Glossary of Linguistic Terms

Lexical Database

Definition: 

A lexical database is an organized description of the lexemes of a language.

Discussion: 

A lexical database attempts to approximate the lexicon of a native speaker.

It includes an inventory of known morphemes and information about their meanings.

For each sense of a morpheme, it includes such things as:

  • a part of speech designation
  • a definition
  • sample sentences to illustrate this sense
  • cultural annotations to indicate its significance, and
  • identifiction of semantic relationships with other morphemes.

Glossary Hierarchy