Xerox is often used as a verb; much like Kleenex is often used as a common noun. These usages don't seem to have caused any trademark infringement suits to be brought against the English language. If people find "to google" to be a useful word, then I say use it!
I never really thought about rock the same way after learning this word. It also reminds me of another fun word I learned recently: lithobraking.
If you want to read a something that uses the word lithosphere a lot, along with many other geological terms, I recommend the Red Mars series by Kim Stanley Robinson.
My worst pet peeve when it comes to language is the use of the word acronym. I often hear it used to describe any kind of abbreviation - when its original usage actually refers to an abbreviation that itself is pronounced as a word.
I realize that some of the dictionary definitions linked here give both definitions; and I grant that acronym is an awesome word, so I can understand why people would want to use it more often. But it makes me sad to hear the meaningful distinction between these two words disappear.
Comments by hallettj
hallettj commented on the word ( )
Could you give an example of this word used in a sentence?
July 10, 2007
hallettj commented on the word google
Hmm.. Maybe it would be useful to be able to specify the part of speech?, so that we can list homophonous nouns and verbs separately?
July 10, 2007
hallettj commented on the word google
Xerox is often used as a verb; much like Kleenex is often used as a common noun. These usages don't seem to have caused any trademark infringement suits to be brought against the English language. If people find "to google" to be a useful word, then I say use it!
December 9, 2006
hallettj commented on the word lithobraking
is unintentional lithobraking. But only when applied to unmanned probes of course. And preferably not extremely expensive ones.
See the Wikipedia link if you are confused.
December 9, 2006
hallettj commented on the word lithosphere
I never really thought about rock the same way after learning this word. It also reminds me of another fun word I learned recently: lithobraking.
If you want to read a something that uses the word lithosphere a lot, along with many other geological terms, I recommend the Red Mars series by Kim Stanley Robinson.
December 9, 2006
hallettj commented on the word acronym
My worst pet peeve when it comes to language is the use of the word acronym. I often hear it used to describe any kind of abbreviation - when its original usage actually refers to an abbreviation that itself is pronounced as a word.
I realize that some of the dictionary definitions linked here give both definitions; and I grant that acronym is an awesome word, so I can understand why people would want to use it more often. But it makes me sad to hear the meaningful distinction between these two words disappear.
December 9, 2006