a basis in historical grammar nor the sound sanction of universal usage."

-Norman Lewis, Better English; 1961; page 270.

 
shear, sheer
shear (SHIR)
1. To cut, trim, or to clip something (hair, wool, bushes, etc.) from something: "Today is the day we shear the sheep."
"Tomorrow we will shear the lawn and the bushes."
2. A cutting instrument similar to scissors but typically larger and heavier that is usually referred to in the plural: "We bought a new pair of shears so we can trim the hedge."
sheer (SHIR)
1. Something that is thin and almost transparent: "Her light summer coat was made of the sheer cotton that she bought at the store."
2. Straight up and down, perpendicular: "We decided we could not climb the sheer cliff today, but we are determined to try it tomorrow."
3. To act with focused determination: "She won the scholarship through her sheer determination to excel in all her examinations."
 
sheath, sheathe
sheath (SHEETH)
1. A cover or case for something: "In my craft class, I made a leather sheath for my cousin’s pocket knife."
2. Any of a variety of coverings or supporting structures: "My umbrella has a protective sheath which I use when I put it in my purse."
sheathe (SHEETH)
1. To cover something with a protective layer: "The builders will sheathe the walls of the house with plastic to make it windproof before putting up the brick siding."
2. To put something; such as, a sword, into a sheath: "The swordsman was about to sheathe his sword."
 
shelf, shelve
shelf (SHELF), noun
1. Something which is fastened to a wall for the storage of books or other items: "The handy man will put a shelf in the closet for my shoe boxes."
2. A ledge of rocks usually partially submerged in water: "The waterfowl stood on the shelf in the bay while they were hunting for small fish."
3. A flat area of rock, sand, ground, etc.; especially underwater: "The swimmers had to be careful of the shelf of sand covered rock and shallow water when they were diving off shore."
shelve (SHELV)
1. To place something on a flat surface structure that is fastened to a wall: "Once the shelf is installed, I will shelve all of my books in alphabetical order."
2. To put aside or to remove from active work or service: "I had to shelve my idea of sailing around the world because I lost my job."
"When she was called to the office, the engineer thought her boss was going to shelve her."
 
shoe, shoo
shoe (SHOO)
1. An item, typically constructed of leather, which is designed to be worn on and to protect each foot of a person: "I took my left shoe in to the repair shop to replace the worn heel."
2. A metal rim that is designed to protect the foot of a horse or similar animal: "The blacksmith made a new shoe for the mule while the farmer waited."
3. A part of the brake system used to slow the motion of something: "The auto mechanic told my friend that she needed a new brake shoe for each of the back wheels, if she wanted to use her car safely."
shoo (SHOO)
To tell (an animal or person) to leave: "When she saw the strange cat in her yard, she yelled, 'Shoo! Get out of here!' and it ran through the bushes."
"We tried to help the woman, but her response was to shoo us away."
 
shone, shown
shone (SHOHN)
1. To have taken a fancy or liking to something: "I have shone my interest in water color painting by enrolling at a studio."
2. Fair weather, brilliant: "The sun has shone all day which we really enjoyed after three days of rain."
shown (SHOHN)
1. To have caused or permitted someone or something to be seen: "I have shown my fancy embroidery at the local craft fair."
2. To have pointed out or exhibited: "The real estate agent has shown my house to three couples who are interested in buying it."
 
shot, shot, shot
shot (SHAHT), noun
1. An act of having fired a gun: "The hunter fired a shot at the deer, but he missed it."
2. Someone who shoots a gun: "She is a better shot than her brother."
3. A critical or insulting remark: "He took a shot at his opponent more than once during the debate."
"As his parting shot, the senator said that the other candidate simply didn't have any idea what the needs of his state are."
4. An attempt to do something successfully: "The football team lost the game, but there is no denying that the players gave it their best shot."
5. An informal expression referring to a photograph: "I got a good snap shot of the children making their snowman."
"You can be sure that the police will make more than one mug shot of the person who is accused of robbing the bank."
6. An act of putting something; such as, medicine or vaccine, into the body with a needle: "He decided to go get his flu shot this winter."
shot (SHAHT), verb
1. Having discharged or fired a gun: "Are you sure that when you shot your gun at the target you actually hit it?"
"She shot an arrow at an apple on the fence and hit it right in the center."
2. Gone, moved, or passed quickly and suddenly in a particular direction or to a particular place: "The musical album shot straight to the top of the charts."
shot (SHAHT), informal
In a bad condition or situation: "This job is so stressful that my nerves are shot to pieces."
"After sliding off the icy road into the ditch, my car is so shot that it won't pay to fix it!"
"I have to stop and rest because I am simply too shot to drive any more tonight."
 
shudder, shutter
shudder (SHUHD uhr)
1. To tremble or to shiver in a convulsive manner: "It was so cold I began to shudder and could not stop until I went inside to get warm."
2. The act of trembling or shivering in an uncontrollable manner: "I shudder to think of what could have happened if I had missed my plane."
shutter (SHUHT uhr)
1. A moveable screen to cover a window or a door: "I decided to paint the shutter on the porch a bright green."
2. To move a screen to cover a window or door: "I want to shutter the windows before the rain starts."
3. Part of a camera that opens and shuts to allow light to expose the film: "The shutter on my camera stuck and I had to get it repaired."
 
sic, sic, sick
sic (SIK)
To attack someone or something, usually used as a command to a dog: "When her neighbor saw the stranger trying to break into his house, he told the thief to stand still or he would sic his dog on him."
sic (SIK)
To indicate that the spelling or wording of something is intentional or original: "The editor wrote sic in the margins of the copy so the typesetter would understand that any misspellings or misuses of any words were intentional."
sick (SIK)
1. Not well, being ill, feeling queasy, or being nauseated: "I felt sick all day and did not go to work."
2. Corrupt in a spiritual or moral sense: "His sense of humor was vulgar and no one laughed at his sick jokes."
3. Filled with anxiety: "She was sick with worry before her daughter finally came home late from school."
4. Emotionally unsound or disordered: "Her mind was sick and she had to be psychologically treated for several months."
 
side, sighed
side (SIGHD)
1. To support or to agree with: "I expect you to side with me when we talk with the school principal."
2. Either the left or right portion of the body: "He described a sharp pain in the right side of his body."
3. A group of contestants or a team: "We cheered for our side as our spelling team won the spelling bee."
sighed (SIGHD)
1. To have made the sound of gently moving air: "The wind sighed through the bare tree branches."
2. To have taken a deep breath that may be heard by others: "When she stood up, she sighed because she was tired and her feet hurt."
 
sigher, sire
sigher (SIGHR)
An individual who tends to breathe deeply and heavily: "She always sounded like a sigher because it was difficult for her to breathe easily."
sire (SIGHR)
1. The male parent of a domestic animal: "Black Diamond was the sire of the famous racehorse."
2. To breed or to parent a domestic animal: "We want our horse to sire at least one colt before he is sold."
3. A form of address used to refer to a man of authority: "When the butler spoke to the landowner, he referred to him as 'sire' as a form of respect."
 
sighs, size
sighs (SIGHZ)
1. To make or to take a deep audible breath: "She sighs when she is tired and needs a cup of tea."
2. To take in and let out a long and audible breath in a way that shows that someone is bored, disappointed, relieved, etc.: "It was possible to hear some sighs of relief from students when they found out that they had passed the final exam."
size (SIGHZ)
1. The physical shape or bulk of something: "The size of the rain clouds was amazing."
2. An indication of an item of graduated measurements or proportions: "I tried on a size seven dress and it fit me perfectly."
"What size shoe do you wear?"
3. To alter, to make, or to modify something to correspond to its actual shape or bulk: "The seamstress had to size the arms of the jacket to match the length of the coat."
4. To cover something; such as, wallpaper with a sticky substance called sizing (glue, flour, or varnish) in order to make it stiff or smooth or to attach something else to it: "The paper hanger had to size the paper before he could attach it to the walls."
 
sign, sine
sign (SIGHN)
1. A motion or gesture the purpose of which is to communicate a signal or command: "He gave the sign for the race to begin."
2. A defined set of signals or gestures used for communication by individuals who are unable to hear properly; to make such gestures or signals: "He used his hands to sign to his friends that it was time to go to the ball game."
"I plan to study sign language in order to communicate with my young cousin who is hearing impaired."
3. One of two characters (+, -) used to indicate positive or negative factors in mathematics: "I missed one question on the math examination because I forgot to put the correct sign in the answer."
4. A poster or bill board typically used for advertising or providing information: "The directions said to turn right at the sign pointing to the bridge."
"We noticed that our neighbor had a For Sale sign on his car."
sine (SIGHN)
The ratio of the hypotenuse to the opposite side of a right-angled triangle: "His geometry assignment was to calculate the sine of the right triangle using the measurements which his teacher provided."
 
simmer, summer
simmer (SIM uhr)
1. To cook something so it is almost boiling for a certain period of time: "The directions for the recipe said to put all the ingredients in a pot and simmer for 45 minutes."
"Simmer the stew for 30 minutes or until the sauce has thickened."
2. To be filled with a strong feeling that is difficult to control or to hide: "It was easy to see the customer simmer with anger when he couldn't get anyone to take his payment."
summer (SUHM uhr)
The season or time of the year that occurs between the seasons of spring and the fall, characterized by being warm or hot: "The girl said that she loves summer because there is no school and she can go to the beach every afternoon."
"Her children have wonderful memories of summer camps over the years."
 
