row
MediumNeutral for line and boat meanings; informal for argument meaning.
Definition
Meaning
A number of people or things arranged in a straight line.
Additionally, it can mean to propel a boat with oars, or a noisy argument or dispute.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Has two main pronunciations: /rəʊ/ (BrE) or /roʊ/ (AmE) for the line and boat meanings, and /raʊ/ for the argument meaning. The argument sense is primarily British English.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'row' commonly means a noisy argument, while in American English, this sense is rare and 'argument' or 'fight' is preferred. The line and boat meanings are standard in both.
Connotations
In BrE, 'row' for argument often implies a heated, public dispute.
Frequency
The argument sense is high frequency in BrE but low frequency in AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
row a boatrow across the lakerow with oarsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in a row (consecutively)”
- “row over (argue about)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Each row in the spreadsheet represents a transaction.
Academic
The data was arranged in rows and columns for analysis.
Everyday
We sat in the front row at the cinema.
Technical
In database management, a row is a record in a table.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They row the boat every Sunday.
- Can you row across the river?
American English
- He rows across the lake for exercise.
- She will row to the island tomorrow.
adjective
British English
- They live in a row house.
- It's a typical row terrace.
American English
- She owns a row home.
- The row houses are common in cities.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children sat in a row.
- Plant the seeds in a straight row.
- We have three meetings in a row this afternoon.
- They rowed the boat to the other side.
- The data is presented in rows and columns for clarity.
- A political row broke out over the new policy.
- The protracted row over funding halted the project.
- Her research involved analyzing each row of the dataset meticulously.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'row' as a straight line, like oars rowing in a row.
Conceptual Metaphor
A row can metaphorically represent order, sequence, or conflict depending on context.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse 'row' /rəʊ/ with 'row' /raʊ/; in Russian, 'ряд' is similar to the line meaning, but for argument, use 'ссора' or 'спор'.
- The verb 'to row' a boat is 'грести' in Russian, not related to 'row' as line.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing 'row' (line) as /raʊ/ instead of /rəʊ/.
- Using 'row' for argument in American English where it may be misunderstood.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'row' mean in British English when pronounced /raʊ/?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it has two pronunciations: /rəʊ/ for line and boat meanings, and /raʊ/ for the argument meaning.
Yes, it means to propel a boat with oars.
No, it is primarily British English; Americans typically use 'argument' or 'fight'.
Common collocations include front row, back row, in a row, and row a boat.
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