Lexeme (i.e. set of word-forms)

A lexeme is usually defined as a set of inflected word-forms that differ only in their inflectional properties. As it is usually assumed that not all regularly formed word-forms are listed in the lexicon, a lexeme in this sense is a lexical item, while a word-form is not (normally).

Example

The English word-forms boy and boys make up the lexeme BOY. The Latin word-forms habeo 'I have', habes 'you have', habet 's/he has', habemus 'we have', habebam 'I had', habebunt 'they will have', and so on make up the lexeme HABERE.

Polysemy

• lexeme (i.e. lexical item)