simple, simplistic
simple (SIM puhl)
1. Not requiring a high degree of sophisticated understanding: "The directions looked so simple that even my three-year old nephew could understand them."
2. Unconditional, readily understood, and uncomplicated: "The conditions of the warranty for the new vacuum cleaner were simple to understand."
3. Not special or unusual: "He enjoys the simple pleasures of spending time with his wife and children when he gets home from work."
simplistic (sim PLIS tik)
1. The presentation of a problem in a manner that seems deceptively easy and ignores certain relevant information: "To say that the butler did it seems like a simplistic approach to solving the mystery."
2. Not complete or thorough enough, or not treating or considering all the possibilities or parts: "The scientist's interpretation of the results was too simplistic and failed to clarify what happened."
 
simulate, stimulate
simulate (SIM yuh layt")
To copy or to imitate, often in such a manner as to be deceptive: "The students practiced flying a machine that was designed to simulate the actual flight of a jet."
"The jeweler agreed to simulate the antique necklace so the original could be kept in safe storage."
stimulate (STIM yuh layt")
To arouse, to excite, or to provoke. "The professor was exceptional and could stimulate her students to an active discussion of the issues."
"A salary raise for employees could very well stimulate more production for the company."
 
sing, singe
sing (SING)
1. To make musical tones by using the voice: "She was determined to learn to sing so she enrolled in a vocal music program."
"Since I have retired, I only sing opera for my family and friends, but not for others."
2. Informal, to give information, often in a clandestine or secret manner: "He agreed to sing on his criminal comrades in exchange for his freedom."
singe (SINJ)
To burn in a superficial or slight manner: "Be careful when you lean across the table, you might singe your hair in the candles."
 
sink, sink
sink (SINGK)
1. To do something that is morally wrong: "How could he sink so low as to cheat on his final exam?"
2. To fall or to drop to a lower level; especially, to go down below the surface of water, mud, etc.: "We could see the car sink into the muddy river after it ran off the highway."
"The water in the lake is expected to sink several feet during the long, dry summer."
sink (SINGK)
A water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe and generally a piped supply of water with faucets: "We just installed a new sink in our bathroom."
"We had to clean the stopped-up drain in the kitchen sink."
 
skim, skimp, skin
skim (SKIM)
1. To remove a layer of something from the surface of a liquid: "The cook wanted to skim the fat from the broth."
2. To look over or to read something quickly; especially, to find the main ideas: "She only had time to to skim the reading assignment before the class started."
3. To move quickly or lightly along, above, or near the surface of something: "It was interesting to see the ducks skim over the lake before landing in the water."
skimp (SKIMP)
To spend less time, money, etc., on something that is needed; to provide for or to supply inadequately; to be stingy with: "When it comes to their child's safety, parents should not skimp."
"For the sake of our health, we should not skimp on sleep."
"His written instructions certainly don't skimp on details."
skin (SKIN)
1. The natural outer layer of tissue that covers the body of a person or an animal: "She had to be careful not to let the sun burn her skin."
2. The outer cover of a fruit, vegetable, etc.: "He was told that potato skin is nutritious."
3. Informal, to skin someone alive; that is, to punish someone severely: "His mother is going to skin him alive when she finds out about the window that he broke while playing baseball in the front yard."
 
slam, slam
slam (SLAM), verb
1. To close something in a strong way that results in making a loud noise: "Now, why did you have to slam that door?"
2. To criticize someone or something harshly: "The workers voted to slam the company for not paying decent wages."
slam (SLAM), noun
1. The act of closing something in a forceful way that makes a loud noise: "She closed the book with a slam which expressed her anger at being disturbed."
2. U.S. informal, something which is certain to happen or to be successful: "The legal decision of guilty as charged was a slam dunk because there was no doubt that he committed the crime."
 
slash, slash
slash (SLASH)
1. To make a long cut in something with a knife or other sharp tool: "The man threatened to slash the woman's face if she didn't give him her purse."
2. To reduce something by a significant amount: "They decided to slash prices to increase their sales."
slash (SLASH)
1. A thin and usually long cut made with a knife or other sharp object: "You could see the horrible slash on his arm which happened when he reached through the broken window."
2. The mark / which is used to mean "or" as in and/or; "and or" as in bottles/cans; "per" as in kilometers/hour; or as a division sign in fractions as in 1/2; also called a slash mark: "The slash symbol, or slash mark, is often used in computer programming, website addresses; as well as, in the situations shown in the examples presented in this #2 definition."
 
slate, slate
slate (SLAYT), noun
1. A kind of hard stone that splits easily into thin layers: "Most school blackboards were once made of slate and some schools still use this form of chalk board for classroom use."
2. A fine-grained rock that splits easily into layers and is widely used as a roofing material and on walls: "The house was constructed with a slate roof."
3. A list of people who are attempting to win a political election: "The party fielded an impressive slate of candidates for next year."
4. A record of some past performance or activity: "The political party will have to start over with a clean slate if they want any of their members to win during the next election."
5. A portable computer that does not have a keyboard input device physically attached to it: "The slate is essentially a computer that consists of a touch input screen and relies on input to come from finger or stylus input and on-screen keyboards for textual input."
"A slate is a class of notebook computer that accepts input from an electronic pen rather than from a keyboard."
slate (SLAYT), verb
1. To arrange or to plan for something to happen: "The city is planning to slate a new science museum to be opened next year."
"The singer will slate her new album for release next month."
2. To be chosen for some position, job, etc.: "The company apparently plans to slate our supervisor to become the company's next CEO."
 
slay, sleigh
slay (SLAY)
1. To kill in a random and wanton manner: "Wild animals do not slay other animals just for recreation, but for food."
2. To delight or to amuse someone, or others, very much: "You slay me when you tell such outrageous jokes."
sleigh (SLAY)
1. A vehicle with runners used to drive across the snow or ice: "The horse pulled the red sleigh over the snow on the way back to the barn."
2. To drive a large, open vehicle that is usually pulled by a horse over snow or ice: "The man from the city wanted to learn to sleigh during his winter vacation on the farm."
 
sleave, sleeve
sleave (SLEEV)
To separate something into fine filaments: "My cousin, who is an engineer, developed a machine to sleave the threads of silk before weaving it into new cloth."
sleeve (SLEEV)
1. Part of a piece of clothing designed to cover each arm of the wearer: "When I tried on the new coat, I noticed that the right sleeve was too short for me so I concluded it was a manufacturing error."
2. An open ended tubular packaging: "I slipped the newspaper into the plastic sleeve so it would not get wet."
3. Informal expression to suggest an individual is keeping a secret: "She was grinning so hard I was sure she had something up her sleeve."
 
sleight, slight
sleight (SLIGHT)
1. Deceitful efforts. "He tried to borrow a large sum of money by employing sleight tactics."
2. The act of tricking or deceiving someone, or others, in a clever way: "Investigative journalists exposed the company's financial sleight of hand to its investors."
slight (SLIGHT)
1. Not stout, but slim or delicate: "Her slight figure was draped in black because her favorite cat had died."
2. Trivial, superficial, and not having much importance: "We had a slight acquaintance and I would not say we were friends."
 
slew, slough, slough, slough
slew (SLOO)
1. Large numbers or quantities of something: "We collected a whole slew of eggs from the chicken nests in the barn."
2. To turn, to swing about, or to skid: "The car was going too fast and it slew around the corner on the ice."
3. To have killed something, typically in great numbers: "The knight slew the dragon and won the hand of the princess."
slough (SLOO, SLOU)
1. A depression or hollow, usually filled with deep mud or mire: "A slough is known as a slue or a stagnant swamp, marsh, bog, or pond; especially, as part of a bayou, inlet, or backwater."
2. A state of deep despair or moral degradation: "She was in such a slough of discouragement that she decided to go to see her doctor for help."
slough (SLUHF), noun
1. The dead outer skin shed by a reptile or an amphibian: "You can see in this cage that this is the slough or skin of the snake which is living here."
2. In medicine, a layer or mass of dead tissue separated from surrounding living tissue, as with a wound, a sore, or an inflammation: "Using a scalpel, the doctor removed the slough that was inhibiting the healing of the wound on her foot."
slough (SLUHF), verb
To get rid of something that is unwanted: "It is important that we slough off our fears and face the challenges that confront us in this project."
"I will slough off my winter coat and stand in front of the fire so I can get warm."
 
sloe, slow
sloe (SLOW)
A plum tree typical of the North Eastern United States which has dark purple fruit with yellow flesh: "The sloe of the blackthorn stained my fingers when I was picking them."
slow (SLOW)
1. Lacking in readiness, dull: "We were slow to start this morning because of the flat tire."
"You will have to excuse me, but I am a bit slow so early in the morning."
2. Moving without much speed: "The traffic was so slow this morning."
"The river is deep and slow here, but watch out for the rapids downstream."
3. Boring, lacking in activity and gaiety: "The pace of life in the country is slow when compared to living in the city."
 
sluggard, slugger
sluggard (SLUHG uhrd)
An individual who is habitually lazy and avoids work or physical exertion: "Our obese neighbor tends to avoid exercise, over eats, and spends too much time as a sluggard in front of the TV or playing electronic games hour after hour on his computer."
slugger (SLUHG uhr)
1. Someone who hits a baseball very hard: "When the baseball player got up to bat, the crowd cheered, 'Come on, Slugger. Get another home run'."
2. A boxer who hits an opponent hard over and over again: "The prize fighter was a slugger who won against most of his opponents."
 
smart, smart, smart
smart (SMART)
1. Amusingly clever; witty: "He often came up with smart plays on words known as puns."
2. Characterized by sharp quick thought; mentally bright: "She made a smart investment, this time."

The smart money's on tropical islands

 
Looking for a sound investment to combat the biodiversity crisis? Spend your cash on an island. It turns out they are about nine times as valuable as an equally large piece of mainland.

