Directional synonyms

Directional synonymy (show by →) represents a relationship between an unspecific word and one or more specific words.

Trinkgefäß → Trinkglas

Here, "Gefäß" is defined as a synonym for "Glas", but not vice versa: A Trinkglas is always also a Trinkgefäß, because it has at least one property in common with a Trinkgefäß. But not all Trinkgefäße are always exclusively Trinkgläser, because Trinkflaschen, Trinkbecher etc. can also be Trinkgefäße. "Trinkglas" is therefore more specific than the more general term "Trinkgefäß" and thus its subordinate term.

Bidirectional synonyms

In bidirectional synonymy (shown by ↔), all words in a class are synonymous with each other.

The synonym class:

Bautyp ↔ Bauart

generates this synonym relationship:

"Typ" is synonymous with "Art"

The synonym classes:

Bildschirmanzeige ↔ Bildschirmdisplay
Kleinanzeige ↔ Kleinannonce, Kleininserat

generate these relationships:

"Anzeige" is synonymous with "Display", "Annonce" and "Inserat"
"Display" is synonymous with "Anzeige"
"Annonce" is synonymous with "Anzeige" and "Inserat"
"Inserat" is synonymous with "Anzeige" and "Annonce"

Each synonym class is taken separately and not mixed with other synonym classes. In the example above: There is no synonym relationship between "Display" and "Annonce" and between "Display" and "Inserat".

With this type of definition, you can model synonym relationships that overlap due to the ambiguity of a word component without creating unwanted combinations.