71 Base Types

This document contains an ontology of 71 Base Types. These Base Types can be seen as semantic primitives or taxonomy tops that play a key role in large-scale semantic networks. By providing clear definitions or features for these Base Types it is possible to augment a large-scale lexicon with rich feature structures, via (multiple) hyponymy relations that connect each word meaning to the relevant Base Types.

The Base Types are derived from a set of Base Concepts. The Base Concepts are the most important concepts that play a role in wordnets for 4 different languages: English, Dutch, Italian and Spanish. Importance is measured in terms of:

1. number of relations with other meanings,

2. position in the hierarchy.

 Those concepts have been selected which have most relations with other concepts and/or occupy high positions in the hierarchy. The selections have been made in the individual wordnets (so-called Local Base Concepts) and then translated to WordNet1.5 equivalents. These WordNet1.5 Synsets have been merged, where we selected all synsets that occur in 3 selections. This resulted in a set of 164 synsets in WordNet1.5. These 164 synsets have been further minimalized by:
  1. grouping very close or synonymous synsets, such as state and be or act and action.
  2. removing unbalanced hyponyms: both a hyperonym (e.g. human) and a hyponym (worker) are present but not other co-hyponyms (tourist, ruler).
We also added new concepts to the Base Types which are not represented by any of the 164 synsets. This was necessary to get a more clear hierarchical structure. For example, there was no synset for Change of Possession but only synsets for give, get and remove. By inserting a Type for Change of Possession these 3 perspectives can be grouped.

Since we can no longer speak of word meanings or synsets, the concepts are called Base Types and represented in capital letters to stress their artificial nature. There may or may not be a word meaning in a language that corresponds with a Base Type and there may be several Base Concepts that map to a single Base Type. To see how Base Types map to synsets we have added to each Base Type the set of Base Concepts (of the set of 164) that it represents. The Base Concepts can thus be seen as lexicalizations of Base Types in WordNet1.5. The mapping relation is represented as a lexicalization relation. There can be different lexicalization relations from a Base Type to synsets:
 
LX_SYNONYM Base Type is directly lexicalized as a synset
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM Base Type is lexicalized as a number of very close synsets
LX_HYPONYM Base Type is lexicalized as a more specific synset
LX_HYPERONYM Base Type is lexicalized as a more general synset
LX_HOLONYM Base Type is lexicalized as a synset that contains it
LX_MERONYM Base Type is lexicalized as a synset that is contained by it
LX_SUBEVENT Base Type is lexicalized as a synset that is subevent of it
The lexicalizations given here are all taken from WordNet1.5. Other wordnets will have other lexicalizations. By clicking on the first variant in the WordNet1.5 synset you will be linked to a file with more information on the synset (gloss, hyperonym in WordNet1.5 and EuroWordNet top concepts that apply to it).

The ontology of Base Types is not formally defined yet. Partial definitions can be found by going to the WordNet1.5 synsets associated to it or to the EuroWordNet Top Concepts that are again linked to these synsets. The first level of the Base Type ontology is divided into:

- ENTITY: concrete things (EuroWordNet Top Ontology: 1stOrder Entity)

- CONCEPT: concepts, ideas in mind (EuroWordNet Top Ontology: 3rdOrder Entity)

- EVENT: happenings involving change (EuroWordNet Top Ontology: Dynamic 2ndOrder Entity)

- STATE: static situations (EuroWordNet Top Ontology: Static 2ndOrder Entity)

Each of these is further subdivided, in some cases 4 levels deep.

 

ENTITY *

........ANIMATE *

................HUMAN *

................ANIMAL *

................PLANT *

........INANIMATE *

................OBJECT *

................SUBSTANCE *

........COMPOSITION *

................GROUP *

................PART *

........ROLES *

................AGENT *

................PRODUCT *

................CONSTRUCTION *

................COVER *

................DRINK *

................FOOD *

................FURNITURE *

................GOODS *

................INSTRUMENT *

................REPRESENTATION *

........................LANGUAGE *

........................MONEY *

........................SHAPE *

................ORNAMENT *

................POSSESSION *

................PLACE *

.........................AREA *

.........................POINT *

.........................WAY *

CONCEPT *

........CONTENT *

........KNOWLEDGE *

........BELIEF *

EVENT *

........CAUSE *

........PHENOMENON *

........CHANGE *

................CHANGE OF QUANTITY *

........................DECREASE *

........................INCREASE *

................CHANGE OF QUALITY *

........................IMPROVE *

........................WORSEN *

................CHANGE OF POSSESSION *

........................GET *

........................REMOVE *

........................GIVE *

................CHANGE OF EXISTENCE *

........................MAKE *

........................KILL *

................CHANGE OF LOCATION *

........DO *

................COMMUNICATE *

................THINK *

................EXPERIENCE *

........TIME *

STATE *

........PROPERTY *

................PHYSICAL PROPERTY *

................MODAL PROPERTY *

................QUALITY *

................MENTAL PROPERTY *

........RELATION *

................SOCIAL RELATION *

..........................POSSESSION *

................SPATIAL RELATION *

..........................AMOUNT *

..........................DIRECTION *

..........................PHYSICAL HAVE *

 

