Is under a compound word

ПОМОГИТЕ ПРОШУ!
НУЖНО РЕШИТЬ ЗАДАЧИ ПО МАТИМАТИКЕ 6 КЛАСС
1) В автопарку є автобуси та вантажні автомобілі,
причому вантажівок у 4 рази більше, ніж
автобусів. Скільки в автопарку автобусів, якщо їх
на 114 менше, ніж вантажівок?

2) Одна сторона трикутника у 5 разів менша за
другу і на 28 дм менша за третю. Знайдіть
сторони трикутника, якщо його периметр 84 дм.

3) Відстань між двома містами потяг подолав за 7
год, а легковий автомобіль за 3 год. Знайдіть
швидкість потяга і швидкість автомобіля, якщо
швидкість потяга менша від швидкості
автомобіля на 36 км/год.

4) У двох коробках було порівну цукерок. Після
того як з першої коробки взяли 10 цукерок, а з
другої — 28, у першій коробці стало цукерок у 4
рази більше, ніж у другій. Скільки цукерок було в
кожній коробці
спочатку?
ДАЮ 12 БАЛЛОВ

Cover image for article

The words pancake, living room, and merry-go-round have something in common.

They are all examples of compound words.

The noun compound means something made up of two or more separate components. Compound can also be an adjective meaning consisting of two or more parts or components.

A compound word is one word, or one unit of meaning, that is created by joining two or more separate words together.

Image showing definition of compound words

What Are Compound Words?

A compound word is a word made up of usually two but sometimes more words that are joined together. The two (or more) that make the compound word are independent words; they have their own distinct meanings. When those words are joined and form a compound word, that compound word has its own new meaning.

The Three Types of Compound Words

Compound words can take three possible forms: closed, open, or hyphenated. In closed form, there is no space between the joined words. In open form, there is a space between the “joined” words that still act as one unit, and in hyphenated form—you guessed it! There is a hyphen between the joined words.

Image showing the forms of compound words

These general “rules”—which are somewhat fluid and flexible—provide guidance as to what format a compound word takes.

  • Closed compound words are usually nouns: They put on makeup.

  • Open compound words are usually nouns or verbs: I have to make up (verb) that exam at my high school. (noun)

  • Hyphenated compound words are usually adjectives or adverb-adjective combinations: I have to take a make-up (adjective) exam. I will be well-prepared. (adverb + adjective)

The key word in each of those examples is “usually.” Some compound words break the rules. We’ll see how soon.

1. Closed Compound Words

To review: closed compound words are usually made up of two separate words that are put together to form a new word. There is no space between the two words in a closed-form compound word; the compound appears as one single word.

Examples of Closed Compound Words

Image showing closed compound words

  • Cup + cake becomes cupcake

  • Basket + ball becomes basketball

  • Key + board becomes keyboard

  • Extra + ordinary becomes extraordinary

  • Birth + day becomes birthday

You can see through these examples that the meaning of the compound word is not just a merger of the independent definitions of the individual words that join together to make that compound.

However, there is a relationship between the individual word meanings and the compounds. Compound words have been integrated into language as speakers have discovered those relationships. It makes perfect sense to call a cake that could fit into a cup a cupcake and to call a ball thrown through a basket (now a hoop) a basketball.

The rules for compound words, listed earlier in the post, include the word usually. That word means the rules are not hard and fast, and there are examples of compound words that break those rules.

For example, compound words that are verbs are usually open form, but here are rule-breaking closed-form compound verbs that remind us to hold those rules loosely:

  • I need to proofread my essay.

  • I think the clerk shortchanged me.

  • I have to babysit my little sister.

2. Open Compound Words

In an open compound word, there is a space between the two independent words, though they are still treated as one unit with a new “compound meaning.”

Examples of Open Compound Words

Image showing open compound words

  • Living room: as a unit, this compound noun refers to a room in a house.

  • High school: as a unit, this compound noun refers to a school that has students in grades 9-12.

  • Post office: as a unit, this compound refers to a building where mail is collected, sorted, and sent.

  • Give up: as a unit, this compound verb means to stop trying.

  • Ask for: as a unit, this compound verb means to request something.

3. Hyphenated Compound Words

Hyphenated compound words have hyphens between each of the independent words that serve as connectors. The hyphens are a visual cue that the words form one unit.

Image showing hyphenated compound words

Some compound words are always hyphenated.

  • Merry-go-round

  • Mother-in-law (and brother-, sister-, and father-in-law)

  • Self-esteem

Did you notice that all of those examples are nouns? Remember: the rules are flexible!

Examples of Hyphenated Compound Adjectives:

Image showing compound word rulese

When compound words are used as adjectives (officially known as compound adjectives), the hyphenation rules change depending on where the compound adjective comes in the sentences.

If the compound adjective comes before the noun it modifies (describes), you should usually add a hyphen:

  • High-speed chase

  • Part-time employee

  • Full-time job

  • Fire-resistant pajamas

  • Good-looking person

  • Well-respected politician

  • Up-to-date records

Of course, there are exceptions. Remember, those “rules” are flexible. Some compound adjectives that precede the nouns they modify never take a hyphen. For example, ice cream and high school:

  • High school students
  • Ice cream sundae

There’s really no “why” to explain these exceptions; we’ve just adopted these forms and made them part of our language.

Examples of Open-Form Compound Adjectives

If the compound adjective comes after the noun it modifies, the hyphen is usually omitted.

  • Make sure the files are up to date. “Up to date” modifies, but comes after, the noun “files.”

  • The cat is two years old. “Two years old” modifies, but comes after, the noun “cat.”

Though post-noun modifiers don’t technically take hyphens, according to Merriam-Webster, usage trends indicate the hyphens are often included anyway, if the compounds “continue to function as unit modifiers.” So there’s that flexibility again.

ProWritingAid

What About Adverb Compounds?

It’s easy to find examples of closed, open, and hyphenated adverbs.

As for the closed-form examples, we probably don’t even register them as compound words much of the time.

  • Sometimes

  • Thereafter

  • Somewhere

Open-form adverbs occur when the adverb is the first word in the compound and ends in —ly. You should not hyphenate after an —ly adverb.

  • We made the discovery early on.

  • Her opinion is highly regarded.

  • They entered the dimly lit room.

