a subsidiary proposition, proved for use in the proof of another proposition
2. linguistics
a word considered as its citation form together with all the inflected forms. For example, the lemma go consists of go together with goes, going, went, and gone
3.
an argument or theme, esp when used as the subject or title of a composition
Word origin
C16 (meaning: proposition), C17 (meaning: title, theme): via Latin from Greek: premise,from lambanein to take (for granted)
lemma in British English2
(ˈlɛmə)
nounWord forms: plural-mas or -mata (-mətə)
the outer of two bracts surrounding each floret in a grass spikelet
Compare palea
Word origin
C19: from Greek: rind, from lepein to peel
lemma in American English1
(ˈlɛmə)
nounWord forms: pluralˈlemmas or ˈlemmata (ˈlɛmətə)
1.
a proposition proved, or sometimes assumed, to be true and used in proving a theorem
2.
the subject of a composition, gloss, or note, esp. when used as a heading
3.
a term glossed in a list
Word origin
L < Gr lēmma, something taken or received, something taken for granted < lambanein, to seize, assume < IE base *(s)lagw-, to grasp > latch
lemma in American English2
(ˈlɛmə)
noun
the outer or lower of the two bracts or scales surrounding the flower of a grass