Word building online dictionary

There are four main kinds of word formation: prefixes, suffixes, conversion and compounds.

Prefixes

We add prefixes before the base or stem of a word.

examples

prefixes

monorail, monolingual

mono— means ‘one’

multipurpose, multicultural

multi— means ‘many’

post-war, postgraduate

post— means ‘after’

unusual, undemocratic

un— means ‘not’ or ‘opposite to’

Suffixes

We add suffixes after the base or stem of a word. The main purpose of a suffix is to show what class of word it is (e.g. noun or adjective).

examples

suffixes

terrorism, sexism

-ism and -dom are used to form nouns

employer, actor

-er and -or are used to form nouns to describe people who do things

widen, simplify

-en and -ify are used to form verbs

reasonable, unprofitable

-able is used to form adjectives

unhappily, naturally

-ly is a common suffix used to form adverbs

Conversion

Conversion involves the change of a word from one word class to another. For example, the verbs to email and to microwave are formed from the nouns email and microwave:

Can you text her? (verb from noun text, meaning to send a text-message)

They are always jetting somewhere. (verb from noun jet)

If you’re not careful, some downloads can damage your computer. (noun from verb download)

OK, so the meeting’s on Tuesday. That’s a definite. (noun from adjective)

It’s a very big if and I’m not at all sure we can afford it. (noun from conjunction, meaning ‘it’s not at all certain’)

All companies have their ups and downs. (nouns from prepositions)

We also use conversion when we change a proper noun into a common noun:

Has anybody seen my Dickens? (copy of a book by Dickens)

Compounding

When we use compounding, we link together two or more bases to create a new word. Normally, the first item identifies a key feature of the second word. For example, the two bases back and ache can combine to form the compound noun backache, and the two bases post and card combine to form the compound noun postcard.

Compounds are found in all word classes. The most common types of compounds are: Nouns: car park, rock band

Adjectives: heartbreaking, sugar-free, airsick

Verbs: oven-bake, baby-sit, chain-smoke

Adverbs: good-naturedly, nevertheless

It is sometimes difficult to know where to put hyphens in words that are compound ed. It is also difficult to know whether to separate words (e.g. post box) or to join the words (e.g. postbox). In such cases, it is best to check in a good learner’s dictionary.

Abbreviation

Abbreviation involves shortening a word. We do this in three main ways: clipping, acronyms and blends.

We use clipping when we shorten or ‘clip’ one or more syllables from a word. We also commonly clip proper names for people:

ad: advertisement, advert

lab: laboratory

Matt: Matthew

Acronyms are a type of abbreviation formed when the initial letters of two or more words are combined in a way that produces consonant and vowel sequences found in words. Acronyms are normally pronounced as words:

RAM: random access memory (RAM is a term used to describe a computer’s memory.)

Initials are similar to acronyms but are pronounced as sets of letters, not as words:

WHO: World Health Organisation, pronounced W–H–O

CD: compact disc, pronounced C–D

We form blends when we combine parts of existing words to form a new word:

blog: blend of web and log

motel: blend of motor and hotel

smog: blend of smoke and fog

Back-formation

We form words with back-formation when we remove part of a word, usually something which we think is a suffix (or occasionally a prefix). We do this commonly when we form verbs from nouns.

For example: to liaise (back-formed from the noun liaison); to intuit (back-formed from the noun intuition), to enthuse (back-formed from the noun enthusiasm):

Can you liaise with Tim and agree a time for the meeting, please?

She’s always enthusing about her new teacher.

Loan words and new words

Loan words

Loan words are words that are borrowed from other languages. Some recent loan words for food taken from other languages include: sushi, tapas, chapatti, pizza. When we use loan words, we do not normally change them, though we do sometimes inflect them if they are singular countable nouns (pizzas, chapattis). We also sometimes pronounce them more like English words, instead of using their original pronunciation.

New words

Some prefixes are commonly used to create new words. In modern English the prefix e- is used to create new words that are connected with the Internet and the use of the Internet:

e-bank, e-cards, e-commerce, e-learning

Almost any noun may potentially combine with any other noun to form new noun compounds (e.g. computer virus, carbon footprint, quality time).

