Dictionary of Combining Forms

What are "Combining Forms"? - Combining form is a form of a word that can combine with free word, root word or another combining form to get a new word. 'Combining form' adds extra meaning to the new word. 'Combining form' is added to the beginning or end of free word, root word or another combining form. (A). Examples of "Combining form + Free Word" Agro- + Industry = Agro-industry, Agro- denotes: connected with farming (B). Example of "Combining form + Root Word" Aero- + Gramme = Aerogramm, Aero- denotes: connected with aircraft, Gramme denotes: writing (C). Examples of "Combining form + Combining form" Hydro- + -Logy = Hydrology the scientific study of the earth's water] Hydro- denotes: relating to water, -Logy denotes: a subject of study IMPORTANT NOTES: 1. "Combining form" generally cannot stand alone as free words, but there are many exceptions to this rule. EXAMPLES: Combining Form: -like free word] - lotus + -like = lotus-like; rope + -like = rope-like; -like- denotes: similar to the thing that is mentioned 2. Many Words ending in "-ed", "-en", etc. are used as COMBINING FORMS. EXAMPLES: Combining Form: -based (ending in '-ed') - foreign + -based = foreign-based; demand + -based = demand-based; -based denotes: containing something as an important feature or part 3. Many words ending in "-ing" are used as COMBINING FORMS. EXAMPLES: Combining Form: -looking (ending in '-ing') - fine + -looking = fine-looking; suspicious + -looking = suspicious-looking; -looking- denotes: to be appearing in a way that is mentioned Alphabetical List of Combining Forms Along With Their Meanings And Examples - Combining Forms - A-- AERO- Used to form: adjectives, adverbs and nouns; General meaning: connected with aircraft; Examples: aerobatics / aerodrome / aerodynamics / aerofoil / aerogramme (also, aerogram) / aeronaut / aeronautics / aerospace / aerostat ****** -AFFECTED -- Used to form: adjectives; General meaning: suffering from the thing that is mentioned; Examples along with their use in phrases]: drug-affected ---- drug-affected newborns]; famine-affected ---- famine-affected village]; flu-affected ---- flu-affected patients]; militancy-affected ---- militancy-affected state]; quake-affected ---- quake-affected hills]; Other Examples: flood-affected / cyclone-affected / explosion-affected / drought-affected / rain-affected / violence-affected ****** AFRO- Used to form: adjectives and nouns- General meaning: African; Examples along with their use in phrases]: Afro-Brazilian ---- Afro-Brazilian heritage]; Afro-British ---- Afro-British people]; Afro-Caribbean ---- Afro-Caribbean cooperation]; Afro-Colombian ---- Afro-Colombian celebrities]; Afro-Cuban ---- Afro-Cuban player]; Afro-descendant ---- Afro-descendant communities]; Afro-Iranian ---- Afro-Iranian minority]; Afro-Latina ---- Afro-Latina engineers]; Afro-Mexican ---- Afro-Mexican students]; Afro-Palestinian ---- Afro-Palestinian group]; Afro-Turk ---- Afro-Turk music star] ****** ALL- Used to form: adjectives and adverbs; General meaning: each and every one totally in the highest degree; Examples: all-American / all-around / all-British / all-Canadian / all-clear / all-consuming / all-embracing / all-encompassing / all-important / all-inclusive / all-night / all-nighter / all-out / all-over / all-party / all-pervading / all-powerful / all-purpose / all-round / all-rounder / all-star / all-ticket / all-time