<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>A word pronounced the same as another but differing in meaning, whether spelled the same way or not, as heir and air; a homophone (def 1).</li><li>A word that is both a homophone and a homograph, that is, exactly the same as another in sound and spelling but different in meaning, as chase “to pursue” and chase “to ornament metal.”</li><li>(Loosely) a word of the same written form as another but of different meaning and usually origin, whether pronounced the same way or not, as bear “to carry; support” and bear “animal” or lead “to conduct” and lead “metal”; a homograph.</li><li>(Obsolete) a namesake.</li><li>Biology: a name given to a species or genus that has already been assigned to a different species or genus and that is therefore rejected.</li></ul>