From an article by Emma Young in the
New Scientist; May 16, 2009; page 12.

smart (SMART)
Relating to, or being a highly automated device; especially, one that is fitted with a built-in microprocessor: "There are many so-called smart cards, smart signals, smart phones, smart missiles, and many other smart tools which are available in our modern age."
"When we started out to build our network two summers ago, there was not a single smartphone (smart phone) with a Wi-Fi chip in it, not a single BlackBerry with a Wi-FI chip. Now, if you look at the industry data, about 90 percent of all hand-held devices going out in the next five years are going to have Wi-Fi chips."

Jack W. Blumenstein, chief executive of Aircell,
the company that is providing nearly all of the
Wi-Fi installations so far for U.S. carriers.

 
smart (SMART)
1. To cause a sharp, usually superficial, stinging pain: "The child cried because of the pain of the smart on her skinned knee."
2. To suffer acutely, as from mental distress, wounded feelings, or remorse: "He is still smarting from the series of lost tennis matches that he suffered last month."
He was smart to use his smart phone so he could get medical attention for the painful smart on his bleeding hand.
A smart phone is described as a wireless phone with text and internet capabilities that can handle wireless phone calls, store addresses, take voice mail, access information on the internet, send and receive e-mail, and fax transmissions.
 
smear, smirch, smirk
smear (SMIR)
1. To spread on or to wipe a surface with something that is sticky: "I will use a knife to smear apricot jam on my morning toast."
2. A substance that is put onto a surface, often as a thin layer: "The mechanic will smear the gears with grease so they will function smoothly."
3. To make malicious or secretive comments about someone: "The unscrupulous banker tried to smear his competitor by writing gossip in the newspaper."
4. An accusation or charge about someone that is without foundation: "The smear campaign by his political opponents consisted of telling lies about his war record."
5. In medicine, A very small sample of something; such as, skin or blood which someone examines with a microscope: "The laboratory checked the patient's blood smear and discovered that malaria was a factor causing his illness."
smirch (SMURCH)
1. To make dirty, to sully: "Be sure to wear an apron so you don't smirch your dress while you're washing the dishes."
2. To bring disgrace upon someone: "His negative comments seemed to smirch the reputation of his former teacher."
smirk (SMURK)
To smile in a shallow, smug, unpleasant, or affected manner: "While the principal was talking with him, the youth seemed not to pay attention and had a smirk on his face."
 
smeller, speller
smeller (SMELL uhr)
1. An individual who uses the olfactory senses to identify substances: "The most valued employee in the perfume factory is a smeller with a finely developed olfactory sense."
2. An individual or thing what emanates an odor: "That old cheese is quite a smeller."
speller (SPEL uhr)
An instructional text to teach how to use letters to create meaningful words: "I brought my new speller home from school and I plan to use it for my homework."
 
smudge, smug, snug
smudge (SMUHJ)
1. To rub, to blur, or to make indistinct: "She used the art gum eraser to smudge the picture and to create the appearance of fog."
2. A spot or stain on something: "After eating a hamburger, he discovered a smudge of catsup on his shirt."
smug (SMUHG)
1. Having or showing the annoying quality of people who feel very pleased or satisfied with their abilities, achievements, and having a glow of self-congratulation: "He had a smug expression on his face because he was sure he had won the competition."
2. An archaic or out-of-date usage: very clean, tidy, and very correct: "His desk in the office was always smug as were the documents which he wrote."
snug (SNUHG)
1. Close fitting and comfortable: "The new coat had a snug fit and was very comfortable and warm."
2. Warm, comfortable, and safe: "The Christmas poem described the children as being snug in their beds."
"The cottage was a snug place to be on a rainy afternoon."
3. To fasten down securely: "The sailors had to work hard to snug the barrels on the deck so they would not roll around."
 
soar, sore, sower
soar (SOHR)
1. To sail up into the air to a great height or an upward flight: "I watched the butterfly soar up into the sky and fly away."
"The new kite will soar above the trees."
2. To rise to a high or exalted level: "When I hear a stirring marching band, I can feel my heart soar with pride."
"I expect the price of a new car will soar next year."
3. To fly a vehicle that is without an engine: "When I am in my glider, I can soar over the fields and hilltops."
sore (SOHR)
1. Painfully tender or sensitive: "They felt sore all over after the bruising football game."
2. Characterized by difficulties and hardships: "The pioneers had a sore time crossing the mountains by wagon."
3. A localized spot on the body where the skin is broken and which is typically infected: "The nurse looked at the sore on the patient's elbow and applied some medications and a bandage."
sower (SOHR)
1. An individual who plants seed by scattering it: "My gardener is a sower of grass seed which he scatters by hand."
2. Anyone who scatters non-truths and causes suspicion: "As a sower of gossip, the thoughtless youth caused people to be angry and he was forced to apologize."
 
soared, sword
soared (SOHRD)
1. To fly or to sail often at a great height by floating on air currents: "The eagle soared high in the sky above us."
2. To rise quickly upward to a great height: "The ball soared out of the stadium."
sword (SOHRD)
A weapon with a long metal blade that usually has a sharp point and edge: "He was a skilled fighter with a sword."
"There is a saying that people need to beat their swords into plowshares; or, to stop fighting wars and begin to live peacefully."
During the hand-to-hand fight, the man's rapier flew into the air; that is, the opponent's sword soared out of control.
He who lives by the sword dies by the sword or, in other words, those who view war as a solution to a national or international problem will ultimately be destroyed by their own soaring violence.
 
sodder, solder
sodder (SAHD uhr)
Someone who, or a machine which, lays sod or grass for a lawn: "We had a sodder come to get rid of the weeds and give us a new lawn for our residence."
solder (SAHD uhr)
1. The process by which two pieces of metal are fastened together, typically using a different melted metal to accomplish the process: "The tinsmith was able to solder the broken drainpipe back together." 2. To create a solid friendship or union: "We went out to lunch together to solder our renewed friendship."
 
sold, soled
sold (SOHLD)
1. To have exchanged money to acquire property: "He sold the antique desk to the highest bidder at the auction."
2. To have given up something in a foolish or dishonest manner: "He sold his good name when he became involved with the fraud scheme."
3. To have influenced or persuaded others to take a certain course of action: "The teacher sold the children on the idea of creating posters advertising their upcoming concert."
soled (SOHLD)
To have attached a new bottom to a shoe or boot: "The shoe repairman soled my shoes for me while I was waiting."
 
sole, soul
sole (SOHL)
1. The underside of the foot from the toes to the heel: "I have a blister on the sole of my right foot where my new shoe was rubbing."
2. The underside of a shoe, boot, or other piece of footwear, sometimes excluding the heel: "We had to have our shoes repaired with a new inner sole for each shoe."
3. Only, exclusive, lone, solitary, single: "The hermit is the sole inhabitant of that cave on the hill."
4. Exclusive: "The father has sole responsibility for the child."
5. Single, alone, or having no other individual associated with a situation: "She has been the sole occupant of the house ever since her parents died."
soul (SOHL)
1. The animating and vital principle in humans, credited with the faculties of thought, action, and emotion and often conceived as an immaterial entity: "Every human being is believed to have a soul."
2. The spiritual nature of humans, regarded as immortal, separable from the body at death, and susceptible to happiness or misery in a future state: "Many religious leaders preach that the souls of their faithful followers will go to paradise (heaven) and the souls of the unfaithful will suffer in hades (hell)."
3. Essence, embodiment, quintessence: "The banker was the soul of honesty and understanding."
4. Inspiration, force, spirit, vitality: "Some musicians lack soul."
5. A soul mate or a person with whom someone has a strong affinity: "When she met my friend, she told her sister that she believed that she had finally found her soul mate."
Worship Services: Your soul is our sole mission.
As the prince was trying on the shoe to find Cinderella, someone commented that the prince was using the shoe to find his true love, while someone over hearing the statement said, the prince was actually looking for his sole mate; which, of course, would also supposedly result in the prince finding his soul mate.
 
solid, stolid
solid (SAHL id)
1. Something that is neither a gas nor a liquid: "My chemistry teacher told me that everything can be categorized by three separate characteristics: a solid (firm and visible), a gas (not visible), a liquid (visible and wet in appearance)."
2. Something that has no internal cavity: "On the playground, we used a solid rubber ball in our games."
3. Uninterrupted: "The speeches went on for two solid hours without a break."
4. Prudent, serious in purpose and character: "He had a solid reputation for good judgment in financial matters."
stolid (STAHL id)
Expressing little or no emotion; impassive: "When she was angry, her face assumed a stolid expression and it was difficult to know what she was thinking."
 
solitaire, solitary
solitaire (SAH i tair")
1. Any of a number of card games in which there is only one player: "In the evening, I like to get my cards out and play solitaire while sitting by the fire."
2. A gem stone (diamond, etc.) mounted in a single setting with no other stones: "Her engagement ring was a beautiful topaz solitaire."
solitary (SAH i ter" ee)
1. Living alone, isolated, without companionship: "He lived a solitary life style during the summer when he was camping."
2. Being both single and isolated: "He provided a solitary example of the relationship between rocks and lichens."
? 3. Living in a prison with no other inmates: "Because of his dangerous behavior, the criminal was placed in solitary confinement for two weeks."
 
some, sum
some (SUHM)
1. An unknown or unspecified individual or thing: "Some guy called when you were outside and for some reason he wouldn't give me his telephone number."
"He found some strange looking creatures in the water and brought them to the laboratory for examination."
2. An unspecified amount, number, or quantity: "He needs to get some water because his throat is dry."
"I have some change in my pocket."
3. An unspecified number of people or things: "I think there are some 80 individuals attending the meeting."
sum (SUHM)
1. As a brief statement of the most important information in a piece of writing or speech: "The last sentence in the report ought to sum up all the arguments for the new tax."
2. The answer when adding numbers: "The sum of five plus four is nine."
3. To perform the mathematical function of adding: "The grade five student was asked to sum the column of numbers on the blackboard."
"Will you sum up your comments in a short sentence, please?"
There are at least some people who know that when anyone adds numbers, the results will be a sum of those numbers.
 
