COLLOCATIONS
A collocation is a sequence of words or terms that co-occur more often than would be expected by chance.There are
about six main types:
noun+noun:work posture,cane sugar,fuel oil,soya bean ,tomato plant.
Verb+noun:do me a favour,have a bath,break the law,make a mess,pay a fine,take notes.
Adjective+noun:strong coffee,express bus,powerful engine,big decision,regular exercise,heavy smoker.
Verb + adverb:agree completely,sleep soundly,act quickly,choose only,face daily,argue strongly.
Adverb+ verb: only accept,really appreciate,closely approximate,regularly attend,usually call,fully
explore.
Adverb + adjective:deeply upset,awfully difficult,amazingly good,totally awesome,painfully shy,eerily
silent.
Phrasal verbs:show up,ask about,blow up,go on,pay off,stand by,speak up,try on,fly away,close up,fill in.
A synonym
(also metonym and poecilonym) is a word with the same or similar meaning of another word. Words that are synonyms are said to
be synonymous, and the state of being a synonym is called synonymy. The word comes from Ancient Greek syn (σύν) ("with") and
onoma (ὄνομα) ("name"). An example of synonyms are the words begin and commence. Likewise, if we talk about a long time or an
extended time, long and extended become synonyms. In the figurative sense, two words are often said to be synonymous if they
have the same connotation:
...a widespread impression that... Hollywood was synonymous with immorality...
— Doris Kearns Goodwin
EXAMPLES:


verb
buy and purchase

adjective
adverb
quickly and speedily

big and large
preposition
on and upon
MORE EXAMPLES:
Hard - arduos,askward,unenviable.
Know - comprehend,understand,realize.
Difficult - indocile,unruly.
Lots - numerous,heaps,many.
Job - task,work,vocation.
Mad - angry,frustrated,furious.
Keep - retain,control,possess.
Make - build,construct,produced.
Kid - child,boy,youngster.
New - recent,modern,current.
Kind - type,variety,form.
Next - subsequently,successively
Homographs:
Definition:
Words that have the same spelling but differ in origin, meaning, and sometimes pronunciation, such as the verb bear (to
carry or endure) and the noun bear (the animal with a shaggy coat). Adjective: homographic.
Some homographs are also heteronyms: words with the same spelling but different pronunciations and meanings, such
as the verb moped (past tense of mope) and the noun moped (a motorbike).
A homograph is generally considered a type of homonym. See the observation by David Rothwell, below.
Examples and Observations:
The adjective fair (just, or pleasing in appearance) and the noun fair (an exhibition or event). The adjective is derived
from the Old English word for "lovely, pleasant"; the noun comes from the Latin word for "holiday."
The noun sewer (a conduit for water or sewage) and the noun sewer (one who sews). The first noun (pronounced
SOO-er) is derived from Latin, "related to water"; the second (pronounced SO-er) from the Sanskrit, "thread, string."
"A homograph is a word that is spelt identically to another word but none the less has a different meaning and
probably a different origin. You will doubtless be annoyed if you tear your trousers while climbing over a fence.
Indeed, you may be so upset that you shed a tear. As you can see, 'tear' and 'tear' are spelt identically, but they are
pronounced differently and have entirely different meanings. They are good examples of a homograph. Many
homographs are not even pronounced differently. Thus the word 'hide' sounds exactly the same whether you are
talking about the skin of an animal, a measure of land or the verb meaning to conceal or keep out of sight. . . .
"[H]omonym is just the collective noun for homograph and homophone."

"Another illustration of the extreme inconsistencies of English spelling and pronunciation comes in homographs.
These are words that can be pronounced in two separate ways without changing the spelling. So, for
example, wind can mean either moving air or to twist or wrap, and the pronunciation is different depending on the
meaning. Similarly, the past tense of wind is wound, but with a different pronunciation the latter can mean an injury.
A tear as a rip or eye water has two pronunciations, as does resume depending on whether it means continue or
curriculum vitae (in the latter case it should strictly be written résumé, but the accents are generally dropped)."

"Etymology is not an intuitive basis forhomograph distinction for the contemporary user; but it is a more certain
basis for the lexicographer than its more slippery alternative, perceived difference in meaning."
Homographic Riddles:
Why is a polka like beer?
Because there are so many hops in it.
Why was the picture sent to jail?
What's a frank frank?
Because it was framed.
A hot dog who gives his honest opinion.
Why would a pelican make a good lawyer?
How do pigs write?
With a pigpen.
Because he knows how to stretch his bill