Look up: Ambiguity

1. 
   Ambiguity
   William Empson defined ambiguity as: 'any verbal nuance, however slight, which gives room for alternative reactions to the same piece of language'. Although ambiguity is not desirable in prose, in poetry it can sometimes add extra layers of meaning. Figurative language - such as metaphors - often create ambiguity. In 1930 Empson published a critical work entitled Seven Types of Ambiguity.
   Found on http://www.poetsgraves.co.uk/glossary_of
   
   
2. 
   ambiguity
   [n] - an expression whose meaning cannot be determined from its context 2. [n] - unclearness by virtue of having more than one meaning
   Found on http://www.webdictionary.co.uk/definitio
   
   
3. 
   Ambiguity
   This means 'more than one possible meaning'. The rules of grammar exist to allow a structure of words to be created that has a single meaning, i.e. to be unambiguous. Here is an ungrammatical sentence that was an actual warning notice at the bottom of an escalator: 'Dogs must be carried on the escalator'. What does this mean? Are you allowed to rid...
   Found on http://www.englishbiz.co.uk/grammar/main
   
   
4. 
   Ambiguity
   The use of language that is vague, or ambiguous. Language that is ambiguous is also abstract (as opposed to specific).
   Found on http://www.mentalcombat.co.uk/Free+Downl
   
   
5. 
   Ambiguity
   a phrase or statement which has more than one possible interpretation. This sometimes arises from unclear grammatical relationships. For example, in the phrase: 'police shot man with knife', it is not specified whether the man had the knife or the police used the knife to shoot the man. Both interpretations are possible, although only one is logic...
   Found on http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/primary
   
   
6. 
   ambiguity
   in navigation,the condition obtaining when a given set of observations defines more than one point,direction,line of position,or surface of position Category: Transport
   Found on http://www.mijnwoordenboek.nl/definition
   
   
7. 
   Ambiguity
   Am`bi·gu'i·ty noun ; plural Ambiguities [ Latin ambiguitas , from ambiguus : confer French ambiguité .] The quality or state of being ambiguous; doubtfulness or uncertainty, particularly as to the signification of language, arising from its admitting of more than one meaning; an equivocal word or expression. « No shadow of ambiguity can rest upon the ...
   Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/A/67
   
   
8. 
   ambiguity
   Origin: L. Ambiguitas, fr. Ambiguus: cf. F. Ambiguite. ... The quality or state of being ambiguous; doubtfulness or uncertainty, particularly as to the signification of language, arising from its admitting of more than one meaning; an equivocal word or expression. 'No shadow of ambiguity can rest upon the course to be pursued.' (I. Taylor) 'The word ...
   Found on http://www.mondofacto.com/facts/dictiona
   
   
9. 
   ambiguity
   noun an expression whose meaning cannot be determined from its context
   Found on http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?
   
   
10. 
    ambiguity
    equivocalness noun unclearness by virtue of having more than one meaning
    Found on http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?
    
    
11. 
    Ambiguity
    `Ambiguity` is the property of words, terms, notations, signs, symbols, and concepts (within a particular context) as being undefined, indefinable, multi-defined, or without an obvious definition, and thus having a misleading, or unclear, meaning. A word, phrase, sentence, or other communication is called `ambiguous` if it can be interpreted in more than one way. Ambiguity is distinct from `vagueness`, which arises when the boundaries of meanin...
    Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambiguity
    
    
12. 
    Ambiguity
    • (n.) The quality or state of being ambiguous; doubtfulness or uncertainty, particularly as to the signification of language, arising from its admitting of more than one meaning; an equivocal word or expression.
    Found on http://thinkexist.com/dictionary/meaning
    
    
13. 
    ambiguity
    use of words that allow alternative interpretations. In factual, explanatory prose, ambiguity is considered an error in reasoning or diction; in ... [6 related articles]
    Found on http://www.britannica.com/eb/a-z/a/57
    
    
14. 
    ambiguity
    ambiguity 1. A situation in which something can be understood in more than one way and it is not clear which meaning is intended. 2. An expression or statement that has more than one meaning. 3. Causing uncertainty or confusion.
    Found on http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/inf
    
    
15. 
    ambiguity
    a statement with two or more meanings that may seem to exclude one another in the context. Grammatical ambiguity (amphibologia) occurs where a word has two or more possible word classes. For example, in 'BILL POSTERS WILL BE PROSECUTED,' the words 'BILL POSTERS' could be either adjective and common noun or a proper name. Lexical ambiguity arises wh...
    Found on http://rpo.library.utoronto.ca/display_r
    
    
16. 
    ambiguity
    Device which is used deliberately by an author: a word or phrase which may have two or more relevant meanings. 'We call it ambiguous ... when we recognise that there could be a puzzle as to what the author meant, in that alternate views might be taken without sheer misreading ...' (William Empson)
    Found on http://www.menrath-online.de/glossaryeng