lex
eme
Plural
lexemes
1
(linguistics) a basic linguistic unit that is meaningful and underlies a set of words which are related through inflection
A lexeme is the fundamental unit of meaning in a language, representing a single word or a group of related words that share a common meaning. It is the abstract form of a word that encompasses all its grammatical variations, such as tense or number. For example, the lexeme "run" includes all its forms like "runs", "running", and "ran". Lexemes serve as the building blocks of vocabulary, allowing for the expression of various meanings and concepts within a language while focusing on the underlying meaning rather than specific grammatical forms.
- A lexeme is the smallest unit of meaning in a language, encompassing both a word and all its inflected forms.
- For example, the lexeme "run" includes the base form "run," as well as its inflections like "ran," "running," and "runs."
- Linguists study lexemes to understand how words are related morphologically and semantically within a language.
- The lexeme "go" encompasses various forms such as "went," "going," and "goes," each conveying different aspects of the verb's meaning.
- Analyzing lexemes helps in identifying patterns of word formation and usage across different linguistic contexts.