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Polysemy - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Polysemy refers to the phenomenon where a single word has multiple related meanings. For example, 'bank' can mean the side of a river or a financial institution. It is common in language.

polysemy

/ˈpɑlɪˌsimi/ /ˈpɒlɪsiːmi/

Definition:

The coexistence of multiple meanings for a single word or phrase.

Synonyms:

ambiguity, multiplicity of meaning, multivalence

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

monosemy, univocality

Common Collocations:

lexical polysemy, semantic polysemy, polysemous words

Derivatives:

polysemous, polysemantic

Usage Tips:

Use "polysemy" when discussing words with multiple related meanings in linguistics or semantics.

Common Phrases:

"bank" (river vs. financial), "light" (illumination vs. weight), "head" (body part vs. leader)

Etymology:

From Greek "poly-" (many) + "-sema" (sign), meaning "many signs."

Examples:

  • 1. The word "bank" is a classic example of polysemy due to its different meanings.
  • 2. Polysemy enriches language by allowing words to convey multiple related ideas.
  • 3. Linguists study polysemy to understand how context influences word interpretation.
  • 4. "Run" demonstrates polysemy with meanings like moving quickly and managing an operation.

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