lexicologist

/,leksi'kɔlədʤist/

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Word: Lexicologist

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A lexicologist is a person who studies words and their meanings, and often works with dictionaries. They look at how words are used, how they change over time, and how they fit into a language.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use "lexicologist" when talking about someone who is an expert in the study of words.
• It is a specific term, so it’s mostly used in academic or professional contexts.

Example Sentence:

• "The lexicologist spent years researching the history of the English language to help create a new dictionary."

Advanced Usage:

• In academic discussions, you might say, "As a lexicologist, she focused on the evolution of slang in modern communication."

Word Variants:

• Lexicology (noun): The study of words and their meanings.
• Lexicon (noun): The vocabulary of a language or a specific field.

Different Meanings:

• While "lexicologist" specifically refers to someone who studies words, it doesn't have many different meanings. However, it can sometimes be used in a broader sense to refer to anyone who works with language.

Synonyms:

• Linguist (though this is broader and includes all aspects of language)
• Dictionary maker (more informal)

Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There aren’t specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly relate to "lexicologist," but you might encounter idioms about language in general, such as:
  • "Lost in translation" - meaning something that is misunderstood when translated from one language to another.
  • "The pen is mightier than the sword" - suggesting that writing (and words) can have more power than violence.

Summary:

A lexicologist is a specialist in the study of words and their meanings, often involved in creating or refining dictionaries. They analyze how words are used and their development over time.

Academic

Noun

1. a compiler or writer of a dictionary; a student of the lexical component of language

Synonyms

• lexicographer