What is the definition of word?

Word, in the linguistic sense, is the smallest unit of language that can stand alone as a meaningful unit. Words are typically composed of one or more morphemes, which are the smallest units of language that have meaning. For example, the word "dog" is composed of the morpheme "dog", which means "a carnivorous mammal that typically has a long snout, an acute sense of smell, and four legs."

Words can be classified according to their part of speech, which refers to their grammatical function in a sentence. The most common parts of speech are nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions, and conjunctions.

Words can also be classified according to their origin. Some words are borrowed from other languages, while others are created from within a language. Borrowed words are often adapted to the phonological and morphological system of the language into which they are borrowed.

Words can also be classified according to their meaning. Some words are literal, meaning that they have a straightforward, concrete meaning. Other words are figurative, meaning that they have a meaning that is not directly related to their literal meaning. For example, the word "red" is a literal word that refers to the color red, while the word "red-handed" is a figurative word that refers to being caught in the act of committing a crime.

Words are the building blocks of language, and they play a crucial role in communication. Words allow us to express our thoughts, feelings, and ideas. They also allow us to share information and to learn from others.