Polysemy

07.03 Unknown 0 Comments



Polysemy is the existence of several meanings for a single word or phrase. The word polysemy comes from the Greek words πολυ-, poly-, “many” and σήμα, sêma, “sign”. In other words it is the capacity for a word, phrase, or sign to have multiple meanings i.e., a large semantic field. Polysemy is a pivotal concept within the humanities, such as media studies and linguistics.
Polysemy is the association of one word with two or more distinct meanings. A polyseme is a word or phrase with multiple meanings. Adjective: polysemous or polysemic.
A word like walk is polysemous:

  1. I  went walking this morning
  2. We went for a walk last Sunday
  3. Do you walk the dog every day?
  4. I live near Meadow Walk Drive
  5. The wardrobe is too heavy to lift; we’ll have to walk it into the bedroom (move a large object by rocking).
  6. She walks the tower (to haunt a place as a ghost).
  7. The workers threatened to walk (to go on strike).
  8. Walk with God! (to live your life in a particular way)
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