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Definition of Polysemy
1. Noun. The ambiguity of an individual word or phrase that can be used (in different contexts) to express two or more different meanings.
Generic synonyms: Ambiguity, Equivocalness
Antonyms: Monosemy
Derivative terms: Polysemous
Definition of Polysemy
1. Noun. (semantics) The ability of words, signs and symbols to have multiple meanings. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Polysemy
1. diversity of meanings [n -MIES]
Lexicographical Neighbors of Polysemy
Literary usage of Polysemy
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. The Information Universe: Issues in Informing Science and Information by Informing Science Institute, Eli Cohen, Ed. (2006)
"Furthermore polysemy occurs if one word has several meanings such as life cycle,
... Another instance of polysemy is linked to syntheses of verbs. ..."
2. Catalyzing Inquiry at the Interface of Computing and Biology by John C. Wooley, Herbert Lin (2005)
"... both synonymy (many different ways to refer to the same object) and
polysemy (multiple meanings for a given word) cause problems for search algorithms. ..."
3. First Text Retrieval Conference (Trec-1): Proceedings by D. K. Harman (1995)
"One important benefit of the the SFC representation is that it implicitly handles
both the synonymy and polysemy problems which have plagued the use of NLP ..."
4. A Cyclopedia of Missions: Containing a Comprehensive View of Missionary by Harvey Newcomb (1860)
"Roads have been made from Kumasi, or C'-omu-ssie, the capital of Ashantee, to
the meet distant parts of the empire, and these are polysemy prevails in ..."
5. The Civilization of Illiteracy by Mihai Nadin (1997)
"polysemy (more than one meaning assignable to the sign) is a gradual acquisition
and reflects the principle of retroaction of meaning on the carrier: words, ..."
6. Overview of the Third Text Retrieval Conference (Trec-3) edited by D. K. Harmon (1996)
"... that are used to describe them, and their description depends on a kind of
consensus of their term meanings, thus dampening the effects of polysemy. ..."
7. The Urban Condition: Space, Community, and Self in the Contemporary Metropolis by Ghent Urban Studies Team (1999)
"This interpretation by Boeri grants not only the polysemy of a fragmented society
and the absence of a unitary code in it, but also the impossibility of ..."
8. The Architect and the Scaffold: Evolution and Education in South Africa by W. James, Lynne Wilson (2002)
"It pre-empted the possibility for the study of inter-subjective grounds of human
action, and for us to take cognisance of the polysemy of history, ..."
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