Semantic Analysis of Polysemous English Verbs and Nouns

'Run' (Verb)

Contexts of Use

• They ran to the bus stop.
• He ran the race in a record time.
• He ran the car into the field.
• Buses don’t run on Sundays.
• The car runs well.
• She runs the conveyor belt.
• The road runs from Millbone to Shamrock.
• The river runs fast and deep.
• We’ll have to let another month run.
• The thought ran through my mind.
• He’s running for President.

Number of Senses

1. Locomotion: To go somewhere by moving on foot faster than walking.
2. Sport: To take part in a speed race.
3. Motion: To operate a vehicle (drive).
4. Serviceability: To be serviceable (esp. means of transport).
5. Function: To function well (machine/appliance).
6. Control: To be in charge (machine/situation).
7. Extension: To lie between one place and another.
8. Flow: To flow (body of water).
9. Time: To pass.
10. Mind: To occur quickly (idea/thought).
11. Politics: To stand for office.

'Head' (Noun)

Contexts of Use

• The head of the child is bent.
• Count heads.
• She has a good head for maths.
• I saw Lincoln’s bronze head.
• He won the race by a head.
• It costs $5 per head.
• She is the head of the English Department.
• Check the head of the page.
• I got up as far as the head of the staircase.
• Look out at the head of the cap.
• They discovered the head of the Nile.
• You must replace the head of the tape recorder.

Senses

1. Body part
2. Person
3. Mind (intellectual ability)
4. Likeness (sculpture)
5. Length
6. Individual member
7. Foremost/important person
8. End part/side/element of object
9. Topmost part of object
10. Elevated part of geographical accident
11. Source of river
12. Important operating part of device

'Kill' (Verb)

Contexts of Use

• The farmer killed the snake.
• The frost killed the engine.
• The remark killed her desire.
• Her new shoes are killing her.
• During the band tour, we killed them night after night.
• The Parliament killed the bill.
• We killed the time by reading mags.
• We ended up killing two bottles of Scotch.
• I’ll have the story killed and the journalist fired.
• I killed the cigarette.

Senses

1. Cause death
2. Cause damage/disable
3. Cause to disappear/suppress
4. Cause discomfort/pain
5. Cause strong emotion/thrill
6. Cause to disappear/nullify
7. Spend (time)
8. Consume
9. Delete
10. Extinguish

'Sad'

1. Human: A sad dog.
2. Causing sadness: A sad book.
3. Looking like: A sad tree.

'Thin'

1. Weight: A thin girl.
2. Strength: A thin voice.
3. Distance between: A thin crowd.
4. Not abundant: A thin crop.
5. Lacking conviction: A thin excuse.