lexicalize

[ lek-si-kuh-lahyz ]
/ ˈlɛk sɪ kəˌlaɪz /

verb (used with object), lex·i·cal·ized, lex·i·cal·iz·ing. Linguistics.

to convert (an affix, a phrase, etc.) into a lexical item, as in using the suffix -ism as the noun ism.
to represent (a set of semantic features) by a lexical item.
Also especially British, lex·i·cal·ise.

Origin of lexicalize

First recorded in 1935–40; lexical + -ize

OTHER WORDS FROM lexicalize

lex·i·cal·i·za·tion, noun

Words nearby lexicalize

lexical, lexical decision task, lexical insertion, lexical meaning, lexical order, lexicalize, lexicog., lexicographer, lexicography, lexicology, lexicon

British Dictionary definitions for lexicalize

lexicalize

lexicalise

/ (ˈlɛksɪkəˌlaɪz) /

verb

linguistics to form (a word or lexeme) or (of a word or lexeme) to be formed from constituent morphemes, words, or lexemes, as to form cannot from can and not

Derived forms of lexicalize

lexicalization or lexicalisation, noun