WordNet is more than a dictionary. It's a massive lexical database where words are interlinked by their meanings, creating a structured map of human language used to teach computers how to understand us.
Words aren't islands. In WordNet, they are organized into Synsets (sets of synonyms). These synsets are linked by specific rules.
The most fundamental relationship is the "Is-A" relationship. We move from specific terms (Hyponyms) to general terms (Hypernyms).
"Dog" is a hyponym of "Animal".
"Animal" is a hypernym of "Dog".
Click any box above to trace the path
WordNet maps the "intricate web" of language through specific semantic relationship types.
Meronym: A part of something.
"Finger" is a meronym of "Hand"
Holonym: The whole containing the part.
"Hand" is a holonym of "Finger"
Antonyms: Words with opposite meanings. Crucial for understanding contrast.
*Also helps define sentiment (Good vs Bad).
The building blocks of WordNet. Groups of synonymous words that represent a single unique concept.
Traditional search engines match exact keywords. WordNet allows Semantic Search.
WordNet identifies the "backbone" concepts of a text to create concise summaries.
Selecting key existing sentences based on frequent semantic concepts.
Generating new sentences that convey the core meaning found via WordNet relations.
Used to gauge public opinion (reviews, social media). WordNet helps by utilizing Antonyms (Good vs Bad) to calculate polarity scores, even when the language is complex or sarcastic.
Test your understanding of the WordNet concepts.
1. If "Dog" is a specific type of "Animal", what is "Animal" in relation to "Dog"?
You've mastered the basics of WordNet.