What to Do If You’re Not Sure Which Form Is Right

While those flexible rules can help you, there may still be times when you feel confused about which compound form to use. Don’t stress too much.

According to Merriam Webster, the rules are more like patterns. You may see differences in different publications depending on editorial choice and style. For example, I looked on Amazon for a teapot. I saw mostly teapots, but also a few tea pots. Out of curiosity I put “tea pot” into a New York Times search bar, and found articles from the 1800s that included “tea-pot” in the title!

While interesting, those stylistic changes and choices shouldn’t be too surprising. Language is fluid and ever-evolving. Compound words themselves are proof of that evolution.

Keep Clarity the Focus

Image of woman talking

The purpose of hyphens in compound words is to ensure clarity. For example,

  • I bought over-the-counter medication.

  • He passed the medicine over the counter.

In the first example, I know by the hyphen that the medicine «I» bought did not require a prescription. «Over-the-counter» is one unit—one compound—describing a type of medicine.

In the second example, «over the counter» is serving another purpose and, while the words form a phrase to tell me where «he» passed the medicine, hyphens do nothing to make the purpose of the phrase clear and are therefore unnecessary.

Now look at these examples:

  • He owned a little-used car.
  • He owned a little used car.

In the first example, I know the man owns a car that has not been driven much. The car is described by the compound modifier «little-used.»

In the second example, it seems that the man owns a used car that is also small, or little. In this example, putting a comma after «little» would help to separate the two words, «little» and «used,» and show that they aren’t intended to work as a compound.

ProWritingAid Can Help

hyphenation suggestion in prowritingaid

Though you’re a compound-word expert now, if you find yourself with lingering doubts, remember that ProWritingAid is here to help. It will let you know if you’ve added an unnecessary hyphen after an -ly adverb, or if you’ve left one out of a pre-noun compound adjective. You don’t have to write alone!


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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

Compound Words | Types and A Huge List of 1000+ Compound Words in English

Compound Words | Types and A Huge List of 1000+ Compound Words in English

Compound Words | Types and A Huge List of 1000+ Compound Words in English

Compound Words | Types and A Huge List of 1000+ Compound Words in English

Compound Words | Types and A Huge List of 1000+ Compound Words in English

There are various classes of words in the English Language ranging from nouns to prepositions. All these have been discussed in the post, Parts of Speech. However, some words are regarded as compound words. This post gives 1000 Compound Words Examples out of the several thousands of examples of compound words in English.

There is no end to how many compound words there are in English; but with these 1000 Compound Words Examples in English, though not exhaustive, you can research further on other compound words not captured here or, probably, generate your own.

Before I list the 1000 Compounds Word Examples in English, it would be great to describe compound words. The question then comes: what is a compound word? Let us proffer an answer to this important question…

What is a Compound Word?

Compound words in English are usually formed when we join two or more words together. In other, words, a compound word is the combination of two or more free morphemes to form a new word.

Compounding: A Word Formation Process

This takes us to the concept of Compounding, which is one of the word formation processes in English. Compounding takes place when two or more free morphemes that can stand severally on their own are brought together to create a new word. It could happen that the meaning of a compound word could be related to or different from the meaning or connotation it its constituent parts when considered severally.

Types of Compound Words

There are three types of compound words and these include: closed compound words, hyphenated compound words and open compound words. See more…

Closed Compound Words

In the closed compound words, the words involved are combined together. Closed compound words, most likely, are usually monosyllabic units already established in the language for a long time. Examples include: flowerpot, keyboard, notebook, bookstore, basketball, etc.

Hyphenated Compound Words

For the hyphenated compound words, a hyphen is used to join the words involved; for example: mother-in-law, merry-go-round, off-the-cuff, etc. The use of a hyphen in this instance helps to prevent ambiguity.

Open Compound Words

In the open compound words, there is a space between the compound words that are written together such as school bus, living room, carbon dioxide, snow white, blood red, etc.

What Determines Types of Compound Words

What determines if a compound word is classified as closed, hyphenated or open could depends on whether we use it as a noun, adjective or verb.

Verbs are usually open. For example:

  • You must always back up the files on your computer.
  • It is not good for students to carry over their courses
  • Police usually follow up on a new lead.

Adjectives and nouns are usually closed or hyphenated. For instance:

  1. You can access backup copies of your files in case of any eventuality.
  2. The students had many carryovers in their courses.
  3. The police had already worked on the follow-up lead.

Adjective–adjective compounds, as well as, verb–verb compounds, such as blue-green and freeze-dried, are often hyphenated. Compounds that contain articles, prepositions or conjunctions, such as rent-a-cop, mother-of-pearl and salt-and-pepper, salt-and-sugar, hard-and-fast, etc. are also often hyphenated.

Longer words usually fall under the category of open compound words such as distance learning, player piano, lawn tennis, etc.

It is important to note that usage or forms of compound words in American English and British English Usage varies and is usually contingent on the individual choice of the writer rather than on a hard-and-fast rule; therefore, it is possible to encounter closed, hyphenated, and open forms for the same compound noun, such as the trio of:

  • Container ship, container-ship or containership
  • Particle board, particle-board or Particleboard.

Classifications of Compound Words

The constituent words in a compound word can be classified based on their Word Classes or Parts of Speech. We can call this type of classification a Syntactic Classification. The constituent words may be from similar Part of Speech or may be of different parts of speech. Let us see some examples:

Noun-Noun

This is an instance where both constituent words in the compound words are nouns. Examples include: airport, wallpaper, textbook, doorknob, waterbed, wastebasket, football, cufflinks, housewife, lawsuit, wallpaper, basketball, sodium chloride, classroom, workstation, tapeworm, crankshaft, etc.

Noun-Verb

The noun-verb compound word has a noun as the first constituent and a verb as the second constituent. For example: browbeat, sidestep, manhandle, safeguard, water borne, value-added, rocket-propelled, sunbathe, airlift, etc.

Noun-Adjective

The noun-adjective combination has a noun as the first constituent and an adjective as the second constituent. Examples include: snow white, world population, overcoat, trustworthy, blood red, handpicked, world famous, heartbroken, heart problem, prize worthy, lead strong, worldwide, lifelong, tax-free, sky blue, self-important, spoon-fed, praiseworthy, water-repellant, air-tight, bulletproof, etc.