sometime, some time, sometimes
sometime (SUHM tighm")
Being or occurring only once in a while or occasionally: "My aunt was a sometime visitor to our home and she was always welcome."
some time (SUHM tighm")
At an unspecified or unknown point of time: "I heard the neighbors come home some time last night after midnight."
sometimes (SUHM tighmz")
Occasionally, happening now and then: "Sometimes I like to go for a long walk when it is raining."
 
son, sun
son (SUHN)
1. A male offspring or descendent: "My boy friend is the son of the school principal."
2. Sometimes the term son is used by an older person to address a younger man or boy: "Slow down, son, you're talking too fast."
3. An individual closely associated with the creation of a nation, a geographic area, etc.: "He was a native son of the prairies."
sun (SUHN)
1. The star around which the earth and other planets revolve and which provides light and heat for the Earth: "Using a specifically designed device called a star gazer, we were able to watch the eclipse of the sun and not injure our eyes."
2. Someone considered bright, brilliant, and remarkable: "Our mother was the sun in our family and she made us all very happy."
 
soot, suet, suit
soot (SOOT, SUHT)
The black residue left from burning material; a fine black powder that accumulates in chimneys: "There was a haze of soot in the air which came from the forest fires."
"The chimney was clogged with soot and needed to be cleared out."
suet (SOO it)
The hard fat obtained from beef or mutton: "The butcher sold me some suet because I was making a traditional Christmas pudding."
suit (SOOT)
1. To accommodate or to meet the needs of: "Will these chairs suit you when you have your meeting in this room?"
2. An action in court the purpose of which is to regain the possession or right of something: "The shop proprietor brought a suit in the courts to recover goods that the shoplifter had taken."
3. Clothing or a set of garments, typically including two or more pieces: "She brought a blue two-piece suit to wear to the job interview."
"He bought a new suit for his job at the company."
4. To please, to agree, or to be satisfactory: "Will it suit you to come for the meeting at ten tomorrow morning?"
He got soot from the burned suet on his new suit.
 
spacious, specious
spacious (SPAY shuhs)
Having a large area or space for utilization: "Our dining room is spacious enough to accommodate, or to seat, our family of five and up to six guests."
specious (SPEE shuhs)
1. Having the ring of truth or plausibility but actually fallacious: "It was obvious that he was making a specious excuse."
2. Appearing to be true but actually false: "She justified her actions with specious reasoning."
 
spam, Spam
spam (SPAHM)
Unsolicited e-mail, often of a commercial nature, sent indiscriminately to multiple mailing lists, individuals, or newsgroups; junk e-mail: "We get a lot of spam in our e-mail and we have to clear it out several times each day."
Spam (SPAHM)
A trademark used for a canned meat product consisting primarily of chopped pork pressed into a loaf: "Spam is a great meat to take on camping trips because the contents of the cans don't need refrigeration until the containers are opened."
 
spark, stark, start
spark (SPAHRK)
1. A small piece of burning material that comes from a fire or is produced by rubbing or hitting two hard objects together: "A spark from the logs in the fireplace could set something in this cabin on fire."
2. A quality that makes a person or something pleasant, interesting, or successful: "He's a great actor, but he seems to have lost some of the spark he used to have."
3. To cause something to start or to happen: "His accusation is bound to spark an argument."
4. To increase interest, liveliness, or flavor to something: "His jokes always spark laughter before he even starts to tell them."
stark (STAHRK)
1. Complete or utterly; extreme; entirely: "Too many people are living in stark poverty."
"All of that loud noise is about to drive me stark raving insane and why is that guy walking down the street stark naked?"
2. Unpleasant and difficult to accept or to experience: "The stark reality of his death while driving should be a stark reminder of the dangers of driving while drunk."
start (STAHRT)
1. As a verb, to begin doing something or to do the first part of something: "She saw the new assignment as a chance to start a new life."
"The fitness trainer suggested that we start with some warm-up exercises."
2. As a noun, the first part of an activity, development, event, or the time at which something begins: "From the start of this winter, it has been snowing at least once a week."
"The discovery of the books could be the start of a better understanding of how the pioneers were able to survive as they traveled across the country."
 
speak, speech
speak (SPEEK)
1. To articulate sounds in an ordinary voice: "Once I caught my breath, I tried to speak in a normal voice."
2. To make an oral expression of thoughts, feelings, or activities: "I was angry and I decided that I would speak my mind to the bossy neighbor the next time she interferes."
3. To act as a spokesperson for a group or gathering: "We authorized the union president to speak for the membership."
speech (SPEECH)
1. The exchange or communication between or among individuals using verbal expressions: "Her speech was inspirational and sold her audience on the idea of a new park in the city."
2. An individual style or manner of communicating: "Her everyday speech sounded affected and insincere."
3. A public presentation of ideas through verbal communication: "The professor made a graduation speech about embracing future challenges."
 
specie, species
specie (SPEE see, SPEE shee)
1. Coin of the precious metals (gold or silver), of a certain weight and fineness, and bearing the stamp of the government, denoting its value as currency: "Since the price of gold and silver have been going up, we have been examining each specie so we can tabulate its monetary value."
2. In law, with reference to a contract, the expression 'performance in specie' means strictly, or according to the exact terms: "The lawyer was explaining what the conditions of each specie for the new contract will be."
species (SPEE seez, SPEE sheez)
1. A group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants: "According to some biologists, there are approximately 8,000 species of ants."
2. A taxonomic collection of interbreeding populations that are reproductively isolated from other such collections: "A group of closely related species forms a genus."
 
spell, spell, spell, spell
spell (SPEL), verb
1. To write, say, or print the letters of a word or name: "How do you spell your last name?"
2. To have or to lead to a particular result or effect: "I was told that the amount of planning I do could spell the difference between success and failure."
3. To write out something in complete words instead of using a number, an abbreviation, etc.: "When addressing the invitations, please spell out 'street', 'road', etc."
spell (SPEL), noun
A charm or incantation; that is, a group of secret words that are believed to have magic powers: "She felt as if she were under the spell of the words which he uttered."
spell (SPEL), noun
An interval of space or time usually marked by a particular activity or condition: "It looks like we're in for a spell of rainy weather."
spell (SPEL), verb
To take the place of another person who has been working or doing something for a period of time: "When the couple is taking care of their niece, they spell each other throughout the day."
 
spelt, spelt
spelt (SPELT)
An ancient and hardy kind of wheat, grown mostly in Europe: "In Germany, spelt is called dinkel and when they eat chicken [hinkel] and spelt [dinkel] together, they sometimes express their thoughts about how good the hinkel and dinkel meal tasted."
Etymology: The Latin name is Triticum spelta.
spelt (SPELT)
Primarily British, the past tense and past participle tense of spell which forms a word or a part of a word: "The man from England, who was visiting in New York, told the librarian that she spelt his name incorrectly."
"While visiting in London, I spelled the word favor in a note, but someone told me that in England they spelt it as favour."
 
splatter, splutter
splatter (SPLAT uhr)
1. To move, fall, or to hit something in large drops: "Mud will splatter everywhere when the wet dog shakes herself."
2. To cause a liquid to move or to fall in large drops: "Why do you have to splatter paint everywhere?"
3. Something that has been hit and broken apart on a surface: "I can see that you have a big bug splatter on the windshield of your car."
splutter (SPLUT uhr)
1. To make a spitting or choking sound: "I can hear the log splutter in the fireplace."
2. To say something in a choking incoherent manner: "She couldn't help but cough and splutter as she climbed out of the icy water."
3. To speak hastily and incoherently, as when confused or angry: "He responded to the accusation that he cheated on the test with a splutter, 'Th-that's simply not true!'."
 
spot, spot, spot
spot (SPAHT), noun
1. A small area of a surface that is different from other sections: "The man fell through a thin spot in the ice on the lake."
2. A small amount of a substance that is on something: "A candle in the holder dropped a spot of wax on the table cloth."
3. A particular space or area: "They had trouble finding a parking spot."
"We spent our vacation in a nice quiet spot on the coast."
spot (SPAHT), verb
To see or to notice someone or something that is difficult to see or to find: "Did you spot the lack of quality in this meal as compared to the one we had at the other restaurant?"
"She can spot errors in the written presentation much better than other editors."
spot (SPAHT), adjective
1. Relating to goods or shares that are paid for and delivered immediately instead of at some future time: "There is quite a difference between futures and spot commodities."
2. The act or process of looking at a few things or people in a group in order to find possible problems: "The police announced that they would be making spot checks of drivers on New Year's Eve in order to reduce driving after drinking alcoholic beverages."
 
spout, spout
spout (SPOUT), verb
1. To shoot out with force; such as, a liquid: "From a safe distance, we could see the volcano spout fire and lava."
2. To flow out with force: "The surgeon must be careful to prevent the spout of blood from the wound."
spout (SPOUT), noun
1. A tube, pipe, or hole out of which a liquid can flow: "This time the water will flow down the unplugged spout when it rains again."
2. A sudden strong stream of liquid: "A spout of water was seen coming from the old pipe in the basement."
3. As an informal British usage, up the spout is a description of something that has completely failed, been ruined, etc.: "England has been experiencing an economy that is up the spout."
"The marriage of the couple is going up the spout [or down the drain]."
 
