Lexeme

Pronunciation: /ˈlɛksim/

Definitions of lexeme

noun a unit of vocabulary recognized by the grammar of a language

Example Sentences

A1 A lexeme is a basic unit of meaning in language.

A2 In English, the word 'run' can be considered a lexeme.

B1 Students in the linguistics class were asked to analyze the lexemes in the sentence.

B2 The lexeme 'book' can be used as both a noun and a verb.

C1 The linguist studied the lexemes of various languages to understand their structures.

C2 Understanding the relationship between lexemes and morphemes is essential in linguistic analysis.

Examples of lexeme in a Sentence

formal A lexeme is the smallest unit of meaning in a language, such as a word or a morpheme.

informal I learned about the concept of lexeme in my linguistics class.

slang I have to look up the meaning of this lexeme in the dictionary.

figurative The lexeme 'run' can have multiple meanings depending on the context.

Origin and Evolution of lexeme

First Known Use: 1947 year

Language of Origin: Greek

Story behind the word: The word 'lexeme' originated from the combination of the Greek word 'lexis' meaning 'word' and the suffix '-eme' which indicates a unit of language.

Evolution of the word: The term 'lexeme' was first used in linguistics to refer to a unit of meaning within a language, distinct from a morpheme. Over time, its usage has become more widespread in linguistic studies to analyze and categorize words based on their meaning and structure.