Confusing Words Clarified: Group T; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, Polysemes, etc. +

(lists of "T" sections that are organized into what for some people are confusing groups of words)

If you have any problems understanding the pronunciation symbols, go to this Pronunciation Chart for clarifications.

tower, tower
tower (TOU uhr) (noun)
1. A high part of some buildings: "The flag flew from the tower on the capital building."
2. An emotionally strong person who gives a great deal of support or help during difficult times: "His wife has been his tower of strength during his illness."
tower (TOH uhr) (noun)
Someone who or that which pulls a vehicle with a rope or chain: "When the engine in the family's car died, they called the garage and asked the mechanic if he could send a tower for their car."

"The police sent a tower to remove the illegally parked car."

The tower was pulling a heavy cart of stones to the site where the builders were constructing a tall tower.

tracked, tracked, tract, trekked
tracked (TRAKT) (adjective)
A reference to vehicles that travel on a railroad using air suspension instead of traditional rails: "The latest tracked vehicles go from the hotel downtown out to the airport."
tracked (TRAKT) (verb)
1. To have searched for something until it was found: "The dogs tracked the missing child through the tall grass."
2. To have brought mud or other mess into a clean space: "After the storm, they all tracked mud into the back porch."
tract (TRAKT) (noun)
1. A defined area of land which may be either large or small: "They bought a tract of land that included a fine stand of timber."
2. A printed flyer or pamphlet of a religious or political nature: "We received the tract from the local church in our mailbox this afternoon."
trekked (TREKT) (verb)
To have migrated or to have made one's way towards something with great difficulty: "The miners trekked over snow covered mountains to get to the gold fields in North America."

We trekked across the large tract of grassy land during a rain storm and, when we got back to our cabin, we tracked mud all over the floor.

transience, transience, transients
transience (TRAN zee uhns, TRAN zhuhns, TRAN shuhns) (noun)
Being short lived: "The transience for the fruit fly makes it ideal for scientific study."
transience (TRAN zee uhns, TRAN zhuhns, TRAN shuhns) (adjective)
Characterized by passing briefly through a situation or locale: "There was something of a transience nature about the circus barker that made his employer cautious."
transients (TRAN zee uhns, TRAN zhuhns, TRAN shuhns) (noun)
Individuals who frequently travel from place to place, often in search of employment or a better life style: "Several transients came to the door at the farm asking for temporary work."

The transience camps which the transients established near the railroad station were often made of materials; such as, old boxes, cast off furniture, etc.

trapping, trappings; trapping, trappings
trapping, trappings (TRAP ing, TRAP ingz) (verbs)
Catching animals; ensnaring, confining: "During the winter, he was trapping several mice everyday."

"Despite trapping so many mice, they were never completely eliminated."

trapping, trappings (TRAP ing, TRAP ingz) (nouns)
Objects or activities, etc., that are associated with a particular condition, situation, life style, or position in life: "He had a great deal of money and enjoyed all the trappings of success and wealth."

"Her friend inherited one more trapping to add to her other trappings when she advanced to her new position as the CEO of the company."

For her successful efforts in trapping the international spy, the police officer was given a promotion complete with all the trappings of a new office, special desk, etc.

travail, travail, travel, travel
travail (truh VAYL, TRAV ayl") (noun)
Physical or mental exertion: "The travail of digging ditches was nothing compared to the mental travail of learning to live in a new country."
travail (truh VAYL, TRAV ayl") (verb)
To work hard: "The hired helper on the farm agreed to travail for eight hours every day during which he would have an hour off for lunch."
travel (TRAV uhl) (verb)
To move or to go from place to place; or to go at a high speed: "Town gossip can travel very fast unless it is stopped by the truth."

"For their summer holiday, the family plans to travel throughout many countries in Europe."

"She heard that the new train will travel much faster than the old one, so passengers will get where they want to go faster."

travel (TRAV uhl) (noun)
In sports, a violation of the rules in basket ball; such as, running with the ball: "The referee called a travel violation against the star player who was running with the basket ball instead of dribbling it."

I must often travel so I can referee basketball games. It can be a challenge to call a travel against a star player.

I realize that teams must travail together many hours to become good players.

tray, trey
tray (TRAY) (noun)
A shallow flat receptacle with a raised edge or rim, used for carrying, holding, or displaying articles: "The jeweler put several lovely watches on a tray for me to inspect."

"The clerk put the tray of diamonds in the safe right after the store closed for the night."

trey (TRAY) (noun)
A card, die, or domino with three pips (spots): "He rolled a double trey with the dice and won the bet."

The gambler liked to use a tray when trying to roll a trey so the smooth surface would not jinx with the outcome.

treachery, treason
treachery (TRECH uh ree) (noun)
A serious violation of faith or confidence: "Matt's letter seemed pure treachery given the faith Shirley had in his promise."
treason (TREE zuhn) (noun)
Overt acts to overthrow a government to which one has pledged allegiance or any significant betrayal of trust: "It was an act of treason by our associate to tell the conspirators where we were hiding."

To undertake an act of treason is a serious act of treachery that is not easily understood nor forgiven.

tri-, try
tri- (TRIGH) (adjective)
A prefix used to indicate three of something: "He wore a tricorn hat to the parade."
try (TRIGH) (verb)
1. To attempt to do something, to experiment with something: "He will try a dish of pistachio ice cream this afternoon."
2. To undertake a judicial procedure to determine the guilt or innocence of an individual: "The judge agreed to try the traffic offender without a jury."

