lexicalised
/ˈlɛksɪkəlaɪzd/
adjective
- Describing a word or phrase that has become a fixed, established part of a language's vocabulary, often with a specific meaning that may not be obvious from its parts.
- The phrase 'kick the bucket' is a lexicalised idiom that means 'to die,' not literally kicking a bucket.
- Many phrasal verbs like 'give up' are lexicalised and have meanings that are different from the individual words.
- In English, 'blackboard' is a lexicalised compound word that refers to a specific object, not just any board that is black.
Synonyms