lexicon
Language's full inventory
A lexicon is a vocabulary—the complete set of words belonging to a language, a field of knowledge, or a particular speaker.
In linguistics, it refers specifically to the mental dictionary each person carries, containing all the words they know along with information about meaning, pronunciation, and usage.
The term also denotes a dictionary or wordbook, especially one for ancient languages like Greek or Hebrew.
Her lexicon expanded dramatically after a year abroad.
Units of language
- phrasesConnected word groups
- expressionsOutward manifestations of feeling
- terminologySubject-specific vocabulary
- nomenclatureSystem of specialized terms
diction · word-hoard · repertoire · stock · inventory · specialized vocabulary · technical terms · working vocabulary
Synonym and antonym compendium
- glossaryAlphabetical list with definitions
- wordbookCompiled vocabulary reference
- definitionsStated meanings of terms
- entriesItems logged or submitted
headwords · meanings · synonyms · antonyms · etymology · pronunciation · usage · idioms
Comprehensive subject-matter collection
- compendiumCondensed reference collection
- handbookCompact reference guide
- manualWritten instructions for use
- guideLeader or instruction book
index · bibliography · archive · repository · database · catalogue · register · directory
Fundamental dictionary unit
- morphemeSmallest meaningful language unit
- semanticsStudy of linguistic meaning
- syntaxRules for arranging words
- phonologyScience of language sounds
morphology · pragmatics · phonetics · sociolinguistics · psycholinguistics · language acquisition · polysemy · homonymy
Specialized professional vocabulary
- terminologySubject-specific vocabulary
- nomenclatureSystem of specialized terms
- technical vocabularySpecialized terms of a field
- domain-specificLimited to particular field
argot · cant · legalese · medicalese · scientific terminology · trade language · field-specific · insider language
Underground absorbing structure
- stemPlant's central axis
- affixWord-part modifier
- prefixRoot-modifying front element
- suffixWord-ending addition
blend · compound · derivation · inflection · clipping · acronym · backformation · borrowing
words
Units of language
- phrasesConnected word groups
- expressionsOutward manifestations of feeling
- terminologySubject-specific vocabulary
nomenclature · diction · word-hoard · repertoire · stock · inventory · specialized vocabulary · technical terms · working vocabulary
thesaurus
Synonym and antonym compendium
- glossaryAlphabetical list with definitions
- wordbookCompiled vocabulary reference
- definitionsStated meanings of terms
entries · headwords · meanings · synonyms · antonyms · etymology · pronunciation · usage · idioms · phrases
encyclopedia
Comprehensive subject-matter collection
- compendiumCondensed reference collection
- handbookCompact reference guide
- manualWritten instructions for use
guide · index · bibliography · archive · repository · database · catalogue · register · directory · collection
lexeme
Fundamental dictionary unit
- morphemeSmallest meaningful language unit
- semanticsStudy of linguistic meaning
- syntaxRules for arranging words
phonology · morphology · pragmatics · phonetics · sociolinguistics · psycholinguistics · language acquisition · polysemy · homonymy · cognate
jargon
Specialized professional vocabulary
- terminologySubject-specific vocabulary
- nomenclatureSystem of specialized terms
- technical vocabularySpecialized terms of a field
domain-specific · argot · cant · legalese · medicalese · scientific terminology · trade language · field-specific · insider language · register
root
Underground absorbing structure
suffix · blend · compound · derivation · inflection · clipping · acronym · backformation · borrowing · calque
- reference booksdictionary, dictionaries, bilingual dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesauri
- language termsgrammar, word, vocabulary, syntax, synonym
- speech or wordsnoun, verb, adjective, adverb, pronoun
- written worksessay, novel, anthologies, history books, letter
- language referencesdictionary, thesaurus, dictionaries, glossary, thesauri
- library resourceslibrary, books, librarian, archive, archives
lexicongrammar
Language's structural rules
syntax · morphology · phonology · grammatical rules · sentence structure
lexiconsilence
Total lack of sound
wordlessness · muteness · nonverbal communication · body language · speechlessness
- historical lexiconDictionary of past terminology
- lexical semanticsStudy of word meaning
- lexical analysisCharacter-to-token conversion process
lexical, lexicography, lexicographer, lexicons, lexicology, lexicographical