contamination

/kənˌtæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/noun
Middle School
1

The act or process of contaminating.

2

Something which contaminates.

3

A process whereby words with related meanings come to have similar sounds.

4

The influence of one form (often from a foreign language) on the historical development of another form to which it may be related in meaning.

5

The intermingling of readings from multiple sources by a copyist.

Sound Patterns & Rhymes

Rhymes

Words that share the same ending sound pattern

Alliteration

Words starting with the same consonant sound — used in poetry and prose to create rhythm, emphasis, and memorable phrasing (e.g. “Peter Piper picked”)

Assonance

Words sharing similar vowel sounds regardless of starting letter — creates internal melody in writing

Consonance

Words sharing similar consonant sound patterns — adds texture and cohesion to writing