 

 

1. ENTITY
 
LX_SYNONYM {entity 1} n
2403

1.1. ANIMATE
 
LX_SYNONYM {being 1; life form 1; living thing 1; organism 1} n 2728
LX_WHOLE {body 3; organic structure 1; physical structure 1} n
3607347

1.1.1. HUMAN
 
LX_SYNONYM {human 1; individual 1; mortal 1; person 1; someone 1; soul 1} n
4865
LX_HYPONYM {worker 2} n
5856677

1.1.2. ANIMAL
 
LX_SYNONYM {animal 1; animate being 1; beast 1; brute 1; creature 1; fauna 1} n
8030

1.1.3. PLANT
 
LX_SYNONYM {flora 1; plant 1; plant life 1} n
8894
 

1.2. INANIMATE

1.2.1. OBJECT
 
LX_SYNONYM {inanimate object 1; object 1; physical object 1} n
9469
LX_HYPONYM {natural object 1} n
9919

1.2.2. SUBSTANCE
 
LX_SYNONYM {material 5; stuff 7} n
8781633
LX_SYNONYM {matter 1; substance 1} n
10368
LX_HYPONYM {fluid 2} n
8976164
LX_HYPONYM {liquid 4} n
8976498
LX_HYPONYM {chemical compound 1; compound 4} n
8907331
LX_HYPONYM {chemical element 1; element 6} n
8805286
LX_HYPONYM {mixture 5} n
8783090

1.3. COMPOSITION

1.3.1. GROUP
 
LX_SYNONYM {group 1; grouping 1} n
17008

1.3.2. PART
 
LX_SYNONYM {part 3; portion 2} n
2855539
LX_HYPONYM {bound 2; boundary 2; bounds 2} n
5383364
LX_HYPONYM {part 12; portion 5} n
8450839
LX_HYPONYM {extremity 3} n
5413816
LX_HYPONYM {amount 1; measure 1; quantity 1; quantum 1} n
18966

1.4. ROLES

1.4.1. AGENT
 
LX_SYNONYM {causal agency 1; causal agent 1; cause 1} n
4473

1.4.2. PRODUCT
 
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {artefact 1; artifact 1} n
11607
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {piece of work 1; work 4} n
2932267
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {product 2; production 2} n
2929839
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {creation 3} n
1992919
 

1.4.3. CONSTRUCTION
 
LX_SYNONYM {construction 4; structure 1} n
2034531
LX_HYPONYM {building 3; edifice 1} n
2207842
 

1.4.4. COVER
 
LX_SYNONYM {covering 4} n
1991765
LX_HYPONYM {cloth 1; fabric 1; material 1; textile 1} n
1965302
LX_HYPONYM {apparel 1; clothes 1; clothing 1; vesture 1; wear 2; wearing apparel 1} n
2307680
LX_HYPONYM {garment 1} n
2309624
 

1.4.5. DRINK
 
LX_SYNONYM {beverage 1; drink 2; potable 1} n
5074818
 

1.4.6. FOOD
 
LX_SYNONYM {food 1; nutrient 1} n
11263
 

1.4.7. FURNITURE
 
LX_SYNONYM {article of furniture 1; furniture 1; piece of furniture 1} n
2008299
LX_GROUP {furnishings 2} n
2043015
 

1.4.8. GOODS
 
LX_SYNONYM {commodity 1; goods 1} n
2329807
LX_HYPONYM {consumer goods 1} n
2344541
 

1.4.9. INSTRUMENT
 
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {device 2} n
2001731
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {instrument 2} n
2657448
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {instrumentality 1; instrumentation 2} n
2009476
 

1.4.10 REPRESENTATION
 
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {representation 3} n
2354709
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {symbol 2} n
4434881
 1.4.10.1 LANGUAGE
 
LX_SYNONYM {language unit 1; linguistic unit 1} n
4156286
LX_HYPONYM {document 2; papers 1; written document 1} n
4242515
LX_HYPONYM {writing 4; written material 1} n
4195435
LX_HYPONYM {written communication 1; written language 1} n
4187642
LX_HYPONYM {word 1} n
4157535
1.4.10.2. MONEY
 
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {medium of exchange 1; monetary system 1} n
8207032
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {money 2} n
8214427
 1.4.10.3. SHAPE
 
