English Dictionary

POLYSEMY

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

 Dictionary entry overview: What does polysemy mean? 

POLYSEMY (noun)
  The noun POLYSEMY has 1 sense:

1. the ambiguity of an individual word or phrase that can be used (in different contexts) to express two or more different meaningsplay

  Familiarity information: POLYSEMY used as a noun is very rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


POLYSEMY (noun)


Sense 1

Meaning:

The ambiguity of an individual word or phrase that can be used (in different contexts) to express two or more different meanings

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

lexical ambiguity; polysemy

Hypernyms ("polysemy" is a kind of...):

ambiguity; equivocalness (unclearness by virtue of having more than one meaning)

Antonym:

monosemy (having a single meaning (absence of ambiguity) usually of individual words or phrases)

Derivation:

polysemous (of words; having many meanings)


 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Nature, time, and patience are three great physicians." (English proverb)

"Tongue may muddle up and say the truth." (Azerbaijani proverb)

"A friend is the one that lends a hand during the time of need." (Arabic proverb)

"Being able to feel it on wooden shoes." (Dutch proverb)



ALSO IN ENGLISH DICTIONARY:


© 2000-2023 AudioEnglish.org | AudioEnglish® is a Registered Trademark | Terms of use and privacy policy
Contact