lemma
1 synonym for lemma, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — In mathematics, a proposition that is proved or accepted so that it can be used in proving another proposition.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
citation form
How to use lemma
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
prove a lemma
technical lemma
the lemma of a verb
It is a technical term used in mathematics, linguistics and lexicography.
Etymology
The word was borrowed from Ancient Greek lêmma, meaning premise or assumption. That Greek word comes from the same root as the verb meaning to take.
Full origin of lemma →Frequently asked questions
What is a lemma in linguistics?
It is the canonical form of a word, the one usually used as the dictionary headword. For a verb this is typically the bare infinitive.
What is a lemma in maths?
It is a proposition proved or accepted for use in the proof of another proposition.
What is the plural of lemma?
Both lemmas and lemmata are given as plurals.