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Sample dictionary lookup: abet

Очень часто в английском языке слова, относящиеся к одной части речи, образуют слова, относящиеся к другой части речи. Чаще его это происходит путем присоединения суффиксов: to work работать,  a worker —рабочий.

Возможен и другой способ, получивший название конверсия переход слова из одной части речи в другую без изменения формы: towork работатьa work работа. Конверсия очень характерна для английского языка: ей способствуют отсутствие развитой системы окончаний и большое количество односложных слов. Наиболее часто конверсии подвергаются глаголы и существительные: a hand рукаto handвручить. Как правило, слова, имеющие одинаковое написание, и произносятся одинаково, но есть и исключения: в основном, различия заключаются в произношении звуков [s] и [z] или в переносе ударения: close [-s]близкийto close [-z] закрывать, conduct[kOndAkt] поведениеto conduct [kOndAkt] вести. Обычно в существительных ударение падает на 1-й слог, у глаголов на последний. Иногда с переносом ударения не только меняется часть речи, но и теряется видимая связь значений: to refuse [rIfjHz] отказываться refuse[refjHs] мусор. Конверсия затрагивает и оппозицию «существительное — прилагательное»: прилагательные часто субстантивируются, т. е. становятся существительными: brave смелыйthe brave смельчак. То же можно наблюдать и в русском языке: больной (прил.) человек больной (сущ.) выписан из больницы.

Словосложение это способ словообразования путем соединения двух (или более) слов в одно, которое пишется слитно, или через дефис, а иногда раздельно: to pin-point уточнить, trailer-on-flat трейлер на платформе.

Сокращение еще один способ образования новых слов: laser = light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation лазер (усиление света индуцированным испусканием излучения).

Путем использования префиксов: to doделать to redo переделать.

НАИБОЛЕЕ УПОТРЕБИТЕЛЬНЫЕ СУФФИКСЫ ГЛАГОЛОВ

СУФФИКС

ЗНАЧЕНИЕ

ПРИМЕР

(сущ. +) -ize

делать(ся) таким, как на то указывает основа

summarize суммировать

(прил. +) -en

harden делать(ся) твердым

(сущ. +) -ify, -fy

превращать в, делать то, на что указывает основа

gasifyпревращать(ся) в газ;

electrifyэлектризовать

(сущ. +) -ate

подвергать воздействию, превращать в то, на что указывает основа

vaccinateделать прививку;

granulateгранулировать

-er

whisperшептать

-ish

establishустанавливать

НАИБОЛЕЕ УПОТРЕБИТЕЛЬНЫЕ СУФФИКСЫ СУЩЕСТВИТЕЛЬНЫХ

СУФФИКС

ЗНАЧЕНИЕ

ПРИМЕР

(гл. +) -er, -or

обозначение деятеля

worker рабочий

(гл. +) -ing

действие в процессе

boiling кипячение

(прил. +) -ness

свойство, качество

whiteness белизна

(прил. +) -ty, -ity

состояние, условие, качество

activityдеятельность

(гл. +) -age

акт или факт действия

breakageполомка

(сущ. +) -age

содержание чего-либо

(единиц измерения)

percentage процентное содержание

(гл. +) -ment

отвлеченные понятия (абстрактные существительные)

treatment лечение

(гл. +) -ance,

-ence

resistance сопротивление

(гл. +) -ancy,

-ency

expectancyнадежда

(прил. +/сущ. +) -dom

freedomсвобода

(гл. +)

-ion, -tion,

-sion,-ssion

revisionповторение

-ure

pressure давление

-hood

childhood детство

-ship

friendship дружба

-th

lengthдлина

-an, -ian

1) национальность;

2) профессия

Americanамериканец,

librarianбиблиотекарь

-ism

какое-либо течение

(например, политическое)

communismкоммунизм

-ist

1) принадлежность к

какому-либо течению;

2) профессия

communistкоммунист;

artist художник

НАИБОЛЕЕ УПОТРЕБИТЕЛЬНЫЕ СУФФИКСЫ

НАРЕЧИЙ И ЧИСЛИТЕЛЬНЫХ

СУФФИКСЫ НАРЕЧИЙ

СУФФИКСЫ ЧИСЛИТЕЛЬНЫХ

СУФФИКС

ЗНАЧЕНИЕ

ПРИМЕР

СУФФИКС

ЗНАЧЕНИЕ

ПРИМЕР

(прил. +)

-ly

таким образом, способом

entirely всецело

-teen

количественное числительное от 13 до 19

fifteenпятнадцать

-ward(s)

направление движения

backwards назад

-ty

десятки

seventy семьдесят

-wise

в таком направлении, таким способом

clockwiseпо часовой стрелке

-th

порядковое числительное

fourth

четвертый

НАИБОЛЕЕ УПОТРЕБИТЕЛЬНЫЕ СУФФИКСЫ ПРИЛАГАТЕЛЬНЫХ

СУФФИКС

ЗНАЧЕНИЕ

ПРИМЕР

(сущ. +) -al

наличие признака, свойств и качеств, выраженных основой

central центральный

(сущ. +) -ic

patrioticпатриотический

(сущ. +) -ical

geologicalгеологический

(сущ. +) -ous

famousизвестный

(сущ. +) -ful

usefulполезный

(гл. +)

-able, -ible

expressible выразительный

(гл. +)

-ant, -ent

dependentзависимый

(гл. +) -ive

active активный

(сущ. +) -ly

friendlyдружелюбный

(сущ. +) -y

grainy зернистый

(гл. +) -ite

favouriteлюбимый

-ary

pecuniaryденежный

-ate

fortunateудачный

-ed

cold-blooded хладнокровный

-less

отсутствие качества,

признака

uselessбесполезный

-ish

1) наличие признака в

слабой степени;

2) принадлежность к

национальности

reddish красноватый;

Polishпольский

-ese

принадлежность к

национальности

Japaneseяпонский

-ian, -an

Egyptian египетский

-like

сходство

birdlikeптицеподобный

-ern

принадлежность к одной из сторон света

northern северный

НАИБОЛЕЕ УПОТРЕБИТЕЛЬНЫЕ ПРЕФИКСЫ И ИХ ЗНАЧЕНИЯ

ОТРИЦАТЕЛЬНЫЕ ПРЕФИКСЫ

ДРУГИЕ ПРЕФИКСЫ

ПРЕФИКС

ПРИМЕР

ПРЕФИКС

ЗНАЧЕНИЕ

ПРИМЕР

un-

unable

неспособный

re- (+ гл.)

вновь сделать то, на что указывает основа

remake

переделывать

in-

inactive

бездеятельный

im-

impossible

невозможный

en-, em-

(+ гл.)

придавать

качество

embody

воплощать

il-

illegal

незаконный

ir-

irregular

неправильный

over- (+ гл.)

избыточная степень качества или выполнения действия

overproduce

перепроизводить

mis-

misunderstand

неправильно

понять

dis-

disapproval

неодобрение

under- (+ гл.)

недостаточная степень качества или выполнения действия

underestimate

недооценивать

Источник материала:http://study-english.info

Word formation —  practice

  • Exercise1.
  • 10 exersises
  • Practice wordbuilding — adjectives 

Some Rules and Practice

1. Suffixes

Noun Suffixes

Suffix

Meaning

Example

-acy

state or quality

privacy

-al

act or process of

refusal

-ance, -ence

state or quality of

maintenance, eminence

-dom

place or state of being

freedom, kingdom

-er, -or

one who

trainer, protector

-ism

doctrine, belief

communism

-ist

one who

chemist

-ity, -ty

quality of

veracity

-ment

condition of

argument

-ness

state of being

heaviness

-ship

position held

fellowship

-sion, -tion

state of being

concession, transition

Verb Suffixes

-ate

become

eradicate

-en

become

enlighten

-ify, -fy

make or become

terrify

-ize, -ise

become

civilize

Adjective Suffixes

-able, -ible

capable of being

edible, presentable

-al

pertaining to

regional

-esque

reminiscent of

picturesque

-ful

notable for

fanciful

-ic, -ical

pertaining to

musical, mythic

-ious, -ous

characterized by

nutritious, portentous

-ish

having the quality of

fiendish

-ive

having the nature of

creative

-less

without

endless

-y

characterized by

sleazy

 Prefixez

Negative Prefixes. Exercise1.

