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Compound Noun Definition and Examples, Type, List

Compound Noun

A compound noun’s basic concept is straightforward at first glance. It’s a phrase made up of two or more distinct nouns combined.

The use of compound nouns is a regular feature of English speech and writing. In fact, compound nouns are so common in English that you might not even be aware that some of the terms you use on a daily basis are them. Just three examples include software, sunrise, and bag.

Compound Nouns Meaning

A noun that is created by combining more than one component of speech is known as a compound noun. There are three primary categories of compound nouns: closed or solid compound nouns, hyphenated compound nouns, and open or spaced compound nouns.

Plural Nouns

Compound Nouns Definition 

A compound nouns is described as “a noun that is made up of two or more separate words, for example, “cake store,” “French fries,” “high-flyer,” or “schoolteacher,” according to the Cambridge Dictionary.” The Oxford Learners’ Dictionary offers a similar definition. ‘A noun, an adjective, or a verb made of two or more words or parts of words, written as one or more words, or joined by a hyphen,’ is how it defines a compound noun. Travel agent, dark-haired and bathroom are all compound nouns.’

Abstract Nouns

Compound Noun Types

noun + noun basketball, bookstore
noun + verb snowfall, haircut
noun + adjective lime green, town square
noun + prepositional phrase son-in-law, lady-in-waiting
verb + noun surfboard, swimsuit
preposition + noun onlooker, underworld
verb + preposition lookout, go-between
adjective + noun black box, hot dog

Proper Nouns

Compound Noun Examples and Exercises

  1. Compound nouns can be created in a few distinct ways. Sometimes, two words are just squashed together. Examples of these so-called closed compound nouns are:
  • playground
  • windshield
  • Keyboard

 

  1. A hyphen connects other compound nouns together in a tidy manner. These are called hyphenated compound nouns, and examples include:
  • father-in-law
  • X-ray
  • Merry-go-round

 

  1. Then there are compound nouns with no connections at all. These are referred to as open compound nouns, and some examples are as follows:
  • trash can
  • garden gnome
  • peanut butter

 

  1. We frequently experience uncertainty while constructing the possessive case of a composite noun. Where should the apostrophe be placed? The compound noun is always completed with an apostrophe (‘s’).
  • Stepson’s
  • Kickboxer’s
  • Father-in-law’s

 

  1. The suffix -s is combined with the root word or base word to create plural compound nouns. The term in a compound noun known as the “root word” is the most important and provides the compound noun with its meaning.
  • Stepdaughters
  • Airports
  • Maidservants 

Common Nouns

Compound Noun Examples in Sentences Key Points

  • Compound nouns are nouns made up of two or more words together.
  • Examples include haircuts, waiting lists, sister-in-laws, the underground, and windsurfing.
  • The general class to which the composite noun belongs is implied by one of the two words. Within that class, the other states its kind.
  • A noun, an adjective, a verb, or a preposition can be combined with another noun to form a compound noun.
  • Compound nouns can be made plural by adding the suffix -s to the base or root word. For instance, in-law sisters, swimming pools, cookbooks, etc.
  • Compound nouns are given the possessive case by inserting an apostrophe (‘s’) at the end. For instance, the Spider-Man, Policeman, or sister-in- law’s.

Noun

Compound Nouns List

afterbirth dishwasher heartbeat saltwater
aftermath doorbell highway saucepan
aircraft downfall homework sawdust
airfield downpour honeymoon screenplay
airmail drawback horsepower screwdriver
armchair dressmaker housework seashell
armpit driveway jellyfish seaweed
background drugstore jigsaw shellfish
backlash drumstick keyboard shoplifter
backlog eardrum kneecap shorthand
backside earphone ladybug shotgun
bandwagon earring leftovers sickbed
bankbook earthworm letterhead sideburns
banknote earwig lighthouse sidekick
barman egghead lipstick sidewalk
baseball eyelid loophole silkworm
bathroom eyewitness lovebird skullcap
bedspread farmhouse mailbox skyscraper
bedtime fatherhood manhunt slaughterhouse
billboard feedback mastermind sleepwalking
blackbird fingernail middleman snowball
blacklist fingerprint neighborhood snowfall
bulldog firearm network softball
bullfight firefly newsletter songbird
catfish firewood newspaper soundtrack
chairman fishbowl nightclub spaceship
cheapskate floodlight nightmare sportsman
checkup footnote notebook spotlight
chopstick footprint outlook stalemate
clockwork freeway overcoat stepchild
clotheshorse foretaste overseas stopwatch
clothesline fruitcake overtime strongbox
copycat gatecrasher painkiller suitcase
copyright ghostwriter pancake summertime
cornerstone godfather paperback sunspot
countdown goldfish passport sweetheart
countryside greenhouse password swordfish
courthouse guidebook penknife tablespoon
courtyard guideline pickpocket teardrop
cowboy gunfire pigtail teaspoon
crackdown gunpowder pocketknife toadstool
crossroad hairdresser quicksand toothpick
cutback handbag racehorse tugboat
daybreak handshake rainbow watchdog
daytime handwriting rattlesnake wheelchair
deadline headlight roadrunner windpipe
deadlock headquarters runway wiretap

