oxymoron
/ˌɒkˈsiˈmɔːɹɒn/ok-SEE-MAW-ron
/ˌɑkˈsiˈmɔɹɑn/ahk-SEE-MAW-rahn
Meaningsharp-dull
Common meaning: a phrase joining opposites
- oxsharp, keen; sourLiddell & Scott, Greek-English Lexicon (1883), p. 1058 (approximate) · scan
- moronfoolish (Greek mōros)
Sources & notes
Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
- No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
- US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
- No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.
Origin: Built on Greek ὀξύς ‘sharp, keen; sour’.
Did you know: our wording, based on Liddell & Scott, Greek-English Lexicon (1883), entry ὀξύς, p. 1058 · dictionary scan
Roots
- ὀξύς Greek “sharp, keen; sour”
Related words
Building blocks are an automatic split · open in app