The words click, and clique belong to two different parts of speech. These words are pronounceable in the same manner.
They are homophones, as the meaning of these terms differs. The word click is an action used while using electronic gadgets. The word clique is a collective noun.
Key Takeaways
- A click is a sound made by a device or mechanism, such as a computer mouse or camera shutter, while a clique is a small, exclusive group of people who share common interests or backgrounds.
- “Click” refers to selecting or interacting with an item on a computer screen, whereas “clique” implies social exclusivity and potential elitism.
- Both words have distinct meanings and connotations, with “click” relating to sounds and actions and “clique” referring to social groups.
Click vs Clique
A click is a sound a button makes or the act of selecting an online item, whereas a clique is a small, exclusive group of individuals with shared interests. This distinction highlights unique characteristics and interactions in different contexts by contrasting digital and social concepts.
The word click can be helpful to as a noun and a verb. It is a common word used to denote tapping on a touch-screen.
The word click has multiple definitions as well in different contexts. The verb can also be used to show two people connecting.
The word clique is a noun used to signify a group of people. A word clique is a social group that does not like entering new people into their group.
The people in the group share common interests. The relations in a clique are highly personal and informal.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Click | Clique |
|---|---|---|
| Origin Language | The word originated from the East Frisian language. | The word originated from the French language. |
| Part of speech | It is a verb and a noun. | It is a noun. |
| Type of concept | It is a technological or literary concept. | It is a sociological concept. |
| The term is used to signify | A sharp sound or a tapping action. | A narrow and informal social group. |
| Type of Noun | It is a common noun | It is a collective noun. |
What is Click?
The word click has multiple definitions. The term can be used as a noun as well as a verb. The noun click is a short sound that one hears when something shuts.
It is a short but sharp sound. It is also a phonetic sound made by sucking the air while using the tongue.
A lot of languages have dominant clicking in their accent. Numerous words are pronounceable using the tongue to produce a clicking sound.
The native African and tribal languages have words with a clicking sound.
The verb click has multiple meanings too. In technological terms, the word click means to touch a digital screen of a computer, phone, laptop, or tablet.
The verb click also means to press the buttons on a mouse or other electric gadgets.
The word click also shows a connection between two people in a literary context.
For example, The two strangers instantly clicked with each other. The phrase connecting with someone helps show the development of a good bond.
The word click is also used in a different phrase. For example, I suddenly realised that I had forgotten my phone.
This sentence uses the verb click to denote a sudden realization or understanding.
What is Clique?
The word clique is a collective noun. The basic definition of the word is a small and close group of people. The people in the group share similar interests.
They share common ideologies, likings, theories, and ideas. It is a close-knit group of people.
These groups form quickly and are highly exclusive. The members of a clique do not encourage the entry of new members into their close circle.
The entrance of a new person will depend on the decision of the group members. Cliques are formed among all ages.
The most common examples are high school cliques, cliques of colleagues, sports group cliques, and cliques among peers.
A clique is a sociological concept that falls under the category of groups. A club is highly informal and direct.
Numerous other social groups are formed. However, there is a prime difference between a clique and other social groups.
A clique does not encourage the entry of new members.
A clique is formed due to certain standard connections, common daily routines, and close residences. The word clique is not an English word.
It originates from the French verb cliquer. It later transformed into the word claque and clique.
The adjective formed through this word is cliquish, which means a person’s excluding and isolating behaviour.
Main Differences Between Click and Clique
- The word click is used to signify a sound and an urgent action, whereas the word clique is a social and narrow informal group.
- The word click is a verb and a noun, whereas the word clique is only used as a noun.
- The word click is a technological and literary concept, whereas the word clique is a sociological and collective concept.
- The term click originated from the verb ‘klikken’ of the East Frisian language, whereas the origin of the word clique is the French verb cliquer.
- The word click is used as a common noun, whereas the word clique is used as a collective noun.
- https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/218739
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02734142
Last Updated : 25 July, 2023
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
