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ambiguous structure

[/æmˈbɪɡjuəs ˈstrʌktʃər/]
nounfemininepl: ambiguous structures / estruturas ambíguas
estrutura ambígua
1. A construction, arrangement, or organization that can be interpreted in more than one way; lacking clarity or having multiple possible meanings
The ambiguous structure of the sentence made it difficult to understand the author's intended meaning.
A estrutura ambígua da frase dificultou a compreensão do significado pretendido pelo autor.
2. In linguistics or grammar, a syntactic arrangement that permits two or more distinct interpretations
The phrase 'I saw the man with the telescope' is an ambiguous structure in English.
A frase 'Vi o homem com o telescópio' é uma estrutura ambígua em português.
3. In design or engineering, a framework or system whose function or purpose is unclear
The building's ambiguous structure left visitors confused about its intended use.
A estrutura ambígua do edifício deixou os visitantes confusos quanto ao seu uso pretendido.
Synonyms
ambiguous phrasingunclear constructionequivocal structurevague arrangement
Antonyms
clear structureunambiguous constructionexplicit structurewell-defined framework

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
estrutura ambígua
Standard usage in Brazilian Portuguese
São Paulo
estrutura ambígua
Common in academic and technical contexts
Portugal
estrutura ambígua
Standard usage in European Portuguese; may also use 'construção ambígua'

Related Idioms & Phrases

reading between the lines
lost in translation
mixed message
up in the air
room for interpretation
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