Definition
A lexical relation is a culturally recognized pattern of association that exists between lexical units in a language.
Examples
(English paradigmatic lexical relations)
Here is a table showing some common paradigmatic lexical relations in English with example sets and underlying structure:
|
Lexical relation |
Example set |
Underlying structure |
|---|---|---|
|
synonym |
A "happy" synonym set: {happy, joyful, glad} |
simple set |
|
measurement |
A "temperature" set: {cold, cool, lukewarm, warm, hot} |
scale |
|
opposite |
A "social relation" set: {(student, teacher), (patient, doctor)} |
set of pairs |
|
generic-specific whole-part |
A "whole-part" tree: |
tree |
| Underlying structure | |
|
Each lexical relation has an underlying structure that describes the relationship that senses within a lexical relation set have with each other. |
|
|
Here are some underlying structures of lexical relations: |
|
Kinds
More specific concepts within lexical relation.