CLOSE COMPOUND Meaning and
Definition
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A close compound is a linguistic term that refers to a type of word formation in which two or more words are combined together to form a new word without any spaces or hyphens between them. In a close compound, the constituent words merge seamlessly, resulting in a single word that carries a distinct meaning different from the individual words used in the formation. This type of compound word is commonly seen in various languages, including English.
Close compounds can be formed in different ways. One common method is through compounding, where two or more words are joined together to create a new word that expresses a combined meaning. For example, the words "basket" and "ball" are joined together to form "basketball", which refers to a specific sport. Similarly, "sun" and "glasses" combine to create "sunglasses", denoting a specific type of protective eyewear.
Close compounds can also be formed through the agglutination process, which involves adding affixes or combining root words to create a single word. For example, in English, the word "tree" combines with the suffix "-house" to form "treehouse", indicating a small structure built around or within a tree.
These close compounds allow for concise and efficient communication by condensing multiple words into a single unit. They play an essential role in language development, allowing speakers and writers to express complex ideas in a compact and readily understood format.
