# lemma

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈlɛmə/ · frequency rank #39,896

## Definitions
1. A proposition proved or accepted for immediate use in the proof of some other proposition.
2. A proposition proved or accepted for immediate use in the proof of some other proposition.
3. The canonical form of an inflected word; i.e., the form usually found as the headword in a dictionary, such as the nominative singular of a noun, the bare infinitive of a verb, etc.
4. The theoretical abstract conceptual form of a word, representing a specific meaning, before the creation of a specific phonological form as the sounds of a lexeme, which may find representation in a specific written form as a dictionary or lexicographic word.

## Etymology
From Ancient Greek λῆμμα (lêmma, “premise, assumption”), from the same root as λαμβάνω (lambánō, “to take”).

## Easily confused with
- **Lena** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lemma-vs-lena)
- **lima** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lemma-vs-lima)
- **loma** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lemma-vs-loma)
- **lemon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lemma-vs-lemon)
- **lemme** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lemma-vs-lemme)
- **llama** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lemma-vs-llama)
- **Leona** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lemma-vs-leona)
- **lumia** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lemma-vs-lumia)
- **lemur** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lemma-vs-lemur)
- **lea** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lea-vs-lemma)
- **LEM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lem-vs-lemma)
- **lama** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lama-vs-lemma)
- **Leia** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/leia-vs-lemma)
- **Leila** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/leila-vs-lemma)
- **Leela** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/leela-vs-lemma)
- **Leica** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/leica-vs-lemma)

## Common misspellings (5)
`elmma`, `lema`, `lemam`, `llemma`, `lmema`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/lemma