Adjective-Noun

This is an instance where the first constituent word in the compound word is an adjective and the other one a noun. Examples include: blackboard, smartphone, whiteboard, badmouth, blue sky, red light, four wheel, full-time, long-term, etc.

Adjective-Verb

This instance is when the first constituent is an adjective while the second word in the compound word is a verb. Examples of this instance include: whitewash, blacklist, highlight, proofread, shortlist, etc.

Verb-Verb

In this instance, both constituents of the compound words are verbs. Examples include: typewrite, test-drive, freeze-dry, etc.

Verb-Noun

This is an instance where the first constituent word in the compound word is a verb and the other one a noun. Examples include: dreadnought, typewriter, breakfast, cutthroat, pickpocket, killjoy, spoilsport, know-nothing, breakwater, carrycot, etc.

Verb-Preposition

In this instance, we have a combination of a verb and a preposition forming the compound word respectively. Examples of this instance include: Roll off, roll on, stick on, walk on, stand by, walk through, see through, lay by, cut through, lookout, Work on, take down, take away, tear up, etc. Some of these examples also pass for Phrasal Verbs. You can take a look at the over 500 Phrasal Verbs discussed here.

Preposition-Noun

In this combination of compound words, we have a preposition coming first and followed by a noun. Examples of this combination include: overview, downsize, upgrade, underworld, oversight, undergraduate under-development, etc.

Preposition Noun (Phrase) Combinations

Examples of Preposition-Noun Phrase include: Off-the-record, over-the-counter, off-the-cuff, round-the-block, off-the-deep-end, off the hook, off the wall, off-your-head, off-your-own-bat, off-your-rocker, round-the-twist, round-the-corner, etc.

Preposition-Verb

This combination comprises a preposition and a verbs in the first and second constituents respectively. Examples include: overhang, counterattack, undercut, overpay, counterbalance, overrate, underlie, outrun, outvote, overreact, oversleep, overwork, undersell, undervalue, etc.

Other Combinations

There are other possible combinations like:

  • Adjective-adjective (blue-green)
  • Adverb-preposition (forthwith)
  • Verb-adverb (tumbledown)
  • Preposition-adjective (overripe, off-white)
  • Verb-adverb (takeout)
  • Preposition-adverb (without)
  • Compound Adverbs (moreover, however, nonetheless, furthermore, meanwhile)
  • Determiner-Noun Combinations or wh-forms (anyhow, somewhere, nowhere, sometimes, anytime)

You can attempt to fit the 1000 examples of compound words provided below into their appropriate combinations. I’m sure that should not be difficult for you to do.

It is also important to note that compound words in English, save for exceptions, are usually stressed on their first words.

1000 Compound Words Examples

It is really impossible to give an exhaustive list of all the compound words in English; especially, those that fall under the open class segment as there is no end to compound words that could be therein generated. But the list below contains 1000 Compound Words Examples in English. For emphasis, there are thousands of other examples. So, the list is not limited to what is provided below. Take a look…

1000 Compound Words Examples (A-D)

  • Above-board
  • Afterglow
  • Afterimage
  • Afterlife
  • Afternoon
  • Airbag
  • Airbase
  • Airborne
  • Aircraft
  • Airfield
  • Airlift
  • Airline
  • Airmen
  • Airplane
  • Airport
  • Airtight
  • Airtime
  • All-over
  • Allspice
  • Alongside
  • Anybody
  • Anyhow
  • Anymore
  • Anyone
  • Anyplace
  • Anytime
  • Anyway
  • Arm-twist
  • Ashtray
  • Baby bed
  • Baby boom
  • Baby boomers
  • Baby carriage
  • Baby-faced
  • Babyhood
  • Babyminder
  • Babysit
  • Babysitter
  • Backache
  • Backbeat
  • Backbench
  • Backbenchers
  • Backbend
  • Backbite
  • Backblast
  • Backbone
  • Backbreaker
  • Backdrop
  • Backfire
  • Background
  • Backhand
  • Backlash
  • Backlog
  • Backpack
  • Backside
  • Backslap
  • Backslide
  • Backspace
  • Backspin
  • Backstage
  • Backstroke
  • Backtrack
  • Backward
  • Ballpark
  • Ballroom
  • Bandwagon
  • Bankbook
  • Bankroll
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Beachcomb
  • Bedclothes
  • Bed lamp
  • Bedrock
  • Bedroll
  • Bedroom
  • bedspread
  • Bellbottom
  • Bellboy
  • Bellhop
  • Below
  • Berrylike
  • Billboard
  • Billhook
  • Bitterroot
  • Bittersweet
  • Bitterweed
  • Bitterwood
  • Blackball
  • Blackberries
  • Blackbird
  • Blackboard
  • Blackjack
  • Blacklist
  • Blackmail
  • Blackout
  • Blackpool
  • Blacksmith
  • Blacktop
  • Blowgun
  • Bluebell
  • Blueberry
  • Bluebird
  • Bluefish
  • Bluegrass
  • Blueprint
  • Boardwalk
  • Body bag
  • Body-boarding
  • Body blow
  • Bodybuilder
  • Body hair
  • Bodywork
  • Bodyguard
  • Bodywork
  • Boldface
  • Bookcase
  • Bookend
  • Bookkeeper
  • Bookmark
  • Bookmobile
  • Bookseller
  • Bookshelf
  • Bookstore
  • Bookworm
  • Bootstrap
  • Bowlegs
  • Bowtie
  • Brainchild
  • Brainwash
  • Brotherhood
  • Brow beat
  • Bugspray
  • Butterball
  • Buttercup
  • Butterfingers
  • Butterflies
  • Buttermilk
  • Butternut
  • Butterscotch
  • Bypass
  • Cabdriver
  • Candlelight
  • Candlestick
  • Candyfloss
  • Candytuft
  • Cardboard
  • Cardsharp
  • Cardstock
  • Carefree
  • Caretaker
  • Careworn
  • Carfare
  • Cargo
  • Carhop
  • Carload
  • Carpetbagger
  • Carpool
  • Carport
  • Carrack
  • Carryall
  • Carsick
  • Cartwheel
  • Catchword
  • Cattail
  • Catwalk
  • Caveman
  • Centercut
  • Cheeseburger
  • Cheesecake
  • Classmates
  • Classroom
  • Clockwise
  • cocksure
  • Coffeemaker
  • Comeback
  • Comedown
  • Commonplace
  • Commonwealth
  • Cornmeal
  • Counterattack
  • Counterproductive
  • Courthouse
  • Courtyard
  • Crewcut
  • Crossbow
  • Crossbreed
  • Crosscut
  • Crossover
  • Crosswalk
  • Dairymaid
  • Daisywheel
  • Daybed
  • Daybook
  • Daybreak
  • Daydream
  • Daylight
  • Daytime
  • Deadbeat
  • Dead body
  • Deadbolt
  • Dead drop
  • Dead-end
  • Deadeye
  • Deadfall
  • Dead heat
  • Dead letter
  • Deadlight
  • Deadline
  • Dead load
  • Deadlock
  • Deadlocked
  • Dead mail
  • Dead march
  • Dead metaphor
  • Dickhead
  • Dick test
  • Dishcloth
  • Dishpan
  • Dishwasher
  • Dishwater
  • Diskdrive
  • Dog-tired
  • Dogwood
  • Doorstop
  • Double agent
  • Double-barrelled
  • Double-bedded
  • Double bond
  • Doublecross

