Main Entry: ¹lem·ma

Pronunciation: \ˈle-mə\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural lemmas or lem·ma·ta \-mə-tə\

Etymology: Latin, from Greek lēmma thing taken, assumption, from lambanein to take — more at latch

Date: 1570

1 : an auxiliary proposition used in the demonstration of another proposition
2 : the argument or theme of a composition prefixed as a title or introduction; also : the heading or theme of a comment or note on a text
3 : a glossed word or phrase