A semilattice is a mathematical concept with two definitions, one as a type of ordered set, the other as an algebraic structure. In mathematical order theory, a semilattice is a partially ordered set (poset) closed under one of two binary operations, either supremum (join) or infimum (meet). Hence one speaks of either a join-semilattice or a meet-semilattice. If an ordered set is both a meet- and join-semilattice, it is also a lattice.

Semilattices as posets

---

Let S be a set partially ordered by the binary relation ≤. $\backslash lang\; S,\backslash leq\; \backslash rang$ is a meet-semilattice if

For all elements x and y of S, the greatest lower bound of the set {x, y} exists.

The greatest lower bound of the set {x,y} is called the meet of x and y, denoted x$\backslash wedge$y.

Replacing "greatest lower bound" with "least upper bound" results in the dual concept of a join-semilattice. The least upper bound of {x, y} is called the join of x and y, denoted x$\backslash vee$y. Meet and join are binary operations on S. A simple induction argument shows that the existence of all possible pairwise suprema (infima), as per the definition, implies the existence of all non-empty finite suprema (infima).

A join-semilattice is bounded if it has a least element, the join of the empty set. Dually, a meet-semilattice is bounded if it has a greatest element, the meet of the empty set.

Other properties may be assumed; see the article on completeness in order theory for more discussion on this subject. That article also discusses how one may rephrase the above definition in terms of the existence of suitable Galois connections between related posets — an approach of special interest for category theoretic investigations of the concept.

Semilattices as algebraic structures

---

A "meet-semilattice" is an algebraic structure $\backslash lang\; S,\backslash wedge\; \backslash rang$ consisting of a set S with the binary operation $\backslash wedge$, called meet, such that for all members x, y, and z of S, the following identities hold:

• Associativity: $x\; \backslash wedge\; (y\; \backslash wedge\; z)\; =\; (x\; \backslash wedge\; y)\; \backslash wedge\; z$
• Commutativity: $x\; \backslash wedge\; y\; =\; y\; \backslash wedge\; x$
• Idempotency: $x\; \backslash wedge\; x\; =\; x$

If $\backslash vee$, denoting join, replaces $\backslash wedge$ in the definition just given, a join-semilattice results. Meet and join form a dual pair of binary operations, and meet-semilattice and join-semilattice are dual algebraic structures.

A meet-semilattice $\backslash lang\; S,\backslash wedge\; \backslash rang$ is bounded if S includes the distinguished element 1 such that for all x in S,

$x\; \backslash wedge\; 1\; =\; x$.

1 is the greatest element of S. Dually, $\backslash lang\; S,\backslash vee,0\; \backslash rang$ is a join-semilattice with least element 0 if $\backslash vee$ and 0 replace $\backslash wedge$ and 1, respectively, in the definition just given.

A semilattice is an idempotent, commutative semigroup, and a bounded semilattice is an idempotent commutative monoid. Alternatively, a semilattice is a commutative band. Hence semilattices are magmas.

Connection between both definitions

---

An order theoretic meet-semilattice $\backslash lang\; S,\backslash leq\; \backslash rang$ gives rise to a binary operation $\backslash wedge$ such that $\backslash lang\; S,\backslash wedge\; \backslash rang$ is an algebraic meet-semilattice. Conversely, the meet-semilattice $\backslash lang\; S,\backslash wedge\; \backslash rang$ gives rise to a binary relation ≤ that partially orders S in the following way. For all elements x and y in S,

$x\; \backslash leq\; y\; \backslash harr\; x\; =\; x\; \backslash wedge\; y$.

The relation ≤ introduced in this way defines a partial ordering from which the binary operation $\backslash wedge$ may be recovered. Conversely, the order induced by the algebraically defined semilattice $\backslash lang\; S,\backslash wedge\; \backslash rang$ coincides with that induced by ≤.

Hence both definitions may be used interchangeably, depending on which one is more convenient for a particular purpose. A similar conclusion holds for join-semilattices and the dual ordering ≥.

Examples

---

Semilattices are employed to construct other order structures, or in conjunction with other completeness properties.

• A lattice is both a join- and a meet-semilattice. The interaction of these two semilattices via the absorption law is what truly distinguishes a lattice from a semilattice.
• The compact elements of an algebraic lattice, under the induced partial ordering, form a bounded join-semilattice.
• Any tree structure (with the root as the least element) is a meet-semilattice. Consider for example the set of finite words over some alphabet, ordered by the prefix ordering. It has a least but no greatest element: the root is the meet of all other elements.
• A Scott domain is a meet-semilattice.
• Membership in any set L can be taken as a model of a semilattice with base set L, because a semilattice captures the essence of set extensionality. Let a∧b denote a∈L & b∈L. Two sets differing only in one or both of the:

1. Order in which their members are listed;
2. Multiplicity of one or more members,

are in fact the same set. Commutativity and associativity of ∧ assure (1), idempotence, (2). This semilattice is not bounded by L, because a set is not a member of itself.

