Is biggest a compound word - Word и Excel - помощь в работе с программами

Every word has its own meaning. You can search for the definition of every term in the dictionary. But do you know that you can put two words together and have a brand new meaning? Of course, not all words can be put together for such a case. However, many ones are already accepted in the English language. These words are called compound words.

What Are Compound Words?

Compound words are formed when two or more words are combined to produce a new one. This newly-constructed word has its own meaning that can either be related to the base words or not.

Types of Compound Words

Open Compound Words

Open compound words remain separate when written but are used together to create a new idea. For example, “peanut” and “butter” are unrelated to each other. But when you combine them and use them as one word, you will have “peanut butter,” which is already a different noun with its own meaning.

Closed Compound Words

Closed compound words are formed by combining two fully independent words together without space in between. An example of a closed-form compound word is “grandfather,” in which “grand” and “father” are put together.

Hyphenated Compound Words

Another possible form of a compound word is the hyphenated one. From the word itself, the independent terms used are separated by a hyphen or dash. A common example is “mother-in-law.”

Compound Nouns

Compound nouns are simply compound words that act as nouns. Nouns are names of people, animals, places, things, or events. However, it does not mean that the two words comprising it should only be nouns. A compound noun can be formed by combining two nouns, an adjective and a noun, a verb and a noun, and many more.

Compound Verbs

A compound verb is also called a complex predicate. It is a multi-word compound that acts as a single verb. It can be constructed by putting together a verb and a preposition or a verb and an adverb (phrasal verbs). Auxiliary verbs that are followed by the main verb can also be considered compounds. Some other combinations that involve a verb and a non-verb word can also be considered compound verbs if they indicate action.

Compound Adjectives

Two or more words that function as one and describe a noun are called compound adjectives. Usually, they are separated by a hyphen.

List of Compound Words

Open Compound Words

Ice cream
Ice cream cake
Ice cube
Cream cheese
Hot dog
Corn dog
Corned beef
Apple pie
Sugar plum
Web page
Table cloth
Fire drill
Fire drill
Fire exit
High school
Roller coaster
Living room
First aid
Full moon
Tea cup
Serving spoon
Real estate
Car pool
Cotton bud
Cotton ball
Video game
Coffee grain
Coffee mug
Post office
Upper deck
Hand towel
Sweet tooth
Common sense
Dance hall
Police officer
Vice president
Science fiction
Root word
Candy cane
Christmas tree
Cell membrane
Jumping jack
Report card
Credit card
Debit card
Radio wave
Snack house
Coffee shop
Bus stop
Swimming pool
Rubber band
Ice hockey
Ice skate
Break up
Take away
Take out
Break away
Lift up
Push down
Pull down
Ask out
Ask around
Make up
Turn in
Fill up
Fill out
Fill in

Closed Compound Words

Basketball
Football
Baseball
Worldwide
Overpass
Southeast
Northeast
Northwest
Southwest
Bushfire
Mailbox
Snowball
Skateboard
Sailboat
Birthday
Blackboard
Everything
Anything
Anyone
Everyone
Classmate
Schoolmate
Playmate
Grandmother
Grandfather
Granddaughter
Grandson
Grasshopper
Sunflower
Sunrise
Sunshine
Moonlight
Freelance
Eyeball
Eyebrow
Eyelash
Armpit
Playground
Teamwork
Stoplight
Flashlight
Lighthouse
Fireman
Rainbow
Raindrop
Bedroom
Popcorn
Keyboard
Notepad
Keyhole
Keystone
Pothole
Bowtie
Necktie
Brainwash
Proofread
Babysit
Horseshoe
Highlight
Notebook
Bookstore
Lipstick
Makeup
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Airbrush
Crosswalk
Crossroad
Crossover
Nightfall
Riverbank
Nutcracker
Candlelight
Backstroke
Hamburger
Cheeseburger
Sandwich
Homesick
Uptown
Rattlesnake
Workplace
Wrongdoing
Springtime
Underdog
Strawberry
Blueberry
Watermelon
Pineapple
Cupcake

