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lexeme

[ lek-seem ]
/ ˈlɛk sim /
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noun Linguistics.
a lexical unit in a language, as a word or base; vocabulary item.
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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
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Origin of lexeme

1935–40; lex(ical) or lex(icon) + -eme

Words nearby lexeme

Lewis with Harris, Lewy bodies, lex, Lexan, Lexell, lexeme, lexical, lexical decision task, lexical insertion, lexicalize, lexical meaning
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to lexeme

concept, expression, name, phrase, sound, term, designation, idiom, locution, morpheme, usage, utterance, vocable

British Dictionary definitions for lexeme

lexeme
/ (ˈlɛksiːm) /
noun
linguistics a minimal meaningful unit of language, the meaning of which cannot be understood from that of its component morphemes. Take off (in the senses to mimic, to become airborne, etc) is a lexeme, as well as the independent morphemes take and off

Word Origin for lexeme

C20: from lex (icon) + -eme
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
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