One Word Substitution: Categories (professions, studies, phobias)
Learn the word by its precise definition and use it in a sentence to check meaning.
People, fields, and fears
Match the defining phrase to one precise word. Check whether the clue describes a profession, a field of study, a collector or specialist, or a fear.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lexicographer | A person who compiles or edits dictionaries. |
| Ornithologist | A scientist who studies birds. |
| Entomologist | A specialist who studies insects. |
| Numismatist | A person who collects or studies coins and currency. |
| Philatelist | A person who collects or studies postage stamps. |
| Polyglot | A person who knows or uses several languages. |
| Acrophobia | Fear of heights. |
| Claustrophobia | Fear of enclosed or confined spaces. |
| Arachnophobia | Fear of spiders. |
| Agoraphobia | Fear or anxiety about situations where escape or help may be difficult. |
How to choose
- Look for the key noun in the definition: dictionary, birds, coins, or enclosed space.
- Do not confuse a scientist with a collector: an ornithologist studies birds; a numismatist collects or studies coins.
- Read the full sentence before selecting a word; similar-looking suffixes do not guarantee the same meaning.
Practice · original questions
- A person who compiles dictionaries is a: botanist, lexicographer, philatelist, or polyglot?
- Which word means fear of enclosed spaces: acrophobia, arachnophobia, claustrophobia, or agoraphobia?
- Complete the sentence: “The collector carefully catalogued the old coins; she was a ______.”
Show answers and reasoning
- Lexicographer. The defining clue is compiling or editing dictionaries.
- Claustrophobia. Acrophobia concerns heights; arachnophobia concerns spiders.
- Numismatist. The sentence identifies a coin collector.