Download the app
educalingo
Search
I love the semicolon; it's unnecessary, but graceful and sophisticated.
Brian P. Cleary

Meaning of "semicolon" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

PRONUNCIATION OF SEMICOLON

semicolon  [ˌsɛmɪˈkəʊlən] play
facebooktwitterpinterestwhatsapp

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF SEMICOLON

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Semicolon is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES SEMICOLON MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Semicolon

The semicolon or semi-colon is a punctuation mark with several uses. The first printed semicolon was the work of the Italian printer Aldus Manutius, the Elder in 1494. Manutius established the practice of using the semicolon to separate words of opposed meaning and to allow a rapid change in direction in connecting interdependent statements. Ben Jonson was the first notable English writer to use the semicolon systematically. The modern uses of the semicolon relate either to the listing of items or to the linking of related clauses. In Unicode it is encoded at U+003B; semicolon. According to Lynne Truss, a British writer on grammar, many non-writers avoid the colon and semicolon for various reasons: "They are old-fashioned", "They are middle-class", "They are optional", "They are mysteriously connected to pausing", "They are dangerously addictive ", and "The difference between them is too negligible to be grasped by the brain of man".

Definition of semicolon in the English dictionary

The definition of semicolon in the dictionary is the punctuation mark used to indicate a pause intermediate in value or length between that of a comma and that of a full stop.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH SEMICOLON


Angolan
æŋˈɡəʊlən
colon
ˈkəʊlən
holon
ˈhəʊlən
Nolan
ˈnəʊlən
overswollen
ˌəʊvəˈswəʊlən
solan
ˈsəʊlən
Solon
ˈsəʊlən
stolen
ˈstəʊlən
stollen
ˈstəʊlən
stolon
ˈstəʊlən
swollen
ˈswəʊlən
Tusculan
ˈtʌskjʊlən
unswollen
ʌnˈswəʊlən
woollen
ˈwʊlən
Zabulon
ˈzæbjʊlən
Zebulun
ˈzɛbjʊlən

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE SEMICOLON

semicircularly
semicirque
semicivilised
semicivilized
semiclassic
semiclassical
semicolonial
semicolonialism
semicolony
semicoma
semicomatose
semicommercial
semiconducting
semiconduction
semiconductor
semiconductor diode
semiconscious
semiconsciously
semiconsciousness
semiconsonant

WORDS THAT END LIKE SEMICOLON

Avalon
Babylon
ballon
beauty salon
Cholon
eidolon
gallon
hair salon
Languedoc-Roussillon
melon
Miquelon
nylon
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
salon
sigmoid colon
spastic colon
talon
transverse colon
triathlon
watermelon

Synonyms and antonyms of semicolon in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

Translation of «semicolon» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF SEMICOLON

Find out the translation of semicolon to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of semicolon from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «semicolon» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

分号
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

punto y coma
570 millions of speakers

English

semicolon
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

अर्धविराम
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

فَصْلَةٌ مَنْقُوطَة
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

точка с запятой
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

ponto-e-vírgula
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

যতিচিহ্নবিশেষ
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

point virgule
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Koma bertitik
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Semikolon
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

セミコロン
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

세미콜론
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Titik koma
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

dấu chấm phẩy
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

அரைப்புள்ளி
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

अर्धविराम
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

noktalı virgül
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

punto e virgola
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

średnik
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

крапка з комою
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

punct și virgulă
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

άνω τελεία
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

kommapunt
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

semikolon
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

semikolon
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of semicolon

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «SEMICOLON»

The term «semicolon» is quite widely used and occupies the 45.873 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Quite widely used
79
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «semicolon» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of semicolon
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «semicolon».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «SEMICOLON» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «semicolon» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «semicolon» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about semicolon

EXAMPLES

2 QUOTES WITH «SEMICOLON»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word semicolon.
1
Brian P. Cleary
I love the semicolon; it's unnecessary, but graceful and sophisticated.
2
Lewis Thomas
Sometimes you get a glimpse of a semicolon coming, a few lines farther on, and it is like climbing a steep path through woods and seeing a wooden bench just at a bend in the road ahead, a place where you can expect to sit for a moment, catching your breath.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «SEMICOLON»