It's a good idea to try to use the prefix tri- to form many words that mean "three" plus whatever word element it is attached to; such as, "tripod, triple, triangle", and many others which can be seen by going to this tri-, tre- unit shown on this Word Info site.

triumphal, triumphant
triumphal (trigh UHM fuhl) (adjective)
Characterized by a joyful success or victory: "Winning the election was a triumphal moment in her career."
triumphant (trigh UHM fuhnt) (adjective)
A description of the celebration of a significant event: "The mayor planned a triumphant parade for the football team because it finally won the pennant."

The music at the beginning of the opera rang of triumphal victory; as if celebrating the triumphant return of the explorers from their dangerous voyage.

troop, troop, troupe, troupe
troop (TROOP) (noun)
A group or gathering of soldiers, people or animals: "We watched the troop of monkeys when we went to the zoo."

"There was a large troop of people gathered in the park for the celebration."

troop (TROOP) (verb)
To walk, to gather, or to move in a large group: "We watched the band troop into the stadium before the games started."

"The sailors decided to troop down to the dock and watch the ship land."

troupe (TROOP) (noun)
A group of performers for the theater: "The summer troupe at the playhouse decided to perform one of the plays of Shakespeare."
troupe (TROOP) (verb)
To travel with or to perform with such a group: "In Medieval Times, a troupe of minstrels would troupe from town to town playing on their instruments and entertaining the crowds."

The troupe of performers is ready to troop into the stadium to perform before a troop of holiday makers.

trooper, trouper
trooper (TROO puhr) (noun)
A horseback mounted police officer or a member of a cavalry: "His cousin is a trooper in the local police force who rides her horse during parades."
trouper (TROO puhr) (noun)
An individual who travels with a musical or theatrical group: "A troubadour could also be considered a trouper because a troubadour often traveled with groups of actors."

The trouper used to work with the police and was a trooper in the police band.

trussed, trust, trust
trussed (TRUHST) (verb)
1. Having tied someone up tightly to prevent movement: "The thieves trussed up the museum guards and then proceeded to steel several paintings."
2. Having used a strong frame of wooden beams, bars, or rods that have supported a roof or bridge: "The roof of the house was trussed with wooden supports while the bridge was trussed with steal bars."
3. To have tied together the wings and legs of a turkey, chicken, duck, goose, etc. for cooking: "Her mother stuffed and trussed the duck for roasting."
trust (TRUHST) (noun)
1. A belief that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, effective, etc.: "The friendship of the couple is based on a mutual love and trust; however, the wife's brother was noted for being a liar and so the husband had no trust in him."
2. An arrangement in which someone's property or money is legally held or managed by someone else or by an organization; such as a bank, usually for a set time: "Her father created a trust for his daughter and the property will be held in trust until her 18th birthday."
trust (TRUHST) (verb)
To believe that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, effective, etc.: "Working together is going to be difficult if you don't trust each other."

"I am confident that he will do the right thing and so I trust him."

I trust that the turkey is all trussed and ready to put into the oven for our holiday meal later today.

trustee, trusty, trusty
trustee (tru STEE) (noun)
1. An individual to whom property is legally assigned for that person to administer for the benefit of another individual: "I am the trustee of the bank account for my friend who is in the hospital."
2. An individual who occupies a position of trust and responsibility: "My nephew is a trustee with the local bank."
trusty (TRUS tee) (adjective)
Dependable, reliable; used especially to describe a useful tool, device, etc., which a person has had and used for a long time: "I always carry my trusty pocket knife with me."
trusty (TRUS tee) (noun)
A prisoner who is serving time in a prison and is trusted and given special privileges because of good behavior: "As a trusty, he had easy access to the prison library and even helped to distribute books to other inmates."

The trusty was the trustee of the tool box which contained the trusty electric screw driver.

turbid, turgid
turbid (TUR bid) (adjective)
Not clear, heavy with smoke, and characterized by obscurity: "The air in the factory was turbid and it was difficult to see across the room."

"He chose to maintain a turbid lifestyle and rarely went out in public."

turgid (TUR jid) (adjective)
1. Plumped up, swollen, not wilted: "The stalk of celery was turgid and crisp when she bit into it."

"After he hit his thumb with a hammer, it became very turgid and purple."

2. Characterized by a manner that is excessively embellished or bombastic: "The count tended to wear sweeping feathers on his hat and spoke in a turgid manner, using all sorts of glittering and fancy words."

In spite of his turgid lifestyle, the man decided to keep his turbid ancestral background from prying eyes and curious bystanders.

turf, turf, turf
turf (TURF) (noun)
1. The top layer of soil and grass in a natural field or a sport's playing area: "The maintenance staff kept the turf smooth and even for the soccer players."
2. A track for horse racing: "We watched the horses cut up the turf as they raced around the track."
turf (TURF) (verb)
Primarily British: To remove forcefully: "After the customer had become rowdy, the owner decided to turf the customer out the door."
turf (TURF) (noun)
1. An area or a place that is controlled by a group who feel that it is their home: "Our basketball team beat their opponents on their own turf."
2. The territory or portion of a city that is claimed by a gang for its activities: "The gang leader sent a message to the other gang saying that if they know what's good for them, they will stay out of his turf."
3. In a figurative sense, dealing with an unfamiliar subject: "In the first chapter of his book, the writer seems to be presenting information about a topic which is on unfamiliar turf for him."

The turf for the local gang seemed to be the turf at the local race track; however, when the gang members swaggered into the club house, they seemed to be on very unfamiliar turf and the bouncer was able to turf them out without much trouble.

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