<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Commonplace Fun Facts]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[http://commonplacefacts.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Commonplace Fun Facts]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://commonplacefacts.com/author/mthompson9691/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[What English Word Holds the Record for the Most&nbsp;Definitions?]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img data-attachment-id="18580" data-permalink="https://commonplacefacts.com/2021/01/10/what-english-word-holds-the-record-for-the-most-definitions/img_2873/" data-orig-file="https://commonplacefacts.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/img_2873.jpg" data-orig-size="1800,1256" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="img_2873" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://commonplacefacts.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/img_2873.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://commonplacefacts.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/img_2873.jpg?w=1024" src="https://commonplacefacts.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/img_2873.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-18580" srcset="https://commonplacefacts.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/img_2873.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://commonplacefacts.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/img_2873.jpg?w=150 150w, https://commonplacefacts.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/img_2873.jpg?w=300 300w, https://commonplacefacts.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/img_2873.jpg?w=768 768w, https://commonplacefacts.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/img_2873.jpg 1800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>



<p>The English language is robustly filled with many homonyms — words that have multiple meanings. The word <em>bark </em>can refer to the outer covering of a tree as well as <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://commonplacefacts.wordpress.com/2020/08/22/how-do-dogs-bark-in-other-languages/" target="_blank">the sound an English-speaking dog makes</a>. The word <em>foot</em> can be the appendage at the end of your leg, and it can also be a unit of <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://commonplacefacts.wordpress.com/2020/08/22/how-do-dogs-bark-in-other-languages/" target="_blank">measurement</a>. </p>



<p>The Oxford English Dictionary has entries for over 600,000 words. Which of them would you guess has the most definitions?</p>



<!--more-->



<p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://commonplacefacts.wordpress.com/tag/Guinness/" target="_blank">Guinness World Records</a> gives the honor — for now, anyway — to <em>set. </em>The Oxford English Dictionary ascribes 430 distinct definitions and nuances to the word. It also commands the longest entry in the dictionary at 60,000 words or 326,000 characters.</p>



<p>While <em>set</em> holds the honor for now, it is not set in stone. The sun appears to be setting on the set of <em>set’s</em> reign. The next edition of the <em>Oxford English Dictionary</em> (expected in 2037) seems poised to name a new champion. The word <em>run</em> is on track to surpass <em>set</em> as having the most definitions. Only time will tell if <em>set’s</em> days of glory will run out as <em>run </em>runs a new run.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator" />



<div class="wp-container-1 wp-block-buttons alignfull is-content-justification-center">
<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link" href="https://commonplacefacts.wordpress.com/tag/words/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read more fun facts about words</a></div>



<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link" href="https://commonplacefacts.wordpress.com/category/languages-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read more fun facts about languages</a></div>
</div>
]]></html><thumbnail_url><![CDATA[https://commonplacefacts.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/img_2873.jpg?w=1200&fit=440%2C330]]></thumbnail_url><thumbnail_width><![CDATA[440]]></thumbnail_width><thumbnail_height><![CDATA[307]]></thumbnail_height></oembed>