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vocaboo
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lemma

Pronunciation: [ˈlɛm.ə]

Word

Context: "linguistics"

(noun) a base form of a word that you see in dictionaries. It's the simple version of a word before it changes for tense, number, or other grammar rules. For example, 'run' is the lemma for 'runs', 'running', or 'ran'.

Example

In her English class, the teacher told us that 'go' is the lemma for 'going' and 'went'.

Example

The word 'went' is not the lemma; it has already changed form.

Example

What is the lemma for the word 'better'?

Context: "mathematics"

(noun) a statement or proposition that is used to prove other statements. It's like a helper definition that helps you show something else is true, kind of like building blocks.

Example

In math class, we used a lemma to help prove the main theorem about triangles.

Example

We didn't use a lemma during that lesson; we went straight to the main proof.

Example

Can you explain how that lemma helps us with the big proof?

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