Grasses and grass-like plants have long always been important to human beings. They provide the majority of food crops, and have numerous other uses, such as feeding animals, and for lawns. There are numerous minor uses, and grasses are familiar to most human cultures.
The term 'grass' is sometimes used to describe related plants in the rush (Juncaceae) and sedge (Cyperaceae) families, that resemble grass somewhat. It may also be used to describe other unrelated plants, sometimes of similar appearances to grass, with leaves rising vertically from the ground, and sometimes of dissimilar appearance.

Plants that are commonly called grass, but are not true grasses include:

Cannabis (more commonly known as marijuana)
China grass, more commonly known as Ramie (Boehmeria nivea), a nettle grown for bast fibres, in the family Urticaceae
Ditch grass or Wigeon grass (Ruppia maritima) in the family Ruppiaceae
Fish grass (Cabomba caroliniana), a freshwater aquatic
Goosegrass (Galium aparine)
Mondo grass or Lily turf (Ophiopogon japonicus), an Asian ornamental ground cover
Nutgrass, a common lawn pest (Cyperus rotundus) in the family Cyperaceae
Pepper grass (Lipidium spp.) in the family Brassicaceae
Sawgrass, abundant in sub-tropical marshlands (Cladium spp.) in the family Cyperaceae
Scurvy-grass (Cochlearia species) in the family Brassicaceae
Scurvy-grass Sorrel (Oxalis enneaphylla) in the family Oxalidaceae
Seagrasses, including Eel grass (Zostera spp.)
"Sleeping grass" (Mimosa pudica), a legume (family Fabaceae) and lawn weed
Xyridaceae, known as the yellow-eyed grass family.

The word hotel derives from the French hôtel, which referred to a French version of a townhouse or any other building seeing frequent visitors, not a place offering accommodation was once also used in English, but is now rare. The circumflex replaces the 's' once preceding the 't' in the earlier hostel spelling, which over time received a new, but closely related meaning. A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging, usually on a short-term basis. Hotels often provide a number of additional guest services such as a restaurant, a swimming pool or childcare. Some hotels have conference services and meeting rooms and encourage groups to hold conventions and meetings at their location.