• Classical extensional mereology defines a join semilattice, with join read as binary fusion. This semilattice is bounded from above by the world individual.

Semilattice morphisms

---

The above algebraic definition of a semilattice suggests a notion of morphism between two semilattices. Given two join-semilattices (S,$\backslash vee$) and (T,$\backslash vee$), a homomorphism of (join-) semilattices is a function f: S → T such that

$f(x\; \backslash vee\; y)\; =\; f(x)\; \backslash vee\; f(y)$.

Hence f is just a homomorphism of the two semigroups associated with each semilattice. If S and 'T both include a least element 0, then f should also be a monoid homomorphism, i.e. one additionally requires that

$f(0)\; =\; 0$.

In the order-theoretic formulation, these conditions just state that a homomorphism of join-semilattices is a function that preserves binary joins and least elements, if such there be. The obvious dual--replacing $\backslash wedge$ with $\backslash vee$ and 0 with 1--transforms this definition of a join-semilattice homomorphism into its meet-semilattice equivalent.

Note that any semilattice homomorphism is necessarily monotone with respect to the associated ordering relation. For an explanation see the entry preservation of limits.

Distributive semilattices

---

Surprisingly, there is a notion of "distributivity" applicable to semilattices, even though distributivity conventionally requires the interaction of two binary operations. This notion requires but a single operation, and generalizes the distributivity condition for lattices. See the entry distributivity (order theory).

Complete semilattices

---

Nowadays, the term "complete semilattice" has no generally accepted meaning, and various inconsistent definitions exist. If completeness is taken to require the existence of all infinite joins and meets, whichever the case may be, as well as finite ones, this immediately leads to partial orders that are in fact complete lattices. For why the existence of all possible infinite joins entails the existence of all possible infinite meets (and vice versa), see the entry completeness (order theory).

Nevertheless, the literature on occasion still takes complete join- or meet-semilattices to be complete lattices. In this case, "completeness" denotes a restriction on the scope of the homomorphisms. Specifically, a complete join-semilattice requires that the homomorphisms preserve all joins, but contrary to the situation one finds for completeness properties, this does not require that homomorphisms preserve all meets. On the other hand, one can conclude that every such mapping is the lower adjoint of some Galois connection. The corresponding (unique) upper adjoint will then be a homomorphism of complete meet-semilattices. This gives rise to a number of useful categorical dualities between the categories of all complete semilattices with morphisms preserving all meets or joins, respectively.

Another usage of "complete meet-semilattice" refers to a bounded complete cpo. A complete meet-semilattice in this sense is arguably the "most complete" meet-semilattice that is not necessarily a complete lattice. Indeed, a complete meet-semilattice has all non-empty meets (which is equivalent to being bounded complete) and all directed joins. If such a structure has also a greatest element (the meet of the empty set), it is also a complete lattice. Thus a complete semilattice turns out to be "a complete lattice possibly lacking a top". This definition is of interest specifically in domain theory, where bounded complete algebraic cpos are studied as Scott domains. Hence Scott domains have been called algebraic semilattices.

Free semilattices

---

This section presupposes some knowledge of category theory. In various situations, free semilattices exist. For example, the forgetful functor from the category of join-semilattices (and their homomorphisms) to the category of sets (and functions) admits a left adjoint. Therefore, the free join-semilattice F(S) over a set S is constructed by taking the collection of all non-empty finite subsets of S, ordered by subset inclusion. Clearly, S can be embedded into F(S) by a mapping e that takes any element s in S to the singleton set {s}. Then any function f from a S to a join-semilattice T (more formally, to the underlying set of T) induces a unique homomorphism f' between the join-semilattices F(S) and T, such that f = f' o e. Explicitly, f' is given by f' (A) = $\backslash vee${f(s) | s in S}. Now the obvious uniqueness of f' suffices to obtain the required adjunction -- the morphism-part of the functor F can be derived from general considerations (see adjoint functors). The case of free meet-semilattices is dual, using the opposite subset inclusion as an ordering. For join-semilattices with bottom, one just adds the empty set to the above collection of subsets.

In addition, semilattices often serve as generators for free objects within other categories. Notably, both the forgetful functors from the category of frames and frame-homomorphisms, and from the category of distributive lattices and lattice-homomorphisms, have a left adjoint.

References

---

Regrettably, it is often the case that standard treatments of lattice theory define a semilattice, if that, and then say no more. See the references in the entries order theory and lattice theory. Moreover, there is no literature on semilattices of comparable magnitude to that on semigroups.

See also

---

• order theory
• list of order topics
• lattice theory

External links

---

• Jipsen's algebra structures page: Semilattices.

Lattice theory | Order theory

Semireticolo | 半格