headword

Etymology

From head + word. Compare West Frisian haadwurd (“noun, substantive, headword”), Dutch hoofdwoord (“headword”), German Hauptwort (“noun, substantive, headword”), Swedish huvudord (“headword, keyword”).

noun

  1. A word used as the title of a section, particularly in a dictionary, encyclopedia, or thesaurus.
  2. (grammar) Any word which may be modified by an adjunct.
    In "a very discerning car shopper", "shopper" is the headword.

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