polysemy
- noun
- /ˈpɑːlɪˌsɛmi/
- Specialized
:
polisemia
- But no study will entirely exhaust a text of ambiguity, polysemy, and play.
- play with polysemy
- polysemy of the word
Examples
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Notice too the polysemy of the word "tache," which means (blood) stain but also a touch of color in paintings.
Academic text (2003) -
The study of polysemy highlights how a single word can convey different meanings in various contexts.
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We do use the same word around all these things, and that can be a problem, but polysemy is here to stay and always will be.
Blog text (19) -
The natural polysemy or multiple meanings of language and linguistic formulations are the ground of confusion and interpretive error.
Academic text (1997) -
To actually speak, I must negate the generality of the structural rules in grammar and the polysemy of the words in the lexicon and use them to designate what I want to say.
Academic text (1994) -
When learning a new language, understanding the polysemy of words is essential for effective communication.
-
In linguistics, polysemy is a common feature that contributes to the richness of language.
Synonyms
57
6.3
A lack of clear meaning that allows people to understand it in different ways
A word or phrase with more than one meaning that causes confusion
A situation where something has more than one meaning and causes confusion
Antonyms
How Polysemous
Surface Forms
Morphology
polysemy = poly + semy
Although the word contains the recognizable prefix poly- 'many', the remaining bound form -semy is not a transparent standalone English base for average B1 learners, so the meaning is not readily recoverable from the parts.
Etymology
Polysemy comes from Greek parts poly- 'many' and -semy 'meaning' or 'sign'. So polysemy is the idea of one word having 'many' meanings, like the word 'bank' which can mean a place for money or the side of a river.