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What is the difference between wife and woman?

wife | woman |

As nouns the difference between wife and woman

is that wife is a married woman, especially in relation to her spouse while woman is an adult female human.

As a verb woman is

to staff with female labor.

wife

English

Noun

(wives)
  • A married woman, especially in relation to her spouse.
  • My wife and I have decided to have a baby.
  • * (The Fisherman and His Wife)
  • * , chapter=10
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers.}}
  • The female of a pair of mated animals.
  • Usage notes

    Although not common, wife'' can be used with ''the to indicate one's own wife. For instance, "I'd like to go, but the wife wants me home." More commonly, "my wife".

    Synonyms

    * (married woman) better half, life partner, little woman (slang), partner, significant other, spouse * See also

    Antonyms

    * (married woman) husband, were (obsolete)

    See also

    * uxorial

    Derived terms

    (Terms derived from the noun "wife") * (From woman) alewife * (partner) co-wife * (partner) ex-wife * (woman) fishwife * (woman) goodwife * (partner) housewife * (partner) huswife * (partner) man and wife/I now declare you man and wife * (woman) midwife * (woman) old wife/old-wife/oldwife * (woman) pudding-wife * seawife * sister-wife * spaewife * (partner) trophy wife * (partner) wife-beater * (woman/partner) wifehood * (partner) wifeless * (woman) wifely * (partner) wifey (wife)

    See also

    * (wikipedia "wife")

    References

    *

    Statistics

    * 1000 English basic words ----

    woman

    English

    (wikipedia woman)

    Alternative forms

    * womon, womyn, wymyn * wimmen, wimmen

    Noun

    (women)
  • An adult female human.
  • * Bible, (w) 2:22:
  • And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman .
  • * (John Ledyard) (1751-1789)
  • I have observed among all nations that the women ornament themselves more than the men
  • * 1887 , Helen Campbell, Prisoners of poverty: their trades and their lives , p.120:
  • But this woman' is a nice German ' woman that fell on the ice and sprained her ankle last winter, and we saw to her well as we could till she got better.
  • (lb) All females collectively; womankind.
  • *
  • *:“[…] it is not fair of you to bring against mankind double weapons ! Dangerous enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to arrogate to themselves.”
  • * 1997 , Bob Grant, Let's Be Heard , p.42:
  • For if modern woman is so intent on keeping her surname alive, why not demand it be passed along to her children?
  • * 2011 , Eileen Gray and the Design of Sapphic Modernity: Staying In , p.109:
  • Unsurprisingly, if modern man is a sort of camera, modern woman is a picture.
  • A wife (or sometimes a or girlfriend).
  • * 1914 , , Study of Thomas Hardy and Other Essays , chapter 7: "Of Being and Not-Being":
  • And then, when he lies with his woman , the man may concurrently be with God, and so get increase of his soul.
  • A female who is extremely fond of or devoted to a specified type of thing.
  • * 2004 , Hyveth Williams, Secrets of a Happy Heart: A Fresh Look at the Sermon on the Mount , p.70:
  • Perhaps my problem is that I am a cat woman . I can't imagine any finicky feline (and they all are that at one time or another) slobbering over anyone, even a beloved owner, the way a dog does.
  • A female attendant or servant.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • By her woman I sent your message.

    Synonyms

    * see * female * lady

    Antonyms

    * (age ): girl * (gender ): man

    Derived terms

    * cleaning woman * firewoman * gentlewoman * kept woman * little woman * medicine woman * old woman * other woman * policewoman * womanish * womanly * womanhood * woman suffrage * woman's work * womenfolk * womenhood * women’s lib

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To staff with female labor.
  • * 1956 , Rex Stout, Three Witnesses , The Viking Press, page 54
  • Apparently the Sixty-ninth Street office of Bagby Answers, Inc., was being womaned for the day from other offices.
  • * 1990 , Stephen King, The stand: the complete & uncut edition
  • Gus Dinsmore, the public beach parking lot attendent, said he guessed that so many cars must be just stopped dead along the road that even those manned (or womaned ) by able drivers would be unable to move.
  • * 2010 , Julia Glass, The Widower's Tale , page 77
  • The information desk is now manned (womaned ) by someone whose main job is to help you reserve time slots for the computers or guide you through the arduous process of “logging on.”
  • To make effeminate or womanish.
  • * 1598 , , III. ii. 50:
  • I have felt so many quirks of joy and grief / That the first face of neither on the start / Can woman me unto't.
  • To furnish with, or unite to, a woman.
  • * 1603 , , III. iv. 191:
  • And think it no addition, nor my wish, / To have him see me woman'd .

    See also

    * fair sex * female * feminine * femme * gal * girl * goddess * lady * weaker vessel *