Lähendusi

Lähendus is a term used in Estonian linguistics to denote the sense or meaning of a word or expression. Lähendusi is the plural form, referring to the different senses a word may have. In dictionaries and lexicography, lähendusi are listed as separate senses, each with a concise definition and illustrative examples showing typical usage. The existence of multiple lähendusi reflects polysemy, where one form carries several related meanings, and, in some cases, distinct senses that appear for the same form.

The study of lähendusi involves distinguishing between core or primary senses and more extended or domain-specific meanings. Semantic change over time can create new lähendusi or shift existing ones. Context plays a central role in determining which lähendus applies in a given utterance, making word sense disambiguation a key task in computational linguistics and natural language processing.

In lexicography, readers rely on numbered senses or separate glosses to navigate lähendusi. Dictionaries may provide etymological notes, synonyms, usage tips, and example sentences to illustrate each sense. Understanding lähendusi is important for accurate translation, language teaching, and semantic research, as it clarifies what a word typically means in different contexts.