Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

sememe

Noun

/ˈsiːmiːm/

Definition

A sememe is the smallest unit of meaning in a language.

Examples

The word ‘cat’ has a sememe that represents a small, domesticated feline animal.
Understanding the sememe of ‘love’ can reveal various emotional nuances in different contexts.
In linguistic studies, researchers often break down complex phrases into their sememes for detailed analysis.

Meaning

In linguistics, a sememe represents the basic meaning that a word or phrase conveys. It is the fundamental component of lexical semantics, helping to analyze how meanings are constructed from words.