Editing Opposite (section)

== Types of antonyms ==
An antonym is one of a pair of words with opposite meanings. Each word in the pair is the antithesis of the other. A word may have more than one antonym. There are three categories of antonyms identified by the nature of the relationship between the opposed meanings. 

=== Gradable antonyms ===
A gradable antonym is one of a pair of words with opposite meanings where the two meanings lie on a continuous spectrum. Temperature is such a continuous spectrum so ''hot'' and ''cold'', two meanings on opposite ends of the spectrum, are gradable antonyms. Other examples include: ''heavy'' : ''light'', ''fat'' : ''skinny'', ''dark'' : ''light'', ''young'' : ''old'', ''early'' : ''late'', ''empty'' : ''full'', ''dull'' : ''interesting''.

=== Complementary antonyms ===
A complementary antonym, sometimes called a binary or contradictory antonym (Aarts, Chalker & Weiner 2014), is one of a pair of words with opposite meanings, where the two meanings do not lie on a continuous spectrum. There is no continuous spectrum between ''odd'' and ''even'' but they are opposite in meaning and are therefore complementary antonyms. Other examples include: ''mortal'' : ''immortal'', ''exit'' : ''entrance'', ''exhale'' : ''inhale'', ''occupied'' : ''vacant''.

=== Relational antonyms ===
A [[Converse (semantics)|relational antonym]] is one of a pair of words that refer to a relationship from opposite points of view. There is no lexical opposite of ''teacher'', but ''teacher'' and ''pupil'' are opposite within the context of their relationship. This makes them relational antonyms. Other examples include: ''husband'' : ''wife'', ''doctor'' : ''patient'', ''predator'' : ''prey'', ''teach'' : ''learn'', ''servant'' : ''master'', ''come'' : ''go'', ''parent'' : ''child''.