Zeugma/ˈzuːɡmə/ Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Literary Device Zeugma often appears in literature to convey cleverness or humor through unexpected word pairings. He bolted the door and his breakfast. Pro Tip 2/3Understanding Context In zeugma, context is key; the meaning changes based on how the shared word relates to other words. She opened her door and her heart to the orphans. Pro Tip 3/3Recognizing Zeugma Spot zeugmas by looking for a single word governing multiple objects in a way that alters its meaning with each. He caught the train and a cold.