Lexical Ambiguity (Noun)
Meaning
The ambiguity of an individual word or phrase that can be used (in different contexts) to express two or more different meanings.
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
Examples
- The word "bank" is a classic example of lexical ambiguity, as it can refer to a financial institution or the side of a river.
- In the sentence "I'm going to the bank," the word "bank" is an example of lexical ambiguity, as its meaning depends on the context.
- The phrase "break a leg" is an example of lexical ambiguity, as it can be interpreted as either a literal instruction or a figurative expression of good luck.
- The word "spring" can be a noun, referring to a season, or a verb, referring to the act of moving upward or outward, demonstrating lexical ambiguity.
- The term "cloud" can refer to either a collection of water vapor in the sky or a remote digital storage system, illustrating lexical ambiguity in a single word.