polysemous word; word with multiple meanings
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesnoun
a word with two or more meanings
formalA linguistics term. The different meanings of a polysemous word are usually related, often derived from a core sense.
"
dǎ打
"
shì是
yī一
gè个
cháng常
jiàn见
de的
duō多
yì义
cí词
，
kě可
yǐ以
biǎo表
shì示
"
jī击
dǎ打
"
，
yě也
kě可
yǐ以
biǎo表
shì示
"
dǎ打
diàn电
huà话
"
。
"Da" is a common polysemous word; it can mean "to hit" or "to make a phone call."
Duō多
yì义
cí词
de的
lǐ理
jiě解
xū需
yào要
yī依
lài赖
shàng上
xià下
wén文
。
Understanding a polysemous word depends on context.
Show 3 more examplesShow fewer examples
Cí词
diǎn典
tōng通
cháng常
huì会
wèi为
yī一
gè个
duō多
yì义
cí词
liè列
chū出
duō多
gè个
yì义
xiàng项
。
A dictionary typically lists multiple senses for a polysemous word.
"
bāo包
"
zuò作
wéi为
duō多
yì义
cí词
，
yǒu有
"
bāo包
guǒ裹
"
、
"
bāo包
hán含
"
、
"
chéng承
bāo包
"
děng等
yì意
si思
。
As a polysemous word, "bao" has meanings like "package," "to contain," and "to contract."
Xué学
xí习
duō多
yì义
cí词
shí时
，
yào要
zhù注
yì意
qí其
hé核
xīn心
yì义
hé和
yǐn引
shēn申
yì义
zhī之
jiān间
de的
lián联
xì系
。
When learning polysemous words, pay attention to the connections between their core and extended meanings.