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metathesis
In linguistics, this term describes the switching of sounds, such as the common slip of the tongue where "ask" becomes "aks." It is used both to describe accidental speech errors and the slow, systematic evolution of languages over centuries.
In chemistry, the term refers to a specific type of double-displacement reaction. While the linguistic and chemical applications are distinct, they share the same conceptual root of exchanging positions to create a new arrangement.
Meanings
The transposition of sounds or letters in a word, often occurring as a linguistic slip or as a systematic change in the development of a language.
The word ask often underwent metathesis to become aks in certain dialects.