Possession or Belonging:
* The book of the library: This means the book belongs to the library.
* The queen of England: This means the queen rules England.
Part of a Whole:
* Half of the pie: This means 50% of the pie.
* A third of the students: This means one-third of the total student population.
Relationship or Association:
* The city of London: This indicates London is a city.
* The color of the sky: This refers to the color associated with the sky.
Origin or Source:
* A gift from my friend: This indicates the gift originated from your friend.
* The smell of coffee: This refers to the smell that comes from coffee.
Material or Content:
* A house of brick: This means the house is made of brick.
* A dress of silk: This means the dress is made of silk.
Quantity or Measure:
* A cup of coffee: This indicates a specific amount of coffee.
* A pound of sugar: This indicates a specific weight of sugar.
Time or Duration:
* The month of January: This refers to the month January.
* A period of ten years: This refers to a duration of ten years.
In addition to these common meanings, "of" can also be used in idioms and other expressions.
Example:
* Make the most of it: This idiom means to take advantage of a situation.
* Of course: This phrase is used to agree with someone or indicate something is obvious.
Overall, the specific meaning of "of" depends on the context in which it is used.