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mem·ber

(mĕmbər)

1. A distinct part of a whole, especially:

a. Linguistics A syntactic unit of a sentence; a clause.

b. Logic A proposition of a syllogism.

c. Mathematics An element in a set.

2. A part or an organ of a human or animal body, as:

a. A limb, such as an arm or a leg.

b. The penis.

3. A part of a plant.

4. One that belongs to a group or organization: a club member; a bank that is a member of the FDIC.

5. Mathematics The expression on either side of an equality sign.

6. A structural unit, such as a beam or wall.

[Middle English membre, from Old French, from Latin membrum.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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