Lexical Form
Definition:
A lexical form is an abstract unit representing a set of wordforms differing only in inflection and not in core meaning.
It is a component part of a lexical unit.
Examples:
(English)
- The lexeme, brooch n. 'a large ornamental pin with a clasp, worn by women' has a single lexical unit with a single lexical form representing the two wordforms, brooch andbrooches.
- The primary sense of the lexeme ignite vt. 'to set fire to' is a single lexical unit with a single lexical form representing several wordforms such as, ignite, ignited, ignites andigniting.
See Also:
This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library. Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003.