Studies of the acquisition of word meaning and the semantic features involved have been mostly confined to noun categories and polar adjectives. Investigation of the semantic categories underlying verb forms has implications not only for theories of child language acquisition but also for theories of semantic structure in general. Experimental evidence is provided that tends to confirm the prototype analysis of semantic category acquisition, extending it to verbs of separation, such as cut, peal, tear, etc. It is suggested that the process of acquisition includes arriving at the appropriate "weighting" of relevant semantic components. (Author)