What Is a Compound Noun
Most compound nouns contain at least one noun. The other word or words may be an adjective, preposition, or verb. The second word is almost always the main word, with the first word modifying it or adding to its meaning.
Compound words, a large group of words to which compound nouns belong, are expressed in three ways.
- Closed form - has two words that have melded together to make one word, like: softball, redhead, makeup, and keyboard.
- Hyphenated form examples are: six-pack, five-year-old, and son-in-law.
- Open form - has the words next to each other, like: post office, upper class, and attorney general.
Compound Noun List
Here are types of compound words and examples. The asterisks indicate types of compound words that may be compound nouns.
- /adjective - blue-green,
- adjective/noun - blackboard, full moon
- adjective/preposition - forthwith
- adjective/verb - dry-cleaning, highlight
- noun/adjective - snow white
- noun/noun - toothpaste, football, fish tank
- noun/preposition (adverb) - love-in, hanger on, passer-by
- noun/verb - haircut, browbeat, rainfall
- preposition/adjective - over-ripe
- preposition (adverb)/noun - underground, underworld, bystander, onlooker
- preposition/preposition - without
- preposition (adverb)/verb - output, undercut, outlook, overthrow
- verb/adjective - tumbledown
- verb/noun - swimming pool, breakwater, washing machine
- verb/preposition (adverb) - takeout, check-in, drawback, lookout
- verb/verb - freeze-dry