2. Something that is broken or separated into pieces or small parts.
- debris, useless accumulation of miscellaneous particles; waste in the form of fragments: "When the earthquake stopped, rescuers started to dig through the debris in search of survivors."
- rubbish, things that are no longer useful, or wanted, and that have been thrown out; trash: "Please pick up all of the rubbish that has been collecting in the back yard."
- rubble, broken pieces of stone, rock, etc. from walls or buildings that have fallen: "After the earthquake reduced the town to débris, rescue workers managed to pull some injured people out of the rubble."
- trash, things that are no longer useful or wanted and that have been thrown away; informal, something that is very low in quality: "Trash was scattered all around in his yard and he spent most of his time watching TV trash and even trashing his living quarters."
3. Strictly, a word having the same sense as another or in the same language; more commonly, either or any of two or more words having the same general sense, or having different shades of meanings or implications appropriate to different contexts: Someone has said that Albert Einstein's name has become a synonym for scientific genius.
3. Etymology: from Greek synonymon; from syn-, "same, together" + onyma, "name"; literally, "same name".
Abandon is a word of wide significance, applying to people or things of all kinds and a variety of situations.
While related words abdicate and resign apply to an office, authority, or power; cede to territorial possessions; surrender, especially to a military force, and more generally to any demand, claim, passion, etc.
Quit carries an idea of suddenness or abruptness not necessarily implied in abandon, and it may not have the same suggestion of finality. The king abdicates his throne, cedes his territory, deserts his followers, renounces his religion, relinquishes his titles, abandons his designs.
A cowardly officer deserts his ship; the helpless passengers abandon it. We quit business, give up property, resign office, abandon a habit or a trust.
Relinquish commonly implies reluctance; the fainting hand relinquishes its grasp; the creditor relinquishes his claim.
Abandon implies previous association with responsibility for or control of; forsake implies previous association with an inclination or attachment, real or assumed; a man may abandon or forsake a house or friends; he abandons an enterprise; and he forsakes God.
Abandon is applied to both good and evil actions; a thief abandons his designs, a man his principles. Forsake, like abandon, may be used either in the favorable or unfavorable sense; desert is always unfavorable, involving a breach of duty, except when referring to localities; such as, "The Deserted Village".
While a monarch abdicates, a president or other elected or appointed officer resigns. It was held that James II abdicated his throne by deserting it.
Phrases of words that describe the term war:
- armed conflict
- warfare
- hostilities
- military operations
- clash of arms
- combat
- military attacks
- battle with opponents
- take up arms