Hyphenated Compound Words

Mother-in-law
Father-in-law
Sister-in-law
Brother-in-law
Sergeant-at-arms
Merry-go-round
Happy-go-lucky
Editor-in-chief
Over-the-counter
Up-to-date
State-of-the-art
Long-term
High-speed
Left-handed
Right-handed
In-depth
Full-length
Part-time
Long-haired
Sun-dried
Breath-taking
Self-centered
Well-off
Well-known
Gift-wrap
Follow-up
Well-being
Single-minded
Knee-length
Short-tempered
Off-site
Runner-up
One-sided
Tip-off
Blush-on
Sugar-free
Ice-cold
Far-flung
High-rise
Life-size
King-size
Warm-blooded
Cold-blooded
Get-together
Next-door

A Huge List of Compound Words

Following is a list of 1000 close compound words in English

Aboveboard
Afterbirth
Afterburner
Afterglow
Afterimage
Afterlife
Aftermath
Afternoon
Airbrush
Aircraft
Airfield
Airlift
Airline
Airliner
Airmail
Airman
Airmen
Airplane
Airport
Airship
Airtime
Allover
Allspice
Alongside
Also
Another
Anybody
Anyhow
Anymore
Anyone
Anyplace
Anything
Anytime
Anyway
Anywhere
Armchair
Armpit
Around
Arrowhead
Ashtray
Authorship
Babysit
Babysitter
Backache
Backbite
Backbone
Backbreaker
Backdrop
Backfield
Backfire
Background
Backhand
Backlash
Backlog
Backpack
Backside
Backslap
Backslide
Backspace
Backspin
Backstage
Backstop
Backstretch
Backstroke
Backtrack
Backward
Ballpark
Ballroom
Bankbook
Bankroll
Baseball
Basketball
Beachcomb
Became
Because
Become
Bedbug
Bedclothes
Bedrock
Bedroll
Bedroom
Bellbottom
Bellboy
Bellhop
Below
Birthday
Blackball
Blackberries
Blackbird
Blackboard
Blackjack
Blacklist
Blackmail
Blackout
Blacksmith
Blacktop
Bluebell
Blueberry
Bluebird
Bluefish
Bluegrass
Blueprint
Boardwalk
Bodyguard
Bodywork
Boldface
Bookbinder
Bookcase
Bookend
Bookkeeper
Booklet
Bookmark
Bookmobile
Bookseller
Bookshelf
Bookstore
Bookworm
Bootstrap
Bowtie
Brainchild
Brainstorm
Brainwash
Bugspray
Bushfire
Buttercup
Butterfat
Butterfingers
Butterflies
Buttermilk
Butternut
Butterscotch
Bypass
Cabdriver
Cancan
Candid
Candlelight
Candlestick
Cannot
Cardboard
Cardsharp
Cardstock
Carefree
Caretaker
Careworn
Carfare
Cargo
Carhop
Carload
Carpetbagger
Carpool
Carport
Carrack
Carryall
Carsick
Cartwheel
Carwash
Cattail
Catwalk
Caveman
Centercut
Cheeseburger
Cheesecake
Classmate
Clockwise
Coffeemaker
Comeback
Comedown
Commonplace
Commonwealth
Cornball
Cornmeal
Cornstalk
Cornwall
Cottonmouth
Cottontail
Cottonwood
Countdown
Counterattack
Counterbalance
Counterclockwise
Counterintelligence
Countermeasure
Counteroffensive
Counterpane
Counterpart
Counterpoint
Counterpoise
Courthouse
Courtroom
Courtyard
Crewcut
Crossbow
Crossbreed
Crosscut
Crossover
Crossroad
Crosstown
Crosswalk
Crossword
Cupcake
Dairymaid
Daisywheel
Daybed
Daybook
Daybreak
Daydream
Daylight
Daytime
Deadend
Deadline
Dishcloth
Dishpan
Dishwasher
Dishwater
Diskdrive
Dogwood
Doorstop
Downbeat
Downunder
Drawbridge
Driveway
Duckbill
Duckpin
Earache
Eardrop
Eardrum
Earring
Earthbound
Earthquake
Earthward
Earthworm
Egghead
Eggshell
Elsewhere
Everyone
Everything
Eyeball
Eyeballs
Eyebrow
Eyecatching
Eye-catching
Eyeglasses
Eyelash
Eyelid
Eyesight
Eyewitness
Fatherland
Fatherless
Firearm
Fireball
Fireboat
Firebomb
Firebox
Firebreak
Firecracker
Firefighter
Fireflies
Firehouse
Fireman
Fireproof
Firewater
Fireworks
Fishbowl
Fisherman
Fisheye
Fishhook
Fishlike
Fishmonger
Fishnet
Fishpond
Fishtail
Flashlight
Football
Foothill
Foothold
Footlights
Footlocker
Footnote
Footpath
Footprints
Footrest
Forbearer
Forbid
Forearm
Forebear
Forecast
Forecastle
Foreclose
Foreclosure
Foredoom
Forefather
Forefinger
Forefront
Forehand
Forehead
Foreleg
Foreman
Foremost
Forepaws
Forerunner
Foresee
Foresight
Forestall
Forestland
Forever
Forget
Forgive
Forklift
Format
Fortnight
Freelance
Friendship
Fruitcup
Gearshift
Glassmaking
Goodbye
Goodnight
Grandaunt
Grandchild
Grandchildren
Granddaughter
Grandfather
Grandmaster
Grandmother
Grandnephew
Grandnieces
Grandparent
Grandson
Grandstand
Granduncle
Grasshopper
Graveyard
Gumball
Haircut
Hamburger
Hammerhead
Hamstring
Handball
Handbook
Handcuff
Handgun
Handmade
Handout
Headache
Headdress
Headhunter
Headlight
Headline
Headquarters
Hedgehop
Heirloom
Hellcat
Hellhole
Helpmate
Helpmeet
Hemstitch
Henceforth
Henchman
Henpeck
Hereabout
Hereafter
Hereby
Herein
Hereof
Hereupon
Herself
Highball
Highchair
Highland
Highlight
Highway
Himself
Homemade
Homesick
Hometown
Honeybee
Honeycomb
Honeydew
Honeymoon
Honeysuckle
Hookup
Hookworm
Horseback
Horsefly
Horsehair
Horseplay
Horsepower
Horseradish
Horseshoe
Houseboat
Housecoat
Household
Housekeeper
Housetop
Housewife
Housework
However
Ideal
Inchworm
Income
Indoors
Inflow
Infold
Infuse
Infusion
Inhale
Inkblot
Inkwell
Inland
Inmate
Inpatient
Inroad
Inset
Inside
Intake
Ironwork
Itself
Jackpot
Jackson
Jailbait
Jailbird
Jawbone
Jawbreaker
Jaywalk
Jellybean
Jellyfish
Jerkwater
Jerrybuild
Jetliner
Jetport
Jigsaw
Jimsonweed
Jitterbug
Jobholder
Johnnycake
Jumpshot
Keepsake
Keyboard
Keyhole
Keynote
Keypad
Keypunch
Keystone
Keystroke
Keyway
Keyword
Landmark
Landslide
Landward
Lapland
Lapwing
Larkspur
Laughingstock
Lawgiver
Lawmaker
Lawsuit
Layman
Layoff
Layout
Layover
Leapfrog
Lifeblood
Lifeboat
Lifeguard
Lifelike
Lifeline
Lifelong
Lifesaver
Lifetime
Lifework
Lighthouse
Limelight
Limestone
Lipstick
Longhand
Longhorn
Longhouse
Lukewarm
Mailbox
Mainland
Mainline
Mainspring
Mainstream
Makeup
Matchbox
Meadowland
Meantime
Meanwhile
Moonbeam
Moonlight
Moonlit
Moonscape
Moonshine
Moonstone
Moonstruck
Moonwalk
Moreover
Mothball
Motherhood
Motorcycle
Nearby
Necktie
Nevermore
Newborn
Newfound
Newsboy
Newsbreak
Newscast
Newscaster
Newsdealer
Newsletter
Newsman
Newsmen
Newspaper
Newsperson
Newsprint
Newsreel
Newsroom
Newsstand
Newsworthy
Nightfall
Nobody
Noisemaker
Northeast
Northwest
Notebook
Notepad
Noteworthy
Nowhere
Nursemaid
Nutcracker
Oneself
Onetime
Overabundance
Overboard
Overcoat
Overflow
Overland
Overpass
Overshoes
Pacemaker
Pancake
Parkway
Passbook
Passkey
Passover
Passport
Password
Pasteboard
Patchwork
Pathfinder
Pathway
Pawnbroker
Pawnshop
Paycheck
Payload
Paymaster
Payoff
Payroll
Peppermint
Pickup
Pineapple
Pinhole
Pinpoint
Pinstripe
Pinup
Pinwheel
Playback
Playboy
Playground
Playhouse
Playmate
Playthings
Ponytail
Popcorn
Postcard
Pothole
Proofread
Racquetball
Railroad
Railway
Rainbow
Raincheck
Raincoat
Raindrop
Rainfall
Rainmaker
Rainstorm
Rainwater
Ratline
Ratsbane
Rattlesnake
Rattletrap
Rawboned
Rawhide
Readywitted
Rearmost
Rearrange
Rearward
Redcap
Redcoat
Reddish
Redhead
Repairman
Riverbank
Riverbanks
Rubberband
Sailboat
Salesclerk
Sandbox
Sandlot
Sandstone
Sandwich
Saucepan
Scapegoat
Scarecrow
Schoolbook
Schoolboy
Schoolbus
Schoolhouse
Schoolmate
Schoolroom
Schoolwork
Seashore
Setback
Setoff
Shadyside
Sharecropper
Sharpshooter
Sheepskin
Shipbottom
Shipbuilder
Shipload
Shipwreck
Shipyard
Shoelace
Shoemaker
Shopkeeper
Shortbread
Shortcake
Shotgun
Showboat
Showoff
Showplace
Showroom
Sideburns
Sidecar
Sidekick
Sideshow
Sidewalk
Silversmith
Sisterhood
Sixfold
Skateboard
Skintight
Skylark
Skylight
Skyscraper
Slapstick
Slowdown
Slumlord
Snakeskin
Snowball
Snowbank
Snowbird
Snowdrift
Snowshoe
Snowshovel
Snowstorm
Soapstone
Softball
Software
Somebody
Someday
Somehow
Someone
Someplace
Something
Sometime
Sometimes
Someway
Somewhat
Somewhere
Soundproof
Southeast
Southwest
Soybean
Spacesuit
Spacewalk
Spearmint
Speedboat
Spillway
Spokesperson
Springtime
Stagehand
Standby
Standoff
Standout
Standpipe
Standpoint
Standstill
Starfish
Steamboat
Steamship
Stepson
Stickup
Stockroom
Stonewall
Stoplight
Stopwatch
Storerooms
Strawberry
Streetcar
Stronghold
Subway
Sunbaked
Sunbathe
Sunday
Sundial
Sundown
Sunfish
Sunflower
Sunglasses
Sunlit
Sunray
Sunrise
Sunroof
Sunshine
Suntan
Sunup
Supercargo
Supercharge
Supercool
Superego
Superfine
Supergiant
Superhero
Superhighways
Superhuman
Superimpose
Superman
Supermarket
Supermen
Supernatural
Superpower
Superscript
Supersensitive
Supersonic
Superstar
Superstrong
Superstructure
Supertanker
Superweapon
Superwoman
Sweetheart
Sweetmeat
Tablecloth
Tablespoon
Tabletop
Tableware
Tadpole
Tagalong
Tailbone
Tailcoat
Tailgate
Taillight
Taillike
Tailpiece
Tailspin
Takeoff
Takeout
Takeover
Talebearer
Taleteller
Tapeworm
Taproom
Taproot
Target
Taskmaster
Tattletale
Taxicab
Taxpayer
Teacup
Teammate
Teamwork
Teapot
Teardrop
Teaspoon
Teenager
Telltale
Tenderfoot
Tenderhearted
Tenderloin
Tenfold
Textbook
Themselves
Therefore
Throwaway
Throwback
Thunderbird
Thunderbolt
Thundershower
Thunderstorm
Timekeeper
Timepieces
Timesaving
Timeshare
Timetable
Today
Together
Toolbox
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Toothpick
Touchdown
Township
Turnabout
Turnaround
Turnbuckle
Turncoat
Turndown
Turnkey
Turnoff
Turnover
Turntable
Typewriter
Underachieve
Underact
Underage
Underarm
Underbelly
Underbid
Undercharge
Underclothes
Undercover
Undercurrent
Undercut
Underdevelop
Underdog
Underesimate
Underestimate
Underexpose
Underfeed
Underfinance
Underfoot
Underfur
Undergarment
Undergird
Undergo
Undergraduate
Underground
Undergrowth
Underhand
Underhanded
Underlayer
Underlie
Upbeat
Upbringing
Upcoming
Update
Updraft
Upend
Upgrade
Upheaval
Upheld
Uphill
Uphold
Upkeep
Upland
Uplift
Uplink
Upload
Upmarket
Upon
Uppercase
Upperclassman
Uppercut
Uppermost
Upright
Uprising
Upriver
Uproar
Uproot
Upset
Upshot
Upside
Upstage
Upstairs
Upstanding
Upstart
Upstate
Upstream
Upsurge
Upswing
Uptake
Upthrust
Uptight
Uptime
Uptown
Upturn
Upward
Upwind
Waistband
Waistcoat
Waistline
Walkout
Walkways
Wallboard
Walleyed
Wallflower
Wallpaper
Wanderlust
Wardroom
Warehouse
Warfare
Warhead
Warlike
Warlord
Warmblooded
Warmhearted
Warmonger
Warpath
Warplanes
Warship
Wartime
Washboard
Washbowl
Washcloth
Washout
Washroom
Washstand
Washtub
Wastebasket
Wasteland
Wastepaper
Wastewater
Watchband
Watchcase
Watchdog
Watchmaker
Watchman
Watchtower
Watchword
Watercolor
Watercooler
Watercraft
Waterfall
Waterfowl
Waterfront
Waterline
Waterlog
Watermark
Watermelon
Waterpower
Waterproof
Waterscape
Watershead
Waterside
Waterspout
Watertight
Waterway
Waterwheel
Waterworks
Wavelength
Wavelike
Waxwork
Waybill
Wayfarer
Waylaid
Wayside
Wayward
Weathercock
Weatherman
Weatherproof
Weekday
Weekend
Weeknight
Whatever
Whatsoever
Wheelbarrow
Wheelbase
Wheelchair
Wheelhouse
Whitecap
Whitefish
Whitewall
Whitewash
Widespread
Wipeout
Without
Woodshop
Workplace
Worldwide
Wrongdoing

Compound Words | Images

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First, what are compound words, and what are the 3 types of compound words?

Compound Definition/Compound Words Definition

A compound is a noun, an adjective or a verb made of two or more words, written as one or more words. A compound word can be closed ( for example, seafood), open for example, water ice) or hyphenated (for example, first-class).

Closed compound words form one single word.
Open compound words are spelled as two separate words.
Hyphenated compound words are joined by a hyphen.

English Compound Words Examples/Compound Words List

Closed compound words: Seafood, outcome, overcome, worksheet, downpour, seabird, sunflower, skincare, proofread, etc.
Open compound words: Water ice, big hair, high school, dining table, dining room, etc.
Hyphenated compound words: big-hearted, big-headed, self-actualization, well-known, well-cooked, etc.

Compound words examples

List of compound words

The following compound words lists are not comprehensive.

Compound Words: Compound Adjectives list

A compound adjective (also called compound modifier) is made up of two or more words that work jointly to modify the same noun. When compound adjectives are used before the noun they modify, they are usually hyphenated (joined together by a hyphen).

Compound adjectives whose first part is self are hyphenated as well. The words joined together by a hyphen are also known as hyphenated words.

Here is a hyphenated adjectives list:

He is a well-off businessman.
He belongs to a well-off family.
His father is well off.
She is a well-known writer.
Stephen R. Covey is well known.
Self-absorbed
Self-aware = self-conscious
Self-confident
Self-contained
Self-critical
Self-educated
Self-imposed

Compound adjectives can be created by joining multiple words; they can be in different combinations. Compound adjectives can be made up of adjectives, nouns, participles, quantifiers, and adverbs.

Here are some examples of the various combinations that we can make to come up with compound adjectives:

Compound adjectives lists:

Adjective + Adjective: Top-right, top-left, blue-green, etc.
Adjective + Noun: Part-time, full-time, good-time, etc.
Noun + Adjective: Sugar-free, ice-cold, duty-free, homesick, etc.

As you can notice above we combine different parts of speech to create a new word.

Present and past participles can be joined with adjectives, nouns, and adverbs to make compound adjectives:

Adjective + participle: Good-looking, hard-working, nice-looking, old-fashioned, open-minded, big-hearted, absent-minded, etc.
Noun + participle: record-breaking, mouth-watering, human being, man-sized, home-made,
Adverb + participle: Well-known, well-oiled, well rounded, badly-written, well-written, well-paid, dimly-lit, brightly-lit, early-rising, well-running,

Prepositions can also be employed to form compound adjectives:

up-to-date laptops.
a broken-down car.
a beaten-up old truck.
built-up areas.
a cashed-up businesswoman.
a built-in cupboard.
a clapped out machine ( old and in bad condition)

Another way to form compound adjectives is to join a quantifier and a noun.

A five-star hotel.
A three-floor building.
A three-storey building.
A fifteen-year-old teenager.

A compound adjective with a number never takes the ‘s’ of the plural.

There are 3 five-star hotels in this city.

10 three-floor buildings.

Compound Words: Compound adjectives to describe a person or something

Compound adjectives for character ( Compound adjectives personality) are usually used to describe people’s personality or character. The adjectives list below contains a number of compound adjectives tha can describe character. The other compoud adjectives can be used to describe something or someone not someone’s personality.

Compound Adjectives Examples

Hard-working is a compound adjective example

Here is a list of compound adjectives with self along with meaning

Self-assured

you have confidence in your own abilities.

Well-behaved

behave in a quiet and polite way.

Self-centered

interested only in yourself.

Self-conscious

uncomfortable or nervous because you are worried about what other people think about you or your behavior.

Self-absorbed

a self-absorbed person is a person who is concerned about or interested in himself/herself.

Self-addressed:

If an envelpoe is self-addressed, someone has written his/her own address on it.

Self-adhesive

It can be stuck to something without the use glue, etc.

Self-acting

Acting of or by itself.

Self-appointed

A self appointed president is a president who has apointed himself/herself without the greement of his/her people.

Self-assembly (esp, furniture)

Bought in several parts that you have to put together yourself.

Self-assertive

A self-assertive man is a man who is very confident and not afraid to express his opinion about something or someone.

Self-colour

Having one colour all over.

Self-confessed

Admitting that you have done something, especially something bad.

Self-contained (= independent)

If you are a self-contained woman, you don’t depend on other people or you do not need them.

Self-contradictory

Containing two statements or ideas that connot both be true.

Self-correcting

That can adjust or correct itself by itself.

Self-critical

A self-critical person criticises himself/herself.

Self-defeating

If a plan is self-defeating, it contains elements that will cause it to fail.

Self-drive

A self-drive car is a car that you hire and drive by yourself.

Self-deniying

Without concern for one’s own advantage; selfless.

Self-effacing

A self-effacing man is a modest and does not want to attract attention to himeself or his abilities.

Self-employed

If you are self-employed, you work for yourself and are not employed by a company, a person, etc.

Self-evident

Obvious and does not need further explanation or proof.

Self-explanatory

Easy to understand and does not nee any more explanation.

Self-important

A slef-important person thinks that he/she is more important than others.

Other compound adjectives describing character

Hard-working:

always doing a lot of work.

Good-natured

naturally friendly and does not get angry easily.

Over-confident

too sure about yourself and your abilities.

Strong-willed

very determined to do what you want to do.

Weak-willed

not determined enough to succeed in what you want to do.

Strong-minded

somebody who is strong-minded is not willing to change their opinions and beliefs.

Broad-minded

happy to accept ideas and ways of life different to your own.

Open-minded

willing to accept opinions and ideas which are different from yours.

Narrow-minded

not willing to accept ideas or ways of behaving that are different from your own.

Bad-tempered

often annoyed, angry, or impatient.

Short-tempered

if someone is short-tempered, he or she gets angry easily for no good reason.

Easy-going

calm and relaxed; not easily worried or upset.

Big-headed

you think you are more intelligent or more important than you really are.

Thick-skinned

if you are thick-skinned, you are not easily hurt by criticism.

Cold-hearted

if you are cold-hearted, you don’t feel sorry about other people’s suffering.

Level headed

Calm and sensible; able to make good decisions even in difficult situations.

Laid-back: You are not usually worried about other people’s behavior or things that need to be done.

These compound adjectives describing character traits are really interesting. So, which compound adjectives describe your personality?

Do this character adjectives quiz here to test your knowledge of compound adjectives.

Compound Nouns

Definition for compound noun

What is a compound noun? How do you make a compound noun? What are compound nouns?

A compound noun refers to a noun that is composed of two or more words. These compound words work together as a single unit to name a place, a person, or a thing. Compound nouns are usually created by joining two nouns or an adjective and a noun together (adjective+noun) (noun+adjective) (adjective+adjective), etc.

Compound nouns types

There are 3 types of compound nouns, namely open compound nouns. They are written as separate words ( living room, swimming pool, secretary general, etc.), closed compound nouns. They are written as one single word (blackbird, policeman, makeup, etc.), and hyphenated compound words (mother-in-law, father-in-law, check-in, etc.)