spring, spring
spring (SPRING), noun
1. An elastic device; such as, a coil of wire, that regains its original shape after being compressed or extended: "There's a spring in the car seat that needs to be repaired or replaced."
2. A small stream of water flowing naturally from the earth: "One of the advantages of being in the country is that we can see a spring here and there more often."
3. The season between winter and summer and the season when plants and trees begin to grow again: "Last year, we were fortunate to have a mild spring with adequate rain and sunshine."
4. A lively and energetic quality: "His grandmother, even at her age, had a great spring in her steps."
spring (SPRING), verb
1. To move or to leap forward or upward suddenly: "We could see the deer spring back into the woods as we walked closer to it."
2. To move quickly to a different position: "If you stretch this rope and then release it, it will spring back into its original length."
3. An informal or slang expression meaning to help someone get out of or to escape from jail, prison, etc.: "The guy tried to forcefully spring his buddy from jail instead of waiting for a lawyer to legally spring his friend."
 
squib, squid
squib (SKWIB)
1. A short news item often of a satiric nature, sometimes used as a filler on a newspaper page: "She worked hard on the incisive squib she wrote about the upcoming political debate."
2. A move in an American football game in which the ball is kicked so it bounces along the ground instead of up in the air at a distance: "He was the designated kicker for the squib at the beginning of the football game."
squid (SKWID)
Any of a number of sea animals with ten arms characterized by a long body and a caudal fin: "The men went out in their boats to jig for squid which they sold to the local restaurant."
"Before the squid reaches the menu in restaurants, it is often referred to as calamari."
 
stable, stable, staple, staple
stable (STAY buhl), noun
1. A building in which domestic animals; such as, horses may be sheltered, fed, etc.: "She took the horse down to the stable after riding it for about an hour."
2. A group of athletes which is managed by one individual or organization: "The manager of the boxing club had a stable of five boxers whom he was training to fight professionally."
3. Not changing, unvarying, steady, not subject to insecurity: "She was stable in her commitment to pursue her career goals."
"Her mental health was stable and she was encouraged to go back to work."
4. Not easily altered in terms of a chemical makeup: "The mixture in the test tube is stable and will not change when water is added."
5. Secure, rational, or able to resist forces trying to move or to change something: "Once the crew had snugged the barrels to the deck, they were stable and would not roll around in the storm."
stable (STAY buhl), verb
To put or to keep a horse in a stable: "She wants to stable her horse as soon as she can before the rain storm starts."
"Do you stable your horse here, too?"
staple (STAY puhl), noun
1. A commodity the use of which is wide spread and constant: "Bread and cheese is a staple in the diets of many people."
2. Grown in large quantities due to consistent demand: "Rice is a staple crop in the fields of many Asian villages."
? 3. A metal hoop or fine wire the purpose of which is to hold several items together: "Many people prefer to use a staple for each combination of pages rather than a paper clip."
4. A textile fiber of a short length that is spun into yarn: "The nylon staple will make an attractive yarn and I will use it to weave a scarf for you."
staple (STAY puhl), verb
To attach something with staples: "Please staple the pages together in the upper left corner."
"Did you staple the check to the form before mailing it? If you did, please unstaple it because the company gave instructions not to staple checks to anything."
 
stagger, straggle
stagger (STAG uhr)
1. To move or to stand unsteadily, as if under a great weight; to totter: "After I sprained my ankle, I was barely able to stagger back to the bench in the park."
"The bag of wheat was so heavy, the stevedore had to stagger when he picked it up."
2. To arrange in alternating or overlapping time periods: "Next week, the administration will stagger the work shifts of the nurses."
straggle (STRAG uhl)
1. To stray or to fall behind: "When the class goes for a walk, I notice that there is always at least one pupil who will straggle behind."
2. To proceed or to spread out in a scattered or irregular group: "The search party will straggle and scatter to check the tall grass for the missing expensive bracelet."
 
staid, stayed
staid (STAYD)
Characterized by self restraint; serious, boring, or old fashioned: "His staid manner was in contrast to the bright red sports jacket he was wearing."
stayed (STAYD)
1. To have paused or stopped a forward movement: "The deer stayed perfectly quiet until the hunter got close to it."
2. To have lived or resided in some location: "We stayed in a lovely Bed and Breakfast near the river for our vacation."
3. To stop or to delay a proceeding, often in a legal context.: "The judge stayed the court order until she heard the new evidence."
 
stair, stare
stair (STAIR)
One step of a flight or series of steps: "Each stair on the long staircase was painted with a different pattern."
stare (STAIR)
1. To look directly and fixedly, often with a wide-eyed gaze; to look intently: "The view was breathtaking and all I could do was to stare in wonder."
2. To be conspicuous; to stand out: "According to my mother, who was a teacher, split infinitives would simply leap off the page and stare her in the face."
 
stake, steak
stake (STAYK)
1. A stick of wood or other material that has a pointed end and is driven into the ground to serve as a marker: "The surveyor drove a stake into the ground to mark the far edge of the field."
2. One primitive form of capital punishment was the use of a post to which an individual was tied in anticipation of an execution: "The traitor was tied to the stake and left to die."
3. The prize in a competition or contest: "All of the teachers contributed to the stake for the student competition in their school."
steak (STAYK)
A slice of meat from such animals as beef cattle, pork, or fish: "We are going to BBQ a swordfish steak today."
"We bought a frozen steak at the butcher shop which we will grill when the weather gets warmer."
Her father always kept a steak stake handy for roasting beef over the charcoal burner in the back yard during the summer.
 
stalactite, stalagmite, stalacto-stalagmite, stalemate
stalactite (stuh LAK tight")
A conical or roughly cylindrical speleothem formed by dripping water and hanging from the roof of a cave like an icicle; usually composed of calcium carbonate: "When we went to the cave, we could see the stalactites hanging from the ceiling."
stalacto-stalagmite (stuh LAK toh-stuh LAG might)
A columnar deposit formed by the union of a stalactite with its complementary stalagmite composed of mineral-rich water: "The combination of stalactites and stalagmites caused an interesting stalacto-stalagmite formation in this very large cave."
stalagmite (stuh LAG might")
A conical speleothem formed upward from the floor of a cave by the action of dripping water from a stalactite; usually composed of calcium carbonate: "In contrast to the thin stalactite, there is a massive stalagmite, which is 40 feet (12.19 meters) up from the floor of the cave."
stalemate (STAYL mayt")
Any position in which no action can be taken; complete standstill; deadlock, impasse, standoff; blockage, standstill: "The stubborn negotiators could not agree so they reached a stalemate and never resolved the issue of having a gambling casino in the city."
A stalactite holds tight to the ceiling while a stalagmite just might reach up to the ceiling.
 
stalk, stalk, stalker
stalk (STAWK)
The main supportive stem of certain plants: "The recipe called for one stalk of chopped celery."
stalk (STAWK)
1. To hunt or to follow prey in a secretive manner: "My brother and I decided to stalk the chickens to see where they laid their eggs in the unfenced area of our farm."
2. To walk in a stiff manner: "When the police officer was concentrating, he seemed to stalk about the office as if he were angry."
stalker (STAWK uhr)
An individual or animal which hunts or follows prey in a clandestine manner: "Our favorite cat is an excellent stalker of field mice."
 
stamp, stomp
stamp (STAMP)
1. To injure or to destroy by bringing one's foot down heavily on an object in a repeated manner: "We tried to stamp out the fire with our boots so it would not spread."
2. A seal or imprint to indicate that something has been paid for or that a tax has been paid for: "I placed the postage stamp on my letter and mailed it off to my friend."
"The county agent will use a stamp on my tax bill to indicate I have paid my taxes for the year."
3. A distinctive characteristic.: "The farm had a dreary stamp about it because of the unpainted buildings."
stomp (STAHMP, STAWMP)
1. A form of dance characterized by repeated heavy footwork: "The two young people demonstrated the stomp which was the latest craze at their school."
2 To have used one's foot heavily to injure or destroy something: "Did you have to stomp on all of those ants out in the yard?"
 
stance, staunch
stance (STANS)
1. A publicly stated opinion: "The prosecuting attorney changed his stance after new evidence was discovered."
"During the negotiations, the mayor maintained a neutral stance."
2. A way of standing: "Her son had a stiff stance as he was being scolded by his father."
staunch (STAWNCH, STAHNCH)
1. To stop the flow of something: "She used a handkerchief to staunch her tears."
2. To impede the apparent course of something: "The mayor said she would staunch the wave of crime in the city."
3. Loyal, steadfast: "We have been staunch friends since we were in grade school."
 
star, star
star (STAHR), noun
1. Any one of the objects in space which look like points of light in the night sky: "When we are away from the city lights, we can see the beautiful star clusters in their distant star systems."
2. A sparkling space object; especially, one in a certain position which is believed in astrology to influence the lives of people: "Considering all of the bad things that have happened to her, she is convinced that she was born under an unlucky star."
3. Someone who is the most important and well-known performer in a movie, play, opera, etc.: "He's the star of this and several other movies and he's even a star in stage plays."
star (STAHR), verb
To perform or act in a movie, play, opera, etc.: "She will star in this film as she has done in several other productions before."
Although a movie star may be beautiful or very handsome, the stars in space have a greater attraction.
The word star is generally a Germanic word, with relatives in German stern; as seen in, Dutch ster, Swedish stjarna, and Danish stjerne.
The modern usage or figurative sense of a person of brilliant reputation or celebrity as a star is first recorded in English in 1824, and was originally used in theatrical language in reference to a leading actor, singer, or other performer. The term film star came into usage in 1941 and movie star appeared in 1919.

