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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Looking for specific word #192634 08/17/2010 4:50 PM Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 2 Koltrane stranger Koltrane stranger Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 2 I know there is a word out there for this, but I can't remember it. The definition is using a specific place name to refer to a general community or group. For example, we say Washington to refer to the federal government, or Wall Street to reference the financial industry, or we say Hollywood when we mean the entertainment business in general. I've tried searching for it, but I'm failing miserably at coming up with the answer. Can anyone help? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Looking for specific word Koltrane #192635 08/17/2010 4:53 PM Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,971 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,971 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water Welcome, Koltrane ----please, draw me a sheep---- Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Looking for specific word Koltrane #192636 08/17/2010 4:57 PM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass tsuwm Carpal Tunnel tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass synecdoche [L. a. Gk synekdoche] /suh NEK duh kee/ (rhymes with Schenectady : ) a figure by which a more comprehensive term is used for a less comprehensive or vice versa; as whole for part or part for whole, genus for species or species for genus, etc. (compare metonymy) metonymy /met ON ah me/ a figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated, as in the use of Washington for the United States government or of the sword for military power source: worthless word for the day : ) Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Looking for specific word tsuwm #192644 08/17/2010 5:33 PM Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh zmjezhd Carpal Tunnel zmjezhd Carpal Tunnel Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,290 R'lyeh synecdoche ... as whole for part or part for whole aka totum pro parte and pars pro toto by those who like our tongues Latinate. Ceci n'est pas un seing. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Looking for specific word tsuwm #192647 08/17/2010 5:42 PM Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 2 Koltrane stranger Koltrane stranger Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 2 Thank you thank you thank you! Metonymy is the word I was seeking (and have been for some time). You people are great! Synecdoche fits my feeble wording of what I was seeking, but that is really more like calling your car your wheels. It is close, but metonymy (or more specifically, metonym) is the EXACT word. Again, a million thanks. That itch is finally scratched! Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Looking for specific word Koltrane #192723 08/20/2010 5:48 AM Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,154 British Columbia, Canada Zed Pooh-Bah Zed Pooh-Bah Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,154 British Columbia, Canada Welcome, and stick around - you owe us a backscratch. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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