way-n; 9 Senses

Sense Number 1: a characterized method or manner

Commentary:WAY[+event_set][+behavior][+procedural][+characteristic]

Examples:
She has a way with horses.
I did it my way.
There's no way to carry a refrigerator up these stairs!
The way to succeed in business is to study linguistics.
The way I learned to swim was through trial and error.
Mary picked up her French ways living in Paris for five years.
You can prove the theorem either way, but this one requires fewer steps.
He had a quiet way about him.
It's not their way to complain openly to the boss.
There are no two ways about it. (only one manner or method)

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 2, 10

Sense Number 2: Placeholder: Do Not Choose

Examples:

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: Placeholder Sense

Sense Number 3: a state of affairs, situation, circumstance

Commentary: WAY[+event][+state][+condition][+general][+situation] The general state of something.

Examples:
That's just the way things are.
I felt the same way.
It must be a lonely way of life.
She wants to have it both ways, and that's not fair.
Being in a family way is a euphemism for being pregnant.
If I had my way, we'd leave the papers behind.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4

Sense Number 4: a general course of action

Commentary: WAY[+event][+event_set][+course_of_action]
NOTE: refers to an abstract journey, a course of action that is followed

Examples:
The way out of this crisis is to reduce the debt and strengthen the currency.
We must all find our own ways in life.
The way back from drug addiction was a long and arduous process for him.
The old styles must give way for the new.
This piece of legislation has cleared the way for a more comprehensive set of policies.
This company has led the way in terms of innovative consumer electronics.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 5: a direction or orientation

Commentary:WAY[+location][+orientation][+direction] A direction or orientation

Examples:
Look both ways before you cross the street.
The wind scattered the leaves every which way.
He turned onto a one-way street.
The boy said the thief ran that way.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3

Sense Number 6: any physical path or route

Commentary:WAY[+location][+physical][+path] The actual pathway connecting one place to another.
NOTE: can be man-made or a natural route

Examples:
The river was the only way to get to the tiny settlement in the jungle.
Make way for the king!
She led the way to our seats in the balcony.
John has discovered a new way to get from his house to work. (a different route)
I met him on the way to Toledo.
The way to school took three hours in each direction.
We flew to Los Angeles by way of Denver.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 7: a measure of distance

Commentary:WAY[+quantity][+measure][+distance] A measure of physical distance, but can be used metaphorically also

Examples:
It's a long way to Moscow.
It's only a short way to the market.
We came a long way before we saw any sign of civilization.
You've come a long way, baby! (metaphoric usage - implies moving a social distance)

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 9

Sense Number 8: with respect to, concerning

Commentary:WAY[+relation][+relevance][+to_something] Expression meaning "with regard to", "concerning"

Examples:
We didn't have much in the way of clothing.
Do you have anything by way of a screwdriver?

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 11

Sense Number 9: divisions or portions of a whole thing

Commentary:WAY[+quantity][+portion][+of_whole] Refers to the number of "ways" that something is divided
NOTE: occurs in the plural only

Examples:
We split the loot three ways.
I can split each cookie two ways, s

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 12