List of polysemes
The following is a list of common polysemes. These examples can variously mean a verb to act, a noun for an activity, or nouns for those engaged in the activity, the result of the activity, or the place or time of the activity:
word |
original use |
polysemic use |
|---|---|---|
General |
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aggregation |
coming together |
result of coming together; those who come together |
assembly |
coming together |
result of coming together; those who come together |
bank |
keep secure |
place where things are kept secure |
bed |
something sleepers lie upon |
what a stream lies on |
book |
a bound collection of pages |
text distributed as a book |
capitalist |
person who owns a business |
supporter of capitalism; person who owns a business |
congregation |
coming together |
result of coming together; those who come together |
court |
seek favor |
assembly of those seeking favor; the president of the court ("judge") |
delegation |
granting authority to another |
those to whom authority has been granted |
hospital |
activity or place for lodging guests |
place for treating the ill |
hunt |
seeking something, especially game animals, to kill or capture |
those engaged in a search and taking |
march |
moving together on foot |
those who move together on foot |
milk |
activity of extracting milk |
result of the extraction |
militia |
military or defense activity |
those engaged in or subject to being required to engage in defense activity |
ministry |
serving the needs of others |
those engaged in serving the needs of others |
mole |
a small burrowing mammal |
someone who burrows for information hoping to go undetected |
movement |
motion, change in position |
result of motion or change; those who move or change |
nurse |
serving the needs of others |
someone engaged in serving the needs of others |
police |
make orderly (lawful) |
law enforcers |
service |
doing for others |
those who serve (especially military) |
Viking |
raiding |
those who raid (especially of Scandinavian origin) |
wedding |
joining a couple in matrimony |
those engaged in joining a couple in matrimony; time or place of doing so |
wood |
a piece of a tree |
a geographical area with many trees |
American |
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Canadian |
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British |
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French |
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European |
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Rest of the world |
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