Definition

1. Proper noun:

   • A specific lexical database: WordNet is a specific, large, machine-readable lexical database of English. It groups words into sets of synonyms called synsets and records various semantic and lexical relations between these sets. It was created and is maintained at Princeton University.

2. Noun (countable):

   • A type of lexical database: A wordnet (often lowercase) is any lexical database structured similarly to the original Princeton WordNet. These are computational lexicons for various languages, organized by semantic relations rather than alphabetically.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:

  • Researchers often use WordNet for natural language processing tasks.
  • The WordNet database can be accessed online or downloaded.

• Noun (countable):

  • The EuroWordNet project links wordnets for several European languages.
  • Linguists are developing a wordnet for the Hindi language.

Advanced Usage

• "to query WordNet": to search the WordNet database for information about a word.

  • The program can query WordNet to find synonyms for a given term.

• "WordNet-like": having a structure or organization similar to the original WordNet.

  • They built a WordNet-like resource for medical terminology.

Variants and Related Words

• wordnet (lowercase, n): A generic term for a lexical database modeled on the Princeton WordNet.
• WordNet (capitalized, proper n): The specific database developed at Princeton University.

Synonyms

• Lexical database: A structured repository of lexical information.
• Computational lexicon: A lexicon designed for use by computer programs.

Related Phrases

• WordNet hierarchy: Refers to the hierarchical structure of hypernyms (is-a relationships) in WordNet.

  • The WordNet hierarchy allows you to see that 'dog' is a type of 'canine', which is a type of 'mammal'.

• WordNet sense: A specific meaning of a word as defined and grouped within WordNet.

  • The word "bank" has several WordNet senses, including financial institution and river edge.

Noun

1. a machine-readable lexical database organized by meanings; developed at Princeton University
2. any of the machine-readable lexical databases modeled after the Princeton WordNet