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What is a compound word in English?

A compound word in English is a word that is formed by combining two or more existing words. These words can be joined together in a few different ways:

1. Closed Form: The words are combined without a space or hyphen:

* sun + shine = sunshine

* up + grade = upgrade

2. Hyphenated Form: The words are combined with a hyphen:

* well + known = well-known

* high + school = high-school

3. Open Form: The words are combined with a space:

* real estate

* post office

Types of Compound Words:

* Noun Compounds: Two or more nouns combined to form a new noun (e.g., headache, rainbow).

* Verb Compounds: Two or more verbs combined to form a new verb (e.g., overtake, undermine).

* Adjective Compounds: Two or more adjectives combined to form a new adjective (e.g., short-sleeved, bright-eyed).

* Adverb Compounds: Two or more adverbs combined to form a new adverb (e.g., upstairs, downhill).

Examples of Compound Words:

* Bookstore

* Firefighter

* Heartbreak

* Bluebird

* Watermelon

* Crosswalk

* Weekend

* Outdoors

* Airplane

Compound words are a common feature of the English language and can be used to create new words and phrases with specific meanings. They can also be used to add emphasis or clarity to a sentence.

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