Definition of polysemy in English:
polysemy
noun
The coexistence of many possible meanings for a word or phrase.
Example sentences
- For my part, therefore, I am inclined to see features of both monosemy and polysemy in a word's semantic structure.
- In doing this, lexicographers generally take the view that homonymy relates to different words whose forms have converged while polysemy relates to one word whose meanings have diverged or radiated.
- Valéry puts to work the regulated polysemy of the word ‘capital’.
Derivatives
-
polysemic
adjective - Example sentences
- These pairs often display regular polysemic relations, i.e. they constitute systematic sense combinations that are valid for more than one word.
- The rich polysemic nature of Kanak languages, some intricately entwined with Polynesian vocabularies, testify to these congruences of aquatic and terrestrial meaning.
- This obscurity might be the reverse of their fruitfully polysemic character: only dead terms can be univocally defined!
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polysemous
adjective - Example sentences
- There should be a way of saying that there is one polysemous lexeme with limitations on how you can use its singular.
- They may, however, be put off by homographs and polysemous words, such as the various uses of bank and crane.
- It might be unclear, in any given case, whether a word should be regarded as polysemous or monosemous.
Origin
Early 20th century: from poly- 'many' + Greek sēma 'sign'.
For editors and proofreaders
Line breaks: poly|semy
Definition of polysemy in:
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