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Germane vs Topical - What's the difference?

germane | topical |

As nouns the difference between germane and topical

is that germane is german, member of germanic tribe while topical is (pharmacology) a topical anaesthetic.

As an adjective topical is

of current interest; contemporary.

germane

English

(wikipedia germane)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Related to the topic being discussed or considered.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=August 5 , author=Nathan Rabin , title=TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “I Love Lisa” (season 4, episode 15; originally aired 02/11/1993) citation , page= , passage=Valentine’s Day means different things for different people. For Homer, it means forking over a hundred dollars for a dusty box of chocolates at the Kwik-E-Mart after characteristically forgetting the holiday yet again. For Ned, it’s another opportunity to prove his love for his wife. Most germane to the episode, for Lisa, Valentine’s Day means being the only person in her entire class to give Ralph a Valentine after noticing him looking crestfallen and alone at his desk.}}
  • * 1924 , . Translated by W. D. Ross. Nashotah, Wisconsin, USA: The Classical Library, 2001, Book 1, Part 5.
    • Yet this much is germane to the present inquiry:

    Related terms

    * germanely * germaneness

    Synonyms

    * pertinent, relevant, on-topic, apt

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (inorganic chemistry) germanium tetrahydride, GeH4
  • (organic chemistry, especially in combination) Any organic derivative of this compound.

    • Synonyms

    * germanium tetrahydride * germanomethane * monogermane

    topical

    English

    Adjective

    (wikipedia topical) (en adjective)
  • Of current interest; contemporary.
    • ''Fair trade has become quite a topical subject.
  • local to a particular place
  • (medicine, not comparable) Applied to a localized part of the body.
  • Arranged according to topic or theme; thematic.

    • Antonyms

    * systemic

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (pharmacology) A topical anaesthetic.

    • Anagrams

    * * *