Here's a breakdown:
* Lexeme: A basic unit of meaning in a language. This can be a single word, like "run," or a multi-word unit like "take a break."
* Multi-word: Consisting of more than one word.
* Single unit of meaning: Acting as a single concept or idea.
Examples of Multi-word Lexemes:
* Phrasal verbs: "take off," "put up with," "look up to"
* Prepositional phrases: "on the whole," "by the way," "at least"
* Idioms: "kick the bucket," "spill the beans," "raining cats and dogs"
* Compound nouns: "sunrise," "fireplace," "high school"
* Fixed expressions: "how do you do?," "thank you very much," "good morning"
Characteristics of Multi-word Lexemes:
* Non-compositional meaning: The meaning of the whole unit is not simply the sum of the meanings of its individual words. For example, "kick the bucket" does not literally mean to kick a bucket.
* Fixed or semi-fixed structure: The words in a multi-word lexeme typically occur in a specific order, and cannot be freely reordered.
* Grammatical cohesion: They function as a single unit in a sentence, taking on the role of a noun, verb, adjective, etc.
Distinguishing Multi-word Lexemes from other phrases:
It's important to note that not all multi-word phrases are lexemes. Phrases like "the big red ball" are not lexemes because they don't have a fixed meaning or function as a single unit. They are simply descriptions of individual elements.
In summary:
Multi-word lexemes are essential parts of language, adding richness and complexity to our expressions. They often convey meanings that cannot be expressed with single words alone.