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Date:      Mon, 08 Apr 2002 04:34:51 -0700
From:      Terry Lambert <tlambert2@mindspring.com>
To:        Rahul Siddharthan <rsidd@online.fr>
Cc:        Mark Murray <mark@grondar.za>, freebsd-chat@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: Use/Utilize
Message-ID:  <3CB1805B.D5E56F08@mindspring.com>
References:  <3CAEE006.F36598B1@mindspring.com> <200204061202.g36C2aPL036777@grimreaper.grondar.org> <20020408112409.A90467@lpt.ens.fr> <3CB1646C.9DF12B4F@mindspring.com> <20020408114703.C85215@lpt.ens.fr>

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Rahul Siddharthan wrote:
> As you wish... The definition of "utilize" here is
>  To make useful; to turn to profitable account or use; to make use of;
>  as, to utilize the whole power of a machine; to utilize one's
>  opportunities.
> 
> The relevant definition of "use" is
>   1. To make use of; to convert to one's service; to avail one's self
>   of; to employ; to put a purpose; as, to use a plow; to use a chair; to
>   use time; to use flour for food; to use water for irrigation.
> 
> So tell us again, why is "using software" different from "utilizing
> software"?  Why does one imply using the source code and the other
> imply using it as an application -- in fact I've forgotten now, which
> is supposed to be which?

Because:

o	That dictionary has 4 definitions for the transitive verb
	"use" and 1 definition for the transitive verb "utilize",
	so you are ignoring the other 3 definitions

o	That dictionary also has 2 definitions for the intransitive
	verb "use" and 9 definitions for the noun "use", which you
	also ignore.

o	The word "use" is not employed as an intransitive verb in
	all cases of which I speak, and therefore you can not
	replace it with the word "utilize" and have the same
	meaning.

Basically, there is only one of 15 definitions of "use" which match
the definition of "utilize".  Thus you have a 7% chance of having
the one which is "synonymous", for any given random example.

-- Terry

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