noun, plural lem·mas, lem·ma·ta [lem–uh-tuh] /ˈlɛm ə tə/.
- a subsidiary proposition introduced in proving some other proposition; a helping theorem.
- an argument, theme, or subject, especially when indicated in a heading.
- a word or phrase that is glossed; headword.
noun, plural lem·mas. Botany.
- a bract in a grass spikelet just below the pistil and stamens.
noun plural -mas or -mata (-mətə)
- a subsidiary proposition, proved for use in the proof of another proposition
- 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
- an argument or theme, esp when used as the subject or title of a composition
noun plural -mas or -mata (-mətə)
- the outer of two bracts surrounding each floret in a grass spikeletCompare palea
n.1560s, first in mathematics, from Greek lemma (plural lemmata) “something received or taken; an argument; something taken for granted,” from root of lambanein “to take” (see analemma). Plural lemmas lemmata (lĕm′ə-tə)
- The outer or lower of the two bracts enclosing one of the flowers within a grass spikelet.