Negative Prefixes, Exercise2.

Negative Prefixes. Flash animation.

Noun suffixes. Exercise1

Video lesson on noun suffixes

     ( words    plural & 3rd person present)   ( wording    present participle)   ( worded    past tense & past participle  )

1       n-count   A word is a single unit of language that can be represented in writing or speech. In English, a word has a space on either side of it when it is written.  
The words stood out clearly on the page…, The word `ginseng’ comes from the Chinese word `Shen-seng’., …swear words…     

2       n-plural   Someone’s words are what they say or write.  
oft with poss  
I was devastated when her words came true…, The words of the young woman doctor echoed in his ears…     

3       n-plural   Thewords of a song consist of the text that is sung, in contrast to the music that is played.  
usu the N  
(=lyrics)  

Can you hear the words on the album?     

4       n-sing   If you have a word with someone, you have a short conversation with them.  
SPOKEN   a N  
I think it’s time you had a word with him…, James, could I have a quiet word?…     

5       n-count   If you offer someone aword of something such as warning, advice, or praise, you warn, advise, or praise them.  
N of n  
A word of warning. Don’t stick too precisely to what it says in the book…     

6       n-sing   If you say that someone does not hear, understand, or say a word, you are emphasizing that they hear, understand, or say nothing at all.  
a N, with brd-neg     (emphasis)
  
I can’t understand a word she says…, Not a word was spoken.     

7       n-uncount   If there is word of something, people receive news or information about it.  
also the N  
There is no word from the authorities on the reported attack…, Word has been spreading fast of the incidents on the streets…     

8       n-sing   If you give your word, you make a sincere promise to someone.  
poss N  
…an adult who gave his word the boy would be supervised…, He simply cannot be trusted to keep his word.     

9       n-sing   If someone gives the word to do something, they give an order to do it.  
the N  
I want nothing said about this until I give the word.     

10       verb   To word something in a particular way means to choose or use particular words to express it.  
If I had written the letter, I might have worded it differently.      V n adv/prep  

  -worded      comb in adj  
…a strongly-worded statement., …a carefully-worded speech.     

11   
  
  wording  

  
  code word  

  
  four-letter word  

  
  play on words  

  
  printed word  

  
  spoken word  

  
  written word  

12    If you say that people consider something to be a dirty word, you mean that they disapprove of it.  

dirty word      phrase   usu v-link PHR  
So many people think feminism is a dirty word.     

13    If you do something from the word go, you do it from the very beginning of a period of time or situation.  

from the word go      phrase   PHR with cl  
It’s essential you make the right decisions from the word go.     

14    You can use in their words or in their own words to indicate that you are reporting what someone said using the exact words that they used.  

in sb’s words/in sb’s own words      phrase   PHR with cl  
Even the Assistant Secretary of State had to admit that previous policy did not, in his words, produce results.     

15    You use in a word to indicate that you are giving a summary of what you have just been saying, or are giving a reply, in as brief a way as possible.  

in a word      phrase   PHR with cl  
(=in short)  

`Shouldn’t he be given the leading role?’—`In a word<endash>No.’     

16    If someone has the last word or the final word in a discussion, argument, or disagreement, they are the one who wins it or who makes the final decision.  

the last word/the final word      phrase  
She does like to have the last word in any discussion…, The final word will still come from the Secretary of State.     

17    If you say that something is the last word in luxury, comfort, or some other quality, you are emphasizing that it has a great deal of this quality.  

the last word in sth      phrase   PHR n, usu v-link PHR     (emphasis)
  
The spa is the last word in luxury and efficiency.     

