Turban and turbine are two words that are pronounced in the same manner but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. We will examine the definitions of turban and turbine, where these two words came from and some examples of their use in sentences.
A turban is a head covering that is a long scarf or piece of material wrapped around the head in a certain manner. Turbans are primarily worn by men. The tradition of wearing a turban is found in many areas, including India, the Middle East and North Africa. The word turban is also used to describe a woman’s hat designed to look like a turban, or a certain species of mollusk with a shell that resembles a turban. The word turban is derived from the Turkish word tülbent which means gauze.
A turbine is a machine in which a rotor that is propelled by air or fluid provides continuous power. Electrical power is generated through the use of turbines, and turbines are used on powerful engines such as jet engines. The word turbine is derived from the Latin word turbinem which means eddy or spinning top.
Examples
A 67-year-old Sikh postmaster in the UK was stabbed in the neck and head and his turban ripped off by a robber during a violent knife attack. (The Hindustan Times)
The turban of Pirmal Singh was tossed on Thursday when the marshals were removing the opposition MLAs from the Assembly on the orders of Speaker Rana KP Singh. (The Tribune)
In rejecting a wind energy project near Bethlehem’s reservoirs, the Penn Forest Zoning Hearing Board has made a 31-page argument of technical, legal and environmental reasons on why turbines don’t belong along the wooded ridges that surround the prized Wild Creek watershed. (The Allentown Morning Call)
A huge 426ft wind turbine, which could be seen as far away as Tamworth and Coventry may be installed on a farm in one of the borough’s smallest settlements. (The Hinckley Times)
Enjoyed reading about these homophones? Check out some others we covered: