dollar
dollar
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "dollar" is /ˈdɒlər/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
dol - /dɒl/
/d/ - a voiced alveolar stop
/ɒ/ - an open-mid back rounded vowel (as in "lot" or "father" in some accents)
/l/ - a voiced alveolar lateral approximant
lar - /lər/
/l/ - a voiced alveolar lateral approximant
/ər/ - a r-colored vowel (as in "letter" or "butter" in some accents, or a schwa /ə/ followed by /r/ in other accents)
Word Form Variations
Singular: dollar
Plural: dollars
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
Definition: A unit of currency in the United States, Canada, Australia, and several other countries. It is typically represented by the symbol "$" and is divided into 100 cents.
Synonyms: currency, money, legal tender, buck (slang)
Antonyms: (In a general sense) debt, obligation, worthlessness
Definition: A specific amount of money expressed in dollars. For example, "That shirt costs twenty dollars."
Synonyms: sum, price, cost, value
Antonyms: (In a relative sense) discount, reduction, bargain
Verb:
Definition (Less common, often found in financial contexts): To convert an asset or investment into dollars.
Synonyms: monetize, liquidate, cash in, convert
Antonyms: invest (in something other than dollars), acquire (assets), hold
Adjective:
Definition (Rare, often used attributively): Relating to or denominated in dollars. For example, "a dollar amount" or "a dollar store."
Synonyms: monetary, financial, currency-related
Antonyms: (In a general sense) non-monetary, non-financial
It's important to note that the verb and adjective forms are less common than the noun forms. The primary and most frequent usage of "dollar" is as a noun.
Examples of Use
Books:
"The price of the book was twenty dollars." (Fictional example, but representative of common usage in literature)
"The company reported a profit of one million dollars." (Business or financial non-fiction)
Newspapers/Online Publications:
"The dollar strengthened against the euro." (Financial news article - e.g., The Wall Street Journal, Reuters)
"Gas prices are expected to rise by ten cents per dollar." (News report - e.g., The New York Times, local news outlets)
"A local charity is seeking donations to help families affected by the fire. They are hoping to raise $50,000." (Local news or community publication)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"The movie grossed over $100 million at the box office." (Film industry news - e.g., Variety, The Hollywood Reporter)
"The contestant won a million dollars on the game show." (Game show dialogue - e.g., Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune)
"The song cost a dollar to download." (Music streaming platform description - e.g., Apple Music, Amazon Music)
"The in-app purchase costs $2.99." (Mobile game or app description)
General Public Discourse:
"Can I borrow a dollar?" (Everyday conversation)
"That's a good deal for the price." "Yeah, it was only five dollars." (Casual conversation about shopping)
"I need to budget my dollars carefully this month." (Discussion about personal finances)
"The cost of living has gone up; everything seems to cost more dollars these days." (General discussion about economics)
"I'm saving up dollars for a new car." (Discussion about future purchases)
10 Famous Quotes Using Dollar
"A penny saved is a penny earned." (Benjamin Franklin - While not dollar, it speaks to the same principle of monetary value and is incredibly famous.)
"Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship." (Benjamin Franklin - Again, not dollar specifically, but about the accumulation of small amounts, relevant to the idea of dollar amounts adding up.)
"If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some." (Benjamin Franklin - Implies the importance and value represented by a dollar or any sum of money.)
"Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant." (P.T. Barnum - While not mentioning "dollar," it speaks to the power and importance of money, which dollars represent.)
"The love of money is the root of all evil." (1 Timothy 6:10 - This famous biblical quote refers to money in general, of which the dollar is a unit.)
"Time is money." (Proverb - This common saying equates time with the value that money, including dollars, represents.)
"A fool and his money are soon parted." (Proverb - This proverb highlights the ease with which money, including dollars, can be lost if not managed wisely.)
"Money makes the world go round." (Proverb - Another common saying that highlights the central role of money, and by extension, dollars, in society.)
"You can't take it with you." (Proverb - This saying reminds people that material wealth, including dollars, is temporary.)
"It's not about the money, it's about the principle." (This common phrase, while not using "dollar" directly, often comes up in situations where dollar amounts are symbolic of a larger issue).
Etymology
The word "dollar" has a pretty interesting history! It doesn't come from English originally. It actually comes from the German word "Thaler" (sometimes spelled "Taler").
Here's the breakdown:
Thaler: This German word referred to a large silver coin. Think of it like the "big, impressive" coin of its day. These coins were minted in a place called Joachimsthal in Bohemia (which is now part of the Czech Republic). "Joachimsthal" literally meant "Joachim's valley."
How it spread: These "Thaler" coins were well-regarded and widely used in trade. As they circulated, the name stuck, and other countries started using similar-sounding words for their own coins.
Dutch Connection: The word made its way to English through the Dutch word "daalder," which was their version of the Thaler.
First Use in English: The first recorded use of "dollar" in English was sometime in the 1500s, and it referred to these large silver coins, just like the original German word.
So, the "dollar" we use today ultimately traces its roots back to a valley in Bohemia where large silver coins were minted! It's a testament to how trade and currency names can travel across languages and time. The word started as the name of a specific coin, and over time, it became the name of a unit of currency in many countries.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Dollar
"dollar" itself isn't used in tons of common idioms and phrases. It's a very practical, concrete word, so it tends to appear in more literal contexts. Many money-related idioms use broader terms like "money," "cash," or "coins."
However, here are some phrases and idioms that do use "dollar," along with some explanations and supplemental examples:
Direct Use of "Dollar":
Dollar for dollar: Meaning an equal exchange or comparison. "The new car isn't as good as the old one, dollar for dollar."
To cost a pretty penny/dollar: Meaning something is expensive. "That vacation cost a pretty dollar." (Penny is more common.)
To be worth one's salt/dollar: Meaning to be a good and valuable employee or contributor. "He's a hard worker; he's worth every dollar they pay him."
On the dollar: Meaning a percentage of the full amount. "The company is selling items for 50 cents on the dollar."
Phrases related to value (where "dollar" is implied or could be substituted for a more general term):
To get/have one's money's worth: Meaning to receive good value for the money spent. "The concert was fantastic; we definitely got our money's worth." (Could be rephrased: "...we definitely got our dollar's worth.")
To throw good money/dollars after bad: Meaning to waste money on something that is already failing. "They've invested so much in that project, but it's clearly not working. They're just throwing good dollars after bad."
To be rolling in money/dollars: Meaning to be very rich. "Ever since he won the lottery, he's been rolling in dollars."
To live within one's means/dollar: Meaning to spend only as much money as one earns. "It's important to live within your dollar if you want to save."
Why "dollar" idioms are less common:
As mentioned, "dollar" is quite specific. Idioms often rely on more figurative language and broader concepts. Think about the idiom "to rain cats and dogs"—it's not literally raining animals! Similarly, money idioms often talk about money in a general sense ("money talks," "money makes the world go round") rather than focusing on the specific unit of "dollar." Also, many idioms are older than the widespread use of the word "dollar" itself.
Original/Less Common/Metaphorical examples:
"He stretched his dollar further than anyone I know." (Meaning he was very frugal.)
"She counted every dollar, her future depending on it." (Emphasizing the importance of money.)
"He chased the dollar, but lost his soul." (A metaphorical statement about prioritizing money over other values.)
While "dollar" idioms are less numerous, the examples above demonstrate its usage in both literal and more figurative contexts, even if the figurative ones are less frequent.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of dollar from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
