2 ms·
> A noun phrase is not necessarily a sub-category of the original noun. This is actually something I had not fully considered. I had always considered odd modi
by Kamq 4y ago
> A noun phrase is not necessarily a sub-category of the original noun.
This is actually something I had not fully considered. I had always considered odd modifiers to create a non-central example of the category, rather than creating a new category.
To take your example of a sperm bank, I had always considered that to be a kind of generalized version of a bank. A general "place you can deposit things for future use".
Do you have any other good examples? I'm gonna have to let this roll around in my head for a bit to see what the implications are.
- droidist2 4y agoOne confounding factor is that some words have multiple meanings or connotations. A "bank" doesn't have to be a financial bank. Or sometimes names can be chained together, like maybe "sperm bank" is based on "food bank" or "seed bank".
- Kamq 4y agoAlright, so I finally went and checked, and (according to merriam webster), the following definitions of "bank" are reasonably commonly used (none marked with archaic or obscure). > a supply of something held in reserve > a place where something is held available (especially : a depot for the collection and storage of a biological product) Both of which fit food bank, seed bank, and sperm bank. Which means that a sperm bank probably is properly a bank, although used without qualification, most people probably mean money bank (or are being intentionally ambiguous to avoid the stigma of needing a food bank/going to a sperm bank).