0
MUSCOVITE Posted 12 years ago
Vocabulary

lightning rod, etc.

Hi,

Dictionaries offer SEVERAL terms synonymous with or very close to "lightning rod":
(1) lightning rod
(2) lightning rig
(3) lightning arrester
(4) arrester

Q#1: Which of the terms do you think is "most common"/"most appropriate" in everyday English?
Q#2: Let me ask you a very naive question :-)
Can the word "arrester" be used for "lightning arrester" (in everyday English at least? ...assuming it is 100% clear from context what kind of "arrester" is meant?)

Counterexample :-)

Native speakers would by no means shorten"lightning bug" to just "bug", would they? :-)

mus-te
  

Top answer

I'm from an area that doesn't have frequent electrical storms, so I've only heard of a "lightning rod". I don't think most people would understand "arrester". Lightning bugs are more commonly called fireflies.

— Vorpar

  • I'm from an area that doesn't have frequent electrical storms, so I've only heard of a "lightning rod".
  • I don't think most people would understand "arrester".
  • Lightning bugs are more commonly called fireflies.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

1 Answers
0
I'm from an area that doesn't have frequent electrical storms, so I've only heard of a "lightning rod".

I don't think most people would understand "arrester".

Lightning bugs are more commonly called fireflies.
0

Related Questions