defineim

Defineim is a theoretical framework for structuring definitional content in knowledge bases. The term is used in discussions about knowledge representation to explore how definitions can be stored, linked, and versioned as data rather than prose.

Core concepts: Each definitional entry is a node with fields such as term, sense, definitional text, scope (domain, usage), examples, synonyms, etymology, references. Relationships connect terms to related concepts (antonyms, hyponyms, usage notes). A definitional entry can have multiple senses and languages, enabling disambiguation.

Implementation and formats: Proponents describe a minimal schema and APIs; common serializations include JSON-LD, RDF, or YAML representations. A definim graph can be stored in graph databases; tools can validate definitions against a schema and render them for human or machine consumption.

History and status: Defineim originated in theoretical discussions and speculative prototypes rather than a formal standard. It has appeared in blog posts and academic-style thought experiments as a way to illustrate machine-actionable definitions. No central authority governs the concept, and implementations vary.

See also knowledge representation, controlled vocabularies, data modeling.