LX_HYPONYM {line 26} n
8484352

1.4.11. ORNAMENT
 
LX_SYNONYM {decoration 2; ornament 1} n
2029323

1.4.12. POSSESSION
 
LX_SYNONYM {possession 1} n
17394
LX_HYPONYM {asset 2} n
8179398

1.4.13. PLACE
 
LX_SYNONYM {location 1} n
14314
1.4.13.1 AREA
 
LX_SYNONYM {part 9; region 2} n
5449837
LX_HYPONYM {dry land 1; earth 3; ground 7; land 6; solid ground 1; terra firma 1} n
5720524
LX_HYPONYM {opening 4} n
2028879
LX_HYPONYM {surface 1} n
2486678
LX_HYPONYM {surface 4} n
5467731
LX_HYPONYM {line 21} n
5432072
1.4.13.2. POINT
 
LX_SYNONYM {point 12} n
5443777
LX_HYPONYM {place 13; spot 10; topographic point 1} n
5469653
1.4.13.3. WAY
 
LX_SYNONYM {way 4} n
2031514
LX_HYPONYM {passage 6} n
2857000
  

2 CONCEPT
 
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {concept 1; conception 3} n
3954891
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {abstraction 1} n
12670
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {attribute 2; dimension 3; property 3} n
3963400
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {cognitive content 1; content 2; mental object 1} n
3940357
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {idea 2; thought 2} n
3953834

2.1 CONTENT
 
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {communication 1} n
18599
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {message 2; content 3; subject matter 1; substance 4} n
4313427

2.2 KNOWLEDGE
 
LX_SYNONYM {cognition 1; knowledge 1} n
12878
LX_HYPONYM {information 1} n
3944302
LX_HYPONYM {know-how 1; knowhow 1} n
3841532
LX_HYPONYM {method 2} n
3863261
LX_HYPONYM {structure 4} n
3898550

2.3 BELIEF
 
LX_SYNONYM {attitude 3; mental attitude 1} n
4111788
 

3 EVENT
 
LX_SYNOMYM {event 1}  n 
16459
LX_HYPONYM {happening 1; natural event 1; occurrence 1} n
4690182

3.1 CAUSE
 
LX_SYNONYM {cause 7; do 5; give rise to 1; make 17} v
941367
LX_HYPONYM {cause 6; get 9; have 7; induce 2; make 12; stimulate 3} v
432532
LX_HYPONYM {cease 3; discontinue 2; give up 12; lay off 2; quit 5; stop 20} v
1515268
 

 3.2 PHENOMENON
 
LX_SYNONYM {phenomenon 1} n
19295
LX_HYPONYM {consequence 3; effect 4; outcome 2; result 3; upshot 1} n
6465491

3.3 CHANGE
 
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {change 1} n
108829
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {alter 2; change 12; vary 1} v
71241
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {change 11}  v 
64108
LX_HYPONYM {change of state 1} n
113334
LX_HYPONYM {development 1} n
139142
 

 3.3.1 CHANGE OF QUANTITY

3.3.1.1 DECREASE
 
LX_SYNONYM {decrease 5; diminish 1; fall 11; lessen 1} v
90574
LX_HYPONYM {change magnitude 1; change size 1} v
101800
 3.3.1.2. INCREASE
 
LX_SYNONYM {increase 7} v
93597
 

 3.3.2. CHANGE OF QUALITY

3.3.2.1. IMPROVE
 
LX_SYNONYM {improvement 1} n
138272
 3.3.2.2. WORSEN
 
LX_SYNONYM {worsening 1} n
X
 

3.3.3. CHANGE OF POSSESSION

3.3.3.1. GET
 
LX_SYNONYM {get hold of 2; take 17} v
691086
LX_HYPONYM {consume 2; have 8; ingest 2; take 16} v
656714
3.3.3.2. REMOVE
 
LX_SYNONYM {remove 2; take 4; take away 1} v
104355
3.3.3.3. GIVE
 
LX_SYNONYM {give 16} v
1254390
LX_HYPONYM {furnish 1; provide 3; render 12; supply 6} v
1323715
LX_HYPONYM {cover 16} v
763269
 

3.3.4. CHANGE OF EXISTENCE

3.3.4.1 MAKE
 
LX_SYNONYM {create 2; make 13} v
926361
LX_HYPONYM {production 1} n
507790
LX_HYPONYM {emit 2; express audibly 1; let loose 1; utter 3} v
554586
LX_HYPONYM {represent 3} v
556972
3.3.4.2. KILL
 
