noun
Uncommon
lex
lehks
Lex (noun) means a law, especially one from ancient Roman legal tradition. Example: “Historians still study the leges of the Roman Republic.”
noun
1
A law, especially one from ancient Roman legal tradition.
"Historians still study the leges of the Roman Republic."
verb
1
(computing) To break a stream of text into a sequence of tokens as the first stage of processing code.
"The compiler will lex the source file before parsing it."
How to use lex
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a formal Latin term for "law," or programmer shorthand for scanning code into tokens.
When to use it
The Latin legal sense is academic/historical; the computing sense is technical jargon.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like lex.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- lexes, leges
- Third person singular
- lexes
- Past tense
- lexed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The compiler will _____ the source file before parsing it.
Etymology
Latin lex, meaning "law." The computing sense comes from "lexical analysis," shortened to "lex."
Rhymes for lex
See all rhymes for lex →Frequently asked questions
What does “lex” mean?
The word “lex” means a law, especially one from ancient Roman legal tradition. In plain terms, either a formal Latin term for "law," or programmer shorthand for scanning code into tokens.
How do you pronounce “lex”?
“Lex” is pronounced lehks (/lɛks/ in IPA).
How do you use “lex” in a sentence?
Here is “lex” used in a sentence: “The compiler will lex the source file before parsing it.”
What part of speech is “lex”?
Depending on how it is used, “lex” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “lex” come from?
The word “lex” comes from Latin. Latin lex, meaning "law." The computing sense comes from "lexical analysis," shortened to "lex.".
Is “lex” a common word?
“Lex” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “lex” have?
“Lex” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a law, especially one from ancient Roman legal tradition.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include lex:
