Semantics

the study of meaning in a language

• is the most difficult aspect to investigate
  
  
  • psycholinguistics
    
    
• meanings are not as fixed as syntax and morphemes
  • “head” of state
  • “head” of person
  • “head” of a nail
  • “head” of a street
  • “head” of a class
  • “head” of a glass of beer
  • “let’s ‘head’ out of here”
  • “head” for sailors
  • “Let’s ‘head’ north.”
  • “Head” strong
  • “’Heads’ up the boss is arriving!”
  • “Headway”
  • Newspaper “Heading” and “Headline”
  • “Heading” south by southeast
  • “Head” of the family
  • “Head” start
  • “’Head’ ‘em out.”
  • “Headwind”
  • “’Head’ ‘em off at the pass!”
  • “Heading”
  • “Head” a committee
  • “Tiger Woods is “ahead”
  • “Headlight”
  • “The pimple came to a ‘head.’”
  • “Headquarters”
  • A “doubleheader
  • “Headlong”
  • “Headliner” (show biz)
  • “Headhunter” (a job)
  • “Head” hunter (does a job)
  • Getting “ahead”
    
    
• meanings change over time

languistics index page