compound words

About

A compound word is a combination of two or more words that function as a single unit of meaning. There are 3 general types:

1) Closed compounds - written as single words (e.g. "wheelchair")

2) Hyphenated compounds - hyphen between words (e.g. "shrink-wrap")

3) Open compounds - written as separate words (e.g. "health care")

As compounds can function as different parts of speech, the type of compound can change.