Display and Search Options of the Dictionary of Rhymes

The lower section of the right-hand panel (C) provides a number of options for adjusting the number and type of results displayed. To see additional options, click More options.

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Variants

This option is visible when the headword has several pronunciations, such as pecan [pi-KAHN] or [PEE-ᴋᴀɴ]. Use it to select the phonetic variant with which the results should rhyme.

Imperfect rhymes

By default, the English dictionary of rhymes displays only perfect rhymes. The Imperfect rhymes option expands the results to words that do not meet the criteria of perfect rhymes described in the Presentation section of this chapter, but can still be used as rhymes since they have identical final sounds. Types of imperfect rhymes include:

Identity: Identities differ from perfect rhymes by the fact that the onset (the consonant or consonant cluster preceding the stressed vowel) is identical in both words. For example, revive [ri-VIVE] and survive [suhr-VIVE] are identities since the onset [v] is identical in both words.
Unstressed rhymes: Unstressed rhymes differ from perfect rhymes in the primary stress between the identical final sounds in both words. For example, revive [ri-VIVE] and archive [ARK-ive] are unstressed rhymes since the primary stress falls on the second syllable of revive and the first syllable of archive.

Near-rhymes

The Near-rhymes option displays various types of phonetic similarities that are not strictly rhymes, but can still prove useful for poets or other wordsmiths. Types of near-rhymes include:

Near homophones: These are words that only differ from the headword by a single phoneme, regardless of its position in the word. For example, feast [FEEST] and fast [FAHST], headline [HED-line] and headlight [HED-light].
Similar consonants: These words have endings that differ only by similar consonant sounds, such as [p] and [b], or [s] and [z]. For example, race [RAYSS] and praise [PRAYZ], erode [i-ROHD] and rewrote [ree-ROHT].
Similar vowels: These words have endings that differ only by similar vowel sounds, such as [o] and [aw]. For example, don [DON] and yawn [YAWN], trolley [TROL-ee] and crawly [KRAWL-ee].
Assonance: Assonance occurs when two words have matching vowel sounds in the primary stress onwards, regardless of consonants. For example, go [GOH] and road [ROHD], theology [thee-OL-uh-jee] and philosophy [fi-LOSS-uh-fee].
Consonance: Consonance occurs when two words have matching consonant sounds after the vowel with primary stress, regardless of vowels. For example, sack [SAK] and brick [BRIK], conduct [kuhn-DUKT] and restrict [ri-STRIKT]

When the Imperfect rhymes or Near-rhymes options are enabled, new sections are added to the list of results, and the type of imperfect rhyme or near rhyme is specified next to each one (identity, assonance, etc.). Both options are disabled by default, except in the case of words without any perfect rhymes; for these words, the Imperfect rhymes option is enabled by default. Regardless of the number of results shown by default, it can always be useful to widen your search to words that are more distantly related in terms of their phonetics.

Syllables

This option is for filtering the results according to the number of syllables.

Frequency

This option is for setting a minimum frequency for the words that appear in the results. This can be adjusted using the slider, allowing rarer words to be hidden if they’re of less interest or they weigh down the results.

Multi-word

This option extends the results to include sequences of words. For example, multi-word rhymes for planet include plan it and scan it.

Enable the Imperfect rhymes option at the same time to maximize the number of multi-word results.

Family

Two words belonging to the same family, such as the adjectives discreet and indiscreet, are generally considered to be weak rhymes. This option allows words from the same family as the headword to be included in or excluded from the results. (For more details on families, see the Dictionary of Families section).

With labels

This option allows words with usage labels (such as informal) or domain labels (such as chemistry) to be included in or excluded from the results. This option is enabled by default.

Transcription

This option changes the type of phonetic transcription used in the results (respelling or IPA).

English voice

Some words are pronounced differently in different regions. For example tomato is pronounced [tuh-MAHT-oh] in London and [tuh-MAYT-oh] in Toronto. This option defines the regional pronunciation with which the results should rhyme.

Search filter

The search filter at the bottom of the screen lets you search for a string of characters in the results. Type your search term in the field at the bottom of the list of results and select Filter from the magnifying glass menu (). Click the “x” on the right of the field to recover the complete list.

Semantic fields filter

To limit the results to one or more semantic fields, select Semantic Field from the magnifying glass menu () in the search field at the bottom of the list of results. Then, start typing a word from a particular semantic field (for example, animal): an instant-search menu will appear and propose the corresponding entry. Once the word is selected, only results belonging to the semantic field in question will be displayed. You can add up to five words this way (other examples: colour or passion) to multiply the semantic fields in which to look for results.

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