Words on words

What's in a name?

What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
(Romeo and Juliet 2.2.43-44)

Words can be funny things. As the Bard states through Juliet's speech, the essence of something is independent of what word names it. Whether it be a person, an object, or an idea, the existence and characteristic of a thing is still the same no matter what word may label it. The perception of a thing is different matter. The word that is chosen to name a thing can influence how it is seen. The word might cast the thing in a neutral light, or it can cast a negative or positive light.

Does it mean just what I choose it to mean?

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean--neither more nor less."

"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."

"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master----that's all."

(Through the Looking Glass Chapter VI Humpty Dumpty)

While things have essence independent of words, the converse is not. Words do not share this same attribute. Words

All words are pegs to hang ideas on.
Henry Ward Beecher

Some contrasting word meanings

accuracy v. precision and significant figures

Accuracy is how close a measurement or perception comes to the truth.
Precision is how repeatable a measurement is.
Significant figures is related to precision. It is how many digits in a measurement are precise.

calculation v. results

data v. information

Data is the facts. In effect, it is the "raw" information.
Information is the meaning and interpretation given to the data. It is the data that is "cooked" through analysis.

Internet v. internet v. intranet

The Internet (with a capital I) is the public internetworking of computer resources using the internetworking protocol (IP). It is the connection of separate networks in many different places that allows routing of traffic to any of those places.
An internet (with a small I) is a private internetworking of computer resources. It is also the connection of separate networks in many different places that allows routing of traffic to any of those places.
An intranet is the connection of computer resources within the same network. Typically these resources are all at the same location, though it is possible they can be at separate locations, and the traffic is bridged between the locations.

Internet v. World Wide Web

The Internet, as described above, is the public internetworking of computer resources. The resources might be accessed in real-time, or in a delayed mode.
The World Wide Web is a subset of the Internet. It is one specific protocol that allows support of multimedia presentation of data and information.

hacker v. cracker

A Hacker

is one that hacks
uses various techniques to fully understand something

A Cracker

is one that cracks
breaks into something
may or may not use the techniques of a hacker

Hacking can be considered a tool for learning. And like many tools, it is neutral, but its usage can be for good or bad. Cracking is a negative use of the tool. Cf. The Jargon File.

Operating Environment v. Operating System

An operating system (O/S) is the computer kernel and essential drivers, libraries and system utilities.
An operating environment (O/E) is an O/S plus the windowing and other useful utilities.