Taupe and tope are two words that are pronounced the same way but are spelled differently and have different meanings. They are homophones. We will examine the definitions of the words taupe and tope, the origins of these two words and some examples of their use in sentences.
Taupe is a neutral color, a grayish color with brown mixed into it. Taupe was named as a color around the turn of the twentieth century. The word taupe is derived from the French word taupe which means mole, referring to the small mammal. The concept of taupe is rather vague, describing a large range of gray-brown colors.
Tope means to drink large quantities of alcohol, especially on a regular basis. Tope is a verb, related words are topes, toped, toping, toper. While the word tope dates back to the 1600s, the exact origin of the word is uncertain. Tope may come from the Italian word toppa, which is a word that signifies accepting a bet. Alternately, tope may be derived from the Dutch word toppen, which means slant, or from the French word toper which means to keep an agreement.
Examples
The main sitting area within the vast, open-plan ground floor of Kelly’s home, a former auction house in Central London, is decorated in calm shades of taupe and white. (The Daily Mail)
It’s a taupe finish that’s almost raw, subtly rustic yet still sophisticated. Add stone inlay tops and it’s a versatile look. (The Indianapolis Star)
TALKING of pubs, we were in one at the weekend when a toper declared: “They say, ‘Always leave them wanting more’. Coincidentally that’s always been my approach to paying bills.” (The Herald Scotland)