Based on information from
The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology;
The H.W. Wilson Company;
Bronxville, New York; 1988; page 1060.

 
staring, starring
staring (STAIR ing)
1. Looking at something with a fixed and wide eyed expression: "She kept staring at the map trying to understand how she could have gotten lost."
2. Showing up in a conspicuous, or not so obvious, manner: "The error was staring me in the face all the time and I did not see it."
starring (STAR ing)
1. To highlight by using an asterisk: "By starring the paragraph in his manuscript, the author called attention to the important information."
2. To feature with prominence: "I read that the new play is starring my favorite actor."
3. To decorate with stars: "She was starring the ceiling in the bedroom to make it look peaceful."
 
start-up, start-ups; upstart, upstarts
start-up (START uhp")
The act or process of setting into operation or motion: "They were looking to start-up a new business and were looking for start-up money."
start-ups (START uhps")
1. Businesses or undertakings that have recently started operation: "Their businesses grew from very small start-ups to multimillion-dollar corporations."
2. Primarily in the U.S., newly successful people, businesses, etc.: "A few years ago, several guys had successful start-ups with their internet companies."
upstart (UP start")
Someone who has gained sudden wealth, power or influence; but who has either not gained social acceptance or has become arrogant or presumptuous: "She is a young upstart from a local university who thinks she knows more than the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of our company."
upstarts (UP starts")
People of humble origins who attain sudden wealth, power, or importance; especially, those who are made immodest or presumptuous by the changes: "Simply because these upstarts got rich very quickly with their new computer site doesn't necessarily mean that they will continue to rake in the money for very long."
 
state, state
state (STAYT), verb
1. To express something of importance in words: "When I print the poster, it will state that there is to be NO SMOKING in the room."
2. To indicate something formally in speech or writing: "The lawyer will state the facts of the case."
state (STAYT), noun
1. A condition of temperament or physical health: "She was in a state of perfect health."
"He was in a state of frustration because he had a flat tire and he was already late for work."
2. One of several units of a nation having a federal government: "The governor of the state went to the nation's capital to meet with the President."
3. The condition of something with respect to its main attributes: "The current state of affairs at my school is calm and well organized."
 
stationary, stationery
stationary (STAY shuh ner" ee)
Not moving; staying in one place or position: "The weather front has remained stationary in our area."
"The prices for the kind of machinery we are using has remained stationary over the last months."
stationery (STAY shuh ner" ee)
Writing paper and envelopes and related office or personal supplies that are used for corresponding with others: "We are fortunate that we have a store in our neighborhood which sells stationery items and supplies."
He asked the salesman if the prices for the various kinds of stationery will remain stationary for the next months in case he needs to get some more for his business.
Spell it stationery when you mean paper and other writing materials, and spell it stationary when you mean standing, fixed, not movable, etc.
 
statue, stature, statute
statue (STACH yoo)
A sculpture that represents a human or an animal which is usually made of stone, metal, etc.: "Including the base and pedestal, the Statue of Liberty is slightly more than 300 feet (91.44 meters) high."
stature (STACH uhr)
1. The level of respect that people have for a successful person, organization, etc.: "We are honored to be working with a writer of his stature."
"The computer software company grew in stature in just a few months."
2. The natural height of a human, animal, or some object in an upright position: "Since his stature in was more than the other basketball players, he had a significant advantage."
statute (STACH yoot)
An established law or rule that is formally created by a government: "The government's statute of limitations limits the time people can submit their tax reports."
"The state legislature passed the statute by an over whelming margin."
The inspector told the sculptor that there was a city statute which prohibits a statue of such stature.
 
steal, steel
steal (STEEL)
1. To take wrongful possession of something: "The thief tried to steal the lawn mower from his neighbor."
2. To come or to go unexpectedly or unobtrusively: "The baseball player tried to steal a base but the other player tried to stop him."
3. To take or to win by trickery and cunning: "The soccer player tried to steal the ball from his opponent."
steel (STEEL)
1. A quality of the mind or physical state that suggests hardness: "His muscles were as hard as steel."
"His mind was like a steel trap because once he learned something, he never forgot it."
2. Commercial iron that may contain up to 1.7% carbon alloy thereby allowing it to be malleable:The steel girders for the building were ready to install."
3. To prepare oneself for something difficult or unpleasant with determination and courage: "She was told to steel herself because someone was about to tell her some bad news."
 
steely, stele
steely (STEE lee)
1. Resembling steel, as in color or hardness: "He had a steely determination to succeed."
2. Being very strong and determined often in a cold or unfriendly way: "She gave him a steely look when he tried to talk to her."
stele (STEE lee)
An upright stone or slab with an inscribed or sculptured surface, used as a monument or as a commemorative tablet in the face of a building: "The builders included a stele on the front of the building near the main entrance."
 
steer, steer
steer (STEER)
To direct the course of a vessel or vehicle by means of a rudder, steering wheel, or other guiding device: "Careful drivers can successfully steer their cars into proper parking spaces."
steer (STEER)
A male bovine animal; such as, an ox of any age raised for beef: "The farmer had a steer which he was raising as beef for human consumption."
 
steno, stereo
steno (STEN oh)
Short for stenographer or stenography: "As a steno, she used a steno pad when her employer was giving her information to be written down."
stereo (STER ee oh")
A piece of electronic equipment that plays the radio, CD's, etc., and which uses two speakers for the sound: "The couple loved to play their stereo too often and at an excessive volume."
"We had to replace our old stereo system with the latest model because the sound was very poor from the old stereo."
 
stentorian, stertorous
stentorian (sten TOR ee uhn, sten TOHR ee uhn)
A very loud or powerful voice: "The teacher spoke to his noisy students with a stentorian tone."
stertorous (STUHR tuh ruhs)
Characterized by a harsh snoring or gasping sound: "He often disturbed his wife's sleep with his loud stertorous breathing."
 
step, steppe
step (STEP)
1. Movement achieved by lifting one foot and replacing it slightly ahead of its original position and this is repeated with the other foot and done in a continuous process so the user can make progress: "During my rehabilitation session I was able to move one step at a time across the room."
2. The height or elevation of one stair: "The first step on the staircase was wide but it was very shallow."
3. A short or abbreviated distance: "It is just a step or two from my house to the corner store."
4. To press down on something using one's foot: "When he approached the corner, the driver had to step on the brake to slow the bus down."
5. A process that occurs as one of a series of actions: "We took the first step in planning our vacation by calling the travel agent to get things ready."
steppe (STEP)
A vast semiarid grass-covered plain, as found in southeast Europe, Siberia, and central North America: "The buffalo graze on the steppe in Alberta, Canada, where they live on a protected reservation."
 
step on it, step on it
step on it (STEP awn it)
To hurry up, or to go faster, in order to get something done quickly: "Come on, step on it so we can get this project finished tonight."
"Step on it or we are going to be late."
step on it (STEP awn it)
To put or to set the foot down on something: "A mother saw a big bug crawling on the floor and she told her son to step on it before it went under the sofa."
A man was told to get a hamburger from the snack bar and to step on it! A foreigner over hearing this wondered why anyone would want someone to step on his food.
 
sticks, Styx
sticks (STIKS)
1. Small or thin wooden pieces from a tree, often used to build a fire: "The children collected a bundle of sticks so their parents could build the camp fire."
2. To pierce or to puncture something either accidentally or by using an implement: "The thorn on the bush is sharp and often sticks people when they walk too closely to the plant."
"Using a long handled fork, she sticks the piece of apple that was in the bottom of the pan."
3. To fasten or to adhere to something using a sticky substance: "The glue really sticks the pieces of wood together."
Styx (STIKS)
In Greek mythology, the main river in the underground, or Hades, often representing the passing over or turning point for one's death: "The Greek hero in mythology crossed the River Styx to join his fallen comrades."
 
stiff, stiff, stiff, stiff
stiff (STIF)
1. Anything that is difficult to bend or to move: "The stiff cardboard was too hard to bend or to tear."
2. Being painful to move or to use or showing pain in movement or use: "My neck is stiff and painful from typing too long without taking a break from my work."
3. Not graceful, relaxed, or friendly: "The woman appeared to be stiff and not very talkative at the party."
stiff (STIF)
1. Very much; to an extreme degree: "We were scared stiff when we heard the explosion next door."
2. Very hard because of having been wet and then frozen: "When we took the shirt from the clothes line, it was frozen stiff."
stiff (STIF)
1. The body of a dead person: "In 2003, a book was published about human cadavers, titled: Stiff, The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach."
2. Someone who is thought to be lucky, unlucky, etc.: "That poor stiff usually never gets a lucky break except last week when he was called a lucky stiff because he won at bingo in his local social club."
stiff (STIF)
Not giving as much money as one should present to someone: "He was told that he should not stiff the waiter with such a small tip."
 
stile, style
stile (STIGHL)
1. A set of steps used to cross over to the other side of a fence or a wall: "She climbed the stile and jumped down into the grass on the other side of the fence."
2. The vertical arms of a structure or frame upon which other pieces are fastened: "The builder created a stile so she could attach cross pieces and fashion a temporary ladder."
style (STIGHL)
1. A distinctive manner of dress, speech, fashion, etc.: "She had a great sense of style and always looked very fashionable."
"His style of speech was very casual and friendly and easy to listen to."
"The editorial style of the newspaper was sharp and incisive."
2. The pin on a sundial that casts a shadow and enables someone to tell the time: "The style on the sundial was perfectly positioned and the dial always told the correct time; except when there was no sunshine to cast a shadow."
3. To create or to design a distinctive manner of dress, etc.: "She became a famous designer and would soon style fashions for the glitterati."
 