1000 Compound Words Examples (D-N)

  • Double-date
  • Double-decker
  • Downbeat
  • Downcast
  • Downcourt
  • Downtime
  • Downtown
  • Downtrodden
  • Downunder
  • Drawbridge
  • Driveway
  • Duckbill
  • Duckpin
  • Duckweed
  • Earache
  • Eardrop
  • Eardrum
  • Earring
  • Earthbound
  • Earthquake
  • Earthward
  • Earthworm
  • Egghead
  • Eggshell
  • Elsewhere
  • Everything
  • Extraordinary
  • Eyeballs
  • Eyebath
  • Eyebeam
  • Eye-catching
  • Eyeglasses
  • Eyelash
  • Eyelid
  • Eyesight
  • Eyewitness
  • Fatherhood
  • Fatherland
  • Firearm
  • Fireball
  • Fireboat
  • Firebomb
  • Firebreak
  • Firecracker
  • Firefighter
  • Fireflies
  • Firehouse
  • Fireproof
  • Firewater
  • Fishbowl
  • Fisherman
  • Fisheye
  • Fishhook
  • Fishlike
  • Fishmonger
  • Fishnet
  • Fishpond
  • Fishtail
  • Football
  • Foothill
  • Footlights
  • Footlocker
  • Footnote
  • Footprint
  • Footprints
  • Footrest
  • Footwear
  • Forbearer
  • Forbid
  • Forebode
  • Forearm
  • Forebear
  • Forebrain
  • Forecast
  • Forecastle
  • Foreclose
  • Foreclosure
  • Foredoom
  • Forefather
  • Forefeet
  • Forefinger
  • Forefoot
  • Forego
  • Foregone
  • Foreground
  • Forehand
  • Forehead
  • Foreknowledge
  • Foreleg
  • Foreman
  • Foremost
  • Forepaws
  • Foresee
  • Foreshadow
  • Foresight
  • Forestall
  • Forethought
  • Foretell
  • Foretold
  • Forever
  • Forewarn
  • Foreword
  • Forget
  • Forgive
  • Forklift
  • Format
  • Fortnight
  • Friendship
  • Fruitcup
  • Gearshift
  • Glassmaking
  • Goodbye
  • Goodnight
  • Grandaunt
  • Grandchild
  • Grandchildren
  • Granddaughter
  • Grandfather
  • Grandmaster
  • Grandmother
  • Grandnephew
  • Grandnieces
  • Grandparent
  • Grandson
  • Grandstand
  • Granduncle
  • Grasshopper
  • Grassland
  • Graveyard
  • Gumball
  • Haircut
  • Hamburger
  • Hammerhead
  • Handbook
  • Handcuff
  • Handgun
  • Handmade
  • Handout
  • Headache
  • Headdress
  • Headlight
  • Headline
  • Headquarters
  • Heaven-sent
  • Heavenward
  • Helpdesk
  • Helpline
  • Helpmate
  • Hereafter
  • Hereby
  • Herein
  • Hereupon
  • Herself
  • Highball
  • Highchair
  • Highland
  • Highway
  • Himself
  • Homemade
  • Hometown
  • Honeybee
  • Honeybees
  • Honeycomb
  • Honeycreeper
  • Honeydew
  • Honeymoon
  • Honeypot
  • Honeysuckle
  • Hookup
  • Hookworm
  • Horseback
  • Horsefly
  • Horsehair
  • Horseman
  • Horseplay
  • Horsepower
  • Horseradish
  • hotbed
  • hothead
  • Houseboat
  • Household
  • Housekeeper
  • Housetop
  • Housework
  • However
  • Intake
  • Interstate
  • Ironwork
  • Itself
  • Jackpot
  • Jailbait
  • Jellybean
  • Jellyfish
  • Jetliner
  • Jetport
  • Jumpshot
  • Jumpstart
  • Keyboard
  • Keyhole
  • Keynote
  • Keypad
  • Keypunch
  • Keystone
  • Keystroke
  • Keyway
  • Keyword
  • Lacklustre
  • Lifeblood
  • Lifeboat
  • Lifebuoy
  • Lifeguard
  • Lifejacket
  • Lifelike
  • Lifeline
  • Lifelong
  • Lifesaver
  • Lifestyle
  • Lily-livered
  • Lifetime
  • Lifework
  • Limelight
  • Limestone
  • Longhand
  • Longhouse
  • Lukewarm
  • Mainland
  • Mainline
  • Matchbox
  • Meantime
  • Meanwhile
  • Moneybag
  • Moneylender
  • Moonbeam
  • Moonflower
  • Moonlight
  • Moonlit
  • Moonscape
  • Moonshine
  • Moonstruck
  • Moonwalk
  • Moorfields
  • Moorfowl
  • Moorland
  • Mopboard
  • Moreover
  • Mothball
  • Motherhood
  • Motorcycle
  • Nearby