LX_SYNONYM {kill 5} v
758542
 

3.3.5. CHANGE OF LOCATION
 
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {change of location 1; motion 1; move 4; movement 1} n
157028
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {change of position 1; motion 2; move 5; movement 2} n
186555
LX_HYPONYM {locomotion 1; travel 1} n
159178
LX_HYPONYM {motion 5; movement 6} n
4704743
LX_HYPONYM {go 14; locomote 1; move 15; travel 4} v
1046072
 

3.4. DO
 
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {act 12; do something1; move 19; perform an action 1; take a step 2; take action 1; take measures 1; take steps 1} v 
1341700
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {act 1; human action 1; human activity 1} n
16649
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {action 1} n
21098
LX_HYPONYM {activity 1} n
228990
LX_HYPONYM {act together 2; act towards others 1; interact 1} v
1346535
LX_HYPONYM {allow 6; let 7; permit 5} v
1371393

3.4.1. COMMUNICATE
 
LX_SYNONYM {communicate 1; intercommunicate 1; transmit feelings 1; transmit thoughts 1} v
416793
LX_SUBEVENT {sign 3;signal 1; signaling 1} n
4425761
LX_SUBEVENT {convey 1; impart 1} v
522332
LX_SUBEVENT {evince 1; express 6; show 10} v
531321
LX_SUBEVENT {express 5; give tongue to 1; utter 1} v
529407
LX_SUBEVENT {say 8; state 7; tell 7} v
569629

3.4.2. THINK
 
LX_SYNONYM {cerebrate 1; cogitate 1; think 4} v
354465
LX_HYPONYM {remember 2; think of 1} v
342479
 

3.5. EXPERIENCE
 
LX_SYNONYM {experience 7; get 18; have 11; receive 8; undergo 2} v
1203891
LX_HYPONYM {feeling 1} n
13522
 

3.6. TIME
 
LX_SYNONYM {time 1} n
14882
LX_HYPONYM {amount of time 1; period 3; period of time 1; time period 1} n
9065837
  

4. STATE
 
LX_SYNONYM {situation 4; state of affairs 1} n
8522741
LX_SYNONYM {be 4; have the quality of being 1} v
1472320
LX_SYNONYM {state 1} n
15437
 

4.1. PROPERTY
 
LX_SYNONYM {attribute 1} n
17586
LX_HYPONYM {character 2; lineament 2; quality 4} n
3963513
LX_SYNONYM {property 2} n
3444246
 

4.1.1. PHYSICAL PROPERTY
 
LX_HYPONYM {color 2; coloring 2; colour 2; colouring 2} n
3463765
LX_HYPONYM {form 6; pattern 5; shape 5} n
4003083
LX_HYPONYM {visual property 1} n
3460270
LX_HYPONYM {form 1; shape 1} n
14558
 

4.1.2. MODAL PROPERTY
 
LX_SYNONYM {ability 2; power 3} n
3841132
 

4.1.3. QUALITY
 
LX_SYNONYM {quality 1} n
3338771
LX_HYPONYM {condition 5; status 2} n
8520394
LX_HYPONYM {disorder 1} n
8550427
 

4.1.4. MENTAL PROPERTY
 
LX_SYNONYMn
12517
LX_HYPONYM {need 5; require 3; want 5} v
675532
LX_HYPONYM {need 6} v
675686
 

4.2. RELATION
 
LX_SYNONYM {relation 1} n
17862
LX_HYPONYM {relationship 1} n
8436181
LX_HYPONYM {ratio 1} n
8457189
LX_HYPONYM {unit 6; unit of measurement 1} n
8313335
 

4.2.1. SOCIAL RELATION
 
LX_SYNONYM {social relation 1} n
18392
LX_HYPONYM {relationship 3} n
8523567
 

4.2.1.1. POSSESSION
 
LX_HYPERONYM {have 12; have got 1; hold 19} v
1256853
 

4.2.2. SPATIAL RELATION
 
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {spatial property 1; spatiality 1} n
3524985
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {be 9; occupy a certain area 1; occupy a certain position 1} v
1501697
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {space 1} n
15245
LX_NEAR_SYNONYM {spacing 1; spatial arrangement 1} n
3535737
 4.2.2.1. AMOUNT
 
LX_SYNONYM {definite quantity 1} n
8310215
LX_HYPONYM {distance 1} n
3536009
LX_HYPONYM {magnitude relation 1} n
8454813
 4.2.2.2. DIRECTION
 
LX_SYNONYM {direction 7; way 8}
n
5477069
LX_HYPONYM {aim 4; bearing 5; heading 2} n
5477280
LX_HYPONYM {course 7; trend 3} n
5477560
LX_HYPONYM {path 3; route 2} n
5441398
 4.2.2.3. PHYSICAL HAVE
 
LX_HYPERONYM {have 12; have got 1; hold 19} v
1256853