Can't distinguish these four groups of words

Question

clutch/grasp/grip splash/spatter/splatter squeal/squeak recount/relate Thanks for your help!

King · Accepted Answer

This is what these words mean to me:

Group 1:
-Clutch has several meanings. It can mean the clutch on a car, or to basically grab something. If you "clutched" something, I would picture you grabbing and hold on tightly.
-Grasp has a similar meaning, but it gives the impression that you are grabbing at something wildly and may not have gotten it.
-Grip, to me, would be to simply hold something, possibly tightly.

Group 2:
-Splash would give me an idea of someone doing a cannonball into a swimming pool. The giant water spray would be a splash.
-Spatter would mean to me that something spilled in little amounts all over the place.
-Splatter would be similar to spatter, but in a larger area.

Group 3:
-Squealing would be like a pig yelling out, or in some more descriptive cases, a child whining.
-A squeak would be more like a mouse making a small noise, not as loud or annoying as a squeal.

Group 4:
-To recount is either, depending on context, to count something again or to remember something, possibly from a while ago.
-To relate is to understand someone's position or ideas.

Hope these help you!

Wwlcj1982 · Answer

There is one thing I don't understand. When someone recounts his experience, does it mean he can remember his experience again?

Cyberken · Answer

yes! I wanted to ask something in here!
please look at that: http://www.EnglishForward.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=51150#55293
In here I asked this question:
"how can you abstract (is it true word?) the word band that has the mean music band and the band that has the mean criminal team... etc? how can you abstract that?"

????

Ashlee · Answer

Recount - can mean counting something again, like they had to do a recount of the votes
Or recount can mean "give a detailed account of" like telling a detailed story to someone

Relate - can mean link, connect, associate two things.
Or relate can mean "give an account of"
Or two people are related, meaning they are in the same family

So I think the difference is that "recount" is more of a detailed retelling, while "relate" is just retelling

@ cyberken - abstract is a true word, but doesn't quite fit - in your sentence, you should probably say "how can you distinguish between...[this word] and [that word]"

Or, more casually, "how can you tell the difference between...[this word] and [that word]"

The difference between a musical band and a criminal band/band of thieves etc. - "band of thieves" is rarely used these days. You may find it in old fashioned books, like "Robin Hood and his band of merry men", but in that case, they probably would not be talking about a musical band, so you don't have to worry.

Cyberken · Answer

Ashlee, thank you very much!<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Can't distinguish these four groups of words

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions