meronymy (n.)

A term used in SEMANTICS as part of the study of the SENSE relations which relate LEXICAL ITEMS. Meronymy is the relationship which obtains between ‘parts’ and ‘wholes’, such as wheel and car or leg and knee. ‘X is a part of Y’ (= X is a meronym of Y) contrasts especially with the ‘X is a kind of Y’ relationship (HYPONYMY). The complementary relationship is holonymy (= Y is a holonym of X).