morpheme

[ mawr-feem ]
/ ˈmɔr fim /

noun Linguistics.

any of the minimal grammatical units of a language, each constituting a word or meaningful part of a word, that cannot be divided into smaller independent grammatical parts, as the, write, or the -ed of waited.Compare allomorph(def 2), morph(def 1).

QUIZZES

CAN YOU FEEL THE WEAL WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ?

Did you collect all of last week’s words, but eftsoons forget what they mean? Don’t worry, we’re here to jog your memory. See how many words from the week of May 18 to 24 you can get right!
Question 1 of 7
weal
well-being, prosperity, or happiness.
the intervening time.
a somewhat prolonged, sharp, shrill cry, as of pain, fear, or surprise.
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Origin of morpheme

1895–1900; < French morphème; see morph-, -eme

OTHER WORDS FROM morpheme

mor·phe·mic, adjectivemor·phe·mi·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby morpheme

morph-, morph., morphactin, morphallaxis, morphea, morpheme, morpheme structure condition, morphemics, morpheus, morphia, morphic resonance
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for morphemic

morpheme
/ (ˈmɔːfiːm) /

noun

linguistics a speech element having a meaning or grammatical function that cannot be subdivided into further such elements

Derived forms of morpheme

morphemic, adjectivemorphemically, adverb

Word Origin for morpheme

C20: from French, from Greek morphē form, coined on the model of phoneme; see -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