stink, stint
stink (STINGK)
1. To give off a very bad smell or odor: "The garbage in the container will stink in a day or two if it is not taken to the garbage dump."
2. To possess a very strong and offensive smell or odor: "Her brand of perfume, even though it is expensive, tends to stink if used to excess."
stint (STINT)
1. A defined length of time to be devoted to an undertaking: "He served a stint of two years in the administration before deciding on a career change."
2. To be careful or frugal: "Please, don't stint on the butter on my hot toast."
3. The smallest of the sand piper family, the American Sandpiper: "On our strolls along the beach, we sighted the female stint and her nest."
 
store, store
store (STOR, STOHR)
1. To put something that is not being used in a place where it is available, where it can be kept safely, etc.: "She will store her jewels in a safe at the bank."
2. To collect and to put something into one location for future use: "The solar panels store energy for later applications."
3. To place information in a person's memory or a computer's memory: "The website information has been formatted so we can store it with an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
store (STOR, STOHR)
1. A building or room where things are sold: "I'm going to the store to buy groceries."
2. A larger amount or supply of something that is kept for future use: "The internet is the world's greatest store of information ever created by mankind."
People go to a store to buy all kinds of goods where they store such things for present and future acquisition.

straight, strait
straight (STRAYT)
1. Existing without curves, bends, angles, etc.: "The straight road lay ahead of us and appeared to be well paved."
2. Uninterrupted, direct, or candid; originating from a trustworthy source: "The teacher would give straight answers to our questions which made learning a pleasure."
3. Consecutive, ordered, or correct: "It rained for twelve straight days."
"I interviewed the candidates to get the straight facts about their plans for the economy."
4. Conventional, not deviating from what is accepted as normal: "Her manners are straight and old fashioned which is very appealing in this age of hustle and bustle."
strait (STRAYT)
1. A narrow passageway of water connecting two larger bodies of water: "We sailed safely through the strait despite the terrible weather."
2. A situation that is puzzling and causing distress: "Declaring bankruptcy was a strait that we had not anticipated when we started up the new restaurant."
 
straightened, straitened
straightened (STRAYT n'd)
1. To have removed crookedness, bends, curves, etc.: "Over the summer, I noticed the mountain road had been straightened and it was safer for driving."
"It was not until after he straightened his back, that he realized how hunched over his desk he had become."
2. To have corrected or provided accurate information: "In her rebuttal to the arguments of the opposition, the lawyer straightened the facts of the case before the judge."
straitened (STRAYT n'd)
Not having enough money or having less money than before: "After the bankruptcy, the corporation was in straitened circumstances."
"The family now lives in straitened conditions since the father lost his job."
 
stray, stray
stray (STRAY), verb
To go in a direction that is away from a group or from the place where someone or something should be: "We could see the two cows stray through the broken fence into the street."
"As she worked on her computer, her eyes would stray as she looked out the window."
stray (STRAY), noun
1. An animal; such as, a cat, dog, etc. that is lost or has no home: "Our cat was a stray that we found waiting at our back door."
2. Someone or something that is separated from a group: "My mother matched up the socks after washing and drying, but she often had a stray one."
 
streak, streak
streak (STREEK), noun
1. A long, thin mark that is of a different color from its background: "The man left a streak on the windshield when he wiped the windows of his car."
2. A quality that is noticeable; especially, because it is different from a person's other qualities: "My friend has an adventurous streak in her."
3. A period of repeated success or failure: "She had a lucky streak of success against her golf competitors."
4. A long, narrow area or flash of light: "There was a streak of lightning followed by a great burst of thunder."
streak (STREEK), verb
1. To make long lines of a different color on or in something: "She was determined to streak her hair with blond stripes."
2. To run through a public place naked in order to get attention: "The ceremony was interrupted at the football stadium when a guy decided to streak across the field."
 
stress, stress, stress
stress (STRES)
1. Importance, significance, attention to, or emphasis placed on something: "The stress the dentist put on flossing regularly really paid off because when I went to see him the next time, he didn't find any carries."
2. A greater loudness or force given to a syllable of a word in speech or to a beat in music: "Stress falls on the first syllable of the word language."
"A different stress can fall on each beat in different parts of a song."
stress (STRES)
In physics: an applied force, or system of forces that tends to strain or to deform a structure: "The stress on the beams of many bridges is a potential danger to those who use those constructions as a means of travel."
stress (STRES)
Regarding physical and mental health: a mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health; usually, characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, and depression: "She apologized for being so grumpy, but she explained that she has been under a lot of stress at work lately."
 
stricture, structure
stricture (STRIK chuhr)
1. Restriction or a law or rule that limits or controls something: "The unexpected stricture on speed on this road really slows the traffic down."
"The local law has a stricture against the sale and possession of weapons."
2. A strong criticism: "They don't agree with her stricture, or strictures, on the state of contemporary theater."
structure (STRUK chuhr)
1. Something that has been built or constructed: "When will the structure at the entrance of the museum be completed?"
"The sentence structure was complex and very interesting."
2. The specific arrangement of parts or particles of something: "In my science class, we studied the molecular structure of the chemical elements."
3. To create or to form into a recognizable shape; for example, a building: "The workers undertook to structure the new barn after the old one burned down."
 
strident, trident
strident (STRIGHD n't)
1. Characterized by a loud, harsh, and discordant sound: "Our supervisor spoke in a strident manner as he shouted commands to the workers."
2. Commanding attention by creating an intrusive impression: "The posters on the building were strident as they exhorted the workers to strike against the factory."
trident (TRIGHD n't)
1. A spear with three prongs such as one that is used for fishing: "The hapless fisherman was trying to catch the fish using a trident."
2. In classical mythology, the three-pronged spear carried by the Greek sea god, Poseidon, or his Roman equivalent, Neptune: "The masthead of the ship represented Neptune carrying a trident."
 
strike, strike
strike (STRIGHK), verb
1. To hit sharply, as with the hand, the fist, or a weapon; to inflict (a blow): "While they were struggling to catch the football, you could see one player accidentally strike another one in the face."
2. To cause to come into violent or forceful contact: "I warned my friend to be careful or she might strike her knee against the desk if she were to make a sudden turn in her chair."
3. To produce a flame, light, or a spark from something by friction: "He had to strike a match so he could start the fire in the fireplace."
strike (STRIGHK), noun
1. A period of time when workers stop work in order to force an employer to agree to their demands: "The airline had to delay its flights because the pilots were going to strike for better working conditions."
2. In baseball, a ball thrown by a pitcher which passes through a certain area over the home plate without being hit and that counts against the batter: "The batter had a third strike which meant he was out and so a new batter would take his place."
3. In the game of bowling, the achievement of knocking down all ten pins with the first roll of the ball: "She surprised everyone, including herself, when she made a strike with her first attempt with the bowling ball."
 
strip, stripe
strip (STRIP)
1. To remove the covering of something: "My job for today is to strip the paint off the old bench under the tree."
2. To take a person's possessions away: "The court decided to strip the traitor of his wealth and possessions."
3. To make bare, to take away equipment or furnishings: "When the owner decided to sell the store, he agreed to strip the shop to the walls and sell everything that could be removed."
4. A long narrow stretch of water or land: "The airplane landed on the narrow strip of land next to the river."
5. A shopping area bordering a road: "We went to the strip mall to get some soft drinks for the BBQ."
stripe (STRIGHP)
1. The design of a textile that includes bands of contrasting color against a background: "I like the stripe design in my new summer coat."
2. The band of braid or embroidery worn on the sleeve of military person to indicate the length of service or rank: "The enlisted man had a single stripe on his sleeve because he just started his military career."
3. A kind or distinct sort or variety: "It was my impression that those who attended the convention were of the same political stripe."
 
stroke, stroke, stroke, stroke; struck
stroke (STROHK)
1. One of a series of unbroken, repeated movements: "Every day the swimmer practiced his back stroke in hopes of increasing his speed."
2. The unexpected result of something: "He had a stroke of luck when he went shopping and bought his new car when it was on sale."
stroke (STROHK)
A medical condition characterized by such things as the sudden loss of consciousness, caused by the obstruction of blood in an artery to the brain: "My friend is in the hospital because she had a stroke but she is expected to recover well."
stroke (STROHK)
The marking of time by hitting a bell to produce a sound: "The race will start at the stroke of noon as indicated by the village clock."
stroke (STROHK)
To draw a short line through something or on something: "The professor used a red pencil to stroke through the misspelled words in the essay."
"She kept track of the days before her holidays started by making a stroke on her calendar for each day."
struck (STRUK)
1. The actions of the workers who have determined not to work in order to obtain certain expectations, concessions, etc.: "The unionized workers struck the factory in hopes of obtaining better working conditions."
2. To have hit or to have caused a blow: "She accidentally struck me with the snowball when she tried to throw it at her friend."
3. To have taken one's flag or pennants down, often in the context of a conflict: "The pirates struck their colors when the navy ship overtook them."
4. To cause something, like a match, to start burning by rubbing it against a surface: "She struck a match so she could light the candles on the table."
 
strut, strut
strut (STRUHT)
To walk with a proud and affected gait or show of pride: "The officer appeared to strut across the deck of the ship."
"The models for the famous clothing designer always strut across the runway to show off the new fashions."
strut (STRUHT)
A long, thin piece of wood or metal used as a support or brace in a building, vehicle, etc.: "The carpenters put the last strut in place before they started to work on the roof of the building."
 
