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Most number of definitionsVocab questions, definitions, usage, etc |
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#1
March 22, 2012, 12:38 PM
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Most number of definitions
The English words with the most number of definitions (according to the Oxford English Dictionary) are listed below. The large number of definitions results from combining more than one Old English Word, or a Latin/French word with an OE word. In addition if a word is usable as a noun, adjective, adverb, and verb plus idiomatic expressions, the possible definitions increase.
SET -464 definitions RUN - 396 GO - 368 TAKE - 343 STAND - 334 GET - 289 TURN - 288 PUT - 268 FALL - 264 STRIKE - 250 ------------ This list is somewhat dated. The word 'run' has had it's definitions multiply to almost 700. I think run, put, and set are the new champions. ------------ My assumption is that Spanish does not have words with hundreds of meanings, but I can't prove it. Does anyone know what words in Spanish have the most number of definitions according to the Dictionary of the RAE? 
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#2
March 22, 2012, 01:28 PM
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I doubt that Spanish has anything like that number of different meanings for one word, because it is a different type of language. English has the basic characteristics of flexibility of function and openness of vocabulary, so that a word like set can be a noun, verb, and adjective. Because other languages are more inflected, they don't have this flexibility. Set and estar are very closely connected, by the way, from the root shown in Greek ἵστημι, but Spanish requires more variations.
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#3
March 28, 2012, 06:35 PM
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Wow. I see "estar" only has 28 definitions in DRAE, and Moliner gives only 8... besides the many idioms for the word...
Interesting to know the answer to the question... (I don't know...)
__________________
Lo propio de la verdad es que se basta a sí misma, aquel que la posee no intenta convencer a nadie. "An enemy is somebody who flatters you. A friend is somebody who criticizes the living daylights out of you."
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#5
March 30, 2012, 12:49 PM
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Not sure about taking up that gauntlet, but "hacer" has 58 in the DRAE...
 Oopps! And "pasar" got 64!!
__________________
Lo propio de la verdad es que se basta a sí misma, aquel que la posee no intenta convencer a nadie. "An enemy is somebody who flatters you. A friend is somebody who criticizes the living daylights out of you."
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#6
March 30, 2012, 01:02 PM
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53 for "dar".
__________________
♪ ♫ ♪ Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays... ♪ ♫ ♪
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#7
April 02, 2012, 01:29 PM
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most number of definitions
Quote:
The numbers I gave before have been updated. "Run" in OED is up to almost 700 definitions. "Correr" has 45 in the DRAE.
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#8
April 03, 2012, 01:22 AM
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Quote:
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#9
April 03, 2012, 01:32 AM
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Vale, pues me voy contento a la cama...
__________________
Lo propio de la verdad es que se basta a sí misma, aquel que la posee no intenta convencer a nadie. "An enemy is somebody who flatters you. A friend is somebody who criticizes the living daylights out of you."
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