different between problem vs conundrum

English

Alternative forms

• probleme (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English probleme, from Middle French probleme, from Latin problema, from Ancient Greek ???????? (próbl?ma, “anything thrown forward, hindrance, obstacle, anything projecting, a headland, promontory”), from ???????? (probáll?, “to throw or lay something in front of someone, to put forward”), from ???- (pro-, “in front of”) + ????? (báll?, “to throw, to cast, to hurl”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?p??bl?m/
• (dated, Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?p??bl?m/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?p??bl?m/
• Hyphenation: prob?lem

Noun

problem (plural problems)

1. A difficulty that has to be resolved or dealt with.

   • “ […] it is not fair of you to bring against mankind double weapons?! Dangerous enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to arrogate to themselves.”
2. A question to be answered, schoolwork exercise.

3. A puzzling circumstance.
4. Objection.

5. (climbing) A set of moves required to complete a climb

Antonyms

• solution

Hyponyms

• Entscheidungsproblem

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

problem (comparative more problem, superlative most problem)

1. (of a person or an animal) Difficult to train or guide; unruly.
2. Causing a problem; problematic; troublesome.

See also

• trouble

Further reading

• problem in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• problem in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• problem at OneLook Dictionary Search

Azerbaijani

Etymology

Ultimately from Ancient Greek ???????? (próbl?ma).

Noun

problem (definite accusative problemi, plural probleml?r)

1. problem

Declension

Danish

Noun

problem n (singular definite problemet, plural indefinite problemer)

1. problem

Declension

Derived terms

References

• “problem” in Den Danske Ordbog
• “problem” in Ordbog over det danske Sprog

Indonesian

Etymology

From Dutch probleem, from Latin probl?ma, from Ancient Greek ???????? (próbl?ma).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [?problem]
• Hyphenation: pro?blém

Noun

problem (first-person possessive problemku, second-person possessive problemmu, third-person possessive problemnya)

1. problem.

   Synonyms: masalah, perkara, persoalan

Related terms

Further reading

• “problem” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI) Daring, Jakarta: Badan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa, Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Republik Indonesia, 2016.

Middle English

Noun

problem

1. Alternative form of probleme

Norwegian Bokmål

Noun

problem n (definite singular problemet, indefinite plural problem or problemer, definite plural problema or problemene)

1. problem

Derived terms

References

• “problem” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pr??ble?m/

Noun

problem n (definite singular problemet, indefinite plural problem, definite plural problema)

1. problem

Derived terms

References

• “problem” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Polish

Etymology

From French problème, from Middle French probleme, from Latin probl?ma, from Ancient Greek ???????? (próbl?ma, “obstacle”), from ???????? (probáll?, “to throw or lay something in front of someone, to put forward”), from ???- (pro-, “in front of”) + ????? (báll?, “to throw, to cast, to hurl”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?pr?b.l?m/

Noun

problem m inan

1. problem

Declension

Further reading

• problem in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Serbo-Croatian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pr?ble?m/

Noun

pròbl?m m (Cyrillic spelling ?????????)

1. problem

Declension

Swedish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pr??ble?m/, /pr?-/, /-?bl??m/
• Hyphenation: pro?blem

Noun

problem n

1. problem; difficulty
2. problem; schoolwork exercise

Declension

Synonyms

• fråga
• komplikation
• kris
• spörsmål
• tal
• uppgift

Related terms

References

• problem in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)

Anagrams

• plomber

Vilamovian

Pronunciation

Noun

problem n

1. problem

Welsh

Etymology

English problem, ultimately from Ancient Greek ???????? (próbl?ma).

Pronunciation

• (North Wales, standard, colloquial) IPA^(key): /?pr?bl?m/
  • (North Wales, colloquial) IPA^(key): /?pr?blam/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /?pr?bl?m/

Noun

problem f (plural problemau)

1. problem

Mutation

Further reading

• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present) , “problem”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies

English

Etymology

A word of unknown origin with several variants, gaining popularity for its burlesque imitation of scholastic Latin, as hocus-pocus or panjandrum. If there is more to its origin than a nonce coinage, Anatoly Liberman suggests the best theory is that connecting it with the Conimbricenses, 16th c. scholastic commentaries on Aristotle by the Jesuits of Coimbra which indulge heavily in arguments relying on multiple significations of words.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /k??n?n.d??m/

Noun

conundrum (plural conundrums or conundra)

1. A difficult question or riddle, especially one using a play on words in the answer.

   Synonyms: brain-teaser, enigma, puzzle, riddle

   • 1816, Jane Austen, Emma, Vol. 1, Ch. 2

     “Why should I understand that, or anything else?” asked the girl. “Don’t bother my head by asking conundrums, I beg of you. Just let me discover myself in my own way.”
2. A difficult choice or decision that must be made.

   Synonyms: dilemma; see also Thesaurus:dilemma

   • 2004, Martha Stewart, statement read before being sentenced to five months in prison

     And while I am more concerned about the well-being of others than for myself, more hurt for them and for their losses than for my own, more worried for their futures than for the future of Martha Stewart the person, you are faced with a conundrum, a problem of monumental, to me, proportions.

Quotations

• For quotations using this term, see Citations:conundrum.

Translations

Further reading

• conundrum on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Conundrum in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)

References