stumble, tumble
stumble (STUHM buhl)
1. To make an error or to act in a wayward manner; to commit a sin: "If he continues to go to the races, I am afraid he will stumble in his commitment to stop gambling."
2. To trip or to walk in an unsteady manner: "It is difficult to walk on the brick street and I am afraid I am going to stumble."
3. To speak in an awkward or hesitating manner: "I am afraid I will stumble over my words if I do not practice my speech this afternoon."
4. To come across something unexpectedly: "By reading the police reports, it was clear he would stumble across the truth about the bank robbery."
5. The act or occasion of tripping: "Because the horse cast a shoe, its walk was more like a stumble."
tumble (TUHM buhl)
1. Falling down unexpectedly: "He suffered a tumble when he missed the last step on the stairway."
2. Suffering an unexpected defeat or downfall: "The candidate's reputation experienced a tumble in the polls."
3. To roll downhill in a head over heels manner: "The children lay on the grass and started to tumble all the way to the bottom of the decline."
4. To toss together in a confused mass: "The chef was going to tumble the ingredients for the mixed salad while we watched."
5. To drop unexpectedly or to fall into potential ruin: "The stock market took a major tumble last year and many people lost their shirts."
 
subject, subject
subject (SUHB jikt), as a noun
1. A person or thing that is being discussed or described: "The new museum exhibition is the subject of an article in today's paper."
"Death is an uncomfortable subject that few people are willing to talk about."
2. An area of knowledge that is studied in school: "Latin was my favorite subject in high school."
3. A person or thing that is being dealt with in a particular way: "She was the subject of a criminal investigation."
subject (suhb JEKT), as a verb
1. To submit for consideration: "The sale of the property is subject to approval by the city council."
2. To cause or to force someone or a thing to experience something that may be harmful, unpleasant, etc.: "During the approaching hurricane, many buildings will be subject to severe winds."
"The schedule is tentative and subject to change at a later time."
The teacher was about to subject her students to tests involving her academic subject.
 
suburb, superb
suburb (SUHB urb")
1. A small community that is close to a large city and is within commuting distance: "We live in a suburb of the biggest city in the province but we have great public transportation and can commute into the city easily."
2. The residential areas typically on the outskirts of a larger city: "The older suburbs typically have gracious lawns and large trees."
superb (soo PURB)
Characterized as splendid, excellent, or outstanding: "Our meal at that restaurant was superb and we will go again soon."
"His scores in the track and field events were superb and earned him a university scholarship."
 
succor, sucker
succor (SUHK uhr)
1. Something that provides relief: "It is said that prayer is often the succor for a troubled soul."
2. To go to the assistance of something or someone: "We will succor the homeless and take warm blankets to the shelter this evening."
sucker (SUHK uhr)
1. A lollipop or sweet candy often on a stick: "Each of the children was given a sucker at the end of the birthday party."
2. A person who is easily fooled or deceived or who is irresistibly attracted to something: "There is a saying that there is a sucker born every minute."
"He is a sucker for red sports cars and goes to the New Sports Car Shows whenever he can."
3. A fresh water fish, the mouth of which is soft and fleshy: "At the aquarium, we watched the sucker feed at the bottom of the tank."
4. New shoots or stems that grow from the roots or the lower part of a plant: "The sucker on the rose bush needs to be trimmed so the new blooms will flourish."
 
suede, swayed
suede (SWAYD)
Leather or fabric that is finished with a soft-to-the-touch surface and is often used for clothing: "I bought a new suede coat with a fur collar to wear on cold winter days."
swayed (SWAYD)
1. To have moved back and forth in a gentle manner: "The tops of the trees swayed in the breeze from the lake."
2. To have changed ones position or opinion on a matter, often because of the influence of someone: "The fiery speech by the store owner really swayed my opinion about the matter of widening the street."
3. To have provided a guiding or controlling influence: "The aging actor certainly swayed the new actors when they worked with him."
 
suite, sweet, sweat
suite (SWEET)
A series of connected rooms used as a living unit: "The couple rented a suite of rooms for their holidays."
sweet (SWEET)
1. Having the taste of sugar or a substance containing or resembling sugar; such as, honey or saccharin: "Sugar and honey are well known as ingredients of sweet products; including, cakes, cookies, candy, etc."
2. Something that makes a person feel happy or pleased; very pleasant: "He told his wife that he hoped that she would sleep well and have sweet dreams."
sweat (SWET)
1. To excrete (moisture) through a porous surface, such as the skin: "When it is as hot as it is in the summer, most people tend to sweat a lot."
2. The clear liquid that forms on the skin when a person is hot or nervous: "The runners were dripping with sweat during and after their race."
He tried not to sweat as he went to the convention of sweet specialties in the suite of exhibition rooms.
There are some people who are willing to pay big money when traveling just so they can have a sweet suite in a luxury hotel to avoid having to sweat in a cheaper place.
 
summary, summery
summary (SUHM uh ree)
1. Covering the main points of something: "The Executive Summary at the beginning of the report covered all the significant points."
2. An abstract or an abridgment: "At the end of her speech, the president provided a summary of all her major points."
3. Completed without delay: "The judge provided a summary judgment immediately after the trial."
summery (SUHM uh ree)
A characteristic of or a descriptive term for the warmest season of the year between spring and fall: "There was a lovely summery feeling in the air, suggesting picnics and swims in the lake."
 
sundae, Sunday, sundry
sundae (SUHN dee, SUHN day)
A dish of ice cream that may have a topping of fruit, sauce, or whipped cream: "I think I will have a hot fudge sundae with whipped cream for dessert."
Sunday (SUHN dee, SUHN day)
1. A reference to the first day of the week in some countries and as the seventh day of the week in other countries: "Sunday may be a day for rest and for reading and doing quiet chores for some people."
"Many go to church on Sunday to worship God, to listen to the music, and to hear thoughtful words from a minister."
2. A reference to ones clothing or an article of clothing which is typically worn for special occasions like going to church or attending other significant events: "I will be wearing my Sunday clothes to the concert tonight."
sundry (SUHN dree)
Miscellaneous or an indeterminate number of something: "There were sundry items sitting on the shelf in the bathroom."
"This was such a good book I would recommend it to all and sundry people."
"Her purse contained keys, a wallet, and many other sundry items."
After church on Sunday, we went to the restaurant for lunch and to have a sundae for desert from a sundry of choices that were available there.
 
superintendence, superintendents
superintendence (soo" puhr in TEN duhns)
The act or fact of providing supervision for something: "The superintendence of the building site was left to the land agent."
superintendents (soo" puhr in TEN duhns)
Individuals who have been hired to provide the oversight or supervision for something: "The three superintendents who worked for their Boards of Education met together so they could coordinate the educational activities of their school districts."
 
supernatural, unnatural
supernatural (soo" puhr NACH uhr uhl)
1. That which is unusual and appears to depart from the laws of nature: "There was a supernatural glow in the sky that the astronomers could not explain."
2. An existence that is outside the visible or observable environment: "Ghosts are often thought to be supernatural beings because they lack the physical compositions of normal people."
unnatural (uhn NACH uhr uhl)
1. Lacking ease, contrived: "Her manners seemed awkward and unnatural despite being among her friends."
2. Inconsistent with the normal expectations of events or feelings: "It seemed unnatural to be picking apples this late in the season."
"Her degree of frustration seemed unnatural for the situation involving a flat tire."
 
supply, supply
supply (suh PLIGH)
To add, to provide, or to make available for use: "The hardware store will supply all the tools needed for your garden."
"The bank will supply the loan so my uncle can buy a new tractor for the farm."
supply (suh PLIGH)
1. An amount or a commodity that is needed: "The farmer bought a supply of firewood for the winter."
2. Goods that are offered for sale for a limited time: "The poster read: Buy Your New Toaster While the Supply Lasts!"
The young woman is using the book cart so she can supply more books to the total supply on the bookstore shelves.
 
suspect, suspicion
suspect (suh SPEKT)
1. To have doubts or to mistrust: "I suspect that the directions for the recipe were copied wrong because the pie was a disaster."
2. To imagine guilt based on slight evidence or proof: "The police suspect that the man with the raincoat and umbrella broke the window in the store."
3. An individual who is thought to have committed a crime: "She was the prime suspect in the shop lifting episode during the holidays."
suspicion (suh SPISH uhn)
1. Doubt, uncertainty; a state of unease in one's mind: "There is a shadow of suspicion in my mind about what really happened during the break-in at the store."
2. Questioning that something is wrong without proof or evidence to that effect: "It is my suspicion that our conclusion is wrong because we are missing an essential piece of information."
 
swath, swathe
swath (SWAHTH, SWAWTH)
1. A broad strip or a width and length of cut grass, etc. after a machine or individual cuts it: "The tractor ploughed a swath across the field."
"The crows followed the swath of grain in the field, feasting on grain that was on the ground."
2. The stroke or sweeping movement of a scythe: "The harvesters utilized the swath of the scythe which made the completion of the harvest go faster."
swathe (SWAHTH, SWAWTH)
1. To wrap closely in cloth: "The nurse planned to swathe the new baby after it had been bathed."
2. A band of material or any medium used for wrapping: "The antique dealer used lengths of soft swathe to package the vase so it would not break."
 
sweater, sweater
sweater (SWET uhr)
An individual who perspires a lot: "Because he was nervous, the suspect appeared to be a sweater which raised the suspicions of the police."
sweater (SWET uhr)
A knitted or crocheted garment typically worn for warmth: "My aunt knitted me a lovely green sweater for my birthday."
 
swell, swell, swell
swell (SWEL)
1. To become larger than normal: "The wasp sting made her whole arm swell up."
2. To make something larger or more full than normal: "The rain storm will certainly swell the river more than normal."
3. To increase in size or number: "Many populations in nations around the world tend to swell with more and more immigrants."
swell (SWEL)
1. The upward and downward movement of the water in the sea: "A storm tends to cause a swell, or swells, along the coast."
2. An increase in loudness: "As the music began to swell, I had to put my hands over my ears because it was getting too loud."
swell (SWEL)
A slang substitute term for very good, excellent or wonderful: "We were so glad that we went to that swell party with our swell friends."