lexicalize

[ lek-si-kuh-lahyz ]

verb (used with object),lex·i·cal·ized, lex·i·cal·iz·ing.Linguistics.
  1. to convert (an affix, a phrase, etc.) into a lexical item, as in using the suffix -ism as the noun ism.

  2. to represent (a set of semantic features) by a lexical item.

Origin of lexicalize

1
First recorded in 1935–40; lexical + -ize
  • Also especially British, lex·i·cal·ise .

Other words from lexicalize

  • lex·i·cal·i·za·tion, noun

Words Nearby lexicalize

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British Dictionary definitions for lexicalize

lexicalize

lexicalise

/ (ˈlɛksɪkəˌlaɪz) /


verb
  1. linguistics to form (a word or lexeme) or (of a word or lexeme) to be formed from constituent morphemes, words, or lexemes, as to form cannot from can and not

Derived forms of lexicalize

  • lexicalization or lexicalisation, noun

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