adjective
- having multiple meanings or senses
Usage: linguistics; formal
Examples
- The word ‘bank’ is polysemous, referring to both a financial institution and the side of a river.
- Many common words in English are polysemous, making context crucial for understanding.
- Linguists study polysemous words to understand how meaning develops over time.
- The polysemous nature of ‘run’ creates challenges for language learners.
- Dictionary entries for polysemous words often list multiple definitions.
- Teachers must explain the polysemous quality of certain vocabulary to students.