people-n; 6 Senses

Sense Number 1: a general reference to any group of humans

Commentary: PEOPLE[+human][+group][+general]
NOTE: refers to either general group or a group identified by a trait, e.g., business, wealth, misfortune, etc.
NOTE: the traits in sense 1 are less intrinsic than is the case for sense 2 (class), and sense 4 (ethnicity)

Examples:
Over 600 people gathered at the firehouse on Sunday.
Hardly any people attended the lecture.
Wild animals are generally afraid of people.
Only wealthy people can afford to live in that town anymore.
It's a weekly round table for business people.
Some crazy people are threatening to blow up Brooklyn Bridge.
Those poor people stood in the rain three hours to get tickets to the rock concert.
Savvy people compare prices before buying a big ticket item.
Bobby asked his mother if there were people on Mars. (extension of earth-centric concept)

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 2: ordinary citizenry without special rank or status

Commentary: PEOPLE[+group][+political][+governed][-rank] Focuses on a specific socio-economic class of citizen, references a political entity

Examples:
The people are losing confidence in their government.
Power to the people!
He lived like a king while the people starved.
Who said that paying taxes was only for the little people?

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2, 4

Sense Number 3: family line, relatives

Commentary: PEOPLE[+group][+family][+relative] "Your people" can mean your ancestors or members of your family line.

Examples:
Mary met some of her husband's people at last summer's family reunion.
Are your people still living in Kentucky?
Out west they didn't care who your people were.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3

Sense Number 4: subordinate work associates

Commentary: PEOPLE[+group][+associate][+subordinate]

Examples:
Have your people call my people.
Is she one of David's people in marketing?
The President's people are very loyal to him.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 1d

Sense Number 5: specific ethnic groups

Commentary: PEOPLE(S)[+group][+ethnic]
NOTE: frequently occurs in the plural
NOTE: in contrast to sense 2, focuses on a geographic or ethnic trait, rather than a socioeconomic one.

Examples:
We are studying the peoples of sub-Saharan Africa in my cultural anthropology class.
There are many peoples and languages coexisting in India.
Many of the former boat people are now homeowners and have good jobs.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 6: state prosecution in a trial

Commentary: PEOPLE[+role][+legal][+prosecution]

Examples:
There is a precedent for this case in the People vs. Jones.
Those were pretrial statements made by the People's witnesses.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 1e