like.. bow
2007-02-05 07:50:48 · 11 answers · asked by ynordu 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
er.. the name of the word, a word like bow.
2007-02-05 07:51:44 · update #1
the opposite of a synonym
2007-02-05 07:53:42 · update #2
homonym
2007-02-05 07:52:53 · answer #1 · answered by Nate Lockwood 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are different types.
A "polysemous" word or "polysemy" has distinct but related meanings. For example, "foot" can mean "the foot at the end of your leg," or "the base of a mountain (kinda like the mountain's foot)", or "unit of measurement (which is based on the length of the foot)", etc.
A "homonym" is a word that has two completely unrelated senses, but SOUNDS the same (even if the spelling's different- such as "tail" and "tale.") This is usually a result of words being imported from different languages that have similar sounds but completely different meanings.
It can be hard to tell where the line between polysemy and homonimity lies. For example, look at the word "sole"- is the fish called a "sole" because it resembles the sole of a shoe, or did we take "sole-shoe" from one language and "sole-fish" from the other, and their hyponimity is coincidental? You need to explore the etymology of each word to figure this out; http://www.dictionary.com is good for this-- look at the results it gives you from the American Heritage Dictionary.
"bow" (of a ship) and "bow" (in a little girl's hair) are not homonyms because they don't sound the same. They aren't polysemies because their meanings are COMPLETELY unrelated. I don't know what the proper term for such a word is. I'll post this answer now, and come back later if I figure it out... okay, it looks like Eliza has it with "homograph." Makes sense when you think about it-- "homophone" for "same sound," "homograph" for "same written form."
2007-02-05 08:09:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Homographs.
Per dictionary.com: a word of the same written form as another but of different meaning and usually origin, whether pronounced the same way or not, as bear “to carry; support” and bear “animal” or lead “to conduct” and lead “metal.”
Also Homonym: a word the same as another in sound and spelling but different in meaning, as chase “to pursue” and chase “to ornament metal.”
Homophones, just in case you're wondering, are words that are pronounced differently and have a different spelling.
Hope this helps!
2007-02-05 07:57:00 · answer #3 · answered by Eliza79 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have not seen the word mentioned so I will throw another word out there that is actually what it sounds like this person is looking for which is ambiguous, open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations; equivocal:
"an ambiguous answer."
2014-12-16 13:41:54 · answer #4 · answered by john c 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Homographs are two (or more words with the same spelling but with different meanings, and often different pronunciations. They usually have different roots. Most dictionaries will treat these as two separate words, not one word with two meanings.
bow: to bend the head or body in respect, agreement, recongnition, etc. (M.E. bowen, bouwen; A.S. bogon)
bow: (ME. bowe, boge; A.S. boga < bogon) anything curved or bent, as a rainbow
bow: (L.G. bug, D. boeg, Sw. bog) the front part of a ship
2007-02-05 08:10:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
homonym onymonymonymlolol
the opposite of synonym is antonym.
2007-02-05 07:53:21 · answer #6 · answered by bigclaire 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its called a homonym, word with same spelling, but different meanings.
2007-02-05 07:53:58 · answer #7 · answered by jane 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
which ever meaning you are using it for i guesss.. like if u are takling Bow.. as in a bow tie.. then use it that way :D
2007-02-05 08:08:03 · answer #8 · answered by kymee1112 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
homonym
2007-02-05 07:53:42 · answer #9 · answered by justpeachee22 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
snap... like OH SNAP or snap, like snap in half...
2007-02-05 07:53:32 · answer #10 · answered by maymay 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