Discover the use of semicolon in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to semicolon and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
English Grammar Workbook For Dummies
A semicolon can't join two unrelated ideas. These random thoughts — Fran always talks this way — shouldn't be linked by a semicolon. Apart from punctuation, throwing two unrelated ideas together isn't a good idea. The reader should have a ...
Geraldine Woods, 2010
2
MATLAB PROGRAMMING
1.8 SEMICOLON. PERCENT SIGN AND ... There are various punctuation marks and special symbols used in MATLAB. But the semicolon and the percent sign need special mention at the beginning because we need to use them from the very ...
Y. KIRANI SINGH, B. B. CHAUDHURI, 2007
3
Learning to Code with CPT/HCPCS 2011
The information preceding the semicolon serves as a common stem or root for the information that follows. Each indented code after the root or stem will provide specific information to complete the stem. Remember,STOP at the semicolon and  ...
Thomas Falen, Alice Noblin, Brandy Ziesemer, 2010
4
The Writer's Digest Grammar Desk Reference
Chapter 19 THE SEMICOLON AND THE COLON ED The Semicolon The semicolon is a punctuational divider, a separator. It partitions off a segment of a sentence more forcibly than a comma can — but without the finality, the closure, of a ...
Gary Lutz, Diane Stevenson, 2005
5
How to Prepare for the SAT II Writing
(Separating the two independent clauses with a semicolon is an acceptable alternative. In effect, the semicolon acts like a period. Note, however, that the initial letter of the second clause is not capitalized.) SAMPLE QUESTION ON RUN-ON ...
George Ehrenhaft, 2004
6
ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide
For example, consider what happens when we omit a semicolon after the return statement: function addOne (value) { return value + 1 } ActionScript will assume that we meant to write this: function addOne (value) { return; value + 1; } Instead of ...
Colin Moock, 2003
7
Take Command of Your Writing
Jill Meryl Levy. You can use a semicolon to join two closely related sentences of equal importance. He thought he could get away with it; he didn't realize that we were prepared for looters.
Jill Meryl Levy, 1998
8
Legal Writing: How to Write Legal Briefs, Memos, and Other ...
The semicolon falls somewhere in the middle—weaker than a period, yet stronger than a comma. The semicolon has two primary functions: connecting two independent clauses and simplifying complex lists. Semicolons with Independent  ...
Amanda Martinsek, 2009
9
Merriam-Webster's Manual for Writers and Editors
The semicolon may be used much like the comma, period, or colon, depending on the context. Like a comma, it may separate elements in a series. Like a period or colon, it frequently marks the end of a complete clause, and like a colon it ...
Merriam-Webster, Inc, 1998
10
Science and Technical Writing: A Manual of Style
4.43 The semicolon divides parallel elements in a sentence when the text's meaning calls for a separation stronger than a comma but weaker than a period. Semicolon and Clauses Joined without Conjunction 4.44 Insert a semicolon between ...
Philip Rubens, 2001

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «SEMICOLON»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term semicolon is used in the context of the following news items.
1
Artists tattoo semicolons for Crisis Center of Tampa Bay
One year later, she heard about Project Semicolon, where people were getting semicolon tattoos to symbolize suicide and mental health awareness. Having ... «Tampabay.com, Jul 15»
2
The Tale Behind The Tat: Why A Semicolon Is A Symbol Of Strength
"A semicolon is a place in a sentence where the author has the decision to stop with a period, but chooses not to. A semicolon is a reminder to pause and then ... «Huffington Post, Jul 15»
3
#BBCtrending: Why are people getting semicolon tattoos?
A semicolon can be used when a sentence could come to an end, but instead continues. (For example: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog; it keeps ... «BBC News, Jul 15»
4
Why I'm Not Joining The Semicolon Movement Yet
When writing, a semicolon is used when a writer could have ended the sentence, but chose to pause, and continue on. The Project's goal is to help those who ... «Huffington Post, Jul 15»
5
Why So Many People Are Getting Inked With Semicolons
A tattoo is often something to regret later on in life. But a simple semi-colon tattoo that's blowing up on social media won't likely ever be regretted by the people ... «ABC News, Jul 15»
6
My Semicolon Tattoo Is More Than Art. It's a Reminder to Keep Going
Recently, I went to a tattoo artist -- and for $60 I let a man with a giant Jesus tattoo on his head ink a semicolon onto my wrist where it will stay until the day I die. «Huffington Post, Jul 15»
7
Project Semicolon Uses the Power Of Ink for Mental Health Awareness
In the sea of tattoos that people are regularly getting these days, you may have noticed a few more semicolons in the bunch. The ink is a permanent statement ... «PRNewser, Jul 15»
8
Semicolon tattoo brings attention to mental illness
You've seen a semicolon in writing, but this often forgotten punctuation mark is getting ... That small tattoo popping up across the country is a semicolon. Used to ... «WNEM Saginaw, Jul 15»
9
Global Semicolon Tattoo Trend Is A Sign Of Strength Among Faithful …
The trend of semicolon tattoos was started by Project Semicolon, which describes itself as "a faith-based non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and ... «Huffington Post, Jul 15»
10
Project Semicolon Empowers People Who Suffer from Depression
Supporters of Project Semicolon, which describes itself as "a faith-based non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and love to those who are struggling ... «People Magazine, Jul 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Semicolon [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/semicolon>. Apr 2024 ».
Download the educalingo app
en
English dictionary
Discover all that is hidden in the words on
index
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z