Linguistics Vocabulary

noun a fenced or walled-in area containing a group of buildings, especially in a factory or a prison

verb to make something by combining various elements; to increase in intensity or quality

adjective composed of two or more parts; complex; involving or resulting from the combination of two or more elements

• The scientist synthesized a new compound in the laboratory.
• I heard they mixed together some crazy compound in the lab.
• They whipped up a sick compound in the lab.
• The compound of emotions within her was hard to decipher.

noun A derogatory term used to refer to a homosexual person.

• The study of homo erectus sheds light on early human evolution.
• My friend is homo sapiens, just like the rest of us.
• Some people use 'homo' as a derogatory term, which is unacceptable.
• The artist's painting depicted a homo sapiens in a futuristic setting.

adjective relating to or based on ideas or suppositions rather than actual occurrences

• The notional value of the company's assets is significantly higher than its market value.
• I have a notional idea of what we should do next, but I'm open to suggestions.
• I only have a notional understanding of how to fix a car, so I probably shouldn't try it myself.
• Her notional grasp on reality made it difficult for her to function in everyday life.

noun the main body or stalk of a plant or shrub, typically rising above ground but occasionally subterranean

verb to stop or restrict (the flow of a liquid)

• The study focused on the growth patterns of plant stems.
• She loves to pick flowers with long stems.
• I can't believe how much that new phone case cost, it's just a piece of plastic with a cool stem.
• The stem of the issue lies in miscommunication between the two parties.

noun a person who is unable to hear or listen

adjective describing someone or something that is not able to hear or listen

• The unhearing patient required a hearing aid to assist with communication.
• She was unhearing me when I asked her to pass the salt.
• I feel like talking to a wall, she's so unhearing.
• His unhearing attitude towards our concerns was frustrating.

noun CNL stands for Clinical Nurse Leader, a type of advanced practice nurse who oversees patient care outcomes and serves as a leader within a healthcare team.

• The CNL program at the university focuses on developing leadership skills in healthcare.
• I heard that CNL course is really popular among nursing students.
• I'm thinking of signing up for the CNL thing next semester.
• Becoming a CNL is like being the captain of a healthcare team.

noun a word made up of two or more words that are joined together without spaces

adjective describing a word that is formed by combining two or more words without spaces

• The closed compound 'firefighter' refers to a person who extinguishes fires.
• I learned that 'bedroom' is a closed compound word, unlike 'living room'.
• In texting, people often use closed compounds like 'bff' for 'best friends forever'.
• The term 'self-esteem' is a closed compound that represents one's confidence and self-worth.