lexeme

American  

[lek-seem] / ˈlɛk sim /

noun

Linguistics.

1. a lexical unit in a language, as a word or base; vocabulary item.

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lexeme British  

/ ˈlɛksiːm /

noun

1. 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

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Etymology

Origin of lexeme

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

Related Words

• concept
• expression
• name
• phrase
• sound
• term