Polysemy

What are polysemous words? Is it easy to understand someone if they say 'did you get the bat?' Polysemy refers to a single word with more than one meaningThe multiple meanings are listed under one entry in a dictionary. An example of polysemy is the word dish. If we took a look at the dictionary we see that dish has multiple definitions, or polysemous meanings, under one entry:

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Team Polysemy Teachers

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      Frequently Asked Questions about Polysemy

      What does polysemy mean?

      Polysemy refers to a single word with more than one related meaning. The multiple meanings are listed under one dictionary entry.

      What are some examples of polysemy?

      Some examples of polysemy are get - receive, bring, move / travel; bank - of a river / canal, a place to deposit money, a slope; and light - of colors, not heavy, not serious.

      What's the difference between polysemy and monosemy?

       Monosemy is the opposite of polysemy. Monosemy refers to a word that has one meaning only.

      What's the difference between polysemy and homonymy?

      Polysemy illustrates a single word with many related meanings (one dictionary entry), eg, get - receive, bring, travel / move. Homonymy is about words that have different meanings and multiple dictionary entries but are spelled and / or pronounced the same, eg rose - a flower & increased.

      What's the difference between polysemy and hyponymy?

      Polysemy explains a word (under one dictionary entry) with more than one related meaning (eg get - receive, bring, travel / move). Hyponymy describes a super- and subordinate relationship between words (eg dog - poodle, labrador, pomeranian).

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      Test your knowledge with multiple choice flashcards

      True or false - the multiple meanings of polysemy are listed under several dictionary entries, eg a noun and a verb.

      True or false - Monosemy is a word that has one meaning only.

      True or false - All non-polysemous words are monosemous.

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      StudySmarter Editorial Team

      Team English Teachers

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      • Checked by StudySmarter Editorial Team
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