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Identical vs Homoiophone - What's the difference?

identical | homoiophone |

As nouns the difference between identical and homoiophone

is that identical is something which has exactly the same properties as something else while homoiophone is a word similar — but not identical — in pronunciation with another; compare {{term|homophone|lang=en}}.

As an adjective identical

is bearing full likeness by having precisely the same set of characteristics; indistinguishable.

identical

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (not comparable) Bearing full likeness by having precisely the same set of characteristics; indistinguishable.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1911, title=Encyclopædia Britannica, chapter=
    • , passage=By this means as many absolutely identical plates can be produced as may be required, and being hardened they will yield a very large number of prints without any appreciable deterioration.}}
  • *
  • *
  • (not comparable) Not different or other; not another or others; not different as regards self; selfsame; numerically identical.
  • *
  • *
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, title=, by=W. C. Firebaugh, author=Petronius,
    • passage=Nor could I myself look upon this man without some emotion, for he seemed to be the identical  person who had picked up the ragged tunic in the lonely wood, and, as a matter of fact, he was!}}
  • (not comparable, biology) Of twins, sharing the same genetic code.
  • (not comparable, mathematics) Exactly equivalent.
  • (comparable, rare) Approximating or approaching exact equivalence.
  • * 1788 , , XLI:
    • The terms of Article 8th are still more identical .
    *

    Usage notes

    * (en-usage-equal) * Adverbs often used with "identical": absolutely, almost, nearly, practically, virtually, substantially.

    Synonyms

    * (bearing full likeness) same * (selfsame) same, selfsame

    Antonyms

    * non-identical * different * distinct

    Derived terms

    * identically * identicalness

    Related terms

    * identify * identity

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (usually, pluralized, chiefly, philosophy) Something which has exactly the same properties as something else.

    • Derived terms

    * indiscernibility of identicals

    References

    * * *

    homoiophone

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l), (l),

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A word similar — but not identical — in pronunciation with another; compare homophone.
  • * 1886 : Stephen Denison Peet [ed.], The American Antiquarian and Oriental Journal , volume 8, page 349 (Jameson & Morse)
    • This was through the existence of homophones and homoiophones in a language, of words with the same or similar sounds, but with diverse significations.
  • * 1893 : Johan Harold Josua Lindahl, Description of a Skull of Megalonyx Leidyi , page 56 (American Philosophical Society)
    • This was through the existence of homophones and homoiophones , that is, of words with different meanings but the same or nearly the same sound.
  • * 1911, July 6th: Robert Seymour Bridges, Correspondence of Robert Bridges and Henry Bradley, 1900–1923 , page 81 (The Clarendon Press)
    • Have you any idea as to what ought to be done with what I believe you pepel call homophones or homoiophones . I hope that is not the right name for them. But is it not foolish to have an educated nation that refuses to readjust such inconveniences?
  • * 1924 : American Oriental Society Journal of the American Oriental Society , volume 44, page 28
    • By way of bringing this intricate and tedious dissertation to an end, allow me to recite a short specimen of the thing itself — a Siamese “jaw-breaker” which, for ingenious bewilderment by means of homoiophones , I am sure does not fall behind our “Theophilus Thistle the Thistle-sifter,” while in coloratura of intonation it certainly leaves that far behind.
  • * 1987 : Alan Allport [ed.], Language Perception and Production: Relationships Between Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing , page 237 (Academic Press; ISBN 0120527502, 9780120527502)
    • Another explanation relates to the actual use'' of homophony-generating rules; perhaps pseudohomophones are not homophones but rather ‘homoiophones ’, that is, phonologically ''similar'' but not ''exactly equal to their word mates.