What is a 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.

Context for this page:

Concept module: lexical database
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): L
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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