Understanding Vocabulary
Understanding Vocabulary
When you read an unfamiliar word, you need to figure out its meaning based on how it is used. You can use the following context clues to guess a meaning.
Word partscan reveal meaning. |
A stop sign is an octagon. (The prefix octa means “eight” and gon means “side,” so octagon must mean “eight sided.”) |
Cause-and-effectclues hint at meanings. |
A good cardio workout gets your blood pumping. (“Blood pumping” means cardio must have something to do with the heart.) |
Definitionsin the text can help you understand. |
Deer are herbivorous, eating just plants. (Herbivorous means “eating just plants.”) |
A seriesgroups an unknown word with known words. |
The shelter had a tabby, a Siamese, and a calico. (Since tabby and Siamese are cat breeds, calico must be a cat breed as well.) |
Examplesgive a specific version of a general idea. |
The jacket was embellished with sequins and fringe. (Sequins and fringe are decorations for a jacket, so embellished must mean “decorated.”) |
Synonymshave the same meaning as the unfamiliar word. |
A suspension bridge hangs from cables. (The word hangs is a synonym of the word suspension.) |
Antonymshave the opposite meaning as an unfamiliar word. |
Herbivores eat plants, unlike carnivores. (If the antonym herbivores refers to plant eaters, then carnivores must refer to meat eaters.) |
Tonereveals the writer’s thoughts about a word. |
The pastoral landscape featured picnic blankets and children chasing kites. (The presence of picnic blankets and children with kites means that pastoral must refer to a wide-open and pleasant landscape.) |
Teaching Tip
As they listen and read, students have learned thousands of new words using these types of clues. Pointing out these clues will help students take conscious ownership of their vocabulary building.
Write definitions.
Use the clues in each of these sentences to create definitions for the words in italics. Make a copy of this Google doc or download a Word template.
- Put the camera on the tripod so it doesn’t jiggle.
The prefix “tri” means “three,” and “pod” means “foot,” so a “tripod” must be something with three feet.
- My father wears bifocals to see both near and far.
The prefix “bi” means “two,” and “focal” relates to “seeing clearly,” so “bifocals” must be glasses for seeing clearly both near and far.
- I am an introvert, so I prefer a good book to a loud party.
If “introverts” prefer good books to loud parties, maybe an introvert is someone who likes to be alone.
- The man suffered whiplash in his neck when his car was rear-ended.
“Whiplash” must be a neck injury caused when a person is suddenly jolted from behind.
- A callus is a tough spot on your heel, but callousness is a tough spot on your personality.
A “callus” must be thick skin; “callousness” must mean not being nice to other people.
- Gorillas are animals in peaceful bands in the wilderness, but guerrillas are humans in warlike bands outside of civilization.
“Gorillas” are great apes; “guerrillas” are human fighters who aren’t part of a regular military.
- After sky diving, my mom was happy to have her feet on terra firma.
“Firma” sounds like “firm,” and “terra” can mean “earth,” so “terra firma” must mean “firm earth” or “solid ground.”