Lexeme (noun)
lek-seem
(linguistics) a lexical unit in a language, as a word or base; vocabulary item. / (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
1935–40; lex(ical) or lex(icon) + -eme
Example sentences
“English language learners can find lexemes and phrasal verbs difficult to get their heads around.”
