lemma

[ lem-uh ]

See synonyms for lemma on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural lem·mas, lem·ma·ta

[lem-uh-tuh]. /ˈlɛm ə tə/.

a subsidiary proposition introduced in proving some other proposition; a helping theorem.
an argument, theme, or subject, especially when indicated in a heading.

a word or phrase that is glossed; headword.

Origin of lemma

1560–70; <Latin: theme, title, epigram <Greek lêmma something received, premise, akin to lambánein to take, receive, take for granted

Words Nearby lemma

Other definitions for lemma (2 of 2)

lemma²

[ lem-uh ]

noun,plural lem·mas.Botany.

a bract in a grass spikelet just below the pistil and stamens.

Origin of lemma

1745–55; <Greek lémma shell, husk, akin to lépein to peel

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use lemma in a sentence

While working on one of them, Morel realized her proof called for a lemma — a type of short steppingstone result — that mathlib didn’t have.
Building the Mathematical Library of the Future | Kevin Hartnett | October 1, 2020 | Quanta Magazine
Some American Authors have recently adopted for the flowering glume the term lemma introduced by Piper.
A Handbook of Some South Indian Grasses | Rai Bahadur K. Ranga Achariyar
The method of exhaustion used, for the purpose of proof by reductio ad absurdum, the lemma proved in Eucl.
The Legacy of Greece | Various
His apparatus is the first to supply a lemma for each variant reading reported, and is clear and easy to read.
The Last Poems of Ovid | Ovid
The lemma in his note is Oratesque, the reading of Daniel Heinsius' edition.
The Last Poems of Ovid | Ovid

British Dictionary definitions for lemma (1 of 2)

lemma¹

/ (ˈlɛmə) /

nounplural -mas or -mata (-mətə)

a subsidiary proposition, proved for use in the proof of another proposition
linguistics a word considered as its citation form together with all the inflected forms. For example, the lemma go consists of go together with goes, going, went, and gone

an argument or theme, esp when used as the subject or title of a composition

Origin of lemma

C16 (meaning: proposition), C17 (meaning: title, theme): via Latin from Greek: premise, from lambanein to take (for granted)

British Dictionary definitions for lemma (2 of 2)

lemma²

/ (ˈlɛmə) /

nounplural -mas or -mata (-mətə)

the outer of two bracts surrounding each floret in a grass spikelet: Compare palea

Origin of lemma

C19: from Greek: rind, from lepein to peel

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for lemma

lemma

[ lĕm′ə ]

Plural lemmas lemmata (lĕm′ə-tə)

The outer or lower of the two bracts enclosing one of the flowers within a grass spikelet.

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