Collective Nouns

Compound Noun with Examples In Hindi

मिश्रित संज्ञा: एक यौगिक संज्ञा की मूल अवधारणा पहली नज़र में सीधी होती है। यह दो या दो से अधिक विशिष्ट संज्ञाओं के संयुक्त रूप से बना एक वाक्यांश है।

यौगिक संज्ञाओं का प्रयोग अंग्रेजी भाषण और लेखन की एक नियमित विशेषता है। वास्तव में, यौगिक संज्ञाएं अंग्रेजी में इतनी सामान्य हैं कि आपको शायद इस बात की जानकारी भी नहीं होगी कि आपके द्वारा दैनिक आधार पर उपयोग किए जाने वाले कुछ शब्द वे हैं। सिर्फ तीन उदाहरणों में सॉफ्टवेयर, सनराइज और बैग शामिल हैं।

यौगिक संज्ञा का क्या अर्थ है?

जिस संज्ञा शब्द से वाणी के एक से अधिक घटकों को मिलाकर बनाया जाता है, उसे यौगिक संज्ञा कहते हैं। यौगिक संज्ञाओं की तीन प्राथमिक श्रेणियां हैं: बंद या ठोस यौगिक संज्ञा, हाइफ़नेटेड यौगिक संज्ञा, और खुले या स्थान वाले यौगिक संज्ञा।

यौगिक संज्ञा परिभाषा

कैम्ब्रिज डिक्शनरी के अनुसार एक यौगिक संज्ञा को “एक संज्ञा के रूप में वर्णित किया गया है जो दो या दो से अधिक अलग-अलग शब्दों से बना है, उदाहरण के लिए, “केक स्टोर,” “फ्रेंच फ्राइज़,” “हाई-फ्लायर,” या “स्कूल टीचर”। ” ऑक्सफोर्ड लर्नर्स डिक्शनरी एक समान परिभाषा प्रदान करती है। ‘एक संज्ञा, एक विशेषण, या दो या दो से अधिक शब्दों या शब्दों के कुछ हिस्सों से बना क्रिया, एक या अधिक शब्दों के रूप में लिखा जाता है, या एक हाइफ़न से जुड़ता है,’ यह एक यौगिक संज्ञा को कैसे परिभाषित करता है। ट्रैवल एजेंट, काले बालों वाली और स्नानघर सभी यौगिक संज्ञाएं हैं।’

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Compound Nouns- FAQs

Ques 1. What distinguishes compound nouns from phrases?

Ans. In contrast to noun phrases, which do not place emphasis on either word, compound nouns normally place emphasis on the first term (“HOT dog” — the meal).

 

Ques 2. A compound noun may contain two words.

Ans. The compound noun can be written as a single word, a word with a hyphen, or as two words, as you may have seen. There are no set guidelines for this.

 

Ques 3. A compound word is what?

Ans. A compound word is created by joining two or more words, hyphens included or not.

 

Ques 4. A closed compound noun is what?

Ans. a word combination with no spaces. Dishcloth, keyboard, pancake, and waterproof are a few examples.

 

Ques 5. Why is there a hyphen in some compound nouns?

Ans. Because it prevents the prepositions from being understood as separate grammatical entities, compound nouns containing prepositions are almost always hyphenated.

 

Ques 6. A compound noun for breakfast?

Ans. Breakfast is a composite word made up of the words “break” and “quick.”

 

Ques 7. Is there such a thing as a composite noun?

Ans. In simplest terms, a compound noun is a noun that is composed of two or more existing words.

 

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FAQs

What distinguishes compound nouns from phrases?

In contrast to noun phrases, which do not place emphasis on either word, compound nouns normally place emphasis on the first term ("HOT dog" — the meal).

A compound noun may contain two words.

The compound noun can be written as a single word, a word with a hyphen, or as two words, as you may have seen. There are no set guidelines for this.

A compound word is what?

A compound word is created by joining two or more words, hyphens included or not.

A closed compound noun is what?

a word combination with no spaces. Dishcloth, keyboard, pancake, and waterproof are a few examples.

Why is there a hyphen in some compound nouns?

Because it prevents the prepositions from being understood as separate grammatical entities, compound nouns containing prepositions are almost always hyphenated.

A compound noun for breakfast?

Breakfast is a composite word made up of the words "break" and "quick."

Is there such a thing as a composite noun?

In simplest terms, a compound noun is a noun that is composed of two or more existing words.

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