SEMANTICS

What is Semantic?

Semantic is the study of the linguistic

meaning of morphemes, words, phrases, and

sentences.

Homonyms

Different words that are pronounced the same, but

may or may not be spelled the same.

e.g. bank (financial institution)

bank (riverside)

to. Too, two

flower, flour.

sea, see, c

sell, shell

She sells sea shells by the seashore.

Do you see the letter 'c' written in sea salt.

I’ve never seen such a beautiful scene.

We want a site for our home that will be out of sight.

The seam in the tent doesn’t seem to hold back the

rain.

Polysemy

When a word has multiple meanings that are

related conceptually or historically.

E.g. pupil (student)

pupil (part of eyes)

bear (animal)

bear( to tolerate, to carry, to support)

Synonyms

Words that sound different but have the same

or nearly the same meaning.

E.g. sofa, couch.

handbag, purse.

Garbage/Trash

woman/lady

stone/rock

Antonyms

Words that are opposite in meaning.

E.g. alive/dead

big/small

hot/cold

Gradable antonyms

tiny, small, medium, large, big, huge, gargantuan.

Hyponyms

a relationship between two words, in which

the meaning of one of the words includes the

meaning of the other word.

vehicle: bus car lorry van

Move: walk, run, swim, play.

Metonyms

A word used in place of another word or expression to convey the same meaning.

E.g. Crown (monarchy) Moscow (Russian)

HollywoodWashingtonBrooklyn

Idioms

A group of words whose meaning cannot be explained in

terms of the habitual meanings of the words that make up

the piece of language.

For example: She washed her hands of the matter.

Means “She refused to have anything more to do with the

matter”.

Piece of cake

break a leg!

"Pull the wool over someone's eyes" - Trick or deceive.

"Bite off more than you can chew" - Take on more than one can handle.

"Fill someone's shoes" - Take someone else's place. "The buck stops here." - Taking responsibility for something, instead of blaming someone else.

"Strike someone funny" - To seem funny to someone.

ExerciseFind The Homonyms

1. Due to the dry weather, we do not see any dew on the grass.2. I knew they had a new gnu at the zoo.3. Some people know that you add to find the sum.4. They’re hanging their coats over there.5. I ate the eight cakes that were on my plate.6. How many ways can I tell him that he weighs too much?7. They banned the crude band from playing at the concert.8. She only won one ticket to the show.

9.We’ll find a tropical isle where I’ll walk down the aisle with my bride.10. You’re crazy if you pierce your ankle!

Find the synonyms

BrilliantFuriousUnderSniffSee