18    If you say that someone has said something, but not in so many words, you mean that they said it or expressed it, but in a very indirect way.  

in so many words      phrase   usu with brd-neg, usu PHR after v, PHR with cl  
`And has she agreed to go with you?’—`Not in so many words. But I read her thoughts’.     

19    If news or information passes by word of mouth, people tell it to each other rather than it being printed in written form.  

word of mouth      phrase   oft by/through PHR  
The story has been passed down by word of mouth.     

20    You say in other words in order to introduce a different, and usually simpler, explanation or interpretation of something that has just been said.  

in other words      phrase   PHR with cl  
The mobile library services have been reorganised<endash>in other words, they visit fewer places.     

21    If you say something in your own words, you express it in your own way, without copying or repeating someone else’s description.  

in one’s own words      phrase   PHR after v, PHR with cl  
Now tell us in your own words about the events of Saturday.     

22    If you say to someone `take my word for it’, you mean that they should believe you because you are telling the truth.  

take my word for it      phrase   V inflects  
You’ll buy nothing but trouble if you buy that house, take my word for it.     

23    If you repeat something word for word, you repeat it exactly as it was originally said or written.  

word for word      phrase   PHR after v  
(=verbatim)  

I don’t try to memorize speeches word for word.     

24   
  
  not get a word in edgeways  

  
  edgeways  

  
  not mince your words  

  
  mince  

  
  the operative word  

  
  operative  

  
  war of words  

  
  war  

code word        ( code words    plural  ) , codeword, code-word   A code word is a word or phrase that has a special meaning, different from its normal meaning, for the people who have agreed to use it in this way.      n-count  
…magnum, the code word for launching a radar attack.     

four-letter word        ( four-letter words    plural  ) A four-letter word is a short word that people consider to be rude or offensive, usually because it refers to sex or other bodily functions.      n-count  
(=swear word)  

linking word        ( linking words    plural  )
in BRIT, also use link word      A linking word is a word which shows a connection between clauses or sentences. `However’ and `so’ are linking words.      n-count  

printed word     
The printed word is the same as the written word.      n-sing   the N  

spoken word     
Thespoken word is used to refer to language expressed in speech, for example in contrast to written texts or music.      n-sing   usu the N  
There is a potential educational benefit in allowing pictures to tell the story, rather than the spoken word.     

swear word        ( swear words    plural  ) , swearword   A swear word is a word which is considered to be rude or offensive. Swear words are usually used when people are angry.      n-count  

-word     ( -words    plural  ) You can use -word after a letter of the alphabet to refer politely or humorously to a word beginning with that letter which people find offensive or are embarrassed to use.      comb in n-count  
It was the first show to use the F-word and show nudity on stage…, Politicians began to use the dreaded R-word: recession.     

word class        ( word classes    plural  ) A word class is a group of words that have the same basic behaviour, for example nouns, adjectives, or verbs.      n-count  

word processing      , word-processing  
Word processing is the work or skill of producing printed documents using a computer.     (COMPUTING)      n-uncount   oft N n  

word processor        ( word processors    plural  ) A word processor is a computer program or a computer which is used to produce printed documents.     (COMPUTING)      n-count  

word wrapping     
In computing, word wrapping is a process by which a word which comes at the end of a line is automatically moved onto a new line in order to keep the text within the margins.     (COMPUTING)      n-uncount  

written word     
You use the written word to refer to language expressed in writing, especially when contrasted with speech or with other forms of expression such as painting or film.      n-sing   usu the N  
Even in the 18th century scholars continued to give primacy to the written word.     

Англо-русские и русско-английские словари и энциклопедии. English-Russian and Russian-English dictionaries and translations

Англо-русский перевод WORD-BUILDING

transcription, транскрипция: [ ʹwɜ:d͵bıldıŋ ]

n лингв.

словообразование


New big English-Russian dictionary.

     Большой новый Англо-Русский словарь.
2012

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