1000 Compound Words Examples (N-S)

  • Nevermore
  • Newborn
  • Newfound
  • Newsboy
  • Newsbreak
  • Newscaster
  • Newsdealer
  • Newsletter
  • Newsman
  • Newspaper
  • Newsperson
  • Newsprint
  • Newsreel
  • Newsroom
  • Newsstand
  • Newsworthy
  • Nightfall
  • Noisemaker
  • Northeast
  • Notebook
  • Noteworthy
  • Nowhere
  • Nursemaid
  • Nutcracker
  • Offbeat
  • Off-record
  • Oilbird
  • Oilcan
  • Oilcloth
  • Oilfield
  • Oilman
  • Oil-rich
  • Oneself
  • Onetime
  • Outbalance
  • Outbid
  • Outboard
  • Outdoor
  • Outflank
  • Outflow
  • Outlive
  • Outnumber
  • Overabundance
  • Overboard
  • Overcoat
  • Overflow
  • Overland
  • Overshoes
  • Overview
  • Pacemaker
  • Pancake
  • Passbook
  • Passkey
  • Passover
  • Paycheck
  • Peppermint
  • Pickup
  • Pinhole
  • Pinstripe
  • Pinup
  • Pinwheel
  • Pipe-borne
  • Play-actor
  • Playback
  • Playbill
  • Playbook
  • Playboy
  • Play day
  • Play dough
  • Playground
  • Playhouse
  • Playthings
  • Ponytail
  • Popcorn
  • Postcard
  • Poverty grass
  • Poverty level
  • Poverty line
  • Poverty trap
  • Poverty-stricken
  • Priesthood
  • Punchbag
  • Punchboard
  • Punchbowl
  • Racquetball
  • Railroad
  • Railway
  • Rainbow
  • Raincheck
  • Raincoat
  • Raindrop
  • Rainstorm
  • Rainwater
  • Rattlesnake
  • Rattletrap
  • Repairman
  • Riverbanks
  • Rollerblade
  • Rollercoaster
  • Roller-skating
  • Rubberband
  • Sailboat
  • Salesclerk
  • Sand dune
  • Sandlot
  • Sandstone
  • Saucepan
  • Scapegoat
  • Scarecrow
  • Schoolbook
  • Schoolboy
  • Schoolbus
  • Schoolhouse
  • Schoolwork
  • Seaport
  • Seashore
  • Setback
  • Shadyside
  • Sharecropper
  • Sharpshooter
  • Sheepskin
  • Shipbottom
  • Shoelace
  • Shoemaker
  • Shortbread
  • Showoff
  • Showplace
  • Sideburns
  • Sidekick
  • Sideline
  • Sideshow
  • Sidestep
  • Sidetrack
  • Sidewalk
  • Silver age
  • Silver ash
  • Silver beech
  • Silver bell
  • Silver berry
  • Silver-blue
  • Silver-bodied
  • Silver bromide
  • Silver-bush
  • Silver cord
  • Silver dollar
  • Silver fern
  • Silver fir
  • Silverfish
  • Silver grass
  • Silver-gray
  • Silver-green
  • Silver-haired
  • Silversmith
  • Sisterhood
  • Sixfold
  • Skateboard
  • Skintight
  • Skylark
  • Skylight
  • Skyscraper
  • Slapstick
  • Slowdown
  • Slumlord
  • Smartphone
  • Snakeskin
  • Snowball
  • Snowbank
  • Snowbird
  • Snowboard
  • Snowdrift
  • Snowfall
  • Snowflakes
  • Snowshovel
  • Softball
  • Software
  • Somebody
  • Someday
  • Somehow
  • Someone
  • Someplace
  • Something
  • Sometimes
  • Somewhat
  • Somewhere
  • Soulmate
  • Soundproof
  • Southeast
  • Southwest
  • Soybean
  • Spacewalk
  • Spearmint
  • Spillway
  • Spokesperson
  • Stagehand
  • Stage-manage
  • Standby
  • Standoff
  • Standout
  • Standpipe
  • Standpoint
  • Starfish
  • Steamboat
  • Steamship
  • Stepson
  • Stockroom
  • Stonewall
  • Stoplight
  • Stopwatch
  • Storerooms
  • Stronghold
  • Subway
  • Sunbaked
  • Sunbathe
  • Sunbeams
  • Sunbelt
  • Sunberry
  • Sunblock
  • Sunburn
  • Sunday
  • Sundial
  • Sundown
  • Sunfish
  • Sunflower
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunlit
  • Sunrays
  • Sunroof
  • Sunup
  • Supercargo
  • Supercharge

1000 Compound Words Examples (S-W)

  • Supercool
  • Superego
  • Superfine
  • Supergiant
  • Superhero
  • Superhighways
  • Superhuman
  • Superimpose
  • Superman
  • Supermarket
  • Supermen
  • Supernatural
  • Superpower
  • Superscript
  • Supersensitive
  • Supersonic
  • Superstar
  • Superstrong
  • Superstructure
  • Supertanker
  • Superweapon
  • Superwoman
  • Sweetheart
  • Sweetmeat
  • Swift-footed
  • Swordfish
  • Tablecloth
  • Tablespoon
  • Tabletop
  • Tableware
  • Tadpole
  • Tagalong
  • Tailbone
  • Tailcoat
  • Tailgate
  • Taillight
  • Taillike
  • Tailpiece
  • Tailspin
  • Takeoff
  • Takeout
  • Takeover
  • Talebearer
  • Taleteller
  • Tapeworm
  • Taproom
  • Taproot
  • Taskmaster
  • Taxicab
  • Taxpayer
  • Teacup
  • Teammate
  • Teamwork
  • Teapot
  • Teaspoon
  • Teenager
  • Telltale
  • Tenderfoot
  • Tenfold
  • Textbook
  • Themselves
  • Therefore
  • Throwaway
  • Throwback
  • Thunderbird
  • Thunderbolt
  • Thunderclap
  • Thundercloud
  • Thunderflash
  • Thunderhead
  • Thundershower
  • Thunderstorm
  • Thunderstruck
  • Timekeeper
  • Timepieces
  • Timesaver
  • Timesaving
  • Timeshare
  • Timetable
  • Tonguefish
  • Tongue-lash
  • Toolbox
  • Toothpaste
  • Toothpick
  • Touchdown
  • Township
  • Turnabout
  • Turnaround
  • Turnbuckle
  • Turncoat
  • Turndown
  • Turnkey
  • Turnoff
  • Turntable
  • Typewrite
  • Typewriter
  • Underachieve
  • Underact
  • Underage
  • Underarm
  • Underbelly
  • Underbid
  • Undercharge
  • Underclothes
  • Undercover
  • Undercurrent
  • Undercut
  • Underdevelop
  • Underdog
  • Underestimate
  • Underexpose
  • Underfoot
  • Underground
  • Upbeat
  • Upbringing
  • Upcoming
  • Upcourt
  • Update
  • Upend
  • Upgrade
  • Upheaval
  • Upheld
  • Uphill
  • Uphold
  • Upkeep
  • Upland
  • Uplift
  • Uplink
  • Upload
  • Upmarket
  • Uppercase
  • Upperclassman
  • Uppercut
  • Uppermost
  • Upright
  • Uprising
  • Uproar
  • Uproot
  • Upscale
  • Upset
  • Upshot
  • Upside
  • Upstage
  • Upstairs
  • Upstanding
  • Upstart
  • Upstate
  • Upstream
  • Upstroke
  • Uptake
  • Upthrust
  • Uptight
  • Uptime
  • Uptown
  • Upturn
  • Upward
  • Upwind
  • Vainglory
  • Viewpoint
  • Vineyard
  • Violin cello
  • Volleyball
  • Voltmeter
  • Vouchsafe
  • Waistline
  • Walkways
  • Walleyed
  • Wallpaper
  • Wardroom
  • Warehouse
  • War advocacy
  • War baby
  • War bride
  • War chest
  • War cloud
  • War correspondent
  • War crime
  • War criminal
  • War cry
  • Warfare
  • Warlike
  • Warmonger
  • Warmblooded
  • Warpath
  • Washboard
  • Washbowl
  • Washcloth
  • Washhouse
  • Washout
  • Washrag
  • Washroom
  • Washstand
  • Washtub
  • Wastebag
  • Wastebasket
  • Wastebin
  • Wasteland
  • Wastepaper
  • Wastewater
  • Watchband
  • Watchdog
  • Watchmaker
  • Watchman
  • Watchtower
  • Watchword
  • Waterbed
  • Water beetle
  • Water birch
  • Waterbird
  • Water biscuit
  • Waterboarding
  • Water boatman
  • Waterborne
  • Waterbottle
  • Water boy
  • Water buck
  • Water buffalo
  • Water bug
  • Watercolour
  • Watercooler
  • Watercourse
  • Watercraft
  • Waterfall
  • Waterfowl
  • Waterfront
  • Waterline
  • Waterlog

1000 Compound Words Examples (W-Z)

  • Watermark
  • Watermelon
  • Waterpower
  • Waterproof
  • Waterscape
  • Watershed
  • Waterside
  • Waterspout
  • Watertight
  • Waterway
  • Waterwheel
  • Waterworks
  • Wavelength
  • Wavelike
  • Waxwork
  • Waybill
  • Wayfarer
  • Waylaid
  • Wayside
  • Wayward
  • Weathercock
  • Weatherman
  • Weatherproof
  • Weekday
  • Weekend
  • Weeknight
  • Wetland
  • Whatever
  • Whatsoever
  • Wheelbarrow
  • Wheelbase
  • Wheelchair
  • Wheelhouse
  • Wheelhouse
  • Whereabouts
  • Whipcord
  • Whip hand
  • Whiplash
  • Whiplike
  • Whipsaw
  • Whip snake
  • Whipstitch
  • Whipstock
  • Whiptail
  • Whip through
  • Whip top
  • Whiteboard
  • Whitecap
  • Whitefish
  • Whitehall
  • Whitehead
  • Whitewall
  • Whitewash
  • Widespread
  • Wipeout
  • Wisplike
  • Without
  • Wood ant
  • Woodblock
  • Woodborer
  • Wood-burning
  • Woodcarver
  • Woodcarving
  • Woodchip
  • Wood coal
  • Woodcock
  • Woodcraft
  • Wood-creeper
  • Woodcutter
  • Wood duck
  • Woodshop
  • Yachtsman
  • Yachtsman
  • Yachtsmen
  • Yachtsmen
  • Yard bird
  • Yard birds
  • Yard land
  • Yard lands
  • Yard wand
  • Yard wands
  • Yard work
  • Yard works
  • Yardarms
  • Yardman
  • Yardmaster
  • Yardmasters
  • Yardstick
  • Yardsticks
  • Yearbook
  • Yearbooks
  • Yearlong
  • Yellow fin
  • Yellow fins
  • Yellow ware
  • Yellow wares
  • Yellowhammer
  • Yellowhammers
  • Yellowlegs
  • Yellowtail
  • Yellowtails
  • Yellowthroat
  • Yellowthroats
  • Yellowwood
  • Yellowwoods
  • Yokefellow
  • Yokefellows
  • Yokemate
  • Yokemates
  • Youngberries
  • Youngberry
  • Youth quake
  • Zoo technical
  • Zoogeographer
  • Zoogeographers
  • Zoogeographies
  • Zoogeography
  • Zookeeper
  • Zoosperms
  • Zootechnics

Closing Words and Related Posts

It is possible that some of these 1000 Compound Words Examples could be written differently in other instances where they appear; but remember that this also depends on the choice of the writer to select any of the three types of compound words that we have. However, there are some of these compound words that have to be written based on acceptable convention. You can check out other related posts as listed below:

9 Types of Nouns with Examples

10 Examples of Complex Sentences

100 Examples of Synonym Words

100 Examples of Compound Sentences in English

25 Examples of Complex Sentences

50 Examples of Simple Sentences

Though
structurally and semantically many English compounds look like word
groups, compounds
are more ‘word-like’ than free syntactic phrases.

Compounds,
unlike free syntactic phrases, are inseparable
vocabulary units
that
should be specially
learned and presented in a dictionary as a special entry or
sub-entry. This inseparability
is usually established by graphical, morphological, phonetic, or
semantic criteria.

Graphically
a
compound is usually one orthographic word and may be spelled with a
hyphen
between its parts (grass-green,
dog-biscuit, dog-collar)
or
solidly (Sunday,
handbook,penman,
schoolmaster).

But
spelling does not provide an accurate guide to differentiation
between compounds and word
groups because many compounds are written like word combinations with
a space: bus
stop, post office, jugular vein, jam session, freezing point, plate
glass.
There
are few hardfast rules concerning spelling compound words in English.
Compound words similar in
meaning may be spelled differently in the same dictionary, as in
tooth-paste
but
tooth
powder,
baby carriage
but
baby-sitter
[LDCE],
penknife
but
pen-pocket
[NND].
Futhermore,
different authors may use different spellings of the same words (for
example, word-formation
and
word
formation).
Even
in different dictionaries one and the same word
may be presented in a different way: grapefruit
[LLCE]
grape-fruit
[OALDCE]
[WNCD]
—grape-fruit,
grapefruit
[LDCE];
skateboard
[LLCE]
skate-board
[LDCE]
[WNCD][OALDCE]; grass
roots
[WNCD]
[LDCE] — grass-roots
[OALDCE];
see also war-path
and
warpath,
dog-house
and
doghouse,
snow-man
and
snowman,
snow-flake
and
snow/lake.
Solid
orthography of compounds is especially characteristic of American
English.
So, graphic criterion is not always helpful in determining a compound
word.

Many
scholars suggest that a
particular stress pattern
should
be taken into consideration as
a criterion for compounds. Phonetically
compounds
acquire a new stress pattern that is different
from the stress in motivating words. Their first component may have a
high stress
(a ‘hot-house,
a ‘key-hole, a ‘doorway, ‘ice-cream, ‘common-wealth, ‘common­
place,
a ‘common-room),
or
a double stress with a primary stress on the first syllable (a
‘washing-
machine; a ‘ dancing-
tgirl).

This
criterion is not universal either because it is important only for
pronunciation of forms
in isolation. In a text there is a lot of variation in forms’
pronunciation. Even when

84

pronounced
in isolation some compounds may have two level stresses (‘icy-‘cold;
‘grass-
‘green,
in ‘apple- pie ‘order)
which
may be observed in word combinations (cf.: ‘common
‘knowledge, ‘common
‘sense)
or
they may have a high stress on the last component
( grass-‘roots,
grass-‘widow, apple-‘sauce
(US=‘apple-sauce})
which
is more
characteristic of free word groups. So, though there is a certain
consistency in a speech
community in stressing compounds, in some cases the general rules do
not determine
the ‘wordness’ of a form.

Morphologically compounds
make up one inseparable unit with a strict order of components
and a new or single paradigm (cf.: rich
— richer — the richest
and
oil-rich

more oil-rich, the most oil-rich; a shipwreck — shipwrecks, a
week-end — week­
ends).
Elements
within the compound cannot be reordered, for additional items cannot
be inserted
between them.

However,
this criterion is not always reliable, especially in N-N compounds
(paper-basket)
and
similar structures with attributive noun use as in stone
wall.
In
both cases the order of components is strict and the first noun
component in the singular form does not display
its usual paradigmatic forms (for e.g. in this construction it may
not be used in plural).

Semantic
criterion
seems
to be more valuable and has wider applicability. Semantically
compounds
differ from nominal phrases like peace
years
or
stone
wall
because
they usually
carry additional idiomatic semantic component (a
player
piano
‘a
piano that is played
by machinery, the music being controlled by a piece of paper’,
laughing-gas
‘gas
which
may cause laughter when breathed in, used for producing
unconsciousness, esp. during short operations for removing teeth‘,
fiddle-sticks
inter/
‘Nonsense!
How silly!’). Such
components are usually not found in free phrases.

When
the additional idiomatic component is very important or prevails in
the lexical meaning
of a compound, the latter may be considered to be partially
motivated
as
in handcuffs,
a flower-bed, laughing-gas, grass-roots
or
completely
demotivated
as
in grass-widow,
wet-blanket, fiddle-sticks.
These
compounds are very close to idioms, can hardly be differentiated from
them, and often are presented in dictionaries of idioms with such
word groups as red
tape
or
small
hours
(see
Chapter 6).

When
this additional idiomatic component is minimal as in girl-friend
or
icy-cold,
the
compound may be regarded as fully
motivated.
The
meaning of the whole unit may be deduced
from the meaning of its constituent parts and their arrangement. Such
compounds are most closely related to free word combinations.

So,
there is not a single criterion that will distinguish compounds and
word groups in English.
This is especially the case with regards to fully motivated nominal
compounds like girl-friend,
dish cloth
and
nominal phrases corresponding to an o/-phrase that have developed
some referential unity, as in stone
wall
or
life
story.
Yet,
the phonological,

85

syntactic and semantic features of compounds, especially when they
work simultaneously, act like a binding force and make them distinct
from phrases

|3. Classification of compounds]

Classification of compounds may be done according to various
principles.

1. First of all, from
the derivational point of view
one
should distinguish between compounds
proper
that
are made up of two derivational bases (sauce+pan)
and
derivational,
or pseudo-compounds,
that
look like compounds only on the morphological
level because they have more than one root but are derived by
conversion, affixation,
back-formation and other name derivational processes (a break-down,
a
pickpocket,
long-legged).

Derivational
compounds
are
further subdivided into three groups: derivational compound
nouns, derivational compound adjectives and derivational compound
verbs.

Derivational
compound
nouns
are
usually built by conversion
on
the basis of so-called
phrasal
verbs:
cast-offs
from
to
cast off, a break-through
from
to
break through,

by substantivization
of a
phrase often accompanied by productive suffixation
as in (six
inch-)+-er,
{two
deck-)+-er,
or
by prefixation
applied
to a
compound derivational base
as
in
ex-+(house+wife).

Many
scholars believe that completely demotivated compounds like
fiddle-sticks, grass-
widow,
scape-goat
should
also be referred to this group because their meaning is completely
different from the lexical meanings of their constituents. They are
believed to be
the final results of lexical-semantic
derivation.

Derivational
compound
adjectives
are
built by suffixation
applied
to a free word group
reduced to a stem: (broad
shoulder-)+-ed, (heart shape-)+-ed
or
by adjectivalization
(cleanup
adj
from
clean-up
n
from clean
up v; apple-pie
adj
‘of,
relating
to, or characterized by traditionally American values (as honesty or
simplicity)’ (from
the noun apple-pie).

Derivational
compound
verbs
are
created by means of conversion
applied
to a compound
derivational base: to
weekend
from
a
week-end
or
by means of back-derivation
applied
to a compound derivational base where one of the 1C is a
suffixational derivative:
to
babysit
from
a
baby-sitter, to dryclean
from
dry-cleaning.

2. Classification of
compounds may also be done according
to the part of speech they
belong
to.

In modern English word
composition is mainly characteristic of nouns
(sunbeam,
Sunday,
sunshine).
The
most common patterns for noun compounds are: n+n—>N
(ice-

86

cream)
and
adj+n—>N
(blackboard,
software).
Noun
compounds may also be the result of compounding
adverbial and nominal stems adv+n—>N
as in after-thought,
back-talk.
Compound
nouns with a verb as the first or the second component (v+n—>N
as in searchlight,
or
n+v—>N
as in sunshine)
take
place in English, too, though it is not quite clear
whether it is really a verb or a converted noun.

Word composition in modern
English is widespread among adjectives,
too. The
most common type of compound adjectives is the combination of two
derivational bases: nominal and adjectival (n+adj—»Adj):
airtight,
life-long, stone-deaf, foolproof,
and
sugarfree.

There
are also many other different patterns according to which compound
adjectives may be
derived: composition of two adjectival bases (adj+adj—>Adj)
as
in deaf-mute,
bitter­
sweet,
of
nominal and participial bases (n+Ving/ed—>Adj)
as
in peace-loving,
dog-tired,
man-made,
of
adjectival and participial (adj+Ving/ed—>Adj)
as in
hard-working,
double-ended,
or
even adverbial and participial bases (adv+Ving/ed—>Adj)
as
in well-read,
over-qualified.
But
verbs do not combine with adjectives in English compounds.

Composition
is not characteristic of modern English pronouns,
though
historical traces of former
word composition processes are still observed there (somebody,
anywhere,
nothing,
oneself).

In modern English verb
composition
does not occur nowadays, though it was quite common in the past and
was effected by compounding adverbial and verbal stems: outgrow,
offset, inlay.
Verbs
that look like compounds are usually the result of other derivational
processes like conversion
(to
honeymoon, to snowball)
and
back-derivation
(to
proofread, to baby-sit, to dry-clean).
Some
verbs such as to
apple-polish
vi
‘to
attempt to
ingratiate oneself and vt
‘to curry
favour with (as by flattery) are condensed and lexicalized
expressions rather than derived words by composition. As with an
idiom, we need
to recall the verb’s original usage to understand its contemporary
meaning. As it is stated in the dictionary of etymology, the verb
appeared from the traditional practice of school
children bringing a shiny apple as a gift to their teacher. So, in
the case of verbs we usually
deal with pseudo-compounds,
or
derivational
compounds.

3.
Semantically,
compounds
are divided into:

endocentric, or
subordinative,
where the
second element is the head and hyperonym
for the compound: sunshine,
airtight, blackboard
(they
make up the bulk of modern
English compounds);


exocentric (or bahuvrihi) where
neither the first nor the second element is the head
or a hyperonym of a compound. This includes denvated compound nouns
fiddle­sticks,
grass-widow, scape-goat
with
the least degree of semantic motivation;


coordinative, or copulative, (or dvandva),
where
both the derivational bases are
equally important. They are subdivided into: reduplicative:
fifty-fifty,
hush-
hush;
phonetically
varied
rhythmic
twin
f
o rm s: chit-chat,
zig­
zag,
a walkie-talkie;
additive:
girl-friend,
sofa-bed, oak-tree, Anglo-American.

87

4.
Compounds may be classified according
to the means of composition
into:

1)
those without
linking elements
that
are formed by merely placing one base after another; they are
subdivided into:

a) syntactic
compounds that do not violate syntax laws of word combining
in English: house-dog,
day-lime, a red-breast, a baby-sitter,
and

b)asyntactic
compounds
in which the order of constituents violates syntax
laws in English: oil-rich,
power-driven, early-riser;

2)
those with
a linking element
o
(most
characteristic of scientific terms), i, or s
(not
productive in modern English): Anglo-Saxon,
sociolinguistics, handicraft,
sportsman.

5.
Compounds
may also be classified according
to the part~of-speech meaning of their
derivational
bases.
There
are:


nominal compounds
with n+n
bases:
windmill,

nominal-verbal
compounds
built according to the patterns n+(v+-er)
bottle-opener,
n+(v+-ing)
police-making,
n+(v+-tion/ment)
though the
second element is seldom
or never used in modern English as a free form, office-management,
n+(v+conversion)
dog-bite;


nominal-adjectival with
the pattern n+adj:
snow-white;


adjectival-nominal with the pattern adj+n:
blackboard;


adverbial-verbal
bases:
outgrow,
offset, inlay


verbal-adverbial
(v + adv) + conversion:
a
break-down;
and
some others.

6. Compounds may also be
classified according
to the structure and semantics of free
word
groups with which they correlate.
For
example, the structural pattern of a compound noun
n+n
correlates
with various verbal-nominal word groups of the V+N type
(subject+verb,
or verb+object) (to make
image):
‘the
one who makes image’ is an image-maker
or
‘the result or process of making image’ is image-making.

7.
A special type of compounds such as telegram,
telephone, astronaut, aerophones
is
called
neoclassical.
In
these compounds different elements from classical languages Latin or
Greek acting as roots and derivational bases combine with each other
forming new words
(see Classification
of morphemes
above
in this chapter).

Many new words are created
when elements that started out as segments in blends become combining
forms making the new words look like compounds or at least a suffixal
derivative: rice-a-rony,
sport-a-rama, plant-o-rama, porn-o-topia, work-o-holic.
This
is especially common in advertising and commerce.

Compounds
should not be mixed up with word
groups of phraseological character
like
mother-in-law,
brother-in-arms, bread-and-butter, milk-and-water,
or
longer
combinations
of words in attributive function
that
for stylistic purposes may be treated like
unities and thus hyphenated: the-young-must-be-right
attitude, the nothing-huts of
his
statements.
These
constructions are neither compounds nor phraseological units. They

88

are usually treated as a
result of lexicalization of syntactic structures (see also
‘Compression’
in ‘Minor types of word-formation’).

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