different between avuncular vs funicular

English

Etymology

From Latin avunculus (“maternal uncle”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??v??kj?l?/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??v??kj?l?/

Adjective

avuncular (comparative more avuncular, superlative most avuncular)

1. In the manner of an uncle, pertaining to an uncle.

   Synonyms: uncley, unclish

   Coordinate terms: maternal, materteral, paternal
2. (by extension) Kind, genial, benevolent, or tolerant.

   Synonyms: kind, benevolent

   • 1987, William Schneider, "The New Shape of American Politics," The Atlantic, January:

     A man with such a nice, avuncular personality would not blow up the world.

   • 2003, Vicki Croke, "New leader of the MSPCA moves to tame budget woes," Boston Globe, September 20:

     Thornton's reputation was that of a soft-hearted and avuncular veterinarian known for getting teary-eyed while listening to even slightly sentimental stories.

Derived terms

• avuncularism
• avuncularity
• avuncularly
• unavuncular

Translations

See also

• Dutch uncle

English

Etymology

From Latin f?niculus (“cord”), diminutive from f?nis (“cord”) + -culus.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -?kj?l?(?)

Adjective

funicular (comparative more funicular, superlative most funicular)

1. Of, pertaining to, resembling, or powered by a rope or cable
2. (medicine) Of or pertaining to the umbilical cord.
3. (botany) Having a fleshy covering of the seed formed from the funiculus, the attachment point of the seed.

Derived terms

• funicular railway

Translations

Noun

funicular (plural funiculars)

1. A particular type of rail transit system which ascends a steep urban or mountain incline, having usually two cars sharing a single track, with the cars linked by a cable and an arrangement of pulleys such that the descending car assists in the hoisting of the ascending car, i.e. the two cars serve as counterweights for each other.

Synonyms

• funicular railway

Translations

Catalan

Noun

funicular m (plural funiculars)

1. cable car, funicular

Further reading

• “funicular” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “funicular” in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana.
• “funicular” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “funicular” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

Portuguese

Adjective

funicular m or f (plural funiculares, comparable)

1. funicular (powered by a rope or cable)

Noun

funicular m (plural funiculares)

1. funicular (rail transit system which ascends an incline)

Romanian

Etymology

From Latin f?niculus (“cord”), diminutive of f?nis (“cord”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [fu.ni.ku?la?]

Noun

funicular n

1. rope railway

Spanish

Noun

funicular m (plural funiculares)

1. funicular, cable car