Compound Noun Examples

Here is a compound nouns list

20 + examples of compound nouns

There are different combinations of compound nouns, but they are usually combined this way: (noun + noun) (adjective + noun), (noun + adjective), (verb + noun), etc.

Football (noun + noun)
Snowman
Sunflower
Dragonfly
Seafood
Bookcase
Toothpaste
Backpack
Living room
Bedroom
Bathroom
Dining room
Bathtub
Website
Policeman
Policewoman
Watercolor
Bus stop
Handbag
Whiteboard ( adjective + noun)
Blackboard
Blackbird
Greenhouse
Greenpeace
Software
Mobile phone
Full moon
Full board
Blackberry
Check-in ( verb + preposition)
Checkout
Makeup
lookout
Drawback
Fall-off
Falling-out
Fill-up
Sunrise (noun + verb)
Sunset
Haircut
Rainfall

Tip: To turn compound nouns into the plural, we usually add ‘s’, ‘es’ or ‘ies’ to the main word of the compound noun.

The main word is usually the second word, but there are exceptions.

A bookcase bookcases

A bedroom bedrooms

A handbag handbags

A website websites

But

A father-in-law fathers-in-law

A secretary general secretaries general

A passerby passers-by

We believe that this post is good for learners of English who want to broaden their knowledge of compound words. It can even be used by teachers to teach compound words.

Compound words video

Noun+noun compound nouns

Noun	Noun	Compound noun
Sea	Food	Seafood
Sea	Farer	Seafarer
Home	Front	Home front
Home	Ground	Home ground
Home	Help	Home help
Home	Land	Homeland
Bus	Stop	Bus stop
Snow	Man	Snowman
Snow	Ball	Snowball

Noun+adjective compound nouns

Noun	Adjective	Compound noun
Spoon	Fu	Spoonful
Truck	Full	Truckful

Here, you’ll find very important words that describe appearance.

What is an open compound word?

An open compound word is two separate words (without even a hyphen to link them) functioning as a single idea.

When we were in high school, we regularly ate French fries, hot dogs, and ice cream with peanut butter as an afterschool snack.

What is a hyphenated compound word?

A hyphenated compound word is a term composed of two (or more) words connected by a hyphen. Like other compound words, a hyphenated compound can be a noun, adjective, or adverb.

The gun-toting, card-carrying FBI agent hid her angst well.

What is a closed compound word?

A closed compound word is a single word constructed of two or more other words. Most closed compound words were once open or hyphenated, but continued use solidified them—made them a single unit. Today’s open or hyphenated compounds are tomorrow’s closed compounds.

The moonlight coming through my bedroom window is so bright it outshines my flashlight.

Every afternoon, she wrote another story in her notebook; my favorite is the one about the starfish who loved rainbows and strawberries.

How do you know whether a compound word is open, hyphenated, or closed?

There’s really no trick to this! You look it up in a dictionary (like Merriam-Webster). Compound words evolve over time, so what was once black-bird is now blackbird, and what was once a web site is now almost always a website.

Don’t worry if you find dictionaries contradicting each other! Not every dictionary agrees on which compounds are open, hyphenated, or closed. Some offer health care and voice mail, for example, as two words, but others hyphenate or close those same compounds. In such cases, you’re free to use the spelling you prefer, except if you’re supposed to be following a particular style guide.

For example, the Chicago Manual of Style (CMoS) says that when a compound modifier comes before a noun, it’s never wrong to hyphenate it, since it can aid readability.

The seventy-year-old professor despaired for the dull-witted students in her late-afternoon class.

But (Chicago goes on to say) when compound modifiers follow the noun, leave them unhyphenated (even if they’re hyphenated in the dictionary).

The professor, who was almost seventy years old, couldn’t understand why her students were so dull witted by late afternoon.

What is a compound noun?

Compound words can be nouns, adjectives, adverbs—and even verbs (like pole-vault or double-click). In each case, they can be open, hyphenated, or closed. Compound nouns are perhaps the most common type of compound word. Here are some examples of compound nouns (some closed, some open, some hyphenated).

Susan’s grandmother, my mother-in-law, had a skylight above the bookcase in her living room that let in rainwater.

Watch out for the sometimes-unusual plurals of hyphenated compound nouns.

The workmen fixing the two merry-go-rounds in the local park typically catcalled all passersby, but they stopped once our attorneys-at-law sent them a warning.

What is a compound name?

A compound name is essentially a compound proper noun—a multiword term (often an open compound, though not always) that names a single entity.

