1. Word Association Lookup
The project «Word Associations Network» gives you an opportunity to lookup associations with a given word.
Word associations arise in the human’s mind when reading or saying a word, or just thinking about the word. In order
to retrieve the list of associations to a word, just type in the word in the search panel and press <Enter> key or
"Search" button.
It is also possible to search for a word by the first letter. Click the desired letter on the navigation pane, and you will
pass to a page containing a list of words, which start with the given letter.
If the results you are looking for are not on the first page of search results, you can click "Next" and "Previous" at the
bottom of the page to see more results.
For better usability each word is accompanied by the explanatory articles from WordNet lexical database. The search
results can also contain images, which depict the meaning of corresponding word. Click on the selected image in
order to see it in higher resolution.
The Description of the Project
"Word Associations Network" is inherently an ideographic dictionary or thesaurus. The project consists of three basic
components: an associative dictionary, an explanatory dictionary, and a picture dictionary. The associative dictionary,
the dictionary of associations, or analogical dictionary groups the words of the language by psychological perception,
sense and meaning. The explanatory dictionary provides lexical meaning for every word. This dictionary often
provides examples on the usage of a word. Picture vocabulary or visual dictionary contains graphic illustrations that
depict the meaning of words.
The Definition of Word Association
Association is one of the basic mechanisms of memory. In a sense, they can be called natural classifiers of the
conceptual content of the vocabulary of the language. Ideas and concepts, which are available to the memory of a
man are related. This relationship is based on the past experience of a man and, in the final analysis, more or less
accurately reproduces objectively existing relationship between the phenomena of the real world. Under certain
conditions, a revival of one idea or concept is accompanied by a revival of others ideas correlated with it. This
phenomenon is called the association (a term proposed in the XVIII century by Locke).
Based on the book V. V. Morkovkin «Ideographic Dictionaries» (1970)
Classification of Associations
Since Aristotle the people distinguish association by similarity, contrast and contiguity.
Association by similarity is based on the fact that the associated phenomena have some common features. It
represents a result of generalization of the conditioned connection in which similar stimuli evoke similar reactions
(for example, excitement of synonymic series with actualization of one of the synonyms: woe - unhappiness, sorrow,
grief, sadness, and so on).
Close to the association by similarity is association by contrast, the origin of which is explained by the presence in
phenomena of opposite features. The physiological nature of the association by contrast is in the "mutual induction of
neural processes when strong stimuli ... cause great excitement in the beginning, and then successive inhibition in the
same regions of the cerebral cortex. As a result, in the future one of the contrasting stimuli can cause immediately
after it something that was caused before by another stimulus (contrast with given one)" (for example, the
phenomenon of antonyms: grief - joy, happiness – unhappiness, and so on).
Association by contiguity comes into existence when events are situated close together in time or space. Currently,
the three mentioned types of associations are classified as simple or mechanical. Along with them, more complex
semantic association is distinguished. This is, in particular, the association reflecting generic and cause-and-effect
relationship between the objects of the world (for example, a flower - a rose, a disease - death, and so on).
Based on the book V. V. Morkovkin «Ideographic Dictionaries» (1970)
The Role of Associations
Since the associations reflect some significant relations between objects and phenomena of the real world, and thus
between the concepts, it is reasonable to conclude that they play an important role in the structure of the lexical
4. words by ties of association by similarity; this similarity will not be only external, i.e. sound or structural,
morphological, but also internal, semasiological. Or in other words: every word is capable, due to a special mental
law, to bring in our mind other words with which it is similar, and is excited by these words ..."
Dictionary definition
ASTRONOMY, noun. The branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole.
Wise words
We should have a great fewer disputes in the world if words were taken for what they are, the signs of our ideas only,
and not for things themselves.
John Loc
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Dictionary definition
GALAXY, noun. A splendid assemblage (especially of famous people).
GALAXY, noun. Tufted evergreen perennial herb having spikes of tiny white flowers and glossy green round to
heart-shaped leaves that become coppery to maroon or purplish in fall.
GALAXY, noun. (astronomy) a collection of star systems; any of the billions of systems each having many stars and
nebulae and dust; "`extragalactic nebula' is a former name for `galaxy'".
Wise words
Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible,
speak a few sensible words.
Johann Wolfgang Von Goeth
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Dictionary definition
RAY, noun. A column of light (as from a beacon).
RAY, noun. A branch of an umbel or an umbelliform inflorescence.
RAY, noun. (mathematics) a straight line extending from a point.
RAY, noun. A group of nearly parallel lines of electromagnetic radiation.
RAY, noun. The syllable naming the second (supertonic) note of any major scale in solmization.
RAY, noun. Any of the stiff bony spines in the fin of a fish.
RAY, noun. Cartilaginous fishes having horizontally flattened bodies and enlarged winglike pectoral fins with gills
on the underside; most swim by moving the pectoral fins.
RAY, verb. Emit as rays; "That tower rays a laser beam for miles across the sky".
RAY, verb. Extend or spread outward from a center or focus or inward towards a center; "spokes radiate from the hub
of the wheel"; "This plants radiate spines in all directions".
RAY, verb. Expose to radiation; "irradiate food".
Wise words
All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy,
hope
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.
Dictionary definition
TWINKLE, noun. A rapid change in brightness; a brief spark or flash.
TWINKLE, noun. Merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance; "he had a sparkle in
his eye"; "there's a perpetual twinkle in his eyes".
TWINKLE, verb. Gleam or glow intermittently; "The lights were flashing".
TWINKLE, verb. Emit or reflect light in a flickering manner; "Does a constellation twinkle more brightly than a
single star?".
Wise words
Men govern nothing with more difficulty than their tongues, and can moderate their desires more than their words.
Baruch Spinoza
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6. Adverb
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Towards
1
Dictionary definition
LUMINARY, noun. A celebrity who is an inspiration to others; "he was host to a large gathering of luminaries".
Wise words
Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or
ill.
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7. Adverb
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Towards
1
Dictionary definition
LUMINARY, noun. A celebrity who is an inspiration to others; "he was host to a large gathering of luminaries".
Wise words
Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or
ill.
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