Synonym ring

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In metadata a Synonym ring or synset, is a group of data elements that are considered semantically equivalent for the purposes of information retrieval. These data elements are frequently found in different metadata registries. Although a group of terms can be considered equivalent, metadata registries store the synonyms at a central location called the preferred data element.

According to WordNet, a synset or synonym set is defined as a set of one or more synonyms that are interchangeable in some context without changing the truth value of the proposition in which they are embedded.

1 Example of Synonym Ring
2 Expression of Synonym Ring
3 See also
4 References

[edit] Example of Synonym Ring

The following are considered semantically equivalent and form a synonym ring:

foaf:person
gjxdm:Person
niem:Person
sumo:Human
cyc:Individual

Note that each data element has two components:

Namespace prefix which is a shorthand for the name of the metadata registry
Data Element name The name of the object in each of the distinct metadata registry

[edit] Expression of Synonym Ring

A Synonym Ring can be expressed by a series of statements in the Web Ontology Language (OWL) using the classEquivalence or the propertyEquivalence or instance equivalence statement - the sameAs property.