Lexicon
/ˈlɛksɪkɒn/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe complete set of words or vocabulary in a particular language, subject, or person's vocabulary.
/ˈlɛksɪkɒn/
The vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of knowledge.
The software has a large lexicon for processing natural language.
💡 Simply: Imagine it's like the dictionary inside your head or the specific words a group of people uses. It's all the words! Like the special words a doctor uses or all the words in a language.
👶 For kids: A lexicon is all the words someone knows or all the words in a special book!
More Examples
His extensive lexicon allowed him to express himself with great precision.
The study examined the lexicon of a specific dialect.
How It's Used
"The lexicon of a language evolves over time."
"Shakespeare's lexicon is rich and varied."
"The natural language processing system analyzes the input against its lexicon."
A dictionary, especially one for a specific language or author.
/ˈlɛksɪkɒn/
A dictionary.
She consulted the lexicon to understand the archaic words in the manuscript.
💡 Simply: It's like a really old-school dictionary, the kind people used to use before we had the internet.
👶 For kids: It's like a special word book!
More Examples
The ancient Greek lexicon was invaluable for translating Homer.
The research project relied on a comprehensive lexicon of medical terms.
How It's Used
"The scholar consulted the lexicon for the ancient text."
"A specialized lexicon for the study of ancient languages."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Greek *λεξικόν* (lexikón), 'dictionary', from *λέξις* (lexis), 'word, speech'. It evolved from being a reference to a dictionary or vocabulary of a specific author or work to a broader term for a vocabulary.
Historically, the term was frequently used to refer to dictionaries or vocabularies of specific authors or works, such as a 'Shakespearean lexicon'.
Memory tip
Think of it as a library of words – a whole collection.
Word Origin
"word, speech"