Questions tagged [terminology]
This tag is for questions seeking or discussing a term (or terms) belonging or peculiar to a science, art, or specialized subject (e.g. linguistics, mathematics, physics, biology, finance, theatre, music, philosophy, astronomy, medical, nautical etc.). Consider adding [single-word-requests] and [phrase-requests] tags also if relevant.
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What does sectarian mean/imply in this passage?
Nobody could accuse my mum and dad of being sectarian because as soon as lunch was over and cleared up, we children were sent to the Wesleyan chapel for Sunday School. I questioned Mum about the ...
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Confusion in a statement [closed]
In my book there is a sentence:
I hadn't yet heard people speak openly of untouchability, but I had already seen felt experienced and been humiliated by what it is.
What is the difference between ...
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What is the origin of "lame duck" as a political term and, before that, as a financial term?
An article by Mark Leibovich titled "Donald Trump Is a Lamer Duck Than Ever" posted today in The Atlantic, includes the following note on the origin of the term:
Senator Lazarus Powell of ...
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Why do Americans call it an "exclamation point" instead of "exclamation mark"?
I wonder why the "!" symbol is called exclamation point instead of exclamation mark in American English. Is it American or British?
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Are there levels of formality? Where (if at all) do corporate jargon as used in businesses and colloquialism fit in? along such a possible spectrum?
Like for example is using corporate jargon, like "a low-hanging fruit" or "circle back" comparable (equally acceptable) to using colloquialisms like "ain't it", "...
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What is the proper plural nomenclature for AI? Or what is a network of Artificial Intelligence programs or entities called? [duplicate]
Considering the fact that AI is a form of intelligence or a gathering and or containment of knowledge, perhaps, "Faculty" would be appropriate for a group of AI. Or perhaps, "Unit" ...
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What do you call the depression occupied by a lake and a river respectively?
I have done extensive research on this and I ended up going down the rabbit hole of hydrology and geography and things have gotten more confusing to say the least. 😭
According to many dictionaries (...
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"Paradigmacity", "paradigmicity": spelling, pronunciation, morphology
There is no trace of either of these word forms in Google ngrams nor in Etymonline (1, 2), but Google Books reveals that there are more than 20 cases of use; I presume that it can be safely accepted ...
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Time is to "eternal" as space is to what?
We look for laws of physics that are eternal (in that they hold at all points in time) and xxx (in that they hold at all points in space)
Infinite? The laws themselves aren't infinite
Universal? That'...
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Increasing/Increased vs Warming/Warmer Temperatures
I'm a climate scientist, so professionally invested in changes in temperature.
When the air gets warmer then I say we're experiencing "increasing temperatures". Some others (often colleagues ...
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Is "racio-" in the sense of racial a standard English prefix?
While very respectable alternative meanings exist (from the Greek 'rhakhis' meaning spine or vertebrae; or from the Latin 'raciō or ratio' meaning reckoning or ratiocination), racial contexts abound ...
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Usage of 'allow' vs. 'enable' in technical documentation for devices
I am translating some documents about a device. The device has a function (feature) that lets users make a special measurement. In this case, which is better to use: allow or enable (or another verb)?
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What do we call electronic devices that are used for information and as entertainment devices?
I'm searching for a hyponym (a more specific word; subcategory) of electronic devices to specifically refer to computers, phones and tablets used for information and as entertainment devices, either ...
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"Rotation" vs. "Revolution" in Astronomy
I'm often corrected by amateur astronomers about the difference between rotate and revolve. The Earth rotates on its axis, but revolves around the sun. They insist the important difference is that ...
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What is the terminology for a group of verbs that are more related to each other?
I'm trying to provide guidance to a team regarding standardization of word choice in custom tools they create. In the world of system administration, tools used to manage applications will have a pre-...
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