tyro-, tiro-

(Latin: beginner, novice [also, originally, a "young soldier" or "recruit"])

amateur, amateur, armature, neophyte, novice, tyro
amateur (AM uh toor", AM uh tuhr", AM uh choor", AM uh tyoor") (noun)
Someone who does something for pleasure rather than for payment and anyone with limited skills in, or knowledge of, an activity; a nonprofessional: An amateur is not allowed to play in most professional golf tournaments.

An amateur shouldn't play professional poker for high stakes.

amateur (AM uh toor", AM uh tuhr", AM uh choor", AM uh tyoor") (adjective)
Unskilled, non-professional, done for enjoyment: Chad's amateur skills on the tennis court were evident when he missed the ball so often.
armature (AR muh choor") (noun)
An armor like covering: The armature of this dynamo needs to be repaired.
neophyte (NEE uh fight") (noun)
Any new participant in some activity; beginner, apprentice; a disciple, convert, proselyte, novitiate: Greg, the neophyte, learned the required church procedures very quickly.
novice (NOHV is) (noun)
Someone who is commencing, or who is learning, an activity and has acquired little skill in it; a beginner, an apprentice: Luis is a novice in the blacksmith's trade.
tyro (TIGH roh) (noun)
Someone who is just beginning to learn something and who is new to a field or activity, a trainee, a learner: Doug, the old pro, gave the tyro some tips on how to do the job more efficiently.

Steve's father was an amateur gardener who readily admitted he was a neophyte, really just a tyro, when it came to raising certain bulbs; however, he carefully studied the armature of the corm of each of the species before planting them.

Additional clarifications regarding amateur, neophyte, novice, and tyro

Amateur, the most widely used of these four terms, is applied to someone who follows or pursues any art, study, or other activity simply from the love of doing it.

In certain activities; especially, sports, an amateur is anyone who, regardless of excellence, receives no payment for his or her performance: Alice played as an amateur for five years before becoming a professional.

Neophyte also refers to a beginner (novice, tyro), but the term is usually applied to a recent church convert; especially, to a novice in a religious order and to a recently ordained priest.

A novice is a beginner, a person new to any field or activity: Some young brides are novices when it comes to housekeeping.

Tyro is closely related in meaning to novice; because it refers to someone who is inexperienced: James was a tyro during his first weeks at training camp.

An amateur may be skilled and even experienced, but neophytes, novices, and tyros never are. A neophyte, novice, or tyro may be a professional, but an amateur never is.

—Compiled from information located in
Dictionary of Problem Words and Expressions by Harry Shaw;
McGraw-Hill Book Company; New York; 1975; page 71.
tirocinium (s) (noun), tirocinia (pl)
The first military experience of a military recruit: During the tirocinium Dirk, the new soldier, had to go through a period of recruitment training.
tyro, tiro (s) (noun); tyros, tiros (pl)
Anyone who is just starting to learn how to do something: Dena is a tyro who is just grasping the idea of how to fish.
A beginner who doesn't know how to play golf.
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A novice nurse who is just learning to use a hypodermic needle.
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A woman is having trouble learning how to fish.
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tyrociny (s) (noun), tyrocinies (pl)
A neophyte (beginner), novice, or learner; an apprenticeship: Kelsey is a tyrociny who is learning how to be a computer programmer.

Brandon is in a class with other tyrocinies who are preparing for a profession as trainers in fitness studios.

The tyro image illustrates tyrociny.

A boy who is having trouble learning to play a musical instrument.
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tyronic, tironic (adjective); more tyronic, more tironic; most tyronic, most tironic
A reference to a "greenie" (beginner) or a novice: Luis was a tyronic user of a computer and so as a result of his inexperience, he needed a lot of help in learning what to do and when to do it.
tyronism, tironism (s) (noun); tyronisms, tironisms (pl)
A state or condition in which a person is a newcomer or just starting to learn how to do something: Ralph was in tyronism in that his new job required him to start learning how to use the machinery required for producing the company's products.

This tyro cartoon illustrates tyronism.

A beginner who is having trouble learning construction.
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