Like Popeye, Black Panther gets at least some of his powers from eating his greens—in his case, the heart-shaped herb. But I bet Superman liked Cheez-Its better.

What’s important here is that these proper nouns are always preexisting compounds, so if you’re turning an open compound name into part of a compound modifier (see more about compound adjectives and adverbs below), you’ll need to use an en dash rather than a hyphen.

My new World War I–era cloche didn’t really go with anything in my New York–style wardrobe, so naturally I had to go shopping.

What is a compound adjective?

A compound adjective is a single adjective made up of more than one word—and it’s often a compound noun (or even compound name) being used to modify another noun. According to CMoS, it’s never wrong to hyphenate multiword adjectives when they precede a noun, even if they’re familiar open compounds like high school.

High-school students often have more brain-draining homework than college students.

My silly-voiced sister found her calling in advertising.

When a compound name functions as an adjective, there’s no need for a hyphen.

Penny was thrilled to win Dolly Parton tickets.

The Los Angeles weather is typically hot and sunny.

As touched on above, when a compound adjective follows a noun, the hyphen is usually not necessary.

Georgia is a well-read academic.

Georgia is well read.

I found a useful list of low-calorie cocktails.

I found a useful list of cocktails, all of them low calorie.

Remember that compound adjectives made from an adverb ending in –ly plus an adjective are never hyphenated. The -ly is enough of a signal that what follows is meant to be read together with the preceding word.

Sarah’s short-tempered grandfather griped about her recital, calling it a really dull concert.

Sarah’s grandfather, always short tempered, griped about her recital, describing it as really dull.

What is a compound adverb?

A compound adverb looks like a single word but (closely examined) is actually made up of two or more words working together to function as a single adverb. They’re often rather old fashioned, and they can sound stuffy and pompous so are best used sparingly: notwithstanding, nevertheless, heretofore, albeit, and so on.

Phrasal adverbs are very similar to compound adverbs, and they’re rather more useful.

I scattered rose petals here and there.

The newly married couple walked arm in arm.

Joseph goes running every day.

What is a compound sentence?

And here’s the bonus section (because the last thing we want to do is compound anyone’s confusion about compounds)!

Compound sentences are grammatically unrelated to compound words, but that still doesn’t answer the key question: What is a compound sentence? A compound sentence is when two or more independent clauses, each with its own subject and verb plus attendant objects and phrases, are joined with a coordinating conjunction (one of the FANBOYS: for, and, nor but, or, yet, so). Here, the key thing to remember is to always include a comma after the first independent clause and before the conjunction.

I read this blog post about compound words, but they didn’t explain about compound sentences, so I had to keep on searching.

My son’s story about the strawberry-loving starfish was really cute, so I sent it to my sister, and she loved it too.

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What Are Compound Words?

Compound words are two or more words, each with separate meanings, that join together to form a new word with its own meaning.

An image of ice cream cones to represent the compound words ice cream.

Why Learn Compound Words?

Children begin learning compound words in The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts Level 1 course. They learn that a compound word is made of two words joined together. Learning to read compound words introduces new readers to longer words.

Children in Language Arts Level 1 read simple one- to two-syllable words like bath, tub, butter, and fly. Joining words like these into compound words boosts confidence as children read longer words with ease. Learn more about our FREE homeschool curriculum here.

Compound Words for Kids

We have gathered a list of more than 300 common compound words for kids. A printable version of this list is in our free download below.

Compound Words for Advanced Readers

The compound words shared so far in this blog are called closed compound words, two words joined together to form a single new word. Two other types of compound words are open and hyphenated.

Readers recognize open compound words as two separate words that team up to have one joint meaning. For example, “peanut butter” is two separate words that team together to form one meaning. Here are some other examples.

When to Hyphenate Compound Words

Knowing exactly when to use a hyphen or space between compound words gets tricky. The easiest way to learn when to use each is by becoming familiar with seeing compound words in print. Reading great books builds children’s vocabulary and helps them know when to hyphenate compound words!

Reading great books builds children’s vocabulary!

Hyphenated compound words are easy to identify by a hyphen, rather than a space, used between each word. The rules for when to use a hyphen in a compound word can be a bit confusing.

For example, in the sentence, “He took a year-long journey through South America,” a hyphen is used between the words year and long because the words are used as an adjective.

Used as nouns, however, hyphenated compound words look like this: “We gave the traveler a big send-off as he boarded the plane.”